Wandering Eyes

Daniel Stackhouse is banking on It’s A Wild Night(NZ) (Vanbrugh) providing him a maiden win in the Ballarat Cup. Daniel Stackhouse will look to parlay his recent good run of form into success in the Ballarat Cup. Stackhouse picks up the ride aboard It’s A Wild Night in the $500,000 Listed contest over 2000m on Saturday, taking over from Blake Shinn who is Hong Kong bound for Sunday’s international meeting at Sha Tin. It’s A Wild Night was the unlucky runner at his most recent appearance when fifth behind Globe in the Listed Cranbourne Cup (1600m) on November 23. Stackhouse has been in excellent form of late, picking up the Group 2 Sandown Guineas on Snitzanova last Saturday which followed a treble at Moonee Valley the previous night. It’s A Wild Night will need to overcome the second widest draw to claim the Ballarat Cup on Saturday, but Stackhouse is not letting that worry him at his first ride on the Mark Walker-trained gelding. “He was unlucky in the Cranbourne Cup and his form before that was good too,” Stackhouse said. “That gives me some confidence, but he has a tricky barrier in what is a pretty solid Ballarat Cup, but there is a pretty good run from the 2000-metre start. “It’s a very competitive race and it’s good to be a part of it.” A number of the main players in Saturday’s race have drawn out near It’s A Wild Night, but Stackhouse is yet to delve too deeply into the form. But the barrier draw might prove beneficial if the rain predicted for Ballarat on Friday and Saturday does eventuate. The track was rated a Slow 6 on Thursday morning with up to 20mm potentially hitting the Ballarat racecourse in the following days. “The barrier draw, it’s not something I’ve not dissected yet, but it might be an advantage being out there late in the day, especially if the rain does come,” Stackhouse said. “The track could change.” Saturday’s race is an open contest with Poison Chalice heading the market at $5 ahead of Future History at $6 with It’s A Wild Night a $12 chance. View the full article

Lisa Allpress couldn’t have wished for a better return to the saddle at New Plymouth on Thursday, guiding home two winners from as many rides. Allpress suffered an fractured vertebra in a fall after the line at the Riccarton Synthetic meeting in early August, halting a fantastic start to the season, where she had guided five winners from just 13 rides. The four-time premiership winner was subsequently unable to fulfil an invitation to the World’s Jockey Series in Japan. Four months later, Allpress was back at the races and partnered two of Allan Sharrock’s gallopers, the first of those an exciting three-year-old debutant in Komocean(NZ) (Ocean Park). A half-sister to Group One winner Signify, Komocean was a well-backed commodity at her first race-day appearance and after missing the start, Allpress was patient and allowed the filly to find her feet in the testing conditions. Picking up ground quickly turning for home, Komocean looked a big danger coming down the outside and kicked away in the finish, putting two lengths on a game Royal Sovereigns. “It was good to get back into it, I probably could’ve started last week at Wanganui, but I elected to take another week to watch our son play sevens up in Tauranga,” Allpress said. “The two horses that I rode today, I had ridden at the jump-outs a couple of weeks ago for Allan Sharrock at Hawera and they both performed very well that day. When I saw them in the nominations, I quickly rang him to see if he’d done anything about riders, so I was lucky he hadn’t. “Komocean was a little fractious in the barriers which she definitely wasn’t at the jump-outs, she was just anxious to get on with the job and was very wriggly, which affected her start. But, the race panned out fine from there, I was back a bit further and wider than I wanted to be, but it’s a true testament to Allan and what he can do, when these horses go to the races, you know you are sitting on something with a decent chance. “Full credit to his team, they do such a fantastic job.” In the following race, Allpress partnered another on debut in Borninastorm(NZ) (Bullbars), having her first start as a five-year-old in the McDonald Real Estate Maiden (1200m). The mare’s co-owners, Sharrock and Paul Foreman, were rewarded for their patience, and after finding the lead early, Borninastorm never looked in doubt as she put the field away by an extending eight lengths to stablemate Bubbles Up. “I actually saw her as a very early two-year-old at the Stratford jump-outs, which would’ve been three years ago now,” Allpress said. “I remember watching her and Allan said ‘she’s a bit like you, she’s got short legs but she can run fast’. “We’ve been waiting for her for a long time and I saw her again winning a trial at the end of last season at Waverley, and spotted her again at the jump-outs, so it was great to finally get on her at the races.” The double increased Allpress’s career tally of domestic winners to 1950, with the goal of 2000 keeping her motivated through the recovery period. “I’ve still got that goal of the 2000 winners, so that is my focus,” she said. “My family have kept me motivated, I’ve received so much support and I have a lot of very good people around me, people in racing and general friends that have been a huge support through the whole process. “I’m very lucky and I just like to get out there and ride horses, that is the easy part.” Sharrock had an outstanding afternoon at his home venue, with juvenile filly Almakeitgood(NZ) (Ardrossan) collecting her maiden in the Grangewilliam Stud Maiden 2YO (1100m) and Librero(NZ) (El Roca) winning the Revital Fertilisers (1400m) through the card. View the full article

