Wandering Eyes

What Muswellbrook Races Where Muswellbrook Race Club – Skellatar Park, 15 Racecourse Rd, Muswellbrook NSW 2333 When Monday, August 12, 2024 First Race 1:05pm AEST Visit Dabble The new week of racing gets underway at Muswellbrook Race Club on Monday afternoon, with a quickfire seven-race program set for decision. The rail is in the true position the entire circuit, and with little to no rain forecast in the lead-up, the current Good 4 rating should hold for race-day. All the action is scheduled to kick off at 1:05pm local time. Muswellbrook Best Bet: Last Frontier Last Frontier returns after a 155-day spell and will be looking to maintain his impressive resume after securing three wins and another minor placing in four starts. The son of Deep Field was terrific when winning at Tamworth on March 10 before being sent to the paddock by the Cody Morgan barn, storming through the wire to claim a Class 2 victory at his home track. His barrier trials leading into this suggest he’s lost nothing in his time away from racing, and although this BM74 contest has more depth than what he’s faced in the past, Last Frontier appears up to the task. Best Bet Race 7 – #8 Last Frontier (3) 5yo Gelding | T: Cody Morgan | J: Siena Grima (a3) (57kg) +350 with Neds Next Best at Muswellbrook: Here Comes Hogan Back-to-back runner-up performances should have Here Comes Hogan ready to peak third-up into the campaign. The Matthew Smith-trained gelding has been beaten less than a length across those two efforts, with the four-year-old son of Shalaa getting nosed out in his latest run at Wyong on July 20. The step back to country grade should be ideal, and with barrier five allowing Mitchell Bell to take up the running throughout the journey, watch for Here Comes Hogan to give a bold sight turning for home. Next Best Race 4 – #2 Here Comes Hogan (5) 4yo Gelding | T: Matthew Smith | J: Mitchell Bell (59kg) +280 with PlayUp Best Value at Muswellbrook: Ancient Egypt Although Ancient Egypt was disappointing first-up at Doomben on July 27 for the Wayne Brown barn, punters can expect this guy to bounce back second-up. The lightly raced six-year-old has a strong second-up profile, with two of his three career victories coming at the second start of the preparation. He should get every chance to stalk the leading pair from barrier one this time, and with race-day fitness on his side, Ancient Egypt should be letting down with a withering burst when asked the question by claiming apprentice Jack Baker. Best Value Race 3 – #1 Ancient Egypt (1) 6yo Gelding | T: Wayne Brown | J: Jack Baker (a2) (62kg) +800 with Dabble Monday quaddie tips – Muswellbrook Races Muswellbrook quadrella selections Monday, August 12, 2024 2-4 1-2-3-4-5 1-4-5-6-9 1-2-4-8 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip Horse racing tips View the full article

Driver Penalties Z Meredith | Waikato Bay of Plenty 6 August; use of whip; suspended 17-27 August inclusive. S Ottley | Invercargill 8 August; medical clearance required (subsequently received on 9 August). S Abernethy | Auckland 9 August; careless driving; fined $300. Trainer Penalty G Smith | NZ Metropolitan 9 August; failed to affix mudguards; fined $50. Horse Penalties OUR SUPERFUND | Invercargill 8 August; broke in running; must complete 2 trials. SPECIAL EFFECTS | NZ Metropolitan 9 August; broke in running; must complete trial. WUDABUBBIT | NZ Metropolitan 9 August; broke in running; must complete 2 trials. BEAT THE COVID | Ashburton 11 August; late scratching on veterinary advice; veterinary clearance required. The post 5-11 August 2024 appeared first on RIB. View the full article

Battle Secret (right) strides out in the closing stages under Masa Hashizume at Woodville. Photo: Peter Rubery (Race Images Palmerston North) Bill Thurlow’s top performers are still waiting in the wings ahead of the spring racing period, but that didn’t stop the Waverley horseman from picking up an impressive double at Woodville on Sunday. After finishing a narrow second in the opener with Towrope, Thurlow collected his first winner of the meeting with progressive mare Ziggy Khan. The five-year-old daughter of Mongolian Khan was having just her sixth start and broke maiden status a fortnight ago at Waverley, with the step-up to Rating 65 grade posing no issue to horse racing bookmakers who placed her in second-favouritism ($5) behind Moonlight Hustler ($4.20). Apprentice jockey Triston Moodley eased the mare well back in the early stages as Fay Khan It took up the lead at a solid clip. Sliding closer passing the 800 metre mark, Ziggy Khan travelled strongly into the race and chased down Fay Khan It in the straight, crossing the line with her ears pricked and seemingly had plenty left in store. Thurlow indicated the mare had endured an injury earlier in her career and was pleased for her connections, the Crawford brothers, to be rewarded for their efforts. “I thought she went very well, she’s a progressive stayer and has always shown us a fair bit,” Thurlow said. “It’s never easy to step-up from maidens to win your next grade, so I’m very happy with her. “She needed all the time she had, but she did have an injury to her shoulder and the owners were very patient in nursing her back because it wasn’t the best. It’s a great reward for them. “I would think she will go up a grade again now so we’ll just take it race by race with her.” Later on the card, Battle Secret wasn’t to be outdone by his younger stablemate and earned the fourth success of his career. The seven-year-old was among the middle market for the Rating 75 contest, with talented mare Bozo on top in fresh state at $2.50. In the hands of Masa Hashizume, Battle Secret was leisurely away from the gates and remained near the tail of the field through the running, with Carpe Diem taking over the pace making role along the back straight. Battle Secret strode effortlessly into contention nearing the home turn and showed plenty of fight to hold off the charge of Sweetjineen, scoring by a short head at the finish. “I thought he was very diligent, he’s a horse that hasn’t been the easiest and had a tendon injury that set us back with him,” Thurlow said. “We had to take him along very quietly and he’ll probably be a better horse over more ground, but coming back from that injury, he has done very well. “We’ll step up over ground next and play it by air, we’ll keep him in the company that we feel he can be capable of winning in.” A son of Battle Paint, Battle Secret has been successful in four of his 24 starts and earned over $61,000 in stakes for a large ownership group, which includes a number of his breeders. Back in Waverley, Thurlow is hoping to build on what was a highly successful season last term, with Listed Warstep Stakes (2000m) winner No Rain Ever and Group One winner No Compromise both set to return to the trials at short notice. “We have a few really nice horses coming back to the trials soon, including No Rain Ever, No Compromise and Frank The Tank,” he said. “We haven’t rushed them, we didn’t bring them back really early but they are ticking over nicely and will probably trial next week at Foxton. “They will miss the early Hawke’s Bay stuff as that wasn’t on our radar, but one of them may be there for the last day. “We’ve got a really nice team building up and we’ll find some nice races for them this season.” Horse racing news View the full article

