Wandering Eyes

By Michael Guerin Two key changes from the last New Zealand Cup lead-up to the next at Addington on Friday could have a huge impact on the result. The Avon City Ford New Brighton Cup is the next major Cup lead-up this Friday and the conditions look similar, a 2600m standing start with plenty of the same names as the Allied Security Maurice Holmes Vase won by Dalton Shard two weeks ago. But there are two big differences. One is the return of former age group star Sherlock, who was backed in from $5 to $3.50 favouritism as soon as the market opened on Tuesday. And the other major change is the handicaps, with Ohoka Connor and B D Joe moving up from starting on the 10m mark in the Maurice Holmes Vase to being on the front line on Friday night. With both open class pacing races at Addington in the last two weeks being dominated by those handy and on the marker pegs that could be crucial if the Team Telfer pair can step on terms with the army of Diamond Racing (Team Dunn) horses in the field. The winner of the New Brighton Cup will qualify for the IRT New Zealand Trotting Cup at Addington on Tuesday, November 12 while the winner of Friday’s other feature, the Hickman Family Ordeal Cup will be guaranteed a start in the Renwick Farms Dominion Trot. The Ordeal also sees some handicapping differences from the last time many of these met, when Mighty Logan was able to beat stablemate Sunnys Sister in a mobile 1980m. They are part of a far bigger field on Friday and while the step up to 2600m should suit Sunnys Sister she does go back on to a 10m handicap, no easy assignment in a near capacity field. She still opened $4.50 favourite in a field that sees Paul Nairn step last-start winners Confessional and Tectonic into the big time. To see Friday’s Addington fields click here View the full article

Last Saturday, Group 1 racing kicked off in Victoria with the Memsie Stakes headlining a massive program at Caulfield, while Rosehill held feature races throughout the day. In this week’s edition of The Follow Files, we have found three horses that produced impressive runs early in their spring preparations. Caulfield Track rating: Good 4 Rail position: +3m entire circuit Race 8: Listed Heatherlie Stakes (1700m) | Time: 1:44.97 Horse to follow: Que Tempesta (5th) Ben, Will & JD Hayes kicked off the spring preparation of Que Tempesta in the Heatherlie Stakes, which was his first Aussie run since coming over from Italy. Mark Zahra rode the son of Territories and allowed him to settle midfield throughout the 1700m journey. Although the five-year-old gelding was slightly held up at the top of the straight, he flew home to record the fastest last 200m section of the race. When to bet: Although Que Tempesta was held up and didn’t seem to handle the final corner well, his fresh run was a great trial for the Caulfield Cup. The Group 3 MRC Foundation Cup at Caulfield on September 21 looks like the ideal race for him next. Rosehill Track rating: Soft 5 Rail position: +2m entire circuit Race 6: Group 3 San Domenico Stakes (1100m) | Time: 1:02.98 Horse to follow: Tropicus (3rd) Tropicus returned from a four-month spell for his second career start in the San Domenico Stakes at Rosehill, and he ran on nicely to finish third. Even though he was first-up, his last 200m was very strong. Tommy Berry allowed the colt to find his feet at the back of the field before getting out into clear air to fly home down the middle of the track. When to bet: It is expected that Anthony & Sam Freedman will take this guy to The Run To The Rose over 1200m next start and compete in the top three-year-old races throughout the spring. Race 7: Group 3 Up And Coming Stakes (1300m) | Time: 1:15.79 Horse to follow: Iron Hawk (4th) Following a strong debut victory, Iron Hawk from the Gary Portelli stable has run into the very smart Autumn Glow in his next two starts, with his most recent fourth-place finish being the best of the two. The three-year-old colt settled near the back of the field over 1300m and had to make two runs in the final 400m in order to find space. Once he got going again, Iron Hawk let down with a withering burst and nearly nabbed third place. When to bet: It is clear this guy is crying out for further than 1300m, and if Portelli takes him to the Group 3 Ming Dynasty Quality (1400m) at Rosehill on September 14, he will get every chance to win again. Top horse racing sites for blackbook features Recommended! The Better Bettors! Australian-owned and operated bookmaker! Join MarantelliBet Horse racing tips View the full article

Champion trainer Ciaron Maher said he is confident Pride Of Jenni’s much-anticipated spring campaign has not been derailed by a minor elevated temperature. Pride Of Jenni has emerged from her unplaced Gr.1 Memsie Stakes run with an imperfect blood picture, but Maher said that while her tests indicate a possible minor virus of some kind, her symptoms were mild and she appears to be bright just a few days after the race. “Her bloods have come back not perfect, but OK,” Maher said on Tuesday afternoon. “They (bloods) were very slightly out, but it would be hard to say it was the sole reason (for her defeat). “It probably wasn’t surprising that she got beat, but probably just the margin was further than I expected.” Asked if he feared the minor setback could harm her spring campaign, Maher was adamant: “No, not at all. It’s very minor. “It’s obviously a concern that I expected her to be very competitive and she wasn’t. But all other signs and everything else about her seem OK.” Maher would not be drawn on when Pride Of Jenni will step out next, but the Gr.2 Feehan Stakes (1600m) at The Valley on September 27 is most likely at this stage. He said Pride Of Jenni will have a more leisurely week ahead. “The process now is recovery,” he said. “A bit of ‘R and R ‘for a week and she’s got a program there,” he said. “We’ll be monitoring her closely over the week, but the signs are good. She seems bright enough and ate up and looks healthy.” Pride Of Jenni eased out to $2.90 by race time on Saturday and futures punters have now also taken a set against her. On the back of her flat Memsie run, Pride Of Jenni was a big drifter in the two big spring races she had been earmarked for. She is out from $3 to $6 for the Gr.1 King Charles III Stakes (1600m) at Randwick and from $4.40 to $8.50 in the Cox Plate. View the full article

