Wandering Eyes

It is strange that the one who dominates the market for Saturday's G1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes is not a hardened sprinter, but Lazzat (Territories) is all class and ready to fire in the final big one of Royal Ascot week. Campaigned mostly over seven furlongs last term, the Sumbe homebred who now sports Wathnan's silks had them all won before the closing stages before repeating the trick in the G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest over 110 yards less. It was his stunning comeback effort in Chantilly's Listed Prix Servanne which convinced all that he is fast enough for this six and his extra stamina will be invaluable for this stiff test. “We were deeply impressed with what he did in France on his comeback run, the time was very good and I think the straight six furlongs at Ascot will be right up his street,” Wathnan's racing adviser Richard Brown said. “He's a great addition to the team and we're looking forward to seeing him in the Wathnan colours.” Emphatic in last year's G1 Commonwealth Cup over the distance, Inisherin (Shamardal) was below that level in two starts but looked back in business when beating Flora Of Bermuda (Dark Angel) in York's G2 1895 Duke Of York Clipper Stakes last month. He showed there that he has sharpened up considerably and is now a faster, slicker model. Drawn close to Lazzat, he will be able to use that long stride to put most under pressure from halfway. “We made no secret of the fact he was only about 80 per-cent at York and we feel he's taken a big step forward in his training since,” trainer Kevin Ryan said. “The stiff six obviously suited him down to the ground last year, so you can't be anything but happy coming back here. It's going to be a top-class race, we're under no illusions, but I wouldn't swap him for anything.” Like Lazzat, the G1 Takamatsunomiya Kinen winner Satono Reve (Lord Kanaloa) has produced the kind of effort on the clock that you would expect from one who can land a top prize in Japan. He will be reserved off any early speed duel, which could be the right tactic if Lazzat and co blaze from the gates. Aidan O'Brien has only won this with Australian imports and that bodes well for Storm Boy (Justify), whose best performance in his native country was probably his win in the 5 1/2-furlong G3 San Domenico Stakes last year. It all went awry on his European debut in the G2 Greenlands Stakes at The Curragh last month, but his trainer seems convinced he has put matters right in the interim as he has on so many occasions in the past. Whether Topgear (Wootton Bassett) has the speed to get involved here is open to debate, having found his niche over seven, but Hisaaki Saito's representative certainly belongs in this category based on recent evidence, which is also the case for Flora Of Bermuda. By a sire in Dark Angel whose progeny seem to excel at this meeting, she will be sharper for her York return and has course-and-distance form having been third in the G1 British Champions Sprint Stakes in October. Romance Looms Saturday's G2 Hardwicke Stakes seems there for the taking for Godolphin's Rebel's Romance (Dubawi), whose effort when third in the King George over course and distance in July is the clear standard. Stretched over 14 furlongs on his return in the G2 Yorkshire Cup, the dual Breeders' Cup Turf hero will be more at home over this optimum trip which cannot be stated with a guarantee concerning Ghostwriter (Invincible Spirit). “I keep telling people, if I need to explain what Rebel's Romance is all about, they are probably not racing fans,” Charlie Appleby said. “He comes here in great order and he's well renowned for what he can do. I think the trump card could be the drop back to a mile and a half and that is going to be more comfortable for him. It was his guts that got him over the line at York, he's an absolute star.” Third in the Eclipse and Juddmonte International last term, Ghostwriter is worth a try at a mile and a half with the 10-furlong races so tough to win. Last year's G1 Grosser Preis von Berlin winner Al Riffa (Wootton Bassett) is the third big runner here and he looked ready to go back up to this trip last time when fourth in the G1 Prix Ganay at ParisLongchamp. All Eyes On Treanmor Royal Ascot's Listed Chesham Stakes almost seems the first port of call for seeking the following year's Guineas contenders of late and Godolphin's TDN Rising Star Treanmor (Frankel) is already at the head of the betting for the Newmarket Classic. His Newmarket debut win was as smooth as they come, but he will have to work here with Ballydoyle's well-regarded filly Moments Of Joy (Justify) and Wathnan's Newbury maiden winner Humidity (Ulysses) in attendance. The latter is a full-brother to Holloway Boy who took this on debut in 2022. In the G3 Jersey Stakes, there is a buzz about Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum's dual Doncaster winner Remmooz (Blue Point), while the G3 Ballylinch Stud Stakes runner-up Comanche Brave (Wootton Bassett) and G3 Greenham Stakes third Saracen (Siyouni) are the standard-setters from the yards of both O'Brien Jrs. The post ‘The Straight Six Will Be Right Up His Street’: Lazzat Ready For Jubilee Test appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Time For Sandals continued a dream week for trainer Harry Eustace when causing a 25-1 upset in the Commonwealth Cup (G1) under Richard Kingscote on June 20 at Ascot Racecourse.View the full article

Trainer Karl Burke turned around a frustrating week as the highly regarded Venetian Sun burst home to land the June 20 Albany Stakes (G3) at Royal Ascot under Clifford Lee.View the full article

