Wandering Eyes

Group One winner El Vencedor. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images) In-form gelding El Vencedor will get his chance to test his talent in one of the most competitive racing jurisdictions in the world when he heads to Hong Kong in April to contest the Group 1 QEII Cup (2000m) at Sha Tin. Following the six-year-old gelding’s impressive run of form, culminating in victory in last Saturday’s Group 1 Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m) at Te Rapa, trainer Stephen Marsh received an invitation from the Hong Kong Jockey Club, and he and owner-breeders Mark Freeman and David Price jumped at the opportunity. “We received an email from Hong Kong (Jockey Club) who asked if we would potentially be interested and we said ‘if we’re invited we would certainly be interested’, so they said ‘here’s your invite’,” Marsh said. “It will be a great trip and he looks like the right sort of horse to do it. He will cop the travel and it will be a great experience.” While racing in Asia is nothing new to Marsh, with his father Bruce having trained in Singapore, the Cambridge horseman has never been to Hong Kong and he is excited about the opportunity. “I have never been to Hong Kong, but I am looking forward to it,” Marsh said. “It will all be pretty straight forward. They (Hong Kong Jockey Club) look after you well and I will do a lot of homework on it before I go.” While the Queen Elizabeth is a welcome addition to El Vencedor’s preparation, Marsh said it won’t change his immediate targets back at home. “He runs next Saturday at Ellerslie in the Otaki mile (Group 1, 1600m) and then he will go to the Bonecrusher (Group 1, 2000m), and then six weeks into the QE II Cup,” Marsh said. “We will work out when flights are and how long he will be up there for and what we will do with him beforehand, but nothing is going to change between now and the Bonecrusher.” Marsh said both Freeman and Price are over the moon to get the opportunity to compete in Hong Kong with El Vencedor, who is giving the pair the ride of a lifetime. “They are thrilled,” Marsh said. “It is a once in a lifetime experience and this is what racing is all about.” Horse racing news View the full article

Dragon Joy (outside) is a two-time Sha Tin winner. Ricky Yiu is hopeful Dragon Joy can take a crucial step towards emulating the feats of decorated stablemate Voyage Bubble when the emerging talent contests the Class 3 Rose Handicap (1600m) at Sha Tin on Sunday against several other HK$26 million Hong Kong Derby (2000m) aspirants. Yiu has ambitious plans for Dragon Joy after the gelding’s eye-catching last-start 1600m victory at Sha Tin on January 12 against a string of Four-Year-Old Classic Series contenders including Markwin, Sky Heart, Silvery Breeze and Mickley. Rated 70, the son of Saxon Warrior again clashes with a host of Hong Kong Derby nominees in Sunday’s finale including Allcash, Bundle Award, Embraces, Sky Heart, Morgan Success, Beauty Viva, Spanish Flame, Everyone’s Star, Another World and Winning Wing. To be partnered by Matthew Poon, Dragon Joy will again have to overcome barrier 14 and carrying 127lb – an increase of 12lb from his previous start. “He’s a lightly-raced, up-and-coming young horse. He won well last start from a wide barrier and he’ll keep improving. Hopefully we can do the same thing. The jockey knows him well. I strongly believe that he will perform again. I’m still optimistic he can beat them again,” Yiu said. “He’s a horse who tries very hard. He always shows his best in the morning and in the races. I like him very much. He’s a pure racehorse.” Yiu hopes Dragon Joy can press for a start in the HK$13 million Hong Kong Classic Cup (1800m) at Sha Tin on March 2 after two wins and a luckless third from his past three starts. Yiu famously enjoyed Four-Year-Old Classic Series success in 2023 with Voyage Bubble’s Hong Kong Classic Mile (1600m) and Hong Kong Derby triumphs and is confident his stable spearhead is on course for the HK$13 million Group 1 Hong Kong Gold Cup (2000m) at Sha Tin on February 23. Having already won the first leg of the Triple Crown Series with victory in the Group 1 Stewards’ Cup (1600m) on January 19, Voyage Bubble will bid for a fourth Group 1 success after finishing third in a 1200m trial on the dirt at Sha Tin on Thursday behind Helios Express. “He jumped ordinary and the jockey (Poon) commented that he really didn’t like the kick back. It was only a small field and he was about four lengths behind the leader and from the top of the straight, he pulled him out and asked him to go forward and he accelerated. Without the kickback, he enjoyed it. It was a good trial,” Yiu said. David Eustace will unveil Hong Kong first-starter Colourful King in the Class 3 Osmanthus Handicap (1000m) under Andrea Atzeni after patiently guiding the Australian import through his acclimatisation. “We took our time and he has his little quirks but, from a training and trackwork point of view, he’s been relatively straight forward,” Eustace said of the two-time winner at Sandown in Australia for Mathew Ellerton. “He trialled in a straight line well in Conghua and the race has been targeted for a little while. He doesn’t work really flashy on the dirt – he just does enough – but he’s definitely a different horse on the grass. He’s sort of ticked all the boxes.” By Blue Point, Colourful King has won two trials at Sha Tin since transferring from Conghua. Ka Ying Rising limbered up for the HK$13 million Group 1 Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup (1400m) at Sha Tin on February 23 with an effortless trial win over 1200m at Conghua on Friday morning under Karis Teetan. “I don’t know about the opposition, but he was very good this morning and he actually sat in behind them before winning easily,” Hayes said. “Karis was very happy. Physically, Ka Ying Rising’s in peak shape and he’s tapering into the big race now. “He’ll return to Sha Tin tomorrow, do some swimming and he’ll do a bit of work in the middle of the week and then be ready for the races.” With a record-breaking victory in the Group 1 Centenary Sprint Cup (1200m) on January 19, when he broke his own track record by clocking 1m 07.20s, Ka Ying Rising took his unbeaten streak to nine races and secured the first leg of the Hong Kong Speed Series. In today’s hit-out, Ka Ying Rising settled third behind Regal Gem and Absolute Honour before peeling out in the straight and forging away to win by two and three-quarter lengths in 1m 11.38s. Sunday’s 11-race card at Sha Tin starts with the Class 5 Camellia Handicap (1600m) at 12.30pm HKT. Horse racing news View the full article

