Wandering Eyes

Star Australian jockey will team up with Invincible Sage and Antino at next month’s marquee meeting.View the full article

Rachel King will return to Hong Kong next month. Photo: HKJC Much-travelled Australian-based jockey Rachel King will add Hong Kong as another of her racing destinations for 2024 when she returns to Happy Valley on Wednesday, December 4 for the International Jockeys’ Championship (IJC). After already riding in England, Japan, the United States of America and Australia this year, King is hoping to improve on last year’s Hong Kong performance when she finished third in the LONGINES IJC after riding Oversubscribed to victory in the first of the four-race competition. Always open for a challenge against the world’s best jockeys, King said she was looking forward to competing against the likes of top internationals including Ryan Moore (Great Britain), William Buick (Great Britain), Colin Keane (Ireland), Mickael Barzalona (France), Yuga Kawada (Japan) and James McDonald (New Zealand). Leading British rider Hollie Doyle will join King as the other female in the championship. Top local riders, including Zac Purton and last year’s IJC winner Vincent Ho, will again represent Hong Kong, China. King said she was hoping to improve on last year’s third. “It was good, I guess, to get that winner straight away and it was probably a big positive,” she said. “It was a good fun experience but also a good learning experience and I’m pleased to be going back again. “You look at the list of jockeys who are going and they are sort of from all around the world and all are very competitive, so it’s a tough competition but I’m pleased to be part of it.” Riding in so many countries this year, the 34-year-old said she had been busy by competing in so many different regions but said riding abroad can only improve her riding. “And I’ve enjoyed the travelling,” King said. “I started off at Japan at the start of the year, then the UK twice, then the Breeders’ Cup in America. “Going to different tracks and having to adapt and ride at different places always helps to further yourself.” And along the way she achieved some memorable achievements. She became the first Australian-based jockey to ride in the Breeders’ Cup at Del Mar in America, where she rode Japan’s Satono Carnaval for trainer Noriyuki Hori. She was also the first foreign female to win a Group race on the flat in Japan during her stint there earlier this year when she rode Chuck Nate to victory in the Group 2 American Jockey Club Cup (2200m). “Japan was super,” King said. “It was certainly challenging. I had great support from Noriyuki Hori while I was there and he was super and threw everything at me. “We got some good winners together.” And after riding in the Breeders’ Cup at Del Mar, King returned to Australian to ride The Map in the Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) earlier this month. “It was a busy few days getting back from America for the Melbourne Cup and I suppose both results could have been a little bit better,” she said. “But both were good experiences and I always enjoy going down for the Cup and it’s always one that I don’t want to miss.” The British-born King, who began her riding career in England but was later apprenticed to Australia’s ‘First Lady of Racing’ Gai Waterhouse in Sydney, also got married to partner Luke Hilton on her first trip back to England in June, where she rode Strutting to second in the Sandringham Stakes (1600m) at Royal Ascot. Now on her second trip to Hong Kong, King is hoping to pick up a few more rides at Happy Valley and would stay on for the Sunday, December 8 Hong Kong International Races if she was offered a suitable ride. King will return to Japan next January for another two-month riding stint and has gained a solid following after riding 16 winners and 29 minor places there earlier this year in her 139 rides. Horse racing news View the full article

All Hong Kong’s 12 Group 1s, including December’s Group 1 quartet of Hong Kong International Races (HKIR), will be run under World Pool banner. Photo: HKJC The Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC), which operates World Pool, has confirmed all 12 Group 1 contests in Hong Kong’s 2024/25 season, including this December’s Group 1 quartet of Hong Kong International Races (HKIR), will be run for the first time under the World Pool banner. Since the inaugural World Pool race at Royal Ascot in 2019, only races from outside Hong Kong have been run as World Pool events, but the HKJC has now moved to consolidate its top-level races, which have all been ranked within the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities’ (IFHA) LONGINES World’s Top 100 Group 1 races in the last three years, under the same banner. Though commingled pools for Hong Kong races started in the 2013/14 season, and all Hong Kong races are technically HKJC-hosted commingled pools in the same way as World Pool, this will be the first time races in Hong Kong have been incorporated into the World Pool schedule. Hong Kong will become the ninth jurisdiction to host World Pool races, joining the UK, Ireland, Germany, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Australia and Argentina. Over 25 jurisdictions and 70 partners bet into both the Hong Kong pools and World Pool and, in season 2024/25, 84 of the IFHA Top 100 Group 1 races will be part of World Pool. Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges, Chief Executive Officer at the HKJC, said: “World Pool has provided many benefits to the global horse racing industry including deep and liquid parimutuel markets, increased value opportunities, greater certainty of odds and enhanced returns. World Pool is also a key weapon in the fight against illegal gambling operators and has delivered increased returns to the sport allowing authorities to invest into prizemoney and the broader sustainability of horse racing. “Additionally, World Pool drives promotion of our sport with a heavy focus on the best international events, horses, jockeys and trainers, drawing predominantly from the IFHA’s LONGINES Top 100 Group 1 races. As such, it is timely to add Hong Kong’s best races to the World Pool brand commencing with the four Group 1 races on HKIR Day. Hong Kong has only 0.7% of the global total of racehorses in training, yet in 2023 had 14 horses featured in the LONGINES World’s Best Racehorse Rankings and 12 races in the IFHA LONGINES Top 100 Group 1 races. “We are proud of the HKJC’s world-class racing and the development of World Pool and look forward to the two of them sitting side by side in the future.” Michael Fitzsimons, Executive Director, Wagering Products at the HKJC, said: “The move to bring a further 12 of the IFHA’s LONGINES Top 100 Group 1 races to a global betting audience of over 25 jurisdictions via World Pool marks the HKJC’s intent to promote premium racing. “Branding the top Hong Kong races as World Pool makes strategic sense, as it is not just a wagering brand and the aim is to bring the best international races under the World Pool banner. “With the growing popularity of World Pool, we aim to keep increasing our contribution to racing which benefits the entire ecosystem. So far in the UK, where World Pool has been in operation since 2019, and Ireland the money that World Pool has generated for racecourses there has surpassed HK$500 million. This will go from strength-to-strength globally as we grow the World Pool offering.” Horse racing news View the full article

