Wandering Eyes

Ombudsman overcame a troubled passage to run riot in the Group One Prince Of Wales’s (2,005m) at Royal Ascot on Wednesday. The John and Thady Gosden-trained four-year-old was trapped behind a wall of horses at the 400m pole and it looked certain that William Buick was going to become the victim of a classic Royal Ascot hard-luck story. Godolphin’s retained rider didn’t panic, however, and switched into the clear at the 200m before surging down the outside to overhaul Anmaat and land the...View the full article

The Jockey Club has received government approval to significantly up its simulcast programme, with the number of overseas meetings offered for betting to Hong Kong punters increasing from 37 to 70 in the next two years. The number of meetings the Jockey Club can simulcast will jump from 37 to 53 in the 2025-26 season and climb to 70 in 2026-27, while the number of simulcast races – races from overseas shown on Hong Kong race days – will increase from 25 to 40 from 2025-26 and rocket to 55 from...View the full article

Race 4 DEBBIE HENDERSON MAIDEN 1200m FORSETI (B Jacobson) – Trainer Mr. R Dennis advised Stewards, he was satisfied with the post-race condition of FORSETI, and it is the intention to continue her preparation. The post Oamaru Jockey Club @ Oamaru, Sunday 15 June 2025 appeared first on RIB. View the full article

Race 3 JOIN TAB RACING CLUB MAIDEN 1600m MAGGIE MCMUFFIN (T Davies) – Co-trainer Ms. A Harrington reported to Stewards, that on Thursday 12 June, MAGGIE MCMUFFIN underwent a veterinary examination, which included x-rays of the left knee. The x-rays revealed the presence of bone fragments within the joint. MAGGIE MCMUFFIN has now been retired from racing. Race 6 CUP WEEK HOSPITALITY ON SALE 26 JUNE 1400m CORPS D’ELITE (B Queiroz) – Te Akau Racing Manager Mr. R Trumper advised Stewards, the stable was satisfied with the post-race condition of the filly, however, CORPS D’ELITE has now been sent for a spell. The post Riccarton Turf at Riccarton Park, Wednesday 11 June 2025 appeared first on RIB. View the full article

Shaune Ritchie and Colm Murray wouldn’t usually present a horse to the races without a trial, but that indicated how much they thought of Love The Sort (Tassort), and she bolted in on debut at the Cambridge Synthetic on Wednesday. The filly’s success was the first leg of a winning double for the stable, with Ritchie on course while Murray celebrated his birthday in the warmer climes of Queensland. “I’ve just got back from the States and had a fantastic experience over there, and Colm took off this morning to go to the Gold Coast,” Ritchie said. “Really, he’s done the hard work on the horses winning today, and I get to stand there and count the money.” An unknown to the public, Love The Sort opened at a decent price in the Waipa Earthworks 970, and after getting as short as $4, she closed at double figures. With a featherlight 51.5kg under Rihaan Goyaram, the two-year-old fired through the pack to find the lead and she never looked like being caught, gliding clear by two lengths from Rocky Mountain. “I think it’s the first time in as long as I can remember that we’ve presented a horse at the races without having a barrier trial,” Ritchie said. “She’s shown us plenty of speed, and now that she’s used to the poly, we knew she had a great turn of foot on it. “In the couple of jump-outs she’s had, she’s been a little ginger out of the gate, but we were prepared to take the risk on that, knowing how fast she was. “After missing the kick slightly, she’s managed to get on to the fence, and we know she can rail like a little bit of a greyhound. I just love the way that she pinned her ears back and wanted to find the line, you can’t train that into them.” A daughter of Tassort, Love The Sort was a A$42,500 purchase by Ritchie at the Magic Millions’ Gold Coast Yearling Sale, and she carries the same silks as her Group Two-winning stablemate Tuxedo. “She just looked like a real runner to me,” he said. “Colm and I are aware that our best results have come in the staying races, with Cups and Oaks, and we probably prefer to train stayers, but having said that, we’ve got to keep up with the times. “She’s just average-sized, but she’s built like a bullet, and we wanted to develop a sprinting type. As a two-year-old, that didn’t come up for us, we had to back off for maturity reasons, and that’s paid us back a little bit today. “The horse is owned by a bride of different people, but the main owner of Tuxedo, Grant Barnett, likes his colours and owns a nice share in this horse. He got a bit of money to pay training fees off the TAB today, which is great, because that’s a part of the enjoyment of racing, putting a bet on your own horse.” Ritchie indicated the filly would be off to the paddock at short notice, but she would be back for the early spring. “She’ll almost certainly go for a break now, and then we’ll look at some three-year-old fillies races for her,” he said. “She may be limited to that 1200m, so we’ll probably have to take the season early, because as we know with the three-year-olds, the distances step up the further you get into the summer.” Later in the meeting, it was the turn of Hot Line Bling, who missed the start considerably, but was good enough to run down Radradra right on the line to collect his maiden over 1550m. “I thought his run was impressive, given that we really feel he is a 2000m-plus horse,” Ritchie said. “When he missed the start, it looked like it was all over, but after finding the right gap at the top of the straight, you’ve got to admire the way that he attacked the line in the last 200m. He wanted to win the race and he’s a beautiful style of an animal, he just looks like a really good staying sort of horse.” The success came at his 11th start and was a welcomed reward for connections, after a tough journey with the four-year-old. “When we presented him as a three-year-old he was racing quite well, he was only beaten narrowly at Whangarei, but he got an infection in the eye,” Ritchie said. “We had to make a decision and ask the owners whether they would pay for a pretty expensive operation, to get blood back into the retina so he could keep his eye, let alone race again. “It’s cost them a pretty penny to get to this point, so it’s nice to see them rewarded. “In his case, he’ll keep going through the winter, and if we can get him to a race like a New Zealand Cup (Gr.3, 3200m) on a light weight, I think that might be the sort of race within his range. I don’t think he’ll be stopping winning today.” Meanwhile, excitement is building in the stable with the recent return of not only Tuxedo, but also Tajana, a Group One-performing juvenile this season. “We’re very excited for Tajana and Tuxedo, they’ve both just come back into the stable and are going through some slow work at the moment,” Ritchie said. “Tuxedo has put on 40-50 kilos, he’s now got a hind quarter like an open sprinter, rather than a mile and a quarter Group Two winner. I think we’ll keep him to 1400m and a mile this preparation, he was right there in a Karaka Million and won two Group races, so he was just off the top echelon of three-year-olds. “With that natural strength, we expect him to be improved again, and we look forward to the Group races in the spring. “Tajana has run third in a Sires’ Produce and is Group Two-placed, so she’s another exciting filly from The Oaks Stud. “She’s getting ready for a 1000 Guineas (Gr.1 1600m), so we’ve got some classy horses to work with.” View the full article