There is plenty of anticipation heading into Matamata’s Wednesday meeting, with local trainers Darryn and Briar Weatherley set to unveil exciting filly Gossip (NZ) (Proisir). The daughter of Proisir topped last year’s New Zealand Bloodstock Online Yearling Sale when purchased out of Fairdale Stud’s draft by Gary Harding for $110,000, and she is living up to her billing so far, winning both of her trials to date. She is set to make her debut in the Pam Gerard – Ballymore Racing 1200, for which she is rated a $1.65 favourite by TAB bookmakers ahead of the Steven Ramsay and Julia Ritchie-trained Shavasana at $5. “I am looking forward to seeing her run,” Briar Weatherley said. “It is probably not ideal being on a Heavy track, but she has had two trials now on them and has gone well both times. Hopefully she can get the job done tomorrow.” Gossip is nominated for the Gr.1 Barneswood Farm New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton in November, and Weatherley said her early spring performances will dictate which path they take with their filly. “We are going to take it one race at a time with her,” she said. “She is not a very big filly, there is not a lot of her. She is a November foal, so she still lacks a bit of maturity and is on the weaker side. “She is nominated for the 1000 Guineas, but we will just get through tomorrow and reassess after that. She will tell us whether we press on to those races or put her aside and wait until after Christmas and let her develop.” A race prior, stablemate I’m Pedro (NZ) (Mongolian Khan) will be out to break maiden ranks when he contests the Waharoa Transport Co. (1995) LTD 1200. “Two starts ago he ran really well at Pukekohe where he was just beaten on a Heavy track,” Weatherley said. “Last start at Taupo, I just think the track was too good for him. He finished fifth but he probably just wants it wet, and he is going to get that wet track again tomorrow. “With a bit of luck, I think he can be right there.” Meanwhile, Weatherley was happy enough with the way Group Three winner Arby and stakes winner Ess Vee Are competed in their respective 1300m trials at Cambridge Synthetic on Tuesday. “Arby (NZ) (Proisir) has trialled twice now and went over a bit further today,” Weatherley said. “He is probably better suited going the other way around. We will look to kick him off over a mile first-up, he is quite a dour stayer. We have no real set plans with him at the moment. “I am really happy with Ess Vee Are (NZ) (Shocking). He has trialled well both times. He put himself right there today and travelled quite keen and was very happy and full of himself. “We are not 100 percent sure about whether or not we are going to start him over 1400m or a mile first-up. We are waiting for the better tracks for him. Both him and Arby like Good tracks, so we don’t really want to rush to get them out on these bad tracks at the moment. It shouldn’t be long until the weather turns. “The New Zealand Cup (Gr.3, 3200m) is his main aim at this stage. It definitely looks a nice race for him, so we will just plot a path to get him to the New Zealand Cup and go from there.” While both horses could be in for a big spring, Group One-winning stablemate Pier has been ruled out of racing until next year. “We are scratching our head with him at the moment,” Weatherley said. “He has just had a bit of a niggly issue and at this stage we are going to be putting him aside for three to six months and give him a bit of time again.” View the full article

Te Akau trainer Mark Walker joined Racing Pulse on Tuesday morning after Quintessa’s impressive win in the Cockram in Melbourne and four winners in New Zealand on Saturday. View the full article

