Wandering Eyes

If Tuesday's Group 1 bonanza was akin to absorbing a Mike Tyson combination, such was the ferocity of the action, Royal Ascot's day-two fixture takes a relatively measured approach to its Group 1 crescendo. The £1-million highlight of Wednesday's fayre is the G1 Prince Of Wales's Stakes in which a star-studded older brigade will race eight yards shy of a full 10 furlongs on the round course. The Breeders' Cup “Win And You're In” race is amply supported by the undercard, which opens with a trio of Group 2 events. Aidan O'Brien and Ryan Moore drew a Group 1 blank on day one and the axis gets another opportunity of notching its 150th top-level triumph with last term's G1 Irish Derby hero and G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe third Los Angeles (Camelot). The four-year-old caused a rumble in the betting jungle and dominated early ante-post exchanges after emerging victorious in a bruising edition of the Curragh's G1 Tattersalls Gold Cup last month. He sets the standard in a nine-runner renewal shorn of White Birch (Ulysses) for a second straight season. Stablemate Continuous (Heart's Cry), himself a G1 St Leger winner, is here to ride tempo. It's going to be a case of no quarter asked, no quarter given, according to O'Brien. “He's very happy to lead and very happy to get a lead,” the trainer explained. “He will go forward, there will be strong pace on and everybody knows that. He's not a wimp, he loves a fight and he will really brawl if he has to. The more competition for him the better. It's going to be a strongly run mile-and-a-quarter.” Age is But a Number Los Angeles's Curragh victims were headed by the reopposing Anmaat (Awtaad), who had the Ballydoyle nominee's number–and then some–when registering a career high in October's G1 Champion Stakes over course and distance in his only prior visit to this Berkshire track. It is worthy of note the contest has not fallen the way of a seven-year-old since its 1968 reincarnation and Shadwell's Owen Burrows trainee must buck that statistical trend. He has saluted thrice and placed twice in five outings on a good-to-firm surface, but fast ground might deter connections. “We are keeping an eye on the ground and if it was quite quick we would need a conversation,” admitted Burrows. “There was some rain at the weekend, which is a big positive for us, and we will see what it's like on the first day. We have been very pleased with him since his run in Ireland. He got a little bit tired there in the last 50 yards, but he's taken a nice step forward since then.” Graffard Ordnance Worth Surveying Few back home in France have been able to apply the brake on Francis Graffard's domestic juggernaut this term and the in-form trainer, who kept his powder dry yesterday, unleashes Wathnan Racing's progressive G2 Prix d'Harcourt victor Map Of Stars (Sea The Stars) as the second star of his formidable squad on deck this week. Asmarani (Sottsass), in the G2 Queen's Vase, fires Graffard's opening salvo earlier on the card. The four-year-old was last seen running Sosie to a neck in April's G1 Prix Ganay and has delighted connections with his progress since. “Francis called us last week and said the horse had worked brilliantly, his scope was clear and he's in fantastic nick,” said Richard Brown. “I think you could argue he might be unbeaten because he's been unlucky twice. Mickael [Barzalona] made a move down the false straight at Longchamp last year, which he was kicking himself about, and we just didn't get the run of luck in the Ganay. The ground was pretty quick in the Harcourt and he showed a very serious turn of foot. He's a colt we're very excited about.” Ombudsman Flies HQ Flag Newmarket hopes rest on Godolphin's upwardly mobile Book 2 graduate Ombudsman (Night Of Thunder), a John and Thady Gosden trainee who enjoys the profile of a typical Clarehaven project. He lowered the colours of Map Of Stars in September's G3 Prix du Prince d'Orange, but surrendered his perfect record when runner-up in Sandown's G3 Brigadier Gerard on seasonal return last month. Positive vibes have emanated from HQ after recent workouts and a sixth win for the yard isn't beyond reach. “He's in good form, but would probably prefer if the ground was a bit easier,” commented John Gosden. “It's a proper race with a good depth to it. Los Angeles just battles it out, he's a tough devil and he'll just keep galloping. His style of racing tries to take the speed out of you and, sitting there with a turn of foot, I think we're going to wait and pounce.” Burke Targets Queen Mary Threepeat In the 18th century, Edmund Burke wrote you can never plan the future by the past. In the 21st century, Karl Burke may beg to differ. Royal Ascot's day two festivities get underway with the 25-runner G2 Queen Mary Stakes providing an adrenaline rush over a fast and furious five furlongs. Burke annexed this juvenile distaffers' contest with Dramatised in 2022, hit the board with Beautiful Diamond in 2023 and celebrated a second victory with Leovanni last year. Beautiful Diamond and Leovanni annexed Nottingham's EBF Fillies' Maiden en route to this and the Spigot Lodge trainer's tried-and-trusted formula sees exciting TDN Rising Star Zelaina (Mehmas) next in line. Wathnan Racing's £650,000 Goffs Breezer banged a knee and had an interrupted preparation prior to her scintillating debut success and was value for much more than the official 2 3/4-length buffer. That Colwick Park race was no run-of-the-mill affair as Godolphin's second Secret Oath was a €550,000 Goffs Orby yearling while Coolmore's third Novelette was a £410,000 Goffs UK Breeze-Up graduate. Zelaina has been favourite for this ever since and rider James Doyle is confident of a bold showing. “Leovanni won the exact same race before going on to win the Queen Mary and this filly clocked a marginally quicker time on what I felt was slower ground than what Leovanni won on at Nottingham, so that has to give you confidence. If she can turn up nice and relaxed, you would be hopeful she could run a big race. It's always difficult to compare yours to what you might be up against but I don't think I would be swapping this filly, that's for sure.” Ballydoyle sends forth the twice-raced maiden True Love (No Nay Never), whose full-sister Truly Enchanting ran 13th last year. She is better than the bare form might imply, having forced G3 Naas Fillies Sprint victrix Lady Iman to pull out all the stops when highly tried in the Listed First Flier Stakes first time out. She then went down fighting to G2 Coventry hero Gstaad at Navan last month. No Wesley Ward, no problem. Ward's trailblazing posse has four Queen Mary rosettes in the bag and will be sorely missed this week, but Stateside representation is not lacking and the Patrick Biancone barn fills the void. Step forward two-for-two Lennilu (Leinster), who garnered the same Keeneland maiden special weight used as a springboard by Ward's 2009 heroine Jealous Again. That debut form has since received multiple nods and she lines up off a wide-berth defeat of G3 Albany entry Bibi Dahl in last month's Royal Palm Juvenile Fillies on the Gulfstream Park turf. She is a $23,000 OBS Winter bargain buy and has been stationed at the Bedford Lodge base of Charlie Fellowes. Luis Saez retains the ride. “She's perfect, I am very happy with her and she's ready to go,” Biancone said. “Newmarket is like Chantilly and it's the mecca of English racing. My friend Luca Cumani was here, the stables are beautiful and the people are very nice. I know she is a very, very good filly. She is one of the best two-year-olds I've trained in my career and she is one of the favourites with the bookmakers.” Asmarani Set For Queen's Vase Evaluation Francis Graffard contender Asmarani (Sottsass), representing a stable which started the week basking in G1 Prix de Diane glory, meets a high standard for the G2 Queen's Vase over an extended 14 furlongs. His runner-up finish in ParisLongchamp's 11-furlong G3 Prix Hocquart was bolstered when conqueror Rafale Design doubled up in Sunday's G3 Prix du Lys at Chantilly. “It