Wandering Eyes

Bidding is now open for the Masterson Equestrian Trust's 20th Anniversary Auction, supporting equestrian green space in the Lexington, Kentucky area. Now in its 20th year, MET is a 501c3 nonprofit aimed at preserving and protecting Masterson Station Park as an equestrian facility from development and repurposing. Items up for auction include halters worn by Justify, Tiznow, Distorted Humor and Tapit; lessons with top equestrian teachers; photo sessions; a box to the Blue Grass Stakes; a tailgate spot to the Defender 3-Day Event, and dozens of equine-related gifts and products. Located in Lexington, Kentucky, Masterson Station Equestrian Park is an equestrian schooling, competition and trail facility and is one of the only equestrian municipal parks in the nation that is open to the public for people (and their horses) to freely enjoy. The Park consists of rolling hills, cross-country fences ranging in size from starter to preliminary level (with a handful of smaller jumps perfect for introducing young horses to jumping), multiple water complexes, banks and ditch complexes, conditioning lanes, open riding spaces, a sand schooling arena with jumps, a dressage complex with several rings, indoor arena, trails, trailer parking and more. MET's all-volunteer board that does everything from mowing and arena maintenance to repairing and maintaining jumps, galloping lanes and trails, to advocating to preserve and protect the equestrian facilities from development and repurposing. “Masterson is the first place that I found that made me feel like Kentucky was my home after we moved here,” said board member Christine Siegel. “It holds a special place for me.” To learn more or bid, click here: https://www.32auctions.com/METauction2024 The post MET Auction Offers Halters, Experiences, and More appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Brook Smith and Carrie Brogden have been appointed to the board of directors of Thoroughbred Charities of America, the organization announced Wednesday. Current directors Marette Farrell and Marshall Gramm were named secretary and treasurer, respectively. Smith is a resident of Louisville, Kentucky. After graduating from Clemson University with a degree in finance, he returned to Kentucky and launched a career in the insurance industry, as a broker with his agency Smith Manus (now Acrisure) and as a partner in Lexon Insurance Group. He is a serial entrepreneur and big supporter of numerous philanthropic endeavors. Brook owns and manages Rocket Ship Racing and is a co-owner of multiple graded stakes winner Sierra Leone (Gun Runner). Carrie Brogden was born and raised on her family's Thoroughbred farm in Warrenton, Virginia and grew up showing ponies on the horse show circuit. In 2001, Carrie and her husband, Craig, moved to Paris, Kentucky and, along with Carrie's mom Sandra Fubini, founded Machmer Hall, one of the most recognizable names in the Thoroughbred breeding business and home to more than 250 horses. The two newly elected directors join current board members Lesley Campion (vice president), Marette Farrell (secretary), Casi Gaffalione, Torie Gladwell, Marshall Gramm (treasurer), Brant Laue, Jason Loutsch, Ryan Mahan, Mike McMahon (president), Dan Metzger, Leah O'Meara, Liam O'Rourke, Morgan Richardson, Cathy Shircliff, and Jesse Ullery. Gretchen Jackson, Ellen Moelis and Dan Rosenberg are directors emeriti. Newly elected TCA treasurer Marshall Gramm joined the Board in 2020. Marshall grew up in Washington, D.C. and became involved in horseracing because of the statistical and problem-solving aspects of betting. Gramm is an Economics Ph.D. and professor at Rhodes College in Memphis, Tenn. Gramm and partner Clay Sanders co-founded Ten Strike Racing in 2016 and currently have more than 50 horses in training. Newly elected TCA Secretary Marette Farrell also joined the TCA Board in 2020. Marette grew up on a stud farm in Ireland and pinhooked two-year-olds to help pay for college. After graduation she went on to work for trainers in Dubai, France, Australia, and the U.S. In 2008, she formed her own bloodstock agency where she currently works in an advisory capacity for long-term clients. Thoroughbred Charities of America (TCA) was formed in 1990 by Allaire duPont and Herb and Ellen Moelis to raise and distribute funds to charities in the Thoroughbred industry that fund and facilitate the support of Thoroughbreds and the people who care for them. The post Brook Smith, Carrie Brogden Appointed to TCA Board appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

