Wandering Eyes

Top End trainer Jason Manning and partner Vanessa Arnott celebrating victory at Fannie Bay during the 2023 Darwin Cup Carnival. Picture: Caroline Camilleri (Fotofinish Racepix) He will start Noir De Rue in next Monday’s Darwin Cup, but trainer Jason Manning is eyeing the $40,000 Dabble Cup (1300m) first with Budgerigar at Fannie Bay on Wednesday. For Manning, it will be his first Darwin Cup Carnival win and based on his Top End debut on July 13 the former WA gelding is some hope in the 0-76 event. The four-year-old was competitive over 1200m (0-76) before tiring to finish third behind Chris Pollard’s Kerioth, who prevailed by 4.8 lengths. Budgerigar will once again lump 60.5kg and Manning was happy to draw a wider gate in the nine-horse field. “He surprised me a little bit first up, but he had the form on the board,” Manning said. “Thought he was in a bit of strife when he drew the fence. “He showed a good turn of foot and probably just knocked up a little bit, I’m looking forward to Wednesday.” In 18 starts for Perth trainers Daniel and Ben Pearce, the son of Epaulette had five wins, five seconds and two thirds before coming ninth in the $125,000 Batavia Sprint (1200m) at Geraldton in March. Just like Noir De Rue, another former Sandgroper, Budgerigar relocated to Darwin and will have Manning’s partner Vanessa Arnott for company on Wednesday. “The On Fire Racing boys bought him on the on-line auction out of Perth, he was very competitive over there,” Manning said. “We thought he’d be a nice Carnival horse – his first run was encouraging.” Noir De Rue received 60kg for the $200,000 Darwin Cup (2050m) as the nine-year-old gelding gears up for his fourth start in the race. The son of Blackfriars was third in 2021 behind Highly Decorated, fourth in 2022 behind Playoffs, and ninth last year behind Write Your Name. With a 95 rating, Noir De Rue is used to big weights, and in 16 Fannie Bay starts since making his Top End debut in June 2021, he boasts six wins and five minor placings. After winning the ROANT Gold Cup (1300m) and Chief Minister’s Cup (1600m) last July before the Cup, Noir De Rue disappeared before winning over 1300m on Australia Day carrying 65kg. Sixth in an open 1200m handicap in June, he finished third in the ROANT Gold Cup behind Wolfburn and fourth in the Chief Minister’s Cup behind Bear Story. “Noir De Rue’s going great, his runs have been super all the way through,” Manning said. “The old boy drops down to 60kg on Monday, a little bit of weight relief. “Neil Dyer’s Bear Story was outstanding the other day – he was the stand out in the lead up races and is going to be hard to beat in the Cup. “Gary Clarke’s Wolfburn was impressive on Saturday in the Metric Mile and gets into the Cup with 56.5kg.” Horse racing news View the full article

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Circle Of Fire winning the Group 1 Sydney Cup. Photo: RacingNSW Melbourne Cup favourite Circle Of Fire commenced his spring campaign with a subdued effort at the Cranbourne jumpouts on Monday morning. Trained by Ciaron Maher, the import finished last in the opening heat on a heavily rain-affected track with John Allen in the saddle. “We were really pleased,” said assistant trainer Jack Turnbull. “First use of the ground over 800m, he was never going to get close to them. It wasn’t about that; it was more about wind and action. “I thought he showed good endeavour, Johnny was very happy with him post-trial, he was very clean in the wind and recovered very quickly, so his second (jumpout) in a fortnight or so might be over 1200m, we’ll just see how the ground does play but I think we saw what we wanted to do this morning.” Turnbull indicated that Circle Of Fire will likely return to racing at the end of August, with the Heatherlie Stakes at Caulfield on August 31 as a potential starting point. The son of Almanzor, who won the Group 1 Sydney Cup (3200m) in his most recent run, is preparing for his second racing preparation in Australia. “It’s hard to say if he’s improved, I think physically, he’s better off,” Turnbull said. “He had a few niggly feet issues when he first came over and his general action has improved. A little bit longer in our system, he’s been up in Sydney, back down to Victoria, where he’s been before. “He is better off and naturally he should improve again.” Horse racing bookmakers has Circle Of Fire at $11 in Melbourne Cup betting markets. Horse racing news View the full article

Jump Jockeys’ Premiership winner Portia Matthews with Berry The Cash. Photo: Race Images South Portia Matthews didn’t believe a Jump Jockeys’ Premiership title was even a possibility twelve months ago, but a phenomenal season in the saddle has put any self-doubt firmly to rest. Based with master trainer Mark Oulaghan at Awapuni, the 26-year-old had her first full season riding last term and came away with five winners, a total she more than doubled to finish with 14 winners and a pair of prestige victories in her tally this season over the jumps. “I went into this season with no particular goals, I didn’t think winning the premiership would even be possible,” Matthews said. “My main goal was just to improve my riding and get better and more consistent, I was falling off a lot last year which was tough as I take a lot of pride in turning up and being professional. “I’ve got lovely horses with Mark Oulaghan, I can’t thank him enough for his support because I believe over half of my wins this year have come from him. He’s been an outstanding person in my corner the way through. “For me, the premiership is more about how far I’ve come. I’m not someone who has always had a lot of belief in myself and my ability to ride, my biggest fear with riding on race day was disappointing people. “It feels like a tick in the box that I am good enough to be here and I can do this. Now that I’ve done it once I don’t feel like I need to do it again, but we’ll see what happens.” Oulaghan’s star hurdler Berry The Cash has played an instrumental role in the success of Matthews this season, with their five wins as a combination including the highlight of her career to date, the Grand National Hurdles (4200m). “The Grand National was everything for me. A lot of people probably don’t know this, but in the three meetings leading up to it, I had four falls,” Matthews said. “I had zero confidence in myself, I was doubting whether this was the career for me and I felt like it was the universe telling me so. My body was sore and I was struggling to have much faith, but Mark had every faith in the world in me. “I thought I had ridden the Sydenham really poorly on Berry The Cash for third and I was called into the stipes room because they thought I had not ridden with enough vigour and in reserve. “Going into the National, I told myself, if Mark thinks I can do this then I can, and that race changed the course of my career in such a massive way. “I would not be the rider I am today without that win. “After he won that, that horse owes me nothing. Every win that has come since has just been icing on the cake, I never expect anything from him and I’m so thankful for everything he has done for me.” Matthews and Berry The Cash will return to Riccarton Park over the next fortnight aiming for a defence of their National title, while she has also secured rides in the feature Grand National Steeplechase (5500m) and the undercard hurdle event. “I’m on Berry The Cash in the hurdle, he’ll carry the topweight of 73kg which just slightly more than at Hastings,” Matthews said. “I learnt a lot from that run, I didn’t ride it exactly how I should’ve so I’m going into the National knowing that we’ll both always do our best and if it pays in our favour, that’s perfect. “I’m on Lucy de Lautour’s nice horse Donardo in the open steeplechases, she has been a quiet supporter of mine right from the start. I thank her a lot because she kept putting me back on when I wasn’t riding very well. “Semper Magico is also in the 0-1 hurdle on the second day and he’s an exciting wee horse. A couple of years ago I schooled this horse when I first started at Mark’s, and I told him that if he jump raced, I won’t be riding him because the jumping was such a negotiation. “He went into them full tear, he wouldn’t concentrate and back then, I wasn’t skilled enough to handle him. It’s taken some time to get him at the stage to go to the races, but he’s shown now he’s a serious contender over the hurdles. “He’s turned into a lovely horse that I am lucky enough to pinch from the flat races when I can, as we still feel he has plenty to offer in that role as well.” Behind every success story is a solid support system and for Matthews, there have been several key figures along the way. “My parents have been amazing, everyone knows my mum at the races as she travels far and wide to be there for me. She’ll be coming down to Christchurch for the week, she’s actually been down to every National so far,” she said. “She’s been my number one since day one and she knows how to support me mentally when I get in my head about the races, I can’t thank her enough. “I got a lot of help from Buddy Lammas early in the season, he helped with my high weight riding and learning how to ride out a finish, which also helped me develop more of a style on the horse. “I thought that was really important because I was never a natural-looking rider growing up going through pony club and things. I take a lot of inspiration from Aaron Kuru, I’d love to be able to follow in his footsteps in that regard. “Shelley Houston has also been another massive role model of mine, she’s helped me get involved in the jumps racing community. Although this (the premiership) was never the goal, it came about without me focussing on it because I was trying to better myself and I was trying to emulate these riders as much as I could. “Jess and Peter Brosnan helped me so much in the early days as well, I would have been out there every week schooling anything and everything they had to improve my jumping and eye. They’ve been consistent supporters of mine from day zero and are an asset to the jumps community. “Also to the team at Oulaghan Racing, they are an awesome bunch of girls that work so hard and carry out every bizarre request I have of them. We wouldn’t be able to produce the jumpers and results we do without the team at home, they’ve been a key role in my success and the success of the Oulaghan horses.” After a win aboard Lochwinnoch at Waverley on Sunday, Hamish McNeill finished in second position in the Premiership with ten wins, while Dean Parker’s double took him into third place with eight. 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Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum's G1 Irish 2,000 Guineas and G1 St James's Palace Stakes hero Rosallion (Ire) (Blue Point {Ire}) will be tackled by five rivals in Wednesday's G1 Qatar Sussex Stakes at Goodwood after Monday's confirmation stage. Ballydoyle's G1 Vincent O'Brien National Stakes winner Henry Longfellow (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) re-opposes after finishing second at Royal Ascot, while Godolphin's G1 2,000 Guineas winner Notable Speech (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) bids to bounce back having been seventh there. The older horse contingent is headed by Team Valor International and Gary Barber's G1 Dubai Turf winner Facteur Cheval (Ire) (Ribchester {Ire}), who looks to better his second placing in this mile feature 12 months ago, with Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum's newly-blinkered Maljoom (Ire) (Caravaggio) and Chelsea Thoroughbred's outsider Sonny Liston (Ire) (Lawman {Fr}) completing the line-up. The post Rosallion set for Sussex Showdown as Six Confirmed appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