It's rare for things to go exactly according to plan in the Kentucky Derby. Trainer Ethan West learned that lesson about five seconds into his first attempt. In the past, Chunk of Gold (Preservationist) had done his best work coming from off the pace, but in the Derby he broke sharply and, with Jareth Loveberry aboard, found himself just behind the frontrunners heading into the first turn. “That was not on the bingo card,” West admitted. “We were hoping to be mid-pack and Jareth would find a nice little hole to tuck in, but instead we found a nice little hole to tuck in right off the leaders. Jareth did a good job getting him to relax, but I think that's probably why he didn't finish up as well as we hoped. He still ran a really good race. I was really proud of him, but running that close to the lead was just not what we had planned.” West is hopeful that after finishing ninth in the Kentucky Derby, Chunk of Gold can get back to his usual racing style in this weekend's GIII Ohio Derby at Thistledown. Chunk of Gold (19) vies for position in the opening furlongs of the Kentucky Derby | Coady Media Campaigned by Terry Stephens, Chunk of Gold earned his trip to Churchill Downs with back-to-back runner-up efforts in the GII Risen Star and GII Louisiana Derby. After the Derby, the colt returned to his home base at Turfway. His three works over the past month include two bullet :47 four-furlong breezes. “He was a little tired, obviously, that week after the Derby, but he bounced right back into himself,” said West. “He picked his weight right back up after the race and I think he has actually put on a few more pounds, which was good to see. He's a horse that doesn't put a ton into his training unless you ask him. Every time we've asked, he's responded well.” Chunk of Gold was originally entered in the June 8 GIII Matt Winn Stakes, but West opted for the Ohio Derby believing that his trainee would benefit from the extra two weeks and that Thistledown might offer a slightly softer Grade III spot. The 1 1/8-mile Ohio Derby drew a field of 10. Chunk of Gold will break from post two. The 9-5 morning-line favorite Clever Again (American Pharoah) comes in off an eventful trip in the GI Preakness, where he led the field into the far turn but was forced to check after a much-debated bump with eventual winner Journalism (Curlin). Other contenders include McAfee (Cloud Computing), the half-brother to champion Thorpedo Anna (Fast Anna) who was second in the GIII Peter Pan, last year's GIII Sanford Stakes victor Mo Plex (Complexity) and Master Controller (Tapiture), who comes in off a May 24 maiden win at Churchill Downs for Brittany Vanden Berg. With the way the field is shaping up, West said he expects plenty of pace for Chunk of Gold to run into. “I think it will be more of a play-the-break situation, but on paper we won't be in front,” he predicted. “Hopefully we're sitting tucked in right at the rail. I think Clever Again and Mo Plex are probably on the lead. The Vanden Berg horse was on the lead when he broke his maiden. It looks like us and McAfee are going to be sitting a few off the lead.” West and Chunk of Gold were one of the Cinderella stories going into this year's Kentucky Derby–and for good reason. Chunk of Gold was purchased for just $2,500 as a yearling. West is only 32 years old and his program is so hands-on that he serves as Chunk of Gold's regular exercise rider. All of that combined to make Chunk of Gold's barn a popular stop for members of the press around 7:30 each morning during Derby week. West admitted that he enjoyed his first Derby experience, but was glad to step out of the spotlight afterwards. “It was one of those things where Sunday morning, I was glad it was over, but I was also ready to do it again,” he explained. “I mean, it's a long week on the horse, it's a long week on everybody involved. But it's also one of those things that, it's what we wake up to do every day. So I'm ready to get back to it next year.” Despite the positive press, West said that he has yet to see any new horses or owners come his way. The Turfway-based trainer is scratching his head over what kind of win it will take to elevate his stable to the next level. “When we won our first graded stake at Keeneland a few years ago, we got a bunch of calls, congratulatory texts and things like that. We didn't pick up one new client. Not one new horse. It was like, 'Okay well if that doesn't do it, I wonder what it's going to take.' Then you put a horse on the Derby trail and there's nothing. I guess it is what it is and we'll take what we get and run on with it.” Last weekend, West's stable scored a nice win when Moon Mystique (Malibu Moon) broke her maiden on debut at Horseshoe Indianapolis. West said he plans to send the Abdul Rahman Al Jasmi homebred to the turf at Colonial Downs for her next start. Runaway Storm (Midnight Storm), who handed West his first graded stakes victory in the 2023 GIII Bryan Station Stakes, was disappointing in his 5-year-old debut in May, but West expects to see improvement from the gelding when he returns in the Jonathan B. Schuster Memorial Stakes at Horseshoe Indianapolis on July 5. Runaway Storm was the runner-up in that stake last year. This summer, West is focused on using his Derby momentum to take the next step with his stable. “Hopefully we can get back to where we were in May again, taking the horses that we've got and making the most of them.” The post After Derby Debut, West Back In Action with Chunk of Gold appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