Blake Shinn wins the Scobie Beasley (Photo by David Geraghty/Racing Photos) Reigning Scobie Breasley Medal winner Blake Shinn has retained Victorian racing’s highest individual honour on a night when the father-and-son team of Anthony and Sam Freedman were feted for their training achievements and their star stayer Without A Fight was named the Victorian Racehorse of the Year. The 2024 Victorian Racing Awards, held in Melbourne on Saturday night, culminated in Shinn – who polled 72 votes to narrowly defeat his nearest rival Damian Lane by just four votes (68) – winning the Scobie Breasley Medal for a third time. The 36-year-old first landed the coveted prize whilst he was still serving his apprenticeship back in 2005. Despite being outpointed by Lane in the Victorian Metropolitan Jockeys’ Premiership, Shinn was judged to be the rider who had excelled above all others following the counting of votes, which are awarded on a 3-2-1 basis by Racing Victoria (RV) Stewards for the best ride at each metropolitan meeting throughout the 12-month season. The Scobie Breasley Medal top five was rounded out by Daniel Stackhouse (31 votes), Harry Coffey (27) and dual Victorian Apprentices’ Premiership winner Celine Gaudray, who amassed 24 votes to claim fifth place on a countback from Billy Egan and Jye McNeil. In an intriguing battle Lane led his rival 40 votes to 26 at the halfway point of the season, before Shinn powered home through the second half to claim victory. It was a cluttered affair behind the runaway duo with just five votes separating the 10 riders placed from fifth to 14th. Whilst he may have missed out on a first Scobie Breasley Medal, Lane did not leave the ceremony empty-handed, collecting his maiden Roy Higgins Medal for winning the Metropolitan Jockeys Premiership, as well as the overall Victorian Jockeys’ Premiership title, becoming the first rider since Luke Nolen in 2009-10 to claim both in the one season. Lane was back on stage later in the night to claim an award that carried special meaning with the Victorian Jockeys Association’s (VJA) annual peer-voted award renamed the Damien Oliver Most Valuable Jockey in honour of the recently retired champion who, like Lane, hails from Western Australia. Team Freedman were acknowledged by a voting panel of racing media and industry representatives for a stunning season which was headlined by Without A Fight’s historic Spring Racing Carnival campaign. In a close contest, the reigning Caulfield Cup (2400m) and Melbourne Cup (3200m) winner received 66 votes from the panel to edge out Mark Walker’s sprinting sensation Imperatriz (60) in the race to be crowned Victorian Racehorse of the Year, with mighty mare Pride Of Jenni (41) in third. Their handling of Without A Fight also saw the Freedmans land the inaugural Most Outstanding Training Performance award, having garnered 84 votes from the judging panel ahead of Ciaron Maher (31) for his training efforts with Pride Of Jenni and Henry Dwyer (27) for his international success with Asfoora. That prompted another visit to the stage for Sam Freedman who had earlier received the Colin Alderson Rising Star award, which is given to a Victorian trainer aged 40 or under whose career is on an upward trajectory and has performed with distinction over the preceding 12 months. With Sam playing an instrumental role, Freedman Racing jumped from 13th to third in the Metropolitan Trainers’ Premiership and the top five in the Victorian premiership, where their winning strike rate of over 22 per cent was unmatched. Another emerging talent, this time from the riding ranks, was also celebrated when Jaylah Kennedy was voted the VJA Rising Star by her fellow riders. The New Zealand native enjoyed a breakout season in the saddle, notching 21 winners in town among 67 across the state. Kennedy’s fellow Kiwi native Aaron Kuru retained the Tommy Corrigan Medal he won for the first-time last year after he was again judged to be Victoria’s leading jumps jockey across the 2023-24 racing season. Kuru, whose list of achievements included a third straight success in the Two Rivers Steeplechase (3800m) in partnership with Elvison, polled 15 votes to finish five ahead of his nearest challenger, Will Gordon. In the training ranks, Ciaron Maher was feted for another stunning season in which he captured his fifth consecutive Victorian Trainers’ Premiership and a fourth consecutive Metropolitan Trainers’ Premiership for which he was presented with the Fred Hoysted Medal. Other repeat winners were Louise Abey and Jessica Cocks, who retained the Racing Victoria Acknowledged Retrainer of the Year and Emerging Retrainer of the Year awards respectively, with the latter open to retrainers in each of the first three years that they participate in RV’s Acknowledged Retrainer program. Following is the full list of awards presented at the 2024 Victorian Racing Awards: Scobie Breasley Medal – Blake Shinn Victorian Racehorse of the Year – Without A Fight Most Outstanding Training Performance – Anthony and Sam Freedman Tommy Corrigan Medal – Aaron Kuru Colin Alderson Rising Star Award – Sam Freedman Damien Oliver Most Valuable Jockey – Damian Lane VJA Rising Star – Jaylah Kennedy RV Acknowledged Retrainer of the Year – Louise Abey RV Emerging Retrainer of the Year – Jessica Cocks Metropolitan Jockeys’ Premiership (Roy Higgins Medal) – Damian Lane (88 wins) Victorian Jockeys’ Premiership – Damian Lane (148 wins) Metropolitan Apprentices’ Premiership – Celine Gaudray (42 wins) Victorian Apprentices’ Premiership – Celine Gaudray (70 wins) Metropolitan Trainers’ Premiership (Fred Hoysted Medal) – Ciaron Maher (107 wins) Victorian Trainers’ Premiership – Ciaron Maher (218 wins) Horse racing news View the full article