As an equine veterinarian Jim Marks was peerless, however, there was so much more to the man who brought new standards to his profession and all the while lived life to the full. Known to all and sundry by the nickname Marksy, his exploits both professionally and socially have been a topic of conversation well beyond his Matamata base in the days since he passed away last week. Marks lived in the horse-mad eastern Waikato town for all but the earliest of his 86 years, having grown up and gaining his early education in Wanganui, where his parents were both teachers. With no veterinary faculty in New Zealand back in the 1950s, he gained entry to Sydney University via a one-year qualifying course at Victoria University’s medical school and went on to top his draft with an honours degree in veterinary science in 1959. On his return to New Zealand, Marks was employed by a practice at Ngatea on the Hauraki Plains whose clients were mainly dairy farmers. Five years later he made the move that was to define his life, joining already established veterinarian Colin Thompson in the eponymous Matamata practice that became known as Thompson & Marks. Back then dairying was the dominant farming practice on the Matamata Plains, but thoroughbreds based in the stables precinct and district stud farms were becoming an increasingly significant force. As clearly defined and almost opposite individuals, Thompson and Marks complemented each other perfectly, the former specialising in breeding matters and his partner putting his skills to work in the performance arena. An inquiring mind and innate understanding of equine physiology combined to make Marks a leader in the field of diagnostic and performance-related issues. Two major advances he pioneered in New Zealand were tie-back wind operations for horses with respiratory problems and electrocardiograms (ECGs) in identifying cardiac issues. Now retired Hall of Fame trainer Jim Gibbs made good use of the Marks skillset, amongst various examples turning around the career of his talented but wind-afflicted gelding Jon to become a multiple stakes winner in the post-operative phase of his career. “Marksy certainly knew his stuff, he really understood horses and what made them tick,” Gibbs said. “He worked wonders with Jon and another among many I have to give him credit for was a good little mare called Duanette’s Girl. I had her set to go to Sydney, but she was very disappointing in her final lead-up race. “I said to him you’d better put the (ECG) machine on her; I can still see him reading the data as it came out of the machine. ‘Nothing wrong with her, put her on the plane’. “You wouldn’t believe it, from running down the track in her last run at home, she went over to Sydney and won the Chairman’s Handicap and the St Leger.” The most celebrated of Marks’s relationships was with legendary trainer Dave O’Sullivan, their respective career trajectories being contemporaneous through the second half of the late 1960s and into the 1970s. “As a performance vet in his day there was no-one to compare, he could really nail a problem and most times find a way through it,” recalled O’Sullivan’s son and highly successful training partner, Paul. “There were never any grey areas with Marksy, he always made it clear how you could manage a situation, how far you could go with a horse and when not to. “I travelled a lot with him around Australia and we had a lot of fun, but the ultimate trip we did together was with Horlicks to Japan. He was never afraid to back his own judgement and when the mare won the Japan Cup he collected big time. “Marksy was a larger-than-life character, you could say there were two of him. He could be mad as a March hare, he loved a good time, then in his professional approach there was none better.” Marks was also generous in mentoring others, both within the veterinary profession and more widely amongst the many he engaged with. The Moroney brothers, Mike and Paul, were members of the wider group to have a rewarding relationship with the man they and others described as ‘New Zealand’s oldest teenager’. A Moroney-trained horse that defined the Marks persona was The Aged Rocker, while perhaps Ballymore Stables’ best horse that he gave the green light to purchase as a yearling was dual New Zealand Horse of the Year Xcellent, who turned his $45,000 Karaka sale-ring price into stakes of $1.5 million. He also had immense success as an owner and breeder, amongst his many winners the Moroney-trained It’s My Sin, the O’Sullivan-trained Waikiki and steeplechaser Chief Ore, and Matamata Cup winner Call Minder, trained by long-time associates Wayne and Vanessa Hillis and later the dam of group One winner Juice. A private funeral service has already been held, with plans for a wider celebration of his life at a date to be confirmed. View the full article

