Wandering Eyes

James McDonald was honored Dec. 6 for winning the Longines World's Best Jockey Award for the second time. View the full article

One of the more remarkable characteristics of Hong Kong racing is that for a jurisdiction that is home to roughly 1,200 Thoroughbreds, invariably the torch gets passed and the town is never wanting for world-class athletes. Going back to the turn of the century, gallopers to have captured the imagination of not only those in and around Hong Kong, but also of an increasingly sophisticated worldwide audience have included the likes of Fairy King Prawn (Aus), the legendary Silent Witness (Aus), Good Ba Ba, Vengeance of Rain (NZ), Ambitious Dragon (NZ), California Memory and Able Friend (Aus). Seamlessly taking up the mantle since are the likes of Beauty Generation (NZ), California Spangle (Ire) and last, but in no way least, the only recently retired Golden Sixty (Aus). So it really is an embarrassment of riches for devotees of the Hong Kong racing product, and at this Sunday's Longines Hong Kong International Races meeting at Sha Tin Racecourse, the jurisdiction's current leading light has a chance to make history on a few levels, while another has the opportunity to announce his arrival onto the world stage in Silent Witness-esque fashion. The former is Peter Lau's Romantic Warrior (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}), who took Australasia by storm last season with an unprecedented stretch that saw him win a G1 Cox Plate in Melbourne before ending the season with a score in the G1 Yasuda Kinen in Tokyo. With a victory in Sunday's HK$40-million G1 Longines Hong Kong Cup, the 300,000gns Tattersalls October graduate can surpass Golden Sixty and become the world's richest horse in history, and he would have accomplished the feat in 22 starts, compared to Golden Sixty's thirty-one. He would also become the first three-time winner of the 2000-metre contest. James McDonald gets the leg up from trainer Danny Shum, and no one knows him better. “He's just a perfect racehorse,” the jockey said. “Gate speed, sustained speed, doesn't matter whether it's wet, dry, fast tempo, slow tempo, he's pretty much unflappable over a mile and a quarter. I just really enjoy riding him, he's very self-explanatory. Hopefully he can make it three Hong Kong Cups. It would be really fitting if he could go down as one of the, probably the best, Hong Kong horse to grace this Sha Tin turf. He just keeps racking them up.” Japanese runners have won the Cup four times since 2016 and the country's two Cup runners are not without their claims. Triple Tiara heroine Liberty Island (Jpn) (Duramente {Jpn}) is capable on her best, but must improve on her latest down-the-field finish behind subsequent G1 Japan Cup hero Do Deuce (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}) in the G1 Tenno Sho (Autumn) Oct. 27. Tastiera (Jpn) (Satono Crown {Jpn}), whose sire won the 2016 G1 Longines Hong Kong Vase, is the 2023 G1 Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) hero and belied longshot odds to be second first off a six-month absence in the Tenno Sho. Spirit Dancer (GB) (Frankel {GB}), fresh off a defence of his G2 Bahrain International Trophy title, leads the European contingent, while Aidan O'Brien saddles the 3-year-old fillies Content (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Wingspan (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), each exiting unplaced runs at the Breeders' Cup on Nov. 2. Time Is Now For Ka Ying Rising Famed conditioner David Hayes has but one winner from 41 starters at the HKIR, having sent out All Thrills Too (Aus) to win the G1 Longines Hong Kong Sprint back in 2002. In the form of Ka Ying Rising (NZ) (Shamexpress {NZ}), he will saddle the horse that many consider the program's likeliest winner in the same event, albeit over 1200 metres this time. The 4-year-old has never been worse than second in his 10 trips to the post to date, and he enters Sunday's contest on a seven-race winning streak, including a track record-setting defeat of the re-opposing Howdeepisyourlove (Aus) (Deep Field {Aus}) in the local course-and-distance lead-up three weeks ago. To do so, he'll need to overcome gate 11–a barrier which has never tossed up a Sprint winner–but if connections are worried, they sure aren't revealing it. “He doesn't need to be any better than he has been at his last two starts this weekend,” said jockey Zac Purton, a three-time winner of the Sprint and of 11 HKIR races in total. “He has just got to come out reproduce that same performance and hopefully it is a fast-run race where every horse gets their chance. The track is in great order, it's riding very well and the weather this week is perfect, so we are looking forward to it.” Ka Ying Rising | HKJC For his part, Hayes invoked the names of a couple of pretty good horses when thinking about his charge. “He has got a wonderful temperament and he is easy to train and is very sound, a massive stride length and I call it an extra action,” he explained. “When you watch a lot of gallops and race horses, you see very few horses with what I see as the extra action and the extra action I have seen in my career just recently is of course Winx (Aus) and Black Caviar (Aus),” he added, stopping short of suggesting Ka Ying Rising is as good as those legends–at least for the time being. Foreigners in general and Europeans specifically have struggled down the years to land a blow in the Sprint, but the supplemented Starlust (GB) (Zoustar {Aus}) has the inherent quality to be in the mix. After running with credit in Dubai last winter, he was a listed winner at York in July and ran a blinder to be third behind Bradsell (GB) (Tasleet {GB}) in the G1 Nunthorpe Stakes at York in August. He may have struggled with the ground when ninth in the G1 Prix de l'Abbaye Oct. 6, but closed fast off a furious gallop to defy odds of 33-1 in the GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint Nov. 2. Each-way players might have a look at Japan's Toshin Macau (Jpn) (Big Arthur {Jpn}), narrow winner of the G2 Centaur Stakes Sept. 8 and a strong-finishing runner-up behind Lugal (Jpn) (Duramente {Jpn}) when last seen in the G1 Sprinters' Stakes at Nakayama three weeks later. Evenly Matched Group For the Mile A year after Golden Sixty (Aus) (Medaglia d'Oro) defied all conventional wisdom to win the G1 Longines Hong Kong Mile for the third time, this year's renewal shapes as a more wide-open affair in the absence of the multiple horse of the year. Galaxy Patch (Aus) (Wandjina {Aus}) had a sensational 4-year-old season, with a runner-up effort in the BMW Hong Kong Derby when ambitiously tried over the 2000 metres before winning twice at group level, including a defeat of Voyage Bubble (Aus) (Deep Field {Aus}) when in receipt of six pounds in the G2 Sha Tin Trophy Handicap Oct. 13. He failed to repeat the dose in the G2 Jockey Club Mile, sitting a no-cover trip en route to a third-place effort to Voyage Bubble and Chancheng Glory (Mor Spirit), but that effort is perhaps best forgiven and if willing to put a pen through it, he rates a live chance. The Golden Sixty draw from last year does no favours, though Vincent Ho has been there and done that. Galaxy Patch | HKJC “This time I think we just have to ride him very quiet and go for a strong finish to try and catch them,” trainer Pierre Ng said. “It's how you preserve him towards the straight. Try to switch him off and he'll give you a very good [final] sectional. His last racing style didn't suit him. We've learnt from that and I've told Vincent from now on we know what we have got to do in the future.” Japan last won the Mile with 3-year-old Admire Mars (Jpn) (Daiwa Major {Jpn}) in 2019, and Jantar Mantar (Jpn) (Palace Malice) will attempt to follow suit. The Shadai homebred, to be ridden by Yuga Kawada, was named champion 2-year-old colt in Japan last term after taking out the G1 Asahi HaiFuturity going a mile, and ran well to place in his first two runs this year, including a close third in the G1 Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas). He relished the cutback to a mile to easily capture the G1 NKH Mile Cup May 5 and has been away since. Soul Rush (Jpn) (Rulership {Jpn}), fourth in last year's race, comes here in arguably better form off a decisive victory in the G1 Mile Championship last month. Lazzat (Fr) (Territories {Ire}) was the on-pace winner of the G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest at Deauville in August and was nabbed close home in the valuable Golden Eagle at Rosehill Nov. 2, while Ramadan (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}), last-out winner of the G2 Prix Daniel Wildenstein Oct. 5 and since purchased for €1.5 million at the Arqana Arc Sale, has his first run for Yueshehg Zheng's Yulong Investments. Following the Mile, Ramadan will be trained locally by Mark Newnham with an eye on the 4-year-old Classics. Docklands (GB) (Massaat {Ire}) charged home into second behind Charyn (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) in Royal Ascot's G1 Queen Anne Stakes in June and was unplaced behind Via Sistina (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) in the Cox Plate and G1 VRC Champions Stakes over further. Representing Australia is Antino (NZ) (Redwood {NZ}), sensational in taking the G1 Toorak Handicap at Caulfield in October. Luxembourg Bows Out In the Vase An elite-level scorer each season from two years of age to five, Luxembourg (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) makes the final start of his career in Sunday's G1 Longines Hong Kong Vase, the first of the afternoon's main events. Twelve months removed from putting a real scare into Romantic Warrior in the Cup, Luxembourg made all in the G1 Coronation Cup on Derby weekend, but has been sixth and not a real factor in his last three races–the G1 King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes in July, the G1 Irish Champion Stakes in September and in last month's GI Breeders' Cup Turf. “We thought he ran a great race last year,” trainer Aidan O'Brien said. “He's a very high-class horse. Last year he was coming home very well and he was just beaten on the line, it looked as if we'd had run him over a mile and a half it would have suited him. He's been a great horse, big strong and consistent. Obviously, he wasn't always first string but we're looking forward to it, see what happens.” Luxembourg leads Continuous at trackwork | HKJC O'Brien also saddles 2023 G1 St Leger hero Continuous (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}), whose long victory since that Classic came in the G3 Royal Whip Stakes at the Curragh in August. “Continuous is probably more forward than he's been all year,” the trainer added. “Things haven't really worked for him yet this year, but he is in good form, very happy with his work. A mile and a half and nice ground should be fine for him.” Without A Fight (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}), whose sire accounted for 2018 Vase winner Exultant (Ire), was a brilliant winner of the 2023 G1 Melbourne Cup and most recently returned from 367 days away from the races with a useful third in the Champions Stakes. He gets the shortest way around from gate one with Mark Zahra up. “He's certainly tightened up and improved for it as you would expect,” said co-trainer Sam Freedman. “He had a nice trial at home before he got on the flight. He's a well-travelled horse and he's handled the trip very well.” Dubai Honour (Ire) (Pride of Dubai {Aus}) pays a fourth visit to Hong Kong, but tries the 2400 metres for the first time here, having endured a checkered passage when runner-up to Cup entrant The Foxes (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}) in the Listed Churchill Stakes at Newcastle Nov. 16. Prior to that, he defeated Iresine (Fr) (Manduro {Ger}) into fourth in the G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud, and the latter gave a good account of himself when running home to fill the same spot in the G1 British Champion Stakes Oct. 19 at Ascot. Each of trainer Andre Fabre's three wins at the HKIR have come in the Vase, including Junko (GB) (Intello {Ger}) just last year. The yard is represented here by the lightly raced Marquisat (Ire) (Zarak {Fr}), a nose second to Junko in the G2 Grand Prix de Chantilly in June and a good third to King George winner Goliath (Ire) (Adlerflug {Ger}) in the G2 Prix du Conseil de Paris in terrible ground in October. Like Junko, he prepped in the G1 Grosser Preis von Bayern, though he failed to handle the very heavy ground, whereas Junko emerged victorious. Stellenbosch (Jpn) (Epiphaneia {Jpn}) won this year's G1 Oka Sho (Japanese 1000 Guineas), was second in the G1 Yushun Himba in May and third in October's G1 Shuka Sho. Joao Moreira has won the Vase three times on Japanese entrants and has the call from Almond Eye trainer Sakae Kunieda. The post History-Seeking ‘Warrior’, Ka Ying Rising Set To Star at Longines HKIR appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

