Wandering Eyes

Saturday's action sees the winding-up of York's Ebor Festival and a trio of exciting juvenile races at The Curragh and Goodwood, with the Knavesmire venue boasting the most valuable prize in the G2 City of York Stakes. Cheveley Park Stud's TDN Rising Star Audience (GB) (Iffraaj {GB}) is the star attraction in the seven-furlong feature and it is fair to say that he has turned around his fortunes this term with dynamic successes in the G1 Lockinge Stakes and G2 Lennox Stakes. He may have achieved more when winning under a five-pound penalty in the latter contest at Goodwood last month than when upstaging Charyn (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) in Newbury's Lockinge in May and currently rates as the best in this niche category as a result. “He has no group 1 penalty to carry, which is obviously an advantage and he ran very well in this race last year when he was second to Kinross,” the Stud's managing director Chris Richardson said. “I think Goodwood showed seven furlongs suits him better than the stiff mile at Ascot, where he ran very well in the Queen Anne but probably didn't quite get home. It's a competitive race, as ever, but if he can produce his last run, hopefully he'll be right there.” The aforementioned Kinross (GB) (Kingman {GB}) attempts a historic treble in this, having won the last two renewals, but Marc Chan's beloved veteran has dipped in form this term. He has a four-year experience edge over Lake Forest (GB) (No Nay Never), who was successful in the G2 Gimcrack Stakes here 12 months ago and runner-up in the G1 Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot in June, but Tony Bloom and Ian McAleavy's 3-year-old has the benefit of youth as he moves up in trip. Trainer William Haggas is expecting the distance to suit. “He's in really good form and this is the race we want to have a go at, but he doesn't want any cut in the ground,” he said. “He wants really quick ground and hopefully it will be fast enough on Saturday. We're not sure about the trip, there's enough on the dam's side of his pedigree to say he wants the trip. He's never been better than at the line both times this year over six, so it could be that he is better over seven maybe, but we will see.” Lots To See… It is an action-packed afternoon everywhere and York's card also includes the G3 Strensall Stakes, which hosts Jeff Smith's G1 Nassau Stakes runner-up See The Fire (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) as she drops in class. While Goodwood offers an uninspiring G2 Celebration Mile, it represents an ideal opportunity for Juddmonte's G3 Thoroughbred Stakes winner Lead Artist (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) to complete the next stage of his career on paper at least. The Sussex track's G3 Prestige Fillies' Stakes is of far greater interest, being the stage for Cheveley Park Stud's TDN Rising Star Formal (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}). The Sir Michael Stoute-trained daughter of the G1 Falmouth Stakes winner Veracious (GB) (Frankel {GB}) looked special on her winning debut at Newbury last month and could bring an end to a 30-year drought in this seven-furlong juvenile fillies' prize for Freemason Lodge since the stable's last winner Pure Grain (GB) (Polish Precedent). Juddmonte's Newmarket debut winner Tabiti (GB) (Kingman {GB}) is another fascinating candidate from the Ralph Beckett stable replete with juvenile talent in 2024. At The Curragh, the G2 Coolmore Stud Wootton Bassett Irish EBF Futurity Stakes has a quartet engaged and is the epitome of what they term “small but select”, with none easily discounted. Ballydoyle's G2 Railway Stakes winner Henri Matisse (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) has the most kudos, but his Galway maiden-winning stablemate and TDN Rising Star Rock Of Cashel (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) is an interesting race buddy. They are taken on by the Silverton Hill Partnership's G3 Tyros Stakes winner Hotazhell (GB) (Too Darn Hot {GB}) and the Joseph O'Brien-trained Leopardstown maiden scorer Scorthy Champ (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}). If the Futurity is open, the G2 Alpha Centauri Debutante Stakes is the exact opposite with Ballydoyle's division leader Bedtime Story (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) scaring off all meaningful outside competition. At this stage, she could be joined by the stable's impressive Galway maiden winner and fellow TDN Rising Star Bubbling (Ire) (No Nay Never), but very little else after her ultra-dominant performance in the Listed Chesham Stakes and imposing follow-up in the G3 Silver Flash Stakes. In what should amount to an individual time trial, the clock will tell us more than the formbook as we continue to assess the raw material of the brilliant TDN Rising Star. The post All Gathered for a Big Saturday appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The GII Cigar Mile Handicap, one of four graded events on a bumper program to be held Saturday, Dec. 7, highlights the 26-strong stakes schedule for the Aqueduct fall meeting, officials at the New York Racing Association (NYRA) announced Friday. The $500,000 contest going the one-turn configuration is joined on the same card by the GII Remsen Stakes and GII Demoiselle Stakes for 2-year-old males and fillies, respectively, as well as the GIII Go For Wand Handicap, also over a mile. Stakes action kicks off on opening day of the 26-day stand on Friday, Nov. 8 with the running of the GIII Pebbles Stakes for 3-year-old grass fillies. The graded action continues the following afternoon with the GII Red Smith Stakes for older turf males at 11 furlongs and the GIII Hill Prince Stakes for sophomores on the grass. The GIII Long Island Stakes takes place Sunday, Nov. 10. The final graded event comes up Saturday, Nov. 30 with the running of the nine-furlong GIII Comely Stakes for the sophomore filly set. Overall, nine of the 26 added-money events are graded and the entire schedule is worth $5.33 million. The popular New York Stallion Stakes Series (NYSS), open to the progeny of eligible New York sires, offers four divisions: the Thunder Rumble and Staten Island are each worth $125,000 on Saturday, Nov. 23, while the Fifth Avenue and Great White Way offer prize money of $500,000 and are carded for Saturday, Dec. 14. Click here for the entire Aqueduct fall stakes schedule. The post Cigar Mile Day Anchors Aqueduct Fall Stakes Schedule appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Breeders' Cup Limited and John Deere have renewed their multi-year partnership, further cementing John Deere as the official supplier of agricultural, turf and construction equipment for the Breeders' Cup World Championships, the organizations said in a joint release. As part of the arrangement, John Deere becomes the title sponsor of the GI John Deere Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies' Turf to be held on Future Stars Friday at Del Mar Nov. 1. “John Deere is immensely proud to be the official supplier of agricultural, turf and construction equipment for the Breeders' Cup World Championships and the Thoroughbred breeding and racing industry dating to 2002,” said Auston Till, Equine Business Manager, John Deere Ag & Turf. “This year, we are equally excited to expand our partnership with the Breeders' Cup to include title sponsorship of the John Deere Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf.” Added Heather Higgins, Senior Vice President of Corporate Partnerships for Breeders' Cup Limited: “We are delighted that John Deere has continued to partner with the Breeders' Cup. They remain a trusted resource for horsemen of many disciplines and have shown fantastic support of equestrian sports on a global scale. John Deere has enjoyed a long association with the World Championships, and we look forward to expanding our partnership.” John Deere will also partner with Breeders' Cup in entitling the John Deere Turf Course and the John Deere Dirt Course at the World Championships and will present the John Deere Award to an outstanding Thoroughbred breeder of a Breeders' Cup contender upon completion of the two-day global festival of racing. John Deere has offered exclusive equine discounts through the National Thoroughbred Racing Association's NTRA Advantage program since 2002 and has been the official equipment supplier of the NTRA since 2001. “We are excited for the announcement of this multi-year agreement, which further demonstrates that horse racing and John Deere go hand in hand,” said Tom Rooney, president and chief executive officer of the National Thoroughbred Racing Association. The post Breeders’ Cup, John Deere Renew, Extend Partnership appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Victorious Racing's 2023 G1 King's Stand Stakes hero and 'TDN Rising Star' Bradsell (GB) (Tasleet {GB}–Russian Punch {GB}, by Archipenko), on an enforced sabbatical for 329 days after registering that career high, added to his comeback win in this month's Listed Prix du Cercle with a dominant performance in Friday's G1 Coolmore Wootton Bassett Nunthorpe Stakes at York. The 3-1 second favourite was swiftly into stride on the far wing and chased the trailblazing Ponntos (Ire) (Power {GB}) in second through the initial stages of this straight five-furlong dash. Easing to the front passing halfway, he was beyond recall entering the final furlong and kept on powerfully under a late Hollie Doyle drive to hold the chasing pack, headed by Believing (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}), by 3/4-of-length. Course specialist Starlust (GB) (Zoustar {Aus}) was a head adrift in third, a neck in front of the fast-closing antipodean Asfoora (Aus) (Flying Artie {Aus}). Bradsell prevails to land the Group 1 @coolmorestud Wootton Bassett Nunthorpe Stakes for @Archie_Watson and @HollieDoyle1 @yorkracecourse @ChampionsSeries | @SkyBet pic.twitter.com/5HATvLdvqE — Racing TV (@RacingTV) August 23, 2024 Pedigree Notes Bradsell's catalogue page is light on black-type with his Listed Radley Stakes-winning dam Russian Punch (GB) (Archipenko) the only individual of note under the first four dams. Half-brother to a weanling filly by Oasis Dream (GB), he is the fourth of six live foals and one of two winners for his dam. The February-foaled bay's fourth dam Champenoise (GB) (Forzando {GB}), who hails from the family of Group 1-winning sires Mister Majestic (Ire) (Tumble Wind) and Homme De Loi (Ire) (Law Society), is out of a half-sister to G1 Irish 1000 Guineas and G1 Phoenix Stakes placegetter Run To Jenny (Ire) (Runnett {GB}) and G3 Child Stakes third Linda's Fantasy (Ire) (Raga Navarro {Ity}). The post Tasleet’s TDN Rising Star Bradsell Claims Nunthorpe Glory for Victorious Racing appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Fourth in Royal Ascot's G2 Coventry Stakes and third over seven furlongs in the G2 Vintage Stakes at Goodwood, John Wallinger's Cool Hoof Luke (GB) (Advertise {GB}–Dutch Monument {GB}, by Dutch Art {GB}) showed that speed is his game by taking Friday's G2 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Gimcrack Stakes at York. Anchored towards the rear early by Oisin Murphy, the Andrew Balding-trained 8-1 shot was delivered with a potent kick to lead passing the furlong pole and get to the line 3/4 of a length ahead of Shadow Of Light (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), with a head back to Symbol Of Strength (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) in third. “He's a big 2-year-old–you look at him and you think he's going to be a better 3-year-old, we weren't sure about the trip as he's bred to be a sprinter and looks like a seven-furlong horse,” Anna Lisa Balding said. “I think we were a bit disappointed at Goodwood, but he came back and won the right one today.” Charlie Appleby's assistant Alex Merriam said of Shadow Of Light, “That was his first step up into group company and it is a big step up. I think he's probably learned a lot, he's run his race, but he just got beaten by one better on the day. I think the trip is fine for him, he'll stick at six for now, but he just got beat by one on the day.” Adrian Keatley was delighted with the effort of the 80-1 shot Symbol Of Strength. “I'd like to think I've been looking at them long enough now to know when we've got a good one, but I was starting to doubt myself when I saw he was the outsider of the field yesterday,” he said. “He's a good horse, he'll have no problems getting seven furlongs and next year maybe even a mile, he's got scope and will grow a bit, we think a lot of him and the sky is the limit. He's in the Mill Reef and we'll go there as long as the ground is not too soft.” Cool Hoof Luke lands the valuable Group 2 @ABE_Dubai Gimcrack Stakes for Andrew Balding and @oismurphy @SkyBet | @yorkracecourse pic.twitter.com/EMRiyxuk4v — Racing TV (@RacingTV) August 23, 2024 Pedigree Notes The dam, whose son of Tasleet (GB) is catalogued in next week's Goffs UK Premier Yearling Sale, is a daughter of the listed-placed Lovina (Ity) (Love The Groom) and full-sister to the G3 Premio Omenoni scorer Lohit (GB) and a half to the G3 Premio Regina Elena (Italian 1,000 Guineas) winner Lokaloka (GB) (Pursuit Of Love {GB}). Friday, York, Britain AL BASTI EQUIWORLD DUBAI GIMCRACK STAKES-G2, £250,000, York, 8-23, 2yo, c/g, 6fT, 1:10.78, gd. 1–COOL HOOF LUKE (GB), 128, c, 2, by Advertise (GB) 1st Dam: Dutch Monument (GB), by Dutch Art (GB) 2nd Dam: Lovina (Ity), by Love the Groom 3rd Dam: Menem (Ire), by Bold Arrangement (GB) 1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GROUP WIN. (16,000gns Wlg '22 TADEWE; €20,000 Ylg '23 TATIRY). O-John Wallinger & Partner; B-Tony Nerses (GB); T-Andrew Balding; J-Oisin Murphy. £141,775. Lifetime Record: 4-2-0-1, $222,951. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. 2–Shadow Of Light (GB), 128, c, 2, Lope De Vega (Ire)–Winters Moon (Ire), by New Approach (Ire). 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. O/B-Godolphin (GB); T-Charlie Appleby. £53,750. 3–Symbol Of Strength (Ire), 128, c, 2, Kodiac (GB)–Symbol Of Love (GB), by Shamardal. 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (£100,000 Ylg '23 GOFFUK). O-Keatley Owners Group, Finneran & Moore; B-Tally Ho Stud (IRE); T-Adrian Keatley. £26,900. Margins: 3/4, HD, 1. Odds: 8.00, 6.00, 80.00. Also Ran: Big Mojo (Ire), Caburn (Ire), Camille Pissarro (Ire), Andesite (GB), King's Call (Ire), The Strikin Viking (Ire), Billboard Star (GB). The post Advertise’s Cool Hoof Luke Wins The Gimcrack appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