What Alice Springs Races Where Pioneer Park Racecourse – Stuart Highway, Connellan, NT, 0870 When Saturday, February 15, 2025 First Race 2:01pm ACST Visit Dabble It will be a lot cooler in the Red Centre on Saturday with 44 runners lining up for the Alice Springs Turf Club’s six-event program. The past two meetings have started in the morning because of oppressive conditions, but it will be a normal afternoon kick-off this weekend. After showers on Thursday, further light rain is tipped for Friday with partly cloudy conditions and a top temperature of 29C on Saturday. It will be a good dirt surface and the rail will be in the true position. Best Bet at Alice Springs: Hellivit Hellivit enjoys sitting on the speed, but his hopes will hinge on whether he can settle on the fence. On January 5 and February 2, the five-year-old gelding held sway out in front on the rails before winning comfortably over 1100m at 0-58 and 0-64 level. The son of Hellbent was forced deep over 1000m in 0-58 and BM54 grade on December 21 and January 18 before finishing a narrow fourth each time. Hellivit will carry an extra 2kg, but he has another good gate, and his last start win was full of merit. Best Bet Race 4 – #1 Hellivit (2) 5yo Gelding | T: Kerry Petrick | J: Paul Denton (60kg) Next Best at Alice Springs: Cavendish Cavendish is backing up after taking out last Saturday’s 1400m maiden in his first NT appearance. Forced three deep when competing for the early lead, the three-year-old gelding was well clear at the 1000m and from that point it was one-way traffic. The son of Capitalist was challenged briefly before kicking clear at the 400m to win by 3.8 lengths. Cavendish is eyeing the NT Guineas next month and drops 3kg on Saturday. Next Best Race 5 – #2 Cavendish (3) 3yo Gelding | T: Dick Leech | J: Hannah Le Blanc (a2) (56.5kg) Best Value at Alice Springs: Governor Governor must be considered despite a last start seventh over 1100m in 0-64 grade two weeks ago. On January 5, the six-year-old gelding was tailed off after missing the start before winding up on the fence to seal a great win over 1100m in 0-58 grade. The son of I Am Invincible blew the start over 1000m and covered plenty of ground before and after that win for two thirds. Governor, who jumped well last start before chewing up a lot of petrol, only has to start well and settle nicely to be a threat. Best Value Race 2 – #4 Governor (7) 6yo Gelding | T: Paul Gardner | J: Raymond Vigar (60kg) Saturday quaddie tips for Alice Springs Alice Springs quadrella selections Saturday, February 15, 2025 1-3-5-6 1-4-5 1-2 1-2-3 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip Horse racing tips View the full article

By Adam Hamilton Dexter Dunn can’t think of a better way to round out his extended two-month stint Down Under. Dunn, who flew from the US back to New Zealand on December 20, is now in Queensland to compete in the innovative and inaugural Ladbrokes Ultimate Driver Challenge. The 20-race series will be run across two nights on Friday and Saturday (Feb 21 and 22) at Albion Park. Dunn is one of four internationals in the 10-driver series, joining his great Kiwi mate Carter Dalgety, Yannick Gingras (USA) and Bjorn Goop (Sweden). He is a $5.50 joint favourite at the moment to win the Challenge. The rest of the line-up is a gathering of many of Australia’s top drivers: Gary Hall Jr, Kate Gath, Nathan Dawson, Pete McMullen, Brad Hewitt and Angus Garrard. Such is the depth, Aussie stars like Chris Alford, Luke McCarthy, Cam Hart, James Herbertson and Deni Roberts couldn’t get slots. “I love the concept,” Dunn said. “As soon as I heard about it, I jumped at the chance to be part of it. “You’d be surprised by the level of interest back in the US. There’s a few drivers over there who’d love to have been part of it, big names, too. “And now it’s getting closer, everyone is starting to talk about it in NZ and Australia.” Dunn admits having Gath and Dalgety in the series takes it to another level for him. “It makes it quite personal, quite sentimental and special,” he said. “It’s like a trip back through my career, my life really. Kate and Andy (Gath) were such a big part of my career early on, I drove my first winner (at Geelong) when I was in Victoria working for them. We’ve always stayed really close. “It’s been fantastic to see the success they’ve had as a stable and what Kate’s achieved as a driver. It’s so fitting she’s part of this series. “And it’s similar with Carter. Obviously the biggest chapter of my career was spent at Kentuckiana with the Dalgetys and they’re like another family to me. “Carter was just a young kid when I started there and grew up alongside me. I’m so proud of what he’s done and he’s got it all ahead of him.” Dunn won’t have much time to savour the series, needing to get an early flight Sunday morning to Orlando, Florida – via San Francisco – to attend the big Dan Patch Horse of the Year Awards night. “I don’t want to miss it. I think I drove eight of the 12 divisional winners and Twin B Joe Fresh is favourite to win (overall US) Horse of the Year,” he said. “I part-own her and drive her … she’s taken us on the ride of a lifetime so far and it would be so special if she could win it.” Dunn will also formally collect his fifth US Driver of the Year trophy over the past six years. “It’s been such a great trip back home and I’m glad I stretched it out to two months compared to the five weeks I’ve had back home the past couple of years,” he said. Dunn’s been a regular sight at race tracks around the South Island over the summer and also took in last Saturday night’s HRNZ annual awards in Christchurch. “I’ve had the time to properly catch-up with so many people and really enjoy it without having to rush. “I haven’t driven in the States since November 30, so I’m ready to get back into it now.” View the full article

Sassy Lass has been a rising star in the staying ranks throughout her four-year-old term and is on her way to a big dance through Saturday’s Listed Matamata Equine Veterinary Services Kaimai Stakes (2000m). The daughter of Staphanos always looked to be a stayer in the making and once she got out to 2200m back in June she punished her rivals by an extending 10 lengths. Since then, she hasn’t looked back, winning three of her next four starts and placing in the Gr.3 Waikato Cup (2400m) in December, with her most recent appearance a close-up fourth in the Listed Marton Cup (2200m). After a freshen-up, co-trainer Andrew Scott couldn’t be happier with how Sassy Lass is tracking ahead of Saturday’s assignment. “She’s flying, we’ve given her a quick freshen since early January and she’s put on 12 kilos in bodyweight and feeling very well,” he said. “She’ll sprint well fresh on Saturday over the 2000m, she’s so consistent and always runs a good race. We’re expecting nothing less on the weekend. “She’s on track to trial for the Auckland Cup (Gr.2, 3200m), so hopefully she puts in a performance that warrants cracking on to the big day. This will be enough for her until then, she’s got three weeks between and doesn’t take a lot of racing to keep fit. “She’ll be spot on.” Scott and training partner Lance O’Sullivan have a big team engaged for their local feature meeting, including a trio of mares contesting the Listed Lisa Chittick Champagne Stakes (1400m). The race will be run for the first time at stakes level this season, with Karman Line victorious in last year’s edition and she is searching for a return to that form on Saturday. “She won this race last year, but it is a stronger line-up this time,” Scott said. “She seems to hit form at this time of the year through to the autumn. “Her form has been a little below what we’d hoped over the summer months, but off the way she worked on Tuesday morning, she’ll bounce back. She’s a very capable mare and it wouldn’t surprise us if she figured right in the finish on Saturday. “On her day, she’s highly talented.” Joining the Myboycharlie mare will be Kelly Coe and Lux Libertas, the latter returning from a break after a coming-of-age campaign through the spring, where she finished second to La Crique in the Gr.2 Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1400m). “She didn’t have much luck down at Wellington after a really good spring campaign, so she went home for a little break,” Scott said. “She’s working in really well and on her home track over 1400m is where she really performs. “She’s a talented mare and will put in a strong performance in a good field. “Kelly Coe never got comfortable going right-handed last time, so we’re dropping her back in distance and going back left-handed. We do struggle to keep her fit as an older mare, so she’s been swimming in the afternoon just to try to stimulate her fitness. “She’s won in Group company at this distance, so I’m hoping we can bounce her back into form because she was just a little bit below where we thought she would be last start.” On the undercard, exciting filly Cypher will aim to kick-off the meeting on a high note in the Ancroft Developments (1400m) after an eye-catching maiden success at Pukekohe. “We’re really hoping she can start the day strongly for the team, she’s got a good draw and blinkers on for the first time,” Scott said. “Craig (Grylls) got off her and said she lacked a wee bit of confidence there last start. “We think she’s worked in really well and improved off that, on her home track going left-handed she should really hit the line well. “She’s probably our best winning chance.” In the last (Westbury Stud 1600), Wexford will aim to replicate that result with a pair of top chances, Mosinvader and Desert Mystic. Desert Mystic is coming off a pair of sharp Rating 65 victories, while Mosinvader ran sensational splits to finish third behind Orchestral in the $1 million Elsdon Park Aotearoa Classic (1600m) on Karaka Millions Night. “We were very proud of him (Mosinvader), he went in there under the radar that night and we couldn’t have asked any more of him,” Scott said. “He’s dropping back to a grade race and the claim will help him. We think he’s a lovely horse that will get to open grade in the near future, so hopefully, he’s one step closer after the weekend. “If he can back up his performance from Karaka Millions Night, he’ll be very competitive. “But Desert Mystic’s confidence is high and he gets in well at the weights, so he should run very well too. It’s hard to split the pair of them so hopefully we can end the day strongly as well.” View the full article

