Wandering Eyes

Fillies and mares take center stage as grade 1 racing resumes in Japan with the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes Nov. 10 at Kyoto Racecourse.View the full article

With the stallion fee announcements coming in thick and fast this week, it is worth reflecting on the busiest stallions in France for the 2024 covering season, following our recent round-up of the figures for Britain and Ireland. Firstly, our thanks must go to our esteemed colleague Adrien Cugnasse of Jour de Galop for sharing the figures he painstakingly put together this summer. They show that Haras de Colleville's Galiway (GB) was the busiest boy in the country by some margin with a book of 248 mares – the largest ever recorded by a Thoroughbred stallion in France. It is pleasing to see another son of Galileo (Ire) thriving at stud, and the Wertheimer-bred Galiway, who started out at €3,000 back in 2016 is another success story, not just for Colleville's Guy Pariente, but also for the reputation of the proper dual-purpose stallion. That's rarely really 'a thing' in Britain and Ireland these days, but such sires, like the late Poliglote (GB), who had the rare distinction of being both Champion Flat and National Hunt sire in France during his reign at Haras d'Etreham, still cut the mustard in France. And so they should. Galiway's fee, after four years at €3,000, rose steadily to €30,000 in 2022, and he remains at that price for next year. Galiway's dual Group 1-winning son Sealiway (Fr) was also in demand, covering 157 mares at Haras de Beaumont in his second season, having been the busiest of the new stallions the previous year. Beaumont is making something of a habit of this, and its unbeaten Arc winner Ace Impact (Ire), representing the same line as a son of Cracksman (GB), was the most sought after among the new stallions in France this year, covering 182 mares. The Aga Khan Studs had two new arrivals this season and both were well supported, with Erevann (Fr) covering 168 mares, making him the third busiest of the Flat brigade in France, and Vadeni (Fr) covered 128. Breeders will no doubt have been hoping that, as a son of Dubawi (Ire) and the Classic winner Ervedya (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}), Erevann will follow a similar path to his fellow Haras de Bonneval resident and Dubawi stallion Zarak (Fr). The latter started out at €12,000 and will be €80,000 in 2025. He covered 144 mares earlier this year and France's leading stallion Siyouni (Fr) covered 127. City Light (Fr), one of an increasing number of Siyouni's sons at stud and France's leading first-season sire of 2023, was kept busy at Haras d'Etreham with 105 mares sent his way, while his stud-mate Hello Youmzain (Fr) covered 124. Etreham also introduced Frankel's G1 Grand Prix de Paris winner Onesto (Ire) this year and he was sent 120 mares. Among the other stallions who were new to French studs in 2024, Sumbe's Mishriff (Ire), who had his first season delayed by a year through a foot injury not long after arriving at Haras de Montfort, covered 112 mares, and his fellow multiple Group 1 winner Angel Bleu (Fr) attracted 95. Next year he will have competition from another son of Dark Angel (Ire) at Sumbe when champion miler-elect Charyn (Ire) returns from his swansong in Japan. The G1 Champion Stakes winner Bay Bridge (GB) retired to Haras du Mesnil, which has such a good track record with its dual-purpose sires, and he was duly supported with 102 mares. It was both surprising and pleasing to see that the 2005 Derby winner Motivator (GB), sire of course of the great Treve (Fr), continues to thrive since his move two years ago from Haras du Quesnay to Haras du Hoguenet. At Anthony Baudouin's farm he covered 80 mares this year at the age of 22, which is a credit to all those who have cared for the son of Montjeu (Ire) throughout his stud career. France's 25 busiest Flat stallions * denotes first covering season Galiway 248 Ace Impact* 182 Erevann* 168 Sealiway 157 City Light 150 Zarak 144 Vadeni* 128 Siyouni 127 Hello Youmzain 124 Onesto* 120 Anodin 119 Muhaarar 114 Intello 112 Mishriff* 112 Goken 107 Persian King 102 Bay Bridge* 102 Seabhac 100 Seahenge 98 Angel Bleu* 95 Zelzal 88 Motivator 80 Headman 75 Wooded 71 Armor 70 The post Versatile Galiway Covers 248 Mares, Breaks French Record appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The ninth installment in the 2024 OwnerView webinar series was held on Nov. 5 and discussion covered the various ways state incentive programs approach supporting the equine industry, especially when it comes to a declining foal crop, according to a Friday Jockey Club press release. The panel consisted of Cricket Goodall, executive director of the Maryland Horse Breeders Association Inc., the Maryland Million Ltd., and the Maryland Horse Foundation; Roger Heitzmann, secretary and executive director of the Louisiana Thoroughbred Breeders Association; Steve Koch, the associate vice president of operations for the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders' & Owners' Association; Chauncey Morris, executive director of the Kentucky Thoroughbred Association and Kentucky Thoroughbred Owners & Breeders; and Najja Thompson, executive director of the New York Thoroughbred Breeders, Inc. “To see what's happening with the national foal crop is very worrisome for all of us,” said Goodall. “So, I think that what Maryland has tried, and we continue to try to offer different kinds of incentives and try to front load money to breeders as their horses make it to the track. We have a substantial group of people who take advantage of the commercial market in Maryland, but we really want to encourage people to breed to race.” A Q&A, sponsored by West Point Thoroughbreds, allowed attendees to post questions, which were answered at the end of the webinar. Hosted by The Jockey Club and the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association and presented by Bessemer Trust, Stoll Keenon Ogden, and The Green Group, the panel was sponsored by the New York Thoroughbred Breeders, the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders' and Owners' Association and the Kentucky Thoroughbred Association. Click here to access the event, past videos and for a schedule of upcoming presentations. The post OwnerView Webinar Covers State Incentive Programs, Addresses Declining Foal Crop appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The multiple group winner and St Leger runner-up Arrest (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) will stand at the Flood family's Boardsmill Stud in Ireland from 2025. A highly consistent individual who won the G3 Chester Vase and G3 Geoffrey Freer Stakes for Juddmonte, the four-year-old finished in the top three in 10 of his 13 starts, including when second to Continuous (Jpn) at Doncaster in the final Classic of last season. The John and Thady Gosden-trained colt was also runner-up at two in the G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud. “We are delighted to have acquired Arrest from Juddmonte Farms, a farm we have had success buying from in the past,” said John Flood of Boardsmill Stud. “He was a high-class racehorse and is a gorgeous-looking individual, standing 16.2hh with a wonderfully athletic walk. His good looks are borne out by the fact that he was purchased as a foal by Juddmonte for €440,000.” He added, “His pedigree contains a nice blend of speed and stamina on both his sire and dam's side. He is a son of the champion Frankel and his dam, who has produced three stakes performers to date, descends from the highly influential Roberto and Top Ville lines.” Arrest was bred by Mariann Klay and Des Leadon of Swordlestown Little and is a half-brother to the Hong Kong Group 3 winner Dinozzo (Ire) (Lilbourne Lad {Ire}) and the 11-time winner and Listed-placed Spring Loaded (Ire) (Zebedee {GB}). Another half-brother, the two-year-old Detain (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), was bought for €340,000 and won his first two starts in the Juddmonte silks this season. Juddmonte's racing manager Barry Mahon said, “Arrest is a very good-looking individual with a wonderful temperament and was a very sound and clean-winded racehorse. We have retained some breeding rights in him and look forward to the career of his half-brother Detain, who was impressive winning his first two starts at two for us this year.” A fee for Arrest will be announced at a later date. The post Arrest Retires to Boardsmill Stud appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

