Wandering Eyes

It was a case of mission accomplished for Australian trainer Gavin Bedggood at Ellerslie on Boxing Day. The Cranbourne horseman had previously competed at the Auckland track as a jumps jockey a decade ago and he eyed a return across the Tasman this week with his well-bred Group Three winner Kingswood (Roaring Lion). With a view towards securing his future stud career, Bedggood was in search of an all-important elite-level victory, and he felt the Gr.1 Cambridge Stud Zabeel Classic (2000m) presented as the perfect opportunity. Prior to the race, Bedggood gave jockey Rory Hutchings instructions to be on pace, however, Kingswood was slow away and Bedggood thought the race was over from the start. However, Hutchings was able to work his charge off the fence down the back straight, and off a sedate pace he quickly launched Kingswood three-wide to loop the field and serve it up to his rivals. Hutchings caught his competitors off guard and quickly created a two-length buffer, which he continued to extend. Several of his more favoured rivals rallied late, but Hutchings’ masterful move proved the telling of the race, and Kingswood scored by 1-1/2 lengths over Jaarffi, with a further long neck back to Legarto in third. Hutchings admitted to being in a spot of bother when their race plan was scuppered at the start, but his improvised plan B more than made up for it. “We didn’t begin that well,” he said. “It wasn’t in our plan book to be where we were. They just kept getting slower and slower up the hill and I thought we were not going to be able to peg back horses like El Vencedor and Legarto that were a lot closer to the speed running at three-quarter pace mid-stage. “When I went, I made sure I went really quick. I had a lap full of horse when I did it and I knew I caught them napping. He went from 0 to 100 in one stride and he sustained that all the way to the winning post. That is a trait of a very good horse.” The victory was a sentimental one for Hutchings, who had won his first elite-level victory in the race 11 years ago aboard the Graeme and Debbie Rogerson-trained Soriano, and fate led to his ride in this year’s edition. “A couple of weeks ago I didn’t have a ride in this race,” he said. “Through Johny Allen’s suspension I was able to pick up this horse. It’s funny how this game works.” Bedggood was rapt with Hutchings’ race-winning tactics, with the trainer admitting he had thought it was game over shortly after the start. “100m after the start I thought we were cast,” he said. “We weren’t where we wanted to be, they didn’t go quick. Watching the race unfold I was working out how I was going to explain this, we were going to look like mugs. “Fair play to Rory, what a ride. It was a ballsy ride to take off like he did. I just said the horse needed to be in a spot where he needs to build his revs. He is not a sit and sprint horse, and it was well executed. “He had to do something because where he was, riding for luck wasn’t an option. It wasn’t going to suit the horse the way the race was panning out. Full credit to him, it was the difference between winning and getting beaten.” The victory also vindicated Bedggood’s decision to campaign in New Zealand, and he said he came under plenty of scrutiny in the lead-up to the race. “Listening to the radio and watching the TV, there were plenty of knockers,” he said. “I am a realist, he is not top echelon in Melbourne, but he is a bloody good B-grader and I think on his day in Melbourne he would be competitive in an Australian Cup (Gr.1, 2000m). It is good to be vindicated, and it makes the decision worthwhile coming over.” Kingswood will now remain in New Zealand where Bedggood is keen to tackle further Group One targets, and he is hoping Friday’s performance has grabbed the attention of New Zealand stud masters. “He can have a week in the paddock and can probably hang around for the Herbie Dyke (Gr.1, 2000m) and Bonecrusher (Gr.1, 2000m) now I think,” he said. View the full article

Stakes targets are in the offing for consistent gelding Maldini (NZ) (Tarzino) after he scored the biggest win of his career when taking out the Dunstan Horsefeeds Stayers’ Championship Final (2400m) at Ellerslie on Boxing Day. From his ace barrier, Maldini settled three-back on the rail for apprentice jockey Sam McNab and the pair enjoyed an economical trip throughout. Turning for home, much of the field elected to search for better footing towards the middle of the track, but McNab continued to hug the rail, which proved a decisive move, with Maldini quickly finding the lead, and he was able to build on his momentum, eventually running out a 2-1/2 length victor over He’s Classic. Trainer Tony Pike has been in search of a win in the race for many years and he was delighted to tick it off the list on Friday. “It is a race I have been trying to win for a while, we have got a few placings but never actually won it, so it was great to get that result today,” he said. “He deserves this, he is not a big horse, and he has been really consistent right through this preparation. He just needs things to go his way with his size. “He was given an absolute peach (of a ride) by Sam today, he never left the fence, and he has won really well. “He is not an easy horse to ride, he can go quite keen. All the gaps opened up on the fence and he didn’t go too early either. It was a very patient ride and he is riding extremely well. “I am rapt for the owners, they have been really patient with the horse, he has been frustrating and he hasn’t won out of turn. It was a great race for him to win today.” Pike is now eyeing potential stakes targets with Maldini, with a likely return to Ellerslie next week to tackle black-type company for the first time in the Gr.3 Queen Elizabeth Cup (2400m) on New Year’s Day. “He is in career best form,” Pike said. “He has been up a very long time but just whether we keep him going this preparation we will wait and see. Probably off a win like that we will have to look at a City of Auckland Cup (Queen Elizabeth).” Bred by Westbury Stud principal Gerry Harvey, Maldini is by their resident stallion Tarzino and out of Testa Rossa mare Cristallo Rosso, a daughter of Group One winner Crystal Palace and a half-sister to Group One performer Palacio De Crista. Offered through Westbury Stud’s 2021 New Zealand Bloodstock Book 1 Yearling Sale draft, he was purchased by bloodstock agent Phill Cataldo for $55,000, and he has gone on to win four of his 30 starts, and more than $167,000 in prizemoney. View the full article