Matamata horsewoman Chelsea Burdan will line-up her first runner as a trainer this week, albeit a few years earlier than anticipated. The 23-year-old former jockey’s riding career was cut short three years ago through injury, and while disappointed she can no longer compete in the saddle, she is looking forward to trying her hand at another aspect of the industry. “It (training) is something that I have always wanted to do, as well as being a jockey,” Burdan said. Burdan recorded 63 wins in the saddle over four seasons before breaking her collarbone in a race fall at Waverley in December 2020, which resulted in multiple surgeries and subsequently brought an end to her jockey dream. “I had a fall that ended my career and I wasn’t able to come back (riding) due to too many complications with my shoulder,” Burdan said. “I broke my clavicle in 2020, so I had quite a bit of time off with that and had surgery. I rebroke it twice. They (surgeons) left it to see whether it would heal on its own and eventually it got cleared. “They thought it had healed, so I made a return and rode four winners over three months and I was having a lot of pain during that time. I went back and had it looked at again, and it turned out it hadn’t healed, and it had broken more and had separated completely. “I always thought that with the number of surgeries I have had on my collarbone I would be sorted, but I have had four surgeries now and they just can’t seem to get it right.” Burdan said she really enjoyed her time in the saddle, where she was presented the Most Promising Apprentice Jockey Award following her first season of riding and won the 2019-20 Linda Jones Trophy for Most Outstanding Female Apprentice, and admits it is still a tough pill to swallow that she isn’t out competing on raceday. “It took a good 18 months to get over it and realise I wasn’t able to go back,” she said. “I do miss it. I get a bit sad watching the races, I try not to watch too many because I do get quite upset about it still.” Burdan has tried to find a silver lining and, in the process, has launched a successful pre-training and breaking in business, and is excited to take the next step in her career by becoming a trainer. “I started the breaking in and pre-training business in January 2022,” she said. “I have been going with that for a while and towards the end of last year I decided I wanted to look at getting my trainer’s licence.” With a view to training, Burdan kept a close eye on gavelhouse.com earlier this year to try and find a suitable candidate for her racing team, and she took a liking to a three-year-old Wrote filly and was rapt to secure her with a final bid of $600. “I liked her breeding and the family seems to be doing alright. I thought you can’t go wrong with $600, you might as well give it a go,” she said. Burdan named the filly Stumblin Ona Dream (NZ) (Wrote) and after three trials she is set to make her debut in the Waharoa Transport Co. (1995) LTD 1200 at Matamata on Wednesday. Burdan is more hopeful than confident ahead of lining up her first starter, but she is looking forward to returning to compete on raceday, albeit this time cheering from the sideline. “I am more nervous than anything,” she said. “I think the (Heavy10) track will be too testing for her. I just really want to see her get back in the field and then run on. In all of her trials she has jumped and led, which just doesn’t teach her anything. I was going to trial her again, but I have elected to run her at the races. It will be good to get a line on her and see where we are at.” Burdan is currently working a race team of three, but said she is kept very busy with her business as well as preparing for showjumping events. “I have three racehorses in work, but I do a lot of pre-training for the likes of Wexford, Te Akau and a few other small clients,” she said. “I have about 19 in work, so it keeps me pretty busy. I have still got my showjumpers as well.” Progeny of Ribchester complete Burdan’s three-strong racing team, and she said she is particularly taken by a juvenile filly she purchased for $5,000 out of Leanach Lodge’s New Zealand Bloodstock Book 2 Yearling Sale draft earlier this year. The filly is out of Fun Seeker, a half-sister to dual Group One winner Lizzie L’Amour, and Burdan is hopeful she can make it to the races later this season. “She has had two preps and she has shown plenty, she is just taking a little while maturity-wise,” Burdan said. “She has just been tipped out for a spell this week for a couple of weeks. She is one that we definitely like and she is a late two-year-old, early three-year-old prospect. She is a lovely horse.” Showjumping has been a lifelong passion for Burdan, and she continues to enjoy competing with a couple of off the track thoroughbreds. She qualified for Horse of the Year earlier this year but was unable to compete due to undergoing surgery in March, and she said she is hungry to head to next year’s event. “I have two ex-racehorses, Spellcraft and Cyclonic King, so I tackle the thoroughbred series with them,” she said. “We qualified this year, but I wasn’t able to make it to Horse of the Year with my injury. It is something that I am looking at chasing hard this year, as well as the racing.” Spellcraft and Cyclonic King are not the only retired racehorses under Burdan’s care, with Group One performer Battle Time a clear favourite in her stable. The 12-year-old grey gelding had a pleasing career on the track, winning eight races, including the Gr.2 Coupland’s Bakeries Mile (1600m), and was runner-up in the Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) and Gr.1 Diamond Stakes (1200m) for trainers Tim and Margaret Carter. Burdan rode the son of Battle Paint on 13 occasions and developed a soft spot for the Group One performer. “He was very good to me,” she said. “He is now the pony here at home. I was very lucky to get him when he retired. He helps out with the breakers and teaching people how to ride.” Burdan is looking forward to having her name in the racebook for the first time as a trainer on Wednesday and is hoping to grow her racing team in the near future. “It is nice to still be able to stay in touch with the racing game,” she said. “I don’t have any big goals of training a lot of horses, but I would like to step up to around 10, just to have a nice amount in work. “I am enjoying what I am doing and at the end of the day I am giving it a go, and I am happy with that.” View the full article

This week on the Guerin report, Michael sits down with James McDonald in a two part interview to discuss his career, his wins from around the world, his best horses, and the period that changed his life. Plus we look ahead to the Hawke’s Bay Spring Racing Carnival. Guerin Report – Ep. 1, Ft. James McDonald (youtube.com) View the full article

