Wandering Eyes

Universe, a closing second in the 2025 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (G2) after two earlier graded stakes placings, aims to turn the stakes corner as a newly turned 3-year-old in the Jan. 3 Smarty Jones Stakes at Oaklawn Park.View the full article

Santa Anita Park canceled racing Dec. 31 and Jan. 1 due to a strengthening rainstorm coming in from the Pacific Ocean.View the full article

Retired jockey and Thoroughbred aftercare advocate Rosie Napravnik will return to Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots on Saturday, Jan. 3 to lead the sixth annual “New Vocations Day at the Races.” A four-time local riding champion who was instrumental in the opening of the New Vocations facility in Covington, Louisiana, Napravnik will join the Fair Grounds' broadcast team to help build awareness, promote success stories, provide adoption options and inspire donations for Thoroughbred aftercare. “I am very proud to be part of the sixth annual New Vocations Day at Fair Grounds,” Napravnik said. “To my knowledge, there isn't another racetrack in the country that dedicates an entire racing day to aftercare initiatives. I'm incredibly grateful to the Fair Grounds and the New Vocations staff for their efforts, on-air host Joe Kristufek in particular. He's personally invested and goes above and beyond to make this day special.” She continued, “Our mission is to raise awareness. Louisiana horsemen, at the end of their careers, we are here locally to serve your horses in aftercare. Raising funds to support this initiative is also important. We appreciate the support from the entire industry–the jockeys to the owners to the racing fans. Every little bit helps. The New Vocations satellite program in Covington, Louisiana has been a massive success. I'm super excited that New Vocations' program director Anna Ford will be joining us this year to help us celebrate that progress.” The post Napravnik Returns to Fair Grounds for Sixth Annual New Vocations Day appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Tally-Ho Stud took the unprecedented decision earlier this month to announce that Starman, the runaway winner of the first-season sires' championship in Britain and Ireland, was fully subscribed at a fee of €40,000 – up from €10,000 this year – for 2026. So, did the O'Callaghans make a boo-boo by setting the fee too low given they have effectively had to turn breeders away? How fully booked correlates to paying customers remains to be seen but you can bet your bottom dollar that Starman will cover in excess of 200 mares next season. And it's easy to see why. He didn't just win the first-season sires' championship, he annihilated his rivals by amassing 41 individual winners and 52 wins from 103 runners in Britain and Ireland. Across Europe, he has had 45 winners in total. Given the demand, it's hard to argue that many, if any, of those lucky breeders booked to visit Starman with a mare next year would have baulked at a fee of €50,000 or even more. But maybe the O'Callaghans haven't got the fee wrong at all. We can all agree that stallions like Starman don't come along very often and, when they do, commercial operations like Tally-Ho need to make hay when the sun shines. Yes, the stud has been blessed with Kodiac and Mehmas in the past but the anticipation appears to be even stronger for what Starman might be able to achieve off the back of siring four Group winners – Group 1 scorer Venetian Sun, Group 2 winner Green Sense and Group 3 winners North Coast and Lady Iman – in his debut crop. Having a sire as hot as him on the roster can only be good news for every other stallion within the ranks at Tally-Ho given potential breeders are likely to support younger guns like Good Guess, Big Evs, Maranoa Charlie and King Of Steel in order to secure a slot to Starman. A win-win for everyone, if you like, and nobody can see the bigger picture better than the O'Callaghans can. But the trickle-down effect doesn't end there. One of the fascinating subplots to Starman's supersonic performance has been the number of smaller breeders who got a touch out of the stallion in the sales ring. Again, this is more good news. Venetian Sun: provided Starman with a Group 1 success | Scoop Dyga Tally-Ho boss Tony O'Callaghan summed it up brilliantly at the November Foal Sale at Goffs when he revealed one breeder, who had described himself as “disillusioned” with the game earlier in the year and didn't cover any mares as a result, had regained his appetite for breeding following the sale of his Starman foal for €125,000. Such price tags were made possible after a memorable season on the track that just didn't let up; from Lady Iman delivering on all of the hype to win one of the opening maidens of the season at Dundalk in March before going on to land the G3 Molecomb Stakes right through to Venetian Sun's defeat of Gstaad (Starspangledbanner) in the G1 Prix Morny Stakes at Deaville, there didn't appear to be a week or big festival that went by without Starman making an impact. And while it must be noted that a large portion of Starman's highest-rated runners are fillies, Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf-placed North Coast and Mill Reef runner-up Into The Sky illustrates that the young stallion is more than capable of coming up with a high-class colt. Not only did Starman win the first-season sires' championship in a canter, but his 41 individual juvenile winners were only bettered by Wootton Bassett on 45. Furthermore, only elite stallions Wootton Bassett, Starspangledbanner and Night Of Thunder managed to amass more prize-money with their juveniles in Britain and Ireland than Starman managed to achieve (€1,402,212). Starman finished the year with no fewer than 11 black-type horses. A remarkable performance from a stallion who has all the capabilities of going on to bigger and better things. He looks the real deal so there's no surprise to see a queue out the door at Tally-Ho. Big Things Expected From Classy St Mark's Basilica St Mark's Basilica was a pretty outstanding racehorse and the early evidence suggests that he will not disappoint at stud. The exceptionally-bred Diamond Necklace, who is out of Ecurie des Monceaux's Blue Hen Prudenzia, has provided an early indication of what St Mark's Basilica might be capable of. Trained by Aidan O'Brien, Diamond Necklace signed off on her unbeaten juvenile campaign with victory in the G1 