Wandering Eyes

Big race jockey Mark Zahra nailed a perfectly timed ride on Southport Tycoon to cause a boilover in the Group 1 Manikato Stakes (1200m) at The Valley. View the full article

Three of the veteran handler’s four Saturday runners have drawn nine or wider.View the full article

Mauritian jockey to ride in Japan on eve of Group One bid on Pierre Ng’s emerging sprinter.View the full article

Snazzytavi has booked her ticket south to Hastings next month to contest the Gr.1 Livamol Classic (2040m) following an eye-catching victory at Te Rapa on Friday. The Group Three-winning daughter of Tavistock was second-up in the BCD Group Mile (1600m) after finishing ninth in the Gr.1 Tarzino Trophy (1400m) at Hastings earlier this month, and trainers Graham Richardson and Rogan Norvall were hoping for a confidence-boosting result. Snazzytavi was backed into $1.90 favouritism and duly delivered for punters. Jumping from the ace barrier, she followed a blistering pace set by a quartet of horses upfront, but jockey Warren Kennedy bided his time, incrementally reeling in the pacemakers to sit within firing range at the turn. Kennedy guided Snazzytavi up on the rail where she showed a good turn of foot and quickly found themselves in the lead at the 200m and ran out comfortable 2-3/4 length victors over a game Chattahooche. “That was great to see,” Richardson said. “You are querying a little bit after her first-up run, but it was a big ask and things just didn’t suit. She improved a lot from Hastings to today, so that was very good, I am very happy.” Richardson said he was pleased to see the strong early tempo, which set the race up nicely for his mare. “I was pretty happy about that (strong tempo),” he said. “There looked to be a bit of pace in the race and there were a few horses resuming as well. I wasn’t 100 percent sure, but it worked out well. The way she won, she could have been anywhere in the race. She won easing up, she was so impressive. “I am absolutely rapt for the horse and the connections.” The Livamol Classic now awaits Snazzytavi, and although Richardson isn’t enamoured with stepping his mare up from 1400m to 2040m in the space of five weeks, he is excited to see what she can do next month. “At this stage that (Livamol) is the plan, she obviously deserves a crack,” he said. “It is not easy this time of year when you go up from 1400m to 1600m and 2000m straight away. It is not easy and it is not ideal, you would like more of a build-up, but the Livamol only comes around once a year.” A race prior, new stable acquisition Rocababy pleased when finishing runner-up behind Wewillrock in the Risk Management Group 1200. The El Roca mare was having her second start for the stable, having finished fourth first-up at Te Rapa a fortnight ago. “She had a very good run,” Richardson said. “Jasmine (Fawcett) rode her very well considering her draw (nine). She was three wide, really went to the line and tried her heart out.” View the full article

Bloodstock agents are circling exciting three-year-old Suit Yourself following his win in the SJC Foundation 3YO (1200m) at Te Rapa on Friday. The son of Savile Row was fair away from his ace barrier and settled in midfield for jockey Ryan Elliot. The pair tracked up on the inner behind the leaders down the straight before Elliot presented his charge through a gap at the 200m mark and Suit Yourself quickly accelerated to take the lead and held on for a long neck victory over a fast-finishing Domain Ace. “He is quite something,” Elliot said. “He got a little fidgety in the gates, but he jumped pretty well to put himself there and he’s a horse that you’d just look after and he should keep improving.” It was the second consecutive win for Suit Yourself from just three starts, having finished runner-up on debut at Arawa Park in July. Trainer Pam Gerard and her partner Tommy Hazlett purchased Suit Yourself out of Valachi Downs’ Gavelhouse.com Dispersal Sale as weanling for $3,000, and he has proven to be an astute buy by the Matamata couple, who have fielded plenty of interest in the colt. “I was tossing up between running today or next Saturday in the three-year-old 1400m at Matamata, but he was just getting too full of himself and needed to run,” Gerard said. “It was the right race for him and thanks to the club for presenting such a good track. It’s that time of year when you like to see these nice three-year-olds getting out and about, and racing on a good track like this is very important. “There have been offers for the horse, but we’ll just have to see where it goes from here. He’s gone and beaten a substantial field today, and every one of his races has had the form stack up in it. “He’s proven himself in three starts, with two wins and a second, and we’re very proud of him. “He’s still growing, started to get quite leggy of late, but he’s shown ability and gives the impression he’ll get there in due course.” View the full article

The experience of racehorse ownership is just a click away for TAB customers following the official launch of the TAB Racing Club (TRC) today. The club, which is modelled on a similar club operated by Entain through its Ladbrokes brand in Australia, offers TAB customers the chance to opt in to becoming a member of the club, and experience the joys of ownership without spending a cent. The club’s purpose is to drive awareness and support for getting involved in racing ownership. TAB customers who are logged into their accounts can opt in to the club at www.tab.co.nz/racing-club From there, they can enjoy access to exclusive behind-thescenes stables content from leading trainers on the club’s runners, ballots for raceday prizes including events and bonuses, ownership experiences including raceday owner ticketing and hospitality, stable tours, and access to other club competitions. Cameron Rodger, Managing Director – New Zealand for Entain Australia and New Zealand, the operators of TAB, sees the club as a great chance to open customers to the world of ownership. “There’s no feeling quite like the excitement of having a runner at the races and now many more Kiwis can find this out for themselves,” Rodger said. “The club is a great entry-level, no-cost way for Kiwis to get a taste of what a worldclass ownership experience looks like. “They’ll hear from some of the industry’s leading lights about the club’s horses and get to soak up the very best of an on-track experience through our prize draws. “We envision the club as creating a pathway for TAB customers to head towards joining the ownership ranks in their own rights.” The club purchased 12 thoroughbred yearlings at Karaka 2024 in January, and four pacers at the NZ Bloodstock Standardbred sales in February. Two other horses have been acquired by the club, with Bella Ragazza already placing in her last two runs in the South Island. Several 2-year-old thoroughbreds are making moves towards a race debut, with a number of runners, including Aurora Storm and Adoration already appearing at the trials and jumpouts. Information on how to opt into the TRC is now available through tab.co.nz and the TAB App, and TAB customers can join directly at tab.co.nz/racing-club, where a number of balloted events are already open for expressions of interest. Information on each of the TAB Racing Club-affiliated horses is available through the TAB Racing Club portal or in the Punters Lounge section of tab.co.nz. View the full article

