Wandering Eyes

Gringotts (NZ) (Per Incanto) continued his coming-of-age campaign with a powerhouse front-running performance under 60kg to win Saturday’s A$1 million The Illawarra Mercury Gong (1600m) at Kembla Grange. The Per Incanto gelding continued an outstanding run in the race for New Zealand-breds, who have now won it three years in a row. Riodini (NZ) (Proisir) won The Gong in 2022, followed by Detonator Jack (NZ) (Jakkalberry) in 2023. Gringotts went into Saturday’s race on an upward trajectory. He had claimed his first black-type success in the Listed Members’ Handicap (1600m) at Doomben in his final start of the previous season in May, then returned to action this spring with runner-up finishes in the Gr.3 Bill Ritchie Handicap (1400m) and the A$1.5 million Alan Brown Stakes (1400m). The five-year-old took his career to new heights with his last-start victory in the A$3 million The Big Dance (1600m). Saturday’s The Gong was a new challenge, jumping from gate 14 in a 16-horse field and carrying clear topweight. But under a positive ride from Tommy Berry, Gringotts dominated the race from the front. He led virtually every step of the way, then shook off the challenge of Suparazi down the Kembla Grange straight and raced to victory by three-quarters of a length. “I think he’s better than what I first thought he was,” Berry said. “It’s not easy for a horse to win with 60kg, and he was almost toying with them in the straight. I think he spotted the horse out wide on the track at about the same time I did, and then he put the afterburners on. He had more to give. “He seems to just get better as his preps go on. You saw that in his last preparation, when they were trying to win their way into The Big Dance. Now they’re just letting him do the talking. “I’ve had some tricky gates, but I don’t know if I can take too much credit either. He’s a very easy horse to ride.” The Ciaron Maher-trained Gringotts has now had 17 starts for nine wins, seven placings and more than A$3 million in stakes for an ownership group headed by Ozzie Kheir and John O’Neill. Maher and his team will now consider raising the bar again for a shot at the A$2 million Gr. 2 The Ingham (1600m) at Randwick on December 14. “He’s definitely getting better and better all the time,” assistant trainer Johann Gerard-Dubord said. “His target in this preparation was The Big Dance, and he got the job done there. But for him to continue into this race and do what he did today is great. “He briefly looked vulnerable, but when he saw the horse on the outside, he actually went again. I think he had more to give. “He’ll keep improving. He’s done a very good job in this preparation, but he’ll be a proper horse going forward. “If you see him every day, he’s still doing a lot wrong on a day-to-day basis and has a tendency to get hot. There’s still so much learning to come. “The way he did it today, especially from that gate and with that weight, I think he’ll be hard to beat if we go to The Ingham with him.” Gringotts was bred by Totara Park Stud and is by Little Avondale Stud’s outstanding sire Per Incanto out of the Savabeel mare Miss Bluebell (NZ). Herself unraced, Miss Bluebell is a daughter of Operavega (NZ) (Stravinsky), whose half-sister Vegas Showgirl (NZ) (Al Akbar) was the dam of the legendary Winx (Street Cry). Miss Bluebell’s half-sister Miss Vegas (NZ) (Charlton House) was in the spotlight this week when her two-year-old son by Proisir sold for $650,000 during the Ready to Run Sale at Karaka. Miss Bluebell is the dam of two stakes performers from three foals to race. The other is Millefiori (NZ) (Iffraaj), who has won seven races for Te Akau Racing and placed in the Listed Great Easter Stakes (1400m). Gringotts was offered by Archer Park in Book 1 of Karaka 2021, where Kasa Bloodstock bought him for $100,000. He was re-offered at the Ready to Run Sale later that year, but failed to meet his $450,000 reserve. He was subsequently sold privately after winning a trial at Waipa for Simon and Katrina Alexander. View the full article

La Crique (NZ) (Vadamos) sprouted wings in the Pukekohe straight on Saturday to come from a near-hopeless position and win the Gr.2 Dunstan Horsefeeds Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1400m) in a photo finish. The Vadamos mare went into the fillies and mares’ feature as the class act of the field, having won eight races and more than $1.3 million including Group One victories in the Arrowfield Stud Plate (1600m) and the Otaki-Maori WFA Classic (1600m). In her first start since taking out the A$500,000 Magic Millions National Classic (1600m) in Brisbane back in June, La Crique showed all the right signs with a strong finish into second with a 60.5kg topweight at Tauranga on November 2. La Crique jumped as a $2.20 favourite in the Breeders’ Stakes on Saturday, where she was ideally suited by the switch from handicap to weight-for-age conditions. But her chances appeared to plummet over the course of the next 60 seconds. The six-year-old dropped a long way back and settled near the tail of the field, then got pushed out wide on the track in the early part of the home straight. As the 12 mares lined up across the track to lodge their claims with 200m remaining, La Crique was still among the last of them and had a mountain to climb to even get into the top three. But what happened next showed why La Crique is one of New Zealand’s standout thoroughbred talents. She responded to the urgings of first-time rider Michael McNab and launched a stunning late burst, making up half a dozen lengths in those last 200m and charging up alongside Lux Libertas (NZ) (Almanzor) in the final few strides. That rival gave her all to try to hold on, but La Crique caught her in the shadows of the post and won by a head. Lux Libertas finished second, a short head in front of Marotiri Molly (NZ) (Per Incanto), with a similar margin back to Hi Yo Sass Bomb (NZ) (Complacent) in fourth. “She just got left a little bit flat-footed at the top of the straight,” McNab said. “A horse on the inside of us was sort of rolling around a bit and pushed us out. “It took her a while to wind up, but once she got into stride, she was brilliant. At about the 150m I thought she was really starting to let rip, but I wasn’t sure if she had enough time to get up. I was still cursing after the line. “But I’m rapt to win on her and just rapt to ride her. I’m looking forward to the rest of her preparation.” La Crique’s summer itinerary includes the Gr.1 TAB Classic (1600m) at Trentham on December 7 and the Gr.1 Zabeel Classic (2000m) at Ellerslie on Boxing Day. The TAB now rates her a $2.50 favourite for the TAB Classic. “I really had to see the replay and the photo finish to be truly convinced that she won that race today,” said Katrina Alexander, who trains La Crique in partnership with her husband Simon. “It was a super run by a gutsy, gutsy mare. “She probably got further back than I wanted, but she’s a horse that just keeps on coming. That’s why we’re keen to get her up over ground when we find the right targets for her on good tracks. “She’ll go to the TAB Classic at Trentham next, and then we want to carry on towards Ellerslie on Boxing Day. That was always the campaign that we had in mind for her at this point of the season.” Raced by her breeders John and Jan Cassin, La Crique has now had 22 starts for nine wins, nine placings and more than $1.43 million in stakes. – View the full article