SAPPORO, Japan — 'Be connected, stride together' runs the strapline for the 40th Asian Racing Conference. There are of course representatives from beyond the Asian nations present in Sapporo and it did not take long for the Asian Racing Federation (ARF) chairman Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges to remind some 800 delegates just how out of step is British racing. “Great Britain is probably the most challenged when it comes to industry fragmentation,” he said. “For our colleagues in the BHA, I would not call it Mission Impossible but it's close, and even Tom Cruise cannot help you. You need alignment of interest and it is crucial when you have a sport that is probably one of the best racing products in the world, but if you look at the return to owners, if you look at the return to racetracks to invest in the future, to invest in technology, there is not enough revenue coming back to the industry to address this.” Fragmentation and disagreement between various factions in racing is nothing new in Britain or elsewhere, but it is no secret that the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) is in a state of flux. Its chair Joe Saumarez Smith travelled to Japan to join the panel, but he will be standing down from his role in May 2025, and chief executive Julie Harrington is currently working out her notice. Her counterpart at Horseracing Ireland (HRI), Suzanne Eade, joined Saumarez Smith in a panel debate alongside Drew Fleming of the Breeders' Cup, ARF vice-chairman Masayuki Goto, and Australia's Peter V'Landys and Aaron Robinson, representing respectively the often warring jurisdictions of Racing NSW and Racing Victoria. Explaining some of the relatively recent changes in the governance structure of British racing, Saumarez Smith admitted, “Sometimes we need to take a little pain and we're not making progress as quickly as I'd like but we are going in the right direction. “We need boards saying [they] will invest money in the long-term interest of the sport, rather than trying to maximise profits for the next 12 months, but that requires the boards of those companies – the racecourses, media rights groups, training establishments – it requires instruction from above to say we need to do everything we can to sustain the sport in the long run, but we don't always have everybody willing to do that.” What I would like to suggest is that we have to address issues globally, and there are different priorities in the local industries but we have to think globally, and especially when it comes to having the necessary conditions to keep our social licence He was not the only one who cited the urgent need for various bodies within racing to work together for the greater good. In a 45-minute address Engelbrecht-Bresges gave not only an astute overview of the current state of play for the global racing and breeding industry but also issued a call for unity. “If you look at the stakeholders – if you look at racetrack operators, owners, aftercare providers, breeders, jockeys, trainers, race clubs, racing authorities – to try to get an alignment of strategic objectives or plans for how we overcome challenges […] in certain areas you need structural changes,” he said. “Japan and Hong Kong are in comfortable positions but if one looks at racing in Australia, there is a federal structure and funding model so there is naturally competition between the different states.” And in an appeal to the two Australian panellists, he added, “We should not fight with each other, we should come together as an industry and fight our competition. It's great that we have two key people here from New South Wales and Victoria so we can have this discussion, and I am optimistic that together in the future we will find solutions.” Engelbrecht-Bresges continued his around-the-world overview by airing his concerns over the mixed response and, in some cases, legal challenges in America to the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA) which came into being in December 2020. “HISA was a great achievement that we celebrated at the last racing conference,” he said. “One key issue of the sport is the breakdown rate of horses in America. HISA has achieved massive improvement when it comes to medication control, but HISA is at risk of being derailed.” He continued, “What I would like to suggest is that we have to address issues globally, and there are different priorities in the local industries but we have to think globally, and especially when it comes to having the necessary conditions to keep our social licence. While I don't like the words social licence, there is definitely the challenge of how we as an industry are seen by people who are not in racing.” Along with the “social acceptability” of horseracing, Engelbrecht-Bresges also identified the growth of illegal or offshore betting – which is believed to have been as high as $1.7 trillion wagered in this way last year – alongside declining attendances and an ageing customer profile as some of the key challenges faced by racing. Accompanied by a slide showing a protester being removed from the track at Epsom on Derby Day 2023, he said that the sport is at a “critical juncture” in some countries when it comes to fending off the threat posed by its detractors. Encouragingly, after a day-long conference on Tuesday organised by the International Forum for the Aftercare of Racehorses (IFAR), the second stage of a Thoroughbred's career is now at the forefront of many minds of those running racing around the world, and was referred to a number of times during the opening day of the conference. Engelbrecht-Bresges, who is also CEO of the Hong Kong Jockey Club and the driving force behind the much heralded World Pool, also highlighted the more significant growth in prize-money levels in the nations within the pool of the Asian federation in comparison to Europe and America. Between 2022 and 2023, New Zealand recorded the largest increase of 13%, with a 12% rise in South Africa, 11% in Hong Kong and 10% in Australia. France, Ireland and Britain saw increases of 4%, 2% and 1% respectively during that same period, while purses in the USA contracted fractionally, by -0.3%. Not unrelated to this is the decline in betting turnover, which, having grown during the pandemic, was down by 10% in Australia between the 2021/22 and 2022/23 seasons, and by 9% in Hong Kong throughout its latest season. He noted, however, a 15% rise in commingling, linked to the expansion of World Pool. The post ARC 2024: Racing Urged to Think Globally, Act Locally appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Every week, the TDN posts a roundup of the relevant Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA) related rulings from around the country. Among this week's rulings, stable employee Gabriel Hilardo Rivera has been issued a six-year suspension and $75,000 fine by the Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit (HIWU), after three banned substances were found in his possession back in March. According to the posted final decision, a HIWU investigator “observed Gabriel Hilardo Rivera carry and attempt to conceal a black tackle box behind the rear tire of a vehicle while he was working at Mahoning Valley Race Course in Youngstown, Ohio. Another HIWU Investigator then joined the first HIWU Investigator and they photographed and searched the tackle box. Inside they found various injectable medications, needles, and syringes.” The three injectable banned substances comprised a bottle labelled Dolor (containing pitcher plant extract), a bottle labelled Buta-fenil and a bottle labelled Dexalan (the latter two foreign-made pharmacological substances not approved for use in the U.S. and therefore banned under HISA). NEW HISA/HIWU STEWARDS RULINGS The following rulings were reported on HISA's “rulings” portal and through the HIWU “pending” and “resolved” cases portals. Resolved ADMC Violations Date: 08/27/2024 Licensee: Mark Glatt, trainer Penalty: A fine of $500; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points. Final decision by HIWU. Explainer: Vets' list medication violation for the presence of Phenylbutazone— Controlled Medication (Class C)—in a sample taken from Mi Hermano Ramon on 6/24/24. Date: 08/27/2024 Licensee: Donaciano Gonzalez, trainer Penalty: Disqualification of Covered Horse's Race results, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); a fine of $500; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points. Final decision by HIWU. Explainer: Medication violation for the presence of Methocarbamol— Controlled Medication (Class C)—in a sample taken from Full Time Strutin, who finished third at Thistledown on 7/4/24. Date: 08/23/2024 Licensee: Rob Atras, trainer Penalty: Disqualification of Covered Horses' Race results, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); a fine of $500; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points. Treated as 1 violation under 09/08/23 HISA Guidance. Explainer: Medication violation for the presence of Dexamethasone—Controlled Medication (Class B)—in samples taken from Condiment Girl (fourth at Churchill Downs on 5/25/24), Harrodsburg (won at Churchill Downs on 5/24/24), Smile Mon (fourth at Churchill Downs on 6/8/24) and Margoinabubblebath (won at Churchill Downs on 6/6/24). Date: 08/23/2024 Licensee: Joe Offolter, trainer Penalty: Disqualification of Covered Horse's Race results, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); a fine of $500; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points. Final decision by HIWU. Explainer: Medication violation for the presence of Methocarbamol—Controlled Medication (Class B)—in a sample taken from Chojo, who finished second at Prairie Meadows on 6/24/24. Date: 08/22/2024 Licensee: Sergio Ledezma, trainer Penalty: Disqualification of Covered Horse's Race results, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); a fine of $500; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points. Final decision by HIWU. Explainer: Medication violation for the presence of Methocarbamol— Controlled Medication (Class C)—in a sample taken from Elmer John, who won at Pleasanton on 7/6/24. Date: 08/21/2024 Licensee: Gabriel Hilardo Rivera, stable employee Penalty: 6-year period of Ineligibility for Covered Person, beginning on June 6, 2024; a fine of $75,000. Final decision by HIWU. Explainer: For the possession of Pitcher Plant Extract, Buta-Fenil and Dexalan—banned substances—from an event dated 3/27/24. Date: 08/21/2024 Licensee: Richard Sillaman, trainer Penalty: Disqualification of Covered Horse's Race results, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); a fine of $500; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points. Admission. Explainer: Medication violation for the presence of Phenylbutazone—Class C controlled substance—in a sample taken from Levisa, who won at Laurel Park on 7/21/24. Date: 08/21/2024 Licensee: Bruno Tessore, trainer Penalty: Disqualification of Covered Horse's Race results, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); a fine of $500; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points. Final decision by internal adjudication panel. Explainer: Medication violation for the presence of Dexamethasone—Controlled Medication (Class C)—in a sample taken from Shoot Themessenger, who finished second at Laurel Park on 3/16/24. Date: 08/21/2024 Licensee: Salvador Naranjo, trainer Penalty: 30-day period of Ineligibility for Covered Person, beginning on August 22, 2024; Disqualification of Covered Horse's Race results, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); a fine of $2,500; imposition of 3 Penalty Points. Admission. Explainer: Medication violation for the presence of an Alkalinizing Agent (TCO2) in a sample taken from Fever, who finished fifth at Los Alamitos on 12/9/23. Date: 08/20/2024 Licensee: John Shirreffs, trainer Penalty: A fine of $500; imposition of .5 Penalty Points. Admission. Explainer: Vets' list medication violation for the presence of Omeprazole—Class C controlled substance—in a sample taken from Momad on 7/15/24. Date: 08/20/2024 Licensee: Isidro Tamayo, trainer Penalty: 15-day period of Ineligibility for Covered Person, beginning on August 21, 2024; a fine of $2,500; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points. Admission. Explainer: Vets' list medication violation for the presence of Phenylbutazone— Controlled Medication (Class C)—in a sample taken from Lilly's Journey on 5/11/24. Pending ADMC Violations 08/27/2024, Joe Toye, trainer: Pending vets' list medication violation for the presence of Omeprazole— Controlled Medication (Class C)—in a sample taken from Wear the Crown on 7/26/24. 08/27/2024, Felix Rondan, trainer: Pending vets' list medication violation for the presence of Phenylbutazone— Controlled Medication (Class C)—in a sample taken from Drop Um on 7/25/24. 08/27/2024, A Ferris Allen III, trainer: Pending medication violation for the presence of Phenylbutazone— Controlled Medication (Class C)—in a sample taken from Aristocratic, who finished second at Laurel Park on 6/16/24. 08/27/2024, Francisco Ramos, trainer: Provisionally suspended for possessing Diisopropylamine and Clenbuterol, both banned substances. 08/23/2024, Johanna Urietta, trainer: Pending medication violation for the presence of Methocarbamol— Controlled Medication (Class C)—in a sample taken from Bareback Fun, who finished second at Thistledown on 7/22/24. 08/22/2024, Aldana Spieth, trainer: Pending vet's list medication violation for the presence of Dantrolene and Acepromazine— Controlled Medication (Class C)—in a sample taken from Soldieress, who finished fifth at Delaware Park on 7/25/24. 08/22/2024, Adolfo Macias, trainer: Provisional suspension for violating “Status During Provisional Suspension or Ineligibility.” 08/22/2024, William Pibble, trainer: Provisional suspension for the alleged possession of Metformin, a banned substance, and for “prohibited association” (with Adolfo Macias). 08/22/2024, Kelly Fernandez, trainer: Pending medication violation for the presence of Lidocaine— Controlled Medication (Class C)—in a sample taken from La Marinera, who finished fifth at Delaware Park on 7/22/24. 08/22/2024, Darien Rodriguez, trainer: Pending medication violation for the presence of Methocarbamol— Controlled Medication (Class C)—in a sample taken from Megacity, who won at Delaware Park on 6/20/24. Violations of Crop Rule One important note: HISA's whip use limit is restricted to six strikes during a race. Colonial Downs Ruben Silvera – violation date August 22; $500 fine and one-day suspension Ferndale McKenzie King – violation date August 23; $150 fine and one-day suspension Horseshoe Indianapolis Walter Rodriguez – violation date August 22; $250 fine and one-day suspension Albin Jimenez – violation date August 26; $250 fine and one-day suspension Prairie Meadows Kenneth Tohill – violation date August 24; $250 fine and one-day suspension Remington Park Luis Quinonez – violation date August 22; $250 fine and one-day suspension Saratoga Jacqualine Davis – violation date August 22; $500 fine and one-day suspension Brian Hernandez – violation date August 24; $1,250 fine and one-day suspension The post Stewards and Commissions Rulings, August 22-August 28, 2024 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