The release of the 2023/24 Report of the New Zealand Pattern Committee last week highlighted to us the need for ongoing change in relation to our thoroughbred racing calendar. The Pattern plays an incredibly important role in the broader thoroughbred ecosystem, and we share the concern of the Pattern Committee in relation to the seven Group 1 races that enter the 2024/25 season with a ‘Warning’ status. With the elevation of the late January TAB Karaka Millions day over recent years (and rightly so), we believe there does need to be a stocktake of the entire shape of the pattern. The prizemoney on offer on TAB Karaka Millions night, and in the following eight to 10 weeks across February and March, will continue to make it challenging for Group 1 races across December and January to achieve the required ratings to maintain their premier status (as we have unfortunately seen this season with the downgrade of the Levin Classic to Group 2). With that in mind, it may be the time for the industry to make some wholesale changes and reconsider how races such as the Zabeel Classic, Telegraph Handicap and Thorndon Mile are placed. It may also make sense to focus on creating a more defined spring carnival for certain types of horses (particularly in the 1200-1600m range). As we have said in the past on other matters, an exercise like this should be viewed by the industry as a great opportunity to make the sport better. If the review can then be approached from the perspective of what is best for the overall industry, rather than built from specific club race dates or by who lays claim to what race or because “that’s how it’s always been done”, we certainly believe there can be a better product presented to customers and overall more value created for participants over the next five years. Lastly, it was truly fantastic to see racing resume at Ellerslie this past weekend. From a wagering perspective, the card was one of our biggest ever results for a non-black type meeting. A big congrats to the Auckland Thoroughbred Team for the successful day, and for their move earlier last week to inject another $4 million-plus into stakes this coming season, as well as moving the nomination dates for further significant races closer to race day. We recognise that adjusting the nomination window may have a short-term revenue impact for the Club, but we believe it will significantly enhance field quality and reduce costs for owners, both of which will provide substantial benefits to the entire industry. We’ve had a significant number of sign-ups to this newsletter in the last couple of months, so please continue to share or forward this newsletter to anyone in the industry who you think might like to read this. They can sign up to receive the Entain Edition directly by contacting communications@entaingroup.co.nz. Likewise, if you no longer wish to receive this newsletter, please contact the same address. Thanks for reading. Cameron Rodger, Managing Director – New Zealand Entain Australia and New Zealand TAB Racing Club We’ve really been looking forward to the TAB Racing Club launching, and the portal on tab.co.nz will go live from this Friday. Any TAB customer can opt in to the club where they can experience the joys of ownership without spending a cent. Through the TAB Racing Club, club members will receive a whole host of benefits and the opportunity to go into the ballot for experiences. We’ve seen great success in recent months with our corresponding club, Ladbrokes Racing Club, in Australia. There are currently 18 horses (14 thoroughbreds and four standardbreds), with most of these bought at the yearling sales last season. Several 2-year-olds are getting close to the race track as we head deeper into spring. Find out more about the club’s horses at the TAB Racing Club hub in the Punters Lounge, and if you’re a TAB customer, simply follow the prompts on tab.co.nz or through the TAB App from 12pm on Friday to join the club. Left: Warren Kennedy wearing the TAB Racing Club silks. Right: TRC 2-year-old colt Adoration (Savabeel-Romantic Time). You’ve asked, we’ve listened When the new TAB App and website launched in late April this year, we asked for feedback, to ensure everyone had a place to share their thoughts and suggestions with us freely. In the first week, we’d resolved and released into production over 64% of the feedback supplied by customers, stakeholders, staff and industry. Others we needed to keep in our back pockets for later, and those have been making their way to the platform in the last few months. Apple Pay and Google Pay have both been added for quicker ways to deposit. Will Pays are back – as asked for – on doubles, trebles and quaddies. We’ve made design improvements, to make code icons more identifiable, tote clearer and the whole platform easier on the eye for accessibility. We introduced the Chatbot to get answers easily and quickly, and Easybets are coming back, sooner than you might think! News in brief:The TAB Punter of the Year competition is back again at Hastings on Livamol Classic day. The winner will receive a $20,000 cash prize as well as $10,000 of Bonus Cash to place on The Everest the following week. Find out all the info and register your interest at hawkesbayracing.co.nz/punter-year.The NZB Mega Maiden Series provides great opportunities for NZB graduates all over the country to run for lucrative bonuses. There are five between now and the end of October, with a maiden 1200m at Te Rapa the next chance for connections to get a massive bonus on top of their maiden stake. Check out those races at nzb.co.nz/maidenseries.We share regular updates on LinkedIn around what’s happening in the world of Entain Australia & New Zealand. If you’re on LinkedIn, keep up to date by following us. Entain team profile Name: Chris Haigh Role: Chief Media Officer Time with Entain: One and a bit years Racing interests: I had a share in a Snitzel filly called Londinium. This was largely a strategy to prompt my wife to put her name down, in order to have a crack at the women’s ownership incentives as part of Magic Millions. It was a good idea but you need a fast horse as well to go with it. The girls named it and we got a few race days in – call it a win – and she did win a maiden at Tamworth! What excites you about the strategic partnership? The size of the opportunity is just massive. We’re so privileged to be part of it and have the Entain playbook behind us. Even after just a year, it’s great to have such an integrated team, and be able to share a passion for racing in particular. From a broadcast perspective, it’s very cool to turn on the TV/Radio and be able to see it happening in real time. The race event I’m most looking forward to? This season, NZ Cup Week for sure. It’s a fantastic week, and it really feels like the whole ecosystem of NZ racing is on show, with such a fantastic backdrop. As a bonus for me, my 40th birthday happens to fall on that week. View the full article

Jockey heads to Saturday’s meeting with an ‘even book’ of six rides.View the full article

Malt Time will contest the Group 1 Arrowfield Stud Plate (1600m) at Hastings on Saturday. Photo: Therese Davis (Race Images) Last year’s Group 1 Arrowfield Stud Plate (1600m) runner-up Malt Time is in firing form ahead of her bid for the title on Saturday, where she will carry apprentice jockey Ace Lawson-Carroll in his debut Group One ride. Shaun and Emma Clotworthy, who train the daughter of Adelaide out of Byerley Park, afforded the same opportunity to Lily Sutherland last December in the Group 1 TAB Classic (1600m) at Trentham, where the pair finished an impressive third. Lawson-Carroll has been indentured to the Clotworthy’s since commencing his apprenticeship and has established a strong association with Malt Time, winning three of their four starts, including back-to-back successes at Ruakaka. The most recent of those came on September 7, where Malt Time came from last on the corner to storm past her rivals with apparent ease, giving the Clotworthy’s confidence to push onto the Group One. “Her last start was very good against lesser opposition of course, but she’s won very well and seems to like that track at Ruakaka,” he said. “She raced well at Hastings last year, so she doesn’t seem to mind that track either. “She’s had a couple of nice bits of work since then, we do a quite a lot of her work out at the beach and I thought she worked particularly well last Friday.” Malt Time was beaten only by Mustang Valley in the 2023 edition of the Arrowfield while paying $50 with horse racing bookmakers, and come Saturday, she will be among the more-favoured runners on a track better suited to her style than last year’s Heavy 10. “We’d prefer a Good track, the heavier surface nulls her sprint a little bit so a good track would be ideal,” Clotworthy said. While describing Lawson-Carroll as a “pretty cool character”, Clotworthy indicated there are plenty of nerves and excitement in the stable this week ahead of the race. “This is Ace’s first Group One ride so he’s pretty excited, and a bit nervous too, but he doesn’t let things get to him too much,” he said. “Most of the jockeys are a touch nervous going into a Group One, so I’ll just be telling him to ride it like any other race, he’s making good decisions in races at the moment and going on his instincts, so he’ll handle the occasion I’m sure. “It’s great to give him this opportunity, he’s been a great kid to get going into racing and he’s had the early part of his riding career with us. “He’s very loyal to the stable and works really hard, so he deserves this. Everyone has to start somewhere and have their first ride, so I’m pleased for him and happy to have him on our horse.” Horse racing news View the full article

