Wandering Eyes

Angel Capital ridden by Ben Melham wins the Caulfield Guineas Prelude at Caulfield. (Photo by Pat Scala/Racing Photos) Clinton McDonald and Ben Melham have combined with Angel Capital to claim victory in the Group 3 Caulfield Guineas Prelude at Caulfield on Saturday afternoon. The son of Harry Angel was given an 11 out of 10 ride by Melham as he weaved his way through traffic before sprinting past his rivals to take out the 1400m contest. Since returning to Melbourne to race on firmer tracks, Angel Capital has recorded back-to-back wins en route to the Group 1 Caulfield Guines in three weeks. Wanaruah and Feroce set a solid tempo at the front and looked to up the ante before the home turn, as many of the backmarkers began to struggle with 500m to go. Meanwhile, the likes of Private Life, Public Attention and the eventual winner were trucking along behind the speed and were ready to pounce. Melham switched back to the inside running rail to take over with 150m to go, and he was able to hold off the fast-finishing Public Attention and Wanaruah, who filled the placings. 2024 Caulfield Guineas Prelude replay – Angel Capital Clinton McDonald spoke about the victory post-race. “Big thanks to the staff, especially Tarni, who looks after him. So, it’s just nice to put yourself on the line and see the horse reward you like that,” McDonald said. “We do think he’ll run a mile. “Obviously, that was a great winner, so he had to get back to the worst ground and lost momentum, and the horses down the outside had the momentum. “So, we think he’s a proper colt, he’s showing us that now, and I’m just spewing a half of a bet with the track being a bit shifty! “Well, we know how to win both (Coolmore Stud Stakes and Caulfield Guineas). “We did it with (Weekend) Hustler, so we might do it with this colt. “He does things at home that only the real good ones do, and we’re pretty happy with him.” Ben Melham echoed similar thoughts to McDonald in his post-race interview. “Yeah, well, our opinions never changed of him,” Melham said. “I’ve always had a really high opinion of him. “I was a bit concerned going to the barriers today because he’s just been going that well and the more work we do with him. “He came in today, I thought he was a bit above himself, and his horse is a little bit windy, so you’ve got to keep him in a nice rhythm, and from a better draw today, I had to give him a little squeeze away, and I was really happy the way he handled himself. “He relaxed really well, he was a bit sticky coming into the corner. “I was just waiting on a run and the inside wasn’t really my preference, but that’s where it opened up and I knew I had plenty of horse, so I had to go there and his ability shone through at the finish. “Well, I knew I had plenty of horse under me, but I had the better chances on my outside in the better ground, so it just adds more merit to his win, I think. “He was strong through the line there, so he’d probably head to the mile at this stage and if he gets things right, he’s, you know, you have a lot of chances for sure.” Angel Capital is a $7 chance with top horse racing bookmakers in the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas futures markets. Horse racing news View the full article

I Am Me winning The Shorts. Photo: bradleyphotos.com.au I Am Me ($2.60) has made it back-to-back wins to kick-off her spring campaign, getting the head down to claim victory in The Shorts (1100m) at Randwick on Saturday afternoon. The Ciaron Maher-trained mare got the perfect run in transit, similarly to her first-up success in the Group 3 Concorde Stakes (1000m) a fortnight ago, sitting one back on the inside running rail before exploding in the final furlong. It was another tight finish for the daughter of I Am Invincible, with the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) winner Stefi Magnetica ($9.50) looming large in the shadows of the post under Zac Lloyd, narrowly running out of time as James McDonald pushed out I Am Me to cling on by a half-head on the wire. The six-year-old must be considered a possible contender for $20 million Everest (1200m) with plenty of slots still available, and the Ciaron Maher team suggested that’s still the goal this preparation. The Shorts 2024 Replay – I Am Me Stable representative Johann Gerard-Dubord was on course to discuss the victory and where to next for I Am Me. “To do it first up, obviously, is one thing, but to repeat it two weeks later like that is a good effort,” said Gerard-Dubord. “Especially after a hard run like that, two weeks back up, there’s always a bit of a question mark, but she’s come back better. “Doing it every second week, it’s never easy. There is a a four-weeks gap to The Everest, which could be ideal. We’ll just have to see how she comes through that first. “She will tell us, but she’s done a perfect job so far.” James McDonald was impressed with the victory and suggested The Everest was within the realm of possibilities. “She’s quality and she just wears a heart on her sleeve,” said McDonald. “She always felt in control of the race and even from a furlong from home, I felt like I was always going to win, even though they were so close. “She’s won the first two lead-ups to the great race, so she’s ticking a lot of boxes. “I think I won on her over six furlongs and she won by the same sort of margin. So she does what she has to do, and she’s a big broodmare who will run a tremendous race in a race like that.” I Am Me is now an $18.00 chance with horse racing bookmakers for The Everest set to be run and won on October 19. Horse racing news View the full article

