Wandering Eyes

By Mike Love Waterlea trainer Allan Shutkowski inched ever close to 50 career wins when when Fredastaire was successful at Ashburton’s Cup Week Showcase meeting on Thursday. Handled superbly by driver Jim Curtin, the three year old Ultimate Machete gelding was able to secure an economical run in the Spraymarks Roadmarking and Traffic Management Mobile Pace. He was then presented at the top of the straight to chase down tearaway leader A Better Jackalack to win in a close finish. Fredastaire stopped the clock at 2:58 for the 2400m with closing sectionals of 57.8 and 28.0. “We thought he’d go pretty good. He’s a genuine kind of horse,” said Shutkowski. “We raced him in the summer and autumn and he was still just a bit slabby, so he ended up getting three months off which was a blessing. This time in he’s been going excellent. Everything we’ve done so far has been to his benefit.” Shutkowski (pictured above, in blue) and team headed south a couple of days beforehand as he is not the best traveller. Fredastaire is bred and raced by Anthony “Tubby” Smith, along with Allan and his wife Petrina. “Tubby has played around with horses all of his life. He bred him. He liked Ultimate Machete because the granddam (Maureens Dream) was by Lordship.” “I’ll get no credit for the win. My wife Petrina has done all the work with him lately,” laughed Shutkowski. Fredastaire has now won one from 14 starts and placed six times, while trainer Shutkowski is one win away from 50 training successes. “We will aim to be at Westport over Christmas. He will go somewhere before then.” Shutkowski works a team of five including Ha’penny. “Ha’penny was going good at Kaikoura but couldn’t sprint with them. She’s been having trouble with tying up. She’s actually quite a good horse.” “We have a Sweet Lou out of C A Penny, and Tubby has a Sky Major half to Fredastaire which goes really nicely who are both two year olds.” View the full article

By Jonny Turner Don’t be too surprised if you don’t see another winning salute from Nathan Williamson at Winton on Sunday. The trainer-driver will be back racing in the south, fresh off producing his first Group 1 training victory with Captains Mistress in the Dunstans Sires Stakes Series Final at Addington on Show Day. Williamson gave a very rare salute as he crossed the line, completing what could be considered an overdue elite-level victory considering his outstanding talent and record as a trainer. While it may have appeared the horseman’s gesture was – in the words of the late Sir Edmund Hilary – because “we knocked the bastard off” that wasn’t quite the case. Instead, it was a nod to the big family unit – including wife Katie and children Millie, Lachie and Louie – that have has been the driving force behind Williamson becoming a Group 1 winning trainer. “Katie and the kids make huge sacrifices for me to be able to be away to compete in these big races.” “There are days where I would like to watch gymnastics or swimming but I have commitments to the horses and to the business.” “So, winning the Group 1 wasn’t so much about my own personal achievement, it was more about acknowledging what the family had given to make it possible.” “And we have her parents Ross and Robyn working here and playing a big part in the operation.” “Winning the race was a thrill but I felt the biggest thing was it showed all of the hard work and sacrifices the family have made were being rewarded.” Captains Mistress is on a one-way path towards the $100,000 Group 1 Ace Of Diamonds at Addington on November 29. The star filly could be joined by Always Dreaming who is on track to qualify for the $100,000 Ace Of Spades on the same night. The two-year-old returns in race 3 at Winton, the Gareth Paul Building Mobile Pace, and he would need to produce a strong effort to be a threat in his Group One assignment. And Williamson thinks he is forward and ready to run a big race. “He trialled quite nice and that trial seems to have sharpened him up.” “The plan is to go to Addington in a fortnight, so he is pretty well up to the mark and ready to run a nice race.” Williamson rates Son Of The Cleaner as the best of his outside drives at Winton on Sunday. The trotter produced a strong fresh-up win in his return to racing at the same track late last month. “He looks a nice chance, he has got a few tricks to him but if he can trot away and get into a good rhythm he would take plenty of catching.” Williamson also links up with Harold Hanover and Always B There on Sunday. View the full article