Whiskey ‘N Roses will contest the Group 2 Hawke’s Bay Guineas (1400m) at Hastings on Saturday. Photo: Therese Davis (Race Images) Several years have passed since Joanne Surgenor last competed in a Hawke’s Bay Spring Carnival, but the Ardmore Lodge trainer is heading back to Hastings on Saturday with a pair of well-credentialed runners. Surgenor has trained 55 winners in a career that started during the 2006-07 season, and according to New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing statistics, she has saddled a total of four runners at Hastings that have all been unplaced. That includes two shots at the Listed (now Group 3) Spring Sprint (1400m) with Black Panther, who finished a close seventh behind Mufhasa in 2007 and eighth in the race won by Dezigna a year later. Black Panther had previously been a winner at the carnival as a three-year-old when trained by Richard Yuill, who Surgenor worked for at the time. “We had Black Panther running in some good races during the carnival a few years back, but in more recent times I haven’t had many horses that were suitable to take down there,” Surgenor said. “But we’ve got a couple of very nice chances in races with great prizemoney this Saturday, so it’s absolutely worth making the trip. I’m looking forward to it.” Highly promising three-year-old Whiskey ‘N Roses faces the biggest test of his fledgeling career in Saturday’s Group 2 Hawke’s Bay Guineas (1400m). Raced by breeders Peter and Sherin Walker in partnership with Haunui Farm, the Belardo gelding ran second behind Magice on debut at Matamata in early May. He reversed that result in a three-length romp at Ruakaka a month later, then added another stylish victory in a 1200m Rating 65 at Te Rapa on August 24. “He’s shown a lot of ability in those three starts,” Surgenor said. “This will be a tough test for him, and it’s even harder after drawing the outside. But we’ll just see what happens and how it plays out. I think he’ll run a good race. “He had an exhibition gallop between races at Ellerslie the other day and went really well. Vinnie (Colgan, jockey) got off him and was thrilled with how the horse felt. “I think he’ll get up over 1400m quite easily, because he sits back and relaxes before finding the line strongly. I’m hoping to see him produce a big finish down the straight on Saturday.” Horse racing bookmakers rate Whiskey ‘N Roses an $8.50 fifth favourite for the Hawke’s Bay Guineas behind Captured By Love ($2.40), Savaglee ($4.40), Poetic Champion ($6) and So Naive ($7). Surgenor’s other runner at Hastings on Saturday is To Catch A Thief, who is a $3.60 favourite for the $65,000 Betta Inspect It Premier (1300m). To Catch A Thief will be ridden by Opie Bosson and is making his first start for Surgenor’s stable, having previously been trained by Graham Richardson and Rogan Norvall. The son of U S Navy Flag has yet to win a race in his 14-start career, but has placed in 10 of those, including the Group 1 Sistema Stakes (1200m), Group 1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m), Group 1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m), Group 2 Eclipse Stakes (1200m) and Group 2 Sarten Memorial (1400m). “He’s come and joined my stable because the owners just wanted to try something different,” Surgenor said. “It’s definitely not a slight against ‘Richie’ or anything like that. We’ll just change a few things up and see what happens. “I think he’s coming up really nicely. I’ve been pleased with him. His work has been good and he galloped nicely in company with Whiskey ‘N Roses at Ellerslie. “He’s probably going to take good improvement from this fresh-up run, but he’s done everything right so far.” Horse racing news View the full article

John Wheeler pictured with Lord Donovan. Photo: Race Images South John Wheeler will mix flat and jumping assignments with his in-form stable this weekend, including the return of progressive galloper Lord Donovan at Hastings on Saturday. The son of Lord caught plenty of attention during New Zealand Cup Week when winning a race at each of the three meetings, and continued to perform in premier Rating 75 company through the remainder of the season. Returning for a new campaign towards the Riccarton carnival, where he currently holds a nomination for the Group 3 TAB Mile (1600m), Lord Donovan will contest the NZB Ready To Run Trainers Series Premier (1200m). “I’m pretty happy with him, he’s having his first run this season on Saturday and I haven’t been disappointed with him this time in,” Wheeler said. “Spring seems to be his favourite time of the year, so that’s a positive. “I would think he’ll be heading to (New Zealand) Cup Week, I don’t know if I’ll be racing three times this year, but he’ll be there.” Wheeler’s apprentice jockey Elle Sole will claim three-kilograms off the six-year-old, with the combination in strong form having collected a pair of victories last Saturday, including with Group 3 New Zealand Cup (3200m) hopeful Tranzed. “He went very well in the Derby (Group 1, 2400m) last year after missing the kick by about four lengths, he ended up just beyond the placegetters,” Wheeler said. “He’s come back super this year and I think he’ll keep improving as he matures. My long-term goal for him would be the New Zealand Cup (Group 3, 3200m).” Back at Hastings, Wheeler will also be represented by last-start winner Jetalal. The Ocean Emperor mare dashed through the tough conditions at New Plymouth to score over 990m a fortnight ago, with a further step-up in distance in her future. “It was a terribly wet track at New Plymouth and she was tailed off early, but got home over the top of them. It was a terrific run to be fair, but it’s a bit hit or miss on a good track, so I’m not sure,” Wheeler said. “She’s always shown me a lot in her work, but I think the race may be a bit short for her, she’s destined to be a staying horse. “She will go up to a mile from here.” At Woodville on Sunday, Zeefa Zed will be looking to close the jumping season on a winning note after placing in the top four in each of his eight starts this season, including finishing runner-up to Justice at Te Rapa. “I thought it was a pretty good run really there, he’s quite a difficult horse to ride and Emily (Farr, jockey) rode him well,” Wheeler said. “He tends to want to do his own thing, but I’d expect him to be thereabouts, and he’ll be hard to knock.” Joining the Zed gelding in the maiden contest will be Sir Maverick, who Wheeler indicated is set for a career over the bigger fences in time. “He was disappointing last start and I haven’t really got an answer for that, but his first couple of runs were outstanding,” he said. “I’m pretty happy with him, but we may have to leave him until steeplechasing next year, he’s a big horse with a lot in front of him I think.” Completing the Taranaki horseman’s contingent is Red Ned, who ran a bold race for Farr at the venue last start, making him a key hope. “He’s going super, he jumps well and hasn’t quite turned four yet so he’s just a baby,” Wheeler said. “He’s learning his craft and will be a very good horse next year, particularly on wet tracks.” Horse racing news View the full article