Talented New Zealand-bred gelding I’mintowin (NZ) (Contribuer) announced his return to racing in style at Kembla Grange on Saturday with a victory under 62kg in the A$160,000 Evergreen Turf Benchmark 78 Handicap (1400m). It was the first start since July for the Contributer gelding, whose rating of 82 made him a clear topweight. That made for a tough first-up assignment, but I’mintowin was well and truly up to the task. Rider Adam Hyeronimus drove I’mintowin forward to take the lead inside the first 100m of the race. He dominated proceedings from that point on, kicking hard down the straight and winning impressively by a length and a half. He stopped the clock at a quick 1:21.18 for 1400m. “To call that a good effort would probably be under-rating it,” Hyeroniumus said. “The track conditions helped him big time, but they’ve still got to do it, and especially first-up with such a big weight. “He’s got good first-up form and looked so good in the yard. And then, the way he handled himself on the way to the gates, I was very confident.” I’mintowin is trained by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott for a Darby Racing syndicate and has now had 13 starts for three wins, five placings and A$262,818 in stakes. “To win first-up under 62kg is no mean feat,” Bott said. “That was a great effort by the horse today. He’s always shown very honest form for us, and particularly first-up. “In a few of his campaigns, as we’ve got deeper into them, he’s just got a bit above himself. This time in, he’s been very relaxed and really held his composure, which has been a good sign. “He has plenty of natural brilliance. They’ve run quick time today, so it’s good, sustained speed that he’s got. We’ll try him at a mile next start and then go one run at a time from there.” I’mintowin was bred by Masterpiece Enterprises Ltd and is by Contributer out of the three-time winning Castledale mare Beguile. I’mintowin began his career with six starts in New Zealand from the Byerley Park stable of Peter and Dawn Williams. He was a maiden winner at Avondale in November 2022, then finished third in the Gr.3 Bonecrusher Stakes (1400m), fourth in the Listed Uncle Remus Stakes (1400m) and ninth in the Gr.1 Levin Classic (1600m) before being privately sold into Australian ownership. View the full article

Promising stayer Nereus (NZ) (Savabeel) put his current campaign back on track when he captured an action packed Gr.3 TAB Counties Cup (2100m) on Saturday. The field of fourteen runners was thrown into chaos after 500m when Arby (NZ) (Proisir) dropped rider Matt Cartwright after making contact with the inside running rail leaving the straight for the first time. Severely checked in the incident were Cognito (So You Think), Blue Moon (NZ) (Shocking), Sassy Lass (NZ) (Staphanos) and Ess Vee Are (NZ) (Shocking) while the rest of the field were also subsequently hampered as the riderless Ess Vee Are raced through the field to land in front of pacemakers Bosch (NZ) (Pentire) and Quality Time (Amaron), causing all riders to proceed with extreme caution from there on in. While all this was happening Nereus and rider Joe Doyle enjoyed an economical run in midfield before improving wide on the home turn with the Te Akau Racing pair of Qali Al Farrasha (NZ) (Almanzor) and Cognito tracking him at every stride. Nereus, sporting the well-known colours of the Chittick family, and Qali Al Farrasha set down to fight out the finish at the 150m with the Shaune Ritchie and Colm Murray-trained son of Savabeel gaining the upper hand at the post by half a length with Cognito, who did a wonderful job to put himself into contention after the early check, shading The Odyssey (NZ) (Zacinto) for third. Ritchie was delighted to take out the contest with the Waikato Stud homebred five-year-old who had made a mixed start to his spring campaign, forcing a slight tinkering with his race plans including dropping him back to 1600m at his last start before stepping up in distance again for the Counties feature. “We backed off him and went back to the mile last time always thinking he would make a stayer,” Ritchie said. “He just wasn’t there that last ten percent (lately), but the warmer temperature overnight has brought his coat through while he is a horse that goes best with his races spaced. “He has really picked his appetite up in the last week so the signs were there he would go well and he has. “It was a messy race with some hard luck stories I’m sure, but it is fantastic for Colm and I to have a horse like this winning in the Waikato Stud colours. “They are obviously a big part of New Zealand racing and it is great to do it for Mark and George (Chittick) who are here at the track.” Ritchie is keen to look ahead to more of the big Summer Cup races if the horse can continue on his development path. “He has a magnificent pedigree being by a champion stallion who keeps producing and out of a fantastic mare,” he said. “It suggests he is going to get to a Cups trip and it would be nice if we could get him to run two miles as there is a lot more money in those races.” Doyle, who brought up a winning stakes double on the day after earlier taking the Listed Haunui Farm Counties Bowl (1100m) aboard Luberon (NZ) (Embellish), was pleased with how the race had panned out despite some challenges. “I followed Ryan Elliot around (No Compromise (NZ) (Pins)) and didn’t think I was in a bad spot,” he said. “I thought we’d be following something good and when the loose horse went around the speed was really on and that set it up nicely for us. “Going down the back I thought we would be right in it and he was good and tough up the straight. “The Te Akau horse (Qali Al Farrasha) went past him and he knuckled back down and got to the line.” Nereus is out of Waikato Stud’s Pins mare Eudora (NZ) (Pins), the dam of outstanding Group One winning filly Savvy Coup (NZ) (Savabeel) who is the older full sister of Nereus. Included in his extended family are stakes performers Ocean Emperor (NZ) (Zabeel), Tootsie (NZ) (Pins) and Legless Veuve (NZ) (Pins) along with three-time Group One winner Probabeel (NZ) (Savabeel). He has now won six of his 14 starts and over $372,000 in prizemoney. View the full article

Talented stayer Savoir Faire (NZ) (Savabeel) staked his claim for next month’s Listed Pakenham Cup (2500m) with a commanding victory in the A$130,000 John Duff & Co The Lester (2025m) at Cranbourne on Saturday. The Savabeel gelding began his career with nine starts in New Zealand, scoring a maiden win at Matamata and finishing third in the Gr.2 Waikato Guineas (2000m), fifth in the Listed Trevor & Corallie Eagle Memorial (1500m) and sixth in the Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m). Savoir Faire has added another three wins to that record since relocating across the Tasman to join the Cranbourne branch of the Te Akau operation. His 20-start career has now produced four wins, eight placings and A$208,666 in prize-money. The five-year-old went into Saturday’s race in promising form, with his first two starts of the preparation producing a third over 1600m at Moe and a second in last weekend’s Donald Cup (1620m). Savoir Faire relished the step back up to a middle-distance on Saturday and won with ease. Patiently ridden by Damian Lane, Savoir Faire settled in fifth in a strung-out field as a strong pace was being set out in front. Savoir Faire began to roll into contention coming up to the home turn, and he hit the front with 200m remaining. There was little doubt about the result from there as Savoir Faire kicked away to score a comfortable win by a length and three-quarters. “The race unfolded really well,” Lane said. “The speed was crazy. I was really happy with where I was. I expected the race to be a speed battle, and it was just great viewing from where I was. I was able to come into the race at the right time, and he was too good when it counted. “Hopefully he can take another step forward from here and go on to that Pakenham Cup sort of level.” The A$300,000 Pakenham Cup will be run on December 21. “He was arguably probably a little bit underdone, but the plan has always been to go to the Pakenham Cup,” said Ben Gleeson, assistant trainer to Mark Walker. “He was third-up over 2000m, and I think he was two-for-two in that state and now three-for-three, so it’s just panned out perfectly. “Damian’s ride was 10 out of 10, just exceptional. That’s why you put good jockeys like him on. It was his first sit on the horse, and before the race we just said, get cover, let him suck up and travel as long as you can and he just did it all to a tee. “After he won a race well in May, Mark decided to tip him out and give him a good period off just to let his body mature, and I think that’s been massive.” By Savabeel out of the O’Reilly mare Etiquette (NZ), Savoir Faire is a brother to dual Group Three winner Milford (NZ) and was bred by Waikato Stud. Savoir Faire was purchased by David Ellis for a sale-topping $640,000 at the 2021 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run Sale from the draft of Ohukia Lodge. View the full article