Anna Baigent was recognised for her dedication to the welfare of thoroughbreds when announced the joint winner of the Care and Welfare Award at the Entain Industry Excellence Awards on Sunday. Baigent, alongside her parents Maria and Gary, operate ‘Annarehab’ out of Miranda, where initially an avenue for Anna to recover from her own traumatic brain injury transformed into a business to assist both equines and humans in need. Their services include rehabilitation for retired racehorses, assistance in the ‘letting down’ transitional period post-racing and individually tailored holiday programmes where people from eight years of age are able to learn communication skills and personal development through interacting with thoroughbreds. Baigent particularly recognised her mother as a key figure not only in her tough recovery journey, but the growth of Annarehab and ultimately its success. “Winning this award felt a bit like imposter syndrome because it was really my mum’s award,” Baigent said. “I bought the horses and had the head injury and mental struggles, but she built this around me as she saw a daughter that was sick and very nearly lost. I do all the vet work and day-to-day running, but she is the reason this is possible. “She was a teacher for 30 years and she specialised in naughty kids, but they weren’t really naughty, the school system just didn’t suit them. There were some struggling with dyslexia as there weren’t many resources there to help them and show them where they could learn. “We started this in around 2017 or 2018, so then going through COVID a lot of these kids weren’t learning to read body language during that crucial five, six and seven-year-old age. “Meanwhile, I had collected all of these horses with the intention of rehabilitating them, but I didn’t want to sell or rehome them, so we used the horses to help kids learn non-verbal communication and body language. “We’ve had some clients here for a number of years, one girl came as a seven-year-old as her parents asked us very nicely if she could come early, and now she’s 14 and my working student. We’ve watched these kids grow up and they keep coming back, it’s great. “We have been able to build it to the stage where we can help other people’s children, which is really is the crux of it.” Growing up on a dairy farm in the Hauraki Plains, Baigent said she had not initially identified the potential that thoroughbreds possess outside of the racetrack, and was not drawn to the sport until leaving university. “Funnily enough we had only really had heavies and heavy-crosses growing up, we never really had thoroughbreds and I bought into a lot of the negative bias around the breed being that they were flighty and all the rest of it,” she said. “I often joke that if 10-year-old Anna could see me now, she would have a lot of questions because it was only really after university that I realised thoroughbreds have all these amazing opportunities involved with them. “I’m an equine vet tech, so I was really fascinated by sports injuries and the whole rehabilitation process. I come from a dairy farming background, so compared to cow injuries, the resources available to horses really fascinated me with water treadmilling and those types of methods. “It was more the medical aspect that drew me to racing.” Her career in racing commenced soon after doing a season with Hallmark Stud, but it wasn’t until she entered Stephen Marsh’s stable that she made a connection with several horses that remain in her care to this day. “I initially went to work at a stud because I thought I wouldn’t ever work in a stable, but one season later, I was working in a stable and now I have eight thoroughbreds of my own that I love,” she said. “Doing one season as a general stud hand, I very quickly realised it’s so much harder than I thought it was going to be. Mark (Baker, stud master) was great, he would teach you anything you showed an interest in and I learned a lot. “I then went to Murray Baker’s and then Stephen Marsh’s in Cambridge as a strapper and everyone has their favourites, and fortunately for me, a couple of mine happened to be geldings so when they retired they were to be retrained. “The one I loved the most wasn’t a very good racehorse and had no eventing potential, he just wasn’t going to perform in any sport. I was lucky enough to be given him alongside another one with genetically poor feet, and I thought I could really learn something rehabilitating these horses. “I’ve tried this business with other breeds over the years, but we just haven’t had anywhere near the success that we have with thoroughbreds.” That special horse was Sexabeel, initially purchased by a key Annarehab supporter, Go Racing, who entrusted him in her care, along with several others to follow. “Sexabeel really got me through my head injury, he got me out of bed and to work every morning,” she said. “My parents are incredibly supportive and they knew he was the reason I was holding it together through some really difficult chemical imbalances in my brain during that time. “It was quite a drawn-out recovery, so my parents said they would’ve paid any amount of money for me to have him because they knew how vital he was to me during that period. “Matt (Allnutt) and the team at Go Racing have continued to provide me with horses where possible including a pretty big name that has a paddock named after him at the stud he was foaled at, so that’s pretty cool. “I believe Sexabeel was quite an expensive buy for them as well, so they are so gracious in letting me have him and in my eyes, he’s the perfect horse and could never put a foot wrong.” Alongside the popular syndicators, Baigent identified several other industry members that were vital to her success. “We have a core group of people that have been there since the get-go that I frequently call on,” she said. “Matt from Go Racing and Tans (Clarkson) from Marsh Racing have supported us since we had about four horses and the fences weren’t even completed yet. We’ve done a lot to the property since then, and they have helped us grow. “Brent and Wendy Cooper from Social Racing have also been hugely supportive, they have been amazing people to have in your court. Justine Sclater from NZTR has also been great, she’s come out to see the horses and the Langford family as well. “I’m amazed that this calibre of people have wanted to support us.” Baigent, alongside joint winner Chanelle Dickie were awarded a $10,000 cash prize as category winners. View the full article

Famed Cambridge nursery Trelawney Stud were announced the Sir Patrick and Justine, Lady Hogan Breeders of the Year at Saturday’s New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association Property Brokers National Breeding Awards. From a band of under 40 broodmares, the historic Trelawney Stud, run by Brent and Cherry Taylor, have produced outstanding results this season, headlined by star front-running mare Pride Of Jenni. The daughter of Pride Of Dubai is out of the O’Reilly mare Sancerre and started nine times during the season, winning three Group One events. This included a bumper Melbourne Cup week landing the Gr.1 Empire Rose Stakes (1600m) and Gr.1 Cantala Stakes (1600m) before starring in the autumn with stellar performances when winning both the All-Star Mile (1600m) and Gr. 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m). Trelawney also bred Singaporean champion Lim’s Kosciuszko, who in the period under review won seven races, including the Listed Singapore Gold Cup, Kranji Mile & Raffles Cup – all Local Group One events – and the EW Barker Trophy as well as finishing second in the Queen Elizabeth II Cup. He was Horse of the Year in Singapore in 2023 and rated Champion Sprinter, Miler & Stayer as well and trounced his rivals in Sunday’s Lion City Cup (1200m). Trelawney also bred a further 18 individual winners in the 2023/24 season. “We are truly honoured to receive the Breeder of the Year award,” Brent Taylor said. “This reflects the hard work of our team and the exceptional talent of horses like Pride of Jenni. “We’ve had a breeding program for a long time where we send a number of maiden mares and young mares to Australia breeding them, get them in-foal, foal them down and bring them home and Pride Of Jenni followed that program. “Although she was foaled in Australia, she was here at about two months old and spent all of her time in New Zealand at the stud until we returned her back to Australia for sale in February the following year. “She’s been extraordinary. For a filly that looked unlucky all the way along, she is on her fourth trainer and the owner has given her every opportunity and she has gone from strength to strength this season. “It is one of the first families that we bought when we bought Trelawney Stud. We bought a mare called Real Success who was bred at the farm by her previous owners and was trained by Frank Ritchie and she was a Group Two winner. “She has gone on to breed Vouvray (Gr.1 Queensland Oaks winner) and it’s the family of Group One winners Loire, Touch Of Ruby and obviously Pride Of Jenni, among others.” L-R Gracie Hitchcock, Cherry, Brent and Faith Taylor along with Dunstan’s Dave Smith Photo: Christine Cornege Taylor is also proud of breeding Singapore’s dominant horse in the Daniel Meagher-trained Lim’s Kosciuszko. “He is an absolute war horse. He has won 21 of 27 starts and he has three runs left to go for the season until Singapore racing finishes. It is a crying shame that we are losing Singapore as a racing jurisdiction but he is certainly one of the best we have seen there.” Taylor said it was a big thrill to win an award which carries the name of Sir Patrick and Justine, Lady Hogan. “I worked for them for a long time and they were enormous supporters,” he said. “It is fantastic to see the industry in such good stead and with Entain coming on board, it is only going to get better. “We have bred from between 35 and 40 mares over the past ten years and we have quite a big team of racing fillies coming through and some will make the cut and others won’t lets hope we have got a good one in there.” In addition to the Breeder of the Year award, Faith Taylor, a valued member of the Trelawney team, was honoured with the Entain Personality of the Year title. Her dedication and positive influence within the industry were warmly recognised. “We are also delighted that my mother, Faith Taylor, was recognised with the Personality of the Year award,” Taylor said. “Her passion and commitment have been vital to our success.” After operating a successful business, Taylor and her late husband Keith became the benefactor of the Arts, Ecological projects and many charities including the Malaghan Institute – a world leader in cancer research. The couple’s shared passion for the thoroughbred industry led them to establish Waimanu Stud in Horowhenua in the 1980s, where they raised yearlings for sale at Trentham until 1993, when the couple purchased the iconic Trelawney Stud. The famed thoroughbred nursery has continued to thrive under the management of Taylor’s son Brent and is a noted source of high-class racehorses. Despite Keith’s untimely passing in 1997, Faith Taylor has remained actively involved in breeding and racing at Trelawney. Her dedication and keen eye for talent are reflected in the horses she owns shares in, including Sancerre, the dam of Pride of Jenni. The generous and unassuming Taylor provided seed funding for the Catwalk Trust and continues that support that today, along with supporting the likes of Riding for the Disabled and the Horse Ambulance Trust. Taylor’s passion for education and the thoroughbred breeding industry has seen her sponsor 21 young New Zealanders to attend the Irish National Stud Breeding course over the past 18 years as benefactor of the Keith and Faith Taylor Family Trust Irish National Stud Scholarship. “I’m so undeserving,” a humble Faith Taylor said. “Keith would be very proud. He was my absolute rock and a wonderful man. “I came from a long line of small breeders and I am so proud of Trelawney Stud. There are so many good things that happen in New Zealand and I am happy to be part of some of them.” View the full article

