Wandering Eyes

Responding to a rash of recent breakdowns at Woodbine, the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO), which regulates racing in the province, has taken steps it hopes will lead to fewer injuries. Woodbine has now had six fatalities since the Nov. 9 card in which two horses died and the remainder of the day's program was cancelled, as was the next scheduled day of racing. The biggest change is that any horse that has raced within the previous 14 calendar days is ineligible to race and will be scratched if already entered. With the new rules having gone into effect after entries were drawn for Saturday's races, 12 horses that were entered to run back within 14 days were scratched from the card. Four horses were scratched from the second race, leaving it with a field of just six. Five horses had to be withdrawn from the 10th race, leaving a field of six. Other steps that were taken include: (*) Any racehorses that have received an intra-articular fetlock injection–used to treat joint issues–within the previous 14 calendar days of race date will be restricted from entering to race. (*) The AGCO is requiring that an official veterinarian be present and observe horses during all morning training at Woodbine. Before a horse on the Veterinarian's List is permitted to return to work, its trainer and a private veterinarian must observe it jogging within 48 hours before the work and jointly certify that the horse is fit and sound before being examined by the official veterinarian and being permitted to work. The new rules will be in place until further notice. The post Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario Orders Additional Measures to Protect Horses at Woodbine appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Lingstown debut winner Kindly Prince (Fr) (Great Pretender {Ire}) (lot 4) topped the second edition of the Goffs Coral Gold Cup Sale at £320,000 on Saturday. David Mullins snapped up the 4-year-old gelding from Jonathan Fogarty Racing. Soldier Of Fortune (Ire) gelding Real Quartz (Ire) (lot 7) caught the eyes of Ryan Mahon and Dan Skelton Racing for £190,000. He was consigned by Skehanagh Stables. The bay is from the same family as dual Grade 1-winning chaser Joncol (Ire) (Bob's Return {Ire}). Statistically, 14 of the 16 horses offered sold (88%) for a gross of £1,510,500 (-30%). The average was £107,893 (-9%) and the median dropped to £90,000 (-18%). Goffs UK managing director Tim Kent said, “Following on from last year's successful debut sale here at Newbury Racecourse, there was a high level of anticipation coming into this year's edition and the racecourse results ensured that we had a strong catalogue going into today's sale. Because of that, inspections were busy across both days of racing at the Coral Gold Cup Festival with many positive remarks about the improved facilities which included using the racecourse stables and moving the auction to Newbury's Owner's Club. These changes helped the sale to enjoy a unique atmosphere and other than a few on-site technical issues, the event was a success. “Racecourse results are what drive any sale and the impressive victory of Ben Pauling's The Jukebox Man in yesterday's G2 John Francome Novices' Chase was a timely reminder of what can be bought at the Goffs Point-to-Point Sales. This helped drive a clearance rate of 88% and a sale topping price of £320,000 which is a significant increase on last year. We would like to thank our loyal vendors for their support today and also wish the buyers the best of luck with their new recruits. We look forward to following their progress in the hope of unearthing the next The Jukebox Man, Jonbon or Constitution Hill.” The post Kindly Prince Brings £320K At Goffs Coral Gold Cup Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario has directed Woodbine to implement a series of measures aimed at reducing the risk of catastrophic breakdowns which have plagued the Toronto track in November.View the full article

It was nip and tuck to the wire, but Pretty Ana (3, f, Quality Road–Quiet Giant, by Giant's Causeway) gamely turned away Alpine Princess (Classic Empire) to secure her first black type victory in the GIII Comely Stakes. The half-sister to breeder/owner Three Chimneys Farm's flagship sire Gun Runner (Candy Ride {Arg}), the dark bay rode the rail right from the jump and turned away the challenge in the lane. Scalable (Speightstown) came on for third. Pretty Ana was last seen Oct. 26 running third, beaten by a neck for it all, in the GII Mother Goose Stakes. PRETTY ANA ($9.40) turned Alpine Princess away in the $200,000 Comely Stakes (G3) at Aqueduct. The three-year-old daughter of Quality Road (@LanesEndFarms) was ridden by Jose Lezcano for trainer Chad Brown. Bet the lucky last: https://t.co/R7YWKvTAyu pic.twitter.com/9mSEBTUxWf — FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) November 30, 2024 O/b-Three Chimneys Farm; T-Chad Brown. Saturday, Aqueduct COMELY S.-GIII, $194,000, Aqueduct, 11-30, 3yo, f, 1 1/8m, 1:49.99, ft. 1–PRETTY ANA, 118, f, 3, by Quality Road 1st Dam: Quiet Giant (GSW, $405,389), by Giant's Causeway 2nd Dam: Quiet Dance, by Quiet American 3rd Dam: Misty Dancer, by Lyphard 1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. O/B-Three Chimneys Farm, LLC (KY); T-Chad C. Brown; J-Jose Lezcano. $110,000. Lifetime Record: 9-2-0-3, $203,869. *1/2 to Gun Runner (Candy Ride {Arg}), Horse Of The Year, Among The Leading Sires, Ch. Older Dirt Male, Among The Leading Sires, MGISW-USA, G1SP-UAE, $15,988,500. Werk Nick Rating: B. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. 2–Alpine Princess, 120, f, 3, Classic Empire–Le Moine, by Curlin. 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. ($190,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP). O-Full of Run Racing Two and Madaket Stables LLC; B-Betz/DJ Stables/Peter V. Lamantia/Classic Empire Syndicate (KY); T-Brad H. Cox. $40,000. 3–Scalable, 124, f, 3, Speightstown–Passion Flower, by Tapit. ($200,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP). O-Repole Stable; B-Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings LLC (KY); T-Todd A. Pletcher. $24,000. Margins: HD, 5HF, NK. Odds: 3.70, 0.75, 10.60. Also Ran: Life Talk, Dorothy's Dreams. Scratched: Audacious, Just Music. Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. The post Gun Runner Half-Sister Pretty Ana Makes the Grade in the Comely appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

