Wandering Eyes

His grandfather managed studs for the late Queen Elizabeth II and his father has a notable track record as a bloodstock agent, so for Conor Norris a life in racing was perhaps inevitable. But he has gone his own way to a degree, and combines his role on Darley's nominations team with his hobby of running the syndicate Keep Kicking Racing. How did you first become involved/interested in racing and bloodstock? I was born and raised around a family passionate about racehorses and heavily involved in the industry. My grandfather, Sean, is a fantastic horseman who worked for HM the Queen from 1969 to 2004, with seven years as stallion man at Sandringham before managing Hampton Court and Polhampton Studs. My father, Liam, was also a stud manager for several years and a bloodstock agent who has purchased a number of Group 1 winners. My mother, Sarah, rode in point-to-points and now works with George Windsor-Clive, and [stepmother] Jenny is the manager of Norris Bloodstock. It was only ever going to be racing and bloodstock for me, and I am very lucky to have picked up useful insights from some of the best horsemen and women out there. What does your role at Darley entail and how did you get to where you are today? I'm on the nominations team at Dalham Hall Stud. It's a fantastically varied job that includes lots of pedigree research, assessing stock, and client relations. I get to sell the best stallions in Europe to the best breeders in Europe, and it's great fun. I work with a team of incredibly knowledgeable people, and I feel like I come home every day having learned something new. I worked on a number of farms growing up, including Whitsbury Manor Stud. I graduated with a degree in Business and Management before completing the BHA graduate programme and entering a placement with Great British Racing in London. I made a conscious effort to get as much experience in as many places as possible. There were endless written letters asking for some unpaid experience that all contributed to widening my eyes to the entire industry and letting me explore different avenues. I spent a year in Australia at Arrowfield Stud before coming back home and commencing a job with Marco Botti as pupil assistant. I am exceedingly fortunate to have the job I do now What prompted you to set up Keep Kicking Racing? I was always mad keen to set up a venture of my own from a young age. The syndicate is my hobby and I absolutely love it. When I first started Keep Kicking Racing, the farm was producing some nice fillies that, in my opinion, weren't making their true market value, so I set up the syndicate to lease one and race her. Our first runner was a second-generation Norris homebred named Vaunted (GB) (Ardad {Ire}), who I sent to Clive Cox. The master trainer won with her on debut. The model of the syndicate has changed slightly over the years; now shareholders purchase equity in the horses I source at the sales as opposed to leasing. We've had some unbelievable luck on the track, winning 13 races, including a number of good maidens and novices, and had a Group 3 runner, all with horses that cost less than £20,000. The syndicate is run to try and make a profit, but we as a collective enjoy the journey more than anything. How have you found the response to syndicate ownership? Has it been hard to find shareholders? It's very hard initially; getting new owners is tricky, but I'm forever grateful that the retention rate of shareholders is high. We've been doing the syndicate now for over four years, and the first people to show an interest back in 2019/2020 are still with me. I hope soon I can find them the big horse they deserve. If you were handed a hypothetical £100,000 sales voucher to be spent at any of the sales – be that yearlings, foals, or mares – what would you look for? I'd love to buy a nice stakes filly from a good family and send her back to Norris Bloodstock, but I would most likely buy four £25,000 yearlings that are nice models from good smaller breeders and with mile to middle-distance pedigrees. The best days I've had in this game have been when I've been involved with winners on the track; I never want to lose sight of that. I want to be buying the best and breeding the best racehorses without breaking the bank. You have to play at the top table to hit the big time, but I have had a lot of luck with trading horses on that have been cheap yearling purchases, so I'd back myself to find some sort of value. Who's the best horse you've ever been involved with? I've managed to work with some fantastic horses hands-on. Giavellotto (Ire) in Newmarket, Profondo (Aus) in Australia, and Glorious Journey (GB), Shalaa (Ire), Saffron Beach (Ire), and Dancing Rain (Ire) are all Norris purchases or graduates. It's very cool being able to nip down and see Dubawi (Ire), Too Darn Hot (GB), and co every day. People sometimes forget just how exceptional these stallions are. The most special horse to me in my career so far would be Maximilian Caesar (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}). Bought for £10,000, we sold him to Australia last year rated 97, and he was magic. We won some nice races with him, including an 8½-length demolition at Doncaster as a three-year-old. I had a part to play in sourcing the horse as a yearling, breaking him in, training, managing the syndicate that owned him, driving the box to the races, and saddling him. He also won a Class 2 at the St Leger meeting ridden by Stefano Cherchi, who was a phenomenal talent in the saddle and a great friend who we will all miss massively. Those are days I will never forget. I'm delighted Maximilian's new owners have sent him to Dom Sutton down in Australia, who is a young name to note in the training ranks in Melbourne. Who has had the biggest influence on your career to date? Marco Botti. I went to work for Marco very green and clueless about the life of a trainer but instantly respected him. He might be one of the most hard-working people I've ever dealt with, first on the yard in the morning and last to leave every day. He is an unbelievable assessor of a horse's physique and movement, and I learned loads about managing horses' soundness in training through him and excellent vet Pete Ramzan. Marco's attention to detail is admirable, and he never misses a thing. He checks every horse in his care every evening, and if he isn't happy with the way something is done, he does it himself. Above all, he respects and rewards those that work hard for him. I was so lucky to say that after a few years with him, I had the opportunity to do everything; I learned an awful lot. Not just as a horseman, but as a businessman as well. How do you feel the bloodstock industry could encourage more of the younger generation to get involved in breeding? A few more of those £100,000 sales vouchers would help! I'm a huge advocate for syndicates, allowing people to get involved in a smaller, less financially risky way. I think there's some real scope for mare syndication in the future, and it might be something I will explore. What is the best advice you have ever been given? Richard Kent: “Everything should always be for sale.” If you don't trade when the time is right, it's a very tricky game to thrive in. If you could swap places with one person in racing or breeding for one day, who would it be and why? Kieran Shoemark. One thing I've never been much good at is riding; very minimal style, and I think I spent more time on the floor as a child than on the horse's back. I respect a talented jockey so much, and I am lucky to be good mates with a few. They're all proper athletes with considerable dedication. I wouldn't mind having that feeling of passing the post in the lead just once, and I think KS will be passing the post in the lead a lot over the next few years. Give us one horse to follow for the remainder of the Flat season… Daylight (Fr) (Earthlight {Ire}). The winner of the G3 Prix de Cabourg and third in the G1 Prix Morny, this filly is a smart prospect. The post Young Guns: Conor Norris appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The data captured annually through the Thoroughbred Makeover offers a closer look at how horses are moving into second careers and may provide the most comprehensive picture of the state of Thoroughbred aftercare available.View the full article

Parx Racing and the Pennsylvania Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association announced a new joint venture to provide a free equine shuttle service between Penn National Racecourse and Parx Racing.View the full article

