Wandering Eyes

Racing will take place in Ireland on Good Friday for the first time in 2026, with the Curragh set to stage a fixture on April 3. Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) published the new fixture list on Friday with the number of meetings staying the same for the third consecutive year. The Flat season will also see an enhanced programme of Sunday fixtures beginning in May, while there will be seven blank Sundays in total – one more than in 2025. Racing on Good Friday will come from the current allocation of fixtures at the Curragh, which will mean the Guineas meeting will revert to two days for 2026. The Good Friday meeting is on an initial two-year trial basis. There will be a condensed National Hunt season at Thurles to allow for more prudent ground preparation – moving one fixture from mid-March into late-January and two fixtures in October to November and December. Fixtures at Thurles post March 2026 have been labelled 'to be confirmed' until the future of Thurles is resolved. There are 11 fixtures allocated to Tipperary from April to October but, once the track's all-weather projects proceeds, some of these will be reallocated. Jonathan Mullin, HRI's director of racing, said, “Throughout the fixture process we were very conscious that a number of summer weekends, and in particular Sundays, needed a better-quality Flat offering and the fixture list for 2026 features a number of changes to reflect that aim. “It can be seen from tweaks made to the winter National Hunt programme over the past couple of years, that consecutive Sundays of quality racing works well in terms of promotion and awareness, and returning some Flat fixtures of high quality to the Sunday roster has been brought about for 2026. “The Good Friday fixture is a change of policy for Horse Racing Ireland and once the HRI fixtures committee reaffirmed their view at the outset of the process that this was a priority for 2026, we sought applications from racecourses and several expressed an interest. “Ultimately, the successful application came from the Curragh, which will include a number of community and industry initiatives as well as a considerable investment in extra prize-money.” The post The Curragh to Stage First Good Friday Fixture in Ireland appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Adrian Keatley trainee Chairmanfourtimes (Nando Parrado) had annexed one of six prior starts heading into Friday's Listed British EBF Stallions Harry Rosebery Stakes at Ayr and became his freshman sire's first black-type winner with a determined victory in the five-furlong contest. Positioned towards the rear through the initial fractions of this stakes debut, the 12-1 chance made relentless headway under pressure once past halfway and quickened smartly inside the final furlong to usurp Our Cody (Kodi Bear) by a half-length in the dying strides. Chairmanfourtimes continues a fine @Ladbrokes Ayr Gold Cup Festival for @adrian_keatley and @McsweeneyOisin in the Listed @BritishEBF Harry Rosebery Stakes pic.twitter.com/P5QqLRLr3W — Ayr Racecourse (@ayrracecourse) September 19, 2025 Pedigree Notes Chairmanfourtimes is the fourth of six foals and one of two scorers produced by an unraced half-sister to multiple stakes-winning G1 The Metropolitan runner-up Hawk Island (Hawk Wing). His Listed Salsabil Stakes-winning second dam Crimphill (Sadler's Wells) is the leading performer out of a half-sister to G2 Beresford Stakes and G3 Classic Trial victor Gulf King (Kings Lake) and Listed Hong Kong Derby winner Canadian Star (Northfields). The March-foaled bay, kin to a yearling filly and weanling colt by Invincible Spirit, hails from the family of Group 1-winning sire Royal Applause (Waajib), G1 Nunthorpe Stakes heroine Lyric Fantasy (Tate Gallery) and G1 Dewhurst Stakes hero In Command (Sadler's Wells). Friday, Ayr, Britain BRITISH EBF STALLIONS HARRY ROSEBERY STAKES-Listed, £35,500, Ayr, 9-19, 2yo, 5fT, 1:02.10, sf. 1–CHAIRMANFOURTIMES (IRE), 131, c, 2, by Nando Parrado (GB) 1st Dam: Occupation (Ire), by Dragon Pulse (Ire) 2nd Dam: Crimphill (Ire), by Sadler's Wells 3rd Dam: Vernonhills (Ire), by Hard Fought (Ire) 1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN. (15,000gns Wlg '23 TADEWE; £15,000 Ylg '24 GOFFUK; £50,000 2yo '25 GOUKB). O-Andy Finneran & Garry Wilkie Wilson; B-Bernard Cooke; T-Adrian Keatley; J-Oisin McSweeney. £20,132. Lifetime Record: 7-2-3-2, $70,355. 2–Our Cody (Ire), 126, f, 2, Kodi Bear (Ire)–Dubai Sunset (Ire), by Pivotal (GB). 1ST BLACK TYPE. (£3,000 Ylg '24 GOFFUK). O-Mrs J Woods, R P Gallagher & Partner; B-Ballyphilip Stud; T-Richard Hughes. £7,633. 3–Arduis Invicta (Ire), 126, f, 2, Invincible Army (Ire)–First Link, by First Defence. 1ST BLACK TYPE. (5,000gns Ylg '24 TATSOM). O-Hopyard Farm Racing; B-Stuart McPhee Bloodstock; T-Craig Lidster. £3,820. Margins: HF, 3/4, 3/4. Odds: 12.00, 16.00, 40.00. Also Ran: Pearl Fortune (Ire), Hanney Girl (GB), Temple Of Athena (GB), Shine On Me (GB), Daneh Of Dandy (Ire), Ipanema Queen (Ire), Boston Dan (Ire), Rikki Tiki Tavi (Ire), Lebron Power (GB). Scratched: Spicy Marg (GB). The post Chairmanfourtimes Becomes First Stakes Winner for Nando Parrado at Ayr appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Patience is an essential quality in any individual wishing to be a part of Quantum Leap Racing, but even the most ardent supporter of the successful syndicate will have been pushed to their limit by events of the past few months. It's one thing having to wait for your unraced juvenile to make his or her debut, but it's quite another having to wait for a filly like Tamfana to make her return to the Group 1 stage. It's the glorious uncertainty of what the future might bring versus the painful realisation that the present is passing you by with your stable star stood in her box. Thankfully, that is soon about to change. Tamfana, last seen finishing down the field in May's Lockinge Stakes at Newbury, is being primed for a racecourse return on the first weekend in October, with the Prix de l'Opera currently preferred to a defence of the Sun Chariot Stakes crown she won so impressively last year. “The Prix de l'Opera has been the plan all summer,” begins Eamonn O'Connor, the syndicate's founder and chairman. “I would say that is the favourite at this stage, but we've kept our options open. “David [Menuisier, trainer] is very happy with her. We gave her the summer off and she looks a picture. It's been a bit frustrating, but our syndicate members are very patient. They're taught to be patient because of the type of horse that we buy. We're not buying flashy two-year-olds, we're buying horses that will be there for the long term. “We looked at a couple of those Group 1 races for fillies and thought, 'Oh dear, if only we were there.' They looked winnable and there's no doubt she would have been more than competitive in some of those. It's a shame but, if she performs well in the Prix de l'Opera, then it will all be forgotten.” In the Prix de l'Opera, Tamfana will return to ParisLongchamp for the first time since she finished fourth, beaten less than three lengths, in last year's Grand Prix de Paris. The daughter of Soldier Hollow is yet to win beyond a mile, but O'Connor cites that performance, against strong stayers such as Sosie (Sea The Stars) and Illinois (Galileo), as proof of her stamina for when she steps back up to a mile and a quarter on Arc day. “In the Grand Prix de Paris [over a mile and a half], she was still in contention with a furlong to run,” O'Connor remembers. “That was an excellent race, in hindsight. The form is tremendous when you look at the competition and what they did subsequently. “I don't think she'll have a problem over a mile and two [furlongs]. I'm pretty confident that she will stay and a lot of the jockey feedback we've had is that we might even see a better horse. “Arguably, she was a little bit unlucky in the Prix de Diane [when finishing third last year]. She was forced into making her own running and just got collared by a couple on the line. I think she deserves another attempt at that distance to show that she does stay and just how good she is.” Here's hoping that Tamfana has the opportunity to show the full extent of her talent at ParisLongchamp, since there's a very real possibility it will be her last dance on a racecourse, at least for her current connections. A €20,000 purchase at the BBAG Yearling Sale, she promises to sell for many multiples of that sum when she is offered at public auction later this year, although which of the major sales houses will be graced with her presence is yet to be decided. “We haven't thought beyond the Prix de l'Opera,” O'Connor adds. “She'll be sold this year and we've got to be cognisant to some extent of her commercial value. She'll be sold almost certainly as a broodmare and a racing prospect. We'll just bear that in mind when plotting her campaign beyond the Prix de l'Opera – if there is a campaign beyond the Prix de l'Opera.” Whatever the future holds for Tamfana, she's already given her syndicate of owners memories to last a lifetime, from her maiden win at Kempton, by no less than nine and a half lengths, to her first Group 1 victory in the Sun Chariot. Certainly, no horse deserved that Newmarket breakthrough more, following a series of agonising near-misses at the top-level, notably when meeting trouble on her way to a never-nearer fourth in the 1,000 Guineas. “Probably the Kempton race,” O'Connor says of when it first dawned on him that they might have a special filly on their hands. “I remember her debut at Ffos Las. We were following another horse at Doncaster, but I think David knew she was a good filly before her debut, which she didn't win, funnily enough. I think he was quietly confident we had a good filly on our hands, but I don't think we were in a position to believe it until that Kempton performance. “The day of the Guineas we remember well because David told us we were going to win it. I'm sure she was 100/1 when he told me that, and I'm talking about the morning of the race, not months out. We were wavering about whether to go to France or not, but David was absolutely decisive and thought that we belonged at Newmarket. He wasn't wrong.” He continues, “For some of the syndicate members, Tamfana was their first horse and she took them to Group 1 races. The Sun Chariot was a tremendous day. Colin Keane came over to ride her and we had 20-25 syndicate members on course. Everybody has got their own recollection of it. I was just happy for the filly, and for the trainer – David deserved it as well. He's done a tremendous job with her.” It was back in 2021 that Menuisier saddled his first runner for the syndicate, namely the juvenile Ottilien (Holy Roman Emperor) who, in her three-year-old season, won a Listed race at Saint-Cloud and finished third in the Prix de Royallieu. At the end of that year she sold for €600,000 at Arqana, allowing the syndicate to go again at the sales with a replenished pot. According to O'Connor, that renewal is fundamental to the strategy of Quantum Leap Racing, plus an appreciation of the staying horse which brings us back to that necessity for patience, both among the syndicate's members and its trainers. “We don't rush him and he doesn't expect us to be in a hurry with our horses,” O'Connor says of Menuisier. “Our interests are aligned like that. I get the impression, just talking to trainers, generally, that sometimes they do come under pressure from owners, especially from syndicates, to get horses out and on the track to give the members some excitement and a bit of interest. “We're not all things to all men. I tell anybody who phones and asks about getting involved in the syndicate to be aware in their first year that, if you buy a yearling with us in the autumn, you probably won't see it on the track until the following autumn. “That's how we sell the syndicate. We sell it on patience and the fact that our members will be rewarded when the horse matures in its three-year-old season and is running in the sort of races that we enjoy – proper middle-distance races. Those are the races that we enjoy competing in and we buy horses accordingly.” He continues, “We have produced a good horse every single year since I founded the syndicate. Our definition of a good horse is one who achieves a rating between 90 and 105. I mention those parameters because horses who fall within those parameters are generally going to be far more valuable commodities in other jurisdictions – Australia, Hong Kong and places like that. “Our modus operandi is to race them for two years, sometimes beyond, and if they fall within those parameters, then we'll sell them to those jurisdictions where they'll be far more valuable, because they'll be racing for an awful lot more money than they would be over here. We replenish the pot and then we go again. “But we're not on a permanent hamster wheel, doing the same thing year in, year out. The objective of replenishing the pot and going again is to get a Group-class horse in the Northern Hemisphere. That's our ultimate aim and in those cases we'd usually hold on to them, as we have Tamfana.” Another filly who is unlikely to be going anywhere soon is the unbeaten two-year-old Inis Mor (Galiway), who looked destined for bigger and better things when defying a penalty to follow up her debut success on Newmarket's July Course last time. She is now being prepared to join stable-mate Tamfana in a twin assault on the riches of Arc weekend. “We're very excited about her,” O'Connor says of the €72,000 purchase out of Arqana's October Yearling Sale. “She's surprised us a little bit. I didn't expect her to show quite the turn of foot that she did, both on her debut and the second time under a penalty. I had it in my mind that she'd be a proper stayer next year but, now that she's shown that speed, she might be more of a miler or a mile-and-two horse as well. We're finding fast horses despite ourselves, aren't we? “Obviously, we had to think about whether we go for black-type with her, but we'll defer that. We're going for the sales races on the Saturday of Arc weekend and we'll try to win a pot of money. We'll take it from there and she'll have plenty of chances to show what level she's at after that race. She's a horse to look forward to for next year, that's for certain.” He adds, “It's going to be quite the weekend with 20-25 people going over to Paris. We're a relatively small syndicate and we've got a horse running on the Saturday and almost certainly a horse running on the Sunday as well. That takes some doing, I think, so credit to the buyer, Jeremy Brummitt, credit to David and credit to the syndicate, I suppose, because we only buy five horses a year. I think we punch way, way above our weight.” The post ‘We’re Not All Things To All Men’ – Syndicate With A Difference Counting Down To Tamfana Swansong appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Woodbine-based Norm McKnight is a multiple graded stakes-winning trainer.View the full article