In this continuing series, we take a look ahead at US-bred and/or conceived runners entered for the upcoming weekend at the tracks on the Japan Racing Association circuit, with a focus on pedigree and/or performance in the sales ring. Here are the horses of interest for this weekend running at Tokyo and Hanshin Racecourses: Saturday, June 21, 2025 6th-TOK, ¥14,250,000 ($98k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1400m ARCADIA CAFE (c, 2, Into Mischief–Mary's Follies, by More Than Ready) is a half-brother to seven winners from eight to race and is a half-brother to SW and recent GI Kentucky Derby participant Luxor Cafe (American Pharoah) and MG1SW Cafe Pharoah (American Pharoah), who broke his maiden by 10 lengths at first asking. The $550,000 Keeneland September acquisition's other relatives include Eclipse Award and multiple Grade I-winning 'TDN Rising Star' Regal Glory (Animal Kingdom) and MGSW Night Prowler (Giant's Causeway) from the same Storm Cat sire line. Dual graded winner Mary's Follies changed hands for $500,000 from the dispersal of the late Paul Pompa at Keeneland January in 2021. Damian Lane rides Arcadia Cafe, who is the 3-5 favorite ante-post. O-Koichi Nishikawa; B-Orpendale/Chelston/Wynatt & Westerberg Ireland ULC (KY); T-Noriyuki Hori 先週の2歳爆盛り26 「緑91」 #アルカディアカフェ は15日にレーン騎手を背にW5F665-119で外に先着 「緑90」 #クオンタムスター （美・堀、牡、父コントレイル、母サンタモニカ）は同673-122で遅れ https://t.co/WBqKuH3F5v pic.twitter.com/dAylyLCOh1 — 千葉智春 (@tomo__bamin) May 20, 2025 DONA SCHON (f, 2, Munnings–Nutcracker Suite {Ire}, by Fastnet Rock {Aus}), a $375,000 Keeneland September yearling, is the year-younger half-sister to Giocoso (Not This Time), third in last year's GIII Iroquois Stakes. The Feb. 26 foal is out of a winning daughter of dual Group 3 winner Dietrich (Storm Cat), the dam of Irish highweight Beauty Bright (Ire) (Danehill), MSW & G1SP Aloft (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Marquesa (Kingmambo), the Group 3-placed dam of Japanese SW Beautiful Day (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}). O-Masao Ogawa; B-Breed First LLC (KY); T-Toru Kurita Sunday, June 22, 2025 5th-HSN, ¥14,250,000 ($98k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1600mT ECORO BOLT (c, 2, Practical Joke–In My Time, by Scat Daddy) is out of a multiple stakes-placed half-sister to SP Irish Fantasy and improved from a $90,000 Keeneland November weanling into a $185,000 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga yearling when purchased by trainer Hideyuki Mori last summer. The colt's third dam was responsible for SW Dharma Girl (French Deputy), whose daughter Socially Selective (Speightster) was recently third in the GIII Distaff Stakes at Aqueduct. O-Masatoshi Haramura; B-Barak Farm (MD); T-Hideyuki Mori 5th-TOK, ¥14,250,000 ($98k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1600mT MARGOT BLOW (JPN) (c, 2, Twirling Candy–Tough Irma, by Stormy Atlantic) is out of a full-sister to SW Stormy Dixie and a half to Turbo Compressor (Halo's Image), winner of the GI United Nations Stakes in 2012. The colt's third dam Pleasant Dixie (Dixieland Band) produced four winners, including MGISW Southern Image (Halo's Image) and Japanese Group 3 winner Black Bar Spin (Put It Back). Yushun Company acquired the stakes-placed Tough Irma for $200,000 with this colt in utero at the 2022 Keeneland November Sale. O-Ryohei Maeda; B-Kosho Bokujo; T-Shigenobu Isaka The post Another of Mary’s Follies’s Offspring A Warm Item on Tokyo Debut appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Last seen running third behind the absent Lake Victoria in the G1 Irish 1000 Guineas, Shane Stafford's €50,000 Tattersalls Ireland yearling Cercene (Australia) stepped forward in ultra-game fashion to become the longest-priced winner of Royal Ascot's G1 Coronation Stakes. The 33-1 outsider went forward to track the leaders in fourth after the opening exchanges, as TDN Rising Star Falakeyah (New Bay) raced too freely on the front end, and inched closer once into the home straight. Gaining an edge approaching the furlong pole, she was immediately tackled and headed by 6-4 favourite Zarigana (Siyouni), but found plenty under a drive and rallied bravely in the dying embers to eke out a career high, by a half-length, from that rival. Ballydoyle's January (Kingman) was initially stationed in rear and kept on strongly in the straight to finish one length adrift in third. “She's not big, but she's very tough,” commented winning jockey Gary Carroll. Pedigree Notes Cercene, who becomes the seventh Group 1 scorer for her sire and the second this season following the exploits of Lambourn in the G1 Derby, is the fourth of five foals and one of two scorers produced by a winning daughter of Listed Firth Of Clyde Stakes runner-up Tschierschen (Acclamation). The February-foaled chestnut is a half-sister to G3 Sovereign Stakes third Perotto (New Bay) and a 2-year-old filly by Starman. Roo is the dam of five black-type performers, headed by G1 Prix Morny runner-up Gallagher (Bahamian Bounty), and her descendants include G1 Sussex Stakes-winning sire Mohaather (Showcasing), G1 Queen Anne Stakes hero Accidental Agent (Delegator) and multiple Grade II winner Prize Exhibit (Showcasing). Roo is kin to G2 Gimcrack Stakes victor Bannister (Inchinor) and the dam of G1 Middle Park winner Astaire (Intense Focus) out of a half-sister to G1 Cheveley Park Stakes heroine Dead Certain (Absalom). 33/1! CERCENE WINS THE CORONATION STAKES! #ROYALASCOT pic.twitter.com/cba83YNxWV — At The Races (@AtTheRaces) June 20, 2025 The post ‘She’s Not Very Big, But She’s Very Tough’: Carroll Heaps Praise on Cercene After Coronation Shock appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Reigning Horse of the Year Thorpedo Anna (Fast Anna) breezed a half-mile in a sharp :47.80 (13/90) Friday morning at Churchill Downs in advance of her intended appearance in the GII Fasig-Tipton Fleur de Lis Stakes on June 28. The Fleur de Lis is one of a half-dozen stakes on a program that is headed by the $1-million GI Stephen Foster Stakes. Thorpedo Anna, a troubled seventh in the GI Fasig-Tipton La Troienne Stakes May 2, took to the track around 7:15 a.m. Friday morning and covered her opening quarter-mile in :23.60. She galloped out five-eighths of a mile in a strong 1:00.60 according to Churchill Downs clocker John Nichols. Also working for the Fleur de Lis was La Troienne runner-up Taxed (Collected), who went four furlongs in :48.20 (21/90) for trainer Randy Morse Friday morning. Gosger (Nyquist), an excellent second to Journalism (Curlin) in the GI Preakness Stakes May 17, tuned up for an expected appearance in the GI NYRA Bets Haskell Stakes on July 19 with a half-mile drill that was timed in :48.40 (28/90). The post Thorpedo Anna, Gosger Breeze at Churchill appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