DEAUVILLE, France–Moa Sundström is no stranger to sales ring successes–especially at Arqana–but the youngster admits to feeling the pressure ahead of launching her debut foal consignment at the December Breeding Stock Sale here on Saturday. A daughter of Anna, whose Coulonces Sales has enjoyed many memorable sales at Arqana, Moa will offer six foals under the banner of her own Prime Progeny this weekend. The six-pronged consignment features filly foals by Too Darn Hot (GB) and Sioux Nation as well as a Sea The Stars (Ire) colt and the 23-year-old is hoping the appetite for well-bred and good-looking foals that was so evident at Goffs and Tattersalls over the past fortnight will continue here in France. She said, “I'm so nervous-it's all so new. I should think it is the same [as consigning under Coulonces] but it is so different when you go out and do it by yourself. I have my mother's full support and she has my back on everything. It's really nerve-wracking, but in a good way.” You don't become one of the biggest consignors in Europe by not thinking on your feet. The Sundströms say that they have spotted an opening in the market for foals in France and this sale will test the theory. Moa explained, “Many clients, be that English, Irish, French, America or whatever, have expressed a wish for more quality foals to be sold at the sales here in France. I travel quite a lot with my mother, going around all of the sales, and we love buying mares, pinhooking and all of that. It was so obvious to us that here in France, we were missing something, and that something is a foal consignment. We just said, 'why not do it?' This is fun and I know that I can do it so I am really looking forward to it. Something I love deeply is going to look at foals and getting involved in the pinhooking of foals. I see what the buyers need. I am young so I feel, 'why can I not bring something to the table', so that's how I decided to launch my own foal consignment.” So what do the buyers want? “Quality,” she responds. “We need more quality. We need availability in France. We need a foal consignment where people abroad can look on and say, 'I can sell my foal in France because I know it's so exquisite.' If you have a nice foal here in France, you will sell without any problem.” Although the Sundströms are renowned breeders, the Prime Progeny consignment features just one homebred. The majority of the foals offered under the hammer over the next few days belong to outside clients with Moa bidding to prove that she is just a chip off the old block when it comes to securing big results in the ring. “We breed a lot but we actually only have one homebred here-the Naval Crown colt [lot 356]. He's the only French-bred Naval Crown colt in the sale and was bred by my grandparents and my mum. He's a gorgeous individual and I'm very proud to be presenting him here.” She added, “The Too Darn Hot [99] is absolutely amazing. From a buyer's perspective, if somebody pulled out a foal like her to me, my jaw would just drop. I adore her.” Of course, it makes it a little easier to branch out into something so daring when you've had a bit of luck previously. This sale ground has been a lucky place for Coulounces in recent times, most notably at the August Sale when the mother-and-daughter team secured €420,000 for a Victor Ludorum (GB) yearling out of a mare [Lilienbloom (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire})] that they sourced for just €12,000. “That was amazing,” she recalls. “We bought a mare for €12,000 and sold her first yearling by Victor Ludorum for €420,000, which was insane. We have had a lot of luck at Arqana. It was a fairly obvious choice for me to have my first consignment at Arqana as we are based just an hour away so this is my home and this is where my future is. Everything that I am going to work for is for the future of our farm here. The fact that we have been lucky here before is also important.” There couldn't be a better time to sell a foal in Europe. Records were broken at Goffs and Tattersalls over the past few weeks where trade reached new heights. The hope is that the demand continues when the four-day December Breeding Stock Sale gets underway at 10am on Saturday. She concluded, “The aim is simple. We just want to start off with getting every single horse sold and by making my clients happy and proud. That would be a success. The market has been crazy for foals-both at Goffs and at Tattersalls-and I hope it will be strong at Arqana. I have heard a lot of good things so fingers crossed. Arqana has been amazing in helping me get set up. They have been my biggest supporters.” The post ‘It’s Nerve-Wracking, But In A Good Way’ – Moa Out To Make A Mark At Arqana appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Strangely enough, the beginnings of my horse racing journey are tied to a racing-related contest put on by one of the local grocery chains in suburban Chicago in the 1970s where you'd watch a short clip at 6:57 p.m. and try to match your ticket for a can of Spam or something of the like. A few years later, a neighbor three doors down (kryptonite?) campaigned a mare called Diablo Morn with trainer Jerry McGrath, no great shakes (she finished her career 2-32, I just looked), but it gave me access to a horse owner, and another neighbor was an avid (problem?) gambler who'd place show parlays for his stepson and me in our early teens. Really, it was an electric experience. When the ground came up easy for the 1983 Arlington Million (I lived a few furlongs from the track), I had to have a couple (literally) of bucks on Tolomeo. I wasn't wise enough to cash the exacta over John Henry. I kind of got away from the game during my college years–did make the occasional trip to the Champaign OTB right by the Schnucks grocery store–but it wasn't until the mid-90s, after some personal turmoil that I really found racing. I hooked up with a group of guys, three at least 20 years my senior and one closer to my age, and we would congregate on the Arlington apron every Saturday morning to watch the horses run around in circles. I think Meafara was still in training then, all the good Irish Acres horses for Noel Hickey, etc. The coffee was really bad, but the company wasn't. Watched Mariah's Storm beat Serena's Song at Turfway Park. Then there was July 11, 1996. Cigar. Packed grandstand. Magical moment. That summer, the dean of Chicago turf writers Dave Feldman recommended a bet–a big one–on Wekiva Springs in the Suburban, I think. Paid four bucks. Remember watching Serena getting run down by Mahogany Hall in the '96 Whitney after looking home free. My dad passed away in early 1998 and I was set to make a move to this part of the country minus a job when out of the blue the phone rang from the strange area code 908. May as well have been Timbuktu, but it was Coastal Jersey and some woman called Sue Finley was asking if they could fly me out for an interview. Um, what's happening here? Watched Coronado's Quest win that year's Haskell with Shug in the TDN box. German major notwithstanding (I'm not kidding), she and Barry Weisbord hired me four weeks later, God only knows why. Twenty-six years later I'm still getting paid to do this. Whoda thunk it? The post How I Got Hooked On Racing: Senior Contributing Editor Alan Carasso appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