Bill Thurlow’s top performers are still waiting in the wings ahead of the spring racing period, but that didn’t stop the Waverley horseman from picking up an impressive double at Woodville on Sunday. After finishing a narrow second in the opener with Towrope, Thurlow collected his first winner of the meeting with progressive mare Ziggy Khan (NZ) (Mongolian Khan) in the Beale Trucking (2200m). The five-year-old daughter of Mongolian Khan was having just her sixth start and broke maiden status a fortnight ago at Waverley, with the step-up to Rating 65 grade posing no issue to TAB bookmakers who placed her in second-favouritism ($5) behind Moonlight Hustler ($4.20). Apprentice jockey Triston Moodley eased the mare well back in the early stages as Fay Khan It took up the lead at a solid clip. Sliding closer passing the 800 metre mark, Ziggy Khan travelled strongly into the race and chased down Fay Khan It in the straight, crossing the line with her ears pricked and seemingly had plenty left in store. Thurlow indicated the mare had endured an injury earlier in her career and was pleased for her connections, the Crawford brothers, to be rewarded for their efforts. “I thought she went very well, she’s a progressive stayer and has always shown us a fait bit,” Thurlow said. “It’s never easy to step-up from maidens to win your next grade, so I’m very happy with her. “She needed all the time she had, but she did have an injury to her shoulder and the owners were very patient in nursing her back because it wasn’t the best. It’s a great reward for them. “I would think she will go up a grade again now so we’ll just take it race by race with her.” Later on the card, Battle Secret (NZ) (Battle Paint) wasn’t to be outdone by his younger stablemate and earned the fourth success of his career in the Tararua Alliance (1600m). The seven-year-old was among the middle market for the Rating 75 contest, with talented mare Bozo on top in fresh state at $2.50. In the hands of Masa Hashizume, Battle Secret was leisurely away from the gates and remained near the tail of the field through the running, with Carpe Diem taking over the pace making role along the back straight. Battle Secret strode effortlessly into contention nearing the home turn and showed plenty of fight to hold off the charge of Sweetjineen, scoring by a short head at the finish. “I thought he was very diligent, he’s a horse that hasn’t been the easiest and had a tendon injury that set us back with him,” Thurlow said. “We had to take him along very quietly and he’ll probably be a better horse over more ground, but coming back from that injury, he has done very well. “We’ll step up over ground next and play it by air, we’ll keep him in the company that we feel he can be capable of winning in.” A son of Battle Paint, Battle Secret has been successful in four of his 24 starts and earned over $61,000 in stakes for a large ownership group, which includes a number of his breeders. Back in Waverley, Thurlow is hoping to build on what was a highly-successful season last term with Listed Warstep Stakes (2000m) winner No Rain Ever (No Nay Never) and Group One winner No Compromise (NZ) (Pins) both set to return to the trials at short notice. “We have a few really nice horses coming back to the trials soon, including No Rain Ever, No Compromise and Frank The Tank,” he said. “We haven’t rushed them, we didn’t bring them back really early but they are ticking over nicely and will probably trial next week at Foxton. “They will miss the early Hawke’s Bay stuff as that wasn’t on our radar, but one of them may be there for the last day. “We’ve got a really nice team building up and we’ll find some nice races for them this season.” View the full article

Glen Massey horsewoman Shelley Wright was rapt to kick off her season on a winning note at Te Rapa on Saturday, courtesy of progressive stayer Endean Ace (NZ) (Tarzino). A gelding by Tarzino, Endean Ace had been knocking on the door to break maiden status with two strong efforts over a mile and 2100 metres this campaign, closing a $4.70 second-favourite to Hootie Johnson ($3.50). Contesting the Waikato Draught 2100, Endean Ace was trapped wide from an outside barrier in the early stages under apprentice Ngakau Hailey, who soon found cover and settled in midfield. Looming into contention turning for home, Endean Ace kept up a strong gallop down the centre of the straight and kicked clear nearing the post, holding out Our Easy Street by 1 ½ lengths. Wright trains the five-year-old for owner-breeders Andrew Burton and Linda Hunt, who she was pleased to deliver the victory for. “It was a nice ride, he settled him nicely and it was good to get the win,” Wright said. “He came from another stable before us, but in those bigger stables, they possibly can’t do the time factor that we can with these kinds of horses. He came out here as well as another one we have for Andrew and Linda, they’re good people. “He was just a very weak horse and needed time to mature, farm life has really suited him and he’s coming along nicely. “I think he’ll be a better horse next winter so he’s a long term type, but we’ll have a look around in the meantime. He likes a good cut out of the track so we’ll probably be able to make the most of that right up until about November.” The win came in 17-year-old Hailey’s first ride for Wright, however the pair have been associated for a long period of time as Hailey learned the early ropes of riding racehorses at her property west of Ngaruawahia. “Ngakau came out here with a crew of kids and did a bit of work for us over the farm, you could see the potential in him back then as a young fella,” Wright said. “We know his mother quite well, so it’s a real family association and he’s a lovely kid. “We haven’t had a lot of horses out racing and we’ve just got a few coming up now, so he rode for us at the trials the other day and I thought he would be well suited to this horse. He rides with a nice long rein and our horses enjoy that style.” Wright is able to provide her horses with a variety of training between the racecourse and farm environments, a blend that she hopes will prove an effective method heading into the spring period. “We’ve got about 15 in work, mostly homebred horses and a few outside ones too. They seem to thrive on these sort of conditions,” she said. “We go into the track every day, but we have facilities out on the farm as well. I’ve got a lovely bunch of riders here and it’s a bit of a mix for the horses, they get to go out to the paddocks during the day and then into the boxes at night. “It’s totally different training to what a lot of people can do and I think we’ll start to see some nice results soon. “We have a nice Redwood coming up called Janka, he’s a nice staying type as well. We also have Endean Affair for Andrew and Linda, she’s a nice mare.” View the full article