By Mike Love It’s Green Mile day today at Mt Harding racecourse in Methven, with the trotters and pacers battling it out in two $25,000 features. Race 6 (3:37pm), the Woodlands Stud Green Mile Trot looks set to be a match race between Oscar Bonavena and Muscle Mountain while in Race 8, the Methven 4 Square Supermarket Green Mile Australian visitor Better Eclipse is a dominant $1.70 favourite. Last start Group 1 winner Oscar Bonavena ($1.80FF) is looking to go back to back in the Green Mile, and claim his third crown overall, for trainers Mark and Nathan Purdon with Blair Orange to drive. The Greg and Nina Hope-trained Muscle Mountain ($1.95FF) is looking to return to winning form. Of the rest, Midnight Dash and One Over All look to be the main threats to fill placings. The pacer’s version, Race eight looks a more even line up despite the overwhelming favouritism of Better Eclipse, the Auckland Cup winner. The major threats are the likes of Wild Willow who has a picket fence formline, Mighty Looee who won the Methven cup this year and American Me who raced in the New Zealand Cup, among others. One of those ‘others’ is Franco Marek who is quickly becoming, if he’s not already, a public favourite. Trainer Greg Manson was absolutely thrilled with the six-year-old A Rocknroll Dance gelding’s efforts during cup week. Franco Marek is currently a $3 second favorite for today’s Green Mile. “He’s better than what he was in Cup week. He got that bacterial infection before the Flying Stakes and missed that race and some work. We only had one run (the cup trial) before taking on cup week. So he’s actually come on more since then,” said Manson. Drawn one the second line, driver John Morrison will need to execute the finest precision in navigating through and around the field. “Methven is a big track. He’s very fast so I’m confident he will have a good winning chance with one crack at them.” Depending on today’s outcome Manson will be weighing up his options with Franco Marek for the near future. “If he gets the job done today we will likely go to the Invercargill Cup and if not I wouldn’t mind going to Westport. Otherwise it’ll be in the paddock.” Racing commences today from 12:45pm. View the full article

Ben Cecil, trainer of 2002 champion turf female Golden Apples, has died at the age of 56. Cecil died Nov. 29 after a lengthy battle with cancer.View the full article

After a years-long long battle with cancer, Southern California-based trainer Ben Cecil has passed at the age of 56. He leaves behind his wife Kirsty, and two children, Francesca and Hugo. A near 30-year training career yielded 325 victories and nearly $25 million in prize money. He conditioned several Golden State heavy weights including multiple Grade I winners Golden Apples and Squeak, along with top-flight winners Donna Viola and Passinetti. As nephew to legendary British trainer Henry, Cecil's lineage suggested no other career path than the one taken. His father David also trained for a period. Cecil's route to the California training ranks was a bit of a circuitous one, however. In the late 1980s, he worked as an exercise rider and groom at Colin Haye's sprawling Lindsey Park training center near Adelaide in Australia. He then spent a brief spell as a cattle driver on a remote outback ranch. Cecil then returned to the UK, where he worked for Ian Balding (during the years of top-class winners Silver Fling and Dashing Blade), and for St. Leger winning trainer Mark Tompkins. Cecil's California dreams began as pupil assistant to trainer Gary Jones, when the stable was armed with Hall of Famer Best Pal. He then moved his assistant's tack to young trainer Rodney Rash. “He was the toughest person I ever worked for,” Cecil told the Thoroughbred Racing Commentary in 2017, about his time working for Rash. “But it's probably what I needed as well. When you're pupil assistant and you're late for work, it's just like anyone else. But when you're assistant–and particularly for Rodney Rash–you're in big trouble if anything goes wrong. Basically, I grew up very quickly.” After a little more than a year-and-a-half in that position, Cecil was thrust into the saddle, handed the stable's reins when Rash passed away suddenly from a blood disorder. Cecil handled the transition with aplomb, maintaining the barn's high standards over subsequent years. Donna Viola won the 1997 GI Gamely Stakes in a plunging finish. The former John Gosden trained Squeak picked up a brace of Grade Is during the second half of 1998. Cecil was patience personified in nursing Passinetti back from a serious tendon injury to victory in the 2003 GI San Juan Capistrano. Cecil's most prolific masterpiece was the Gary Tanaka-owned Golden Apples, who won three Grade Is between 2001 and 2002. Compared to the rich pickings of his early days with a license, Cecil's training career over the past decade or so was marked by fewer days at the top table. During this period, owner-breeder Paul Reddam was a loyal and vital mainstay for the barn. Cecil told the TRC in 2017 that he viewed his uncle Henry's glorious redemption from well-documented personal and professional travails as aspirational. “He's one of my inspirations–definitely,” Cecil said, at the time. “I think, like we all do, it's the hope that we get through it. You have to think there's some light at the end of the tunnel.” The post Trainer Ben Cecil Passes Away at 56 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

WinStar Farm's PATCH ADAMS (c, 2, Into Mischief–Well Humored, by Distorted Humor) tore away from his rivals in the final furlong to become the day's second 'TDN Rising Star' for his sire, trainer Brad Cox and jockey Florent Geroux with a jaw-dropping performance. Looking to atone for a debut third when odds-on at Keeneland Oct. 11, the homebred colt was 58 cents on the dollar this time around and made absolutely no mistakes. Right into the bridle, Patch Adams was in the vanguard early and ultimately tracked a good pace from third while three off the inside as 5-1 chance Zat's the One (McKinzie) cut out the running from between rivals. Cruising up towards the front while in hand at the five-sixteenths, the bay swapped his leads right on cue when heads were turned for home and was off and gone through the final furlong and a half. The final time of 1:20.77 over a fast main track was just 0.33 off the track record held by Groupie Doll. O/B-WinStar Farm LLC (KY); T-Brad Cox. Patch Adams and @flothejock gear down at the wire and win decisively to break his maiden for @bradcoxracing! pic.twitter.com/J3ojzSLixl — Churchill Downs (@ChurchillDowns) November 30, 2024 The post Patch Adams a Second ‘Rising Star’ For Into Mischief, Geroux and Cox appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