John Wheeler will mix flat and jumping assignments with his in-form stable this weekend, including the return of progressive galloper Lord Donovan at Hastings on Saturday. The son of Lord caught plenty of attention during New Zealand Cup Week when winning a race at each of the three meetings, and continued to perform in premier Rating 75 company through the remainder of the season. Returning for a new campaign towards the Riccarton carnival, where he currently holds a nomination for the Gr.3 TAB Mile (1600m), Lord Donovan will contest the NZB Ready To Run Trainers Series Premier (1200m). “I’m pretty happy with him, he’s having his first run this season on Saturday and I haven’t been disappointed with him this time in,” Wheeler said. “Spring seems to be his favourite time of the year, so that’s a positive. “I would think he’ll be heading to (New Zealand) Cup Week, I don’t know if I’ll be racing three times this year, but he’ll be there.” Wheeler’s apprentice jockey Elle Sole will claim three-kilograms off the six-year-old, with the combination in strong form having collected a pair of victories last Saturday, including with Gr.3 New Zealand Cup (3200m) hopeful Tranzed. “He went very well in the Derby (Gr.1, 2400m) last year after missing the kick by about four lengths, he ended up just beyond the placegetters,” Wheeler said. “He’s come back super this year and I think he’ll keep improving as he matures. My long-term goal for him would be the New Zealand Cup (Gr.3, 3200m).” Back at Hastings, Wheeler will also be represented by last-start winner Jetalal in the Betta Inspect It Premier (1300m). The Ocean Emperor mare dashed through the tough conditions at New Plymouth to score over 990m a fortnight ago, with a further step-up in distance in her future. “It was a terribly wet track at New Plymouth and she was tailed off early, but got home over the top of them. It was a terrific run to be fair, but it’s a bit hit or miss on a good track, so I’m not sure,” Wheeler said. “She’s always shown me a lot in her work, but I think the race may be a bit short for her, she’s destined to be a staying horse. “She will go up to a mile from here.” At Woodville on Sunday, Zeefa Zed will be looking to close the jumping season on a winning note in the Tom Castles – Celebrating 80 Years (3000m), after placing in the top four in each of his eight starts this season, including finishing runner-up to Justice at Te Rapa. “I thought it was a pretty good run really there, he’s quite a difficult horse to ride and Emily (Farr, jockey) rode him well,” Wheeler said. “He tends to want to do his own thing, but I’d expect him to be thereabouts, and he’ll be hard to knock.” Joining the Zed gelding in the maiden contest will be Sir Maverick, who Wheeler indicated is set for a career over the bigger fences in time. “He was disappointing last start and I haven’t really got an answer for that, but his first couple of runs were outstanding,” he said. “I’m pretty happy with him, but we may have to leave him until steeplechasing next year, he’s a big horse with a lot in front of him I think.” Completing the Taranaki horseman’s contingent is Red Ned, who ran a bold race for Farr at the venue last start, making him a key hope in the Merrylees Hotel (3000m). “He’s going super, he jumps well and hasn’t quite turned four yet so he’s just a baby,” Wheeler said. “He’s learning his craft and will be a very good horse next year, particularly on wet tracks.” View the full article

Spring racing in the South Island has been a happy hunting ground for Te Akau Racing throughout the last couple of decades, and that trend is set to continue with another strong team of seven runners at Riccarton Park on Saturday. New Zealand’s leading trainers Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson won 63 races in the South Island last season, and they have continued in much the same vein with a dozen winners through the first two months of 2024-25. Perhaps the highest-profile of those is the three-year-old Savabeel colt Age Of Discovery, who scored a smart debut victory at Riccarton on September 14. He beat talented older rival Full Moon Fever by a neck in that 1200m maiden race, with the rest of the field more than four lengths adrift of the first pair. Bought by David Ellis for $625,000 as a yearling at Karaka last year, Age Of Discovery will attempt to bolster his claims for the Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) when he makes the second start of his promising career in Saturday’s Rangiora New World Guineas Trial (1400m). “He’s pretty smart and is building himself a bit of a reputation,” Te Akau’s Riccarton stable foreman Hunter Durrant said. “Opie (Bosson, jockey) got off him after that debut win and said all he’ll do is improve, and he’s definitely done that already. “It’s going to be good to see him run against his own age group on Saturday, and the step up to 1400m should give us a bit of a line on him ahead of a potential Guineas campaign.” Age Of Discovery is already prominent in the TAB’s fixed-odds market for the 2000 Guineas on November 9, sitting on a quote of $8 and sharing second favouritism with the recent debut Taupo winner Sought After. That market is headed by Savaglee at $5. Another notable member of Te Akau’s southern squad on Saturday is Tokyo Tycoon, who will make his South Island debut in the Elmwood Trading Company Rating 75 (1200m). The son of Satono Aladdin was the champion two-year-old of his year, winning four races including the Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m) and the Gr.3 Matamata Slipper (1200m). He added the Listed El Roca-Sir Colin Meads Trophy (1200m) as a spring three-year-old last season, and his six subsequent appearances included a fifth in the Gr.2 Hawke’s Bay Guineas (1400m), a third behind Pendragon and Quintessa in a strong age-group race at Te Rapa, and a fifth in the Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m). Saturday’s race will be Tokyo Tycoon’s first appearance since he was unplaced in the Gr.2 Wellington Guineas (1400m) in March. The four-year-old holds a nomination for the Gr.3 TAB Mile (1600m) during the New Zealand Cup Carnival in November. “He’s obviously a quality animal,” Durrant said. “He’s travelled down and settled in really well, and he seems to be coming up nicely. “He has a good record on soft ground, so even if we get a bit of rain leading into the races on Saturday, it shouldn’t worry him too much. “It’ll be good to see how he goes fresh. He’ll have bigger targets in store for him down here later in the spring.” Tokyo Tycoon will be joined in that Rating 75 event by stablemates Malmaison and Superbly Written. Malmaison has been a back-to-back winner on synthetic surfaces in his last two starts, while Superbly Written resumed at Taupo late last month and played little part in the race after rearing at the start. “Malmaison has had a bit of a freshen-up since he last ran at the end of last month,” Durrant said. “He’s definitely building up nicely. Wiremu (Pinn, jockey) knows him well and should give him a nice run. “You can’t read too much into Superbly Written’s first-up run. The Matamata team have sent her down here in great order and her coat is immaculate. She’s spent time down here before, so knows the system ere well. I’d expect her to run well this weekend.” Perfect Scenario will line up as topweight in the Marshall Batteries Open Handicap (1400m), having kicked off his seven-year-old season with a bold win over 1200m on September 14. Bought by Ellis for $165,000, the Iffraaj gelding has won 10 of his 38 starts and banked almost $400,000. “He’s just a gem,” Durrant said. “If all horses were like him, the game would be easy. He’s a real stable favourite. He’s spent a lot of time down here and seems to love South Island life. “Ngakau Hailey’s 3kg claim will obviously be a big help on Saturday. He still has a bit more of his coat to come through, but he’s improved a lot from his first-up run and should be a good chance again.” Te Akau’s other Riccarton runners are El Viento in the Thank You Gordon Fulton Rating 75 (1600m) and Gr.3 New Zealand Cup (3200m) contender Fierce Flight in the Waimakariri Businesses North Canterbury Cup (2000m). “Considering it was a day where they were running fast times and on-speed horses were favoured, we thought El Viento ran well first-up,” Durrant said. “He made up good ground. He didn’t make the field off the ballot two weeks ago, so he’s been to the trials instead and his trial was huge. He should put in a really bold performance this weekend. “Fierce Flight has been finding the line nicely over 1600m and 1800m. He’s got some bigger aims coming up, moving towards the New Zealand Cup. He’s taken good improvement from his last-start run and has been working well.” View the full article