Clint Johnston-Porter celebrating first Group 1 with Port Lockroy in Railway Stakes at Ascot. Photo:WesternRacepix The Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald-trained Port Lockroy ($9.00) has tasted Group 1 success for the first time, with the eastern raider claiming an impressive victory in the Group 1 Railway Stakes (1600m) at Ascot on Saturday afternoon. It comes after an eye-catching performance in the Golden Eagle (1500m) at Rosehill on November 2, with local Western Australian-based jockey Clint Johnston-Porter the beneficiary of being legged aboard the low weighted four-year-old. He lobbed into the perfect position in the middle stages, with Belclare ($5.50 with Neds) and Socks Nation ($21.00) bowling along at a genuine clip, allowing Johnston-Porter to snag the one-one on a moderate tempo. The well-supported favourite with horse racing bookmakers, Light Infantry Man ($3.50) was forced back into a ruck of horses, while Comfort Me ($41.00) looked to be travelling well behind the leading pair. Johnston-Porter got busy on the son of Better Than Ready at the furlong pole, hitting the front a long way out, and while the likes of Comfort Me and Super Smink ($8.50) gave chase gallantly, it was all in vain as Port Lockroy kicked clear to secure the 2024 Railway Stakes. 2024 Group 1 Railway Stakes Race Replay – Port Lockroy (1st) https://horsebetting.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Ascot-Race-8-Group-1-Railway-Stakes-23112024-Port-Lockroy-Annabel-Neasham-and-Rob-Archibald-Clint-Johnston-Porter.mp4 Rob Archibald was on course to discuss the victory and the perfect steer by Johnston-Porter. “Incredible,” said Archibald. “It’s hard to believe to be honest. “Just so excited for the owners in the horse. He’s been so unlucky almost his whole career through gates or whatever it may be, and he’s just executed a perfect race today CJ (Clint Johnston-Porter) so fully credit to him. “It’s a huge thrill, I’m so lucky to be in this position and Annabel (Neasham) has always had such confidence in this horse and it was just nice to see a really good ride and him deliver on the big stage. “Very grateful.” Clint Johnston-Porter spoke the magnitude of the moment claiming his first Group 1 success. “I’ve been dreaming of this moment for a very long time,” said Johnston-Porter. “I was stiff not to get one last season, so to get one on the board is just massive, and it being the Railway, what an iconic race. “I was always banking on his run in the Golden Eagle, it was a very good run, I was trying to not get too excited, I sort of talked myself into the nerves, but I’m just so relieved that it’s all over and done with now. Horse racing news View the full article

William Pike guides Storyville to victory in the Group 2 WA Guineas. Photo: WesternRacepix The Grant & Alana Williams-trained Storyville ($4.20) has proven too classy in the Group 2 WA Guineas (1600m) at Ascot on Saturday afternoon, producing a stunning turn-of-foot in the concluding stages to claim the $500,000 feature. She was on the one-week backup after a dominant win in the Group 3 Champion Fillies Stakes (1600m) at the same course and distance last Saturday; however, the three-year-old was relatively unwanted late in betting with horse racing bookmakers, as all the money came for the Neville Parnham-trained September Born ($2.00 with Neds) prior to the jump. William Pike was happy to smoke the pipe in behind a hot tempo throughout the journey, with Declan Bates adopting Pride Of Jenni like tactics aboard London’s Image ($17.00) as she bowled along to put a gap in her rivals. September Born appeared to get every chance racing in the one-one but never looked like to figure as the sprint went on, with all the runs coming down the centre of the course. Olympic Park ($14.00) and The Merryman ($34.00) were storming home to mount a late challenge, but it was to no avail as Storyville closed off best to claim back-to-back features. 2024 Group 2 WA Guineas Race Replay – Storyville (1st) https://horsebetting.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Ascot-Race-7-Group-2-W.A-Guineas-23112024-Storyville-Grant-And-Alana-Williams-William-Pike.mp4 Co-trainer Grant Williams was on course to break down the win and didn’t rule out a trip to the Group 1 Northerly Stakes (1800m) on December 7. “That was so good wasn’t it, unbelievable,” exclaimed Williams. “A lot of great loyal owners, some of my best owners, some of my long-term owners, and obviously Alana’s bred it. “This is sort of brought back to Willy (Pike) too. It’s such a good team effort, we had a chat a few weeks ago. Things weren’t going right, I’m like ‘mate, what are you doing? Just go back to doing what you do’, “Three-year-olds have got to be strong to ride them like that, and although our horses are really fit and strong, the mental part comes when they win, so it was good we put the train back on the tracks. “She’s nominated (for the Northerly), she’s done a huge job so I’m not really sure.” William Pike suggested there’s more to come for Storyville and thinks the Northerly is within her grasp. “Great effort,” Pike said. “I think she wasn’t quite the same horse she was last week, bouncing around, she’s normally very bubbly and up and about. I think she was only about 80 or 90 percent of what she’s capable of there. “Hopefully they can pick her back up and maybe they have a tilt at the Northerly.” Storyville has now firmed into $7.00 favourite with BlondeBet for the 2024 Northerly Stakes on December 7. Horse racing news View the full article

Blake Spriggs celebrating after claiming the Group 3 Warra at Kembla Grange with Headwall. Photo: Bradley Photos Headwall ($7.00) has gone from last to first to claim a stunning victory in the Group 3 Warra (1000m) at Kembla Grange on Saturday afternoon, with the Matthew Smith-trained gelding securing the $300,000 prize after being well-supported with horse racing bookmakers. The son of Dream Ahead was given a cold ride by Blake Spriggs after drawing out in barrier 11, and it proved to be a winning move, with the field of 11 going along at a hectic tempo courtesy of Kote ($151.00), Brudenell ($11.00) and South Of India ($26.00 with BlondeBet) going forward in a line of three in the early stages. It left Dragonstone ($5.00) taking over in the final furlong, and although he looked to be travelling best, he was no match for Headwall who relished the Good 3 conditions on offer at Kembla Grange towards the end of the program. It’s the first stakes level victory for Headwall, keeping his impressive record of 13 starts for six wins and six more minor placings intact as he careered away for an impressive half-length victory. 2024 Group 3 Warra Race Replay – Headwall (1st) https://horsebetting.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Kembla-Grange-Race-9-Group-3-The-Warra-Headwall-Matthew-Smith-Blake-Spriggs.mp4 An emotional Blake Spriggs spoke post-race as he broke down the victory. “I’m trying to hold it together,” Spriggs said. “I can see Reg behind me in tears. “There’s a lot to this horse. I sat with Reg on Thursday, and we watched all of his replays, and all the replays of the horses in the family. “There’s eight horses out of this family that I’ve won on, and one of the owners Marie died of MND last year, and we had the funeral on top of the hill up there, and I was really wanting to give the family something to be happy about. They’ve done it tough, and they deserve to get something special like this. “I knew the horse I had under me. From day one I said that he’s a stakes horse, I still think he can go on and match it with the best, but he’s just a late maturing horse.” Horse racing news View the full article