Prix Marcel Boussac and is as short as 7-1 for the 1,000 Guineas. She is one of two Group winners the stallion was represented by in 2025, with the second being the Karl Burke-trained Aylin, who landed the G2 May Hill Stakes at Doncaster. All told, St Mark's Basilica sired 22 individual winners – who achieved 26 wins – from 53 runners in Britain and Ireland. That haul included six black-type performers and St Mark's Basilica can call upon a host of high-class entries for next year which would suggest that much better things can be expected from those runners at three. Fair to say the future is extremely exciting for the young Coolmore stallion who was left unchanged at €40,000 for 2026. Space Blues Deserving Of More Respect Space Blues | Marc Ruhl A strong case can be made for Space Blues not being given the credit he deserves for coming up with a Group 1 winner in Power Blue in his first crop given Starman and St Mark's Basilica are the only other stallions to have managed to achieve such a feat this year. A winner of the opening two-year-old maiden of the year at the Curragh, which connections have managed with similarly classy horses Bucanero Fuerte and Arizona Blaze in previous years, Power Blue went from strength to strength in 2025 and his all-the-way win in the G1 Phoenix Stakes at the Curragh was by no means a fluke. The form of that race was provided with a significant boost when the second, True Love (No Nay Never), landed the G1 Cheveley Park Stakes at Newmarket on her next start and Power Blue rates a pretty serious colt for Robson Aguiar and the Amo Racing team to look forward to in 2026. So, why has Space Blues been dropped ever-so-slightly from €16,000 to €15,000 at Kildangan Stud? Despite coming up with a Group 1 winner in his debut crop, the market didn't exactly flock towards Space Blues, which was evident with a 36% drop in his yearling average in Britain and Ireland to 34,629gns. That can only be described as one of the oddities of this breeding game as Power Blue was not the only classy runner that Space Blues came up with in 2025. Bourbon Blues and Polly Shelby have done well for the stallion in France, with the former hitting the frame in a Group 3 and the latter placing in at Listed level while the maiden, Do Or Do Not, chased home Gstaad in the Coventry Stakes, filled the runner-up spot behind Zavateri (Without Parole) in the July Stakes and also managed to fill the frame in pair of Group 2 contests for Ed Walker before being snapped up by Jamie Osborne, who is campaigning the colt in Dubai over the winter. Put simply, Space Blues is far from a one-hit wonder. He enjoyed 14 individual winners from 44 runners and his prize-money tally of €669,454 was only bettered by Starman. The case can be made that he represents value at €15,000 given what he achieved in 2025. Meanwhile, fellow Darley stallion Palace Pier made a massive impression with three Group winners to call upon in Europe, headed by G2 Lowther Stakes winner Royal Fixation and G3 Solario Stakes winner A Bit Of Spirit. What's more impressive is that Palace Pier can call upon six different horses rated 98 or above in Britain and Ireland this year. Notable performers include Morris Dancer, beaten just a short head behind Zavateri in the G2 Champagne Stakes before landing the Listed Stonehenge Stakes at Salisbury at his leisure along with the Group 3-placed pair of Pacifica Pier and Sirius A. While Palace Pier didn't set the world alight in terms of winners -11 winners from 49 runners – he certainly came up trumps in terms of producing quality performers. With seven per cent black-type winners to runners, he rates a pretty serious stallion going forward and few will crib his unchanged £32,000 fee for 2026 at Dalham Hall Stud. Lucky Vega Looks Up To The Task Lucky Vega: has made a good impression | ©INPHO/Morgan Treacy It wouldn't be a stretch to say that there were some anxious moments for the supporters of Lucky Vega in Europe earlier in the year. This may well have been fueled by the fantastic start the stallion made in Australia, where he was represented by the Group 2 winner and Group 1-placed Within The Law, coupled with his big first-season sire rival Starman blazing a trail and then, most likely, down to the fact Lucky Vega's progeny took a little longer to come to hand than they did in the southern hemisphere. The 15 individual wins that Lucky Vega posted in Britain and Ireland placed him fourth in the table on that metric but, more importantly, there was plenty of quality in there. Lam Yai flew the flag with distinction in Britain for the son of Lope De Vega, going down fighting in the G3 Firth Of Clyde before signing off on her campaign with a Listed win at Doncaster. The 97-rated Senorita Vega, who placed third in the G3 Oh So Sharp Stakes, along with the lightly-raced Poatan, Jungle Ruler, Lost Signal and more contributed to a highly respectable debut performance in the northern hemisphere for the stallion. As a result, the Irish National Stud have held firm on a stud fee of €12,500 – the same fee that he has been operating at since 2004 – which is more than fair for a stallion who appears to have a lot more to offer next year and beyond. Fernandez Fires In Winners Lope Y Fernandez, another son of Lope De Vega, performed creditably with 19 individual winners accounting for 21 wins in total. Isle Of Fernandez, placed in the G3 Firth Of Clyde, and the Listed-placed Spanish Waltz were Lope Y Fernandez's only black-type performers and plenty will crib the fact that they are among only three horses by the stallion to achieve an official rating of 90 or above in Britain and Ireland this year. However, 140,000gns yearling purchase Ray Mon Dough couldn't have won any more impressively than he did on debut in the Valmont silks at Lingfield last month and he could be a nice horse to follow by the stallion next year. Similar sentiment applies to the French-trained Chill Y Flama, who wasn't far off bagging black-type this year. The post Supersonic Starman Sets First-Season Sires’ Championship Ablaze appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. 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The Florida Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association and Gulfstream Park announced Dec. 31 a three-year agreement that, with each passing year, lowers the minimum number of required racing days at Gulfstream Park in South Florida.View the full article