Chanel Minnifield is not typically one for tempered expectations. She moved to Los Angeles from Kentucky with actorly aspirations, and last year appeared in the Oscar-nominated movie, “Rustin.” Minnifield started riding when she was a child and now, as a professional showjumper, has her sights set on competing at the 2028 Olympic Games. She has a book coming out; produces a podcast. But when earlier this year Minnifield applied to the California Retirement Management Account's (CARMA) Messineo Makeover Scholarship, she hoped it would help pay for a trip to the annual Retired Racehorse Project's Thoroughbred Makeover this October in Kentucky. She didn't expect it to cover the entire round-trip. Nor that it would also allow her compatriot at Zen Heart Horsemanship–the non-profit she co-founded to help Black, Indigenous and kids of Color in underserved communities get involved with off-track Thoroughbreds–to join her. The scholarship is a reality thanks to the largesse of horse-lover Nancy Messineo, a former racehorse owner who passed in June of 2023 after a long battle with cancer. Messineo bequeathed sizeable sums of money to CARMA and several other Thoroughbred aftercare charities. Rather than loudly broadcast her intentions, however, Messineo kept her cards close to her chest–indeed, the recipients of her generosity only found out about these gifts after she had passed. “Being in California, getting a horse to Kentucky is a really huge feat,” said Minnifield, pricing out the entire roundtrip at about $4,000 per horse. “When we got the email that we received the scholarship, and that they were going to take care of the transportation, I literally hit the ground and was just screaming,” Minnifield said. “Now we're able to take other monies that we'd set aside for horse transportation, that we'd fundraised, and really put it into the development of the horse. That's why I've been allowed to go to so many horse shows,” she added. Minnifield and her Zen Horse teammate, Nathan Bonner, are two of six recipients of this year's scholarship, geared towards those in CARMA's placement program. KC Horse Transportation will assume vanning duties. “It made perfect sense to us that if we could help, if Nancy could help, get six horses there to showcase and to compete and to proudly carry the banner, it just seemed like a no-brainer,” said Lucinda Lovitt, CARMA's executive director, about the evolving shape the scholarship, which originally was to have supported only one or two applicants. Lucinda Lovitt | CARMA “This is our first step in using her gift in helping placement program horses, which is what Nancy wanted–she wanted to support the placement program in transitioning racehorses from the track into their next career,” said Lovitt. As to the rest of Messineo's gift to CARMA, Lovitt said that uncertainty currently surrounding the future of the California racing industry, under its new consolidated form, has made the board a little circumspect about how they use it. “With out placement program, we have at any given time between 20 and 30 horses in the program that we're caring for,” said Lovitt. “As racing continues to contract here, we view that program as a safety net for our horsemen. And if racing were to stop, our funding for that stops,” said Lovitt. Currently, owner contributions to CARMA are matched by 1/ST Racing when Santa Anita is operating. “Nancy's gift is going to be crucial in ensuring that we're going to be able to take care of these horses if we have no more funding for that program,” said Lovitt. At the same time, Lovitt said, “we will continue to explore ways to create a legacy and honor her gift, but we just don't have any other firm plans right now. We're taking it slow.” As to this year's scholarship, the funds will mean Minnifield will be able to take her ex-racer, La Peer, a five-year-old Girvin mare, to Lexington this October 8-11 for the Makeover. “My girl's got sass, for sure,” said Minnifield about Le Peer, who raced under the Little Red Feather Racing banner for trainer Phil D'Amato. “She's a quiet leader, I'll say that. She has so much heart–she's very transparent and very honest,” Minnifield added. “When she has questions she asks them, but she's a fast learner.” The Los Angeles Olympics will come around too soon for La Peer, who Minnifield believes to have that kind of potential. She's surprised more of her equestrian peers don't see the top-level potential in Thoroughbreds. “In the 80s and 90s, that's all the Olympians had–everybody rode the Thoroughbred. But I think over time, Thoroughbreds got a bad rap for being too hot. And I'm like, 'you all need to step up being a horsewoman. You all need to start riding better. That's a sports car if you've ever seen one,'” Minnifield said. “My whole game,” she added, “is the Thoroughbred.” The post Messineo’s CARMA Gift Funds OTTB Riders, Supports Vital Safety Net appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The Challenge, presented by GaineswayView the full article