Exciting three-year-old Lilly is among the Canterbury raid on Saturday’s Listed ILT Ascot Park Southland Guineas (1400m), and she’s certainly not there to make up the numbers. The daughter of War Decree was an impressive winner on debut in October and added a second victory to her name last Wednesday at Riccarton Park, downing the older horses with some authority over 1200m. Ross Beckett, who trains Lilly out of Yaldhurst, has had the $120,000 feature on his radar for some time. “We’ve always had this race in mind and she’s come through that run really well, I’m more than happy with her,” he said. “It is a quick turnaround for her, but she’s had a lot of work and she’s ready to go.” Beckett and his wife Cate race the filly, who they bred out of a seven-win mare La Generose. The couple have had plenty of success with the family, training Beneficial, a Highly Recommended mare who was twice placed at Group Three level. “As a two-year-old, Denby-Rose (Tait, jockey) rode Lilly in a couple of gallops and thought she was one of the quickest she’s sat on, so as soon as she said that I turned her out,” Beckett said. “I figured she would still be quick later on. “She’s better natured than Beneficial and I think she might be a bit quicker as well. She’s bred to get 2000m being out of a Generous mare and her sister got 1200-2200m, so there’s plenty ahead of her.” Pivotal Ten, the Listed Gore Guineas (1335m) winner, currently dominates the betting at $1.70, with Lilly a clear second-elect with her regular rider and Beckett’s apprentice Donovan Cooper taking the reins. Cooper’s two-kilogram claim will be appreciated by stablemate Treybon in the ODT Southern Mile Qualifier – Summer Cup (1600m) as the gelding attempts to confirm his place in the $200,000 ODT Southern Mile Final (1600m) at Wingatui on March 1. A seven-year-old by Sweynesse, Treybon has found career-best form this campaign winning the Kumara Gold Nuggets (1810m) in January, backed up by a gutsy performance to finish a narrow second to Quintabelle in the ODT Qualifier at Riccarton. “He hasn’t got enough points to get in the final with one second, so we thought we would go down and hopefully get some more, which gives him a fortnight to recover before going to Wingatui,” Beckett said. “If we’d gone to Ashburton, he’d only have a week. “The firm tracks are perfect for him and his quarter-cracks are under control at the moment, he’s going really well.” View the full article

Progressive Pierro mare Loch In Ora is in prime order to continue the run of black type success her connections have been enjoying. New Plymouth trainer Allan Sharrock can’t fault the in-form five-year-old who heads north for Saturday’s Listed Matamata Veterinary Services Kaimai Stakes (2000m). The pre-post favourite for the open handicap was bred by part-owner Christopher Grace and his familiar green and gold colours have been to the fore in recent feature events. His Savabeel filly Hinekaha triumphed in the Listed Oaks Stud Prelude (1800m) at New Plymouth for trainer Andrew Forsman while Iffraaj mare Reputation, prepared by Pam Gerard, won the Listed Wairarapa Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m). Reputation was ridden to victory by Lily Sutherland, and she continues her association with Loch In Ora this weekend. “She’s going pretty well for Chris Grace after winning the Breeders’ Stakes the other day so she likes those colours and long may it continue,” Sharrock said. Loch In Ora posted consecutive victories prior to Christmas before she finished a last-start third in the Gr.3 Taranaki Cup (1800m) behind the John Wheeler-trained Herbert. “She has come through her Taranaki Cup runs well and I’d say she’s probably has improved off it,” Sharrock said. “She hadn’t raced for six weeks and it was a nice effort, Wheels’ horse was pretty fit so I thought the run was very good.” The step up in distance from New Plymouth will also be in the five-year-old’s favour. “The 2000m looks to be her optimum distance and she’s drawn one,” Sharrock said. With five wins and two placings from nine starts, Loch In Ora has the tidy record of five wins and two placings from her nine appearances and future black-type opportunities await her post this weekend. “The fillies and mares’ races in the autumn like the Travis Stakes (Gr.2, 2000m) and the Manawatu Breeders’ Stakes (Gr.3, 2100m) are nice options for her later on,” Sharrock said. “We’ll get through Saturday and then work it out from there. She’ll probably be fully mature next season, but she’s doing a good job and her winning strike rate is pretty good.” Loch In Ora will be accompanied north by stablemates Bridal Train (Westbury Stud 1600) and Tavi Ann (Gavelhouse 2000). “Bridal Train was probably the unlucky runner (when fourth) in the Douro Cup and with Triston Moodley on she’ll drop 2kg and she looks nicely placed,” Sharrock said. “They’re both genuine horses and have been doing a good job for us.” Tavi Ann will be ridden by Craig Grylls and was a last-start second at Wanganui behind subsequent Taranaki Cup winner Herbert. View the full article