is probably quite a big ask, but we think that the step up in trip will suit him,” Graffard suggested. “He has always shown us more in the afternoon than in the morning and he's a horse that finishes his races off very well. He can hit a bit of a flat spot and tends to get going quite late. We don't really have these kind of tough races in France and it will be a new experience for him. He goes on any ground and I think we would be happy if we ran into a place.” Aidan O'Brien has authored the book on the standard required for this marathon and matched Sir Henry Cecil's record haul with an eighth triumph, provided by G1 Gold Cup-bound Illinois, last year. Ryan Moore takes charge of G3 Zetland Stakes third and G3 Gallinule Stakes fourth Shackleton (Camelot) while G1 Oaks hero Wayne Lordan is called up for duty aboard Navan maiden winner Scandinavia (Justify). Ireland's strong hand also includes Fiona Carmichael's Listed Yeats Stakes victor Carmers (Wootton Bassett), who is a Paddy Twomey-conditioned G1 Irish St Leger entry and winner of both starts to date. Devil's Advocate (Too Darn Hot) finished a neck shy of third for Godolphin and the Gosdens in the G2 Dante, but that form took a hefty knock when five of the first seven home at York got an old-fashioned walloping in the Derby. He'll need to find improvement stepping up a half-mile in distance. “I was pleased with Devil's Advocate in the Dante,” said John Gosden. “We didn't expect to be in front, they all came to him and then he stayed on again. The Dante form took a bit of a knock in the Derby, but it was completely different ground at Epsom. The Queen's Vase will suit him.” If the Slipper Fits Focus diverts back to the fillies for an intriguing edition of the one-mile G2 Duke Of Cambridge Stakes and very much centres on Godolphin's GI Belmont Oaks Invitational and GII Saratoga Oaks Invitational heroine Cinderella's Dream (Shamardal). She makes her eagerly awaited return to action after romping to an impressive wide-margin G2 Dahlia Stakes success from Elmalka (Kingman) at Newmarket on the 1000 Guineas undercard. Elmalka has not triumphed in five starts since claiming G1 1000 Guineas glory last year and ran fourth against the boys in the G1 Prix d'Ispahan when last seen. “Dropping back to one mile will be on the sharper side for Cinderella's Dream, although she showed enough gears in the Dahlia Stakes to suggest that she will handle it comfortably,” said Charlie Appleby. “She's in great nick and a repeat of her Newmarket run will make her the one to beat.” David Howden's Running Lion (Roaring Lion) inched John Gosden one clear of Sir Michael Stoute's four on the race's roll of honour when making virtually all last year, but has failed to better her tally in four starts since. One of those defeats was a narrow reversal in October's G1 Prix de l'Opera and there's no doubt she will have been primed for this title defence. The yard also saddles Wathnan Racing's 2023 G2 Queen Mary winner Crimson Advocate (Nyquist). Wathnan's 2024 G1 Irish 1000 Guineas heroine Fallen Angel (Too Darn Hot), has several instances of interlocking form with Cinderella's Dream, Elmalka and Running Lion and bids to regain the winning thread coming back off a creditable sixth in Newbury's G1 Lockinge. She is one of five runners on the day's card for Karl Burke while Paddy Twomey's day two squad also features G3 Park Express victrix and G2 Ridgewood Pearl second One Look (Gleneagles), who trades at relatively short odds. Rogues Let Loose in Windsor Castle Black-type feasting is interrupted while the Royal Hunt Cup and Kensington Palace cavalry charges hog the spotlight and returns to round off the day's proceedings with a conundrum that is the five-furlong Listed Windsor Castle Stakes for two-year-olds. The 24-runner field averages out at just two runs apiece in an event which enjoys more than its fair share of long-priced winners. Paddy Twomey is responsible for another fancied contender and sends out dual winner Rogue Legend (Havana Grey), who posted clear-cut scores over five furlongs at Cork and Tipperary in one week last month. The latter win prompted John Stewart's Resolute Racing to pry him away from the Rogues Gallery Syndicate for an undisclosed sum. He is listed as the 5-1 favourite in an obviously open renewal. “He has done all of his winning over five furlongs and we're looking forward to Royal Ascot,” reported Twomey. “He's been very straightforward to train and is improving with every run, culminating with an impressive weight-carrying performance at Tipperary last time. It's great to have John Stewart and the Resolute team join the yard.” Stewart added, “I was impressed with his recent performance on the track and, with a Timeform rating of 104, he is one of the top two-year-old sprint horses in Europe. I expect for him to be very competitive.” Rogue Legend's former owners have not been left in the lurch after parting ways with one of their leading lights and the red-and-white silks will be seen aboard impressive Wetherby maiden winner Rogue Supremacy (St Mark's Basilica), who became the first winner for his freshman sire in his June 2 debut last time. “We really, really like this horse and loads of people have tried to buy him,” revealed syndicate founder Tony Elliott. “It's not all about selling because we want some nice ones ourselves and it's a tricky situation. However, we're not all multi-millionaires and sometimes you have to use your head. The jockey was more or less stood up with him the whole way at Wetherby and we don't yet know what we've got. We don't know if he'll get six furlongs, but he's sharp and that's why we're looking at five furlongs.” George Weaver struck another blow for America with Crimson Advocate in the 2023 G2 Queen Mary and the Louisville native is back in town with Keeneland maiden special weight winner and mount of Flavien Prat, Tough Critic (Caravaggio). Like Lennilu in the Queen Mary, he will be ponied to the gate by the British Racing School's Capricorn Prince piloted by Lydia de Souza. “Going back a second time is a little easier for us because now we've got the lay of the land,” Weaver said. “It's quite expensive to make this kind of trip for the owners, but it's really exciting to go and it's definitely a great experience. We were very happy with his first start and he's done some nice breezes since. He's a colt that is just coming into himself mentally and physically. You never know, but I just have a feeling he is going to run well and we're looking forward to the Windsor Castle.” In the absence of three-race maiden Kansas (Wootton Bassett), who has been scratched, Coolmore's case will be made by G3 Marble Hill Stakes fourth First Approach (No Nay Never) in a contest won three times by the Aidan O'Brien stable in the last 10 years. Illinois Heads Gold Cup Eight Coolmore's Kyprios supersub Illinois (Galileo) has bagged stall one and faces seven opponents in Thursday's G1 Gold Cup, with his foes featuring the Francis Graffard-trained G1 Prix Vicomtesse Vigier hero Candelari (Frankel) and Godolphin's 2024 runner-up Trawlerman (Golden Horn). Elsewhere on the day-three card, Coolmore's TDN Rising Star Charles Darwin (No Nay Never) enjoys short-odds favouritism and has drawn a high-numbered stall in the G2 Norfolk Stakes. He encounters 15 rivals, including Wathnan Racing's Stateside raider Sandal's Song (Mendelssohn), in the five-furlong contest. Robert Moran's TDN Rising Star Catalina Delcarpio (Lope De Vega) is one of 11 distaffers declared for the G2 Ribblesdale Stakes while G1 Prix du Jockey Club third and fourth, Detain (Wootton Bassett) and TDN Rising Star Trinity College (Dubawi), will cross swords once again in the G3 Hampton Court Stakes. They have been drawn alongside each other in stalls five and six. The post Los Angeles On Deck, Prince Of Wales Has L.A. X-Factor appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Having been beat in her three starts since winning this race a year ago, Vahva aims to right the ship June 21 in the $300,000 Chicago Stakes (G2) at Churchill Downs.View the full article