Darwin’s leading jockey Jarrod Todd returns to scale aboard the Ella Clarke-trained Debating at Fannie Bay on Saturday. Picture: Caroline Camilleri (Fotofinish Racepix) Jockeys Jarrod Todd and Raymond Vigar had every reason to celebrate at Darwin on Saturday. Todd, 36, booted home his 900th career win aboard the Ella Clarke-trained four-year-old gelding Debating over 1000m at 0-58 level. Vigar, 29, was victorious in only his second Fannie Bay appearance since landing a winning double on Darwin Cup Day in August 2020 when the Phil Cole-trained four-year-old gelding Bryce prevailed over 1200m in BM54 company. Debating, starting at $3.40 with online bookmakers, led comfortably for a major portion of the race before the son of Reward For Effort overcame Cole’s fast-finishing $2.90 favourite Rhesus, ridden by Vigar, by half a length. The winner of so many races for Ella’s father Gary, it was prophetic that Todd achieved his milestone aboard a horse trained by the Clarkes. Jarrod Todd’s 900th Career Win – 17/11/24 Darwin Race 5 (Debated) https://horsebetting.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Darwin-171124-Darwin-Race-5-Debating-Jarrod-Todd-Ella-Clarke.mp4 PlayUp hope – left the fence with 200m to go before catching Gary Clarke’s Starspangledancer ($3.30) to win by three quarters of a length. Todd, who relocated to Darwin six years ago, has been the leading jockey in the Top End and Country premiership for the past five years with 298 wins in the bank. Arriving from New Zealand, Todd rode in Victoria before heading to the NT in 2014 where he featured during the Darwin and Alice Springs Cup Carnivals. In early 2018, Todd and his family moved to Alice Springs. He remained in the Red Centre until Cup Carnival ended in May before moving to Darwin where joined the Cole stable. Todd succeeded Brendon Davis for Gary Clarke and in 2022 he won the Darwin Cup (2050m) on Playoffs, the Palmerston Sprint (1200m) on Syncline and the Alice Springs Cup (2000m) on Count Of Essex for the Top End’s 12-time champion trainer. It was Todd’s second Darwin Cup after Royal Request delivered for Neil Dyer in 2017. Vigar hadn’t ridden for 47 months after dealing with issues away from the track – he also faced charges in Court that were quashed. He last appeared at Murray Bridge on New Year’s Day in 2021 before pursuing a trade where he is now a qualified plumber. Vigar, who debuted as an apprentice in Alice Springs in August 2012, is now based in Darwin and almost won first up on Melbourne Cup Day when second aboard Ankle Rolex for Patrick Johnston. Apart from winning the 2016 Darwin Cup on Michael Hickmott’s Canny Ballad, Vigar also won the Alice Springs Cup on Kym Healy’s Pretty Blonde and Palmerston Sprint on Garry Lefoe’s Niccoco in 2017. Horse racing news View the full article

Favoured at 6-5 in this step up to stakes company, Croix Du Nord (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn}) duly delivered in the G2 Tokyo Sports Hai Nisai Stakes on Saturday. After an even break, he soon ranged up in between horses to sit third behind a freewheeling Satono Shining (Jpn) (Kizuna {Jpn}) and second choice Red Kingly (Jpn) (Saturnalia {Jpn}), a few lengths behind. Poised to pounce after 1000 metres in 1:00.90, he inched into second and took dead aim on the pacesetter. Charging up to even terms at the 400-metre pole, he gradually subdued that game rival to win by three-quarters of a length. Red Kingly held on for third, 1 1/2 lengths back. Pedigree Notes Shadai Stallion Station's Kitasan Black is the sire of 11 black-type winners with Croix Du Nord his eighth group winner. The two-time Japanese Horse of the Year and six-time Group 1 winner is best known as the father of international superstar Equinox (Jpn) and G1 Satsuki Sho hero Sol Oriens (Jpn). The 11th foal out of Rising Cross (GB) (Cape Cross {Ire}) who won the G2 Park Hill Stakes and was placed in both the G1 Oaks and G1 Irish Oaks, Croix Du Nord won a Tokyo newcomers' affair by 2 1/2 lengths when unveiled on June 9. Rising Cross has a yearling full-brother to the winner, and a weanling filly by Satono Diamond (Jpn). Derby winners Morston (Fr) (Ragusa {GB}) and Blakeney (GB) (Hethersett {GB}) are part of this clan. Saturday, Tokyo, Japan TOKYO SPORTS HAI NISAI STAKES-G2, ¥72,450,000, Tokyo, 11-16, 2yo, 1800mT, 1:46.80, fm. 1–CROIX DU NORD (JPN), 123, c, 2, by Kitasan Black (Jpn) 1st Dam: Rising Cross (GB) (GSW & G1SP-Eng, G1SP-Ire, GSP-US, $501,841), by Cape Cross (Ire) 2nd Dam: Woodrising (GB), by Nomination (GB) 3rd Dam: Bodham (GB), by Bustino (GB) 1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN. 1ST GROUP WIN. O-Sunday Racing; B-Northern Farm (Jpn); T-Takashi Saito; J-Yuichi Kitamura; ¥38,315,000. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, ¥45,515,000. *1/2 to Earthrise (Jpn) (Manhattan Café {Jpn}), MGSP-Jpn, $888,680. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Werk Nick Rating: D+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. 2–Satono Shining (Jpn), 123, c, 2, Kizuna (Jpn)–Sweetie Girl (Arg), by Star Dabbler. 1ST BLACK TYPE. 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. O-Hajime Satomi; B-Shimokobe Farm (Jpn); ¥15,090,000. 3–Red Kingly (Jpn), 123, c, 2, Saturnalia (Jpn)–Red Elsa, by Smart Strike. 1ST BLACK TYPE. 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. O-Tokyo Horse Racing; B-Lake Villa Farm (Jpn); ¥9,545,000. Margins: 3/4, 1HF, NK. Odds: 1.20, 4.70, 1.70. Also Ran: Feiern Kranz (Jpn), Del Avar, G T Man (Jpn), Precious Day (Jpn), Nishino Tanguy (Jpn), Nishino Histoire (Jpn). Click for the JRA chart & video. The post Kitasan Black’s Croix Du Nord Undefeated In Tokyo Sports Hai Nisai Stakes appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

7th-Laurel, $48,305, Msw, 11-16, 2yo, 6f, 1:11.43, ft, 1 length. YARA'S QUEST (c, 2, Liam's Map–Yara {GSW, $398,390}, by Put It Back), given a 4-1 chance in this debut run, was hustled to the front from his inside draw and raced under pressure through an opening quarter in :22.64. Overtaken approaching the quarter pole and appearing to be heading the wrong way, Yara's Quest was resurgent along the rail in the stretch and battled back gamely to record a one-length victory over On the Level (Classic Empire). The winner is a half-brother to Moon Swag (Malibu Moon), MSW & MGSP, $369,000. Yara's 2023 produce, the filly Candara (Connect), was sent to the Republic of Korea. This is the extended female family of GISWs Healthy Addiction (Boston Harbor) and her daughter My Sweet Addiction (Tiznow). Sales history: $300,000 Ylg '23 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $28,200. Click for the Equibase.com chart and VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. O-Colts Neck Stables LLC; B-Great Hill Stables LLC (KY); T-Jorge Duarte, Jr. Nice debut for the 2YO Liam's Map colt Yara's Quest, who rides the rail in the stretch under Horacio Karamanos to win 6F MSW @LaurelPark. Trained by @JorgeDuarteCNS for Colts Neck Stable. (Jim McCue ) pic.twitter.com/On594IbQrj — Maryland Horsemen (@mdhorsemen) November 16, 2024 The post Liam’s Map Firster Game on Debut at Laurel appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The heralded Colonial Cup Stakes (NSA-G1), the first $100,000 steeplechase in the United States, returns to the fall calendar at Springdale Race Course in Camden, S.C., after an eight-year hiatus.View the full article

eFive Racing Thoroughbred's GRAYSCALE (c, 2, Frosted–Petunia, by Into Mischief) was pegged as the 8-5 morning-line favorite for Saturday's seventh race at Gulfstream, but his worktab–which included a bullet half-mile in :44 4/5 last month and other morning trials that screamed ready–dictated that he'd jump a much-shorter price for his career debut. Crunched into 3-10 for the Breeders' Cup-winning connections of trainer Saffie Joseph, Jr. and jockey Drayden Van Dyke, the gray colt made no mistake en route to being named the afternoon's second 'TDN Rising Star'. Away in mid-division from his low draw, Grayscale was ridden positively by Van Dyke to head off his rivals through an opening quarter mile that was timed in :22.28 over a surface that has been yielding below-par times over the last few days. Galloping along nicely in hand while maintaining a safe margin on his rivals, he turned for home having gone the half in :46.68 and kicked home with powerful strides to score handily, covering the six furlongs in 1:11.42, a time that should grade out well. On behalf of Bob Edwards's operation, Joseph paid $240,000 for Grayscale at last year's Keeneland September Sale, the second-priciest of 66 Frosted yearlings (75 ring) reported as sold in 2023. Sales history: $240,000 Ylg '23 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0. O-eFive Racing Thoroughbreds; B-Jumping Jack Racing LLC (KY); T-Saffie Joseph Jr. GRAYSCALE ($2.60) impressed on debut for trainer @SaffieJosephJr in @GulfstreamPark race 7. @DraydenV was up on the two-year-old Frosted (@DarleyAmerica) colt. Bet the Late Pick 4: https://t.co/zleTqs7rGG pic.twitter.com/CaE9QrtWW0 — FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) November 16, 2024 The post Frosted Firster Grayscale Runs To The Money, ‘TDN Rising Star’ Honors at Gulfstream appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Explore a multitude of captivating racing promotions offered by horse racing bookmakers on Sunday, November 17. Immerse yourself in the