From four runners at this year's Royal Ascot, Harry Eustace now boasts a pair of Group 1 winners as the filly Time For Sandals (Sands Of Mali) followed on from stablemate Docklands in Friday's G1 Commonwealth Cup. Drawn widest in one, the 25-1 shot who had been edged out by Woodshauna (Wooded) in Chantilly's G3 Prix Texanita last month was forced to stay in the group up the centre racing away from the main pack. Driven clear of her neighbours inside the final furlong by Richard Kingscote, the bargain €35,000 Tattersalls Ireland September graduate had two dangers towards the stand's side as the season's French sprinting form came to the fore. At the line, there was a neck between the filly and the G3 Prix Sigy winner Arizona Blaze (Sergei Prokofiev), with half a length between him and the Listed Prix Marchand d'Or winner Rayevka (Blue Point) in third. The 6-4 favourite Shadow Of Light (Lope De Vega) was fifth. “It's been extraordinary–it's all down the team at home and all the little things they do, I can't thank them enough,” commented Eustace, in the remarkable position of greeting a second Group 1 winner at the meeting just three days after the yard's momentous Queen Anne triumph. “It went really smoothly–the most concerning part was the draw but it's the first time she's had a fast horse to follow and we were very confident we hadn't seen the best of her.” TIME FOR SANDALS TAKES THE COMMONWEALTH CUP CROWN! #ROYALASCOT pic.twitter.com/OlkklXCLGk — At The Races (@AtTheRaces) June 20, 2025 The post ‘It’s Extraordinary’: Two Royal Ascot Group 1s For Eustace As Time For Sandals Stars appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Forbidden Apple (Pleasant Colony–North of Eden {Ire}, by Northfields), a Grade I winner of nearly $1.7 million, passed away shortly after turning 30 years old at the end of May at TRF Second Chances at Lowell, where he resided since 2013. One of a number of top-class horses bred by Arthur Appleton from North of Eden–a half-sister to champion Theatrical (Ire)–Forbidden Apple was trained throughout his career by the late Christophe Clement, making all but one of his 31 starts on the grass. After posting the first graded success of his career in the GII Belmont Cup Breeders' Cup Handicap, he registered his lone top-level victory in the 2001 Manhattan Handicap over 10 furlongs and added the GII Kelso Handicap ahead of a runner-up effort to Val Royal (Fr) in that year's GI Breeders' Cup Mile at Belmont Park. Runner-up in defense of the Manhattan in 2002, he was third and beaten a head in three-way go in that year's GI Arlington Million. Also fourth in back-to-back runnings of the G1 Hong Kong Mile, Forbidden Apple retired with a record of 8-6-9 from his 31 trips to the post for earnings of $1,680,640. A half-brother to champion Paradise Creek (Irish River {Fr}) and GISW Wild Event (Wild Again)–later a perennial leading sire in Brazil–Forbidden Apple entered stud at Appleton's Bridlewood Farm near Ocala. From limited runners, he was responsible for Worstcasescenario, winner of the 2009 GII Adirondack Stakes. The post Grade I Winner Forbidden Apple Passes Away appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Tony Bloom and Ian McAleavy's once-raced Carlisle maiden winner Venetian Sun (Starman) fulfilled the role of spoiler with aplomb and the Karl Burke trainee prevented a Ballydoyle clean sweep of Royal Ascot's juvenile pattern races with a dominant victory in Friday's G3 Albany Stakes. The 240,000gns Book 1 graduate, drawn in the supposedly unfavourable stall one on the track's far side, raced on the wing in midfield through halfway in this straight six-furlong contest. Coming under pressure to reduce arrears approaching the quarter-mile pole, the well-backed 7-1 chance made continued headway to seize control entering the final furlong and was driven out in the closing stages to assert superiority by 1 1/2 lengths and a length from Awaken (Mehmas) and Balantina (Ten Sovereigns). Aidan O'Brien nominee and 15-8 favourite Signora (Frankel) threatened inside the final quarter-mile, but lacked the necessary kick and finished ninth. Venetian Sun becomes the second black-type winner for Tally-Ho Stud-based freshman sire Starman. “I've never had a two-year-old fill like her,” enthused Burke in the immediate aftermath. “Before the season started, we knew we had a good filly on our hands,” added rider Clifford Lee. VENETIAN SUN WINS THE ALBANY STAKES! #ROYALASCOT pic.twitter.com/SGr3CzUPNC — At The Races (@AtTheRaces) June 20, 2025 The post ‘I’ve Never Had A Two-Year-Old Filly Like Her’: Burke Lauds Albany Heroine Venetian Sun appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The Louisiana Racing Commission is moving toward doing away with most of the state's rules that would void claims of racehorses for reasons including postrace lameness, injury, and even death. A public comment period begins June 20.View the full article

Stable newcomer Paradis provided a pleasant surprise for Foxton trainer Suzy Gordon on Friday with a first-up victory in the Aquashield Roofing Maiden (1600m) at Otaki. The daughter of Complacent had previously been in the Hastings stable of Fred Pratt and Caitlin Johnson, for whom she had recorded three placings from eight starts between November of 2023 and July of 2024. Friday’s race at Otaki was the five-year-old’s first appearance in almost a year, first start for her new stable and first time racing over a distance shorter than 2100m. None of those factors stood in her way. After settling well back in third-last among a strung-out field, Paradis was urged along by jockey Bruno Queiroz and began to steadily gain ground coming down the side of the track. Queiroz spotted an opening along the inside at the home turn and cut back to the fence. Paradis kept up her long, sustained run, reeling in the tearaway leader Crafty Colin and racing past him in the last 50m to win by half a length. The first pair finished five and three-quarter lengths in front of the rest of the field. “I don’t think she’s ever started over less than 2100m before,” said Gordon, who also now shares in the ownership of Paradis. “In her first start for me today, I thought we’d start her out at a mile and see how we go. “She’d been working well. I thought she’d probably go a good race today, but I thought she might need to get up to 2000m.” Paradis was the first leg of a Matariki double at Otaki for Queiroz, who later added the Listed John Turkington Forestry Castletown Stakes (1200m) with Platinum Diamond. “Bruno gave the mare a beautiful ride today,” Gordon said. “He’s had three rides for me now for two wins and a second, so you can’t really do much better than that.” Friday’s success was the ninth win of the season for Gordon, equalling her personal-best tally from the 2017-18 season. Those nine wins have come from a total of only 87 starters, backed up another 11 second or third placings. View the full article