However obvious it may now appear that the “real” Fierceness didn't show up for the GIII Holy Bull Stakes back in February, he was keeping tougher company than many assumed at the time. Of the pair, in fact, things went rather more blatantly wrong for Domestic Product, bumped early before wasting energy against a slow pace and coming home wide. Domestic Product still managed to get closer to the winner than did the juvenile champion, and even in scrambling home in the GIII Tampa Bay Derby next time left a strong impression that he would ultimately thrive round a single turn. Sure enough, last Saturday both Fierceness and Domestic Product completed their respective rehabilitations after running down the field in the GI Kentucky Derby—the former still at 10 furlongs, the latter duly back at seven. And while their owners will doubtless be seeking fresh blood at the September Sale, they will do well to find anything to match this homebred pair. That Domestic Product's metier should turn out to be sprinting is no surprise, though his connections started him on a very different road: he broke his maiden over nine furlongs last fall before contesting a strong edition of the GII Remsen Stakes, where Dornoch (Good Magic) and Sierra Leone (Gun Runner) came clear to claim an early place among the cream of the crop. But he has meanwhile emulated his sire by regrouping post-Derby to win the GIII Dwyer Stakes and now the GI Allen Jerkens (albeit Practical Joke also managed third in the GI Haskell in between). That template encouraged Practical Joke's reception at stud as a source of commercial speed and, having been conceived when Into Mischief was still just $20,000, he certainly belongs to the early, sprint-oriented phase of his own sire's record-breaking rise. But while Into Mischief has since proved competent to eke some extra stretch from his upgraded mares, it remains to be seen whether Practical Joke can achieve the same from his own soaring fee (hiked to $65,000 after an eye-watering book of 252 at $25,000 in 2023). While he has evidently come up with some stayers in South America, domestically even his GI Santa Anita Derby winner Practical Move seemed to tip the fuel gauge into red. And Domestic Product is his owner-breeder's second Grade I scorer over seven furlongs this month, Test Stakes winner Ways and Means having likewise dropped in trip after fading in a Classic (fourth in the GI Kentucky Oaks). Seven at Saratoga is proving a trademark for Practical Joke, himself winner of the GI Hopeful Stakes besides the Jerkens. As it happens, his dam also won her first two starts at the Spa in what proved a light career. As a sprinter by Distorted Humor out of Gilded Time mare, her visit to Into Mischief complemented speed with speed and her family appears to offer little extra distance. The only really accomplished horse on her page was her grand-dam's half-brother Moment of Hope (Timeless Moment), who did manage to win the GII Stuyvesant Handicap (9f) but also chased home Groovy in the GI Vosburgh Stakes over seven. Domestic Product's dam Goods and Services might have provided some fuel, as an unraced daughter of Paynter, but she was out of a stakes sprinter by Cherokee Run (albeit her sibling won a graded stakes over nine furlongs of turf). Goods and Services was actually culled from the Klaravich program when Domestic Product was a weanling, for $37,000 in foal to Complexity at the 2021 Keeneland November Sale. Her new owners were granted little opportunity to profit from Domestic Product's emergence, however. While they did bank $220,000 for the mare's Complexity filly at OBS in March, she had aborted next time before tragically succumbing to laminitis. Given his commercial agenda, nobody will be losing any sleep if Practical Joke remains perceived as primarily a speed brand. The bottom line is that he's the only one of their intake to have clung to the coattails of Gun Runner, and by any normal measure is consolidating very well. Fierceness Keeping City's Name In Lights Fierceness and crew after the Travers | Sarah Andrew The next class also has a freakish leader in Justify, but remains way more competitive behind him and City of Light owes a corresponding debt to Fierceness, first as champion juvenile and now as winner of the GI Travers. After a brilliant sales debut, City of Light found himself up against several rivals who set a demanding pace in their relative ratio of stakes winners. Besides Justify, Good Magic and 2022 champion freshman Bolt d'Oro, these include several who have arguably punched above weight: Oscar Performance, Army Mule, Collected, Girvin. Some have been duly rewarded with improved books, Girvin for instance last year up to 181 mares from 86 and Oscar Performance to 160 from 63, but that will obviously take time to cycle through. As a result, the third-crop prizemoney table is still largely determined by sheer volume: 262 starters already this year, for instance, keep Mendelssohn third while Oscar Performance is confined to fifth with just 114. City of Light sits between that pair (146 starters) in fourth. Himself a relatively late developer, he's entitled to consolidate the gains made by Fierceness, especially granted the soundness observable in his only other domestic graded winner, Chop Chop. After his breakout with Fierceness last year, City of Light's book this time round rallied to full subscription (at his commendably restrained farm, that's around 145) after dropping to 85 in 2023. Just as well, then, that Mike Repole happened to buy into the stallion. For consecutive visits by his cherished mare Nonna Bella (Stay Thirsty) have also given an early spark to City of Light's third crop: Mentee, the brother to Fierceness who broke the Aqueduct track record in debut in June, is now reportedly breezing towards the GI Hopeful Stakes. Nonna Bella has plenty to throw into the mix, not least precocity, as a daughter of Nonna Mia (Empire Maker), one of the foundations of Repole's program when acquired as a $200,000 Saratoga yearling in 2008. With her own page subsequently boosted by the emergence of three-parts brother Cairo Prince (Pioneerof The Nile), Nonna Mia was herself Grade I-placed before producing Outwork (by Repole's beloved Uncle Mo) and then Nonna Bella, who showed good ability in a brief career. Repeated interruptions to Nonna Mia's production were redressed when her 2022 Into Mischief colt topped the September Sale at $3 million, arriving into the ring just a couple of weeks after Fierceness tore up the Saratoga track on debut. So if City of Light owes much to this mare, their son certainly performed a reciprocal service for her mother. Raging Sea Belongs to High Society Society Draws Off in the Ballerina | Tod Marks As noted above, Practical Joke is the only member of their intake anywhere near the slipstream of Gun Runner and it was another fine weekend for the Three Chimneys top gun—albeit Sierra Leone again consumed all his reserves closing from the rear in the GI Travers. Even so that colt has now paid off even his $2.3 million yearling tag, and has every right to generate a good yield once joining the many sons of Gun Runner now congregating at stud. Meanwhile Gun Runner not only accounted for first and third in the GI Ballerina Handicap, through Society and Vahva, but also cranked his next crop into gear with a sensational “TDN Rising Star” debutante, Senza Parole, on Friday's card. Society is the latest advertisement for the expertly curated program of Peter Blum, who acquired her granddam Archduchess (Pleasant Tap) in 2010. She had changed hands for just $12,000 at the Keeneland November Sale three years previously, but in the meantime her son Pleasant Prince (Indy King) had emerged to win the GIII Ohio Derby and miss the GI Florida Derby by a nose. That suggested her to be a fully functional conduit to her third dam, the matriarch Missy Baba. Society is duly a bloom on the same family tree as Raging Sea, who won a duel of Curlins when shading Idiomatic in the GI Personal Ensign Stakes the previous day. Raging Sea was similarly homebred by a program that concentrates on quality in Alpha Delta Stables, who acquired her unraced dam Stormy Welcome (Storm Cat) for $600,000 at the 2015 November Sale. The mare was out of A.P. Indy's half-sister Welcome Surprise, a graded stakes winner by Seeking the Gold. And their famous dam Weekend Surprise was of course out of Lassie Dear, the daughter of Buckpasser and Missy Baba's daughter Gay Missile (Sir Gaylord). Buckpasser had also been consecutively chosen for Missy Baba's 1969 and 1970 covers, which respectively produced Sooni and Toll Booth—and Sooni is the fourth dam of Society. We know that many a good racehorse will challenge our principles with an unaccountable background, but two Grade I winners in consecutive days for the Missy Baba line reassures us that sometimes blood really will out. Crash, Bang, Wallop: It's Violence! Mullikin Takes the Forego | Sarah Andrew Fierceness is the second consecutive champion juvenile for his owner, who previously shared Forte with St Elias Stables. Forte has meanwhile begun his second career at Spendthrift, following another son of Violence over at Three Chimneys, in Volatile. And the virility of the Violence brand was certainly on show last weekend. Mullikin, a graduate of the same crop as Forte, flew home in the GI Forego Stakes; Volatile's son Tip Top Thomas won a signpost maiden on the same card; while a daughter of Violence produced a breakout sprinter in California. Tip Top Thomas was co-bred by a farm that reliably punches above weight, Wynnstay, in partnership with Donna Moore and Jim Richardson. From the same Consolidator mare they've already managed to breed the second highest earner by Graydar, as well as Dua (Arrogate), who made $400,000 at the Fasig-Tipton July Sale in 2022 before running third in the GII Chandelier Stakes. Wynnstay have a deserved toehold in Book 1 at the September Sale, with an Uncle Mo colt early [Hip 13] and a Yaupon half-sister to Brightwork (Outwork) [358] on the second day. Be sure to drop by Barn 15. By the way Wynnstay, along with longstanding collaborator Allen Poindexter, can also take credit for Angkor, who got his first graded stakes podium behind Mullikin. At $250,000, he reached a higher price than any other yearling by Anchor Down. As for Mullikin, bred by the estimable Hertrich-Fielding partnership, he's much the best to date out of a Congrats mare who earned herself some pretty lavish covers with a somewhat opportunist podium in the GIII Schuylverville Stakes. That plainly reflects well on Violence, who has had to deal with a few ups and downs in his stud career. And now his changeless assets of physique and pedigree can also serve his emergence as a distaff influence. Having himself produced the fastest in the East, Violence now accounts for something similar out West through his daughter Violent Wave. She was only a moderate runner but her son Raging Torrent (Maximus Mischief) brought an end to the marvelous streak of The Chosen Vron (Vronsky) when pulling him 12 lengths clear in the GII Pat O'Brien Stakes. Raging Torrent was found by Mark Davis for $75,000 in Randy Bradshaw's consignment at OBS April last year, having failed to meet his reserve at Keeneland the previous September at $27,000. Fortunately for Rodney J. Winkler and Alfonso Mazzetti, who also bred the dam, they appear to have retained her after sending her into the ring when carrying Raging Torrent ($27,000 RNA, KeeJan 2021) and again when empty last November ($145,000) after his initial graded stakes cameos. Raging Torrent is also a first graded stakes winner for Maximus Mischief—and duly makes a precious contribution to the reputation of the second-crop sires overall. As a group, they have traded in plenty of quantity but by historic standards have been embarrassed by their slow delivery of quality. The post Breeding Digest: Joke Gets Serious Sprinting at the Spa appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Annelie Rodde has quickly become a recognisable face on the European sales circuit and has cut her teeth with some of the biggest consignors of foals, yearlings and breeze-up horses. A daughter of Peter and Aline Rodde, who run the historic Gestut Westerberg in Germany, the youngster was destined to make her career in the bloodstock game. Excitement is building for Rodde as she will offer her first batch of yearlings that she pinhooked specifically for the BBAG Yearling Sale which gets underway on Friday. It's an exciting time for you given you are consigning horses that you pinhooked yourself at the upcoming BBAG Yearling Sale. Tell us a bit more about that. It certainly is an exciting time as it is the first time I pinhooked horses myself. I have been involved with a few shares before but it is a whole new feeling making my own decisions and being completely responsible for my investment. I'm looking forward to selling lot 151, an Australia filly bought for €7,500, lot 166, a Zelzal filly bought for € 11, 000 and lot 172, a Cracksman filly bought for €13,500 on Friday. What type of a horse did you target for the BBAG Yearling Sale? I have been looking for middle distance horses that are well able to walk. I tried to go for affordable proven stallions and foals out of unexposed mares. I have been lucky to be able to buy three foals at Goffs for good value as most buyers have been looking for more precious speedier horses. Of course, your family is steeped in racing and bloodstock history. Were you always going to go down this road? Being outside and being active has always suited me and I have had this great passion for horses my whole life. When I was younger, I was more involved in sport horses and eventing and did not imagine going down the racing route. As soon as I turned 18, I went to the UK and have been infected with the horse racing bug ever since. You've spent time working with some of the biggest consignors and breeze-up handlers in Britain and Ireland. Who has been some of the biggest influences on your career? I am fortunate to have worked under successful consignors such as Malcolm Bastard, Philipp Stauffenberg, Brendan Holland and Rodgie Kavanagh. Every one of those people has taught me a great deal of what I am doing today. Our yearlings get fed the exact same as Blarney feeds his horses at Grove Stud. I try to turn them out the way Philipp has taught me with his great love to detail and I do my best to accomplish my own and our employees' horsemanship to the standard I experienced at Kildaragh. And is there a certain direction or career path you'd like to take within the industry? I enjoy everything from foals to two-year-olds and I am fascinated by the quick return of investment that you can achieve in the horse racing world if things do go right. I would like to pinhook as well as prep and consign foals, yearlings and hopefully breeze-up horses at European sales. What is the best advice you have ever been given? Keep yourself in good company. Who do you admire most in the sport? Ryan Moore. If you weren't working in this industry what would you be doing? Probably working for a consulting company. Where do you see yourself in five years? Hopefully pinhooking and consigning good quality horses internationally. I'm not sure if I will be based in Germany or whether I will move abroad eventually. Give us a sire you feel is under the radar? Gleneagles. Every horse we have bred him has not disappointed. And one horse to follow for the remainder of the Flat season… Lazy Griff. Our first winner from last year's yearling draft. The post Young Guns: Meet The Emerging Force Annelie Rode appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Impressive debutant Fields Of Courage (NZ) ( Savabeel) will go down as Michael Moroney and Glen Thompson’s first winner together, getting the better of favourite Athanatos over 1300 metres at Sandown on Wednesday. The son of Savabeel cost connections $425,000 at the 2020 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale and, even though it’s taken until early in his four-year-old season for him to debut, he made a strong impression when he finally did so. Athanatos ($3.50) looked to be going much better at the 400m, coasting to the front shortly thereafter, but Fields Of Courage ($6.50) picked up impressively as the race went on. Moroney and Thompson’s galloper hit the front with 100m to go and drew a length clear on the line, eased down late by Mark Zahra. Thompson, who has previously trained in his own right and joined Moroney in the form book at the beginning of the season, was delighted to get the win on the board and vindicate the long journey to Fields Of Courage’s debut. “He couldn’t have been more impressive, (it was) good to finally get him to the races, he’s always shown a fair bit at home,” he said. “Mark’s done a fair bit on him, he’s done his jumpouts last time and this time and he was really keen on him. “It’s good when you get a good jockey on and he gives him a gun ride.” Thompson revealed that the gelding had actually made it to races previously, but had to be scratched, which was emblematic of the immature nature that kept him from debuting before Wednesday. But with these issues hopefully firmly in the past, Thompson is confident it will be onwards and upwards from here on in. “It was just immaturity, he had a few little issues last time,” he said. “He actually made it to races last time in and got hurt, but he’s a nice horse, we’ve taken our time with him and hopefully we reap the rewards for it. “We’ll see how he comes through today, but there’s definitely no reason we don’t think he can keep going, we’re very happy with him.” View the full article