Fresh off a Happy Valley winner just before Christmas, David Eustace is hoping to keep the festive celebrations rolling into Saturday with a strong squad set for the Sha Tin meeting. The British trainer watched Sports Legend record a facile success at the city circuit on Tuesday and after some downtime to enjoy the festive period, his attention now firmly turns to a pair of second-up horses who had luckless debuts. Perhaps his biggest chance of a Saturday winner is Greater Bae, who runs in the...View the full article

Promising filly Bobby Mcgee showed she will be a force to be reckoned with against her age-group rivals over the next few months when she bounded home to take out her first victory at stakes level in the Listed NZB Airfreight Stakes (1400m) at Wingatui. The Terry Kennedy-prepared daughter of White Robe Lodge stallion Ancient Spirit had broken her maiden status on her home track two starts ago and followed that up with a tidy run for fifth against the three-year-olds at Invercargill a fortnight ago. Despite that form, she was overlooked in the betting for the Boxing Day feature event on her home track, starting at the generous odds of $18 in the Fixed Odds market dominated by Miss Starlight ($2.50) and Cool Aza Rene ($3.40). The two favourites looked as though they would fulfil those predictions as they set down to fight out the finish after separating themselves from the rest of the field with 150m to run. However, no one had told Bobby Mcgee and rider Rohan Mudhoo who had bided their time in midfield before angling to the middle of the track rounding the home bend. Just as Miss Starlight looked to have beaten off Cool Aza Rene, Boby Mcgee appeared on her outer and with several enormous bounds cruised past to win going away by just on a neck at the post. Kennedy had been confident of a good performance despite the class of the opposition. “She is a really nice filly and her work since the run at Invercargill has been top class,” Kennedy said. “She didn’t have a lot of luck that day and back to her home track gave us confidence she could compete today. “She is a beautiful, big filly who will only get better as she matures and I think the way she finished off today she will get up to 2000m without much fuss.” Kennedy will follow the traditional three-year-old path with the filly but isn’t prepared to overtax her this preparation. “She probably has three more runs left in her before we put her aside for a break,” he said. “She can chase the three-year-old series and I think her last run is likely to be in the Dunedin Guineas (Listed, 1600m) here in late February.” Bred and raced by Craig and Jim Hunter, Bobby Mcgee’s dam is the six-time winner Lucille, who recently produced a full sister to Bobby Mcgee. – View the full article

A brilliant front-running ride from Joe Doyle saw gritty filly Tellum upset the applecart as she downed the favourites in the Gr.2 Hallmark Stud Eight Carat Classic (1600m) at Ellerslie on Boxing Day. The Debbie Sweeney-prepared three-year-old had been thereabouts in her recent racing and with no other runners prepared to set up the pace, it was Doyle and the daughter of Ocean Park who seized the initiative and dictated proceedings. It was obvious that the filly was travelling well on the home corner and when she sneaked away with 300m to run, the members of the Flying Mullet syndicate who own her, began to make their presence felt as the volume levels increased exponentially on-course. Tellum never looked like being caught as she held out the strong late runs of race favourite Lollapalooza, Fleeting Star and Fairy Dream to claim her third career victory and first at stakes level. Sweeney was all smiles after the race and praised her nearly 50-strong ownership group for their support of her and the horse. “This is extra special as she is a tough filly who has shown a lot the whole way through,” Sweeney said. “It is a great team of owners, 47 or 49 of them, and I’m so thankful to them. There are a lot of characters in there and when she won at Te Aroha they were all in the pub at Papamoa and having an absolute blast. “I did say to Joe that she does like to be on pace and I couldn’t believe how easily she was travelling. “I thought we were a massive chance then and I’m just rapt with her. “We will now carry on with her three-year-old campaign after we see how she pulls up” Bred by Waikato Stud, Tellum is out of the Fastnet Rock mare Early Morning Rise, who is a daughter of class racemare Kay’s Awake who was placed on four separate occasions at Group One level. She has now won three of her seven starts and more than $180,000 in prizemoney. View the full article