There are seven horse racing meetings set for Australia on Sunday, December 1. Our racing analysts here at horsebetting.com.au have found you the best bets and the quaddie numbers for Newcastle, Warrnambool & Sha Tin (HK). Sunday’s Free Horse Racing Tips – December 1, 2024 Newcastle Racing Tips Warrnambool Racing Tips Sha Tin (HK) Racing Tips As always, there are plenty of promotions available for Australian racing fans. Check out all the top online bookmakers to see what daily promotions they have. If you are looking for a new bookmaker for the horse racing taking place on December 1, 2024 check out our guide to the best online racing betting sites. Neds Code GETON 1 Take It To The Neds Level Neds Only orange bookie! Check Out Neds Review 18+ Gamble Responsibly. What are you really gambling with? Set a deposit limit today. “GETON is not a bonus code. Neds does not offer bonus codes in Australia and this referral code does not grant access to offers. Full terms. BlondeBet Signup Code GETON 2 Punters Prefer Blondes BlondeBet Blonde Boosts – Elevate your prices! Join BlondeBet Review 18+ Gamble Responsibly. WHAT ARE YOU REALLY GAMBLING WITH? full terms. 3 It Pays To Play PlayUp Aussie-owned horse racing specialists! Check Out PlayUp Review 18+ Gamble Responsibly. Imagine what you could be buying instead. Full terms. Recommended! Dabble Signup Code AUSRACING 4 Say Hey to the social bet! Dabble You Better Believe It Join Dabble Review 18+ Gamble Responsibly. THINK. IS THIS A BET YOU REALLY WANT TO PLACE? Full terms. Bet365 Signup Code GETON 5 Never Ordinary Bet365 World Favourite! Visit Bet365 Review 18+ Gamble Responsibly. GETON is not a bonus code. bet365 does not offer bonus codes in Australia and this referral code does not grant access to offers. What’s gambling really costing you? Full terms. 6 Next Gen Racing Betting pickleBet Top 4 Betting. Extra Place. Every Race. Join Picklebet Review 18+ Gamble Responsibly. What are you really gambling with? Full terms. Horse racing tips View the full article

How did we get hooked on this sport? We all have stories about how our love affair developed and blossomed. The TDN will be reaching out to numerous notable people in the industry to get their stories to find out how they got hooked and stayed hooked on the sport. Travis White, Stallion Nomination Manager, Taylor Made I grew up in Louisville, fairly close to Churchill Downs. My earliest connection to racing would have been going to Derby parties in the area. A friend of my father's was a horseplayer, so I kind of took an interest in the gambling part of it. At a young age, the handicapping and gambling aspect is what got me hooked in with the Kentucky Derby being the main thing. I started out volunteering at [Chief Stipe Arnold's] Buck Pond Farm. I worked for a guy in college who owned Court Sports here in Lexington. He had kids that went to school with Chief Stipe Arnold's kids and he just happened to introduce me to him because he knew I was trying to get in the business. I went to school here, but had moved to Missouri for a job. I was in college athletics administration prior to being in the horse business. I moved back to Lexington and started volunteering at Chief Stipe's farm. He had a couple of things go right–he had a couple of young stallions that he got off to a good start, then sold, so he brought me on full time and later I just happened to apply to a job I saw listed at TDN or BloodHorse for a stallion manager position at Taylor Made. I sent in an application, met with those guys, and just kind of lucked into that way. I'm the only person in my family in racing. I don't think they understand what I do exactly. I've tried to explain it multiple times. My brother could care less about it. I'm really appreciative of the Taylor family. They're great people to work with. I've learned a lot. They've been great to me, taught me a whole lot, and I'm very appreciative of what they've done for me and a lot of people they've gotten into this business. The post How I Got Hooked On Racing: Travis White appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

9th-DMR, $54k, Msw, 2yo, 1mT, 7:28p.m. ET Looking to add to Puca (Big Brown)'s remarkable streak of runners, BAEZA (McKinzie) will go to post in the turf night cap at Del Mar. Racing for the partnership of C R K Stable and Grandview Equine, the John Shirreffs trainee has big shoes to fill as the half-brother to MGISW Dornoch (Good Magic) and his full-brother, GI Kentucky Derby hero Mage. Even before those two, their dam had produced another stakes runner, namely Gunning (Gun Runner). She was placed in the Listed Runhappy Audubon Oaks in 2022 and the Dig A Diamond Stakes in 2023. Baeza was sold for $1.2-million in 2023 at the Keeneland September sale to Mayberry Farm as agent for the current ownership group. Dornoch and Mage also went through that ring, bringing $325,000 and $235,000 as yearlings, respectively, while Gunning was an RNA back in 2020 when bidding halted at $70,000. Puca changed hands to John Stewart last year for $2.9-million at the Keeneland November auction. Baeza has been at the track since June and a characteristically steady string of works follows him into this race. His five furlong move Nov. 16 was a bullet over the Del Mar main track, the clocked time of :59.40 marked as the fastest of nine that morning. Umberto Rispoli is in the irons and he's been given 3-1 morning line odds which will likely only be lower by gate break. TJCIS PPs The post Dec. 1 Insights: Half-Brother to Mage, Dornoch Debuts at Del Mar appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

A half sister to recently retired champion Idiomatic, Chasten showed plenty of potential closing from last to win her debut at Churchill Downs Nov. 30 for the same connections.View the full article