Trainers Tony and Maddysen Sears will have two runners in Saturday’s Listed Ipswich Cup (2150m), with Kiwi bred Poetic Drama (NZ) (Proisir) joined by stablemate Red Wave (Red Dazzler), who won last year’s edition of the race. Six-year-old mare Poetic Drama, who extends to a middle distance for the first time has been performing well at her past two starts in stakes grade, including a luckless sixth in the Magic Millions National Classic (1600m) two weeks ago. “Last start she got stuck behind a wall of horses. Albeit, it was a hard race, I think if she had have got out when Ang (jockey Angela Jones) wanted her to she would have been in the finish. She was totally untested,” Maddysen Sears said. “If she runs the journey, which we think she will, she will be really hard to beat. She is going very well. “It wouldn’t surprise me if both of our runners ran top three. “It is hard to split our pair. Red Wave is up five and a half kilos on last year whereas the mare has a low weight but is untested at the distance. But she is a Proisir and they do get the trip and she is showing signs she will.” Poetic Drama is bred and raced by Tony Falcone, who raced her sire Proisir. The Sears stable had a near-miss last weekend when Yellow Brick beat all but War Machine in the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap (1400m). Sears confirmed Yellow Brick would be given a freshen up and aimed at the Gr.1 Epsom Handicap (1600m) during the Sydney spring carnival. With Red Wave chasing back-to-back Ipswich Cup wins and Poetic Drama stepping up in trip, punters can explore form and markets at the best betting sites Australia for value odds this weekend. View the full article

Legendary trainer Kevin Prendergast has died at the age of 91. Prendergast won eight Irish Classics and managed the careers of some significant horses like Nebbiolo, Pidget, Artique Royale, Northern Treasure and Oscar Schindler right up throught to Awtaad, who won the Irish 2,000 Guineas at the Curragh in 2016. His sole English Classic success came when Nebbiolo won the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket in 1977. A son of “Darkie”, himself a legendary trainer in his own right, Prendergast was a leading amateur jockey before embarking on his training career in 1963. One of Irish racing's all-time greats, Prendergast sent out winners for seven different decades. More to follow The post Legendary Trainer Kevin Prendergast Dies Aged 91 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

A $720,000 race day has been announced for Ashburton Raceway this December. A total of 12 finals will be held but they will be only open to trotters and pacers whose sire stood for an advertised retail service fee of $5,000 or less in the breeding season of conception. The “Harness 5000” finals will be for 3YO, 4YO and 5YO and older Fillies and Mares and Colts, Geldings and Entires for both gaits. Each final will carry a stake of $60,000 and will be limited to a field size of 14 runners. “This is a concept we are very excited about,” says HRNZ’s Head of Racing and Wagering Matthew Peden, “it’s a real ‘grassroots’ series.” If the format sounds familiar it is. “It certainly has a Harness Jewels feel about it,” says Peden, “we have taken notice of the things that worked there but adapted it significantly.” “We believe this is the perfect showcase to encourage and reward breeders and owners who have supported these stallions, while ensuring there is now a clear and meaningful pathway for stallions across the entire spectrum of service fees.” Ashburton hosted the first of the Harness Jewels meetings in 2007. It featured nine races for the 2YO,3YO and 4YOs (Pacing Fillies and Mares and Colts and Geldings, and Trotters). The last of the series was in 2021. Like the Harness Jewels, qualifying for the Harness 5000 Finals will be done solely on stake money won, with the top 14 in each category making the Finals Day on December 21. For this year the qualifying period will be between July 3 and December 9, 2025. To be eligible, horses must compete in at least 5 race day starts within this period. With a commitment from Harness Racing New Zealand to run this series for at least the next 5 years, the qualifying period in 2026 will be between January 1 and November 29. “We really think this is going to be a popular addition to the calendar, with not only stimulus within the breeding industry, but also an opportunity for an increase in domestic trading of horses” says Peden. Download Flyer View the full article

by Jordyn Bublitz It was a rewarding night at Cambridge Raceway for trainer Owen Gillies and the connections of Kumanovo, as the mare notched her second win in just three starts. Driven confidently by Zachary Butcher, Kumanovo showed a strong turn of foot to take out the Gavelhouse.com Handicap Trot, validating Gillies’ belief in her ability. It’s been a bit of a journey getting the daughter of Father Patrick back to the races, and Gillies couldn’t be prouder of how she’s coming to hand. “She’s been a hard horse to handle, and it hasn’t been easy” he laughed. “She should’ve been ready to go probably six months ago, but she came into season really bad and stayed there for a good two or three months. We had to throw her back in the paddock for another month!” The five-year-old was only fair when finishing fifth last week, but Gillies wasn’t discouraged by the effort. “She had a couple weeks between runs there and was probably just a little unfit” he explained. “She’s not a very good doer and she’s quite nervy, so I don’t work her hard in between races. I said to Zach after her last start ‘we’ll back her up and see if she goes any better’. I thought she’d be winning”. And win she did, putting in a sharp performance that reaffirmed the talent Gillies has always seen in her. “She’s always had a bit of ability, and she’s got a lot of speed. It’s just been a matter of getting her head in the game.” Gillies was quick to acknowledge the patience of her owner Cameron Mackie, who’s stood by during the mare’s interrupted preparation. “I’m really lucky with her owner, we’ve had to give her a lot of time off and he hasn’t worried about it. I’ve got to take my hat off to him really, he could’ve just as easily sent her to someone else, but he stuck with us.” As for what’s next, the team has their sights set on Auckland. “The plan now is to try and get her trotting right-handed so we can look at taking her to Alexandra Park. The stakes are better up there, hopefully we can get her right.” View the full article