Nerves are a rare feeling for Stephen Marsh on raceday, but he was certainly feeling them at Ellerslie on Boxing Day. The Cambridge horseman was lining up his unbeaten filly Well Written in the Gr.2 Jimmy Schick Shaw’s Auckland Guineas (1400m), and he knew the well-supported filly would be vulnerable fresh-up. The daughter of Written Tycoon has made waves since winning on debut at Ellerslie in September, going on to win the Gr.2 Soliloquy Stakes (1400m) in eye-catching fashion, attracting the attention of plenty of prospective buyers in the process. Yulong Investments subsequently purchased into the filly and she carried their green silks to victory in the Gr.1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton last month. That performance attracted the attention of NZB Kiwi (1500m) slot holders and a deal was brokered with Entain New Zealand to represent their TAB slot in the $4 million feature. With his filly being the talk of New Zealand racing, Marsh had the weight of expectation on his shoulders heading into Friday’s feature, with punters backing Well Written into $1.30 favouritism, and she didn’t do anything to allay his nerves when she was fractious behind the barriers. However, she loaded away and jumped away well under Matthew Cartwright, who settled his charge in the one-one behind Affirmative Action, while jockey Opie Bosson made a beeline for the front and set the pace throughout. He Who Dares looked full of running at the turn, kicking clear of his rivals, and he was maintaining that advantage. However, with 200m to go, Cartwright pushed the go button on his filly and she started to take chase, firstly reeling in Affirmative Action before grabbing He Who Dares on the line to win buy a short neck. Marsh was understandably a relieved man post-race. “I haven’t felt like that before a race for a long time,” he said. “I have been feeling sick all week about it. We haven’t got her tuned up. I knew today she would be vulnerable. We certainly didn’t want to be coming here and getting beaten. “I am just proud of her and I thought Matt did a great job. I said to him to nurse her until the last little bit, don’t go for her too early, and he did exactly that. “It was a little bit hairy for a bit, but she knows where the line is. I knew with her condition she would probably come to the end of it in that last little bit, hence why I said to Matt to ride her with patience, don’t go early, and he gave her another 10 out of 10 ride. “I think she is one out of the box, she is brilliant. I felt a bit of pressure today, but I am certainly relieved now, and it makes it all worthwhile.” Marsh said it was also an honour to take out a race named after Windsor Park Stud principals Rodney and Gina Schick’s late son. “It is special winning that race, the Jimmy Schick. I know Rod and Gina will be watching at home. It is a very hard time for the family,” Marsh said. “It is pretty special for us. We are all very close in Cambridge and to win that race is great.” Cartwright was also rapt with Well Written’s performance and he is now looking forward to tackling some rich targets aboard her, with the filly heading the TAB’s futures market for both the TAB Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m) and NZB Kiwi, at $1.40 and $1.90 respectively. “Coming to the last 100m I expected her to kick a little bit better but today is not her grand final,” he said. “She is a little bit underdone but still got the job done. “She is such an exciting filly and she has put her head out when it counts. It is just a privilege to ride her.” View the full article

Caspar Fownes is adamant Lo Rider is primed for a return to the trip of his creditable fourth in the Hong Kong Derby when he tackles Saturday’s Class Two Long Ke Handicap (2,000m). Bidding to add to his two-win championship lead over Mark Newnham, Fownes is full of confidence as Lo Rider bids to add to his first Hong Kong success over 1,650m at Happy Valley in September. The Irish import was unlucky not to strike in his first local campaign last season, notching a close second and a pair of...View the full article

David Hall is focusing solely on getting his progressive sprinter Magnifique back safe and sound before considering lavish targets as he begins on the comeback trail at Sha Tin on Saturday. The Charm Spirit galloper looked to be a smart operator in the making last season, rattling off three wins from four starts, and he runs in the Class Three Sham Chung Handicap (1,000m). Winning his opening two starts with his head in his chest, Magnifique had excuses when suffering defeat for the first time...View the full article

White Robe Lodge has announced the death of proven stallion Ghibellines. A son of champion sire Shamardal and the Group One-winning Elusive Quality mare Camarilla, Ghibellines’ racing highlight was his victory in the Gr.2 Todman Stakes (1200m) for trainer Peter Snowden. Retired to stud in 2016, Ghibellines sired Group One winner Smokin’ Romans, last season’s Gr.2 Brisbane Cup (2400m) winner Campaldino and A$1.5 million earner Palmetto among nine stakes winners at a very respectable 4.3 percent stakes winners to runners. View the full article

Maiden Watch: Week of Dec. 15-21View the full article

Trainer Bob Baffert has entered five 3-year-olds in the seven-furlong Malibu Stakes, headed by recent Perryville Stakes (G3) winner Barnes.View the full article