Emulating his sire Kingman in style as well as bare results, Field Of Gold got the Juddmonte-Colin Keane retainer off to a flyer at the highest level in Tuesday's St James's Palace Stakes. Making a mockery of the Royal Ascot rematch with his 2,000 Guineas conqueror Ruling Court, the 8-11 favourite left that son of Justify and the G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains hero Henri Matisse (Wootton Bassett) trailing with his ruthless acceleration between the two and the one. Like his sire going one better than Newmarket in the G1 Irish 2,000 Guineas before confirming himself top dog here, the Gosdens' grey hit the line with 3 1/2 lengths to spare over Henri Matisse, with Ruling Court staying on 3 3/4 lengths back in third. “It was exciting, to say the least,” John Gosden said. “I thought he'd gone too soon, but he's a proper horse and we'll give him a holiday now.” SUPERSTAR! FIELD OF GOLD ROUTS THEM IN THE ST JAMES'S PALACE STAKES! #RoyalAscot pic.twitter.com/ENbnZHKAZk — At The Races (@AtTheRaces) June 17, 2025 The post ‘He’s A Proper Horse’: Kingman’s Field Of Gold Destroys St James’s Palace Rivals appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Barraston Racing's 5-year-old handicap regular American Affair (Washington DC) had not set foot in black-type territory until last month and stepped forward to claim GI King Charles III Stakes glory for Scotland after another ding-dong cliffhanger. The 11-1 chance finished a close-up fifth behind Mgheera (Zoustar) in Haydock's G2 Temple Stakes and the Jim Goldie trainee's task was made easier when that rival was scratched at the start after losing a shoe. Tucked away in mid division until coming under pressure to reduce arrears approaching the quarter-mile marker, he went second with 1 1/2 furlongs remaining and was driven out in the latter stages to deny G3 Nad Al Sheba Turf winner Frost At Dawn (Frosted) by a neck after a pulsating duel. The fast-breaking long-time leader Regional (Territories) ran on in game fashion once headed and finished one length back in third. AMERICAN AFFAIR WINS THE KING CHARLES III STAKES! #RoyalAscot pic.twitter.com/8puaIhIuw7 — At The Races (@AtTheRaces) June 17, 2025 The post Jim Goldie-Trained American Affair Strikes for Scotland in King Charles III appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Even without Albert Einstein, Ballydoyle were able to come up with one to dominate another competitive renewal of Royal Ascot's G2 Coventry Stakes and provide Aidan O'Brien with an 11th renewal. The colt in question was Starspangledbanner's Gstaad, a half-brother to Vandeek who had beaten the yard's much-vaunted filly True Love on debut at Navan last month and generated enough support here to start as the 7-2 favourite. Always travelling strongly up the centre under Ryan Moore, the bay who at 450,000gns was the top-priced colt at the 2023 Tattersalls December Foal Sale streaked away from two out to record an emphatic three-length success from Do Or Do Not (Space Blues), with Coppull (Bated Breath) a neck away in third. “Ryan gave him a lovely, uncomplicated ride and he's a lovely horse. He's a big horse who gets the trip very well,” said O'Brien. Gstaad pic.twitter.com/Zkh83GBA4F — At The Races (@AtTheRaces) June 17, 2025 The post 11th Coventry For O’Brien As Starspangledbanner’s Gstaad Strikes appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

John Stewart's Resolute Racing farm in central Kentucky, located on the grounds of the former Shadayid Stud, will be expanded to include a new training facility, Stewart said on Nick Luck's Live From Royal Ascot podcast Tuesday. “It's our second year [on the farm],” said Stewart. “Last year we bred 31 mares, this year we bred over 50. We've got some fantastic diversity on the farm and we're really excited about that. We've got out first yearlings that were bred on the farm coming up so next year they'll be 2-year-olds. So it's all coming along pretty well. We've grown the farm from 800 acres to 1,300 acres and we're planning to build a training center on the property. So it's going pretty well.” Stewart's farm roster includes a who's who of successful race mares and broodmares led perhaps most notably by Puca (Big Brown), the dam of GI Kentucky Derby winner Mage (Good Magic), GI Belmont Stakes winner Dornoch (Good Magic) and this year's MGISP Baeza (McKinzie). His aforementioned yearlings are by top international stallions such as Wootton Bassett (GB), Siyouni (Fr) and Frankel (GB) while his American-bred yearlings feature the full-brother to Mage and Dornoch along with a Flightline half-sister to 2-year-old champion Forte (Violence). “You can't just get involved in racing and want to win” he said. “Because then you're just taking from the sport. If you're going to get involved in something, you have to get involved with all aspects of the sport and you have to want to support everything. For me, that's competing on a global stage. I think it's important to be in these historic venues. Ascot is definitely at the top of the list of races I want to compete in. So much so that I'm building a replica of the mile uphill on my farm. I specifically bought an additional farm because it has a 1 1/2-mile of property so I can build a proper uphill gallop. I think if we want horses to come over here [to Ascot] and race, you have to train them in environment you want them to compete in.” Asked by Luck if Resolute would keep an in-house trainer on site or if the facility would only include pre-training, Stewart said, “Not going to go with my own trainer. I'm going to require every trainer that wants to train with me to have a division at my training center. I'm going to keep all my horses there in America and I'll ship them to the races just like they do at [Coolmore's] Ballydoyle. We're building a training center with 400 stalls. It's going to be state of the art. I'm going to take the Ballydoyle concept and take all the latest technology and implement it and try to up the game. There's a lot of incremental things we can learn from sports science. So much we want the horses to be athletes but we treat them still like farm animals. I think there's a lot of opportunity to makes things more competitive and to give the horses every opportunity and also to take care of [their] wellness from a training standpoint.” The post ‘I’m Going To Take The Ballydoyle Concept’: Stewart Plans New Training Center appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

