Wandering Eyes

Te Akau Racing collected top honours at the 2024 New Zealand Thoroughbred Horse of the Year Awards on Sunday evening, which was headlined by Imperatriz, who was named Horse of the Year, while the Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson partnership were Trainer of the Year. Based in New Zealand, Singapore and more recently, Australia, Te Akau has collected the past four domestic Trainer of the Year awards with Jamie Richards (3) and last year’s record-breaking season by Walker, with the latter earning another title last season when training in partnership with Bergerson. Bergerson had previously been an assistant trainer for the powerful stable before assuming the role of co-trainer at the start of the 2023/24 term, with 169 winners and 21 at Group or Listed level now to his name. “I’m very fortunate to be in this partnership now and training with Mark, David (Ellis) and Karyn (Fenton-Ellis), and being part of such an amazing enterprise,” Bergerson said. “I think we (Walker) have a pretty good relationship. I look at him more as a mate than a boss, we get on really well and bounce ideas off each other. Mark is great to deal with, he’s a very laidback person and very open. He handles adversity very well and never loses his cool. “We’re so lucky to be training horses of the calibre that Dave and Karyn syndicate for us, it’s going really well and hopefully it can continue. “Even speaking to my father (Roydon Bergerson) who has been in the game for a long time, he feels it’s the most exciting time to be a part of racing that he has seen. “With Entain on board, hopefully it continues to improve and it’s certainly on the right track. In this game, timing is everything, and at the moment it’s perfect timing really.” A winner of four Champion Trainer titles in Singapore and now seven in New Zealand, Walker recognises the fortunate position he has held at the helm of Te Akau over several years. “It starts with David at the sales, then Karyn syndicating them, and Sam and I are blessed to get the horses. Any trainer in New Zealand getting the yearlings we have would be getting the same results, we’re just very fortunate,” he said. Later in the evening, Te Akau’s sprinting sensation Imperatriz was recognised for a formidable season in Victoria with Champion Sprinter-Miler, SENZ New Zealand Horse of the Year and Outstanding Global Achievement all going the way of the superstar mare. The daughter of I Am Invincible was formidable in what turned out to be her final season on the racetrack, winning the Gr.2 McEwan Stakes (1000m) fresh-up before an incredible run of Group One successes, including the Moir Stakes (1000m), Manikato Stakes (1200m), Champions Sprint (1200m) and Black Caviar Lightning (1000m). Imperatriz’s final Group One victory was a back-to-back success in the William Reid Stakes (1200m) at her beloved Moonee Valley in March, and after finishing fourth in the Gr.1 T J Smith Stakes (1200m), she was subsequently retired and sold for A$6.6 million at the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale to Yulong. Te Akau principal Karyn Fenton-Ellis spoke of Imperatriz in the highest regard, who trialled in New Zealand last August before taking on the best sprinters in the land across the Tasman. “We’re extraordinarily proud, she may be Australian-bred, but every intent and purpose, she was always a Kiwi,” Fenton-Ellis said. “She was embraced by people on both sides of the Tasman, and to see her recognised as a career swansong, it’s a great testament to her brilliance, her resilience and speed. “Specifically, the Global Achievement is very special, because in the 2023 calendar year, she won more Group One races than any other horse in the world. In the 2023/24 season, she won more (Group Ones) than any other horse in Australasia, and was the highest rated sprinter in the world, so it was truly a global achievement. “She’s got quite a few (special people) in her life, Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson did an exceptional job throughout her career and prior when Jamie (Richards) was in New Zealand. When she transferred over to our Cranbourne stable after trialling here, Ben Gleeson and his team were magic. Laura Winks adored her, she rode her in trackwork every day and Jason Levin, her strapper, the love he had for her was evident and they were a formidable combination. “Her ownership group is like family, we’ve lived together, travelled together, it’s been an extraordinary journey. Not to forget Opie (Bosson), he rode her in all of those Group One races and Michael Dee in the Group Two. “They say it takes a village, but I say it takes a family. “It’s easy to love sensational racehorses, but the love of the horse is more than Group One wins. She was a kind, generous soul who would get under people’s skin.” Imperatriz was raced by the Te Akau Invincible Empress Racing Partnership, with members John Elstob and Denise Bassett of JD Bloodstock awarded Owner of the Year with involvement also in the likes of Captured By Love, Move To Strike, Ascend The Throne and Star Of Justice, all Group winners across the season. View the full article

The Davison family and the team at Mapperley Stud are in mourning after the shock loss of their good friend and Group One-producing sire Contributer. The champion son of High Chaparral was starting his ninth season at the Matamata farm but sadly passed away on Sunday morning. A dual Group One winner on the racetrack, Contributer was crowned Champion Australian Middle-Distance Horse of the Year in 2015 following a brilliant autumn campaign where he won the Gr.2 Apollo Stakes (1400m), Gr.1 Chipping Norton Stakes (1600m) and the Gr.1 Ranvet Stakes (2000m) all in succession. Known affectionately as Barry to everyone who worked with him, Stud Master Simms Davison was devastated with the loss of his friend who he had worked so closely with over the last few years. “I am absolutely gutted, Contributer has been a big part of our lives and our stud for many years,” he said. “I’m still struggling to come to terms with the loss of Contributer, the entire team are very shocked by the news. “He was such a character, an awesome horse to work with. He had a wonderful temperament, an engaging personality and everyone who worked with him just loved him.” Contributer made a great start to his career at stud, with his first crop including subsequent Group One winners Lion’s Roar and Campionessa, along with four other individual stakes winners. With his eldest progeny having just turned seven-years-old, Contributer is the sire of 103 winners, including nine individual stakes winners and a total of 24 stakes performers. “He had truly started to shine as a sire, he had left some tremendously talented racehorses and we know his legacy will live on,” Davison said. “From very limited numbers, he’s performed incredibly well as a sire. What he has achieved on the track is pretty amazing. “He was very much in our proven stallion ranks in New Zealand, it’s a big loss not only for our stud but for the entire industry. “He has some very talented three-year-olds coming through this season, and he was on a trajectory to go to another level in the next few years. “Hopefully his offspring can do their father proud this season, and we still have a lovely bunch of yearlings by him on the farm. “We will cherish these last foals that are due to be born this season.” View the full article

