Wandering Eyes

The AU$1 million Rupert Clarke Stakes (G1) at Caulfield provided a dream result for trainer Gary Portelli when Kimochi captured her maiden group 1 success Nov. 16 in the green and white colors of her relatively new owners, Yulong.View the full article

Soul Rush got his first-ever grade 1 win in the Mile Championship (G1) Nov. 17 at Kyoto Racecourse as British invader Charyn, a three-time winner at the top level this season, couldn't overcome a poor start and finished fifth.View the full article

The nominations have been revealed for the 34th Cartier Racing Awards, which will be presented at the Dorchester Hotel in London on the evening of Wednesday, November 20. The contenders for the Cartier Horse Of The Year include Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe heroine Bluestocking (GB) (Camelot {GB}) and top-class miler Charyn (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}). Derby winner City Of Troy (Justify), who later followed up the Coral-Eclipse and Juddmonte International, and outstanding stayer Kyprios (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) are also in contention for the evening's premier equine accolade. In addition to the eight equine categories, the Cartier/The Daily Telegraph Award of Merit will be presented to the person or persons who, in the opinion of the 16-strong Cartier jury, has done the most for European racing and/or breeding either over their lifetime or within the past 12 months. The nominations for the 2024 Cartier Racing Awards are: Cartier Horse of the Year Bluestocking (GB) Charyn (Ire) City Of Troy Kyprios (Ire) Cartier Older Horse Bluestocking (GB) Charyn (Ire) Goliath (Ger) Rebel's Romance (Ire) Cartier Three-Year-Old Colt Calandagan (Ire) City Of Troy Notable Speech (GB) Rosallion (Ire) Cartier Three-Year-Old Filly Kalpana (GB) Porta Fortuna (Ire) Ramatuelle Tamfana (Ger) Cartier Sprinter Asfoora (Aus) Bradsell (GB) Kind Of Blue (GB) Starlust (GB) Cartier Stayer Double Major (Ire) Jan Brueghel (Ire) Kyprios (Ire) Sweet William (Ire) Cartier Two-Year-Old Colt Henri Matisse (Ire) Hotazhell (GB) Shadow Of Light (GB) Whistlejacket (Ire) Cartier Two-Year-Old Filly Babouche (GB) Desert Flower (Ire) Fairy Godmother (Ire) Lake Victoria (Ire) The post Nominations Revealed for the 2024 Cartier Racing Awards appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Chapel Stud's National Hunt stallion Walzertakt (Ger) has died following a freak accident, the operation announced on Sunday. Roisin Close, Chapel Stud manager, said, “Unfortunately, Walzertakt incurred an accident whilst receiving rehab in preparation to stand next season and despite everyone's best efforts to save him he had to be put to sleep. We extend our condolences to Simon Davies at DahlBury, on whose behalf we stood him. Known as 'Walt' to all of us in the yard, his presence will be greatly missed.” Simon Davies added, “We are devastated with the news of the freak accident to Walzertakt and saddened mainly for Roisin and the team that looked after him. He was a stallion with great potential and temperament who was only just getting going in Britain.” Walzertakt was a high-class stayer on the Flat for Jean-Pierre Carvalho, notably winning the G2 Prix Maurice de Nieuil and G3 Prix Gladiateur as a six-year-old in 2015. He was retired to Haras de la Hetraie ahead of the 2017 breeding season, before moving to Haras de la Croix Sonnet where he stood for four consecutive seasons until arriving at Chapel Stud for 2022. By Montjeu (Ire) and a half-brother to the Deutsches Derby hero Wiener Walzer (Ger), Walzertakt's most accomplished performer from his early crops is the talented chaser Klitchko De Belair (Fr), runner-up in the G3 Prix Morgex at Auteuil in December last year. The post Chapel Stud Announce Death of Promising Jumps Sire Walzertakt appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Goffs sparks happy memories for the family-run Ballinacurra Stud, which comprises brothers George and David Mullins along with their cousin Denis McCarthy, who have enjoyed some major results at the foal sales here in recent years. It was at this sale in 2022 when the boys of Ballinacurra enjoyed a week to remember when selling foals by Blue Point (Ire) and Ghaiyyath (Ire) for €200,000 and €145,000. The team are quietly hopeful of another profitable week at Kildare Paddocks with a seven-strong draft set to go under the hammer, including foals by Dark Angel (Ire), Kodiac (GB) and St Mark's Basilica (Fr). Mullins explained, “We've a nice draft of horses, including a couple of nice foals to sell on Wednesday. We've been coming to Goffs for a long time and it's every consignor's ambition to be coming here with the nicer foals for Wednesday. We think we have brought some quality foals to the market so we're quietly hopeful.” For all that Goffs has provided the Ballinacurra team with some memorable moments, those big-ticket sales have been tinged with sadness. Michael Mullins, who laid the foundations of the County Limerick stud, passed away in 2021. To say the late breeder would be proud of how his sons and nephew have carried on the mantle would be an understatement and Mullins is hoping to continue that proud tradition this week. He said, “Goffs has been a very lucky place for us. Even when we were younger, the talk around the kitchen table always revolved around how the foals were progressing and what shape they were in ahead of Goffs. The Blue Point and the Ghaiyyath selling in 2022 was a magic day but we've been fortunate to have had a few more six-figure foals sell here as well.” Mullins added, “We're very positive about this year's draft. It has been quite busy over the past couple of days so you'd have to be optimistic. But there are a lot of nerves-there's no point saying otherwise. Your whole year builds up to this sale so it's like your cup final if you like. It's a hugely important week for every breeder and we'd be hopeful for a good week.” It's not just make or break for the breeders this week. Pinhookers and end users will live and die by the decisions they make between Monday and Thursday, where close to 1,000 foals will be offered under the hammer. Any person who can turn a €200 foal into a €18,000 yearling knows what they are doing and that's exactly what Sarah Dempsey of Tincoon Stables did at the Goffs Autumn Yearling Sale with a colt by Lope Y Fernandez (Ire). That result among others has provided Dempsey with an opportunity to dig a little deeper this week but, make no mistake, she will not be venturing too far away from what has proved to be a tried and trusted model in unearthing value at the middle to lower end of the market. She explained, “We've been pinhooking for the past couple of years and it's definitely working. If we see a chancy foal that walks at small money, we are willing to take a punt. The sire doesn't really bother me but they have to walk. You'll always sell a nice horse regardless of what they are by. We started off with one or two and this year we sold four yearlings. We'd like to expand it and are planning to buy a few more this year.” Dempsey continued, “The Lope Y Fernandez was very cheap but we knew that there was improvement in him. He turned inside out for us and it was an amazing result. We couldn't believe it. We have a bigger budget this year as a result but we won't be losing the run of ourselves-we're still searching for a bargain. We know that we are able to buy nice horses and we might try to up the level a small bit this year but we won't be changing tack too much. Really, it's all about getting out and seeing as many horses as possible and hoping that one or two might slip through the cracks.” A scene from the sales on Sunday | Goffs Indeed, Dempsey is not the only pinhooker who faces into Goffs with something of a war chest. The strength of this year's yearling market, particularly from the Orby Sale onwards, put a very good look on the year for many traders. Nobody is more aware of this than Goffs chief executive Henry Beeby, who is expecting bountiful trade for the foals right through to the mares session on Friday and Saturday. He said, “This is a sale we are very proud of and it has the cream of the Irish foal crop. The best Irish foals come here because we deliver every year. The place is absolutely buzzing today [Sunday] and every vendor I have spoken to can't believe the footfall. There is an international audience here, all of the Irish and English pinhookers are here and there is some Japanese interest as well. We're just after having a yearling sale season that appeared to get stronger and stronger and that would give hope that pinhookers will get stuck in and you'd hope that there are also plenty of end users who will see the value towards the top end of the market as well.” As well as foals by top notch stallions Blue Point (Ire), Camelot (GB), Havana Grey (GB), Mehmas (Ire), Kingman (GB), Lope De Vega (Ire), No Nay Never, Night Of Thunder (Ire), Wootton Bassett (GB) and more, for many buyers, this week will provide the first glimpse of some of the potential stars of the future, with foals by Minzaal (Ire), Blackbeard (Ire) and Bayside Boy (Ire) to name but a few on show. And while Goffs may not have the spellbinding Niarchos draft to look forward to this week, there are some big-name mares on show-none more captivating than Gouache (Ger) (Shamardal), the dam of Japan Cup-bound Goliath (Ger) (Adlerflug {Ger}). Beeby concluded, “It's fair to say we will have to wait a long time to have a sale like last year's mares' sale. If you strip out the Niarchos draft from last year, we still had a good sale. We have a good catalogue this year with a lot of highlights in there, including the dam of Goliath, who is one of the jewels in the crown. But only one jewel. There are several others who are going to attract plenty of attention. We expect a big international audience for the mares session and they will possibly come for the Wednesday foals as well. We're hopeful.” The post ‘There Are Nerves – The November Foal Sale At Goffs Is Our Cup Final’ appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