The Horseracing Integrity & Safety Authority (HISA)'s 150-Day Layoff Report rule is scheduled to go into effect Thursday, Dec. 5, the group announced Saturday afternoon. Announced back in July but beginning on the aforementioned date, any horse who has not raced in 150 days (approx. five months) or more must have a report submitted prior to race entry. It is recommended that said report be uploaded 10-14 days prior. Trainers will be notified when a horse has been off for 140 days. A live demonstration and Q&A will be hosted Tuesday, Dec. 3 at 5:00 p.m. with representatives from the HISA veterinary team and IT department available for questions. Please register here to attend. The post HISA 150-Day Layoff Reporting Requirement Begins Dec. 5 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Breeders in town for the Tattersalls December Mares Sale can take advantage of the 'open house' at many of the stallion farms around Newmarket. CHEVELEY PARK STUD (postcode reference for SatNav: CB8 9DD) Dual Group 1-winning juvenile Vandeek (GB) is the newest member of the Cheveley Park Stud stallion yard and both he and Ulysses (Ire) can be viewed throughout the December Mares Sale by appointment via 01638 730316. DARLEY (postcode: CB8 9HE) Dalham Hall Stud is open until December 4 with the stallions on show each day at 11.30am, 12.30 pm, 1.30pm and 2.30pm. Too Darn Hot (GB), Perfect Power (Ire), Cracksman (GB), Modern Games (GB) and Palace Pier (GB) will all be parading, with Iffraaj (GB), Farhh (GB) and Dubawi (Ire) available for viewing on request. DULLINGHAM PARK (postcode: CB8 9XB) Shaquille (GB) and Soldier's Call (GB) will be available for viewing at Dullingham Park on Sunday, December 1. The stallions will show on the hour from 10am to 3pm. Shaquille, the European champion sprinter of 2023, will have his first foals on the ground next year after covering 158 mares this spring. Breeders who miss Sunday's shows are welcome to view both stallions by appointment. LONGHOLES STUD (postcode: CB8 9EJ) Tweenhills resident Kameko will be shown at Longholes alongside Culworth Grounds Farm resident El Caballo (GB), who is another stallion with first foals on the way. Newsells Park Stud's new recruit Isaac Shelby (GB) will also be in Newmarket at Longholes on Sunday and Monday. THE NATIONAL STUD (postcode: CB8 0XE) Drop in to see this year's Cartier Sprinter of the Year Bradsell (GB) ahead of his first covering season at the National Stud. He is on show daily until December 3, on the hour from 10.30am to 3.30pm, along with his stud-mates Stradivarius (Ire), Rajasinghe (Ire) and Lope Y Fernandez (Ire). SHADWELL (postcode: CB8 9EH) Baaeed (GB), Mostahdaf (Ire) and Mohaather (GB) will be parading at Beech House Stud through to December 3, and will be shown on the hour from 10am to 3pm each day. The post Stallion Viewing in Newmarket appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Even a cursory glance through the pages of the catalogue for the JRHA Select Sale in Japan each year would give an instant impression that there is almost no corner of the globe which is unexplored by Katsumi Yoshida in recruiting mares for his Northern Farm. Mind you, it's not simply readymade breeding prospects with top-class form on the shopping list. Over the last few years, Yoshida's name has appeared on the buyers' list at foals sales in Europe, and Northern Farm's representative Shingo Hashimoto was in action again at Tattersalls on Friday when signing for a colt from the first crop of Baaeed (GB) at 280,000gns. Yoshida was also the leading buyer at last year's December Mares Sale, with Hashimoto in the chair for the purchases of Group 1 winners Prosperous Voyage (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) and Cachet (Ire) (Aclaim {Ire}) for 2,400,000gns and 2,200,000gns respectively. Plainly, it's not just European bloodlines on the Northern Farm team's radar, however, so just what is on their wish list when it comes to recruiting stock? Hashimoto says simply, “We try to diversify what we have in our portfolio.” He continues, “Where the mares are from, or what bloodline they are from, it's not our first priority, but we do prioritise the balance within our operations. One of the main reasons we try to buy a mare from overseas is to try to make sure our bloodlines are not too limited. “The key is that we don't try to focus too much on one bloodline or one stallion. Of course, Frankel is very attractive for us, Kingman is also very attractive to us, but we don't try to focus too much on them. It's never a black and white situation, but I think that the key part is the diversification, and the match for those mares with the stallions within Japan.” He adds, “But of course, if the pedigree is good, that's also a very good point that we take into account. We also look into the conformation of the mare, how athletic she is, but when it comes to the broodmare sales, we try to focus more on the horse's race results and also the pedigree, and the conformation comes next.” Hashimoto says that when recruiting young stock they try not to get caught up in the narrow focus on certain sires. “We just try to look through every horse in the catalogue, and try not to have a preconceived image of how their pedigree is,” he notes. Yoshida is the largest breeder in Japan – closely followed by his brother Teruya of Shadai Farm – with a broodmare band larger than that of the whole of the German breeding industry, meaning that Northern Farm is also one of the major vendors in the country. Its draft dominates the Select Sale of yearlings and foals each July at the Northern Horse Park. Katsumi Yoshida at the JRHA Select Sale | Emma Berry “Within the sales portfolio, we like to have some of the European stallions or the US-based stallions represented,” says Hashimoto. “Let's say, if we cannot buy a mare in foal to any of the stallions, maybe we might keep some of the mares here [in Europe] and then cover them, and then bring them back to Japan. That depends on the result of the sale. There's not a specific strategy.” While some yearlings are bought by Yoshida at the Keeneland Sale in September, Hashimoto says that buying foals in Newmarket is a better fit for their racing programme. “We get to learn a lot from what we see in the yearling sales or foal sales, and the trends for certain stallions,” he says. “Obviously, horses like Too Darn Hot or Mehmas, they are becoming the rising stallions here in Europe, and we get to know why they're so popular, which I think is an important thing for us to take into account.” Hashimoto continues, “The foals we buy are to race in Japan. We've done this for five, six years now. One of the main reasons is that if we buy at the yearling sales in Europe in October, then we import them into Japan, it means they arrive in mid-December or so. In that case, if we start breaking from then, it's a little bit late for us. Instead, we try to buy the foals so that we can bring them back to Japan at an earlier stage. “We do go to Keeneland in September, and they come in to Japan in November. In general, horses from America are pretty mature at that stage compared to the horses in Europe.” It's not just a one-way street, of course, and the bilingual Hashimoto, who was born in America where he spent some of his formative years, is keen to welcome buyers from overseas to the sales in Japan, including to the Northern Farm Mixed Sale of broodmares and foals which is held in late October. “This year, we found more buyers coming in from overseas compared to other years, which I think is a good thing for the industry itself,” he says. “I think one of the reasons why more people have become interested in the Japanese market is because of the good results that we have had in overseas racing in the past five years or so, which is a very good thing for the Japanese industry. “But at the same time, the sales in Japan are also quite competitive. Sometimes it's very expensive to buy, which I think comes from the very good prize-money in Japan. For foreign buyers to compete against the Japanese buyers might be a little bit tough, but still it's a sale, so we can always find a way to buy a horse. For example, Yoshida was traded in the July sale as a foal.” Yoshida (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}), named with a courteous nod to his breeder at Northern Farm, won both the GI Woodward Stakes and GI Old Forester Turf Classic Stakes for the partnership of China Horse Club, WinStar Farm and Head of Plains Partners before retiring to stand initially at WinStar in Kentucky. After four seasons there he moved to stand at Darley Japan earlier this year. Fumihiko Nakajima and Shingo Hashimoto at Tattersalls | Laura Green Hashimoto says, “It would be interesting to see how the Japanese horses would fit in different countries. “We do have that set-up for people to bid online, so that is possible, of course. But they can also come to Japan and enjoy seeing the horses. We'll always be happy to host them.” For some years, a number of top-end European breeders, notably Coolmore, the Niarchos family and previously the Wildenstein operation, have sent mares to visit some of Japan's leading stallions, with the European Classic winners Beauty Parlour (GB), Snowfall (Jpn), Fancy Blue (Ire) and Auguste Rodin (Ire) all emanating from their patronage of the late Deep Impact (Jpn), who is also the sire of the Prix du Jockey Club winner and one of the buzz stallions of the moment in Europe, Study Of Man (Ire). With Deep Impact having died in 2019, and Heart's Cry, the sire of last year's St Leger winner Continuous (Jpn), also no longer around, breeders with an international outlook will be keeping an eye on the next big name to emerge from the Japanese stallion ranks. Deep Impact's son Kizuna (Jpn) is at the head of this year's general sires' table in Japan, ahead of the reliable Lord Kanaloa (Jpn), sire of the great Almond Eye (Jpn) among others. “We had some international breeders send mares to be covered by Equinox this year,” says Hashimoto of the top-rated horse in the world in 2023. Equinox's sire Kitasan Black (Jpn) is also rightly on the radar of those outside Japan, and father and son are currently the two most expensive stallions in the country. Meanwhile, next season will bring the first two-year-old runners for Deep Impact's Triple Crown-winning son Contrail (Jpn). “I think the interest from the international market has been rising, especially with the good results by Auguste Rodin, which is a good thing for the Japanese industry as well,” Hashimoto says. “In general, I think the racing industry has become more global, year by year.” Hashimoto himself, with a background in both America and Japan, inside and outside the racing industry, is well placed to take such an overview. He studied veterinary medicine before focusing more on a business career, working in Houston for five years as a petrochemical trader. Ultimately though, he says, “I couldn't forget my passion for the horseracing industry.” Hashimoto has now been back in Japan and working for Northern Farm for six years. He adds, “It's really a good environment for me to study. I mean, I can learn a lot there. Our operation is very big. We have about 1,000 broodmares, 700-plus foals every year. “I've been having the opportunity to come overseas and look at the sales and, like I mentioned, getting to know the trends of the stallions. It's a very good thing to be able to understand the difference between Japan and other countries, or to think about what the Japanese racing industry should try to do better, or goals for our farm.” Close observers of this business may well feel that it is Japan that could teach other nations a lesson or two, and it is clearly through that constant thirst for knowledge that the Japanese breeding industry has manoeuvred itself into such a dominant position in the global rankings. The post Diversification Key in Northern Farm’s Global Outlook appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Saturday's program at Churchill Downs is meant to showcase the 'Stars of Tomorrow' and Juddmonte's bred-in-the-purple CHASTEN (f, 2, Into Mischief–Lockdown, by First Defence) shaped as just that as she did her best work through the line to score by a widening margin to earn the 'TDN Rising Star' badge. The half-sister to champion Idiomatic (Curlin) appeared to get pinched back at the break of the seven-furlong contest and was clearly last early before making progress and improving a spot or two down the backstretch. Asked to come through between rivals, Chasten continued to make good ground 3 1/2 furlongs out and was pulled out into the clear to emerge a threat passing the quarter pole. In the slipstream of favored Sycamore Shoals (Street Sense), who earned a 74 Beyer for her dead-heat second on her lone previous trip to the races, the homebred wandered around a bit, but was angled off that one's heels, wrested command with about a sixteenth of a mile to travel and pulled clear while under mostly hand urging, then galloped out with good energy into the turn. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0. O/B-Juddmonte (KY); T-Brad Cox. 1/2 sister to Idiomatic, Chasten and @flothejock catch them at the wire for @bradcoxracing and @JuddmonteFarms in her first start! pic.twitter.com/AFTaYu88Mu — Churchill Downs (@ChurchillDowns) November 30, 2024 The post Idiomatic’s Half-Sister Chasten Races To Debut ‘TDN Rising Star’ Honors appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