Levin trainer Josh Shaw is daring to dream with Faraglioni this spring following her eye-catching runner-up effort in Saturday’s Gr.1 Tarzino Trophy (1400m) at Hastings. The six-year-old daughter of El Roca was a bridesmaid at elite level for the second time after posting the same result in last year’s Gr.1 TAB Classic (1600m), and now Shaw is eyeing further Group One targets on either side of the Tasman. Faraglioni went into Saturday off the back of a pleasing trial win over 1100m at Taupo last month, but was out of favour with punters, who rated the mare a $24.80 winning chance at the jump. She was given a beautiful ride in the trail throughout by senior hoop Jonathan Riddell, who presented her into a gap just outside leader Crocetti at the 200m, but Grail Seeker proved too strong down the middle of the track, posting a 1-1/4 length victory over a brave Faraglioni. “She was super first-up, she brought her form from the trial to the race and I was pretty chuffed,” Shaw said. “He (Riddell) gave her a gun ride, she just ran into one better on the day.” While rapt to get more black-type with his mare, Shaw said the ultimate prize still eludes then. “It is good to get that black-type with her. There’s just one thing missing on her resume and that’s a black-type win,” he said. Shaw is now weighing up Faraglioni’s next target, with the Gr.3 Grangewilliam Stud Taranaki Breeders’ Stakes (1400m) at Hawera on October 5 and the Gr.1 Arrowfield Stud Plate (1600m) at Hastings later this month both in the mix. “We may pay the late nomination for the Arrowfield or we may look to go to Hawera for the fillies and mares 1400m, but we won’t make that decision until the end of the week,” Shaw said. “It’s six of one, half a dozen of the other, but I think she has told us that she needs to be in that elite grade now.” With inclement weather in Horowhenua in the build-up to the Tarzino Trophy last week, Shaw made the early decision to head over to Hastings the Sunday prior, and that choice may have paved a path towards a trip across the Tasman. “With the weather being so bad down here last week, I made the call to get over there early and she was based over there from Sunday, and she settled in well and did everything right,” Shaw said. “Going over a week early gave us the pointer that she may even be able to get to Aussie without any worry. “Australia is definitely in mind, whether it is for a one off in the spring or whether we look to go over there for an autumn campaign, we are just weighing up the options now. “If she were to run in the Arrowfield and performed well in that then we would look to go and take on the Empire Rose (Gr.1, 1600m). She won’t be running too many times this spring.” View the full article

Kelvin Tyler has plenty of travel ahead of him in the coming weeks and he was pleased to pick up a success closer to home at Wingatui on Sunday with Albatross. A daughter of Sacred Falls, Albatross has a tidy record on Heavy track conditions and returned to her favourite surface at the meeting, after tackling the Good 4 at Riccarton last month. Contesting the KB Contractors (1600m) in Rating 75 company, she was equal favourite alongside Smooth Operator at $4.30. Albatross was swiftly away from the inside barrier and had the early lead before apprentice jockey Denby-Rose Tait allowed the mare to be crossed by Seven Twenty. Easing off the fence at the 800m, Albatross soon was back on terms with Seven Twenty and hit the lead at the 250m, sustaining a strong gallop to hold off a game Lofty’s Gift by a long neck. Initially starting her career in the care of Jamie Richards, Albatross collected her maiden success before joining Tyler early last year, with four subsequent victories now added to her tally from 27 starts. “I thought it was a good effort and she was coming back in grade in her favoured ground,” Tyler said. “She went down on her front bumpers really badly at Riccarton on the firm track, but back on the soft surface, she was good. “We’ll stick around down here with her, there’s a nice race at Gore in a couple of weeks, an Open 1800m, so that will suit her down to the ground. “We’re getting plenty of rain down here, so the tracks are going to be off for a while.” Bred by Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Maktoum, Albatross is out of an unraced Encosta De Lago mare Bint Piavonic. She has earned more than $70,000 in stakes, with Tyler in the ownership group. Meanwhile, Tyler’s topliners Prince Alby, Master Marko and Lightning Jack have settled well into their temporary base with Howie and Lorraine Mathews at Otaki, with the latter pair preparing for a Group Three target on September 21. “They’re doing really well, Master Marko and Prince Alby headed up last Wednesday and we can’t fault them after the travel, they’ve settled in and it’s pretty much home for them now,” Tyler said. “At this stage, Master Marko and Lightning Jack will go to Wanganui for the Metric Mile next Saturday, and Prince Alby will go to the middle day at Hastings over 2000m. “I like to go up four or five days out and see their final gallops to see how we’re tracking. “Howie and Lorraine do a great job and know what they’re doing, so that’s a big help.” View the full article

Antipodean (NZ) (Derryn) fought hard to win the M$200,000 Selangor Gold Cup (1600m) at Selangor racecourse on the track and the stewards room on a special day for jockey Bernardo Pinheiro who rode six winners. Young guns Antipodean and Golden Pegasus were the only horses seriously backed to the win the Selangor Gold Cup this year and as expected dominated the finish of the race. The two horses had swept the Selangor Turf Club age group races this season, with Antipodean winning the three-year-old series and Golden Pegasus the four-year-old series. After settling midfield Antipodean and Golden Pegasus found their gear and raced up to the tiring leaders at the 200m before racing away to fight out the finish. Golden Pegasus gained a half length advantage before Antipodean fought back to snatch victory by a head After the race, jockey Ruzaini Supien on Golden Pegasus filed a protest against the winner for alleged interference but was dismissed. “Great effort from Antipodean,” said trainer Simon Dunderdale, who brought him for $23,000 from the draft of Regal Farm at the 2022 Ready To Run Sale. Antipodean has now won seven of his eight races and beaten (into second) for the first time last start. “He’s a tough horse and was caught three-wide most of the way. Bernardo is a terrific jockey. The race proved to be a real battle to the finish and we had to survive a protest.” “It’s a unforgettable day for me,” said Pinheiro. “I feel explosion of emotions and couldn’t be more happy.” “First of all, I broke my own record of riding five winners in a meeting which I did twice, here in Kuala Lumpur in 2019 and again in Singapore last year.” “Secondly, to win another gold cup, I just can’t express how happy I am with that. I have to thank Simon (Dunderdale) and his team and everyone involved for that.” “Thirdly, with today’s six winners, I have reached 700 wins in my career. For that there is a lot of people I would like to thank for their support.” “Antipodean is special, wonderful horse. He ran with his heart, a real fighter, a horse who would not give up. “We were a bit of worry about the distance, the mile. We were drawn wide so I didn’t have the perfect race, the chance to get closer to the rails. We were caught wide but the horse travelled well so it gave me the confidence. “At the top of the straight, he shied a bit and hang in. The other horse (Golden Pegasus) passed me by half a length but I felt my horse wasn’t going to give up. He gave everything for me and I gave him everything. Other New Zealand bred winners at Selangor on Sunday were Commander (NZ) (U S Navy Flag), Michikawa (NZ) (Proisir), & Hazard (NZ) (Rageese). View the full article