Next month’s four international day features at Sha Tin will feature under the banner of the global tote for the first time.View the full article

What Cranbourne Cup Day 2024 Where Southside Racing Cranbourne – 50 Grant St, Cranbourne VIC 3977 When Saturday, November 23, 2024 First Race 12:20pm AEDT Visit Dabble Cranbourne Cup Day headlines the metro racing action in Melbourne this Saturday afternoon, with 10 quality races lined up. A scorcher is forecast, meaning we should get a hard and fast deck that moves to a Good 3 rating at some stage. The rail will be out 3m for the entire circuit, with the action at Cranbourne commencing at 12:20pm AEDT. Cranbourne Cup Tip: Cadmus Cadmus was hitting the line nicely over the mile first-up from a spell, and considering he tends to improve after his fresh run in each campaign, he can cause a boilover in the Cranbourne Cup. The six-year-old has two wins and a second from three second-up runs and loves a firm surface, while he has four wins and two minor placings from seven attempts on Good tracks. If Jye McNeil can find a back to follow into the race, Cadmus looks over the odds at $26 with BlondeBet. Cranbourne Cup Race 9 – #13 Cadmus (9) 6yo Gelding | T: Anthony & Sam Freedman | J: Jye McNeil (54kg) Bet with BlondeBet The Meteorite Top Tip: Baraqiel Baraqiel is a completely different animal when racing around a bend, and following a respectable effort in Group 1 company down the Flemington straight, he looks primed for the inaugural running of The Meteorite. Ben Allen will go forward from barrier eight and likely settle outside the lead or be in the one-one throughout. From there, Baraqiel should prove a touch too classy over the 1200m trip in the $1 million co-feature. The Meteorite Race 8 – #2 Baraqiel (8) 6yo Gelding | T: Leon & Troy Corstens & Will Larkin | J: Ben Allen (59kg) Bet with Bet365 Best Bet at Cranbourne: Nation’s Call Nation’s Call hardly runs a poor race, and following a gritty performance at Flemington, the son of Frankel can find his way back into the winner’s stall. The five-year-old gelding just couldn’t go with the progressive Angland over 1600m, but the step up to the 2025m should suit perfectly. He is a natural frontrunner, and in a race where he should gain a relatively easy lead, Nation’s Call can lead from barrier to box. Best Bet Race 6 – #4 Nation’s Call (5) 5yo Gelding | T: Robbie Griffiths & Mathew de Kock | J: Blake Shinn (58.5kg) Bet with Neds Next Best at Cranbourne: Romani Ite Domum Romani Ite Domum has begun his career in style, winning his last two after finishing an unlucky second on debut. Drawn perfectly in barrier one as a natural on-speed galloper, Blake Shinn should not have to work too hard to take up the running. Leaders are traditionally hard to run down in the first couple of races at Cranbourne, which bodes well for Romani Ite Domum if he can get a cheap sectional and can kick off the bend, Next Best Race 1 – #3 Romani Ite Domum (1) 3yo Gelding | T: Ben, Will & JD Hayes | J: Blake Shinn (57.5kg) Bet with PlayUp Best Value at Cranbourne: Vienna Vixen Vienna Vixen was beaten by the barest of margins at Bendigo on October 30 and presents great value with horse racing bookmakers. The five-year-old mare consistently runs into one better, but in a race where a few of these struggle to win themselves, the Foxwedge mare just needs to hold her form to be prominent. Ethan Brown will need a touch of luck from barrier 13, but with a stack of speed in the race, the pair will likely head towards midfield before charging home. Best Value Race 4 – #11 Vienna Vixen (13) 5yo Mare | T: Ciaron Maher | J: Ethan Brown (57.5kg) Bet with Picklebet Saturday quaddie tips for Cranbourne Cranbourne quadrella selections Saturday, November 23, 2024 1-3-4-8-10 2-12 1-2-7-9-10-11-13 8 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip Horse racing tips View the full article

Motukarara Trotting Association Incorporated AGM – Mot Workouts The AGM will be held at 6.30pm on Monday, 25 November 2024 at the Motukarara Raceway. All current and prospective members are welcome. Over the last few years, we have been faced with many challenges such as lockdowns, weather events etc but we are still standing! We want to invite all local owners and trainers to join our organisation and provide their input into how we can build the workouts bigger and better. The more ideas, the better. Currently membership only costs $5 per annum – less than a cup of coffee! If you wish to attend the meeting, please email me at motukararaworkoutsv2@gmail.com or call Lyn on 021 650084 for an Agenda and Membership Application form. View the full article

By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk With typical modesty Bruce Negus brushes off his role in turning around his $700 bargain buy Mouton Cadet. On Wednesday at Rangiora the Sir Lincoln gelding had his fourth career win and his third for Negus since he bought him in July. It was a Team Negus special with Bruce training the seven-year-old and wife Colleen doing the steering on the short-priced favourite in the Remembering OK Oskar Amateur Drivers’ Mobile Pace. After being last turning for home Mouton Cadet was brushed four and five wide before just getting home by a half neck after a dogged battle with the second-placed Kowhai Nugget. “We read that race correctly, there was a lot of speed inside him and Colleen had to wait and wait and wait,” says Bruce Negus, “it was a very competitive race and a great drive. It was a bit of change for Mouton Cadet – his two previous starts had been two sixths during Cup week at Addington. Since Negus bought the horse off Gavelhouse for $700 Mouton Cadet has since won $23,000 in stakes. “I’ve just capitalised on other people’s hard work,” says Negus. Among the people he credits for the horse’s turnaround is his farrier Paul Howlett. “The blacksmith I’ve got has got some pretty good skills and some good ideas and he fixed them in one hit – cross-firing and brushing a knee.” “It’s down to centimetres and he got it right … that remedial shoeing was very effective.” Negus says he knew the horse had a “big engine” after watching his race footage. “I saw the replay at Westport (March 2024), he was last at the 400 and got up to win,” says Negus, “so I thought he was worth the risk.” “He’s got a lot of speed but he does have some characteristics that make him very unlikeable.” “He has little respect for humans.” And a decent appetite, by all accounts. “He eats everything in sight so I work him 50 per cent harder than the average horse and being a seven-year-old he can cope with that.” “He’s a good do-er .. an old style horse but a nice horse to drive.” While Mouton Cadet has been a great earner in the last four or so months Negus says it’s very much a case of win some, lose some. “He’s been a good buy alright but he just offsets the ones that weren’t and they have been a few of those over the years!” Footnote : Mouton Cadet is an iconic French wine produced in Bordeaux. View the full article