David Hayes said no stone has been left unturned in the preparation of his stable star Ka Ying Rising (NZ) (Shamexpress) as he galloped at Sha Tin on Friday (19 September) ahead of his trip to Australia to tackle the world’s richest turf race, The Everest (Gr.1, 1200m). In his final workout on the grass before leaving Hong Kong, the world’s top-rated sprinter clocked 56.9s over 800m – completing the final 400m in 23.6s – in a showing that his Australian handler called “a good piece of work”. “He looked like he probably finished off (the final 200m) in about 11.5 (seconds), doing it very easy. And when he came back, he didn’t blow a candle out,” Hayes said. “We weighed him and he’s thriving. He’s at about 1,164 (lb) this morning, and he raced (in the Class 1 HKSAR Chief Executive’s Cup Handicap) at around 1,150, so that’s a good sign. They normally drop about 10 pounds when they travel, so he’ll be right on his winning weight when he gets there.” Ka Ying Rising, Hong Kong’s reigning Horse of the Year, is being kept in quarantine ahead of his departure for Sydney on Sunday (21 September). The five-year-old, who has won his last 13 races, including four Group One victories, will compete overseas for the first time. For regular rider Zac Purton, it’s been a long road to the Sydney showdown. “It’s been a big build-up – nearly 11 months in the making, really. So, it’s been a topic of discussion for a long time now,” said the eight-time Hong Kong champion jockey. “It’s exciting to go down there, obviously, back to Australia and Sydney’s sort of where I’m from,” Purton added. “There’s going to be a lot of people going down there with the horse.” The 2025 edition of the AU$20 million (approx. HK$102.8 million) The Everest at Royal Randwick on 18 October is hugely anticipated by racing fans across the world, but Hayes said the excitement hasn’t been limited to the racing public. “The staff are very excited. He’s getting the rockstar treatment! He’s travelling with his vet, his farrier, his riding boy, his mafoo, and just to make it a good thing, my assistant trainer’s going down to make sure everything goes smoothly when he walks in the quarantine, so we’re not leaving a stone unturned,” he said. View the full article

What Gold Coast races Where Gold Coast Turf Club – Racecourse Dr, Bundall QLD 4217 When Saturday, September 20, 2025 First Race 1:08pm AEST Visit Dabble Gold Coast Turf CLub is the destination for the premier meeting in Queensland on Saturday, with a bumper nine-race meeting set down for decision. Showers are forecast for the region on raceday, meaning the Soft 5 track rating is likely to downgrade further as the meeting goes on. The rail comes out 1m from the 1000m-400m and remains true the remainder. The Gold Coast races on Saturday, September 20 commences at 1:08pm AEST. Best Bet at Gold Coast: Weigall Tiger Weigall Tiger arrives rock-hard fit and maps to control or sit outside the lead in a winnable BM85 (1300m). He was dominant winning a CL6 at Doomben on September 6, and retains a 3kg claim to offset topweight. From barrier two, Corey Sutherland can hold a forward rail spot on a Soft 5, and with proven 1350m strength, the drop to 1300m only sharpens his turn of foot late. He’s 7:3-0-1 at 1300–1400m and gets ideal conditions to go back-to-back. Best Bet Race 6 – #2 Weigall Tiger (2) 5yo Gelding | T: Kelly Schweida | J: Corey Sutherland (a3) (61.5kg) Next Best: Menazzi Menazzi looks ready to cash in,dropping back to 1800m in a small Class 6 where he maps handy from barrier three. He brings rock-solid recent figures, including a close second in a Doomben BM85 last start, carries just 55.5kg, and draws to control the race shape with Jake Bayliss. With proven form at the trip and a soft map, Menazzi should be too strong for his rivals late. Next Best Race 2 – #3 Menazzi (3) 7yo Gelding | T: Stuart Kendrick | J: Jake Bayliss (55.5kg) Best Value at Gold Coast: Heartoni Heartoni looks over the odds in a sharp 1000m BM85 to close the card. He was a tough Ipswich winner last start and draws to stalk the speed from barrier seven. With race fitness, genuine 1000–1100m speed, and Jake Bayliss taking the reins, he profiles to get the last crack at a few speedy types who may overdo it. If they run along early, his late strength can tell at an each-way price with horse racing bookmakers. Best Value Race 9 – #3 Heartoni (7) 6yo Gelding | T: Stuart Kendrick | J: Jake Bayliss (58.5kg) Saturday quaddie tips for Gold Coast – 20/9/25 Gold Coast quadrella selections Saturday, September 20, 2025 2-7-9 2-3-4-5 5-6-7-9-11-14 3-4-9-11-13 Horse racing tips View the full article