A classy field of some of the best and brightest gallopers in New Zealand racing went around in an open 1100m trial to kick proceedings off at Te Rapa on Saturday. For most, the trial provided the perfect opportunity to test fitness levels ahead of their looming spring assignments with a number of eye-catching runs, none more so than the first three home in the contest. Leading sprinter/miler Sacred Satono (NZ) (Satono Aladdin) led comfortably throughout with rider Triston Moodley having a good grip on the five-year-old entire the length of the Te Rapa straight as he stopped the clock in a respectable 1.07.12 for the journey on the Heavy10 surface. “He went okay, and Triston never moved on him,” co-trainer Grant Cooksley noted. “He had a decent blow afterwards but we’re very pleased as the run and trip away from home will clean him up nicely for his first-up assignment. “At this stage he will go to the Foxbridge Plate (Gr.2, 1200m) back at Te Rapa in a fortnight and then to the Tarzino Trophy (Gr.1, 1400m) at Hastings on 7 September. “He appears to have come up well and through those first two we will reassess what we do with him next.” Cambridge mentor Andrew Forsman had three runners in the trial and was pleased with the efforts of all three as last season’s Gr.1 Livamol Classic (2040m) winner Mustang Valley (NZ) (Vanbrugh) looked sharp chasing home the winner, while Saint Bathans (Maurice) and Red Sea (NZ) (Pierata) battled home well, especially the latter who completely blew the start. “Mustang Valley was advantaged by pinging the gates and putting herself there on the speed,” he said. “She relishes that type of track and has had a nice day out with no real pressure. “She will go to the Foxbridge and then the first two Group Ones at Hastings. She is the most forward of the three I had in, and her coat looks great, so she is coming up well. “Saint Bathans made up good ground and we will concentrate on handicap racing with him for the time being. “He has his quirks but is a happy horse and not far from kicking off. “Warren (Kennedy, jockey) said Red Sea just dipped a little coming out and didn’t like that ground much. “As tracks are going to stay pretty wet for a while yet I think we will head straight to Melbourne with him.” Another talented individual heading to Melbourne later in the spring is Cups contender Sharp ‘N’ Smart (NZ) (Redwood), who delighted rider Ryan Elliot and co-trainer Graeme Rogerson with a sharp effort to finish close-up behind the first two home. “He went super and is right back to his best,” Rogerson said. “Ryan came back in and his exact words were he has his mojo back, which was gratifying to hear after the problems we had with him in his last prep. “I think Debbie (wife and co-trainer) is leaning towards giving him a run in the Foxbridge Plate and maybe one more after that before we head over to Melbourne. “We have him entered in both the Caulfield Cup (Gr.1, 2400m) and Melbourne Cup (Gr.1, 3200m) and we’re hopeful he can bring the form he showed as a three-year-old over there as we know he would be very competitive if he’s in that shape.” Sharp “N’ Smart was one of the standout three-year-olds of the 2022/2023 racing season with victories in the Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m), Gr.1 Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m) Gr.1 Champion Stakes (2000m) while also finishing runner-up in the Gr.1 Victoria Derby (2500m). View the full article

Master Marko (NZ) (Contributer) continued to make an impression since returning to New Zealand at Riccarton Park on Saturday, picking up his second victory in four starts with a decisive display in the Heatstore Open Handicap (1400m). The son of Contributer is owned by trainer Kelvin Tyler and his wife Vanessa, who campaigned him across the Tasman for just shy of two years after he placed in the Listed Dunedin Guineas (1500m) as a three-year-old. After collecting four wins racing in Queensland, Master Marko returned to his homeland in the late autumn and made an immediate statement first-up for second at Ashburton, before putting on a 6 ½ length demolition job in the Oamaru Cup (1600m). The win gave Tyler confidence to move forward into last Saturday’s Gr.3 Winter Cup (1600m) where the gelding finished seventh, 2 ¾ lengths from the winner in Jay Bee Gee. Reverting back to 1400 metres on the final day of the carnival, Master Marko was rated the $3.80 race-favourite ahead of Epee Beel ($5.60). Local apprentice jockey Yogesh Atchamah allowed Master Marko to find his feet early in the testing conditions and settled in the second-half of the field, while top-weight Conor O’Ceirin went straight to the head of the field setting a genuine tempo. Tracking Epee Beel into the straight, Atchamah pulled Master Marko to the outside and set up a battle to the post with Lord Darci, with Master Marko proving too strong in the finish scoring comfortably by 1 ¾ lengths. Tyler had been wary of the track deteriorating throughout the card and was pleased to see the gelding’s class prevail. “I thought his run in the Winter Cup was probably a little bit disappointing, but he just couldn’t get rolling when he needed too and what not,” he said. “There was a bit of speed in that race today and they’ve come off the back of it so that really helped him too. It’s a relief really because I wasn’t sure how he would handle that track. “We’ll go home and give him a freshen-up and regroup, we’ll take it from there. There are some nice races coming up and another nice race here, so we’ll keep ticking away. “I think a better track will be even better, so we’ll just get today out of the road and enjoy it.” Atchamah collected a double on the card after winning earlier aboard Riviera Rebel (NZ) (Pure Champion), in a meeting where the southern apprentices jockeys were to the fore with Denby-Rose Tait collecting a treble and Donovan Cooper also saluting. “It’s a big effort for me, it’s hard to win a race at a big meeting like this but I’m proud of myself,” Atchamah said. “He’s a very good horse and I just listened to Mr Tyler’s instructions, he told me if I get going at the 600 metres just keep going and rolling with him and it paid off.” Bred by Raffles Dancers, Master Marko has earned north of $222,000 with six wins and 14 minor placings in 41 starts. The six-year-old holds early nominations for both the Gr.1 Arrowfield Stud Plate (1600m) and the Gr.1 Livamol Classic (2050m) during the upcoming Hawke’s Bay Spring Carnival. View the full article