Star youngster Velocious (Written Tycoon) will have the opportunity to redeem herself on a better surface at Hastings on Saturday. Much was expected of the daughter of Written Tycoon when she opened her three-year-old campaign at Taupo last month, but she produced an indifferent display when she trailed in fourth in a five-horse field. Trainer Stephen Marsh is hoping improved underfoot conditions in the Gr.3 HBPB Thoroughbred Breeders’ Gold Trail Stakes (1200m) will turn her fortunes around on the opening day of the Hawke’s Bay carnival. “All of her best runs have been on Good tracks, the three times she has been beaten have been on rain-affected tracks,” Marsh said. “She probably needed that Taupo run a bit more than we initially thought as well. We will get a much better line on her on Saturday.” Last season’s Gr.1 Sistema Stakes (1200m) and Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m) winner will again be partnered in the Gold Trail by Craig Grylls, while Joe Doyle will continue his association with stablemate Super Photon (NZ) (Super Seth). The Super Seth colt will bid to add to his black-type record when last season’s Listed Waikato Equine Veterinary Centre Stakes (1200m) winner lines up in the Listed El Roca – Sir Colin Meads Trophy (1200m). Super Photon suffered his first defeat when he finished runner-up at Taupo behind Savaglee. “He has come through that first-up run very, very well and he just had a little bit of mucus found after the race,” Marsh said. “We feel he is a big improver, he’s scoped clean and his bloods are clean. He hasn’t missed a beat and 1200m on a better track will be ideal for him.” Marsh’s other runner at Hastings will be three-time winner Merchant Queen (Merchant Navy) in the Vet Services Equine Hawke’s Bay Premier (1200m). “I really rate her and she’s a fast improver from Taupo. Her work has been very good and, again, back on a better track she’s ready to go,” he said. Last season’s Gr.1 New Zealand Stakes (2000m) winner El Vencedor (NZ) (Shocking) will head in the opposite direction this weekend for his resuming run in the open 1400m Open Handicap at Ruakaka. “He’s in good shape, but he never does much first up. The trip to Ruakaka and the run will fit him up nicely and he’ll go to the middle leg (Gr.1 Arrowfield Stud Plate, 1600m) at Hawke’s Bay,” Marsh said. Meanwhile, Nest Egg (NZ) (Reliable Man) will be back in action in the Robert Bruce Clothier Memorial (1600m) at Matamata on Wednesday with Tegan Newman in the saddle. “He probably won’t like the track (Heavy10), but we need to get the mileage under his belt for another crack at a New Zealand Cup (Gr.3, 3200m),” Marsh said. The son of Reliable Man finished runner-up in last season’s Riccarton staying feature after winning the Listed Metropolitan Trophy (2600m) on the first day of the carnival. View the full article

The 2024 Lexus Melbourne Cup is shaping up to be an exhilarating race, with 123 stayers from around the world vying for the prestigious title following the official nominations. The race will be held on Tuesday, November 5, 2024, at Flemington Racecourse. This year’s Melbourne Cup features a strong potential contingent of international horses from […] The post 123 Nominations Taken for Lexus Melbourne Cup 2024 appeared first on HorseRacing.com.au. View the full article

Vauban has been nominated for the 2024 Melbourne Cup. (Photo by George Sal/Racing Photos) 123 horses have been nominated for the Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) on November 5, with 25 representatives coming from Europe, Japan, and New Zealand among the list of possible gallopers to make the trip down under for the race that stops the nation. Irish trainer Aidan O’Brien leads the charge with six runners nominating for the first Tuesday of November, highlighted by recent Group 3 Irish St. Leger Trial Stakes (2800m) winner Grosvenor Square ($15.00), firming into favouritism with horse racing bookmakers after storming away by 20 lengths at the Curragh on August 17. Illinois, Jan Brughel, Point Lonsdale, The Equator and The Euphrates have also been nominated on behalf of Coolmore, with Tower Of London a notable omission amongst his star-studded list of stayers. Willie Mullins has nominated three gallopers this time around, with Vauban and Absurde ready to have their second tilt in the Melbourne Cup after being defeated by Without A Fight last year, while Hippo De Loire has been added into the mix after a luckless effort in the Ebor Handicap (2800m) at York on August 24. Fellow Irish trainer Dermot Weld could be embarking on a Melbourne Cup return in the form of Harbour Wind, looking to achieve his third win in the race, and his first since Media Puzzle conquered the great race in 2002. The 2024 Ebor winner Magical Zoe is among the list of nominated runners and is ballot exempt for the Melbourne Cup provided the Henry De Bromhead barn elect to head down under. Other notable European nominations include the John & Thady Gosden-trained Arrest, while the Andrew Balding barn has included Night Sparkle and Relentless Voyager among the list of possible travellers, while the French could be represented in the form of Delius (Jean-Claude Rouget). Meanwhile, Kinesiology (Jessica Harrington), Onesmoothoperator (Brian Eillison) and Sea King (Harry Eustace) all hold nominations representing the UK. The Japanese have two nominations in this year’s Melbourne Cup, with Shonan Bashitto (Naosuke Sagai) and Warp Speed (Noboru Takagi) both possible contenders to replicate the feat of Delta Blues (2006). New Zealand-based trainers have nominated a total of five possible chances to come across the ditch, with Shaune Ritchie & Colm Murray represented by Mahrajaan and Nereus, while punters could see the return of the Graeme & Deborah Rogerson-trained Sharp ‘N’ Smart on Australian shores. Other New Zealand nominations include Good Oil (Andrew Forsman) and Trust In You (Bruce Wallace & Grant Cooksley). Horse racing news View the full article