During the finale of a 12-race card at Woodbine Racetrack on Saturday, Flawless Ruler (Honor Code) was eased at the top of the lane during a $15,000 claimer going a mile and a sixteenth over the all-weather course, was vanned off, and after an examination by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO)-licensed veterinarians at the barn, the 5-year-old gelding was humanely euthanized, the track said via a press release late Saturday. Following a thorough investigation of the incident, the veterinarians concluded that the injury was unlikely to be a result of track conditions. With the concurrence of the AGCO and communication with the Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association and the Jockeys' Guild, it was decided that training will proceed as scheduled on Sunday morning. Following safety concerns with track conditions last weekend after three breakdowns–one during training on Saturday and two on the card that same day–which led to the cancellation of two races on Saturday and the entire Sunday schedule, Woodbine and its Tapeta consultants worked to improve the track conditions and return the surface to its optimal condition for safe training and racing. Following the approval of the AGCO, Woodbine resumed racing on Thursday which continued on Friday and into Saturday. Owned by Bruno Schickedanz and trained by Norman McKnight, Flawless Ruler raced 20 times prior to Saturday's start and was claimed from CamHaven Farms and trainer Steve Flint for $15,000 at Woodbine Sept. 29. The horse's jockey, Keveh Nicholls, was unharmed during the incident. The post Horse Euthanized After Last Race At Woodbine On Saturday, Track Deemed Safe By AGCO For Sunday appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

First-season trainer ends frustrating run of near misses thanks to the knockout success of debutant Silvery Breeze.View the full article

Champion galloper makes light work of Group Two rivals with thumping first-up victory.View the full article