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New dreams abound for Harry and Oliver Vigors, some of the youngest pinhookers to get in on the action at Tattersalls this week, with the pair going to 72,000gns to secure a Perfect Power (Ire) colt in partnership with Redwall Bloodstock. That proved to be the sale-topping figure for the final session of what has been record-breaking foal trade at Tattersalls. In fact, such records had already been achieved by Friday when the 30,906,000 turnover for that memorable session exceeded what was spent during the entirety of this sale 12 months ago. Turnover climbed by a massive 46% to 43,504,000gns for the entire sale. The 78% clearance rate was up by 4% on last year while the 67,658gns average represented a 52% rise. The median jumped by a similar level [43%] to 30,000gns. Competing in such a competitive marketplace was not enough to deter the young Vigors brothers. The Perfect Power colt, who was offered by Manor House Farm Stud, was put forward by older brother Harry as the one they wanted most on Friday. While a certain amount of bravery was required, the bidding team-which featured Tweenhills' Hannah Wall-managed to get their boy, all with Dad's blessing of course. Charlie Vigors, father of Harry and Oliver commented, “We needed to form a partnership to get him so he will go back to Tweenhills from here and we will consign him next year. It's the first horse that the boys have bought in their own name. It's great for the boys. They are interested and want to get involved. They have been involved with various pinhooks down through the years but this is the first one they've gone and bought themselves.” The Perfect Power colt was bred by Richard Vines. Lot 1095 hails from Oasis Dream (GB) mare Perfect Muse (GB) and is from a family that Vines has nurtured for generations. The sale put a cherry on top of what has been a respectable start made by the stallion with his first crop of foals selling for an average of 38,240gns for 25 sold this week. The triple Group 1 winner had foals sold to Peter and Ross Doyle, Federico Barberini and more over the course of the week, including a colt who sold for 130,000gns to the former. Harry Vigors commented, “He was the standout individual of the day. Waking up this morning, he was the one we really wanted and luckily we've come away with him. Perfect Power was a very fast racehorse and, being a son of Ardad, who is a very good sire as well. We went down this morning without Dad and liked him. Then Dad came down and saw him and he liked him as well.” The Cat That Got 'The Cream' Tattersalls chairman Edmond Mahony borrowed a line from one of the sales company's main rivals when claiming where 'the cream' of the foal crop could be found following the sale. Mahony also acknowledged the contribution international buyers made at what has been another memorable sale at Park Paddocks. He said, “References to 'the cream of the British and Irish foal crops' have been made constantly throughout this week's record-breaking Tattersalls December Foal Sale and the extraordinary figures show the esteem in which the best British and Irish thoroughbreds continue to be held and where 'the cream' is to be found. All week Park Paddocks has been alive with pinhookers from Britain, Ireland and further afield; a combination of veterans who have been plying their trade for many years and hordes of the younger generation whose enthusiasm and commitment provide encouragement to the wider industry looking forward. “Equally notable has been the immense contribution made by owners buying to race. The December Foal Sale will always be dominated by pinhookers, but owners, both domestic and international, have made a huge impact on the sale, particularly those from Australia, China, Japan and the USA as well as from throughout Europe and the Gulf region.” Mahony added, “Between them all they have contributed to a Tattersalls December Foal Sale which will be remembered for a very long time, not only for Whitsbury Manor Stud's outstanding 2,500,000 guineas Frankel filly foal out of Suelita, who equalled the 27-year European record price for a foal, but also for a sale which produced an unprecedented number of foals selling for 500,000 guineas or more, wide margin records across the board for average, median and turnover and a massive 32 of the 40 highest-priced foals to have been sold in Britain and Ireland this year. “The confidence that the leading British and Irish breeders show in the uniquely diverse market at Tattersalls is a source of immense pride and it would be no exaggeration to say that so much of the strength of this week's foal trade, as well as the record-breaking December Yearling Sale, has been driven by the game-changing Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale a few weeks ago. Those three days of yearlings have driven the European bloodstock market ever since and to see so many British and Irish breeders and consignors subsequently reaping richly deserved rewards has itself been truly rewarding. “Not all in the garden has, however, been rosy and the lowest tier of the market continues to struggle which is a concern, but as we move on to the market leading Tattersalls December Mares Sale we can reflect on another 2024 Tattersalls sale which has exceeded expectations and again shone a positive light on the industry.” Talking points This was a sale where the end-users dominated at the top end. From Amo Racing ending the sale as leading buyer with four foals sourced for 4,675,000gns, it was interesting to see that Yulong [signing under Willingham] and Coolmore filled the second and third spots with spends of 3,224,000gns and 1,800,000gns respectively. As well as topping the Friday session with Chaldean's sister, Whitsbury Manor Stud ended the sale as the leading vendor with 21 lots selling for a combined 4,347,500gns. In terms of the younger sires, one would have to be impressed by the start that Baaeed (GB) has made. He had seven foals selling at Tattersalls this week and they averaged 240,000gns. To put that into context, that's better than what Kingman (GB) and Night Of Thunder (Ire) achieved with similar offerings. Shadwell, Katsumi Yoshida and Yeomanstown Stud were some of the notable supporters of Baaeed in the ring this week. As Mahony referenced in his chairman's statements, there were 10 foals who cleared 500,000gns at Tattersalls this week. Interestingly, half of those were by Frankel, who ended the week as the leading sire with a 1,140,000gns. Stauffenberg Sticks It Out For Space Blues Colt Philip Stauffenberg shopped hard at Tattersalls this week and was rewarded for sticking it out to the bitter end when coming up trumps on a Space Blues (Ire) colt consigned by Jamie Railton for 65,000gns. The colt, which cemented a 365,000gns outlay on four foals this week, was described by Stauffenberg as a proper Book 2 candidate for next year. He hails from a Teofilo (Ire) dam and is from the family of Group 1 winner Debussy (Ire). The leading pinhooker explained, “He was just a very good walker. He's by a stallion who we don't know a lot about but we have to give him a chance. Of the foals we saw today, he's the one who really stood out by the way he moved. He looks a proper Book 2 horse-not a high-end Book 2 horse but, you never know, if the stallion comes up with a good one, he could be. We just hope for the best with him. This is the fourth horse we've bought this week. It was tough and we were underbidders several times.” The post ‘It’s Great For The Boys’ – Vigors Brothers Go Big On Perfect Power Colt At Tattersalls appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Sam Agars BABY CRYSTAL - R5 (1) Drops from G3 level to a Class Three and his best is good enough to win this Jay Rooney MASTER OF ALL - R9 (5) Tough win from the front last start and can repeat here Jack Dawling DRAGON JOY - R9 (6) Narrowly denied on his last start and gets a handy weight swing today Phillip Woo CHEERFUL WORLD - R2 (3) Ready to win on the back of two promising runs this campaign Shannon (Vincent Wong) GENEVA - R10 (8) Made a lot of ground to win last start and the step up in trip should suit Racing Post Online KA YING VICTORY - R5 (4) Has had a couple of good trials ahead of his seasonal debut and he should win Tom Wood CHEERFUL WORLD - R2 (3) Strikes a very winnable race and from gate one he'll be tough to beatView the full article