What Railway Stakes Day 2024 Where Ascot Racecourse – 71 Grandstand Rd, Ascot WA 6104 When Saturday, November 23, 2024 First Race 12:34pm AWST Visit Dabble The Group 1 Railway Stakes will headline the massive nine-race program at Ascot this Saturday afternoon, while the Group 2 WA Guineas will be the co-feature for the three-year-olds. The track was rated as a Soft 5 at the time of acceptances, but with no rain on the forecast for Friday and Saturday, expect a perfect Good 4 surface to be presented on raceday. The rail will be in the +5m position for the entire circuit, with racing set to kick off at 12:34pm AWST. Read HorseBetting’s Group 1 Railway Stakes betting preview and strategy here. WA Guineas tip: September Born After an impressive first-up performance in the Listed Belgravia Stakes, September Born was a good winner of the Listed Fairetha Stakes in his third career start. This son of Playing God was made to travel wide throughout the 1400m journey, but he took over with 300m to go and held on for a strong win. Brad Parnham has retained the ride, and with more of an economical run expected from barrier four, September Born will prove very hard to beat. WA Guineas Race 7 – #3 September Born (4) 3yo Colt | T: Neville Parnham | J: Brad Parnham (57kg) +170 with Dabble Best Bet at Ascot: Yonga Lass Following her barnstorming finish in the Group 3 RJ Peters Stakes last Saturday, Yonga Lass will drop back in grade on a seven-day backup. The Grant & Alana Williams-trained mare settled at the rear of the field on a sedate tempo before flashing home for second place. William Pike sticks with the daughter of Universal Ruler, and if he can settle her closer to the speed from barrier four, Yonga Lass should win the Carbine Club Of WA Stakes. Best Bet Race 6 – #11 Yonga Lass (4) 5yo Mare | T: Grant & Alana Williams | J: William Pike (55.5kg) +220 with Neds Next Best at Ascot: Keshi Boom Keshi Boom appears to be close to finding the form that allowed her to win her first four career starts of her career. The daughter of Spirit Of Boom finished third at this track and trip on November 9, working home nicely in between runners to nab a placing in the final strides. Now that she is hitting peak fitness third-up, William Pike will settle worse than midfield before getting Keshi Boom out to the middle of the track to let down with a strong finish. Next Best Race 4 – #7 Keshi Boom (6) 4yo Mare | T: Grant & Alana Williams | J: William Pike (57kg) +250 with PlayUp Best Value at Ascot: Comic Hero After drawing barrier one first-up, it was always going to be a hard watch if you backed Comic Hero. The son of Dalghar travelled sweetly along the inside rail to grab third place, but it took Clint Johnston-Porter too long to get off the fence. With Chris Parnham legged aboard for this start, it is expected that he will settle near last from barrier 10 and get Comic Hero into clear air to flash home down the middle of the track. Best Value Race 9 – #7 Comic Hero (10) 5yo Gelding | T: Simon Miller | J: Chris Parnham (54.5kg) +850 with Picklebet Ascot quaddie tips for Railway Stakes Day Ascot quadrella selections Saturday, November 23, 2024 1-7-11 3-5-7-14 1-2-5-10-13-16 2-3-7 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip More horse racing tips View the full article

A well-related son of Harry Angel provided a late highlight in the final hour of the 2024 NZB Ready to Run Sale at Karaka on Thursday when he was knocked down to a $520,000 bid from bloodstock agent Morgan Carter. The colt was catalogued as Lot 372 and was in the draft of Ohukia Lodge, who bought him for A$300,000 as a yearling in Sydney. He is out of the Exceed and Excel mare Florabella, which makes him a full-brother to the well-performed Australian sprinter Arkansaw Kid. Previously the winner of the Inglis Banner (1000m) and placed in the Gr.1 Blue Diamond (1200m), Arkansaw Kid has added victories in the Gr.2 Bobbie Lewis Quality (1200m) and Listed Regal Roller Stakes (1200m) since the catalogue went to print. The Ben, Will and JD Hayes-trained Arkansaw Kid has had 18 starts for four wins, six placings and A$1.4 million in stakes. Bidding began at $100,000 on Lot 372 but was fiercely contested from that point on, breaking the half-million barrier and finishing up at $520,000. “We knew we’d have to go strong on this colt,” Carter said. “Our original assessment was somewhere around the $400,000 range, but after seeing how strong the sale has been, we knew it wasn’t going to be easy. “We’re very happy to have bought him. He looks like the type of horse who’s not going to take long. He’ll have a couple of weeks in the paddock now, and then we’ll assess him and make a plan for him from there. He’ll eventually end up in Hong Kong.” The colt was one of just two progeny of Darley Stud stallion Harry Angel to go through the Karaka sale ring during the Ready to Run Sale this week. The other was Lot 306, a son of the Epaulette mare Cambric from the draft of Kilgravin Lodge, who fetched $400,000. Lot 372 headlined a series of strong results late on Thursday. Just a few minutes earlier, Lot 369 was bought by Waikato Bloodstock for $400,000. The Castelvecchio gelding was offered by Kilgravin Lodge and had been bought for A$10,000 from the 2023 Inglis Sydney Weanling Sale. Not long afterwards, a Hellbent colt catalogued as Lot 385 was also knocked down for $400,000. View the full article