Te Akau Racing will have a strong hand at their home meeting at Matamata on Saturday, but their attention will also be firmly focussed on Flemington where their Group One-winning filly Captured By Love is set to make her Australian debut. The daughter of Written Tycoon has won five of her 11 starts in New Zealand, including the Gr.1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m), and was placed in the Gr.1 Sistema Stakes (1200m) and Gr.1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) as a juvenile. Her only unplaced run came last month when seventh in the Gr.1 Railway (1200m) under heavy rain at Ellerslie on Karaka Millions night, and trainer Mark Walker said the wet conditions were far from ideal for his filly. “That rain thwarted her chances,” he said. “She whacked away but she just wasn’t as effective when we had that rain.” Captured By Love has settled in well into Te Akau’s Cranbourne base and Walker is looking forward to testing her talent in Australia for the first time in Saturday’s Listed Desirable Stakes (1400m). “She travelled over and settled in well,” Walker said. “It has come up a pretty strong field, the One Thousand Guineas (Gr.1, 1600m) winner (Another Prophet) is in it and the number three horse (Too Darn Discreet) is a pretty good horse as well. “It is never a walk in the park over there, that’s for sure, and it won’t be on Saturday either. But she is in good form and we are hopeful.” A Flemington mile target awaits Captured By Love, but what that will be will be dictated by Saturday’s performance. “We will just play it by ear after Saturday, but one option could be the Australian Guineas (Gr.1, 1600m) and another is the Kewney Stakes, a Group Two three-year-old fillies race.” Stablemate It’s A Wild Night will also be chasing stakes success at Flemington this weekend in the Listed The Elms Handicap (1400m). The Group One performer will be first-up on Saturday, and Walker is confident of a bold showing from the five-year-old gelding. “It’s A Wild Night gets his chance, he is only half a kilo above the minimum in that race, so gets in nice,” Walker said. Te Akau will also be looking for stakes success on this side of the Tasman when they take a strong contingent to Matamata. Leading their charge will be a three-pronged attack in the Gr.3 Fairview Matamata Slipper (1200m) five-horse field, led by undefeated colt Return To Conquer, who sits atop the market at $1.55, while two-win colt To Bravery Born is on the second line of betting at $3.80, and debut winner He Who Dares is the third fancied runner at $7. “They are three nice Snitzel colts and you can make a case for all of them,” said Walker, who trains his Matamata team in partnership with Sam Bergerson. “Sometimes those small fields can throw up surprises and it becomes a very tactical affair. “I think Return To Conquer is our number one seed, but there isn’t a lot between the other two.” A tilt at the Gr.1 Sistema Stakes (1200m) at Ellerslie on Champions Day, March 8, is in the offing for the trio if they perform up to expectations on Saturday. “It is the most likely path, but they have got to front up on Saturday and perform well to continue on that path,” Walker said. Te Akau will also have a strong line-up in the Gr.2 J Swap Contractors LTD Matamata Breeders’ Stakes (1200m), led by last start Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m) victor La Dorada. “She is tough, like all the progeny of Super Seth,” Walker said. “He is doing an amazing job at stud. His progeny are tough and resilient, and the New Zealand industry is lucky to have him. We expect her to be a genuine winning chance on Saturday.” She will be joined in the race by stablemates Marokopa Falls and Born To Be Royal. “Marokopa Falls had a nice freshen-up after Wellington (when third in the Gr.2 Wakefield Challenge Stakes, 1100m) and has had a couple of exhibition gallops, so she is ready to roll,” Walker said. “Born To Be Royal didn’t get all favours in her debut (when runner-up). It was a good debut and she isn’t there making up the numbers.” What You Wish For will be the stable’s sole representative in the Listed Matamata Veterinary Services Kaimai Stakes (2000m), and Walker said he has conditions to suit. “He has always promised to be competitive in the big ones,” he said. “He gets in on the minimum (53kg) and 2000m suits, so he should be thereabouts, and he has got a good record on his home track.” While Walker is hoping for positive results throughout the nine-race card on Saturday, he said it would be sentimental to win the Listed Lisa Chittick Champagne Stakes (1400m), the first time it will be run at stakes level. “It would be very special to win Lisa’s race, she was a very dare friend of everyone’s, and it would be an honour to win her race,” Walker said. The stable will have two chances to do so with Group One winner Skew Wiff and last start Gr.3 Phar Lap Trophy (1600m) winner My Lips Are Sealed. “Skew Wiff is better suited to it because it is 1400m and with My Lips are Sealed, probably her best chance is a mile and beyond, but this race fits in with the Cuddle Stakes (Gr.3, 1600m) on Oaks Day.” View the full article

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The west coast Florida track north of Tampa said it's proud of its nearly 100-year-old history of racing.View the full article

Group 1-winning white mare Sodashi (Jpn) (Kurofune) delivered her first foal, a filly by Equinox (Jpn), last month according to a post by the Northern Horse Park and owner/breeder Kaneko Makoto Holdings on X. Born on Jan. 30, the filly does not share her dam's white colouring as she is bay, but is doing well. Her dam a champion at two and three, has a trio of top-level races to her credit–the Hanshin Juvenile Fillies as her finale in a four-for-four juvenile season, the G1 Oka Sho (Japanese 1000 Guineas) at three, and the G1 Victoria Mile at four. Overall, the full-sister to Japanese Champion Sprinter and G1 Sprinters Stakes heroine Mama Cocha (Jpn) won seven times throughout her career and earned over $5.3 million. Sodashi's dam, the winner Buchiko (Jpn) (King Kamehameha {Jpn}), was known for her unique spots, while her second dam, Sunday Silence mare Shirayukihime (Jpn), was white. The post Sodashi’s First Foal Is A Filly By Equinox appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

You'd better believe the Kentucky Derby (G1) will be a hot topic this spring in the Boston Red Sox locker room. Two of their players already have been bitten by the horse racing bug: Walker Buehler and Alex Bregman.View the full article

Race 2 AR PAINTERS HANDICAP 1300m ERNA (L Sutherland) – Trainer Ms. A Harvey reported to Stewards, ERNA has been retired from racing. The post Otaki-Maori Racing Club @ Otaki, Sunday 9 February 2025 appeared first on RIB. View the full article

There are nine horse racing meetings set for Australia on Friday, February 14. Our racing analysts here at horsebetting.com.au have found you the best bets and the quaddie numbers for Canterbury and Moonee Valley. Friday’s Free Horse Racing Tips – February 14, 2025 Canterbury Racing Tips Moonee Valley 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 February 14, 2025 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 really gambling with? Set a deposit limit today. “GETON is not a bonus code. Neds does not offer bonus codes in Australia and this referral code does not grant access to offers. Full terms. BlondeBet Signup Code GETON 2 Punters Prefer Blondes BlondeBet Blonde Boosts – Elevate your prices! Join BlondeBet Review 18+ Gamble Responsibly. WHAT ARE YOU REALLY GAMBLING WITH? full terms. 3 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. Recommended! 4 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 5 Say Hey to the social bet! Dabble You Better Believe It Join Dabble Review 18+ Gamble Responsibly. THINK. IS THIS A BET YOU REALLY WANT TO PLACE? Full terms. Bet365 Signup Code GETON 6 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. Horse racing tips View the full article

