Wandering Eyes

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. — It was quiet trackside at Saratoga Race Course Friday morning. Everyone had a day off after the New York Racing Association canceled Friday's card after Thursday's was run. The reason was the havoc expected to blow through the area thanks to the remnants of Tropical Storm Debby. The heavy stuff was predicted to come later in the afternoon. Horses, however, did not get the memo. They still went to work. As did the trainers and exercise riders and grooms and hotwalkers. “No days off,” Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher said at his barn on the Oklahoma Training Track Friday morning. “Wrong industry to be in if you are in the days off business.” Although the activity was not as brisk as it would be on a sunny summer afternoon, horses still could be seen on the main track and Oklahoma going through daily exercise, Pletcher said the horses in his care that were scheduled to gallop on Friday did just that. Because of the conditions, there were no works and any horses scheduled to school in the gate had that canceled. Pletcher's hopeful for the GI Travers Stakes –Fierceness (City of Light)–had his work moved to Thursday. “We generally go ahead and gallop as long as it's safe,” Pletcher said. “This morning, the track held its consistency, so we did some routine gallops. Get 'em out, get 'em back in.” Pletcher had seven horses (one main track only) entered in five races on the Friday card, including Donegal Surges (Candy Ride), the 5-2 morning-line favorite in the featured $125,000 Evan Shipman Handicap. Pletcher, like everyone else, will have to wait and see what is done with these races. “Sure, it's frustrating,” he said. “We were sitting on a handful of favorites. It's a tough situation for everyone when you try to predict what the weather will do in advance like this.” Rain fell overnight, but from early morning to 2 p.m., there was little that fell in Saratoga Springs. The forecast did call for heavy rain to hit by 3 p.m. Wicked Trip Behind Him, Smoken Wicked Could Be A Player In Saratoga Special In the second start of his career, Smoken Wicked (Bobby's Wildcat) had a trip that was, well wicked. The 2-year-old colt, owned by Valene Farms LLC, finished second at odds of 32-1 in the listed Bashford Manor Stakes at Churchill Downs on June 30. His trip was not an easy one. After being reluctant to load into the gate, Smoken Wicked leaned out at the start and then raced four wide. Around the three-eighths pole, he was clipped by a trailing horse and then was seven wide into the stretch. He was a distant second to Politicallycorrect (Violence), but the runner-up finish was impressive enough. “Hernandez (Jr., jockey Brian) said he lost his focus when the horse jumped him on the back leg at the three eighths,” trainer Dallas Stewart said at his barn on the Oklahoma Training Track Friday morning. “He got back down on him, and he still finished second.” Dallas Stewart | Coady Stewart liked that effort so much that he is putting the Louisiana-bred in the $200,000, GII Saratoga Special at Saratoga Saturday. He is 9-2 on the morning line and will be ridden by Tyler Gaffalione. Murray Valene purchased Smoken Wicked for $38,000 at the 2023 Louisiana Yearling & Mixed Sale and then debuted him at Evangeline Downs in Louisiana on New Year's Day. He won by 7 1/2 lengths on a sloppy track and Valene then sent him to Stewart at Churchill. Now, here they are. “He is just a real smart horse,” Stewart said. “When we got him to Churchill, he participated great. His workouts were good, and he worked with our other 2-year-olds, and he worked right with them.” Included in that group was Eighty West (Speightstown), who broke his maiden in Saratoga's fourth race on Thursday by 4 1/2 lengths as the 4-5 favorite. Stewart knows his colt will be facing tougher competition in the Special. Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher has Showcase (Uncle Mo), who broke his maiden by 7 ½ lengths last month at Aqueduct Race Track and Dale Romans will saddle Keep It Easy, a four-length winner at Chuirchill in his second start. Both of those juveniles were bought at last year's Keeneland September Yearling Sale; Keep It Easy went for $435,000 and Showcase brought $300,000. A field of nine will run in the Saratoga Special. “That was the best they had at Churchill,” Stewart said about the Bashford Manor field. “He has already won in the mud, he has the one hole, and we have a great rider. He will have to fight a little bit because there are some good colts in there, but he will come running.” Thursday Was A Special Spa Day For Donk After Getting To Winner's Circle Twice Back in 2020, the year of COVID, trainer David Donk had his best day at Saratoga when he won three races. But, because of the pandemic, no fans were around to see it. He had another good one on Thursday, winning a pair of races and, this time, he had plenty of witnesses. Donk was in the winner's circle after 2-year-old filly Trail of Gold (Solomoni) broke her maiden in the first race at 7-2 with Hall of Famer John Velazquez on board. Donk got there again in the ninth when Irad Ortiz Jr. got 4-year-old filly Fancypants Juliana (Mo Town, 7-1) home in a race taken off the grass. In 26 starts at Saratoga, Donk has three wins, two seconds and four thirds. “It's hard to win one at Saratoga, let alone two,” Donk said Friday at Saratoga. “I've just been fortunate to have been able to do this for this long.” Donk has been training on his own since 1991; he was an assistant to the late Hall of Famer Woody Stephens before that. Donk's barn at Saratoga is the same one Stephens had. Trail of Gold's win was special because the filly is owned by friends and family, many who Donk has been associated with for years. Donk owns a piece of the horse as does his dad, Gerald. Others involved with the filly are John T. Behrendt, Charles K. Marquis, William J. Punk Jr., Philip DiLeo, Peter Hayes and Suzanne K. Haslup. Joseph Bucci is the owner of Fancypants Juliana. “I just really enjoy being at Saratoga,” Donk said. “I like to enjoy this with other people. Joer (Bucci) could not be here but he typical of most owners. Loves Saratoga, loves to be able to run here. It's a lot of fun for all of them.” Donk, as usual, was sporting a New York Jets baseball cap when he had his pictures taken. He said he has been a diehard Jets fans since the day of quarterback Joe Namath. He is not sure what to expect from his team in this NFL season. “I struggle with the fact that we have an old quarterback,” Donk said of 40-year-old Aaron Rodgers, who is coming back after missing all but four plans last year because of an Achilles injury. “He has had a great career, but it's just like bringing an old horse back from a serious injury. How good is he really going to be? The post Saratoga Notebook, Presented by NYRA Bets: Business As Usual at Pletcher’s Barn at Oklahoma Training Track appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

A federal judge in Oklahoma declined to issue a temporary restraining order against the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority following an Aug. 7 hearing.View the full article

The Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association announced the finalists for the 39th annual TOBA National Awards.View the full article

Babouche has a formidable contender to overcome in Whistlejacket if she is to preserve her unbeaten record.View the full article

Coming into Friday's Listed Coolmore Stud Churchill Stakes at Tipperary on the back of a third in The Curragh's G2 Airlie Stud Stakes, Ballydoyle's January (Ire) (Kingman {GB}–I Can Fly {GB}, by Fastnet Rock {Aus}) made her class tell with an impressive four-length success to further enhance the power of Aidan O'Brien's extraordinary swathe of 2-year-old fillies in 2024. Always travelling comfortably tracking the leading pair, the 1-2 favourite was set alight by Ryan Moore passing two out and surged clear of Beckman (Ire) (Beckford {GB}) for a decisive black-type breakthrough in this near 7 1/2-furlong test. “She is a promising filly and we're very happy with her,” O'Brien said. “The step up in trip suited her well, they went a right good gallop and that suited her lovely. It was good that she got to relax and learn a bit. She is a [G2] Debutante kind and could be a [G1] Fillies' Mile type. She won't mind going up further in distance in time. The juvenile fillies look nice and look an unusual bunch at the moment. There are so many of them who could be smart.” January (Kingman) wins the Listed @coolmorestud Churchill Stakes in fine fashion to land a quick double for in-form Ryan Moore and Aidan O'Brien at @tipperaryraces @Ballydoyle pic.twitter.com/5E4RpCWGTD — Racing TV (@RacingTV) August 9, 2024 The post Kingman’s January Impresses In The Churchill appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The walls of David Donk's stable in Saratoga can't talk, but there are two horsemen spending their mornings there this summer who have plenty of memories to share about the barn at the top of the far turn that once housed five consecutive Belmont Stakes winners. Donk and Phil Gleaves, a former trainer who now runs a small racing partnership, were both assistant trainers to legendary Hall of Fame trainer Woody Stephens early on in their careers and they still have stories to tell from the barn where Woody once based his stable. Like how Gleaves, a native of Liverpool England, has always been a massive Davie Bowie fan. One summer he took a Greyhound bus from Saratoga to see the rockstar perform at Madison Square Garden. He rode the bus back north afterward and got to the barn at 4 a.m. the next morning with plenty of time to spare before the first set. Flash forward a few decades and Bowie was the inspiration for a horse that Gleaves bred, trained and still races today. Named after one of the personas that Bowie adopted in concert, Thin White Duke (Dominus) has proven to be a special horse for Gleaves and his fellow co-owners: horseplayer and journalist Steven Crist, Ken deRegt and Bryan Hilliard. And just like Bowie's music career spanned multiple genres, Thin White Duke has shown versatility racing on various surfaces. So whether this weekend's GII Troy S. runs on the grass or the main track, the 6-year-old's connections are confident that their horse will show up. Becoming a breeder sort of fell into Gleaves's lap when his longtime owner Russell Reineman–who he won the GI Travers for with Wise Times in 1986–passed away. Reineman's family asked Gleaves if he was interested in any of his broodmares before they started downsizing. “I looked at several and there was one that caught my eye with her pedigree being inbred to Danzig, who I had galloped for Woody Stephens and was a tremendous racehorse and sire,” Gleaves recalled. “She was an unraced mare by Distorted Humor, who I also trained early in his career. So from that mare, Aberdeen Alley, I started breeding and one of the horses I bred was Thin White Duke.” Gleaves broke Thin White Duke himself in Ocala and then brought him up to Saratoga, where the New York-bred broke his maiden in the 2020 Funny Cide Stakes as a 2-year-old. He won another stake and placed in two more over the next year. When Gleaves announced his retirement toward the end of 2021, he suggested to his partners that they send their horses to Donk. David Donk and Phil Gleaves | Sarah Andrew “I've known David for a long time,” said Gleaves. “When I left Woody Stephens in '85 to train privately for Frank Stronach, David took my job. Over the years we have shared clients. David's best horse was Awad and he sent him to me one winter in Gulfstream to babysit him because David wasn't going to Florida that winter. We were fortunate enough to win a streak with him down there. So we have a great relationship, David and I. Just as importantly, he came from the Woody school of wanting to run horses frequently if they were up to it. That's my philosophy as well and so that was a big selling point for us as to who to send our horses to.” Coming off a nine-month layoff, Thin White Duke returned to the races in 2022. After one unsuccessful start on dirt, Donk tried switching the gelding to turf. He won at 33-1 odds. “He had run on the grass before, but we just thought he was going to be a better grass horse than a dirt horse,” explained Donk. “We had a decision to make coming into Saratoga, as you usually do with turf horses, about distance. You're either choosing a five and a half furlong sprint or a two-turn mile or mile and a sixteenth. It's a big difference. Johnny Velazquez had ridden him and we asked Johnny what he thought. He said we should try to sprint him. The first time we sprinted him here, he was off the pace and had a really big run. We were like, 'Wow, that's what he wants to do.' So it has just evolved from there. It's not that he can't run on the dirt, but he's certainly shown that he's really proficient as an off-the-pace sprinter on the turf.” In 36 lifetime starts, Thin White Duke has come in the money 19 times and amassed over $750,000 in career earnings. He has collected stakes wins in the 2023 Lucky Coin Stakes and in the same race in 2024 after it was re-named the Harvey Pack Stakes. That score was especially meaningful for co-owner Steve Crist. “Winning the Harvey Pack was phenomenal because it was the first running of the Harvey Pack and Steve came up under Harvey Pack,” said Gleaves. “Steve had come up under Harvey Pack and they had been on the [Thoroughbred Action] replay show many times back in the day, so it was very important for Steve to be in the race and then to win it was just super.” Finding the right spot for Thin White Duke has proven to be a challenge this year. The gelding has yet to run in the money so far in 2024, but Donk said that the races have not been conducive to his horse's running style. Thin White Duke ran eighth in the GI Jaipur, which Cogburn (Not This Time) won in record time. His next two races were also on fast, firm ground. “With his style, I feel like he's been up against it,” said Donk. “He's run okay, but he hasn't had the same punch. But nothing ventured, nothing gained. I think with the elements of the weather coming into play, it changes things up a bit.” Thin White Duke has placed third in the last two runnings of the GII Troy Stakes. This year's Troy was initially slated for Saturday, Aug. 3 but was pushed back to the 10th due to heavy rain. With a cancelled race card on Friday because of more bad weather, Saturday's Troy will more than likely be run on the main track. Donk said Thin White Duke has had no disruption to his training with the week-long delay. If anything, it was beneficial as it gave him extra time after his last race on July 28. “He was coming back really quickly so another week certainly doesn't hurt us,” he explained. “He's not a horse that we have to do a lot with. He's a happy horse. We're just trying to maintain him in between. He's coming into it the right way and I think the elements of the weather will be different for some horses. If it's on the grass, it's going to be a bit on the soft side. If it comes off the grass, he's got a record of running well on the dirt, so we'd be pretty comfortable either way.” Thin White Duke and Phil Gleaves in 2020 | Sarah Andrew Regardless, Donk will stick to his model of running a healthy Thin White Duke regularly. It's the same philosophy he shares with any of his new owners. “I tell them that it's not just about trying to win in Saratoga,” Donk said. “You're very fortunate to get to run in Saratoga. It's a beautiful place and as I get older, I appreciate it even more just to be here and compete. It's all about the horse here, so it's a lot of fun to be here and experience it with people. I don't have the deep pedigrees and high-priced horses like some of the bigger outfits have, but I've got a lot of great clientele. People that I've had for 25, 30 years.” Just this past Thursday, Donk had two winners on the card with Trail of Gold (Solomini) breaking her maiden in her second career start and Fancypants Juliana (Mo Town) winning a New York-bred allowance optional claimer. Gleaves's partnership has several other horses in training with Donk including Succulent (Candy Ride {Arg}), a 5-year-old mare who won an allowance at Belmont at Aqueduct in May in her last start and the 4-year-old filly Snowy Evening (Frosted), who was fourth in the Port Washington Stakes last month. Gleaves said that between broodmares, yearlings, weanlings and racehorses, their partnership currently owns 11 horses. “We're careful not to let it grow exponentially because it can really get out of hand,” he said. When asked what his days look like since he has retired from training, Gleaves said he still gets up at 5:00 a.m. every morning at his home in Ballston Spa, NY. “I'm still immersed in the Thoroughbred industry. I'm just no longer in the trenches,” he noted. This summer Gleaves is enjoying spending his mornings soaking in Saratoga while sitting outside a barn that was such a defining place for his career and sharing his time there with another horseman that has supported him along the way. “David is a super guy,” he said. “I love him like a brother. I know that any decision that he makes on a horse would be the same decision that I make because we came 'round under the same guy in this very barn.” The post Strands of the ‘Woody Philosophy’ Evident in Thin White Duke’s Career appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Building on her debut third at Leopardstown last month, Ballydoyle's Ecstatic (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}–Magic