Foxton mare Marotiri Molly(NZ) (Per Incanto) will make her long-awaited stakes-level debut on Saturday at Pukekohe Park, taking her place in the Gr.2 Dunstan Horsefeeds Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1400m). The daughter of Per Incanto caught plenty of early attention when winning her first trial in dashing style as a four-year-old last April, and since then she has produced that form on the track, winning five of her 10 raceday appearances. Her trainer, Matt Dixon, was given a vote of confidence to take the step into black-type company when she went three on the bounce this preparation, most impressively last-start on an unfavourable Heavy10 surface at Trentham. “It was quite a courageous run there, she definitely prefers better footing, so I was concerned about the track, but her class got her through,” Dixon said. “She’s just kept improving this whole prep, it’s been very pleasing. “She’s always shown plenty of ability but we’ve just had some niggles along the way. That’s why it’s taken until she is a six-year-old before she fully matured and furnished, but she’s always shown that speed.” Marotiri Molly has been partnered in all but one of her career starts by Central Districts hoop Kate Hercock, and in her absence, Dixon has called upon the services of Sam Weatherley for Saturday’s fillies and mares’ feature. “Sam Weatherley will be riding her, Kate would’ve been there but under very sad circumstances (passing of partner Daniel Champion), she is unable to ride her this time,” he said. “She (Marotiri Molly) galloped right-handed on Tuesday morning at Foxton against the rail and went very well, so I couldn’t be happier with her really. She’s going there pretty much 100 percent.” View the full article

Warrnambool hoop Harry Grace has quickly become a trans-Tasman jockey and is set to continue that role when he rides at New Plymouth and Wanganui later this week. Grace first arrived in New Zealand in September to partner Australian raider Rolls in what was meant to be a Group One mission, and while that campaign hit a few snags, Grace has enjoyed forming relationships with local trainers and has accepted a number of invitations to continue to ride in New Zealand. “I have been getting good support and I have been riding some nice winners and making some good contacts over here in the Central Districts,” Grace said. “I have been everywhere between Otaki and New Plymouth riding work. I have had some good trainers here supporting me between Lisa Latta, Chrissy Bambry, Allan Sharrock, Janelle Millar, Bill Thurlow, Kelvin Tyler and a number of others. “I met Kelvin down at Otaki and he has supported me the whole way through. We didn’t have any joy down at the Riccarton carnival, but he has continued on with me and hopefully we will have Lightning Jack again soon.” While intent on making the most of his opportunities in New Zealand, Grace has continued to commute across the Tasman where he has maintained his riding engagements back home. “I still get the rides back home, they are quite happy with what I am doing over here. They are pushing me to get more winners while I can,” he said. “Spring is over back home and there are still some really good races over here to pick-up. I have got a few really nice up-and-coming horses I have been putting work into over here as well.” Grace has already travelled extensively throughout New Zealand and is particularly looking forward to riding at Trentham and Ellerslie over the summer months. “I have ridden everywhere from Christchurch to Auckland. I quite liked Wellington and Ellerslie,” he said. “I have got a lot lined up over here from December to about February, so I have got to decide how long I am going to stay here.” Grace is looking forward to his book of rides in New Zealand this week, kicking off with New Plymouth on Friday where he has four rides. “I have got a nice book of rides,” he said. “I have had a bit to do with Janelle Millar’s (Tiny Diamond) horse at the jumpouts and that is a nice ride, and Allan (Sharrock) has given me two nice chances (Swingit Our Way and Belle Tribute), and I also have one for Bryce Newman (Blue Jeanie).” View the full article

Chad Ormsby has enjoyed plenty of racetrack success this year with pinhooks that he has been unable to sell at the Ready to Run Sale, but the multi-talented horseman had a very different outcome with the standout member of his 2024 Riverrock Farm draft at Karaka on Thursday. Ormsby trained passed-in 2022 Ready to Run lots Pulchritudinous and Outovstock to win this year’s Gr.1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m) and Gr.3 Manawatu Classic (2000m) respectively, with Pulchritudinous subsequently sold to Australian-based powerhouse Yulong Investments. Rivverock Farm’s Chad Ormsby Photo: Trish Dunell On Thursday, Ormsby struck gold in another role. He secured the highest price of the Ready to Run Sale’s second day with the $775,000 sale of Lot 288, a colt by Churchill out of the unraced Pierro mare Bagitol. Ormsby had paid only A$25,000 to buy the colt from the Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale in March. “We honestly couldn’t believe we were getting such a high-quality colt for that price in Melbourne earlier in the year,” Ormsby said. “We rated him so highly from the moment we first saw him, and he’s turned out exactly how we hoped he would. There’s so many stages where things can go wrong in this business, but all the way through his preparation, he’s just kept on developing. He’s really become the horse we always thought he’d be.” The colt won a trial at Waipa on October 1, after which Ormsby took a big risk and turned down a significant offer to purchase him privately. Lot 288 subsequently impressed in his breeze-up at Te Rapa later that month, in which he clocked 10.42 seconds. “He trialled really well before the breeze-ups, and we knew after that performance that we had a pretty special individual,” Ormsby said. “We turned down good money after that trial. It was a lot of money and not easy to say no to, especially for a small operation like ours with only about 10 horses every year. “But we wanted to promote ourselves and our brand, and we thought the best way to do that was to take the risk, turn down that offer and carry on into the sale. This Ready to Run Sale is our home ground too, it’s our local sale and we believe it’s the best sale of its kind, so we wanted to support the sale as well.” While Ormsby went into Thursday with high hopes of a price above $500,000, he admits to being blown away by the final price of $775,000. The colt was sold to Patella Bloodstock and is destined for Hong Kong. “It’s an amazing result and it’s just a credit to the horse, he’s an absolute weapon of an animal,” Ormsby said. View the full article