A trio of Southern Hemisphere-covered mares head the initial entries for the Tattersalls Online and Inglis Digital Sale. The Southern Hemisphere Session, which is scheduled to take place on Tattersalls Online on December 11 and 13, offers mares covered on Southern Hemisphere time. The mares are confirmed in foal to Too Darn Hot (GB), sire of Champion Australian two-year-old and triple Group 1 winner Broadsiding, Irish 1,000 Guineas winner Fallen Angel and the Group 1 Futurity Trophy winner Hotazhell. “Too Darn Hot has made an extraordinary start to his career at stud, particularly in Australia and given he is covering a limited book to Southern Hemisphere time, opportunities to acquire a mare in foal to him are very scarce,” Tattersalls Online Sales Manager Katherine Sheridan said. “He has 11 black type horses from his first Australian crop already and they are still just spring three-year-olds, so it's exciting to think where things might progress with him over the next 12 to 24 months.” The trio of mares are led by the Group 3-placed Know Thyself (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), while Group 2-placed Sedaka (NZ) (Savabeel {Aus}) and the lightly-raced Crimson Coronet (GB) (Zoustar {Aus}) also looks set to attract international interest. The post Southern Hemisphere-Covered Mares Head Tattersalls Online December Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

2nd-Meydan, AED165,000, Mdn., 11-8, NH 2yo & SH 3yo, 1400m, 1:24.72, ft. AWAB (c, 2, Street Sense–Impossible Tale, by Tale Of Ekati), making his first start, was a touch green out in the centre of the track, but soon settled in a tracking third. Still punching the breeze on the bend, the colt was set to his task by jockey Daniel Tudhope, and soon surged up into contention with 500 metres remaining. Setting sail for leader Diamond Dealer (Lord Nelson), he steamed past early in the home straight and poured it on to win by 5 1/4 lengths. Diamond Dealer was a similar margin in front of Norato (Brz) (Kentuckian) in third. He was purchased by M T Stable for $5,000 at Fasig-Tipon's Kentucky October Yearling Sale and caught the eye of KGS for €90,000 when reoffered during Arqana's May Breeze-Up Sale. The fourth foal, third runner and first winner for his dam, Awab is followed by a yearling filly by Danish Dynaformer. Dual winner Impossible Tale was bred to Perfect Timber this spring. Second dam Impossible Time (Not Impossible {Ire}) was a champion in Canada. Sales history: $5,000 Ylg '23 FTKOCT; €90,000 2yo '24 ARQMAY. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, AED99,000. VIDEO. O-Mustafa Ahmed Teeka. B-Charles Fipke (ON). T-Musabbeh Al Mheiri. The post Street Sense’s Awab Lights Up Meydan appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Sam Agars CHARITY GAIN - R4 (1) In-form galloper will relish the move to the wide-open spaces of Sha Tin Jay Rooney VOYAGE SAMURAI - R10 (3) Finally drawn a gate and should get an easier time of it in front Jack Dawling JUBILANT WINNER - R8 (5) Improving youngster can defy a wide gate after promising effort last start Phillip Woo PATCH OF TIME - R3 (12) In good form and can make it two wins on the bounce despite a wide draw Shannon (Vincent Wong) WUNDERBAR - R6 (3) Exciting sprinter can continue his march up the ratings today Racing Post Online JOYFUL PROSPERITY - R4 (8) Won impressively last start and can repeat the dose in this contest Tom Wood VOYAGE SAMURAI - R10 (3) Great run after copping some pressure last time out and it may be wise to followView the full article

Grade 1-winning mares Marie's Rock (Ire) (Milan {GB}) and Brandy Love (Ire) (Jet Away {GB}) will be offered under the hammer at the Goffs December National Hunt Sale. Goffs will publish the December National Hunt catalogue next Wednesday, featuring a stellar collection of foals and breeding stock. The sale will take place from Monday 9 December to Wednesday 11 December. The breeding stock, which will be offered at the conclusion of the sale, has over 60 catalogued, 20 of which are black type performers themselves. Goffs boss Henry Beeby commented, “The December National Hunt Sale has proved one of the great success stories for Goffs in recent years with a catalogue that has become the first choice for so many NH breeders these days. We are thrilled with the quality of the foals and mares' sections and grateful to every vendor for choosing Goffs, and we can't wait to welcome buyers and sellers to Kildare Paddocks next month.” The sale will commence at 10.00am each day and foals will be available for inspection at Goffs on Sunday 8 December. The post Grade 1-Winning Mares Brandy Love And Marie’s Rock To Be Offered At Goffs appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Prix Marcel Boussac winner Vertical Blue has been added to the Sceptre Sessions at the Tattersalls December Mares Sale. Trained by Francis-Henri Graffard for owners Gemini Stud & Argella Racing, the Mehmas filly is the highest-rated juvenile in France. Graffard commented, “I've loved Vertical Blue since she arrived and I was delighted that she was able to show that on the track. Physically she has plenty of scope to improve and her turn of foot, as well