Just Steel (Justify), runner-up in last year's GI Arkansas Derby, continues to train towards his 4-year-old debut at Oaklawn Park, with the Mar. 29 GIII Oaklawn Mile his first major target of the season, according to trainer D. Wayne Lukas. Just Steel has been sidelined since suffering a condylar fracture during a fifth-place effort in the GI Preakness Stakes last May. “He's pretty versatile,” Lukas said. “He could go long or short, so I've got some options. In a perfect world, if everything would fall into place, I'd like to run him in the Oaklawn Mile. That would be a great spot. “I would say I'd probably try to find a conditioned race and then go in the Oaklawn Mile. That would be my guess. I'm going to run him. I really think he's doing good.” Just Steel has seven published works at Oaklawn since December. He most recently worked six furlongs from the gate in 1:14.00 Feb. 10. “Super,” Lukas said when asked how Just Steel had progressed. “Any adjective you want to use, superlative you want to use, would fit. He's coming back, he's had that time off, he's filled out, he's matured. If you've looked at his work tab, it's pretty solid.” The post Just Steel on the Comeback Trail appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

3rd-TAM, $53K, Msw, 3yo, f, 7f, 1:50 p.m. ET. MEURSAULT (Tapit) is set for her first start under the care of trainer Chad Brown for Alpha Delta. A $700,000 Keeneland September buy, the filly is out of unraced Lasy W (War Front), who claims one other foal–a yearling filly by Quality Road. The first-time starter's second dam, GI Acorn Stakes heroine Zaftig (Gone West), is also responsible for MGSP Spinoff (Hard Spun). Joining Meursault at the barrier is homebred Smoothly (Nyquist). Godolphin also campaigned her dam Via Strata (Street Cry {Ire}) and her second dam MGSW Golden Velvet (Seeking the Gold). Trained by Eoin Harty, Smoothly's extended female family includes MGISW Matareya (Pioneerof the Nile) and current sire Maxfield (Street Sense). TJCIS PPS The post Friday Insights: Tapit Filly For Alpha Delta Unveiled At Tampa Bay Downs appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Three years after taking the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes (G1) aboard Home Affairs, jockey James McDonald returns to Flemington in hopes of piloting the Chris Waller-trained Switzerland to victory Feb. 15.View the full article

Despite tiring and finishing fourth in the Feb. 1 Holy Bull Stakes (G3), co-owner Ramiro Restrepo said Ferocious checked off several important boxes in his 3-year-old debut that gives the team confidence ahead of the March 29 Florida Derby (G1).View the full article

Live racing was canceled at Penn National Race Course Thursday evening due to the ongoing effects of winter weather in the area. Racing at the Pennsylvania oval is set to resume Friday with the first of 10 races scheduled to go off at 5:45 pm. Thursday's canceled 10-race card will now be run in its entirety next Wednesday and the track will race Wednesday through Friday next week. The post Penn National Cancels Racing Thursday appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

In 'TDN Rising Star' Colloquial (Vekoma), George Weaver trains what looks like the fastest 3-year-old male in the U.S. Last week at Aqueduct he won a maiden race by seven lengths while earning a Beyer figure of 106. The 106 is easily the fastest number run so far this year by a 3-year-old. For some owners, a race that good would have afflicted them with Derby Fever and their horses would wind up in traditional Derby preps. But owners Jack Wolf, Curtis Harrell and their partners have said that all racing decisions will be made by Weaver, who is still mulling his options That's not a bad thing. Weaver is careful and practical. On the one hand, trying to squeeze in the Derby after the horse broke his maiden in a sprint race in February may be way too much to ask. On the other hand, might he be so talented and fast that anything is possible. If he thinks that Colloquial could win the Derby, then don't his owners deserve a chance to win the $5-million race? These are nice problems to have, at least for now, Weaver is exploring all possibilities and ruling out nothing. The only firm decision he has made is that Colloquial will have six or seven weeks off before his next race. “Because he ran so fast, the only thing I am committed to is giving him some time,” the trainer said. “I am a big believer that if we tried to bring him back on short rest it would backfire. With the number he ran being so fast, giving him a six or seven-week break now would be ideal to me. He gets back here to Florida on Friday and we'll see how he's doing and go from there.” Weaver is the first to admit that trying to force his way into the Derby so quickly and with so little preparation is a risky proposition. “I'm not sure the horse will run two turns,” he said. “But we're at that time of the year with these 3-year-olds where it's not hard to get that Triple Crown fever. We'll keep all of our options open. If the Gotham were back in five weeks, I'd probably be tempted to try it. It's a one-turn mile. But running him would mean bringing him back in three weeks and I'm not going to do that.” Nonetheless, he hasn't slammed the door on trying a traditional Derby prep in the horse's next start. “If you ran him in one of the major Derby preps and if he won you could go to the Derby, if you wanted to. But it doesn't feel like a realistic goal,” Weaver said. “But you never know. Times have changed. It used to be that you had to go into the Derby with a seasoned horse. Now, more and more every year, some of the more highly regarded horses in the Derby field are horses that didn't get started until they were three.” At this point, it looks like the safer bet is to concentrate on sprint races restricted to 3-year-olds. An obvious goal would be the GI Woody Stephens Stakes, which is run during the Belmont Stakes festival at Saratoga. What if Colloquial had distance limitations, but turns into an outstanding sprinter? “I'd definitely be OK with that,” Weaver said. “It's my responsibility to my owners to put all of these options out there. Sometimes owners would like to see them run long. I don't know if this horse will go long. If I owned him myself, I would try to get to the Woody Stephens and pick the best path to get there and after that I'd think about stretching him out. With the 3-year-olds they only get one shot at the Triple Crown races. There are a lot of decisions that have to be made. Maybe we will stretch him out in his next start and see what he wants to do.” “Maybe he will go two turns. He's out of a Bernardini mare, but it's still a big question mark. We're glad to have him. If I can keep him healthy all year, he's going to be a big force.” Colloquial is by Vekoma, who Weaver also trained. Vekoma, last year's leading freshman sire, flopped in the 2019 Derby when finishing 12th, but he was a completely different horse the next year when Weaver raced Vekoma only in one-turn races. He won all three of his starts during his 4-year-old year, including the GI Carter and the GI Metropolitan H. To train what might turn out to be one of Vekoma's fastest sons brings back a lot of memories for Weaver. “We've been lucky enough to get some good horses in our barn,” Weaver said. “Not a lot of them, but we've had quite a few nice horses. Vekoma is obviously one of them. It's amazing when they show up. The appreciation we have for a good horse is unbelievable. It's about the horse. Saratoga County was my first good one. With horses like him and Vekoma, it didn't really matter what I did with them. I just tried to keep them healthy. You didn't need to worry so much about what you did with them between races because when you led them over in the afternoon, they always showed up. You think about how much they do for you and your family. With how well Vekoma is doing at stud, it's like we're now being able to relive his greatness.” The post Weaver Weighing Options with Colloquial appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