Two-time NFL MVP and Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson joins the National Thoroughbred League as its latest team owner and will launch a program to expose less privileged children to one of Maryland's most storied industries.View the full article

Lu's Time held on by a nose to break her maiden in the ninth race at Prairie Meadows Aug. 25 to become the first winner for freshman sire Timeline.View the full article

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DONCASTER, England–Clive Cox might not have a degree in mechanical engineering, but it's fair to say that there have been few better trainers than him over the years when it comes to masterminding the career trajectory of a 'Donny Rocket'. Think Harry Angel (Ire), the July Cup and Sprint Cup scorer bought by Cox for just £44,000 at the 2015 edition of the Goffs UK Doncaster Premier Yearling Sale, or the Prix de l'Abbaye heroine Gilt Edge Girl (GB) (Monsieur Bond {Ire}), his very first Group 1 winner who he'd bought for 17,000gns at the equivalent sale in 2007. Just last week Cox was celebrating at York again when his Diligently (GB)–a colt by Harry Angel who fetched £100,000 at this sale last year–won the Harry's Half Million By Goffs Premier Yearling Stakes, following up the victory of the stable's Dragon Leader (Ire) (El Kabeir) in the same race 12 months earlier. “I'm really proud to have achieved that, winning it two years running,” the Lambourn trainer said of that feat on Monday morning, less than 24 hours before the first of 463 lots is scheduled to go under the hammer at this year's Premier Yearling Sale. “Harry [Beeby, the late chairman of Goffs] was a very special person to me and just winning it once was great–we'll keep trying to come back and do something similar.” “A bit of luck,” Cox added when asked to pinpoint the secret behind the success he's enjoyed with his recruits from this sale, a list which also includes Reckless Abandon (GB), a dual Group 1-winning two-year-old after being picked up for just £24,000, plus the Al Mohamediya Racing-owned pair of Golden Horde (Ire) and Jasour (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}), bought for £65,000 and £85,000, respectively. “We've been coming here for many years with the same sort of approach. It's an exciting point in the year–it doesn't always go right, but it's wonderful when it does.” Still a maiden after five career starts, Reposado (GB) (Wootton Bassett {GB})–last year's top lot when selling to Robson Aguiar for £200,000–is yet to have things fall right for him, but Aguiar and the Amo Racing team have enjoyed better luck with £82,000 buy Arizona Blaze (GB). He was beaten just a head by Diligently on the Knavesmire last week, having previously won the Marble Hill Stakes and finished third in the Phoenix Stakes. It was around this time last year that Sergei Prokofiev, the sire of Arizona Blaze, was starting to be talked about as a first-season sire to be reckoned with. Twelve months on and it's now clear why, with the Whitsbury Manor Stud resident having produced 15 individual winners in Europe, four more than closest pursuers Pinatubo (Ire) and Sands Of Mali (Fr). Now attentions turn to the first-season sires destined to make a name for themselves in 2025, headed perhaps by Tally-Ho Stud's Starman (GB), the busiest new stallion in Europe in 2022 when covering a bumper book of 254 mares. The July Cup winner is set to be represented by 28 yearlings this week. “I do like the ones I've seen,” said Tally-Ho's Roger O'Callaghan whilst overseeing inspections of their own 25-strong draft, which includes seven yearlings from Starman's first crop. “They've got very good temperaments. They might take a bit of time, like he did himself, but I like what I see–they'll sell well.” That optimism was shared by cousin David O'Callaghan of Yeomanstown Stud, the team responsible for the Middle Park Stakes winner Supremacy (Ire) and six of his yearlings–from a total of 17–set to be offered this week. “I think they're going reasonably well, but we'll know more once the sale starts!” he summed up. “He was a very fast two-year-old who won the Richmond in record time and then went on and won the Middle Park, beating a deep field. If his progeny can match him, everybody will be happy enough.” Supremacy, of course, is another previous graduate of this sale when bought by that man Cox for £65,000 back in 2019. “We've still got a few more to see, but I'd be happy with what I've seen so far,” the trainer added of his former stable star's first crop. “They look very sharp and racy. He was a very fast horse himself and I see no reason why he won't pass that gene on–I really hope so.” Cox was joined on the Doncaster sales grounds by many of his peers in the training ranks, including Karl Burke, Roger Varian, Ed Walker, Hugo Palmer and Harry Eustace, while Adrian Keatley was also back looking for the next Symbol Of Strength (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}), last week's Gimcrack Stakes third who was picked up for £100,000 at this sale 12 months ago. Other high-profile graduates include a pair who acquitted themselves well at Royal Ascot this year in the shape of the Windsor Castle Stakes winner Ain't Nobody (Ire) (Sands Of Mali {Fr}) and the Queen Mary Stakes third Maw Lam (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}), while a mention should also go to the Havana Grey (GB) filly Adrestia (GB). Bought for just £50,000 at this sale, Adrestia then provided Derryconnor Stud's Katie McGivern with a dream result when she returned to Doncaster a few months later to top the Goffs Breeze-up Sale at £420,000. Members of the breeze-up fraternity are becoming an increasingly familiar sight at sales such as this one, with the likes of Katie Walsh and Norman Williamson amongst those in attendance on Monday, while a healthy consignment from the National Stud has been a welcome addition, both this year and last. This week the National Stud is set to offer eight yearlings, with head of bloodstock Joe Bradley highlighting Lot 195, a Night Of Thunder (Ire) filly out of the Prix Bertrand de Tarragon winner Aim To Please (Fr) (Excellent Art {GB}), and Lot 222, a Churchill (Ire) colt out of the Princess Margaret Stakes scorer Angel's Hideaway (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), as ones to watch. “Night Of Thunder has had an amazing year, with his fillies in particular,” Bradley began. “She's out of a Group 3-winning mare. She's been very popular and I think a lot of people will appreciate her–she's sharp. “The Churchill colt, his breeding speaks for itself. Churchill is a very good stallion and Angel's Hideaway was a great mare. We're very happy with him and they're both very nice types who suit the sale.” Bradley also put in a positive word for the National Stud's Lope Y Fernandez (Ire), who will be represented by 14 yearlings from his first crop in the coming days. “We couldn't be happier with Lope Y Fernandez,” he added. “Last year at the foal sales people were very receptive to him and we've got 75 across the yearling sales this year, so there will be plenty of opportunities for people to buy them. His 14 here at Doncaster are all nice, early types. He's ticked every box and, as long as he keeps doing that, we'll be in a great place next year with his runners.” St Mark's Basilica (Fr) was the fastest out of the blocks among the first-season sires when he was responsible for eight yearlings sold at the Arqana August Sale at an average of €446,250 and an aggregate of €3.57 million. This week Lot 459, offered by Gillon Bloodstock, will be a unique commodity as the only yearling by the five-time Group 1 winner in the sale, a colt out of the Listed-placed mare Mighty Spirit (GB) (Acclamation {GB}). Like the yearlings offered by the National Stud, the St Mark's Basilica colt certainly hails from a historic nursery having been raised at Floors Stud since he was a weanling. Christopher Gillon, formerly stud manager, has been operating under his own name out of Floors Stud since the part dispersal of the late Duke of Roxburghe's stock in December 2020. “We're obviously in the same place, so I've tried to keep things exactly how we did them before,” Gillon said of how things have developed in the meantime. “It worked so well before that it seemed silly to change it, and it seems to be working as the quality of mares we're getting in is a lot better now and we're picking up some good-quality young stock to bring to the sales. “We started off with a couple of yearlings to sell and each year we've kind of grown and picked up a few more. Now we're starting to get to some of the bigger and better sales and this year we've got about 10 yearlings to sell which is up from last year. We're back at Book 1 this year and that's the first time under Gillon Bloodstock which is great. We're slowly building which is exactly what it's all about.” As for what the Premier Yearling Sale is all about, that's best left to Goffs chief Henry Beeby, who summed up what prospective buyers have been seeing in recent days, and what we can expect, as the countdown continues to the start of trade at 10am on Tuesday. “It's a good, strong catalogue, full of commercial, good-walking individuals which is what we focus on,” he said. “This sale has the strongest identity of any sale because when people come in here, they walk in and they know what they're going to find. There's some quality in there and some good pedigrees. “We saw at Saratoga across in New York and at Arqana that if everything is in the right place at the right time, horses are selling very well. It's quite a selective market, maybe even more selective than normal, but we major on the individual and the individuals are here, so I'd be hopeful of a buoyant sale.” The post “We’ll Keep Trying” – Clive Cox on the Search for Next ‘Donny Rocket’ at Goffs appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Next will remain at the marathon distance in the Sept. 21 Greenwood Cup (G3) at Parx Racing, bypassing the 1 1/4-mile Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) at Saratoga Race Course Sept. 1. However, a trip to the Breeders' Cup at Del Mar could still be in play.View the full article