What Sunshine Coast races Where Sunshine Coast Turf Club – 170 Pierce Ave, Caloundra QLD 4551 When Wednesday, September 4, 2024 First Race 12:35pm AEST Visit Dabble Sunshine Coast Turf Club will host its second meeting in four days, with a very competitive eight-race program set down for decision this Wednesday afternoon. The track is expected to stay in the Good 4 range, as per the initial rating, while the rail will be pushed out to the +9m position. The Sunshine Coast races on September 4 are scheduled to kick off at 12:35pm AEST. Best Bet at Sunshine Coast: I Saw The Light I Saw The Light returned from an 18-week spell at Ipswich on August 19, when the Jack Bruce-trained mare worked home nicely to finish second behind Isle Ornsay. This daughter of Divine Prophet is yet to finish outside the placings from four starts, and the rise to 1400m second-up should only help. From barrier five, James Orman can settle behind the speed, and with a similar finish to last start, I Saw The Light will prove hard to beat. Best Bet Race 6 – #6 I Saw The Light (5) 5yo Mare | T: Jack Bruce | J: James Orman (58kg) Bet with Bet365 Next Best at Sunshine Coast: I Am Artie Following two dominant wins at this track and trip, I Am Artie gets a very good chance to bring up a hat-trick in the penultimate race of the day. Last time out, the son of Artie Schiller led every step of the way and won by 2.8 lengths. With one other speed influence in this contest, I Am Artie can push forward and settle outside the leader before kicking clear at the top of the home straight. Next Best Race 7 – #6 I Am Artie (12) 5yo Gelding | T: Paul Jenkins | J: James Orman (59.5kg) Bet with Dabble Best Value at Sunshine Coast: Sebring Girl Sebring Girl returns to her home track after back-to-back seconds and a third-place finish in her previous three starts. The Stuart Kendrick-trained mare led the field up to the 200m mark at Doomben last start and was only run over late, going down by just under half a length over 1615m. With the aid of Cody Collis’ 3kg claim, Sebring Girl gets in with a light weight and should prove hard to run down. Best Value Race 3 – #3 Sebring Girl (2) 5yo Mare | T: Stuart Kendrick | J: Cody Collis (a3) (57.5kg) Bet with Picklebet Sunshine Coast quaddie tips for Wednesday Sunshine Coast quadrella selections Wednesday, September 4, 2024 1-2-5-11-12 5-6 1-6-9-10 1-3-9-12 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip Horse racing tips View the full article

Group One winner Mustang Valley. Photo: Peter Rubery (Race Images Palmerston North) While many trainers are hoping to see the rain stay away from Hawke’s Bay this week, Andrew Forsman has the opposing view when considering whether to start Mustang Valley in Saturday’s Group 1 Tarzino Trophy (1400m). Mustang Valley has collected both of her Group One victories during the spring carnival at Hastings, firstly with the 2022 running of the Group 1 Livamol Classic (2040m), and last year’s Group 1 Arrowfield Stud Plate (1600m). Returning in her six-year-old season, the mare was a strong fifth behind Bonny Lass in the Group 2 Foxbridge Plate (1200m) at Te Rapa last month, a key lead-in to the opening elite-level race of the new term. “She’s going really well, we were happy with her run in the Foxbridge and while she didn’t get all favours, being shuffled back and losing her spot, she was game making her run up the worst part of the track,” Forsman said. “She’ll improve for that having only had the one trial going into it.” The daughter of Vanbrugh is more than capable on a good surface, but she is extremely effective as the track conditions deteriorate, with the alternative option an Open 1400m contest at New Plymouth, a race she won last year before taking out the Arrowfield Stud Plate. “It is very much track dependent, we’ll look at the forecast on Wednesday morning and decide whether we accept,” he said. “If there is any sign of rain, that would help her and possibly slow a few of the others down, but if not, we have the option of New Plymouth as a back-up the following Saturday.” Horse racing news View the full article

Hong Kong’s newest trainer hopes to use sports science to gain an edge on his competitors: ‘It’s a case of collecting as much data as you can’View the full article

Moir Stakes favourite Estriella. (Photo by Ross Holburt/Racing Photos) Group 1 action returns to Moonee Valley on Saturday afternoon, with a quality field of nine set to line up in the Group 1 Moir Stakes (1000m). The $750,000 feature oozes quality, with four of the nine gallopers already tasting Group 1 success, including two-time Group 1 winner I Wish I Win ($4.20) and Group 1 Golden Slipper (1200m) winner Lady Of Camelot ($4.80) set to kick-off their respective spring campaigns. It’s the Ciaron Maher-trained Estriella, however, that holds the call with horse racing bookmakers, installed as a $2.60 favourite despite drawing barrier eight. It comes after a blistering piece of work at Cranbourne on August 26, with the daughter of I Am Invincible clicked up to score by five lengths under Blake Shinn. Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) winner Hayasugi ($13.00) will be jumping from barrier seven on resumption, while the Matt Laurie-trained Coleman ($11.00) will disengaged from stall six. The Peter Moody & Catherine Coleman barn will be represented by I Wish I Win and Group 1 T.J Smith Stakes (1200m) winner Chain Of Lightning ($15.00), while the Bjorn Baker-trained Caballus ($15.00) returns to Melbourne first-up after chasing home Estriella in the $1 million Inglis Sprint (1200m) at Flemington on March 2. Mornington Glory ($18.00) is the only galloper with a fitness edge on his rivals, taking out the Listed Carlyon Stakes (1000m) at this course and distance on August 24. 2024 Moir Stakes Final Field 1. I Wish I Win (5) T: Peter Moody & Katherine Coleman J: Luke Nolen W: 58.5kg F: x123x Age: 6YO Colour: Black Sex: Gelding Sire: Savabeel Dam: Make A Wish (NZ) +350 -142.86 2. Mornington Glory (1) T: Gavin Bedggood J: Ethan Brown W: 58.5kg F: 115×3 Age: 6YO Colour: Brown Sex: Gelding Sire: Shalaa (IRE) Dam: Crowned Glory +1600 +320 3. Johnny Rocker (3) T: Nick Ryan J: Mark Zahra W: 58.5kg F: x0821 Age: 5YO Colour: Chestnut Sex: Horse Sire: Jukebox Dam: Margene +1600 +320 4. Caballus (9) T: Bjorn Baker J: Joshua Parr W: 58.5kg F: x311x Age: 4YO Colour: Bay Sex: Horse Sire: I Am Invincible Dam: Calming Influence +1400 +280 5. Chain Of Lightning (4) T: Peter Moody & Katherine Coleman J: TBC W: 56.5kg F: x6611 Age: 6YO Colour: Grey Sex: Mare Sire: Fighting Sun Dam: Magic Art +1200 +240 6. Estriella (8) T: Ciaron Maher J: Blake Shinn W: 56.5kg F: x5111 Age: 4YO Colour: Bay Sex: Mare Sire: I Am Invincible Dam: Madrigals +200 -250 7. Coleman (6) T: Matt Laurie J: Kerrin McEvoy W: 52kg F: x3230 Age: 3YO Colour: Bay Sex: Colt Sire: Pierata Dam: Sboog +900 +180 8. Lady Of Camelot (2) T: Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott J: Zac Lloyd W: 50kg F: x2121 Age: 3YO Colour: Bay Sex: Filly Sire: Written Tycoon Dam: Miss Debutante +350 -142.86 9. Hayasugi (7) T: Clinton McDonald J: Jamie Kah W: 50kg F: x0111 Age: 3YO Colour: Bay Sex: Filly Sire: Royal Meeting (IRE) Dam: China Road +1000 +200 Horse racing news View the full article