Impressive debutant Cheaha was the latest of Wexford Stables’ three-year-olds to step into the winner’s circle, and on Saturday at Ellerslie, five of his stablemates will take their place in the Gr.3 Bonecrusher Stakes (1400m). Cheaha, a son of Alabama Express, made five trial appearances prior to the Rotorua meeting on Wednesday, showing enough promise to close a strong favourite for the maiden contest. Settling back early for jockey Warren Kennedy, Cheaha cruised along while the long-striding Sky Do raced boldly up-front. Cheaha had most of the field still ahead of him turning for home and Kennedy came across heels to the outside of the track, and in a matter of strides, the compact gelding was set alight and put the field away for a soft victory over Think I Got Cha. His stablemate Wounder was the other flashing finisher in the contest, the filly coming from the tail to finish fourth. A $220,000 purchase out of Elsdon Park’s draft at the Karaka Yearling Sales, Cheaha is raced by Lance O’Sullivan, who trains the Wexford contingent alongside Andrew Scott. “We have been patient and put a good deal of education into him at the trials and on the training track,” Scott said. “We were pleased with his condition leading in, so it was great to see everyone’s hard work pay off and to see him quicken in the way he did was very rewarding. “We will see how he comes through over the next couple of days before making any decisions going forward, but we’ve been patient until now, so we won’t be rushing into anything big. “A lot of these horses haven’t raced at two and we’re fortunate that we’ve got patient clients and owners that are prepared to wait. The horses tell us when they’re ready to go and we’re making sure they’ve got very good education levels at home and at the trials before they debut. “It certainly aids to their confidence when they get to the races.” The stable will have a quintet of last-start winning three-year-olds contesting the Group Three feature on Saturday, with Waikato Stud filly Sethito(NZ) (Super Seth) rating highly after her stunning maiden success at Rotorua. “We had her going in the spring and we put her aside for a short break at Waikato Stud, where she did very well,” Scott said. “With the blinkers on, we certainly have seen a vast improvement in her training, so we did expect her to run well. She’s gone the right way and she’s flying on the training track, she’s probably training the best of them. “We’re expecting another top performance, we’ve always thought there was a good gallop in her.” Prosegur(NZ) (Proisir), a winner in two of her three race-day appearances, and Crackercol(NZ) (Proisir), a full-brother to Group One winning-stablemate Waitak, are also expected to relish the 1400m journey. “Prosegur is coming in with the most race-day experience and she’s probably got the better gate (two), which will aid her chances,” Scott said. “She’s a filly with her confidence high, she’s had a good bed of education and from the gate, she should be right in it. She’s going to love the trip and she’s very fit. “Crackercol be a very interesting runner. He’s taken good confidence with the blinkers on last start, and with the experience of his last run under his belt, he continues to thrive and go forward. “He’s a horse that can quicken well on Saturday, he’ll be well-competitive. We think this is more his trip than over further, so he’ll be exciting.” Sicillian(NZ) (Magna Grecia) and Ribkraka(NZ) ( Ribchester) complete their representation in the race, with the former on her way towards a tilt at the Gr.2 Hallmark Stud Eight Carat Classic (1600m) and Gr.2 Sir Patrick Hogan Stakes (2000m) over the New Year period. “We believe she (Sicillian) is the best stayer of the fillies, so she may find the 1400 a wee bit sharp, but once she gets to a mile on Boxing Day and the 2000m on New Year’s Day, that’s when she’s really going to be hitting her straps,” Scott said. “She’s a promising staying filly in the making and this race will set her up well for those races. “Ribkraka is a horse that is going to appreciate getting over 1400 and further through the summer months. “We’ve got a good opinion of him as he gets out over a mile and 2000m, so it’ll be important for him on Saturday to have a good look around Ellerslie. He’ll certainly be coming home, but they may be a touch sharp for him over the shorter trip. “When he gets up in distance, that’s when he’ll come into his own.” On his way to another Group One assignment, Waitak(NZ) (Proisir) will contest the Gr.3 Concorde Stakes (1200m) earlier on the card, fresh-off a strong performance for third behind Luberon in the Gr.3 Counties Bowl (1100m). “We had the blinkers on for the first time there and he was a lot sharper,” Scott said. “He gets out to the 1200 and he’s improved a bit from that run, we think he’ll be hitting the line strong. While it’s an even, strong field, he certainly will make a strong account of himself, the horse is going really well. “When he starts to hit form, he usually holds it and all going well, he’ll head to Wellington next start.” The son of Proisir won this year’s edition of the Gr.1 Railway (1200m) and his immediate target is the Gr.1 TAB Telegraph (1200m) on January 4. View the full article

Robbie Patterson is confident One Bold Cat(NZ) (The Bold One) can be a major player this weekend in his pursuit for another top-flight title. The New Plymouth trainer has the six-year-old purring ahead of Saturday’s Gr.1 TAB Mufhasa Classic (1600m) at Trentham and clearly rates him as his top seed in the weight-for-age feature. Stablemate Puntura(NZ) (Vespa) will also take his place, but time is ticking on the son on the seven-year-old’s career after he struggled for form in the spring. By contrast, One Bold Cat powered home from the back of the field to win the Gr.1 Arrowfield Stud Plate (1600m) and then ran sixth in the Gr.1 Livamol Classic (2040m) before a break. “He’s freshened nicely and he’s had a couple of jump-outs and a trial, so I’ve given him plenty,” Patterson said. “He’s going super and from his gate (two), he’ll be sitting right behind the pace I’d imagine.” Craig Grylls will be aboard One Bold Cat while Mereana Hudson will take the reins on Puntura, who finished among the tailenders in the Arrowfield and the Gr.1 Tarzino Trophy (1400m) at his last two appearances. “Puntura is a bit big in condition and he’ll have to go back from the draw (11) and it will be tempo related as to where he’ll finish,” Patterson said. “There’s not many races we can put him in, so his days are numbered. If he doesn’t come up in his next start or two, he’ll be retired for sure.” Puntura has been an outstanding servant of the stable with 11 victories from 38 appearances and has banked more than $770,000. “He won a Group Three, a Group Two and a Group One in succession and not many can do that, we won’t be flogging him,” Patterson said. He was referring to his victories in last season’s Coupland’s Bakeries Mile (1600m), Manawatu Challenge Stakes (1400m) and Thorndon Mile (1600m). Patterson also fancies his chances earlier on the Trentham card with Leica Lucy(NZ) (Derryn) (Aztech Engineering 3YO, 1400m) and Last Souvenir(NZ) (Darci Brahma) (Jennian Homes Wellington, 1400m). Derryn filly Leica Lucy was untroubled to win on debut on her home track last month and is a possible future Group One contender. “I really like her, she won really well first-up and is going to get up over ground, so she’ll be attacking the line again,” Patterson said. “We had given her a quiet trial and she had showed a lot as a two-year-old, but she got a bone chip and had that taken out, which was probably the best thing for her. “It gave her more time and she’s just a gorgeous animal, she relaxes beautifully and I can see her on an Oaks path if everything goes right.” Joe Doyle will retain the ride on Leica Lucy and Grylls will also combine with Darci Brahma’s son Last Souvenir, who burned home for second on his home turf at the first time of asking. “He ran second first-up and his mum is a half-sister to So You Think, he’s got a lot going for him,” Patterson said. “He came from last around Taranaki which is very hard to do for a big horse. He will go through the grades pretty quickly.” View the full article