Talented mare Grande Gallo (NZ) (Belardo) will return to her favourite track in pursuit of black-type in Saturday’s Listed Team Wealleans Tauranga Classic (1400m), with two of her key rivals coming from the same stable. The daughter of Belardo has won three out of four appearances at the Tauranga course, and after her success in the Owens Plate (1200m) in March, trainers Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott pencilled in the fillies and mares feature. “This race has been on her radar for a long time, it was her finale that we set in the hope of getting some black-type,” O’Sullivan said. “The biggest question mark with her is the track conditions, just whether she’s going to handle it to these sort of extremes. She does handle give in the ground, but this just may be a kettle of fish on the weekend.” An $85,000 purchase by Wexford at the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sales in 2022, Grande Gallo has more than exceeded that price in earnings, surpassing the $200,000 mark with a scorching run into second behind Midnight Scandal at Ellerslie earlier this month. It may have been a surprise in the market, but certainly not for her trainers, who anticipate the best is yet to come for the mare. “We expected that from her,” O’Sullivan said. “She’s done exceptionally well, she’s won five races now and has raced in pretty good company. We feel that next season, when she’s a year older and a bit stronger, she’ll continue to get better.” Joining Grande Gallo in Saturday’s contest is Lux Libertas, a mare with a similarly sharp record, and stakes placings in the Gr.2 Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1400m) and more recently, the Gr.3 Rotorua ITM Stakes (1400m). Adept in heavy track conditions, O’Sullivan hopes to see a similar showing from the Almanzor four-year-old before she heads to the paddock. “She’s ultra-consistent and racing well,” he said. “This will be her last start before she goes for a bit of a rest, but she’s certainly been a model of consistency.” The sole filly of the field will also represent Wexford, with a very in-form Tristar earning her place after winning two on the bounce this campaign. “It depended on her last performance, whether she was in the fillies and mares, or in the three-year-old race over 1200 on Saturday,” O’Sullivan said. “But she put up a good enough performance there and she deserves to race for black-type.” The stable will have another eight runners across the meeting, including three-year-olds Macallan and Ribkraka, both winners at their most recent starts. “Macallan has shown that he can handle very testing conditions, as he did last time at Tauranga,” O’Sullivan said. “Any horse that can handle the track in those kinds of conditions has got to be considered a good chance. “Although, this is quite a big step up in quality of horses, in comparison to what he met last time. “Rikraka is great, he’s done really well and has shown a lot of ticker in his last three runs. “He’s a good, tough horse that gets through bad ground and he’ll continue to improve.” The pair will go head-to-head in the Aongatete Avo-Ject 3YO (1200m), with Bruno Queiroz and Triston Moodley taking the respective rides. View the full article