Race 7 RACECOURSE HOTEL & MOTOR LODGE HANDICAP 2200m ENTRENCH (R Khan) – Trainer Ms. A McLeod reported to Stewards, she was satisfied with the post-race condition of ENTRENCH, and it is her intention to carry on with the mare’s current preparation. The post Canterbury Jockey Club @ Riccarton Park, Thursday 11 September 2025 appeared first on Racing Integrity Board. View the full article

Race 7 NZB AIRFREIGHT ROAD TO JERICHO 3210m FOURTY EIGHT (S McNab) – Co-Trainer H Fannin advised Stewards, that the gelding underwent a veterinary examination, including an endoscopic assessment, on Monday 15 September, which revealed no abnormalities. FOURTY EIGHT will continue with his current preparation. The post Taranaki Racing Inc @ New Plymouth Raceway, Saturday 13 September 2025 appeared first on Racing Integrity Board. View the full article

Race 7 AUTOPOINT – PREMIUM CARS, APPROACHABLE SERVICE 1300m FAT CAT (J Doyle) – Trainer Mr. A Forsman reported to Stewards, that he was satisfied with FAT CAT’S post-race condition, however, in his opinion the gelding may not have been suited to the Heavy 9 track conditions. A Forsman further advised he intends to continue with FAT CAT’S current preparation. The post Waikato Thoroughbred Racing @ Te Rapa, Sunday 14 September 2025 appeared first on Racing Integrity Board. View the full article

By Jordyn Bublitz Just like the plush London hotel he’s named after, The Savoy announced himself in style at Cambridge Raceway last night. The two-year-old gelding (Art Major – Sloane Square) scored a decisive maiden victory in the Pizza And Beer Night Skyline Lounge – 9th Oct Mobile Pace, confirming the promise trainer Tate Hopkins has always seen in him. Originally prepared for the yearling sales by Hopkins on behalf of Bruce Carter Bloodstock, the son of Art Major didn’t attract a single bid when he went through the ring. That setback, however, turned into an opportunity. “We never got a bid on him, so Bruce asked if I’d be interested in taking half of him to train and it just went from there,” Hopkins explained. It was a decision that looks to be paying off. Hopkins has always felt the youngster had something about him, even when his debut performance didn’t make headlines. On September 5, The Savoy lined up in a Sires’ Stakes heat at Alexandra Park and finished seventh against some of the country’s top juveniles. That race was won by The Savoy’s stablemate Cyclone Rebel. “He gives you the feel of a nice horse. It was a really good run from him first up, he was probably thrown in the deep end a bit. He’s just not quite ready to compete with those good ones,” Hopkins said. The drop back in class at Cambridge proved much more suitable. With Andre Poutama in the sulky, the pair initially settled back off the mobile before pressing forward to take control as the field rounded into the final lap. From there they never looked in danger, kicking clear to score by a comfortable margin. Heading into the race, Hopkins had every reason to believe the gelding was ready to shine. “You’re never over confident, but I was pretty sure that he was going to put in a good effort. It’s good to get his confidence up with a win.” The next steps for The Savoy are still being weighed up, though Hopkins is leaning towards giving the gelding some time off. “Our plans with him are up in the air at the moment. We might give him a wee break and bring him back as an early three-year-old, I believe time will be his best friend and he’s probably six months away from maturing into a really nice animal.” With 13 horses in work at his Taupaki base, Hopkins is upbeat about the talent coming through his juvenile team. “I quite like Booty Shaker, she’s probably just a step below the real good two-year-old fillies. I’ve also got a real monster of a two-year-old called Horizon who goes really good as well, I’d like to think he’ll be winning a couple and he’d only be a month away.” View the full article

A late flurry of activity has ensured both Addington Raceway’s two big slot races will go ahead as planned on Show Day, Friday, November 14. The deadline for slot-holders to register their interest in the Majestic Horsefloats ASCENT was 5pm yesterday. “We always had the numbers for the VELOCITY but there was a question mark for a while with the ASCENT,” says Addington Raceway spokesman Greg O’Connor. “But thankfully two slot holders came to the party late. We now have 9 starters in the ASCENT and 10 in the VELOCITY.” Yesterday’s slots in THE ASCENT were taken by prominent Australian owner Domenic Martello and by two of the biggest names in Australasian harness racing, Aldebaran Park principal Duncan McPherson and Pat Driscoll of Yabby Dam Farms. Martello has indicated his slot will be taken by his own filly Tracy The Jet (5 wins from 10 starts), who is trained by Jess Tubbs in Victoria, while the McPherson/Driscoll combo have bought their slot for New South Wales Oaks and Derby winner Gatesys Gem (8 wins from 12 starts). “We see this race as an important part of the overall trotting picture in Australasia and that’s something Pat and I are very passionate about,” said McPherson. “Gatesys Gem, who is by Aldebaran Eagle, gives us a great chance in the race, given her record to date.” And it may not be a hit and run mission for the two fillies either. “They have the option to go to either the Derby or Oaks at Addington so the trip could potentially be very lucrative for them,” says O’Connor. Both The NZ Trotting Oaks and the Derby will be held at Addington on November 25. Further details about the slot-holders and their horses for both THE ASCENT and THE VELOCITY will be released in coming weeks. It will be the second edition of both races, after they were taken out by Australian superstar Keayang Zahara and Better Knuckle Up last year. In the TAB’s market for the Hill Lee and Scott VELOCITY this year rising star Marketplace is a $1.55 favourite. View the full article