thrill with generous bonus back offers, elevating your betting experience. Delve into these promotions from top-tier online bookmakers to maximise your betting opportunities. The top Australian racing promotions for November 17, 2024, include: Today’s best horse racing promotions Townsville Race 1 | Run 2nd or 3rd Score Up To $100 in Bonus Cash Enter the Bonus Code BONUS100 on the Bonus Bets/Offers page, place a fixed win bet on Townsville race 1 and if your selection runs 2nd or 3rd get up to $100 in Bonus Cash. One Bonus per week. Neds T&C’s Apply. Login to Neds to Claim Promo 25% Boosted Winnings! – Donald Get 25% Boosted Winnings paid in BONUS CASH. Fixed win only. First bet only. Cash bet only. Max Bonus $250. Picklebet T&Cs apply. Login to pickleBet to Claim Promo Sunday Bonus Back 2nd ALL RACES at Sha Tin Auto-applied in Bet Slip. Min 6 runners. Fixed Odds only. T&C’s apply. Login to UniBet to Claim Promo Odds Drift Protector If the price at the jump is bigger than the price that you took, we will pay you out at the bigger odds Eligible customers. T&C’s apply. Login to Bet365 to Claim Promo Best Tote and Starting Price Guarantees a dividend equal to the highest of the official win dividend paid by the three Australian TAB pools or the official starting price. Maximum stake: $2,000. 18+ Gamble Responsibly. Login to BoomBet to Claim Promo Owners Bonus – Win a bet on your horse & receive an extra 15% of winnings in cash Account holder must be registered as an official owner of the nominated horse. Fixed odds only. PlayUp T&Cs Apply. Login to PlayUp to Claim Promo Top 4 Betting. Extra Place. Every Race. Bet and win up to 4th place. Picklebet T&Cs apply. Login to pickleBet to Claim Promo Daily Multi Insurance Any race. Any runner. Any odds. Get a bonus back if your multi loses. Check your Vault for eligibility Login to UniBet to Claim Promo How does horsebetting.com.au source its racing bonus offers? HorseBetting.com.au meticulously assesses leading Australian horse racing bookmakers, revealing thoroughbred bonus promotions for November 17, 2024. These ongoing offers underscore the dedication of top horse racing bookmakers. In the realm of horse racing betting, when one bookmaker isn’t featuring a promotion, another is stepping up. Count on HorseBetting.com.au as your go-to source for daily rewarding horse racing bookmaker bonuses. Enhance your value with competitive odds and promotions tailored for existing customers. Easily access these offers by logging in to each online bookmaker’s platform. For valuable insights into races and horses to optimise your bonus bets, trust HorseBetting’s daily free racing tips. Horse racing promotions View the full article

Ciaron Maher's remarkable spring continued when Another Prophet proclaimed herself a top-class filly with victory in Caulfield's Thousand Guineas (G1) Nov. 16, handing the trainer his first win in the race and a 50th group 1 success.View the full article

GUNS LOADED (c, 2, Gun Runner–Sky My Sky, by Bernardini), second at Saratoga Aug. 31 behind GI Claiborne Breeders' Futurity fourth Dapper Moon (Malibu Moon), came back second time out to break his maiden in 'TDN Rising Star'-style at Churchill Downs Saturday. With good early speed from an outside draw, the 3-1 shot showed the way into the stretch and held off a strong bid from race favorite Camp Hale (Mo Town) to get the front-running win. Lifetime Record: 2-1-1-0. O-Morplay Racing LLC, Platts, Joey and Lady Sheila Stable; B-John C. Oxley; T-Jose Francisco D'Angelo. Sales History: $800,000 ylg '23 KEESEP. #11 Guns Loaded was loaded today and goes gate-to-wire in R3 at @churchilldowns under @luissaezpty for trainer Jose Francisco D'Angelo! The #ClaimingCrown starts next: https://t.co/JX6b0RNaDV #TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/CDVAyNyt1I — TwinSpires Racing (@TwinSpires) November 16, 2024 The post Guns Loaded Fires Back At Second Asking To Be ‘Rising Star’ At Churchill appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Off as the 13-10 chalk to improve for a debut second going six furlongs of the Gulfstream main track Oct. 19, Amo Racing USA's COOL INTENTIONS (c, 2, Authentic–Intentional Cry, by Street Cry {Ire}) stretched out to a mile and ran away from his rivals in the final sixteenth of a mile to become the 19th winner for his first-crop sire (by Into Mischief). Away without incident from his low draw, the $285,000 Keeneland September yearling was in the vanguard early, but came back nicely to sit on the back of pacesetting Forever Now (Global Campaign) down the backstretch. Pulled out three deep entering the turn, he looped rivals to wrest command