Wandering Eyes

The past two winners of the Gr.1 T.J. Smith Stakes gave notice on Tuesday that they are firmly on track for feature-race returns, with stablemates I Wish I Win (NZ) (Savabeel) and Chain Of Lightning enjoying comfortable jumpout victories at Pakenham. I Wish I Win cruised in his 800-metre heat to record a soft win, as later did Chain Of Lightning, who was wearing the bottle green colours of her new owners Yulong Investments for the first time. She was purchased at public auction late last season by Yulong for $2.5 million but was returned to trainers Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman to prepare for the new season. Moody said on Tuesday he was most pleased with both sprinters as he prepares for their returns to racing over the next few weeks. I Wish I Win is being aimed for his debut at The Valley in the Gr.1 Moir Stakes (1000m) on September 7, before running over 1200 metres at the same track in the Gr.1 Manikato Stakes as his final lead-in run to October’s The Everest. Also, in I Wish I Win’s trial was a new edition to the Moody-Coleman stable in the former Kiwi mare Desert Lightning (NZ) (Pride Of Dubai), who was most recently seen when unplaced in her Australian debut in the All-Star Mile. View the full article

A change of plans has seen Mr Brightside (NZ) (Bullbars) take to The Valley on Tuesday morning as an important part of his build-up towards a mouth-watering first-up bout against Pride Of Jenni in the Gr.1 Memsie Stakes at Caulfield on August 31. Co-trainer Ben Hayes said the Lindsay Park team snapped up the chance to gallop the Cox Plate runner-up at The Valley rather than trial on a country track later in the week, as had been originally programmed. “He had a nice gallop there with a workmate and we’re really happy with his work,” Hayes said. “It was very kind of Moonee Valley to let us have it. He was on a beautiful surface and he joined in and went to the line nice and strong. “He’s definitely going to take some nice improvement out of it and he’s right on track for the Memsie. “It was just a change of plan. We were originally going to trial this Friday, but we decided we wouldn’t go to Kilmore, so we thought a gallop in between and then trial next week at Flemington and that will have him spot on for the big race on the 31st.” Hayes said Mr Brightside’s workmate Devoted impressed with his gallop on his way to contesting either the BM84 (1400m) or BM100 (1600m) at Caulfield on Saturday. Hayes said flying filly Bold Bastille is likely to miss Saturday’s G3 Quezette Stakes (1100m) and instead go first-up in the 1000-metre Carlyon Stakes at set-weights-and-penalties at The Valley the following Saturday. Resuming from a long break on Saturday for the stable will be staying mare Caste, who will line-up in the 1200-metre Regal Roller Stakes. “She’s been off the scene for a while with knee issues,” Hayes said. “She’s had surgery and she will most likely need the run and you won’t see her best form until she gets out to a mile and beyond. “She’s a powerful mare and her trial was promising so we’re very hopeful of her finding her form again when she gets some ground.” View the full article

Michael Kent Jnr has revealed that the connections of Queensland Derby winner Warmonger (NZ) (War Decree) rejected a significant offer from Hong Kong owners to purchase the gelding. Previous Derby winners like Ruthven and Dark Dream were quickly snapped up by Hong Kong buyers with the intention of running in the lucrative Hong Kong Derby the following year, but Kent Jnr explained that the horse’s owners weren’t interested in following that trend after his dominant Group One triumph. “There was one particularly good one, but it was a clear no,” said Kent Jnr, who trains in partnership with Mick Price. “There’s a lot of owners in this horse, I’ve got a lot of friends in the horse. “We went to Adelaide, got beat, Adelaide (again), we were disappointed and then everyone was there for the Queensland Derby and that feeling, it’s priceless. “I think everyone realises that and now we’re chasing the Cups dream in the spring. He’s not for sale!” Warmonger has recently returned to Price and Kent Jnr’s main stable at Cranbourne. The now four-year-old will kick off his spring campaign in the Gr.1 Makybe Diva Stakes, before progressing to the Gr.1 Turnbull Stakes on October 5 and then on to the Caulfield Cup a fortnight later. “It’s a nice, progressive path,” Kent Jnr said. “It gives him time between runs; a mile, 2000m and a mile-and-a-half. From there on, we’ll just have a look at the horse, how he pulls up after the Caulfield Cup, before making any further plans regarding a Melbourne Cup.” Warmonger is at $15 in Sportsbet’s market for the Caulfield Cup. View the full article

Auckland Guineas winner The Pendragon (NZ) (U S Navy Flag) is expected to make an altogether different impact at his second Australian start than he did at his first when he lines up to begin his spring campaign at Caulfield on Saturday. The effects of a long campaign in New Zealand told on The Pendragon at his Australian debut in the Australian Guineas at Flemington in March and Anthony Feroce from the Mike Moroney and Glen Thompson stable said little notice should be taken from his 15th placing. “He’d been up for quite a while in New Zealand but we took the gamble and brought him over for the Guineas, but he put in a tired run,” Feroce said. “We sent him to the paddock for a nice break and he’s come back as we were hoping he would. He’s a pretty capable horse.” The Pendragon’s previous campaign began in October last year and he raced through the summer, collecting three races including the Gr.2 Auckland Guineas (1400m) on the way. He then ran second in the Karaka Millions to the star filly Orchestral in January over 1600 metres before one last run for the campaign was confirmed for the Australian Guineas (1600m) in March, While Feroce said the stable was confident The Pendragon had the talent to race at the top level, decisions are to come on which races he contests this spring. The four-year-old is expected to give an indication when he resumes on Saturday at Caulfield in the listed Regal Roller Stakes (1200m). “We are still trying to work out whether he’s a sprinter or a miler as he’s shown himself to be very good at both,” he said. “He goes first-up on Saturday and then we could take a path to the Golden Eagle or the Toorak (Handicap) or if he was sprinting well, he could end up in the big sprint (Champions Sprint) at the end of the carnival. “His jump-outs have been good and we’re looking forward to him running well.” The 2022 Melbourne Cup runner-up Emissary is also back in work after a lay-off that dates back to last year’s Caulfield Cup. “He’s come back brilliant,” Feroce said of the eight-year-old. “He’ll take a run or two to get to his best but we’re very happy how he’s shaping up. He’ll be nominated for the (Melbourne) Cup but his first two runs will dictate whether we go that way or something like a Sandown Classic. “That’s the great thing about the spring as there’s a lot of options for a horse like him.” View the full article