Tommy Berry celebrating as Berry and Gringotts claim Group 3: The Gong. Photo: Bradley Photos Ciaron Maher & Tommy Berry have combined with Gringotts ($2.80) proving too classy for his rivals in claiming a dominant victory in The Gong (1600m) at Kembla Grange on Saturday afternoon. It comes after another impressive performance when securing victory in the Big Dance (1600m) at Randwick on November 5, with the son of Per Incanto claiming back-to-back features. It was almost a duplicate ride by Berry from last time out, with Gringotts sent forward from barrier 14 in an attempt to offset the 60kg on his back. It proved to be an intelligent move by the star hoop, with the well-supported favourite with Neds landing into the ideal stalking position throughout the journey. Stable companion Berkshire Shadow ($17.00) was the lamplighter throughout, with Osipenko ($26.00) sitting to his outside, with the pair going along at a moderate clip. It left Berry with no choice but to take off turning for home, with the five-year-old sustaining a long run to the winning post, clinging to victory, while the likes of Superazi ($26.00) and Steparty ($7.00) would be forced to battle it out for the minor money. 2024 The Gong Race Replay – Gringotts (1st) https://horsebetting.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Kembla-Grange-Race-8-Group-3-Mercury-Gong-Gringotts-Tommy-Berry-Ciaron-Maher.mp4 Stable representative Johann Gerard-Dubord was on course to discuss the victory, suggesting Gringotts has gone to a new level. “His target early in the spring was the Big Dance, which he got the job done there,” said Gerard-Dubord. “To come back here and do what he did, and it seemed like there was a bit more there, he went again, and I think he’ll keep improving. “He’s obviously done a really good job this prep, and I think he’ll be a proper horse going forward. “On a day-to-day basis he’s still doing a lot wrong, so there’s still some maturing to come.” Tommy Berry was elated with the win and gave full credit to his mount on an excellent performance. “Yeah, I’m getting a little emotional,” Berry said. “I guess I cut my teeth around this area, so I’ve got a lot of friends and a lot of family and people from down this way. Some are here today which is great, and I think he’s (Gringotts) much better than I thought he was. “To win with 60kg and he was sort of toying with them down the straight. He spotted the horse (Superazi) out wider on the track at the same time I did, and he put the after burners on and had more to give.” Horse racing news View the full article

Globe (NZ) ridden by Ethan Brown wins the Ladbrokes Cranbourne Cup at Cranbourne Racecourse on November 23, 2024 in Cranbourne, Australia. (Photo by Scott Barbour/Racing Photos) The Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr)-trained Globe ($4.20) has led every step of the way to claim victory in the $500,000 Cranbourne Cup (1600m) on Saturday afternoon, giving Ethan Brown back-to-back feature wins after securing the inaugural running of The Meteorite (1200m) 40 minutes early. The race didn’t change complexion much as Brown elected to take up the running from barrier six, with the son of Charm Spirit ticking off some moderate sectionals in the middle stages. The Mark Walker-trained New Zealand raider It’s A Wild Night ($4.80 at Neds) got into the ideal stalking position one-off the rail, while Dashing ($26.00) was happy to sit on the leaders back throughout the journey. Damien Lane was able to navigate to the one-one aboard the well-supported Air Assault ($5.00) and looked to be travelling best in the final furlong; however, it was Brown and Globe proving best in the shadows of the post, with the lightly raced six-year-old chalking up his sixth career win at start nine. 2024 Cranbourne Cup Race Replay – Globe (1st) https://horsebetting.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Cranbourne-Race-9-Listed-Cranbourne-Cup-23112024-Globe-Mick-Price-Michael-Kent-Ethan-Brown.mp4 Co-trainer Mick Price was delighted with the performance and suggested it was perfect placement to lend in a hand in victory. “It’s fantastic for the owners because we took a big punt on this race,” said Price. “He’s a 17-hand horse getting around Cranbourne where I have my worst strike rate, and I thought, greed is good for a $500,000 race. What do you do? “I think bringing him here on Tuesday was a good idea because he is a high nervous energy horse and he did belt out a bit of energy on Tuesday morning, but the kid (Ethan) did a good job on him. “It’s not that hot today. I know it’s hot, but it’s not hot where the horses are really stressed. I thought the kid did a good job with him out the back and they hosed him and kept him cool. The horse was in good nervous order. “His wheels weren’t fizzing around his head, which they can. I think the more racing he does, the better he’ll be.” Horse racing news View the full article