In this continuing series, we take a look ahead at US-bred and/or conceived runners entered for the upcoming weekend at the tracks on the Japan Racing Association circuit, with a focus on pedigree and/or performance in the sales ring. Here are the horses of interest for Saturday at Sapporo Racecourse: Saturday, August 24, 2024 5th-SAP, ¥13,720,000 ($94k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1700m LUXOR CAFE (c, 2, American Pharoah–Mary's Follies, by More Than Ready) is the full-brother to Cafe Pharoah, back-to-back winner of the G1 February Stakes and third in the 2023 G1 Saudi Cup while earning Japanese champion dirt honors. A half-brother to Eclipse Award-winning turf female and 'TDN Rising Star' Regal Glory (Animal Kingdom), this Feb. 26 foal looks to become the seventh winner for his dam, a two-time graded winner on the turf who sold to the BBA Ireland for $500,000 out of the Paul Pompa Dispersal at the 2021 Keeneland January Sale. Like Cafe Pharoah, Luxor Cafe is campaigned by owner Koichi Nishikawa. B-Orpendale/Chelston/Wynatt & Westerberg Ireland ULC (KY) ▼現地直送 #新馬 情報 24日札幌5R。G1級3勝のカフェファラオの全弟として注目を集める #ルクソールカフェ。500㎏を大きく超える雄大な馬体を誇り、入厩前から動きの良さを高く評価されてきた逸材候補だ。「兄よりメリハリの利いた走りができそう」と堀師。初戦からその血に違わぬ走りを見せられるか。 pic.twitter.com/CAeqRoaTkj — レープロ（トレセン班） (@program_racing) August 23, 2024 The post Cafe Pharoah Full-Brother Set For Sapporo Debut appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