Thanks to the long-term support of Majestic Horse Transport as well as new partner Dunstan Horsefeeds, NZB is pleased to announce that the popular Ready to Run Sale Trainers Series will return for its fifth edition in 2024. The well-received series was introduced by NZB in 2020 to help support New Zealand trainers wishing to attend and purchase from its Ready to Run Sale in November. Trainers Adrian Bull, Anne Davies, Andrew Carston, Guy Lowry, Rosie Buchanan, Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson, Stephen Marsh, Ross Beckett, and Lance Noble were all winning trainers throughout the 2023 edition of the series. Southern trainer Andrew Carston was pleased to secure the sponsored Trainers Series race when Pisco Sour (I am Invincible) took out the third race of the series at Riccarton in September. “It’s a valuable sale for trainers and this incentive is appreciated,” commented Carston. Responsible for the initial development of the Series, NZB’s Jim Bruford was pleased to see the uptake implemented again. “Our domestic buying bench has really stepped up over the last few years at the Ready to Run Sale,” he commented. “While we are always excited to welcome international buyers to Karaka, we would also like to continue our strong support towards Kiwi-based trainers who wish to attend the Sale. “This season we had several different trainers win the prize package, four of whom utilised the sponsorship and purchased at the sale. “With the additional injections by Entain and NZTR, there is certainly every reason for New Zealand trainers to add ready to go two-year-olds to their racing teams,” Bruford added. The 2024 edition of the NZB Ready to Run Sale Trainers Series will comprise eight races – three in the Northern region, three in the Central region and two in the Southern region – in the lead-up to the world’s leading two-year-old sale. Backed for the fifth year in a row by long-term sponsors Majestic Horse Transport, NZB will award the winning trainer of each sponsored race the following prize package should they attend and purchase at the 2024 Ready to Run Sale: -A $500 travel voucher towards travel to the 2024 Ready to Run Sale at Karaka. -A $1,000 insurance voucher towards insurance for one purchase at the 2024 Ready to Run Sale, courtesy of NZB Insurance. -A Majestic Horse Transport voucher (valued at $250 for Northern, $400 for Central and $750 for Southern race winners) towards the transport of one 2024 Ready to Run Sale purchase, courtesy of Majestic Horse Transport. -Thanks to the additional involvement of leading industry supporter Dunstan Horsefeeds, the winner of each of this season’s eight races will also receive a $500 feed voucher. The series will kick off at Hastings on 7 September and takes in races at Riccarton (14 September), Hastings (28 September), Hawera (5 October), Ellerslie (19 October), Te Rapa (28 October) and Ellerslie (5 November) before concluding on the opening day of the New Zealand Cup Carnival at Riccarton on 9 November. The 2024 edition of the Ready to Run Sale will take place at the Karaka Sales Centre from 11am (NZT) on 20 & 21 November with Breeze Ups to be held at Te Rapa Racecourse on 21 & 22 October. NZB Ready to Run Trainers Series Race Schedule Date Raceday Club/Track Class & Distance Saturday 7 September Premier – Tarzino Trophy Day Hastings @ Hawke’s Bay Maiden 1200m Saturday 14 September NZB Canterbury Belle Stakes Raceday Canterbury @ Riccarton R65 1200m Saturday 28 September Premier – Arrowfield Stud Plate Day Hastings & Hawke’s Bay R75 1200m Saturday 5 October Taranaki Breeders Stakes Day Hawera 3YO 1200m Saturday 19 October Feature Meeting ATR @ Ellerslie 3YO 1200m Monday 28 October Labour Day – ft. James & Annie Sarten Memorial WTR @ Te Rapa R65 1300m Tuesday 5 November Premier – Melbourne Cup Day ATR @ Ellerslie R65 1600m Saturday 9 November Premier – NZ 2000 Guineas Day Canterbury @ Riccarton R75 1400m View the full article

Synthetic specialist Monza (NZ) (Rios) will be looking for redemption in the Richard Bright Memorial 1550 at Cambridge Synthetic on Wednesday. The seven-year-old son of Rios was runner-up behind Stonybreck in the $60,000 feature last year and trainer Danica Guy is keen to go one better in this year’s edition. Monza injured a tendon last December and returned to the races last month, finishing last first-up over 1300m at Cambridge before heading to Awapuni Synthetic last Friday where he was third in the $100,000 Martin Collins Polytrack 1400m Innovation Race. “He drew wide (9) and was carrying a big weight (60kg), I was rapt with his run,” said Guy, who also co-bred and part-owns the gelding. Guy has been pleased with the way her charge has come through the race and is looking forward to backing him up on Wednesday over a more suitable distance. “He has pulled up well so we thought we would have a crack at a race we have some unfinished business in from last year,” she said. “He has just come back from an injury, so it was a bit of a push to get him to that final down there (at Awapuni). 1400m isn’t probably his best distance, I think the 1550m at Cambridge will definitely be more up his alley.” Monza has recorded five wins and three placings from nine starts on the synthetic, and Guy said it is great to be contesting $160,000 in prizemoney on the surface in the space of a week. “It (prizemoney) is great,” she said. “They are certainly good races to target.” Meanwhile, Guy has been pleased with the return of Mach Schnell (NZ) (Zacinto) ahead of his spring preparation, with the well-travelled eight-year-old finishing third in his 900m trial at Te Rapa last week. “I had him as a two-year-old and he has found his way back to me, which is really nice,” Guy said. “He is probably just going to run this season, but he is coming up really well. He had some chips taken out of a knee, which was obviously worrying him last campaign. That all looks to be behind him now. “He will hopefully kick-off at Ruakaka on the 7th of September in an Open 1400m. We will go left or right from there, depending on how he runs. “I do have a nomination for Hawke’s Bay, but that might be pie in the sky. We will just see how he runs up at Ruakaka and then make a plan from there. “There are some nice races coming up around the mile to 1800m mark which will be right up his alley. “He is bright and happy, and wanting to do it. When they get to that age it is just about keeping them happy and making sure they still want to do it, and he definitely wanted to be there (trials). That was very positive.” View the full article