as her great attitude, have us all excited about what she can achieve going forward.” Commenting on Vertical Blue, Tattersalls chairman Edmond Mahony said, “To be offering the winner of this year's Group 1 Prix Marcel Boussac in the Sceptre Sessions of the Tattersalls December Mares Sale is a genuinely exciting prospect. Vertical Blue will be the only Group 1 winning two-year-old filly to be presented for sale anywhere in the world this year and she comes to Tattersalls not only as the highest rated two-year-old in France having won an outstanding renewal of France's premier two-year-old fillies' race, but also as a filly with real Classic aspirations for next year. Vertical Blue is a credit to her trainer Francis-Henri Graffard and her owners Gemini Stud and Argella Racing and she promises to be one of the highlights of the Sceptre Sessions at Europe's premier breeding stock sale.” The Tattersalls December Mares Sale will take place Monday 2nd December to Thursday 5th December with the Sceptre Sessions on Monday 2nd December and Tuesday 3rd December. The catalogue for Europe's premier breeding stock sale numbers 991 lots and can be viewed online at www.tattersalls.com. The post Prix Marcel Boussac Winner Vertical Blue Added to Tattersalls December Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Weatherbys has published its Bloodstock Sales Review Part 1 for 2024 which shows that dual champion sire Frankel (GB) has achieved the highest average price of any stallion at the yearling sales in Europe so far this year. With 31 yearlings sold, his average price was 711,398gns (€859,013) from a 2022 covering fee of £200,000. Frankel is now the joint-most expensive stallion in the world, with Dubawi (Ire), at £350,000. His most expensive yearling was the filly out of the Group 2 winner Aljazzi (GB) (Shamardal), sold by Newsells Park Stud to Amo Racing for 4,400,000gns at Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale. She is one of six Frankel yearlings to have fetched a seven-figure sum, including a full-sister to the Arc winner Alpinista (GB), who was also bought by Amo Racing, from Kirsten Rausing's Staffordstown for 2,500,000gns. Dubawi has had 17 yearlings sell for the second-highest average of 646,822gns (€781,038), headed by two colts out of Group 1 winners purchased by Godolphin. Fittocks Stud sold the colt out of Lady Bowthorpe (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) on behalf of breeder Emma Banks for 2,000,000gns, while Baroda Stud sold the Molly Malone (Fr) (Lomitas {GB}) colt for 1,500,000gns. Behind Frankel and Dubawi in the top five sires by yearling averages come two from the Aga Khan Studs: Sea The Stars (Ire) at 304,116gns (€367,220) and Siyouni on 303,615gns. With 75 yearlings sold this year, Wootton Bassett (GB) is in fifth with an average price of 298,831gns (€360,838). His yearlings included the colt from Lodge Park Stud out of Park Bloom (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who set a new European yearling colt record when sold for 4,300,000gns. He was another to join the Amo Racing team. Among the sires who were represented by their first runners this year were were Pinatubo (71,299gns for 47 lots sold), Kameko (63,148gns for 37 lots sold), Ghaiyyath (54,254gns for 55 sold), Persian King (53,864gns for 17 lots sold) and Hello Youmzain (52,312gns for 34 lots sold). Top of the table of the younger stallions with first yearlings for sale this year was St Mark's Basilica, whose average price was 173,100gns (€209,018), with a median of 90,000gns (€108,675) for 61 lots sold. The post Frankel Tops Yearling Averages in Weatherbys’ Bloodstock Sales Review appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Four-Time Group 1 winner Luxembourg (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), whose finest hour came when landing the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown in 2022, has been retired and will join Coolmore's National Hunt roster at Castlehyde Stud. Trained by Aidan O'Brien, Luxembourg won seven times and amassed career earnings in excess of £2.7 million. He retires having earned a career-high rating of 123. “We're delighted to have Luxembourg join our team here in Castlehyde,” said Cathal Murphy. “He has a very similar profile to the much-missed Fame And Glory, in that he is a Group 1 winner at two, three, four and five and he is also from that wonderful Montjeu sire line.” Murphy added, “Physically, he ticks every box, he has all the size, scope, strength and action you could ask for and he has shown incredible soundness and resilience throughout his extraordinary career. I have no doubt that Luxembourg will be a big hit with breeders.” Luxembourg went unbeaten as a two-year-old, with his juvenile campaign culminating with victory in the Group 1 Futurity Trophy Stakes at Doncaster. He was also successful in the Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh and the Coronation Cup at Epsom. He was last seen finishing sixth behind Rebel's Romance in the Breeders' Cup Turf at Del Mar. The post Multiple Group 1 Winner Luxembourg To Join Coolmore’s National Hunt Roster appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