Several years have passed since Joanne Surgenor last competed in a Hawke’s Bay Spring Carnival, but the Ardmore Lodge trainer is heading back to Hastings on Saturday with a pair of well-credentialled runners. Surgenor has trained 55 winners in a career that started during the 2006-07 season, and according to New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing statistics, she has saddled a total of four runners at Hastings that have all been unplaced. That includes two shots at the Listed (now Gr.3) Spring Sprint (1400m) with Black Panther, who finished a close seventh behind Mufhasa in 2007 and eighth in the race won by Dezigna a year later. Black Panther had previously been a winner at the carnival as a three-year-old when trained by Richard Yuill, who Surgenor worked for at the time. “We had Black Panther running in some good races during the carnival a few years back, but in more recent times I haven’t had many horses that were suitable to take down there,” Surgenor said. “But we’ve got a couple of very nice chances in races with great prizemoney this Saturday, so it’s absolutely worth making the trip. I’m looking forward to it.” Highly promising three-year-old Whiskey ‘N Roses faces the biggest test of his fledgling career in Saturday’s Gr.2 AHD Hawke’s Bay Guineas (1400m). Raced by breeders Peter and Sherin Walker in partnership with Haunui Farm, the Belardo gelding ran second behind Magice on debut at Matamata in early May. He reversed that result in a three-length romp at Ruakaka a month later, then added another stylish victory in a 1200m Rating 65 at Te Rapa on August 24. “He’s shown a lot of ability in those three starts,” Surgenor said. “This will be a tough test for him, and it’s even harder after drawing the outside. But we’ll just see what happens and how it plays out. I think he’ll run a good race. “He had an exhibition gallop between races at Ellerslie the other day and went really well. Vinnie (Colgan, jockey) got off him and was thrilled with how the horse felt. “I think he’ll get up over 1400m quite easily, because he sits back and relaxes before finding the line strongly. I’m hoping to see him produce a big finish down the straight on Saturday.” The TAB rates Whiskey ‘N Roses an $8.50 fifth favourite for the Hawke’s Bay Guineas behind Captured By Love ($2.40), Savaglee ($4.40), Poetic Champion ($6) and So Naive ($7). Surgenor’s other runner at Hastings on Saturday is To Catch A Thief, who is a $3.60 favourite for the $65,000 Betta Inspect It Premier (1300m). To Catch A Thief will be ridden by Opie Bosson and is making his first start for Surgenor’s stable, having previously been trained by Graham Richardson and Rogan Norvall. The son of U S Navy Flag has yet to win a race in his 14-start career, but has placed in 10 of those including the Gr.1 Sistema Stakes (1200m), Gr.1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m), Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m), Gr.2 Eclipse Stakes (1200m) and Gr.2 Sarten Memorial (1400m). “He’s come and joined my stable because the owners just wanted to try something different,” Surgenor said. “It’s definitely not a slight against ‘Richie’ or anything like that. We’ll just change a few things up and see what happens. “I think he’s coming up really nicely. I’ve been pleased with him. His work has been good and he galloped nicely in company with Whiskey ‘N Roses at Ellerslie. “He’s probably going to take good improvement from this fresh-up run, but he’s done everything right so far.” View the full article

Poetic Champion’s performance on Saturday will determine the future direction of his three-year-old season. The son of Super Seth will head into unfamiliar distance territory when he bids for a successful return visit to Hastings in the Gr.2 AHD Animal Health Direct – Hawke’s Bay Guineas (1400m). Off the back of a promising juvenile campaign, Poetic Champion was a dashing winner off the front when he resumed in the Listed El Roca – Sir Colin Meads Trophy (1200m) on the opening day of the Hawke’s Bay carnival. “Obviously, he got all favours first-up and won impressively and he’s taken improvement from that as well,” trainer Tony Pike said. To again be partnered by Matt Cartwright, Poetic Champion will be stepping out for the first time beyond 1200m and his future program will become clearer after the weekend. “There is probably a slight concern, but I think the way he ran three weeks ago he should get the 1400m reasonably well,” Pike said. “Around Hawke’s Bay I’m not too concerned and obviously he’s drawn a low gate (four) which is going to help. “I’ll have a chat to the owners and the 2000 Guineas (Gr.1, 1600m) is there, but whether he runs a strong mile at Riccarton could be a question mark. “We’ll sit down with after Saturday when we should have more of an idea whether we go there, but there are there are other options.” One of those is the inaugural running of the $3.5 million NZB Kiwi (1500m) in the autumn. “He could possibly come back for the Almanzor Trophy (Gr.3, 1200m) and then maybe The Kiwi, if he got a slot,” Pike said. “If he can run out a strong 1400m on Saturday then there’s no reason why he wouldn’t run out 1500m at Ellerslie. There are plenty of options for three-year-olds.” Pike will have a select team at Hastings and was bullish about Cannon Hill’s chances in the Heretaunga – Hastings To The Core Premier (1600m), although a wide gate has thrown a spanner in the works. “I thought he would be winning, but copped barrier 14 which will make it harder,” Pike said. “He chased Witz End home last start and is going really while Slipper Island was desperately unlucky on the first day.” Slipper Island finished at the back of the field after running into dead ends down the straight and will look to turn his fortunes around in the Colliers Commercial HB Premier (1400m). Pike’s Te Rapa prospects on Friday include Agera in the Craigs Investment Partners 2100m and Roderer in the Craigs Investment Partners 1400m. “Agera just needs a bit of cut in the ground, it was a bit firm for him at Hawke’s Bay and Roederer is going really well, but obviously 1400m is short of his best in a very hot race,” he said. View the full article

Last year’s Gr.1 Arrowfield Stud Plate (1600m) runner-up Malt Time is in firing form ahead of her bid for the title on Saturday, where she will carry apprentice jockey Ace Lawson-Carroll in his debut Group One ride. Shaun and Emma Clotworthy, who train the daughter of Adelaide out of Byerley Park, afforded the same opportunity to Lily Sutherland last December in the Gr.1 TAB Classic (1600m) at Trentham, where the pair finished an impressive third. Lawson-Carroll has been indentured to the Clotworthy’s since commencing his apprenticeship and has established a strong association with Malt Time, winning three of their four starts, including back-to-back successes at Ruakaka. The most recent of those came on September 7, where Malt Time came from last on the corner to storm past her rivals with apparent ease, giving the Clotworthy’s confidence to push onto the Group One. “Her last start was very good against lesser opposition of course, but she’s won very well and seems to like that track at Ruakaka,” he said. “She raced well at Hastings last year, so she doesn’t seem to mind that track either. “She’s had a couple of nice bits of work since then, we do a quite a lot of her work out at the beach and I thought she worked particularly well last Friday.” Malt Time was beaten only by Mustang Valley in the 2023 edition of the Arrowfield while paying $50 on the tote, and come Saturday, she will be among the more-favoured runners on a track better suited to her style than last year’s Heavy10. “We’d prefer a Good track, the heavier surface nulls her sprint a little bit so a good track would be ideal,” Clotworthy said. While describing Lawson-Carroll as a “pretty cool character”, Clotworthy indicated there are plenty of nerves and excitement in the stable this week ahead of the race. “This is Ace’s first Group One ride so he’s pretty excited, and a bit nervous too, but he doesn’t let things get to him too much,” he said. “Most of the jockeys are a touch nervous going into a Group One, so I’ll just be telling him to ride it like any other race, he’s making good decisions in races at the moment and going on his instincts, so he’ll handle the occasion I’m sure. “It’s great to give him this opportunity, he’s been a great kid to get going into racing and he’s had the early part of his riding career with us. “He’s very loyal to the stable and works really hard, so he deserves this. Everyone has to start somewhere and have their first ride, so I’m pleased for him and happy to have him on our horse.” View the full article