Presenter-driver-trainer Brittany Graham knows a thing or two about racing on both sides of the Tasman and now that the Queenslander is working for Trackside in this country she’s (reluctantly) agreed to write a weekly column. By Brittany Graham Successful in the DG Jones Memorial back in 2023, Oscar Bonavena is back for more as a rising ten-year-old and off the back of a stunningly dominant Ordeal Cup success two weeks ago. Displaying his very best manners, the trademark turn of foot at the top of the straight left his rivals breathless and signalled he is on song for the back end of the year despite a challenging Inter Dominion campaign. “It was a real juggling act with him through the Inter Dominion series, and he really felt the Albion Park track,” said co-trainer Nathan Purdon when appearing on The Box Seat earlier this week. “Now though he is probably the soundest he has ever been in his life”. They are ominous words for his rivals at Motukarara this Sunday with the grass tracks clearly his forte, and his record of four wins from five starts on the surface only further enhancing his chances. What does pose a challenge, however, is the back mark of 30 metres in a gigantic full field of 18 runners. When successful in 2023 he overcame the same handicap, although only had a field of 10 to contend with. With the addition of another eight horses, it could see the millionaire trotter spotting rivals a far greater start. Should he prove successful in Sunday’s G3 feature, he will in fact edge up and over $1.25 million in earnings in less than 100 career starts. Not bad for an orphan foal who has met and overcome challenges from day one. In a further bonus for racing fans on course at Motukarara on Sunday, his star pacing stablemate Akuta is penciled in to head along and have a private workout on the grass to ready him for a tilt at the Methven Cup on Sunday, October 5. To see the market for Sunday’s race click here View the full article

The more things change, the more they stay the same. It may have a new permanent home and a new name, but New Zealand’s richest hurdle race continues to be dominated by Paul Nelson and Corrina McDougal. Taika triumphed in the inaugural running of the $150,000 J Swap Great New Zealand Hurdle (4200m) at Te Aroha on Friday, adding his name alongside the Hawke’s Bay stable’s six previous victories when the race was known as the Great Northern Hurdle. According to jumps racing statistician Chris McQuaid, Nelson began his record-breaking haul in this race with Chibuli in 2002, followed by Just Not Cricket in 2006 and 2007. McDougal joined Nelson in partnership during the 2018-19 season and they have shared subsequent victories with The Cossack (2020 and 2021), Nedwin (2023) and now Taika. No other trainer has won the race more than four times. McDougal represented the stable on course on Friday while Nelson continues his recovery from knee-replacement surgery a month ago. “Paul and Carol are family friends of mine and I’m absolutely honoured to be in this training partnership,” McDougal said. “Everyone will be jumping around at home. We did it!” The Nelson/McDougal came into Friday’s feature with strength in numbers, saddling three of the 10 starters in the race. Taika was rated an $11 chance, with recent form perhaps favouring his stablemates Suliman and The Bambino. Suliman won the Grand National Hurdles (4200m) at Riccarton last month, while The Bambino burst on to the scene with back-to-back open hurdle victories at Woodville in his last two starts on August 17 and September 7. But Mathew Gillies guided Taika home in fourth place behind The Bambino in the second of those Woodville races, and the prospect of better track conditions at Te Aroha gave the jockey a quiet confidence in the countdown to the Great New Zealand Jumps Carnival. “He ran a pretty good race at Woodville, where the track was a bit too heavy for him but he tried hard,” Gillies said. “I thought he’d be a genuine chance in this race today if the track dried out a bit, and it has. He was just a different horse today and travelled so much better.” Gillies took up a handy position in second place, tracking the front-running Happy Star for most of the two laps of the Te Aroha circuit. The field bunched right up heading down the back straight the final time, and the race seemed to be changing complexion rapidly as backmarkers surged into contention. Among those was Yolo, who made up a huge amount of ground from a clear last and appeared to be travelling better than anyone coming around the home turn. However, she stumbled at the first fence in the straight and lost all of that momentum, fading back into the pack and quickly swallowed up by strong-finishing rivals. Through it all, Taika maintained his rhythm. He moved a length in front at the second-last hurdle and then cleared the last beautifully, putting himself out of reach and going on to win by a length and a half. The Bambino finished strongly into second in a Nelson/McDougal quinella, while defending champion Lord Spencer was only a short head behind in third. It was a special triumph for Gillies, who has been a recent returnee to the jumps jockey ranks after spending more than two seasons in the sidelines. “It’s just a pleasure to come back after so long away and still being able to compete with everyone,” Gillies said. “It’s really good. “I just followed Happy Star most of the way. We were jumping together and doing it so easily that it was almost like we were schooling. “He had good gears under him when he went past Happy Star, so I knew he’d be a good chance from there.” Taika is part-owned by Paul Nelson and his brother Mark in partnership with Ken Garnett. The nine-year-old son of Mettre En Jeu has now had 34 starts for seven wins, six placings and $256,624 in prize-money. His 18 starts over hurdles have produced five wins, six placings and $239,767. “I’m really rapt,” McDougal said. “This horse is a stable favourite, so this is just really cool. The Bambino got up for second too, so that’s a great result. “There’s not really any secrets as far as our stable’s concerned. The hill work that we do with the horses at home pays off, and it’s also just a case of happy people making happy horses.” View the full article

Fierce Flight kicked off what Te Akau Racing is hoping to be a lucrative weekend for the trans-Tasman operation when winning the Te Aroha Maiden Hurdle (3100m) on Friday. The Flying Artie gelding won six races on the flat, including the Listed Hawke’s Bay Cup (2200m), and placed in the Gr.3 Wellington Cup (3200m), Gr.3 Manawatu Cup (2300m) and Listed New Zealand St Leger (2600m), before transitioning to a jumping career two months ago. The Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson-trained gelding showed plenty of promise in his three prior starts over hurdles, placing in his opening two efforts at Te Rapa and Te Aroha before running sixth at Hawera last month. Punters showed their support for the seven-year-old gelding on the opening day of the Great New Zealand Carnival at Te Aroha when backing him into a dominant $2.50 favourite, and he performed accordingly, running out a 2-1/4 length victor in the hands of Jay Kozaczek. “He came into the race like the best horse in the race,” Kozaczek said. “I rode him before and I probably made a few mistakes on him, but luckily they kept me on him and he proved today that he can win.” The stable is hoping to take that winning momentum into the weekend where they have runners on both sides of the Tasman. In Melbourne, Damask Rose will have her first tilt at elite-level when she contests the Gr.1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield. The daughter of Savabeel had a standout three-year-old season, winning three of her five starts, including the inaugural $3.5 million NZB Kiwi (1500m) and $1.5 million Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m). She returned as a four-year-old to run fifth first-up in the Gr.3 Cockram Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield last month, pleasing trainer Mark Walker. While pleased with that effort and her progression since then, Walker said she will have her work cut out to overcome her outside draw of 17 in Saturday’s feature. “We were really happy with her first-up run, but you are just going to need luck from the draw,” he said. “Hopefully you can get on the back of a couple of the other favourites, who have drawn out.” Back in New Zealand, the stable is looking forward to the debut of regally-bred filly Avantaggia in the Join TAB Racing Club 1200. The Wootton Bassett three-year-old holds strong sentimental value to the stable, being out of their former multiple Group One winner Avantage. Te Akau Racing principal David Ellis purchased her out of Coolmore’s 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale for A$2.1 million, and she has shown a lot of promise to date, winning her last three trials. While pleased with what she has shown to date, Walker, who trains in New Zealand in partnership with Sam Bergerson, is holding reserved expectations after she drew barrier 10. “She has done nothing wrong so far, but we will just have to see how we go,” Walker said. “It is a bit of an awkward draw and she will be better once she gets over more ground.” The stable will line-up nine other runners on the 10-race card and Walker is particularly upbeat about the chances of Group One winner Captured By Love who will make her first appearance of the season in the Eagle Technology 1400. The four-year-old daughter of Written Tycoon has won both of her lead-in trials and Walker is excited to see what she can do first-up, with Group One targets in the offing later this year. “I think Captured By Love will be our best chance at Ellerslie tomorrow,” Walker said. “She seems to be really good and I am looking forward to seeing what she can do tomorrow. “She may head to a race like the Captain Cook (Gr.1 TAB Mufhasa Classic, 1600m), the triple crown just came up a bit soon.” – View the full article