Buckaroo ridden by Joao Moreira wins the Group 1 Underwood Stakes at Caulfield Racecourse on September 21, 2024. (Photo by Scott Barbour/Racing Photos) Buckaroo ($8.50) has recorded back-to-back victories as the Chris Waller-trained gelding stormed clear in the concluding stages to take out the Group 1 Underwood Stakes at Caulfield on Saturday. Following his narrow victory in the Group 2 Chelmsford Stakes, the son of Fastnet Rock has continued his winning ways by rounding up his rivals on the home turn before sprinting away from the rest of the field. Duke De Sessa ($15) jumped well from the barriers to take up the lead, ahead of Pericles ($4.40) and Muhnamek ($31), who settled behind the leader on a solid tempo in the 1800m contest. Joao Moreira was able to find cover on the back of Vow And Declare ($34) midfield in the three-wide running line before peeling even wider to make his run on the eventual winner. As the leaders swung out to the middle of the track, it was evident that Buckaroo had their measure at the top of the straight, and he quickly swept on by at the 200m mark. Huetor ($71) ran on strongly from the back of the field to nab second behind Pericles, who held on for third place. 2024 Underwood Stakes replay – Buckaroo Charlie Duckworth was on course to represent the winning stable in the post-race interview. “Yeah, obviously we’re completely blown away, to be honest,” Duckworth said. “We obviously wanted to be a bit more positive than what we were out of the gates, but he was a fraction slow away so Joao just had to do what Joao does best and take it into his own hands. “He had to circle and get going early, but gee was strong late, and he was obviously far too good today. “So, I had a good chat to Tommy Berry this morning, he sort of gave us a few, few pointers as to how or the reason why he felt he went so well last start, and which obviously then relaid to Joao. “I was actually talking to Ozzie yesterday, I said is he is he a 2400 metre horse or is he a 3200 metre horse or is he a Cox Plate horse because obviously Joao’s here for the Melbourne Cup and can only ride sort of 54 or 53 (kilos) at a push. “So trying to work out where where he where he will ride on on those big days, but he might have answered his own question. “Time will tell I suppose see how he comes through it and Chris can make the big calls but I’m more than happy to be a small part of the team.” Joao Moreira was elated with the victory, and he spoke post-race. “It feels amazing, you know. That’s what horse racing is about,” Moreira said. “When you get one up, the feeling doesn’t get any better. “Impressive the way how he won, isn’t it? “He has a tricky manner in the gate. He wasn’t really kind for me in there. “Began a little bit worse than what we were hoping. Found itself a little bit too far back. “But as the race disenrolled itself, it kind of got him into the race. “When I turned for home on the outside, with him having great momentum, I was always confident he was going to get up. “He’s begging for more ground and I wouldn’t be surprised if he wins another one.” Buckaroo is a $15 chance with top horse racing bookmakers in the Group 1 Caulfield Cup futures markets. Horse racing news View the full article

Fangirl cruises to victory in the 7 Stakes. Photo: bradleyphotos.com.au Chris Waller & James McDonald combined with Fangirl ($1.75) claiming a dominant victory in the $1 million 7 Stakes (1600m) at Randwick on Saturday afternoon. The three-time Group 1 winning mare was simply too classy for her seven rivals on Saturday, putting the writing on the wall after an excellent return in the Group 1 Winx Stakes (1400m) on August 24. McDonald was happy to take the six-year-old back to last throughout the trip, with a strong tempo courtesy of the Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott-trained outsider Major Beel ($51.00) carting across from barrier four. Zougotcha ($5.00) was sent forward to sit on his hammer, while My Oberon ($26.00) and Royal Patronage ($4.40) slotted into perfect stalking positions midfield. The leaders quickly came back to the rest of the field, and when James McDonald pulled Fangirl to the centre of the course, it was all over as she showed a superior turn-of-foot, while My Oberon put in the big strides to fill out the quinella. It was all about the winner in the end, however, with Fangirl justifying the short price with horse racing bookmakers to get her spring campaign back on track. 2024 7 Stakes Replay – Fangirl Chris Waller spoke for the third time on Saturday afternoon and continued to praise the performance of both jockey and horse. “She had to give them a good start,” said Waller. “I was thinking, thank God, we’ve got James (McDonald) aboard. “So many things go through your mind, whether a jockey or a trainer on race day, and that’s why you’ve got the good jockeys like your Corey Browns and Nash Rawillers, your Kerrins, and I’m lucky they ride for me, and they make my job look a damn lot easier, because it’s not easy. “We didn’t go out there with any pre-race plan, but just wary that it would be hard to make up ground, but she showed an amazing turn of foot, and she was brilliant. Especially when they’re spinning out a couple of 12 seconds up in front. “It was terrific, I thought.” James McDonald was elated with the victory and gave full credit to his mount. “She’s so good,” said McDonald. “I wasn’t pleased with the position we’re in today. “I was looking up, and I was saying, ‘Zougotcha…. Oh! Royal Patronage, beautiful! That was the only saving grace, but in saying that she still had to do it the hard way. “We’ve all come to realise that she’s one-dimensional, so we all know where she’s going to be, and I think Chris and I, we put our heads together, and obviously we’re going to ride her to her strengths, which we’ve obviously nailed down. “Today, smaller field, it’s going to work out alright but again, the next race we’re going to have to come up with a bit more.” 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, September 22, 2024 First Race 1pm HKT (3pm AEST) Visit Dabble The Group 3 Celebration Cup (1400m) headlines a bumper 10-race program at Sha Tin on Sunday afternoon, with locals gathering to send off champion of the turf, Golden Sixty. The rail is in the B+2 position for all turf races throughout the meeting, and with some rainfall forecast on the day, punters should anticipate a possible downgrade into the Soft range at some stage. The opening event is scheduled to get underway at 1pm local time. Celebration Cup Tip: Packing Treadmill In a race devoid of a natural leader, Packing Treadmill could be the one to take luck out of the equation in the 2024 Celebration Cup. He was disappointing first-up in Class 1 company behind Ka Ying Rising but was never in contention after drifting back to last from barrier nine. Lyle Hewitson sticks aboard the consistent six-year-old gelding, and with barrier four allowing him to get across and lead in this small field of seven, watch for Packing Treadmill to pinch a break and give followers a bold sight in the feature. Celebration Cup Race 7 – #4 Packing Treadmill (4) 6yo Gelding | T: Francis Lui | J: Lyle Hewitson (55.5kg) Bet with Neds Best Bet at Sha Tin: Wunderbar The John Size-trained Wunderbar returns after a 35-week spell and looks to be one of the horses to follow in the 2024/25 Hong Kong racing season. The lightly raced four-year-old matched motors with Ka Ying Rising at the end of last preparation, and with that horse going on to stamp himself as a potential leading hope in the Group 1 Hong Kong Sprint (1200m) in December, this guy could be a star on the rise. He needs to lug 61kg at the top of Class 3 company, but with Zac Purton in the saddle from gate two, punters can expect Wunderbar get the job done. Best Bet Race 9 – #1 Wunderbar (2) 4yo Gelding | T: John Size | J: Zac Purton (61kg) Bet with Picklebet Next Best at Sha Tin: Ballistic Win Ballistic Win was luckless first-up at this course and distance on September 8 and should’ve been winning provided he could get off heels at a crucial stage. He should have no such issues from barrier three this time around, with Ben Thompson likely to lob into the one-one throughout. Family Jewel already franked the form saluting last Sunday, and provided he doesn’t get held up behind a wall of horses again, Ballistic Win can make amends in similar fashion. Next Best Race 8 – #3 Ballistic Win (3) 4yo Gelding | T: Benno Yung | J: Ben Thompson (61kg) Bet with Dabble Best Value at Sha Tin: Stellar Swift Stellar Swift was winless across his five starts last season but should appreciate the step back into Class 4 company. The David Hayes-trained gelding was looking for the paddock after being demoralised by 8.8 lengths at Sha Tin on June 15; however, he appears to be bouncing back nicely after two strong barrier trials at Conghua. He draws barrier two to get within striking distance of his rivals turning for home, and with this clearly his easiest assignment to date, expect a bold showing by Stellar Swift at an each-way price with horse racing bookmakers. Best Value Race 3 – #2 Stellar Swift (2) 4yo Gelding | T: David Hayes | J: Andrea Atzeni (61kg) Bet with Playup Sunday quaddie tips for Sha Tin Sha Tin quadrella selections September 22, 2024 2-4-6 1-3-5-7 1 1-2-5-6-8-9-11 Horse racing tips View the full article