Hong Kong bloodstock agent Willie Leung had a big hour at Karaka early on Thursday afternoon, spending more than $1 million to secure two well-credentialled colts at the NZB Ready to Run Sale. Leung paid $400,000 under his Magus Equine banner to buy Lot 271, a Russian Revolution colt from the draft of Ohukia Lodge, then followed that up with a $625,000 purchase of Lot 288. The latter colt was offered by BMD Bloodstock and is by Toronado out of the Zabeel mare Attractive, who is a half-sister to Gr.1 Goodwood Handicap (1200m) winner Velocitea. “I rated that colt one of the best horses in the sale,” Leung said. “Toronado is going very well in Hong Kong, and it’s great to secure such a high-quality son of that stallion for Francis (Lui, trainer).” Toronado stands at Swettenham Stud for a service fee of A$88,000. He has sired 22 winners from just 37 runners in Hong Kong, headed by Gr.1 Centenary Sprint Cup (1200m) winner Victor The Winner, Hong Kong Classic Mile (1600m) and Hong Kong Classic Cup (1800m) winner Helios Express, and Group Three winner and Gr.1 Champions & Chater Cup (2400m) placegetter Senor Toba. Leung hopes his new recruit could develop into a candidate to join that black-type list. Lot 283, a colt by Toronado out of Attractive Photo: Trish Dunell “The type of horse that he is, the dream is a race like the Hong Kong Derby (2000m),” he said. “He’ll probably stay here in New Zealand through until the end of next winter, and then we’ll take things from there. “Francis and I have had some great luck at this sale in the past with horses like Golden Sixty, so let’s hope for some more.” Golden Sixty was a $300,000 purchase from the 2017 Ready to Run Sale and went on to win 26 of his 31 starts including 10 Group One triumphs. He broke Hong Kong’s all-time prizemoney record with more than HK$167 million (NZ$34 million). Leung added another purchase to his list not long after that big-priced double, paying another $180,000 for the Embellish gelding catalogued as Lot 299. Leung spoke highly about this week’s 2024 edition of the Ready to Run Sale. “It’s been a strong sale,” he said. “There are some very good quality horses here, and you have to be prepared to pay quite a bit of money to get the ones that you want.” View the full article

The connections of the talented and patiently handled mare Imprevu(NZ) (Wrote) are aiming high this preparation with their pride and joy. The daughter of Wrote has already acquitted herself well in black type company and will have an opportunity at Pukekohe Park on Saturday to break through ahead of a tilt at a top-flight sprinting target. Imprevu will step out in the Gr.2 Dunstan Horsefeeds Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1400m) following a strong performance when opening her current campaign earlier this month in the Listed Legacy Lodge Sprint (1200m). Also placed in last season’s Gr.3 Rotorua Stakes (1400m), the six-year-old rounded off well to finish runner-up at Te Rapa behind the well-performed Babylon Berlin. “She’s a happy horse and has come through her first run really nicely. She had a good draw and a good ride, I’m very happy and her work has been lovely,” trainer Janenne Dalley said. “We’re hoping the Railway (Gr.1, 1200m) will be her go this time and it sits well for her with the shift back to January 25. “I can freshen her up a bit more and find a nice lead-up to that, she doesn’t need a lot of racing.” She will be ridden on Saturday by apprentice Tayla Mitchell, who rides her in work and was reunited last time out after winning a race aboard the mare earlier in her career. Bred by part-owner David Lunn, Imprevu has put together the tidy record of five wins and 11 placings from her 23 appearances. “She’s a talented mare and she’s from a very good family that goes back to Pure Lust and nice people to train for,” Dalley said. Second dam Pure Lust was a multiple stakes winner, who also finished third in both the Gr.1 Doomben Cup (2020m) and the Gr.1 Championship Stakes (2100m). “David doesn’t like to get them up and going too early and she had a trial as a late three-year-old and kicked off as an early four-year-old, the family just needs that bit more time,” Dalley said. “She was a little bit wayward in her first couple of starts, they just take a little bit to get their heads in the game.” View the full article

With one of the world’s most exciting sprinters flying the flag for David Hayes in Hong Kong, it has been no surprise to see the trainer’s sons zeroing in on progeny of Windsor Park Stud stallion Shamexpress during the Ready to Run Sale at Karaka this week. Hayes trains the Shamexpress gelding Ka Ying Rising, who has made an enormous impression winning eight of his 10 starts including all of his last seven in succession. Previously the winner of the Gr.3 Sha Tin Vase (1200m) in June and the Gr.2 Premier Bowl (1200m) in October, Ka Ying Rising added last Sunday’s Gr.2 Jockey Club Sprint (1200m) in a scintillating performance. The four-year-old romped to victory by three and a quarter lengths and broke the Sha Tin track record with a time of 1:07.43. When he returned to Hong Kong a few years ago, David Hayes left his Lindsay Park operation in Australia in the hands of his sons Ben, JD and Will Hayes. That trio has been on a recruiting drive for Shamexpress two-year-olds at Karaka this week, securing two of them for a total of $540,000. Lindsay Park Racing paid $260,000 on Wednesday to buy Lot 66, a colt from the draft of Lilywhites Lodge. He is a son of the Savabeel mare Mia Rose. The team struck again on Thursday with the $280,000 purchase of Lot 332. Offered by Phoenix Park, he is out of the unraced Pins mare Up A Ghia. “Off the strength of what Ka Ying Rising has been doing, we’ve been pleased to come over here and find another two nice sons of Shamexpress,” Will Hayes said. “Both will be heading for Hong Kong, and we bought them for Dr Peter Lam, who’s a big supporter of Dad’s stable there. “The one we bought today (Thursday) is a lovely big, athletic gelding and a very easy mover. One of Ka Ying Rising’s best attributes is his effortless speed, and we saw some similarities in the way this guy moves. “Parading out the back here can be quite a stressful environment for young horses, but we were impressed with how well he handled everything. “We’ll take him back to Lindsay Park now. We prepare a lot of horses for Hong Kong there. He’ll go into our system and we’ll put him through all the processes. Horses come out of this sale very well educated anyway, but we’ll see how he goes and then decide when he gets the tick to head up to Hong Kong.” Ka Ying Rising is emerging as one of the very best progeny of Shamexpress, who stands for a service fee of $8,000 at Windsor Park Stud. The O’Reilly stallion has been credited with a total of 147 winners from 224 runners, with 13 stakes winners headed by the multiple Group One-winning mare Coventina Bay. Shamexpress has also spent time in the black-type spotlight in Australia this year with Grinzinger Belle’s victories in the Gr.2 Let’s Elope Stakes (1400m), Gr.3 The Vanity (1400m) and Gr.3 Ladies’ Day Vase (1600m). Hayes has been impressed with the selling at Karaka over the last two days, pointing to the impressive honour roll of previous Ready to Run Sale graduates. Among those is Lindsay Park’s nine-time Australian Group One winner and A$16 million earner Mr Brightside, who was passed in when offered with a $50,000 reserve at this sale in 2019. “It’s been a very good sale, which I think is a reflection of the quality of horses that have been coming out of it over the last few years,” Hayes said. Lindsay Park continued to be busy through the early part of Thursday afternoon, paying $260,000 to buy BMD Bloodstock’s Per Incanto colt out of the Medaglia d’Oro mare Alternative Fact, which went through the ring as Lot 265. View the full article