What Kensington Races Where Royal Randwick Racecourse – Alison Rd, Randwick NSW 2031 When Wednesday, September 11, 2024 First Race 1.25pm AEST Visit Dabble Royal Randwick is the destination for metro racing on Wednesday afternoon, with a quickfire seven-race program set for decision on the Kensington circuit. The rail moves out +3m for the entire circuit, and with warm spring conditions forecast in the lead-up, punters can expect a genuine Good 4 surface. The opening event is scheduled to get underway at 1:25pm local time. Best Bet at Randwick-Kensington: Maori Chief The Chris Waller-trained Maori Chief is building to a maiden success after back-to-back minor placings. The son of I Am Invincible cleared out alongside Seascape in his most recent start at Canterbury on August 28, with the pair fighting out the finish as they put 2.3 lengths back to third spot. With the step up to 1300m seemingly an ideal recipe for success, Maori Chief should get every chance to go one better third-up. Best Bet Race 1 – #2 Maori Chief (2) 3yo Colt | T: Chris Waller | J: James McDonald (59kg) Bet with Neds Next Best at Randwick-Kensington: Ti Amo Tanto Ti Amo Tanto was doing her best work late on debut at Canterbury on August 28, making strong inroads down the centre of the course. James McDonald gets the opportunity to sit much closer from barrier three this time, and provided the daughter of Fastnet Rock can slot into the one-one throughout, watch for Ti Amo Tanto to make a slashing run down the heart to claim her maiden victory at start two. Next Best Race 2 – #8 Ti Amo Tanto (3) 3yo Filly | T: Chirs Waller | J: James McDonald (55kg) Bet with Picklebet Best Value at Randwick-Kensington: United Kingdom United Kingdom makes his debut for the Chris Waller barn after moving from the Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr training partnership. He seems to have acclimatised to his new environment with relative ease, putting together an eye-catching piece of work at Rosehill on September 5. His profile suggests he will only improve getting out further in trip, but with star hoop James McDonald in the saddle, there is no reason United Kingdom cannot win first-up before tackling some bigger assignments. Best Value Race 7 – #10 United Kingdom (5) 4yo Horse | T: Chris Waller | J: James McDonald (56.5kg) Bet with Dabble Wednesday quaddie tips for Randwick-Kensington Randwick-Kensington quadrella selections September 11, 2024 4-5-7-8 2-4-6-9 1-4-6-7-11 4-5-6-7-10-12 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip Horse racing tips View the full article

What Tatura Races Where Tatura & Shepparton Racing Club When Tuesday, September 10, 2024 First Race 1pm AEST Visit Dabble Racing in Victoria heads to Tatura on Tuesday afternoon for a nine-race meeting. Perfect conditions will greet punters and horses, with clear skies above and a Good 4 surface underneath. The rail sticks in the true position throughout, with the action getting underway at 1pm AEST. Best Bet at Tatura: Mitchellstown The team at Lindsay Park will send last-start Wangaratta maiden winner Mitchellstown into a BM58 over 1600m. The Fastnet Rock mare gained the run of the race on that day, and from barrier one, she will have a similar run in transit. Blaike McDougall will need a touch of luck turning for home, but when the gap appears, Mitchellstown should be careering away with the prize. Best Bet Race 8 – #4 Mitchellstown (1) 4yo Mare | T: Ben, Will & JD Hayes | J: Blaike McDougall (60kg) +115 with PlayUp Next Best at Tatura: Bridal Waltz Bridal Waltz was favourite on debut at Caulfield in May, and although she had excuses in running, the Snitzel filly was sent for a spell after a poor showing. The three-year-old has caught the eye in a couple of recent jumpouts, however, and looks primed to strike first-up. Carleen Hefel will use barrier three to her advantage and take up the running, and in a race where they should gain an uncontested lead, Bridal Waltz should prove too hard to run down. Next Best Race 1 – #7 Bridal Waltz (3) 3yo Filly | T: Peter Moody & Katherine Coleman | J: Carleen Hefel (56kg) +380 with Bet365 Next Best Again at Tatura: Coffin Dodger Resuming from a 16-week spell, the Allan & Jason Williams-trained Coffin Dodger should prove too good for his maiden rivals. The four-year-old began his career with consecutive runner-up performances prior to a disappointing run before heading to the paddock. The son of Sidestep has trialled up nicely, and if Coffin Dodger brings his best, he should bury his opposition. Next Best Again Race 2 – #1 Coffin Dodger (13) 4yo Gelding | T: Allan & Jason Williams | J: Thomas Stockdale (59.5kg) +260 with Neds Tuesday quaddie tips for Tatura races Tatura quadrella selections Tuesday, September 10, 2024 3-4-5-6-11 1-2-3-7-13 1-4 1-6-11-12 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip Horse racing tips
 View the full article

Veteran handler aims to repeat last season’s success at city circuit on Wednesday night, with impressive debut winner among his top chances.View the full article