The Listed Civic Stakes (1400m wasn’t always the first choice for Grebeni’s next start, but co-trainer Sterling Alexiou believed it might just prove the right fit. The son of Ocean Park was being aimed towards the Tattersall’s Mile (1600m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday week, however, Alexiou and training partner Gerald Ryan had a rethink and opted to send him around at Randwick this Saturday instead. “It wasn’t really the plan to run this Saturday. He was going to go to Eagle Farm (Saturday week) and run in the Tatt’s Mile, but we were just a little bit concerned about how the track there walked and how it raced last week,” Alexiou said. “The drying track (at Randwick) is a big tick for him. He raced well the other day but he is certainly better on top of the ground.” Grebeni has been racing in great heart, passing a qualification clause for the Big Dance with his runner-up finish in the Muswellbrook Cup in March and notching a gallant third in the Scone Cup two starts ago. Last time out he beat all but Loch Eagle over 1600m at Randwick and Alexiou doesn’t envisage a slight distance drop causing too many headaches in the Civic Stakes (1400m). “Probably his best form is around the mile but he’s well suited Saturday and you can expect another consistent run from him,” he said. “When he’s in a good vein of form he seems to be consistent and hold his form.” View the full article

The Listed John Turkington Forestry Castletown Stakes (1200m) was one of the few age-group features in the lower North Island that was missing from Lisa Latta’s CV, but the fast-improving filly Platinum Diamond dealt to that unfinished business at Otaki on Friday. Latta has picked up more than 80 black-type victories in her 1200-win training career, including Central Districts two and three-year-old prizes such as the Gr.1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m), Gr.1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m), Gr.2 Hawke’s Bay Guineas (1400m), Gr.2 Wellington Guineas (1400m), Gr.2 Lowland Stakes (2100m), Gr.3 Desert Gold Stakes (1600m), Gr.3 Gold Trail Stakes (1200m), Listed Wellesley Stakes (1000m) and Listed Ryder Stakes (1200m). But the Castletown had proved elusive, with placegetters Secret Allure (2018), Miss Fi (2015) and Elusive Red (2011) delivering her best results. That all changed on Friday. Latta went into the $80,000 juvenile feature with both quality and quantity on her side. She saddled a three-strong Castletown contingent, headed by stylish last-start Wanganui winner Platinum Diamond. However, the favourite for the Castletown Stakes was one of the beaten runners from that Wanganui race on May 31. Gavin Sharrock’s Country Salon was significantly hampered by his stablemate Spandeedo that day, carried extremely wide around the home turn before recovering to finish second and three-quarters of a length behind the winner. Country Salon was sent out as a $3 favourite to reverse that result on Friday, but instead Platinum Diamond increased her winning margin with an even more impressive performance. Platinum Diamond was patiently ridden by visiting Brazilian jockey Bruno Queiroz, settling second-last as Portland led the field up to the point of the home turn. Country Salon enjoyed a perfect run on the outside of the leader and then kicked hard to take command straightening for home. But then Queiroz angled Platinum Diamond into clear air and unleashed her down the outside of the favourite. She burst to the front at the 200m mark and kicked away to win by a length and a quarter. Country Salon held on for second, a head in front of the winner’s stablemate Brutiful Lass. “I was very confident before the race,” said Queiroz, who has now ridden 12 winners in New Zealand including two at Listed level. “This is a nice horse. She was travelling very well all the way. I just waited until the straight, and then she flew home.” Lisa Latta Racing Stables paid $90,000 to buy Platinum Diamond from breeders Beaufort Downs during Book 2 of Karaka 2024. The filly has now had three starts for two wins and $66,975 in stakes. “She’s really going the right way,” Latta said. “She was a late foal, a December foal, and we’ve just waited on her and given her time. Every start, she’s got better and better. “Bruno was very confident today. I didn’t really have to give him instructions. He said, ‘I’ll just win.’ “There are some great owners in this filly. Neville McAlister has been with me for a long time and puts a huge amount of work into finding these horses. Kevin and Wendy Dixon and Trevor Tomlins, from the South Island, are in the ownership too. It’s great to get this result for them.” Platinum Diamond is the second stakes winner from Cambridge Stud shuttle stallion Hello Youmzain’s first New Zealand crop, joining Lucy In The Sky in the Listed Champagne Stakes (1200m) at Riccarton in May. Hello Youmzain heads New Zealand’s first-season sire standings with total progeny earnings of $284,585. That puts him almost $50,000 ahead of the second-placed Lucky Vega, whose $235,700 comes mostly from Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m) runner-up Vega For Luck. Platinum Diamond is out of the winning Thorn Park mare Spritz, who is a half-sister to the Group One placegetter Corsage. Spritz is the dam of two winners from two foals to race, with Platinum Diamond’s half-brother Healthy Healthy being a five-time winner in Hong Kong. View the full article