The Myers name is synonymous with Central Districts racing, and Palmerston North-based trainer Caley Myers is continuing to add to her family’s legacy in the industry. The daughter of renowned Wanganui horseman Kevin “Dummy” Myers, Caley has been involved in the sport from an early age and gained a solid grounding from her family. She enjoyed working for her father for several years, which included campaigning horses around the country, but decided last season it was time to step out on her own and carve her own path. Myers scored two victories in her debut season, and at the start of this term elected to purchase a property on the outskirts of Palmerston North to set-up her own operation, which follows a similar business model to her father’s – running a small farm alongside her stable. “I have been doing it (working in racing) for a fair while now, going around the country with Dad’s horses, and this property came up for sale last year and I thought ‘why not give it a crack?’,” Myers said. “I have been in Palmerston North since last August and I am setting up my own operation. The property is just under 100 acres, and I am mostly doing pre-trainers, with a few two-year-olds and a couple of older horses. “I am also doing spellers as well as running a few cattle.” Myers is enjoying running her own barn but still utilises the family set-up on a weekly basis. “I am enjoying training, it is good fun,” she said. “I work at home, and I take my gallops out to Mum and Dad’s.” While mostly focussing on younger stock and pre-trainers at the infancy of her training career, Myers has a couple of exciting racehorses in her barn, including promising maidener Autumn Beauty. Myers acquired the chestnut gelding off her father and races him in partnership with her brothers Jason and Luke, who had major roles to play in his early education. “He has always been a nice horse,” Myers said. “Jason and Luke have done quite a bit with him and they really liked him, so we are all hopeful that he’s going to show something.” The four-year-old son of The Autumn Sun has already shown plenty of promise on the track, finishing runner-up in two of his four starts to date, including at New Plymouth last week where he was strong late. Myers was pleased with that effort and is hoping he can be ridden handier at Otaki on Friday, where he will be vying for a breakthrough win in the Otaki Tyre Repairs Maiden (2100m), with Myers’ cousin Kelly Myers in the saddle. “He has been going well,” Myers said. “He got just a little bit too far back last time, but that happens, and he ran home well. Hopefully he will be a bit handier on Friday.” Another exciting prospect in Myers’ barn is nine-year-old gelding Duke Of Plumpton. Raced by her father and close family friend Patrick Payne, Duke Of Plumpton has campaigned on both sides of the Tasman for the respective trainers and joined Myers’ stable last year. The son of Bachelor Duke has won seven races on the flat, and has shown an affinity for jumping, winning one and placing in two of his three hurdle starts to date. His future lies over fences, cementing that path with a pleasing trial at Cambridge on Monday. Myers has plenty of time for the promising hurdler and is dreaming of a trip south in six weeks for Riccarton’s Grand National Festival of Racing, a carnival she has frequented regularly on behalf of her father. “He is a nice horse and a handy horse to have around,” Myers said. “I had a patch where I didn’t have many of my own horses and Dad said I could train him. “He went well in his trial on Monday and Corey (Wiles, jockey) was happy with him. “Hopefully he will look to go to Christchurch. I have been doing that trip for many years now and it’s always a good trip away.” While racing is Myers’ first love, she is also passionate about a second career for her horses and recently took part in New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing’s (NZTR) Know Your Thoroughbred Clinic in Manawatu, hosted by local thoroughbred retraining and rehoming organisation JumpStart. With jumping being a staple in the Myers stable, rehoming their retired racehorses is a relatively easy exercise given their versatility and early education over fences. However, Myers said several of their former runners have been graduates of the JumpStart programme. One of those graduates is seven-year-old gelding Escalade, who won a race apiece on the flat and over hurdles before his subsequent retirement to JumpStart. “He had a little bit of an injury and Dad owned him and thought he might as well retire him while he is still sound and find a nice home for him because he is a beautiful horse,” Myers said. Myers recently reunited with the gelding at the Know Your Thoroughbred Clinic, jumping in the saddle aboard the son of Roc de Cambes to showcase is talent in the show jumping arena. “Dana Sutton, who runs JumpStart, got injured a couple of days before the clinic, so she asked me if I could come and ride Escalade,” Myers said. “It had been a very long time since I had jumped a show jump, but it was lucky it was on a horse that I did know, and I had jumped before.” Myers said Escalade is a lovely-natured horse that is thriving in the JumpStart environment. “Dana does a fantastic job with them, and she loves Escalade,” Myers said. “I believe she is keeping him.” View the full article

El Vaquero (NZ) (Ferrando) made such an early impression on Riccarton trainer Michael Pitman that he didn’t hesitate to purchase the colt’s sister at Karaka earlier this year. The handsome son of Ferrando has justified his handler’s opinion with sharp improvement on an unplaced debut with a top effort for a last start second. El Vaquero was caught wide at Wingatui from the outside gate and fought gallantly to the post and will bid to go one better in the Bain McCall Memorial 2YO (1000m) on his home course on Saturday. While co-trainer Pitman is more than happy with his charge, he acknowledged the task his youngster would face in trying to turn the tables on Te Akau representative Cool Aza Rene. “He probably should have won last start and under the conditions of two-year-old racing in New Zealand, the winner still gets in really well at the weights being a filly, so it will be tough,” he said. Three-time winner Cool Aza Rene will concede El Vaquero half a-kilo and her 57kg book weight will be further reduced by the 3kg claim of apprentice Hayley Hassman. “My bloke is a lovely horse and he will probably be better on top of the ground, but he did seem to get away with it the other day,” Pitman said. “He is such a nice colt that I went and bought his sister at the yearling sale.” Pitman secured the filly for $45,000 out of Apex Bloodstock’s draft while the stable will also have older brother and winner Giussepe Ferrante in Saturday’s Janet Francis Handicap (1000m). “He’s a nice horse, but the two-year-old is a magnificent looking colt,” he said. Pitman and son Matthew will also have a decent hand in the Greenwood Amberley Cup (1400m) with Makabar and Charbano in contention. “Makabar will be the better of the two, given his record on wet tracks at Riccarton,” he said. “The 1400m isn’t his go really, but he has won over the distance before and is in good order. “He went a good race (for second) the other day, he went up to win and the other horse (Express Coup) kept kicking back.” Stablemate Express Coup will attempt to make it two on the bounce when she steps out in the Glenys & Rod Gard’ner Handicap (1200m). “She will drop back from winning an open race to a Rating 75, so she gets in well,” Pitman said. The highly regarded Ocean Light, who has won two of his last three starts, will take aim at the Drug Alcohol Testing Specialists Handicap (1600m). “I think he’s an open class horse in waiting, he’s been freshened up and will go for this race and then possibly back to the poly for an open race,” Pitman said. “Of the others, Tomyturbo is racing well and dropping back to Rating 65 and Interlagos was very impressive last start, so we’ve got a few chances.” | Amberley Patrons Handicap (2000m) Tomyturbo has consecutive third placings to his credit while Optimise Fertilisers & Equi-Lise Handicap (1400m) hope Interlagos cleared maiden ranks in style at Wingatui. View the full article

Crimson Advocate swooped late to land the Duke of Cambridge Stakes (G2) for James McDonald and Wathnan Racing.View the full article

A day after its raid at Delta Downs, ICE said it arrested 84 people. Meanwhile, the National HBPA is calling on tracks to not allow ICE on backstretches without "an official warrant." View the full article

Catalina Delcarpio has looked every inch a burgeoning star for trainer Paddy Twomey, and she disputes favoritism with Andrew Balding's Musidora Stakes (G3) runner-up Serenity Prayer in the 1 1/2-mile Ribblesdale Stakes (G2) at Royal Ascot.View the full article