Del Mar concluded its 85th summer racing season Sunday as the seaside track once again recorded strong field sizes and average daily handle as well as the highest daily purses in the state of California. Del Mar averaged 8.6 starters per race and $831,000 per day in total purse distribution. Total wagering for the meet was $502,985,000, a slight decrease from last summer after Del Mar implemented new restrictions on computer-assisted wagering (CAW) players in 2024. Average daily handle was $16,225,000. Track officials indicated that the handle figures were in line with projections based on the new wagering protocols which helped reduce late odds fluctuations and modified the Pick 6 wager, eliminating the single ticket jackpot. The GI FanDuel Racing Pacific Classic card with five graded stakes races showcased several likely participants for the upcoming Breeders' Cup World Championships. Over $28.55 million was wagered on Pacific Classic Day alone, including $5.43 million of separate pool handle from Hong Kong. The Pacific Classic card–outside of the Breeders' Cup and the Kentucky Derby–was the first time Hong Kong has wagered on North American racing. Opening Day was once again a sold-out crowd and remains one of Southern California's top summer's social events of the season. The summer race meet continued to be supported by full-slate of lifestyle promotions including a craft beer festival, a tacos and tequila fiesta, a wine tasting and college day “As always we want to thank the horsemen and women for their partnership and for helping us put on another outstanding summer meeting,” said Del Mar Thoroughbred Club's Chief Executive Officer Joe Harper. “We look forward to welcoming back the Breeders' Cup in November and to hosting racing fans and participants from all over the world here in Del Mar and the greater San Diego area.” For the third summer in a row, Juan Hernandez led the jockey standings, this time with 47 wins during the 31-day meet. Bob Baffert registered his ninth seasonal training crown as he saddled 23 winners. And Hronis Racing captured their sixth leading owner title with purses of $717,296 and 12 trips to the winners circle. Little Read Feather Racing led the way with in co-partnerships with four graded stakes races and nearly $1 million in earnings. The track's “Ship & Win” program continued to draw horses to Del Mar and the southern California circuit. Over the last five years, Ship & Win has attracted 1,158 starters to Del Mar, with the majority of these runners continuing to compete at California tracks. “As always, Del Mar shines the best light on California racing,” said Gary Fenton, Chairman of the Thoroughbred Owners of California. “We are grateful to the DMTC team for their innovative approach in delivering a world-class racing experience. We look forward to hosting the 2024 Breeders' Cup with them in November.” Racing returns to Del Mar for the track's fall Bing Crosby meet running an extra week from October 31 to December 1, highlighted by the Breeders' Cup World Championships on November 1-2. This will mark the third time that Del Mar hosts the international celebration of Thoroughbred racing. The post Del Mar Concludes Strong Summer Season; Hernandez, Baffert Earn Repeat Titles appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Maintaining Artislas' spot on the inside, Reylu Gutierrez added urgency at the halfway mark. With four lengths as well as other rivals separating Artislas from the lead, a fading Mischief River began losing ground, helping their cause.View the full article

The son of Game Winner is owned by Michael Pegram, Karl Watson, and Paul Weitman and trained by Bob Baffert, who has won the Futurity a record 18 times, four of those for the three partners and another owned solely by Pegram.View the full article

Chuck Simon, who retired from training in 2019 after a 20-year run in which he won 359 races, passed away Sunday at Saratoga Hospital after a bout with cancer. He was 57-years-old. Before going out on his own, Simon worked for Wayne Lukas, Pete Ferriola, Nick Zito and Tom Skiffington. His mentors included Allen Jerkens. He spent six years with Jerkens working as one of his assistants. He went out on his own in 1999 and five years later gave a job to a young newcomer to the track, Cherie DeVaux. “Chuck is the whole reason that I am where I'm at this point in my life,” DeVaux said. “I worked for him early on and I was definitely a crazy early-20 something. He saw that I was going down the wrong path. He didn't force me to do anything I didn't want to do but he gave me direction and really took me under his wing and gave me guidance. He was almost like a big brother. He has known my family for along time. He got his start in racing working with the harness horses in Saratoga. I really do owe everything in my life with him. He put me on the right path.” Once news of Simon's illness became public owner Carlo Vaccarezza started a gofundme page to help cover his medical costs and raised $101,270. “It's very sad,” Vaccarezza said. “I won the first race today at Kentucky Downs and I dedicated it to Chuck. He was a very dear friend to a lot of people. I had been really good friends with Chuck for many years and we spent a lot of time together. He had been suffering lately.” Simon grew up in Saratoga Springs and, as a teenager, started working with both the thoroughbreds and standardbreds. He attended the Racetrack Industry Program at the University of Arizona, where he got a BS in Animal Science. One of his first jobs was at Yonkers Raceway, where he was the assistant racing secretary. In 1999, he opened a public stable and won 15 races that year. By 2019, Simon was down to just a couple of horses and found it difficult to compete against the super trainers and only won two races that year. He left training and began to host the Going In Circles Podcast. He was also a regular on X, where he wasn't afraid to express his views and never worried about who he might have offended. On the Going In Circles website, there was a section that summed up Simon's attitude and his willingness to go after the types of stories hat might have made some people uncomfortable. “There is no topic too hot for us to handle and no issue that we won't cover,” it read “He was outspoken,” DeVaux said. “He wasn't afraid to be the bad guy or share a negative opinion. What he ultimately wanted was to make the whole sport better.” After he left training, he was also hired to oversee the newly created Gulfstream Horsemen's Purchasing Association, a for-profit subsidiary of the Florida Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association. Simon's stable amassed over $11 million in earnings. He trained 19 stakes winners, including two graded winners, Grade III winner Sabellina (Langfuhr) and Grade II winner Battle Won (Honour and Glory). The post Former Trainer Chuck Simon Passes Away At 57 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The son of Game Winner is owned by Michael Pegram, Karl Watson, and Paul Weitman and trained by Bob Baffert, who had three runners in the race.View the full article

Richard Klein of Klein Racing discusses Brilliant Berti's win in the Sept. 8 Gun Runner Stakes at Kentucky Downs as well as his family's involvement in Thoroughbred racing.View the full article

It was an emotional victory for the Klein family at Kentucky Downs Sept. 8 as Brilliant Berti became their first millionaire while winning the $1,498,350 Gun Runner Stakes.View the full article