Wand (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) made experience count with an impressive win in Friday's Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden at Tipperary to become the stable's latest TDN Rising Star. Positioned on the rail of the leader early by Ryan Moore, the 2-1 second favourite was sent to the front passing two out and powered clear for an emphatic 3 1/4-length success from Lush Lips (GB) (Ten Sovereigns {Ire}), with Juddmonte's highly-regarded and well-supported 6-5 favourite Continuite (GB) (Frankel {GB}) half a length away in third. One for the notebook Ecstatic (Lord Kanaloa x Magic Wand) wins at the second attempt under Ryan Moore for Aidan O'Brien in the @IrishEBF_ Fillies Maiden at @tipperaryraces @Ballydoyle | @coolmorestud pic.twitter.com/YrCEivTQJO — Racing TV (@RacingTV) August 9, 2024 The post Lord Kanaloa’s Daughter Of Magic Wand Impresses At Tipperary, New TDN Rising Star appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Godolphin, Juddmonte, Klaravich Stables, Zedan Racing Stables, and George Krikorian have been named finalists for the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association's National Owner of the Year award, while Godolphin, Juddmonte, and Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings are finalists for TOBA's National Breeder of the Year award. The National Awards Dinner will be held Sept. 7 at Fasig-Tipton, and the National Awards Luncheon, which honors breeders from 19 states and Canada, will be held Sept. 6 at the Thoroughbred Club of America. Finalists for other awards include: Small Breeder of the Year: Joe Fafone, Elizabeth Merryman, and Amy Moore. Cot Campbell Partnership of the Year: Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Little Red Feather Racing, the partnership of Michael E. Pegram, Karl Watson and Paul Weitman, the partnership of Repole Stable and St. Elias Stables LLC, and the partnership of SF Racing LLC, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables LLC, Robert E. Masterson, Stonestreet Stables LLC, Jay A. Schoenfarber, Waves Edge Capital LLC, and Catherine Donovan. “Owners and breeders are the foundation of Thoroughbred racing and the finalists for this year's national awards are distinguished for their remarkable achievements both on the track and on the farm,” said Dan Metzger, president of TOBA. “We congratulate all of the national finalists and look forward to a memorable evening of recognizing the best in our sport.” Tickets are available to the public for both the luncheon and the dinner, with a discounted price for TOBA members. Registration for both events is due by Aug. 22 and available online at www.toba.org/awards. The post TOBA Awards Finalists Announced appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Arqana's August Sale bursts from the stalls next Friday which means it will be Christmas before we know it. It also means that over the three days which follow the spotlight will be shone on some of the finest yearlings from France and beyond as the European yearling season gets underway in its customary fashion of part-holiday/part-serious business in Deauville. In the days building up to the sale, we will be profiling some of the largest drafts at Arqana, beginning with Anna Sundstrom's Coulonces, which has 20 set to go through the ring after a few withdrawals. If you are a sales veteran you will know that a chat with the Swedish-born but long-time French resident is the equivalent of an afternoon being bathed in warm sunshine or a good dose of Prozac, depending on your preference. Sundstrom simply does not know how to be negative, which in itself is a great positive in this business. It is no surprise to hear then that she is brimming with confidence as she counts down to next Friday and, while pulling the manes of some of the members of her select draft, she also took the time to tell TDN exactly why that is so. Selling one of the four seven-figure lots at the 2023 sale, at which Coulonces was the fifth-leading vendor with 14 yearlings sold at an average of €224,714, may have something to do with it. Sundstrom's two daughters, Moa, 23, and Lillie, 13, are also actively engaged in preparing the yearlings at home as well as showing them at the sales. This week, her friend and co-breeder Charlotte Hutchinson has returned to Coulonces temporarily from her own farm in England to join the team at Arqana as a familiar and welcoming face among that strong team of females. Anna Sundstrom says: “I think the sale is going to be fabulous. What happened last year is something that everybody in France has been waiting for. The sale was so dynamic and we found it really easy to sell our yearlings because there was such a wide range of buyers. The French horses have been doing great abroad; prize-money is amazing, and we have just been waiting for people to feel that France is an important country as well. It has perhaps always been a little brother to Britain and Ireland, but this year we are there now. There have been so many phone calls and people are feeling that they can't miss being in Arqana. I feel that more than ever it has become a sale that people have to come to. “For us, it's kind of our Jockey Club, our Derby – a time to show everybody why we've been in hiding all year. And if we've done all that we can I think the people in the stables who encounter these horses later on will love them, because they will be easy. “I'm so proud to be working alongside both Moa and Lillie. If they were not interested in horses I don't think I would have continued with this passion. I would have always continued with horses, but not with this, because it's so time-consuming, and then I wouldn't be a good mum if they weren't with me. But now we work together during the days and we probably see more of each other than most families do. “Moa is 23 now and she takes care of so many things on the farm. I didn't know she wanted to do this but I was aways hoping she would want to do this with me. She loves it and she is so interested in all the networking and all of those things. Lillie also has the bug. “I think with our family it comes down to the fact that we just really love horses. Whether it's a thoroughbred or not, it really doesn't matter at the end of the day. “The girls have grown up with having to take the responsibility for the horses and all their needs. I'm thankful that they want to be a part of this. And I think it also makes it easier to take a defeat in life because when you are racing there is only one horse who can win the race, and how often is it your own horse? It's a good life lesson.” Draft highlights Lot 54, a filly by Sottsass (Fr) ex American Beauty (Fr) (Dark Angel {Ire}) “I worked at the Wildensteins for a couple of years and when I arrived [her granddam] American Adventure was there and she was carrying to Dark Angel and this little filly was born,” says Sundstrom. “She didn't race and she ended up being sold at Arqana as a three-year-old, and Charlotte and I bought her for €20,000. It was very special for us to have such a pedigree but we didn't know how things were going to keep happening in the family.” Indeed, plenty has happened since then, not least the emergence of Little Big Bear (Ire) and Whitslejacket (Ire), both group-winning sons of American Beauty's half-sister Adventure Seeker (Fr) (Bering). The latter runs in Saturday's G1 Keeneland Phoenix Stakes. Lot 250, a colt by Frankel (GB) ex Palmas (Ger) (Lord Of England {Ger}) The January-born colt is the first foal of the G1 Preis de Diana winner and is being sold on behalf of longstanding Coulonces clients James and Erika Gilliar, who also raced the Listed Prix Rose de Mai winner Fun With Flags (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}). “They bought him as a foal with Paul Harley from Gestut Etzean for €260,000. He's very special and Charlotte has direct orders to stay on him!” Lot 108, a filly by Blue Point (Ire) ex Diantha (Ire) (Dansili {GB}) Out of a half-sister to G2 Dante Stakes winner Thunderous (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}), she was a €150,000 pinhook. “I can't wait for you to see her. You won't find a horse at this sale who walks better than her,” Sundstrom says boldly. “We bought her at Goffs with our Scandinavian friends, and she is from Oghill House Stud, who are such good breeders.” Claim to fame: Sundstrom and her parents Maya and Jan bred the Prix du Jockey Club winner Le Havre (Ire), himself a graduate of the 2007 August Sale. “He started everything for a lot of people – not just for us, but for Mathieu Alex, for Sylvain Vidal,” she says. “His success really gave me the wish to do this and to breed, and financially it made a lot of things possible as well. He was incredible and we are always searching for the next one. Maybe it will be this horse whose mane I am pulling at the moment.” Last word: “We have a very strong draft – on paper but also as individuals. The pedigrees were perhaps lacking a little bit last year even though we had a good sale, so we said what we don't have we will go out and buy, and we knew what horses our clients would support us with. We've never had a draft like this before. It's so exciting. We're counting days.” The post The Arqana Lowdown: Coulonces appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The £150,000 Tattersalls Auction Stakes at Newmarket Racecourse's Rowley Mile will be run at seven furlongs beginning in 2025. Previously conducted over six furlongs, the race is open to graduates of Book 3 and Book 4 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale and the Tattersalls Somerville Yearling Sale. The 2025 edition is scheduled for Oct. 4, 2025. Graduates of Books 3 and 4 of the 2024 October Yearling Sale will also be eligible for the first time for the £100,000 Tattersalls Somerville Auction Stakes, which will be held over six furlongs on Newmarket's July Course on Aug. 23, 2025. The £25,000 Tattersalls October Book 1 Bonus for all yearlings purchased at Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale will also be offered. To date, almost £9 million in Book 1 Bonuses have been paid to owners of more than 360 winners. Books 3 and 4 of the October Yearling Sale are set for Oct. 17-18 this year, while the Tattersalls Somerville Yearling Sale will be held from Sept. 2-3. The post 2025 Tattersalls October Auction Stakes Increased To Seven Furlongs appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