There is always a story at Royal Ascot and this year's meeting opener, the G1 Queen Anne Stakes, delivered an immediate slice of drama as Harry Eustace trainee Docklands (Massaat) provided the Newmarket conditioner with a thrilling first Group 1 triumph, by a pixel, despite Australian rider Mark Zahra dropping his whip in the closing stages of the straight one-mile test. Last year's runner-up, a 14-1 chance, was the last of 10 into stride and settled into a smooth rhythm off a moderate pace towards the rear through halfway in this sixth Group 1 start. Weaving a passage into contention with a quarter-mile remaining, he quickened smartly to seize a narrow advantage entering the final furlong and refused to yield as last year's G1 Irish 2000 Guineas and G1 St James's Palace hero Rosallion (Blue Point) lunged late to call the judge's magnifying glass into early action. Refai Alghraiban's 100-1 outsider and Alice Haynes nominee Cairo (Quality Road), who ran eighth last year, flashed home late to finish 1 3/4 lengths adrift of the protagonists in third. “I didn't want to worry about the whip rules, so chucked the stick away,” joked Zahra in the immediate aftermath. WHAT A START TO #ROYALASCOT! PHOTO FINISH IN THE QUEEN ANNE STAKES… AND IT GOES TO DOCKLANDS! pic.twitter.com/SeG6nFmM2R — At The Races (@AtTheRaces) June 17, 2025 The post Massaat’s Docklands Prevails in Queen Anne Thriller appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Bernie Sams will be launching a new venture, BF Sams Bloodstock Advisory, according to a press release from the new venture this morning. Drawing upon his extensive experience working for some of the world's top Thoroughbred farms, Sams said he would offer a variety of consulting services, including broodmare band management, advice on matings, purchases of stallion seasons and shares, securing equine insurance, and more. Born in Louisville, Kentucky, Sams began working with Thoroughbreds while attending the University of Kentucky. Early in his career, he worked at Wimbledon Farm, Haras de Roiville in France, Manchester Farm Lexington, and Overbrook Farm, as well as managing stallions at Gainesway. In 2003, Sams began his tenure at Claiborne Farm, where he served as Bloodstock and Stallion Manager. His role included assisting in buying and syndicating new stallions, managing the stallions, advertising, helping clients purchase mares to fortify their broodmare bands, consulting on matings, and a host of other duties and responsibilities. Among the successful stallions Sams managed at Claiborne were Pulpit, Arch, Flatter, Blame and War Front, one of the most accomplished sires in recent history. “I'm very excited to begin this new venture,” said Sams. “Claiborne was very good to me over the past 20-plus years and I look forward to the next chapter. I'm also happy to see my son, little Bernie, showing a passion for the Thoroughbred industry, so I'm hoping in the next few years he'll join me in this new endeavor.” Bernie Sams can be reached at bfsams1959@gmail.com. The post Bernie Sams Launches BF Sams Bloodstock Advisory appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Los Angeles and Anmaat will lock horns again in what is expected to be a titanic tussle for Wednesday’s Group One Prince Of Wales’s Stakes (2,000m) at Royal Ascot. The day two feature has gone to powerhouse trainer Aidan O’Brien on five occasions and three-time Group One winner Los Angeles is set to go off favourite for the middle-distance contest. The Camelot colt is unbeaten in two starts this season, winning the Group Two Mooresbridge Stakes (2,000m) at the Curragh on reappearance before...View the full article

Aidan O'Brien will seek a 10th Gold Cup at Royal Ascot on Thursday, with his prospects whittled down to just Illinois (Galileo) in the meeting's prestige feature. Last year's G2 Queen's Vase winner will take on the Aga Khan Studs representative Candelari (Frankel) from the Francis-Henri Graffard stable and that G1 Prix Vicomtesse Vigier winner is like him a newcomer to these Cup races. Old stagers Trawlerman (Golden Horn) and Sweet William (Sea The Stars) are back again, while the All-Weather Championships Marathon Handicap winner Wonder Legend (Sea The Stars) is an interesting contender. In the G2 Norfolk Stakes, Ballydoyle are represented by TDN Rising Star Charles Darwin (No Nay Never) as 16 stand their ground, while the G2 Ribblesdale Stakes has attracted 11 fillies including Robert Moran's TDN Rising Star and G3 Salsabil Stakes runner-up Catalina Delcarpio (Lope De Vega). There are 14 engaged in the G3 Hampton Court Stakes, with Juddmonte's G1 Prix du Jockey Club third Detain (Wootton Bassett) looking for quick compensation. The post Illinois Heads Eight For Gold Cup appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