In this continuing series, TDN's Senior Racing Editor Steve Sherack catches up with the connections of promising maidens to keep on your radar. Mancuso (f, 2, McKinzie–Medaglia d'Argento, by Medaglia d'Oro) came within a neck of putting an exclamation point on a banner weekend for her high-profile connections at Del Mar last Sunday. Given a 7-1 chance in her unveiling for trainer Phil D'Amato, the Little Red Feather Racing colorbearer broke well from her inside draw and was ridden along by Antonio Fresu to chase in a joint second while caught in some traffic through a very sharp opening quarter in :21.37. The heavily favored Bob Baffert-trained second-time starter Usha (Tiz the Law) continued to motor heading into the far turn and was well clear approaching the quarter pole as Mancuso and the Baffert-trained $850,000 OBS April graduate Tenma (Nyquist) began to rally in tandem. Mancuso raced in between the Baffert pair as they turned for home and threaded the needle beautifully as they straightened. With Usha the first to blink in the stretch, it was down to Mancuso and Tenma with neither giving an inch. Mancuso fought on bravely along the inside, but just couldn't hold off Tenma in a race that didn't deserve a loser. The final time for 5 1/2 furlongs over the fast main track was 1:04.22. Mancuso earned a very solid 77 Beyer Speed Figure. “We've had high hopes from day one and we were patiently waiting for the right spot,” Little Red Feather's Founder and Managing Partner Billy Koch said. “I thought she handled everything really well and I don't think she had the greatest trip of all time always being down on the inside. Turning for home it got exciting, but she was still in between horses and almost had to check a little bit because the other Baffert was tiring. Antonio Fresu said that he never could go to the whip because (Tenma) was so close and he didn't want to hit (Mancuso) left-handed thinking she might react and bump into the other filly. She's still learning and is a little bit inexperienced, but obviously the talent is there.” Koch added with a laugh, “And who knows? If she was on the outside, maybe the roles would've been reversed and we'd be a 'TDN Rising Star' instead of on maiden watch.” Mancuso hails from the first crop of McKinzie, who is responsible for six winners, including 'TDN Rising Star' Chancer McPatrick. Bred in Kentucky by Silesia Farm, Mancuso brought $115,000 as a yearling out of the Warrendale Sales consignment at last year's Keeneland September sale. Mancuso's four-time winning dam Medaglia d'Argento, a daughter of GIII Valley View Stakes winner Meribel (Peaks and Valleys), brought $110,000 from breeder Silesia Farm while in foal to The Factor at the 2016 Keeneland November sale. Billy Koch (center, hat) and the Little Red Feather crew celebrate Iscreamuscream's win in the GI Del Mar Oaks | Benoit Mancuso could make her next start in a 5 1/2-furlong maiden special weight on Del Mar's closing day card Sunday, Sept. 8, Koch said. “She's a big, scopey filly with a lot of talent and we hope that she'll be able to stretch out at some point to longer distances,” Koch said. “So far, she's done everything right. She ran the way we expected her to and it's exciting.” Little Red Feather and D'Amato also teamed up to win last Saturday's GI Del Mar Oaks with the unbeaten Iscreamuscream (Twirling Candy) and a grassy 2-year-old maiden special weight on the undercard with the promising Thought Process (Collected). Little Red Feather campaigns Iscreamuscream in partnership with Agave Racing Stable, John Hundley, Jr., Marsha Naify and John and Stacey Snyder. Thought Process's ownership group also includes Madaket Stables and the Estate of Brereton C. Jones. “It was a lot of a fun and Mancuso winning would've been the perfect capper to the weekend,” Koch said. “Couldn't be prouder of the way the horses performed and the job that Phil D'Amato and his team have done. And for all the Little Red Feather partners, it was just a special weekend.” The 'Second Chances' Honor Roll is headed by Horse of the Year Cody's Wish (Curlin), fellow two-time Breeders' Cup winner Golden Pal (Uncle Mo) and GISWs A Mo Reay (Uncle Mo), Honor A. P. (Honor Code), Locked (Gun Runner), Paradise Woods (Union Rags) and Speaker's Corner (Street Sense). First time starter #7 TENMA ($14.40) finds her stride under @kazushi0096 to win Race 4 at Del Mar for trainer @BobBaffert and owner @BaomaCorp. Another winner by @DarleyAmerica's Nyquist. pic.twitter.com/wz6BTLR2Xc — FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) August 18, 2024 The post Second Chances: ‘High Hopes from Day One’ for McKinzie Filly Mancuso, a Strong Second on Debut at Del Mar appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Some of the most highly anticipated races during the summer racing season are the 'baby' races during the boutique meetings at Saratoga and Del Mar and at Ellis Park, which attract its fair share of high-priced offspring from a variety of top national outfits. Summer Breezes highlights debuting and stakes-entered 2-year-olds at those meetings that have been sourced at the breeze-up sales earlier in the year, with links to their under-tack previews. Here are the horses entered for Saturday at Saratoga and Ellis Park: Saturday, August 24, 2024 Saratoga 6, $100k, 2yo, 1 1/16mT, 2:05 p.m. ET Horse (Sire), Sale, Price ($), Breeze Mortal Lock (Audible), OBSMAR, 210,000, :10 1/5 C-S G V Thoroughbreds (S Venosa), agent; B-Daigneault TBs Saratoga 7, $100k, 2yo, 6f, 2:37 p.m. ET Outta Money (Mr. Money), FTMMAY, 115,000, :10 3/5 C-Hidden Brook, agent; B-Sport of Kings Racing Partners Rookie Card (Adios Charlie), OBSJUN, 165,000, :21 C-Ocala Stud; B-Gatsas Stable Ellis 5, $71k, 2yo, 6f, 2:54 p.m. ET Built (Hard Spun), OBSAPR, 260,000, :9 4/5 C-Harris Training Center LLC, agent; B-Eclipse TB Partners Campaign Trail (Global Campaign), OBSJUN, 115,000, :10 C-Navas Equine; B-Eric Foster Gryphon (Connect), OBSJUN, 95,000, :21 2/5 C-Portrero Stables; B-D J Stable LLC Poppa Echo (Echo Town), FTMMAY, 140,000, :10 1/5 C-Thorostock LLC, agent; B-Willis Horton Racing Ravens Dream (Liam's Map), OBSAPR, 320,000, :10 C-Envision Equine, agent; B-F Alosa, agt Red Lane Thoroughbreds Ellis 7, $71k, 2yo, 6f, 3:52 p.m. ET Desert Aire (Thousand Words), FTMMAY, 190,000, :10 1/5 C-Shamrock Stable; B-Christina R Jelm, agent for Mike Puhich Shotgun (Gun Runner), OBSJUN, 95,000, :10 2/5 C-Cortez Racing & Sales, agent; B-D J Stable LLC The post Summer Breezes, Sponsored By OBS: August 24, 2024 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The Challenge, Presented by GaineswayView the full article

Jaidyn Viney, son of Alice Springs trainer Ray Viney, is looking forward to the first race meeting in six weeks at Pioneer Park on Sunday. Just like everyone else in Alice Springs, the Ray Viney stable is looking forward to the races on Sunday. The Alice Springs Turf Club last hosted a meeting on July 14 before remedial work took place on Pioneer Park’s dirt surface. Unfortunately, the track didn’t recover in time with the July 28 and August 10 meetings abandoned. The Vineys have seven horses on deck in five of the six races this weekend, including eight-year-old mare Tango Stepz and eight-year-old gelding Cubic Zirconia in the $40,000 Red Centre Winter Series Final (1200m). To qualify for the Final (BM66), a horse had to appear in at least one of the five heats. Tango Stepz finished fourth over 1100m (0-64) on June 16, while Cubic Zirconia was third over 1100m (0-58) on June 30. Tango Stepz, the daughter of Sidestep, and Cubic Zirconia, the son of Per Incanto, both hail from the Hunter Valley stables of Rod Northam (Scone) and Luke Thomas (Muswellbrook). On July 14, Tango Stepz was victorious over 1200m (BM67) and Cubic Zirconia finished fourth over 1400m (0-58). “I think Tango Stepz will run well, it’s a nice race for her and she gets in well with the weights,” Jaidyn Viney, son of Ray, said. “I think she should be among the main chances if she can replicate her last performance. “She’s been with us for just over a year, she’s won three for the stable. “She’s been a consistent little money spinner for us and is owned by a good group of people. “Cubic Zirconia should run really well, he’s a nice horse with a lot of ability. “If he puts his best forward, he’s a very good chance. “He’s still taking time to adjust running anti-clockwise.” Should either Tango Stepz or Cubic Zirconia salute this weekend, it will be the Viney’s biggest prize. It will surpass Duty’s win in a $30,000 race over 2000m (BM76) for horses that missed a start in the Alice Springs Cup on Cup Day on April 7. “Having six weeks off did the horses the world of good, but it’s good to be back,” Jaidyn said. “We’ve got a good team on the weekend. “Beep Test, Strike Eagle and Square Cut are good chances. “Pretty excited to see Square Cut back at the races, he’s probably one of our pinnacle horses in the stable.” Square Cut, with three wins and seven minor placings from 11 Alice Springs starts, was disqualified after winning over 1000m (0-70) on March 30. That led to a $3000 fine when the six-year-old gelding failed a post-race blood test. The Vineys did consider taking horses to the Darwin Cup Carnival, however, it would have taken them time to acclimatise, and they would have only had a few weeks work. “We had a much better season last year, improved again with 15 wins, so it’s exciting times ahead,” Jaidyn added. “We’ve got 19 in the stable now, soon to be 22, so we’re ever expanding and we’ve got a couple of nice owners joining the stable.” Horse racing news View the full article

There are 13 horse racing meetings set for Australia on Saturday, August 24. Our racing analysts here at horsebetting.com.au have found you the best bets and the quaddie numbers for Randwick, Moonee Valley, Doomben, Morphettville & Belmont. Saturday’s Free Horse Racing Tips – August 24, 2024 Randwick Racing Tips Moonee Valley Racing Tips Doomben Racing Tips Morphettville Racing Tips Belmont Racing Tips As always, there are plenty of promotions available for Australian racing fans. Check out all the top online bookmakers to see what daily promotions they have. If you are looking for a new bookmaker for the horse racing taking place on August 24, 2024 check out our guide to the best online racing betting sites. Neds Code GETON 1 Take It To The Neds Level Neds Only orange bookie! Check Out Neds Review 18+ Gamble Responsibly. What are you prepared to lose today? Full terms. 2 It Pays To Play PlayUp Aussie-owned horse racing specialists! Check Out PlayUp Review 18+ Gamble Responsibly. Imagine what you could be buying instead. Full terms. Dabble Signup Code AUSRACING 3 Say Hey to the social bet! Dabble Have a Dabble with friends! Join Dabble Review 18+ Gamble Responsibly. THINK. IS THIS A BET YOU REALLY WANT TO PLACE? Full terms. Recommended! Bet365 Signup Code GETON 4 Never Ordinary Bet365 World Favourite! Visit Bet365 Review 18+ Gamble Responsibly. GETON is not a bonus code. bet365 does not offer bonus codes in Australia and this referral code does not grant access to offers. What’s gambling really costing you? Full terms. 5 Next Gen Racing Betting PickleBet Top 4 Betting. Extra Place. Every Race. Join Picklebet Review 18+ Gamble Responsibly. What are you really gambling with? Full terms. 6 Bet With A Boom BoomBet Daily Racing Promotions – Login to view! Join Boombet Review 18+ Gamble responsibly. Think. Is this a bet you really want to place. Full terms. Horse racing tips View the full article