Using pedigree and proven stallions, Casse put together a successful roster of 2-year-olds for the summer meet. View the full article

A total of 123 nominations, including 20 internationals, have been nominated for the $8.56m Melbourne Cup. View the full article

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – In a summer like no other at Saratoga Race Course –words that are appropriate most every year–which concluded Monday, there was noteworthy change that blended nicely into the tradition that make America's most important race meet so popular. To wit: A year ago, the main story of the meet, was the number of catastrophic injuries – 14 – which horses suffered in training and competition. With even more strict safety measures in place, there was single racing fatality and one in training during the meeting. Though it technically was not part of the Saratoga season, the Belmont Stakes at Saratoga Festival, June 6-9, held upstate for the first time due to the reconstruction of Belmont Park, kicked off racing at the earliest date in the oh-so long history of the sport in the city. The New York Racing Association returned to Aqueduct for a month before the summer meet launch on July 11. A second Belmont Stakes at Saratoga Festival will take place next June and if NYRA receives approval from its board and the state, it may conclude its Belmont-at-Aqueduct meet at Saratoga on the Fourth of July weekend. Despite the loss of a full program on Aug. 9 that was cancelled because of heavy rain from Tropical Storm Debby, and all four grass races on the Aug. 3 Whitney Day program, the second-biggest day of the season, NYRA's attendance and handle were a near match to the 2023 totals. The handle of $803,806,964 was up nearly one percent from last year's $799,229,288. Total paid attendance surpassed 1 million again, but was down a small fraction from 2023. During the rainy 2023 season, NYRA moved 65 races off the turf. This year, 44 were moved. With a remarkable performance, trainer Chad Brown won his fourth-straight title and seventh overall. His 45 wins doubled the runners-up, Mike Maker and Todd Pletcher and was one short of the record he set in 2018. Irad Ortiz, Jr. captured his third-consecutive riding title and sixth overall with 52 victories. Klaravich Stables, one of Brown's principal clients, retained is owner's title with 18 wins from 61 starts. Saratoga's marquee race, the $1.25 million Travers Stakes on Aug. 24, more than lived up to lofty expectations. In a dramatic finish, Fierceness (City of Light) held off the filly star Thorpedo Anna (Fast Anna) in what turned into a showdown of the leaders of the 3-year-old divisions. Jockey Flavien Prat smashed the meet record for stakes victories with 18 and finished second to Ortiz, Jr. with 45 wins. The previous stakes record of 15 was shared by Joel Rosario, Ortiz, Jr. and John Velazquez. Forty percent of Prat's wins were in stakes. Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas, who had a frustrating season, received a gift on his 89th birthday on Monday's card with a victory in the first race. It was his 266th Saratoga victory, fifth all-time. NYRA president David O'Rourke said that the combination of the calendar and staging of the Belmont Stakes appeared to have some impact on the way the way the season unfolded in its opening weeks “It's a unique year with the Belmont being here,” he said. “It's one of the early Labor Day years, and next year will be even more so. So we had a little bit more in July. Could there have been a little bit of a demand pull forward from Belmont? Yeah, probably.” Still, the stats were strong and grew as the season progressed. “When I was looking at the attendance numbers, and I probably heard it more than the reality of what the data says, we weren't really off that much. It seemed like the weekends were possibly even a little stronger. Across Union Ave. from the main gate, King's Tavern co-owner Jason Fitch said he noticed a Belmont Stakes-related change of atmosphere. “It was definitely a different feel this year,” Fitch said. “I not saying that the Belmont stole the thunder, but our opening weekend usually feels like a celebration. Everyone is excited. There's a buzz around town, but talking to a lot of locals, and our staff, that quote, unquote buzz, wasn't really as powerful as it usually is for opening weekend. I don't think we really felt the excitement until it was probably Whitney weekend, two or three weeks in.” That said, Fitch noted business at King's and the City Tavern, which he co-owns with his brothers, was strong throughout the summer. O'Rourke said moving some of the Belmont Park events upstate is a novelty that is temporary and definitely not a long-term plan. “Scarcity is really something that drives demand and interest,” he said. “We need to leverage Saratoga for the Belmont specifically, while we rebuild the Belmont plant. I think what we're doing now in terms of vibe, Saratoga is a great vibe. It was hot in the beginning, it rained in the middle, and it's been beautiful for the last few weeks. I think the racing has been excellent. The Travers was one of the cooler ones that I've experienced.” Saratoga's safety turnaround from one season to the next is dramatic. The one racing fatality occurred on the grass in the GIII Saranac Stakes on Aug. 30. According to NYRA stats, 2,879 horses had competed in 369 races at Saratoga before The Big Torpedo was injured. “That's a credit to Dr. Sarah and her staff. I think is evidenced by industry-wide numbers, racing is moving in the right direction. The results are in the stats.” Sarah Hinchliffe is the Director of the NYRA Veterinary Dept., which is staffed by 10 veterinarians and two veterinary technicians. “Safety is something that every stakeholder in the game has leaned into,” O'Rourke said. “We'll get asked about the tracks all the time, but it's the vets and most importantly, the trainers, who care for the horses. Everyone's leaned in, everyone's on board, and we're seeing positive things.” As part of its safety program, NYRA took races off the grass early in the season, which helped preserve the courses for heavy use in the last couple of weeks. Rather than move some grass stakes to the dirt due to rain it postponed them a week. Brown grew up in nearby Mechanicville and developed his interest in racing during family visits to the track. He won with his very first Saratoga starter, Star Player (Tale of the Cat) in the first race on the opening day of the 2008 season. He won his first meet title in 2016. This summer, Brown won six Grade I stakes – Diana, Fourstardave, H. Allen Jerkens Memorial, Personal Ensign, Test and Hopeful – and a total of 13 graded stakes. “It's definitely the best meet we've ever had,” Brown said. “When it's all said and done, there may be a meet or two that we've won a couple more races, but we've never had a meet with this many important wins. Just the quality of races, the diversity of the races, just so many big races. “I honestly didn't see it coming. I thought we'd have a solid meet, but not really a meet for the ages, which this was. For me, or any stable, it would be hard to the top a meet with this much quality, this many quality wins at the top end.” Brown credited his team and had his assistants hold the championship trophy at the presentation following the fifth race. Prat had a Saratoga season to remember with this record for stakes. He won seven Grade I races, five of them for Brown. Thorpedo Anna was a very big story at the meet. Despite a poor start she easily won the GI Coaching Club American Oaks. Rather than run the three-time Grade I winner back in the GI Alabama against fillies, trainer and co-owner Kenny McPeek decided to try her against males in the Travers. She and Fierceness put on quite a show and McPeek said she came out of the race fine. “She's freaking amazing,” he said. “She shines like a new penny. She's eaten up every night.” McPeek said that Thorpedo Anna will stay in Saratoga to prepare for the GI Cotillion at Parx on Sept. 21 and probably will return to Saratoga afterward to get ready for the GI Breeders' Cup Distaff. Fierceness entered the meet as a big question mark for Pletcher and Repole Stable. He won the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile and was the 2-year-old champion last year. His victory in the GI Florida made him the favorite for the GI Kentucky Derby. He ended up 15th, beaten two-dozen lengths. Pletcher decided not to run him in the GI Belmont Stakes and brought him back on July 27 in the GI Jim Dandy, which he won by a length. Pletcher scuttled his original plan to skip the Travers and Fierceness jumped back into contention for another title with his win by a head. “Anytime you fortunate enough to win the Travers,” Pletcher said, “it's a good Saratoga.” The post Saratoga Season Wraps Up On a High appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Brown, 45, earned his seventh overall and fourth consecutive Spa training title, and his 32nd title at a New York Racing Association meeting. He posted a record of 175-45-28-23 and earnings of $5,848,233 at the meet.View the full article