Nadal ridden by Ethan Brown wins the The Ladbrokes Meteorite at Cranbourne Racecourse on November 23, 2024 in Cranbourne, Australia. (Photo by George Sal/Racing Photos) The Ciaron Maher-trained Nadal ($4.40) has come with a withering burst to claim the inaugural running of The Meteorite (1200m) at Cranbourne on Saturday afternoon. The son of Xtravagant was well-supported with horse racing bookmakers prior to the jump, with punters happy to forgive his luckless effort down the Flemington straight on November 9. Ethan Brown was extremely patient aboard the progressive four-year-old, taking a sit towards the rear of the field as Baraqiel ($3.10) launched forward early under the urgings of Ben Allen. The rank outsider with Blondebet, Philosopher ($71.00), was sent across to pester the favourite throughout the journey, while Oscars Fortune ($12.00) was caught deep without cover at the first turn. They were going at a genuine clip throughout, and as Philosopher and Oscars Fortune dropped out of the contest, Baraqiel was still there whacking away, while the like of Rey Magnerio ($6.00) and Nadal were produced late to have one final crack in the final furlong. It was all Nadal in the concluding stages, however, with the $1 million feature heading the way of the Ciaron Maher Racing slot holders. 2024 The Meteorite Race Replay – Nadal (1st) https://horsebetting.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Cranbourne-Race-8-The-Meteorite-23112024-Nadal-Ciaron-Maher-Ethan-Brown.mp4 Stable representative Adrian Joyce was on course to breakdown the win and couldn’t have been happier with the performance. “Ethan (Brown) has to get a lot of the credit because it went very hard and he had to come from a long way back,” said Joyce, “He decided, obviously as he was in the run, he didn’t want to pull out wide and come with that long-range run, so he waited, and he just got the splits and he gave him a super ride. “It’s great for Ozzie and John and the rest of the crew involved in him. They’re great supporters of the yard, of Ciaron’s. It’s super. “He came back in this prep, a different horse, stronger, moving really well and he’s just kept improving. We’ve always had a lot of faith in him. “He’s a really nice horse and a beautiful individual as well.” Ethan Brown spoke about the tactics post-race, suggesting the hot tempo played into his mounts’ advantage. “It looked quick on paper and I did want to be a bit closer, but they kept up that genuine gallop which pushed us a pair further back,” Brown said. “I just rode in as they started fanning around the corner and I thought we can’t loop them. “So, give him a click, he was right there for me, a gap presented and off he went. That was a good win, and rates much better than his win at Caulfield the other day. “He’s very talented and he’s in the right stable. They’ll put him through his grades and it wouldn’t surprise me to see him in a Stakes race and the horses he beat there then, it just puts the writing on the wall, doesn’t it? 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, November 24, 2024 First Race 12:45pm HKT (3:45pm AEDT) Visit Dabble Hong Kong racing returns to Sha Tin on Sunday afternoon, with a bumper 10-race program scheduled to get underway at 12:45pm local time. The rail is in the C position for the meeting, and with no rain forecast throughout the weekend, punters can anticipate a genuine Good 4 surface. Check out our best bets and quaddie selections down below. Best Bet at Sha Tin: New Future Folks New Future Folks appears set to peak third-up in the campaign after a luckless effort at this course and distance on October 20. He was dragged back to the rear of the field on that occasion but was putting in the big strides late despite being detached from the main contingent in the middle stages. Gate five should allow Ben Thompson to take closer order, and provided New Future Folks is within striking distance turning for home, this guy should get every chance to shirk the maiden tag at start four. Best Bet Race 3 – #2 New Future Folks (5) 4yo Gelding | T: Michael Chang | J: Ben Thompson (60kg) Bet with Neds Next Best at Sha Tin: Young Champion Young Champion caught the eye at Sha Tin on November 9, producing some strong closing sectionals to get within 2.5 lengths of race rival Green N White. He strips fitter for that performance and should relish stepping out to the 1600m third-up into the preparation. There should be a genuine tempo engaged in this Class 2 contest, and with Karis Teetan set to lob into the perfect position two-back one off the rail, watch for Young Champion to be powering over the top at a cracking price with BlondeBet. Next Best Race 7 – #9 Young Champion (5) 5yo Gelding | T: John Size | J: Karis Teetan (53.5kg) Bet with BlondeBet Best Value at Sha Tin: Lupo Solitario New Zealand import Lupo Solitario makes his Hong Kong debut in the final race of the program. The son of Satono Aladdin brings some formidable formlines behind Orchestral in the three-year-old Karaka Millions at Ellerslie back in January, and while his trials have only been even to the eye, the four-year-old has improved every time he’s stepped out. First-up over 1600m shows strong intent from the Frankie Lor barn, and at a massive price with horse racing bookmakers, Lupo Solitario warrants an each-way ticket. Best Value Race 10 – #2 Lupo Solitario (6) 4yo Gelding | T: Frankie Lor | J: Derek Leung (60.5kg) Bet with Picklebet Sunday quaddie tips for Sha Tin Sha Tin quadrella selections November 24, 2024 2-8-9-12-13 1-4-5-7-8-10 1-2-4-5 2-3-8-10-11 Horse racing tips View the full article

What Kilmore Cup Day 2024 Where Kilmore Racing Club – East St, Kilmore VIC 3764 When Sunday, November 24, 2024 First Race 1:10pm AEDT Visit Dabble The $200,000 Listed Kilmore Cup (1600m) headlines a nine-part meeting at the Kilmore Racing Club this Sunday. Following scorching hot days on Friday and Saturday, things will be much cooler on Sunday, with the chance of rain likely to have the track as a Good 4 throughout the day. The rail sticks to its true position, with Kilmore Cup Day commencing at 1:10pm AEDT. Kilmore Cup Tip: Magnaspin Magnaspin has been there or thereabouts in two of his three runs this campaign, with his only failure coming in the Group 1 Toorak Handicap (1600m). First-up he was hitting the line nicely behind proven types in Desert Lightning and Craig, and following the Toorak run, he wasn’t too far off the likes of Regal Zeus and Apulia. He will find this somewhat easier, and if Billy Egan can find a spot midfield with cover, Magnaspin has the finish to overhaul the leaders in the Kilmore Cup. Kilmore Cup Race 8 – #4 Magnaspin (10) 5yo Gelding | T: Leon & Troy Corstens & Will Larkin | J: Billy Egan (55.5kg) Bet with BlondeBet Best Bet at Kilmore: Scottie’s Legacy After a year on the sidelines, Scottie’s Legacy produced an eye-catching run when flashing home for second at Kyneton on October 22. The former Kiwi settled last on the rails and made up a stack of ground to finish 1.5 lengths off Stupendous. Blake Shinn takes the steer from barrier two, and if the pair find clear air upon turning for home, Scottie’s Legacy can charge home late and put this lot away. Best Bet Race 4 – #10 Scottie’s Legacy (2) 4yo Mare | T: Mark Walker | J: Blake Shinn (57.5kg) Bet with Neds Next Best at Kilmore: Bunjil Bunjil has hit his straps in recent times, winning impressively at Echuca and Swan Hill in his last two starts. The five-year-old gelding managed to sprint sharply in those starts over 1600m, so it doesn’t hurt his chances that he stays at the trip in a race that is no harder. Billy Egan will need a touch of luck from barrier nine, but if he gets it, Bunjil should send punters home a winner on Kilmore Cup Day. Next Best Race 9 – #4 Bunjil (9) 5yo Gelding | T: Patrick & Michelle Payne | J: Billy Egan (60kg) Bet with PlayUp Sunday quaddie tips for Kilmore Kilmore quadrella selections Sunday, November 24, 2024 1-3-7-8 1-6-7-8-11 1-3-4-5-7-11-12 2-4 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip Horse racing tips View the full article

Five-year-old steps up to a mile for the first time in Sunday’s Class Two Chevalier Cup (1,600m) at Sha Tin.View the full article