outside the quarter pole, pinched a winning advantage passing the furlong marker and had about five lengths on Shot in the Dark (Uncle Mo) at the line. Sales history: $285,000 Ylg '23 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 2-1-1-0. O-Amo Racing USA; B-Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings LLC (KY); T-Jorge Delgado. #2 COOL INTENTIONS ($4.60) and @zayas_edgardo made a big move on the turn and drew off in @GulfstreamPark race 4. @RacingDelgado trained the two-year-old colt by @spendthriftfarm's Authentic. Play the next: https://t.co/oYmxMv5Lmg pic.twitter.com/KOEAUog9pW — FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) November 16, 2024 The post Cool Intentions Looks The ‘Real’ Deal In Gulfstream Graduation appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The field for Sunday's GIII Bob Hope Stakes, a seven-furlong event for 2-year-olds at Del Mar, features a small and somewhat eclectic group of six. Take, for example, MGISP McKinzie Street (McKinzie). The Tim Yakteen trainee impressed in his sprint debut earlier in the summer but has had the misfortune of running second and third in a pair of Grade I's including a last-out third to the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner Citizen Bull (Into Mischief) in the GI American Pharoah Stakes Oct. 5. He breaks from the rail and cuts back to the distance of his second two starts back (to Breeders' Cup runner up Gaming {Game Winner}) in the GI Del Mar Futurity. Trainer Mike McCarthy brings back the field's sole 'TDN Rising Star' as Bullard (Gun Runner) makes his second start since putting up an 84 Beyer Speed Figure in his six-furlong debut Sept. 1 where he closed to defeat Kalea Bay (Authentic). In fact, four of the six runners, Bullard included, will be stretching out to seven furlongs for the first time Sunday. The aforementioned Kalea Bay, one of a pair of Bob Baffert runners in the field and the pricier of the two at $700,000, ran into Citizen Bull has shown his own steady improvement over three starts, first behind Citizen Bull before losing the lead to Bullard in that Sept. 1 spot. The third time proved to the charm as he wired a field by 8 1/2 lengths at Santa Anita Sept. 28. He joins wildcard stablemate Madaket Road (Quality Road) who would make his first start in this spot Sunday. The $650,000 FTSAUG purchase was also cross-entered in a maiden special weight race at Churchill Downs Saturday. Completing the field are a pair of maidens, Maximus (Maximus Mischief) for Cesar DeAlba and Dr Ruben M (Vino Rosso) for Chief Stipe O'Neill. Both would appear to be part of an early pace set up as Maximus wired his maiden optional claimer by 9 1/4 lengths while Dr Ruben M broke through in his fourth start and cuts back from one mile where he lasted by three-quarters of a length. The post McKinzie Street Is Yakteen’s ‘Hope’ In Sunday’s Bob Hope appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Named a 'TDN Rising Star' for her 7 1/2-length romp at Keeneland in April, Shoot It True then took on the boys as the heavy favorite in the Kentucky Juvenile Stakes at Churchill Downs May 2 but weakened off the lead after fast fractions to finish fourth behind another classy filly in West Memorial (Caracaro). Unraced since that effort, she lined up again Saturday against the boys in her longest distance to date for Wesley Ward who opted to remove the blinkers for his 5-2 third choice. Sharp from the middle of the gate, Shoot It True went on with it up front while dealing with a pesky Kenny Be past the half in :46.12. Never letting that rival by, she rode the rail around the far turn and responded in kind to rousing by Frankie Dettori by opening up down the lane, coming under the wire geared down while clearly the class of the field. “She's a nice filly,” said Ward. “She relaxed a lot more. Took the blinkers off, but if you see the first part of the race, she is pricking her ears – with the blinkers they don't do that, because they don't know who is around them. So that is the reason I did that. I told Dave Reid, the owner here, that we were maybe about 80 percent fit, but she is a really, really good filly. I think she is going to be a much better 3, 4-year-old filly. So this will be the last start of the year for her and we will bring her back in the spring. Won't see her again until either Keeneland in the spring or here in the spring.” One of 79 stakes winners for Munnings, Shoot It True was a $340,000 yearling buy out of SARAUG for Preferred Equine. To the Moon Alice, a half-sister to GSW Unchained Melody (Smart Strike), saw her yearling Street Sense colt sell for $120,000 also at SARAUG. She is due back to Gunite after not taking on a Speightstown cover for last year. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. SHOOT IT TRUE, the 2YO daughter of @coolmoreamerica stallion Munnings, beats the boys in the Notebook Stakes with @FrankieDettori up for trainer Wesley Ward! pic.twitter.com/7GCNPn4iMb — NYRA () (@TheNYRA) November 16, 2024 NOTEBOOK S., $100,000, Aqueduct, 11-16, (S), 2yo, 6f, 1:10.17, ft. 1–SHOOT IT TRUE, 118, f, 2, by Munnings 1st Dam: To the Moon Alice, by Malibu Moon 2nd Dam: Love Match, by Partner's Hero 3rd Dam: For Love Alone, by L'Enjoleur ($340,000 Ylg '23 SARAUG). 1ST BLACK TYPE WIN. O-Ice Wine Stable and Smart Choice Stable; B-Old Tavern Farm LLC (NY); T-Wesley A. Ward; J-Lanfranco Dettori. $55,000. Lifetime Record: 3-2-0-0, $96,506. 2–Kenny Be, 120, g, 2, Complexity–Stay Composed, by Bernstein. ($35,000 RNA Ylg '23 SARAUG; $20,000 Ylg '23 EASOCT; $115,000 2yo '24 OBSAPR). 1ST BLACK TYPE. O-Clear Stars Stable and Mitre Box Stable; B-Apache Farm LLC (NY); T-David P. Duggan. $20,000. 3–Soontobeking, 120, c, 2, King for a Day–Swayed, by Freud. ($80,000 2yo '24 OBSMAR). O-Our Blue Streaks Stable, SGV Thoroughbreds and George Weaver; B-Our Blue Streaks Stable & SGV Thoroughbreds (NY); T-George Weaver. $12,000. Margins: 4 1/4, 1 1/4, 3/4. Odds: 2.70, 2.65, 5.20. Also Ran: Man in Finance, Three B's, In the Chase. Scratched: Phoebeinwonderland. The post ‘Rising Star’ Shoot It True Beats The Boys In The Notebook appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Another manic sale season is upon us. Goffs kick-starts what promises to be an exciting few weeks with the November Foal Sale getting underway on Monday followed by the mares session on Thursday and Friday before the action rolls on to Tattersalls at Newmarket before concluding at Arqana next month. So where does the value lie over what is usually a helter-skelter few weeks of trade? Gwen Monneraye of the La Motteraye Consignment, Mimi Wadham of WH Bloodstock and Tally-Ho Stud's Roger O'Callaghan weigh in on the big topics ahead of the breeding stock sales. Mimi Wadham | Laura Green How do you look back at the European yearling sale market and what relevance do you think that will have on the breeding stock sales going forward? Gwen Monneraye: The yearling sales this year were very different to 2023, especially here in France. In 2023, the August Sale at Arqana was crazy good and, like the rest of the European sales, things got a bit quieter after that. This year was the complete opposite. Nobody could have expected the trade that was at Newmarket and sadly we were not consigning there this year! It continued on to the October Yearling Sale in Arqana, which was very strong. But the August Sale was only okay. I don't know if all of that was to do with Amo Racing's investment, but it could be, because they put 25 million on the table and then the rest of the yearling sales became very strong. Before Newmarket, I was fully sure that the stallion men would be dropping their prices and that the broodmare market would be a buyers' market. Now, things are looking very different and I am expecting strong trade for foals and mares. Mimi Wadham: The yearling sales certainly picked up in October. It had been a bit worrying up until that point. Doncaster was actually quite a good sale, Somerville was sketchy and then the August Sale at Arqana was down. We were taken by surprise by the strength of October and that was really down to the Amo contribution. A lot of people got very well paid for their yearlings and that will mean that the foals will be hard to buy over the coming weeks. It's going to be incredibly competitive at the top end of the market. Roger O'Callaghan: I thought the yearling sales were pretty good. Kia [Joorabchian] brought great enthusiasm to Newmarket. We had a great sale at Donny and that set the tone for the year for us. If you have a nice horse, you will get well rewarded in the market at present. Where do you think the value might lie at the breeding stock sales? GM: It's becoming harder and harder to find value but, for me, you have to be at every sale and look at as many horses as possible to try to find value. At some stage you will find value doing that. Trying to predict where the value will lie beforehand is hard–hopefully it will lie at the La Motteraye Consignment! MW: It's important to look at stallion numbers to see what sires have strong books of mares coming through. We try to follow the results on the track and not just follow the hype. It's easy to say what sire is popular now but the trick is to find the one who is going to be popular by the time the