In response to the TDN series 'How I Got Hooked on Horse Racing,' we received the following letter from a former Thoroughbred owner who offers his own anecdotes about Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas. Hi Christina! I enjoyed your professional profile in the Thoroughbred Dailey News today. Your history with D. Wayne Lukas hit a cord with me. I am a retired businessman, University of Wisconsin-Madison grad, and long-ago owner of a horse trained by D. Wayne Lukas. In 1986, I had a horse named Hurdy Gurdy Man that had shown promise when racing in Pennsylvania. He was recovering from a saucer fracture when I decided he might do well under D. Wayne's care. I called his listed phone number and D. Wayne answered the phone quickly. After a brief sharing UW and cheesehead history, I asked him if he would take Hurdy Gurdy Man as a project. He didn't hesitate in saying yes. Over the next 13 months Hurdy Gurdy Man compiled a record of 5-3-1 in 13 starts. It was great fun for my family and partners. Jeff Lukas and Kiaran McLaughlin were D. Wayne's primary assistant trainers. We let the Lukas stable make all the decisions. D. Wayne was the number one trainer in the country, but we always felt important to D. Wayne and his staff Fast forward to 1998. My younger brother was suffering from cancer and we thought he was on the verge of dying. He was a high school math teacher that enjoyed Thoroughbred racing dating to our days driving to Arlington Park from Madison in the '60s. He was never able to enjoy racing as an owner or participant in a big racing event. So, I asked him if he would join me at Churchill Downs for the Breeders' Cup if I could get us on the backstretch for the event. He said 'yes' and I called the phone number I had on record for D. Wayne. To my surprise, D. Wayne answered on the second ring. I apologized for not offering him a race prospect, but he kindly listened to my request to get my brother and me on the backside for the Breeders' Cup: nothing more. He said he would talk with his wife and she would get back to me. Several days later his wife called me and told me I was on a list that would be honored at the back gate. Sure enough, early on Breeders' Cup Saturday we were waived through the gate and on to the Lukas barn. Even though it was early, the activity of the day was in overdrive so it was no surprise that D. Wayne was entertaining the press trackside and the barn asked us to stay as his return was imminent. Soon D. Wayne's cowboy hat was visible within a tsunami of press that stopped well short of the Lukas barn. D. Wayne greeted us warmly as if I knew him well and as if I had recently been in his world. It was over a decade since he had Hurdy Gurdy Man and I was truly a very small owner in his business history. I was totally impressed and thanked him profusely for get us on the backside. We were prepared to leave when D. Wayne casually asked if we had plans for the day and we told him we were planning on mingling with the masses on the frontside when racing started. He walked into his barn office and grabbed an envelope with my name on it tacked to the cork board. “Here, there are reserved seats for you both including paddock passes for all the races today. Enjoy!” My brother and I were BLOWN away! We had a fabulous day…a day neither of us will forget. Benjamin Franklin said, “if you want something done, ask a busy person.” Add the words “with class” when done by D. Wayne Lukas! By the way, my brother is alive, with a good attitude, despite now having dialysis from the ravages of cancer and related treatments. An aside: I met a woman this summer who grew up in Antigo, Wisconsin. I mentioned D. Wayne Lukas, Clyde Rice [trainer and father of Linda Rice] and potatoes! She added that D. Wayne's mother was a “class act who was warm and generous.” How's that for a pedigree? Regards, Scott Jamison The post Letter To The Editor: Hooked On The Coach’s Kindness appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

American-trained May Day Ready looms over a less-experienced field of locals in the Hanshin Juvenile Fillies (G1) Dec. 8 at Kyoto Racecourse.View the full article

In this continuing series, Alan Carasso takes a look ahead at US-bred and/or conceived runners entered for the upcoming weekend at the tracks on the Japan Racing Association circuit, with a focus on pedigree and/or performance in the sales ring. Here are the horses of interest for this Saturday running at Chukyo and Kyoto Racecourses: Saturday, December 7, 2024 5th-CKO, ¥13,720,000 ($91k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1400m RAINBOW LUCKY (JPN) (f, 2, Quality Road–Wholehearted, by Awesome Again) is the first foal from her stakes-winning dam and was acquired by Yushun Company in utero for $375,000 at the 2021 Keeneland November Sale. The filly's granddam is My Baby Baby (Bernstein), another bargain-basement purchase ($50,000 ylg '06 FTKOCT) for trainer Ken McPeek who would go on to win the GIII Early Times Mint Julep Stakes en route to bankrolling over $509,000. B-Suzaki Bokujo LA LA AVRIL (c, 2, Collected–She Is Bedazzling, by Medaglia d'Oro), a half-brother to 2023 GIII Chick Lang Stakes winner Ryvit (Competitive Edge), fetched $325,000 at last year's Keeneland September Sale, the priciest of 39 yearlings by his Airdrie-based sire reported as sold (52 ring) in 2023. The treble graded-placed second dam Melissa Jo (Fusaichi Pegasus) produced Joedini (Bernardini) and GSW High Dollar Woman (Super Saver). B-Curt Leake (KY) 6th-KYO, ¥13,720,000 ($91k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1800m ROSSINIANA (c, 2, Not This Time–Dos Vinos, by Twirling Candy) breezed an eighth of a mile in :10 flat during this year's OBS March Sale and was knocked down to Katsumi Yoshida for $850,000, the second-dearest of his boom sire's 19 juveniles (20 ring) that sold this term. A Jan. 24 foal, the dark bay is the first to race out of a half-sister to SW China Grove (City Zip), herself the dam of the Grade III-placed Beach Walkn (Cross Traffic). B-Tom Durant (KY) ゼッケン1502番 #ロッシニアーナ （牡・木村） 父 Not This Time 母 Dos Vinos ※撮影日は9月5日（金子）#勝馬#美浦トレセン#ブック2歳馬情報 pic.twitter.com/nzro5pEO0Z — 勝馬 競馬専門紙インターネット競馬新聞 (@kachiuma_online) September 6, 2024 MEISHO AINA (c, 2, Game Winner–Lilacs and Lilies, by Bodemeister) did not make any headlines at public auction after being RNAd for $45,000 at Keeneland September last fall, but there is pedigree appeal for this jurisdiction. The bay colt's dam is out of Refinement (Seattle Slew), whose GI Central Bank Ashland Stakes-winning daughter Lilacs and Lace (Flower Alley) produced Lucky Lilac (Jpn) (Orfevre {Jpn}), named the champion 2-year-old filly in Japan after taking out the 2017 G1 Hanshin Juvenile Fillies before adding three more top-level triumphs. The colt's third dam, four-time Grade I winner Stella Madrid (Alydar), was the dam of champion Diamond Biko (Jpn) (Sunday Silence). B-Judy Hicks & Kathryn Nikkel (KY) The post Expensive Not This Time Colt Gets Going at Kyoto appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk Rakero Rocket has produced a huge upset at Addington with victory in tonight’s first ever Group 1 The Christian Cullen at Addington Raceway. It was an emotional win for trainer Tom Bamford who was in shock post race. “I’m shaking, I don’t know what is going on.” Rakero Rocket charged out from the mobile to head hot favourite Don’t Stop Dreaming. Meanwhile arch rival Merlin was taken to the rear of the field from his wide draw. Don’t Stop Dreaming and driver Blair Orange then went round Rakero Rocket to take the lead. Heading into the passing lane Gavin Smith was in the perfect position and Rakero Rocket overhauled the pace-maker to give Bamford the biggest moment of his young training career. “I was going nuts,” Bamford said of the final stages of the $200,000 Group 1. An enquiry was held after the finish after Don’t Stop Dreaming suffered a flat tyre but it was dismissed. Rakero Rocket paid $20 for the win, ahead of a late charging Charlie Brown with Merlin and Don’t Stop Dreaming third and fourth. It was his seventh win in just 14 starts. Before the race the now 30-year-old Christian Cullen lead the field out, the champ getting a great reception from the Addington crowd. Earlier, the trotting superstar that is Keayang Zahara waltzed away with the Garrards New Zealand Trotting Derby. The Victorian three-year-old, backed into $1.05, dispatched the field with ease, winning by nine lengths and extending her unbeaten run to 14 from 14. “Absolute freak” was the term used by commentator Matt Cross while Trackside presenter Greg O’Connor said she was “crazy good”. No-one would argue with either description. Driver Jason Lee was patient off the gate and settled two and then three back the running line before rolling to the lead with a lap to go. From there the race was as good as over. Keayang Zahara gave no one else a chance as she cleared out with ease. It was her third New Zealand win this campaign, following on from The Ascent slot race and last week’s New Zealand Oaks. It was as impressive a victory as you can get. Empire City was good in finishing second, ahead of Father Patrick who was the early leader. Post race Jason Lee said “she’s a rocket and she had plenty in reserve.” “I’m lucky to sit behind her.” “We always knew she was good, just not this good.” In the open class trot Oscar Bonavena had his third win a row when taking out the Braxton Farriers Group 3 Worthy Queen. The reigning Trotter of the Year was aggressively driven by Blair Orange to lead with a lap to go and while arch rival Muscle Mountain tried to get close Oscar Bonavena was just too good in the end, wining by more than three lengths. Oscar Bonavena paid $2.20 for the win, his 29th in 74 starts. What a $300,000 Garrards New Zealand Pacing Derby it was for Hayden Cullen at Addington tonight. The West Melton-based trainer prepared We Walk by Faith to win at big odds and stable-mate Harrison John also held on for third, after going to the front. In between the pair was Vessem, paying $14.90 for the place. The time honoured feature was all action with Harrison John going to the lead for visiting Australian driver Cameron Hart. At one stage he bobbled briefly but still stayed in front. Favourite Chase A Dream was well back early then improved three wide but was not a factor at the business end as We Walk By Faith got the cushy trip three back before exploding home for Craig Ferguson, as he claimed his third Group 1 win. Vessem produced a great finishing burst to grab second, with Harrison John holding on to fill the minors – the trifecta paying $19,305. View the full article