Outstanding Waikato Stud stallion Savabeel again made the headlines at the 2024 New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association Property Brokers National Breeding Awards, securing his ninth Grosvenor Award, Dewar Award, and Centaine Award respectively. The Grosvenor Award is handed to the Champion New Zealand-based sire by total progeny earnings, while the Dewar Award is received by the stallion with the highest total progeny earnings within New Zealand and Australia. Furthermore, the Centaine Award is given to the Champion New Zealand-based sire by total progeny earnings worldwide. Savabeel’s progeny have amassed over $23 million in prizemoney this season, headlined by his four Group One winners in Atishu, I Wish I Win, Orchestral and Skew Wiff. He has had 145 individual winners this season, producing 240 wins. 21 of those wins have been at Group or Listed level. “We have said all of these wonderful things about Savabeel over the years, which is a hell of a privilege but the great thing is we can keep saying them,” Waikato Stud’s Mark Chittick said of the veteran stallion. Both I Wish I Win and Skew Wiff raced in Waikato Stud colours, which Chittick said was a thrill but he said he equally took great delight in seeing the breeders who supported the elite stallion also reaping the rewards. “Getting any Group One winner is an absolute thrill and he certainly gives you the opportunity to be able to achieve that,” Chittick said. “While seeing those Group One winners in our own colours is massive, when you see people like the Greens who bred Orchestral and who have become involved in the breeding and racing game in a huge way, that is incredibly satisfying as well.” View the full article

The Seton Otway Horse of the Year went the way of star galloper Mr Brightside at Saturday’s New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association Property Brokers National Breeding Awards at Karapiro. The popular son of Bullbars added a further four Group One victories this season to a record that features six elite level victories to date, 16 wins and A$13,477,752 in prizemoney for the stable of Ben, Will & JD Hayes. Mr Brightside was bred by Bay of Plenty real estate agent Ray Johnson in conjunction with his late wife Martha. “I go back to the start and I have to thank Marcus Corban, Sir Patrick Hogan and Brent Gillovic. It’s just outstanding,” Johnson said. “I’m quite fortunate that the stable keep in touch with me and I keep up to date with what is happening with him. They tell me he has come back bigger and stronger than ever.” Johnson said despite knocking back the option to retain a share in Mr Brightside, who was sold privately after a luckless fifth at Matamata, the horse continues to be a source of pleasure and pride and the inclusivity of his connections had made the experience all the more rewarding. “We were looking to have a really good future racing the horse in New Zealand but the guy from Australia (Wayne Ormond, agent) really wanted him,” Johnson said. “Some people say you probably regret not keeping a percentage in him but hey, that’s the game, you can’t keep them all. “I was at the Cox Plate where we all thought he had won (when beaten a nose by Romantic Warrior). But the after-match function was outstanding just to be with those people and included,” he said. “He has just given me a really good time and so much joy.” Johnson also claimed Small Breeder of the Year, while the Eight Carat Broodmare of the Year award went to Mr Brightside’s dam Lilahjay, a daughter of Tavistock, with current owner Ed Sheather accepting the award, having purchased the mare for just $3,000 via Gavelhouse.com. Lilahjay resides at Peter and Sue Westend’s Norwegian Park and is due to foal to Satono Aladdin in September. View the full article

Showmanship’s return to winning ways at Caulfield provided breeder Haunui Farm with a result to savour. The son of former stud resident Showcasing’s comeback from injury was crowned on Saturday with his victory over 1600m for trainer John Leek and Melbourne Jockey’s Premiership winner Damian Lane. Showmanship was initially purchased out of Haunui’s draft at New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sale for $145,000 by bloodstock agent John Chalmers on behalf of high-profile Western Australian owner Bob Peters. He was a seven-time winner for trainers Grant and Alana Williams before joining Danny O’Brien’s operation and added the Gr.3 Show County Quality (1200m) to his record in 2022. The rising nine-year-old, who has earned more than A$520,000 from just 16 career appearances, joined Leek’s Pakenham stable last year. “It was a great result and he’s one of those horses we’ve bred that his racetrack ability isn’t quite reflected in his form,” Haunui’s Mark Chitty said. “We know how good he was and was an early favourite for a race like the Toorak (Gr.1, 1600m) before he went amiss so it was good to see him back. “He’s an older horse now and thankfully I’ve got a half-sister sitting in the paddock due to foal down to Ribchester later in the breeding season.” They are out of the Don Eduardo mare Khales, a half-sister to the Gr.3 Hawkesbury Gold Cup (1600m) winner and multiple elite level placegetter Beauty Watch and the family of the Gr.1 Schweppes Oaks (2400m) winner Princess Jenni. “Unfortunately, Khales passed away and she was a great old mare and left two stakes winners,” Chitty said. Her first was the champion Singapore stayer Bahana, a son of Elusive City, who two black type victories included an edition of the Singapore Gold Cup (2200m). “Khales was a cheapie out of the Inglis Broodmare Sale, we paid A$7500 for her off the track,” Chitty said. “She was a good stye of mare and did a very good job for us.” Showmanship’s sister La Mouline was also successful on six occasions and placed in the Gr.3 Taranaki 2YO Classic (1200m). “She’s got a Pierro four-year-old named Debonnaire who has won four in a row in Western Australia. I raced La Mouline before I sold her to Bob Peters,” Chitty said. Haunui, who has already welcomed a filly foal by El Roca, has enjoyed a good season on the track. “The breeding season has come early and we’ve had a nice time on the track with a couple of Group One horses off the farm, Orchestral and Militarize,” Chitty said. Haunui also races homebred Sudbina, a daughter of Almanzor trained by Roger James and Robert Wellwood who won the Gr.3 Desert Gold Stakes (1600m) at Trentham. View the full article