It's another case of the “other” Baffert. Freshman sire Game Winner (by Candy Ride {Arg}) earned his first Grade I win as a sire when son GAMING (c, 2, Game Winner–So Stylish, by Johannesburg) ran down favored stablemate and 'TDN Rising Star' Getaway Car (Curlin) to win the GI Del Mar Futurity Sunday. With a nice move around the far turn after sitting off the pace, the $250,000 OBS March grad got first jump past the quarter pole as Getaway Car threw in the towel from the lead. McKinzie Street (McKinzie) gave chase and was full of run late but wasn't in range of Gaming yet as the pair hit the wire. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0. O-Pegram, Michael E., Watson, Karl and Weitman, Paul; B-Mt Brilliant Farm & Ranch, LLC; T-Bob Baffert. Sales History: $40,000 ylg '23 KEESEP, $250,000 2yo '24 OBSMAR. #2 GAMING ($9.80) impresses in the $300,000 Del Mar Futurity (G1)! Flavien Prat piloted the two-year-old Game Winner (@LanesEndFarms) colt for trainer @BobBaffert. pic.twitter.com/4BVpprAnb9 — FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) September 9, 2024 The post Gaming The Real Deal In Del Mar Futurity Win appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Rue De Royale winning at Bendigo. (Photo by Brett Holburt/Racing Photos) Group 2-placed colt Rue De Royale delivered an impressive performance to finally break his maiden on his ninth attempt, claiming a 1300-metre race at Bendigo on Sunday. Trained by Tony and Calvin McEvoy, the three-year-old had a disappointing finish in the Group 1 Golden Slipper (1200m) in March and came into Sunday’s race following a fifth-place finish at Moonee Valley in August. However, Rue De Royale showed his potential, pulling away under jockey John Allen to defeat Athanatos by 2.3 lengths, with Plymouth finishing a further 1.7 lengths behind in third. “It was a beautiful watch, and there’s a big group of owners here today, which is fantastic,” Calvin McEvoy told Racing.com. “He began so cleanly out the gates … he’s been a little slow in some starts and getting back by default really. “I love that Johnny just took the bull by the horns and made a good thing of him early. “I know it’s only a maiden, but he won it like a nice horse, and there’s a few in this race with big opinions on them.” Horse racing news View the full article

Girl power reigned supreme at the 2024 New Zealand Thoroughbred Horse of the Year awards in Hamilton on Sunday. Champion Matamata mare Imperatriz, as expected, was named Horse of the Year and all five flat racing categories were won by female gallopers. Imperatriz also took the sprinter-miler category, top filly Orchestral was named as both the champion three-year-old and champion stayer, Velocious earned the two-year-old title and Legarto topped the voting in the middle-distance category. The only male horse to triumph was West Coast, who is the jumper of the year. It is the first time this century that fillies and mares have been so dominant. Imperatriz’s trainers, Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson, were voted trainer of the year and Waikato couple Denise Bassett and John Elstob , who had a quarter share in Imperatriz, topped an eclectic group of finalists for owner of the year. Elstob and Bassett have been significant investors in Te Akau Racing syndicates and had 45 individual runners during the season. While Imperatriz was their main flagbearer, they were also part-owners of a second Group One winner, in Move To Strike, and the Group Two winners Captured By Love and Ascend The Throne. The husband-and-wife training partnership of Peter and Dawn Williams, who retired from training in June, were rewarded for decades of excellence with the award for an outstanding contribution to racing. Peter began his training career in 1975 and Dawn, who went on to become the first woman to train 1000 winners in New Zealand, joined the partnership in the early 1980s. They were based in Canterbury for the bulk of their careers but moved north, to Byerley Park, in 2011. They never had a large team but were rarely without a galloper of note. The 1988 Auckland Cup winner Sea Swift was their first major winner and was followed by top sprinter Loader, who completed the Railway-Telegraph double in 1996. More recent winners at the top level included the classic-winning fillies Planet Rock and Media Sensation, dual Group One winner Shuka and their latest star, Desert Lightning, who made his trainers’ final season a memorable one. Imperatriz made an irrefutable case to be named Horse of the Year with an almost perfect Australian campaign, which produced six wins, including five at Group One level, and two placings, from eight attempts. The now-retired mare was the most prolific Group One winner in Australasia, with Mr Brightside the next best, with four, while no other New Zealand-trained horse managed more than two elite wins. New Zealand-trained horses have usually struggled to match the best Australian sprinters but all of Imperatriz’s six wins came at 1200m or less. She will be at short odds to be named sprinter of the year in Australia and will also be a contender for the Australian Horse of the Year, which will be announced in October. The I Am Invincible mare, who cost A$360,000 as a yearling, earned $6.7 million in stakes in the 2023-24 season, taking her career earnings to $7.5 million. She had a career record of 19 wins from 27 starts, including 10 Group One wins, and only once finished further back than fourth. She was ranked among the best race-mares in the world and added to the returns for her ownership syndicate when sold as a broodmare prospect, for A$6.6 million, in May. It was an Australasian record price for a broodmare. The now six-year-old was bought by Yulong, an international thoroughbred racing and breeding operation, and will be based in Australia. She will be mated with the Yulong stallion Pierata this spring. Imperatriz’s impact in her final season was further illustrated when she was announced as the recipient of the award for outstanding global achievement, which usually recognises the efforts of the human participants. Imperatriz dominated the Horse of the Year voting receiving 41 of the 51 votes cast, with New Zealand Derby winner Orchestral the runner-up. Orchestral was never going to threaten Imperatriz’s hold on the main prize but had a similar profile to Sharp ‘N’ Smart – the 2023 Derby winner and Horse of the Year – and gained all bar two of the votes in the three-year-old section Warren Kennedy was named Jockey of the Year, after just his second season in New Zealand. The former South African premiership winner made the brave decision to move to New Zealand in his 40s and has been quick to make an impact. Kennedy, 44, topped the national premiership in 23-24 and was also the leading rider in terms of domestic stake earnings and black type wins. His season included a memorable day at Pukekohe, on January 1, when he rode seven winners at one of the biggest meetings of the year. Voting for the leading jumps jockey produced the smallest margin, with Portia Matthews edging Shaun Fannin by three votes. Jockeys – sponsored by OnTrack: Warren Kennedy. Trainers – sponsored by OnTrack: Mark Walker & Sam Bergerson. Apprentice Jockeys Lily Sutherland. Owners – sponsored by OnTrack: Brendan & Jo Lindsay. Newcomer to Training – sponsored by gavelhouse.com: Sam Mynott. LOVERACING.NZ Award for Contribution to Media, Digital & Content: Trackside Premier. Other finalists: Auckland Thoroughbred Racing, Blow Up! Broadcasting, SENZ’s The Mail Run. NZ Bloodstock Filly of the Year: Molly Bloom. Champion Two-Year-Old – sponsored by Race Images NZ: Velocious 52. Other finalists: Captured By Love (1), Move To Strike (1), Bellatrix Star. Champion Three-Year-Old – sponsored by TAB NZ: Orchestral (54). Other finalists: Crocetti (2), Antrim Coast, Molly Bloom, Pulchritudinous, Quinetssa. Champion Sprinter-Miler (up to 1600m) – Sponsored by RACEFORM: Imperatriz (50).Other finalists: Bonny Lass (3), Desert Lightning, La Crique. Champion Middle Distance Horse (1601m-2200m) sponsored by Happy Hire: Legarto (33). Other finalists: Campionessa (20), El Vencedor (2), Ladies Man. Champion Stayer (2201m & further) – sponsored by Entain Australia & New Zealand): Orchestral (31). Other finalists: Mahrajaan (24), Mary Louise (1), Asterix, Mark Twain. Champion Jumper – sponsored by Sandfield: West Coast (46). Other finalists: The Cossack (7), Berry The Cash (3), Nedwin. Jockey of the Year – sponsored by betcha: Warren Kennedy (34) Other finalists: Opie Bosson (15), Michael McNab (1), Sam Spratt (1), Joe Doyle, Craig Grylls. Jumps Jockey of the Year – sponsored by NZ Equine Academy: Portia Matthews (29). Other finalists: Shaun Fannin (26), Hamish McNeill. Trainer of the Year – sponsored by Dunstan Horsefeeds: Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson partnership (49). Other finalist: Robbie Patterson (5). Owner of the Year – sponsored by TAB NZ: Denise Bassett and John Elstob (17). Other finalists: Brendan & Jo Lindsay (12), Daniel Nakhle (7), Eddie Bourke (4), Waikato Stud (4), Gerry Harvey (2), Ben Kwok (2), Colin & Helen Litt (1), Kelvin & Vanessa Tyler (1), Barneswood Farm, The Oaks Stud. NZ Stablehand of the Year – sponsored by Saddlery Warehouse, Cambridge & Tauranga: Joanne Pearson (employed by Lisa Latta, Awapuni Central). Other finalists: Jonathon Richardson (Northern), Lexi Porteous (Southern). NZTR Award for Outstanding Contribution to Racing: Dawn and Peter Williams. NZTR Award for Outstanding Global Achievement: Imperatriz SENZ NZ Thoroughbred Horse of the Year: Imperatriz (41) Also: Orchestral (9), Legarto (1). View the full article