The irresistible surge of Ka Ying Rising (NZ) (Shamexpress) towards Group 1 glory continued at Sha Tin on Sunday when David Hayes’ emerging champion sprinter powered to victory in the Gr.2 BOCHK Private Banking Jockey Club Sprint (1200m), breaking Sacred Kingdom’s long-standing track record. Clocking 1m 07.43s despite being eased down over the last 100m by Zac Purton, Ka Ying Rising improved his overall record to eight wins and two seconds from 10 starts and took a stranglehold on the HK$26 million Gr.1 Longines Hong Kong Sprint (1200m) at Sha Tin on 8 December. Reeling off successive sectionals of 21.93s and 22.14s from the 800m, Ka Ying Rising swept to a three and a quarter length victory over Howdeepisyourlove with Helios Express a further short head away in third to eclipse Sacred Kingdom’s mark of 1m 07.50s, set in the same race on 17 November, 2007. There is no doubt Ka Ying Rising could have recorded an even faster time had Purton ridden out the Grandmoral Lodge bred four-year-old, but such was the gelding’s superiority Purton had time to blow a kiss to a camera on the inside of the track. Settling third behind Victor The Winner and Copartner Prance after crossing from barrier 10, Ka Ying Rising stalked the speed before challenging at the 300m and, such was the 1.1 favourite’s blinding acceleration, the race was effectively over 200 metres from the finish line. “I knew it was a track record, so I thought I would seal it with a kiss,” Purton said of his celebration. “It’s getting scary now how good he’s becoming and how easily he’s doing it. It’s a nice top-up run for the big one (Hong Kong Sprint) next month. “He’s certainly come a long way in a short period of time. I was on Aethero, who ran as favourite in the Hong Kong Sprint as a three-year-old but, unfortunately, he had some had some health problems. “This guy is the only other horse who’s improved as rapidly as that, that I’ve been on. He’s just perfect to ride. He’s got great gate speed, he relaxes beautifully mid-race and he’s got a great turn of foot – it’s everything you need in a sprinter. He hasn’t won at Group 1 level yet, so he’s still got to do a bit. “Every race, you need things to go right and we had things fall right in our favour today, so that was pleasing, but it was more pleasing for him to do what he did.” David Hayes was relieved and elated post-race. “He’s broken the track record and Zac was waving to the camera with 100m to go. What I loved about it was he forced the issue early the way he come back under him to sit third and fourth. From a trainer’s point of view, that is really something to look forward – to have a horse that relaxes in the run,” the dual Hong Kong Champion Trainer said. “It’s a course record held by a superstar (Sacred Kingdom). You’ve got to be pretty good to get the course record at Sha Tin when you see all these wonderful, promising horses racing on fast ground. To have your horse in the book is a bit of a thrill. “I love looking at his action on race days – he just has that extra action. When it’s time to accelerate, when he ambles up, he really lengthens and puts races to bed really quickly. He’s a bottomless pit at the moment. “He was a late-furnishing horse. I think that probably was why he got defeated a couple times (by Wunderbar) – he was a little bit immature. He thinks he’s undefeated because he was beaten a millimetre twice. When you see him walking around, some of the big, established sprinters here in Hong Kong look a bit more furnished than him, so there’s plenty more to come from this horse.” Regarding the Hong Kong Sprint, Hayes said: “All he has to do really now is hold his form and I can’t see any reason why he won’t. We’ve got 21 more sleeps before the big Group 1 in three weeks, so we’re really looking forward to it. “I think he’s the horse they have to beat. I’m not sure what is coming at the moment but they will have a big job to beat him.” Group 1 winners Invincible Sage, Victor The Winner and California Spangle – all carrying 128lb – finished fifth, seventh and eighth, respectively. View the full article

Ricky Yiu Poon-fai’s stable star heads to December’s Hong Kong Mile as the leading local hope.View the full article

David Hayes’ magnificent speedster continues remarkable rise with stunning Group Two Jockey Club Sprint (1,200m) victory.View the full article

What Kyneton Races Where Kyneton Racing Club – 44 Campaspe Pl, Kyneton VIC 3444 When Monday, November 18, 2024 First Race 1:30pm AEDT Visit Dabble A competitive eight-race meeting at Kyneton is set to kick off another action-packed week of racing in Victoria. The meeting is set to be held on a Good 4 rated surface, despite the Soft 5 rating at the time of acceptances. The rail comes out 4m the entire circuit, with the first race set to commence at 1:30pm AEDT. Best Bet at Kyneton: Glamour Ana Glamour Ana has chased home a couple of handy types when finishing second at her last two starts. Two runs back, the three-year-old filly was beaten two-lengths by Group 1 Thousand Guineas (1600m) contender, Stage ‘N’ Screen, before going on to chase home Express Yo’Self, who went around in Group company at Caulfield on Saturday. If Blaike McDougall can land in the one-one from barrier six and have a camp on the speed throughout, Glamour Ana looks to have the upside and class about her to be breaking maiden raks at the fourth time of asking. Best Bet Race 4 – #7 Glamour Ana (6) 3yo Filly | T: Ben, Will & JD Hayes | J: Blaike McDougall (56kg) Bet with Neds Next Best at Kyneton: Loafer Fresh from a four-month spell, the Archie Alexander-trained Loafer looks to have found the right race to return a winner in. Having been competitive in tougher races than this as a juvenile, the now three-year-old filly looks to have returned in fine form if her recent jumpouts are anything to go by. Declan Bates will have her in the ideal position on the leaders heels throughout, and once asked to quicken, Loafer should have no issue in disposing of her rivals over 1112m first-up. Next Best Race 6 – #10 Loafer (3) 3yo Filly | T: Archie Alexander | J: Declan Bates (59kg) Bet with Playup Best Value at Kyneton: Foreverintime Despite still being a maiden in Australia, former Kiwi Foreverintime presents as great value with Picklebet in the Kyneton closer. The filly has been racing in much tougher races than what she lines up in on Monday since arriving on those shores and was last seen finishing last in Group 2 company at Moonee Valley. In New Zealand, she once finished 3.6 lengths off Velocious in Group 1 company, which stands out like a sore thumb in a BM64 like this. If Linda Meech can land her in a prominent position, Foreverintime looks a great play. Best Value Race 8 – #9 Foreverintime (11) 3yo Filly | T: Peter Moody & Katherine Coleman | J: Linda Meech (57kg) Bet with Picklebet Monday quaddie tips for Kyneton Kyneton quadrella selections Monday, November 18, 2024 3-8-9-11 1-10 3-5-7-11 4-5-9-11 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip Horse racing tips View the full article