It’s already been an action-packed couple of days for the country’s leading driver Blair Orange as he heads to Cambridge today to drive at the new Tuesday meetings. Today’s meeting will feature seven races, starting at 4.57pm, to be followed by Winton on Thursday, Auckland and Addington as the venues for Friday Night Lights and then the annual Blue September fund-raiser will kick off at Ashburton on Sunday. Orange has four drives tonight. He drove three winners at Rangiora on Sunday to go to 114 for the year. The six-time New Zealand champion driver has an 11-win in 2024 over closest rival John Dunn. He then headed to Auckland on Monday with fellow Blue September ambassadors Robbie Close and Jonny Cox, only to jump out of a plane at 18,000 feet. The skydive, a first for all three of the high fliers, was all about increasing awareness of prostate cancer and raising funds for the New Zealand Prostate Cancer Foundation. By all accounts the trio, and Orange in particular, were fair buzzing afterwards. In Race 6 at Cambridge tonight, the Dunstan Horsefeeds Mobile Pace (7.16pm) Close will drive Victor Bravo, while Blair Orange will go head-to-head with his son Harrison Orange, who has sprinted out of the blocks with three wins from his first eight drives. Blair will partner up with Blue Chip Lou while Harrison will drive the favourite, Potter. Says Who is Nicky Chilcott’s best chance at Cambridge tonight By Brigette Solomon Cambridge based trainer Nicky Chilcott has three runners engaged at tonight’s meeting and she’s hopeful all are place chances at least on their home track. The first runner, in Race 3, the Friday Steak Night At The Clubhouse Mobile Pace (2700 metres), is It’s Nae Or Never. The well-bred three-year-old filly, by Art Major and out of Juice Brogden, has a win and two placings from 11 starts but hasn’t had a great deal of luck and on occasion has raced in some quality fields. Her last start on July 26 at Alexandra Park saw her sit three wide without cover for the duration of the race before fading in the home straight. “She hasn’t really had the rub of the green but at the same time there have been occasions where she hasn’t helped herself just not doing things quite right,” says Chilcott, “from the draw tonight I’ll be driving her positively and I’d really like to see her win with a bit of luck.” Up next is Del Shannon in Race 5,the Betavet Prepare Handicap Trot, where he starts off the unruly with a 20 metre handicap. A winner of six races, the Muscle Hill gelding has won on this track over the 2700 metre trip, but his recent performance have resulted in lacklustre finishes. Chilcott admits he hasn’t performed to the best of his abilities in recent starts. “He was awful last start and had every opportunity but just didn’t put in,” says Chilcott, “we’ve really changed things up with his training since then, increasing his workload and doing things a bit differently.” “His work has been good and he’s well, so I’m hopeful he’ll show more interest tonight, as he is more than capable of winning in tonight’s field when he’s at his best.” Chilcott’s final starter of the night is the three-year-old maiden Says Who in Race 7, the Hire A Venue At Cambridge Raceway Mobile Pace. The He’s Watching gelding has had just three starts to date showing improvement on each occasion. He most recently finishing fifth at Alexandra Park on August 16 showing grit to battle on well up the straight and finish 3.3 lengths from the winner Upstage. “He’s quite a nice little horse but has just struggled around the final bend when going right handed at Alexandra Park,” says Chilcott, “he’s also encountered a couple of races with a slow tempo early and a sprint home which doesn’t suit him when he has to balance up on the home turn still and loses a bit of momentum.” “I think he’s probably my best chance of the night, he’s been bright and happy since his last start and back to left handed tonight on his home track he should be a good chance.” View the full article

Parx Racing and the Pennsylvania Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association (PAHBPA) have launched a new joint venture to provide a free equine shuttle service from Penn National Racecourse to Parx Racing. The shuttle service, which will be available on live racing days at Parx, is capable of transporting up to 10 horses. The program will begin on Labor Day, Sept. 2. “This is a win-win situation for both the horsemen and Parx,” said David Osojnak, Parx Director of Racing. “The partnership provides Penn National horsemen with the opportunity to race during their fall break with no transportation cost while helping to grow the field size at Parx Racing. We are thrilled to be partnering with the Penn National horsemen in an effort that will add to the excitement at Parx Racing leading up to and after the 2024 Pennsylvania Derby Day on Saturday Sept. 21st.” The collaboration grew out of discussions between Osojnak and Todd Mostoller, Executive Director of the PAHBPA regarding field sizes and financial barriers to PAHBPA members that could hinder their racing at Parx during their downtime at Penn National. “We are excited about this collaboration with Parx which will provide free, no-cost equine transportation to our PAHBPA owners and trainers,” said Todd Mostoller. “We are always interested in pursuing new, creative opportunities to assist our members and this effort has a lot of promise.” Given the shuttle will be limited to 10 horses per live race day, access will be provided on a first-come, first-served basis and is only available to Penn National horsemen for transportation between the track in Grantville, PA and Parx Racing in Bensalem, PA. Horsemen may contact Simoff Horse Transportation at 302-994-1433 or by email at Simoffhorsetranport@gmail.com to arrange their shipping needs once overnights come out. Horsemen with any questions about the shuttle service are encouraged to contact the Parx Racing Office at 215-639-9000, extension 3310 or the PAHBPA at 717-469-2970. The post Parx Racing, Penn National Partner to Offer Free Shuttle Service on Live Race Days appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