What Morphettville Parks Races Where Morphettville Racecourse – 79 Morphett Rd, Morphettville SA 5043 When Saturday, August 24, 2024 First Race 12:17pm ACST Visit Dabble The Listed Leon Macdonald Stakes will headline a massive nine-race program on the Mophettville Parks track this Saturday afternoon. With more rain forecast to fall in the lead-up to the meeting, it is expected that the surface will remain a Soft 7 for the whole day. The rail will be in the +6m position from the 1000m-winning post and the +3m position for the remainder, with racing set to kick off at 12:17pm ACST. Leon Macdonald Stakes Tip: See You In Heaven Following her impressive win in the Group 3 Behemoth Stakes first-up, See You In Heaven will drop in grade and rise in trip to 1400m in the feature race of the day. The Richard & Chantelle Jolly-trained mare settled midfield and quickly rounded up her rivals early in the straight before careering away with a 1.6-length win. After drawing a much better barrier (4) in a weaker grade, this race sets up even better for See You In Heaven to salute again. Leon Macdonald Stakes Race 8 – #9 See You In Heaven (4) 5yo Mare | T: Richard & Chantelle Jolly | J: Jake Toeroek (57kg) +140 with PlayUp Best Bet at Morphettville: Reservoir Dog Reservoir Dog recorded a tough victory at this track over 1600m on August 10 and the Will Clarken & Niki O’Shea-trained gelding looks well placed to bring up back-to-back wins here. The son of Choisir settled midfield and enjoyed a strong tempo before working his way through the pack to run away with a good win. Jacob Opperman has chosen to stick with the five-year-old gelding, and if he gets a similar run from barrier four, Reservoir Dog can win again. Best Bet Race 3 – #5 Reservoir Dog (4) 5yo Gelding | T: Will Clarken & Niki O’Shea | J: Jacob Opperman (57kg) +260 with Picklebet Next Best at Morphettville: The Guava The Guava was made to travel wide throughout the 1200m journey at Murray Bridge second-up and was very good considering the circumstances to finish third, beaten by under a length. Hailing from the Shane & Chelsea Cahill stable, the son of Akeed Mofeed will appreciate another Soft track and a rise to 1400m as he hits peak fitness. If Jason Holder can settle The Guava off the fence in the middle of the pack, his turn of foot will give him every chance to record a second win for the campaign. Next Best Race 7 – #10 The Guava (8) 5yo Gelding | T: Shane & Chelsea Cahill | J: Jason Holder (60kg) +500 with Dabble Saturday quaddie tips for Morphettville Morphettville quadrella selections Saturday, August 24, 2023 4-7-9-10-20 7-8-10-11 1-2-9 3-5-12-14 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip Horse racing tips View the full article

NEWMARKET, UK — Amid strong winds and squally showers which served as a reminder that after this weekend the baton will be passed back across Newmarket's Devil's Dyke to the Rowley Mile, the 2,000 Guineas and Sussex Stakes winner Notable Speech (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) took advantage of the July Course for one last time this season with an early-morning gallop on Friday. Ridden by Paul Eddery, Godolphin's chestnut colt worked over a mile alongside stable-mate Highland Avenue (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}). “I was pleased with how he came out of the Sussex Stakes and the plan is to head to the Prix du Moulin,” confirmed Notable Speech's trainer Charlie Appleby. “This fitted in well to come up here. He has enjoyed himself on an away day without being put to the sword. “Paul knows him inside out and was delighted with him and I was pleased with the way he picked up, so it was job done.” The unbeaten juvenile Ancient Truth (Ire), another son of Dubawi, was also in action on Friday morning with William Buick over the strip of ground where he was last seen in public winning the G2 Superlative Stakes. He will head next to the G1 Vincent O'Brien National Stakes at the Curragh on September 15. “We decided to bring him up here three weeks out from a potential look at the National Stakes,” Appleby said. “There's a long gap from the Superlative Stakes to the National Stakes so it was a matter of getting a bit of gas out of him. “He is a horse that I feel will appreciate a bit of juice in the ground, which he should get over there [in Ireland]. What he has done to date you can't fault. Native Trail, Pinatubo and Quorto were all unbeaten going into the National Stakes and he is ticking the same boxes, as they say.” The post Notable Speech Warms Up for Moulin Tilt on July Course appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Race 2 DRUMMOND & ETHERIDGE 1400m PURE FICTION (B Murray) – Trainer Ms. J Land reported to Stewards, that on Monday 19 August, PURE FICTION, underwent a veterinary examination including x-rays to the right front fetlock and foot, with no abnormalities being detected and was also examined by the stable farrier on Tuesday 20 August, where the hoof pad was removed and revealed bruising to the left front sole. J Land further advised it is her intention to continue on with the mare’s preparation once the bruising subsides. The post Oamaru Jockey Club @ Oamaru, Friday 16 August 2024 appeared first on RIB. View the full article

Race 6 PRYDE’S EASIFEED 2000m HAMMER TIME (O Bossom) – Co-trainer Mr. S Ritchie reported to Stewards, upon return to the stable HAMMER TIME was examined where it was found a nail had punctured the sole of the left hind foot. S Ritchie further advised HAMMER TIME has been confined to a box while receiving a course of antibiotics and will not participate in any form of exercise over the next two to three weeks. The post Waikato Thoroughbred Racing @ Cambridge Synthetic, Wednesday 14 August 2024 appeared first on RIB. View the full article

Race 6 CAMBRIDGE STUD NORTHLAND BREEDERS STAKES 1200 (G3) MARACATU (W Kennedy) – Te Akau Racing Manager, Mr. R Trumper advised Stewards, that on Monday 19 August, MARACATU, underwent a veterinary examination which included blood tests which revealed a virus receiving appropriate treatment. R Trumper further advised once treatment has finished, MARACATU, will be sent for a spell. The post Whangarei Racing Club @ Ruakaka, Saturday 17 August 2024 appeared first on RIB. View the full article