As is commonplace with trainers of four-year-old mares going into spring, Andrew Forsman is wary about where Positivity (NZ) ( Almanzor) will fit in among the older more seasoned stayers. Positivity proved she was one of the better staying three-year-old fillies with a last-start Group 3 win in the SA Fillies Classic over 2500 metres at Morphettville in May to accompany her second in the New Zealand Oaks. Positivity will make her spring return in the Heatherlie Stakes(1700m) at Caulfield on Saturday. Forsman said Positivity had been nominated for the Caulfield Cup, but at this stage that was a hit and hope mission. “You’ve got to put the nomination in. If she’s racing well then it would be lovely to end up in a Caulfield Cup,” Forsman said. “It’s harder when you’re going up against more seasoned older horses. “She’s coming out of running against her own age, and she ran well enough. She’s a mare who will improve with time, but it’s always hard for these sorts of mares and we’ll find out whether it’s a bridge too far or not; it’s really hard to know. “Her first couple of runs back will tell us whether she’s quite going to be a spring prospect. “We’ll be giving her the chance to do it and get one or two runs in, and then we may decide it’s better to just give her a bit more time.” Forsman is taking a similar approach with lightly raced three-year-old gelding Yaldi (NZ) (Ardrossan), who will resume in the McNeil Stakes. Yaldi had two starts as a two-year-old for a win at Pukehoe and a third at Flemington behind Epimeles. “He’s still pretty raw and learning, but he looks like he’s got good ability,” he said. “He’s kicking off in a good race and there weren’t a lot of options in New Zealand with the wet tracks as he’ll be better on a good track.” “We’ll give him a go here and probably just have a three or four-run campaign here and then get him home for summer and possibly come back for the Australian Guineas.” View the full article

Executive director of racing Andrew Harding tells Asian Racing Conference ‘fan engagement is no mere buzzword – it will determine our future’View the full article

Gavelhouse.com has become an integral source of thoroughbred racing stock for dual code trainer Trent Yesberg, who is set to line-up a couple of his online purchases in the coming days. The Rangiora horseman is set to line-up perennial bridesmaid If I Get Paaid (NZ) (Iffraaj) in the Speights Summit Ultra On Tap Stayers Maiden at Riccarton’s synthetic meeting on Thursday, and he is hopeful of a winning result. Initially trained by Jamie Richards, If I Get Paaid transferred south to the care of Kimberley Hodgson after being purchased off Gavelhouse for $1,300, and subsequently found her way to the care of Yesberg earlier this year. Having placed in her last five starts at Riccarton Synthetic over winter, she has proven to be an astute purchase by Yesberg, whose biggest concern this week is the step-up from 1400m to 2200m. “She has been going great and is in really good form,” he said. “She is probably unlucky not to have won a race. It’s a big step-up in distance but I think she is more suited to 2200m because she is inherently slow away. “She has only been over 2200m once and she ran fourth for her previous trainer. She is a better mare now and I think she will go well. “It’s only a small field and my only concern is going from 1400m to 2200m, but I think she will be able to handle whatever they throw at her.” Yesberg is a fan of the synthetic track and said horses like If I Get Paaid are prime examples of its importance over the winter months. “All of my horses have performed well on the synthetic, I don’t have any gripes against it. The racing has been pretty even and genuine,” he said. “The heavy tracks at this time of year don’t really suit her so it is good to be able to have her racing.” TAB bookmakers are confident If I Get Paaid can earn a winning cheque on Thursday, rating her a $1.80 fixed odds favourite. Two days later, Yesberg will return to Riccarton Park to line-up another Gavelhouse.com purchase in Heading To Noosa, who will contest the Speight’s Summit Ultra On Tap Maiden (1400m). The Headwater gelding was a $3,950 Gavelhouse buy and is starting to show promise in the south for Yesberg, who expects to see an improved result from his fourth placing at Riccarton last Saturday. “He was pretty unlucky last start not to finish a lot closer as he got a pretty bad check,” Yesberg said. “He is a horse on the up and didn’t show his ability early on and was a bit of a headscratcher, but with a bit of time to strengthen he has turned into a pretty handy maiden. “Unfortunately, he has drawn out in barrier 17, which is definitely not ideal, but it might suit his style of running.” The majority of Yesberg’s team have been sourced off Gavelhouse.com, including stablemates Allasera ($1,600m) and Super Moet ($3,900), and Yesberg said it is a great tool to source affordable tried racehorses. “We are pretty active bidders, but we seem to be underbidders a lot of the time at the moment,” he said. “We are trying hard to grow our thoroughbred arm and it is a great avenue to source tried horses. I’m looking to grow as fast as I can. “All the hard work has been done and we don’t have to go through the education process with them, so it is a great option.” Yesberg began his career preparing standardbreds for the yearling sales before transitioning to training harness horses, and he has now expanded his business to include thoroughbreds, which has been welcomed by his clients. “We have got about 150 owners and they have all got an interest in thoroughbreds and follow it,” he said. “Now they are putting their hand up for a small share here and there, which is really cool. “We have had a bit of luck so far and have had some nice horses come along.” View the full article