A crack at a major summer sprinting prize against the older horses hasn’t been ruled out for quality three-year-old Poetic Champion(NZ) (Super Seth). The stakes winning son of Super Seth is back in work and making good progress following a brief spring campaign that convinced trainer Tony Pike that, in the shorter term at least, he would be best kept to shorter assignments. Poetic Champion was an emphatic first-up winner of the Listed El Roca – Sir Colin Meads Trophy (1200m) at Hastings before he finished fourth in the Gr.2 Hawke’s Bay Guineas (1400m). “He’s an out and out sprinter and he throws everything into his races, he might get 1400m when he’s older, but at this stage he’s definitely a 1200m horse,” Pike said. To that end, he is now mulling over more immediate options for the freegoing chestnut. “He had a short break before he came back into the stable and galloped well this (Thursday) morning,” Pike said. “We’ll trial him at Counties on December 17 and then confirm a plan after that. “Obviously, the three-year-old race (Gr.3 Almanzor Trophy, 1200m) on Karaka Millions night could be a target but if he trialled brilliantly, we might even consider going into the Telegraph (Gr.1, 1200m) at weight-for-age. “That might be a little bit left field at this stage, but we’ll keep an eye on what the sprinting ranks come up like and with the pull in the weights we might think about it.” Meanwhile, Pike’s immediate focus is on Saturday’s meeting at Ellerslie where Poetic Champion’s fellow three-year-old Honey Badger(NZ) (El Roca) will face her sternest test in the Gr.3 Bonecrusher Stakes (1400m). The El Roca filly delivered a strong resuming performance last time out at Te Aroha for her first victory in three appearances. “She has come back really well, and she was good last time on a rain-affected track and the second horse (Celestial Wonder) has come out and run really well again,” Pike said. “It’s an even field on Saturday so we’ll get a fair idea of where she sits at this stage of her preparation.” Pike has a number of other genuine each-way prospects at Ellerslie, including Roederer(NZ) (Turn Me Loose) in the Dunstan Horsefeeds Stayers’ Championship (2100m). The son of Turn Me Loose was narrowly denied a fifth career victory last time out when he finished runner-up. “We had a proper go with him at Counties the other day, we had set him up for that race and he just got done by a nose,” Pike said. “I’m sure he’ll run well again, and Dimaggio(NZ) (Almanzor) is also close to getting another one.” Almanzor’s son Dimaggio also finished second at the Pukekohe meeting last month and will bid to go one better in the Barfoot & Thompson Handicap (1400m). View the full article

Three and a half years after taking a $1000 punt on a pedigree they liked on gavelhouse.com, Ian and Shelley Wright landed their richest prize in racing when Farag (NZ) (Sacred Falls) romped to a 20-length runaway in Sunday’s A$300,000 Jericho Cup (4600m) at Warrnambool. It was the seventh win of a 29-start career for Farag, who has turned that meagre purchase price into A$331,358 in prize-money. This year’s Jericho Cup was the seventh running of the ultra-long-distance race, which was added to the Australian calendar in 2018 to commemorate Australasia’s light horse involvement in World War I. The race has quickly become a fan favourite and has been dominated by New Zealand-breds, who have won it in six of those seven years. The Jericho Cup has been on the Wrights’ wish list for much of the race’s history, and they were there at Warrnambool over the weekend to witness Farag’s spectacular win. The seven-year-old was out in front and piling on the pressure a long way from home, and then he pulled further and further ahead down the home straight in a supreme display of stamina. His 20-length winning margin was the largest in the history of the race. For good measure, the Wrights also part-own the third placegetter Glen Massey (NZ) (Roc De Cambes). “It was amazing,” Ian Wright said. “We’d been wanting to get a horse into this race for a long time, but we just hadn’t had a horse good enough until now. What Farag did was worth the wait. “We bought him sight unseen on Gavelhouse.com. We thought he had good breeding for being a long-distance horse. That pedigree was what really appealed to us, so we thought we’d take a punt and put in a $1000 bid on the horse. In the end, that was enough to get him.” Farag is out of the Yamanin Vital mare Flightime (NZ), a winning half-sister to the stakes performers Royal Flight (NZ) (Danzighill) and Flight Captain (NZ) (Seasoned Star). Flighttime’s granddam Flight Judge (NZ) (The Judge) was a half-sister to Our Flight (NZ) (Imperial Guard), who won the Group One New Zealand Derby (2400m) and Group One New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) and was New Zealand Horse of the Year. Farag began his career with 14 starts in New Zealand, placing on three occasions and earning $11,385. The Wrights then sold a share of the ownership to Australia’s Peter Groidis, and the gelding was transferred into the Warrnambool stable of Aaron Purcell. His 15 starts on that side of the Tasman have now produced seven wins, a placing and more than A$320,000. “I was always confident that our horse wouldn’t stop,” Purcell said after Sunday’s big win. “So I was happy to see him hit the front, because I knew he’d be a hard horse to get past.” View the full article

Navigating international form can be a minefield for punters, but the Post is here to help you back a winner at Sunday’s Hong Kong International Races.View the full article