What Kensington Races Where Royal Randwick Racecourse – Alison Rd, Randwick NSW 2031 When Wednesday, August 14, 2024 First Race 1:25pm AEST Visit Dabble Metro racing returns to the Kensington circuit at Randwick on Wednesday afternoon, with a quickfire seven-race program scheduled to get underway at 1:25pm local time. The rail is in the true position for the entire circuit, and although the track was a Soft 6 at the time of acceptances, a wet forecast this week means that rating is likely to deteriorate into the Heavy range. Best Bet: Yorkshire After breaking his maiden in stylish fashion at Hawkesbury, Yorkshire was sent around as a well-supported commodity at Randwick on July 27. The son of Snitzel managed to secure a spot in the minor money despite copping a check with 100m left to travel, finishing within two lengths of Invader Zim in a competitive BM72 contest. The John O’Shea & Tom Charlton-trained gelding did a tremendous job on a bottomless track, and with similar conditions expected, watch for Yorkshire to give a bold sight if Jason Collett can get across from stall eight. Best Bet Race 3 – #8 Yorkshire (8) 4yo Gelding | T: John O’Shea & Tom Charlton | J: Jason Collett (55.5kg) Bet with Unibet Next Best: Influential Influential was narrowly defeated by a half-length at this course on July 31 and looks ready to peak stepping up to the 1800m for the first time. The four-year-old couldn’t quite hold out Sailor in a wide-open BM72 last start; however, the leading pair cleared out on the rest of the field, which suggests they could be worth following. This BM64 is a much easier assignment on paper, and Influential should prove too classy for this lot. Next Best Race 6 – #1 Influential (4) 4yo Gelding | T: Chris Waller | J: Benjamin Osmond (a3) (62.5kg) Bet with Bet365 Best Value: Aristonous The Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald-trained Aristonous returns after a 136-day spell and will be looking to bounce back from a disappointing campaign. The former French galloper could only manage two minor placings across seven starts in his second Australian preparation, culminating in a four-length defeat to Sea What I See at Flemington on March 30. This BM72 contest must be considered a significant drop in grade for the six-year-old, and with apprentice Zac Wadick taking 3kg off his back, Aristonous appears perfectly placed for a return to the winners’ enclosure. Best Value Race 5 – #2 Aristonous (4) 6yo Gelding | T: Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald | J: Zac Wadick (a3) (62.5kg) Bet with Neds Wednesday quaddie tips for Kensington races Randwick-Kensington quadrella selections Wednesday, August 14, 2024 1-6-7 1-2-8 1-2-5-8-12 1-3-6-7-9-10 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip Horse racing tips
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Monza will lineup at Cambridge Synthetic on Wednesday. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images) Synthetic specialist Monza will be looking for redemption at Cambridge Synthetic on Wednesday. The seven-year-old son of Rios was runner-up behind Stonybreck in the $60,000 feature last year, and trainer Danica Guy is keen to go one better in this year’s edition. Monza injured a tendon last December and returned to the races last month, finishing last first-up over 1300m at Cambridge before heading to Awapuni Synthetic last Friday, where he was third in the $100,000 Martin Collins Polytrack 1400m Innovation Race. “He drew wide (9) and was carrying a big weight (60kg), I was rapt with his run,” said Guy, who also co-bred and part-owns the gelding. Guy has been pleased with the way her charge has come through the race and is looking forward to backing him up on Wednesday over a more suitable distance. “He has pulled up well so we thought we would have a crack at a race we have some unfinished business in from last year,” she said. “He has just come back from an injury, so it was a bit of a push to get him to that final down there (at Awapuni). 1400m isn’t probably his best distance, I think the 1550m at Cambridge will definitely be more up his alley.” Monza has recorded five wins and three placings from nine starts on the synthetic, and Guy said it is great to be contesting $160,000 in prizemoney on the surface in the space of a week. “It (prizemoney) is great,” she said. “They are certainly good races to target.” Meanwhile, Guy has been pleased with the return of Mach Schnell ahead of his spring preparation, with the well-travelled eight-year-old finishing third in his 900m trial at Te Rapa last week. “I had him as a two-year-old and he has found his way back to me, which is really nice,” Guy said. “He is probably just going to run this season, but he is coming up really well. He had some chips taken out of a knee, which was obviously worrying him last campaign. That all looks to be behind him now. “He will hopefully kick-off at Ruakaka on the 7th of September in an Open 1400m. We will go left or right from there, depending on how he runs. “I do have a nomination for Hawke’s Bay, but that might be pie in the sky. We will just see how he runs up at Ruakaka and then make a plan from there. “There are some nice races coming up around the mile to 1800m mark which will be right up his alley. “He is bright and happy, and wanting to do it. When they get to that age it is just about keeping them happy and making sure they still want to do it, and he definitely wanted to be there (trials). That was very positive.” Horse racing news View the full article