Defying history and testing track conditions, rising star Ka Ying Rising (NZ) (Shamexpress) continued an irrepressible advance through Hong Kong’s sprint ranks with record-breaking success in the HK$3.72 million Class 1 HKSAR Chief Executive’s Cup Handicap (1200m) at Sha Tin on Sunday. Illuminating gloomy conditions in front of a crowd of 42,556, Ka Ying Rising (135lb) set a weight-carrying record in the season-opening feature to cruise to his sixth victory from eight starts, clocking a slick 1m 08.03s in good-to-yielding conditions. Ridden confidently by Zac Purton, David Hayes’ four-year-old settled in second place behind stablemate Harmony N Blessed until the 300m mark before surging clear to win by a one and a quarter length from Beauty Waves (115lb), with Superb Capitalist (115lb) a further one and three quarters of a length further away in third. Since 1997, no topweight has won the HKSAR Chief Executive’s Cup and only two horses – The Duke in 2004 and Winner’s Way in 2018 – have carried 130lb to victory. The two most recent winners of the race – Victor The Winner and Lucky Sweynesse – both carried 115lb before advancing to Group 1 triumphs in the same season. Bred by Grandmoral Lodge Racing, Ka Ying Rising was unextended in victory but still managed to clock 21.94s for the final 400m on a track softened by rain. David Hayes confirmed Ka Ying Rising would be aimed at the HK$5.35 million G2 Premier Bowl Handicap (1200m) on 20 October and HK$5.35 million G2 BOCHK Private Banking Jockey Club Sprint (1200m) on 17 November in preparation for the HK$26 million G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint (1200m) on 8 December. Hayes said last season’s Hong Kong Champion Griffin and Most Improved Horse had defied convention to win. “I was very nervous because common sense said a young horse carrying 135lb in testing conditions and giving a lot of good horses weight couldn’t win. But he did it brilliantly and I’m so proud of him. He’s a bit special, isn’t he?” Hayes said. “Physically, he’s put on about 20lb and mentally he’s a lot better according to Zac. That’s why I wanted to run him early in the season because he’s had a lot of time off. He defied logic then. A lot of smart people said the horse he beat, Beauty Waves, would be hard to beat. “I think going forward it’s the most important thing that you’re not a one-dimensional sprinter and what’s good about him is he can follow and join – he doesn’t just have to lead.” Purton, who finished the meeting with a quartet, said Ka Ying Rising effectively won the race with a blistering start. “He absolutely flew the start and it won him the race. He got into the right spot without having to do too much work. The race was run at a nice rhythm for him, the track is not wet yet – it’s still racing quite well, so I don’t think that was an issue for him to carry the bit weight,” Purton said. “He pulled himself into it on straightening, which I really liked because he had the big weight and you don’t want him get outsprinted, so I allowed him to let down under his own steam, which was ideal because he did it in a nice fashion.” Purton said it was too early to predict how high Ka Ying Rising could yet climb. “He’s won a Group 3 race, so he’s got a long way to go – we’ll find out,” he said. Purton began his quest for an eighth championship with victory in the opening race of the season – the Class 5 Kowloon Peak Handicap (1600m) – aboard Chris So-trained Go Go Go (NZ) (Charm Spirit) and hopes the gelding’s breakthrough triumph will prove to be a positive omen. “The last time I won the first race of the season, I broke the record for most number of wins (179 in 2022/23) in a season, so let’s hope history repeats,” the Australian said. Purton also partnered Dennis Yip’s Fast Network (NZ) (Wrote), who scored impressively in the Class 4 Lantau Peak Handicap (1000m) as Britney Wong marked her Hong Kong debut with a fine third placing aboard David Hall-trained Glorious Expert. View the full article