by Keely Mckitterick/TTR AusNZ Friday's inquiry into the proposed sale of Rosehill Racecourse evolved into a battleground where financial realities, governance controversies, and deeply personal accusations clashed in a high-stakes showdown. At the center of this unfolding drama is Peter V'landys, CEO of Racing NSW, who launched explosive allegations that “wealthy breeders” are orchestrating a campaign to undermine him. During the second inquiry on Friday, Peter V'landys, CEO of Racing NSW, made a series of explosive allegations about “wealthy breeders” engaging in a deliberate campaign to discredit him and Racing NSW, going so far as to claim that these individuals were spreading falsehoods to manipulate the outcome of the inquiry. He pointed to an email that allegedly encouraged people to fabricate evidence, a move he described as a direct attempt to undermine the integrity of Racing NSW. V'landys did not stop there; he went on to deliver a particularly charged statement regarding the motivations behind the scrutiny of Racing NSW's Equine Welfare Fund. He justified the current lack of disclosure in the Annual Report, stating it was the way their reporting has always been done. After Animal Justice Party Emma Hurst's request, V'landys promised to provide more disclosure in this area, stating, “We've got nothing to hide. We're proud of what we do. Transparency is your friend.” He then alleged that the intense focus on the fund was not born out of a genuine concern for animal welfare but was instead part of a broader agenda by those seeking the information. “The reason people are focused [on the Equine Welfare Fund], they have never focussed on any other expense of Racing NSW, but they're focussed on this,” V'landys said. “You know why they're focussed on this? Because they want to show that it is too expensive to rehome horses and that we should allow them [those requesting this information] to put them in abattoirs. That's what the campaign's about. They want to get rid of me so they can put horses into abattoirs.” This comment added a new layer of controversy to the inquiry and was met with immediate disgust by several parties. Kick Up, an organisation established by a group that includes Vicky Leonard, a part-owner of The Thoroughbred Report, to promote positive welfare messaging and improve industry perception, provided the following statement: “Mr V'landys' claim that 'transparency is your friend' is starkly contradicted by the evasive responses—or lack thereof—that Kick Up has encountered in our repeated attempts over years to seek clarity on equine welfare fund spending. To then insinuate that those efforts are driven by a desire to 'put racehorses in abattoirs' is both false and insulting. If transparency is truly his friend, Mr V'landys wouldn't require the pressure of a parliamentary inquiry to provide straightforward answers to perfectly reasonable requests.” The Club's Shaky Foundation The funding model underpinning the NSW racing industry was brought into sharp focus during the inquiry, as the ATC grappled with the realities of declining TAB revenues and the challenge of maintaining world-class facilities. The ATC Chairman, Peter McGauran, highlighted the club's reliance on TAB distributions, which have seen a steady decline in recent years. This, he argued, places the future of racing at risk unless new revenue streams are identified. “The financial challenges we face are significant,” McGauran stated, emphasising the need for the ATC to explore all options, including the potential sale of Rosehill, to secure its financial future. The proposed A$5 billion valuation of the Rosehill site, while contentious, is seen by some as a lifeline that could future-proof the club and ensure the continuation of premier racing in Sydney.” However, this financial outlook as a justification for the sale is not universally accepted. During his testimony, Jason Abrahams of the Save Rosehill group criticised the funding model, calling for a thorough review. “There has been a funding shortfall… for a long, long time. It's like stepping back in time 50 years,” Abrahams remarked. He then questioned the logic of a financially challenged business spending A$300,000 on due diligence when the membership is vehemently opposed to the sale: “You can daresay that at least the Chairman and potentially some of the board are severely out of touch with their membership group.” Discrepancies regarding the valuation of Rosehill Racecourse were a focal point of contention during the inquiry, with figures ranging from A$1.6 billion to a speculative A$20 billion being cited. McGauran, defended the A$5 billion valuation, claiming it was based on expert calculations. However, Timothy Hale, Vice Chair of the ATC, soon after admitted, “We have never been provided with a valuation showing A$5 billion.” Racing NSW Board Member Garry Charny testified that while a A$1.6 billion valuation might be accurate today, the site's long-term potential value could reach as much as A$20 billion. Governance and Accountability Under the Microscope The inquiry also turned a critical eye on the governance practices within Racing NSW and the ATC, with Independent MP Mark Latham leading the charge. Latham's questioning of V'landys centered on the organization's decision-making processes, particularly regarding the sale of Rosehill and the allocation of funds. But the inquiry also raised broader concerns about the transparency and accountability of the Racing NSW CEO, with Charny acknowledging that they offer V'landys a “broad scope” to act independently. Central to this scrutiny was the revelation that considerable authority granted to V'landys, including the ability to initiate legal proceedings without the need for board approval if expected costs are estimated to be under A$1 million. The Voice of the Members While financial sustainability and governance dominated much of the discussion, the inquiry also shone a light on the powerful resistance from the racing community, particularly through the Save Rosehill group. Abrahams and Julia Ritchie, who represented the group, articulated the deep sense of betrayal felt by ATC members over the proposed sale. “We and many, many others in the club and in the broader industry are steadfastly opposed to this sale,” Abrahams said. “It is an insult to the members who have supported the ATC and its predecessors for generations, a violation of the cultural norms of a member-based sporting club, and a warning to all of our peers across the city whose golf courses, tennis courts and football fields might stand in the way of the next development.” The emotional resonance of this resistance was evident in Ritchie's testimony, where she shared that none of the 150 to 200 conversations she had with racegoers supported the sale. Abrahams further emphasised the disconnect between the ATC leadership and its membership, pointing out the “vehement anger” expressed at members' forums. The Horseman's Perspective Rosehill trainers Chris Waller and Richard Freedman, both voiced strong opposition to the proposed sale, though they approached the issue from slightly different perspectives. Waller began by emphasising the importance of Rosehill to his successful training operation, then acknowledged the housing pressures in Sydney. While he was firmly against the sale of the entire site, staging “once Rosehill is gone, Western Sydney has lost one of its greatest community attractions”, Waller was open to alternative proposals, such as partial sales of under utilised areas like car parks, provided these changes would benefit the community, such as transforming them into parks or sports fields. Freedman also expressed his concerns, particularly highlighting the lack of information provided to trainers about the proposal and the potential impact of the sale on their operations, describing the situation as “flying blind”. Unlike Waller, Freedman was not in favor of a partial sell-off, arguing that it would cause more harm than good given the possibility of having to train horses in what could effectively become a construction site for years. The next hearing for the inquiry into the proposal to sell Rosehill Racecourse is scheduled for Thursday, September 12. The post Battle Lines Drawn: V’landys War Of Words Targets Breeders With Explosive Allegations appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Waverley trainer Erin Hocquard. Photo: Peter Rubery (Race Images Palmerston North) Talented winter galloper Spencer will aim to continue on his upward trajectory at Te Rapa on Saturday. The son of Derryn has made nearly every post a winner this campaign, with three consecutive victories over 1200m culminating in a highly commendable second placing behind winter topliner Belardo Boy in the Listed Opunake Cup (1400m) last month. His trainer, Erin Hocquard had contemplated a trip to Riccarton Park to contest the Group 3 Winter Cup (1600m) last Saturday, but with just 14 starts under his belt, the connections opted to stay closer to home at this stage of his promising career. “The owners decided we would just stick to the North Island at this stage, he’s still a young horse and we may give it a crack next year,” Hocquard said. “I thought he ran really well in the Opunake Cup, he was up in grade and against the better horses. “He’s been good since then, jumping around and just being his usual self.” Dropping back to his preferred distance, Spencer will carry 58kg under Craig Grylls alongside the well-performed Johny Johny and Turn The Ace, the pair both with apprentice claims. “There’s a few races we could go for from here with him, but we’ll take it race-by-race to see how he handles the races and the stronger class along the way,” Hocquard said. Horse racing news View the full article