After slipping and falling in the paddock prior to the Aug. 3 Test Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Race Course, Brightwork is back to take another shot at beginning her 3-year-old season in the $200,000 Prioress Stakes (G3) Aug. 31.View the full article

Two-time NFL MVP and Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson joins the National Thoroughbred League as its latest team owner and will launch a program to expose less-privileged children to one of Maryland's most storied industries.View the full article

Lu's Time held on by a nose to break her maiden in the ninth race at Prairie Meadows Aug. 25 to become the first winner for freshman sire Timeline.View the full article

“Letters from Country Life” is a departure from Pons' previous works as he balances his exploration of his family’s history and their place within the history of the sport with the lessons he learns from the letters and photographs left behind.View the full article

Four new teams have been added to the National Thoroughbred League for the 2024 season: the Maryland Colts, the Miami Seahorses, the Phoenix Mustangs and the San Francisco Unicorns. Two-time National Football League MVP and Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson is a lead owner in the Maryland Colts. Jackson will also launch a program to expose less-privileged children to Maryland's historic racing industry, including free tickets to the NTL Baltimore Cup and an apprentice program to give promising teenagers job training under trainer Chad Brown, according to a release from the organization. “I am truly excited to be a part of this great opportunity,” said Jackson. “The core values of excellence, teamwork, community, and leadership will help push the program beyond our expectations. I believe through our efforts and determination more opportunities will be opened for the youth of the state of Maryland. We look forward to seeing the success of such a great vision become the reality.” “Walk a racetrack with Lamar Jackson and you'll immediately understand his capacity to captivate an audience,” said Randall Lane, co-Founder of the NTL. “And it's that intimate connection and adrenaline that aligns so well with the underlying premise of the National Thoroughbred League. Our league exists to both honor the tradition of one of America's oldest spectator sports, but also to embed another level of excitement into the sport so that it engages a broad audience and provides them with an exceptional experience. Lamar Jackson and his family have a passion for Baltimore that is palpable and we're so honored to have them join our NTL family and continue exciting and inspiring the next generation of fans.” The National Thoroughbred League, seeking to become racing's first team-based professional sports league, creates weekends of food, fashion and fun. The league is expanding from its inaugural six teams in 2023 to 10 teams for the 2024 season. In addition to Jackson, other NTL partners include Julius Erving, Tanya Tucker, Nelly, Rick Ross, Kayvon Thibodeaux and Moira Forbes. Thoroughbred owners can nominate their horses to be drafted by one of the 10 NTL teams. Those drafted horses, who will represent the teams during the races, will be eligible to run in these NTL races for the $3-million purse pool. The league's season kicks off Sunday with the NTL Nashville Cup presented by Sticker Mule, featuring more than $2 million in purses and a $1-million signature race. It will then host the Philadelphia Cup Oct. 19 and the league Championship in Phoenix Dec. 30. The post National Thoroughbred League Adds Teams, Lamar Jackson Joins Owners appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