The New Zealand thoroughbred industry has lost one of its most influential figures of the last two decades with the passing of Kevin Hickman after a long illness. Tributes to the Valachi Downs principal have flowed from around New Zealand and Australia, including from Gareth Downey, who was Valachi’s general manager from 2020 to its closure in 2022. He now has a management role with leading Australian stable Lindsay Park Racing. “It really is a huge loss, and it’s the end of what’s been a very difficult journey in recent years for Kevin and his family,” Downey said. “A few of us who were on the Valachi team have been catching up today, and we’re all forever grateful for the opportunities that he gave us. Even apart from the many varied successes he had in his life, he was such an inspirational, dedicated and passionate man who loved the horses and loved his people. If you were part of his team, he made you feel like part of his family. “What he achieved in racing and breeding in a relatively short space of time was remarkable and indicative of the type of man that he was. Whatever he set his mind to, be it in business or sport or thoroughbreds, he was determined to succeed, and he invariably did. But that success never came at the cost of his ethics or integrity. He still had lifelong friends from his childhood, and all of the success that he had in his life never changed him one bit. “There aren’t many people like Kevin Hickman, and a lot of people who were lucky enough to know him are feeling the pain of his loss today.” A relative latecomer to the racing and breeding world, Hickman was born in Westport and grew up in Darfield and Rakaia before moving to Christchurch to join the New Zealand Police. He progressed through those ranks to become a detective, which was just one of a number of achievements in a varied and distinguished career. He was also a competitive athlete and highly respected athletics coach, and in 1984 he co-founded Ryman Healthcare – a retirement-village business that has grown to encompass 42 villages, which are home to more than 12,500 residents and employs more than 6,000 people. It was only when Hickman retired as Ryman’s managing director in 2006 that he began to dip his toes into the thoroughbred world. What started as a hobby developed into something much more, and his influence as a breeder, owner, sponsor and charitable donor will be felt for decades to come. “Kevin Hickman made a wonderful contribution to the New Zealand breeding and racing industries,” New Zealand Bloodstock’s managing director Andrew Seabrook said. “Kevin introduced some lovely European blood to this country with the importation of several mares every year. “Not scared to think outside the square with some of his breeding theories, not only was Kevin a New Zealand Breeder of the Year, he was also crowned New Zealand Owner of the Year in 2014. There was hardly a race meeting that went by where his well-known colours weren’t seen or where his beloved stud, Valachi Downs, wasn’t a sponsor. The impact he made to the New Zealand thoroughbred industry will be felt for years to come.” Hickman’s pride and joy was his homebred O’Reilly mare Silent Achiever, who was trained by Roger James to win 10 of her 36 starts and more than $3.6 million in stakes. She won the Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m), Gr.2 Avondale Guineas (2100m), Gr.2 Championship Stakes (2100m) and Gr.3 Waikato Guineas (2000m) in a stellar three-year-old season, then proved herself on both sides of the Tasman as an older horse with victories in the Gr.1 Tancred Stakes (2400m), Ranvet Stakes (2000m) and New Zealand Stakes (2000m). She also finished third in the 2014 Gr.1 Cox Plate (2040m), where she was beaten by a neck and a short head by Adelaide and Fawkner in one of the closest finishes in the race’s storied history. Other notable performers in Hickman’s gold and blue colours included Group One performers Savile Row, Vernanme and Blue Solitaire, along with Gr.2 Doomben Roses (2000m) heroine Bohemian Lily and fellow Group winners Needle And Thread, Communique and Emerald Queen. Hickman and his wife Joanna also developed Valachi Downs into an internationally respected thoroughbred nursery. Located near Matamata and at one stage home to 80 of Hickman’s broodmares on a property spanning 110 acres, Valachi Downs was sold to Lib and Katrina Petagna in 2022 and rebranded as Elsdon Park. Hickman’s long list of breeding successes includes Group One winner and champion two-year-old Vespa and this year’s jaw-dropping Gr.1 Queensland Derby (2400m) winner Warmonger, plus other big-race performers such as Savile Row, Arrogant and Benaud. Valachi Downs stood stallions Zacinto, Vespa, U S Navy Flag, Ten Sovereigns and Savile Row. Zacinto’s successful stud career was the product of a partnership with his previous home, Inglewood Stud in Canterbury, with which Hickman had a long-standing and close association. “Kevin played an instrumental role in the development of Inglewood Stud over the past 12 years as a major shareholder in both Zacinto and our current stallion War Decree,” Inglewood Stud co-owner Gus Wigley said. “He didn’t hesitate to support Bianca and I when we bought both stallions, which was very typical of the man. He was a great supporter of young people willing to have a go. “He made a massive contribution to our industry – from the farm he developed, to the mares he imported, to the opportunities he offered people within our industry. He was also just a bloody good bloke that I enjoyed the company of, and he’ll be very much missed.” That sentiment is shared widely around Australasia and particularly in Canterbury, where Hickman honoured his roots with sustained sponsorship support. “Kevin had a great passion for racing here at Riccarton Park, stemming from being a very proud Cantabrian,” Canterbury Jockey Club chief executive Tim Mills said. “He was an owner, breeder, sponsor, corporate host and friend of racing. A man who never forgot his roots, he had a particular affinity with the Hororata raceday, coming from that part of Canterbury. “He set out to get both the Canterbury Breeders’ Stakes (1400m) and South Island Breeders’ Stakes (1600m) upgraded to Group Three status, contributing significantly with his Valachi Downs sponsorship to enable stakes above the industry minimum. That goal was achieved, and the success of both races is due to Kevin’s support. “In his perpetual memory, it is fitting that the Kevin Hickman Retirement Village now borders the 1200m chute at Riccarton Park, looking out over where so many horses raced in his colours.” Hickman was also a generous supporter of charities, donating significantly to the likes of the Horse Ambulance Trust, CatWalk Trust, Women’s Refuge, Pet Refuge and the Christchurch Medical Research Centre. He was made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit (ONZM) in 2016. View the full article

Fortuna Racing flagbearer Leaderboard has the opportunity to contest showpiece jumps races on both sides of the Tasman over the coming weeks, beginning with a shot at the A$400,000 Ecycle Solutions Grand National Steeplechase (4500m) at Ballarat on Sunday. The American-bred son of Street Cry has been an outstanding performer for Fortuna since his purchase for 70,000 guineas by De Burgh Equine at the 2018 Autumn Horses in Training Sale in Newmarket. Throughout the ensuing six years he has recorded eight wins in the Fortuna colours and banked more than $450,000, headed by victories in the Gr.3 Wellington Cup (3200m) and Listed New Zealand St Leger (2600m). Leaderboard relocated to trainer Mark Walker’s Cranbourne base earlier this year and has seamlessly switched to jumping with a series of impressive performances. The gelding won a maiden hurdle by almost four lengths during the Warrnambool carnival at the end of April, then finished second in the Australian Hurdle (3900) on June 2. He returned to Warrnambool for another runaway victory on June 23, this time in a maiden steeplechase, then recorded highly creditable placings in the Thackeray Steeplechase (3450m) on July 7 and the Grand National Hurdle (4200m) on August 4. The 10-year-old will be ridden by expat Kiwi jockey Aaron Kuru in Sunday’s Grand National Steeplechase, for which the TAB rates him a $9.50 third favourite behind Stern Idol ($1.60) and Port Guillaume ($6). “It’s going to be a huge thrill to see him carrying our colours in the Grand National at Ballarat this weekend,” Fortuna director and racing manager John Galvin said. “He’s done a fantastic job since heading over to Australia earlier in the year. His six starts have produced two wins, two seconds and two thirds. He’s done us very proud, especially considering it’s his first season in the jumping game and the quality of opposition he’s been racing against. We could have gone for easier races, but we’ve had a throw at the stumps in big races and he’s shown that he’s up to it. “Mark has been very happy with him since his last start placing. We all know that Mark doesn’t gild the lily, but he’s genuinely excited about what Leaderboard has been showing him in his work, his appetite and his demeanour. “I saw a video clip last Tuesday of him doing interval training, which is a 1200m gallop, then five minutes’ rest and another 1200m gallop, and he was jumping around like a two-year-old. “I think he’ll be suited to switching back to steeplechasing this weekend and stepping up from 4200m to 4500m. Another factor that might be in his favour is a wetter track. He’s been racing well on tracks in the Soft5 to Soft7 range, but is yet to strike one that’s really genuinely wet, and that’s a surface we know he’ll love. Ballarat has been a Heavy8 this week and there are showers in the forecast. “We obviously have a lot of respect for Stern Idol, who’s won 10 of his 19 starts over jumps. But he’s giving us 9kg, which is quite a significant amount of weight.” All going to plan, Leaderboard could be seen back on home soil before he goes out for a summer break. “He’ll come back to New Zealand on Wednesday, and the plan was always that he would spell at Te Akau over the summer,” Galvin said. “But the timing works out quite well for us to have a go at the Great Northern Steeplechase (6500m) at Te Rapa on September 15 before he does that.” View the full article

A three-year-old race on the Riccarton Park synthetic track on Saturday will be used as a stepping stone towards spring stakes targets for highly talented local filly Diablo Blanco. The daughter of Super Seth goes into Saturday’s CJC Feature Nominations Close 27 August Three-Year-Old (1200m) as the winner of two of her five starts. After finishing fifth on a heavy track on debut last September, she scored a smart win in her second start at Riccarton on October 28 and then was runner-up on November 15. Those promising performances were enough to prompt trainer Richard Didham to venture north for the Gr.2 Wakefield Challenge Stakes (1100m) at Trentham in early December, where Diablo Blanco finished a highly creditable fourth. The race was won by the subsequent dual Group One placegetter Captured By Love. In her only appearance since then, Diablo Blanco kicked off a new campaign with a comfortable victory at Oamaru on July 21. “She was fantastic first-up after going 228 days between runs,” Didham said. “I thought that was a really good effort. She pulled up great from that and has done everything right in between times. I couldn’t be more pleased with her.” Didham is keen to get back up into feature age-group company with Diablo Blanco, starting with the Listed New Zealand Bloodstock Canterbury Belle Stakes (1200m) at Riccarton on September 14. “I think this race on Saturday is ideal, because it’ll give us three weeks into the Canterbury Belle,” he said. “She’s drawn well on Saturday (gate four) and I think she’ll be hard to beat. It’s her first race on the synthetic track, but I train locally, so she does a lot of work on it and seems comfortable with it. A lot of mine seem to handle it well, and I think she’ll be fine.” Diablo Blanco will be ridden by Ashvin Goindasamy on Saturday and is the TAB’s $1.50 favourite. Didham also has proven synthetic performers Chairman and Analyst lining up in Saturday’s TAB Rating 80 (1600m). Goindasamy will ride Analyst, with Leah Hemi taking the mount on Chairman. Chairman was previously trained by Guy Lowry and Leah Zydenbos at Hastings. The Charm Spirit gelding joined Didham’s stable earlier this year and has recorded three wins and a placing from his last four starts, all on the synthetic track. The previously Glenn Old-trained Analyst has also had success since moving south, winning a 1200m race on the Riccarton synthetic track on July 26 and producing an eye-catching finish for fourth on August 7. “Chairman and Analyst both like the synthetic and have been going really well lately,” Didham said. “I’ve been thrilled with both of them since they joined my stable. “Their work has been very good leading into Saturday. It’s a nice chance for them to run for a good stake ($50,000), and I’m expecting them both to run well again.” Didham’s other runner at Riccarton on Saturday is the 11-year-old King Cougar, who will contest the Christchurch Casino 27th South Island Awards 13 September Rating 80 (1200m). The Alamosa gelding has finished ninth in both of his two previous runs in this preparation. “I think he’s improved, which he’d need to,” Didham said. “He has won on the synthetic and placed multiple times on it too, and it’s a six-horse race, so why not have a go?” View the full article