OGMA Investments, JR Ranch, Upland Flats Racing, Morplay Racing, High Step Racing, Lady Sheila Stable and Michael and Jules Iavarone's highly regarded Victory Avenue (Arrogate), unraced since his debut run last winter, returns to the races Sunday at Gulfstream Park. Trained by Gustavo Delgado, the colt was second after a troubled start in his debut at Gulfstream on the Pegasus undercard last January. He was entered in the GII Fountain of Youth Stakes off that maiden appearance, but was scratched. “He was just such a naturally fast talented colt that he kind of took us to the [maiden] race,” explained co-owner Ramiro Restrepo. “We started him at the end of January in a race when he really should have just started training at the end of January. Obviously, he put up a ridiculous race. He ran out of his skin, but he kind of told us after the race that he needed some time. We turned him out for a good while and have taken our sweet time.” Victory Avenue | Coglianese Victory Avenue returned to the work tab Dec. 7 and has breezed eight times at Gulfstream for his comeback. He drew post two in a field of seven for Sunday's fourth race, a maiden special weight for 4-year-olds and up sprinting six furlongs on the main track. Javier Castellano will ride. “He's had eight workouts so far and he's ready to take that first step. We've been easy on him just to get him back. He hasn't had any crazy bullets or anything like that, but with those works he's fit enough to run and just re-start his career,” Restrepo said. “Obviously last year the imagination was running wild, but I think we're a patient bunch and we're just happy to get him back in the gate.” Restrepo also reported that JR Ranch, Marquee Bloodstock, High Step Racing and OGMA Investments' Ferocious (Flatter) exited his fourth-place finish in the Feb. 1 GIII Holy Bull Stakes in fine shape. Second in last year's GI Hopeful Stakes and GI Claiborne Breeders' Futurity, the colt was making his first start since finishing fifth in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile. He was wearing blinkers for the first time in the Holy Bull and found himself within a head of the lead after six furlongs before tiring. “He was tired seven furlongs in. From the quarter [pole] home he kind of flattened out, and that's fine. It happens. He came out of it well. It was nice to have gotten a start in to get the year going,” Restrepo said. “The positive is that he did so many things that nobody even notices. He would get really nervous in the paddock. He would get really nervous in the post parade. He would get nervous in the gate and he would run in pieces in his races. He wouldn't run a complete race. Those were huge questions for us. With the blinkers and the time [off], all those boxes were checked. He behaved like a total gentleman in the paddock, he behaved like a total gentleman in the post parade and starting gate. That was huge for us.” Ferocious's likely next start is expected to be the Mar. 29 GI Florida Derby. “I don't know what Gustavo's next move is going to be,” Restrepo said. “The plan was to go Holy Bull-Florida Derby. I believe that seems to be the same plan. I haven't heard him say we have to go Fountain of Youth or reroute to another place or anything like that. I'm assuming Florida Derby will be the next start, and we have ample time to keep building on his training for the Florida Derby.” The post Victory Avenue Returns Sunday, Florida Derby Likely Next for Ferocious appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

We have seen him race just six times to date and there is good reason to hope that the best could still be to come for the strapping four-year old Economics (GB) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}). Whatever else he goes on to achieve, it would be hard to surpass the delight he delivered for Shaikh Isa Salman Al Khalifa in securing his first Group 1 triumph in the race sponsored by the owner's home nation, the Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes. The mind of the colt's trainer William Haggas is already turning over with pencilled-in plans for the season ahead and, despite the expert help he has on hand at his Somerville Lodge stable, he has added what he hopes will be a beneficial twist to the current training schedule of Economics by sending him off for some schooling with Olympic gold medal-winning eventer Laura Collett. And by that, we don't mean schooling in the racing sense of popping him over a few hurdles, but the laying of a good foundation of flatwork in an arena. Done properly, particularly in partnership with a rider of Collett's calibre, this steady, collected exercise encourages a horse to use different muscles to those relied upon in the daily routine of traditional racing training, in turn enhancing strength and balance. Economics is reportedly a model pupil. “He's an intelligent horse, and Laura thinks he's wonderful,” says Haggas. Collett would know a thing or two about sitting on a good Thoroughbred. Her experience in this field includes riding the great steeplechaser Kauto Star in his conversion from racehorse to dressage horse, and she previously did similar work with the Haggas stable's Dubai Honour (Ire) (Pride Of Dubai {Aus}) in the days before he was a three-time Group 1 winner. The trainer continues, “She said she wanted to give Economics another week last week, and I said, 'You can have two if you want.' We trust her to do what is right for him, and it's very much a team game, because it was the introduction from Yogi Breisner who set us up with Laura, with Dubai Honour initially. And really we've been a fan ever since, and of course Maureen gets it.” Haggas's wife Maureen previously competed in eventing herself and remains one of the key riders at Somerville Lodge. She was doubtless instrumental in the arrangement which sees the former British Eventing team performance manager Yogi Breisner appear at their Newmarket stable once a month to offer tuition to riders in the yard. While it is still only February, in Newmarket it is hard not to yearn for those days of high summer and top-class Flat racing, and it may well be at Royal Ascot where we witness the return of Economics. He last ran at Ascot in the G1 Qipco British Champion Stakes and was seen to have some blood in one nostril after finishing sixth in testing underfoot conditions. Haggas says, “He was an immature horse last year, and I'm really hoping that this will be his year. His first main target is the Prince of Wales's Stakes. I'm not intending to force him any earlier than that, because a lot of the types of races he's going to run in are from Ascot onwards. But if he needs a run, it's possible he could go for the [Prix] Ganay. I wouldn't want to run him on very heavy ground again, because that didn't appear to suit him at Ascot. But essentially, we're looking at the Prince of Wales's and then we'll take it from there.” He adds, “The trip that he will be running over is the great trip for a four-year-old because there are lots of valuable and prestigious options. I always thought he would stay a mile and a half but I'm not sure whether we'll ever do it. I actually thought he might be better at a mile and a half, but he's pretty good at a mile and a quarter.” Laura Collett and Kauto Star | Racingfotos The aforementioned Dubai Honour is one of a team of four soon heading from the Haggas stable to Sydney, which has become a regular – and highly lucrative – stomping ground for the trainer. Now seven, Dubai Honour took New South Wales by storm two years ago when winning the G1 Ranvet and G1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes – two obvious repeat targets for him this time around. Success in either would also help bolster the charge of his sire Pride Of Dubai, who currently leads the Australian general sires' table. Since his previous Australian foray, Dubai Honour won last year's G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud and was last seen chasing home his Newmarket neighbour Giavellotto (Ire) to be second in the G1 Hong Kong Vase. “Verry Elleegant has died, sadly,” says Haggas of the great Australian-trained mare who tussled, honours even, with another of Haggas's multiple Group 1 winners in the country, Addeybb (Ire). “But we've now got a new challenger in Via Sistina. She's obviously very good, and is much the best horse there. So she might be a tough nut to crack, but we should never be frightened of one.” Joining Dubai Honour on the journey south is the King and Queen's Royal Ascot winner Desert Hero (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}). “He's in good shape at the moment. Long may that continue,” Haggas reports. “And we're taking a six-year-old called Al Mubhir, who is by Frankel. He likes a bit of cut in the ground, but copes on faster ground. He's ready for a trip abroad and I think he'll enjoy it very much.” Completing the quartet is four-year-old Marama (GB) (Sea The Moon {Ger}), a seven-length winner at Chester last September who will remain in Australia having been bought by a local syndicate. “We've been very lucky in Sydney,” says Haggas, whose most recent plunder of a huge pot came with Lake Forest (GB) (No Nay Never). Tony Bloom and Ian McAleavy's Gimcrack winner of 2023 won the A$10m Golden Eagle at Rosehill last November, dashing the hopes of the Nurlan Bizakov-owned Lazzat (Fr) in the dying strides to pick up the equivalent of just over £2.8m in prize-money. “When Lake Forest won there, blimey, that was extraordinary. I haven't talked to the owners yet, but I quite fancy going to Hong Kong at the end of April for the Champions Mile. And then he'll go to Ascot, hopefully, for the Queen Anne. He won over seven and a half [in Australia], finishing well. We'll campaign him over a mile. Seven's a bad trip in Europe, but he wants top of the ground. I don't think he'll get it early on, so maybe Hong Kong is the right shout. And he might well end up back in Australia or at the Breeders' Cup. We'll have to work that out, whether he goes to Australia for a race in Sydney and then a race in Melbourne in October/November, or goes to the Breeders' Cup in California. We'll have to see. But he's a pretty good horse, I think. To do what he did was pretty outstanding.” Haggas begins his international campaign for 2025 this Saturday in Qatar, where he will run Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum's Yaroogh (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) in the Al Rayyan Mile. “He just got beaten a nose in the Horris Hill,” he says of the three-year-old, who won three races last year, including the Listed Prix Saraca at Chantilly. “He's got a great draw, but he needs a thunderstorm really and he's not going to get it. But he's very well, and he's a hardy bugger. He likes going forward, which I think will suit him around there. So hopefully he will run a nice race.” The post ‘He Was an Immature Horse Last Year’: Haggas on Economics and International Plans appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