Group Three performer Unbridled Joy will be out to capture his maiden stakes victory when he heads south to Wanganui on Saturday to contest the Listed HS Dyke Wanganui Guineas (1200m). The Snitzel colt won one and placed in two of his four starts as a juvenile last season, including a third placed run in the Gr.3 Matamata Slipper (1200m) before finishing unplaced in the Gr.1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) at his last raceday outing. He has had two trials leading into his spring preparation, both unplaced behind last year’s outstanding three-year-old Crocetti and hype filly Alabama Lass. While not overly enamoured with his trials, trainers Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson believe their charge will lap up the rain-affected track, which was rated a Heavy10 on Wednesday morning, and is capable of featuring in the finish. “He had a relatively good two-year-old season. His run in the Manawatu Sires’ wasn’t that bad,” Bergerson said. “His trials have just been okay this time around, but we know he handles wet ground and he worked well on Tuesday morning on a pretty testing track. “It has come up a reasonably strong field. There are a few lightly-raced ones but they look very talented. “He certainly deserves his chance, but if he doesn’t shape up he will probably end up a gelding following Saturday.” Te Akau Racing’s Riccarton barn was a key pillar to their premiership-winning success last season, and they are hoping to continue on a similar path when they head to Riccarton Park on Saturday with nine runners. “It has come up a Heavy10, but they have got a relatively fine forecast leading up to the races. We are hoping that that track can bounce back,” Bergerson said. “The Riccarton barn has been massive for us. They tend to get the better tracks earlier in the year, so it is a really good place to get horses down there and settled. They come to hand a bit quicker.” Bergerson is particularly looking forward to seeing The Victress and About Last Night contest the Vale Kevin Hickman Three-Year-Old (1000m). “We have got quite a few nice chances there on Saturday,” he said. “It will be good to see the three-year-olds step out – The Victress and About Last Night. We think the 1000m should really suit them. They have had a couple of trials and are ready to go. I think they will be two nice chances.” Stablemate Fierce Flight will commence his spring preparation in the TAB Open Mile (1600m), with Walker and Bergerson eyeing the Gr.3 New Zealand Cup (3200m) in November with the six-year-old gelding. “I am looking forward to Fierce Flight getting back to the races,” Bergerson said. “The mile is short of his best, but he has had three trials and he is really full of himself. We are just mindful that he does take a while to find form in the spring. Usually, he is quite disappointing towards the back-end of winter, early spring. We are not really sure why but once we get him up over a trip hopefully we can map him to the New Zealand Cup.” Another stablemate set to head to New Zealand Cup week is El Viento, who will contest the NZ Cup Week Tickets On Sale 1 September Rating 75 (1200m). “I think El Viento is a more than capable galloper,” Bergerson said. “He can hopefully go through the grades down there and hopefully see him end up in something like a Coupland’s Mile (Gr.3, 1600m) with a nice, low handicap.” Meanwhile, Group One winner Quintessa has made her way across the Tasman where she will line-up in the Gr.3 Cockram Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on Saturday. The winner of last season’s Gr.1 Levin Classic (1600m), Quintessa has already tested herself in Australia, finishing fourth in the Gr.1 Australian Oaks (2400m) and Gr.1 Australian Guineas (1600m), and runner-up in the Gr.2 Alister Clarke Stakes (2040m). “She did a wonderful job for us last year,” Bergerson said. “Her trial was okay, but she is a bit like that, she only does what she has to until she gets the blinkers on and gets to raceday. “Ben (Gleeson, Cranbourne assistant trainer) and the team are happy with the way that she has travelled over. “It is interesting for four-year-old mares that come out of a big three-year-old season, you are always a bit mindful of whether they can back it up coming out of their age group. We think she is above average and deserves her chance.” View the full article

Robbie Patterson is confident Read About It (NZ) (Wrote) possesses all the attributes to make his mark at the highest level later this season. The New Plymouth trainer has a long-term plan in place for the three-year-old and is prepared to sacrifice a crack at a major spring age group feature to achieve his end goal. “I doubt very much if he’ll go to the 2000 Guineas (Gr.1, 1600m), I’ll let all the others go there and do their stuff and we’ll just wait for a race over Christmas like the Salver (Listed, 2100m),” Patterson said. “I’m working my way back from the Derby (Gr.1, 2400) with him, I think he is a real Derby type of horse. He has got a staying pedigree and is such a relaxed horse. “He’s got the looks, he’s got the personality and he’s got the ability, so he’s the complete package. “We’ll just concentrate on getting him to the Derby in the right frame of mind.” In the meantime, Read About It will attempt to double his black-type tally on Saturday when he takes his place in the Listed HS Dyke Wanganui Guineas (1200m) following his victory in the Listed Ryder Stakes (1200m). “He trialled up really well the other day at Foxton, it was just a quiet trial and he only does what you ask him to do, which is a hard thing to find in a young horse,” Patterson said. “He galloped nicely on Tuesday as well so there’s no reason why he won’t go on with it.” Stablemate and fellow Group One contender One Bold Cat will also be in action at Wanganui when he resumes in the Balance Accountants Open (1200m). “The 1200m is well short of his best and he’ll get back and I’m sure he’ll hit the line hard,” Patterson said. “He’s a quality horse and they can always do good things fresh-up, so I expect him to go a tidy race.” Safely through Saturday, last season’s Gr.3 Counties Cup (2100m) winner and Gr.1 Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m) placegetter will have two further outings ahead of the Gr.1 Livamol Classic (2040m). Leica Ace and Willoughby White are both in the Wanganui-Taranaki Racehorse Owners’ Association Maiden (1200m), but only the latter is likely to run. “Leica Ace would be doubtful if it is really heavy and I really like Willoughby White, he might not win on Saturday, but he is a horse that will be winning races later,” Patterson said. Meanwhile, Puntura has come through his bold resuming run for sixth in the Gr.2 Foxbridge Plate (1200m) in terrific style. “He was super, he only had one soft trial going into it and he has come through the race really well,” Patterson said. He confirmed the Gr.1 Thorndon Mile (1600m) winner will make his next appearance in Saturday week’s Gr.1 Tarzino Trophy (1400m). View the full article

One of the most formidable partnerships in Australian racing will reunite at Caulfield on Saturday to try to improve on their Group One tally. Leading hoop Craig Williams has ridden New Zealand-bred Group One winner Mr Brightside (NZ) (Bullbars) in 30 of his 34 starts, including 14 victories, with five of those at elite-level. The pair enjoyed a stellar spring last season, winning their first three starts of the preparation, including the Gr.2 PB Lawrence Stakes (1400m), Gr.1 Memsie Stakes (1400m), and Gr.1 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m). They will join forces again this weekend in the Gr.1 Memsie Stakes (1400m), and Williams believes the Ben, Will and JD Hayes-trained gelding is capable of replicating last season’s dream start. “I am happy and most importantly the stable is happy, they have a really good handle on where he is at and where he needs to be,” Williams told Racing.com. “I have trialled him in his two jump-outs this preparation and he has had nice progression. “He will have a lot of benefit after Saturday’s run, but he is definitely fit enough and ready enough to be winning as well.” Williams said he is also hoping to capitalise on the strengths of Mr Brightside against a star-studded line-up, which includes Group One heroine Pride Of Jenni. “Brightside works out where he is going to be from where he begins and how he musters his speed,” Williams said. “He has got amazing acceleration which makes him the best horse on his day in Australia and he has got an amazing will to win. “Everyone has strengths and weaknesses, and we will work on our strengths and hopefully exploit some of her (Pride of Jenni) and the other oppositions weaknesses as well.” View the full article

Hilal has received a warm welcome from breeders with Grangewilliam Stud close to putting up the no vacancy sign on their newcomer. The regally bred son of Fastnet Rock will stand his first season at Mark and Jane Corcoran’s operation at Waitotara following a decorated racing career across the Tasman. “We have been very happy with the response, we have had really good support and he’s got over 100 mares booked to him already,” Mark Corcoran said. “I think I will limit him to 120, so he’s not far off. We have got some of the bigger studs involved, which has been great, and well-known smaller breeders. “The horse will get the numbers to kick him off, it’s very pleasing because when you go out and buy these horses you put your cards on the table and hope people agree with your judgment. “Fortunately, the breeders have come on board and everyone who has seen him have liked what they’ve seen so it’s a really pleasing response.” Bred and raced by Emirates Park, Hilal won three races from the stable of John, Michael and Wayne Hawkes and showed the precocious side of his nature with a debut juvenile victory. He also finished runner-up in the Gr.1 ATC Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) behind champion performer Anamoe and was second in the Gr.1 Champagne Stakes (1600m) to Captivant. The following season, Hilal stamped his quality with successes in the Gr.2 Stan Fox Stakes (1600m) and the A$1million Bondi Stakes (1600m) and placed in the Gr.1 Randwick Guineas (1600m) and Gr.2 Hobartville Stakes (1400m). He also finished fourth in the Gr.1 Winx Stakes (1400m) as a four-year-old, again chasing home Anamoe, with Fangirl and Profondo filling the minor placings and Group One winners Hinged, Icebath, Forbidden Love and Mo’Unga behind him. Hilal was retired as a three-time winner and seven placings swelled his career earnings to more than A$1.3 million. “I was approached by David Mee, of Pinhook Bloodstock, who put us on to the horse and Jane and I went over to see Hilal when he was spelling just out of Sydney,” Corcoran said. “We liked what we saw and Dave Keenan was over there and he vetted him for us, he really liked what he saw as well and came on board and bought a breeding right, so that was great.” Hilal arrived at Grangewilliam in early May and quickly settled into his new surroundings. “He has let down really nicely, he’s a great looking horse with plenty of scope, length and strength about him,” Corcoran said. “He’s a muscular horse and not too heavy for a Fastnet Rock. He’s been a very easy horse to deal with.” Hilal stands at $7,500 + GST alongside the proven trio of Derryn, The Bold One and Zed. “We’re going to have a busy season and the other boys are all going well,” Corcoran said. “Derryn keeps getting the winners with good horses like Spencer going around, The Bold One has got some pretty exciting horses kicking off in the spring and Zed keeps doing what he does best.” Hilal is a son of the unraced Encosta De Lago mare Salma and the outstanding family of multiple Group One winner and champion sire Redoute’s Choice. “We’ve got a good team, it’s a good stallion line-up and Hilal would be the best credentialled horse we have stood,” Corcoran said. “His progeny will be ideal to target any number of the bonus races in New Zealand like the Karaka Millions and the NZB Kiwi, among others.” View the full article