By Rob Courtney Richard Cornelius is long retired with his feet up in Prebbleton but the wily Cantabrian has been a harness enthusiast for as long as he can remember. His list of winners indicates he has won his share of good races. Gail Devers (Live Or Die – Awesome Dream) won 10 from just 19 starts and Oscar Wild (Albert Albert – For The Boys) won 11 and was placed in an Auckland Cup. Both were trained by David and Catherine Butt when they were winning multiple trainers premierships back in the early 2000s. Cornelius was an avid breeder during this period and obviously liked to name his foals after world famous athletes. Gail Devers was named after a famous American sprinter as an example and around 2012 he had Wilma Rudolph (named after another American Olympic champion) at home as his only weanling. She was by Rocknroll Hanover from Merlene Ottey (you guessed it, another Olympic sprinter) and Cornelius was of a mind to go to the 2013 weanling sale and buy a ‘mate’ for Wilma. Lot 24, a filly by Pegasus Spur from Mybrotherwasastar, from Rob The Nest and therefore a half sister to the very handy Galleon’s Assassin and Thedonsson, both Group 1-winning trotters, cost Cornelius $8000 on the day. That unnamed filly became Wilma’s Mate and nine months later Cornelius took the yearling filly back to the Christchurch yearling sales but disappointingly, didn’t get a bid. The disappointment was short-lived as Wilma went on to win twice as a 2YO and eventually won 14 races (3 in Australia) and $348k in prize money. Keep in mind that after about five of those wins, Cornelius shared a story where trainer Davey Butt was not at all happy with the trotting mare and made the decision to send the mare to master trotting trainer Paul Nairn to ‘sort out’, with the results being quite spectacular. History repeated itself when Cornelius took Wilma’s first foal to the yearling sales in 2022, aptly named Wilma’s Boy. By the well-credentialed but unproven Tactical Landing, Wilma’s Boy did not get a bid on the day! A baffled and despondent Cornelius took the horse home and gave him to Bob Butt to train. It also prompted him to sell off his remaining mares including Wilma’s Mate who had a Love You filly at foot and she is now in the ownership of Graham Beirne of Small Car World. The latter filly is called Love You Wilma. Wilma’s Boy created quite an impression when winning on debut by some 9L at Addington but three subsequent starts didn’t go to plan for the big son of Tactical Landing and he was put aside. Back at the trials in May for Bob Butt, the now 4YO went ‘terrible’ according to his owner and as if to repeat history all over again, his young trainer made the decision to send the horse to Nairn. Boom ! Less than two weeks after that ‘terrible’ trial, Nairn produced the young trotter to win by 5L at Addington (30/5/25) after sitting parked much of the way and then repeated the dose (6/6/25) with another 5L victory, taking his short career record to three wins from six starts. The stories behind ‘the boy’ and his mother are startlingly similar to say the least. No bids at the yearling sales, trained by the Butts, given to Paul Nairn to sort out and with spectacular results. Wilma’s Boy is the only horse Richard Cornelius now has in his ownership and is sharing that ‘ride’ with younger members of his family. The future is exciting, presently. Maybe ‘the boy’ might go on to win 14 races and a whole lot of money for his connections. Richard Cornelius certainly hopes so. View the full article

By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk After 40 years, Morrinsville-based trainer Leanne Edwards is calling time on her training career. “I still love them (the horses) but it’s time for a change,” says Edwards, “I’m hanging up the bridle.” “I sold my last one (Cupids Arrow) last month.” Edwards’ first winner was Grattan Royale in 1984. He ended up winning six from 24 and her headliner was Frugal Echo, who won 16 from 81 career starts. “He was the best trotter I ever trained,” she says. In the early 2000s he was up against some of the country’s best ever square-gaiters and was good enough to run second to multiple Group 1 winner Take A Moment on several occasions. He was also runner-up behind La Coocaracha in the 2002 Rowe Cup, to Lyell Creek in the 2000 Dominion and to Martina H in the 2003 Dullard Cup in Victoria. Other good performers included Una Bromac, who was a Group winner in 2005, while the now 14-year-old Grey Stoke is a favourite. “He won 11 races and I got a lot of satisfaction from winning with him,” says Edwards, “he will be here till the day he dies.” Edwards never trained a huge team. “I never had more than nine or 10 and in recent years it’s been closer to four and five.” “There have been a lot of highlights.” “I love the grass track racing and I was fortunate enough to win a couple of Cups on the grass, one of them was in the (2007) Kumeu Country Cup with a horse for Mum called O K Miles. Iwi Trouble was another “tough old horse” who did well on the grass track circuit, winning six races overall from 72 starts. Edwards isn’t sure what the future holds. “I’ll see what comes around the corner but racing’s been very good to me and I’ve loved it.” View the full article

A decision has been made allowing Nigel McGrath to make a partial return to the industry, but under very strict conditions. At the last Harness Racing New Zealand AGM clubs and kindred bodies passed a rule change allowing any banned party to apply for an exemption if they have served at least half of their penalty. McGrath, who was banned for eight years, met this criteria and subsequently applied for a number of exemptions. HRNZ’s Exemptions Committee met to consider the matter and concluded that the conditions regarding McGrath’s ban would change. “It is however under tightly-managed conditions and it is up to him to prove he has changed his ways,” says HRNZ Chief Executive Brad Steele. McGrath cannot hold a trainer’s or driver’s licence. He is allowed to be at a licenced person’s property but he cannot be involved in the training of any horse or work as a stablehand. He will remain unable to enter a racecourse when a race meeting is taking place. “There will be zero tolerance,” says Steele, “and any breach of these exemptions would result in immediate consequences, including the potential reinstatement of his disqualification.” His involvement will be subject to regular review and monitoring by the Racing Integrity Board and Harness Racing NZ. “The decision balances disciplinary actions with the industry’s obligations to rehabilitate,” says Steele, “a decision to provide anyone with a chance to be re-integrated should not be mistaken for leniency.” Steele acknowledges the decision won’t be welcomed by everyone in the sport. “We take those comments onboard and the issue has prompted us to commit to a review of the industry’s integrity standards and processes.” “It will be an opportunity for everyone in the sport to have their say and will happen shortly.” To see the official notice please click here View the full article

Fresh from a runaway victory in Saturday’s A$160,000 Listed The Wayne Wilson (1600m) at Eagle Farm, connections of Group One galloper Pier (NZ) (Proisir) are formulating plans for the spring. The Darryn and Briar Weatherley-trained gelding will enjoy a break in the Queensland sun after a three-start campaign that saw the 2022 Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) winner return to something like his best. The son of Proisir produced powerful finishes for placings in the Listed City Of Napier Sprint (1200m) at Trentham and the Gr.3 BRC Sprint (1350m) at Doomben prior to Saturday’s triumph. “He should have won his first-up run at Trentham and had he drawn an alley at Doomben, I’m not saying he would have beaten War Machine, but looking at the sectionals, he would have given him a fright,” Darryn Weatherley said. “Then, of course, he won the other day. So we’re very proud of him, and he’s gone for a well-deserved break now, just for a month. “He is at Beaudesert and he will get a bit of sun on his back.” The most likely plan for Pier will see him return to New Zealand for the Hawke’s Bay Triple Crown which commences with the Gr.1 Tarzino Trophy (1400m) to be run at Ellerslie this year with the Hastings track out of action. “We’ve got three really nice Group One races at home in the spring over 1400m, 1600m and 2000m and I can’t wait to get him out to 2000m,” Weatherley said. “They look quite tasty targets for him. Even if it is wet, I really do believe with the cut in the track, he’s actually a better horse because of some of his old injuries. “He’s won on a Good 3 track, and he’s won on a Heavy 10 track, so we’re lucky that he is very adaptable. “I’m not against going to Melbourne either in the spring but after his rest we will see how he goes first-up. “Because of his niggly little problems we haven’t been able to get him that far, but gee I think he would relish 2000m.” Although the Wayne Wilson was a nice consolation, connections will never know how competitive Pier might have been had he gained a start in the Gr.1 Stradbroke Handicap (1400m), for which he was fourth emergency. “It is what it is,” Weatherley said. “He ran a track record time carrying 59 kilos and in the Stradbroke he had 51 kilos. “It would have been really interesting. I do believe he would have given War Machine a run for his money.” View the full article