West Coast pictured following his victory in last year’s Grand National Steeplechase (5600m) at Riccarton. Photo: Race Images South Mark Oulaghan reigned supreme with his star jumpers West Coast and Berry The Cash during the Grand National Carnival last year, and the Awapuni horseman is back and favoured to repeat his heroics on Saturday. West Coast has won the last two editions of the Grand National Steeplechase (5600m) among a collection of other prestige titles, and he will attempt to become the first horse in history to go three-in-a-row. His southern campaign kicked off strongly winning the key lead-up event, the Koral Steeplechase (4250m), with some authority and is tipped the horse to beat, currently rated a $1.45 favourite with horse racing bookmakers ahead of Captains Run ($6). “It was a good run under the weight, he was well ridden,” Oulaghan said. “He is similar to Berry The Cash as far as distance is concerned, both of those horses’ strong point is their staying ability, so the extra 1000m will help him.” The son of Nom De Jeu won his first National with 65kg on his back, but since that first crown, he has continuously carried near on the maximum allocated weight of 73kg and Saturday’s contest will be no different, with jockey Shaun Fannin aiming for an 11th win from 16 starts aboard the nine-year-old. Oulaghan has won more steeplechase titles at Riccarton Park than any other trainer with eight on the board, but he admits the feature still brings about a few nervous moments. “Any big jumping race brings a bit of apprehension with how it’s going to pan out, it keeps you pretty alert on your seat,” he said. Berry The Cash has faced a similar weight-related task to his stablemate this season, but he will not fly solo on 72kg, with fellow top-liner Nedwin making the journey south to contest the Grand National Hurdles (4200m). Nedwin’s stablemate Dictation looked like he had last Saturday’s Sydenham Hurdles (3100m) secured before blundering at the final fence, leaving Berry The Cash to sail away with his sixth consecutive race win. Oulaghan, while satisfied with the performance, is looking forward to stepping the son of Jakkalberry out to a more preferred distance, with impending rain in Christchurch also to suit. “He was possibly a little bit flat in the straight in the Sydenham, but I think the extra 1000m will suit him and if the track is a little bit looser. Those factors would be an advantage for him,” he said. “He hasn’t been too busy this week, he’s pretty fit from his Waverley run into the hurdle race so we can’t do too much more with him. He’s feeling well and we’re expecting another good run. “He’s always showed a lot of ability hurdling and this year, he’s put the results on the board which has been good.” Berry The Cash was spectacular winning last year’s National and has been unbeaten in a jumping contest since. The gelding was the underdog in that race in comparison to his status this season, sitting a $2 hope just ahead of Nedwin at $2.15. Up-and-coming prospect Semper Magico will line up as a key contender in the Michael ‘Mickey’ Beecroft Memorial 0-1 Win Hurdles (3100m) earlier on the card, after running on with merit under a big weight over 1800m on the opening day of the carnival. The son of Per Incanto has stepped into his role over the fences with ease recently, winning comfortably at Wellington at his second hurdle attempt after a successful career on the flat, placing at Listed level. “We were happy enough with his run last Saturday, a flat run over 1800m is not really ideal for him but under the weight, we were pleased by the way he stuck at it and pulled up,” Oulaghan said. “Condition-wise, he’s not far off the mark. “It’s a great avenue for him where he can mix up running on the flat and over the jumps. For a horse like him, his career may nearly be over without jump racing, it gives him another option to continue on.” Horse racing news View the full article