Very near the final hour, the Florida Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association (FHBPA) and Gulfstream Park have landed on a three-year live racing agreement, some details of which were shared in joint press releases issued Tuesday. This agreement is a federal requirement for a racetrack to conduct live racing and simulcast its signal nationwide. Gulfstream Park, owned by The Stronach Group (TSG), is statutorily required to conduct a minimum of 40-days live racing to operate its casino. Without a horsemen's agreement, Gulfstream Park would still have been able to conduct live racing–and presumably by extension, its casino–but it wouldn't have been able to export its signal out of state. According to the FHBPA press release, the agreement is for three-years and provides for the following minimum live racing schedule, with flexibility to add more race days: No less than 180 live race days for calendar year 2026 No less than 140 live race days for calendar year 2027 No less than 120 live race days for calendar year 2028 This year, Gulfstream Park has carded 199 race days. “These agreed upon days establish the minimum number of guaranteed racing days for the next three years, but leave open the opportunity for additional days to be added. In order to provide horsemen and women time to plan, the racing schedules will be set well in advance. The schedule for 2027 racing will be finalized in March 2026, and the schedule for 2028 racing will be finalized no later than March 2027,” the FHBPA press release states. According to Gulfstream Park's press release, the agreement reached reflects “a commitment of the parties to run as much live racing as possible provided average field sizes and the condition of the purse account remain commercially reasonable.” “As always, our objective is to run as much as we can,” wrote Aidan Butler, CEO of TSG's 1/ST Racing. “The reality is that the industry is changing and this framework is focused on providing a quality racing product rooted in economic reality giving horsemen and women, fans, our employees and the industry greater clarity and stability.” According to a source familiar with the negotiations, Florida horsemen did not agree to provide a financial “backstop” to support the track's operational budget, as was reportedly demanded by Gulfstream Park's corporate leadership. Gulfstream Park already receives considerable financial support from the state. Earlier this year, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed into law a budget package that included $15 million annually for purses and facility maintenance for Gulfstream Park alone. The track also gets $6 million from the state to be used as purses and purses supplements specifically for Florida-bred and sired horses, and is exempt from having to pay its $2 million annual slot machine licensing fee. In their respective press releases, both organizations allude to the fragile nature of the relationship between Gulfstream Park's corporate owners and the state racing industry's stakeholders, as well as to the long-term future of racing in Florida. Efforts by Gulfstream Park and Tampa Bay Downs to decouple the live racing requirement to operate their respective casino and card rooms were ultimately thwarted in the state legislature. In August, Gulfstream Park filed a lawsuit suing the Florida Gaming Control Commission over the decoupling requirement. The commission subsequently asked the Florida state court to dismiss the lawsuit. A new decoupling bill was introduced last week, meaning the fight will spill over into the latest legislative session in Tallahassee. “While the Agreement guarantees racing through 2028, it does not state that racing will end at that time or prohibit an extension or new agreement. With this level of stability secured, the FHBPA will continue to look for opportunities to enhance racing in the short-term and explore solutions for the long-term future of racing in South Florida,” the FHPBA stated in their press release. FHBPA president Tom Cannell added: “There are many unknowns in the world today, especially in horse racing; I am so proud of the work of your Board of Directors and their tenacity to fight to provide some clarity to our membership over the next three years.” In Gulfstream Park's press release, Butler wrote, “this proposal is grounded in good-faith collaboration with the FHBPA and an understanding that together we must work toward a new model for racing in Florida that is operationally sound, financially responsible and aligned with the long-term interests of racing in the state.” The post Florida HBPA And Gulfstream Park Reach Three-Year Horsemen’s Agreement appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Billy Loughnane set a 21st century record for winners in a calendar year when taking his 222nd race of the year at Lingfield Park on December 31. Loughnane was the first to ride 200 British winners earlier this year. He was aboard George Boughey trainee Invited (Kodiac) on Wednesday. The previous record holder was Kieren Fallon, who rode 221 winners in 2003. Oisin Murphy earned 220 victories in 2019. Loughnane told Sky Sports Racing, “I'm feeling relieved, there was a little bit of pressure today, but I'm delighted to get it done and on one of George's as well means a lot. “I wouldn't be where I am without George and he's been everything for me since I started and has supported me the whole way up. I'm delighted to get him his 100th winner of the year as well. “I've been trying to ride as much as possible, I'm bored when I'm not riding and