Harvey Wilson has been successful in a number of New Zealand’s major jumping races, but before he was training racehorses, he scaled even greater heights in the show jumping arena. Growing up in the Wanganui region, Wilson was surrounded by horses, hunting and racing, but serious competition came later in his teenage years. “My parents rode, not extensively, but they hunted, and my father was an amateur rider and rode in the point to points in those days,” he said. “He was involved in the Waverley Racing Club for a long while. “I didn’t do much in ponies, I probably didn’t start competing a lot until I left school, and it all snowballed from there.” Wilson became one of the country’s top riders and competed on the international stage, including his selection for the Olympic Games on three occasions. Based in New Zealand at the time, Wilson travelled to compete in Montreal in 1976 but was unable to fulfil his place on the team. Eight years later, he was back in the frame and represented New Zealand at Seoul in the individual and team competitions and emulated that effort in Barcelona in 1992. On home soil, there are few trophies without Wilson’s name engraved, and the same could be said for his wife Ann. They were the first husband-and-wife to win an Olympic Cup at the New Zealand Horse Of The Year Show, and in 2013, they were inducted to the show’s Hall Of Fame. “I initially went (overseas) in 1976 with the team that was going to Montreal for the Olympics, with John Cottle and Joe Yorke,” he said. “I didn’t get to the Olympics, our horses got travel sickness a wee bit, so we competed in England over that summer, and I met Ann during that time. “Ann was on the Junior British Event Team, and she then was on the Senior British Show Jumping Team. “I came back to New Zealand and had a couple of nice horses here, so I took them back to England, we got married and competed over there for about three years after that.” During that period, Wilson experienced one of the greatest moments of his decorated career, winning the inaugural Commonwealth Cup alongside a number of Kiwi heroes in equestrian sport. “Winning the Commonwealth Cup at the Royal Windsor Show was a highlight, it was a team’s event between England, Australia and us,” he said. “The team was made up of Mark Todd, Bruce Goodin, Maurice Beatson and myself, and I was lucky enough to be the captain, so I got to meet the Queen when she presented the prizes.” Even in their time show jumping, thoroughbreds were an integral part of the Wilson’s operation, with Ann’s star Olympic Cup winning-mare Imperial sourced out of the John Wheeler stable. “Most of our good horses were thoroughbreds, we both won the Horse Of The Year on thoroughbreds and they’re great show jumpers,” Wilson said. “If you find the right one, they are very genuine and they get on with it. “We had to sell some of the horses to make ends meet, but some were too good to sell. We sold a lot of horses to Japan, they were good buyers of a nice, sensible thoroughbred.” When he wasn’t busy riding at the Olympics, Wilson loved to go hunting, and once he and Ann settled back in New Zealand, he became master of the Egmont-Wanganui Hunt Club. “I always hunted as a child, and continued to all the way through,” he said. “When we came back and settled here, I was the master of the Egmont-Wanganui Hunt for 20 years, starting in the mid-eighties. “We were lucky, we had a very strong hunt, great people, good huntsman and a good pack of hounds. It was great fun.” After competing at the top-level in show jumping for a long period of time, Wilson turned his focus to racing in the early 2000’s, something he had followed with interest through his career. “I always was keen on racing, I had a thoroughbred horse initially in the seventies that I pre-trained for someone who was then given to me, so I gave him to my good friend Kim Richardson to train,” he said. “He won quite a few races, he won six in a row one winter. “Once we were show jumping, we didn’t do much racing, but in the last few years, we’ve got more and more involved.” While they may not have been too aware of it at the time, the couple struck gold with their first purchase, an aptly named filly called Barcelona. The daughter of Desert Sun won four races, and the first of those in Wilson’s care was the Listed Tauranga Classic (1400m). “She was a filly we bought at the sales and Kevin Myers trained her initially, we raced her together with Ange (Illston) and Ann,” Wilson said. “I think Kevin got sick of me nagging at him, so he said to me it might be best I train her. “So she came home and we trained her, with Kevin and Ange still in the ownership. She was a handy mare, she had a few Group placings and our first win with her was actually in a Listed race at Tauranga. “We probably didn’t appreciate it as much as we should have, because we hadn’t done much racing at that stage. We thought, ‘this one goes pretty good’ and had a bit of fun. “It’s only now that we appreciate how good she may have been.” In the years to come, it came as little surprise that Wilson would excel in the jumping caper, producing It’s A Wonder to an outstanding win the Grand National Steeplechase in 2019. The eye-catching chestnut had romped home in the Koral Steeplechase, but driving rain had turned Riccarton Racecourse to a bog during the week, and Wilson admitted there was doubt in his mind heading into the feature. But, as history shows, It’s A Wonder took his place and bolted in by no less than 23 lengths. “He won the Koral very well, he led most of the way, jumped super and we were lucky to have Shaun Phelan on him, who is a great rider,” Wilson said. “On the National morning, it was very wet, and he didn’t particularly like the really heavy track. The thought did pass through our mind to scratch him, because it was too wet, but we didn’t and he seemed to cope fine. “He won the National really well, it was a great moment.” Now rising 15, It’s A Wonder is enjoying life in retirement, having been with the Wilsons since he was purchased as a juvenile. “He was passed in at the Ready to Run sales, and we bought him from Sam Beatson,” Wilson said. “He was a really nice type of an Istidaad horse. “He could be quite tough and did pull hard in his work, but he was a super jumper and just a really nice horse to have around. He’s still on the farm with us, he looks a bit old, but he’s doing well.” In the same year, Wilson very nearly did the National Week-double with Bad Boy Brown, who went down by the barest of margins in the Grand National Hurdles. The son of St Reims got revenge on his Riccarton defeat back in the north a month later, reigning supreme in the Great Northern Hurdle at Ellerslie. “One day at the Woodville races, Karen Zimmerman was saddling him up and I’d said to her, that would make a nice jumper for us,” Wilson quipped. “That was just jokingly, but Karen ended up giving up training a few months later and she rang and offered us the horse. “We trained him for John and Liz Hancock from Martinborough, he was a tough little horse. He wasn’t the best jumper, but he was just a good horse.” The Wilsons have also enjoyed success with the likes of Password, Dr Hank and Justa Charlie, while talented flat galloper Cruiser was stakes-placed on four occasions. “We trained Justa Charlie for a lot of local people, which was great fun,” Wilson said. “He was a very consistent horse, he ran second in the Hawke’s Bay Hurdles and won the Hawke’s Bay Steeplechase. Will Gordon rode him quite a bit and was on him that day, winning that was a great thrill. “Cruiser was by Captain Rio and we bought him at the sales. He was plagued a bit by unsoundness through his career, but he was a handy horse that won a few flat races for us. “We had a lot of fun with him too.” A background in show jumping was always going to give Wilson an advantage in educating his horses, a system he continues to follow with each prospective jumper. “We enjoy the jumpers, there is a lot of satisfaction in teaching them to jump and getting them fit on the hills,” he said. “We like to do a lot very quietly, in the arena and going over small fences so they can learn where to put their legs and what not. “The jumping side isn’t so easy for me now, I’m getting a bit older, but we have Nicole Sinclair riding a bit of work for us and she jumps the horses. We’re lucky to have her.” In his current string is progressive stayer and recent winner Comedy, while a more recent addition, Jerricoop, impressed in his hurdling debut at Trentham on Saturday. No matter the result, their horses are always looking a picture at the races, something he credits largely to Ann. “We’ve only got four in work at the moment, but it’s not a bad number for us now at our stage of life and we do it all ourselves,” Wilson said. “I guess the turnout comes a little bit from showjumping, we don’t go overboard with it, but Ann looks after that side of it, and we like to turn them out as well as possible. “If you take a horse to the races that looks really well, but it doesn’t go so well, then it’s not quite so bad.” While happy to keep their numbers small, Wilson is always on the lookout for a promising jumper and hopes to see the industry continue to thrive in years to come. “They aren’t very easy to find, but we’d like to get another jumper,” he said. “It would be very disappointing if jumps racing didn’t continue because not only is it a lot of fun and a lot of people enjoy it, it’s a great avenue for a lot of horses. Many horses, once they’re finished on the flat, won’t be suitable to be sport horses, but they are good jumping horses. “There are a lot of senior jumping trainers at the moment, so it would be good to see a few more of the younger brigade getting involved. It’s a lot of fun and financially rewarding if you’re lucky enough to have a good horse.” View the full article