These 6 horses have trialled pleasingly in recent weeks and this week they head back to the racetrack. Duchess Of Kent (3f Art Major – Galleon’s Honour) Tr. L Pearson Rewarded her followers at Invercargill (2/6/25) with an easy front running maiden win at only her 4th start in a 1:58MR, last 800m in 57.0 Had previously won a trial (16/5/25) at Winton so the win was not unexpected. Since her raceday victory, she has been back at the Winton workouts where she showed her customary gate speed to lead & did enough to hold out 2 rivals without being really pushed. Goes to Forbury Park (racing at Wyndham) this Thursday (Race 11) where she takes on some handy fillies/mares but does have a good draw to utilise her gate speed and should prove competitive again. Princess Sadie (4m Muscle Mass – Shell Seeker) Tr. M Williamson Smart 3yo from last season getting her 4yo campaign started at Forbury Park this Thursday in Race 5, where she faces 5 rivals off a 20m handicap. Has won 3 from 17 and $141k in stakes after featuring in many of the 3yo specials of last season. Went to the Oamaru trials (10/6/25) where she led (after getting a 20m headstart) Love N The Port (Rowe Cup winner) & Empire City, did enough to hold those ‘esteemed’ rivals at bay MR:2:11.7, 800m in 58.5. Had been placed at an earlier trial at Ashburton (27/5/25) where she cam from last in a 7 horse field to just miss picking up the winner in a 57.7 800m. Her class alone should take her very close. Wicked Wanda (5m Sweet Lou – Bettor Be A Lady) Tr. G Rogerson 5 win mare with a good record (32 starts + $84k in the bank) who has been back to the Pukekohe workouts in recent weeks for impressive wins (2). The latest (10/6/25) where she led then cleared out from 4 rivals over the final stages to win by 5L. MR:2:03.1, 800m in 57.2, 400m in 27.2 Goes to Auckland this Friday (Race 2) where she should be able to use her gate speed to advantage over the short 1700m trip, challenging her main rivals who have drawn to her outside. Deserves to get another ‘W’. Always B Mattie (4g Always B Miki – Diamonds & Dust) Tr. T Hopkins Won a 3 horse workout at the ‘Park’ (2/5/25) in a good time MR:2:00.9, 800m in 57.7, 400m in 28.5 after leading. 2 race day runs back been hampered by poor draws although did run on strongly last time behind Kevin Kline when placed 3rd. 3rd up this Friday at Auckland in Race 4 where he has a major upgrade in the draw this time and with his natural fitness getting better, he should be close to his best. He is the highest rated horse in this field although there are others in career best form all the same. Bettor Be Quick (3f Bettor’s Delight – Righteous Franco) Tr. R & J Dunn Placed 4x at 2 from 8 starts behind the likes of Arafura & Sacetas, the well bred filly reappeared at the Rangiora trials (4/6/25) and after sitting parked over the last 700m, proved too good for Missing In Action (placed last week behind the impressive Show Stopper) MR:2:01.4, 800m in 56.8, 400m in 27.7. Begins her 3yo season with a race day start this Friday at Addington (Race 2) against the maiden fillies/mares. Draw no help but still expected to be very competitive and a likely stepping stone for ‘richer’ assignments later in the year. Full sister to the very smart group performer Pats Delight (12 wins + $296k) Brett’s Mate (6g The Pres – Eyrewell Pegasus) Tr. K Cameron Won a trial at Rangiora (21/5/25) where he got over the top of Macho Man from a handy sit in a field of 6 MR:2:08.9, 800m in 60.7, 400m in 30.8 Went to Addington for his resumption where he wasn’t disgraced in 3rd behind the smart Wilma’s Boy then a good thing beaten last Sunday when badly hampered by a breaking runner with 500m to run, big late recovery for 4th 1L from the winner. Back at Addington this Sunday, 3rd up in Race 4 and can deliver with some change in his fortune. View the full article

by Adam Hamilton Jonny Cox is looking forward to launching his Aussie campaign with the exciting Pinseeker at Menangle on Saturday night. Cox and Pinseeker arrived in Sydney late yesterday (Tuesday) along with the David and Stacey White pair Bet N Win and Betterthancash, who also step-out at Menangle on Saturday. Pinseeker (gate four) will clash with Betterthancash (three) over a mile in the opening race on Saturday. “I don’t know a lot about the form yet, but it looks a good starting point because we’re racing a class below the free-for-allers,” Cox said. “He travelled well, had a jog around at Luke’s (McCarthy) place this morning and seems to have settled in well.” Cox, who will do the driving on Saturday, said he wasn’t sure how quickly Pinseeker would begin from gate four. “He’s had lots of standing start racing at home, but has been in more mobiles this year and is slowly getting used to them,” he said. “It’ll be good to get this run into him two weeks out from the start of the Inter Dominion (July 5 at Albion Park). “It also breaks the trip up a bit before we head-up to Queensland where we’ll stay with Michael Brennan and Darrel Graham’s old place.” Although that first race at Menangle is for second tier pacers, it does include former Victoria Cup winner Rock N Roll Doo (gate 10) and James Rattray’s emerging Our Luciano (gate five). Later in the night, Bet N Win looks superbly placed to open his Aussie raid with a win in a 2300m trotting free-for-all (race seven). The best of Bet N Win is a league above his rivals where consistent Victorian free-for-aller Harry Stamper looks a clear second elect. Regular driver Bob Butt will make the trip to Menangle to partner Bet N Win, who is $1.15 in early markets for Saturday. One of Bet N Win’s key Inter Dominion trotting rivals, London To A Brick is a $1.10 favourite to win the eighth race at Menangle, the $50,000 NSW 4&5YO Trotting final (1609m). On the same card, Brad Hewitt’s classy pacer Captains Knock gets his chance to return to winning form from gate three in the 1609m free-for-all. Other major chances include classy mare My Moonlite Dream (two), Max Delight (six), Nyack (eight), Kingmaker (10) and Major Hot (11). View the full article