I love my job. I'm very lucky to partner some really nice horses now and to George, dad [Mark Loughnane] and everyone at Charlie's [Appleby] and the Gololphin team and anyone who has supported me, I need to say a massive thank you. “I can't believe I've broken the record, I was looking it last night and the list of jockeys to be at the top of it is extraordinary. I'm nowhere near as good as a lot of them yet, but hopefully one day I will be. It's great, and a relief, the last couple of days have been full on, but it's a great feeling.” Boughey added, “It's an amazing achievement and the biggest thing for me is he wanted to ride 200 winners at the start of the year, which was always going to be a hard ask with him going to Australia for much of the winter. “He was always going to build his book of rides around our horses and I think between Billy, Tony Hind [agent] and myself we tried to make sure he was on the best horses wherever he could be. “To stay fit and healthy and be able to ride at every meeting – he hasn't missed a ride all year – is huge credit to him and he deserves every success he gets. “I think the most fundamental part of it is whether it's a 0-55 handicap at Wolverhampton on a Saturday night or a Group 1 on a weekend, Billy is meticulous in his preparation. I have always said he knows more about what's going on in races than anyone I've ever worked with, which just makes him a pleasure to deal with.” Loughnane senior said, “It's some achievement isn't it? Fair play to him as he is so dedicated and hard working and it is paying off. “He has some top people behind him, George Boughey and Charlie Appleby, and Ian Williams has given him lots of winners, and as a family it is a very proud moment for us because he is just some young man. “We're bursting with pride and we are busy at the moment so had to watch the race at home and didn't go. There was me, his mum and his brother Jack and it is just a phenomenal achievement. “We know how hard he works behind the scenes and the dedication he has and what he puts into it, we see it every day. “He was pushing for 200 winners and always sets a new goal so once he got to 200 he wanted this 222 and it's great, what a year and it will be very hard to top it next year won't it?” The post Billy Loughnane Wins Record 222nd Race In 2025 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Caoimhe Doherty is best known for managing Forenaghts Stud and co-founding the hugely-successful Treo Eile organisation which specialises in rehoming thoroughbred racehorses in Ireland. But did you know that Doherty came dangerously close to becoming an Olympian? There is plenty more that Doherty shares in today's Hot Seat Q&A. Enjoy! What is your defining memory of 2025? I don't think I have just one memory. For me, it seems to have been a year where things have just seemed to come together for us professionally. I think the biggest kick I got out of the horse game was seeing Chicago Call win his maiden.That kick-started a great summer of fun and a successful yearling sale season. Away from that, I have also taken huge satisfaction in seeing Treo Eile grow so much and seeing so many horses now in second careers. Tell us something people don't know about you? My family spent five years in the Middle East when I was young and so I spent a lot of time in the swimming pool. I had aimed to be an Olympic swimmer and spent years on high performance and youth development squads before I decided I would rather spend the time on a horse. I still swim a lot….just much slower now! What keeps you awake at night? I try not to worry at night because the nighttime worries are never actually a problem during the day. Stay positive! What motivates you? I love life and I love my job. And if you choose to see the good parts it makes it very easy to get up in the morning. Give us an underrated sire to follow… There are quite a few. I complain all the time about the lack of proven horses that are commercially priced. But if the sales ring wasn't so important for so many breeders to make a living, maybe we would look differently at stallions who consistently produce winners and top class horses year on year. Make Believe, for instance, is a good example as he had two Group 1 winners in 2025. Biggest regret? Not being an Olympian! Realistically, I wish I made more of my summers when I was younger, travelling and seeing more of the world. Other than that, I don't have many regrets. I like to think most things happen for a reason. You live and you learn. Your favourite sale? Tattersalls September Yearlings at Fairyhouse. There is always a great atmosphere there and we are stabled with a great bunch of neighbours. It's a fun sale. Go-to karaoke song? Hakuna Matata. After my time in Japan I'm a professional at it these days. Biggest inspiration? Professionally, I think Helen Jones and Donna Vowles are geniuses. They manage fabulous farms, produce beautiful sales horses that go on to be racehorses and they're also just great people. But on a larger scale, I think it's similar to the motivation question, I just want to do my best and be happy. Guilty Pleasure? Doing nothing. It's such a treat to actually do nothing but, alas, what's rare is wonderful! Horse to look out for … Hankelow. I know it's probably a bit obvious but he was pinhooked by great friends of mine, Mimi Wadham and Violet Hesketh, and I'm proud of them that they've found another nice horse. I hope he is a proper horse for next year. The post In The Hot Seat: Caoimhe Doherty appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