It’s Friday night and that means dual racing under the lights at Addington and Alexandra Park. The return of Wag Star will create a lot of interest in the south while Greased Lightnin aims for a third win in just five career starts at Alexandra Park. Wag Star favoured for winning resumption at Addington By Michael Guerin Wag Star is ready to start making up for his lost summer at Addington tonight. But exactly what his campaign looks like heading forward could be decided by his performance in tonight’s feature pace, the Studholme Bloodstock handicap Pace (8.26pm) . Wag Star looked every inch an open class pacer in the making when he returned with a massive performance in the spring and was then second to Tact McLeod in an open class race at Addington, form that has stacked up since. After runs in the Kaikoura Cup and the junior free-for-all he missed his main target the Invercargill Cup with a virus that forced trainer Craig Ferguson to let him miss most of the summer. “Once that happened he was better off having a spell,” says Ferguson. “But he has come up really well this time and won both his trials without us having the blinds on. “He is probably going into this Friday as ready as he was back in the spring and we all saw what he did back then. He is currently a $2.40 favourite. “So it looks a good comeback race for him, especially only being off 10m.” The field contains little winning form but the obvious danger is Dalton Shard, who while he hasn’t won in a while has been in great form, with a second in the Invercargill Cup and fourth in the Auckland Cup. He has had a brief let up too but like Wag Star has plenty of options this new season. “This week might tell us which way to go, north or south,” explains Ferguson. “He could stick around in the south for the country cups or maybe head up north for some of the better races up there.” Could that possibly extend to a slot in the $1million Race by Betcha at Cambridge on April 4? “Obviously that would be great if the opportunity came up and he was racing well enough.” Tonight’s meeting sees another early season 2YO race, the Barron Bloodstock Class of 2025 Mobile Pace (7.29pm) with the stables represented in the first of the season two weeks ago, Ross Houghton and Ken Barron, joined by debutantes from Mark and Nathan Purdon and Team Telfer. The Telfer runner Sonofamistery is a $1.90 favourite following the scratching of debut winner Showmethetanlines. Greased Lightnin aiming to go three in a row at Alexandra Park By Michael Guerin Learning curves don’t come much steeper than the one Greased Lightnin finds himself on at Alexandra Park tonight. But co-trainer Scott Phelan says he wouldn’t be surprised if the three-year-old keeps on winning and reveals himself as a Derby contender. Greased Lightnin contests the opener, the appropriately named Purdon and Phelan – ATC Leading Trainers Mobile Pace (6.15pm), on a short and sharp night at Alexandra Park and he finds himself being fast forwarded into intermediate grade. As can sometimes happen at Alexandra Park Greased Lightnin has come from a maiden race two starts ago to tonight taking on horses like his own stablemate Invisible, who a few starts ago was racing Miracle Mile runner-up Sooner The Better and Jolimont in a $100,000 open race. Phelan, who trains in partnership with the legend Barry Purdon, says while the two stable reps are coming in with vastly different form lines he can’t choose between them. “We all know Invisible can mix it with those better horses and he can win this week if he shows his best,” says Phelan. “But I am not sure Greased Lightnin is any inferior ability wise. “Sure he is younger and still improving but he has real ability and I wouldn’t be surprised to see him in some of the big races over the next few months. “So while it is a big step up this week we wouldn’t be stunned if he won again.” If Greased Lightnin can make it three wins on end it could set up a family double as his older half sister Ultimate Racy Girl also finds herself in a race she can win, Race 4 – the Woodlands Stud ’25 Yearling Draft Junior Mobile Pace. She had her highs and lows in the second half of last season but is better than the grade she finds herself in tonight. While the Purdon/Phelan team has a small but important hand at tonight’s meeting two of their stable stars start their Sydney campaigns at Menangle tomorrow night. Sooner The Better returns against a genuinely top class local in Captains Knock at Menangle as he works his way toward the Miracle Mile, which has automatic qualifiers in two weeks. “He is really well and will go a good race but he will also improve with this week,” says Phelan. Better Knuckle Up makes his Australian debut in the $50,000 Hondo Grattan Stakes, which is a qualifier for the Chariots of Fire on March 1. He meets NZ Derby winner We Walk By Faith and a strong bunch of Australian four-year-olds and faces the Menangle fresh up curse, with the big mile track notoriously difficult for New Zealand horses to win their first start on, particularly in a Group-level mile. The stable star Merlin will bypass tomorrow’s meeting and resume at Menangle next week as he also looks to qualify for the Miracle Mile via the lead up races on March 1. View the full article