Local jockey aims to continue bright beginning to campaign in Sunday’s Celebration Cup (1,400m).View the full article

“Magic Man” Joao Moreira stated he needed to prove himself at Caulfield before doing just that when steering Buckaroo to an emphatic Underwood Stakes win. View the full article

A crowd of some 30,000 is expected to descend on Sha Tin for the three-time Hong Kong Horse of the Year’s farewell on Sunday.View the full article

Autumn Glow cruising to victory in the Tea Rose Stakes. Photo: bradleyphotos.com.au Autumn Glow ($2.10) has cruised to victory in the Group 2 Tea Rose Stakes (1400m) at Randwick on Saturday afternoon, keeping her undefeated record intact while securing favouritism for the Group 1 Flight Stakes (1600m). James McDonald took all luck out of the equation from barrier eight, electing to go and sit outside the leader, with the Michael Freedman-trained Manaal ($3.60) forced to lead in a race devoid of a natural leader. It allowed the pair to stride out under steady sectionals throughout the 1400m, while Ameena ($10.00) was dragged back to avoid a speed battle from barrier nine. Lazzura ($13.00) got a lovely spot behind the leading pair, while the well-supported Snow In May ($13.00) got into a good rhythm towards the inside running rail. As soon as McDonald pulled the persuader in the home staright, there was only one horse you wanted to be on, with Autumn Glow building the revs to career away from her rivals in the concluding stages, leaving Snow In May, Manaal and Lazzura to battle out the minor money. 2024 Group 2 Tea Rose Stakes Replay – Autumn Glow Chris Waller was pleased with the adaptability she showed on Saturday, ridden out of her comfort zone to score impressively. “We rode her a little bit closer today,” said Waller. “There were no instructions. We just said to James, ‘Make sure she’s happy and comfortable,’ and James said, ‘She’s got a beautiful action (and) I’m not going to take it away from her. So just have her comfortable, and that’s what he did. “She’s probably a little bit foreign in that territory, but she’s all class. And if we get a perfect draw in the flight stakes, we can go back to riding her where we need to if she’s comfortable. “She’s improving with each run, being trained that way. We’ve got one race to go. I don’t think we’ll go too far beyond that.” James McDonald was impressed with the feel she gave him throughout and suggested there was still plenty of upside. “She’s very good,” said McDonald. “She’s just so economical in her action. She’s got a great constitution, good strength about her (and a) really good mind. She’ll keep improving, too. “It is to Chris’ credit. He said, ‘you ride her, you’re on top, you go with her. I’ve got as much faith in the filly as I do you.’ “She’s got all the class in the world. Have a look at her.” Autumn Glow is now the clear favourite at $1.80 with horse racing bookmakers for the Flight Stakes on October 5. Horse racing news View the full article

What Nowra Races Where Shoalhaven City Turf Club – 96 Albatross Rd, South Nowra NSW 2541 When Sunday, September 22, 2024 First Race 1:20pm AEST Visit Dabble Country racing heads to Nowra on Sunday afternoon, with a quickfire seven-part program awaits punters. The rail is in the true position the entire circuit, and with perfect spring conditions forecast across the weekend, participants can expect a genuine Good 4 surface for race-day. All the action is set to kick-off at 1:20pm local time. Best Bet at Nowra: Here Comes Hogan Here Comes Hogan appears poised for back-to-back wins after a dominant front-running effort at Scone on August 19. He only had to beat two other runners on that occasion but put them away stylishly to break his maiden status. His tick-over trial at Warwick Farm on September 13 has kept him up to the mark, and with this BM58 lacking depth on paper, Here Comes Hogan should justify the short price with online bookmakers in the opening event. Best Bet Race 1 – #3 Here Comes Hogan (2) 4yo Gelding | T: Matthew Smith | J: Jean Van Overmeire (60.5kg) Bet with Neds Next Best at Nowra: Sunrise Sunrise looks set to peak third-up for the Mitchell Beer barn. The New Zealand import didn’t shirk the task on Australian debut behind Alabama State at Hawkesbury on August 22, and although she was beaten by 6.8 lengths, she followed it up with an eye-catching performance at the same track and trip to close within 1.5 lengths of Opal Fields. An extra 100m should be ideal, and with Blake Spriggs set to get a lovely run with cover from barrier seven, Sunrise should be looming large in shadows of the post. Next Best Race 5 – #1 Sunrise (7) 3yo Filly | T: Mitchell Beer | J: Blake Spriggs (59.5kg) Bet with Picklebet Best Value at Nowra: Heir Jordan Heir Jordan returns after a 130-day spell and brings an element of class to this BM58 contest. He doesn’t have a strong first-up profile; however, his form last preparation is simply too good to ignore, with his latest effort on the Kensington circuit at Randwick on May 15 behind Frankly Elegant particularly catching the eye. Madison Waters will have no choice but to drag back from barrier 12, but provided she can navigate into the clear at a crucial stage, the $10.00 available with online bookmakers will look a big price as they turn for home. Best Value Race 6 – #1 Heir Jordan (12) 5yo Gelding | T: Luke Musson | J: Madison Waters (a2kg) (61.5kg) Bet with Dabble Sunday quaddie tips for Nowra Nowra quadrella selections September 22, 2024 6-11 1-2-7 1-2-4-6-7 1-4-8-11-12-14 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip Horse racing tips View the full article