Rider Penalties T Jonker | Canterbury 7 August; use of whip; suspended 11-23 August inclusive. K Mudhoo | Canterbury 7 August; failed to make weight; fined $100. L Allpress | Canterbury 7 August; medical clearance required. R Juan | Canterbury 7 August; medical clearance required. M Cartwright | Waikato 10 August; use of whip; fined $500. D Subrabranium | Canterbury 10 August; use of whip; suspended 17-29 August inclusive. B Murray | Canterbury 10 August; use of whip; suspended 17-28 August inclusive. A Balloo | Canterbury 10 August; use of whip; suspended 17-28 August inclusive. L Callaway | Canterbury 10 August; careless riding; suspended 11-23 August inclusive. S Wynne | Canterbury 10 August; use of whip; suspended 11-28 August inclusive. D Tait | Canterbury 10 August; careless riding; suspended 11-17 August inclusive. Trainer Penalty C Wood | Rangitikei 9 August; incorrect gear; fined $50. Horse Penalties POSTER BOY | Waikato 8 August; cardiac arrythmia; veterinary clearance required. BILLY BOY | Canterbury 10 August; cardiac arrhythmia; veterinary clearance required. KOYAMA | Canterbury 10 August; unsatisfactory performance; must complete trial. The post 5-11 August 2024 appeared first on RIB. View the full article

King Of Conquest is out to emulate May’s Group One Champions & Chater Cup (2,400m) conqueror in Sunday’s Group One Grosser Preis von Berlin (2,400m) at HoppegartenView the full article

Nooni looked every bit worthy of her $1.8 million price tag with her emphatic score in the $147,000 Sorrento Stakes (G3) Aug. 10 at Del Mar. View the full article

Naughty Rascal dug in gamely through the lane to win the $95,000 Proud Man Stakes Aug. 10 at Gulfstream Park to remain undefeated and give second-crop sire Rogueish his first stakes winner.View the full article

No matter the trip, traffic, or weight, Anisette will get the job done. The brilliant British-bred filly registered the fifth graded stakes score of her career with a late-rallying win in the Aug. 10 Yellow Ribbon Handicap (G2T).View the full article

Off at a firming 5.70-1 while making a belated first trip to the races, QUEEN MAXIMA (f, 3, Bucchero–Corfu Lady, by Corfu) overcame a couple of spots of adversity to post an extremely impressive victory in the Saturday finale at Del Mar. Drawn the fence, the $40,000 OBS June graduate bombed the start and was clearly last early before making some ground to be about midfield into the turn. Traveling strongly and full of run passing the five-sixteenths, but in need of room as the field neared the stretch, the chestnut bided her time, was pointed at daylight leaving the eighth pole and exploded through a hole to score by good 2 1/2 lengths. Sales history: $40,000 2yo '23 OBSJUN. O-Irving Venture LLC or Arthur; B-Saul Rosas (FL); T-Jeff Mullins. On debut #1 QUEEN MAXIMA ($13.40) by Bucchero tips out and rallies between horses before pulling away to easily win the finale at Del Mar. @LugoJr gets his second win on the day, this time aboard for @Jmullinsracing. pic.twitter.com/6HixTW06BY — FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) August 11, 2024 Check out the drone view of #1 QUEEN MAXIMA getting thru traffic to win the finale at Del Mar with @LugoJr aboard. Watch more on @FanDuelTV. pic.twitter.com/TXN4Wh8D08 — FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) August 11, 2024 The post Bucchero Filly Queen Maxima Wows In Del Mar Finale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Beauty Bark became the first winner for Washington-based first-crop stallion Barkley in capturing her debut by 4 1/2 lengths in a $24,200 maiden race at Emerald Downs Aug. 10.View the full article

Nooni looked every bit worthy of her $1.8 million price tag with her emphatic score in the $147,000 Sorrento Stakes (G3) Aug. 10 at Del Mar. View the full article

Prohibitively favored at 3-10 in Saturday's GII Yellow Ribbon Handicap at Del Mar, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners' ANISETTE (IRE) (f, 4, Awtaad {Ire}–Tutti Frutti {GB}, by Teofilo {Ire}) gave her backers perhaps a few seconds' scare at the top of the lane, but she exuded class through the final furlong and half to remain perfect in two starts as a 4-year-old. Void of early speed and settled last but one past the stands for the first time, Anisette switched off nicely under a long hold from Umberto Rispoli as longshot Ever Smart (Broken Vow) went a good gallop on the front end. Eased out into the clear with about three furlongs to travel, she began to take closer order rounding the turn and for a stride or two, it appeared that Rispoli was going to circumnavigate the field. Instead he went for an inside run and while it took a stride or two for Anisette to hit top gear, she came with a stinging run one off the inside with a furlong to race and kicked home smartly. Sales history: 26,000gns Ylg '21 TATSEP. Lifetime Record: 11-7-3-0. O-Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners; B-Morera Partnership; T-Leonard Powell. #2 ANISETTE (GB) wins the $200,000 G2 Yellow Ribbon Stakes at Del Mar with a confident @umbyrispoli in the saddle. Congratulations to @Leopowellracing and owners @EclipseTBP. pic.twitter.com/4vtk2SiLhi — FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) August 11, 2024 The post Anisette Outclasses Them In the Yellow Ribbon appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Troy Johnson and Maritza Weston's Win N Your In becomes the first stakes winner for first-crop stallion Win Win Win in taking the $95,000 Sharp Susan Stakes at Gulfstream Park Aug. 10 by 4 3/4 lengths.View the full article

Front-runners Full Count Felicia and Stormcast proved uncatchable in Aug. 10 stakes at Woodbine. Full Count Felicia took the Canadian Stakes (G2T), and Stormcast captured the Bison City Stakes.View the full article