Cheaha winning comfortably on debut at Arawa Park on Wednesday. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images) Impressive debutant Cheaha was the latest of Wexford Stables’ three-year-olds to step into the winner’s circle, and on Saturday at Ellerslie, five of his stablemates will take their place in the Group 3 Bonecrusher Stakes (1400m). Cheaha, a son of Alabama Express, made five trial appearances prior to the Rotorua meeting on Wednesday, showing enough promise to close a strong favourite for the maiden contest. Settling back early for jockey Warren Kennedy, Cheaha cruised along while the long-striding Sky Do raced boldly up-front. Cheaha had most of the field still ahead of him turning for home and Kennedy came across heels to the outside of the track, and in a matter of strides, the compact gelding was set alight and put the field away for a soft victory over Think I Got Cha. His stablemate Wounder was the other flashing finisher in the contest, the filly coming from the tail to finish fourth. A $220,000 purchase out of Elsdon Park’s draft at the Karaka Yearling Sales, Cheaha is raced by Lance O’Sullivan, who trains the Wexford contingent alongside Andrew Scott. “We have been patient and put a good deal of education into him at the trials and on the training track,” Scott said. “We were pleased with his condition leading in, so it was great to see everyone’s hard work pay off and to see him quicken in the way he did was very rewarding. “We will see how he comes through over the next couple of days before making any decisions going forward, but we’ve been patient until now, so we won’t be rushing into anything big. “A lot of these horses haven’t raced at two and we’re fortunate that we’ve got patient clients and owners that are prepared to wait. The horses tell us when they’re ready to go and we’re making sure they’ve got very good education levels at home and at the trials before they debut. “It certainly aids to their confidence when they get to the races.” The stable will have a quintet of last-start winning three-year-olds contesting the Group 3 feature on Saturday, with Waikato Stud filly Sethito rating highly after her stunning maiden success at Rotorua. “We had her going in the spring and we put her aside for a short break at Waikato Stud, where she did very well,” Scott said. “With the blinkers on, we certainly have seen a vast improvement in her training, so we did expect her to run well. She’s gone the right way and she’s flying on the training track, she’s probably training the best of them. “We’re expecting another top performance, we’ve always thought there was a good gallop in her.” Prosegur, a winner in two of her three race-day appearances, and Crackercol, a full-brother to Group 1 winning-stablemate Waitak, are also expected to relish the 1400m journey. “Prosegur is coming in with the most race-day experience and she’s probably got the better gate (two), which will aid her chances,” Scott said. “She’s a filly with her confidence high, she’s had a good bed of education and from the gate, she should be right in it. She’s going to love the trip and she’s very fit. “Crackercol be a very interesting runner. He’s taken good confidence with the blinkers on last start, and with the experience of his last run under his belt, he continues to thrive and go forward. “He’s a horse that can quicken well on Saturday, he’ll be well-competitive. We think this is more his trip than over further, so he’ll be exciting.” Sicillian and Ribkraka complete their representation in the race, with the former on her way towards a tilt at the Group 2 Hallmark Stud Eight Carat Classic (1600m) and Group 2 Sir Patrick Hogan Stakes (2000m) over the New Year period. “We believe she (Sicillian) is the best stayer of the fillies, so she may find the 1400 a wee bit sharp, but once she gets to a mile on Boxing Day and the 2000m on New Year’s Day, that’s when she’s really going to be hitting her straps,” Scott said. “She’s a promising staying filly in the making and this race will set her up well for those races. “Ribkraka is a horse that is going to appreciate getting over 1400 and further through the summer months. “We’ve got a good opinion of him as he gets out over a mile and 2000m, so it’ll be important for him on Saturday to have a good look around Ellerslie. He’ll certainly be coming home, but they may be a touch sharp for him over the shorter trip. “When he gets up in distance, that’s when he’ll come into his own.” On his way to another Group 1 assignment, Waitak will contest the Group 3 Concorde Stakes (1200m) earlier on the card, fresh-off a strong performance for third behind Luberon in the Group 3 Counties Bowl (1100m). “We had the blinkers on for the first time there and he was a lot sharper,” Scott said. “He gets out to the 1200 and he’s improved a bit from that run, we think he’ll be hitting the line strong. While it’s an even, strong field, he certainly will make a strong account of himself, the horse is going really well. “When he starts to hit form, he usually holds it and all going well, he’ll head to Wellington next start.” The son of Proisir won this year’s edition of the Group 1 Railway (1200m) and his immediate target is the Group 1 Telegraph (1200m) on January 4. Horse racing news View the full article

Navigating the overseas form can be challenging for punters, but the Post is here to help you back a winner at Sha Tin’s marquee meeting.View the full article

Navigating international form can be a minefield for punters, but the Post is here to help you back a winner at Sunday’s Hong Kong International Races.View the full article

Nobals (Noble Mission {GB}), the 2023 GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint hero who was set to become the first American representative at the Longines Hong Kong International Races in seven years, has been officially ruled out of Sunday's G1 Longines Hong Kong Sprint with a continuing blood abnormality, according to a release issued by the Hong Kong Jockey Club early Thursday morning (Hong Kong time). Recent winner of the GII Kennedy Road Stakes over the Woodbine Tapeta track, the Larry Rivelli-trained Nobals arrived in Hong Kong on Sunday, Dec. 1, but his participation in the Sprint was cast into doubt when bloodwork drawn soon after his arrival showed evidence of the presence of an infection. At the time, Hong Kong Jockey Club officials indicated that his condition would be monitored and an update issued at the appropriate time. Nobals was among the field of 14 entered for Sunday's Sprint when the racecard was posted at the HKJC website Thursday morning, but a release announced his withdrawal around 10:20 a.m. local time Thursday. The draw for the Hong Kong International Races was to begin at 11 a.m. HKT Thursday in the parade ring at Sha Tin Racecourse. With Nobals's defection, Flying Ace (NZ) (Swiss Ace {Aus}) now draws into the field, which is led by the prohibitive favorite Ka Ying Rising (NZ) (Shamexpress {NZ}). The post Nobals Officially Out of Hong Kong Sprint appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Last year’s Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint victor fails to recover from setback, with Flying Ace replacing him in HKIR feature.View the full article

Naviagting the overseas form can be challenging for punters, but the Post is here to help you back a winner at Sha Tin’s marquee meeting.View the full article