From 447 registered horses, 353 have made final entry into the Retired Racehorses Project's 2024 Thoroughbred Makeover and National Symposium, presented by Thoroughbred Charities of America. The RRP released statistics related to this year's group of registered horses Monday. According to the release: The average spent by trainers to acquire their Makeover candidates was $3,067. This includes direct purchase as well as adoption. A total of 109 horses, representing 24% of the registered class, were acquired in what the organization considers a non-cash transaction representing a nominal fee or non-cash fee to memorialize the transfer of ownership. On average, the elapsed time from last start or timed work to acquisition for the Thoroughbred Makeover is 115 days. About 50% of the Makeover horses were acquired directly from their racing connections, either through a listing agent, organization or service, or through personal contacts and networks. Resellers, defined as any owner between the track and the Makeover trainer, represent another quarter of the population. Non-profit aftercare facilities provided another 83 horses, or 19% of the total registered class, and 31 horses are still owned by their racing connections. The top 10 last tracks with total number of retiring Makeover-registered horses: Penn National: 23; Laurel Park: 22; Charles Town and Parx Racing: 21; Finger Lakes: 19; Gulfstream Park, Horseshoe Indianapolis, Mountaineer Casino Racetrack & Resort, and Turfway Park: 17; Delaware Park: 15. 24 horses registered this year made 50 or more starts. The top 10 in this 'warhorse' category are: King's House: 119; Algorix: 95; Areyoutalkingtome: 94; Long Station: 92; C C's Warrior: 89; Flowers For Lisa: 88; Over Ez: 75; Calculated Thinkin, Check Six and Legal Gump: 70. To view the entire entries list, click here. The 2024 Thoroughbred Makeover and National Symposium will be held Oct. 9-12 at the Kentucky Horse Park. The post 2024 Thoroughbred Makeover Final Entries Released appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Fifth Grade Field Trips return to Keeneland this week, with 2,100 students from public and private schools in Fayette County coming to the track this week to participate in a two-hour interactive tour designed to expand their knowledge of Keeneland and the Thoroughbred industry in Kentucky. “Fifth Grade Field Trips offer students in the area a unique and exciting opportunity to engage with the rich history of Keeneland,” Keeneland President and CEO Shannon Arvin. “These tours allow for hands-on experiences on our grounds that help showcase the diversity of careers in racing and get students excited about new possibilities. For many of these students, the tours are their first introduction to Keeneland and their first chance to interact with a horse. Keeneland is grateful to our partners for helping us inspire young minds and share the fascinating world of the Thoroughbred industry with the next generation.” The tour includes a stop in the sales pavilion, as well as themed educational stations around the grounds and each student will receive a book titled “Racing & Sales.” Keeneland's partners for the event are: Amplify Horse Racing; Godolphin; Hooves of Hope; Hagyard Equine Medical Institute; Kentucky Derby Museum; Life Adventure Center; Locust Trace AgriScience Center, part of Fayette County Public Schools; North American Racing Academy, affiliated with Bluegrass Community and Technical College; and Visit Horse Country. The post Keeneland Welcomes Fifth Graders appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey tells us how he got his unique nickname. He also lets us know who he doesn't like to play golf with. Who do you think is the horse that is closest to his heart out of all of those he has trained? If you thought Easy Goer, you would be wrong. Shug also tells us what his favorite race track is and how long he wants to keep doing this (hint: he isn't going anywhere anytime time soon). Here is the Saratoga Conversation. TDN: You can correct me if I'm wrong, but I can't think of any other trainer at Saratoga that's been in the same barn for as long as you've been in this one. SM: I think it's probably a true statement. I mean, I pulled in here in 1985, my first summer in this barn. We've been lucky to be in it ever since. It's a great barn. It's a great setting. I like it. TDN: Walking up and down this shedrow over the years, you have certainly had some very nice horses in here. SM: There have been some pretty good horses come out of here. Since I was here and before I was here. TDN: When I asked you this once before, your answer surprised me. I asked who your favorite horse was, and I thought you would say Easy Goer. SM: Seeking the Gold. He was a 110% horse. You put the bridle on him and took him over there, win or lose, he was going to run as hard as he could run. TDN: Did he ever disappoint you? SM: I can't say that he disappointed me. I was disappointed sometimes when he got beat. He just got beat in the Met Mile, he just got beat in the Travers, he just got beat in the Haskell. Obviously, they were disappointing. Pretty good horses beat him. Forty Niner beat him twice. In the [1989] Met Mile, that horse of [trainer Bob] Holthus [Proper Reality] came through on the inside. TDN: You have a unique nickname. How did it come about? SM: I grew up with it. My grandfather had a nickname [Mack], my father had a nickname [Dooney]. They had to call me something. I was Shug. I've had had it my whole life. TDN: A lot of people outside of your inner circle most likely don't know your real name is Claude. SM: No. They don't. When you go someplace, you've got to register as that and then they'll call you that. Or if you go to the dentist or the doctor. TDN: Is there one race in your career that you could watch over and over again? SM: I'm not big on watching replays. Maybe a couple of Personal Ensign's races. Not the Breeders' Cup, but a couple of others. Easy Goer's Whitney and Travers were both really good races for him. His Belmont was my first Classic race to win. For Mr. [Ogden] Phipps, too. I would watch that again. TW: Back in 1989 with the Easy Goer-Sunday Silence rivalry, that kind of captivated the nation. SM: It was East vs. West. The media helped a little bit. It is still in people's minds. People still come up to me, especially up here, and tell me their favorite horse was Easy Goer. So, it's something that's not gone. His two races up here were really good races. TDN: You have also said that your comfort zone is being right here. At the barn. Why is that? SM: This is what I'm used to, sitting here, kind of contemplating the next step. It's an easy place for me to be. TDN: What time do you get here every morning? SM: About quarter after 5, 5:30. TDN: Have you and (wife) Alison taken a vacation in the last few years? SM: Not per se. When we are in Florida, we might go the Keys for a few days. It is something I need to start doing. TDN: When you are away, are you still here, at the barn, in your head? SM: Yes. I never get away from it. There is never a day when it's not. I remember we did go someplace for a night or two and you had to take a little boat to an island. They said there was no TV, no telephone. I get over there and there is no service for the cell phone. We had to go back. They had some kind of a pay phone. TDN: Would you say you are a perfectionist when it comes to the horses? SM: I try to be. I like for it to be done right. I like to keep the barn as nice and neat as I can. There's not a lot that gets done with the horses now that didn't get done over the years. TDN: If you could change one thing in horse racing, what would it be? SM: I think that with all the rules and regulations that we've gotten down, that it takes a little bit away from what we're doing. I wish that some of these racetracks and some of these organizations would just leave us alone, especially in places like New York and Kentucky. I think that a lot of the breakdown problems were just something that happened. They've been happening forever. I think we just got unlucky with what we had last summer [at Saratoga] and what Churchill had before the Derby a couple years ago, what Aqueduct had in 2012. I think it was just kind of unlucky circumstances. You always hope that it won't happen again, but you know there's going to be problems. We just got to cut down on them as much as we possibly can. The mathematics that some of these racetracks are using and the testing doesn't make a lot of sense to me. TDN: Do you think 40 days of racing is too much at Saratoga? SM: I do. I really enjoyed it when it was the August Place to Be. But I'm not stupid. I don't want to be selfish enough to think that we'd have the same results at Belmont at Aqueduct right now that we are having here. I did think the four days [Belmont Stakes Racing Festival] was a lot of fun. I will look forward to it next year. TDN: Do you hope that NYRA does not expand the meet? SM: We spend half our summer up here. If they are going to do that, we are going to have to bring our whole outfit up here. What would we do about rental properties for the help? There are only so many stalls here. What would they do about the racing? They might have to cut back a day [per week], I think they run entirely too many races a day. The other day, you looked up and they almost had to have lights to run the last race. I always liked it when I was a kid at Keeneland, they started at 2 and ran eight. Travers Day, if they want to start early and run a long time, I get it. There are going to be 50,000 people here. Some of these days when they have [long race days], I am not in favor of that. TDN: There are two questions that I ask everybody. If there is a movie made about your life and you can pick the actor to play you, who you got? SM: I was a big fan of Paul Newman, so that would be a flattering experience. TDN: You must have been a fan of the “The Sting.” SM: Yes. “The Sting.” “The Hustler.” All of those. I try to see all of them. He could pull me off. TDN: The other question I ask is if you could have dinner with three people, living or dead, who would they be? SM: It is an interesting question. It would be the two Phippses, Dinny and Mr. [Ogden] Phipps. And Warner Jones and Dr. Gary Lavin. They are all gone now, but they were people that were very influential in my career, really my life. They would be guys that I'd love to see again. Let me have four. TDN: If someone asked you for advice about wanting to do the job as a trainer, what would you tell them? SM: I would tell them not to make it your life. Take time away from barn and have some sort of hobby, some sort of alternative life. TDN: Isn't it hard to do that? SM: Very hard. I told my youngest son [Reeve], 'Don't become part of your barn.' Do things. Go out and do things. I didn't. I don't regret any of it, but I do wish I had done a little bit more away from the barn. TDN: Is Saratoga your favorite track? SM: Belmont. I love Belmont. I look forward to getting to Belmont the first of April and the only reason I wanted to leave was because it got cold at the end of November. I didn't mind going to Aqueduct and I still don't. It was kind of fun in the racing office, when the agents went to the races, and they were at the draw and there was always a lot of bantering back and forth. It gave you something to do during the day. TDN: Will you miss the old Belmont when the new Belmont is done? SM: I have a tremendous amount of memories at the old Belmont. I had to watch them tear it down. But the building was antiquated; something had to be done. I am looking forward to seeing the new Belmont. I have seen, as you have, pictures of the new Belmont and it looks unbelievable. I just hope that when they get it open, that we can get a lot of the horses back and racing in New York can be the way racing in New York is supposed to be. I'm in favor of the Tapeta. I don't want to change the main track at Belmont; I want it to be the way it was. I think it will be. TDN: This game is unique in the fact that the competitors–you, the other trainers and jockeys–you are right in the crowd. It's not like you go back to a locker room. You have to go through the crowd. Have you ever had any interesting interactions with people in the crowd? SM: I have had a lot of them, especially up here when you are walking back. I ran a horse at Belmont one day and I was up in the boxes, and the horse got beat, and somebody from the media came running up to me, said, 'What was going on out there? I said, 'How the heck do I know? I wasn't out there? Let me talk to the jock.' Fans up here are very complimentary. TDN: I have always remembered this. After Orb got beat in the 2013 Preakness, you were walking up the track and you stopped along the rail and signed autographs for, basically, anyone that wanted one. An obvious disappointment, but you still found time for the fans. Why did you do that? SM: I think because the fans deserved it, especially if they are looking for something that is nice for them. I just didn't want to keep walking by them, and have them go and say, 'Well, he was too good to have time to sign his name on the program.' I just felt it was a little bit of an obligation, to be nice. TDN: Have you ever really been ticked off after a race? SM: (smiles) Yeah. A lot of times. If they run good and they get beat and everything is on the up and up, they get beat. The better horse might have won. When one goes over there and runs bad that I think should run good, that gets to me. That does bother me. TDN: If you had five empty stalls here and you can put five horses from history in them, who would they be? And none of them can be any of yours. SM: I think Seattle Slew is the best horse I have ever seen. Racing, breeding, as a stud, as a broodmare sire, the whole kit and kaboodle. Secretariat, of course. I did get to see him run as a 2- and 3-year-old in person. Obviously, he was a freak of nature, but he wasn't when he left the racetrack. I was around Forego some, he was a remarkable animal. Go For Wand was an exceptional talent. For her to run as fast as she did in the Test and then come back 10 days later and win the Alabama. One more? Next. If he goes on this year, he should be Horse of the Year. He won't get it, but what he does is unbelievable. When he goes, he goes. TDN: I know you play golf. Is that your favorite sport outside of horse racing? SM: It was at one time. I don't play nearly as consistent or as well as I would like to be. But I enjoy golf and I enjoy playing and I enjoy being with the people. I like to fish. I try to do that. Alison likes to play golf, too. But I don't like to play with her. TDN: How come? SM: It's too aggravating. She really enjoys fishing. We'll do that in Florida. TDN: Do you watch football? SM: Oh yeah. Big UK football fan. Looking forward to the season starting. And I like the pros. I liked the Cleveland Browns growing up because being from Lexington, it was close. And then the Bengals. Living in New York, it's all you hear on the radio, the Giants and the Jets. In Florida, I keep my eye on the Dolphins. When Bill [Parcells] was there, I would go over there and go to practice. That made it fun. TDN: Do you ever plan on retiring? SM: One of these days. But I got a lot going on. I have a stable here. I have a barn at Fair Hill. One son [Chip] is at Keeneland and one is training, I have a house up here and a house in Miami and place on Long Island and I get to thinking, 'What the heck are you going to do with all this stuff?' It's not quite as easy as taking a shingle down and walking away. One of these days, I will take that shingle down. But when you have a good horse, it makes you get up in the morning. Right now, it would be tough to walk away. The post The Saratoga Conversation: Shug McGaughey appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