Shaquille (GB) and Soldier's Call (GB) will be available for viewing at Dullingham Park, just outside Newmarket, on Sunday, December 1. The stallions will show on the hour from 10am to 3pm, with refreshments available. Shaquille, the European champion sprinter of 2023, will have his first foals on the ground next year after covering 158 mares this spring. Breeders who miss Sunday's shows are welcome to view both stallions by appointment. The post Dullingham Park Stallions on Show This Sunday appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Overpass ridden by Joshua Parr has taken out the Group 1 Winterbottom Stakes at Ascot. Photo: Western Racepix Overpass has remained undefeated in Western Australia after adding a second Group 1 Winterbottom Stakes success to his two Quokka victories in the last two years. The Bjorn Baker-trained gelding jumped as a drifting favourite with horse racing bookmakers at $3.20, with some punters doubting him after drawing barrier 16 of 16 at Ascot on Saturday afternoon. A lot of speed was expected in the 2024 Winterbottom Stakes, and that was exactly what we got, as Bravo Centurion ($16) sped clear early to lead Overpass, Snowdome ($51) and Lady Laguna ($3.90), who kicked up from their inside barriers. Turning for home, Joshua Parr had a good hold on the eventual winner, and he took over quickly to boot two lengths clear at the 300m mark from Lady Laguna and Hot Zed ($126), who railed through before the turn. Overpass continued to find under Parr, and he raced out to a three-length and unassailable lead by the 200m mark, putting the race to bed with relative ease. One of the unlucky runners in the race was the Grahame Begg-trained Maharba ($9.50), who missed the kick by a length and flashed home through the pack to finish an unlucky runner-up. 2024 Winterbottom Stakes replay – Overpass https://horsebetting.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Ascot-2024-Group-1-Winterbottom-Stakes-30112024-Overpass-Bjorn-Baker-Joshua-Parr.mp4 Bjorn Baker was on course to speak about the victory post-race. “I thought he was super, super brave,” Baker said. “Thank you to all of my team at home; we have had a great day. “I don’t know if we can call him a champion, but he is getting very close. “He’s been super consistent, and he has probably had one or two runs off, but I guess it didn’t quite work out that day (at Flemington), and maybe one or two things went against him. “Great city and it’s a great race. “I’m very grateful to be here.” Joshua Parr was elated with the victory post-race, and he was quick to compliment the winner. “He is just an absolute marvel; he keeps showing up, and I adore him,” Parr said of Overpass. “Exactly right. He is such an easy horse to trust, you can bang him out of the barriers, you can put him on speed, and he will let go. “I must say, this track today is absolute perfection… so well done to the team here. “The only thing that concerned me about the race was if I jumped half a length slower than Bravo Centurion. “But Overpass actually just scrambled slightly out of the barrier, and he was on the back foot, and so I needed that card across to get to the front. “There were stables saying all they were interested in was drawing inside of Overpass and all this nonsense, but he just turned up and smashed them again.” Horse racing news View the full article