One Bold Cat (outside) will line up in Saturday’s Group 1 Mufhasa Classic (1600m) at Trentham. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images) Robbie Patterson is confident One Bold Cat can be a major player this weekend in his pursuit for another top-flight title. The New Plymouth trainer has the six-year-old purring ahead of Saturday’s Group 1 TAB Mufhasa Classic (1600m) at Trentham and clearly rates him as his top seed in the weight-for-age feature. Stablemate Puntura will also take his place, but time is ticking on the son on the seven-year-old’s career after he struggled for form in the spring. By contrast, One Bold Cat powered home from the back of the field to win the Group 1 Arrowfield Stud Plate (1600m) and then ran sixth in the Group 1 Livamol Classic (2040m) before a break. “He’s freshened nicely and he’s had a couple of jump-outs and a trial, so I’ve given him plenty,” Patterson said. “He’s going super and from his gate (two), he’ll be sitting right behind the pace I’d imagine.” Craig Grylls will be aboard One Bold Cat while Mereana Hudson will take the reins on Puntura, who finished among the tailenders in the Arrowfield and the Group 1 Tarzino Trophy (1400m) at his last two appearances. “Puntura is a bit big in condition and he’ll have to go back from the draw (11) and it will be tempo related as to where he’ll finish,” Patterson said. “There’s not many races we can put him in, so his days are numbered. If he doesn’t come up in his next start or two, he’ll be retired for sure.” Puntura has been an outstanding servant of the stable with 11 victories from 38 appearances and has banked more than $770,000. “He won a Group 3, a Group 2 and a Group 1 in succession and not many can do that, we won’t be flogging him,” Patterson said. He was referring to his victories in last season’s Coupland’s Bakeries Mile (1600m), Manawatu Challenge Stakes (1400m) and Thorndon Mile (1600m). Patterson also fancies his chances earlier on the Trentham card with Leica Lucy (Aztech Engineering 3YO, 1400m) and Last Souvenir (Jennian Homes Wellington, 1400m). Derryn filly Leica Lucy was untroubled to win on debut on her home track last month and is a possible future Group 1 contender. “I really like her, she won really well first-up and is going to get up over ground, so she’ll be attacking the line again,” Patterson said. “We had given her a quiet trial and she had showed a lot as a two-year-old, but she got a bone chip and had that taken out, which was probably the best thing for her. “It gave her more time and she’s just a gorgeous animal, she relaxes beautifully and I can see her on an Oaks path if everything goes right.” Joe Doyle will retain the ride on Leica Lucy and Grylls will also combine with Darci Brahma’s son Last Souvenir, who burned home for second on his home turf at the first time of asking. “He ran second first-up and his mum is a half-sister to So You Think, he’s got a lot going for him,” Patterson said. “He came from last around Taranaki which is very hard to do for a big horse. He will go through the grades pretty quickly.” Horse racing news View the full article

Poetic Champion powering away with the Listed El Roca – Sir Colin Meads Trophy (1200m) at Hastings on Saturday. Photo: Peter Rubery (Race Images Palmerston North) A crack at a major summer sprinting prize against the older horses hasn’t been ruled out for quality three-year-old Poetic Champion. The stakes winning son of Super Seth is back in work and making good progress following a brief spring campaign that convinced trainer Tony Pike that, in the shorter term at least, he would be best kept to shorter assignments. Poetic Champion was an emphatic first-up winner of the Listed El Roca – Sir Colin Meads Trophy (1200m) at Hastings before he finished fourth in the Group 2 Hawke’s Bay Guineas (1400m). “He’s an out and out sprinter and he throws everything into his races, he might get 1400m when he’s older, but at this stage he’s definitely a 1200m horse,” Pike said. To that end, he is now mulling over more immediate options for the freegoing chestnut. “He had a short break before he came back into the stable and galloped well this (Thursday) morning,” Pike said. “We’ll trial him at Counties on December 17 and then confirm a plan after that. “Obviously, the three-year-old race (Group 3 Almanzor Trophy, 1200m) on Karaka Millions night could be a target but if he trialled brilliantly, we might even consider going into the Telegraph (Group 1, 1200m) at weight-for-age. “That might be a little bit left field at this stage, but we’ll keep an eye on what the sprinting ranks come up like and with the pull in the weights we might think about it.” Meanwhile, Pike’s immediate focus is on Saturday’s meeting at Ellerslie where Poetic Champion’s fellow three-year-old Honey Badger will face her sternest test in the Group 3 Bonecrusher Stakes (1400m). The El Roca filly delivered a strong resuming performance last time out at Te Aroha for her first victory in three appearances. “She has come back really well, and she was good last time on a rain-affected track and the second horse (Celestial Wonder) has come out and run really well again,” Pike said. “It’s an even field on Saturday so we’ll get a fair idea of where she sits at this stage of her preparation.” Pike has a number of other genuine each-way prospects at Ellerslie, including Roederer in the Stayers’ Championship (2100m). The son of Turn Me Loose was narrowly denied a fifth career victory last time out when he finished runner-up. “We had a proper go with him at Counties the other day, we had set him up for that race and he just got done by a nose,” Pike said. “I’m sure he’ll run well again, and Dimaggio is also close to getting another one.” Almanzor’s son Dimaggio also finished second at the Pukekohe meeting last month and will bid to go one better in the Barfoot & Thompson Handicap (1400m). Horse racing news View the full article

What Darwin Races Where Fannie Bay Racecourse – Dick Ward Dr, Fannie Bay NT 0820 When Friday, December 6, 2024 First Race 3pm ACST Visit Dabble The Darwin Turf Club hosts yet another Friday twilight meeting with 41 horses accepting for the five-event program. Wet and muddy conditions prevailed last Friday, with upwards of 80mm falling in the Top End this week. Further rain is expected on Friday with a top temperature of 32C. The rail will be in the true position, and despite the rain, it is expected to be a good dirt surface. BEST BET AT DARWIN: Debating A solid performer in Darwin and Alice Springs since December, Debating was a last start winner over 1000m against 0-58 opposition on November 16. Leading by two lengths most of the way, the four-year-old gelding held on to win by half a length from the fast-finishing Rhesus. In 11 Top End starts, the son of Reward For Effort has three wins and eight minor placings. Debating has done little wrong in eight starts since July with the former Victorian galloper seeking back-to-back wins for the first time. Best Bet Race 3 – #3 Debating (4) 4yo Gelding | T: Ella Clarke | J: Adam Nicholls (59.5kg) Bet with BlondeBet NEXT BEST AT DARWIN: Prince Ruban Prince Ruban was a first up second on November 16 going down by a head to Seven Secrets over 1300m at 0-64 level. The seven-year-old gelding sat outside the winner, and together they shared the lead for a major portion of the race. Prince Ruban carries an extra 3.5kg on Friday, but he boasts seven wins and eight minor placings from 26 starts at Fannie Bay. Next Best Race 1 – #2 Prince Ruban (6) 7yo Gelding | T: Gary Clarke | J: Adam Nicholls (62kg) Bet with Neds BEST VALUE AT DARWIN: On The Charge In an open nine-horse field, On The Charge debuts in Darwin after kick-starting his career in NSW. The four-year-old gelding finished second in an 1100m Gilgandra maiden in January before returning in June for a second in a 1000m Tamworth maiden as a $1.80 favourite. The son of Charge Forward backed up in July and saluted as a $1.95 favourite in a 1000m Warren maiden. New faces to Darwin are hit or miss, but On The Charge – an early $7 quote with online bookmakers – is worth the risk. Best Value Race 5 – #2 On The Charge (4) 4yo Gelding | T: Neil Dyer | J: Adam Nicholls (59.5kg) Bet with Unibet Darwin quaddie picks Fannie Bay quadrella selections Friday, December 6, 2024 1-2-5 1-3-5 6-7-8-9 1-2-3-4-5-6 Horse racing tips View the full article