The prestigious NZB Filly of the Year Series heads in a new direction on Saturday with the running of the second leg, the $150,000 Group Three Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Sunline Vase (1400m) at Ellerslie. The Sunline Vase has previously been run over 2100m in March as the 10th leg of the 11-race series, helping to set fillies up for the grand finale in the $1m Group One New Zealand Oaks (2400m). That has all changed in 2025-26. The New Zealand Oaks has been moved forward from late March to February and will this year be run at Ellerslie. This new position in the calendar, two weeks before the $1.25m Group One New Zealand Derby (2400m) at the same venue, allows the country’s elite staying fillies to contest both of those coveted classics. The Oaks still carries the same potentially decisive NZB Filly of the Year Series points as previous seasons – 12 for first, 7 for second and 3.5 for third – but its new position in the calendar has brought changes to the series schedule. The Sunline Vase has been moved into the spring and reduced to 1400m, while the Group Two Lowland Stakes (2100m) will remain as an Oaks lead-up but has been moved from March to 31 January. Below is the new itinerary for the NZB Filly of the Year Series: A spring Sunline Vase is something new, but it is shaping up to be a fascinating clash between some of the leading contenders for the $600,000 Group One New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) in Christchurch in November. The line-up is headed by Lollapalooza (NZ) (El Roca), who tops the Filly of the Year Series table with 6 points after scoring a stunning come-from-nowhere win in the Group Three Gold Trail Stakes (1200m) two weeks ago. Among her opposition is Tajana (NZ) (Darci Brahma), the only other New Zealand three-year-old to win at Group level so far this season. She produced a potent finish from last to take out the Group Three Northland Breeders’ Stakes (1200m) at Ruakaka in August in her most recent appearance. Gold Trail Stakes third placegetter Queen’s Evidence (NZ) (King’s Legacy) is also in the line-up, along with last season’s stakes-winning juveniles Too Sweet (NZ) (Satono Aladdin) and Little Black Dress (Snitzel). Lady Iris (NZ) (U S Navy Flag) and Abbakiss (Microphone) have both placed at black-type level. Like the Gold Trail earlier this month, the Sunline Vase is worth 6 points to the winner, 3 for second and 1.5 for third. Lollapalooza tops the standings with her 6 points, with In Haste (Snitzel) second on 3 points and Queen’s Evidence third with 1.5. The Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Sunline Vase will be run as Race 8 at Ellerslie on Saturday, with a scheduled start time of 4pm. $150,000 Group Three Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Sunline Vase (1400m) Field: View the full article

Ka Ying Rising got the final stamp of approval from trainer David Hayes ahead of his flight to Australia for The Everest (1,200m) after cruising through an early morning gallop at Sha Tin on Friday. The reigning Hong Kong Horse of the Year took to the turf under the cover of darkness at 3.30am and dazzled once again, barely breaking a sweat in his final hit-out ahead of a Sunday flight to Sydney. Hayes kept a close eye on his superstar and was suitably impressed with what he saw from the...View the full article

Martell made an instant impact in his first appearance from his new quarters and more of the same is forecast at Gore. The former Jim Collett-prepared sprinter made a successful South Island debut at Wingatui earlier this month and is expected to go close to adding Sunday’s Advance Agriculture Open (1100m) to his record. He will head a strong hand for trainer Kelvin Tyler who will also be represented by Go Lotte, while stablemates Vamos ($3.80 with Ladbrokes) and Prince Alby ($4.80) are top chances in the Kevin Coyle Memorial Open (1800m). Delmonico is the race favourite with betting sites, although Prince Alby and Vamos are both under the $5 quote, and the longest horse in the event is Mr Intelligence at $9, highlighting just how open the Memorial will be. The Riverton horseman will also be keeping a close eye on the Marton meeting at Trentham where Freddie Time steps out in the Nufarm & Property Brokers Handicap (1400m). Freddie Time is the $5.50 second favourite, behind Ma Te Wa ($2). El Roca six-year-old Martell has now won seven of his 26 starts and Tyler is understandably bullish about his chances on Sunday. “He’s a good horse and Jim Collett did a great job with him. The wet track’s not going to hurt, it’s a winnable race for him again,” he said. “It’s still the same ownership group and you couldn’t get a better horse to work with, he’s fitted in well and we’re very pleased to have him.” Stable stalwart Go Lotte posted consecutive placings before she tailed the field home last time out at Riccarton. “She got back and they kicked off the front that day with the rail out, so it was hard for her,” Tyler said. “She’ll go a nice race on Sunday, she’s won 10 races so she’s obviously a good horse, but Martell will probably be a bit sharp for her.” Tyler also favoured his last-start Riccarton winner Vamos over Prince Alby in the other open handicap. “His work has been great, he’s a beautiful black horse and is very genuine so he’ll take some stopping,” he said. Prince Alby was a resuming fourth behind Martell and is on a path toward a November staying feature at Riccarton. “If he had got a bit more room the other day he may have given him a run for his money,” Tyler said. “He’s come through it well and is heading toward the New Zealand Cup (Gr.3, 3200m), but I don’t think he’s up to Vamos at this stage.” Trentham hope Freddie Time finished fourth when resuming at Otaki earlier this month in his first appearance since a disappointing Queensland venture. “I was rapt with him and his work has been unreal, he should be a great chance on a wet track in a small field,” Tyler said. “He pulled a muscle in Australia, so we brought him back and instead of bringing him down south for the winter we parked him up at Howie and Lorraine Mathews’ place and he’s still there. “There’s another good race for him at Otaki in three weeks’ time, so he’ll keep ticking over up there.” View the full article