What Canberra Races Where Thoroughbred Park – 1 Randwick Rd, Lyneham ACT 2602 When Sunday, November 24, 2024 First Race 1:25pm AEDT Visit Dabble Racing heads to the nation’s capital on Sunday afternoon, with a quality eight-race program lined up at Thoroughbred Park. The Canberra Community Chest (1400m) headlines the action, with a capacity field of 12 set to battle it out for the $200,000 prize. The rail is out +3m the entire circuit, and with mostly sunny skies forecast across the weekend, punters can expect a Good 4 surface. The opening event is scheduled to get underway at 1:25pm local time. Canberra Community Chest Tip: Our Last Cash The Donna Scott-trained Our Last Cash was doing his best work late in the Barn Dance (1300m) at Randwick on November 5 and was clearly the best of the beaten brigade behind Gallant Star. The son of Magnus was slow away and was forced to make inroads down the centre of the course, never shirking the task to get within five lengths of the supremely dominant winner. With plenty of emergencies set to be scratched, Our Last Cash will improve from barrier 19, and although he’ll need luck to figure in the finish, the each-way price with Neds is too big to ignore. Canberra Community Chest Race 6 – #8 Our Last Cash (19) 7yo Gelding | T: Donna Scott | J: Blaike McDougall (54kg) +1200 with Neds Best Bet at Canberra: Brazen Crime Brazen Crime is searching for back-to-back wins after a promising debut win at this course and distance on November 5. He was able to clear out by 2.4 lengths in maiden company, powering away after securing the one-one in transit. He maps to gain a similar run in this BM60 contest, and provided Jeff Penza can be one of the first to challenge turning for home, expect Brazen Crime to be fighting out the finish. Best Bet Race 8 – #9 Brazen Crime (4) 3yo Gelding | T: Keith Dryden | J: Jeff Penza (57.5kg) +240 with Picklebet Best Value at Canberra: Capital Babe The Keith Dryden-trained Capital Babe debuts on the back of two strong barrier trials and finds a winnable first-up assignment. The daughter of Capitalist cruised through the wire in her latest piece of work to get within a half-length of Just Go Bang, suggesting the unraced three-year-old had plenty left to give in the concluding stages. Watch for Rebecca Bronett Prag to take luck out of the equation and lead from stall nine. Provided she can tick over a soft sectional in the middle stages, Capital Babe will appear terrific value with BlondeBet when the whips are cracking. Best Value Race 3 – #6 Capital Babe (9) 3yo Filly | T: Keith Dryden | J: Rebecca Bronett Prag (a2) (57kg) +1000 with BlondeBet Sunday quaddie tips for Canberra Canberra quadrella selections November 24, 2024 3-4-5-8 1-5-6-7-8 2-5-7 3-5-9 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip Horse racing tips View the full article

Luberon’s (NZ) (Embellish) heroics in the Gr.3 Haunui Farm Counties Bowl (1100m) gave trainer Lance Noble reason to expect something special from her trackwork companion Frostfair (NZ) (Written Tycoon) in the very next race on the card at Pukekohe on Saturday, and so it proved. Lightly raced mare Frostfair warmed up for Saturday’s Stella Artois 1500 Championship Qualifier (1400m) with a bold gallop on Tuesday in company with stablemate Luberon. Noble was enormously impressed with that work at the time, and even more so after Luberon blew her rivals away by two and a half lengths in the Counties Bowl. “She worked with Luberon on Tuesday of this week and both of them worked absolutely superbly,” Noble said. “That meant we came here today with a little bit of confidence, and especially after Luberon’s race earlier in the afternoon.” Frostfair is putting together a promising record in her own right, heading into Saturday’s $75,000 Rating 75 event with six starts under her belt for two wins, a second, two thirds and a fourth. The four-year-old daughter of Written Tycoon was a strong last-start winner in Rating 65 grade at Ellerslie on November 5. Jockey Warren Kennedy positioned Frostfair in eighth place in a strung-out field as Leroy Brown (NZ) (Ace High), Butterfield (NZ) (Niagara), Force Of Nature (NZ) (Savabeel) and Keegan (NZ) (Swiss Ace) led the charge until to the point of the home turn. Frostfair was still more than half a dozen lengths from the leaders at the top of the straight, but Kennedy went to work and the favourite began to move through her gears. She bounded past Butterfield at the 150m mark and forged clear, opening up a winning margin of three and a half lengths over Sorghaghtani (NZ) (Mongolian Khan) and Force Of Nature. “She probably got a little bit further back than we might have hoped, but Warren didn’t panic,” Noble said. “It was a good win in the end. “She’s a big mare that’s taken a bit of time, but she’s never been out of the first four in her career. She’s notching up a pretty good record. We’ll probably look for some black type at some stage in her campaign.” Frostfair’s performance came in the toughest test of her career to date and made a good impression on Kennedy. “She’s really coming along well,” he said. “She’s won with a lot of authority today. She had a good look around in the straight, but she’d already put the race to bed pretty early. I certainly think she’s black-type quality.” Bred and raced by Cambridge Stud owners Brendan and Jo Lindsay, Frostfair is out of the Commands mare Thames Court, who herself won three races including the Gr.3 Alexandra Stakes (1600m) at Moonee Valley. She also finished fourth in the Gr.1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield. Thames Court is the dam of two winners from two named foals, with Frostfair’s older half-brother Royal Court (Lonhro) winning over 2000m in Australia last year. Thames Court produced a colt by Pierro in 2021, followed by a Capitalist filly in 2022. The latter was sold for $200,000 at Karaka earlier this year. View the full article

Quality mare Luberon (NZ) (Embellish) put a classy field of sprinters to the sword at Pukekohe on Saturday when she dashed away in the closing stages to score a handsome victory in the Gr.3 Haunui Farm Counties Bowl (1100m). The Lance Noble-trained daughter of Cambridge Stud stallion Embellish was shooting for a winning treble to open her spring campaign after taking out a rating75 1200m contest at Ellerslie back in September, followed by the Gr.3 Sweynesse Stakes (1200m) at Rotorua last month. Drawn ideally in barrier one, rider Joe Doyle bounced her away nicely to take the trail behind pacemaker Shoes (NZ) (Derryn), where she dropped the bit and relaxed beautifully in the early stages before starting to rev up approaching the home bend. Doyle quickly had her off heels and into the clear early in the run home and once balanced up he pushed the turbo button which saw the mare explode clear before easing to the line two lengths to the good of Sacred Satono (NZ) (Satono Aladdin), Waitak (NZ) (Proisir) and Crocetti (NZ) (Zacinto) who were in a line for the minor placings. Noble was delighted with way his charge had sprinted so quickly in the run home although he was well aware she had a decent pull in the weights of between five to seven kilograms on her main rivals. “That 7kgs in the weights made a difference and when she accelerated she put a couple of lengths on them,” Noble said. “I think we learnt a lot last year and their three-year-old year can be hard on the fillies. We’ve made some plans to keep her fresh, keep her happy and they are working which is very exciting.” Noble was also relieved to see Luberon on her best behaviour after costing herself a near certain victory just over a year ago at the venue when she ducked outwards at the 300m in the Gr.2 Soliloquy Stakes (1600m), striking the outside rail and nearly falling before being pulled out of the race. “A year ago, we were here and we all know what happened that day,” he said. “To come back and win is very very satisfying. “Obviously the sprint series is pretty tempting while the Telegraph (Gr.1, 1200m) fits in nicely as I think she may be slightly better left-handed. “We’ll just take it one day at a time but that’s the plan.” The Sprint series Noble was referring to is a new innovative ten-race series initiated by New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing and Entain New Zealand & Australia this season that includes races in Australia and New Zealand that culminate on Champions Day at Ellerslie on 8 March. Points will be allocated to the first four placegetters of each race in the series, with a bonus pool of $500,000 being shared amongst the owners of the three highest point scoring horses at the conclusion of each series. Bred and raced by Cambridge Stud couple Brendan and Jo Lindsay, Luberon is the second foal of Fastnet Rock mare Elegant Achiever and comes from a family littered with European stakes performers along with Industrialist, the champion middle distance performer for the 1999-2000 season in Hong Kong. She has now won six of her 11 starts and over $283,000 in prizemoney. View the full article