by Jonny Turner Wyndham punters will need to choose between outstanding age-group form and rock-hard fitness on Thursday. Princess Sadie will line up in a Silk Road Trotting Series heat, her first start since signing off an excellent three-year-old season in December. Just two starts ago, the now four-year-old mare ran second behind superstar Aussie Keyang Zahara in the Group One New Zealand Trotting Oaks. It looks outstanding form to bring to Young Quinn Raceway, even if the trotter has a 20m handicap to overcome. While her class can’t be doubted, Princess Sadie’s fitness can be given she hasn’t started in over six months. Trainer Matthew Williamson has prepped his stable star with two trials and is confident Princess Sadie is ready to make her presence felt. “I have been happy with both of her trials; she has had a good build-up,” Williamson said. “She is as ready as she can be without having had a race. “You can’t beat race fitness but knowing her and what she is capable of, I would think she is ready to run a nice race.” Williamson opted to give Princess Sadie a good break at the end of her three-year-old season, ruling her out of autumn feature racing. It’s a decision that has paid off, judging by the mare’s development. “I have been really happy with the way she has come back—she’s definitely carrying more condition now.” “Hopefully she can show in her races that she’s stronger now.” Hayden Douglas gets an outstanding opportunity to partner Princess Sadie under Thursday’s junior driver conditions. The reinsman has the job of guiding the trotter away from her first standing start. “She has stepped away nicely in her trials and is a sensible horse,” Williamson said. “There are only two horses off the 20m, there shouldn’t be too many excuses for her.” Joyride returns in Thursday’s finale after racing against New Zealand’s best two-year-old fillies last year. Like Princess Sadie, trainers Cran and Chrissie Dalgety gave the three-year-old a decent break after her last start in December. Two starts ago, Joyride was fourth behind Stella Rouge and Captains Mistress in the Group One Ace Of Diamonds at Addington. Also like Princess Sadie, Joyride had two trials ahead of her return. “Her trials have been perfect — she’s been running on nicely in both of them,” Carter Dalgety said. “Her work since then has been great, and even though she’s drawn wide, she looks a nice chance.” Joyride has drawn barrier 8 in Thursday’s Silk Road Series pacing heat. View the full article

by Jordyn Bublitz The father-daughter duo of Derek and Neita Balle have two runners set to take the stage tonight at Cambridge Raceway. A relatively new partnership, Neita admits she didn’t quite believe her dad when he first offered to train together. “We were having a laugh a few months ago when I jokingly asked him when we were going into partnership,” she said. “He told me, ‘Whenever you want to,’ and I laughed it off.” “Three months down the track, he walked into the barn and asked if I wanted to go into a training partnership. I just stood there stunned, I had to go inside and ask Mum if he was being serious!” With Derek away in Europe for the next eight weeks, Neita has been given sole charge of their Pukekohe barn. “What feels the best is the trust he has in me, for him to leave me with his horses and the owners. Knowing he can go away and that I’m capable of keeping things going here feels really special.” The first of their runners to step out this evening will be the dual-gaited Conrad H in the Dunstan Horsefeeds Mobile Pace (7:54 p.m.) “It was a really bad drive by me last start,” Neita laughed. “I was really happy with him though. He’s drawn awkwardly tonight, but he’s consistent and always runs a good race. He’ll never let you down.” Best of the night for the Balle team comes in the form of Rewiri Hill, who finds a nice step back in grade after winning three starts ago. The gelded son of Muscle Hill hits the track for the Mid-Winter Christmas Tickets On Sale Now Trot (8:19 p.m) “He’s been back out at the beach and that’s where he was when he was going his best for us. We’ve gone back to working him out there, and we’re really happy with him,” she said. “He won three starts ago and has since had some average runs and dropped a couple of points, so he’s found a really suitable race that I can see him winning.” View the full article