Doing nothing doesn’t sit well with Lisa Allpress, but right now she has no option. Two weeks after suffering a bad fall just past the winning post on the Riccarton synthetic track, the four-time jockeys’ premiership winner is back home recovering from lower back injuries. That required surgery in Christchurch Hospital, inserting steel rods either side of her spine to aid the mending of a broken L1 vertebra. Doctor’s orders are to sit tight, do as little as possible for at least the next three months, and all going well she’ll be able to resume her career in early 2025. “I know it could have been a whole lot worse, a broken back is still a broken back, but I was so lucky that my spinal cord wasn’t damaged. I got the best possible care in Christchurch. “I was told my surgeon is the absolute best in the business and even though he said I would still mend without surgery, his advice was that to give me the best possible chance of a full recovery – and probably knowing I’m an active sort of person – that was the course they would take.” Once cleared post-surgery, Allpress was flown by air ambulance to Wanganui Hospital, but she still faced challenges. “I was concussed in the fall as well, but it wasn’t till I got to Wanganui that I realised the full impact of that. I suppose it was the flight, going from my own room in Christchurch Hospital to a shared room at Wanganui, it all got on top of me. “I couldn’t hear, couldn’t see, I was vomiting, it was awful, just miserable. Apart from my fall it had been a pretty rough week all round. A few days beforehand Karl (husband) lost his Dad, so there was a whole lot to deal with. “But I’m so lucky to be surrounded by so many good people – Karl, our boys, my Mum, and a whole lot of other people.” When RaceForm caught up with 49-year-old Allpress back at her home on the farm she and Karl own in the Fordel district of Wanganui, she was a lot closer to the bubbly person so familiar to the racing community. However that doesn’t get away from the fact that instead of being confined to barracks, she would have been packing her bags for another trip to Japan to contest the lucrative World All Star Jockeys’ Series at Sapporo racecourse. “One of my first thoughts after the fall was I wouldn’t be going to Japan, it clearly wasn’t going to happen – a broken back cooks it doesn’t it?” she said. “I was soooo disappointed, my season had got off to a really good start and that week up in Japan riding against all those good jockeys from around the world was so exciting.” But then a reality check. “One of the first calls I remember getting after the fall was from Catriona and Sam Williams. There they were as always, checking in, wanting to wish me well, tell me they were thinking of me and to sing out if I needed anything – and that I’d be okay. “I’ve known Catriona since I was a pony club kid, and what she was achieving in showjumping and eventing, I was her number one fan. When they held Horse of the Year at Karaka, I was 16 and my Mum approached Catriona to ask if she would like me to groom for her. “It was just the most fantastic experience, something I’ll never forget, and that was all down to Catriona. She was lovely, genuinely grateful for me to be helping her.” The friendship forged then has been everlasting, and Allpress is one of thousands who remember the anguish when, in 2002, life changed forever for the equestrian with her eyes on the 2004 Tokyo Olympics. The spinal cord injuries suffered by Williams in that cross-country fall have meant life since in a wheelchair, with so many unfulfilled dreams. More importantly, however, her life has also been inspirational, manifested by founding the CatWalk Spinal Cord Injury Trust and raising millions for spinal cord research. Allpress has made her own contribution to those fund-raising efforts, guest-speaking at CatWalk events and being continually inspired by her idol’s approach to life. “That call from Catriona and Sam, it was humbling, it meant so much and it made me realise that I shouldn’t be feeling too sorry for myself, and that I was lucky.” Challenges remain for Allpress, some of them professional, others domestic, but she can see an end-game. “Our older son Josh is due back from his Uni studies at Lincoln – he was coming home anyway to run the farm while Karl and I were in Japan – but it will still be good to have him here to help Karl. “This time of year we’re flat out rearing calves – 200 of them – so Karl will enjoy having an extra hand. I’m stuck inside for now, mobile enough but not allowed to push it for a while. “Hopefully it won’t be too long before Karl has someone who at least can open gates for him, potter around in the Polaris, do some of the small jobs.” In the race immediately before her Riccarton fall, Allpress had taken her new season tally to five wins from just 13 rides. While any fleeting thoughts of a fifth premiership have been erased, she has a goal that in her eyes is well within reach. With a tally of 1,948 wins in New Zealand – not to mention another 82 offshore – she has just 52 left to become the first female jockey to make 2,000. “I was the first female to ride 1,000 wins in New Zealand and I want to be the first to reach 2,000,” she says in a revival of that person we all know as “determined Lisa”. View the full article