Well-related filly Lilac has wasted little time in adding valuable black type to her CV, landing Saturday’s A$175,000 Listed NJT Jim Moloney Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield in only the fourth start of her career. A graduate of Gordon Cunningham’s Curraghmore draft at the 2023 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale at Karaka, Lilac is trained by Annabel Neasham and Rob Archibald and kicked off her career with a win, a second and a fourth from three starts in Sydney. Neasham and Archibald sent her south for a shot at Saturday’s Listed feature, and Lilac rose to the occasion in style. After tracking the front-running Too Darn Lizzie up to the home turn, Lilac quickened at the top of the straight and took charge. Declichy Boulevard flashed home in the last 50m to provide a late scare, but Lilac held her out by a short head. The rest of the field finished more than two lengths behind the first two. “I felt like I had the leader covered the whole way and she was nice and relaxed, sitting a length and a half off,” jockey Mark Zahra said. “It was just a matter of her quickening when I asked her, and she did. She’s pretty sharp.” Lilac has now had four starts for two wins, a placing and A$145,875. She races in the colours of syndicators Champion Thoroughbreds, with Coolmore also sharing in the ownership. “This is the first horse we’ve had with Champion Thoroughbreds, and it’s great to have Coolmore in the ownership as well,” Neasham said. “It’s really satisfying to get a stakes win for them with a filly of this quality. “Obviously you hope she might be able to get up over a mile, because that’s the distance of the Group One races later in the spring (Flight Stakes and Thousand Guineas). But I’ve always slightly had my doubts because she’s sharp. She puts herself up on speed. Physically, she’s still got a bit of a way to go. She’s quite a slender filly with the best still ahead of her. “Most importantly, we’ve got the stakes win today, so the pressure’s off in that regard. But hopefully she can build on her CV from here on in. I’m just delighted for all the connections.” Lilac was bred by Katom and is by one of the world’s hottest stallions in Justify. Her dam is Paulownia, who raced in the Coolmore colours and was trained by Jamie Richards to finish second in the Gr.2 Wellington Guineas (1400m) at Trentham in 2018. Paulownia is also a full-sister to Group One winner and sire Foxwedge. Offered by Curraghmore in Book 1 of Karaka 2023, Lilac was bought by Champion Thoroughbreds and Annabel Neasham Racing for $300,000. View the full article

Hunterville gelding Jay Bee Gee is going from strength to strength as a spring seven-year-old, collecting the first two black-type wins of his career within the first two months of the 2024-25 season. The son of Complacent had showed promising signs with five wins from 17 starts as a five and six-year-old, but he hit new heights when he edged out Freeze Frame and Bradman in a thrilling three-way photo finish to the Gr.3 Winter Cup (1600m) at Riccarton on August 3. Saturday’s Gr.3 Hunterville Vet Club Metric Mile (1600m) at Wanganui saw Jay Bee Gee double his black-type tally, and this performance painted a very different picture to last month’s Winter Cup nail-biter. This time Jay Bee Gee and jockey Kelly Myers strode to the lead within the first 100m of the race and dominated every moment of the Metric Mile from that point on. Bradman briefly loomed on the outside and lodged a challenge coming down the side of the track, but then Myers cranked Jay Bee Gee up around the corner and turned him loose. Jay Bee Gee put three or four lengths on the field within a few powerful bounds at the top of the straight, and the result of the $100,000 feature was immediately put beyond any doubt. Chase and Master Marko finished strongly out of the pack to eat into the margin in the last 100m, but Jay Bee Gee had his ears pricked and plenty left in the tank as he crossed the finish line a length and three-quarters in front of them. The Metric Mile was the third win on the Wanganui card for Myers, who had guided Landlock and Wire Rope to debut victories earlier in the afternoon. Myers has taken special satisfaction from riding Jay Bee Gee to this season’s two Group Three victories for trainer Adrian Bull, who shares ownership with his son Harry. Myers has ridden dozens of winners in Bull’s distinctive emerald green and gold colours, including the Gr.1 Otaki-Maori WFA Classic (1600m) with Nashville in 2013. “He (Jay Bee Gee) is special, and the Bulls are a special family,” Myers said. “It’s so, so nice to win in these colours. “I was happy to sit outside Tobias today, but then I thought, you know what? He only has 53.5kg, so we’ll take the bull by the horns. The inside part of the track was still good, so it worked out. “He pulled himself up something chronic halfway up the straight. He thought it was Sunday and pricked his ears and loafed to the line. He had a lot more up his sleeve. I don’t know whether we should put some blinkers on going forward, but he’s a talented horse going through the grades.” Jay Bee Gee was bred by Sir Peter Vela’s Pencarrow Thoroughbreds and is out of the remarkable Pins mare Huluava, whose nine winners from nine foals to race also include the dual Listed winner William Wallace. Jay Bee Gee is one of three winners in New Zealand so far this season for Huluava, along with talented Pencarrow homebreds Harmonious and Branciforti. Another of Hulava’s progeny, the unraced Hirondelle, is dam of last year’s Gr.1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) winner Pignan. Jay Bee Gee was offered by Bradbury Park in Book 2 of Karaka 2019, where Harry Bull bought him for $26,000. From a 22-race career, Jay Bee Gee has recorded seven wins and five placings and has earned $240,960. View the full article