Dashing Duchess cruises to victory at The Valley. Photo: Bruno Cannatelli Symon Wilde believes that moving the Archer Stakes (2500m) to this Saturday at Flemington, with its golden ticket into the Melbourne Cup (3200m) for the winner, couldn’t have come at a better time for Dashing Duchess. “She’s in form and up and running. She deserves a shot in a race like this,” Wilde told Racing.com. Dashing Duchess has won her past two starts comfortably at Moonee Valley, including her latest in a Quality Handicap over 2500 metres. “She’s tracking the right way. She’s got a nice profile for an up-and-coming staying horse. She’s in form at the right time. I think she’s now got enough runs under her belt to compete at that level,” Wilde said. “We’re hopeful and excited. She’s surprised us a little. We’ll be interested to see what level she gets to, so we’ll get a great guide in The Archer. “If we were to win, then we’d definitely take up the option of heading to the Melbourne Cup.” Horse racing news View the full article

Skirt The Law after winning the 2023 Magic Millions 2YO Classic. Photo: Darren Winningham The 2024/25 Queensland Summer Racing Carnival will reach a thrilling crescendo with a new-look schedule poised to anchor its biggest days. With the Gold Coast Turf Club’s course proper still being closely managed, the proposed Friday night meeting on the eve of The Star Gold Coast Magic Millions Raceday will be replaced with a turbo-charged twilight meeting a week earlier. As a result, the final two meetings of the Summer Carnival will provide an incredible $20.55 million in prize money and bonuses across two feature 10-race programs conducted at the Gold Coast. In the lead-up to The Star Gold Coast Magic Millions Raceday, the penultimate Summer Carnival meeting on Saturday, January 4, swells from $1.6 million to $6.05 million and includes the new $3 million Magic Millions Sunlight (3YO) slot race. Additional enhancements include the scheduling of the $1 million Magic Millions The Syndicate, the $250,000 Magic Millions Maiden Plate (1400m), a $250,000 Sunlight Consolation (3YO) and a new $250,000 Magic Millions Class 6 Plate (1200m). On the same card, prize money for The Wave doubles to $500,000 and the race will be run exclusively for Magic Millions Race Series-nominated horses in 2025, however, it will no longer be age restricted, with the 1800m weight-for-age feature now available to three-year-olds and up. The $14.5 million The Star Gold Coast Magic Millions Raceday on Saturday, January 11 also boasts a raft of enhancements headlined by the Magic Millions Cup doubling in prize money to $2 million. The Racing Queensland Magic Millions QTIS race will also receive a $500,000 increase to $1.5 million. “The Magic Millions is the pinnacle of the Queensland Summer Racing Carnival and it’s imperative that we provide certainty to participants and attendees,” Racing Queensland CEO Jason Scott said. “Having adopted a cautious maintenance programme to the course proper on the Gold Coast, we do not want to overwork the track while it is still establishing itself and we ran the risk of doing that by pushing ahead with three meetings in the space of a week. “Instead, we have opted to bolster the final two weekends of the Summer Carnival, offering more than $20 million in prize money across two incredible cards.” While the Magic Millions The Debut races were divided for colts and geldings and fillies this year, the unique $500,000 feature for two-year-olds will be run as an open race for first starters at The Star Gold Coast Magic Millions Raceday in 2025. However, a $250,000 edition of Magic Millions The Debut, open to colts, geldings and fillies, will also be programmed at the Gold Coast on Friday, December 20, which is poised to be run as the club’s first night meeting. “This new schedule for Summer is the best outcome for everyone – for participants, horses and punters,” Magic Millions Managing Director Barry Bowditch said. “We fully endorse the objectives of Racing Queensland and the Gold Coast Turf Club to provide surety of a fantastic safe racing surface and support its longevity. “It’s a complementary program of features that achieves all our objectives. The exciting race additions, prize money increases and a new $3 million slot race under lights. “To have 20 races and more than $20 million in prize money returned to owners, trainers and jockeys across two Saturdays bookending the Gold Coast Yearling Sale will be nothing short of phenomenal.” Racing resumed on the Gold Coast Turf Club course proper on Saturday with a successful six-race card. A cautious maintenance programme will be followed ahead of the Summer Carnival features. “It has certainly been a challenging time for all tracks in South East Queensland but we are very happy with how the course proper has improved during the cooler months and we expect it to improve even further as we get into Spring and Summer,” GCTC CEO Steve Lines said. “We have completed a series of successful gallops and barrier trials on the course proper and the feedback from riders is that it’s a great uniform surface that is continuing to improve. “We are really excited about the changes to the GCTC Summer Carnival which creates our biggest ever festival of racing from December right through to late January.” Horse racing news View the full article