Driver Penalties S Doody | Manawatu 11 November; use of whip; suspended 12-21 November inclusive. S Dickson | Manawatu 11 November; use of whip; fined $300. L Whittaker | NZ Metropolitan 12 November; use of whip; suspended 13-23 November inclusive. B Butt | NZ Metropolitan 12 November; careless driving; suspended 16-24 November inclusive. A Butt | NZ Metropolitan 12 November; contacted track marker; fined $100. C Hart | NZ Metropolitan 12 November; contacted track marker; fined $100. K Green | Ashburton 14 November; use of whip; suspended 18-27 November inclusive. N Williamson | NZ Metropolitan 15 November; use of whip; suspended 18-27 November inclusive and fined $600. C Hart | NZ Metropolitan 15 November; use of whip; suspended 17-26 November inclusive and fined $600. R Stevens | Winton 17 November; use of whip; fined $250. S Walkinshaw | Winton 17 November; use of whip; fined $300. Trainer Penalty S & A Telfer | Ashburton 14 November; unapproved gear; fined $600. Horse Penalties MAVIS JONES | NZ Metropolitan 12 November; broke at start; must complete standing start trial. VERDUCCI | Ashburton 14 November; atrial fibrillation; veterinary clearance including ECG required and must complete trial. MOA MOJITO | Ashburton 14 November; broke in running; must complete trial. CRACKLE N CRUNCH | Ashburton 14 November; broke in running; must complete trial. MIKI BENNETT | NZ Metropolitan 15 November; broke in running; must complete trial. SALUTE | NZ Metropolitan 15 November; late scratching on veterinary advice; veterinary clearance required. EMPIRE CITY | NZ Metropolitan 15 November; poor recovery; veterinary clearance required. SPIRIT OF ANARCHY | NZ Metropolitan 15 November; late scratching on veterinary advice; veterinary clearance required. Protests GENERAL JEN | NZ Metropolitan 15 November; denied a fair start; declared a non-runner. TOP POCKET CHANCE | Winton 17 November; displayed unsatisfactory manners prior to start; declared a non-runner. The post 11-17 November 2024 appeared first on RIB. View the full article

Rider Penalties C Butler | Canterbury 13 November; use of whip; suspended 18-28 November and fined $150. D Mansour | Canterbury 13 November; careless riding; suspended 17-27 November inclusive. A Balloo | Canterbury 13 November; careless riding; suspended 17-28 November inclusive. K Myers | Canterbury 13 November; careless riding; suspended 24-29 November inclusive. S Weatherley | Canterbury 13 November; failed to make weight; fined $100. C Barnes | Canterbury 13 November; medical clearance required (subsequently received on 16 November). S O’Malley | Non-raceday dated 12 November; misconduct; fined $600. J Nishizuka | Tauranga 16 November; careless riding; suspended 25 November – 1 December inclusive. A Lawson-Carroll | Tauranga 16 November; failed to ride mount to finish; fined $300. A Balloo | Canterbury 16 November; use of whip; suspended 29 November – 7 December inclusive. C Grylls | Canterbury 16 November; careless riding; suspended 20-28 November inclusive. M Cartwright | Canterbury 16 November; careless riding; suspended 24 November – 5 December inclusive and fined $650. D Cooper | Canterbury 16 November; careless riding; suspended 22 November – 5 December inclusive. S Wynne | Canterbury 16 November; use of whip (2 charges); suspended 22 November – 12 December inclusive. K Myers | Canterbury 16 November; use of whip; suspended 30 November – 11 December inclusive and fined $1,850. L Sutherland | Canterbury 16 November; use of whip; fined $650. L Douglas | Woodville-Pahiatua 17 November; medical clearance required. N Hailey | Woodville-Pahiatua 17 November; medical clearance required. Trainer Penalties L Noble | Te Aroha 12 November; late gear notification; fined $50. K Dell | Non-raceday dated 12 November; failed to comply with NZTR Welfare Code; disqualified for life and costs of $9,054.17. A Sharrock | Tauranga 16 November; incorrect gear; fined $50. Horse Penalties PROBOY | Te Aroha 12 November; late scratching after becoming fractious in barrier; must complete trial. MIVIRGO | Te Aroha 12 November; reared at start; must complete trial. STAPHEE | Te Aroha 12 November; lame; veterinary clearance required. KINDRED SPIRIT | Canterbury 13 November; reared at start; must complete trial. SUZUKA | Canterbury 13 November; epistaxis; stood down for 3 months and must complete trial. XENA COURTE | Canterbury 13 November; unsatisfactory performance; must complete trial. EL VIENTO | Canterbury 13 November; reared at start; must complete trial. AMAZONIA | Tauranga 16 November; lame; veterinary clearance required. STONYBRECK | Tauranga 16 November; epistaxis; stood down for 3 months and veterinary clearance required. POPPY’S GIRL | Woodville-Pahiatua 17 November; epistaxis; stood down for 3 months and veterinary clearance required. MOLASSES | Woodville-Pahiatua 17 November; unsatisfactory performance; stood down for indefinite period. LITTLE WIZARD | Woodville-Pahiatua 17 November; unsatisfactory performance; must complete trial. General The Wellington RC meeting scheduled for 15 November was abandoned due to weather and track conditions. The post 11-17 November 2024 appeared first on RIB. View the full article