Racing Victoria (RV) has today announced the prizemoney and programming structure for the 2024–25 Victorian racing season including a new home for the All-Star Mile. Notwithstanding increased financial headwinds for the Victorian racing industry post COVID-era highs, RV has committed to maintain total prizemoney and bonuses on offer at the same level as the 2023-24 season. This commitment is despite a sharp reduction in wagering turnover of more than 10% over the last 12 months which has contributed to what is expected to be an overall RV financial deficit of around $12 million in FY24, in line with budget. To maintain total prizemoney and bonuses on offer at the same level year-on-year, the RV Group has embarked on a significant cost savings program with net $10 million of operational expenditure budgeted to be reduced across FY25. This is in addition to significant savings achieved in FY24. RV will also call upon retained cash reserves to maintain returns to participants and owners and help underpin the 25,700 full-time equivalent jobs that Victorian thoroughbred racing supports. In 2024-25, Victoria will again offer over $316 million in prizemoney and bonuses with a strategic realignment of the allocation announced to further boost grassroots racing and reward owners celebrating a maiden victory. After each of the three metropolitan Clubs expressed an interest in hosting the All-Star Mile, today’s announcement included confirmation that the race would end its rotation and be located at one track. Prizemoney from the All-Star Mile has been reassigned to deliver turbo charged maidens each Sunday in country Victoria and a series of feature maidens in the state’s west. All-Star Mile Following an Expression Of Interest process, Flemington Racecourse has been chosen as the home of the All-Star Mile with the race to be programmed on an iconic autumn raceday. The All-Star Mile will be hosted by the Victoria Racing Club (VRC) on Super Saturday (8 March 2025) alongside the Group 1 Newmarket Handicap (1200m) bringing together Australia’s best sprinters and milers on one outstanding program. The race’s move to Flemington further strengthens its link with the Group 1 Australian Cup (2000m) scheduled for Saturday, 29 March 2025. In the two years that the All-Star Mile has preceded the Australian Cup it has delivered the quinella in 2024 and first and third placegetters in 2023. As part of the transition, the All-Star Mile Owner Ambassador competition will be retained to continue the race’s unique connection with everyday Australians who will again get the chance to experience big race ownership and share in lucrative prizes. The 2025 All-Star Mile will offer $2.5 million in prizemoney – a strategic reduction of $1.5 million on 2024 to assist in funding the enhanced maiden races and other feature events. Having met the Group 1 benchmark in all six editions, RV and the VRC will ensure that the All-Star Mile attains Group 1 status by no later than the 2026 edition, either via a decision of Australia’s Black Type Committee or via the move of an existing Group 1 race to Super Saturday in the 2025-26 season. To foster the All-Star Mile’s chances of attaining Group 1 status the race will remain under weight-for-age conditions in 2025. The full race conditions will be published over the coming months. Entry to the race will not include a voting mechanism or the sale of slots. Victorian Owners and Breeders Race Day With the All-Star Mile moving one week earlier, RV, with the support of the Melbourne Racing Club (MRC) and Thoroughbred Breeders Victoria (TBV), will move the annual Caulfield Victorian Owners and Breeders Race Day (VOBRD) at Caulfield Racecourse from late April to Saturday, 15 March 2025. Featuring a range of premier races for eligible Victorian-bred horses, VOBRD is headlined by the $1 million The Showdown (1200m) for two-year-olds and the $500,000 VOBIS Sires Guineas (1600m) for three-year-olds. As part of the revised calendar and prizemoney realignment, the Group 2 Peter Young Stakes (1800m) will move from Caulfield Blue Diamond Day at Caulfield (22 February 2025) to VOBRD and increase to $500,000 (up from $300,000). It will serve as another stepping stone to the Australian Cup. Maiden Races Three initiatives will reward owners competing in Victoria with greater returns when their horse wins its first race – a significant moment for all who have invested time and money to achieve success. Through the strategic prizemoney realignment, a feature maiden will now be programmed each Sunday in country Victoria from 1 October 2024. To be known as a Premier Maiden, the race will carry prizemoney of $50,000 and be conducted across a range of distances. Premier Maidens will offer $23,000 (85%) more than standard country maidens. A collection of feature maiden races will also be conducted in the state’s west from October to December 2024 and serve to complement the Future Stars Series held in the state’s south-east in January to March 2025. Ten maidens worth $75,000 each will be run at Ballarat, Geelong and Warrnambool throughout spring, with the winners qualifying for the $250,000 The Emerging Star (1400m) on Ballarat Cup Day – Saturday, 7 December 2024. The races will be open to three, four and five-year-old maiden gallopers and be conducted over 1200m to 1400m. Thirdly, RV is pleased to welcome the introduction of the Inglis Xtra Bonus Maiden Series which will see the premier sales company offer $2.3 million in bonuses across Victoria during the 2024-25 season. Inglis graduates fully paid up for the Inglis Race Series will be eligible for a $100,000 bonus if successful in one of 23 Victorian maidens. The first Inglis Xtra bonus was offered and won at Sale yesterday (Thursday, 22 August) by the owners of the Simon Zahra-trained Blackberry Bomb. Feature Races As part of the industry’s annual planning and budgeting process, the Victoria Racing Club (VRC) has elected to reduce its prizemoney funding contribution for the 2024-25 season by a net amount of $1.125 million. RV and the VRC have worked closely to determine a realigned feature race prizemoney model for Flemington to best accommodate the Club’s reduced prizemoney ‘top-ups’. As a starting point, RV has committed $500,000 from the All-Star Mile reduction to maintain the Group 1 Newmarket Handicap (1200m) at $1.5 million on Super Saturday. The key prizemoney adjustments at Flemington come in 2025 and are as follows: Bagot Handicap (Listed, 2800m, 1 January 2025) – $175,000 (down from $200,000) Standish Handicap (Group 3, 1200m, 11 January 2025) – $200,000 (down from $250,000) Australian Cup (Group 1, 2000m, 29 March 2025) – $2.5 million (down from $3 million) The Roy Higgins (Listed, 2600m, 29 March 2025) – $300,000 (down from $500,000) The Andrew Ramsden (Listed, 2800m, 17 May 2025) – $300,000 (down from $500,000) The Roy Higgins and The Andrew Ramsden will now carry the same prizemoney as The Archer, with all races offering the opportunity of a guaranteed start in the Melbourne Cup for the winner. The Australian Cup will carry the same prizemoney as the All-Star Mile, while the Standish and Bagot Handicaps return to the Group 3 and Listed minimums respectively. As part of the strategic prizemoney realignment, RV has announced that feature races on Cox Plate Day at The Valley (26 October 2024) and the 2025 Blue Diamond Stakes Series at Caulfield have been boosted. To that end, prizemoney has been increased for the following races: Crystal Mile (Group 2, 1600m, 26 October 2024) – $400,000 (up from $300,000) Tesio Stakes (Group 3, 2040m, 26 October 2024) – $300,000 (up from $200,000) 2 x Blue Diamond Previews (1000m, 25 January 2025) – $250,000 (up from $200,000) 2 x Blue Diamond Preludes (1100m, 8 February 2025) – $350,000 (up from $300,000) The prizemoney boosts for the Crystal Mile and Tesio Stakes support changes to the race conditions for both. The Crystal Mile has converted from weight-for-age to set weights and penalties, whilst the Tesio rises in distance from 1600m to 2040m to provide a further 2000m+ mares’ stakes race on the Australian calendar. It links with the Group 2 Matriarch Stakes (2000m) at Flemington a fortnight later. Horse racing news View the full article

Leaderboard will contest Sunday’s Grand National Steeplechase (4500m) at Ballarat. Photo: Bruno Cannatelli Fortuna Racing flagbearer Leaderboard has the opportunity to contest showpiece jumps races on both sides of the Tasman over the coming weeks, beginning with a shot at the A$400,000 Grand National Steeplechase (4500m) at Ballarat on Sunday. The American-bred son of Street Cry has been an outstanding performer for Fortuna since his purchase for 70,000 guineas by De Burgh Equine at the 2018 Autumn Horses in Training Sale in Newmarket. Throughout the ensuing six years he has recorded eight wins in the Fortuna colours and banked more than $450,000, headed by victories in the Group 3 Wellington Cup (3200m) and Listed New Zealand St Leger (2600m). Leaderboard relocated to trainer Mark Walker’s Cranbourne base earlier this year and has seamlessly switched to jumping with a series of impressive performances. The gelding won a maiden hurdle by almost four lengths during the Warrnambool carnival at the end of April, then finished second in the Australian Hurdle (3900) on June 2. He returned to Warrnambool for another runaway victory on June 23, this time in a maiden steeplechase, then recorded highly creditable placings in the Thackeray Steeplechase (3450m) on July 7 and the Grand National Hurdle (4200m) on August 4. The 10-year-old will be ridden by expat Kiwi jockey Aaron Kuru in Sunday’s Grand National Steeplechase, for which bookmakers rate him a +850 third favourite behind Stern Idol (-166.67) and Port Guillaume (+500). “It’s going to be a huge thrill to see him carrying our colours in the Grand National at Ballarat this weekend,” Fortuna director and racing manager John Galvin said. “He’s done a fantastic job since heading over to Australia earlier in the year. His six starts have produced two wins, two seconds and two thirds. He’s done us very proud, especially considering it’s his first season in the jumping game and the quality of opposition he’s been racing against. We could have gone for easier races, but we’ve had a throw at the stumps in big races and he’s shown that he’s up to it. “Mark has been very happy with him since his last start placing. We all know that Mark doesn’t gild the lily, but he’s genuinely excited about what Leaderboard has been showing him in his work, his appetite and his demeanour. “I saw a video clip last Tuesday of him doing interval training, which is a 1200m gallop, then five minutes’ rest and another 1200m gallop, and he was jumping around like a two-year-old. “I think he’ll be suited to switching back to steeplechasing this weekend and stepping up from 4200m to 4500m. Another factor that might be in his favour is a wetter track. He’s been racing well on tracks in the Soft5 to Soft7 range, but is yet to strike one that’s really genuinely wet, and that’s a surface we know he’ll love. Ballarat has been a Heavy8 this week and there are showers in the forecast. “We obviously have a lot of respect for Stern Idol, who’s won 10 of his 19 starts over jumps. But he’s giving us 9kg, which is quite a significant amount of weight.” All going to plan, Leaderboard could be seen back on home soil before he goes out for a summer break. “He’ll come back to New Zealand on Wednesday, and the plan was always that he would spell at Te Akau over the summer,” Galvin said. “But the timing works out quite well for us to have a go at the Great Northern Steeplechase (6500m) at Te Rapa on September 15 before he does that.” Horse racing news View the full article