Ultimate Focus (outside) will lineup at Cambridge Synthetic on Wednesday. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images) Ben and Ryan Foote have enjoyed plenty of success with a pair of lightly raced older gallopers in Ultimate Focus and Keegan, and they will both front-up as key hopes at Cambridge Synthetic on Wednesday. A seven-year-old by Smart Missile, Ultimate Focus has spent time racing in Hong Kong and Australia but has found his feet across the synthetic track season in New Zealand, recording two wins and three minor placings on his home course this preparation. Most recently, Ultimate Focus chased valiantly behind a dominant Heart Of Gold in the $100,000 2000m contest last week, a performance that pleased Ben Foote considering his range is more suited to Wednesday’s distance. “It was a good run, it’s probably not his best distance I don’t think, but he hit the line well and was held up at a vital stage,” he said. “He’s still run really well considering it was a track record too. “He’s totally fine going into Wednesday, it’s only really like a track gallop going around there and he works there every day. It doesn’t bother any of them I don’t think.” Younger stablemate Keegan kicked off his career as a five-year-old in May on a winning note, and he continued the unbeaten streak with a decisive display in MAAT conditions in late July. “He’s just a pretty laidback dude, he does everything with ease,” Foote said. “He’s yet to have a lot of pressure on him, so having a step-up in grade he should have a bit on him this time. “It’ll be interesting to see how he goes, but he’s drawn a good barrier (3) anyway so he should get a nice soft run from the gate.” The son of Swiss Ace trialled in New Zealand before spending some time in Hong Kong without making his debut, but Foote had plenty of faith in his ability based on feedback from trainer David Hall. “He was in Hong Kong with David Hall and he thought he could win first-up at Sha Tin, so obviously if he expected that, he thought a bit of him,” Foote said. “He told me just to get him fit and he’d win first up here anyway, David did all the hard yards. “We get a few down from there, every now and then we get left with a couple and they become like stable pets. We turn over a lot of horses, so it’s quite nice to keep a few to race and the odd older horse around.” The pair will be ridden by apprentice Triston Moodley and Jasmine Fawcett respectively, while Craig Grylls takes the reins aboard Jimmy Dean, who is searching for the form that carried him to four wins on the surface. “He was pretty disappointing last week, sometimes I wonder whether his heart is really in it so he’s on his last chance,” Foote said. “Dropping back to 65 grade, you’d expect him to be right in it, but in saying that if he doesn’t front up he’ll more than likely be retired.” Horse racing news View the full article

Multiple Group One winner Legarto. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images) A spanner has been thrown in the works for Legarto’s spring preparation, with the multiple Group One winner having strained a muscle following her trial at Te Rapa last week. Trainers Ken and Bev Kelso were pleased with her 900m heat victory last Tuesday on the Heavy 10 footing but said it has also been the undoing of their initial spring plans with the mare. “She is on the quiet list. She has been pulled out of Hastings,” Ken Kelso said. “It is nothing major, she has strained a muscle which she probably did it at the trials. It is just a setback. “She has gone to the water walker and will have two to three weeks off.” After a stellar three-year-old season, which resulted in victories in the Group 1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) and Group 1 Australian Guineas (1600m), Legarto returned in a similar vein of form last season, adding the Group 1 Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m) to her haul. The five-year-old daughter of Proisir was set to have another trial before likely heading towards the Group 1 Tarzino Trophy (1400m) at Hastings next month, but with that path now ruled out, Kelso said they will reassess their options in due course. Horse racing news View the full article

Pride Of Jenni ridden by Declan Bates winning the 2023 Champions Mile at Flemington. (Photo by Pat Scala/Racing Photos) Ciaron Maher is confident that his star mare, Pride Of Jenni, can manage a seven-day turnaround from the Group 1 King Charles III Stakes (1600m) to the Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m) in October. The seven-year-old, a three-time Group 1 winner and the reigning All-Star Mile (1600m) champion, is being aimed at the King Charles III Stakes. However, her trainer believes she could secure both prestigious titles within a week. “I think she will (run in both),” Maher told Racing.com. “You never know, but she’s coming up very well, so everything is on the table at the moment. “Yes (she can win both). Gai (Waterhouse) did it and won the Thousand Guineas, so it’s about what sort of run you have. “If you have a gut-buster, it’s going to make it tougher. You’ve got to have her right to go first-up, and so that makes the job a bit easier. “If you are trying to play catch-up, if she’s running like she does and trying to build fitness, it makes the job a lot harder.” Horse racing news View the full article

PB Lawrence Stakes contender Munhamek. (Photo by Brett Holburt/Racing Photos) Nick Ryan is preparing to send in-form nine-year-old Munhamek into his 14th start of the campaign this Saturday in the Group 2 P.B. Lawrence Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield. The son of Dark Angel is riding high on a three-race winning streak, including his most recent victory in the Listed VRC-CRV Winter Championship Series Final (1600m). Ryan was particularly pleased with Munhamek’s performance during an 800-metre Flemington jump-out last Monday, where he cruised home alongside Mr Brightside. “He’s had a little freshen, he had a week down at Fulmen Park, and he certainly hasn’t gone backwards,” Ryan said. “He jumped out alongside Mr Brightside in a pretty good heat and went super, so I’m really looking forward to the P B Lawrence. “I think I’ve got him going as good as ever.” Ryan also noted that Munhamek’s preparation mirrors that of Sircconi, who nearly won the P.B. Lawrence, finishing second to Savatiano. “It’s the same path we took with Sircconi, but we’re taking in that residual fitness out of the winter. It’s a nice race for him,” Ryan added. Horse racing news View the full article