Almost exactly a year after his purchase from the NZB Ready to Run Sale at Karaka, New Zealand-bred three-year-old Refusetobeenglish got his career off to a perfect start with a dominant debut performance in Saturday’s A$150,000 Frankston Sand Soil & Mini Mix Handicap (1200m) at Cranbourne. The Clinton McDonald-trained gelding was sent out as a $4.20 second favourite and made a big impression in the hands of jockey Ben Melham. In a field of only six, Refusetobeeenglish took up a handy position in fourth along the rail. He was tucked in behind the front-running favourite Romani Ite Domum, who appeared to be travelling well coming up to the home turn. But Refusetobeenglish came across heels and loomed on the outside of that rival with 200m remaining, and when Melham pushed the button, Refusetobeeenglish changed gears and sprinted past the favourite. He opened up an emphatic winning margin of three and a half lengths. “He’s a promising horse,” Melham said. “He obviously had to be that to come here today and perform the way he did against opposition that had race experience. He had trialled well and put the writing on the wall, but he still had to come here and execute on raceday. He did a good job of that today. “We were mindful that he might be a bit tardily away, but the small field helped and he was able to gather himself. He had a sweet run and it was never really in doubt.” Refusetobeenglish was offered by Lilywhites Lodge on the first day of the Ready to Run Sale at Karaka on November 22 of last year. He was bought by Harbour Racing for $120,000. The Churchill gelding’s one-start, one-win career has already earned A$82,500 for owners Glenstar Bloodstock. “He’s a very good gelding,” McDonald said. “Shane McGrath bought him 12 months ago at the Ready To Run Sale, and the first time we galloped him, there was something there. “We have a pretty good idea at the moment, because we have some good three-year-olds that we’re producing, and he’s up there with them. He’s an exciting horse. “He’s a proper horse. He does everything right. He’s got great mannerisms and he came here today like he had been here 100 times before. “You only had to see him in the run, he didn’t want to overdo it and when Benny gave him a click, he was able to respond. He’s got all the attributes to be a good horse and hopefully he will get there.” Refusetobeenglish was bred by the Goodson and Perron Family Trust and is out of the Darci Brahma mare Irish Fling, who herself won five races including the Gr.1 Telegraph (1200m) at Trentham in 2014. Irish Fling is the dam of five winners from five foals to race. View the full article

Return To Conquer (Snitzel) headed into his raceday debut in Saturday’s Listed Counties Challenge Stakes (1100m) with a big price tag, big reputation and big expectations, and the million-dollar colt produced a Pukekohe performance worthy of the hype. Te Akau Racing principal David Ellis paid A$1.3 million to secure Return To Conquer from the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale in January. The well-related colt is by champion Australian sire Snitzel and is the first foal to race out of the unraced Lonhro mare Vaujany, whose full-sister Ghisoni won the Gr.2 Surround Stakes (1400m) and is the dam of stakes winner Renosu (Exceed And Excel). Return To Conquer made a favourable impression in putting together a perfect three-from-three record at the trials this spring, winning at Te Rapa on August 6, at Matamata on October 8 and by almost three lengths at Waipa on October 29. He was sent out as a $1.20 favourite for his eagerly anticipated first start on Saturday, and in the end he had too much class for his six opponents. Return To Conquer broke sharply from his inside gate, and jockey Wiremu Pinn allowed him to roll forward and take the lead. That was where he stayed, cruising around the Pukekohe track and straightening for home under a firm hold. Pinn allowed Return To Conquer to lengthen stride 200m from home, and the hot favourite soon drew clear with his ears pricked. He coasted to victory by two and a half lengths over Sierra Leone (NZ) (Sun City) and Vega For Luck (NZ) (Lucky Vega). “He’s an absolute machine,” Pinn enthused. “I’ve ridden some pretty good horses in my time, and he’s right up there with the best of them. He gave me an unbelievable feel. To be honest, he hasn’t even really tried today. He’s just a freak of a horse. “I knew I was on the best horse in the race today, so I just wanted to take bad luck out of the equation and lead. They could try and catch me in the straight if they were good enough, but they couldn’t. “It was obviously his debut today, so he’s still got plenty to learn, but he’s a super horse.” Return To Conquer is ineligible for the lucrative Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m) at Ellerslie in January. His trainers Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson will weigh up other options for the late summer and autumn, which could include the Gr.1 Sistema Stakes (1200m) at Ellerslie in March or a potential Australian campaign. “Leading might have been Plan B rather than Plan A for this race today, but he’s done it nicely in the end,” Walker said. “He can have a little break now and then we’ll work out a plan after that. “We’ll look at all options. The main thing will be to give him 10 days out now and see how he does. There’s some Matamata trials on January 14, which is where we’ll probably have him resume. Then we can think about whether we go to Australia or whether we stay here and concentrate on something like the Sistema.” The Sistema Stakes has been a special race for Te Akau Racing, who won it with Maroofity (NZ) (Maroof) (2003), Warhorse (NZ) (General Nediym) (2012), Heroic Valour (Fastnet Rock) (2016), Sword Of Osman (NZ) (Savabeel) (2018), Yourdeel (NZ) (Dundeel) (2019), Cool Aza Beel (NZ) (Savabeel) (2020) and Sword Of State (Snitzel) (2021). Saturday’s bold debut made Return To Conquer the 153rd individual stakes winner for Snitzel. That list includes eight black-type winners in New Zealand, headed by Sword Of State and Summer Passage at Group One level. “We thought he (Return To Conquer) was the best Snitzel colt in the sale when we bought him,” Ellis said. “We could not fault him in any way. There was some very spirited bidding, but we were able to secure him. “Auckland Thoroughbred Racing has put on a really nice track at Pukekohe today, and it’s a pleasure to bring a nice colt like this here for his first start.” View the full article