Underrated galloper Shamus bounced back to his very best form as he provided a massive upset when taking out the feature flat event at Ellerslie on Saturday, the Almanzor – Proven Value (1400m). All eyes were focussed on the resumption of glamour mare Orchestral who was recently voted Champion Three-Year-Old and Champion Stayer at the 2024 New Zealand Thoroughbred Horse of the Year Awards, while Group One winner Campionessa was also amongst a talent-packed line-up. The Moira and Kieran Murdoch-prepared six-year-old slipped under the radar despite winning the Waipu Cup (1400m) two starts back at Ruakaka and then going a bold race for fourth at the same venue behind talented mare Malt Time. Punters sent the son of Shamexpress out at a juicy $31 on the Fixed Odds market as apprentice Ace Lawson-Carroll produced a heady front-running ride despite spending some petrol to assume pacemaking duties after jumping from barrier 13. Shamus kicked strongly when asked for an effort at the 300m and clung grimly to a half-length margin over the final stages as Rudyard, Campionessa and former Hong Kong galloper Meaningful Star charged at him in a blanket finish. Moira Murdoch was thrilled to have owners Noel and Ron Stanley on-course to witness the victory after they sent her the horse from original trainer Allan Sharrock earlier this year to take advantage of the Murdoch’s access to beach training facilities. “It was a super win as he drew 13 and we thought do we scratch in that quality of field,” Murdoch said. “It was really nice as Ace just seems to have a way with him as he lets him be himself. “He loves this surface at Ellerslie as we brought him to the jumpouts and he revelled in it as it is nice and smooth with a little bounce in it. “We’d like to step him up in distance now as Ron is keen on that. “We thought we would kick off here and I actually would have been thrilled if he had only weighed in, but there you go.” By Windsor Park Stud stallion Shamexpress, Shamus was bred by the Carter family under their Jomara Bloodstock banner and was purchased for $85,000 by Allan Sharrock out of the Woburn Farm draft at the 2020 NZB Ready To Run sale. He has now won eight of his 18 starts and over $278,000 in prizemoney. Supporters who backed Orchestral into the $2 favourite for the race would have been disappointed she didn’t pay a dividend, however her performance would have delighted connections as she settled second-last in the 13-horse field before running on strongly to finish eighth less than two lengths from the winner in a perfect pipe-opener to her campaign. View the full article

Awapuni trainer Roydon Bergerson produced an early highlight at Wanganui on Saturday when his speedsters Farravallo and Reign It In quinellaed the feature 1200m contest on the card, the H&T Agronomics/Agricom Open (1200m). Farravallo, who had put back-to-back victories together before blotting his copybook at Hastings earlier in the month, started the $7.70 third favourite for the event with last start Otaki winner Reign It In allowed to drift to an attractive $14.10 on the tote by punters. Bergerson had exuded some confidence when interviewed about the chances of the pair before the race, but felt Reign It In would be hardest to beat although he didn’t dispel the chances of Farravallo despite him making the jump from rating75 company to open class. Farravallo led clearly for rider Kavish Chowdhoory after a brilliant beginning, with Reign It In and rider Wiremu Pinn stalking him in his slipstream. Farravallo kicked clear at the top of the straight and looked to be holding his rivals comfortably, however he began to wander around in the final 200m as Reign It In closed to within a neck at the line with a huge late lunge. The drama didn’t end there as the protest siren sounded with an enquiry opened after Pinn alleged Reign It In had been denied victory as Farravallo moved wider on the track in the closing stages. After considerable deliberations the placings were upheld by the Judicial Committee and Farravallo kept the victory. Bergerson was feeling a little conflicted when the protest siren went and wasn’t sure how he wanted things to be resolved. “I’ve never been in that situation before as we train Farravallo for Ian (Farrelly) and one of my best mates Chris Rutten, while my kids own the second horse,” Bergerson said. “We are heading to a party for Chris tonight as he is turning 65 so I guess it is the best result in the end although my family might not agree with me. “He (Farravallo) is a very fast horse on wet tracks but he was stepping up to open company for the first time today so you couldn’t be over-confident and the other bloke is also very talented on wet tracks. “I’m really pleased for both of them and I think the winning of the race was when Khavish snuck that break at the 600m. “I’m not too sure where they will go next, but with this spring weather we could keep getting these sorts of tracks for a few more weeks at least, so we will find something for them both.” Bred by a group that includes the late Trevor McKee and Sir Colin Meads, Farravallo was purchased for $20,000 by Rutten out of the Haunui Farm draft during the Book 2 sale at Karaka in 2022. He has now won four of his 16 starts for just over $108,000 in prizemoney. View the full article