The thoroughbred racing industry is in mourning following the passing of respected horseman Danny Champion. The 52-year-old, who hailed from Taranaki, was based in Hawke’s Bay with his partner Kate Hercock, having spent much of his life in Canterbury. In 22 seasons of training, much of that time in partnership with Kezia Murphy, Champion won 139 races, highlighted by victory in the 2013 edition of the Listed Canterbury Belle Stakes (1200m) with Orovela, who he had sourced as a weanling for just $1,200. There would be few who knew Champion better than Murphy, who was by his side from the moment he kicked off his training career. “He was a really significant person in my life,” Murphy said. “I met Danny when I was 17 and he had been involved in racing all his life, but he was looking to start up as a trainer himself. “I was basically with him from day one when he got his trainer’s license, and we got into a lot of breaking in and pre-training. “I had no involvement in racing. I loved horses but I had come from an eventing and dressage background. Danny really introduced me to the world of racing and starting young horses. “When the operation got a bit bigger, we had the opportunity to move to Ashburton. I worked for Danny for quite some time and then her offered me a partnership around 2010 or 11, which I was very grateful for and duly accepted.” Murphy said Champion had a great eye for horses, and while the stable didn’t have the budget to purchase top-end young stock, Champion was able to secure some bargain buys and got the best out of the horses he trained. “He had a real gift for finding a bargain. Many of his horses were cheap purchases who went on to do well above what you would expect,” Murphy said. “The thing that I most enjoyed with Danny was the challenging horses that perhaps some of the bigger stables might not have been interested in. Danny was a brilliant horseman and farrier, and he really liked a challenge, and he definitely instilled that in me.” While a natural horseman, Champion wasn’t introduced to the animal he would come to love until he went to school and struck up an association with the son of a renowned Taranaki trainer. “He grew up in a non-horsey family and when he was in primary school he became friends with John Wheeler’s son, Ryan,” Murphy said. “They were best mates and he used to go up to John Wheeler’s and he loved the horses. “John and his late wife Lyndsey had a huge influence in Danny’s life and he loved going there to ride their ponies, which eventuated into riding track work.” Champion was intent on a career in the saddle, but it soon became evident that he would quickly outgrow a jockeys build. “I think Danny was pretty devastated when he got on the scales one day and he was 52.5 kilos and John said to him he wasn’t going to make an apprentice,” Murphy said. With his riding hopes dashed, Champion turned to harness racing, but the love of the thoroughbred swiftly drew him back and he worked for a number of Taranaki trainers before eventually moving to Christchurch after a successful southern campaign in the early nineties. “He was working for Max Northcott and he came down (to Riccarton) with a horse called Sir Barton for the Grand National Carnival in 1991, and he won the Grand National (Hurdles). “Danny did quite a lot of schooling with jumpers, he was quite accomplished in everything he did, he was a gifted horseman. “When he came down it was apparently really beautiful weather compared to Taranaki, where it rains all the time, and he thought what a great place to be. He went back home with the horses and then decided to move down to Riccarton.” Following 20 years training in Canterbury, Champion moved to Hawke’s Bay last year to be with his partner Kate Hercock. “It was bittersweet (ending the training partnership) having been involved with each other for 20 years, but I was really happy for Danny that he had met Kate and he was doing what he wanted to do,” Murphy said. Champion continued to have success in the north and it was fitting that he was victorious with his last runner to the races, Makkaldee at Tauherenikau earlier this month, with Hercock in the saddle. Murphy said it was a pleasure to be mentored by Champion and he will be sorely missed. “He was a strong, courageous and loyal person and had a great sense of humour,” she said. “He was always happy to help a stranger, he loved helping people. “When he was in a grand mood, there was no one else you would rather be around. He was one of a kind, a really funny guy and had a lot to offer.” Champion’s funeral is set to take place at 2pm next Tuesday, November 26, at Riccarton Racecourse. View the full article