Jim Wallace’s three-year-old pairing of Liberty Park (NZ) (Ocean Park) and Skippers Canyon (NZ) (Belardo) fought out a tight finish to the HB Farmers Transport Ltd (1600m) at Woodville on Sunday, with the former coming out on top in a stable quinella. Liberty Park was favoured over his stablemate narrowly in the market, which had Croix De Guerre favoured at $3.30. The favourite was quickly away from the gates and lead throughout the running, while Liberty Park and Skippers Canyon settled alongside each-other near the tail of the field. As they turned for home, Skippers Canyon veered to the inside for Amber Riddell and Liberty Park soon followed, finding plenty in the closing stages under Kate Hercock to score by a half-length. Wallace was rapt with the result and anticipates the best is yet to come for Liberty Park, a son of Ocean Park who may be set for the Gr.3 Elsdon Park Wellington Stakes (1600m) in ten days’ time. “I thought he was very good, I think he’s a very smart horse coming up,” he said. “He’s still learning his trade, but I think he’ll be a better-than-average stayer and I really like the horse. “I don’t really know where he’ll go next, it will depend a bit on the weather, but we might have a throw at the stumps at the three-year-old race at Otaki on the 28th.” He was equally pleased with the effort of Skippers Canyon, who added another minor placing to his record after finishing second to Connello at Trentham, who went on to run a gallant fifth in the Gr.1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) on Saturday. “He was solid, he probably wanted a little bit more cut in the ground, but he’s fit and racing well, he’s a decent sort of horse,” Wallace said. Wallace bred both horses under his Ardsley Stud banner, and after both failed to sell at the National Yearling Sales and Ready-To-Run Sales, he retained them to train in his own right. “My wife and I bred them both and offered them at the yearling sales, and again at the Ready To Runs, so when we couldn’t find buyers, fortunately I am able to do a little bit with them myself,” he said. “It’s very satisfying, if you don’t sell horses at the sales then it can be challenging to keep them on to train, but fortunately, these two have seemed to pass the test.” Based at Opaki, Wallace has a small team of other horses in work, with Merkel, a Reliable Man filly, one to watch for the future. “I have a filly called Merkel that I really rate, but she’s had no end of problems and has been off the scene. She was supposed to race about three months ago, but things have gone wrong and she had a pretty decent accident which required further time off,” Wallace said. “She’s about ready to go back into work. “Other than that, we have bits and pieces here and there, but those are the three mainstays at this stage.” View the full article

Benefactor (NZ) (Contributer) bounced back into the winner’s circle at Woodville on Sunday with a strong victory in the Valley D’Vine Restaurant Waipukurau Cup (1600m). The daughter of Contributer is trained at Awapuni by Lisa Latta, who had been searching for ideal track conditions, which she struck at the meeting with an improving Heavy 8 surface in play. In the hands of Lily Sutherland, Benefactor flew the gates and settled in the box-seat third, while Shelbyrock’n took the pacemaking role at a strong tempo. Benefactor began to loom up to the leader on the turn and hit the front early, showing plenty of fight to hold out a surging Tikemyson at the post by a head. Latta was pleased with the performance, indicating a mile won’t be the end of her distance range going forward. “She’s just been battling with tracks, they’ve either been too heavy, but her run at Waverley was a touch disappointing,” she said. “I just think today, the track wasn’t heavy as it was upgraded, and she was looking for that touch better track. “I think she’ll definitely get up over 2000m, she’s just taken a bit of time as some of the Contributer’s do. She tries really hard and is a good little galloper.” The win came to the delight of the mare’s large group of owners, who took shares after Latta purchased her for $24,000 out of Curraghmore’s draft at the 2021 Karaka Yearling Sales. In her 25 starts, she has recorded four wins, four minor placings and $105,400 in stakes. “She’s got a big ownership group, we didn’t pay a lot for her and syndicated her out to a big group so it’s good,” she said. Benefactor was bred by Little Avondale Trust out of a O’Reilly mare Miss Bondi. The mare’s half-brother by Per Incanto, Aeroinvincible, has won two races in Hong Kong. View the full article

The Weigh In team look back on a fantastic final day at Riccarton, dissect the best action from Tauranga and Australia plus Guy catches up with injured jockey Lisa Allpress on her long road to recovery. Weigh In, November 17 View the full article

A week has passed since Mr Brightside (NZ) (Bullbars) thrilling victory in the Gr.1 Champions Mile at Flemington and the Lindsay Park team are still beaming with pride in what he was able to achieve on the final day of the Melbourne Cup Carnival. In the midst of a freshen after a six-start campaign that notched two Group One wins – both at Flemington over 1600-metres – and three other placings at the highest level, the gelding has spent the last seven days at the Hayes’ farm where rest and relaxation has been mixed with time on the water walker. “He’s a very happy horse in the day paddocks and he’ll be back in work before you know it,” Ben Hayes said. For next year, it is races over the mile that will dominate Mr Brightside’s program of which in the autumn that could include an appearance in the Group 1 All-Star Mile (1600m) at Flemington or a trip to Sydney before heading they scratch the Hong Kong itch to take on the Group 1 Champions Mile (1600m) at Sha Tin in late April. “It’s the right time,” Ben Hayes said. “He’s seven, he’s done all he can here in Australia – he’s been very competitive – and I think now all in the ownership are happy to keep him at a mile.” Backing the stable’s thinking, according to Racing and Sports ratings some of Mr Brightside’s best performances have been over 1600 metres with his peak ratings of 125 achieved in the Gr.1 Champions Mile last weekend at Flemington and in the same race in 2023, together with the Gr.1 Makybe Diva Stakes in September. He also achieved a rating of 125 in the 2023 Cox Plate (2040m) when finishing a narrow second to Romantic Warrior to show just strong the company is that he has kept. “Probably next spring we’ll look to aim at a King Charles III Stakes rather than a Cox Plate,” Ben added. “That would then allow a month between that run and then the Champions Mile at Flemington.” Despite a future focus on 1600-metres or thereabouts for the gelding, the Hayes trio are not discounting a return to events over ten furlongs. “He’s shown that he’s an elite miler even though we still think he runs 2000-metres but he’s just been unlucky in those strongly run race,” he added. “What can you do? That’s racing. “It isn’t set in stone but the ownership group and us trainers, we think we’ll keep him at a mile.” View the full article