As everyone expected, the trotting superstar that is Keayang Zahara has waltzed away with the Garrards New Zealand Trotting Derby at Addington tonight. The Victorian three-year-old, backed into $1.05, dispatched the field with ease, winning by nine lengths and extending her unbeaten run to 14 from 14. “Absolute freak” was the term used by commentator Matt Cross while Trackside presenter Greg O’Connor said she was “crazy good”. No-one would argue with either description. Driver Jason Lee was patient off the gate and settled two and then three back the running line before rolling to the lead with a lap to go. From there the race was as good as over. Keayang Zahara gave no one else a chance as she cleared out with ease. It was her third New Zealand win this campaign, following on from The Ascent slot race and last week’s New Zealand Oaks. It was as impressive a victory as you can get. Empire City was good in finishing second, ahead of Father Time who was the early leader. Post race Jason Lee said “she’s a rocket and she had plenty in reserve.” “I’m lucky to sit behind her.” “We always knew she was good, just not this good.” View the full article

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After a quarter century at the helm of the French division of the Aga Khan Studs, Georges Rimaud will step down from that role at the end of December, making this Deauville December Sale his last. Rimaud leaves the stud stronger than ever, with four homebred sons standing at the farm, including the best sire in France, Siyouni (Fr), the best young sire in France in Zarak (Fr), and two promising newcomers, Vadeni (Fr) and Erevann (Fr). We surprised Rimaud as he was having lunch in the stud's traditional marquee on the Arqana grounds, asking him to talk about his life at the stud and what comes next for him. For Rimaud, it has always been all about the horses, and he was surprised that anyone would want to read about such things. But after some arm-twisting, we persuaded him to relent…reluctantly. SF: Nobody in racing really retires, do they? GR: It seems so, because I've rarely seen so much attention to something fairly random. SF: That must tell you something then about the regard that people have for you. GR: Well, obviously you read kind words and it is great to hear them, but one thing I learned is to be very humble in this industry, and towards the horses and the people in it. This exercise is obviously not quite something I would be very used to anyway. We do it only once in one lifetime, so I suppose it's okay. But it is embarrassing. You just get on with your job, and you try to do the best you can every day. SF: Do you plan to actually retire? GR: Retire is a word with many definitions, I suppose. I'm retiring from my job as the manager of the Aga Khan Studs in France, because that happens when you reach this age in this country. You can opt to stay, but as you all know, I have some mobility issues and to be honest, with my work I need to be out there, which I can't do as well as I have, so, in view of my age, I think it's time that I do something else. But it's not to say that I'm just going to get away onto an island and just not be around to annoy a few people any more. SF: What will you do? Describe your future life to me. GR: I don't quite know, really. I have other interests than just horses, strangely enough. Some people in this industry have no other interests than horses. I like reading. I like politics. I have several centers of interests. I also have to take care of myself, so I will be doing some things like moving house and will do some work in it and things like that. As you grow older, you have grandchildren to mind and I'll maybe travel a bit. I will do some of these things that people do when they retire. SF: If you're going to travel, what will your first trip be? GR: I am going to go to America to travel a little bit there and see some friends that I haven't seen for a long time now. SF: What will you miss the most about the job? GR: The horses. Simply the way of life with the horses. I think that is what drives everybody in this industry, at least everybody with the job that I have. SF: What will you not miss about having a daily job? GR: Truly, I really enjoyed every bit of it. I've been very lucky to do a job, or have an occupation, actually, a life for which I'm being paid for. But, actually, the thing that I will not miss is having to call or inform my superiors or people of bad news. God knows we have enough bad news in breeding horses, and that is one thing that I really did not enjoy. SF: What will you leave behind that you're really proud of? GR: I don't know if I'm proud of anything specific. I think maybe I should be satisfied. It looks like people tell me I should be satisfied with what has been done by this organization, the Aga Khan Studs. In the past few years, it appears that we've experienced a certain amount of success. I'm really proud, if that's the word you want to use, to be part of it, to have been part of it, to have worked for His Highness the Aga Khan, his daughter, Princess Zahra, and to have been able to work with these people who have high standards, and apparently to have done a satisfying job. It has been very enjoyable. SF: In your 24 years here, what has been the best change you've seen in the French breeding industry? GR: I think the thing that has changed in the recent years has been the importance of stallions in France. We have been lucky at the Aga Khan Studs to have provided some good stallions for the French breeders and European breeders. I think stallions that have marked the European book of racing, breeding and racing, to have them stand in France at a high value I think has been a change, a very good change. It needs to be continued. It's not easy. Some people are investing in stud farms and stallions to stand them in France, which is rather encouraging, especially in those years where you could wonder what's going to happen, but people are quite resilient and making good efforts to keep the stallions. That's the major change I think that I can see in the last 20 years. SF: That's not true anywhere more than at the Aga Khan Studs, though, isn't it? You're leaving with the best stallion in France, the best young stallion in France, and two very promising newcomers. GR: We do have some lovely horses. We were very fortunate to be able to breed those horses ourselves. They were bred on the farm, which is something to be very satisfied with. If we've helped the French breeders in general, then that's great. I think that has been one of the objectives of His Highness. It has been great to have these horses and for the French breeders to be able to have them, to use them, and to improve their stock. This was the great thing about working for this organization, and the people following me in this job believe that there's the means. I'm not talking just about financial means, but the envy of doing the utmost to succeed in whatever project is in place, whether it's racing, whether it's breeding, or standing stallions. We try to do everything so we can do it well. Everything is given to us as employees to do these things. Obviously it has helped me and the team to be able to have experienced a certain amount of success. SF: You are still chairman of the board at Arqana, so you can continue to work toward those same goals, can't you? GR: Yes. Staying with Arqana is obviously very satisfying for the moment. I think it's important to not just leave everything. It is great that I was there at the outset of it with His Highness and all the participants in the company, and it's great to be able to continue. The team here has been wonderful in making this company progress. There are challenging years coming ahead of us, I suppose. There have always been challenges, and you think the next challenge is going to be even worse than the past one. But there's a very good team in place. May it go on for a good bit longer. SF: Are you at all conscious as you sit here that this is your last sale? Does it feel a little melancholy, as in `this is the last time I'll be doing this?' GR: No, no. I'm not really that conscious of it. But I'll probably come in here (next year) and give some orders and people here will be saying, `What's this old man saying?' I'm not melancholy about it because, as I heard once in Kentucky, `if the devil don't bother me too much' I will still be here next year, and maybe they will let me come into this room and have a cup of coffee. Time goes on and things change. I think the team in place has loads of energy and knowledge and young minds, new ideas. You can feel it after so many years, your ideas are there and you have your ways of doing things, but there are just so many new ideas coming in. And Pierre Gasnier is coming in. He's been here with me for two years, and I'm not sure he's learned a whole lot from me because he had a lot of knowledge himself coming in. But he's adapting his ways into our own ways, and I think it's working terribly well. It's great to see that it can be done without you. You have a sense of having left something to work with in reasonably good shape. I think there's good years ahead. SF: Last question: we haven't seen you in anything but a green coat for 20 years. Will you go out and buy a coat that's not green? GR: Funny enough, I've gotten used to wearing this. I might go ahead and keep this for a while and try to support the colors. The post `It’s Been a Great Time:’ Georges Rimaud on his Pending Retirement appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