If you've attended the Preakness Stakes (G1) in recent years, you're no doubt well aware of trainer Brittany Russell. View the full article

Santa Anita Park canceled racing on Wednesday, Dec. 31, and Thursday, Jan. 1, due to a strengthening rainstorm coming in from the Pacific Ocean.View the full article

Santa Anita Park has canceled live racing Wednesday, Dec. 31 and Thursday, Jan. 1 because of a strengthening rainstorm coming in from the Pacific. The storm, which was forecast to hit on Thursday, has gathered strength and is now expected to impact Southern California around noon Wednesday. The two-day storm is expected to bring up to three inches of racing to the area surrounding Santa Anita Park. The canceled races will be rescheduled in the coming weeks with the first make-up day coming next Thursday, Jan. 8. The post With More Rain Coming, Santa Anita Cancels Wednesday, Thursday Cards appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Parx Racing and the Pennsylvania Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association announce the addition of three Thursday race dates in January 2026: Jan. 8, Jan. 15, and Jan. 22. View the full article

The Hipódromo Camarero will host the Puerto Rican Best Jockeys Event Jan. 6 as part of a 10-race program celebrating the Clásico Día de Reyes.View the full article

In response to winter weather cancellations earlier in December, Parx Racing, along with the PTHA and the Pennsylvania Horse Racing Commission, has added three Thursday race dates for January 2026, January 8, January 15, and January 22, the track announced Wednesday. “Winter racing always comes with challenges, and flexibility is critical,” said David Osojnak, Parx Director of Racing. “Adding these January race days allows us to respond constructively to December's weather-related cancellations while continuing to support our program and horsemen to deliver a consistent racing product. We try to help our horsemen whenever possible and look forward to them showing continued support of our program by entering to race on these added days.” “These added race dates are about opportunity and balance,” added PTHA Executive Director, Jeffrey A. Matty, Jr. “When winter weather takes away race days, it impacts owners, trainers, and our overall backstretch community. This collaboration ensures those lost opportunities are restored in a fair and thoughtful way. I'd like to thank Parx Racing and the PHRC for working with us on getting these dates back on the calendar as soon as possible, having a real and immediate impact for our horsemen.” The post Parx Adds Three Thursday Cards In January To Offset Dec. Cancellations appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Jay Rooney CIRCUIT GRAND SLAM - R11 (1) Followed a brilliant first-up win with another good run, hard to beat here Owen Goulding CIRCUIT GRAND SLAM - R11 (1) Won on local debut and finished best latest from out of the clouds, go in again Trackwork Spy CIRCUIT GRAND SLAM - R11 (1) Has impressed in his two local runs with a win and a third and can win again Phillip Woo SPEEDY SMARTIE - R4 (12) In a rich vein of form and can strike with his third win this term Shannon (Vincent...View the full article