yearling sales roll around the following year. If you know a stallion has big two-year-old and three-year-old crops to run for them in 2025, it could be a good time to buy a foal by them. RO'C: We'll find that out in 12 months, won't we?! But if I had to say one area we've been lucky in, it would be buying maiden mares off the track. We've put a lot of money into the fillies off the track in the past few years and that has been very lucky for us. How do you approach the sales – do you concentrate on pedigree, colts or filly foals, young or older mares, etc etc? GM: We used to do a lot of pinhooking but now we concentrate mainly on buying mares. The pinhooking is becoming harder and harder and has gotten more risky. Also, it's something we feel that we don't have to do as much of because we have more mares and more land. We approach the sales more as broodmare buyers now. Of course we do pedigree research but we try to be very open minded when it comes to buying mares. Everybody seems to be trying to buy the same horses so that's why you need to keep an open mind. We concentrate a lot on what the mares look like–good walk, depth, good shoulder and hind quarter etc. We try to invest in a bit of speed, also. We look at a lot and buy very few. In some years, we couldn't find any mares within our price bracket so recently we bought two very old mares who had produced some very good horses. The idea there was to try and produce a filly out of those mares and to race them. Eventually, those mares would join the breeding band. That has been working well so far so hopefully we could find some of the next generation of broodmares by doing that. MW: We do all of the pedigree research first and whittle down a list.You have to be quite creative with pedigrees sometimes because you have to try and find some value. Certain sires who have fallen by the wayside, they won't work. We won't look at foals out of an exposed mare either. But we do look at a lot of foals–about 70 per cent of the catalogue, which is a lot of foals. The way the market is gone, it's all about sire power. RO'C: Henry [O'Callaghan, brother] will have all of the pedigrees researched for us and it's just a matter of getting out and looking at as many horses as we can and buying what we like. We try to buy as many nice foals by our own stallions as we can. That's the least we can do when breeders choose to send their mares to us. We've spent a lot of money buying the stallions to start with, so, if we can't see it through, there's not much good in it, is there? It can be a busy few weeks but there's great entertainment in it all and we like to support the people who have supported us. What young sires are you most looking forward to seeing the progeny of at the sales? GM: It was a quiet year in France. We have Sealiway (Fr), a son of Galiway (GB), who was a Group 1 winner at two and three. He could be an exciting new sire in France. Regarding the sires abroad, we are looking forward to seeing the foals by Blackbeard (Ire). We have been using him and think he could be an interesting sire going forward. Baaeed (GB) as well. He was a champion of his generation and he is a stallion who is going to be popular. MW: I am very excited to see the Baaeeds, however, I am disappointed by the number on offer. There are not very many in the sales. I am also really excited to see the Blackbeards as well. RO'C: I mean this sincerely, but we like to buy foals that we believe will run. That's the simple truth of it all. Then we will hone in on the stallions after that. Persian Force (Ire) and Perfect Power (Ire) will probably be our two, purely because we stand one and bred the other. And then in terms of the movers and shakers that have been announced at stud in recent weeks, what grabbed your attention the most? GM: I think Charyn is going to be an exciting addition to Sumbe in France. He is an exceptional miler and it's quite rare to have a stallion of this calibre starting his career in France so we are extremely excited about that. We will be using him. Metropolitan (Fr) could also be exciting being a Classic-winning son of Zarak (Fr) and we have Puchkine (Fr), a son of Starspangledbanner (Aus), who could be quite interesting as well. There are some new stallions in England and Ireland that are quite interesting, including some of the new horses at Tally-Ho Stud and Vandeek (GB) at Cheveley Park Stud. MW: Of the stallions that have just gone to stud, nothing springs to mind but, in terms of value, I really think that Ghaiyyath (Ire) and Study Of Man are very reasonably priced. I am hoping to send a mare to each of those. RO'C: I'm going to say