Riccarton Park trainer Terri Rae capped off a successful New Zealand Cup Week with an impressive double on Saturday, courtesy of fast-improving pair Spot On Time (NZ) (Time Test) and Texas Dolly (NZ) (Ace High). A mare by Ace High, Texas Dolly had been the unlucky runner at the opening meeting, struggling to obtain clear running in the straight and powering home into third behind Hivari. On the seven-day back-up, Rae and jockey Michael McNab formulated a plan to avoid a repeat of that misfortune, and despite a low barrier draw, Texas Dolly settled back in the field and managed to get clear air on the outside, storming to victory in the finish by 1 – ¼ lengths. McNab’s delight was evident with a celebratory salute over the line, an emotion shared by Rae. “We were a little bit worried about her draw, because she has to get right back and finish off, and we ended up with barrier two,” she said. “We made a bit of a plan to go right back and come across to the outside, and it was good to see, because she was very unlucky on the first day. “Michael was pretty pleased to get that done as well, he gets along very well with her little ownership group.” Texas Dolly’s affinity with the chute began in her debut last season, and after mixed performances over further distance in the following starts, Rae is happy to keep her where she is so effective. “It was only because of the fillies’ series that we went out to that range, she was ridden cold in that first win over 1200 and came home in a blistering 600, and she never really got that same run again,” Rae said. “She was up outside the leader over 2000m for the first time on a rain-affected track, and nothing really went to plan in the mile either. “We put her out and started again, she’s got such a good finish on her that we’ll just keep her to what she’s doing at the 1200. “There isn’t any racing for her down here coming up, we’re looking at taking both her and Spot On Time up to Trentham, because it’s a great long straight and really suits the pattern of her racing.” Out of a Savabeel mare Saveadance, Texas Dolly is a half-sister to Sassy Merlot, who won the Listed Great Easter Stakes (1400m) in April at the course, alongside placings at Group Two and Three level. Bred by Advantageous Ventures, the mare was purchased for $23,000 by Riversley Park at the 2022 Karaka Yearling Sales, and has earned nearly $60,000 in eight starts for her ownership group. Progressive gelding Spot On Time completed a race-to-race double for Rae in the following event, the Wuhan Jockey Club Premier (1400m). Carrying 54kg in the hands of Kelly Myers, the son of Time Test was the odds-on favourite at $1.80, and his performance was right up to that standard, settling outside of the speed before putting the field to bed in the straight, the final margin being four lengths to Epee Beel. “He went really well, it was his only run of the week as there wasn’t a huge amount for him to choose from, and we were a bit worried about the rain-affected ground, but he does seem to go on anything,” Rae said. “He’s really nice and sharp over 1400, so we’ll look at keeping to that with him for now too.” Spot On Time is fashioning an enviable strike rate, with four wins from just nine starts, alongside three seconds and a third. The five-year-old was bred by Kamada Bloodstock and races in their colours. Rae has a similarly impressive strike rate of her own, picking up another two wins across the week with Our Man Stan and Full Moon Fever. “We had a pretty good week, we only had a small team of about 12 for the week and a couple are young ones, so it was good,” she said. “We had a couple of unlucky runners and some who got the luck, which is all part of racing. You get those bigger fields and there’s always going to be unlucky runners, but they’ve run very well. “We’ve got a great little team of staff which always helps too.” View the full article

Progressive sprinter Twain (NZ) (Per Incanto) added another victory to his burgeoning record when he dominated his rivals in the Tauranga Hardware & Plumbing (1200m) at Tauranga on Saturday. The John Bell-trained four-year-old had opened his account at the Bay of Plenty venue back in July and quickly followed up with a second win at Te Rapa shortly afterwards. A pair of placed finishes followed without a lot of luck, however, in Saturday’s seven-horse rating 75 contest he looked a strong prospect and so it proved as he tracked tearaway pacemaker Kiva Han before taking over on the home bend to bolt clear before easing down for a three-length victory in the hands of rider Billy Jacobsen. Bell had expected a strong performance and was pleased his charge could deliver for his owners Elizabeth and Peter Martin, who bred him from outstanding Group One performed mare Fleur De Lune. “That was very exciting,” Bell said. “What really impressed me was that the horse was giving a lot of weight to the others but the pacemaker with the young apprentice aboard gave us a great drag into the race. “You can only see this guy going forward from here and I’m so pleased for Billy as he has had a break and is back now and riding well. “Elizabeth and Peter Martin have some lovely bloodlines and horses and I’m lucky enough to have some to train.” Bell was guarded on the immediate future for Twain but did mention he may be tempted to set him for the Gr.1 Sistema Railway (1200m) on Karaka Millions night (January 25), where he produced Julius to win the Ellerslie sprint feature in 2000. “We will just sit on him now and see as it will depend on tracks,” he said. “A bit of a dream might be to do what Julius did in the Railway. “I’m banking that Ellerslie will suit him as my horses like some ping out of the tracks so if it does, here we come.” Twain is the third living foal of Fleur De Lune who won six of her 37 career starts and was also placed at Group One level on five separate occasions as she accumulated over $429,000 in prizemoney. View the full article

A highly competitive edition of the Claiming Crown at Churchill Downs Nov. 16 saw thrilling finishes, a disqualification in the feature race, and victories from a variety of connections.View the full article