Nearly a decade after taking up the mantle as private trainer to Cambridge Stud owners Sir Brendan and Jo Lady Lindsay, Lance Noble has delivered results that he hopes to embellish at one of New Zealand’s racing’s biggest events, Boxing Day at Ellerslie. From his base at Lindsay Racing’s lavish Karaka facility, Noble has prepared more than 120 winners in the gold and black Cambridge Stud colours, and with a select team lining up on the first big day of the holiday racing season, he’s looking for more. Noble’s team is headed by Jaarffi (NZ) (Iffraaj) in the Gr.1 Cambridge Stud Zabeel Classic (2000m), a multiple stakes-placed six-year-old seeking her first major win. He will saddle up two runners, topweight Mollify (NZ) (So You Think) and Daring Dame (NZ) (Almanzor), in the Dunstan Horsefeeds Stayers Championship Final, as well as First Dance (NZ) (Zousain) in the Stella Artois 1500 Championship Final, Frostfair in the Entain/NZB Pearl Series and two-year-old debutante Liguria in the SkyCity 1100. “Part of the brief when I accepted this role was to target the big days,” Noble said. “Brendan and Jo love racing at Ellerslie, especially on these feature days, so to have six runners in their colours on Boxing Day and another couple for New Year’s Day from a team of 24, that’s very satisfying, a big effort from everyone involved. “Mind you, they’ve still got to front up, but we’re not there just to make up the numbers, they’ve all got the credentials to perform in the races we’ve set them for.” Jaarffi meets opposition to compare with the very best Zabeel Classic fields, headed by triple Group One winner Waitak (NZ) (Proisir), reigning Horse of the Year El Vencedor (NZ) (Shocking) and perennial Group One bridesmaid La Crique (NZ) (Vadamos). Add quality performers such as Legarto (NZ) (Proisir), Qali Al Farrasha (NZ) (Almanzor) and Victorian raider Kingswood (Roaring Lion), and Jaarffi’s attempt at a black-type breakthrough will be no pushover. “Yes, it’s a very strong field, as good as you could expect, but our mare has had an ideal build-up, she loves the track and is drawn well,” Noble said. “She had no luck when she was just beaten in the Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (Gr.1, 1600m) here in March, so I’d like to think she can be right in it.” The stronger of Noble’s double hand in the Dunstan Stayers Final (2400m) is Mollify, who has earned her 59 kilo topweight with wins at her last two starts. “She has come a long way pretty quickly and it’s fair to say she deserves to be topweight. “She does put herself in a race and it’s reassuring that she has followed a similar path to our two earlier winners of this race, About Time (NZ) (American Pharoah) and Aquacade (NZ) (Dundeel). “Daring Dame’s form is a bit patchy, but a couple of things have gone against her and she’s at a good spot down in the weights. “Frostfair (NZ) (Written Tycoon) had an excuse for her last performance at Te Rapa when she blew the start, so you can put a line through that. She’s such a big mare, she can get a bit claustrophobic if she’s in the gates too long. “Her previous form was good and also in her favour is her record on the track and over the (1400m) distance.” “Our Stella Artois Final runner First Dance was beaten a nose at her last start by Moxie (Strasbourg), who is the likely favourite in this race, and the time before she finished second to Smart Love (NZ) (Savabeel). “She has an ideal draw and I’m very happy with her.” First Dance acted as baby-sitter for Noble’s Boxing Day debutante Liguria (NZ) (Snitzel)4 at Monday’s Ellerslie gallops session and both pleased with their work on the course proper. Liguria represents a significant phase in Noble’s time at Linday Racing, being the daughter of one of his early feature performers in the same colours, Gr. 2 Matamata Breeders’ Stakes winner Vernazza (NZ). “That’s the beauty of my role here, the fantastic bloodlines I get to work with, and Liguria is no better example being by Snitzel from a very good galloper. “She’s a first foal and has really strengthened and developed lately. She has a beautiful action and has run two nice trials and up against what you could call a pretty even field, I’m looking forward to seeing how she goes. “You have to be realistic going into these sorts of days, everyone’s primed for a crack at the good stakes and it will be very competitive racing, but we’re just happy to be part of it.” View the full article

Darryn and Briar Weatherley are under no illusions about the holiday task ahead of Bulgari (NZ) (Hello Youmzain) but are confident the three-year-old is up to making a strong impression. While respectful of the competition, the father and daughter training combination have faith in their colt to give the more favoured contenders a run for their money in Friday’s Gr.2 Jimmy Schick Shaw’s Auckland Guineas (1400m). “We are really happy with him, he’s up against it with that filly (Well Written (Written Tycoon)) and Pam Gerard’s horse (Affirmative Action (Yes Yes Yes)) in there, but I wouldn’t have him in if I didn’t think he was a chance,” Darryn Weatherley said. “I really like the horse, he’s been unlucky in a couple of runs and he’s got a very good future.” The son of Hello Youmzain won his only start last season and this preparation hasn’t had the rub of the green, finishing in behind the major players in both the Gr.2 Hawke’s Bay Guineas (1400m) and Listed Sir Colin Meads Trophy (1200m). Two runs back, Buglari was fourth after an interrupted run at Te Aroha and last time out over this course and distance was unplaced after being denied clear air in the straight. “He worked on the course proper on Tuesday morning with Inside Out (NZ) (Proisir) and he was super, he’s very bright,” Weatherley said. “We gave him a trial last week at Avondale and he’s really come on from that with flying colours. “He will strip a fit horse on Friday and there’s only seven other runners, albeit a couple of them go very well, so he’s going to get a nice run.” Stablemate Dark Destroyer (NZ) (Proisir) will also face a stiff task when he steps out in the Gr.1 Cambridge Stud Zabeel Classic (2000m) following a last-start runner-up finish at Pukekohe Park. “It’s a strong line-up and he deserves his spot in the field, he’s a Group One winner (Tarzino Trophy, 1400m) so we’re looking for a nice run from him,” Weatherley said. “If he goes well, he’ll go back to Ellerslie for the Queen Elizabeth II Cup and he should be even more competitive over the 2400m.” The stable’s other runner on Boxing Day is the genuine Inside Out, who will contest the Stella Artois Championship Final (1500m). “He’s another one who you can’t get a line on in trackwork, but he’s very well and hasn’t put a foot wrong,” said Weatherley, whose son Sam will be aboard all three runners. He was a debut winner in the autumn and the chestnut son of Proisir added a couple of fifth placings before a break. The four-year-old finished runner-up in his resuming run at Tauranga and was again second last time out at Ellerslie where the step up from 1300m should be ideal. “He’s improved with every start and went a really good race the other day and meets the horse that beat him (Rise Companions (Capitalist)) better off at the weights,” Weatherley said. View the full article