It perhaps wasn't the complete tour de force that the wagering public was expecting from their 1-2 shot but 'TDN Rising Star' Nooni (Win Win Win) found a way to get it done Saturday with a win in the GIII Sorrento Stakes at Del Mar. The $1.8m OBS March sales topper, dubbed a 'Rising Star' off a 9 1/2-length drubbing of her competition at Santa Anita June 13, had to contend with only three rivals here–including her Bob Baffert-trained stablemate in $775,000 OBS April grad and fellow 'Rising Star' Casalu (Caracaro). In fact, all four runners represented first-crop stallions with Spun to Run's Night Beacon and Debutante Stakes winner Vodka With a Twist (Thousand Words) filling out the foursome. Three of the four showed early speed and, as Night Beacon took back to trail, it was Nooni from the rail who broke through the line to set the tempo with Casalu not far off her through fractions of :21.87 and :44.90. The field stayed together around the far turn and everyone looked to have a chance with a quarter-mile to run even as Nooni remained up front under Juan Hernandez. Vodka With a Twist was the first to break up the stablemates with an outside run at the leader but was never quite able to reel her in and was relegated to second with Nooni roused to stay ahead to the wire. “She was really comfortable,” said Hernandez. “She was really quick out of the gate. I had to push her a little at the end, but we did it. I asked her to run around the quarter pole and she switched leads and picked it up really well. You know, she gave me another good breath and she took another good step. It's only her second race but she looks really good so far. Can't wait to see how she improves.” Baffert added: “When you're on the inside like that you have to go. I was hoping they wouldn't be battling each other. They went fast early but I like the way Nooni kept on going. I haven't really trained her that hard but she's just got real class. 2-year-old, second out, you don't know how they're going to respond to the dirt but these are nice fillies.” Pedigree Note: Freshman sire Win Win Win (by Hat Trick {Jpn}) has four winners from five starters with Nooni being his only stakes winner to date from his first crop. He was also represented by Saturday's Sharp Susan Stakes winner Win N Your In earlier in the day at Gulfstream Park. She is the third foal and second winner out of a Union Rags half-sister to MSW/MGSP Courtesan (Street Sense) and to SW Chary (Montbrook), herself the dam of SW Walker Stalker (Stroll), SP Chary Ride (Excessive Passion) and SP Scary Cherry (Metaboss). Another of her dam's half-sisters would produce GIII Holy Bull Stakes winner Hades (Awesome Slew) and last year's Astoria Stakes winner Devious Dame (Girvin). Third dam GISW Pretty Discreet is responsible for GISW Discreet Cat (Forestry), GISW Discreetly Mine (Mineshaft), MSW/MGISP Pretty Wild (Wild Again) and the dam of GISW Awesome Maria (Maria's Mon). Unanimity has a yearling full-brother to Nooni and foaled a colt by Gretzy the Great this year. She is due back to Win Win Win for 2025. Saturday, Del Mar SORRENTO S.-GIII, $147,000, Del Mar, 8-10, 2yo, f, 6f, 1:10.41, ft. 1–NOONI, 120, f, 2, by Win Win Win 1st Dam: Unanimity, by Union Rags 2nd Dam: Lady Discreet, by Boundary 3rd Dam: Pretty Discreet, by Private Account 1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. 'TDN Rising Star'. ($1,800,000 2yo '24 OBSMAR). O-Zedan Racing Stables, Inc.; B-Ocala Stud, Joseph M. O'Farrell III, David O'Farrell, et al. (FL); T-Bob Baffert; J-Juan J. Hernandez. $90,000. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $122,400. Werk Nick Rating: D. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. 2–Vodka With a Twist, 123, f, 2, Thousand Words–Bourbon and a Kiss, by Sky Mesa. 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. ($2,500 Ylg '23 FTKOCT; $90,000 RNA 2yo '24 KEEAPR). O-Medallion Racing, Omar Aldabbagh and William Strauss; B-Pillar Property Services Inc (KY); T-Philip D'Amato. $30,000. 3–Casalu, 120, f, 2, Caracaro–Key d'Oro, by Medaglia d'Oro. 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. 'TDN Rising Star'. ($775,000 2yo '24 OBSAPR). O-Michael E. Pegram, Karl Watson and Paul Weitman; B-LLP Performance Horses, LLC (KY); T-Bob Baffert. $18,000. Margins: 1HF, 3 1/4, 5 3/4. Odds: 0.50, 2.10, 6.40. Also Ran: Night Beacon. Scratched: White Sands. Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. #1 NOONI ($3.00) goes gate-to-wire in the GIII Sorrento Stakes at Del Mar. @JJHernandezS19 was in the irons for trainer @BobBaffert and owner @ZedanRacing. pic.twitter.com/eAOBkOcNlu — FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) August 10, 2024 The post Win Win Win’s OBS March Topper Nooni Wires Sorrento For Baffert appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Anytime a trainer with 20 years of experience wins his second graded stakes, it figures to be an emotional moment. But for Wayne Potts, that second graded stakes win triggered far more than the typical cascade of feelings.View the full article

Now 2-for-2, Showcase benefitted from a skillful, patient ride by jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. and will likely point to the Champagne Stakes (G1) or Breeders' Futurity (G1) next. View the full article