by Adam Hamilton Tonight’s Terang Cup may seem a left-field option for star Kiwi pacer Don’t Stop Dreaming, but not when you take a glance at the race’s Honour Roll. One of the greatest pacer’s the sport has seen, Blacks A Fake, is the biggest name on the list. Trainer-driver Natalie Rasmussen used the 2006 Terang Cup win to launch Blacks A Fake towards the first of his four Inter Dominion wins, in Hobart just weeks later. Just days after winning the 2015 Hunter Cup, Kerryn Manning took Arden Rooney to Terang in New South Wales and won the Cup. Months later, he became the first Aussie pacer in 28 years to win the NZ Cup. Before them, the great Sokyola won Terang Cups in 2003 and 2005 – before and after – a plethora of major wins, including two Miracle Miles. In Don’t Stop Dreaming’ case, the Terang Cup simply suited his preparation for another tilt at the Miracle Mile. Just four years ago, Anthony Butt used Terang to prepare Wolf Stride, who won a Miracle Mile qualifier and then ran third in the Mile itself. “It suited to stay down in Victoria a week longer and go to Terang, rather than head to Sydney early,” Purdon said. That way Don’t Stop Dreaming will have the foundation of three runs in as many weeks, but get a two-week break before the crucial Miracle Mile qualifying races at Menangle on March 1. And excited Kate Gath keeps the drive after partnering Don’t Stop Dreaming for the first time when a fantastic second to Leap To Fame in last week’s Group 1 Cranbourne Cup. “It’s exciting and a real bonus,” Gath said. “I knew I was just warming the seat at Cranbourne so to get another go on him is terrific.” Don’t Stop Dreaming is a $1.55 favourite for the Cup that goes at 10.33pm NZT. Gath was suitably impressed at Cranbourne. “He went super,” she said. “Every time I asked him for a bit more, he kept giving. “I heard Grant (Dixon) say after the race he was a bit surprised he couldn’t shake us off, that’s a real credit to this horse. “I just wish I’d been able to drop back in behind Leap To Fame on the home bend. I got close, but Mach Dan did just enough to keep me out. “I’m not saying we’d have beaten Leap To Fame, but we’d have got a lot closer with that little breather.” It was the second time Don’t Stop Dreaming has run second to Leap To The Fame. The other was in last year’s Hunter Cup. “Mark felt the Hunter Cup run would’ve brought the horse on and it certainly seemed that way,” Gath said. “It’s an easier race this week, especially with no Leap To Fame there, so you’d expect him to go very close if he runs up to last week.” On the same card, Gath drives her only stable star Catch A Wave in a support race at Terang. “We could’ve gone to the (Terang) Cup with him, but just prefer to keep him to the sprint races leading into the Miracle Mile,” she said. Swayzee heads to Albury as he chases $1m bonus By Adam Hamilton Cam Hart is not taking tonight’s Albury Cup in Victoria for granted with dual New Zealand Cup winner Swayzee. Despite the mighty stayer winning 19 of his 25 starts for trainer Jason Grimson, including an epic last start win over Leap To Fame in the Hunter Cup, Hart insists an outside back row draw, full field and some quality opposition will make the race a challenge. “Yes, you do go expecting him to win races like this, but this won’t just be a stroll in the park,” he said. “It’s a small track and clearly the best field of the four NSW Cups he’s been in so far. Captain Hammerhead is a lovely horse and I’ve got some time for Catalpa Rescue, too.” Despite that, Swayzee is a $1.10 favourite. The race will go at 10.53pm NZT. Hart said the mighty stayer had thrived since the Hunter Cup win, which he believes was the best of Swayzee’s career so far. “He’s really well. The timing of the race is good, too. It’s a couple of weeks since the Hunter Cup and we’ve got four weeks until his next run, so we can afford to go out there and really make it a contest,” he said. “I’m still buzzing after that Hunter Cup. He went super in the Victoria Cup (last October) and the two NZ Cups wins have been terrific, but I think the Hunter Cup is his best win yet. “In a great field like that, to come from a back row draw and just keep running in that (record) time. “It’s the biggest thrill I’ve had in the game, so I guess that says it all.” Swayzee will guarantee connections at least a $500,000 bonus if he wins at Albury as fourth leg of the five-race NSW Carnival of Cups. He’s already won the first three legs at Parkes, Young and Tamworth and can boost the bonus to $1 million if he wins at Albury and then adds the final leg, the Renshaw Cup, at Penrith on March 14. View the full article

A new three-year workforce strategy, designed to improve recruitment, development and retention of people working within the racing and breeding industries, has been announced by the independently-chaired Horseracing Industry People Board (HIPB). Titled Our People, Racing's Future, the strategy encompasses five main themes, starting with the recruitment of more people with suitable skills, the training and development of new and existing members of the workforce, and improving employment practices to help with retention of staff. The final two elements are inclusion and wellbeing, with an emphasis on mental and physical health provision. The plan is described as “a vision for ensuring racing is an attractive, rewarding and fulfilling industry in which to work, where people feel supported to build a career and achieve their potential”. In turn, it is hoped that this will see a reduction in the skills shortage, with the aim of bringing the average vacancy rates across racing and breeding yards down to 10%. That figure currently stands at 24%, while it was also reported that 45% of staff are looking to leave the sport within the next two years. Julia Tyson, interim chair of the HIPB, said, “The publication of the strategy is an important milestone for the sport. We are an industry driven by the passion, dedication and expertise of our people–and we must do more to support those at the heart of British racing and breeding. “We know that working in our industry can be incredibly rewarding, but it can also be demanding. We are acutely aware of the challenges people face, especially in horse-facing roles. To ease these pressures, we need to recruit, develop and retain more people with the right skills and do more to prioritise people's physical and mental wellbeing. “This workforce strategy builds on the vast amount of existing good practice while thinking about how we can do things differently, setting new standards for the future and doing so in a more coordinated way. It will take time to deliver, but we are encouraged by the willingness of the industry to get behind the plan. “We all have an important role to play in ensuring the strategy's success and securing a more prosperous future for British racing and breeding–and the people who make it all possible.” The HIPB includes Flat trainer Daniel Kubler, former National Hunt jockey Tom Scudamore, Helene Sharrock, chief people officer at the Jockey Club, and George McGrath, chief executive of the National Association of Racing Staff (NARS). The strategy has also been approved by racing's leaders, with Brant Dunshea, acting chief executive of the British Horseracing Authority (BHA), describing the launch as “an important moment for the sport”. He added, “We have made welcome progress, especially in recent years, to create more attractive, safer, supportive and inclusive working environments for racing's people. We do recognise we need to do more and do it in a more coordinated way. “We need to be more coordinated if we are going to tackle the challenges we face, particularly when it comes to recruitment and retaining the talent in our industry that will enable our sport, the people and horses to flourish.” The strategy is available to view in full here. The post Three-Year Plan Announced to Grow and Support Racing’s Workforce appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article