By Brigette Solomon It was the Arna Donnelly – David Butcher show at Alexandra Park last night. They combined to take out both of the feature pace races, with Butcher also driving a treble. “It was a really good night,” said Donnelly, “the team all went raced really well including Chase Me who finished second earlier in the night.” Donnelly’s first win for the night was with Jolimont who took out the Franklin Pacers Country Cup Handicap Pace giving the Sweet Lou gelding his eighth win. The start of the race saw indiscretions from both Claude and Invisible, who galloped out of contention at the start and swiftly reduced the field to just five winning chances. Jolimont, who started the race off a back mark of 20 metres alongside Lady Of The Light and Village Rebel, settled reasonably quickly into stride and settled at the tail of the field which was led by Fernleigh Cash. With a soft lead time Butcher was content to let Jolimont enjoy an easy trip following the field, only taking off on his run home with 200 metres to travel and the gelding simply having too much speed for the other runners winning by a length, ahead of Lady Of The Light and Village Rebel. “With a couple missing away the dynamics of the race changed pretty quickly and there was a little bit of cat and mouse going on,” said Donnelly, “while he didn’t necessarily get all favours, he showed a great turn of foot to win fairly comfortably in the end and it will be a good confidence booster for him.” Donnelly was straight back in the winner’s circle following Jolimont’s victory with Joes Rock taking out the $35,000 Rodewald Consulting Northern Metro Pacers Final. “I was really happy to get this win with her” said Donnelly “Her owners Sharon and Robert Symon had flown all the way up from Invercargill to see her race in the Metro Final so to get the win here for them tonight was awesome.” From a wide draw (8), Butcher allowed Joes Rock to settle at the rear of the field in the one wide line where he would remain throughout running. With Franco Santana setting out a solid lead time, there were no mid race moves before the speed went at the 800 metre mark with Joes Rock remaining out the back and only commencing her run out wide with around 300 metres remaining. The mare slowly gained ground in the home straight but didn’t look a winner until the final 75 metres when she really hit top gear to flash past the leaders and win by half a length in a time of 2.40-6. “It didn’t look like she’d get there at the top of the straight, but she’s always been best saved up for one run and showed that tonight,” said Donnelly, “It’s great having these series with good stakes as every bit helps cover costs and rewards owners.” It was the five-year-old mare’s seventh lifetime win alongside 24 placings, and brought her total earnings to just over $130,000. Alongside his winning double on Donnelly’s runners, Butcher also trained and drove You Little Beauty to win The Alex Bar and Eatery Mobile Pace at the start of the night giving him his treble. “It was a pretty good night and they’re few and far between now days” said Butcher “I was happy with You Little Beauty though, it was a good run.” View the full article

Rumbled Again ridden by Craig Williams returns to the mounting yard after winning the Group 3 Summoned Stakes at Caulfield. (Photo by Scott Barbour/Racing Photos) Michael Trotter and Craig Williams have combined with Rumbled Again ($26) to cause a major boilover in the Group 3 Summoned Stakes at Caulfield on Saturday afternoon. The daughter of Night Of Thunder hadn’t won a race since February of this year; however, she was one of the runners that enjoyed the wet conditions in the final race, as she took off around the outside of runners in the final 600m to run away with a strong victory. Early on in the 1600m contest, it was clear that Poifect ($10) wanted to get the race over and done with as she took off mid-race to lead by five lengths over Delicious Tycoon ($61) and Serasana ($23). Williams was quick to get moving out wide at the 700m mark, and by the time the leader hit the home turn, Rumbled Again idled up next to her and took over within a few strides. Electric Impulse ($5.50), So Glamorous ($8) and Queen Of Dragons ($15) started to make their runs, but Williams cut the ribbons on the eventual winner, and she gave a strong kick with 200m to go. Rumbled Again continued to hold the rest of her rivals at bay, as she held onto claim victory by three-quarters of a length over the fast-finishing So Glamorous. 2024 Summoned Stakes replay – Rumbled Again https://horsebetting.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Caulfield-2024-Group-3-Summoned-Stakes-30112024-Rumbled-Again-Michael-Trotter-Craig-Williams.mp4 Michael Trotter claimed his first Group victory as a trainer, and he was very happy following the race. “It’s surreal to be honest but this mare has been amazing. She’s been around the mark for so long and it was just nice to see her get past the post first today,” Trotter said. “She’s done an amazing job and it’s great for everyone involved in the stable, so I couldn’t be happier. “To be honest, I wasn’t thinking a helluva lot (mid-race), I was just watching Craig and he was slowly creeping into the race and then when he got to her on the turn I thought, she’s going to give them a good shake here’ and she just kept kicking. It was amazing. “He (Williams) won on her at Flemington a few starts back now and rode her an absolute treat that day and last start rode her really well again and today is the same story. “It was a fantastic result, great for Craig to be on board and I couldn’t be more happy with what he’s achieved for me and the rest of our team.” Craig Williams brought his second winner of the day at Caulfield aboard Rumbled Again, and he spoke post-race. “It’s very special, we want to be figuring in big racedays, it’s our Black Type and the last instruction was get some Black Type for her. “She was well deserved of it. “She did all the running, loved the ground and it’s a great story because all the staff are involved so it was really well felt. “In that ground, it’s testing, but we had the right horse and I was confident in her where she was and Michael (Trotter) gave me that confidence, he just said do what you need to be doing on her. “Again, it was a pretty ambitious ride and luckily enough I had the right horse to get the right horse and she was dominant. “We kept it simple, Stupid. She did all the running and full credit goes to her. “I was very lucky, my wife and my eldest daughter we went to Japan…we had seven days there and last night was our first day back. “I’m planning on riding out through the summer months and looking towards the Magic Millions. “I’ve had my bit of a break and I’m really motivated and looking forward to the summer ahead.” Horse racing news View the full article