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. — Tenacious Leader (Not This Time) served up a sample of his grit Saturday in what turned into a decisive maiden special weight victory at Saratoga Race Course. The Spendthrift Farm and Repole Stable colt turned in a textbook performance under leading rider Irad Ortiz Jr. and finished 4 3/4 lengths ahead of Clock Tower (Not This Time) in the $100,000 one-mile race on the main track. Race 7 on the program was originally scheduled for 1 1/16 miles on the inner turf course, but the New York Racing Association (NYRA) moved all the races off the grass following a rainy couple of days provided by the remnants of Hurricane Debby. Tenacious Leader completed the eight furlongs in 1:37.93 and paid $5.20 as the 8-5 favorite. Spendthrift and Mike Repole joined forces in the purchase of Tenacious Leader for $375,000 at the 2023 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. He is trained by Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher. “We pretty routinely, will buy yearlings at sale,” said Ned Toffey, the Spendthrift general manager. “We've been looking for opportunities. One of the things that we do, that over the last few years, is a little bit newer, is that we do a lot of partnering, particularly on colts.” Toffey said the farm has done a lot of business standing stallions with Repole through the years. “We sort of approached each other about the idea of going partners on some colts,” Toffey said. “Every year at the sales, we kind of get together and compare notes. For us, the goal is to get a horse into the stud barn when we buy colts. A horse with the sire power and the pedigree that this horse has got; it's always a long shot, but you hope that they can do enough to make it to the stud barn. So far, so good with this colt.” Half of the original 10 horses in the race were scratched when the race was moved to the dirt, but two others drew in. Starting from the middle of the field of seven, Tenacious Leader and Ortiz were toward the inside in the first turn, but went a bit wider, though never far from the lead, on the backstretch while Clock Tower was turning in fractions of :24.02, :47.91 and 1:12.49. In the second turn, Tenacious Leader took over, was in front at the top of the stretch and extended his advantage in the run through the stretch. In his career debut at 5 1/2 furlongs on dirt on July 13, Tenacious Leader was well back early and made up a bit of ground, but still finished 13-3/4 lengths behind Tough Catch (Complexity). A two-turn turf race was the plan for the second start, but the wet weather got in the way. No matter for the Tenacious Leader team. “We knew he needed distance,” Repole said. “The first race was five furlongs. It was nice to give him a start, and then we were going to run him dirt or turf. He's trained well on the turf, and he's trained well on the dirt. Then coming off, I think, let's be honest, it was an advantage, especially having a start. But when you look at the time 1:37, it's a very good time for a 2-year-old going one mile. Very happy with that one.” Toffey said it's too early to tell what will be Tenacious Leader's best surface. “This game, it's such a great game because, even guys like Todd Pletcher just never really know for sure,” he said. “Todd's always very honest, that he'll tell you which way he's leaning. I think people felt like he would run well, and he needed the first race to sort of figure some things out. We were leaning towards turf, but are kind of glad how things have worked out the way they did. He certainly handled himself really well today on the dirt. That's the first preference, because there's more commercial appeal for breeders for a dirt horse. Hopefully that can carry on.” #7 Tenacious Leader stretches out to 1 1/16-miles and pulls clear in R7 at Saratoga! The 2YO colt was piloted by @iradortiz for trainer Todd Pletcher and owners @spendthriftfarm and @RepoleStable! pic.twitter.com/pJcW2ltHmS — TwinSpires Racing (@TwinSpires) August 10, 2024 7th-Saratoga, $100,000, Msw, 8-10, 2yo, 1m (off turf), 1:37.93, ft, 4 3/4 lengths. TENACIOUS LEADER (c, 2, Not This Time–Diamonds and Rust, by Curlin) debuted on the Saratoga main track going 5 ½ furlongs July 13 finishing a well-beaten fifth. Meant for the turf here but rained off, the 8-5 favorite also got the stretch out to one mile and showed good early speed while just behind pacesetter Clock Tower (Not This Time). That pair drew well clear of the rest of the field and continued to duel into the turn before Tenacious Leader finally got the jump on his rival with an outside move inside the eighth pole, clearing off late to win by 4 3/4 lengths. Diamonds and Rust, purchased with the winner in utero at KEENOV for $150,000, is a half to MGSW/GISP War Story (Northern Afleet) and GSW/MGISP Land Over Sea (Bellamy Road). She produced a yearling City of Light filly and foaled another filly by Epicenter this year before visiting Maclean's Music. Sales History: $375,000 Ylg '23 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 2-1-0-0, $59,000. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. O-Spendthrift Farm LLC and Repole Stable; B-Castleton Lyons & Kilboy Estate (KY); T-Todd A. Pletcher. The post Entered for Turf, Tenacious Leader Shows He Is Capable On Dirt appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY–Honor Marie (Honor Code) has his partner for the $1.25 million GI Travers Stakes at Saratoga Race Course on Aug. 24. Trainer Whit Beckman said Saturday that Tyler Gaffalione will ride the colt in the marquee race of the summer at the Spa. Beckman made it official after Honor Marie, with Gaffalione on board, worked four furlongs in 48.75 (12/44) on the Oklahoma Training Track Saturday morning. They worked in company with stablemate Anthem King (Bolt d'Oro), who was ridden by T. C. Stevens. “Tyler knows how to close,” Beckman said outside his barn at the Oklahoma Saturday. “He fits him very well.” Gaffalione has worked Honor Marie his last three works. He will become the fourth jockey to ride him this year. Rafael Bejarano was on board when Honor Marie finished fifth in the GII Risen Star Stakes at Louisiana Downs in his first start this year. Ben Curtis rode him to a second-place finish in the GII Louisiana Derby and an eighth in the GI Kentucky Derby. Curtis then dislocated his shoulder and was replaced by Florent Geroux, who rode Honor Marie to a fourth-place finish in the GI Belmont Stakes. “It's going to be an impressive field in the Travers,” Gaffalione said after the work. “I'm looking forward to competing in it. I definitely have a ton of confidence in my horse. He has shown he can compete with these. All he needs is a chance.” Saturday, Beckman put blinkers on Honor Marie for the first time during a breeze. Beckman said he was not sure if he would use the equipment in the Travers. Honor Marie has never had blinkers on during a race. “He is a horse that likes to set himself pretty far back,” Beckman said. “With some of his races, especially the Belmont, he was just so far back. We want him to maybe get a little more responsive so, when it's time to go, he will pick it up a little easier.” Honor Marie and Gaffalione came onto the Oklahoma at 9:30 a.m. after a renovation break. They were on the outside of Anthem King and Stevens, the son of Hall of Fame jockey Gary Stevens. “They broke out a little quick, but recovered well and sat perfectly together,” Beckman said. “Time wise, it was perfect. I would have wished the first part would have been a little slower, but everything is on target. We got through the work, we got the rider and we're happy to be here.” Honor Marie, who is owned by Ribble Farms LLC, Michael H. Eiserman, Earl I. Silver, Kenneth E. Fishbein and Dave Fishbein, will have his final pre-Travers work next weekend. Maker Quietly Climbing Up The Ladder In Trainer Standings It's no secret that trainer Mike Maker is a man of very few words. He lets his horses do the talking for him and, halfway through the Saratoga meet, they are doing just that. Through 22 days of the 40-day season, Maker has 15 wins from 73 starts. “So far, so good,” Maker said while sitting in his office at his barn on the Saratoga backstretch Saturday morning. Maker, who is a constant on the Kentucky circuit, has no thoughts of winning the training title at this meet. Chad Brown, who has won–or tied–for the title in five of the last six years, is the favorite to land on the top this summer. After Saturday's card, Brown has 19 victories. Maker came into this meet knowing he was going to have frequent trips to the winner's circle. “I had a lot of horses that fit, and it has panned out that way,” he said. This is not a first for the 55-year-old Maker, one of several assistants to Hall of Famer D. Wayne Lukas who have gone on to have their own successful careers. He has had Saratoga success in the past. In 2021, he had a personal best of 25 wins, 24 seconds and 19 thirds from 140 starts and finished third in the trainer standings. He was also third in 2020 (20 wins), fourth in 2022 (17) and fifth last year (12). “Saratoga is the most famous racetrack and I love everything about it,” Maker said. “We don't come in here with any goals. Everyone here is so competitive. You are lucky to get one (win).” With the Saratoga season taking aim at the end of summer, Maker said he still has some bullets left to fire. But to think he could overtake Brown? “No,” he said. “We kind of die down a little bit at the end of the meet. We point towards Kentucky Downs.” The all-turf meet at Kentucky Downs in Franklin, Ky. starts its seven-day meet on Aug. 29. Maker has been the leading trainer at that meet seven of the last nine years. In 2022, the last time he wore the crown, he had a record 12 wins. He is the all-time leading trainer at Kentucky Downs with 84 wins. “We'll have quite a few to run there,” he said. “People show up for the races there, it's a fun little town and the money, well, it's not too shabby either.” More Than Looks Returns To Races In Fourstardave; First Start Since Breeders' Cup Mile It has been 280 days since we last saw More Than Looks (More Than Ready) in a horse race. Trainer Cherie DeVaux is putting her 4-year-old colt in an ambitious spot as More Than Looks is entered in Sunday's $500,000 GI FanDuel Fourstardave Handicap at Saratoga. The race was originally carded for Saturday but was moved up a day to give the turf courses more time to recover from Friday's heavy rain brought on from the remnants of Tropical Storm Debby. “He is doing tremendous,” DeVaux said outside of More Than Looks's stall at her barn on the Saratoga backstretch Saturday morning. More Than Looks, owned by Victory Racing Partners, last ran in the GI Breeders' Cup Mile at Santa Anita on Nov. 4, finishing sixth, beaten just two lengths. After that, DeVaux gave him some time off after his eight-race (four wins) 2023 campaign. More Than Looks was unraced as a 2-year-old. DeVaux wanted to get him restarted in March at the Fair Grounds, but, the day of his return race, More Than Looks had his own plan. “We had him entered in an allowance race and, on the day he was supposed to run, he put his leg over the webbing and injured a tendon,” DeVaux said. “Horses … they just like to make sure our plans never happen!” DeVaux said More Than Looks came back quicker than she could have hoped for. The new target was the Lure Stakes at 1 1/16 miles at Saratoga on Aug. 3. “That would have been a more ideal spot, but we got another week of breezing,” she said. I was encouraged how he worked on Monday (four furlongs in 48.65 1/54) to enter in this spot.” DeVaux's plan is to run More Than Looks once more after the Fourstardave–most likely at Keeneland–and then take another shot at the Breeders' Cup Mile. “He showed he belonged (in the Breeders' Cup),” DeVaux said. “He was left with too much to do at the top of the stretch. Maybe with a better trip we would have had a better placing.” Because of the long layoff, asking More Than Looks for a win – he is the 7-2 third choice on the Fourstardave morning line– might be too big of an ask. But DeVaux knows the horse knows what he can do. “This is a big step up coming off the layoff and we don't really have him cranked up for this,” DeVaux said. “Would I be surprised if he won? No. But I am going to manage my expectations and the clients' expectations. We are just happy to get him back to the races and, hopefully, he gives a good showing of himself.” The post Saratoga Notebook, Presented By NYRA Bets: Honor Marie Works, Gaffalione To Ride In Travers appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