What Kensington Races Where Royal Randwick Racecourse – Alison Rd, Randwick NSW 2031 When Friday, December 6, 2024 First Race 3:20pm AEDT Visit Dabble Metro racing returns to the Kensington circuit at Randwick on Friday afternoon, with a competitive seven-part program set for decision. The rail is in the true position the entire circuit, and with the track rated a Soft 6 at the time of acceptances, with more scattered rainfall on the way, punters can expect the track to remain in the Soft range for race-day. All the action is scheduled to get underway at 3:20pm local time. Best Bet at Kensington: Pretty Powerful The Chris Waller-trained Pretty Powerful has caught the eye in two recent barrier trials at Warwick Farm and appears to have above-average ability. The son of Yes Yes Yes has hardly been asked to extend, cruising through the wire under his own steam to suggesting he had plenty left to give in the concluding stages. The sting out of the ground should be no issue, and with gate two giving Kerrin McEvoy the perfect trail into the race, expect Pretty Powerful to make his debut a winning one. Best Bet Race 1 – #2 Pretty Poweful (2) 3yo Colt | T: Chris Waller | J: Kerrin McEvoy (58kg) Bet with Neds Next Best at Kensington: Certain Future Certain Future appears poised for a first-up assault after bolting clear to score by a length in a recent trial at Randwick on November 26. The filly by Almanzor showed good manners on that occasion, gaining the leaders back before putting them away stylishly. Jason Collett gets legged aboard from barrier four on debut, and with the unraced three-year-old set to land in the one-one throughout, Certain Future should get every chance to make an impression first-up. Next Best Race 2 – #3 Certain Future (4) 3yo Filly | T: Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald | J: Jason Collett (58.5kg) Bet with BlondeBet Best Value at Kensington: Manwe Manwe was a total forgive performance at Canterbury on November 15. All eyes were on the luckless effort of Kerguelen in the final furlong, however, Manwe was just as impressive finishing off behind a wall of horses, knuckling down to the task to get within 1.3 lengths of Eye Of The Fire. Barrier 13 means Zac Lloyd will need to drag back towards the rear of the field, but with plenty of speed engaged here, watch for Manwe to be flashing down the centre of the course at an each-way price with horse racing bookmakers. Best Value Race 4 – #3 Manwe (13) 4yo Gelding | T: Anthony Cummings | J: Zac Lloyd (61kg) Bet with Picklebet Friday quaddie tips for Kensington Kensington quadrella selections December 6, 2024 2-3-5-6 2-4-6 4-5-6-7 1-3-8-10 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip Horse racing tips View the full article

What Moonee Valley Races Where Moonee Valley Racecourse – Gate 2 Feehan Ave, Moonee Ponds VIC 3039 When Friday, December 6, 2024 First Race 6:15pm AEDT Visit Dabble Friday night racing in Victoria heads to Moonee Valley for a fourth straight week, with an eight-race card set down for decision. Showers on race night are due to offset some warm weather in the lead-up, but the Good 4 track rating should not deteriorate too much. The rail remains in its true position, with the opening race set to go at 6:15pm AEDT. Best Bet at Moonee Valley: Kaluakoi Kaluakoi could not have been more impressive when disposing of a similar field to this at Cranbourne on November 23. The three-year-old colt was perfectly rated out in front by Blake Shinn, albeit on a track that suited frontrunners on the day. Barrier one and race one should mean that Kaluakoi gets the best of the surface on Friday night, and the $2.60 on offer with horse racing bookmakers looks a steal. Best Bet Race 1 – #1 Kaluakoi (1) 3yo Colt | T: Danny O’Brien | J: Blake Shinn (60kg) +160 with Neds Next Best at Moonee Valley: Proved Proved deadset bolted in on debut at Moe on November 21. The four-year-old mare won by two lengths but was hands and heels to the line after leading throughout. Barrier 10 this time around is a touch concerning, but Craig Williams should have no issue crossing the field and dictating terms. If Proved produces anything like what she did at Moe, she will prove too slick around the Moonee Valley circuit. Next Best Race 6 – #6 Proved (10) 4yo Mare | T: Enver Jusufovic | J: Craig Williams (58kg) +170 with BlondeBet Best Value at Moonee Valley: Son Of Solly Son Of Solly was unlucky when finishing third on the Caulfield Heath circuit last time out. The son of Ilovethiscity needed to check off heels before sprinting sharply and seemingly had the race shot to bits before Divine Crown powered home. The blinkers go back on, and with the rise to 2040m fourth-up, it shapes perfectly for Jordan Childs to have Son Of Solly savaging the line once more. Best Value Race 8 – #4 Son Of Solly (5) 5yo Gelding | T: Grahame Begg | J: Jordan Childs (59.5kg) +550 with Picklebet Friday quaddie tips for Moonee Valley Moonee Valley quadrella selections Friday, December 6, 2024 1-2-3-8 5-6 1-2-3-4-6 3-4-6-10-11 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip Horse racing tips View the full article