Stratford gelding Piper’s Son produced a remarkable performance to get up off the canvas and score the biggest win of his career in Friday’s $45,000 Harcourts Otaki Raukawa Cup (2100m). The Tony Dravitzki-trained Piper’s Son headed into Otaki’s Matariki meeting with a rating of just 56, making him the lowest-rated runner in the open handicap line-up. Even with apprentice jockey Elle Sole’s 3kg claim, he appeared to have his work cut out against the $2.70 favourite Boomtown Boy. But Dravitzki was confident his five-year-old gelding was not there to simply make up the numbers. “He’s always shown a bit of potential,” he said. “He’s really just a one-pace horse. Elle took the initiative and went to the front. Full credit to her and this is a great result. “I knew he was fit – he’s been doing three laps around the wet track at Stratford!” Sole was able to dictate terms out in front and conserve her mount’s energy with a sedate tempo. The field bunched up tightly behind them in the back straight and down the side of the track, and it was obvious a long way from home that Boomtown Boy was going to be the big danger. He was travelling effortlessly on the heels of the leader, then swooped around the outside to clearly take the lead at the top of the home straight. Piper’s Son looked beaten, but he lifted again in the straight and gradually clawed his way back level with Boomtown Boy. They fought tooth and nail through the last 200m, and Piper’s Son summoned another big effort in the last few strides to edge ahead and win by a short head. Boomtown Boy finished two lengths in front of the third-placed Pinkerton, with another four lengths back to Carpe Diem in fourth. “That was a real battle – very tiring,” Sole said. “He was going nicely in front, but coming down the back straight and up to the corner, he wasn’t really handling the heavy track that well. He kept chopping and changing his legs. “When Boomtown Boy came up beside him, I just screamed. But he’s a very nice horse and did a great job to fight back and win today. Thanks to Tony for always putting me on and giving me so much support.” Piper’s Son has now had 21 starts for two wins and three placings. The five-year-old son of Complacent has earned $48,760 for an ownership that includes Dravitzki. View the full article

Actually the South Island Premiership is a no contest at the moment

Satono Reve could give a hefty boost to the formlines of Ka Ying Rising when he lines up in the Group One Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes (1,200m) at Royal Ascot on Saturday. Trained by Noriyuki Hori in Japan, the Lord Kanaloa galloper has twice chased home Ka Ying Rising this season, first when third in December’s Group One Hong Kong Sprint (1,200m) before his second-placed finish in the Group One Chairman’s Sprint Prize (1,200m) in April. In-between those runs was a fantastic win in the...View the full article

by Mike Love Current training premiership leaders Steve and Amanda Telfer look set to edge a little further ahead on the leaderboard tonight at Addington raceway with seven runners across three races. “It’s been a really good run – long may it continue,” said co-trainer Amanda Telfer. In race one tonight, The Peninsular Beachfront Resort mobile pace over 1980m, driver Tim Williams links up with Miki Flybye ($1.55FF) for the first time under race conditions. The three year old Always B Miki gelding will need to overcome the unruly draw, but the small field of eight should assist. Telfer is confident of a good account. “He was off the unruly last start. His work is good, and his runs have been good. He just needs to pace all the way. “He’s a nice horse on the improve.” Moving onto race six the Garrards Horse & Hound handicap pace over 2600m the Telfer team line up two runners – Carbon ($10.00FF) with Nikita Burton, and C C Arden ($4.20FF) and Tim Williams. “It’s both their first stand starts tomorrow.” “Carbon is a consistent boy who’s always in the finish, and I don’t see that being any different tonight if he can negotiate the stand. “C C Arden went really well last start. His work has been really nice, so the same as Carbon, if he can get the start right he should go quite good.” Cheer The Captain ($23.00FF) and Akatea ($2.00FF) represent Stonewall Stud in race seven the Woodlands Winning Weanlings mobile pace over 1980m. Telfer believed that Cheer The Captain may feel the rise in class tonight, while Akatea just can’t put a hoof wrong at the moment. “It’s a big jump in class for Cheer The Captain, but he is a nice horse going forward. He’s progressive. So with a nice run he should hopefully measure up in this grade.” Their other runner Akatea is looking for four wins in a row, but draws the outside of the gate being the most tightly assessed runner in the field. “She’s being going great. I think she’ll have this run tonight, then the Silk Road final next week, after which she will go for a break before resuming in the spring.” Terry Chmiel takes the drive on Cheer The Captain, with Tim Williams behind Akatea. A chance to bookend the programme may arise with two strong chances in the final event, race nine the Gold Band Taxis mobile pace over 2600m. Captain Christian ($8.00FF) for Terry Chmiel and Music Mistress ($2.80FF) with Tim Williams look set to give it a decent shake. “Captain Christian has been good this time back. He’s on the improve, and is just lightly raced. It’s a nice field but he should go alright. “They will both be driven conservatively over the 2600m.” The Telfer team also line up three runners at Alexandra Park tonight, namely; Race four – Beachbreak ($11.00FF) Race five – Turn O The Tide ($8.00FF) Race seven – Iron Heart ($8.50FF) All runners will be driven by Josh Dickie. Race one at Addington gets underway at 5:06pm, while Alexandra Park commences at 5:25pm. View the full article

by Jonny Turner The chance Hayden Douglas took on harness racing paid off twice more at Wyndham on Thursday. The Oamaru junior driver reined home a winning double, with Magnetic Beckers toughing out a strong front-running victory immediately after Princess Sadie’s successful return to racing. Despite one being a trotter and the other a pacer, each horse wore about the same amount of gear in their wins. “Magnetic Beckers has had the hopples off, and he just feels so strong now that he’s free-legged.” “He’s really improved recently, and he showed that again today.” Douglas proved he was more than up to the challenge of handling Princess Sadie in her return at Wyndham. The four-year-old was facing the standing start tapes for the first time, in what became a four-horse field following two key scratchings. The race had the potential to become a tactical affair, but Douglas ensured Princess Sadie was right where she needed to be. “My job was on the line,” the junior driver quipped. “She made it pretty easy for me — it was just a four-horse field and I just had to get her around.” “She has the Silk Road Final next week which is the main goal, but to get a penalty-free win first is nice.” “She did it under her own steam — she did it fairly easily, I thought.” Thursday’s double continues Douglas’ success since joining the Matthew Williamson stable. Though in his second season on the track, it wasn’t until early this year that the reinsman moved into a full-time position in the harness racing industry. When the Williamson stable had a vacancy for a junior driver, Douglas quit his job in Invercargill and headed to Oamaru. “I had a really good job, and it was a tough decision to move up to Matty and Charlotte’s.” “I was having some sleepless nights thinking it over, but ever since I made the decision, I haven’t had any regrets.” “So that tells me it’s been the right decision.” “Matty and Charlotte have been really supportive, getting to drive a horse like Princess Sadie has been pretty unreal.” Douglas’ Wyndham double took him to 13 wins for 2025, already equalling his 2024 tally. View the full article