BloodHorse has reprised its online year-end survey to ask some of the sport's leading individuals for their opinions on pertinent issues facing the sport.View the full article

Gewan, one of the leading fancies for the 2,000 Guineas, will race under new ownership in 2026 among a group of horses transferred from Yulong Investments to the newly launched Forz Europe, the racing arm of Harris Li's Ace Stud. Winner of the G1 Dewhurst Stakes and G3 Acomb Stakes, the Andrew Balding-trained Gewan previously raced under the name of Yuesheng Zhang, the owner of the primarily-Australian based Yulong racing and breeding empire who has already enjoyed Classic success in Europe with Irish Oaks winner Magical Lagoon. The fillies Evolutionist and Noble Honour, who hold entries for the Irish 1,000 Guineas and Irish Oaks, will also be transferred to Li, his son-in-law, as of January 1. The horses racing under the Forz Europe banner will race in white silks with green-and-white-checked sleeves and a green cap, a reversal of those carried by the Yulong runners, which include the brilliant 12-time Group 1 winner Via Sistina. Earlier this month it was confirmed that the G2 Lowther Stakes winner and G1 Cheveley Park Stakes third Royal Fixation had been bought by Ace Stud and would move from the stable of Ed Walker to Karl Burke. Ace Stud also bought Gewan's weanling half-brother by Native Trail at the recent Tattersalls December Foal Sale for 500,000gns. “Launching our Ace Stud racing silks at the beginning of the new year marks an exciting future for Harris Li and his vision for Ace Stud. We have some top-class runners to look forward to next year,” said the operation's bloodstock and racing manager Paul Curran. “We can't wait to see what the 2026 season has in store for Ace Stud.” Ace Stud, formerly known as Dullingham Park, is home to the young stallion and top sprinter Shaquille, who is about to embark on his third covering season at the farm just outside Newmarket. The post Gewan to Race for Forz Europe as Yulong Horses Transfer to Harris Li appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Ten-time Group One winner Mr Brightside (NZ) (Bullbars) has been ruled out of the autumn and faces minor surgery. Prepared by the Lindsay Park team of Ben, Will & JD Hayes, Mr Brightside has won 20 of his 48 starts and amassed $18.9 million in prizemoney since crossing the Tasman after a luckless fifth in his sole start for Kiwi trainer Ralph Manning. “A routine check-up has found that our beloved Mr Brightside has a very small chip in his left-fore fetlock,” announced Lindsay Park. “He is sound and his usual happy self but best possible practice for his wellbeing, comfort and long-term soundness is to have minor surgery to remove the chip. “Afterwards he will enjoy a lovely long VIP holiday at Lindsay Park Euroa. This means he will unfortunately miss the upcoming Autumn racing carnival but absolutely all that matters is his wellbeing and we look forward to seeing him back in the Spring.” Mr Brightside enjoyed another successful spring, winning the Gr.1 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) for the third year in succession, while also finishing runner-up to Treasurethe Moment (Alabama Express) in the Gr.1 Memsie Stakes (1400m) and Ceolwulf (NZ) (Tavistock) in the Gr.1 King Charles III (1600m). View the full article

A new year is ushered in at Sha Tin on Thursday with the Lucky Start meeting, where we look forward to 11 races including the feature Group Three Chinese Club Challenge Cup (1,400m). Owen Goulding is in the hot seat to provide an extended rundown of his selections. Race 1 – Class Five Tsung Pak Long Handicap (1,600m) Harry’s Hero was unlucky over course and distance three starts ago and has had further excuses since. He has no weight on his back and is drawn in two. Race 2 – Class Four Hillwood...View the full article

Waikato Stud is mourning the loss of champion mare Daffodil (NZ) (No Excuse Needed), who has died at the age of 20, leaving behind an enduring legacy on the racetrack and in the breeding barn. By No Excuse Needed, Daffodil was crowned New Zealand’s champion three-year-old of the 2007–08 season and secured three Group One victories during an outstanding racing career. Her influence continued as a broodmare, where she produced several stakes performers, further cementing her importance to the Waikato Stud programme. Her impact was felt as recently as Boxing Day, when her son Cross Tasman (NZ) (Super Seth) prevailed at Randwick. Waikato Stud principal Mark Chittick paid tribute to the mare, saying: “Daffodil will be sorely, sorely missed. She gave us some incredible highs, the highlight being the Australian Oaks on a memorable day for WS as we bred three individual Group One winners on the day in Australia, which was quite extraordinary. “Most of all she was just the most beautiful personality, when you walked into her paddock all she wanted to do was hang out with you and give you a cuddle. She was an incredible part of the WS legacy, and the Chittick family, and she will never, ever be forgotten.” Daffodil’s legacy will live on through her daughters, with three of her fillies now part of the Waikato Stud broodmare band. Her final foal, a colt by Noverre, is set to be offered at the Karaka Yearling Sales in January, where he will go through the ring as Lot 371. View the full article