An immigration raid at Delta Downs racetrack Tuesday morning resulted in the apprehension of 84 undocumented individuals, according to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The surprise morning raid at Delta Downs—currently in the middle of a Quarter Horse meet—involved multiple law enforcement agencies including ICE, the U.S. Border Patrol, the Louisiana State Police, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the FBI. Those undocumented individuals taken into custody, said ICE, were processed for administrative immigration violations before being taken to the Lake Charles Border Patrol Station in Lake Charles, Louisiana. Two undocumented individuals with known criminal records were apprehended as part of the sweep, the agency added. Events at Delta Downs have set racing's teeth on edge, said Will Velie, an immigration attorney who works closely with the horse racing industry. “I've been getting calls since it happened from very, very many tracks,” he said. Indeed, in light of Tuesday's raid, Eric Hamelback, CEO of the national Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association (HBPA) circulated an email to several horseman's groups outlining some fundamental legal rights. For example, no ICE agent, or any individual representing the organization, should be permitted access to the backside of a racetrack or area under HBPA-affiliate oversight without the presentation of a “valid, judicially-approved warrant signed by a federal judge or magistrate,” Hamelback writes in the email. ICE Photo “A simple administrative or agency-issued 'warrant' (such as ICE Form I-200 or I-205) is not legally sufficient to authorize entry into non-public, private areas such as stable areas, dormitories, barns, or tack rooms. “This is well-established under the Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution, which protects against unlawful searches and seizures without proper judicial authorization,” Hamelback wrote. Should any ICE agent present such a warrant, it must be carefully reviewed by legal counsel before they're permitted access to the track, wrote Hamelback. “If there is any doubt, contact National HBPA or your affiliate general counsel,” he added. Hamelback shared these additional points: – Racetrack security, backside gate personnel, and all facility management must not grant ICE agents entry based solely on request or agency credentials. – Entry is to be denied unless a search or arrest warrant, signed by an Article III judge or magistrate, is physically presented and its scope reviewed. – If ICE personnel appear requesting access without such a warrant, they are to be politely informed that no entry will be granted without judicial approval. – Immediately notify your local HBPA counsel and the National HBPA office of any such encounter. Over the past few months, Velie has also routinely distributed flyers (put together by the American Immigration Lawyers Association) outlining the constitutional rights of undocumented workers and their families. “I sent them down to Louisiana just yesterday,” he said. This document—geared towards undocumented employees—contains six main bullet points: – Stay calm. – You have the right to remain silent. – You are not required to show immigration documents. – You have the right to contact a lawyer. – You do not have to sign anything. – And what to do if you believe your rights have been violated. As for the specifics, it recommends that undocumented workers download and carry this card (colloquially called red cards or tarjetas rojas), which states that you do not wish to speak, answer any questions, or sign any documents. This document—geared towards undocumented parents with children—contains detailed advice on the following points: – Making a family safety plan. – Gathering key documents. – Legal preparations. – Communication and emergency contacts. – Financial preparations. – And a warning on child protection services. ICE Photo For example, it recommends that parents have the following papers and documents—where possible—gathered together and readily available: birth certificates, passports and social security cards; proof of legal status; and school and medical records. In terms of undocumented workers, Velie recommends having a plan in place and a designated legal representative in the event of being apprehended. “If you don't have a derogatory immigration background, no criminal arrest, no deportations, and you've been here for two years, then you're going to be bonded out. You will have a hearing, and you will be able to go before a judge,” said Velie. “And if there is pathway, then you can exercise that,” said Velie. “So, have somebody on the outside that's going to be able to help you get a bond hearing, so that you can be outside and make the decisions that you need to make that are best for yourself at your speed, not because you're locked up and you sign something just to be done with it.” In a Wednesday press release, ICE wrote about the Delta Downs sting that it was conducted “after authorities received intelligence indicating that the businesses operating out of the stables at the racetrack were employing unauthorized workers. Those suspicions were further confirmed during a subsequent site visit.” The raid has occurred amid the Trump administration's increasingly aggressive immigration enforcement tactics, hitting hard those sectors, like horse racing, that rely heavily on an immigrant labor force. In February, immigration enforcement officers descended upon the Frontera Training Center in Sunland Park, New Mexico, in a targeted visit for specific individuals. Similar targeted visits have also involved Oaklawn Park and other tracks in recent months, according to several sources. Tuesday's raid at Delta Downs, however, is believed to be the first major immigration sweep of a racetrack since the new administration regained power in January. Just last week, Trump posted on his Truth Social media platform that the “very aggressive” raids were hurting farmers and hotels. Subsequent reports indicated that the administration had told ICE officials to largely pause raids and arrests in the agricultural industry, hotels and restaurants. Reports on Monday, however, suggested that the administration had already reversed that order. When asked how the raids are being conducted—and whether immigration officers were complying with legal requirements—Velie said that “generally” they're complying with the law. “I'm not sure what the circumstances were at Delta Downs yesterday, if they had a judicial warrant, or if they came and said they want to come in, and Delta said 'okay.' I don't know the answer to that,” said Velie. “Horse racing's a small town,” Velie added. “These are our neighbors. And the people who aren't facing this need to stand up, let them know we support them, and that we'll do everything we can—if they are taken away—to bring them back.” The post Immigration Crackdown: Knowing Your Legal Rights appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

With just some 20 hips left in the OBS June sale, Randy Miles went to a sale record $975,000 to acquire a filly by Curlin (hip 850) on behalf of Gus King. The chestnut, out of graded winner Mufajaah (Tapit), will be trained by Steve Asmussen. She was consigned by Saul Marquez's Caliente Thoroughbreds and worked a furlong last week in :10 flat. Marquez and partners purchased the filly for $200,000 at last year's Fasig-Tipton October sale. Just six hips later, Miles was in action as a consignor, selling a filly by Gun Runner (hip 857) for $525,000, the auction's second-highest price. The gray filly was purchased by MyRacehorse. The post Curlin Filly Brings OBS June Record $975k From Gus King appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Ombudsman produced a blistering turn of foot to power clear of Anmaat in the June 18 Prince of Wales's Stakes (G1) at Ascot Racecourse.View the full article

Ombudsman produced a blistering turn of foot to power clear of Anmaat in the June 18 Prince of Wales's Stakes (G1) at Ascot Racecourse.View the full article

An Aidan O'Brien-trained hotshot may seem like a sure thing but Charles Darwin will have to defy a 17-year losing trend for favorites in the opener on the third day of Royal Ascot. View the full article