What Kembla Grange Races Where Kembla Grange Racecourse – Princess Highway, Kembla Grange NSW 2526 When Saturday, November 23, 2024 First Race 12:35pm AEDT Visit Dabble The sixth renewal of The Gong (1600m) headlines the action at Kembla Grange Racecourse on Saturday afternoon, with a bumper 10-race program lined up for the Illawarra’s marquee card on the calendar. The rail is in the true position the entire circuit, and with clearing conditions forecast leading into the weekend, punters can expect a track upgrade into the Good range. The opening event is scheduled to get underway at 12:35pm local time. Check out HorseBetting’s preview of The Gong 2024 here. The Warra Tip: Iowna Merc There will be speed to burn in The Warra (1000m), with a field of 11 assembled for the Group 3 sprinting feature. It should setup nicely for the Bjorn Baker-trained Iowna Merc returning from a 126-day spell. The son of Winning Rupert has never missed the frame first-up and trialled like a bomb at Warwick Farm on November 8 heading into this assignment. Rachel King gets the opportunity to lob into a handy position with cover throughout from gate seven, and with 53kg on his back, punters can expect Iowna Merc to be putting in the big strides late. The Warra Race 9 – #7 Iowna Merc (7) 5yo Gelding | T: Bjorn Baker | J: Rachel King (53kg) +500 with Neds Next Best at Kembla Grange: Pisanello The James Cummings-trained Pisanello is on a hat-trick heading into this BM78 contest. The son of Ribchester couldn’t have been more impressive securing back-to-back wins, with his latest victory coming down the Flemington straight course on November 9. He’s rock-hard fit heading into this third-up assignment, and provided Adam Hyeronimus can get off the inside running rail turning for home, Pisanello should prove too classy for this lot. Best Bet Race 3 – #4 Pisanello (1) 4yo Gelding | T: James Cummings | J: Adam Hyeronimus (60kg) +200 with Picklebet Next Best at Kembla Grange: Gilded Water European import Gilded Water makes his Australian debut after a 156-day spell and appears primed for a first-up assault. The Fastnet Rock gelding has only been seen for one official barrier trial at Warwick Farm on October 29, with the three-year-old hitting the line well to suggest he’s acclimatized well since joining the Ciaron Maher barn. There’s real intent kicking off the campaign over 2000m, and with gate four allowing Jason Collett to stalk his rivals from the one-one, Gilded Water should get every chance to make an impression at a good price with BlondeBet. Next Best Race 5 – #11 Gilded Water (4) 3yo Gelding | T: Ciaron Maher | J: Jason Collett (54kg) +400 with BlondeBet Best Value at Kembla Grange: Saltcoats The Chris Waller-trained Saltcoats represents terrific each-way value with horse racing bookmakers as he returns after 238 days off the scene. The New Zealand import is yet to capture victory across his five Australian starts; however, the four-year-old seemingly does his best work fresh, highlighted by his runner-up performance behind Infatuation at Rosehill on February 3. Tommy Berry will need some luck negating a passage from gate 10, but if the breaks fall his way, the $10 about Saltcoats will prove too big to ignore. Best Value Race 6 – #3 Saltcoats (10) 4yo Gelding | T: Chris Waller | J: Tommy Berry (60.5kg) +900 with Dabble Saturday quaddie tips for Kembla Grange Kembla Grange quadrella selections November 23, 2024 2-3-11-13-14-15 1-3-9-11 3-7-10 3-7-9-11-12-16 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip Horse racing tips View the full article

Veteran handler is optimistic Irish import continues to improve after rebounding from first-up flop.View the full article

What Doomben Races Where Doomben Racecourse – 75 Hampden St, Ascot QLD 4007 When Saturday, November 23, 2024 First Race 12:18pm AEST Visit Dabble Racing will return to Doomben for a massive 10-race program this Saturday afternoon, with the first event scheduled to kick off at 12:18pm AEST. With a lot of rain falling in the lead-up to the meeting, it is expected that racing will go ahead on a genuine Heavy 10 surface throughout the day. The rail will be in its true position for the entire circuit. Recognition Stakes tip: Midnight In Tokyo Nothing went right for Midnight In Tokyo first-up as the Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald-trained mare blundered the start before having to maintain a wide run from the 500m mark. Although the daughter of Kobayashi had a lot going against her at this track over 1200m, she still powered home strongly to finish in third place and will take good benefit from the run. If this girl can jump better from barrier five, Bailey Wheeler can settle midfield off the fence, and with even luck, Midnight In Tokyo can record a sixth career victory with a similar finishing burst. Recognition Stakes Race 7 – #5 Midnight In Tokyo (5) 5yo Mare | T: Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald | J: Bailey Wheeler (53kg) +250 with Picklebet Tattersall’s Classic tip: Party For Two Party For Two will return from a four-month spell in the Tattersall’s Classic following two very good trial victories over 1000m and 1050m on rain-affected tracks. The Matthew Hoysted-trained mare was last seen finishing second behind Recommendation in the Group 3 Sir John Monash Stakes at Caulfield. Ryan Maloney will push forward to settle on speed, and if Party For Two can produce a similar effort to her Group 3 placing from last preparation, she will prove very hard to run down late. Tattersall’s Classic Race 8 – #5 Party For Two (8) 4yo Mare | T: Matthew Hoysted | J: Ryan Maloney (56.5kg) +700 with Dabble Best Bet at Doomben: Metalart Metalart started his career undefeated through four starts before striking firmer tracks this preparation, where the Kelly Schweida-trained gelding has failed to win in three runs. The son of Better Than Ready ran home nicely to finish second behind Torabella at this track and trip on November 9, but still looked as though he hadn’t hit peak fitness yet. Now that he is set to compete in a weaker contest on a wet track, expect Michael Rodd to push forward, settle in the one-one position, and receive the run of the race. Best Bet Race 10 – #2 Metalart (11) 4yo Gelding | T: Kelly Schweida | J: Michael Rodd (59.5kg) +250 with PlayUp Next Best at Doomben: Bossed Up Tony Gollan and Kyle Wilson-Taylor will combine with Bossed Up in the penultimate event when the four-year-old gelding returns from an eight-week freshen. This son of Better Than Ready ran home the best of any of his rivals at Toowoomba in a Class 3 Handicap to finish a narrow third place on a Heavy track. Although he has had a longer break between runs than normal, Bossed Up can settle closer to the speed here, and his blistering turn of foot will give him every chance to record another victory. Next Best Race 9 – #12 Bossed Up (7) 4yo Gelding | T: Tony Gollan | J: Kyle Wilson-Taylor (55.5kg) +450 with Neds Doomben quaddie tips – 23/11/24 Doomben quadrella selections Saturday, November 23, 2024 4-5-7 2-3-5-8-11 7-10-12-13 2-11-13 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip Horse racing tips View the full article