4th-Churchill Downs, $118,875, Msw, 9-26, 2yo, 5 1/2f, 1:03.98, ft, 2 lengths. PERFECT MAGIC (c, 2, Maclean's Music–You Asked {MGSP, $245,934}, by Yes It's True) made the most of his first spin on the dirt here at overlaid odds. Off at 10-1 from a 3-1 morning line, the bay colt veered in sharply from gate seven, bothering each of the rivals to his inside to varying degrees, but ultimately set up shop outside of Troubleshooting (Not This Time) through an opening couple of furlongs in :22.38. Narrowly in front passing the three-eighths peg, the $300,000 KEESEP yearling shrugged off both Troubleshooting and perfect-trip Zat's the One (McKinzie) in upper stretch, rolled down towards the rail at the furlong grounds and held sway by two lengths, giving jockey Erik Asmussen his 100th winner in the saddle. The eye-catcher of the race was Kraken (Justify), who took perhaps the worst of it at the break from the three hole and was a detached last and very much in the penalty box down the back. Last to make the stretch, he kicked it into high gear to finish a highly promising third, having covered his final quarter in a slick :23.17 before galloping out past the top two on the clubhouse turn. Perfect Magic, fifth over the Ellis turf course Aug. 11 and ninth at Kentucky Downs Aug. 31, is a half-brother to Do Share (Candy Ride {Arg}), GSW, $740,682; and Dalton (Kantharos), MSP, $233,030.You Asked is represented by a yearling Quality Road filly and a weanling colt by Twirling Candy. She was not bred this year. Sales history: $300,000 Ylg '23 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 3-1-0-0, $72,488. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. –ALC O-Mike McCarty; B-Colts Neck Stables LLC (KY); T-Steven M Asmussen. #7 Perfect Magic gets on the dirt and upsets at 10/1 in R4 at @churchilldowns for trainer Steve Asmussen with Erik Asmussen in the saddle! #TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/fyPljV49X6 — TwinSpires Racing (@TwinSpires) September 26, 2024 The post Maclean’s Music Colt Perfect Magic Relishes Switch to Dirt at CD appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

7th-Horseshoe Indianapolis, $32,000, Msw, 9-26, 2yo, f, 1mT, 1:38.10, gd, 1 1/2 lengths. INDIGO STUNNER (f, 2, Authentic–Blue Gallina, by Street Sense) became the 10th winner for her freshman sire (by Into Mischief) with a good-looking victory trying two turns for the first time. A promising third going a mile at Kentucky Downs Aug. 31, the $310,000 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga purchase argued the early pace and was eased back into third by Marcelino Pedroza, Jr. as they hit the backstretch. Traveling comfortably on the back of the leaders through the middle stages, the 9-10 chalk was asked for a kick in upper stretch, hit the front with about a furlong to race and inched clear. The winner is a half-sister to Flat Out Speed (Flat Out), GSW, $364,916, winner of the 2020 GIII Iowa Oaks; and she is also closely related to Can Group (Good Samaritan), GSW, $371,858, who took last year's GII Castle & Key Bourbon Stakes over the Keeneland turf course. Blue Gallina is also represented by a weanling Jack Christopher colt and was covered by Life Is Good this past breeding season. Sales history: $310,000 Ylg '23 FTSAUG. Lifetime Record: 2-1-0-1, $36,200. Click for the Equibase.com chart. O-Harrell Ventures LLC & Starlight Racing; B-Wynnstay Inc & H Allen Poindexter (KY); T-Brendan P Walsh. #3 INDIGO STUNNER ($3.80) prevails in the final surge of @HSIndyRacing 7 with @jockeypedrozajr in the saddle for trainer @brenpwalsh. Congratulations to the connections with this 2yo daughter of Authentic, who stands at @SpendthriftFarm. pic.twitter.com/vcvQtCthuq — FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) September 26, 2024 The post Indigo Stunner Takes Authentic Into Double-Digit Winners appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

One of trainer Peter Miller's barns at the San Luis Rey Downs training center in Southern California has been placed under quarantine, after a horse in his care diagnosed with the equine herpesvirus (EHV-1) was euthanized this week at a veterinary clinic, as first reported by the DRF. California Horse Racing Board (CHRB) equine medical director, Jeff Blea, said Thursday that the quarantine period started Saturday Sept. 21. Blea added that the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) has yet to determine how long the barn will be under quarantine. “Movement [of horses] from that barn off the racetrack is forbidden until the quarantine is released,” said Blea, adding that a perimeter around that barn is either erected, “or is being erected today.” There are similar restrictions on what personnel are permitted into the quarantined barn, said Blea. “Each individual taking care of the horses will have PPE such as gloves, foot baths, essential biosecurity equipment necessary. Good biosecurity, good hygiene. That's what's critical,” said Blea. “The people in the quarantine barn will essentially be the only people in that quarantine barn,” said Blea. “If you've got riders and hotwalkers in the non-quarantine barn and they need to go to the quarantine barn, once they go into the quarantine barn, they do not go back into the quarantine barn. They go home… It's a one-way traffic. There's no return.” Blea added that while Miller has horses stabled in at least one other barn at San Luis Rey, only the one barn has been placed under a quarantine order. Blea added that he wasn't aware of the infectious EHV-1 having spread to other horses in Miller's care, or to horses in separate barns. “All the horses are being closely monitored for any neurologic deficits, temperatures, dribbling-any sort of neurologic condition, any sort of temperature,” said Blea. According to Blea, Miller's barn at Santa Anita is under no access restrictions. Miller's sole entry this weekend is on Saturday at Santa Anita, Ransom the Moon mare Ivory Moon in the first. Ivory Moon shipped in recently from Kentucky. EHV-1 is a potentially fatal contagious equine virus that can also cause neurological and respiratory disease, along with newborn death and abortion. The most common way for the virus to spread is through direct horse-to-horse contact, though experts say that it can also be spread though infected air droplets and contact with nasal discharge from infected horses. Typical symptoms include fever, coughing and nasal discharge. If the virus manifests as a neurological problem, usual symptoms include hind-end weakness, loss of coordination, and leaning against walls or fences for balance. Blea said he did not know the identity of the horse euthanized. “It wasn't a CHRB necropsy because it was after the 72 hours,” explained Blea, referencing state law which dictates that every horse that dies or is euthanized in California within 72 hours of leaving a facility is under the jurisdiction of the CHRB. “The horse went to a hospital clinic. That's where it was put down,” he said. “The CDFA, myself and 1/ST Racing, Dr. [Dionne] Benson, we've been working together to make sure that we come up with a plan, and we execute that plan. Right now, we're looking in quite good shape,” said Blea. “We've just got to stay on top of it and keep vigilant.” The post Peter Miller’s San Luis Rey Barn Under Equine Herpes Virus Quarantine appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

A schedule of racing programs for this weekend on radio and television from America's Best Racing.View the full article

There is so much behind the name of Whitney Stakes (G1) winner Arthur's Ride, who looms as a contender for the $7 million Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) Nov. 2 at Del Mar.View the full article