Trainer Richard Didham pictured with Diablo Blanco. Photo: Race Images South A three-year-old race on the Riccarton Park synthetic track on Saturday will be used as a stepping stone towards spring stakes targets for highly talented local filly Diablo Blanco. The daughter of Super Seth goes into Saturday’s CJC Feature Nominations Close 27 August Three-Year-Old (1200m) as the winner of two of her five starts. After finishing fifth on a heavy track on debut last September, she scored a smart win in her second start at Riccarton on October 28 and then was runner-up on November 15. Those promising performances were enough to prompt trainer Richard Didham to venture north for the Group 2 Wakefield Challenge Stakes (1100m) at Trentham in early December, where Diablo Blanco finished a highly creditable fourth. The race was won by the subsequent dual Group 1 placegetter Captured By Love. In her only appearance since then, Diablo Blanco kicked off a new campaign with a comfortable victory at Oamaru on July 21. “She was fantastic first-up after going 228 days between runs,” Didham said. “I thought that was a really good effort. She pulled up great from that and has done everything right in between times. I couldn’t be more pleased with her.” Didham is keen to get back up into feature age-group company with Diablo Blanco, starting with the Listed Canterbury Belle Stakes (1200m) at Riccarton on September 14. “I think this race on Saturday is ideal, because it’ll give us three weeks into the Canterbury Belle,” he said. “She’s drawn well on Saturday (gate four) and I think she’ll be hard to beat. It’s her first race on the synthetic track, but I train locally, so she does a lot of work on it and seems comfortable with it. A lot of mine seem to handle it well, and I think she’ll be fine.” Diablo Blanco will be ridden by Ashvin Goindasamy on Saturday and is the bookmaker’s -200 favourite. Didham also has proven synthetic performers Chairman and Analyst lining up in Saturday’s Rating 80 (1600m). Goindasamy will ride Analyst, with Leah Hemi taking the mount on Chairman. Chairman was previously trained by Guy Lowry and Leah Zydenbos at Hastings. The Charm Spirit gelding joined Didham’s stable earlier this year and has recorded three wins and a placing from his last four starts, all on the synthetic track. The previously Glenn Old-trained Analyst has also had success since moving south, winning a 1200m race on the Riccarton synthetic track on July 26 and producing an eye-catching finish for fourth on August 7. “Chairman and Analyst both like the synthetic and have been going really well lately,” Didham said. “I’ve been thrilled with both of them since they joined my stable. “Their work has been very good leading into Saturday. It’s a nice chance for them to run for a good stake ($50,000), and I’m expecting them both to run well again.” Didham’s other runner at Riccarton on Saturday is the 11-year-old King Cougar, who will contest the Rating 80 (1200m). The Alamosa gelding has finished ninth in both of his two previous runs in this preparation. “I think he’s improved, which he’d need to,” Didham said. “He has won on the synthetic and placed multiple times on it too, and it’s a six-horse race, so why not have a go?” Horse racing news View the full article

Waitak will contest the Group 2 Waikato Stud Foxbridge Plate (1200m) at Te Rapa on Saturday. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images) Wexford Stables may be without their defending champion in Saturday’s Group 2 Foxbridge Plate (1200m), but a returning Group 1 winner in Waitak will be out to retain the title for Lance O’Sullivan & Andrew Scott. The Matamata operation were set to have both Waitak and stablemate Dragon Leap commencing their spring preparations in the Te Rapa feature, but the latter has been scratched, erring on the side of caution after trackwork on Thursday morning. “We gave him a stretch of his legs yesterday (Thursday) and he’s just pulled up a bit off,” Scott said. “Pratap, his trackwork rider, rides him every day and knows this horse very well, he just didn’t think he was quite 100 percent. “We went over him and couldn’t find a lot wrong, and he’s trotted up all but 100 percent yesterday afternoon, but the horse certainly comes first so we just wanted to take the precautionary avenue. “He’s been an incredibly good horse to us so we don’t want to be taking any chances.” The eight-year-old son of Pierro has earned more than $620,000 in a career spanning 25 starts, with his victory in last year’s Foxbridge Plate his third at Group Two level. Dragon Leap subsequently finished a narrow second to Skew Wiff in the Group 1 Tarzino Trophy (1400m), a race Scott indicated he may still feature in this year come the 7th of September. “We’ll do a reset now and keep a close eye on him over the next couple of days, and all going well he can crack on into his preparation,” he said. “He’s still in the entries for Hastings, so if there’s nothing sinister wrong he still has a spring path in front of him.” Waitak made a name for himself in the sprinting ranks through the second half of last season, with an explosive come-from-behind victory in the Group 1 Railway Handicap (1200m) and a creditable performance when crossing the Tasman for The Quokka (1200m). “We couldn’t have been more pleased with how he’s come away from Perth, he had a quick break and we’ve given him two trials to have him as fit as we can going into Saturday,” Scott said. “The Foxbridge and the Tarzino are his first two initial goals, so we’re looking to have him as ready as we can which we think we have. “He’s had a nice amount of work and went well in his trials, his work is always at a high standard so we think we’re ready to go fresh-up. “It’ll be Soft to Heavy ground, so you need good levels of fitness to overcome that. He has shown he can handle the softer ground, so we believe he’s got the fitness to be galloping on strongly.” The Proisir gelding has drawn barrier 13 under Masa Hashizume, with the wide alley not seen to be an issue in Scott’s perspective. “He’s drawn wide, but late in the day, that may not be a disadvantage,” he said. “They may be looking to get out on the track anyway, but he’s a horse that even if we’d drawn a gate, he couldn’t have utilised it as he settles beyond midfield.” On the undercard, O’Sullivan and Scott have a pair of runners contesting the Noverre Mile (1600m) and Ardrossan 1200 with Time Traveller and Lex Rex respectively. “Time Traveller has been pretty consistent and getting closer to a win, he hit the line well at his last start and is ready to be stepping out to a mile now,” Scott said. ‘He enjoyed Te Rapa last start so back there where he’s hit out with confidence, we wouldn’t be expecting any less. “He’s a fit gelding that can handle the soft ground, so he’ll be right in the finish.” A son of Per Incanto, Lex Rex has been away from the races for over 12 months and is lightly tried for a six-year-old, with just eight starts under his belt. “Dame Lowell Goddard (owner and breeder) loves her horses and is always prepared to wait for them,” Scott said. “He had a wee setback last year and she’s given him a long break with a slow build-up to follow. “He’s always a horse we thought was capable of getting through the grades and up to a good level, and he trialled in a manner that suggests when he goes, we expect him to run well. “He’s sound and pretty forward, so we believe he can put in a good account of himself.” Looking forward to the Hastings carnival, the Tarzino Trophy also beckons for smart Group 2-winning mare Grail Seeker, who was an eye-catching performer in the Fiber Fresh Group Trials at Taupo on Wednesday. “The team was very pleased with her, seeing her trial in the manner she did,” Scott said. “She’s just settled into her work quickly this time in and is stronger in the finish, whereas last season she just wanted to overdo it a wee bit in her races. “She’s pulled up really well this morning, she had a trot and a canter and is coping well. “She’ll go down to the Tarzino, we’ve aimed her for this race fresh as she seems to put in a strong performance on the fresher side. By the way she has trialled twice, she looks to be going down and being competitive. “She’s a filly that we’ve always thought a lot of, and now we’ve got her going back over shorter trips, that may be her style this season.” Horse racing news View the full article

It’s Friday night! Selections for Auckland and Addington. Head to www.tab.co.nz to place your bet! Race Auckland Aaron White Commentator Race Addington Matt Cross Commentator Race 1 5.53pm 6 Regal Girl 8 Pantani 9 Bolt For The Hill 4 Hughie Wallace Race 1 5.06pm 1 Captain Moonlight 6 Treasure Cove 2 Revolution 7 I’m Rockin Race 2 6.19pm 11 Nelson’s Boy 4 Upstage 6 Major Major 5 J T Boe Race 2 5.39pm 10 Double Jeopardy 1 Brando 4 Bronson 8 Ragazzo Major Race 3 6.49pm 6 Seaside Rose 8 Wicked Wanda 1 Clouding Over 5 Kourtney Kardash Race 3 6.06pm 6 Zoltan Boscik 12 Tyron Eros 7 A Fine Patrick 11 Confessional Race 4 7.14pm 3 Ilsas Son 7 Voronov 6 That’s What We Do 1 Mazeppa Race 4 6.33 pm 6 Without You 7 Sandy Shore 9 Louretta 4 Mystic Max Race 5 7.39pm 8 Bar Louie 3 I Got Chills 9 Confederate 2 Beachbreak Race 5 7.05pm 9 Ruby Roe 13 Happy Harper 7 Melody Banner 8 Molly Belwin Race 6 8.13pm 6 Lady Of The Light 4 Artisan 2 Twista 5 Fernleigh Cash Race 6 7.30pm 7 Aardiebythehill 6 Sunnys Sister 5 Mr Love 2 Mighty Logan Race 7 8.38pm 1 Asteria Lavra 3 Five O’Clock Gerry 5 Lil Whip 4 Brienne Race 7 7.58pm 6 Charlie Brown 2 Dalton Shard 11 Anything Goes 12 Who’s Delight Race 8 9.09pm 2 The Night Agent 6 Waltzing With Miki 3 Inlouof 4 Harold Hanover Race 8 8.28pm 10 Xlendi 3 It’s Tough 1 Warloch 8 Tide And Time Race 9 9.41pm 6 Miss Bebe 5 Emily Bay 7 Maro Mackendon 2 Boss Jo Race 9 8.58pm 7 Forgiveness 8 One Over Da Line 3 Buffy Northstains 6 The Bloss Race 10 9.31pm 8 Kaysans Rock 10 Piccadilly Pete 11 The Night Fox 3 Haley Robyn View the full article