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Royal Ascot-winning sprinter Asfoora (Aus) (Flying Artie {Aus}) has run her last race in Britain this year and will return home to Australia, her trainer Henry Dwyer confirmed on Monday. Asfoora became the latest sprinter from the southern hemisphere to strike at Royal Ascot when claiming the King Charles III Stakes and went on to finish a narrow second in a titanic battle with Big Evs at Goodwood, before bowing out in the Nunthorpe Stakes. She was an honourable fourth on the Knavesmire as Archie Watson's Bradsell blitzed his way to victory, but feeling his star sprinter was unable to replicate her best after a busy summer, Dwyer has decided to forego extending Asfoora's stay any longer and she will soon embark on her journey home. “We just thought she probably raced a length or two below her best and whether that was track condition related or something else I'm not sure,” explained Dwyer. “I know she had a very busy preparation and I just don't see the upside in continuing with it. I'm happy to look after her in the knowledge she is going to race on next year, so there is no point bottoming her out now. “She can go home in a couple of weeks after quarantine and then we can start thinking about plans for next year.” With Asfoora set to race on, Dwyer is open to the idea of returning for more European action next summer providing connections feel it is the right move for the six-year-old's career. “She could come back potentially, but we will just take it year by year,” he said. “We could have stirred up the hornet's nest and there might be another six Aussies coming over next year who might be too good for us. “We thought there was a chance this year based on what was around and we are just going to have to work it out again and see if we are going to be competitive or not, because it's a long way to come and a lot of money to spend if you can't win a race. Luckily she has this time, but there will be no guarantees next year. “There's a few options for her in Australia and we would probably have to stretch her out to 1200 metres again, but that might have to be a necessary evil if we don't think coming back to Britain is the right move.” The post Royal Ascot Winner Asfoora To Return To Australia After Dream Summer In Britain appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Vandeek (GB), the brilliant dual Group 1-winning juvenile, has been retired and will stand at Cheveley Park Stud. The highest-rated son of Havana Grey (GB), Vandeek landed the Prix Morny and the Middle Park Stakes in what was a spellbinding two-year-old campaign in 2023. Last seen finishing third being Mill Stream in the July Cup, the Simon and Ed Crisford-trained Vandeek retired as a winner of four of his six starts and with a peak official rating of 119. He joins Twilight Son, Ulysses and Unfortunately on the Cheveley Park Stud roster. Cheveley Park's managing director Chris Richardson said, “Patricia Thompson [stud owner] is delighted to have been able to secure Vandeek, in partnership with Sheikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa, to stand at Cheveley Park Stud in Newmarket, making this very exciting son of Havana Grey available to British and international breeders and thus further enhancing the long established history of Cheveley Park Stud standing world-class stallions”. Simon Crisford added, “Vandeek was a brilliant two-year-old for Sheikh Khalid and his amazing turn of foot set him apart from the others. He had a wonderful temperament and he was such a great pleasure to train. His Juddmonte Middle Park victory was sensational and I don't think I've ever seen a better winner of that race. He was pure class and it is such a great shame he didn't have the opportunity to fulfil his potential this year.” Vandeek is rightly considered something of a poster boy for the breeze-up sales. A high-profile graduate of Roderic Kavanagh's Glending Stables, he was purchased by Anthony Stroud for 625,000gns on behalf of KHK Racing at the Tattersalls Craven Breeze-Up Sale in 2023. His stud fee will be announced in due course. The post Dual Group 1 Winner Vandeek Retired And Will Stand At Cheveley Park Stud appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