There are 12 horse racing meetings set for Australia on Saturday, November 9. Our racing analysts here at horsebetting.com.au have found you the best bets and the quaddie numbers for Flemington, Rosehill, Eagle Farm, Ascot & Alice Springs. Saturday’s Free Horse Racing Tips – November 9, 2024 Flemington Racing Tips Rosehill Racing Tips Eagle Farm Racing Tips Ascot Racing Tips Alice Springs Racing Tips As always, there are plenty of promotions available for Australian racing fans. Check out all the top online bookmakers to see what daily promotions they have. If you are looking for a new bookmaker for the horse racing taking place on November 9, 2024 check out our guide to the best online racing betting sites. Neds Code GETON 1 Take It To The Neds Level Neds Only orange bookie! Check Out Neds Review 18+ Gamble Responsibly. What are you prepared to lose today? “GETON is not a bonus code. Neds does not offer bonus codes in Australia and this referral code does not grant access to offers. Full terms. 2 It Pays To Play PlayUp Aussie-owned horse racing specialists! Check Out PlayUp Review 18+ Gamble Responsibly. Imagine what you could be buying instead. Full terms. Dabble Signup Code AUSRACING 3 Say Hey to the social bet! Dabble Have a Dabble with friends! Join Dabble Review 18+ Gamble Responsibly. THINK. IS THIS A BET YOU REALLY WANT TO PLACE? Full terms. Recommended! Bet365 Signup Code GETON 4 Never Ordinary Bet365 World Favourite! Visit Bet365 Review 18+ Gamble Responsibly. GETON is not a bonus code. bet365 does not offer bonus codes in Australia and this referral code does not grant access to offers. What’s gambling really costing you? Full terms. 5 Next Gen Racing Betting pickleBet Top 4 Betting. Extra Place. Every Race. Join Picklebet Review 18+ Gamble Responsibly. What are you really gambling with? Full terms. 6 Bet With A Boom BoomBet Daily Racing Promotions – Login to view! Join Boombet Review 18+ Gamble responsibly. Think. Is this a bet you really want to place. Full terms. Horse racing tips View the full article

Beaten by a good one last start, Cody Mo’s speedster will again have his work cut out.View the full article