While many trainers are hoping to see the rain stay away from Hawke’s Bay this week, Andrew Forsman has the opposing view when considering whether to start Mustang Valley (NZ) (Vanbrugh) in Saturday’s Gr.1 Tarzino Trophy (1400m). Mustang Valley has collected both of her Group One victories during the spring carnival at Hastings, firstly with the 2022 running of the Gr.1 Livamol Classic (2040m), and last year’s Gr.1 Arrowfield Stud Plate (1600m). Returning in her six-year-old season, the mare was a strong fifth behind Bonny Lass in the Gr.2 Foxbridge Plate (1200m) at Te Rapa last month, a key lead-in to the opening elite-level race of the new term. “She’s going really well, we were happy with her run in the Foxbridge and while she didn’t get all favours, being shuffled back and losing her spot, she was game making her run up the worst part of the track,” Forsman said. “She’ll improve for that having only had the one trial going into it.” The daughter of Vanbrugh is more than capable on a good surface, but she is extremely effective as the track conditions deteriorate, with the alternative option an Open 1400m contest at New Plymouth, a race she won last year before taking out the Arrowfield Stud Plate. “It is very much track dependent, we’ll look at the forecast on Wednesday morning and decide whether we accept,” he said. “If there is any sign of rain, that would help her and possibly slow a few of the others down, but if not, we have the option of New Plymouth as a back-up the following Saturday.” Prior to the feature meeting, Forsman will have three representatives at Matamata on Wednesday, including Wyndsong (NZ) (Wyndspelle) in the Pam Gerard – Ballymore Racing 1200. A filly by Wyndspelle, Wyndsong had four starts during her juvenile campaign for two fourths, with improving track conditions likely to play in her favour. “She’s coming along nicely, we just wanted to get away from the deeper winter tracks as she copped a couple that were just a bit too heavy for her,” Forsman said. “We’re hopeful that the track will be on the better side of heavy come Wednesday, we’ve had a couple of very warm days so hopefully it will be improving for her, that will help her chances.” Forsman has put in an early nomination for the Gr.1 Barneswood Farm New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m), with the mile distance likely to suit going forward. “She’s shown that ability since she was a two-year-old, she’s probably just still has a bit of strengthening and maturing to do,” he said. “She’s just starting to move her coat and will look better in a couple of weeks, if she can just get through this first run I think she’ll continue to improve as the tracks do, and she can get out over a bit further.” Stablemates Privy Garden and Wainui Bay are both vying for their maiden victories after a string of placings in recent performances. A four-year-old by So You Think, Privy Garden was placed in each of her three starts through the late summer and will contest the Waharoa Transport Co. (1995) Ltd 1200 off a spell. “She’s been a bit of a frustration, we felt she was building to a win then her last start at Taupo was a little bit disappointing, so we thought we would give her a little bit more time,” Forsman said. “She’s come back a little bit stronger, so hopefully that will make the difference.” Wainui Bay (NZ) (Iffraaj) was narrowly beaten on the Cambridge Synthetic last start and is among the key contenders chasing the Entain/NZB Insurance Pearl Series bonus over a mile. “The Pearl Series bonus race was the target for her, and there wasn’t a race for her at the last poly meeting, so it will be interesting,” Forsman said. “We’re hopeful that things can work out for her off a bit of a break between runs, but it does look to be a winnable race.” Meanwhile, across the Tasman at Forsman’s Flemington base, Group One winner Aegon has pulled up sore following an uncharacteristic performance in the Gr.1 Memsie Stakes (1400m) last Saturday at Caulfield, finishing at the tail of the field. “He’s pulled up a little bit sore behind, nothing too major so we’re hoping that with a few quiet days and a bit of chiropractic work, we can nurse him through the week and he will improve,” Forsman said. “If that’s the case, we’ll likely press on with his preparation, and if we don’t see significant improvement in a week’s time, we may just have to stop and bring him home.” View the full article