Wire Rope winning the MDN 3YO (1200m) on Saturday. Photo: Peter Rubery (Race Images Palmerston North) Victories with a pair of promising first-starters at Wanganui on Saturday provided jockey Kelly Myers with the 50th and 51st wins of her career at the track. Myers brought up her Wanganui half-century with a hard-fought win aboard Landlock in the opening race on Saturday’s card, the Pilet Contracting/Pioneer Seeds 2YO (800m). Little was known about the northern raider, who had no trials before being sent south by Matamata trainer Cody Cole to make his debut in Saturday’s $40,000 juvenile dash. But after settling in third behind the front-running Princess Elsa and Ensign Area, Landlock kicked through on the inside of that pair to boldly stake his claim at the corner. Princess Elsa saw him coming and lifted again, and that pair pulled ahead of the rest of the field to fight out a head-bobbing finish. Landlock prevailed by a nose, with Princess Elsa finishing three and a quarter lengths in front of the third-placed Almakeitgood. “He hadn’t had any trials leading into this, and I think Cody was almost using this race as a bit of a trial,” Myers said. “The horse has a bit of improvement in him and has obviously got a lot of ability as well.” Cole paid just $20,000 to buy Landlock from Woburn Farm’s Book 2 draft at Karaka 2024. The gelding is Karaka Millions-eligible, and the $23,000 stake he won on Saturday takes him straight to the top of the order of entry for the rich Ellerslie sprint in late January. Landlock is by Merchant Navy out of the winning Lonhro mare Blue Blue Sky, whose three winners from four foals to race also include the Listed Counties Challenge Stakes (1100m) winner Bright Blue Sky and the talented Mr Blue Sky. Just over half an hour after Landlock’s winning debut, Myers struck again with fellow first-starter Wire Rope in the Maiden 3YO (1200m). The Bill Thurlow-trained gelding had placed in one of his three trials before Saturday’s debut, and the three-year-old produced an impressive come-from-behind performance in his first raceday assignment. Myers rode a patient race at the back of the field behind a slow pace, then cruised up behind the leaders just before the home turn. Wire Rope bounded up alongside Librero and Sand Point, then quickened stylishly and drew away through the final 300m to win by four lengths. “I was pretty confident on the corner,” Myers said. “The race worked out really well for him. He’s obviously a first-starter and still has a bit to learn, but he has plenty of raw ability.” Bought by Thurlow’s brother Grant for $40,000 from Book 1 of Karaka 2023, Wire Rope is by Darci Brahma out of Halobelle, whose eight wins included the Listed Gore Guineas (1355m) and Hazlett Stakes (1200m). Halobelle is the dam of four winners from four foals to race, including Group 3 winner Miss Federer and the Listed-placed Starlight Angel. “He’s a progressive horse and he went well today,” Thurlow said. “We had to trial him on Wednesday because he’d been a bit naughty at Woodville before that, but that was all fine. We were pretty confident that he’d run well today. “He seemed to travel beautifully the whole way. He settled well, then peeled out in the straight and won nicely. “I think he’s got a future. We’ll go race-by-race with him for now, we haven’t set anything for him yet, but I think there’ll be a nice race in him somewhere.” Horse racing news View the full article

Nest Egg winning the OPN HCP (2100m) at Ellerslie on Saturday. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images) The 2023 Group 3 New Zealand Cup (3200m) runner-up Nest Egg showed he was right on track to head south later in the spring to try and go one better in the race a year later after he scored a stylish victory at Ellerslie on Saturday. The six-year-old gelding didn’t really kick on over the rest of the summer last year after his Riccarton heroics, which included winning the Listed Metropolitan Trophy (2600m) in his lead-up to the New Zealand Cup, with trainer Stephen Marsh putting him aside for a decent spell after he finished near last in the Group 2 Auckland Cup (3200m) in March. Nest Egg resumed at Matamata over 1600m earlier this month off the back of a quiet 1100m trial at Te Rapa, where he gave some cheek before his condition gave out in the heavy ground on offer. Regular pilot Warren Kennedy took the mount on Saturday and had the son of Reliable Man settled nicely towards the middle of the pack as Fly My Wey set up a muddling pace in front. Kennedy made his move as a number of his rivals swooped into contention on the home bend and quickly joined issue with eventual runner-up Cleese as the pair set down to a terrific struggle that went in favour of Nest Egg by a head at the line. Marsh was all smiles afterwards as he noted he had some confidence in the horse performing to expectations on the Soft 5 surface as opposed to the Heavy 10 at Matamata. “I thought his first up run was very good as the track was very heavy that day and he didn’t like it at all,” Marsh said. “Back on a great track today and second up at this distance, I thought he might have enough sharpness and while he didn’t have to win I thought he could be top four as he is going a lot better in this campaign. “Nice to win back at headquarters and nice to have this horse back in form.” Marsh indicated he has similar plans to what he used last year with his charge including a possible Group 1 target thrown in before being set for the Martin Collins-sponsored New Zealand Cup at Riccarton on 16 November. “He has a cheeky nomination for the Livamol (Group 1, 2040m) as he is going so good but with the New Zealand Cup going to $400,000 (prizemoney) that is our target,” he said. “With the way the Livamol has evened up it could be a nice race for him but he has some nice targets ahead of him in this campaign.” Horse racing news View the full article

Eliyaas after winning the Kingston Town Stakes. Photo: bradleyphotos.com.au Eliyass ($4.00) has kept his undefeated Australian record intact, claiming the Group 3 Kingston Town Stakes (2000m) at Randwick on Saturday afternoon, giving him a hat-trick of wins since arriving to the Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott barn. The son of Le Havre recorded his ninth win at start eleven on Saturday, holding off a gallant Ceolwulf ($2.80) in the shadows of the post, solidifying himself as the early favourite for the Group 1 Metropolitan Handicap (2400m) later in the spring. Things couldn’t have panned out better for Tim Clark from barrier one, gaining the back of stable companion Serpentine ($26.00) in the early stages, ensuring they ran along at a genuine clip throughout the 2000m. Eliyass hit the front with 400m left to travel and was left vulnerable with a wall of horses chasing him down, including the well-supported Ceolwulf, along with Golden Path ($5.00) and Zardozi ($11.00) making inroads late. They were all playing for minor money in the end, however, as Eliyass proved too strong to claim his third Australian success. 2024 Group 3 Kingston Town Stakes Replay – Eliyaas Adrian Bott was on course to represent the stable, and confirmed the Metropolitan would be the path for the impressive five-year-old gelding. “He’s got a great constitution, doesn’t he,” said Bott. “Obviously a great will to win. “Once again, he had to dig deep. He was challenged solidly there. It was a good tempo throughout. It was a good staying test once again today and he’s exposed for quite a while there. So for him to dig deep once again, it just shows those true staying qualities that he’s got. “I’ve got a lot of confidence in this horse and no doubt that there’s still more upside and more progression. It was a month between runs and we’ve got some big targets for him, not just the Metropolitan.” Tim Clark was confident going into the race and couldn’t have been happier with his mount. “I thought his trial was excellent,” said Clark. “We came here full of confidence and pretty much just rode him like the best horse. “The second horse challenged him late, but it sort of got to him and he was never letting it pass. “His manners were all so much better. “I think he’s always got to be that little bit bouncy and a little bit hot he did parade better. “He’s obviously only had the three stars here, so he’s still working it out, but he’s got a very bright future.” Eliyass is now the clear favourite at $4.00 with horse bookmakers for the Metropolitan Handicap on October 5. Horse racing news View the full article