The King of the Mountain has a new home on the Queensland racing calendar. Entering its third iteration in 2025, the $750,000 slot race will take centre stage on Friday, March 28, coinciding with the Toowoomba Royal Agricultural Show holiday. As a result, the slot race will serve as the ideal lead-up to the Queensland Racing Carnival’s feature sprint races, commencing with the Group 2 Victory Stakes on May 3. Previously held in line with New Year’s celebrations, the race was restricted to Queensland-bred and trained horses, with only locally based hoops riding. The reimagined race will now be open to all horses aged three and older, with trainers and jockeys from across the nation now eligible to take their place. The race will still have added incentive for Sunshine State participants, with a $50,000 QTIS sales voucher on offer for horses registered under the scheme. “After only two years, the King of the Mountain has established itself as one of the state’s headline feature races,” Racing Queensland CEO Jason Scott said. “Any honour board that features Yellow Brick and Rothfire underpins the strength of the race, with both past winners solidifying their status as two of the state’s top thoroughbreds in recent years. “By making the race open to all comers, we’re confident that the race will attract its strongest ever field as we build towards another epic Queensland Racing Carnival.” Further information around slots for the King of the Mountain will be unveiled in early 2025. Toowoomba Turf Club Chairman Jason Ward welcomed the change of date. “It’s great for the race and great for Toowoomba that we see thoroughbred racing return to the traditional Toowoomba Show Holiday slot,” he said. “The Weetwood Handicap was conducted on the Show Holiday for many years, and the Toowoomba community will be sure to embrace the return to racing on that date. “Having the race restricted to Queensland-trained horses and ridden by local jockeys provided some challenges for slot holders the last two years, however now that those restrictions have been removed, it has presented Slot Holders with an opportunity to source a runner from anywhere in Australia.”. The card will also include the $125,000 Pat O’Shea Plate for two-year-olds, as well as the $100,000 King of the Mountain Consolation. Horse racing news View the full article

Young Champion sweeps to victory last season. Chasing a sixth Class 2 Panasonic Cup Handicap (1400m) victory, master trainer John Size hopes a recent stint at Conghua will trigger a return to form for talented galloper Young Champion at Sha Tin on Saturday. Previously successful in the Panasonic Cup with Electronic Unicorn (2001), Gem Of India (2005), Real Specialist (2012), Western Express (2017) and Lucky Express (2021), Size hopes Young Champion can strongly contend in the HK$2.84 million feature despite drawing barrier 14 in a field crammed with emerging talent. The Irish import, who impressed last season with two wins and a second from three starts, finished eighth when resuming behind Harmony N Blessed over 1200m at Sha Tin on September 22, with jockey Karis Teetan reporting the four-year-old was unsuited by the rain-affected conditions. Additionally, a post-race endoscopic examination showed a substantial amount of blood in the horse’s trachea. Size sent Young Champion to Conghua five days later, and, following an encouraging trial performance at the Mainland facility on 25 October, the gelding returns to competition this weekend. “He (Young Champion) seems alright, he’s been to Conghua and had a trial and he looks like he’s in pretty good order. He looks healthy and well and I’m hoping his first run wasn’t a true indication of how he’s going and I’m looking for him to improve this time,” Size said. “A lot of horses gain benefit from going to Conghua and that will continue. It’s just a matter of which ones appreciate it and which ones improve with the time they have spent there.” Young Champion will start from the outside barrier and carry 118lb for Karis Teetan against quality opposition in a field containing four last-start winners – Drombeg Banner, Green N White, Packing Hermod and Rubylot, as well as Hong Kong debutante Harmony Great, who won at Group 1 level in Brazil when racing as Martin Luther King. The field is headed by this season’s Group 3 Celebration Cup Handicap (1400m) winner The Golden Scenery (133lb), Drombeg Banner (125lb) and Atullibigeal (123lb), while Bottomuptogether, Sunlight Power, Green N White, Superb Boy, Supreme Lucky, Packing Hermod, Rubylot, Harmony Great and Six Pack, have been assigned 115lb. David Hayes hopes Rubylot can advance HK$13 million Hong Kong Classic Mile (1600m) claims with a fourth win from five starts as the gelding steps into Class 2 for the first time in the Panasonic Cup. “He’s done well since his last win, which was good,” Hayes said. “It’s his first try in open company but he’s a progressive, young horse, so hopefully he can run well off the light weight. It’s a strong race, so we’ll see if he’s up to them,” Hayes said. Size-trained Wunderbar will chase a seventh win from eight starts when the brilliant chestnut tackles the HK$2.84 million Class 2 Panasonic Japan Made System Kitchen Handicap (1000m) under Zac Purton. “He (Wunderbar) is fine. He’s done well after his last race. He seems in pretty good order,” Size said. “He comes back to 1000 metres so that will make it a little more interesting for him and I hope I he’s got the speed to keep up with them. “He’s going to have to be travelling at a higher speed to keep in touch with them but he might be capable of doing that. That’s the race that’s on the programme. The next 1200 metre race for him is a fair way away and he’s running in this race to keep him going.” Wunderbar is unbeaten in two starts over Sha Tin’s straight 1000m course. Horse racing news View the full article