Trainer Trent Yesberg. Photo: Race Images South Gavelhouse.com has become an integral source of thoroughbred racing stock for dual code trainer Trent Yesberg, who is set to line-up a couple of his online purchases in the coming days. The Rangiora horseman is set to line-up perennial bridesmaid If I Get Paaid in the Speights Summit Ultra On Tap Stayers Maiden at Riccarton’s synthetic meeting on Thursday, and he is hopeful of a winning result. Initially trained by Jamie Richards, If I Get Paaid transferred south to the care of Kimberley Hodgson after being purchased off Gavelhouse for $1,300, and subsequently found her way to the care of Yesberg earlier this year. Having placed in her last five starts at Riccarton Synthetic over winter, she has proven to be an astute purchase by Yesberg, whose biggest concern this week is the step-up from 1400m to 2200m. “She has been going great and is in really good form,” he said. “She is probably unlucky not to have won a race. It’s a big step-up in distance but I think she is more suited to 2200m because she is inherently slow away. “She has only been over 2200m once and she ran fourth for her previous trainer. She is a better mare now and I think she will go well. “It’s only a small field and my only concern is going from 1400m to 2200m, but I think she will be able to handle whatever they throw at her.” Yesberg is a fan of the synthetic track and said horses like If I Get Paaid are prime examples of its importance over the winter months. “All of my horses have performed well on the synthetic, I don’t have any gripes against it. The racing has been pretty even and genuine,” he said. “The heavy tracks at this time of year don’t really suit her so it is good to be able to have her racing.” Bookmakers are confident If I Get Paaid can earn a winning cheque on Thursday, rating her a $1.80 fixed odds favourite. Two days later, Yesberg will return to Riccarton Park to line-up another Gavelhouse.com purchase in Heading To Noosa, who will contest the Speight’s Summit Ultra On Tap Maiden (1400m). The Headwater gelding was a $3,950 Gavelhouse buy and is starting to show promise in the south for Yesberg, who expects to see an improved result from his fourth placing at Riccarton last Saturday. “He was pretty unlucky last start not to finish a lot closer as he got a pretty bad check,” Yesberg said. “He is a horse on the up and didn’t show his ability early on and was a bit of a headscratcher, but with a bit of time to strengthen he has turned into a pretty handy maiden. “Unfortunately, he has drawn out in barrier 17, which is definitely not ideal, but it might suit his style of running.” The majority of Yesberg’s team have been sourced off Gavelhouse.com, including stablemates Allasera ($1,600m) and Super Moet ($3,900), and Yesberg said it is a great tool to source affordable tried racehorses. “We are pretty active bidders, but we seem to be underbidders a lot of the time at the moment,” he said. “We are trying hard to grow our thoroughbred arm and it is a great avenue to source tried horses. I’m looking to grow as fast as I can. “All the hard work has been done and we don’t have to go through the education process with them, so it is a great option.” Yesberg began his career preparing standardbreds for the yearling sales before transitioning to training standardbreds, and he has now expanded his business to include thoroughbreds, which has been welcomed by his clients. “We have got about 150 owners and they have all got an interest in thoroughbreds and follow it,” he said. “Now they are putting their hand up for a small share here and there, which is really cool. “We have had a bit of luck so far and have had some nice horses come along.” Horse racing news View the full article

What Newcastle Races Where Newcastle Racecourse – 100 Darling St, Broadmeadow NSW 2292 When Thursday, August 29, 2024 First Race 12:45pm AEST Visit Dabble NSW racing returns to the hunter on Thursday afternoon, with a strong eight-race program set for decision. The rail is out +9m the entire circuit, and with clear conditions forecast on Tuesday and Wednesday, punters can anticipate a genuine Good 4 surface on raceday. The opening event is scheduled to take place at 12:45pm local time. Best Bet at Newcastle: Copacabana Copacabana got a pass mark returning at this course on August 8 and should appreciate the immediate step up in trip. The son of Toronado finished off strong in the final furlong but ran out of time behind Bauhinia in what looks to be a strong maiden moving forward. Reece Jones gets the perfect opportunity to take closer order from barrier three this time around, and provided Copacabana can show a similar turn-of-foot at 1400m, this guy will present like the winner at some stage. Best Bet Race 2 – #1 Copacabana (3) 4yo Gelding | T: Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes | J: Reece Jones (59kg) Bet with Bet365 Next Best at Newcastle: Fioprospero Fioprospero looks ready to step out to the 2200m for the first time on his favourite surface. The Kristen Buchanan-trained gelding has an almost unblemished record at Newcastle, with seven starts for two wins and four minor placings, including a victory two starts back over 1800m. He should relish stepping out in trip after getting too far back at Hawkesbury on August 13, and with Bejamin Osmond taking 3kg off his back after the claim, Fiopropspero should be figuring in the finish once again. Next Best Race 4 – #1 Fioprospero (5) 4yo Gelding | T: Kristen Buchanan | J: Benjamin Osmond (a3) (60kg) Bet with PlayUp Best Value at Newcastle: Mia Ballerina The Chris Waller barn brings a strong contingent of first starters to this wide-open maiden contest, none more intriguing than Mia Ballerina. The daughter of Cosmic Force had to be restrained in both barrier trials at Rosehill, particularly in her latest piece of work being hard held by James McDonald in behind the speed. Sam Clipperton takes the reins on what’s considered one of the lesser chances from the Waller stable, according to horse racing bookmakers. However, at the value, Mia Ballerina warrants plenty of respect. Best Value Race 6 – #7 Mia Ballerina (6) 3yo Filly | T: Chris Waller | J: Sam Clipperton (55kg) Bet with Neds Newcastle Thursday quaddie tips Newcastle quadrella selections Thursday, August 29, 2024 3-4-6-13 4-5-7-8-10-11 2-3-4-6-8 6-8 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip Horse racing tips View the full article