Mark Oulaghan is keeping his options open with three runners entered in Friday’s Harcourts Otaki Raukawa Cup (2100m), all of whom may head in different directions. The first of Oulaghan’s representatives is Jack Morrison (NZ) (Darci Brahma), a force to be reckoned with on all-weather tracks, as shown in all of his five victories coming on the Awapuni Synthetic. He has added two of those in his last two starts, and with an open staying race at that venue on Sunday, that is the probable direction for the son of Darci Brahma. “We’re leaving our options open a bit, nominations were quite light in that field, but he’ll more than likely go to the synthetic at Awapuni,” Oulaghan said. “He seems to handle his racing pretty well, but he probably prefers the track a bit better than it’ll be at Otaki. “I think he goes more like a staying sort of horse, but it’s a bit harder to gauge on the synthetic. It’s quite a frontrunners track, they seem to get out and cruise along, and the ones that can stick on seem to get the chocolates.” Having suffered only one defeat on the surface, Oulaghan is considering venturing further afield with his charge, with the $100,000 Polytrack Championship (2000m) held at Cambridge in early August. “We’d definitely have to have a look at that for him,” he said. 10-win gelding Semper Magico (NZ) (Per Incanto) will resume on Friday, but Oulaghan is yet to decide whether he’ll tackle the Cup and a 59kg impost, or the Cavallo Farms and Chris Rutten Bloodstock Handicap (1600m), where he is a clear 62.5kg topweight. The Per Incanto nine-year-old placed in a Listed Wanganui Cup (2040m) a couple of years ago, and more recently, he made a successful switch to hurdling, with a win and a couple of placings last term. “He seemed to spell alright and has just taken a wee while to come up,” Oulaghan said. “He’ll probably need the run on Friday, but at least it kicks him off and gets him going. “We’ll give him a few flat runs to condition him up, then we’ll look at stepping him over the fences somewhere later in the season. “I had initially thought the mile for him, but looking at the nominations, the 2000m may be the softer option.” The one Oulaghan runner assured to start in the Cup is Pinkerton (NZ) (Niagara), appearing second-up after resuming at Trentham earlier this month. “He’ll run and he’s perky at the moment,” Oulaghan said. View the full article

Selling a group 1 as competitive can be a cop-out, a subtle way of implying the race lacks its usual quality. That billing contradicts the top-tier field assembled for the Queen Anne Stakes.View the full article

Field Of Gold is the favorite to avenge his Newmaket defeat by Ruling Court and Thady Gosden believes the son of Kingman has plenty in his favor in the St James's Palace Stakes.View the full article

Defending champion Asfoora is up there with old rivals Believing and Regional. Most of what lies beneath these stalwarts is newer blood in the division. View the full article

Emily Murphy brings you Winter Weigh In, your place for Thoroughbred racing news, reviews and insights throughout the colder months. We recap all the thrills and spills from an exciting jumps day at Te Rapa as well Kiwi success across the ditch. Winter Weigh In, June 16 View the full article

Cambridge trainer Stephen Marsh has singled out the Rating 73 handicap as his best chance of success at his home synthetic track meeting on Wednesday. He will be represented by Billy Lincoln (NZ) (Belardo), Sinhaman (NZ) (Tivaci) and Penurious (NZ) (Sacred Falls) in The Oaks Stud (1550m) and indicated the former to most likely to be his leading light in the contest. The Belardo four-year-old finished a respectable seventh in an open handicap at Ellerslie two runs back and was then a close course and distance second on his local track. “I thought Billy Lincoln was terrific the other day and he’s part of a really good hand we’ve got in it,” Marsh said. His effort in his first outing on the synthetic surface took on further merit as he lost a plate during the race. Billy Lincoln’s prospects will also be boosted with the booking of apprentice Jack Taplin to reduce his weight to 54.5kg. At the other end of the scale, Sinhaman will shoulder 60.5kg, with Michael McNab to guide his chances. The son of Tivaci impressed when resuming at Ellerslie when he got into clear air late and finished off strongly for third. “With Sinhaman and Penurious, they are staying types so they could be a little bit vulnerable second-up,” Marsh said. Sacred Falls mare Penurious opened her campaign over 1300m on the course earlier this month and made late ground for third with apprentice Gareth Lahoud to retain the mount. Marsh is also expected a tidy return from Imperial Empress (NZ) (Satono Aladdin), who will be partnered by Ace Lawson-Carroll, in the Kylie Little Racing (1300m). She was turned out after unplaced summer outings in the $1 million Aotearoa Classic (1600m) and the Listed Wairarapa Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m). “She’s a nice horse and has drawn well. She trialled up very well on the synthetic and then went to Waipa where it was very heavy and didn’t really like it,” he said. “She can certainly give some cheek over 1300m in a fresh state. “I also like Hakushu, he’s a horse with ability and he’ll have the blinkers on to sharpen him up.” To be ridden by McNab, the I Am Invincible three-year-old has finished in behind the major players in both appearances this preparation. Meanwhile, the stable will have a strong hand on Friday in the Listed John Turkington Forestry Castletown Classic (1200m) at Otaki with Miss Moet All (Russian Revolution) and Portland (NZ) (Banquo) to take aim at the Central Districts feature. “They are two nice fillies and deserve a crack at some black type,” Marsh said. Miss Moet All successfully resumed on the Cambridge synthetic last time out while Portland finished a close second at Rotorua. “They both went very against the older horses and have done well since,” Marsh said. If they run up to expectations, the pair will make a return trip to Otaki for the Listed Courtesy Ford Ryder Stakes (1200m) on July 26. View the full article