Chase will reunite with jockey Tina Comignaghi in Saturday’s Group 3 Metric Mile (1600m) at Trentham. Photo: Race Images South Group One performer Chase has been in a rich vein of form of late and he will attempt to continue that at Trentham on Saturday in the Group 3 Metric Mile (1600m). The nine-year-old son of Zed returned to the winner’s circle in July before heading south to Riccarton last month where he was a popular winner of the Group 3 Winter Cup (1600m), and trainer Stephen Nickalls has been pleased with the way he has come through his southern venture. “He is a pretty seasoned campaigner now, not much worries him,” he said. “He came home, had a week in the paddock and he put on 15 kilos. He did very well out of the trip down there. “He is in fantastic form, he is thriving on everything. He doesn’t know that he is nine-years-old, he is really well and doing everything we could ask of him.” More: NZ racing betting Chase hasn’t been sighted on raceday since, but that hasn’t been by design, and Nickalls has kept him up to the mark with a 1000m trial at Waverley a fortnight ago. “It has been seven weeks between runs, he has been a victim of the programming around here, there have been no open miles in the CD,” Nickalls said. “We have had to play that waiting game, but he is really well and he trialled at Waverley and trialled really well.” Chase will continue his association with Canterbury jockey Tina Comignaghi, who has established a great record on the gelding. “She has only had the two rides on him, she ran third on him in the Captain Cook (Gr.1, 1600m) and then won the Winter Cup,” Nickalls said. “They have a pretty good relationship and she was keen to come back up, her agent rang me and said she was keen to ride him. You don’t break up a winning combination.” The pair will jump from barrier seven, a gate Nickalls said should suit his racing pattern. “It is better than drawing down on the rail,” he said. “He jumps with them, but takes a little to get into stride, so that won’t worry him and if the rain is coming like they say it is then it will be pretty wet anyway.” Chase is currently sitting as a $6 equal favourite for Saturday’s with PlayUp (PlayUp review), alongside the Gerard Cvitanovich-trained Knock Off, with Tumuch, Ears Back and Privy Garden the next fancied runners at $8. Sunday’s Metric Mile is due to jump at 2.23pm AEST, with the meeting at the Trentham racecourse due to begin at 10.50am. View the full article

Mark Newnham is relishing a fast start to the new season and is looking to Mid Winter Wind and New Forest to continue it at Sha Tin on Sunday. The 57-year-old has hit the board on three occasions so far this campaign and he has a host of chances to continue the good times on Sunday, with his team spearheaded by the promising Mid Winter Wind. He goes in the feature Class Two Yi Tung Shan Handicap (1,200m) and is looking to bounce back after a low-key end to last season that saw him fail to build...View the full article

Shaun and Hazel Fannin have two horses in the market for the Great New Zealand Steeplechase at Te Aroha on Sunday. Shaun and Hazel Fannin’s pair of talented jumpers in Jesko and Fourty Eight will clash for the first time over fences in Sunday’s hotly-contested Ben and Ryan Foote Great New Zealand Steeplechase (6200m) at Te Aroha. Jesko has been the lamp-lighter for the stable this year, winning the Manawatu Steeplechase (4000m), Wellington Steeplechase (4900m) and Koral Steeplechase (4250m), before going down to a game Captains Run in the Grand National Steeplechase (5600m). He has been ridden on each occasion by Shaun Fannin, who was proud of his charge’s effort in the testing conditions at Riccarton. Read: NZ horse racing guide “He was very brave, he got taken on a little bit in the run and probably did too much, which told in the finish in that really tough going,” he said. “In saying that, he never chucked it away and Captains Run was an impressive winner, so I take nothing away from that horse.” The son of Atlante returned to their Awapuni base and enjoyed a quiet fortnight before setting his sights on a rematch with much of his National rivals. That preparation included a hit-out in a bottomless New Plymouth track last Saturday, where he finished seventh in the Road To The Jericho (3210m). “He had 10 days off before building towards this race, he jumped out last Tuesday at Foxton then we took him to New Plymouth, which turned out to be an extremely heavy track,” Fannin said. “It was probably a harder run than we wanted to give him, but he’s pretty tough and it didn’t knock him too much, he’s come through that run well. “He’s as good as we’re going to get him and we’re hopeful that he’s in good enough form to be a really good chance on Sunday, he’s had a super season.” Jesko opened a $5 favourite for the $200,000 feature with Australian betting sites, but the market has his stablemate nearly on even terms, with Fourty Eight an equal second-elect at $6. The seven-year-old by Ekraar has improved throughout his campaign and stepped up in his first attempt at prestige level, finishing third behind Nedwin in the Pakuranga Hunt Cup (4300m). Fannin was on board and had to contend with a riderless horse coming in and out of play, which was no assist to Fourty Eight’s chances. “That undid him really, he can be quite temperamental sometimes and that fired him up a bit, he pulled quite hard,” Fannin said. “He was just chasing that horse and every time he got a breather it seemed to come back again. “He stuck on well, and maybe if that hadn’t have happened, I think he could’ve finished a bit closer.” He also lined up in the Jericho qualifier but was well beaten at the 800m, and Fannin said the gelding hadn’t taken any harm from the run. “We took him to New Plymouth to give him a bit of a hit out before Sunday, but he didn’t really do anything there, whether it was just the track I’m not sure,” he said. “We got him scoped and checked over by the vet on Monday and he’s all clear, he had a bit of a school on Thursday morning and worked up as good as ever so I can’t really fault him. “If he sees the trip out, he should be a good chance as well.” Recently awarded his fifth Jumps Jockey of the Year title at the Horse of the Year Awards, Fannin will continue his partnership with Jesko, while entrusting close friend Mathew Gillies with the ride on Fourty Eight. “Matt’s a super rider and we’ve been good friends for a long time as well,” he said. “He actually schooled this horse last year when he was down for a weekend, so he’s ridden him before. “He’s quite a strong rider as well, so if he did get up and pulling, I’m sure Matt will be able to rein him in quite quickly. I think they’ll be a good pairing.” View the full article