Top hurdler Berry The Cash showed up at Waverley on Sunday to have a final preparatory run ahead of Saturday’s Avon City Ford Sydenham Hurdles (3100m), but that didn’t stop him from powering to victory in the Rating 75 2200m event. Fans of Berry The Cash had every faith in the gelding despite him reverting back to the flat after winning the Hawke’s Bay Hurdles (3100m) at his most recent start, backing him into $3.40 favouritism ahead of So Call Me ($3.70). Apprentice jockey Jessica Allen allowed her mount to settle comfortably midfield off the rail and tracked the widest turning for home, where his staying prowess shone through bounding down the outside to score over Moonlight Hustler. “He’s a good galloper and his strong point is he stays really well,” trainer Mark Oulaghan said. “He grinds away over that last 200 metres and seems to be able to get past a few horses.” The win was Berry The Cash’s fifth on the bounce, while it also marked Allen’s 40th winner in the saddle after picking up wins aboard Martell and Electric Time during the week, decreasing her claim to two kilograms. Berry The Cash has set the bar high for his rivals since winning last year’s Hospitality New Zealand Grand National Hurdles (4200m), and all going to plan, he will line-up as the horse to beat in the iconic feature the following Saturday. “He’ll run both Saturdays, they’ll head down early this week and he’s pretty fit and up to the mark,” Oulaghan said. “He’ll do a bit of quiet work down there so it’s just a matter of getting him to Riccarton.” The son of Jakkalberry will be joined by his equally impressive stablemate West Coast, who travels to Christchurch in pursuit of a record-breaking third-straight Racecourse Hotel & Motor Lodge 149th Grand National Steeplechase (5600m). Oulaghan indicated West Coast will start in the Racecourse Hotel & Motor Lodge Koral Steeplechase (4250m) on the opening Saturday, after he had a satisfactory final hit-out in the maiden staying contest at Waverley. “The speed has probably gone out of him after a few steeplechase runs, it seems to take the edge off them as far as flat racing goes,” Oulaghan said. “He’s pulled up well, he was running around his paddock this morning so he’s obviously happy enough and we’re pleased with his condition.” Winning last year’s event, West Coast continued Oulaghan’s phenomenal record in the Grand National Steeplechase joining fellow dual-winners from the stable in Deecee Seven, Counter Punch and Upper Cut. “We’ve concentrated more so on the National than the Northern in the past, which has probably given us a bit of an advantage,” Oulaghan said. “It’s a good course down there with nice jumps and we’ve gotten some reasonable sorts of results.” Oulaghan had initially planned to take both Semper Magico and Jack Morrison to Riccarton as well, however, the latter curtailed his travel plans in fortunate circumstances after picking up back-to-back victories on the Awapuni Synthetic on Thursday. “He stuck on well and showed a bit of fight at the finish which is always encouraging,” Oulaghan said. “We were going to take him down and run him on the middle day on the synthetic, but he got a few more points than I had expected and he’ll be out of his grade, so he’ll stay at home. “We’ll probably just take those two and Semper Magico now.” View the full article

Te Akau Racing have had a stranglehold on the New Zealand Trainers’ Premiership in recent years and the 2023/24 season was no exception. With just one meeting to go in the season, Mark Walker has once again reigned supreme, teaming up with new training partner Sam Bergerson to record 169 victories, 69 wins ahead of their nearest rival, Stephen Marsh. “It was a good season overall and we are certainly looking forward to this coming season,” Walker said. “We have a lot of quality rising two-year-olds and a lot of rising three-year-olds that are unraced, and there are a lot of untapped horses that look quite exciting. “We are just starting to build-up quite a lot of the horses now towards trials in August. The weather has got to play its part, but there is quite a lot of depth to the team for next season we think.” It was a case of both quantity and quality of wins this season for Te Akau Racing, recording 21 stakes wins in New Zealand, including four at Group One level. Those four elite-level victories came courtesy of Skew Wiff in the Gr.1 Tarzino Trophy (1400m), Campionessa in the Gr.1 Zabeel Classic (2050m), Quintessa in the Gr.1 Levin Classic (1600m) and Move to Strike in the Gr.1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m). While they experienced plenty of success on the track, Walker said his biggest highlight was being able to enjoy it all with his new training partner. “It was a dream start for Sam,” Walker said. “I don’t think you will find anyone in their first season train as many winners and earn as much prizemoney. “That was probably the season highlight for me, seeing Sam join the (training) team. He has been a major part of the team for quite a few years, it was just his name was in the book this year. It is a third-generation training family now and he should be very proud of the season we have had.” One of the more exciting developments for Te Akau Racing this season has been the opening of their Cranbourne barn in Australia, which has been led by Ben Gleeson. “Ben has been massive,” Walker said. “I think he has really enjoyed being part of the process. We built it up from the ground and he has been a huge part of that.” The Cranbourne barn got off to a dream start, led by sprinting sensation Imperatriz, who won six of her eight starts this season, including the Gr.1 Moir Stakes (1000m), Gr.1 Manikato Stakes (1200m), Gr.1 Champions Sprint (1200m), Gr.1 Black Caviar Lightning (1000m), Gr.1 William Reid Stakes (1200m) and Gr.2 McEwen Stakes (1000m). The Cranbourne stable also tasted stakes success with Skew Wiff in the Gr.3 The Hong Kong Jockey Club Stakes (1400m), Campionessa in the Gr.2 Peter Young Stakes (1800m), and Sans Doute in the Listed Bob Hoysted Handicap (1000m). “You couldn’t have wished for a better start,” Walker said. “There was obviously Imperatriz, but there was also Sans Doute, Campionessa and Skew Wiff. “Imperatriz went from strength-to-strength, especially in the spring, it was quite freakish how everything fell into place and to win four out of four. To come back first-up in the Lightning Stakes and win the way she did, she is something very special and gave our whole team a great thrill, it was very satisfying. “It was just a magical start with Cranbourne and hopefully we can build off the back of that this season. Now that we have got more boxes, I will spend a lot more time in Melbourne as time goes on.” Walker said they couldn’t continue to enjoy the success they have without the sourcing of quality young stock, with Te Akau Racing principal David Ellis selecting some of the finest young equine talent for the stable. “Dave has one of the best eyes in the world at buying a yearling and all the hard work that Karyn (Fenton-Ellis) does syndicating them,” Walker said. “We are well aware that we are fortunate to be getting the quality that we are getting year in and year out, and it is just a matter of making the best decisions for each individual horse.” Walker is excited about the looming new season and will step out four of the stable’s Group One winners at Tauranga on Wednesday as they get ready for what could be lucrative spring preparations. “At Tauranga we have got Move To Strike, Skew Wiff, Campionessa, and Quintessa all going to gallop after race one. When that starts happening you know the season is not too far away,” Walker said. “Move To Strike will stay in New Zealand with a programme geared towards the 2000 Guineas (Gr.1, 1600m) at Riccarton. We have got a permanent base in the South Island now and Hunter Durrant runs that, and he does an exceptional job. It has been a huge part of the success we have had this season. “Campionessa will go towards the Hawke’s Bay triple crown, providing she comes up well. Skew Wiff will head towards the Foxbridge (Gr.2, 1200m) and the Tarzino (Gr.1, 1400m) again, while Quintessa will trial at Te Rapa on August 6 and we will make a decision about what her spring programme looks like after that.” View the full article

What Kempsey Races Where Kempsey Race Club – Warwick Park, North St, Kempsey NSW 2440 When Tuesday, July 30, 2024 First Race 12:55pm AEST Visit Dabble Country racing heads to Kempsey Race Club on Tuesday afternoon, with a competitive quickfire seven-race program set for decision. The rail is in the true position the entire way around, and with no significant rainfall forecast in the lead-up, punters can expect a genuine Good 4 surface throughout proceedings. The opening event is scheduled to get underway at 12:55pm local time. Kempsey Best Bet: Craig’s One Craig’s One has been a work-in-progress for the Glen Milligan barn, only having one official barrier trial on August 1, 2023. The son of Super One couldn’t have been more impressive, however, going on to score by a half-length as he powered through the line under his own steam. The 2kg claim of apprentice Teighan Worsnop appears ideal in this contest, and with gate two to aid him on his journey, Craig’s One appears perfectly placed to score on debut. Best Bet Race 2 – #1 Craig’s One (2) 3yo Gelding | T: Glen Milligan | J: Teighan Worsnop (a2) (59kg) +150 with PlayUp Next Best at Kempsey: Supreme Command Supreme Command scored an impressive first-up maiden victory at Taree on July 13, bounding clear to score by 3.4 lengths on the bottomless conditions. He had been luckless the year prior to that victory, holding his ground in provincial company before being transferred to the Glen Milligan barn from Anthony Cummings. He relished the heavy track after resuming from a 325-day spell, and although he needs to go to another level getting back on top of the ground in this BM58, Supreme Command will prove hard to hold out when the whips are cracking. Next Best Race 3 – 1 Supreme Command (6) 3yo Gelding | T: Glen Milligan | J: Matthew Bennett (61.5kg) +360 with Neds Next Best Again at Kempsey: So Outrageous So Outrageous ran into a smart one in the form of Laizabout at Taree on July 23 and looks primed to go a couple placings better second-up from a 242-day spell. He needed the run first-up and lacked race-day fitness, hitting the line evenly as the eventual winner careered away with the prize by 7.5 lengths. He gets the opportunity to make amends on a firming deck, and with barrier two allowing Teighan Worsnop to take closer order, expect So Outrageous to give a much better showing in the first leg of the Kempsey quaddie. Next Best Again Race 4 – #3 So Outrageous (2) 3yo Gelding | T: Glen Milligan | J: Teighan Worsnop (a2) (59kg) +400 with Picklebet Tuesday quaddie tips for Kempsey Kempsey quadrella selections Tuesday, July 30, 2024 3-10 1-2-3-9 1-2-3-4-5-8 1-3-4-5-6 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip Horse racing tips View the full article