8th-Ellis, $73,000, Alw, 8-10, (NW1X), 3yo/up, f/m, 5 1/2fT, 1:00.73, fm, 5 3/4 lengths. ELLEN JAY (f, 3, Constitution–Covfefe {Ch. Female Sprinter, Ch. 3-year-old Filly, MGISW, $1,110,025}, by Into Mischief) broke her maiden by a nose at third asking over the grass at Ellis Park July 15. The 2-1 favorite here was quickest out of the gate and she established a clear lead up the backstretch. With some competitors on her back around the far turn, the homebred was poised to accelerate spinning into the turn. Her turn of foot was too much as she won by 5 3/4 lengths over Huntress for Hire (Nyquist). LNJ Foxwoods paid $250,000 for Covfefe at the 2017 Keeneland September Sale and she went on to become champion 3-year-old filly and champion female sprinter in 2019, winning the GI Test Stakes and the GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint. The first foal for her dam, the winner has a half-brother in 2-year-old Rothko (Tapit) and a weanling half-sister by Gun Runner who was foaled Feb. 4. A half-sister to Japanese Group 1 NHK Mile Cup runner-up Albiano (Harlan's Holiday), Covfefe was bred to Olympiad–who LNJ Foxwoods partially owns–for next term. Ellen Jay's third dam produced UAE Horse of the Year Festival of Light (A.P. Indy) and his half-sister GI Juddmonte Spinster Stakes heroine Acoma (Empire Maker). Lifetime Record: 4-2-0-1, $102,348. Click for the Equibase.com chart. O/B-LNJ Foxwoods (KY); T-Brad H. Cox. #4 ELLEN JAY ($6.26) shows off on the Ellis Park turf with @flothejock in the saddle for the @bradcoxracing team. Congratulations to @LNJFoxwoods on this impressive win with the 3YO filly by @WinStarFarm's Constitution. @Fijithegreat pic.twitter.com/ao80rcsuLN — FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) August 10, 2024 The post Homebred Ellen Jay Sparkles For Dam Covfefe At Ellis Park appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article