New Zealand-bred horses dominated the Australian Grand National meeting at Ballarat on Sunday, winning four of the six jumping races, including a phenomenal performance by The Good Fight (NZ) (High Chaparral) to win the A$400,000 Grand National Steeplechase (4500m). In his first preparation over fences, The Good Fight has made a rapid rise through the grades progressing from a maiden hurdle success at Warrnambool in late June to a game second behind fellow-Kiwi bred Affluential (NZ) (Zed) in the Australian Grand National Hurdle (4200m) on August 4. The 10-year-old was out to go one better in the steeplechase equivalent, where impressive front-runner Stern Idol (Raven’s Pass) was tipped the horse to beat coming off a success in the Crisp Steeplechase (4200m). Stern Idol, in his customary role, lead the field through most of the contest while The Good Fight bided his time midfield, and it became apparent nearing the home turn that it was going to be a two-horse battle between the latter and the Te Akau Racing representative Leaderboard (Street Cry). A very game Leaderboard began to tire over the second-last fence as The Good Fight was seemingly full of running, and the gelding powered away at the finish to score by 25 lengths under Darryl Horner Jnr. Rachael Cunningham, who prepares The Good Fight at Pakenham, was thrilled to collect her second Steeplechase crown, after winning in 2020 with another former Kiwi in Bee Tee Junior (NZ) (Nom du Jeu). “They all mean a lot, this one means a hell of a lot,” Cunningham told Racing.com. “This horse is very special – he’s an incredible horse, I’ve wanted him for years and I was underbidder on Inglis. “Even before today, this is his first jumping prep… he’s had a mammoth season, and coming into this race today, I just knew he was better than he was at the start. “We were confident in our preparation, we were confident in the horse, in Darryl. We were confident in what we’d done to get him here. “It’s a race, so you just hope that it all comes together, and it did today thankfully.” A son of High Chaparral, The Good Fight was bred by Dame Sian Elias and Hugh Fletcher, who sold him for $300,000 to Shaune Ritchie at the 2016 Karaka Yearling Sales. Ritchie and co-trainer Colm Murray prepared the gelding to win the Gr.3 Rotorua Cup (2200m) in 2021, alongside placings in the Gr.3 City Of Auckland Cup (2400m) and Gr.3 Wellington Cup (3200m). Following his Rotorua Cup triumph, The Good Fight crossed the Tasman and was transferred to the stable of Michael Moroney, before subsequently being sold for $40,000 via Inglis Digital to Reece Goodwin, who trained him for a short period of time prior to entrusting him in the care of Cunningham to commence his jumping career. Sunday’s victory increased his career earnings over $746,000, with seven wins and 19 minor placings in 61 starts, surpassing the total stakes of his talented dam Pravda (NZ) (Zabeel), who was a two-time Australian Group Three winner and runner-up in the Gr.1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m). Earlier in the meeting, unbeaten hurdler The Cunning Fox (NZ) (Reliable Man) maintained his unblemished record when scoring in the J.J Houlahan Hurdle (3250m), coming out on top in a tough battle in the closing stages with second-favourite Point Nepean (Camelot). Prepared by Patrick Payne, The Cunning Fox is a six-year-old son of Westbury Stud sire Reliable Man, who was exported to Australia as a weanling and sold to Prime Thoroughbreds at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale for $34,000. The Cunning Fox is now a winner of eight races and $521,850 in stakes, with stakes-level credentials on the flat placing in the Listed Galilee Series Final (2400m) and Listed VRC St Leger (2800m). He was ridden by expat-Kiwi hoop Aaron Kuru, who also won the previous race aboard Nassak Diamond (NZ) (Roc de Cambes) after a successful protest against Hit The Road Jack (NZ) (Jakkalberry), with the latter being relegated to second following evidence of interference in the home straight. Bred and owned by The Oaks Stud, Nassak Diamond is another former Ritchie-Murray galloper, having won the Jericho Cup (4600m) for the Cambridge trainers and remained in Australia with Payne, who has prepared her to win both of her hurdle starts to date. An outstanding quartet of Kiwi victories was completed by Duke Of Bedford (NZ) (Tavistock) in the Henry Dwyer Steeplechase (3600m), the son of Tavistock putting on a stylish display in front throughout to coast in by 12 lengths to Cleaver (NZ) (Guillotine) and Not Usual Dream (NZ) (Shocking). Duke Of Bedford was bred by Graham and Helen-Gaye Bax of Blandford Lodge. View the full article

The aptly named Bonny Lass (NZ) (Super Easy) is ensuring her sizeable and enthusiastic support crew continue to celebrate the racing and social rewards of affordable thoroughbred ownership. Trained by Graham Richardson and Rogan Norvall, last season’s Gr.1 BCD Group Sprint (1400m) winner opened her current campaign in a blaze of glory with victory in Saturday’s Gr.2 Foxbridge Pate (1200m) at Te Rapa. Bonny Lass is raced by the 50-strong Social Racing Starting Gates Syndicate, managed by Brent Cooper who also shares in the ownership group with wife Wendy, the New Zealand Trainers’ Association Executive Officer, and the mare’s breeder Sandy Moore. “Sandy and I met during my first year on the Auckland Racing Club board and it was quite serendipitous really,” Cooper said. “He had never won a race at Ellerslie, he had been trying for years. He had Posh Bec (NZ) (Le Bec Fin) in the Soliloquy Stakes (Listed, 1400m) and my very first syndicate horse was Masquerade (NZ) (No Excuse Needed) who beat Posh Bec. “That was the start of a rivalry and also a very strong friendship, Posh Bec is Bonny Lass’ mother and she ultimately gave Sandy his first winner at Ellerslie. “The only sad thing about that was it was on Boxing Day during COVID and he wasn’t allowed there due to the restrictions.” Cooper has owned and operated Social Racing since 2014 following a 30-year career in the fashion industry and was a Director of the Auckland Racing Club from 2008- 2021. “I was originally contracted by (former NZTR Chief Executive) Greg Purcell, who launched Social Racing independently in 2012 through a marketing agency,” he said. “He brought me on board and I changed the model a bit, made it smaller and got people more engaged in the ownership at a small cost. “I did that for a couple of years and then Greg left and I took the brand over and the timing was quite good. “I had Aoetearoa who was aligned with the Olympic rowers and was doing quite well. That had about 100 people involved and I started bringing in new syndicates like the Auckland Racing Club Winners’ Circle, I was still on the board at that stage.” Cooper currently has 10 syndicates and 13 horses with about 300 active owners. “I developed the concept into a paid model, reduced the numbers to a maximum of 100 people so there was more engagement, and the racing clubs were happy to welcome that number,” he said. “I’ve kept the costs, and my management fees, to a minimum and it’s become quite commercial but has never lost its primary focus. “That is to be affordable and more about the experience and meeting people and making good friends. “It’s mainly a lease model but we’ve got three horses that we’ve bought racing at the moment, including Social Climber who runs in the Wanganui Guineas (Listed, 1200m).” The Gr.1 Tarzino Trophy (1400m) at Hastings is Bonny Lass’ next target and she will be much improved for her resuming outing. “The Tarzino is the plan and she really needed that run on Saturday, we honestly didn’t expect her to win,” Cooper said. “She was a little bit tubby and woolly, so as long as she pulls up fine, she’ll be there. “A better track will suit her and a heavy track would probably keep Crocetti away, but I really don’t mind which way it goes to be honest. “Nothing scares her and she can do anything, she’s so tractable and she can go back or lead.” The daughter of Super Easy has now won eight of her 21 starts and more than $745,000. “She’s an absolute sweetheart and out on the track she’s a titan,” Cooper said. “She’s been remarkably consistent and Graham and Rogan have done a wonderful job, they are a delight to work with and so professional.” View the full article