Laughing Boy (Distorted Humor) got the last laugh-again-in the featured race on the 26th annual Claiming Crown program Saturday at Churchill Downs. The 6-year-old, who hadn't raced since April, led Saturday's $225,000 Jewel at nine furlongs for most of the trip and then again inside the sixteenth pole. But the no-quit grinder required a stewards' disqualification of the rival who had passed him at both the quarter pole and at the wire to elevate his second-across-the-wire finish to a by-decision victory. That's the second time in three races that Laughing Boy has been the beneficiary of a DQ in a big race. It also happened Mar. 24 in the $150,000 Excelsior S. at Aqueduct when Laughing Boy ran second at 54-1 but got promoted to the win by the stewards.. On Saturday, with three horses stacked across the track at the furlong pole, the 10-1 Laughing Boy, closest to the inside, wasn't much bothered by the veering-in Surface to Air (Midshipman), who had forward momentum on the lead but shifted inward, tightening up on Welaka (Malibu Moon) in the middle and forcing that rival to check out of contention. If anything, Laughing Boy seemed emboldened by the roughhousing. He fought back to regain the lead before losing it again in the final few jumps. Surface to Air crossed the wire a half-length ahead of Laughing Boy in 1:50.47. Hurry Hurry (Accelerate) was third and Welaka ended up fourth. Surface to Air was placed fourth via DQ, behind the runner he fouled. Laughing Boy was ridden by Samuel Camacho Jr. and is trained by David Jacobson, who also owns in partnership with Lawrence Roman. Laughing Boy had been competing in stakes races his last three tries, but was eligible for the condition because he had started for a $35,000 claiming tag within the past two years. “This race wasn't originally on our plans but I saw he was eligible for it,” Jacobson said. “I wasn't quite sure if I'd have him ready to go a mile and an eighth. He ran a great race. It's been the second time in three races he's been placed first. Sometimes in racing it's good to have some luck on your side.” The Claiming Crown, which began in 1999 as a way to showcase and reward horses who compete in the types of races that form the backbone of day-to-day American racing, is a partnership between the National Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association and the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association. Voodoo Zip | Coady Media Its annual programs are conducted under starter-allowance conditions pegged to previous-race claiming prices. Conditions were fast and firm at Louisville for this year's edition, the first since 2021 that the grass races weren't snowed or rained out. In the $175,000 Emerald at 1/16 miles on the turf, Echo Lane (Treasure Beach {GB}) conceded an early lead, then applied gradual torque to crack the frontrunner and win by a diminishing half-length ahead of the onrushing favorite in 1:41.09. Anthony Rogers owns the 3-year-old colt, who was most recently fourth at 24-1 odds in the GIII Virginia Derby, but had previously met the $25,000 claiming requirement. Rohan Crichton trains, with jockey Luis Saez up. In the $150,000 Tiara for distaffers at 1 1/16 miles on the turf, Ghostly Gal (Ghostzapper) stalked from midpack and uncorked a gradual grind-down to prevail by a head at 4-1 odds in 1:41.73. The 6-year-old hasn't spent much of her 6-for-15 career in claiming races. She's 2-for-3 in her only three starts for a tag, including a win at the $25,000 level two starts back at Colonial Downs to attain eligibility for the Tiara. The winning owner/trainer/jockey connections are Tommy Town Thoroughbreds, Wayne Catalano and Vincent Cheminaud. In the $150,000 Canterbury Tom Metzen Memorial on the grass at 5 1/2 furlongs, Francisco Arrieta deftly sliced Voodoo Zip (City Zip) through top-of-stretch traffic to pop home at 33-1 odds, winning by 1 1/4 lengths in 1:03.24. Owned and trained by Juan Cano, the 7-year-old gelding now has a 6-7-7 mark from 34 starts. Horses at double-digit odds rounded out the top three in the $125,000 Rapid Transit at seven furlongs. The stretch run featured multiple waves of closers and four horses still in it to win it at the sixteenth pole. Chris Emigh stormed home first with Like a Saltshaker (Peace and Justice), who won by a head in 1:23.52. Emigh got a leg up on the 13-1 shot from his wife, the trainer Brittany Vanden Berg. The 6-year-old gelding now boasts a commanding 17-8-0 record from 38 lifetime starts, with nine of those wins since Vanden Berg dropped the $10,000 claim slip on behalf of current owner Marisco Brothers back on May 14, 2023. The $100,000 Iron Horse Kent Sterling Memorial at 1 1/16 miles was wired by King of Hollywood (Palace Malice), a 5-year-old who once started against Grade I company (Haskell S.) at age three but has subsequently changed hands via the claim box six times, including most recently for $5,000 on June 1. With the gelding riding a two-race winning streak at Delaware Park into the Claiming Crown, jockey Jorge Gonzalez put King of Hollywood's big white blaze in front shortly after the start from post one. Leading under constant pressure, he swatted back several stout challenges on the far turn and in deep stretch before being saved by the wire for the neck victory at 14-1 odds in 1:44.29 for owner Estlae Garcia and trainer Daniel Siculietano. In the $100,000 Glass Slipper for fillies and mares at one mile, 2024's winningest Thoroughbred in terms of victories (11), Tennessee Moon (Ransom the Moon), had the lead at the top of the lane but got swallowed up by two challengers before 1.87-1 favorite Jubilant Joanie (Unified) barreled by them all to win by a well-timed neck under Reylu Gutierrez in 1:37.94. Already having achieved sub-$12,500 claiming eligibility for the Claiming Crown earlier in her career, the 4-year-old filly was claimed out of a win for $20,000 two starts back by trainer Jeff Mullins, who shares ownership with partners Darren Carraway and Denise De Quevedo. In the $100,000 Ready's Rocket Express at six furlongs, 1.23-1 favorite Concrete Glory (Bodemeister) was hustled to the inside position in a three-way duel. Despite that expenditure of early energy, jockey Saez peeled off from the pack under a hand ride at the top of the lane and ran up the score late, winning by 7 1/2 lengths in 1:09.30 for owner Big Frank Stable and trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. Concrete Glory had only once raced below the $8,000 lifetime claiming eligibility cutoff for the Ready's Rocket, and he had been cuffing around starter-allowance and optional-claiming company at Gulfstream this year, with a 3-1-1 record from five starts. Saez was subbing for Tyler Gaffalione, who was unseated from a 2-year-old shortly after the start of Saturday's (non-Claiming Crown) third race. Churchill's media team reported he had been transported the University of Louisville Hospital to evaluate hip and back pain. The post Claiming Crown Jewel Goes to Long Shot Twice Elevated to Wins by DQ in Big Races appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. 