Te Akau Racing will be hoping to unwrap some late Christmas presents when they head to Wingatui on Boxing Day with a handful of runners. Their charge will be led by a two-pronged attack in the Listed NZB Airfreight Stakes (1400m) courtesy of Cool Aza Rene (Cool Aza Beel) and Marokopa Falls (Hellbent), who have drawn at opposite ends of the spectrum. Group Three-winning filly Cool Aza Rene has drawn the ace marble, while Group Two performer Marokopa Falls will jump from barrier 10 in the 15-horse field. “They bring two different form lines, but they look two really nice chances on paper,” said Sam Bergerson, who trains in partnership with Mark Walker. Cool Aza Rene mixed her form over spring but secured her maiden stakes victory in the Gr.3 Barneswood Stakes (1400m) at Ashburton in October before running eighth in the Gr.1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton last month. She ran third behind Friday race-rival Cashla Bay (NZ) (U S Navy Flag) in a 1000m trial at Timaru earlier this month, and Bergerson is happy with his filly going into the Boxing Day feature. “Cool Aza Rene is a hard one to get a line on at home, but she had a freshen-up following the Guineas, she just failed to see out the mile,” he said. “Back to 1400m will hopefully suit. I thought she trialled well and she has done really well down there in the south.” Marokopa Falls was third last start in the Listed The O’Learys Fillies Stakes (1340m) at Wanganui and that form was franked last weekend when runner-up War Princess (NZ) (U S Navy Flag) took out the Gr.3 Eulogy Stakes (1600m) at Trentham. “I thought Marokopa Falls was good last time at Wanganui without a lot of luck, trapped three-wide on speed but stuck on really well,” Bergerson said. “She has travelled down in good order. “She will obviously need a bit of luck from out there (10), but she is in good form and should run well.” On the undercard, I’m A Dirty Rascal (Galileo) and Elegant Lady (NZ) (Highly Recommended) will represent the stable in the Grand Casino Open 2200, with the former looking to bounce back to form ahead of next month’s Gr.3 NZ Campus Innovation & Sport Wellington Cup (3200m) at Trentham. “I’m A Dirty Rascal had a bit of a funny run in the (New Zealand) Cup (Gr.3, 3200m), Gryllsy (Craig Grylls, jockey) couldn’t get him to go and then he grabbed the bridle in the last 200m and attacked the line,” Bergerson said. “We have given him a bit of a freshen-up and the rain shouldn’t worry him too much. Hopefully he can run well and we can get him to the Wellington Cup later in January.” Elegant Lady was runner-up on the Riccarton synthetic earlier this month after finishing eighth in the Listed Metropolitan Trophy (2600m) last month, and Bergerson is hoping she can continue her improvement on Friday where she will carry just 54.5kg. “Elegant Lady failed to see out the 2600m at the first meeting of Cup Week and is another that has had a freshen-up,” he said. “Back to 2200m suits and she can handle a bit of sting out of the track, so she looks a nice lightweight chance.” Stablemates High Roller (NZ) (Ace High) and Cognoscenti (Castelvecchio) also featured prominently at Riccarton Park’s synthetic meeting earlier this month, winning their respective races, and Bergerson is hoping they can bring that form to the grass in their respective ODT Southern Mile Heats (1600m) on Friday. “High Roller is always a horse that could gallop but needed a bit of confidence,” Bergerson said. “Hopefully he got that from his first-up win with the blinkers back on, and they stay on for Friday. He has trialled well on heavy going, if it was to get heavy. He can hopefully go through the grades now. “It was a good, positive ride by Bruno (Queiroz) on Cognoscenti (last start). He has got to take that step up to 75 grade now, which is always really tough, but hopefully he has got a bit of confidence and can continue from his good win on the poly.” View the full article

Three from Augustin Stables will vie in a field of 11 3-year-old fillies on the turf at Santa Anita.View the full article

One of Maryland's leading trainers, Claudio Gonzalez, has been expelled from Laurel Park according to a story from the Paulick Report Tuesday. A brief statement from the Maryland Jockey Club reads, “Claudio Gonzalez violated the rules of The Maryland Jockey Club and has been expelled from the grounds.” While the MJC provided no further information, the Paulick Report article links horses previously trained by Gonzalez to “questionable” homes, saying, “Bev Strauss, founder of MidAtlantic Horse Rescue, told the Paulick Report that a former Gonzalez trainee ended up at a kill pen in Kansas, but added that the filly was able to be pulled and is in a new home. Four other former Gonzalez trainees were re-routed from “questionable” homes to MidAtlantic Horse Rescue, she said.” “I have the bill of sale for myself, and I have the bill of sale for Laurel Park,” Gonzalez told the Paulick Report in response. “It's not like I sent them. I did nothing wrong.” The top trainer in Maryland from 2017-2022, Gonzalez has 41 winners from 311 starters this year but has not saddled a starter since Dec. 14. The post Leading Maryland Trainer Claudio Gonzalez Expelled From Laurel Park appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

West Point Thoroughbreds' Counting Stars hopes to up her win count as the 2-year-old filly leads the field of nine in the $150,000 End of Year Stakes at Oaklawn Park Dec. 27.View the full article