Te Akau Racing will be tackling plenty of feature targets over the coming days, but one of their more interesting runners will appear on the undercard at Ellerslie on New Year’s Day. Four-year-old entire Espionage will make his debut for the stable after previously being trained in Australia by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, for whom he won two of his eight starts, including the Gr.3 Arrowfield Breeders’ Plate (1000m) and Gr.3 Kindergarten Stakes (1100m), and placed in the Gr.2 Silver Slipper Stakes (1100m). Bred by Westbury Stud principal Gerry Harvery, through his Australian operation Baramul Stud, Espionage was purchased by James Harron Bloodstock Colt Partnership for A$1 million out of the 2023 Gold Coast Magic Millions Yearling Sale. Global thoroughbred giant Coolmore, along with several partners including Sir Peter Vela, purchased an interest in the son of Zoustar last season, and he has been unplaced in his subsequent four starts. Coolmore elected to send him to New Zealand in October to be trained by Te Akau’s Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson, for whom he has made pleasing progress, including placing in his 1100m Group and Listed trial at Matamata a fortnight ago. He has particularly made a big impression on Bergerson, who is looking forward to the entire stepping out at Ellerslie on New Year’s Day in the SkyCity 1200, albeit with an unsuitable barrier draw of 13. “He is a very interesting runner,” Bergerson said. “Unfortunately, he has drawn the outside, which doesn’t make it easy over 1200m. “But he is a lovely animal, he is beautifully put together. His temperament will hold him in great stead, he is so laid back you wouldn’t even know he is a colt. He loves his work and he is a real pleasure to have around. “We were happy enough with his trial, he has been very straightforward here at home, he is a lovely horse to do anything with. “I am very grateful for the Coolmore team sending him over. We are looking forward to tomorrow with him, he is just going to need a lot of luck from the draw.” Te Akau trainers Sam Bergerson (left) and Mark Walker. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images) With a view to securing his stud career, Bergerson is eyeing elite-level targets with his stable newcomer following Thursday’s run, with the Gr.1 Sistema Railway (1200m) at Ellerslie on Karaka Millions night the first target in the crosshairs. “Hopefully he can run well and we can head to the Railway with him,” Bergerson said. “That is the initial plan and then we can work it out from there.” While Bergerson is looking forward to Espionage making his New Zealand debut, he is also excited about the prospects of several of his team earlier in the day. The stable will have a two-pronged attack in the Gr.2 Sir Patrick Hogan Stakes (2000m) courtesy of Origin Of Love and Born To Be Royal. Origin Of Love was runner-up to War Princess in the Gr.3 Eulogy Stakes (1600m) at Trentham earlier this month and will be looking to go one better on Thursday. “It has come up a pretty even field, but like a lot of them, you don’t know whether they are going to get the 2000m,” Bergerson said. “She is a good, tough filly that is really thriving off her racing and is getting better and better each start. We are really looking forward to it, she has got a nice gate (3), with Gryllsy (Craig Grylls, jockey) on, she ticks a lot of boxes. Born To Be Royal was also runner-up last start over a mile at Matamata and Bergerson is looking forward to testing the Group Two performer in stakes company once again. “We would have loved to have won last start, she was a little bit stiff, but she is tracking the right way and we think the step up to 2000m suits,” he said. “We have had this circled in the calendar for a while and it is a really good opportunity at some more black-type for her. She has a nice gate (5) and Opie (Bosson, jockey) onboard certainly helps.” The stable will also have dual representation in the Gr.2 SkyCity Eclipse Stakes (1200m) with Sword Of Stars and Kinnaird. Sword Of Stars has finished runner-up in both of his starts to date, while Kinnaird won on debut over 1100m at Otaki last month. “They are two really nice horses with two different profiles,” Bergerson said. “Sword Of Stars has run a couple of nice placings and has had a raceday start at Ellerslie, which will hold her in good stead. Blinkers go on as well and barrier one is certainly going to help. “Kinnaird has done nothing wrong since Otaki. He has had a quiet week and he has built in really nicely. He had a gallop at Ellerslie last Monday to tick him over. He is a lovely colt but has got a bit of a sticky gate (7), which hopefully we can get midfield one off. “Those two up the top (Harvey Wallbanger and Incandescent) are going to be hard to beat, but we are really happy with both of ours.” Impressive debut winner Drops Of God will kick-off the meeting for Te Akau in the TAB 1200, where she will be on trial for a tilt at stakes level later in the month. “Drops Of God was really impressive on debut,” Bergerson said. “She is a really sharp filly who has done nothing wrong since that win. “It is hard for the three-year-old fillies against the older horses in 65 grade, but we certainly believe she deserves her chance. “She went up with Kinnaird (to Ellerslie) and had a gallop last Monday and has been really good since as well. I am really pleased with her. “If she were to run well we could potentially look at something like the Almanzor Trophy (Gr.3, 1200m).” Te Akau will also be represented by Towering Vision in the Eagle Technology 1600. “It has come up quite a strong race and he has got a bit of a sticky gate (8),” Bergerson said. “He has gotten fitter with each run, and his work has been good leading in and he has Opie aboard, who knows him really well.” View the full article