Missile Stakes winner Schwarz. (Photo by George Sal/Racing Photos) Last weekend’s Group 2 Missile Stakes (1200m) hero, Schwarz, could be headed for the Group 1 Manikato Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley on September 27. Initially, the Group 1 Memsie Stakes (1400m) on August 31 was the target for the four-year-old entire. However, co-trainer John O’Shea has revealed that connections might hold off until next month’s Group 1 event instead. “We’ll just take our time with him as he had a very hard run on Saturday and he wasn’t quite ready for that,” O’Shea, who trains in partnership with Tom Charlton, told Racing.com. “We might give him another run in Sydney before we bring him down to Melbourne. He’s going to get to Group 1 level at some stage, so we’re just trying to find that sweet spot.” While O’Shea believes Schwarz is best suited to seven furlongs (1400m), he isn’t ruling out the Manikato Stakes. “His racing pattern is to take a spot and finish the race off, and at The Valley, that’s quite advantageous,” O’Shea explained. “One of the reasons why I ran him in the six (furlongs) at The Valley at his second start (Red Anchor Stakes last October) was to give him a look at The Valley, and he acquitted himself more than admirably. “He’ll have one more run in Sydney, and then if we are happy with him, we’ll give it consideration for sure.” Horse racing news View the full article

A spanner has been thrown in the works for Legarto (NZ) (Proisir) spring preparation, with the multiple Group One winner having strained a muscle following her trial at Te Rapa last week. Trainers Ken and Bev Kelso were pleased with her 900m heat victory last Tuesday on the Heavy10 footing but said it has also been the undoing of their initial spring plans with the mare. “She is on the quiet list. She has been pulled out of Hastings,” Ken Kelso said. “It is nothing major, she has strained a muscle which she probably did it at the trials. It is just a setback. “She has gone to the water walker and will have two to three weeks off.” After a stellar three-year-old season, which resulted in victories in the Gr.1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) and Gr.1 Australian Guineas (1600m), Legarto returned in a similar vein of form last season, adding the Gr.1 Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m) to her haul. The five-year-old daughter of Proisir was set to have another trial before likely heading towards the Gr.1 Tarzino Trophy (1400m) at Hastings next month, but with that path now ruled out, Kelso said they will reassess their options in due course. View the full article

Ben and Ryan Foote have enjoyed plenty of success with a pair of lightly raced older gallopers in Ultimate Focus (Smart Missile) and Keegan (NZ) (Swiss Ace), and they will both front-up as key hopes in the Richard Bright Memorial (1550m) at Cambridge Synthetic on Wednesday. A seven-year-old by Smart Missile, Ultimate Focus has spent time racing in Hong Kong and Australia but has found his feet across the synthetic track season in New Zealand, recording two wins and three minor placings on his home course this preparation. Most recently, Ultimate Focus chased valiantly behind a dominant Heart Of Gold in the $100,000 2000m contest last week, a performance that pleased Ben Foote considering his range is more suited to Wednesday’s distance. “It was a good run, it’s probably not his best distance I don’t think but he hit the line well and was held up at a vital stage,” he said. “He’s still run really well considering it was a track record too. “He’s totally fine going into Wednesday, it’s only really like a track gallop going around there and he works there every day. It doesn’t bother any of them I don’t think.” Younger stablemate Keegan kicked off his career as a five-year-old in May on a winning note, and he continued the unbeaten streak with a decisive display in MAAT conditions in late July. “He’s just a pretty laidback dude, he does everything with ease,” Foote said. “He’s yet to have a lot of pressure on him, so having a step-up in grade he should have a bit on him this time. “It’ll be interesting to see how he goes, but he’s drawn a good barrier (3) anyway so he should get a nice soft run from the gate.” The son of Swiss Ace trialled in New Zealand before spending some time in Hong Kong without making his debut, but Foote had plenty of faith in his ability based on feedback from trainer David Hall. “He was in Hong Kong with David Hall and he thought he could win first-up at Sha Tin, so obviously if he expected that, he thought a bit of him,” Foote said. “He told me just to get him fit and he’d win first up here anyway, David did all the hard yards. “We get a few down from there, every now and then we get left with a couple and they become like stable pets. We turn over a lot of horses, so it’s quite nice to keep a few to race and the odd older horse around.” The pair will be ridden by apprentice Triston Moodley and Jasmine Fawcett respectively, while Craig Grylls takes the reins aboard Jimmy Dean (NZ) (Tivaci) in the Pryde’s Easifeed 2000, who is searching for the form that carried him to four wins on the surface. “He was pretty disappointing last week, sometimes I wonder whether his heart is really in it so he’s on his last chance,” Foote said. “Dropping back to 65 grade, you’d expect him to be right in it, but in saying that if he doesn’t front up he’ll more than likely be retired.” View the full article

During the discussion titled "Bettor (Better) Protection and Confidence" during the Racing and Gaming Conference at Saratoga Aug. 12 in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., panel member Pat Cummings reminded everyone of what is at stake on stewards' calls. View the full article