Waikato Thoroughbred Racing will continue a proud tradition on the Cambridge Synthetic on Wednesday, with the fifth edition of their annual Cambridge RDA Raceday. The Cambridge Riding For The Disabled is part of a nationwide organisation that focusses on providing interaction with horses to improve the health and wellbeing of people experiencing disabilities, challenges or specific needs. The RDA is catering for a wide range of individuals, as well as horses, staff, and volunteers, so fundraisers such as this raceday provide the essential funds needed to keep this service operational. In 2024, WTR was able to fundraise just shy of $25,000 for the charity, and this year, they hope to continue building on that contribution. “The Cambridge RDA Raceday is one of the most rewarding events on our calendar,” WTR chief operating officer Andy Cruickshank said. “It’s a day when the wider racing fraternity comes together not just for the love of racing, but to give back to an organisation that makes an extraordinary difference in people’s lives. “We’re proud to continue to facilitate this day, having been started by the Cambridge Jockey Club prior to the merger, and to help raise vital funds for a cause that resonates so strongly in our community. “Whether you’re a racing fan, a supporter of RDA, or just looking for a great reason to get out of the office on a Wednesday, this is a day not to be missed. “Bring your team, bring your friends, and bring a few coins to contribute to the cause.” WTR will be coordinating on-course fundraising opportunities and sourcing individual race sponsors for the meeting, while the Cambridge RDA representatives will also be on course, collecting donations with their much-loved miniature pony Marvellous Monty. “We are so grateful to Waikato Thoroughbred Racing for their continued support,” Cambridge RDA’s Sam Ogden said. “The funds raised at this raceday are vital to our operations. They help keep our programmes running, our horses happy and healthy, and our riders progressing. Plus, it’s just such a fun day. There’s nothing like the energy of the track, and our volunteers love being part of it.” If you’re heading on course, a gold coin donation will be appreciated on entry, and from there, enjoy a vibrant afternoon of entertainment, headlined by a fantastic card of races on the polytrack, with the first race to jump at 10:55am. View the full article

Synthetic specialist Branciforti (NZ) (Belardo) will commence her path towards defending her crown in the $100,000 Polytrack Championship (1400m) in August when she heads to Cambridge on Wednesday. The Sir Peter Vela-bred and owned mare took out the Awapuni feature in convincing fashion last August and will be out to replicate that feat in six weeks’ time. Trained at Te Rapa by David Greene, Branciforti has shown a penchant for the polytrack, winning four of her eight starts and earning more than $90,000 on the surface. “She really grows another leg on that synthetic track, she loves it,” Greene said. “She seldom goes a bad race and we are expecting her to be very competitive again.” The daughter of Belardo will contest the Kylie Little Racing 1300 at the midweek meeting, where she will be ridden by Michael McNab. She heads into her first-up assignment with good trial form, taking out her 950m heat at the track last month over Group Two performer Witz End. “She hasn’t really shown that in a trial over that kind of distance before,” Green said. “We dropped her out the back, which isn’t really her style either, and she still circled around them and won really impressively. “The main target for her is that innovation race at Awapuni, the same one she won last year. She might just have this one run on Wednesday, and we will go into that in a fairly fresh state. “There aren’t that many top races on the synthetic, so you have got to make the most of it.” Greene will be hoping to take his weekend form into the meeting, having secured a win a piece at each of the northern meetings over the weekend. The Vicki and Terry Pascoe-bred and raced Timetoplaythegame (NZ) (Proisir) kicked off proceedings at Te Rapa on Saturday when scoring his maiden victory in the Andrew (Ledge) Leadbeater Memorial (1400m). “He has been running in good form and had been knocking on the door, so it was good for him to get his maiden win out of the way,” Greene said. “He had to fight very hard to get there, but he showed a lot of toughness in the finish. “He might go to Ruakaka for that special conditions ITM mile. He will qualify off the back of that win on Saturday.” A day later at Matamata, stablemate Elle McFab (NZ) (Fabulous) was impressive when winning on debut in the Tim Wealleans 1200. “I thought that was a great run,” Greene said. “She is still a little bit green and has got a bit to learn. She definitely didn’t do it the easy way but she was still really strong in the finish. There is a lot of upside with her.” View the full article

On the June 16 BloodHorse Monday: OBS director of sales Tod Wojciechowski previews the June 17-18 sale with Olivia Newman, while Louie Rabaut and Sean Collins take a look at key Breeders' Cup divisions and talk youth in racing with Frank Angst.View the full article

The 2024-2025 race meeting at Turf Paradise in Phoenix, Arizona, concluded on Kentucky Derby day May 3 with the lowest equine fatality rate among all racetracks in the country and the lowest-ever in the 69-year history of the track, according to a release. For the entire meet, the track recorded a fatality rate of 0.73 per 1,000 starts and from the beginning of 2025 through the end of the meet, post a rate of just 0.24. The 2024 Jockey Club national average was 1.11/1,000, while the 2024 HISA national average was 0.90/1,000, the release stated. “Such accomplishments come about because of teamwork and collaboration,” said Turf Paradise owner Jerry Simms. “A heartfelt thanks to our track crew and track veterinarian, to our horsemen and the HBPA and to our regulatory partners, the Arizona Department of Racing and to HISA. Zero fatalities is our next goal.” There was one fatality on the main track and three on the turf course among the 6,981 starters to race during the race meet. The post Turf Paradise Reports Historically Low Fatality Rate appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article