Stephen Marsh can make a strong case for each of his top-flight contenders at Trentham on Saturday. The Cambridge trainer will be represented by the in-form trio of Ardalio, Tardelli and To Cap It All in the Gr.1 TAB Telegraph (1200m), a race he won in 2024 with Mercurial. “They are really difficult to split, Ardalio is a proven, sharp sprinter but with a sticky draw (11), while blinkers will go on Tardelli and he’s a very good colt,” Marsh said. “To Cap It All is the up and comer with a good gate (5) and she hasn’t had a lot of luck of late,” Marsh said. Ardrossan’s daughter Ardalio has won four of her eight starts, including a most recent victory in the Gr.3 Counties Bowl (1100m) and has since been kept ticking over with a quiet trial. “She’s a high-quality mare and put a very good field away last time out, she’s going super,” Marsh said. Tardelli has been brought back in distance to give the son of I Am Invincible every chance to boost his future stallion value. “At the start of the campaign, we thought he was a miler but we’ve changed tack and think he’s a better 1200-1400m horse,” Marsh said. “That’s why we have identified the Telegraph, it’s aways been a hard 1200m so this could be his race. Eight isn’t a bad draw for him and gives him a bit of room to move.” To Cap It All has finished runner-up in three of her last four appearances and the Capitalist filly is also proven on the course, having won last season’s Listed Wellesley Stakes (1100m) on debut. “She’s got the draw to get a smother and obviously likes the chute,” Marsh said. “She’s got a great turn of foot, and if she can be ridden a little bit conservatively then I think she can be right in it.” Of the stable’s stakes runners at Ellerslie on New Year’s Day, Gr.2 Rich Hill Stud Mile (1600m) candidate Queen Zou is expected to be their best chance of success. “All her runs this time in have been really good and she gets in with 53kg,” Marsh said. “It’s not a full field and you can make a case for the majority of them, but our girl is going great.” Nest Egg hasn’t troubled the scorer for a while, but there was enough in his last effort to suggest he could be a hope at longer odds to turn his fortunes around in the Gr.3 Queen Elizabeth II Cup (2400m). The seven-year-old most recently finished sixth in the Gr.3 Waikato Cup (2400m). “He was pretty good and he may be getting a bit long in the tooth, but he’s certainly not out of it,” Marsh said. Meanwhile, Ace High filly Savina will relish a rise in distance when she tackles the Gr.2 Sir Patrick Hogan Stakes (2000m). “She has had no luck at all and the step up in trip is perfect for her. It will test a few of those other fillies getting up over a bit of ground for the first time,” Marsh said. View the full article

David Eustace thinks a return to 1,400m can be the catalyst for Light Years Charm as he looks to get back on track in the Group Three Chinese Club Challenge Cup (1,400m) at Sha Tin on Thursday. One of Eustace’s stable stars, the six-time winner – including one success pre-import in Australia – scored over the course and distance at Class Two level on his second run of his current campaign. That was his fifth win over the Sha Tin 1,400m trip and after drawing wide and failing to see out 1,600m in...View the full article

Jockey Orlando Mojica rode Charles Garvey's Logical Myth to victory in the fourth race at Turf Paradise Dec. 30 for the 3,000th win of his career.View the full article

Spendthrift Farm's blue-blooded homebred Tamara, a talented filly who has battled physical problems since winning the 2023 Del Mar Debutante Stakes (G1), has been retired.View the full article