It’s Friday night and at Addington three places are up for grabs in the IRT New Zealand Trotting Cup on Tuesday, November 12. The running of the Lamb and Hayward Canterbury Classic goes at 8.37pm with the top three automatically qualifying for the NZ Cup. Meanwhile at Auckland a former Breeders Crown winner will make his New Zealand debut. Start key to Beach Ball’s chances in Canterbury Classic By Michael Guerin Ricky May has no doubts about the horsepower he will be sitting behind in the Lamb And Hayward Canterbury Classic at Addington tonight. But for all the talent of last season’s NZ Cup placegetter Beach Ball, May knows tonight’s golden ticket race to this year’s IRT Trotting New Zealand could come down to manners. The Classic brings together many of those ranked between five and 20 for the NZ Cup and might be the last realistic chance for some to get into the race, with the first three home tonight guaranteed a Cup berth. Beach Ball, courtesy of a wonderful Cup week last season, finds himself almost certainly in the Cup again, having been ranked ninth in the first rankings and with a few of those immediately behind, particularly the Australians, unlikely to chase a start. Yet for all his proven open class form he was rated a $15 chance by the TAB when the market opened and May says how quickly Beach Ball can begin may determine how right those odds are. “I have driven him at three workouts this time in and last week he felt really good,” says May. “I know Kevin [Chapman, trainer] has had a few little issues along the way but we all know he finished third in the Cup last year so he can obviously beat most of these this week with the right run. “But the start will be crucial. As we have seen in most of the races this spring they have been won by the horses who settle handy. “There are some fast beginners on that front line so where we settle will determine how much work we have to do and maybe his overall chances.” Few in tonight’s race can match Beach Ball’s best, with plenty in tonight’s field still earning their open class stripes. So that takes us back to the start and those standing start manners. If the last two winners of this race, B D Joe (2022) or Republican Party (2023) could get handy then they might have the automatic respect to work their way to the front and possibly dominate. But in a race with plenty of hard-running stayers and those NZ Cup spots up for grabs it wouldn’t surprise to see one or two drivers throw caution to the wind and the recent on-speed bias of the lead-up races be reversed. The IRT New Zealand Cup winner may ultimately not be in tonight’s race but it has the potential to both a great betting race and incredibly good fun. Earlier in the night there may be less winning chances in the $50,000 Aldebaran Eagle Trot for the juveniles but fillies Habibti Pat and Ya Right Darl both have some X-factor and the race should go some way to working out the southern juvenile trotter’s pecking order for now. Big gun three-year-olds Vessem (9), We Walk By Faith (8), Hadron Collider (7) and Betterthancash (6) face wide draws in the Can Print Lazarus Stakes as the three-year-old season starts to warm up in a race with plenty of potential for pressure. Aussie trotters to make NZ debut at Alexandra Park By Michael Guerin Trainer Michelle Wallis admits she and her new Australian trotters are still learning about each other. But she is confident one of them can make a winning New Zealand debut at Alexandra Park tonight. Wallis and husband Bernie Hackett have been sent a varied bunch of trotters from major Australian owner Pat Driscoll, most of them formerly trained by Anton Golino. The Wallis/Hackett team have had to get to know their imports while they in turn have had to get used to right-handed Alexandra Park and their new training regimes. “Some have settled in better than others and some are handling right handed better than others,” admits Wallis. “But there are plenty of horses there in the right grade who can do a job.” One of the most interesting is former Breeders Crown winner Val Thorens, who makes his New Zealand debut in Race 1, the Book at the Alex for Melbourne Cup Day Mobile Trot, on what is an all-sprint programme tonight. “I know he won the Breeders Crown but that was as a two-year-old and he hasn’t won since so I would have preferred to see him in the maiden to one-win race later in the night,” says Wallis. “It isn’t an easy starting point for him but obviously he has some ability.” The stable has Break Free and Five O’Clock Gerry in that race but their better chances of success may lay later in the night. They have American Muscle, Courmayeur and Queen Of Quebec in Race 3, the Lone Star Alexandra Park Mobile Trot, which looks a very strong race where the trotters could go 1:57 so luck in the running will be crucial. “It is a tough race, Queen Of Quebec is still a work in progress while Courmayeur has a very wide draw so maybe American Muscle is our best chance in that.” Their best hope comes in Race 9, the North Island Harness Awards Saturday 28 Sept Mobile Trot, which they will dominate the market with another Aussie newcomer Belle Neige and the improving Lil Whip. “Belle Neige is a mare we really like,” says Wallis. “She should have good gate speed and that might means she gets a better run than Lil Whip. “So she might be our best chance of the night.” Earlier in the night the Purdon/Phelan team should continue where they left off last Saturday with Duchess Megxit (R7, No.5) looking close to a good thing in her Nevele R Fillies Heat while they will dominate the market for the two-year-old trot, the IRT Sires’ Stakes 2YO Prelude. They have both Higher Power (R4, No.3) and Meant To Be in that race and Meant To Be’s recovery after being checked into a break by his stablemate last start was enormous so if he trots all the way tonight he should atone. View the full article

In this continuing series, TDN's Senior Racing Editor Steve Sherack catches up with the connections of promising maidens to keep on your radar. There was a fair bit of steam behind Admiral Dennis (c, 2, Constitution–Gulf Coast, by Union Rags) as he entered the starting gate first time out for trainer Brad Cox in a deep maiden special weight at Churchill Downs Sept. 19. There will be even more next time. Off as the 5-2 favorite, the Albaugh Family Stables colorbearer broke in at the start and was outsprinted in seventh in the early stages of the 6 1/2-furlong affair. Fifth and on the move beneath Florent Geroux through an opening quarter in :22.35, Admiral Dennis, now just behind the leaders in an inside fourth, raced under a tight hold while stuck in some traffic around the far turn and never really got a fair shake from there. Still with nowhere to run as they left the quarter pole behind, Geroux was forced to alter course multiple times down the stretch, and ultimately found a lane along the rail close to home. Admiral Dennis ran on admirably without threatening the top two, finishing two lengths behind Big Much (Outwork) and I Got Game (Game Winner). Admiral Dennis earned a 66 Beyer Speed Figure for the effort. “You think you have a good horse, but going into that first race, you really don't know for sure,” Albaugh Family Stable's General Manager Jason Loutsch said. “Getting boxed in was an unbelievable education that I think is gonna prove beneficial down the line. All in all, other than not winning, we were really excited with the result and what he showed us.” Loutsch continued, “We're really excited for his next race and going into next year. Brad (Cox) said that we'll see what comes up at the end of Keeneland or that first weekend of Churchill in the fall. That's probably what we'll point to.” Admiral Dennis's sire Constitution is responsible for 36 graded/ group winners worldwide, including the Albaugh Family-owned and Cox-trained Catching Freedom (Constitution), winner of this spring's GII Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby and fourth-place finisher in the GI Kentucky Derby. The WinStar Farm-bred Admiral Dennis, a $425,000 Keeneland September yearling purchase by Dennis Albaugh's operation (yes, he is named after the stable's patriarch), is the first foal out of the stakes-winning Gulf Coast, who hails from the extended female family of the legendary A.P. Indy. Admiral Dennis is bred on the same Constitution x Dixie Union cross as GSW By Your Side. “We've been trying to buy Constitutions for a long time,” Loutsch said. “Two years ago when we bought Catching Freedom ($575,000 KEESEP yearling purchase), that was our first Constitution. He was also bred by WinStar and we're hoping for a similar result. We think a lot of this colt and just pray that he stays healthy and takes that next step. I think we'll have a fun 3-year-old campaign with him.” The 'Second Chances' Honor Roll is headed by Horse of the Year Cody's Wish (Curlin), fellow two-time Breeders' Cup winner Golden Pal (Uncle Mo) and GISWs A Mo Reay (Uncle Mo), Honor A. P. (Honor Code), Locked (Gun Runner), Paradise Woods (Union Rags) and Speaker's Corner (Street Sense). #10 Big Much upsets at 17/1 on debut in R5 at @churchilldowns for trainer Norm Casse with @RSantana_jr in the irons! #TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/d0J36GWIFZ — TwinSpires Racing (@TwinSpires) September 19, 2024 The post Second Chances: Admiral Dennis Unlucky Not to ‘Salute’ on Debut appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