Mchale surges to victory in the Bill Ritchie Handicap. Photo: bradleyphotos.com.au After Rediener won the race 12 months ago, the Chris Waller barn have picked up back-to-back wins in the Group 3 Bill Ritchie Handicap (1400m), with Mchale ($26.00) powering between horses to claim victory at Randwick on Saturday afternoon. The son of Shooting To Win was first-up after a 98-day spell, bringing residual fitness from the Queensland winter, and a very similar profile to last year’s winner coming through the Group 3 Gunsynd Classic (1600m) at Eagle Farm on June 15. Felix Majestic ($19.00) was the one attempting to make every post a winner under Molly Bourke and gave a strong kick heading into the home straight, while Kintyre ($16.00) was brave throughout, sitting three-wide no cover throughout the journey. Mchale settled slightly worse than mid-field in the middle stages, while the well-supported favourite Tom Kitten ($3.70) was forced to sit back-and-wide throughout the contest. The four-year-old gelding needed to navigate a passage through a wall of horses in the final 400m, with Rachel King utilizing timing her ride to perfection, as the Ciaron Maher-trained Gringotts ($4.60) launched to make it a grandstand finish. The pair could only be separated by a photo, with Mchale getting the nod by the barest of margins, claiming victory and booking his ticket for the Group 1 Epsom Handicap (1600m) later in the spring. 2024 Group 3 Bill Ritchie Stakes Replay – Mchale Chris Waller was on course to represent the stable and spoke to the lack of luck Mchale had in Queensland before praising the ride of Rachel King. “He’s always been thereabouts and not had a lot of luck,” said Waller. “Things went against him in Queensland. “It was a great ride from Rachel, saved every inch of ground and got there where it counted. “I was surprised to see his odds but when you see those odds, you sort of say, ‘Oh gee, maybe I’ve got it wrong,’ but yeah, he’s a handy horse. “He’s always never far away and decent races in a couple of group races.” Rachel King was delighted with the win and credited the horses toughness first-up. “My horse, he just popped up a little bit at the gates,” said King. “I actually got in the position I probably thought I would be, but there was a little bit of jostling around the corner and I wasn’t quite sure what the jostling was for, but it worked out well for me. “A gap appeared on the fence and this horse, watching his replays, he likes racing like that. He’s a real sort of bulldog and he shot through that gap and put them away well.” Mchale is now an $18.00 chance with horse racing bookmakers for the Epsom Handicap on October 5. Horse racing news View the full article

What Flemington Races Where Flemington Racecourse – Melbourne, Victoria When Sunday, September 22, 2024 First Race 1:25pm AEST Visit Dabble The traditional Spring Preview meeting will take place at Flemington on Sunday afternoon with eight races carded. The VRC Derby and VRC Oaks trials will give punters a look at the potential contenders for the time-honoured features later in the spring. The rail is out 14m the entire circuit, but traditionally Flemington still plays fairly when the rail is out that far, especially considering the track is rated a Soft 5. Action is set to commence at 1:25pm AEST. VRC Oaks Trial Top Tip: Hurry Curry Hurry Curry was a dominant Bairnsdale 1600m maiden winner on September 9 and was running away from her rivals to suggest the step up in trip to 1800m should be no issue. She settled midfield with cover and pounced on the leaders in smart fashion to score by close to two lengths. From barrier nine, Jye McNeil will need a touch of luck in finding cover, but if the pair can slot in one off the rail, Hurry Curry should solidify her spot in the VRC Oaks with victory. VRC Oaks Trial Race 5 – #2 Hurry Curry (9) 3yo Filly | T: Danny O’Brien | J: Jye McNeil (56kg) Bet with Picklebet Derby Trial: Politely Dun Remarkably, the Danny O’Brien-trained Politely Dun is still a maiden, but at the fifth time of asking, the Dundeel progeny should prove too good for his rivals in the Derby trial. He was forced to sustain a long run at Geelong, and the early work told inside the final 100m when peaking on his run. Blake Shinn will look to have him settled close to the speed throughout, and if he runs up to what he has put forward so far in his career, Politely Dun should be too strong late. Derby Trial Race 6 – #5 Politely Dun (8) 3yo Gelding | T: Danny O’Brien | J: Blake Shinn (56kg) Bet with Bet365 Best Bet at Flemington: Isthmus Isthmus could not have been any more impressive when saluting at Sandown first-up off a five-month spell. The I Am Invincible mare stalked the speed over 1000m and, when asked to quicken, did so like a smart horse should. She returns to the Flemington 1100m for the second time in her career, with her experience down the straight beneficial in a race like this. Mark Zahra will have her stalking the speed once more, and with a bit of luck, Isthmus should dispose of her rivals in the finale. Best Bet Race 8 – #10 Isthmus (9) 4yo Mare | T: Anthony & Sam Freedman | J: Mark Zahra (59.5kg) Bet with Neds Next Best at Flemington: Le Mans Le Mans looks to be screaming out for the 1800m, especially if her last start fifth at Moonee Valley is anything to go by. The five-year-old mare was beaten less than a length when finishing midfield and was seemingly doing her best work through the line. This is her first crack at the trip, but with Mark Zahra on board from barrier one, the Kodiac mare will be given every conceivable hope to claim victory. Barring any bad luck in the home straight, Le Mans should prove too good. Next Best Race 2 – #3 Le Mans (1) 5yo Mare | T: Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) | J: Mark Zahra (57.5kg) Bet with Playup Sunday quaddie tips for Flemington Flemington quadrella selections September 22, 2024 1-2-4-10 2-4-5 7-8-10-12-13 10-12 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip Horse racing tips View the full article