Two Hong Kong-based jockeys will ride at an iconic UK racing festival, while the Jockey Club has confirmed dates for the new HK seasonView the full article

A four-time stakes winner at shorter distances, all at Santa Anita, favored Johannes defeated a field of graded winners to get his first victory at 1 1/8 miles and his first at Del Mar.View the full article

Feature wins do not come easy but Trelawney Stud bred Lim’s Kosciuszko (Kermadec) made his win in Sunday’s S$300,000 Lion City Cup (1200m) look like a walk in the park. That was also Lim’s Kosciuszko’s third consecutive win in the Lion City Cup since he dominated Singapore’s premier sprint race in the past two years, which was an achievement given only Singapore’s legendary sprinter, Rocket Man had more Lion City Cup wins to his name with four wins from 2009 to 2012. Yet, the win on Sunday was arguably the easiest watch of them all. The son of Kermadec and the Keeper mare Jacquetta, Lim’s Kosciuszko gave his opposition no look-in from the start after jockey Marc Lerner got busy early on the odds on favourite before settling him in second on Sky Eye’s flank. After the Frenchman gave Lim’s Kosciuszko some reins at the 350m, he quickly put two lengths on Ghalib and Ace Of Diamonds while some racegoers eagerly waited to see if Golden Monkey could make inroads late. The Tim Fitzsimmons-trained gelding, who finished third and second in this race in 2022 and 2023 respectively, tried valiantly but the ground he had to make up in the final 250m was a bridge too far, hence an eased-down Lim’s Kosciuszko won by just under two lengths. “He’s done everything he possibly could and he’s just a little superstar,” said winning trainer Daniel Meagher. “He has his little issues and needed to be kissed and cuddled, but come race day, he just performs like no other. “It’s very special to have him and I don’t know if I’ll ever get another one. “Marc held onto him as much as he could (in the straight) and we’ve got bigger races in mind, so we didn’t need him to have a tough run. “It’s a good preparation for the three big races coming up.” Meagher was referring to the Raffles Cup (1600m) on 11 August, the Queen Elizabeth II Cup (1800m) on 7 September and the Grand Singapore Gold Cup (2000m) on 5 October. Lerner concurred he did all he could to hold onto his mount for as long as possible, albeit the circumstances were against him. “He (Lim’s Kosciuszko) was a bit fresh today,” said Lerner, who knocked in a double on the day. “But we were expecting the Pacific horse (Pacific Vampire) to go forward, so you always have a plan B, C, D and as many as you want! “He was the best horse in the race, so I rode him accordingly. “He got the job done because I believe he’s not one or two, but many classes above the rest.” Bred by Brent and Cherry Taylor’s Trelawney Stud, who on Saturday were named New Zealand Breeder of the Year, Lim’s Kosciuszko was passed in twice at the New Zealand Bloodstock Sales and then sold privately after winning his first and only trial in New Zealand when under the care of Clayton Chipperfield. With 21 wins from 25 starts, Lim’s Kosciuszko has amassed over S$3.3 million in earnings for the Lim’s Stable. View the full article

It took three tries this year, but the betting public finally got it right with Silver Knott (GB). View the full article

4th-Del Mar, $78,000, Alw (NW2$X)/Opt. Clm ($80,000), 7-28, 3yo/up, 1m, 1:36.43, ft, neck. PARENTING (c, 3, Justify–Iadorakid, by Lemon Drop Kid) broke his maiden at first asking by 2 3/4 lengths at Santa Anita Apr. 26, which earned him a 'TDN Rising Star'. Ready for his stakes debut and first two-turn test, the colt drove down the Arcadian course in fine style to win by 7 1/2 lengths June 9. Supported at the windows at 40 cents on the dollar, Wathnan Racing's own took the field into the first turn with determination though he was closely shadowed by Hero Status (Flatter). The 3-year-old left the rail open up the backstretch and Arrowthegreat (Arrogate) was keen to shoot to the lead before the far turn. Not backing down from a challenge, the 'Rising Star' took back the front by the top of the lane and got to the wire in the nick of time over a charging Hero Status. A $750,000 OBS April buy for Gandharvi Racing, Parenting raced under that stable's colors in his first pair of races. Last year, the winner's dam foaled a colt by Vekoma. Iadorakid is herself a half-sister to Canadian champion GISW El Tormenta (Stormy Atlantic), GSW Zero Tolerance (Mizzen Mast) and to a course-record setter at Kentucky Downs. This is the family of MGSW His Race to Win (Stormy Atlantic) and Canadian juvenile filly champion Hello Seattle. Sales History: $750,000 2yo '23 OBSAPR. Lifetime Record: SW, 3-3-0-0, $139,200. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. O-Wathnan Racing; B-Jason Hall and BCS Thoroughbreds (KY); T-Bob Baffert. Bob Baffert's undefeated Justify colt Parenting is the favorite in race 4 at @DelMarRacing. He won the Affirmed Stakes last out. Check out the field & play your selection: https://t.co/l04xHpQPmQ pic.twitter.com/XmV7bFsyRn — FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) July 28, 2024 The post ‘TDN Rising Star’ Parenting Guided Home In Time At Del Mar appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Sierra Leone rallied from last-of-six and 10 lengths off the pace under Flavien Prat to finish a strong second to the victorious Fierceness in the July 27 $500,000 Jim Dandy. View the full article

Nakatomi's Alfred G. Vanderbilt (G1) victory was not just the first top-level win for the gelding, but also a first for his sire who was recently sold to a breeding operation in the Philippines.View the full article