Acromantula ridden by Craig Williams winning the 2023 Listed Carlyon Stakes at Moonee Valley. (Photo by George Sal/Racing Photos) Connections of Acromantula are targeting a repeat victory in the Listed Carlyon Stakes (1000m) at Moonee Valley on August 24. The seven-year-old sprinter, trained by Dan and Ben Pearce, returns for his second interstate campaign in Melbourne this Saturday, where he’ll compete in a 1000-metre handicap at The Valley. After winning two trials at Lark Hill last month, Acromantula will reunite with Craig Williams, who guided him to his sole stakes victory last year. “I think he’s fitter,” Ben Pearce told The Races WA. “Last year, we gave him just one trial because it was the first time we traveled with him. We sort of left a bit in the tank, thinking he would tighten up with the travel, which he didn’t—he traveled so well. “This year, we learned from that and gave him a second trial, and his fitness is better. We gave him a good gallop at home on Monday, and he worked good. “He’s traveled super, and I can’t get enough feed into him. You feed him, and it’s gone an hour later; he’s taken no harm from the travel.” Acromantula, drawing barrier one, will face six rivals on Saturday. Pearce is confident in their position. “I don’t think they’ll be able to cross him from barrier one,” he said. “I spoke to Craig’s manager, and he said it was a very winnable race.” Horse racing news View the full article

Steel City in full flight as she takes out the 2023 Group 3 Magic Night Stakes at Rosehill. Champion trainer Ciaron Maher has decided to equip Steel City with blinkers, hoping to boost her chances in what he views as a winnable Group 2 Missile Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on Saturday. The four-year-old daughter of Merchant Navy has only one victory from ten starts, a notable win in last year’s Group 3 Magic Night Stakes (1200m). This season, her best performance came last month when she finished fourth, just over three lengths behind the winner, in an 1100-metre handicap at Caulfield. “She’s improved every start, and I’ve put the shades on. I think she will improve again,” Maher told Racing NSW. “It’s not the strongest edition of the Missile, and we’ve got the fitness edge on our side. “With blinkers, she’ll need to find a couple of lengths, and I think she will. “A top-three chance is certainly what we’re aiming for.” 2024 Missile Stakes Final Field No. Silks Horse Trainer Jockey Barrier Weight 1 Loch Eagle Kris Lees Dylan Gibbons 7 57.5kg 2 Semillion Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes Tommy Berry 9 56.5kg 3 Schwarz John O’Shea & Tom Charlton James McDonald 11 56.5kg 4 Banju Lyle Chandler Reece Jones 3 56kg 5 Ka Bling Peter Snowden Tyler Schiller 5 56kg 6 Much Much Better Sara Ryan Zac Lloyd 8 56kg 7 The Face Tony Ball Jay Ford 1 56kg 8 Steel City Ciaron Maher Tim Clark 6 54.5kg 9 Arctic Glamour Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou Kerrin McEvoy 4 54kg 10 Shezanalister Bjorn Baker Jason Collett 2 54kg 11 Junqueira John O’Shea & Tom Charlton Regan Bayliss 10 54kg Horse racing news View the full article