Comeback jumper Te Kahu will begin another campaign toward New Zealand’s premier steeplechases at Te Aroha on Sunday, stepping out on the flat alongside his stablemate, Captains Run. Now an 11-year-old, Te Kahu won the Great Northern Steeplechase (6200m) back in 2021 and campaigned briefly in Australia in the following year. The talented chestnut was off the scene for nearly two years after that, but he made a serious resurgence last year, defeating champion jumper West Coast to win the Hawke’s Bay Steeplechase (4800m), which was just his 19th start. Unfortunately, after his Hastings triumph, Te Kahu was ruled out for the remainder of the year with a minor injury but is back to full soundness and will have his first conditioning run in the Majestic Horse Floats 2200m. “He had a little joint issue after Hawke’s Bay, but that seems to have settled down now and we’re back into it,” trainer Dan O’Leary said. “He’s nice and sound. “We haven’t done a lot of fast work with him and he’s done a little bit of schooling, so at this stage, this is a nice trip away and a flat race to start off with. “He’s a very easy horse to have around, a pleasure to train, and he’s got a real will to win when he’s in a steeplechase. He gets very competitive and strong, so hopefully we can get back steeplechasing, and he can retain that energy that he has.” In Te Kahu’s absence in the back end of the season, Captains Run stepped up for O’Leary, placing in the Grand National Steeplechase (5600m) and Great Northern Steeplechase (6500m), his second time finishing runner-up in the latter. After 18 starts over fences, it’s something of a novelty that the gelding will make his debut on the flat on Sunday. “It’s actually his first ever flat race, he’s never been in one before,” he said. “Both he and Te Kahu wouldn’t have to be competitive, but if they’re finishing off well and pull up sound and happy, I’ll be very pleased with that. “We are targeting those later steeplechasing races in the National and the Northern. Those are the two races that they’ll both head for, if they remain sound and competitive. “That was another reason for going to Te Aroha, the Northern is run there, so it’s a step along the way.” O’Leary will have a representative over fences on Sunday, with Zac Flash contesting the K and R Steeplechase (3500m). A winner over hurdles, the gelding tends to mix his jumping at times, and O’Leary hoped to combat that with a steeplechase trial at Cambridge on Monday. “He actually didn’t jump that well again at the trials, but he can be a little bit like that, he needs a bit of repetition and routine to get flowing again,” O’Leary said. “He’s stepping into open company without a maiden chase there, so he’s finding his way a bit and we’re just hoping that he can jump well, get around safely and finish on strongly.” View the full article

Cody Cole will be watching his in-form mare Rareza from afar on Saturday in her quest for a stakes victory. The Matamata trainer is taking a well-earned break at Port Douglas in Queensland during a personal-best season of 34 winners and stable earnings of more than $1.2 million. Cole has received positive reports from his staff ahead of the Rareza’s bid to make it four consecutive victories when she runs in the Listed Team Wealleans Tauranga Classic (1400m). “She’s going well and has come through her last win nicely,” he said. “Obviously, it’s a step up to weight-for-age and it’s not going to be easy, but she deserves to be there and worked well on Thursday morning.” The daughter of Exosphere has fashioned the tidy record of four successes from nine outings and opened her latest winning sequence at Trentham in the spring before a break. She successfully resumed at Woodville at the end of April and struck again last month at Te Rapa. “When she stepped up last start, we decided we needed to look at black-type options,” Cole said. A daughter of four-time winner La Valeta, Rareza was co-bred by Cole’s mother Lou, who is part of the ownership group in the mare. “She’s a mare that comes from Mum’s family and goes back to For Love, who won the Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (Gr.2, 1400m) so more black type on the page would be valuable,” Cole said. “Rareza was a foal share with Mike O’Donnell of Fairhill Farm and went through the weanling sale, but she didn’t get a bid, so we syndicated her to race and here we are now.” She will again be ridden by Michael McNab at Tauranga and is then likely to head for a break. “I’ll probably give her a freshen-up and look toward the spring,” Cole said. “There are some nice options, she doesn’t want the firmer tracks, but she was good on a better surface at Te Rapa, so that was pretty encouraging.” Cole also has other winning chances on Saturday with Bradley in the A1 Homes Maiden (1600m), Oneira runs in the BOP Equine Vets (1200m) and Kai Moana in the Super Liquor Greerton (1600m). The former has been knocking on the door with runner-up finishes from his last two appearances. “Bradley thought he’d got the job done the other day and knocked off, the inside horse was too far away for him to chase,” Cole said. “On face value, Oneira looked a bit disappointing, but we rode her back and they ran home in 33s and she just doesn’t have that sort of turn of foot.” Placed in last season’s Gr.3 Gold Trail Stakes (1200m), Oneira had led and finished runner-up at Ellerslie at her previous run while Kai Moana was also second two starts ago at Hawera before a fifth at Wanganui. “She just needs to lead, that’s her pattern, as she can’t really quicken,” Cole said. View the full article