When Stars Align will contest the Group 1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton on Saturday. Photo: Peter Rubery (Race Images Palmerston North) It’s not very often that Te Akau Racing take the underdog tag into any race, particularly the Group 1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m), but that’s the case this weekend with their representative When Stars Align. The trans-Tasman operation has a strong record in the Riccarton feature, having won seven previous editions – Noverre (2021), Embellish (2017), Xtravagant (2015), Rock ‘N’ Pop (2011), Tell A Tale (2008), Darci Brahma (2005) and King’s Chapel (2003) – with current co-trainer Mark Walker having trained the latter three. Darci Brahma also went on to have success in the race as a sire, with his son Catalyst taking out the 2019 running for the Oaks Stud and trainer Clayton Chipperfield, with jockey Troy Harris in the saddle. Trainers Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson have sent just the one contender for the race down to their Riccarton base this year, When Stars Align, who is friendless in the Marantelli Bet market, sitting as a $34 outsider in the eight-horse field. The son of Zoustar has had three starts in the south, including a placing in the Group 3 Barneswood Farm Stakes (1400m) at Ashburton last month before finishing last in the Group 3 War Decree Stakes (1600m) at Riccarton on unideal Heavy 10 footing. Te Akau’s Riccarton stable foreman Hunter Durrant said he can be forgiven for his last start performance, and while he faces a stiff task this weekend against some quality opposition, he is expecting a bold showing from the colt. “We had to run him last start, we couldn’t afford to miss a run,” Durrant said. “He didn’t like the wet track. He has been bright ever since, his work has been second to none, and I couldn’t be any happier with him. “The market is not picking him and there are a couple of handy ones in there, but I think he will be in it for a while. “Te Akau has had a strong record in this race, especially with our colts, so it would be nice to get another one.” Horse racing news View the full article

South African believes he can take advantage of golden opportunity on unbeaten four-year-old in Panasonic Cup.View the full article

By Adam Hamilton Champion pacer Leap To Fame’s roller coaster IRT New Zealand Trotting Cup raid is over. Trainer-driver Grant Dixon ordered one final precautionary blood test before Sunday’s planned flight from Sydney to Auckland and the news was bad. “It’s over,” Leap To Fame’s owner Kevin Seymour said, “just when we thought things were back on track, his blood is out again. It seems every time we work him hard, it flares something up. “It’s devastating. We’ve planned this trip for so long, but the horse has and always will come first. “There’s no way we can risk travelling with him if his blood isn’t spot on.” The latest twist comes after an unsatisfactory blood test caused Leap To Fame to be pulled off a planned flight to Auckland last Sunday. And last month he was scratched on the eve of the Group 1 Victoria Cup as a $1.20 favourite with a virus. “We’ve been so lucky so far with injury and fitness, but the past few weeks have been frustrating,” Dixon said. Leap To Fame, Australasia’s dominant force in recent years, was a $1.60 favourite to win next Tuesday. Seymour said Leap To Fame’s setback also threatened his Inter Dominion title defence in NSW, starting on November 29. “We’re not thinking of that at the moment,” Seymour said. “We need to get back home (to Queensland) and get him right again. “Before we can think about the Inter Dominion, we need to know he’s totally over whatever is bothering him. “The frustrating part is that outwardly, Grant can’t fault him. “But there is something there lurking, something which he aggravates when we put him under the stress of fast work or a race. “So, there’s no chance we would risk putting him on a plane.” With Leap To Fame out, his half-brother Swayzee, the defending champion, is $3 equal favourite for Tuesday’s $1m NZ Cup with local star Merlin. Remarkably, Swayzee will race at Young tonight (Friday) before boarding a flight to Auckland and then another down to Christchurch on Sunday. View the full article

BREAKING NEWS Commanding favourite Leap To Fame is out of Tuesday’s $1m IRT New Zealand Trotting Cup at Addington Raceway. The champion Australian pacer was due to arrive in Christchurch on Sunday and was at short odds to win the country’s biggest race in four days time. But after returning unsatisfactory blood tests he has now been scratched from the Cup and will not make the trip. We will continue to provide updates as they become available. View the full article