New Zealander has been fortunate enough to transition from life as a professional sportsperson into something he’s just as passionate about.View the full article

Trainer indicates different strategy in Sha Tin feature but wouldn’t reveal his likely instructions for Joao Moreira.View the full article

French trainer rode in the city as a young jockey in 2004 and now saddles Calif in the Group One Longines Hong Kong Cup (2,000m).View the full article

Champion trainer aims to go one better with stallion after changing tack for Sha Tin’s biggest meeting.View the full article

Progeny of Highview-based stallion Wrote bookended the card on LONGINES International Jockeys Championship (IJC) night at Happy Valley on Wednesday. Chill Chibi was successful in the Class 2 Japan Handicap (1800m) while The Azure broke maiden ranks in the Australia Handicap (1650m), and became his sire’s sixth winner from six runners in Hong Kong. “He has a 100-percent record in Hong Kong which is quite remarkable,” Highview’s Brent Gillovic said. “All six winners have been bred at Highview and they carry our BM brand.” Five-year-old gelding Chill Chibi is Wrote’s top performer in Hong Kong with six wins including two at Class 2 Level. “Class 2 racing in Hong Kong is the equivalent of stakes or group level here in New Zealand,” Gillovic said. “Class 1 is the elite level and he looks to be headed in that direction.” As a four-year-old Chill Chibi won four races in a row and finished an unlucky fourth in the Hong Kong Derby completing the 2000m feature race in 2:00.34. Chill Chibi was ridden to victory on Wednesday by World Champion jockey James McDonald, who represented New Zealand in the IJC, which made the win all the more special for Gillovic. “It was great to see James win on him,” he said. “I won a lot of trials with James onboard early in his career and his then weight of 45 kg was rather tasty, resulting in the sale of a lot of those winners to Asia.” Chill Chibi was bred by the Hong Kong Breeders Club, whose breeding operation is based at Highview. “Hong Kong Breeders Club chairperson Nicola Chu was a founding partner in the acquisition of Wrote who and they’ve enjoyed a great run of success over the last 12 months as a result,” Gillovic said. Fast Network, a winner of three of four starts, is another exciting prospect for Wrote in Hong Kong who has also reached Class 2 level. “His starts have all been over 1000m and he should be unbeaten as he was an unlucky third two starts ago,” Gillovic said. “He was unreal in his last start at Sha Tin displaying gigabyte speed, he stopped the clock at 55.83 and won easily by over four lengths, he actually ran nearly a second faster than the second place getter.” Gr.1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (1600m) winner, Wrote is a son of High Chaparral from the family of Sadler’s Wells, Nureyev and Fairy King who carries a double up to Blue Hen mare Special. He has produced a total of 97 winners including Group One winner Pulchritudinous, Group winners Wrote To Arataki and Best Seller, stakes winner Ready About it and stakes performers Imprevu, Love Letter and High Providence. Wrote is represented by two lots in Book 1 of Karaka 2025 and eight lots in Book 2. “He enjoyed a very good sale in Book 2 at Karaka last year and we have a good line of yearlings by him for sale this year too,” Gillovic said. “He’s virtually completed the breeding season and he covered a full book of approximately 100 mares with excellent fertility.” View the full article

Leading Australian jockey Luke Currie will make his first appearance in New Zealand with seven rides on Saturday’s Group One card at Trentham. Currie has ridden more than 1450 winners in his homeland, 13 of them at Group One level. He is perhaps best known for his association with Hey Doc, who he rode to victory in the Gr.1 Australian Guineas (1600m), Winterbottom Stakes (1200m) and two editions of the Manikato Stakes (1200m). He also won the Gr.1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) and William Reid Stakes (1200m) aboard star filly Sunlight. Riding overseas is nothing new for Currie, who has ridden 20 winners in Hong Kong, 14 in Mauritius, 13 in Singapore and one in Malaysia. But New Zealand is a brand-new addition to that list. “It’s my first time riding here, so I’m really looking forward to it,” the 43-year-old said. “I’ve always wanted to come over and ride here, but for one reason or another it hasn’t worked out until now. This weekend was a nice opportunity to do it, and I jumped at the chance. I’ve been fortunate enough to pick up some nice rides.” Currie has crossed the Tasman after an invitation from Brad Taylor, who spent seven years with Anthony and Sam Freedman’s stable in Victoria before returning home earlier this year to take up the role of General Manager of Racing with RACE, the operator of Awapuni and Trentham racecourses. “I always had a good relationship with Brad Taylor when he worked with Freedman Racing,” Currie said. “I’ve had quite a lot of success riding for that stable over the years, and many of those rides came about through Brad. “He spoke to my manager Travis Johnson about the possibility of coming over. I had a few rides lined up for the Ballarat Cup meeting at home on the same day, but I thought this was a nice chance to come over for a Group One meeting. Hopefully I can build some relationships and possibly set up a few opportunities to ride here again in the future.” That could include the internationally famous Karaka Millions meeting at Ellerslie on January 25. Currie’s rides on Saturday include the unbeaten filly Too Sweet in the Devan Plastics 2YO (1000m). The daughter of Satono Aladdin earned $23,000 from her debut victory at Trentham in October, which is likely enough to secure her a place in the starting gate for the Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m). “Everyone I’ve spoken to has told me what an awesome day’s racing the Karaka Millions is,” Currie said. “So if that happened to work out, it’s definitely one that I’d love to come over and experience for myself.” Too Sweet is trained by Roydon Bergerson, whose Awapuni stable will also provide Currie with his Group One ride in Saturday’s TAB Mufhasa Classic (1600m). Currie will ride Town Cryer, whose 35-start career has produced eight wins, 13 placings and more than $496,000 in prize-money. The daughter of Tavistock has black-type victories to her name in the Gr.3 Taranaki Breeders’ Stakes (1400m), Gr.3 Thompson Handicap (1600m), Listed Anzac Mile (1600m) and Listed Wairarapa Breeders’ Stakes (1600m), and she was runner-up behind Belclare in this year’s Gr.1 New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m). “She’s such a consistent mare,” Currie said. “She puts herself on the speed and makes her own luck. No Group One races are easy to win, but I think she’s going to give me a nice chance. I’m looking forward to riding her.” View the full article

Pearl Of Alsace is in foal and entering the final few weeks of her racing career, but trainers Shaune Ritchie and Colm Murray hope a return to her favourite track might allow her to cap her CV with a Group One breakthrough. The six-year-old will line up in Saturday’s Gr.1 TAB Mufhasa Classic (1600m) at Trentham, where her three previous starts have produced three impressive wins including the Gr.3 Cuddle Stakes (1600m). Overall, Pearl Of Alsace has won seven of her 17 starts and more than $339,820 in stakes for owner-breeder Sir Peter Vela. The daughter of Tavistock has contested five Group One races, finishing fourth in last year’s New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m) and third in the Livamol Classic (2040m), followed by sevenths in this year’s Breeders’ Stakes, Arrowfield Stud Plate (1600m) and Livamol Classic. Pearl Of Alsace was served by Rich Hill Stud stallion Proisir after her Livamol run in October, and she showed immediate improvement when she returned to action with a last-start second in the Gr.2 Tauranga Stakes (1600m) on November 16. “She was served before that last-start placing and she’s now confirmed to be in foal to Proisir,” Ritchie said. “She was racing a fraction below her best earlier in the campaign. The freshen up did her good, and we were very pleased with her performance at Tauranga. “She heads into Saturday’s race with some excellent stats. She’s unbeaten in three starts at the track, and she’s won five of 10 at the 1600m distance as well. “The only little thing that hasn’t fallen perfectly into place for her is that, as an older mare now, she’s at her best when there’s a little bit of cut out of the track. The likely firm ground at Trentham on Saturday is the only negative we can find in the whole script leading into the race this weekend. “But she’s a Group One placegetter and has always shown us that she had the ability to win one. She’ll probably have only three or four more cracks at it before she goes to become a mum, so we’d love nothing more than to nail a win in one of those. Failing that, hopefully we can at least fill up that pedigree page with some more placings at the elite level, setting her up nicely for the next stage of her career.” Pearl Of Alsace will be ridden by Jonathan Riddell and is rated an $11 chance by the TAB. The market is dominated by La Crique at $2.35, with El Vencedor ($6) and One Bold Cat ($9) the others in single figures. Meanwhile, Ritchie reported that the unbeaten Gr.3 Wellington Stakes (1600m) winner Tuxedo is likely to be seen at Ellerslie on either Boxing Day or New Year’s Day. The Tivaci gelding is being pointed towards the TAB Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m) on January 25, for which he is rated a $12 chance. Further down the track, he is at $16 for the Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) on March 8 and also at $16 for the inaugural NZB Kiwi (1500m) on the same day. “He’s a pretty exciting young horse,” Ritchie said. “He’s safely in the Karaka Millions field now, so that’s the next target that we’ll work towards. We’re keen for him to have a look around Ellerslie before then, so he’ll definitely line up there at some point over the Christmas and New Year carnival. Then we’ll carry on into the Karaka Millions. He pulled a little bit the other day, so we’re hoping he’ll learn to relax a bit better. “After the Karaka Millions, we’ll have a decision to make around whether we go along an Avondale Guineas (Gr.2, 2100m) and Derby path or whether we try to talk to a slot holder and get into the NZB Kiwi. Those will be some nice conversations to have. As always with nice horses, he’ll tell us what to do. He’s had only two runs, so we’re still learning about him and he’s learning about us. “But he has a tremendous amount of talent. I was really impressed with the determination he showed at Otaki to really stretch out and catch a promising filly (Island Life) that wasn’t stopping. I think we’ve got an exciting few months ahead.” View the full article