There will be a time in the future when Sir Michael Stoute stands as a figure of fond recall in these parts, so his final Cambridgeshire meeting is something for the purists to savour as Newmarket begins its autumn-long farewell symphony in honour of one of its favourite adopted sons. Denied of late the frequency of elite 2-year-olds that was once a given at Freemason Lodge, the Barbadian has at least one more who could fit into that bracket with unerring timing in TDN Rising Star Formal (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}). Granted him by the yard's longstanding patron Cheveley Park Stud, the fleet-of-foot daughter of Veracious (GB) (Frankel {GB}) is looking the perfect retirement gift ahead of her vital contribution to her handler's closing act in Friday's G2 Al Basti Equiworld, Dubai Rockfel Stakes. It was in the inaugural edition of this race in 1981 that the High Top filly Top Hope (GB) helped him to a first British Trainers' Championship, so there is more than a sense of happy coincidence in her participation in this particular seven-furlong staging post. One more win on top of his tally of three will see him sign off as the joint-record-holder alongside another past legend of his trade in Barry Hills and the manner of the homebred's electric performances at Doncaster and Leicester suggests she has the material to provide the first movement of the final ode to her master's craft. The Stud's managing director Chris Richardson is someone who has enjoyed a lengthy insight into the workings of Stoute's racing brain and he is hoping that the red-white-and-blue can play a key part in his last few weeks of training. “She came out of her last race well and obviously Sir Michael is happy with her, so we look like we're going to be stepping out again and stepping up hopefully,” he said. “It would be great to win a nice race for Sir Michael before the season is over. Hopefully Formal and Anna Swan, who could run in the Fillies' Mile next month or the Oh So Sharp Stakes on the same day, can progress between them to give him a bit of a swansong.” Where Stoute was alongside the late fellow Knight Henry Cecil a pioneer of mass-producing winners of Europe's pattern races, Aidan O'Brien has arguably taken that pursuit to a more exalted level and he has two live protagonists to provide Formal with stern opposition here. They are the fellow TDN Rising Stars Ecstatic (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) and Bubbling (Ire) (No Nay Never), with Ryan Moore siding with the former as he did when she fared worse than the stable's January (Ire) (Kingman {GB}) in Doncaster's G2 May Hill Stakes last month. Only fifth in that mile contest, there was nevertheless something in the way Ecstatic moved through the gears there that suggests she is the top-class prospect she appeared to be when so impressive in her Tipperary maiden. Sean Levey was on the May Hill runner-up January and he is entrusted with the mount on the authoritative Galway maiden winner and Listed Ingabelle Stakes third Bubbling, who did not get the rub of the green on Leopardstown's Irish Champions Day. Ryan Moore knows where he stands with Formal, having ridden her last time, while O'Brien also has a line into the race's other main contender Duty First (GB) (Showcasing {GB}) having saddled Merrily (No Nay Never) to be a neck behind her as they were second and third in Goodwood's G3 Prestige Stakes last month. “Ecstatic was disappointing at Doncaster, stumbling when coming out of the stalls, but hopefully she can learn from that,” Moore said. “She is probably the form horse in the race, although it does look an open contest. Bubbling ran a nice race at Leopardstown during the Irish Champions Festival, just being bumped when coming out the stalls but stayed on well.” Irish Juveniles Dominate Cheveley Park And Middle Park Fields… Saturday's G1 Juddmonte Cheveley Park Stakes and G1 Juddmonte Middle Park Stakes boast the usual strong overseas challenge, with the former contest attracting a pair of unbeaten Irish top-level winners in the sponsors' Ger Lyons-trained Babouche (GB) (Kodiac {GB}) and Ballydoyle's Lake Victoria (Ire) (Frankel {GB}). Successful in The Curragh's G1 Phoenix Stakes and G1 Moyglare Stud Stakes respectively, they will face two live French hopes in Gousserie Racing and Sandrine Gavrois's G3 Prix de Cabourg winner and G1 Prix Morny third Daylight (Fr) (Earthlight {Ire}) and The Aga Khan's impressive Chantilly conditions scorer Rayevka (Ire) (Blue Point {Ire}). Rockcliffe Stud's G2 Lowther Stakes winner Celandine (GB) (Kingman {GB}) appears the best of the British-trained runners among the eight confirmed for the six-furlong joint-feature. In the Middle Park, Aidan O'Brien looks to hold the key with the Prix Morny and Phoenix runner-up hero Whistlejacket (Ire) (No Nay Never) set to be joined by the G3 Round Tower Stakes winner Ides Of March (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) who continues the thriving link between the trainer and Sean Levey. Godolphin's G2 Gimcrack Stakes runner-up Shadow Of Light (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) and Wathnan Racing's unbeaten Defence Minister (GB) (Too Darn Hot {GB}) will line up, having both been withdrawn from last Saturday's G2 Mill Reef Stakes after the rain hit Newbury, while another notable member of the eight-strong cast is Eleanora Kennedy's G2 Richmond Stakes winner Black Forza (Complexity). The post Newmarket Prepares For A Formal Farewell For Stoute appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

8th-CD, $120K, Msw, 2yo, 1m, 4:22 p.m. ET. Juddmonte homebred BURNING GLORY (Into Mischief) makes his first start for trainer Bill Mott. The 2-year-old colt is out of SP Hail (Tapit). This dam is a half-sister to 'TDN Rising Star' and champion older mare Close Hatches (First Defence), who herself produced offspring by Tapit such as current sire Tacitus, 'TDN Rising Star' Scylla and GSW Batten Down. Hail's other prominent sibling is MGISP Lockdown (First Defence), the dam of champion older dirt female Idiomatic (Curlin). From the same shedrow as Burning Glory, $460,000 Fasig-Tipton October Yearling graduate Buzz Rocket (Curlin) is also set for his unveiling. Owned by Frank Fletcher's operation, the colt is out of Love the Chase (Not For Love), who also produced current stallion standing in Japan, California Chrome (Lucky Pulpit). TJCIS PPS 1st-BAQ, $90K, Msw, 3yo/up, f/m, 6 1/2f, 1:05 p.m. ET. Pricey filly Citational (Into Mischief) makes the races after Don Adam's Courtlandt Farms went to $1.35 million to acquire her during Keeneland September. Trained by Shug McGaughey, the 3-year-old is out of MSP Nina Fever (Borrego). Taken home for $500,000 at the 2021 Fasig-Tipton Fall Mixed Sale by Blandford Bloodstock while carrying current 2-year-old filly in-training Madame Secretary (Constitution), Nina Fever is also responsible for GI Frizette heroine Nickname (Scat Daddy) and a filly by Justify who Resolute bought for $775,000 at this year's Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Sale. Making her debut under the care of Chad Brown, 3-year-old Fashion Victim (Tapit) was purchased as a yearling for $475,000 during Fasig-Tipton Saratoga by Peter Brant. The filly's dam Laskarina (Distorted Humor) is a half-sister to MGSW Justwhistledixie (Dixie Union), who foaled GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile hero New Year's Day (Street Cry {Ire}), current sire Mohaymen (Tapit) and GSW Enforceable (Tapit). TJCIS PPS The post Friday’s Racing Insights: Well-Bred Son Of Into Mischief Unfurls Juddmonte Flag At Churchill appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article