Maiden Watch: Week of Dec. 15-21View the full article

Alessandro Marconi is perhaps best known for sourcing French 2,000 Guineas winner Metropolitan for just €78,000, but did you know that the Italian-born bloodstock agent can drink olive oil as if it were water? We bet you didn't. Marconi is next in the hot seat, where he reveals all of that and more. Enjoy. You are best known as the man who bought Metropolitan for €78,000 but what's the biggest mistake you've made in this business? Selling Facteur Cheval after he won his maiden. I think another mistake has been operating as a solo player rather than a global operator with deeper roots in the Middle Eastern market. If you get labelled too quickly in this game, and the label is wrong, you will struggle to become successful. At times, this can chew you up and spit you out. The key is to recognize your essential use and, despite how competitive the field may seem, work out where you can offer value. How did you become a bloodstock agent in the first place? Out of necessity. I worked with Ahmed Bin Harmash in Dubai for 11 years and that was at a time when building the stable was essential, so working the horses-in-training and breeze-up markets was a core part of the business. From that point of view, I have huge respect and understanding as to how good the younger Irish guys are. Their approach to a sale is very interesting. There is a great group of pinhookers that I would struggle to match because they can buy the foal with the right page that will marry up with market demand in six to nine months and, usually, make four or five times their investment. Then the breeze-up men and women are on a whole new level. I find that fascinating and believe that this generation is extremely sharp. What was your defining memory of 2025? This year was a rollercoaster that I am still dealing with. Tell us something people don't know about Alessandro Marconi…. I can drink olive oil as if it were water! Also, I love Formula 1. One other thing, I live my life by the mantra that tomorrow is another day. Therefore, if I can help somebody, I will. What keeps you awake at night? Watching races in America! Or else slow clients. I deal with some clients who must have memory problems because it takes them a while to pay their invoices! What motivates you? My Family. Give us an underrated sire to keep the right side of next year… I give Baaeed a big chance. He was a top-class racehorse and I liked his yearlings. I think he will do well. Also, in America, I like McKinzie. In Ireland, Make Believe is another stallion who consistently comes up with nice horses. Biggest regret? To this day, not buying Zaaki still haunts me. But I believe in fate so maybe it wasn't for me. More realistically, I regret not building a proper team of owners and horses by now. Your favourite sale/place and why? For holidays, it has to be Sardinia but for business, the Gold Coast in Australia. I think that will be the next stop for me. It seems to be a lucky charm for a lot of bloodstock agents. What's your go-to karaoke song? That's an easy one. Nessun Dorma, by Luciano Pavarotti. Who is your inspiration? Enzo Ferrari. He was a great breeder and was able to train his own horses well. A few people in Ireland, Yorkshire and even France have managed to emulate him. How do you want to be remembered? As one hell of an agent who managed to pull a little horse out of nowhere that would go on to win big races on the racetrack. That would be nice. The post In The Hot Seat: Alessandro Marconi appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Despite efforts dating back to May, negotiations around an annual purses and race dates agreement between the Florida Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association (FHBPA) and Gulfstream Park remain at an impasse. The current horsemen's agreement expires Dec. 31. This agreement is a federal requirement for a racetrack to conduct live racing and simulcast its signal nationwide. Gulfstream Park, owned by The Stronach Group (TSG), is statutorily required to conduct a minimum of 40-days live racing to operate its casino. Without a horsemen's agreement, Gulfstream Park would still be able to conduct live racing—and presumably by extension, its casino—but it wouldn't be able to export its signal out of state. Efforts Tuesday to reach representatives from both the FHBPA and Gulfstream Park were unsuccessful. The TDN, however, obtained a copy of a rough transcript from a November 19 FHBPA meeting at which the status of the horsemen's agreement negotiations was front and center. Key sticking points in these negotiations include a multi-million dollar purse account overpayment, the length of the contract and number of race-days. In the crosshairs of this purse overpayment appears to be Florida's current summer racing program, which according to this transcript the FHBPA is fighting to maintain against efforts to scale it back. At the same time, Gulfstream Park's corporate leadership has also demanded that Florida horsemen provide a financial “backstop” to support the track's operational budget, according to the transcript. This is something the FHBPA has so far reportedly rejected on the grounds that they believe the track's racing operations are already profitable, according to two sources. Gulfstream Park receives considerable financial support from the state. Earlier this year, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed into law a budget package that included $15 million annually for purses and facility maintenance for Gulfstream Park alone. On top of that, Gulfstream Park also gets $6 million from the state to be used as purses and purses supplements specifically for Florida-bred and sired horses. Gulfstream Park is also exempt from having to pay its $2 million annual slot machine licensing fee. These negotiations are playing out against a contentious battle between Gulfstream Park's corporate owners and the state racing industry's stakeholders. Efforts by Gulfstream Park and Tampa Bay Downs to decouple the live racing requirement to operate their respective casino and card rooms were ultimately thwarted in the state legislature. In August, Gulfstream Park filed a lawsuit suing the Florida Gaming Control Commission over the decoupling requirement. The commission subsequently asked the Florida state court to dismiss the lawsuit. A new decoupling bill was introduced Tuesday, meaning the fight will spill over into the latest legislative session in Tallahassee. The post Purse Overpayment, Financial “Backstop” Demands And Race-Days Hamstring Horsemen’s Agreement Negotiations appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