New Zealand has a strong association with the Gr.1 LONGINES Hong Kong Mile (1600m), and Kiwi-bred gelding Antino will be out to continue that record at Sha Tin on Sunday. New Zealand-bred or sourced horses have won five of the last seven editions of the race, with both Beauty Generation (2017 and 2018) and Golden Sixty (2020, 2021and 2023) capturing the imagination of local racing fans during their respective dominating runs. Beauty Generation was bred in New Zealand by Greg Tomlinson under his Nearco Stud banner, and was purchased out of Highden Park’s 2014 New Zealand Bloodstock Select Yearling Sale draft, while Golden Sixty is also a New Zealand Bloodstock graduate, with the Australian-bred gelding sold through Riversley Park’s 2017 Ready to Run Sale draft. Golden Sixty’s dominant reign came to a close earlier this year when the multiple Hong Kong Horse of the Year was retired, and Queensland trainer Tony Gollan took that as a sign to try and target one of Hong Kong’s most coveted prizes. “Obviously when Golden Sixty retired it opened that mile up,” Gollan told Trackside. By Westbury Stud resident stallion Redwood, Antino was bred by George Kit Ma’s Blossom Trading & Breeding Company Ltd, and was bought by Jeetu Ramchandani under his New Balance Racing banner out of Cheltenham Stables’ 2020 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale draft for what has subsequently become a bargain price of $27,000. He was initially trained in Australia by Mark Schmetzer and then Adam Campton before joining the stable of leading Queensland trainer Tony Gollan, and the gelding has taken him on the ride of a lifetime. Antino has won 10 races for Gollan, including the Listed The Wayne Wilson (1600m), Gr.3 Sandown Stakes (1500m), Gr.2 Victory Stakes (1200m) and the Gr.1 Toorak Handicap (1600m) at Caulfield in October, which secured his berth to Hong Kong, and a runner-up performance behind fellow Kiwi-bred Mr Brightside in the Gr.1 Champions Mile (1600m) at Flemington last month cemented the decision. “What was a bit of a dream at the start when we were talking about it (Hong Kong Mile), it didn’t really become a reality for me until we got his form up to where I needed it to be in the spring,” Gollan said. “Once he had that consistent Group One weight-for-age form around him, I thought the dream we spoke about could become a reality. “It (spring preparation) has gone perfect. I wanted quite a busy time going into the Toorak, I want to do the two-week, two-week, two-week routine. Then I was really keen off that to go four weeks into Flemington. If I thought I could get him to Flemington in as good a shape, or close to Toorak day, I could probably do the same thing coming here (Hong Kong). “That is what we have tried to emulate. When we see him parade on Sunday, hopefully he will look as good as what we saw him at Flemington. To me he looks fantastic at the moment.” Gollan said he has Antino in peak order, and now the rest is up to the horse and jockey Blake Shinn. “For me, most importantly, all of his work was already done basically back home in Australia. It was just about getting him here, settling him in and keeping him happy,” Gollan said. “It’s all up to him and how he steps away.” The Boomer Bloodstock-managed horse will jump from barrier four after the bloodstock agency’s Craig Rounsefell drew the gate at the LONGINES Hong Kong International Races barrier draw at Sha Tin on Thursday. “Tony gave me strict instructions (to draw) between four and eight, so I think he will be happy,” Rounsefell said after the draw. “The owner, Mr Ramchandani, is a member of the (Hong Kong) jockey club and we have had our sights firmly set on this race all preparation and Tony has left no stone unturned to get a result. “We have got the best jockey in the world on, Blake Shinn, so I think from that barrier he will do his magic and hopefully we will be there at the finish.” Gollan has been enjoying his time in Hong Kong, and said the experience has opened his eyes to the magnitude of the renowned carnival. “I didn’t understand the enormity of this week until I have been here and been a part of it,” he said. “I know what Melbourne Cup week is like, it is very big, and Sydney and The Championships and The Everest Carnival, and our own Winter Carnival in Brisbane, but this is something else. It is a world-class event.” Gollan has plenty of time for New Zealand-breds and said patience is the key virtue with the breed, and he has shown plenty of that with the six-year-old, and they are reaping the rewards. “They are tough. They love their racing and love their work,” he said. “I think a lot of them, if you look after them when they are a bit younger and they can furnish into older horses, you can see what you can see with Antino. He is six now and he is in his career peak.” Gollan said Antino is truly a horse of the world and will have connections in three different countries barracking for him on Sunday. “Born in New Zealand, raced by a guy in Hong Kong, and trained out of Queensland, Australia,” Gollan said. “I am really happy for his owner and connections to enjoy what is their local big day.” View the full article