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Having picked up the greatest victory of his career, thus far, in the 2023 GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint, Nobals (Noble Mission {GB}) had yet to return to that peak this season, but found the winner's enclosure again in the GII Kennedy Road Stakes Saturday evening at Woodbine. A 10-time winner in his career, most of them came against stakes or graded company over the course of four years. He'd made a name for himself early on as a quality synthetic horse, winning three stakes races in a row between Turfway and Woodbine in 2022, but found his best stride last year when swapping to the grass. After claiming the GII Twin Spires Turf Sprint Stakes in early May, he held that form through four more races including running GISW Cogburn (Not This Time) to three-quarter lengths in the GIII Troy Stakes that August in Saratoga. He culminated his 2023 by being crowned a Breeders' Cup champion. Gone until late July this year, he ran fourth on his seasonal bow in Saratoga against optional claiming company before once again facing down Cogburn Sept. 7 in the GII Ainsworth Turf Sprint Stakes at Kentucky Downs. Running fourth there and last seen Oct. 5 at Keeneland running fifth in the GII Woodford Stakes, the betting public gave him a 3-1 chance to defeat 4-5 favorite Patches O'Houlihan (Reload), who was seeking the 12th win of his career and fifth in a row, here. Outsprinted early by the public's choice, Nobals was never far from that frontrunner as he put up :21.80 and :44.24 early splits. Hounding him relentlessly as that one came off the fence, which briefly opened the door for the grey Remuda (More Than Ready) to try a rally from that spot, they drifted out further coming off the turn. Locking horns for the stretch battle, the pair left the field in their wake as they refused to give each other peace, but Nobals had just enough late to score by that three-quarter margin. It was over four lengths back to War Bomber (Ire) (War Front) in third. Jockey E. T. Baird shared after the race that he learned about the trip to Canada just days ago, and the scramble ensued to get to Toronto. “I rode him before, but I was actually caught off guard,” said Baird. “Larry [Rivelli, trainer] had given me a call, I think maybe on Thursday, and told me I was going to Woodbine on Saturday. My passport expired, so I was all day yesterday at the passport agency in Chicago. I went in there at nine o'clock and made it home at eight o'clock at night.” Baird added that his mount's pre-race behavior provided a big confidence boost in his chances. “The way he acted today, in the post parade and everything about him, was really professional. I had a really good feeling about him in the post parade. He was wanting to jump and move and seemed really bright and ready to go at it.” The next reported stop for the frequent flier gelding is Dec. 8 at Sha Tin Racecourse to compete in the HK$26-million ($3.35-million) G1 Longines Hong Kong Sprint. He had to fight for it but @BreedersCup champion NOBALS ($8.40) headed Patches O'Houlihan to win the $175,000 Kennedy Road Stakes (G2) at @WoodbineTB. Larry Rivelli trained the gelding, E. T. Baird was in the irons. Don't miss the last today: https://t.co/OtArZ7pP5l pic.twitter.com/QRmvXEnrBZ — FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) November 16, 2024 Pedigree Notes: A humble $3,500 purchase out of the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall Yearling sale, Nobals is out of a twice winning mare, Pearly Blue, who has produced five winners from six to reach racing age. His elder half-sister My First Pearl (First Samurai) is the only other sibling to earn black-type, which she claimed by way of running third in the Listed Saylorville Stakes. Their dam had a run of poor luck after foaling Nobals with only a yearling colt by Known Agenda born in five years. She visited Forte for 2025. The second dam, GSW Western Ransom (Red Ransom), is herself out of a winning full-sister to GSW-Eng Raah Algharb (Gone West) and half-sister to GSW-Eng Pharian (Diesis {GB}). Another half-sister to that mare is Aletta Maria (Diesis {GB}), whose claim to fame was as the dam of MGISW Cetewayo (His Majesty), MGISW Dynaforce (Dynaformer), and GSW & GISP Bowman Mill (Kris S.). Some of her lesser known runners include MGSP De Aar (Gone West), MGSP Thabazimbi (Empire Maker), mulitple Group/Graded-placed Bryntirion (Bering {GB}) and G1 Prix Lupin-placed Fort Nottingham (Alleged). Saturday, Woodbine BET365 KENNEDY ROAD S.-GII, C$182,000, Woodbine, 11-16, 3yo/up, 6f (AWT), 1:08.59, ft. 1–NOBALS, 120, g, 5, by Noble Mission (GB) 1st Dam: Pearly Blue, by Empire Maker 2nd Dam: Western Ransom, by Red Ransom 3rd Dam: Western Wind, by Gone West ($3,500 Ylg '20 FTKOCT). O-Patricia's Hope LLC; B-John A. Chandler (KY); T-Larry Rivelli; J-E. T. Baird. C$105,000. Lifetime Record: GISW, 22-11-3-0, $1,636,741. *1/2 to My First Pearl (First Samurai), SP, $202,674. Werk Nick Rating: B. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. 2–Patches O'Houlihan, 124, g, 4, Reload–Maythefourthbwithu, by Silent Name (Jpn). O/B-Frank Di Giulio (ON); T-Robert P. Tiller. C$42,000. 3–War Bomber (Ire), 120, g, 6, War Front–Sun Shower (Ire), by Indian Ridge (Ire). ($190,000 RNA Ylg '19 KEESEP). O-Bruno Schickedanz; B-Coolmore (IRE); T-Norman McKnight. C$19,250. Margins: 3/4, 4 1/4, 4 3/4. Odds: 3.20, 0.95, 15.15. Also Ran: Armstrong-(DH), Remuda-(DH), Flag Of Honour (Aus). Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. The post Nobals Back to Winning Ways in Kennedy Road, Hong Kong On the Horizon appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The class of 2023 Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (G1T) winner Nobals proved enough to defeat reigning Canadian champion sprinter Patches O'Houlihan by a three-quarters of a length in the Nov. 16 Kennedy Road Stakes (G2) at Woodbine.View the full article

Jockey Tyler Gaffalione, unseated in the third race at Churchill Downs Nov. 16, "feels really beat up" from his fall but escaped serious injury, agent Mike Muzikar said. He is off his Nov. 17 mounts and will resume riding next week.View the full article