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SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY – Fasig-Tipton concluded an impressive week of work in Saratoga with the second and final session of the company's New York-Bred Yearling Sale Monday at the Humphrey S. Finney Pavilion. The auction finished with a sale-record median and the third-highest average in its history. Trainer Chad Brown, bidding on behalf of Seth Klarman's Klaravich Stable made the sale's highest bid when going to $370,000 just five hips from the end of Monday's session. “It was another successful edition of the New York-bred sale,” said Fasig-Tipton President Boyd Browning, Jr. “There was a continuation of things that we saw all week. There was very active bidding throughout and there was real demand for quality horses.” During the two-day New York-bred sale, 182 yearlings grossed $19,095,500 for an average of $104,920 and a median of $86,500. With a significantly smaller catalogue this year, the auction fell off its record gross of a year ago, but figures for both average and median were up from 2023 when 220 horses sold for $20,929,000. The 2023 average was $95,132 and the median was $75,000. Both buyers and sellers seemed happy with the two-day sale. “I think the prices have been in the range that we expect,” said Eddie Rosen, advisor to Mike Repole who purchased three head for $820,000, while also selling a pair of homebreds. “The prices are fair. They are not crazy high and they are not giving them away. We sold two and we think we got fair prices. I think it's a good market for buyers and sellers. It's reasonable.” David Cannizzo enjoyed a pair of pinhooking successes for his clients, while also doing some shopping. “The top dollar is here for the New York-breds,” Cannizzo said. “It's like the big sale, but across the board, the average has been pretty strong the last two days. It's good buying and selling.” The successful New York-bred sale came on the heels of record Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Sale which set highwater marks for gross, average and median a week ago. “It was a very encouraging week,” Browning said. “We started last Monday at 6:30, we finished this week on Monday about 5 p.m and in that week we sold over $100 million worth of horses. We've never done that before. So that's a pretty significant accomplishment and something we are proud of. That's meaningful and significant to our industry. Klaravich Strikes Late for Quality Road Colt With just a few horses left to go through the ring, trainer Chad Brown made the highest bid of the two-day Fasig-Tipton New York-Bred Yearling Sale Monday, going to $370,000 to secure a colt by Quality Road (hip 595) from the Winter Quarter Farm consignment on behalf of Seth Klarman's Klaravich Stable. Bred by Waterville Lake Stable, the bay is out of graded-placed Portmagee (Hard Spun) and is a full-brother to stakes-placed Derrynane. “Mike and Mary Ryan did all the work for us here,” Brown said. “I am busy racing across the street, so without them I would not have been able to get this covered. Mike thought he was the best horse in the sale, so we waited around all day. We were willing to stretch for him.” Klaravich Stable purchased three yearlings at the New York-bred sale. In addition to the sale topper, the operation also acquired a pair of fillies by Yaupon: hip 503 for $200,000 from The New Hill Farm consignment and hip 583 for $190,000 from Four Star Sales. “We got some good buys,” Brown said. “It was a good sale. There were some expensive horses, but I bought some horses quite under what I thought they would bring. There were some good value spots.” Hip 595 c. QUALITY ROAD o/o Portmagee sells for $370,000 at NY Bred Yearlings! Congrats to buyer Klaravich Stable, consignor Winter Quarter Farm, agt, and breeder Waterville Lake Stable.#FasigNY #NYbred @LanesEndFarms pic.twitter.com/GAPYhhZrcO — Fasig-Tipton (@FasigTiptonCo) August 12, 2024 Of buying in the Empire state, Brown said, “Seth Klarman has been a leading owner in New York for many years. He loves supporting New York racing and breeding and the whole industry in New York.” Brown continued, “At this sale, we always try to identify New York-bred horses that look like we would buy them if they were not New York-bred horses.” He continued, “So they have the potential to be open-company horses and that they are New York-breds is sort of an added bonus to fall back on, if you will, or to have some perhaps easier races to develop the horses before they get to open company. The horses we bought at this sale were by either proven stallions or exciting first-crop stallions that could take us to open-company races, but still have that option as New York-breds.” Portmagee was purchased by Don Robinson on behalf of Waterville Lake for $75,000 at the 2014 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. Her 2-year-old colt by More Than Ready, now named Rossbeigh RNA'd for $200,000 at this sale last year and the mare produced a filly by Medaglia d'Oro this year. Derrynane, winner of the 2021 Woodbine Cares Stakes in her breeders' colors, was bred to Not This Time this year. Connect Filly to Repole Jacob West and Eddie Rosen, bidding on behalf of Mike Repole, went to $300,000 to acquire a filly by Connect (hip 486) during Monday's second session of the New York-Bred Yearling Sale in Saratoga. Out of Georgie's Angel (Bellamy Road), the dark bay yearling is a half-sister to multiple Grade I winner and 'TDN Rising Star' Cave Rock (Arrogate). She was consigned by Eaton Sales on behalf of her breeder, Dan Burke's Longford Farm. “The whole team liked her,” Rosen said. “Obviously, being a half to Cave Rock and Assurbanipal, who has been running well in Japan, makes her appealing. She was a very nice individual and the pedigree is extremely attractive. She has residual value as a broodmare. It was kind of a no-brainer for all of us. She kind of stands out in this catalogue.” Burke and daughter Kathleen Schweizer purchased Georgie's Angel, in foal to Arrogate, for $75,000 at the 2020 Keeneland November sale. They sold that in utero colt for $700,000 at the 2022 New York-Bred Yearling Sale just days after Cave Rock's impressive debut victory at Del Mar. That colt went on to win that year's GI Del Mar Futurity and GI American Pharoah Stakes and his year-younger full-brother sold to Katsumi Yoshida for $1.05 million at the 2023 OBS March sale. Assurbanipal is a nose away from being unbeaten in four starts, all going the one-turn mile at Tokyo. Georgie's Angel's filly by Improbable, now named Lakeside, sold to Solis/Litt for $135,000 at last year's New York-Bred Yearling Sale and recorded her fourth workout Aug. 10, going a half-mile in :48 flat (6/73) at Belmont Park. The 15-year-old mare produced a filly by Flightline