Promising three-year-old Suit Yourself (NZ) (Savile Row) honoured the memory of the late Kevin Hickman in perfect fashion when he scored a special victory at Te Rapa on Saturday. The Pam Gerard-trained colt is a son of Savile Row, one of the many tremendous horses bred and raced by Hickman who passed away on Friday after a lengthy illness. Hickman developed his Valachi Downs Stud into an internationally respected thoroughbred nursery, with Savile Row one of the many Group One performers bred and raced from the Matamata-based operation. Suit Yourself is from the third crop of the multiple Group One placegetter, who currently stands at Mapperley Stud and had been well-favoured to score on debut at Rotorua last month but had to settle for the runner-up position on that occasion. Punters were keen to follow up in the maiden 1200m event at Te Rapa and were rewarded for that support as rider Ryan Elliot produced a gem to launch an attack at the 300m that saw the combination shoot clear and then grimly hold on to a margin over the hard chasing Myakkabelle (NZ) (War Decree) at the finish. Gerard was full of enthusiasm for the horse who she and partner Tommy Hazlett purchased as a weanling for $3,000 on gavelhouse.com, when Valachi was dispersing horses due to the ill health of Hickman. “That was the plan to try and get a win early in his career and he’s been a really nice colt right through,” Gerard said. “He didn’t do everything right, but he’d had that race day experience and is learning all the time. “We’re looking forward to getting him up over 1400m and a mile, and may look towards the Hawkes Bay Guineas (Gr. 2, 1400m) or, possibly, sending him south early to Riccarton. “He does seem to handle give in the ground, but also has a pretty nice action so we expect he will quicken accordingly on better footing. He’s big, strong, and balanced, so he can get through it. “He’s very much in the mould of his old man (Savile Row) and we’ve seen a lot of similarities in everything about him. “He’s so much like Savile Row it’s not funny. Three or four months after we bought him, he had the same shiny coat and just looked amazing. “We were lucky enough to buy him before the half-sister (Sedaka) won and then finished second in the Royal Stakes (Gr. 2, 2000m) and Sunline Vase (Gr. 3, 2100m). “I see Suit Yourself as a real Derby type, but that’s a long way off at the moment.” Elliot was also suitably impressed by the effort. “He’s still got a few things to learn as he is still doing a few things wrong, but he is a nice horse going forward,” he said. “He is a real colt and gets on the toe but has a bright future ahead of him. “He jumped a bit slow, and we had to work around them but when he hit the front, he was still a bit green but once he sharpens that up, he will be a very nice horse.” Suit Yourself is the ninth individual winner for his sire who was a stakes winner and three times Group One placed performer and the first son of Makfi to stand at stud in New Zealand. He will stand for a service fee of $2,500 + GST for the 2024 breeding season. View the full article

After finishing among the minor placings in the feature races at Te Rapa on Saturday, Kevin Myers and jockey Dean Parker were back on top at Hawera a day later, picking up an early double over the fences. Myers had a trio of contenders in the New Zealand Horse Ambulance Trust Maiden Hurdle (3100m) to kick off the meeting, and two of those, Duke Of Plumpton (NZ) (Bachelor Duke) and Murphy (NZ) (Tarzino), were second and third-favourites respectively with Kahu Rock (NZ) (Alamosa) on top at $4.30. Duke Of Plumpton was making his jumping debut after a successful flat career in both Australia and New Zealand, establishing a record that included six wins for co-owners Patrick Payne and Myers. Well-prepared for his first attempt, the nine-year-old settled back in the field under Parker while Youledo (NZ) (Fabulous) stormed out to a sizable lead heading into the second lap. The leader began to tire nearing the 800m and Kahu Rock led the charge to run him down, while Duke Of Plumpton entered the home straight with five horses ahead of him. His ability on the flat was telling in the finish, and despite landing behind Kahu Rock over the last, he powered over the top late to score by a half-neck with Murphy a close margin back in third. Parker is based at Myers’ stable out of Wanganui and he was pleased with the gelding’s first-up effort with plenty of improvement still to come. “He’s been schooling for a while, he’s probably not the quickest jumper over a fence but his flat ability makes up for that in between the jumps,” he said. “There’s definitely a lot of room for further improvement but he gives a nice enough feel, he’s still got a bit to learn in terms of jumping in a race as he mucked a few fences up and just needs to flow along.” A $15,000 purchase for Myers at the 2017 Karaka Yearling Sales, the son of Bachelor Duke has earned more than $229,000 in prizemoney from 45 starts. His half-brother, Slowpoke Rodriguez (NZ) (Istidaad), won eight races in Australia in Payne’s care for Myers including the Crisp Steeplechase (4200m) in 2020. The Parker-Myers combination were back in the winner’s circle in the following event, with the progressive Mugshot (NZ) (Echoes Of Heaven) taking out the Big Blade 0-1 Hurdle (3100m). Flying slightly under the radar, the son of Echoes Of Heaven was in the middle market at $9.20, with Fourty Eight (NZ) (Ekraar) closing race-favourite at $3.50 ahead of Ata Rangi (NZ) (Haradasun). In similar fashion to his stablemate in the previous, Mugshot sat near the tail of the compact field and jumped consistently throughout, conserving energy before the pressure came on at the 800m. Swooping into contention in the home straight, Mugshot flew the last fence alongside Fourty Eight and had the winning momentum, pulling clear of the favourite by three-quarters of a length. The win was Parker’s second from four starts aboard the six-year-old, who has continued to improve through his opening season as a hurdler. “I expected him to go well early on, I felt he went quite well in his first start at Hastings to be fair, then his win at Waverley was quite good, he just got a bit lost through the line,” Parker said. “He jumped really well today, there’s more improvement to come with him as well and we definitely haven’t reached the end of his distance range, he’d happily look for another 1000m. “I think he’s a pretty nice horse going forward.” Myers purchased Mugshot via gavelhouse.com in 2020 for just $700 from breeder Geoffrey Georgetti, and in 10 starts, he has recorded three wins and just shy of $50,000 in stakes earnings. Parker was briefly sidelined with an injury following a fall at Woodville in May and has had plenty of success in the second half of the season, particularly aboard Myers’ talented contingent. “It was good to get a winner on my first day back from injury, it was a bit of a pick me up,” he said. “Today was good too, to get the new season going with a few winners.” View the full article