The NZ Sires’ Stakes Board wishes everyone racing over IRT NZ Trotting Cup Week all the very best of good luck. Because as quick as Chase A Dream’s quarter last year Cup week is here and there is plenty to get excited about. To find out more about the Sires’ Stakes Cup Week class of 2024 click here Tuesday and Friday, Addington’s two biggest days of the year, will see such feature races as : – Woodlands Stud NZ 2YO C and G Final – Nevele R 3YO Fillies Final – Dunstan Horsefeeds 2YO Fillies Final – IRT 2YO Trotters Championship – Bob McArdle Southern Mares Classic While it is a busy time of year the Board also wishes to advise that 2YO Sustaining Payments will soon be emailed/posted but these are not due until Monday, December 2, 2024. This payment is for current yearlings that wish to race as two-year-olds in the 2025 year. If you elect to miss this payment you can still come in for your horses’ three-year-old year (2026) with this payment not due until July 1 , 2025. Footnote : Chase A Dream’s last 400 last year was 28.0 and one of the marquee performances in 2024. There will be plenty more in the days to come. Any queries please contact Martin Pierson – 027 4711 081 Or : martin@nzsiresstakes.co.nz View the full article

By Jonny Turner The little brother of a New Zealand Cup great scored a timely win as the lead-up to the $1m feature builds to a fever pitch. Just one day short of eight years since Lazarus delivered his first devastating New Zealand Cup victory, Sinai Sermon delivered a strong front-running win at Oamaru in the Brad Williamson Racing Stables Mobile Pace. The younger of the two brothers is trained by David Mitchell who races the four-year-old with Donna Williamson and Gavin Chin. Chin is co-breeder of the two-time New Zealand Cup winner Lazarus and the owner of his dam Bethany. The Dunedin harness racing enthusiast was thrilled that Mitchell’s patience was rewarded when Sinai Sermon ran to an overdue win on Thursday. “The horse has had a few niggling injuries along the way, so he had a long spell and David has been patient with him,” Chin said. “He has taken a while to wake up to what racing is all about but David thinks he is starting to click on to it now.” Chin has already had cause for celebration this spring with Bethany delivering another full brother to Lazarus. The Bettor’s Delight foal and his mother are being cared for by Williamson at her Belmont Park Stud breeding operation in Canterbury. Chin bred Lazarus with leading breeder Brian West with the pair selling the pacer at the National Yearling Sales. Watching the horse go on to win two New Zealand Cups and become one of the country’s greatest-ever pacers has given Chin memories he will cherish forever. “He was a once-in-a-lifetime horse, you hope you can breed a horse as good as him but you don’t expect it to ever happen.” When Chin owned Lazarus before his sale, he had good hopes for the young colt but there weren’t too many signs he was destined for greatness. “He was always a very correct horse, he looked like a really nice type but he never looked like one of those rockstar yearlings.” “He was slightly below average size but just a well-put-together horse.” Australian star Leap To Fame will get the chance to add the New Zealand Cup to his glittering resume in this year’s edition of the great race. Also by Bettor’s Delight, the Queenslander is considered Australasia’s biggest star since Lazarus retired to stud. David Mitchell and driver Carter Dalgety doubled up later on the Oamaru card. After their win with Sinai Sermon, the trainer and driver combined to win with Deceptive Lee. View the full article

The Bob Butt trained and driven High Step has sealed her place in the $30,000 Seddon Shields Trotting Championship Series Final at Addington Raceway in March next year. The Father Patrick three-year-old qualified for the final after winning the opening heat of the Bob Rochford series, the Lobster Inn/Kaikoura Night ‘n Day Handicap Trot, at Kaikoura on Monday. She was three back the fence mid race before getting into the running line and then peeling three wide around the home turn. She charged to the line to win by a neck from the fast finishing Tu Tangata. Tu Tangata got five Championship points for second, Masterly three points for third, Helloveamoment two points for fourth and Maui was awarded one point for finishing fifth. Targetting R51-70 trotters, the series around the top half of the South Island is named after Bob Rochford, who died suddenly at Westport in March this year. Bob was a well-known harness racing stalwart, a former Kaikoura Trotting Club President and Life Member. It’s the second year that the Trotting series is being run after Boyz Invasion was victorious in the inaugural series. There will be 10 heats in all, worth between $15,000 and $20,000. The top points scorers at the end of the heats will be eligible for the $30,000 Final at Addington on March 21. The series now heads to Westport for their tradition Christmas meetings. The complete schedule is : December 26 and 28 – Westport – $15,000 & $20,000 December 30 – Reefton – $20,000 January 10 and 12 – Nelson – $15,000 and $20,000 January 17 and 19 – Marlborough – $15,000 and $20,000 March 7 – Westport – $17,500 March 9 – Reefton – $17,500 The $30,000 final : March 21 – Addington For more information contact Erin Fox – erinkfox24@gmail.com or Seddon Shields Chair Johnny Reedy – jrreedyjnr@gmail.com View the full article