What 2024 Hong Kong International Races Where Sha Tin Racecourse When Sunday, December 8, 2024 First Race 12:25pm HKT (3:25pm AEDT) Visit Dabble The iconic Hong Kong International Races return to Sha Tin Racecourse on Sunday afternoon, with a bumper 10-race program lined up – including four mouthwatering Group 1 contests alluring some of the worlds’ best horses, trainers and jockeys. The rail reverts to the A course for the meeting, and with no rain forecast to hinder proceedings, punters can anticipate a genuine Good 4 surface throughout the afternoon. The opening event is scheduled to get underway at 12:25pm local time. Race 1: Class 4 Handicap (1200m) The John Size-trained Brilliant Express gets the nod in what appears to be a wide-open Class 4 contest to kick-off proceedings. The son of Starspangledbanner returns after a 21-week spell, and although he was winless in three starts last season, the four-year-old never shirked the task amongst strong company when finishing close up behind the likes of Glory Elite and Lucy In The Sky at this course and distance. Hugh Bowman elects to stick after an eye-catching barrier trial on the Sha Tin all-weather and provided he can land in a handy position with cover, Brilliant Express should get every chance to secure his maiden victory at start four. Selections: 5 BRILLIANT EXPRESS 1 CITY THUNDER 4 MR ENERGIA 6 FORTUNE BOY Race 2: Class 4 Handicap (1400m) Master Phoenix flashed home to finish runner-up on debut at Sha Tin on November 9 and should appreciate the immediate step up to the 1400m. The Divine Prophet gelding had to get too far back from barrier 11 but showed a tremendous turn-of-foot to get within a half-length of the in-form Patch Of Time. Vincent Ho should be able to hold a position from gate one this time around, and provided Master Phoenix is within striking distance as they turn for home, this guy will prove hard to hold out. Selections: 6 MASTER PHOENIX 5 JUBILANT WINNER 3 LEGEND ST PAUL’S 8 ISLAND BREEZES Next Best Race 2 – #6 Master Phoenix (1) 4yo Gelding | T: David Eustace | J: Vincent Ho (59.5kg) Bet with BlondeBet Race 3: Class 3 Handicap (1200m) Lifeline Express gave a good account of himself in his first attempt in Class 3 company, storming home from last at this course and distance on November 17. The son of Shooting To Win had it all to do and just ran out of time as Young Superstar was already off and gone with the prize. Alexis Badel gets an opportunity to press forward from stall six, and with a bit more luck in transit, Lifeline Express can find himself in the finish again at an each-way price with horse racing bookmakers. Selections: 13 LIFELINE EXPRESS 1 SAVVY BRILLIANT 6 HALO OF SUCCESS 8 PATCH OF COSMO Race 4: Group 1 Hong Kong Vase (2400m) The Australian flag is set to fly in the Group 1 Hong Kong Vase (2400m), with the Anthony & Sam Freedman-trained Without A Fight sent over to make a statement second-up. He couldn’t have been more impressive first-up in the Group 1 Champion Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on November 9 after a year off the scene, powering into the minor money despite the lengthy layoff. The 2023 Group 1 Caulfield Cup/Melbourne Cup double conqueror oozes class, and although this contest has plenty of depth with the likes of Stellenbosch and Iresine posing genuine threats, Without A Fight must be considered the one to beat in the 2024 Hong Kong Vase. Selections: 1 WITHOUT A FIGHT 13 STELLENBOSCH 5 IRESINE 2 GIAVELLOTTO Hong Kong Vase Race 4 – #1 Without A Fight (1) 6yo Horse | T: Anthony & Sam Freedman | J: Mark Zahra (57kg) Bet with Dabble Race 5: Group 1 Hong Kong Sprint (1200m) Ka Ying Rising gets his chance to stamp himself as one of the worlds’ best sprinters as he goes around a near unbackable favourite in the Group 1 Hong Kong Sprint (1200m). He dismantled his rivals breaking a track record in Group 2 Jockey Club Sprint (1200m) leading into this event, and simply put, if he replicates that performance, Ka Ying Rising will be justifying the short price with Bet365. Selections: 1 KA YING RISING 12 HELIOS EXPRESS 13 HOWDEEPISYOURLOVE 7 STARLUST Hong Kong Sprint Race 5 – #1 Ka Ying Rising (11) 4yo Gelding | T: David Hayes | J: Zac Purton (57kg) Bet with Bet365 Race 6: Class 3 Handicap (1800m) The best bet goes around in this 1800m Class 3 contest, where the Caspar Fownes-trained Family Jewel should be searching for his fourth-straight victory. The son of Time Test was beaten by the barrier (12) last time out when suffering a half-length defeat at the hands of Bravehearts, with the four-year-old settling too far back in the ruck. James McDonald won’t allow that to happen again drawn in gate five this time around, and provided he can slot in somewhere mid-field with cover, Family Jewel should have no issues taking care of this lot and justifying favouritism with Neds. Selections: 8 FAMILY JEWEL 11 SUNSTRIDER 2 SO WE SING 3 PRAY FOR MIR Best Bet Race 6 – #8 Family Jewel (5) 4yo Gelding | T: Caspar Fownes | J: James McDonald (57.5kg) Bet with Neds Race 7: Group 1 Hong Kong Mile (1600m) Despite being defeated as an odds-on favourite with Picklebet in the Group 2 Jockey Club Mile (1600m) on November 17, Galaxy Patch warrants forgiving as he seeks Group 1 glory in the 2024 Hong Kong Mile. He had excuses sitting wide without cover for the duration of the journey, stunting his usually devastating turn of speed in the concluding stages. Gate 14 should be a positive provided Vincent Ho can sit three-wide with cover in this genuinely run affair, and provided Galaxy Patch can get back to his brilliant best, he has serious claims in this 1600m feature. Selections: 6 GALAXY PATCH 1 SOUL RUSH 3 ANTINO 13 LAZZAT Hong Kong Mile Race 7 – #6 Galaxy Patch (14) 5yo Gelding | T: Pierre Ng | J: Vincent Ho (57kg) Bet with Picklebet Race 8: Group 1 Hong Kong Cup (2000m) The Group 1 Hong Kong Cup (2000m) appears to be at the mercy of Romantic Warrior as he attempts to make history and become the first horse to secure a hat-trick of wins in the weight-for-age classic. The Danny Shum-trained gelding continues to revel in his racing, highlighted by his dominant return in the Group 2 Jockey Club Cup (2000m) on November 17, and it’s impossible to see anything turning the tables on the eight-time Group 1 winner. The Japanese pair of Liberty Island and Tastiera appear the most likely to pose some threat, but all things even, Romantic Warrior should prove too classy for this lot. Selections: 1 ROMANTIC WARRIOR 9 LIBERTY ISLAND 4 TASTIERA 10 CONTENT Hong Kong Cup Race 8 – #1 Romantic Warrior (1) 7yo Gelding | T: Danny Shum | J: James McDonald (57kg) Bet with Boombet Race 9: Class 3 Handicap (1400m) Markwin appears to be a horse worth following as he rises into Class 3 company for the first time. He drops 5.5kg for his latest victory at this track and trip, bounding away from his rivals to score by two lengths. Barrier 12 will be negated by his get-back-run-on style of racing, and with a genuine tempo engaged here, watch for Markwin to be putting in the big strides late at an each-way price with Playup. Selections: 13 MARKWIN 3 JOHANNES BRAHMS 6 CHARMING LEGEND 10 SUPER LOVE DRAGON Best Value Race 9 – #13 Markwin (12) 4yo Gelding | T: Cody Mo | J: Derek Leung (54kg) Bet with Playup Race 10: Class 2 Handicap (1400m) Joao Moreira & Francis Lui combine with Packing Hermod in the Sha Tin finale, where the lightly raced four-year-old will take a power of beating. The son of Rubick suffered his first defeated at the hands of Green N White last time out, peaking on his run in his first attempt over 1400m. Moreira will look to be positive despite the wide draw (10), and provided he can land in the first four in the early stages, Packing Hermod possess the quality to put this lot away and send punters home with a winner. Selections: 10 PACKING HERMOD 12 RUBYLOT 9 YOUNG CHAMPION 13 ALLCASH HKIR Day quaddie tips for Sha Tin Sha Tin quadrella selections Sunday, December 8, 2024 1-3-6-7-12-13 1 3-6-10-13 9-10-12-13 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip Horse racing tips View the full article

Pearl Of Alsace will attempt to cap her career with a first Group One victory in Saturday’s TAB Mufhasa Classic. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images) Pearl Of Alsace is in foal and entering the final few weeks of her racing career, but trainers Shaune Ritchie and Colm Murray hope a return to her favourite track might allow her to cap her CV with a Group One breakthrough. The six-year-old will line up in Saturday’s Group 1 TAB Mufhasa Classic (1600m) at Trentham, where her three previous starts have produced three impressive wins including the Group 3 Cuddle Stakes (1600m). Overall, Pearl Of Alsace has won seven of her 17 starts and more than $339,820 in stakes for owner-breeder Sir Peter Vela. The daughter of Tavistock has contested five Group One races, finishing fourth in last year’s New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m) and third in the Livamol Classic (2040m), followed by sevenths in this year’s Breeders’ Stakes, Arrowfield Stud Plate (1600m) and Livamol Classic. Pearl Of Alsace was served by Rich Hill Stud stallion Proisir after her Livamol run in October, and she showed immediate improvement when she returned to action with a last-start second in the Group 2 Tauranga Stakes (1600m) on November 16. “She was served before that last-start placing and she’s now confirmed to be in foal to Proisir,” Ritchie said. “She was racing a fraction below her best earlier in the campaign. The freshen up did her good, and we were very pleased with her performance at Tauranga. “She heads into Saturday’s race with some excellent stats. She’s unbeaten in three starts at the track, and she’s won five of 10 at the 1600m distance as well. “The only little thing that hasn’t fallen perfectly into place for her is that, as an older mare now, she’s at her best when there’s a little bit of cut out of the track. The likely firm ground at Trentham on Saturday is the only negative we can find in the whole script leading into the race this weekend. “But she’s a Group One placegetter and has always shown us that she had the ability to win one. She’ll probably have only three or four more cracks at it before she goes to become a mum, so we’d love nothing more than to nail a win in one of those. Failing that, hopefully we can at least fill up that pedigree page with some more placings at the elite level, setting her up nicely for the next stage of her career.” Pearl Of Alsace will be ridden by Jonathan Riddell and is rated an $11 chance with horse racing bookmakers. The market is dominated by La Crique at $2.35, with El Vencedor ($6) and One Bold Cat ($9) the others in single figures. Horse racing news View the full article