The Thoroughbred Education and Research Foundation has awarded $61,500 in education grants to seven organizations. The following organizations received scholarships and education funding from TERF this year: $5,000 to Amplifying Horse Racing; $10,000 awarded to Belmont Child Care Association, Inc.; $10,000 to Maryland Horse Foundation; $5,000 to MidAtlantic Horse Rescue; $7,500 to Retired Racehorse Project; $9,000 to Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation; and $15,000 to Wilson College. Founded by Herb and Ellen Moelis with the mission to support Thoroughbred health and welfare, TERF provides scholarships to students pursuing veterinary careers; educates racing stakeholders impacting the Thoroughbred industry and supports equine research with a priority to making racing safer. TERF's current board includes co-chairs Kathleen Anderson, DVM and James Orsini, DVM, Lynne Cassimeris, Ph.D., Margaret Duprey, Roy Jackson, Katelyn Jackson, Ellen Moelis, Cory Moelis, Wendy Moon, Anita Motion, Scott Palmer, VMD, and Josh Pons. The post TERF Awards Educational Grants appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

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Some of the most highly anticipated races during the summer racing season are the 'baby' races during the boutique meetings at Saratoga and Del Mar and at Ellis Park, which attract its fair share of high-priced offspring from a variety of top national outfits. Summer Breezes highlights debuting and stakes-entered 2-year-olds at those meetings that have been sourced at the breeze-up sales earlier in the year, with links to their under-tack previews. Here are the horses entered for Saturday at Saratoga, Ellis Park and Del Mar: Saturday, August 10, 2024 Ellis 1, $71k, 2yo, f, 5 1/2fT, 12:50 p.m. ET Horse (Sire), Sale, Price ($), Breeze Emmy Blue (Oscar Performance), OBSAPR, 325,000, :10 C-White Lilac (Katie Miranda), agent; B-Glassman/Elements Lady Spun Sugar (Spun to Run)-AE, OBSMAR, 40,000, :10 2/5 C-Majestic, agent; B-James M Miller Saratoga 7, $100k, 2yo, 1 1/16mT, 3:54 p.m. ET The Boondocker (Unified)-MTO, OBSMAR, 235,000, :10 C-Old South Farm LLC; B-Kimmel/Sallusto for Flanagan Racing Sar 8, Sar Special S.-GII, $200k, 6.5f, 4:29 p.m. ET Good Directions (Liam's Map), OBSAPR, 20,000, :10 2/5 C-Paul Sharp, agent; B-Bill Williams Noble Force (Cairo Prince), OBSAPR, 110,000, :10 1/5 C-Majestic, agent; B-Lea Farms LLC Del Mar 5, Sorrento S.-GIII, $200k, 2yo, f, 6f, 7 p.m. ET Casalu (Caracaro), OBSAPR, 775,000, :20 2/5 C-Global Thoroughbreds, agent; B-Three Amigos Nooni (Win Win Win), OBSMAR, 1,800,000, :20 1/5 C-Ocala Stud; B-Donato Lanni, agent for Zedan Racing The post Summer Breezes, Sponsored By OBS: August 10, 2024 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Behemoth Stakes contender Air Assault. (Photo by George Sal/Racing Photos) Morphettville-based trainer Andrew Gluyas is set to kick off the campaign of his four-time stakes winner, Air Assault, in this Saturday’s Group 3 Behemoth Stakes (1200m). The four-year-old gelding, sired by Justify, has shown his versatility by winning over distances from 1400 to 1800 metres. His last outing was on May 4, where he secured a third-place finish in the Group 1 South Australian Derby (2500m). Despite his achievements, Gluyas admits that they are still unsure of Air Assault’s ideal racing distance. “We probably still haven’t worked out what his best trip is,” the trainer told Racing.com. “Going into the Derby, we thought he probably wasn’t going to be able to run that distance out strongly because that was the case during the spring last year when he ran in the VRC Derby. “But his effort was very game, and he ran the 2500 metres out strongly, only going down by a small margin after leading the entire way. He looks like he’s returned quite well from our point of view.” Looking ahead to Saturday’s race, Gluyas is optimistic but cautious, noting that the Behemoth Stakes will lay the groundwork for Air Assault’s future targets. “I’m looking forward to him resuming in the Behemoth Stakes on Saturday, which will hopefully set the foundations into the Leon Macdonald Stakes. “I think he’ll need the run on Saturday, although his first-up efforts in the past have been pretty good. “From there, we’ll make some more decisions going forward about where we take him.” Horse racing news View the full article

Cheveley Park Stud's Inspiral (GB) (Frankel {GB}) will face seven rivals as she bids for a historic treble in Sunday's G1 Prix du Haras de Fresnay-le-Buffard Jacques le Marois at Deauville. Aided by Ryan Moore for the first time, the John and Thady Gosden-trained 5-year-old will upstage fellow dual winners Miesque, Spinning World and Palace Pier (GB) if successful in the prestigious mile feature where last year's runner-up Big Rock (Fr) (Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire}) is set to re-oppose. Yeguada Centurion's G1 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes hero Big Rock has failed to shine in two starts for the Maurizio Guarnieri stable so far in 2024, also has a new partner with Cristian Demuro taking over. Nurlan Bizakov's G1 Queen Anne Stakes hero Charyn (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), Peter R Bradley and Scuderia Scolari's G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains winner Metropolitan (Fr) (Zarak {Fr}), Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum's unbeaten G2 Summer Mile scorer Quddwah (GB) (Kingman {GB}) and Wathnan Racing's multiple group winner and dual 2,000 Guineas-placed Haatem (Ire) (Phoenix Of Spain {Ire}) are other notables. Jaber Abdullah's 2023 Poulains hero Marhaba Ya Sanafi (Ire) (Muhaarar {GB}) and Christian Wingtans and Nicolas Caullery's 2023 G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest winner King Gold (Fr) (Anodin {Ire}) complete the line-up. The post Inspiral Faces Eight in Jacques Le Marois Treble Bid appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