Welwal (GB) ridden by Luke Currie wins the Manhari Kevin Heffernan Stakes at Caulfield Racecourse. (Photo by Scott Barbour/Racing Photos) Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr have claimed victory in the Group 3 Kevin Heffernan Stakes, with Welwal kicking off his career with a first-up win for his new connections at Caulfield on Saturday afternoon. The son of Shalaa last raced in May for Chris Waller, and with only two jumpouts to his name before his fresh run, horse racing bookmakers appeared to have let him get under their guard, jumping as a $23 outsider in the penultimate event. Buffalo River ($14) was back to his old tricks early on the contest, as he sprinted clear to a two-length lead by the halfway mark of the 1400m journey, which allowed Arkansaw Kid ($4.80) and Warnie ($9) to get a perfect trail in behind. Tuvalu ($2.25), the race favourite with Neds, couldn’t have asked for a better run on the fence in fifth, while Luke Currie aboard the eventual winner followed the favourite everywhere he went. Warnie and Arkansaw Kid took over early in the straight, and it looked as though they would fight out the finish; however, Currie was taking runs along the inside and finally got into clear by the 100m mark. When Currie hit the go button, Welwal lengthened quickly to chase down Arkansaw Kid, and he grabbed him in the concluding stages to claim a narrow first-up win. 2024 Kevin Heffernan Stakes replay – Welwal https://horsebetting.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Caulfield-2024-Group-3-Kevin-Heffernan-Stakes-30112024-Welwal-Mick-Price-Michael-Kent-Jnr-Luke-Currie.mp4 Mick Price represented the winning stable in the post-race interview. “We do have very good form analysts, Hayden and ‘Junior’ who get their heads down and they’re all over lots of horses and the data this and the data that, but I leave them to it and they run their own race a little bit,” Price said of his team. “A very, very good old-time stable client Alf Gauci is in it. “Tuesday morning, me and Currie stood there and he had a big blow so we thought ‘it’ll need the run’. “So, I’m sort of in trouble but, Alf, when you win the big one (The Supernova), you’ll thank me. “You’d be mad if you didn’t (go to the Supernova), wouldn’t you? “We’ve had to reshape him a bit, feet and just, in general, kilometres done on a horse of his age and stage. “He’s obviously got the ability but we’ll just need to keep him young and fresh and that’s probably what he was. He probably needs to be a little underdone a little bit, a typical Shalaa.” Luke Currie admitted that he may have been wrong by thinking Welwal was a little underdone during the week. “I jumped him out and worked him through the week and I thought he was probably coming in a little bit underdone, so it goes to show what a good judge I am,” Currie said. “I thought when we were making our run through, yes, and then Arkansaw Kid gave a bit of a kick when he felt us there. “It was a good effort to still be strong through the line when I still think he’s got a bit of improvement in him. “He had a lovely run, he travelled great but I was aware that horse was going to be hard to run down.” Horse racing news View the full article

What Sha Tin Races Where Sha Tin Racecourse – Tai Po Rd, Sha Tin District, Hong Kong When Sunday, December 1, 2024 First Race 1pm HKT (4pm AEDT) Visit Dabble Hong Kong racing returns to Sha Tin on Sunday afternoon, with a 10-race program mixed between the turf and all-weather circuits. The rail moves out to the C+3 on the turf course to keep the A ground pristine for the Hong Kong International Races next Sunday. The track should be a genuine Good 4 courtesy of sunny skies forecast across the weekend as all the action gets underway at 1pm local time. Best Bet at Sha Tin: Cheerful World Cheerful World appears set to peak third-up in the campaign after closing off well behind Sugar Ball at this course and distance on November 3. The lightly raced five-year-old hit the front a long way out and was just collared late, with the son of Proisir fading in the final 50m. Luke Ferraris should land on the leaders back throughout from barrier one, and provided he can get off the rail at a crucial stage, Cheerful World should justify the short price with Neds as he claims his maiden victory at start four. Best Bet Race 2 – #3 Cheerful World (1) 5yo Gelding | T: Frankie Lor | J: Luke Ferraris (58.5kg) Bet with Neds Next Best at Sha Tin: Steps Ahead Steps Ahead was well-supported with horse racing bookmakers returning at Sha Tin on November 3, going on to score by a half-head on the wire. Although the margin wasn’t significant, he had to show plenty of toughness in the concluding stages to fend off the late challenge of Armour War Eagle, with Vincent Ho throwing the Francis Lui-trained gelding over the line. There’s still plenty of improvement to come as he heads into this second-up assignment, and with Ho likely to gain the gun run throughout from barrier four, there’s no reason Steps Ahead can’t make it back-to-back wins to start the season. Next Best Race 10 – #4 Steps Ahead (4) 4yo Gelding | T: Francis Lui | J: Vincent Ho (59kg) Bet with BlondeBet Best Value at Sha Tin: Matters Most Matters Most makes his Hong Kong debut for the Danny Shum barn and represents terrific each-way value with Picklebet. The European import caught the eye in his turf trial at Conghua on November 15, with the son of Advertise cruising through the wire under his own steam. He’s drawn the best part of the track racing down the Sha Tin straight course from stall 11, and in an open race on paper, Matters Most should get every chance to make an impression first-up. Best Value Race 5 – #7 Matters Most (11) 4yo Gelding | T: Danny Shum | J: Jerry Chau (a1kg) (56.5kg) Bet with Picklebet Sunday quaddie tips for Sha Tin Sha Tin quadrella selections December 1, 2024 3-5-6-11-12 1-2-4-5-6-8-10 4-5-6-7-11-13-14 3-4 Horse racing tips View the full article