What will horse racing look like in 2036 from a horseplayer. I see TDN has had some of the major power brokers respond, most of whom didn't mention anything about the gamblers. Last I checked the racetrack ecosystem, maintenance/upkeep, improvements, purses, etc. are paid by takeout (which is a percent of handle bet, for the owners out there that I shockingly have found out a vast majority of don't know) and subsidies. I responded on my X account about the lack of horseplayer representation in this hypothetical racing question of the year 2036 and was pleasantly surprised when TDN responded asking me to send my prediction. Well, here I am to respond for good or bad. About me: Horse gambler since a young age, horse owner in the last 10 years, and I won't mention my ownership accolades (you wouldn't believe me and they are driven by people smarter than me when it comes to picking out equine talent). The gambling side, however, I will comment on. I won't sit here and tell you how much I lost as a kid (good thing my bankroll was much smaller then), but I will say I have evolved into a sharp player (both in contests and live bankroll). It took time, hard lessons, being a sponge of reading and constantly educating myself and changing how, and more importantly when, I play. I have taken down the two largest Pick 6s ever paid at the Spa in the last few years for a combined $1.3 million and 90% of my wagering takes place in California. The other 10% goes to Pick 5 and Pick 6 carryovers wherever they are. While my handle hasn't decreased, my selectivity has. I bet more on certain days and nothing on the other 24 or so days each month–and the large players I speak to are doing the same or leaving. So here is my prediction for 2036– two actually: one from the Grinch (my brain) and one from Santa (my heart, as I have met too many friends that are employed by the greatest gambling game on the planet): 1. Nothing changes for the next 10 years, all participants remain greedy (except the retail gamblers) and take the slow kill. Nobody (states/tracks) talks to anyone because the bottom line and the next quarter is all that matters. Zero forward thinking. Retail gamblers on racing go away in the U.S. as they are completely ignored and priced out from large takeouts and other things to make wagers on. The large retail bettors that probably make up 50% of the retail wagering start telling the smaller ones, “If I can't survive on rebates of being a 'high roller,' you have no shot.” These large retail players ($10M annually) move their handle to Europe/Hong Kong/Japan as the World Pool sees the weakness in the U.S. market and the opportunity to capture market share. Large retail players want a challenge –and a fair game–and they learn the nuances of international racing. The CAWs will not eat each other but rather move on to the next money making advantage game. They were well ahead of us retail players but the word got out about them (I'd say to the racetracks' demise), but if CAWs can't see last-second action (they are looking for ineffiencies in pools and churn millions with large rebates), they lose their edge and leave. Handle goes down 40% (sorry, I am just guessing because no track shows CAW handle. Maybe it is 80%. Why is it that no track breaks out retail vs CAW play? Perhaps it would scare the industry to death is why?). So handle plummets–remember what handle drives right? The industry gets weaker. Jobs are lost. Tracks close. People wish the foal crop was what it was in 2026. Government ends slot subsidies. It goes to things deemed more 'worthy' like education/seniors. HHR (Historical Horse Racing (slots based on prior races run) is no longer. There are new games like HNFL (Historical NFL slots that revenue goes to the NFL that pay out better). Parx has slot welfare, but whoops, when they signed that deal it didn't include revenue from mobile phone wagering which has grown significantly over the years. Tech changes. Prediction markets are next and they are not going to violate the Interstate Horse Racing Act of 1978 (I'm serious, the Act is from 1978). There are 20 trainers and six tracks. Finally, racing continues to ignore their core customer–the retail gambler. (Fans are great, but they don't all bet and they show up a few times a year to spend some money on tickets, food and beverage, and some mementos.) If you can't exist without subsidies you won't exist. Socialism, that is what that is, and socialism is 0 for pick a number. – The Grinch 2. It is 2036. Horses, aftercare, and racing's overall product have never been better. Ten years ago, industry stakeholders realized they were slowly ruining a great game and they all agreed to take a financial hit to better the product and ensure its survival. They formed an allegiance in 2026 as they knew if they went after each other instead of working together, the end of U.S. racing was imminent. Tracks that were owned by people or entities not interested in racing, but for casinos/condos/etc. were forced to sell to those that were, by government mandate, as it would cripple jobs and the 'agriculture industry.' Those that refused learned what Eminent Domain means. The government comes in and takes your property. They earmark it a state park that can never be built on except for racing's best interest. The tracks are not just for racing. It is space for other forms of non-gambling entertainment. The industry understood the threats to the parimutuel pool established in 1867. They brought in new customers through the World Pool. Anywhere in the world a person could bet a U.S. track –in return U.S. citizens could bet into other countries' tracks but it would all be commingled (large pool, higher liquidity). Fixed odds are everywhere and there is no max bet. If you want to be in this game to take bets, you don't get to take off risk. Learn to hedge. Tracks/ADWs worked with prediction markets in 2026 and signed deals. Retail gamblers have multiple options now. Handle thrives and with that purses, foal crops and field sizes as well. You can cross-bet every sport (including racing) with parlays. When a race is over, the results are immediate, as are the photos pending it official. Jockeys are required to give 15 second interviews of their race. Races are never run on top of each other. There are stall limits. The cost of betting a race (takeout) has decreased significantly as the game grew the prior 10 years. And all of us retail gamblers laugh about when tracks would advertise 'retail- friendly wagers' a decade ago. – Santa The post Racing in 2036: Horseplayer Mark Stanton appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

A rundown of the adjusted post-Christmas weekend of horse racing coverage on TV, streaming, and radio.View the full article