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There are 11 horse racing meetings set for Australia on Saturday, August 10. Our racing analysts here at horsebetting.com.au have found you the best bets and the quaddie numbers for Randwick, Moonee Valley, Sunshine Coast and Belmont. Saturday’s Free Horse Racing Tips – August 10, 2024 Randwick Racing Tips Moonee Valley Racing Tips Sunshine Coast Racing Tips Belmont Racing Tips As always, there are plenty of promotions available for Australian racing fans. Check out all the top online bookmakers to see what daily promotions they have. If you are looking for a new bookmaker for the horse racing taking place on August 10, 2024 check out our guide to the best online racing betting sites. Neds Code GETON 1 Take It To The Neds Level Neds Only orange bookie! Check Out Neds Review 18+ Gamble Responsibly. What are you prepared to lose today? Full terms. 2 It Pays To Play PlayUp Aussie-owned horse racing specialists! Check Out PlayUp Review 18+ Gamble Responsibly. Imagine what you could be buying instead. Full terms. Dabble Signup Code AUSRACING 3 Say Hey to the social bet! Dabble Have a Dabble with friends! Join Dabble Review 18+ Gamble Responsibly. THINK. IS THIS A BET YOU REALLY WANT TO PLACE? Full terms. Recommended! Bet365 Signup Code GETON 4 Never Ordinary Bet365 World Favourite! Visit Bet365 Review 18+ Gamble Responsibly. GETON is not a bonus code. bet365 does not offer bonus codes in Australia and this referral code does not grant access to offers. What’s gambling really costing you? Full terms. 5 Next Gen Racing Betting PickleBet Top 4 Betting. Extra Place. Every Race. Join Picklebet Review 18+ Gamble Responsibly. What are you really gambling with? Full terms. 6 Bet With A Boom BoomBet Daily Racing Promotions – Login to view! Join Boombet Review 18+ Gamble responsibly. Think. Is this a bet you really want to place. Full terms. Horse racing tips View the full article

The Irish Racehorse Trainers' Association has cast its net out in search of a new chief after Ryan McElligott left his post after two years at the helm. McElligott, who succeeded former trainer Michael Grassick in the position, has joined Kia Joorabchian's Amo Racing organisation. McElligott said, “For the last two years my time at the IRTA has been instructive and enjoyable and I would like to thank the association's board for placing their trust in me when they took me on towards the end of 2022. On a variety of fronts it was a fascinating time to be involved at the helm of one of Irish racing's key representative bodies and I would like to thank the association's board and wider membership for their efforts in endeavouring to further the cause of trainers on various fronts over the last couple of years. McElligott, a well-respected journalist who spent almost a decade working with the Irish Field, added, “I'm thrilled to take up a new role with AMO and I very much look forward to working with the existing team there at what is a very exciting time. Over the last number of seasons the AMO colours have been carried with distinction on both sides of the Atlantic and I hope that I can play a part in maintaining and furthering that level of success over the coming years. It's a very exciting opportunity and one that I am greatly looking forward to.” More to follow The post IRTA In Search Of New Chief After McElligott Joins Amo Racing appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

It’s been a stellar week for Pencarrow Stud broodmare Huluava. Her progeny scored a double at Riccarton Park last Saturday courtesy of Jay Bee Gee in the Gr.3 Winter Cup (1600m) and Harmonious, while on Friday her youngest daughter, Branciforti, was victorious in the $100,000 Martin Collins Polytrack 1400m Innovation Race at Awapuni Synthetic. Trained by David Greene at Te Rapa, Branciforti has shown plenty of promise on the synthetic, having recorded three of her previous four victories on the surface, including a last start win over 1300m at Cambridge last month. That victory gave Greene the confidence to head to the $100,000 Synthetic Innovation race on Friday where the daughter of Belardo jumped a $6.50 third favourite, behind local hope Bee Enchanted ($4.50) and Cambridge synthetic specialist Lhasa ($5.80). Branciforti jumped well from barrier two and jockey Sam Spratt settled her charge in the trail behind pacemaker Monza, where she enjoyed an economical trip throughout. Branciforti ranged up alongside Monza down the straight, hitting the front with 100m to go and ran clear to win by two lengths. Greene was rapt to get the victory with the five-year-old mare. “It looked a pretty even field at first glance and she has put them away very well,” he said. “I think her last start was a career best performance, particularly the way she accelerated off the corner, much better than she has done previously. She is getting stronger and she is heading in the right direction. “She is probably a level up on where we first thought she would get to, so she has done well for herself.” Greene is now looking forward to testing Branciforti on the turf in the coming months and is potentially eyeing some black-type with the Sir Peter Vela bred and owned mare. “We are going to have to find out (if she can handle the turf) because there won’t be many other options for her,” he said. “In saying that, she is going to have to be racing on the turf at open handicap class as well, so it won’t be easy for her, but she is a very genuine horse and is getting stronger and better all of the time. “Garry Cossey (Pencarrow racing manager) can find a soft black-type race somewhere and we can try and get her a little bit of black-type.” Greene said the three $100,000 synthetic innovation races this week have been a great incentive over the winter months. “It is a great opportunity for horses at that level to be able to go for a race like that,” he said. It was the second $100,000 synthetic race victory for Spratt this week after guiding the Sam Mynott-trained Heart Of Gold to win the $100,000 TAB 2000 at Cambridge on Thursday. “I don’t know who is having a better week, Sam Spratt or Huluava, they are both having a brilliant week,” Greene said. “She (Spratt) has won twice in a row on that horse, and she does such a good job with my horses and has won a lot of good races for the stable. “We love Sam a lot and she might just be riding in career best form at the moment, she is right at the top of her game.” View the full article

2022 Gr.1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m) winner Smokin’ Romans (NZ) (Ghibellines) is on the eve of his best chance to win his first race since the Group One triumph, according to assistant trainer Declan Maher. The now eight-year-old put in a preparation-best performance last start at Flemington over 2000m and connections are hoping he can take that form to Moonee Valley on Saturday. “Ran well last start, he’s come on from the run again and I think he’s about spot on now and ready to go,” Maher said. “He just had a long spell and it takes a little bit of time to get the wheels turning and get back into that full-race mode. “He showed us he’s nearly there last start and I think he’s come on.” Smokin’ Romans will be steered by in-from apprentice Jaylah Kennedy, with the $5-rated pair set to jump from barrier seven. “Hopefully he can bounce and dictate like he likes to do and can be very hard to beat,” Maher said. Earlier in the day, Smokin’ Romans’ brother Flamin’ Romans (NZ) (Ghibellines) will contest Race 3 over 2040m (BM70) after an impressive last-start win at Geelong over 1741m. View the full article