Trainer Murray Rojas spent nearly a decade fighting equine drug misbranding charges stemming from a years-long federal investigation of horsemen and veterinarians at Penn National Race Course. While other similarly indicted co-defendants opted for plea-bargain deals, Rojas maintained her innocence even through an ordeal that she said “wrecked” her career. In 2021 she took her case all the way to the United States Supreme Court, where her perseverance resulted in the overturning of a 27-month prison sentence and the vacating of all charges against her. Rojas has since regained her previously revoked licensure to train Thoroughbreds in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, West Virginia and Arizona. On Tuesday, she wanted to add Kentucky to the list of states where she can legally ply her trade. But after facing an intense round of questioning and testimony via videoconference by the Kentucky Horse Racing and Gaming Corporation (KHRGC)'s license review committee, Rojas instead ended up withdrawing her request for a Kentucky training license. Rojas made that decision after the chair of that committee, Gregory Harbut, told her after the board emerged from closed-session deliberations that if she didn't choose to withdraw her license request, the committee's vote would “almost certainly result in the denial of this application.” Rojas didn't participate in the Dec. 4 hearing accompanied by an attorney. But she did understand the legal ramifications that were explained to her–namely, that if the KHRGC put a license denial on her record, it would jeopardize Rojas's ability to continue training in other states that had already granted her licenses. “I don't want a denial on my record,” Rojas said. But, Rojas added, “I would like to reapply with my lawyer next to me to do this. Because, obviously, I didn't answer right, and I'm not really sure why you would prove me guilty when I'm not guilty of anything.” Earlier in Tuesday's hearing, Rojas had expressed frustration at the license review board's line of questioning, which had included numerous repetitive queries, such as, “Why do you think you are here today?” “Tell us why you're here.” “What brings us to this process?” (The occasional poor quality of the livestream audio and the wide-angle placement of the camera in a conference room made it difficult for TDN to ascertain at times exactly which KHRGC license review committee members were speaking. Beyond chair Harbut, the other members on Tuesday were Paul Brooker, Michael Dudgeon, Jamie Eads and Shannon Garner). At one point, Rojas was admonished by a committee member, “It's important that you answer the questions that we ask truthfully.” Rojas was also reminded several times that, “This is not a criminal procedure, so you don't have to worry about double jeopardy.” But, Rojas said, that's exactly how she felt, stating to the committee with exasperation, “You're trying to convict me again.” In July 2017, Rojas was found guilty on 14 of 21 counts of misbranding prescription drugs, charges that were brought against her as part of a Federal Bureau of Investigation inquiry into alleged equine drug administration at Penn National. She was found not guilty on seven counts of wire fraud. As the Paulick Report wrote in a 2022 chronology of her case, “Rojas was accused of having veterinarians administer medications to horses within 24 hours of a race in violation of state regulations. Veterinarians who testified in the case say they also falsified dates of the treatments in records submitted to regulators. The practice, according to testimony given during the trial, was widespread at Penn National.” Sentenced to 27 months in federal prison, Rojas initially lost on appeal. But Rojas petitioned the Supreme Court to hear the case, where, according to the Paulick Report, her legal team argued that “the trial judge and appellate court erred in their definition of misbranding in both jury instructions and in the appeal. Specifically, they said, the judge failed to instruct the jury properly on the distinction between 'administering' drugs and 'dispensing' them and that the government failed to prove that Rojas 'dispensed' the drugs to her horses.” At the Dec. 4, 2024 hearing for her Kentucky license, Rojas told committee members, “I don't really know what to say other than all my charges were dropped by the Supreme Court. They overturned the federal government on all the charges [and] I've raced [as a licensed trainer since 2023 in other states] without a problem.” Rojas told the committee members that the conviction “totally wrecked my career. It wrecked my business. It broke me, obviously, paying lawyer's fees. I had the National Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association backing me. They paid half my fees, because it was such a fake charge. I had the Cato Institute backing me with the Supreme Court. I've been backed by great people that know that I am innocent, so I feel like I shouldn't have to fight for this anymore.” One license review committee member reminded Rojas that that her co-defendants had either all pleaded guilty or were proven guilty at trials. “I'd like you to tell us what you did. It's a pretty serious deal,” the committee member said. “It was really a serious deal in my life,” Rojas agreed. “I spent nine years fighting for my rights. I didn't take a 'deal.' All the other trainers took a guilty plea. I did not. I didn't do anything wrong. I'm not going to say I did anything wrong, because I didn't. What I was convicted on was misbranding, which was a completely false charge [because I was following the advice of] a veterinarian. I've used no illegal drugs, at all, ever.” “Then why did they convict you?” asked a committee member. “They convicted me because they didn't understand the charges,” Rojas responded. “Misbranding is such a far-fetched idea that [the jury] had no idea what it meant. It was a 14-day trial,” Rojas continued. “The jurors were falling asleep. The judge fell asleep. It was a crazy trial.” During Tuesday's hearing, two other individuals were also seeking to be relicensed by the KHRGC after various sanctions had been imposed against them. The committee took testimony for nearly an hour total to cover all three cases, then deliberated in private for about 45 minutes before returning to a public session to vote on the applications. Only in Rojas's case did the board suggest the withdrawal of the application. The KHRGC committee voted unanimously to approve licenses for Cody Axmaker and Troy Wismer. In 2022, Monmouth Park stewards had penalized Axmaker with a two-year suspension and a $5,000 fine after one of his horses died from an accidental overdose of clenbuterol from an apparently mislabeled container. Wismer, according to testimony at the hearing and from online Kentucky court records, had been convicted this past May of seven felony charges (strangulation, assault, domestic violence, violation of a protective order, burglary, robbery and evading police) stemming from his role in a 2023 altercation at Churchill Downs on GI Kentucky Derby Day and a series of related violent incidents that spilled over to the home of his ex-wife. Wismer told the KHRGC on Tuesday that he had pleaded guilty to the charges on the advice of his attorney so he could enter a court-approved diversion program that spared him most of the jail time. His relicensing was made conditional upon drug and alcohol screenings. Within minutes of the adjournment of the license review committee hearing, the KHRGC removed the two public-session videos of Tuesday's proceedings from the organization's YouTube channel. The post Trainer Rojas, Cleared of Drug Charges by U.S. Supreme Court, Can’t Overcome Licensing Hurdle in Kentucky appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Winning has been a hallmark of Brittany Russell's training career. Since she opened her Maryland-based stable in 2018, she has been winning at a highly impressive 25% clip. But it's been Post Time who has taken her career to the next level. View the full article