Ka Ying Rising streams clear. Defying history and testing track conditions, rising star Ka Ying Rising continued an irrepressible advance through Hong Kong’s sprint ranks with record-breaking success in the HK$3.72 million Class 1 HKSAR Chief Executive’s Cup Handicap (1200m) at Sha Tin on Sunday. Illuminating gloomy conditions in front of a crowd of 42,556, Ka Ying Rising (135lb) set a weight-carrying record in the season-opening feature to cruise to his sixth victory from eight starts, clocking a slick 1:08.03 in good-to-yielding conditions. Ridden confidently by Zac Purton, David Hayes’ four-year-old settled in second place behind stablemate Harmony N Blessed until the 300m mark before surging clear to win by 1.25 lengths from Beauty Waves (115lb), with Superb Capitalist (115lb) a further one and three quarters of a length further away in third. Since 1997, no topweight has won the HKSAR Chief Executive’s Cup and only two horses – The Duke in 2004 and Winner’s Way in 2018 – have carried 130lb to victory. The two most recent winners of the race – Victor The Winner and Lucky Sweynesse – both carried 115lb before advancing to Group 1 triumphs in the same season. By Shamexpress, Ka Ying Rising was unextended in victory but still managed to clock 21.94s for the final 400m on a track softened by rain. David Hayes confirmed Ka Ying Rising would be aimed at the HK$5.35 million Group 2 Premier Bowl Handicap (1200m) on October 20 and HK$5.35 million Group 2 BOCHK Private Banking Jockey Club Sprint (1200m) on November 17 in preparation for the HK$26 million Group 1 Hong Kong Sprint (1200m) on December 8. Hayes said last season’s Hong Kong Champion Griffin and Most Improved Horse had defied convention to win. “I was very nervous because common sense said a young horse carrying 135lb in testing conditions and giving a lot of good horses weight couldn’t win. But he did it brilliantly and I’m so proud of him. He’s a bit special, isn’t he?” Hayes said. “Physically, he’s put on about 20lb and mentally he’s a lot better according to Zac. That’s why I wanted to run him early in the season because he’s had a lot of time off. He defied logic then. A lot of smart people said the horse he beat, Beauty Waves, would be hard to beat. “I think going forward it’s the most important thing that you’re not a one-dimensional sprinter and what’s good about him is he can follow and join – he doesn’t just have to lead.” Purton, who finished the meeting with a quartet, said Ka Ying Rising effectively won the race with a blistering start. “He absolutely flew the start and it won him the race. He got into the right spot without having to do too much work. The race was run at a nice rhythm for him, the track is not wet yet – it’s still racing quite well, so I don’t think that was an issue for him to carry the bit weight,” Purton said. “He pulled himself into it on straightening, which I really liked because he had the big weight and you don’t want him get outsprinted, so I allowed him to let down under his own steam, which was ideal because he did it in a nice fashion.” Purton said it was too early to predict how high Ka Ying Rising could yet climb. “He’s won a Group 3 race, so he’s got a long way to go – we’ll find out,” he said. Purton began his quest for an eighth championship with victory in the opening race of the season – the Class 5 Kowloon Peak Handicap (1600m) – aboard Chris So-trained Go Go Go and hopes the gelding’s breakthrough triumph will prove to be a positive omen. “The last time I won the first race of the season, I broke the record for most number of wins (179 in 2022/23) in a season, so let’s hope history repeats,” the Australian said. Purton also partnered Dennis Yip’s Fast Network, who scored impressively as Britney Wong marked her Hong Kong debut with a fine third placing aboard David Hall-trained Glorious Expert. Purton completed a bountiful afternoon with victory in the last race aboard Danny Shum-trained Gorgeous Win. Shum also struck with Harmony N Home under Matthew Poon, who also figured atop Tony Cruz’s Super Fortune. Mark Newnham opened his seasonal account with Same To You’s success under Brenton Avdulla before the Australian horseman secured a double with My Wish under Luke Ferraris. Hayes teamed with Ferraris’ South African compatriot Lyle Hewitson aboard Amazing Run to launch his 2024/25 positively before Manfred Man combined with Alexis Badel with talented Chiu Chow Spirit. Turnover on the season-opening meeting was HK$1,327.6 million, an 8.6% increase on the corresponding meeting last year, while total attendance – including 4,962 at Happy Valley – reached a combined 47,518, the largest attendance since 2019, and an increase of 11,511 on last season’s meeting. Horse racing news View the full article

It rained in Alice Springs on Sunday for the first time in ages, but that didn’t stop Victorian apprentice Hannah Le Blanc from once again landing a winning double at Pioneer Park. Picture: Nikki Westover Photography Travelling to Alice Springs continues to pay dividends for Victorian apprentice Hannah Le Blanc. There have been two Pioneer Park meetings this season with the 28-year-old from Glenrowan booting home winning doubles on August 25 and on Sunday. Le Blanc had back to back wins on Sunday aboard Will Savage’s stablemates Talent Quest – the $2.25 favourite with horse racing bookmakers – over 1000m (0-64) and Becquerel ($2.60 fav) in a 1400m maiden. Talent Quest, whom Le Blanc partnered a fortnight ago, made it four straight wins when he swooped late to nail Terry Gillett’s front-runner Family Ties ($3.20) right on the line to prevail by a short half head. The six-year-old son of Your Song was camped second behind Family Ties passing the 600m, but he and Ray Viney’s Tango Stepz ($7.50) – who finished third – couldn’t bridge the gap in the home straight before the race came to life in the shadows of the post. Becquerel, a four-year-old gelding by The Autumn Sun, got that first win after six starts for Ballarat trainers Tony and Calvin McEvoy and eight previous starts of Savage. Le Blanc settled in sixth place and Becquerel, who had managed two seconds in the Alice, was in fact seventh at the 400m before winding up in the home straight to edge out Viney’s Bodmin Boy ($3.30), by 0.2 lengths with Paul Gardner’s Tortellini ($9.50) third. For Le Blanc, it was her fifth trip to Central Australia – where she now has six wins – after posting a winner on debut at Darwin’s Fannie Bay the previous Saturday. Gillett, the champion trainer in the Alice Springs and Provincial premiership last season, also celebrated a winning double for the second straight meeting. Beau Factor ($3.80) made it back to back wins over 1200m (0-64) and Valley Prince ($8.50) ended a winning drought stretching back to January with victory over 1200m (0-58). Beau Factor, who toppled Gillett’s in-form Altar Boy two weeks ago, led from start to finish before outclassing stablemate Ornamental Lady ($3.80) and Greg Connor’s Delago Lad ($3.30 fav) by 3.3 lengths. Valley Prince jumped from the inside gate and held sway throughout before edging out Le Blanc’s fast-finishing mount Vanderland ($5.50) by a nose with Dan Morgan’s Boy Big ($6) well adrift in third place. After getting collared by Connor’s Flying Start within sight of the winning post in open company over 1100m a fortnight ago, Paul Gardner’s Red Wraith reversed the result in emphatic style when he saluted by 3.8 lengths over 1200m (BM76). In a performance that mirrored his impressive 1200m win on Darwin Cup Day two starts ago on August 5, Red Wraith ($1.75 fav) jumped to an early lead and was never headed overcoming Flying Start ($2.60) and Gardner’s Nasty Streak ($31). Horse racing news View the full article

The star power was at Del Mar, too. In addition to The Chosen Vron and Adare Manor, there was Senor Buscador, Pretty Mischievous, Sweet Azteca, Anisette, and Didia. Not to mention the up-and-coming star 2-year-olds from the Bob Baffert barn.View the full article

Not only did the lightly-raced Howard Wolowitz nail down a victory in the $1,176,600 Franklin-Simpson Stakes (G1T) Sept. 7, but Kentucky Downs will pick up the Breeders' Cup fees should the 3-year-old colt draw into the World Championships.View the full article