What 2024 Memsie Stakes Where Caulfield Racecourse – Melbourne, Victoria When Saturday, August 31, 2024 Prizemoney $750,000 Distance 1400m Conditions Weight For Age 2023 winner Mr Brightside (15) | T: Ben, Will & JD Hayes | J: Craig Williams (59kg) Visit Dabble The Melbourne Spring Carnival officially commences on Saturday afternoon, with the Group 1 Memsie Stakes (1400m) taking centre stage on the stacked 10-race card at Caulfield. The race has been dished up as 1v1 clash between Pride Of Jenni and Mr Brightside. However, throw in classy Queenslander Antino, and PB Lawrence Stakes (1400m) winner Gentleman Roy, could there be an upset brewing? 2024 Memsie Stakes odds Horse racing bookmakers were taking no risks once final acceptances dropped, enlisting Pride Of Jenni as a $2.30 favourite for Victoria’s first Group 1 of the new season. Arch-rival Mr Brightside holds the second line of betting at $2.80 as he seeks a fourth Group 1 win at the Caulfield 1400m. Following a strong trial behind Pride Of Jenni, Antino ($7) is the only other runner at a single figure quote. The PB Lawrence Stakes trifecta of Gentleman Roy ($11), Pinstriped ($12) and Aegon ($17) are the best of the rest. 2024 Memsie Stakes speed map The speed map is an obvious one in the Memsie, with Pride Of Jenni likely to lead and Gentleman Roy likely to be the one closest to the champ throughout. From barrier four, Mr Brightside will be stalking the speed throughout alongside Pinstriped. While runners like Antino and Aegon will be towards the rear of the field and charging home in the home straight. Continue reading for HorseBetting’s top selections and $100 betting strategy for the 2024 Memsie Stakes. 1 The Better Bettors! Marantelli Bet Join MarantelliBet Review 2024 Memsie Stakes preview & form Mr Brightside goes on top. The now seven-year-old gelding brings a bombproof record of five wins from as many starts at the Caulfield 1400m, and also has three wins from seven starts when fresh. Unlike Pride Of Jenni, who has just three minor placings from seven fresh runs, Mr Brightside fires fresh and relishes 1400m. From barrier four, Mr Brightside should be well within striking range of his main rival throughout. Pride Of Jenni has gotten the better of Mr B in their last three stoushes, but at Brightside’s preferred trip, he is going to take some beating as he looks to defend his Memsie Stakes crown. Antino is the one who will relish the slick speed being set out in front, and despite lacking the class of Mr Brightside and Pride Of Jenni, brings an X-Factor element into the Group 1. He caught the eye in a Cranbourne trial when finishing off strongly behind Pride Of Jenni, and looks raring to go first-up from a spell. The son of Redwood has had just one start at Caulfield, when nosed out in the Group 1 Toorak Handicap (1600m), so we know he will handle the unique surroundings of Caulfield. If either of the top two in the market are below their best, Antino can capitalise with a strong finish. Pride Of Jenni has bigger fish to fry this campaign, and it is unlikely that she will take up her iconic front-running tactics produced in the Queen Elizebeth Stakes (2000m) during the autumn. Declan Bates will likely look to dictate proceedings, but if she is leading by 33 lengths over Mr Brightside at one stage this time around, it would be some sight. She will look to break their hearts, and she very well might, but at $2.30, she is a touch too short, especially if pressured out in front by a runner like Gentleman Roy. From there, take your pick of Aegon, Gentleman Roy and Pinstriped, to finish in the first four following impressive performances in the PB Lawrence Stakes last time out. 2024 Memsie Stakes selections & best bets Selections: 1 MR BRIGHTSIDE 6 ANTINO 7 PRIDE OF JENNI 2 AEGON $100 betting strategy $100 Win Mr Brightside (#1) @ +180 with Neds 2024 Memsie Stakes Final Field 1. Mr Brightside (4) T: Ben, Will & JD Hayes J: Craig Williams W: 59kg F: x3521 Age: 7YO Colour: Bay Sex: Gelding Sire: Bullbars Dam: Lilahjay (NZ) +140 -625 2. Aegon (1) T: Andrew Forsman J: Vlad Duric W: 59kg F: 4×204 Age: 7YO Colour: Brown Sex: Gelding Sire: Sacred Falls (NZ) Dam: Toss Up (NZ) +2500 +250 3. Gentleman Roy (8) T: Ben, Will & JD Hayes J: Mark Zahra W: 59kg F: 11197 Age: 8YO Colour: Bay Sex: Gelding Sire: So You Think (NZ) Dam: La La Land +1200 +125 4. Bandersnatch (2) T: Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes J: Jordan Childs W: 59kg F: 4×520 Age: 8YO Colour: Bay Sex: Gelding Sire: Casino Prince Dam: Divine Faith +10000 +900 5. Pinstriped (3) T: Enver Jusufovic J: Ben Allen W: 59kg F: 2x0x0 Age: 6YO Colour: Chestnut Sex: Gelding Sire: Street Boss (USA) Dam: Snitzel Blitz +1300 +135 6. Antino (6) T: Tony Gollan J: Jamie Kah W: 59kg F: x061x Age: 6YO Colour: Brown Sex: Gelding Sire: Redwood (GB) Dam: Mahamaya (NZ) +600 -153.85 7. Pride Of Jenni (7) T: Ciaron Maher J: Declan Bates W: 57kg F: x1212 Age: 7YO Colour: Bay Sex: Mare Sire: Pride of Dubai Dam: Sancerre (NZ) +120 -714.29 8. Vagrant (5) T: Mitchell Freedman J: Beau Mertens W: 57kg F: 8×311 Age: 5YO Colour: Chestnut Sex: Mare Sire: Pariah Dam: My Obsession +15000 +1400 Horse racing tips View the full article

Read About It will contest Saturday’s Listed Wanganui Guineas (1200m). Photo: Peter Rubery (Race Images) Robbie Patterson is confident Read About It possesses all the attributes to make his mark at the highest level later this season. The New Plymouth trainer has a long-term plan in place for the three-year-old and is prepared to sacrifice a crack at a major spring age group feature to achieve his end goal. “I doubt very much if he’ll go to the 2000 Guineas (Group 1, 1600m), I’ll let all the others go there and do their stuff and we’ll just wait for a race over Christmas like the Salver (Listed, 2100m),” Patterson said. “I’m working my way back from the Derby (Group 1, 2400) with him, I think he is a real Derby type of horse. He has got a staying pedigree and is such a relaxed horse. “He’s got the looks, he’s got the personality and he’s got the ability, so he’s the complete package. “We’ll just concentrate on getting him to the Derby in the right frame of mind.” In the meantime, Read About It will attempt to double his black-type tally on Saturday when he takes his place in the Listed Wanganui Guineas (1200m) following his victory in the Listed Ryder Stakes (1200m). “He trialled up really well the other day at Foxton, it was just a quiet trial and he only does what you ask him to do, which is a hard thing to find in a young horse,” Patterson said. “He galloped nicely on Tuesday as well so there’s no reason why he won’t go on with it.” Stablemate and fellow Group 1 contender One Bold Cat will also be in action at Wanganui when he resumes in the Balance Accountants Open (1200m). “The 1200m is well short of his best and he’ll get back and I’m sure he’ll hit the line hard,” Patterson said. “He’s a quality horse and they can always do good things fresh-up, so I expect him to go a tidy race.” Safely through Saturday, last season’s Group 3 Counties Cup (2100m) winner and Group 1 Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m) placegetter will have two further outings ahead of the Group 1 Livamol Classic (2040m). Leica Ace and Willoughby White are both in the Wanganui-Taranaki Racehorse Owners’ Association Maiden (1200m), but only the latter is likely to run. “Leica Ace would be doubtful if it is really heavy and I really like Willoughby White, he might not win on Saturday, but he is a horse that will be winning races later,” Patterson said. Meanwhile, Puntura has come through his bold resuming run for sixth in the Group 2 Foxbridge Plate (1200m) in terrific style. “He was super, he only had one soft trial going into it and he has come through the race really well,” Patterson said. He confirmed the Group 1 Thorndon Mile (1600m) winner will make his next appearance in Saturday week’s Group 1 Tarzino Trophy (1400m). Horse racing news View the full article

Unbridled Joy will contest the Listed Wanganui Guineas (1200m) on Saturday. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images) Group 3 performer Unbridled Joy will be out to capture his maiden stakes victory when he heads south to Wanganui on Saturday to contest the Listed Wanganui Guineas (1200m). The Snitzel colt won one and placed in two of his four starts as a juvenile last season, including a third placed run in the Group 3 Matamata Slipper (1200m) before finishing unplaced in the Group 1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) at his last raceday outing. He has had two trials leading into his spring preparation, both unplaced behind last year’s outstanding three-year-old Crocetti and hype filly Alabama Lass. While not overly enamoured with his trials, trainers Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson believe their charge will lap up the rain-affected track, which was rated a Heavy10 on Wednesday morning, and is capable of featuring in the finish. “He had a relatively good two-year-old season. His run in the Manawatu Sires’ wasn’t that bad,” Bergerson said. “His trials have just been okay this time around, but we know he handles wet ground and he worked well on Tuesday morning on a pretty testing track. “It has come up a reasonably strong field. There are a few lightly-raced ones but they look very talented. “He certainly deserves his chance, but if he doesn’t shape up he will probably end up a gelding following Saturday.” Te Akau Racing’s Riccarton barn was a key pillar to their premiership-winning success last season, and they are hoping to continue on a similar path when they head to Riccarton Park on Saturday with nine runners. “It has come up a Heavy10, but they have got a relatively fine forecast leading up to the races. We are hoping that that track can bounce back,” Bergerson said. “The Riccarton barn has been massive for us. They tend to get the better tracks earlier in the year, so it is a really good place to get horses down there and settled. They come to hand a bit quicker.” Bergerson is particularly looking forward to seeing The Victress and About Last Night contest the Vale Kevin Hickman Three-Year-Old (1000m). “We have got quite a few nice chances there on Saturday,” he said. “It will be good to see the three-year-olds step out – The Victress and About Last Night. We think the 1000m should really suit them. They have had a couple of trials and are ready to go. I think they will be two nice chances.” Stablemate Fierce Flight will commence his spring preparation in the Open Mile (1600m), with Walker and Bergerson eyeing the Group 3 New Zealand Cup (3200m) in November with the six-year-old gelding. “I am looking forward to Fierce Flight getting back to the races,” Bergerson said. “The mile is short of his best, but he has had three trials and he is really full of himself. We are just mindful that he does take a while to find form in the spring. Usually, he is quite disappointing towards the back-end of winter, early spring. We are not really sure why but once we get him up over a trip hopefully we can map him to the New Zealand Cup.” Another stablemate set to head to New Zealand Cup week is El Viento, who will contest the NZ Cup Week Tickets On Sale 1 September Rating 75 (1200m). “I think El Viento is a more than capable galloper,” Bergerson said. “He can hopefully go through the grades down there and hopefully see him end up in something like a Coupland’s Mile (Group 3, 1600m) with a nice, low handicap.” Meanwhile, Group 1 winner Quintessa has made her way across the Tasman where she will line-up in the Group 3 Cockram Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on Saturday. The winner of last season’s Group 1 Levin Classic (1600m), Quintessa has already tested herself in Australia, finishing fourth in the Group 1 Australian Oaks (2400m) and Group 1 Australian Guineas (1600m), and runner-up in the Group 2 Alister Clarke Stakes (2040m). “She did a wonderful job for us last year,” Bergerson said. “Her trial was okay, but she is a bit like that, she only does what she has to until she gets the blinkers on and gets to raceday. “Ben (Gleeson, Cranbourne assistant trainer) and the team are happy with the way that she has travelled over. “It is interesting for four-year-old mares that come out of a big three-year-old season, you are always a bit mindful of whether they can back it up coming out of their age group. We think she is above average and deserves her chance.” Horse racing news View the full article