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y.–Two and a half months after winning the GI Kentucky Derby as co-breeders and co-owners of long shot Mystik Dan (Goldencents), Four G Racing picked up its first victory at Saratoga Race Course Sunday with another runner overlooked by handicappers. With a powerful run through the stretch under John Velazquez, Reining Flowers (Midnight Storm) completed a rally from well off the pace to win the sixth race, a $100,000 maiden special weight contest for 2-year-old fillies, by a length over Good Long Cry (Long on Value). Four G's homebred filly completed the 1 1/16 miles on the inner turf course in 1:44.11. Sent off at 14-1 in the field of 10, she paid $30.80. Sharilyn and Brent Gasaway and their twins, Logan and Lauren, operate as Four G Racing with four broodmares and interests in a number of other horses, most notably Mystik Dan. Reining Flowers is the second runner and winner out of their broodmare Mi Fiori (Congrats), who was pretty much headed for life as a pet after she was retired from racing early in 2018 “We bought her at the 2-year-old sale,” Sharilyn Gasaway said. “Then she got claimed away from us and it took me a year and a half to find her. When she got back into racing, I claimed her back and I retired her at home.” The Gasaways lost Mi Fiori on a $50,000 claim on June 5, 2016 and re-acquired her for $17,500 on Dec. 7, 2017. They raced her just one more time. “Then her half-brother, Gucci Factor (Gio Ponti) won a graded race (GIII Poker Stakes in 2019),” Gasaway said. “People started calling me to buy her, so I said, 'if they're going to breed her, I'll breed her.'” Mi Fiori's first foal, the 3-year-old filly Crown Imperial (Classic Empire), was second by a nose in the Bolton Landing Stakes at Saratoga last year and went on to win the $500,000 Untapable Stakes at Kentucky Downs less than a month later. Four G and trainer John Ortiz aimed for Saratoga again this summer and brought Reining Flowers to upstate New York after she finished second in a pair of turf sprint stakes at Horseshoe Indianapolis. Brent and Sharilyn Gasaway with John Ortiz | Sarah-Andrew “She had to run in Indiana because there were no 2-year-old races at Churchill in the spring,” Ortiz said. “We just went over to Indiana just to get the experience over the turf, and were hoping to get a win. But I'm glad we got the win here.” Following the same route they used last year with Crown Imperial, Ortiz figured that Reining Flowers would turn in a big performance at the Spa. “I know this filly very well,” he said. “My dad started her in Ocala and he just said that this is an exact replica of Crown Imperial. We were expecting this. This is not surprising. it's not an upsetting win for us.” Starting from the outside post position, Velazquez guided Reining Flowers toward the inside for a ground-saving trip. They were ninth by Good Long Cry led the way through fractions of :23.80, :50.27 and 1:15.25. Favorite Opulent Restraint (Dubawi {Ire}) moved up into a threatening position in the stretch, but Reining Flowers and As Catch Can (Mo Town) closed with more resolve. Reining Flowers got to the wire first and As Catch Can was a head behind Good Long Cry and a nose better than Opulent Restraint. As is often the case in the two-turn 2-year-old maiden races at Saratoga, the top three finishers all had been in competition before. “The experience for sure helps,” Ortiz said. You can't go wrong when you're riding a Hall of Famer either. I was very confident coming in here. Johnny got on her in her last work. He absolutely loved her. He said she was so professional, acted like an older horse. Same thing when we were in the paddock today. He says, 'I remember her. We're going to ride her like an older horse.' And he did. He's Johnny V.'” While it was far from the winner's circle at Churchill Downs after America's biggest races, Gasaway enjoyed her stable's first Saratoga win, and with a homebred. “It's just more special when it's your own, when it's one that you bred and you believed in,” she said. “What a blessing.” #10 Reining Flowers stretches out and breaks her maiden in R6 at Saratoga for trainer @johnnyortiz24 with @ljlmvel aboard! The 2YO filly upset at 14/1. pic.twitter.com/GvAJJ1hpEa — TwinSpires Racing (@TwinSpires) July 28, 2024 6th-Saratoga, $100,000, Msw, 7-28, 2yo, f, 1 1/16mT, 1:44.11, fm, 1 length. REINING FLOWERS (f, 2, Midnight Storm–Mi Fiori, by Congrats) hit the board in both prior starts at Horseshoe Indy including over two turns going 7 1/2 furlongs June 24. Breaking from the outside, the 14-1 longshot stretched out yet again to 1 1/16 miles facing tougher company and took her time from the gate, running near the back of the field in no hurry through fractions of :23.80 and :50.27. Pacesetter Good Long Cry (Long On Value) carried her speed into the far turn but Reining Flowers was making progress and set down in the final furlong to drive past that rival and out-finish a charging pair in a driving finish to win by a length. The half-sister to Crown Imperial (Classic Empire), SW & GSP, $426,747, Reining Flowers is out of a half to GSW Gucci Factor (Gio Ponti). She has a yearling half-brother by Goldencents while Mi Fiori was bred to Flameaway for 2025. Lifetime Record: 3-1-2-0, $67,800. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuelTV. O/B-4 G Racing LLC. (KY); T-John Alexander Ortiz. The post Gasaways’ Four G Breaks Spa Maiden With Reining Flowers appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

3rd-Del Mar, $75,500, Msw, 7-28, 2yo, 5 1/2f, 1:04.02, ft, 3 1/2 lengths. MCKINZIE STREET (c, 2, McKinzie–Karpathos, by Tale of the Cat), the 4-1 second choice in his first start since bringing $290,000 at OBS April, had to deal with pressure from heavy favorite Emerald Bay (Nyquist) for much of the early running as the front pair put up a half in :44.93. But off the turn, it was McKinzie Street who had something left, turning back the favorite at the furlong marker and coming home in good order to graduate on debut by 3 1/2 lengths. The front pair was well clear as Emerald Bay was another five lengths ahead of the third-place runner. The fourth winner by his freshman sire (by Street Sense), McKinzie Street is out of a half to both GSW Ikigai (Whywhywhy) and MGSW and sire Kantharos (Lion Heart). Karpathos produced a pair of full-sisters to the winner in 2023 and 2024 before visiting Arabian Lion for 2025. Sales History: $120,000 Wlg '22 KEENOV; $150,000 Ylg '23 KEESEP; $290,000 2yo '24 OBSAPR. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $45,000. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. O-Leslie A. & Pierre Jean Amestoy, Jr. and Roger K. Beasley; B-Clearsky Farms (KY); T-Tim Yakteen. #5 MCKINZIE STREET ($10.40) breaks his maiden on debut in the third race at @DelMarRacing! @kazushi0096 piloted the two-year-old colt by @Gainesway's McKinzie for trainer @timyakteen. pic.twitter.com/9WoWq6szir — FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) July 28, 2024 The post McKinzie Street Another Debut Winner For McKinzie appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y.-A healthy field of 12 was entered Sunday for the 97th running of the $1-million GI Whitney Stakes, which will be run at Saratoga Race Course Saturday. National Treasure (Quality Road), from Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert, will be the favorite as he is ranked as the top older horse in the country in the weekly NTRA poll. Evidently, he is not scaring anyone off. Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher has a trio of horses entered in Bright Future (Curlin), Charge It (Tapit) and Crupi (Curlin). Add Post Time (Frosted), who was a distant second to National Treasure in the GI Metropolitan Handicap at the Spa last month, to the mix. Trainer Phil Bauer decided Sunday that he would roll the dice with Warrior Johny (Cairo Prince). Owned by Rigney Racing LLC, Warrior Johny earned his Whitney ticket on opening day at the meet when he won an allowance race by four lengths. “[The Whitney] wasn't on the radar until he ran opening day,” Bauer said Sunday morning at his barn on the Oklahoma Training Track. “It was like, 'Holy cow!' The last three races he has had around two turns, each one got better. Up here, he ran a hole in the wind against a real good cast.” Warrior Johny is a 5-year-old gelding and has four wins, three seconds and five thirds in 19 career starts. He has two wins in three career starts at Saratoga. This will be just the second graded stakes race that Warrior Johny has run in. The first was last year when he was seventh, beaten 22 1/2 lengths by Bright Future in the GI Jockey Club Gold Cup at the Spa. “I'm still scratching my head about the Jockey Club Gold Cup,” Bauer said. “I went into that with a lot of confidence. I thought he would run really well.” Warrior Johny has thrived at Saratoga, Bauer said. Even though he doesn't have the resume of some of the other Whitney runners, Warrior Johny's speed figures compare with several of his rivals. “If he runs his last race back, then I think he can be right there,” Bauer said. “Yes, we [he and Richard Rigney] take shots, absolutely. Early in our careers, we took a lot of shots with the wrong kind of horses. We are taking chances now for realistic opportunities.” The field for the Whitney, in post position order: 1-Post Time (Brittany Russell); 2-Disarm (Gun Runner, Steve Asmussen); 3- National Treasure; 4-Warrior Johny; 5-First Mission (Street Sense, Brad Cox); 6-Il Miracolo (Gun Runner, Antonio Sano); 7-Crupi; 8-Tumbarumba (Oscar Performance, Brian Lynch); 9-Bright Future; 10-Skippylongstocking (Exaggerator, Saffie Joseph Jr.); 11-Arthur's Ride (Tapit, Bill Mott); 12-Charge It. Pletcher, Repole Not Committing Fierceness As A Travers Player The day after Fierceness (City of Light) won the GII Jim Dandy Stakes at Saratoga, Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher said there would be no decision on whether or not the inconsistent colt would resurface in the GI DraftKings Travers Stakes on Aug. 24. “Talking to [owner] Mike [Repole] a little bit last night, we don't want to make any decisions too soon,” Pletcher said outside his barn at the Oklahoma Training Track. Fierceness, once considered the best 3-year-old colt in the land, was making his first start since a crushing 15th-place finish as the favorite in the GI Kentucky Derby on May 4. In the race before that, he was dominant, winning the GI Florida Derby by a record 13 1/2 lengths. His Achilles heel, though, is spacing between races. Repole said earlier this year that he thought his horse needed eight weeks between starts. Do the math: the Jim Dandy and Travers are fourth weeks apart. “Twenty-eight days is probably not ideal for him,” Pletcher said. “The initial impression is that he came out of the race well, he looked good this morning.” Repole, who loves winning everywhere, but maybe a little bit more at the Spa, was also hedging on whether Fierceness should target the Travers. “We might have to wait,” he said. “Last year, I would have told you, '100%.' There is no way with this horse that I can say that. He's a hard horse to figure. When he does something special, he can beat anybody. We will consider the Travers, absolutely. But we will consider to pass it, also.” If Fierceness does not run in the Midsummer Derby, he could run next in the GI Pennsylvania Derby at Parx on Sept. 21. Lukas Plans To Try Again In Travers With Seize The Grey Sure, there was a little disappointment that Seize the Grey (Arrogate) was never a factor in the GII Jim Dandy Stakes on Saturday. But D. Wayne Lukas will never concede. Despite the fourth-place finish in the Jim Dandy, Lukas plans on bringing back his GI Preakness Stakes winner in the GI Travers Stakes on Aug. 24. “We are not overreacting,” Lukas said while sitting in his office at this barn at the Oklahoma Training Track Sunday morning. “He is a quality horse and we did not see it [Saturday]. There is no part of him that showed up.” Seize the Grey won the Preakness on the front end and, in his last start, the GI Belmont Stakes at Saratoga on June 8, was prominent early before fading and finishing seventh. On Saturday, Seize the Grey, owned by MyRacehorse, and jockey Jaime Torres never got close to the leaders and finished 12 lengths behind winner Fierceness. “He didn't get on the butt end of the speed horses, that is what Jaime and I talked about,” Lukas said. “When he wasn't there, I knew right then and there. I knew Jaime would try to do what he could, but he did not have the horse to do it. I don't blame Jaime, I blame the horse.” There is another reason to target Seize the Grey to the Travers, that being the incentives MyRacehorse could receive thanks to the stud deal signed with Gainesway Farm. The base deal, according to MyRacehorse, is $3.5 million. If Seize the Grey were to win the $1.25-million Travers, the bonus would be $3 million. If he were to win the GI Breeders' Cup Classic, add another $4 million. Lukas, though says, the horse will go the Midsummer Derby only if he is doing well. Going into the Belmont, Lukas thought he had a big chance; in the Jim Dandy maybe even a bigger one. “They give you a reality check once in a while,” Lukas said. “You think you are in La-La land and then, Boom!,” he said. The post Saratoga Notebook, Presented by NYRA Bets: Whitney Draws a Dozen, Bauer Taking His Shot appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