Luke Currie. (Photo by Brett Holburt/Racing Photos) Leading Australian jockey Luke Currie will make his first appearance in New Zealand with seven rides on Saturday’s Group One card at Trentham. Currie has ridden more than 1450 winners in his homeland, 13 of them at Group One level. He is perhaps best known for his association with Hey Doc, who he rode to victory in the Group 1 Australian Guineas (1600m), Winterbottom Stakes (1200m) and two editions of the Manikato Stakes (1200m). He also won the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) and William Reid Stakes (1200m) aboard star filly Sunlight. Riding overseas is nothing new for Currie, who has ridden 20 winners in Hong Kong, 14 in Mauritius, 13 in Singapore and one in Malaysia. But New Zealand is a brand-new addition to that list. “It’s my first time riding here, so I’m really looking forward to it,” the 43-year-old said. “I’ve always wanted to come over and ride here, but for one reason or another it hasn’t worked out until now. This weekend was a nice opportunity to do it, and I jumped at the chance. I’ve been fortunate enough to pick up some nice rides.” Currie has crossed the Tasman after an invitation from Brad Taylor, who spent seven years with Anthony and Sam Freedman’s stable in Victoria before returning home earlier this year to take up the role of General Manager of Racing with RACE, the operator of Awapuni and Trentham racecourses. “I always had a good relationship with Brad Taylor when he worked with Freedman Racing,” Currie said. “I’ve had quite a lot of success riding for that stable over the years, and many of those rides came about through Brad. “He spoke to my manager Travis Johnson about the possibility of coming over. I had a few rides lined up for the Ballarat Cup meeting at home on the same day, but I thought this was a nice chance to come over for a Group One meeting. Hopefully I can build some relationships and possibly set up a few opportunities to ride here again in the future.” That could include the internationally famous Karaka Millions meeting at Ellerslie on January 25. Currie’s rides on Saturday include the unbeaten filly Too Sweet. The daughter of Satono Aladdin earned $23,000 from her debut victory at Trentham in October, which is likely enough to secure her a place in the starting gate for the Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m). “Everyone I’ve spoken to has told me what an awesome day’s racing the Karaka Millions is,” Currie said. “So if that happened to work out, it’s definitely one that I’d love to come over and experience for myself.” Too Sweet is trained by Roydon Bergerson, whose Awapuni stable will also provide Currie with his Group One ride in Saturday’s TAB Mufhasa Classic (1600m). Currie will ride Town Cryer, whose 35-start career has produced eight wins, 13 placings and more than $496,000 in prize-money. The daughter of Tavistock has black-type victories to her name in the Group 3 Taranaki Breeders’ Stakes (1400m), Group 3 Thompson Handicap (1600m), Listed Anzac Mile (1600m) and Listed Wairarapa Breeders’ Stakes (1600m), and she was runner-up behind Belclare in this year’s Group 1 New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m). “She’s such a consistent mare,” Currie said. “She puts herself on the speed and makes her own luck. No Group One races are easy to win, but I think she’s going to give me a nice chance. I’m looking forward to riding her.” Horse racing news View the full article

Lugal stretches out at Sha Tin. Photo: HKJC Only Japanese horses have been able to stop the local talent in the Hong Kong Sprint (1200m) in recent years and the Land of the Rising Sun will launch a three-pronged assault on Sunday’s HK$26 million prize. Just superstar Lord Kanaloa and Danon Smash have been able to prevent a clean sweep for the home team in the last 12 runnings, and Lugal heads a strong Japanese team this time around. Lord Kanaloa won the Sprinters Stakes before both of his Sha Tin victories and Lugal will be bidding to tread a similar path after a spectacular win at Nakayama in September. The breakthrough Group 1 success marked Lugal as the nation’s leading sprinter and was all the more remarkable considering he broke his knee after being sent off favourite for the Takamatsunomiya Kinen (1200m) in March. Reflecting on the horse’s turbulent year, trainer Haruki Sugiyama said: “It was a surprising run in the Sprinters Stakes because that was his first run since his long break. I was a little bit concerned about how he would run, but he ran perfectly. “He had a knee injury after the Takamatsunomiya Kinen. His rehabilitation was good and his preparation for the Sprinters Stakes was good. He ran very, very well there and he has no problem with his knee now. “We don’t have another big race over 1,200m in Japan and this is the biggest opportunity for us, so that’s why we’ve chosen to send him here.” Lugal will be coming up against top opposition from across the world in Sunday’s contest, including Hong Kong’s newest star Ka Ying Rising, the British-trained Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint winner Starlust and Australia’s multiple Group 3 winner Recommendation. While respectful of the opposition, Sugiyama believes his horse can be competitive on his first overseas venture after drawing barrier nine in the official ceremony on Thursday. He said: “I don’t think it’s going to be easy to compete against the strong Hong Kong horses, but Lugal has won a Grade 1 race and is a high-class horse, so it’s worth trying to compete. “On the first day to the second day in Hong Kong he was a little bit tense because this is his first international trip, but now he’s getting used to the new surroundings. He seems to love it here.” Lugal will also face stern competition from within his home country. Regular rival Toshin Macau pushed him to within a neck in the Sprinters Stakes and showed his quality when landing the G2 Centaur Stakes on his penultimate start. The flashy five-year-old will break from gate five and has also settled in well to life at Sha Tin, with a key grass gallop on Thursday pleasing stable representative Takashi Komine. He said: “We decided to send him to Hong Kong after the Sprinters Stakes. He is in as good form as he was in Japan. He launched his bid in the back stretch and showed great momentum. He seems to be a bit tense, but is in good condition.” The Japanese challenge is completed by rising star Satono Reve, who is drawn next to Toshin Macau in stall four. While Lugal and Toshin Macau will be partnered by Japanese jockeys Atsuya Nishimura and Akira Sugawara, the dual G3 winner will be ridden by former multiple Hong Kong champion jockey Joao Moreira. Horse racing news View the full article

Harry saddles Docklands in the Group One Hong Kong Mile, while Sha Tin’s newest trainer David has three runners on the undercard.View the full article

What Ballarat Cup Day 2024 Where Ballarat Turf Club – 72 Midas Rd, Miners Rest VIC 3352 When Saturday, December 7, 2024 First Race 12:15pm AEDT Visit Dabble It’s Ballarat Cup Day this Saturday, with 10 races lined up at Miners Rest. With rain forecast for Friday and Saturday, it is unlikely that the Good 4 rating holds throughout the day, with a Soft track almost a certainty. The rail sticks to its true position, with the Ballarat races commencing at 12:15pm AEDT. Ballarat Cup Tip: It’s A Wild Night It’s A Wild Night (formerly Wild Night) was quite unlucky when finishing fifth on his Australian debut in the Cranbourne Cup (1600m) on November 23, and he did well to finish within two lengths of the winner, Globe. He steps up to the 2000m for just the second time in his career, with the only other time coming in Group 1 company behind Sharp ‘N’ Smart and Campionessa. Daniel Stackhouse will take him towards the rear of the field from barrier 19, but if It’s A Wild Night can find a back to follow, he is more than capable of overhauling his rivals. Ballarat Cup Race 9 – #10 It’s A Wild Night (19) 5yo Gelding | T: Mark Walker | J: Daniel Stackhouse (56kg) Bet with Dabble Best Bet at Ballarat: Pharari Pharari was desperately unlucky at Caulfield on November 16, flashing home late to be narrowly beaten behind Kin. The four-year-old has been racing in fine form this campaign, winning four of her eight starts. Drawn in barrier one, Dylan Browne McMonagle will likely stalk speed influences Celui and Miraval Rose wherever they go, and any rain that comes will only suit this girl. Best Bet Race 4 – #4 Pharari (1) 4yo Mare | T: Ciaron Maher | J: Dylan Browne McMonagle (58kg) Bet with Neds Next Best at Ballarat: Little Jack Little Jack produced an eye-catching return from a spell at Caulfield over 1400m and looks poised to strike second-up at the mile. The five-year-old gelding is more than capable on firmer footing or wet ground, and he has a win and a second from two second-up runs. Jason Maskiell will likely settle off the speed, and with a genuinely run affair expect, the race sets up perfectly for Little Jack to blouse his rivals. Next Best Race 5 – #8 Little Jack (3) 5yo Gelding | T: Alexander Rae | J: Jason Maskiell (59kg) Bet with BlondeBet Best Value at Ballarat: Juggernaut Joan Juggernaut Joan was a determined winner at Geelong on November 27, leading from barrier to box over 1300m. The step up to 1400m second-up from a spell should not be an issue, and from barrier one, Billy Egan will have the mare close to the speed throughout. Whether Juggernaut Joan leads or takes a sit off the speed, she looks a great each-way play with horse racing bookmakers. Best Value Race 2 – #4 Juggernaut Joan (1) 4yo Mare | T: Patrick & Michelle Payne | J: Billy Egan (55.5kg) Bet with Picklebet Saturday quaddie tips for Ballarat Ballarat quadrella selections Saturday, December 6, 2024 1-2-3-4-9-11 7-14-17 1-3-5-7-10-16 5-7-8-14-17 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip Horse racing tips View the full article