Melbourne Cup contender, The Map. (Photo by George Sal/Racing Photos) Oopy MacGillivray may have known for over three months that The Map had secured a spot in this year’s Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m), but the Murray Bridge-based trainer is still coming to terms with it. The reality set in late last week when MacGillivray, who trains in partnership with Dan Clarken, paid the $1,500 Melbourne Cup entry fee for the six-year-old mare. “It always gives you a little bit of adrenaline surge, you just feel it and think, ‘it’s getting real now,’” MacGillivray said about the entry. The Map earned her place in the November 5 race by winning May’s Listed Andrew Ramsden Stakes (2800m), which offers a Melbourne Cup ballot exemption. She returned to action with a ninth-place finish in the Listed Leon Macdonald Stakes (1400m) at Morphettville on August 24, finishing 3.7 lengths behind the winner. Her next race will be the Group 3 Naturalism Stakes (2000m) at Caulfield on September 21, followed by a step up in distance for the Group 2 Herbert Power Stakes (2400m), before concluding her Melbourne Cup preparations in the Group 3 Geelong Cup (2400m) on October 23. “We buy horses like her thinking that we’ll target our autumn carnival with an Oaks or something like that; that’s the sort of dream you have,” MacGillivray reflected on the $35,000 Adelaide Magic Millions yearling purchase. “The Melbourne Cup dream wasn’t really on our radar when we bought her, but she just keeps improving.” The Map is currently a $21 chance with horse racing bookmakers for the Melbourne Cup. Horse racing news View the full article

Multiple Group 1 winner Via Sistina. Photo: RacingNSW Via Sistina is set to head to Melbourne in preparation for the Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on September 14, as part of her journey towards the Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m) in October. The European import made an impressive seasonal debut last month by winning the Group 1 Winx Stakes (1400m) at Randwick, where she was sent off at $11, despite expectations that she would need a longer distance to perform at her best. However, the daughter of Fastnet Rock was expertly ridden by Kerrin McEvoy, who delivered her late to narrowly defeat Zougotcha by the barest of margins. Owned by Yulong, the six-year-old mare is expected to bypass the Group 1 King Charles III Stakes (1600m) at Randwick in October, remaining in Melbourne for her entire spring campaign. This could include potential starts in the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m) and Group 1 VRC Champions Stakes (2000m). “The King Charles is a big-money race, so we haven’t ruled that out, but normally once I send them to Melbourne, they stay there,” trainer Chris Waller told Racing.com. “I don’t like going backwards and forwards too much. We are still learning about her – she’s obviously got a good international rating and has plenty of class.” Currently, Via Sistina is the $2.80 favourite for the Makybe Diva Stakes and the $4 market leader for the Cox Plate with horse racing bookmakers. Horse racing news View the full article

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Jeanne Powell can be found by her dad's side in the paddock before a race, helping him unsaddle a horse on the track after a race, and in the winner's circle when they win.View the full article

The $500,000 Virginia Derby (G3T) won't have to wait until 2025 to see a Kentucky Derby (G1) runner as Grand Mo the First, 18th at Churchill Downs May 4, joins a field of 12 at Colonial Downs Sept. 7. The race switches to dirt next year. View the full article