The first decoupling salvo of Florida's 2026 legislative session that could lead to Gulfstream Park and Tampa Bay Downs being able to cease live racing while retaining their gaming rights was fired Tuesday morning when Rep. Adam Anderson submitted a bill that shares similarities to a controversial initiative he backed in 2025 that cleared the House and one committee in the Senate. Like the 2025 attempt, the bill that will be in play when the new legislative session begins Jan. 13 would allow either of Florida's two Thoroughbred tracks to give notice of racing suspension as of July 1, 2027, and racing would be required to continue for at least three years after that notice of intent got filed. “Nothing like right before Christmas to drop a bill,” Lonny Powell, the chief executive officer of the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders' and Owners' Association (FTBOA), told TDN Dec. 23 about 90 minutes after the bill got filed. “A little bit of Scrooge showing up in the Christmas sleigh, but the Scrooge hasn't made it crash or go off course yet.” New to the changes proposed in HB 881 is language that would amend an existing pari-mutuel licensure law regarding to the leasing of facilities so it includes the ability “to lease any and all of the facilities of any other holder of a valid pari-mutuel permit or a Thoroughbred training center holding a valid license issued by the commission, when located within a 50-mile radius of each other; and such lessee is entitled to a permit and license to conduct intertrack wagering and operate its race meet or jai alai games at the leased premises.” Decoupling has been a major concern in Florida for the better part of two decades. But it wasn't until this past January when the issue of Gulfstream seeking legislation to potentially allow it to end Thoroughbred racing became a red-alert threat on the national level. On the day that 2025 bill came up for its first hearing, Tampa management lobbied for an amendment that got that track added to the legislation. This past spring, three decoupling-related bills ended up being active, but none got passed into law to remove the live racing stipulations for Gulfstream and Tampa to operate their respective casino and card room. Additionally, Gov. Ron DeSantis told horsemen this past spring that he would be against decoupling at Gulfstream and Tampa if such legislation cleared both chambers of the legislature, although he stopped short of actually saying he would veto it. “You can count on me as one that is not going to look favorably on legislation that is going to decimate any of our signature industries,” DeSantis told horsemen during a surprise Apr. 17 visit to the OBS 2-Year-Olds In Training Sale. Yet DeSantis was the governor responsible for signing the 2021 legislation that decoupled every other form of pari-mutuel betting from gaming in Florida, which is part of the reason why Gulfstream and Tampa continue to seek the same decoupling permissions that the Standardbred, greyhound and jai alai licensees got. Powell, who in his position with the FTBOA has spearheaded efforts over the past decade and a half to keep Thoroughbred decoupling from becoming a reality, gave TDN his take on the just-introduced bill. “We've known all along the way that there was an expectation that something like [the 2025 decoupling efforts] could definitely be dropped [for the 2026] session in the House, and we were prepared for that, to double down on that. Now we know for sure what's going to be in the bill. It's got multi tentacles to it. These bills can get amended. They can get withdrawn, as we've seen. They can have anything else happen to them. But we certainly didn't rule out something like that [bill] appearing in the House. “Also, looking at the landscape, none of the key players have changed from one session to the next. It's kind of a mirror-image session. We would work hard to dissipate the same type of results before it's all said and done, and we still have to look at it a little more closely. “There are so many nuances in Florida law and regulation that I can't give out a whole evaluation on it. But in terms of the overall theme of a decoupling bill, we're ready for it. And one thing about the horse side of it is we're all jelled on it not being a good thing,” Powell said. Asked what stood out as new to him in this bill, Powell said that, “It looks like it could have some impact on what is a 'permit' and what is not a 'permit.' Also, just in general, the amount of notice that a racetrack needs to give to decouple, on initial review, seems extremely, frighteningly short, which would prevent anybody from really meaningfully getting ready for a transition. “Again, it needs more review. Just on cursory review, I'm sure it's going to have some quirks in it that just generally aren't good for the Thoroughbred industry. But nor was last year's version,” Powell said. Asked about the new language involving a racing license transfer to a training facility, Powell said he doesn't see at first reading how that could be beneficial to Thoroughbred interests. “If you think about it, whatever training center that would be, it would be a training center without any revenue for purses,” Powell said. “Because if you wanted to get gaming, you would have to go to the vote of the people, because the no-casinos law, you can't just get rid of laws of the people from a ballot initiative. I can't visualize how that plays as we now speak. “So if it was something like the Palm Meadows facility, you have all of the local constraints, including a long-term agreement that was signed that it wouldn't be a [pari-mutuel] track when it was established,” Powell said. “I don't see the easy links there, but again, I'd have to study it.” The post Florida Decoupling Bill Filed For 2026 Legislative Session appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Silver Prince (Cairo Prince), a late-charging runner-up behind 'TDN Rising Star presented by Hagyard' D'Code (Speightstown) in his six-furlong debut at Oaklawn Park Dec. 14, is being offered in a Fasig-Tipton Digital Flash Sale. The auction opened Tuesday and will close at 4 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 29. Silver Prince, consigned by trainer Ron Moquett, earned a 80 Beyer for his debut effort for Randy Finegan and James Walderns. Finegan purchased the 2-year-old colt for $30,000 at last year's Keeneland September sale. Bred by Brereton Jones, the gray is from a top Airdrie family, being out of the graded stakes-winning Harlan's Holiday mare Silver Reunion, already the dam of eight winners, including four stakes runners, led by GII Lake Placid Stakes winner Speaktomeofsummer (Summer Front). Silver Reunion also produced the dam of current Grade I winning millionaire Antiquarian (Preservationist) and current graded stakes winner Fondly (Upstart). “There have been a lot of rumblings from the 'wise guys' about Silver Prince after his debut,” said Leif Aaron, Fasig-Tipton Director of Digital Sales. “This is a very interesting horse going forward and we are happy to be able to offer him for the connections.” Click here to create an account or register to bid for the Silver Prince Flash Sale. D'CODE wins easy in R4 at Oaklawn Park, giving @cristiantorr64 another win on today's card! Ray Ashford Jr. trains. #TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/LEeugpIDoE — TwinSpires Racing (@TwinSpires) December 14, 2025 The post Silver Prince Offered In Fasig-Tipton Digital Flash Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The Florida Thoroughbred Breeders' and Owners' Association has entered into an exclusive partnership with Florida Coast Equipment which will make Kubota the exclusive tractor, mower, utility vehicle and construction equipment sponsor of the Florida Thoroughbred industry, starting in 2026. The Florida Coast Equipment name will now be prominently displayed throughout the FTBOA headquarters, events and communications, including an advertising package on FTBOA.com, Wire to Wire, and the The Florida Horse Farm and Services Directory. The post FTBOA, Florida Coast Equipment Enter Partnership appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article