Most trainers don't get one Gold Cup legend in their training career, but Aidan O'Brien is already on two and on the look-out for a third as Illinois flies the flag in Thursday's Royal Ascot feature. Tasked with bringing home a 10th renewal, one of last high-class sons of Galileo has an ideal profile having contested the St Leger and won this meeting's G2 Queen's Vase at three. While his predecessor Kyprios took time to show his true class, this colt was among the best of the Classic generation and his return win in Chester's G3 Ormonde Stakes screamed Gold Cup heavyweight. “Everything has gone well so far and we always thought he was a horse who could step into the role of a Gold Cup horse,” O'Brien said. “We thought he could do that next year and he was standing in line behind Kyprios, but he's had his run and it went well. We have always thought he would stay the trip, but it's not until you go past the quarter pole in the Gold Cup that you find out.” If Illinois fails to live up to his billing, the Aga Khan Studs representative Candelari (Frankel) could be the chief beneficiary having dominated last month's G1 Prix Vicomtesse Vigier. Rattling off a closing three-furlong sectional of :34.58 which is fast for a stayer, the unexposed homebred bids to become the first French-trained winner of this since Westerner 20 years ago. Nemone Routh revealed that Candelari was close to being one of the operation's cast-off before his sudden rise to prominence. “He is a horse who has taken us massively by surprise,” the Stud's racaing manager said. “We nearly sold him unraced in November, but took him out during the week of the sale because he is so well-bred and he hadn't had any major setbacks. He's just a big horse who was quite immature and after we castrated him it took us a while to get him fit again.” “The question marks are over whether he will stay the distance, we believe he will because he finishes his races strongly but obviously that is an unknown and he probably lacks the experience of the rest of the field. He only made his debut in December, so he's only really been racing for six months, but then he's not got as many miles on the clock as some of the others and I think he's a natural stayer and a very genuine horse.” Godolphin's Trawlerman (Golden Horn) was a length behind Kyprios 12 months ago and five lengths clear of stablemate Sweet William (Sea The Stars) and has maintained his level admirably, but he probably needs the 4-year-olds to flop. James Fanshawe is a trainer always worth paying respect to at this meeting and there is a lot to like about the way he has delivered Wonder Legend (Sea The Stars) to this race. Better than ever when running away with the All-Weather Championships Marathon Handicap on Newcastle's Tapeta, he hasn't a great deal to find with the principals. Charles Darwin To Continue Ballydoyle's Streak? Having completed a major double in the Coventry and Queen Mary on the opening two days, Aidan O'Brien takes aim at the G2 Norfolk Stakes with TDN Rising Star Charles Darwin (No Nay Never). The full-brother to Blackbeard gave eight pounds to Cardiff By The Sea at Naas last time and that form was franked when that daughter of St Mark's Basilica ran a close fourth in Wednesday's Queen Mary. As with Gstaad and True Love, the market is speaking loudly at present. Al Shaqab Racing's Chantilly scorer Afjan (Mehmas) is out of Al Johrah who beat all bar Lady Aurelia here in the 2016 Queen Mary, while Godolphin's TDN Rising Star Wise Approach is a half-brother to the 2021 winner of this race, Perfect Power. In the G2 Ribblesdale Stakes, TDN Rising Star and G3 Salsabil Stakes runner-up Catalina Delcarpio (Lope De Vega) warrants respect, but her stamina will be tested here and it is not guaranteed. Westerberg's G3 Musidora Stakes runner-up Serenity Prayer (Dubawi) was closest to Whirl at York and that looks smart form now, with this step up to a mile and a half sure to suit. Ballydoyle's contingent includes the Listed Naas Oaks Trial Stakes winner Garden Of Eden (Saxon Warrior) and Ecstatic (Lord Kanaloa) whose dam Magic Wand captured this in 2018. There is a renewing of G1 Prix du Jockey Club rivalry in the G3 Hampton Court Stakes, with Juddmonte's Detain (Wootton Bassett) and Ballydoyle's Trinity College (Dubawi) having been third and fourth respectively in the Chantilly Classic. “It was a huge run the last day and he was beaten three-quarters of a length which is very little,” Juddmonte's Barry Mahon said of Detain. “We initially thought Ascot would come too soon, but he has bounced out of Chantilly well and John and Thady are both very happy with him.” Zarigana & Falakeyah In Line For Coronation Battle Friday's Royal Ascot confirmations have been made and the clash between the Aga Khan Studs star Zarigana (Siyouni) and Shadwell's exciting Falakeyah (New Bay) in the G1 Coronation Stakes is the highlight of the card. The former, who was awarded the G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches last month, will attempt to establish herself at the top of the fillies' pecking order in this mile category with fellow TDN Rising Star Falakeyah dangerously unexposed coming back in trip after her scintillating win in Newmarket's Listed Pretty Polly Stakes. Others of note among the 11 contenders include the 1,000 Guineas runner-up Flight (Siyouni) and another Listed winner stepping into the heat of Group 1 battle in Kon Tiki (Night Of Thunder). In the fixture's other Group 1 contest, 22 sprinters take part in the Commonwealth Cup with Godolphin's G1 Middle Park Stakes winner Shadow Of Light (Lope De Vega) the key protagonist dropping back to six having been third in the 2,000 Guineas. Juddmonte hold a strong hand, with the G1 Phoenix Stakes winner Babouche (Kodiac) lining up alongside the G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains runner-up and fellow TDN Rising Star Jonquil (Lope De Vega), while Ballydoyle's duo include the G1 Prix Morny winner Whistlejacket (No Nay Never). There are 11 set to feature in the G2 King Edward VII Stakes, where the unbeaten Ralph Beckett-trained Listed Cocked Hat Stakes scorer Amiloc (Postponed) occupies favouritism over Ballydoyle's Listed Lingfield Derby Trial winner Puppet Master (Camelot). Of the 17 2-year-old fillies confirmed for the opening G3 Albany Stakes, Tony Bloom and Ian McAleavy's daughter of first-season sire Starman, the Carlisle winner Venetian Sun, is the market-leader at present in an open renewal. The post Illinois Has The Gold Cup Baton As O’Brien Seeks Number 10 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Jorge Navarro, the self-proclaimed “Juice Man” and a central figure in the doping scandal that rocked the sport in 2020, was released Wednesday from the federal prison FCI Miami, according to the Federal Bureau of Prisons Inmate Locator website. On December 17, 2021, Navarro was handed a five-year sentence for his leading role in the felony drug misbranding and adulteration charges arising from an investigation that involved the FBI and the U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of New York. He began serving his sentence on March 18, 2022. Had he served his full sentence he would not have been released until March, 2027. It was not immediately known why he was released so early. Federal parole was largely abolished for crimes committed after November 1, 1987. Sentencing guidelines call for a prison term of up to five years with a requirement that at least 85% of the eventual sentence be served. Navarro served only three years and three months of his sentence or 65% of the original five-year sentence. “For years, Mr. Navarro, you effectively stole millions, cheating other trainers, owners and jockeys you competed against,” Judge Mary K. Vyskocil said at his sentencing. “You also demonstrated, Mr. Navarro, a collective, callous disregard for the well-being of the horses. The bottom line is you likely killed or endangered the horses in your care.” It was not known where Navaro went Wednesday, but his stay in the U.S. may not last long. Before his client was sentenced attorney Jason Kreiss said that it was all but certain that Navarro would be deported to his native Panama after serving his sentence. He is not a U.S. citizen. “He is facing an almost certain deportation to (Panama) where he has almost no familial, social, or economic ties” and “may even serve a longer incarceration term than ordered by the Court as a result of the collateral consequences of separate (Department of Homeland Security) deportation proceedings, which will only commence once he is transferred from the (Federal Bureau of Prisons) to (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement),” Kriese said. Trainer Jason Servis, the other major name in the case, is serving his sentence at Pensacola FPC and is not scheduled to be released until 7-16-26. This story will be updated. The post Jorge Navarro Released from Prison appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