The past week has been good to Mid Canterbury trainers Lynn and Justin Smith. On Saturday the Rakaia-based combo had a double with Beyond The Horizon and Lookslikeatrixter at Motukarara to bring up their 100th training success together and then yesterday they added to their total when Glance broke maidens with a four length win at Addington. “She always worked like she’d win a race but she hasn’t raced like that on race day until today,” Justin Smith told Harness Unhinged’s Nigel Armstrong post race. It was her 12th start since debuting at Akaroa in March. “She’s been a long work in progress and been in work a long time.” Glance started safely in the Book “Under The Mistletoe” at Addington 13 Dec Trot, and settled three back the fence with favourite Bluey setting the pace. Smith then manouevred the five-year-old out at the 400. Bluey broke in the run home giving Glance a charmed run to the line. She paid $15 for the win. Bred and raced by the Smiths, Glance (Creatine) is the seventh of eight foals from their top race mare Some Direction. She won 25 from 167 starts and over $300K. Her other progeny to have been race winners are Kingdom Come (4), Look Ahead (1), Some Time (5), Take Notice (2) and Lookalike Lobell (1). “Her foals have been a bit different. She (Some Direction) was good from day one but the foals have taken a lot of work.” Some Direction (Sundon – Look) was the first winner the mother-son combo had as a training partnership. It was in Ashburton in 2004. After yesterday’s win they now have 101 wins, with Lynn also having 45 on her own account (1976-2004). View the full article

Darwin jockey Wayne Davis endured mixed fortunes on his return from injury at Fannie Bay last Friday. Having made a welcome return from injury, Darwin jockey Wayne Davis is hoping for a smoother and more successful day in the saddle come Friday. Sidelined since May with a serious back injury, the popular 53-year-old made his first appearance back at a wet and muddy Fannie Bay last Friday, and it certainly proved eventful. After three rides where he finished unplaced, Davis was aboard the Phil Cole-trained Awesome Lad in the last race when the eight-year-old gelding started bucking and took no further competitive part in the event. “I was thinking that it was unlikely I was going to have a crash landing,” Davis said. “Awesome Lad is sensitive, he got ticklish and got a bit of a shock with the surface water. “It was just one of those things, he’s an experienced horse and I couldn’t see him doing it again.” Davis has four rides for Cole on Friday — Proklisi, Moorestown, Miss Polly and Fly Nice — as he strives for that first win since March 22, when he partnered Proklisi. Form suggests that Proklisi, Moorestown and Miss Polly are in the mix. After riding at Darwin’s ANZAC Day meeting, Davis fell from his mount during trackwork on May 4. The horse bucked and turned sharply to its right before dislodging Davis. Landing on his back, Davis was transported to Royal Darwin Hospital by ambulance. “Early days, I did wonder how the body would recover after fracturing my T11 vertebrae and five ribs,” Davis said. “The vertebrae has recovered extremely well, I’m feeling great. “There was also a lot of physiotherapy, I just needed time to heal. “I have been focussing on the fitness in the gym as well. “It also allowed the spine to recover as opposed to pushing it beyond its means.” Understandably, Davis was excited to make his comeback. He returned to trackwork some time ago before getting approval to return to race riding on November 21. “If anything, it was a relief,” he said. “I love what I do, especially when it’s your passion and your life. “It was great to get the eye back in and clean the pipes out, so to speak. “It would be good to get a win on Friday — get a score on the board.” Before the mishap in May, Davis was involved in a three-horse fall during the 2021 Darwin Cup Carnival and was dislodged during trackwork in late 2022 when a plover struck his horse. Another fall could draw the curtain on Davis’ career, which started 37 years ago in Victoria. “It’s like driving a car to the supermarket, you don’t premeditate something going wrong,” he said. “If you do, you shouldn’t be driving or riding. “If you start having thoughts like that, you’re second-guessing yourself and you’re not giving 100 per cent. “The aim is to be positive, not negative.” Horse racing news View the full article

Just Steel, who sustained a right front leg fracture in the May 18 Preakness Stakes (G1) at Pimlico Race Course, has rejoined the barn of Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas in advance of the 2024-25 Oaklawn Park meet that begins Dec. 6.View the full article

The Kentucky Horse Racing and Gaming Corporation License Review Committee unanimously voted to grant Kentucky racing licenses to Cody Axmaker and Troy Wismer, who have troubled histories in the sport as owners and trainers.View the full article

Hall of Famer D. Wayne Lukas, who won his seventh GI Preakness Stakes in 2024 with recently retired new Gainesway stallion Seize the Grey (Arrogate), has two of his other highly regarded 2024 stakes performers training at Oaklawn Park for a return to the races. BC Stables, LLC and Henry Schmueckle's Just Steel (Justify), winner of the 2023 Ed Brown Stakes and runner-up in Oaklawn's 2024 GI Arkansans Derby, GIII Southwest Stakes, and Smarty Jones Stakes, emerged from a fifth-place finish in the Preakness with a right-front leg fracture and subsequently required surgery. Lukas told Oaklawn publicity this week that the sophomore returned to training about 60 days ago, but has yet to have a timed work. “He actually looks terrific,” Lukas said. “The time off and everything filled him out. He grew. He's 17 hands. Now, he's a man among the rest of these. I'm pretty optimistic that he's going to have a big year.” Lukas indicated there isn't a specific timetable or target for Just Steel. “We'll just let him dictate it as we go along. He hasn't had a work yet, so we'll go from there.” Another prominent Lukas runner of 2024 was Lemon Muffin (Collected), who broke her maiden last February at 28-1 in Oaklawn's GIII Honeybee Stakes. The Aaron Sones, Julie Gilbert, and Harrison M. Sones runner was last seen finishing second in a Churchill allowance Nov. 13. She'd finished off the board in a number of races since her Honeybee win. “She's doing good,” Lukas said. “Her last race was more like her. We'll probably stay in our [allowance] conditions with her one more race, at least, before we move up.” The Oaklawn meet begins Friday, Dec. 6. The post Just Steel Among Lukas Runners Training at Oaklawn, Nearing Return appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article