Jockey Club CEO Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges highlights the importance of working together as he lays out the biggest challenges facing the industry.View the full article

The Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival is off to a thrilling start with the Group 1 $750,000 Memsie Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield this weekend. The race features a highly anticipated rematch between Mr Brightside and Pride Of Jenni with punters having a hard time separating the two weight-for-age stars in the Memsie Stakes betting markets at […] The post Memsie Stakes 2024 Preview: Mr Brightside and Pride Of Jenni Clash in Explosive Showdown appeared first on HorseRacing.com.au. View the full article

Mr Brightside, pictured winning the Makybe Diva Stakes at Flemington Racecourse on September last year, is one of the key hopes for the 2024 Memsie Stakes. (Photo by George Sal/Racing Photos) A quality field of eight are set to line up in the Group 1 Memsie Stakes (1400m), with Mr Brightside drawing perfectly in search of back-to-back wins in the $750,000 feature at Caulfield on Saturday afternoon. The Lindsay Park gelding has drawn barrier four with Craig Williams in the saddle, giving the six-time Group 1 winner plenty of options in transit. Pride Of Jenni should have no issues slotting into her regular leading role after drawing out in barrier seven, with the seven-year-old likely to be sent across to the front under Declan Bates. Queensland raider Antino will need to slot in for cover from barrier six, with Jamie Kah set to take the reins after associating with the Tony Gollan-trained galloper in a recent jump-out at Cranbourne on August 19. Group 2 P.B. Lawrence Stakes (1400m) winner Gentleman Roy looks likely to track across with Pride Of Jenni after drawing barrier eight, while Aegon should get the opportunity to sit closer from barrier one in his quest to turn the tables. Pinstriped comes through the same form-line and should get every opportunity to claim Group 1 glory from stall three, while Bandersnatch (2) and Vagrant (5) are both second-up after being unplaced in the Listed Regal Roller (1200m) on August 17. The Group 1 Memsie Stakes is the penultimate race on the Caulfield program and scheduled to get underway at 4:45pm local time. 2024 Memsie Stakes Final Field 1. Mr Brightside (4) T: Ben, Will & JD Hayes J: Craig Williams W: 59kg F: x3521 Age: 7YO Colour: Bay Sex: Gelding Sire: Bullbars Dam: Lilahjay (NZ) +140 -625 2. Aegon (1) T: Andrew Forsman J: Vlad Duric W: 59kg F: 4×204 Age: 7YO Colour: Brown Sex: Gelding Sire: Sacred Falls (NZ) Dam: Toss Up (NZ) +2500 +250 3. Gentleman Roy (8) T: Ben, Will & JD Hayes J: Mark Zahra W: 59kg F: 11197 Age: 8YO Colour: Bay Sex: Gelding Sire: So You Think (NZ) Dam: La La Land +1200 +125 4. Bandersnatch (2) T: Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes J: Jordan Childs W: 59kg F: 4×520 Age: 8YO Colour: Bay Sex: Gelding Sire: Casino Prince Dam: Divine Faith +10000 +900 5. Pinstriped (3) T: Enver Jusufovic J: Ben Allen W: 59kg F: 2x0x0 Age: 6YO Colour: Chestnut Sex: Gelding Sire: Street Boss (USA) Dam: Snitzel Blitz +1300 +135 6. Antino (6) T: Tony Gollan J: Jamie Kah W: 59kg F: x061x Age: 6YO Colour: Brown Sex: Gelding Sire: Redwood (GB) Dam: Mahamaya (NZ) +600 -153.85 7. Pride Of Jenni (7) T: Ciaron Maher J: Declan Bates W: 57kg F: x1212 Age: 7YO Colour: Bay Sex: Mare Sire: Pride of Dubai Dam: Sancerre (NZ) +120 -714.29 8. Vagrant (5) T: Mitchell Freedman J: Beau Mertens W: 57kg F: 8×311 Age: 5YO Colour: Chestnut Sex: Mare Sire: Pariah Dam: My Obsession +15000 +1400 Horse racing news View the full article

The Fasig-Tipton August Digital Sale, which attracted 830 registered bidders–a record for the platform–concluded Tuesday with 181 horses sold for $3,659,700. The clearance rate was 79% and the average was $25,592. The online auction was topped by Something Wicked (Gun Runner) (hip 5), who sold for $260,000 to HX3 Incorporated from the consignment of Northview Stallion Station, agent. The 3-year-old filly, who sold as a racing or broodmare prospect, broke her maiden at Delaware Park July 18. “This sale demonstrates that Fasig-Tipton Digital is here for all levels and segments,” said Fasig-Tipton Director of Digital Sales Leif Aaron. “We continue to provide the same top-level service for our buyers and sellers that we provide in a traditional sale. We had 830 registered bidders for this sale, which averages to four bidders on every horse offered. We are reaching a whole new buying bench, as well as continuing to serve our traditional buyers. Our clearance rate reflects that.” Rounding out the top five offerings were: School Dance (Animal Kingdom) (hip 2), a racing/broodmare prospect sold for $150,000 to Pierre and Leslie Amestoy and Mike Abraham from the consignment of Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent; Create Trouble (Into Mischief) (hip 13), a horse of racing age sold for $150,000 to Lawrence P. Roman from the consignment of Indian Creek, agent; Tapit Shoes (Tapit) (hip 6), a horse of racing age sold for $140,000 to Steve Moger from the consignment of ELiTE, agent; and Shuangxi (Ire) (Cotai Glory {GB}) (hip 3), a racing/broodmare prospect sold for $115,000 to Charles C. Henderson from the consignment of Delacour Stable, agent. Among the diverse offerings were a group of New Mexican-bred yearlings, consigned by A & A Ranch, of which 18 sold for $604,100 gross. “The A & A Ranch offerings were Fasig-Tipton Digital's first major foray into the Southwestern marketplace and we were pleased with the results,” said Aaron. “We appreciate A & A entrusting their yearlings with us. Our platform has now proven itself to be successful in multiple regional markets since its launch.” Gross sales on Fasig-Tipton Digital have now exceeded $30,000,000 in 2024. “We are North America's oldest Thoroughbred auction house and we approach these digital sales with the same professionalism and standards that we do our traditional live auctions, and the platform is growing as a result,” said Aaron. The post Record Number of Bidders as Something Wicked Tops Fasig-Tipton August Digital Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

SA Derby winner Coco Sun. (Photo by George Sal/Racing Photos) Coco Sun, who hasn’t raced since her victory in the Group 1 South Australian Derby (2500m) in May, is set to make a low-key return in a Benchmark 100 (1400m) at Caulfield on Saturday. The four-year-old mare has the Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) as a major target this campaign, and co-trainer Tony McEvoy, who trains alongside his son Calvin, is pleased with her progress. “She’s coming along really nicely,” McEvoy told Racing.com. “We’re very pleased with her, and she’ll probably kick off next Saturday in the Benchmark 100, 1400-metre race, just to start her off there. “She’ll hold an entry for the Memsie as well, but I don’t want to run her first-up against the Pride Of Jennis and the Mr Brightsides, so we’ll probably kick off in the Benchmark race and open up her spring from there. “If she returns well—and we think she is very well—she’ll go to the Underwood second-up, Caulfield Stakes third-up, and then back up into the Caulfield Cup.” The Group 1 Underwood Stakes (1800m) is scheduled at Caulfield on September 21, with the Group 1 Might And Power Stakes (2000m), formerly the Caulfield Stakes, on October 12, just a week before the Caulfield Cup. Horse racing news View the full article

Fawkner Park cruises to victory in the Q22. Photo: Darren Winningham Fawkner Park, the current Caulfield Cup (2400m) favourite, took his first look at the track where the prestigious Group 1 race will be held. The gelding, trained by Rob Archibald and Annabel Neasham, galloped at Caulfield on Tuesday in preparation for the Caulfield Cup on October 19. Neasham, who was present to observe the workout, shared that Fawkner Park arrived in Melbourne late last week and will have several opportunities to gallop at Caulfield ahead of the race. “He’s just got to get used to going left-handed, and we thought it was a good opportunity to bring him here and have a look around,” Neasham stated. “He’s only had one trial, so he’s got another trial to go before we see him at the races, and the more I give him a look around here, the better. “He might come back for a jump-out next week. “The jump-outs are only over 800 metres, which is a bit annoying, so we’ll have to run right through the line. Neasham went on to say that the Group 1 Underwood Stakes (1800m) will be the likely starting point for her Caulfield Cup contender. “He won’t be wound-up first-up; it’s all about the Caulfield Cup for him to be peaking, and the Underwood will be a nice starting point for him.” Fawkner Park is currently the $13 favourite for the Caulfield Cup with horse racing bookmakers. Horse racing news View the full article