What Alice Springs Races Where Pioneer Park Racecourse – Stuart Hwy, Connellan NT 0870 When Saturday, November 9, 2024 First Race 1:35pm ACST Visit Dabble Saturday marks the Alice Springs Turf Club’s third meeting in two weeks, but numbers are healthy with 40 runners accepting for the five-event card. It’s a big day in the Red Centre, with the ASTC’s 2023/24 Awards Night scheduled after the meeting. Only 0.2mm has fallen since October 15, but storms are forecasted leading up to Saturday with the mercury climbing to 36C come race day. BEST BET AT ALICE SPRINGS: TALENT QUEST Jumping from the outside gate in a seven-horse 0-64 field over 1000m last Saturday, Talent Quest was never headed before saluting by two lengths. The six-year-old gelding steps up in grade and has once again drawn the widest barrier in the five-horse field, although he has a 4.5kg weight advantage over main rivals O’Tycoon, Hurn Court and Rock Of Kryptonite. The son of Your Song carried 56.5kg a week ago, and if he starts well this weekend, he is every chance of making it six wins from his past eight starts. Best Bet Race 5 – #4 Talent Quest (5) 6yo Gelding | T: Will Savage | J: Jessica Booth (a3) (59kg) Bet with Bet365 NEXT BEST AT ALICE SPRINGS: JACKSET After five Alice Springs starts and one in Tennant Creek from December-June, Jackset returned in September and finished second behind Magic Defense, who has since won three straight, in an 1100m maiden. The six-year-old travelled wide throughout before finishing strongly to get within half a length of the winner. In a 1200m maiden on October 12, the son of Reset found the fence and shared the lead before edging clear in the home straight to win by 1.8 lengths. Next Best Race 1 – #2 Jackset (1) 6yo Gelding | T: James Carroll | J: Paul Denton (57.5kg) Bet with Neds BEST VALUE AT ALICE SPRINGS: ONLY THE BEST Only The Best was second over 1100m and third over 1200m against fellow three-year-olds in the autumn before posting another second in June. He was spelled after running 10th over 1100m at 0-64 level, but since then the son of Exceed And Excel has improved with a fifth and a fourth in October. Last Saturday, the gelding sat on the speed and was three deep for a major portion of the race before running a close third over 1200m at 0-66 level against three- and four-year-old opposition. Best Value Race 3 – #3 Only The Best (5) 4yo Gelding | T: Will Savage | J: Jessica Booth (a3) (57.5kg) Bet with Unibet Alice Springs Saturday quaddie tips – 9/11/2024 Fannie Bay quadrella selections Saturday, November 9, 2024 1-2-3-5 1-2-3-5 1-2-3-5 2-3-4 Horse racing tips View the full article

Off the back of the success of last season’s middle-distance bonus series, New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing and Entain Australia & New Zealand have this season launched the Champion Sprint Series, sponsored by Sport Nation. The series will run alongside the revamped Rich Hill Champion Middle Distance Series, with the final races of each series culminating on Champions Day at Ellerslie on March 8, also home to the inaugural $3.5 million NZB Kiwi (1500m). Points will be allocated to the first four placegetters of each race in the respective series, with a bonus pool of $500,000 being shared amongst the owners of the three highest point scoring horses at the conclusion of each series. To be eligible to win or place in a series, a horse must compete in at least one Group One race in New Zealand. If two or more horses finish with the same number of points, the relevant bonus amount will be shared amongst the owners of those horses. Bonus Structure (total bonus based on points allocation, including trainer payment): First (Most Points Accrued): $300k* Second Highest Points: $150k* Third Highest Points: $50k* *Mandatory 10 percent trainer payment to be paid from bonus amounts listed above. Sport Nation Champion Sprint Series qualifying races: Listed Lindauer Stewards Stakes – 16 November 2024 The Meteorite (Melbourne) – 23 November 2024 Gr.3 Haunui Farm Counties Bowl – 23 November 2024 Gr.1 Winterbottom Stakes (Perth) – 30 November 2024 Gr.3 George Moore Stakes (Brisbane) – 30 November 2024 Gr.3 Concorde Stakes – 7 December 2024 The Supernova (Melbourne) – 21 December 2024 Listed Christmas Stakes (Melbourne) – 26 December 2024 Listed Canterbury Sprint (Sydney) – 1 January 2025 Gr.1 TAB Telegraph – 4 January 2025 Gr.1 Sistema Railway – 25 January 2025 Gr.1 BCD Group Sprint – 8 February 2025 Gr.3 Haunui Farm King’s Plate – 8 March 2025 Entain Australia & New Zealand have come onboard as the inaugural sponsor of the Champion Sprint series through their dedicated sports radio station, which is set to be rebranded to Sport Nation from SENZ later this month. “It’s an exciting time for sport and racing fans around New Zealand,” Entain Australia & New Zealand Chief Media Officer Chris Haigh said. “The rebranding from SENZ to Sport Nation comes at the perfect time as we gear up for a massive summer of sport and racing events in New Zealand. “Sport and racing are intrinsically linked in New Zealand and on Sport Nation, so we’re proud to sponsor this series as the Kiwi voice of sport.” – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk View the full article

Handler hopes quality galloper will handle step-up in distance en route to first leg of four-year-old series.View the full article