Shaun and Hazel Fannin’s pair of talented jumpers in Jesko and Fourty Eight will clash for the first time over fences in Sunday’s hotly-contested Ben and Ryan Foote Great New Zealand Steeplechase (6200m) at Te Aroha. Jesko has been the lamp-lighter for the stable this year, winning the Manawatu Steeplechase (4000m), Wellington Steeplechase (4900m) and Koral Steeplechase (4250m), before going down to a game Captains Run in the Grand National Steeplechase (5600m). He has been ridden on each occasion by Shaun Fannin, who was proud of his charge’s effort in the testing conditions at Riccarton. “He was very brave, he got taken on a little bit in the run and probably did too much, which told in the finish in that really tough going,” he said. “In saying that, he never chucked it away and Captains Run was an impressive winner, so I take nothing away from that horse.” The son of Atlante returned to their Awapuni base and enjoyed a quiet fortnight before setting his sights on a rematch with much of his National rivals. That preparation included a hit-out in a bottomless New Plymouth track last Saturday, where he finished seventh in the Road To The Jericho (3210m). “He had 10 days off before building towards this race, he jumped out last Tuesday at Foxton then we took him to New Plymouth, which turned out to be an extremely heavy track,” Fannin said. “It was probably a harder run than we wanted to give him, but he’s pretty tough and it didn’t knock him too much, he’s come through that run well. “He’s as good as we’re going to get him and we’re hopeful that he’s in good enough form to be a really good chance on Sunday, he’s had a super season.” Jesko opened a $5 favourite for the $200,000 feature, but the market has his stablemate nearly on even terms, with Fourty Eight an equal second-elect on $6. The seven-year-old by Ekraar has improved throughout his campaign and stepped up in his first attempt at prestige level, finishing third behind Nedwin in the Pakuranga Hunt Cup (4300m). Fannin was on board and had to contend with a riderless horse coming in and out of play, which was no assist to Fourty Eight’s chances. “That undid him really, he can be quite temperamental sometimes and that fired him up a bit, he pulled quite hard,” Fannin said. “He was just chasing that horse and every time he got a breather it seemed to come back again. “He stuck on well, and maybe if that hadn’t have happened, I think he could’ve finished a bit closer.” He also lined up in the Jericho qualifier but was well beaten at the 800m, and Fannin said the gelding hadn’t taken any harm from the run. “We took him to New Plymouth to give him a bit of a hit out before Sunday, but he didn’t really do anything there, whether it was just the track I’m not sure,” he said. “We got him scoped and checked over by the vet on Monday and he’s all clear, he had a bit of a school on Thursday morning and worked up as good as ever so I can’t really fault him. “If he sees the trip out, he should be a good chance as well.” Recently awarded his fifth Jumps Jockey of the Year title at the Horse of the Year Awards, Fannin will continue his partnership with Jesko, while entrusting close friend Mathew Gillies with the ride on Fourty Eight. “Matt’s a super rider and we’ve been good friends for a long time as well,” he said. “He actually schooled this horse last year when he was down for a weekend, so he’s ridden him before. “He’s quite a strong rider as well, so if he did get up and pulling, I’m sure Matt will be able to rein him in quite quickly. I think they’ll be a good pairing.” View the full article

Group One performer Chase has been in a rich vein of form of late and he will attempt to continue that at Trentham on Saturday in the Gr.3 Hunterville Vet Club Metric Mile (1600m). The nine-year-old son of Zed returned to the winner’s circle in July before heading south to Riccarton last month where he was a popular winner of the Gr.3 Winter Cup (1600m), and trainer Stephen Nickalls has been pleased with the way he has come through his southern venture. “He is a pretty seasoned campaigner now, not much worries him,” he said. “He came home, had a week in the paddock and he put on 15 kilos. He did very well out of the trip down there. “He is in fantastic form, he is thriving on everything. He doesn’t know that he is nine-years-old, he is really well and doing everything we could ask of him.” Chase hasn’t been sighted on raceday since, but that hasn’t been by design, and Nickalls has kept him up to the mark with a 1000m trial at Waverley a fortnight ago. “It has been seven weeks between runs, he has been a victim of the programming around here, there have been no open miles in the CD,” Nickalls said. “We have had to play that waiting game, but he is really well and he trialled at Waverley and trialled really well.” Chase will continue his association with Canterbury jockey Tina Comignaghi, who has established a great record on the gelding. “She has only had the two rides on him, she ran third on him in the Captain Cook (Gr.1, 1600m) and then won the Winter Cup,” Nickalls said. “They have a pretty good relationship and she was keen to come back up, her agent rang me and said she was keen to ride him. You don’t break up a winning combination.” The pair will jump from barrier seven, a gate Nickalls said should suit his racing pattern. “It is better than drawing down on the rail,” he said. “He jumps with them, but takes a little to get into stride, so that won’t worry him and if the rain is coming like they say it is then it will be pretty wet anyway.” Chase is currently sitting as a $6 equal favourite for Saturday’s featured, alongside the Gerard Cvitanovich-trained Knock Off, with Tumuch, Ears Back and Privy Garden the next fancied runners at $8. View the full article

Cambridge trainer Stephen Marsh has 14 horses entered across the 10-race card at Ellerslie on Saturday, and more than half of them are three-year-olds facing crucial early-season assignments. Marsh has proven black-type performers Little Black Dress, Lady Iris and Tale Of The Gypsy in Saturday’s Gr.3 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Sunline Vase (1400m), backed up by a range of emerging age-group talent on the undercard. Last-start Listed Wanganui Guineas (1200m) placegetters Churmatt and Swiss Prince will contest the NZB Ready to Run Sale Trainers Series 3YO (1400m), while the Join TAB Racing Club (1200m) features first-starters Earlicheer (by Super Seth out of Daffodil) and Well Written (Written Tycoon out of Australian black-type performer Mozzie Monster). “I think we’ll know a bit more about some of these three-year-olds after Saturday,” Marsh said. Marsh singled out Churmatt as the three-year-old he was most excited about on Saturday’s card. The son of Churchill was a three-length winner on debut at Rotorua on August 13, then finished only half a length behind quality filly Platinum Diamond when second in the Wanganui Guineas on August 30. There was a three-length margin back to third. “He’s a three-year-old that we’ve got a lot of time for,” Marsh said. “He ran a top race for second in the Wanganui Guineas last time out, in only his second start, and he won very well before that. I think he’s got a really nice season in front of him.” Opie Bosson will take the mount on Churmatt, who dominates the market as a $2 favourite for Saturday’s $55,000 race. Marsh is also upbeat about his Sunline Vase trio, who all acquitted themselves well in black-type features at Ellerslie two weeks ago. Lady Iris ran third against male three-year-olds in the Listed Sir Colin Meads Trophy (1200m), while Tale Of The Gypsy was beaten by six lengths into ninth after a tough wide run in the same race. Little Black Dress, who won at Listed level at Ellerslie in the autumn, was a close sixth in the Gr.3 Gold Trail Stakes (1200m). “I thought they all performed with credit that day, and they’ve all gone the right way from there,” Marsh said. “It’s a hot field on Saturday and their performances here will have a real bearing on what we do with them from here.” Another talented member of Marsh’s Ellerslie team is Tardelli, who will kick off his four-year-old season in the Eagle Technology (1400m). The well-bred son of I Am Invincible won twice as a three-year-old last season including the inaugural $100,000 Windsor Park Stud 3YO Trophy (1500m) at Ellerslie on Champions Day in March. He also finished second against older horses in the Gr.3 Easter Handicap (1600m), beaten by a neck by Doctor Askar, and ran third to Savaglee in the Gr.2 Levin Classic (1400m) and to Sethito in the Listed (now Gr.3) Uncle Remus Stakes (1400m). Tardelli made an unsuccessful raid on the Queensland Winter Carnival, finishing eighth in the Gr.2 Queensland Guineas (1600m) in May, but has pleased Marsh with his progress so far this spring. He was a two-length trial winner over 1100m at Ellerslie on September 9. “He’s a horse with a lot of upside,” Marsh said. “His last preparation was very good, and what he’s shown us so far suggests he’s coming up even better this time in. “I’ve been happy with his two trials. The first one was on a very wet track, and then he scored a lovely win at Ellerslie in his second trial. I think that’s really brought him on and he’s going great ahead of his return to racing. “We’ll take it one step at a time for now, see what he does at Ellerslie on Saturday and take it from there, but he could find himself in a Matamata Cup (Listed, 1600m) second-up.” The Matamata Cup will be run on October 4. View the full article