Royally bred filly Sesimbra (NZ) (U S Navy Flag) made it back to back victories to open her three-year-old campaign when she took out the opening event at Wanganui, the Wanganui Function Centre 3YO (1200m) in dramatic fashion. The daughter of US Navy Flag, who was lining up for her second start this month after scoring nicely at New Plymouth a fortnight ago, finished just half a head from Velton (NZ) (Headwater) after being forced over more ground in the run home by that runner. An inquiry was initiated shortly after horses returned to the Wanganui birdcage and after lengthy deliberations by the Judicial Committee, the objection was upheld as placings were reversed in favour of the Steven Ramsay and Julia Ritchie-trained runner. Whilst the finish certainly held plenty of drama there were other occasions during the run that also made the winning performance even more meritorious, especially when her momentum was severely impeded approaching the home turn as rider Leah Hemi tried to squeeze Sesimbra between runners at that point. To regain momentum and chase so resolutely in the home straight indicates a filly of real ability, something that Ritchie agrees on. “I think she deserved that one as she had to overcome a lot just to get that close at the finish,” Ritchie said. “She is a real character, very quirky and not that big, but as tough as they come. “Early on she used to over-race but we’ve done a lot of work at home trying to get her to settle and she has come such a long way in a short time. “She has inherited the family ability but we just want to take it a step at a time as we think she could be a very good filly if she keeps improving the way she has during this preparation.” Ritchie advised the stable have no firm plans for Sesimbra in the short term, but are keen to see how she handles a big trip away at such an early stage of her career. “Given the family she is from we like to think she might get over a little more ground in time,” she said. “She has a massive stride and even though she isn’t that big she doesn’t feel like a small horse when you are riding her. “This was her first overnight trip and she seems to have handled the first part well. Steven is with her and he said she ate everything thing in sight last night and she presented really well today. “She will come home tonight and go to her paddock where we can monitor just how much the trip has taken out of her. “If she comes through it okay then we will press on with her.” Bred and raced by Sir Peter Vela, Sesimbra is out of the O’Reilly mare Aveiro (NZ) who is a daughter of Gr.2 Travis Stakes (1600m) winner Dolmabache (NZ) (Redoute’s Choice) who also finished runner-up in the Gr.1 International Stakes (2000m). Her extended family includes a who’s who of Group One performers produced by Vela’s Pencarrow Stud breeding operation including Romanee Conti (NZ) (Sir Tristram), Ethereal (NZ) (Rhythm), Grand Echezeaux (NZ) (Zabeel) and Darci Brahma (NZ) (Danehill). View the full article

Former UK galloper Romantic Thor steps out at Sha Tin for the first time on Sunday.View the full article

By Jonny Turner South Seas Rock capped a remarkable three weeks with his monstrous victory at Ascot Park yesterday. The tough pacer sat parked throughout yesterday’s Woodlands Stud Thanks Southern Breeders Mobile Pace while some talented rivals enjoyed softer runs, but that didn’t stop South Seas Rock from scoring a big win for trainer Tyler Dewe and driver Hayden Douglas. Over the past three weeks, South Seas Rock has competed with merit at Kaikoura Cup Day, New Zealand Cup Day and Show Day at Addington. The travel to those meetings and then back home to Invercargill clearly hasn’t left South Seas Rock weary. “He is a good-doing horse and he thrives off work and he thrives off the racing,” Dewe said. “I jogged him on the lead on Monday morning and he was very well, so I knew the trip back from Christchurch hadn’t worried him.” Though South Seas Rock has gone through periods of stringing wins together, his recent efforts to place in strong company on Kaikoura Cup Day and Show Day before winning at Ascot Park means he is arguably in the form of his career. And it could get better, according to Dewe. “I’m absolutely rapt with him, it is funny to say as he is a rising six-year-old but he just seems to turning the corner now.” “He only seems to be getting better.” Though well known as a front-runner, the early speed in Friday’s event meant the South Seas Rock camp was keen to drive the pacer in behind, saving him for one run. But that plan went completely out the window when the five-year-old and Douglas were left parked early. “It didn’t go to script, but Hayden probably did the right thing by not attacking for the lead.” While South Seas Rock has travelled much of the South Island recently, his owners have been known to travel further to support him. “He’s owned by Arkwright Conner from Stewart Island and Erin Fox who is up in Nelson,” Dewe said. “Erin tries to make it down to watch him as much as she can.” “They are great owners and have been great supporters of us and very good to our team.” Dewe doesn’t plan to travel too much further than Otago with South Seas Rock with plenty of racing opportunities in the south approaching over summer. “I am looking forward to Christmas time with him.” “He ran second at Wingatui last year, so I am looking at heading there next.” “He will hover around the country cups grade after that.” Yesterday’s win was South Seas Rock’s seventh victory for the Dewe stable and his sixth with Douglas in the sulky. View the full article

A joint review of Kaikoura’s two day meeting is underway, and change could be in the wind. The South Bay raceway hosted eight races under the Fast 10 format on Sunday November 3 followed on Marlborough Anniversary day by 10 races including the Alabar Kaikoura Cup. From a turnover perspective there was mixed news. Export turnover, from Australia, was strong and up significantly on 2023. On-course turnover and the number of individuals betting on the two meetings was also encouraging, though the overall turnover was down – from $2.53m to $2.265m. “Our modelling shows that the Kaikoura meeting is potentially a $3m turnover meeting,” says HRNZ Chief Executive Brad Steele, “and that’s the target we have set ourselves.” This year there were 64 starters on the Sunday and 85 on the Monday. “Those numbers were ok but there is scope to attract more horses to those two days,” says Steele. Both HRNZ and the Kaikoura Trotting Club are now looking in detail at the two-day meeting and considering ways to improve it. One proposal is to make changes to the home turn at Kaikoura track. “The lack of camber has been a discussion point for many years,” says Kaikoura TC President Ben Smith, “and there are two schools of thought. One is that should stay the same as it’s part of the uniqueness of racing at Kaikoura, the other is that change is needed.” “We are open minded about it.” With that in mind a survey has been sent out to mainly Canterbury and Marlborough licence-holders to gauge their thoughts. Their feedback will then form part of discussions moving forward. “We had a design and costings done in February 2022 to camber the whole bend,” says Smith, “with HRNZ support this investment may be feasible if it leads to more starters and turnover.” “There’s a lot of work to be done,” says Smith, “we would need to consult a number of parties including the local council and iwi.” Further meetings are planned between HRNZ and Kaikoura Trotting Club representatives with decisions expected by March 2025. View the full article

By Mike Love The first few seconds will be critical to favourite Rakero Rocket’s chances in today’s Tyre General Summer Cup at Phar Lap raceway. There is no doubting the gelding’s ability. On cup day at Addington he beat a field which is not much stronger than the one he meets today – though that was from a mobile. Trainer Tom Bamford feels it could go either way whether the gelding by Rock N Roll Heaven steps or not – his confidence shaken while at Kaikoura where he almost turned the NZB Standardbred Yearling Sales Aged Classic into a circus by all but tipping Zachary Butcher out of the cart on race favourite Sooner The Bettor due to a misdemeanour at the tapes. “There’s a lot going on at Kaikoura. Some horses can handle it, and some horses can’t,” said Bamford. Things will be different today without the crowd on the inside of the track – and starting further on the outside of the second line. “He’s bulletproof at home. It’s probably 50/50 whether he’s going to go or not. Hopefully Gavin (Smith) can get him on the right foot.” Rakero Rocket has come through his cup day win bouncing around, according to Bamford. “He’s come through the run nicely. I haven’t done a lot with him between runs.” “They’ll know he’s there. I’d like to think he’s a winning chance.” He’s currently a $2.15 favourite with Bamford also having a strong chance in Race 7, the race preceding the Cup with Ebury Street who looks set for another cheque in the Silver Ferns Farms mobile pace. She’s a $2.60 favourite. “It’s a very winnable race for her. She was a little bit unlucky last start.” “She’ll like the 2600m and she should be going very close to winning.” Ebury Street will be driven by Henry Sail. Racing commences today from 2:52pm. View the full article

In the field for the Group One Hong Kong Vase (2,400m), the trio’s status will be reviewed after Sunday’s race at Tokyo.View the full article