COLLEEN S., $102,000, Monmouth, 7-28, 2yo, f, 5fT, :55.64, fm. 1–DREAMAWAY, 118, f, 2, by Flameaway 1st Dam: Dream Dancing (GISW, $483,271), by Tapit 2nd Dam: To Dream About, by Monarchos 3rd Dam: Beautiful Pleasure, by Maudlin 1ST BLACK TYPE WIN. O/B-John C. Oxley (KY); T-Wesley A. Ward; J-Paco Lopez. $60,000. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $107,740. 2–Lemonpeppasteppa, 118, f, 2, Caravaggio–Saranda, by Smart Strike. ($65,000 2yo '24 OBSAPR). 1ST BLACK TYPE. O-Julian De Mora, Jr.; B-New Horizons Bloodstock LLC (KY); T-Jorge Delgado. $20,000. 3–Me Governor, 118, f, 2, The Factor–Mocha Chip, by Trappe Shot. ($42,000 Ylg '23 FTKOCT). 1ST BLACK TYPE. O-Danbro Farms, LLC; B-Mr. & Mrs. Mike Buckley & William Van Meter (KY); T-Carlos A. David. $10,000. Margins: 5 1/4, NK, HD. Odds: 0.80, 3.20, 12.60. Also Ran: Popstyle, Roshiell My Belle, Hollywood Beauty, Kip the Distance. Scratched: Baytown Butterfly, Sharedashenanigans, Shkhara Fire, Spankerboom. Dreamaway returned off a debut win over Keeneland's main track in April to remain undefeated with an impressive score in Monmouth's Colleen Stakes Sunday. Sent off the 4-5 choice while trying the turf for the first time, the grey shot to the front, carving out an opening quarter mile in :22.03 as Popstyle (Win Win Win) and Me Governor pressed from the outside. Shaking loose turning for home, the 3-1 second choice Lemonpeppasteppa mounted a rally to get up to second, but was unable to reel in the free-running winner, 5 1/4-lengths clear of her nearest rivals. Me Governor held on for third. “I did not feel concerned about the [other] speed,” said winning rider Paco Lopez. “There was a little pressure on the turn with [Popstyle]. I stopped feeling the pressure so I went inside. The first part was easy but the second had a little pressure but she ran very good.” Winning trainer Wesley Ward was equally impressed with his filly's performance. “Besides being a very talented filly she is a total sweetheart. That's what we love best about her,” he said. “They sent her to me in September and we broke her and she is one of those fillies in the stall that is bucking and kicking and happy all day long. She has never stopped being that way. Anybody can ride her. She's the happiest horse in the world when she gets to the track. I always thought that she would be better on the grass, just from the way she moves.” Heavily favored at 1-2 while facing colts in her Apr. 21 debut in Lexington, she battled for most of the way before prevailing by a head over Clever Again. “Actually, her first race to me was better than this one and I will tell you why: She's a tiger when she gets in front like she did today,” Ward added. “Sometimes when she gets behind, she doesn't quite work as well. When she gets to the front she's a demon. She won't let anyone by her. She's in the group if not better than the other six winners I have had in this race, especially with the way she ran today.” Remarking on what's next with the speedy grey, Ward explained, “We're thinking about sending her next to California for the Speakeasy Stakes [Oct. 5 at Santa Anita]. We've been looking to get one out there and this may be the one to where we can get settled in. Based on how she ran today, she is Breeders' Cup caliber. That race will solidify if she is a Breeders' Cup horse or not.” The sixth black-type winner for his Freshman sire, Dreamaway is out of GI Del Mar Oaks Dream Dancing, herself a daughter of Champion Older Mare Beautiful Pleasure (Maudlin). An earner of over $2.7 million, the sister to Grade I winner Mecke was also campaigned by the Oxleys. In addition to Dreamaway, Dream Dancing also has a year older filly by Gun Runner named Beautiful Dancer in addition to a yearling filly by the Three Chimneys sire and a colt foal by Justify. She was bred back to Flameaway. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. The post Flameaway’s Dreamway Scampers to Victory in Monmouth’s Colleen appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article