The past five horses to win this weekend’s feature at the age of five all went on to become Group One winners.View the full article

Mauritian partners the John Size-trained galloper on Sunday, while his equally exciting stablemate Wunderbar also returns this weekend.View the full article

Favored Roses for Debra, boxed in leaving the turn of the $300,250 Presque Isle Downs Masters Stakes (G2), found daylight inside down the stretch and accelerated to catch overseas shipper Pandora's Gift by a neck in track-record time.View the full article

California-based trainer Phil D'Amato is hoping his first trip to Parx Racing will be a memorable one. The 48-year-old was on the Parx backstretch the morning of Sept. 20 watching his 3-year-old colt Stronghold gallop over the main track.View the full article

Week 6 Results View the full article

The United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit on Friday affirmed a ruling out of a lower federal court in Arkansas that had denied a preliminary injunction sought by horsemen in Arkansas and Iowa to halt the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA) and its Anti-Doping and Medication Control (ADMC) program. Chief Judge Steven Colloton took the lead in authoring the opinion for the three-judge panel, writing that the plaintiffs/appellants have “not established a fair chance of success on the merits, so the district court did not abuse its discretion in denying the motion for a preliminary injunction. The order of the district court is affirmed.” The plaintiffs/appellants in the case are led by Bill Walmsley, the president of the Arkansas Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association (HBPA), and Jon Moss, the executive director of the Iowa HBPA. The defendants/appellees are executives with the HISA Authority and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). The Eighth Circuit opinion only concerns the denial of the preliminary injunction to keep HISA from being enforced, and the plaintiffs are free to pursue other aspects of their underlying lawsuit over HISA's constitutionality in the lower court. The three-judge panel in the Eighth Circuit established in their opinion that they were well aware that two other federal appeals courts, the Fifth and Sixth Circuits, currently conflict in their opinions over whether HISA is constitutional, a matter that seems increasingly likely to be taken up by the U.S. Supreme Court. The Fifth Circuit panel opined July 5, 2024, that even though HISA's rulemaking structure is constitutional, HISA's enforcement provisions are unconstitutional. A Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals panel opined in a different case Mar. 3, 2023, that Congressional changes to the law in 2022 made all of HISA completely constitutional. “We agree with the Sixth and Fifth Circuits that the Act's rulemaking structure does not violate the private nondelegation doctrine,” Colloton wrote. “As others have recognized, Congress modeled the Act as amended on a regulatory scheme in the securities industry that has been widely approved as constitutional,” Colloton wrote. “We join the other two circuits in concluding that the Authority is subordinate to the [FTC] such that the rulemaking structure of the Act does not violate the private nondelegation doctrine.” The horsemen appellants also challenged the Authority's enforcement powers, contending that HISA unconstitutionally delegates executive power to the Authority, a private entity. “The Fifth Circuit declared the enforcement provisions of the statute unconstitutional because it thought the [FTC's] power to modify and add to the rules of the Authority does not 'authorize basic and fundamental changes in the scheme designed by Congress,'” Colloton wrote. But, he added, “Like the Sixth Circuit, we are satisfied that the statute's enforcement provisions are not unconstitutional on their face and in all of their applications.” The appellants further argued that HISA violates the public nondelegation doctrine. “Congress may not delegate the legislative power of Article I to a federal agency,” Colloton wrote. But, he added, “those who act under general provisions of a law may 'fill up the details.' When Congress sets forth 'an intelligible principle to guide the delegee's use of discretion,' there is no unconstitutional delegation.” Colloton continued: “Congress specified twelve elements that must be included in a horse racing safety program. Congress set forth several elements of rule violations and of a disciplinary process for the industry. These provisions meaningfully guide the [FTC's] exercise of discretion. The Supreme Court has upheld delegations made with comparable or lesser guidance.” The appellants also asserted that HISA violates the Appointments Clause of the Constitution because the members of the Authority's board of directors are allegedly officers of the United States who must be appointed by the President, a court of law, or the head of a department. “We agree with the Fifth Circuit that the Act does not conflict with the Appointments Clause,” Colloton wrote. “The requirements of the Clause apply only to officers of the United States [but] the Authority, however, is a 'private, independent, self-regulatory, nonprofit corporation.' “A private corporation must be regarded as a governmental entity for constitutional purposes only in limited circumstances [and that] standard is not satisfied here,” Colloton wrote. “The Act did not create the Authority; the Authority incorporated under Delaware law before the Act's passage. None of the board members are public officials, and the government plays no role in selecting or retaining them. The members of the Board are thus not officers of the United States, so their appointments are not governed by the Appointments Clause.” One judge on the panel, Raymond Gruender, concurred in part and dissented in part with the overall decision to affirm the lower court's denial of the injunction. As part of his explanation, he wrote: “In a case such as this, where Congress has avoided the limitations of the Appointments Clause by vesting in a private entity the wholesale power to regulate doping, medication, and safety issues in the horse racing industry nationwide, it is imperative that the private nondelegation doctrine carry force to prevent broad delegation of governmental powers to unsupervised private parties. “The court's opinion fails to reckon with the plain language of HISA, which grants to the Authority a broad enforcement power that is not subordinate to the FTC. Like the Fifth Circuit, I conclude that HISA's enforcement provisions facially violate the private nondelegation doctrine. I respectfully dissent from [that part] of the court's opinion,” Gruender wrote. Late in the day on Friday, TDN requested comment on the opinion from the HISA Authority and the lead attorney for the horsemen appellants, but those queries did not yield replies prior to deadline for this story. The post Eighth Circuit Upholds Lower Court’s Order Denying Horsemen’s Request for HISA Injunction appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article