this year and was bred back to Good Magic. Hip 486 f. CONNECT o/o Georgie's Angel sells for $300,000 at NY Bred Yearlings! Congrats to buyer @Westbloodstock, agt for @RepoleStable, consignor @EatonSales1, agt for @longfordfarm, & breeder Kathleen B. Schweizer & Daniel J. Burke. #FasigNY #NYbred pic.twitter.com/Tj29n5RhSx — Fasig-Tipton (@FasigTiptonCo) August 12, 2024 Cannizzo Pinhooks More Than Lucky David Cannizzo signed for a pair of pinhook weanling prospects at last year's Fasig-Tipton New York Mixed Sale in the name of Good Luck Farm. The duo proved just that in their return trip through the sales ring during the two-day New York-Bred Yearling Sale when a colt by freshman sire Vekoma (hip 386) brought $300,000 from trainer Christophe Clement Sunday and trainer Mike Maker purchased a colt from the first crop of Yaupon (hip 485) for $275,000 Monday. The first had been purchased as a weanling for $100,000 and the second was purchased for $120,000. “When we go to the weanling sales, we usually look for first-crop sires or young sires, that people are looking for that can really go and hit the mark,” Cannizzo said. “It's one of the moves we make and it worked out this year. It doesn't always, but it was a good year for a few of my clients. Hopefully, we continue to do well with our strategy.” Hip 485, who like hip 386 was consigned this week by Taylor Made Sales Agency, is out of multiple stakes winner Frostie Anne (Frost Giant). “We were very high on Yaupon,” Cannizzo said of the colt's appeal last fall. “We thought he would be a good freshman sire, go the right way. He was a gorgeous individual last year at that sale and we knew we had to get him. He developed into an absolute beast. I actually liked him more than the Vekoma from [Sunday] night, so it hurt me to see him sell for a little less. But it was a good deal for a good client of mine and I am very happy with how it went. He is a very special colt and I wish Mike Maker the best of luck with him.” Maker signed for the colt alongside Peter Proscia of Paradise Farms. “It looks like Yaupon is stamping his foals,” Maker said. “We are glad to bring one home.” Galilean Yearlings Proving Popular Galilean (Uncle Mo), a six-time stakes winner who topped the 2018 Barretts 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale when selling for $600,000 in 2018, was well-represented by his first yearlings in the sales ring at the New York-bred sale in Saratoga. The stallion, who stands for $3,500 at Hidden Lake Farm, had three yearlings through the ring during the two-session auction sell for an average of $158,333. Jacob West, bidding on behalf of Mike Repole, purchased a colt by the sire (hip 350) for $220,000 Sunday, while Legion Bloodstock, bidding on behalf of JCE Racing, purchased a son of the sire–and the very next hip in the ring (hip 351)–for $160,000. “We have liked a lot of the Galileans here so far,” said Legion Bloodstock's Kristian Villante. “They look very similar to Uncle Mo–very clean lines, big strong horses. They look like they will be precocious. They are easy to like.” Of the back-to-back offerings by the stallion, Villiante said, “We liked the hip right before that Jacob bought and liked the one we bought every bit as much. We kind of figured we would follow them up to the ring and see what happened. Jeremiah [Englehart] fell in love with him as soon as we saw him and he's going to train the horse.” Rounding out the trio of yearlings by the stallion, Bronco Bloodstock purchased a colt (hip 511) from the McMahon of Saratoga Thoroughbreds consignment for $95,000 Monday. Galilean had 11 first-crop weanlings sell at auction last year for an average of $13,818. The group was led by an $80,000 daughter out of Dawn Lightning (The Factor). Bred by Franklin Ave. Equine, Michael DiDonato and Charles Esau, the filly was purchased by Reeves Thoroughbred Racing at the Fasig-Tipton New York Mixed Sale last fall. Tacitus Pays A pair of yearlings from the first crop of multiple graded winner Tacitus (Tapit) topped the $200,000 mark Monday in Saratoga, rewarding the horsemen who invested in the youngsters last fall. Colin Brennan consigned hip 459, a son of the stallion out of Dreamed to Dream (Deputy Wild Cat) who sold for $230,000 to Adelphi Racing Club, Steven Rocco and RT Racing. The colt had been purchased by ELC Investments for $125,000 at last year's Keeneland November sale. Jonathan Thorne's Thorndale enjoyed an even bigger score with the stallion a few hips later when selling hip 516 for $220,000 to West Point, Sharp TB and Double BL Ranch. Out of Judiciary (Union Rags), the colt was a $30,000 purchase by Thorne at last year's Fasig-Tipton New York Mixed Sale. “I just liked his physical and his walk,” Thorne said of the youngster's appeal last fall. “It was the first time I had seen a Tacitus–it was his first crop. I just thought he was a great individual and hoped he would continue growing the way he was. He was perfectly balanced. He did everything right. And he's gotten bigger. He grew just perfect.” Tacitus, who stands at Taylor Made for a fee of $10,000, had eight yearlings sell at the New York-bred sale for an average of $97,375. At the Fasig-Tipton July Sale last month, he had six sell for an average of $112,833. “I think he's gotten kind of a cult following,” Thorne said of the stallion. “People are realizing that he is stamping them pretty well. And they all look like fast, speedy horses that can probably go long since he's a Tapit and he went long. And they are just well-balanced, athletic horses. He's a promising stallion if he can throw horses who look like that consistently. He should have a big future. It's a beautiful family.” A son of champion Close Hatches (First Defence), Tacitus won the 2019 GI Wood Memorial and Tampa Bay Derby and the 2020 GII Suburban Stakes. He was second in the GI Belmont Stakes and GI Travers Stakes. His full-brother Batten Down won this year's GIII Ohio Derby and was third in the GII Jim Dandy Stakes, while his 'TDN Rising Star' full-sister Scylla won this year's GIII Shawnee Stakes and GII Fasig-Tipton Fleur de Lis Stakes and was most recently second in the GI Clement L. Hirsch Stakes. Thank you to our buyers & consignors for supporting the NY Bred Yearlings sale! The sale has ended. Results are available at https://t.co/ILi6Sojn53 #FasigNY pic.twitter.com/N8JTj5uTgv — Fasig-Tipton (@FasigTiptonCo) August 12, 2024 The post $370K Quality Road Colt Tops Strong Renewal of the Fasig-Tipton NY-Bred Yearling Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Winner of the Dubai Turf (G1T) this spring, Facteur Cheval will switch to dirt this fall for a run in the $7 million Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) at Del Mar Nov. 2, according to Team Valor International's Barry Irwin.View the full article