NYRA CEO David O'Rourke has a lot on his plate these days. There's the rebuild of the Belmont stands, the shuffling back and forth between Long Island and Saratoga for the GI Belmont Stakes and the preparation for the return of the Breeders' Cup in 2027. That meant there was a lot to cover when O'Rourke joined our team for this week's TDN Writers' Room Podcast presented by Keeneland. O'Rourke was the Gainesway Guest of the Week. On the subject of moving the GI Belmont Stakes a few weeks back on the calendar so that there is more time between Triple Crown races, O'Rourke said that is not something that will happen anytime soon. “For the near future, nothing is going to happen. Next year is the World Cup. So, it's going to start right after the week after Belmont. So nothing would happen in the near term,” O'Rourke said. When the idea of running the three races on the first Saturday in May, the first Saturday in June and the first Saturday in July came up O'Rourke didn't seem eager to go in that direction. “Do people have to stick to the pattern?” he said. “Would we be moving these things just for NYRA's benefit or just for the industry? I agree that for the industry, the Triple Crown is the Holy grail. It's the one thing that works. How much do we want to play with it? If you've moved it that far and it didn't work, what do you do? So I would say that you're probably looking at what's being contemplated internally. And there have been some conversations that would be more of an incremental move than a drastic one because this is the one thing is sacred to really our sport. It's the one thing where the metrics are significant. It's our moment. And if we move, if we play with it too much, we could break it.” With so much rain falling during the Belmont-at-Saratoga meet, which cost NYRA more than $30 million in handle, is there any talk of putting in a synthetic track at Saratoga? “We've looked at it,” he said. “It's just difficult with the configuration. So, in the near term, no. Now might we play around with the training surface somewhere, possibly an uphill for long jogs, something like that. But in terms of the main surfaces now, there's even some ideas out there, and you can think of them as sort of crazy, as putting one over at Oklahoma and bringing off the turf races over there in bad weather.” NYRA has been plagued by short fields in the stakes races it has run so far this year. It not unusual to see them come up with four horses with the racing being run as the second on the card. “We're constantly looking at the stakes schedule,” he said. “From the owner point of view, that black-type is really important, especially on the female side. I understand your point that there are too many options at certain times for certain divisions and at a certain level? Let's just think about the graded level and I'll fall back onto a pattern committee in terms of kind of forcing the best horses in a certain pattern direction. I think that would be best for the sport, but that's going to take another version of consensus with everyone buying in. But I hear what you're saying.” In our “Fastest Horse of the Week,” segment, which is sponsored by WinStar, we went over the many reasons there are breed to WinStar stallion Constitution. The fastest horse of the week was Nash (Medaglia d'Oro), who ran a 106 when winning a June 13 allowance at Churchill Downs Elsewhere on the podcast, which is also sponsored by the Pennsylvania Horse Breeders' Association, West Point Thoroughbreds, 1/ST Racing and 1/ST TV, the team of Randy Moss, TD Thornton and Bill Finley discussed the raid of the Delta Downs backstretch by agents of ICE and wondered if this would be the first of many raids at racetracks. They also talked about the situation in Louisiana, which seems to change by the minute, but it now appears that the 2025-2026 meet at the Fair Grounds will be run. And now that he's won over 3,000 races, including two GI Kentucky Derbies and 43 graded stakes in all, does Chief Stipe O'Neill deserve too be in the Hall of Fame? To watch the Writers' Room, click here. To view the show as a podcast, click here. The post David O’Rourke Joins TDN Writers’ Room Podcast Presented by Keeneland appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Triple Crown race alumni Clever Again and Chunk of Gold will bump heads in a chance at redemption in the $500,000 Ohio Derby (G3) at Thistledown. View the full article

Last week, economics professors Marshall Gramm and Nick McKinney published a study in these pages showing the impacts at Aqueduct the past four winters from CAW players during the last flash across all the pools. According to that study, the percentage share from CAW players of monies wagered last-minute into the Exacta, Trifecta, Superfecta and Early Pick 5 pools (among others) had jumped significantly between 2022 and 2024. In light of that published study, the New York Racing Association (NYRA) has issued a statement explaining that, in the fall of 2023, the organization had switched tote operators—from AmTote to United Tote—resulting in “material differences” in how the pool cycles are managed. “It would be impossible to make any meaningful determinations about the final cycle data without understanding and accounting for the 2023 change in tote operations,” wrote NYRA spokesperson, Pat McKenna. NYRA's full statement is as follows: “NYRA transitioned tote operations from AmTote to United Tote in the Fall of 2023, an important fact not mentioned or discussed in the analysis recently published by TDN. There are material differences in how these operators manage pool cycles, which is reflected in the 2024 data as compared with 2023. It would be impossible to make any meaningful determinations about the final cycle data without understanding and accounting for the 2023 change in tote operations. “In recent years, NYRA has implemented a series of policies that effectively restrict the wagering activity of CAW groups. In addition, NYRA is developing technology designed to provide retail customers with advanced wagering tools and more information than ever before.” The post NYRA: CAW Trends Impacted by Changes in Tote Operations appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article