Pinstriped ridden by Ben Allen winning the Group 1 Memsie Stakes at Caulfield. (Photo by Pat Scala/Racing Photos) Trainer Enver Jusufovic is optimistic about Pinstriped’s chances in the Listed Cranbourne Cup (1600m) on Saturday, with the six-year-old gelding set to jump from the inside barrier. “It’s a race that’s been around for years, and you’ve got to have the right type of horse in it, and I’ve got the right horse, but he’s got a lot of weight,” Jusufovic said. “It’ll be a big effort if he can win it, and I would have preferred him drawing a little bit wider, but it is what it is. Hopefully Ben (Allen) can give him plenty of room when it’s time to press the button.” Pinstriped has not won since his Group 1 triumph in the Memsie Stakes (1400m) on August 31, but Jusufovic believes his charge is in excellent shape heading into a more suitable assignment this weekend. “It’s a big impost, 61 kilos, but he’s won a Group 1, so it’s going to be interesting, giving horses like Globe seven kilos,” the trainer noted. “Hopefully we don’t get too far back, and we have a bit of luck. He is the class horse of the race, and he’s a big horse. “He’s nice and strong. I’ve got him where I want him. He’s super fit, but it won’t be easy. “Anyway, we’re in there with a chance.” Horse racing news View the full article

Cloudland. (Photo by George Sal/Racing Photos) Kris Lees is optimistic about Cloudland’s chances in the inaugural The Meteorite, but acknowledges the gelding will need to elevate his performance to make an impact in the $1 million race at Cranbourne this Saturday. The grey, owned by OTI Racing, will represent the syndicate’s slot in the Southside Slot Series, which also includes next month’s $1 million The Supernova (1400m) at Pakenham. Cloudland, a six-year-old son of Swiss Ace, earned his spot in OTI’s slot following a gritty win in the Subzero Handicap (1400m) at Flemington on Melbourne Cup Day. “It was a tough win last start, and I thought he got a lovely ride from James McDonald,” Lees told Racing.com. “He was up on the speed and toughed it out well. He has to go to another level, but he’s come through the win well.” Lees has adjusted Cloudland’s preparation for the drop back to 1200m, aiming to keep the gelding sharp. “We’ve just tried to keep him a little on the fresh side coming back to 1200 metres,” he explained. “OTI have a slot, so they wished to put him in, which I was happy with. “There are a couple of smart horses in there, but he’s tough and he’ll take up a position.” Horse racing news View the full article

Encap returning to the mounting yard after claiming the Theo Marks Stakes. Photo: bradleyphotos.com.au Trainer Gary Portelli is confident that Encap can return to form in Saturday’s $1 million The Gong (1600m) at Kembla Grange, despite drawing the wide barrier 19. Reflecting on the four-year-old gelding’s recent midfield finish in the Golden Eagle (500m), Portelli attributed the performance to unfavourable track conditions and a minor setback. “We’re not having much luck with these gates, but he’s going to get back anyway,” Portelli said. “Hopefully it will be a truly run race and, based on his work on Tuesday morning, if he has any luck from that gate, he is going to be right in the finish.” Encap, who had a heel issue leading into the Golden Eagle, didn’t fully let down on the firm track that day, according to Portelli. “He’d had a little heel issue that we’d had to work on (before the Golden Eagle), and he just felt the hard track that day as well. While he likes it firm, you could just see he was holding back a bit. Since then, his foot is 110 percent right,” Portelli explained. With rain falling over the past few days at Kembla Grange, Portelli believes the softer conditions will suit Encap perfectly. “The track should just have the edge off it, and it will be perfect.” Horse racing news View the full article

What Moonee Valley Races Where Moonee Valley Racecourse – Gate 2 Feehan Ave, Moonee Ponds VIC 3039 When Friday, November 22, 2024 First Race 6:15pm AEDT Visit Dabble Horse racing in Victoria heads to Moonee Valley on Friday night for a competitive eight-race meeting. A scorching top of 35 degrees is forecast for Melbourne, meaning the Good 4 track rating will likely be upgraded to a Good 3 at some point. The rail comes out 7m for the entire circuit, with the action set to get underway at 6:15pm AEDT. Best Bet at Moonee Valley: Spione Spione could not have been more impressive on debut when scoring by a narrow margin at the Moonee Valley 1200m. Having sustained a long sprint from the rear of the field, the four-year-old gelding won by just a half-head but arguably would have been further had the runner-up not laid out on him in the home straight. The son of Showtime returns to the same course and distance on Friday night, and with a repeat effort, Spione should remain undefeated through two starts. Best Bet Race 7 – #9 Spione (8) 4yo Gelding | T: Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes | J: Jordan Childs (60kg) Bet with Neds Next Best at Moonee Valley: Exopipi Exopipi has been a shade unlucky in her last two starts at Morphettville. Jake Stephens’ mare was crucially held up for a run two starts back when a moral beaten, and then struggled to cut back the deficit last time out when settling at the rear of a seven-horse field in a leader-dominated affair. Barrier one is a touch concerning, but with the in-form Lachlan Neindorf making the trip across the border, Exopipi will just need clear air at the right time to be bringing up an overdue success. Next Best Race 5 – #10 Exopipi (1) 6yo Mare | T: Jake Stephens | J: Lachlan Neindorf (57.5kg) Bet with Playup Best Value at Moonee Valley: Wild Ruby Wild Ruby has not had much luck in any of her three starts, but the way she keeps hitting the line once in clear air suggests she will not remain a maiden for long. The four-year-old mare should have won at Echuca on November 5 when held up until the 200m mark, flashing home to be beaten by the barest of margins. Alana Kelly should keep her out of trouble from barrier 12 this time, and if Wild Ruby can replicate the same turn of foot she produced at Echuca, she looks over the odds with BlondeBet. Best Value Race 2 – #8 Wild Ruby (12) 4yo Mare | T: Mitch Freedman | J: Alana Kelly (57.5kg) Bet with BlondeBet Friday quaddie tips for Moonee Valley Moonee Valley quadrella selections Friday, November 22, 2024 1-8-10 1-2-4-6-8 2-8-9 1-2-5-8-9 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip Horse racing tips View the full article

The 90th running of the Longacres Mile Stakes headlines a 20-race stakes schedule worth $1,075,000 for Emerald Downs at the 51-day meeting from April 27-Sept. 7, 2025.View the full article

Veteran jockey Tim Thornton recorded his 3,000th career win Nov. 14, leading the panel of racing experts to vote Thornton Jockey of the Week for Nov. 11-17.View the full article