Five Star General refused to lose Aug. 11 at Emerald Downs, surging past Clovisconnection in the final stride for a head victory in the $150,000 Longacres Mile.View the full article

State regulators have seen important steps toward uniformity in rules, enforcement, and lab standards since oversight of safety, medication control, and anti-doping has shifted from state regulators to HISA in recent years.View the full article

Winner of the Dubai Turf (G1T) this spring, Facteur Cheval (IRE) will switch to dirt this fall for a run in the $7 million Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) at Del Mar Nov. 2, according to Team Valor International's Barry Irwin.View the full article

Owen Burrows hopes his horses are hitting top form at just the right time as he prepares to send Alflaila into a group 1 battle against Epsom Derby (G1) hero City Of Troy in the Juddmonte International (G1) at York Aug. 21.View the full article

The Week In Review by Bill Finley We are in the middle of the Saratoga and Del Mar meets, both of which bring together the best horses the sport has to offer. That was the case last weekend. The quality is there. The quantity? Not so much. There's an alarming trend in racing and it's only getting worse. The 10- or 12-horse field for a stakes race, especially on the dirt, is a thing of the past, no matter the venue, no matter the size of the purse. Even an nine-horse field seems like something out of a different era. There are too many stakes races and not enough horse to fill them. It's really that simple. Never was that more evident than last weekend. Saratoga and Del Mar are huge meets for 2-year-olds, with the top barns eager to unveil their next stars as they take their first steps towards Grade I races and the Breeders' Cup. Del Mar offered the GIII Sorrento S. for 2-year-old fillies on Saturday and the GIII Best Pal S. for 2-year-old males on the following day. The Sorrento had four horses. The Best Pal had four horses. Nothing wrong with the winners. 'TDN Rising Star' Nooni (Win Win Win), the $1.8-million sales topper at OBS March, won the Sorrento. Trained by Bob Baffert (who else?) she was professional in victory and won decisively. She paid $3. Baffert also won the Best Pal with 'Rising Star' Getaway Car (Curlin), who paid $2.60. That Baffert seems to train every good 2-year-old in California certainly doesn't help, but it's not Baffert's job to fill races. Where was everybody else? At least things were better at Saratoga where 'TDN Rising Star' Showcase (Uncle Mo) won an eight-horse race in the GII Sanford S. On Sunday at Saratoga, there was $1.1 million up for grabs in the GI Fourstardave H. and the GI Saratoga Invitational Derby. Each race drew only six horses. Colonial Downs rolled out its best card of the meet Sunday, running the big three grass races that were for so long part of the menu at Arlington Park. The GII Secretariat S., with a purse of $500,000 attracted just six horses. The GII Beverly D., also worth $500,000, had just five starters. The GI Arlington Million was also a six-horse race. What happened at Colonial shouldn't necessarily have been much of a surprise. Kentucky Downs, already an embarrassment of riches, just announced that an additional $3.7 million has been added to the stakes schedule. The GIII Nashville Derby has been bumped to $3.1 million from $2.5 million, making it, for Kentucky-breds, the second richest race run in the state, behind only the GI Kentucky Derby. Total purses for the meet will be $37 million. Seven more stakes at the meet will be worth $2 million and 15 more races will be worth $1 million. With Kentucky Downs set to open Aug. 29, just 18 days after the Colonial races, what is Colonial supposed to do? They can't compete with Kentucky Downs when it comes to purses, and neither can anyone else. Unfortunately, the amount of stakes races with short fields is getting worse all the time. There have been 26 graded stakes races run this year that have had fields of five or fewer. Nine of them have been run in California, a circuit that is having a terrible time trying to compete with the ridiculously rich races run in Kentucky, Arkansas and New York. There have been seven graded races run this year with fields of four or fewer. That list includes races as important as the GI Test S., the GII San Felipe S. and the GI Coaching Club American Oaks. Our best races from a quality standpoint are becoming our worst races from the standpoint of what makes for a good betting race. People don't want to bet on four and five-horse fields, even if they are some of the more prestigious races on the calendar. That's not good for business. Outside of the Kentucky Downs factor, the problem is that, with the foal crops declining each year, there just aren't enough good horses to go around. The Graded Stakes Committee of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association (TOBA) has responded by downgrading dozens of stakes over the last few years. But they haven't gone far enough. The real solution is to simply get rid of a bunch of these underperforming races. Does Saratoga really need three stakes races for 2-year-olds and three more for 2-year-old fillies? Won by horses like Kelso, Skip Away, Easy Goer, Forego, Dr. Fager and Buckpasser, the Suburban Handicap, currently a Grade II race, has drawn fields of seven, five, five, six and six over the last five years and has been won by some rather forgettable horses. At Santa Anita, for the second straight year, they could only get four horses for the GII Californian Stakes. Would anybody really miss the Suburban, the California or maybe the Saratoga Special if they simply went away? The answer is obvious, and it is no. Racing secretaries, directors of racing and track presidents need to show some tough love to these races and use their resources elsewhere. The game would be better off for it. Karl Broberg Retires Karl Broberg, 53, has trained the winners of 4,902 races and dominated racing at places like Delta Downs since beginning his training career 15 years ago. He was the leading trainer in the country in terms of wins six years running, from 2014 to 2019. But even with all that success, he has decided to move on. Broberg announced on X last week that he was stepping away from training in order to focus on developing horses at his farm. Broberg, who likes to think outside the box and loves gambling on horses as much as he does training them, told the Daily Racing Form that he also will be working as a bloodstock agent, finding yearlings for clients and himself. He will continue to own some horses and they will be trained by his current assistant Abel Ramirez. “The claiming game at the majority of the tracks that I have historically run at is gone,” he told the DRF. “I figured it would be a great time to take a step back, work to buy yearlings, see if we can do some pinhooking, or just help get horses ready for other people. In the next few years, you are going to see so many more fall to the wayside. I just want to make sure I'm ahead of it.” The post Where Have All The Stakes Horses Gone? appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article