Bucanero Fuerte (GB). He was the second-highest rated two-year-old in Europe last season and beat Porta Fortuna (Ire) by four lengths in a Group 1. I'd like him. I like his pedigree and his Daddy is doing well. On his day, he was a very smart horse and you could say he's a bit of a forgotten horse so he's the one who floats my boat. Outside of him, we only bid for one horse this year, and that was Big Evs (Ire). Once we had him secured, we were happy and sat on our hands. Roger O'Callaghan: “It can be a busy few weeks but there's great entertainment in it all “ | Laura Green Where do you stand with the current crop of first-season sires? GM: I'm afraid that I am going to be talking about France again because I was very excited about Hello Youmzain (Fr) at the start of the year and I like what has happened with him. I also like the end of the season that Pinatubo (Ire) has had. We were not expecting him to have Royal Ascot two-year-olds and it's good that he had a Listed winner in France recently. I like the progeny of Mohaather (GB) and, of course, Kameko has had a Group 1 winner so he is a stallion to monitor closely as well. There is no standout but I would give them all a chance for next year. MW: We feel slightly hard done by with Ghaiyyath as we sold a lovely filly by him at Book 2 but felt we probably could have gotten more for her. The sire has since had a slew of winners and is probably more popular now than during the sale. We are going to stay loyal to him and he could be the one to repay people's faith. RO'C: Hello Youmzain is the one, isn't he? He's the one I like. He was a good racehorse, everyone sent mares to him and supported him and now he's coming up trumps. If you couldn't make it to the sales, who would you trust to buy you a mare or a foal? GM: If you won't allow me to say my wife, Lucie Lamotte, I will have to say Stuart Boman of Blandford Bloodstock to buy the mare. I have a good relationship with Stuart and he helps us a lot so I would trust him to buy a mare. To buy a foal, I am going to say David or James Egan of Corduff Stud. MW: If I can't say Violet Hesketh [partner in WH Bloodstock], I will nominate Jamie McCalmont for the mare and Kelsey Lupo for the foal. RO'C: We'll let Paddy Turley buy the foal. Craig and Martin McCracken can buy the mare. Look at the amount of good stock they have bred in the past few years. They are not slow. Give us three sires that you would support in these categories; 0-15k, 15-50k, 50k upwards. GM: At the top level, I would have to say Wootton Bassett (GB) because I have a close relationship with him and have been using him from the start and been very lucky with him. In the middle, I will be with Charyn, even though he is not proven and then at the lower end, I am a big fan of Oasis Dream (GB). I know he is getting on in years but, if you got a filly by him, he would be very good value at £15,000. MW: Night Of Thunder (Ire) is an exceptional sire and we;ve been lucky with him so I'll nominate him at the top end of the market while Study Of Man and Cotai Glory are good value at £25,000 and €15,000 respectively. RO'C: Mehmas (Ire) in the top category anyway. We've never had a horse stand for as much money at €70,000 and he deserves to be standing at that fee after the year we had. We've very proud of him. The bit I like about him is that he can get a good sprinter and it looks like he can get a really good miler as well. That opens doors for a lot of people. Study Of Man has impressed me and he could be the one in the middle tier while Bucanero Fuerte will appeal to a lot of people at €12,500. The post Where Does The Value Lie? Top Judges Have Their Say On Breeding Stock Sales appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

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A son of Cloth Of Stars (Ire) topped Arqana's Flat yearling finale at €23,000 when selling to Clifton Farm. Sold as lot 139 from Jedburgh Stud, he hails from the family of G1 Melbourne Cup second Heartbreak City (Fr) (Lando {Ger}), as well as Classic winners Paddington (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}) and Madelia (Fr) (Caro {Ire}). The highest priced filly on the day was lot 137, a daughter of Saxon Warrior (Jpn) and Missisipi Baileys (Fr) (Aqlaam {GB}) who was knocked down for €22,000 to Witold Miedzianowski. Consigned by Trois Chapelles, the bay is related to stakes winner and G1 Cheveley Park Stakes third Baileys Jubilee (GB) (Bahamian Bounty {GB}). Janda Bloodstock was the leading buyer with seven lots acquired for a gross of €52,000. Haras de Castillon was the leading consignor with 13 sold for an aggregate of €58,500. At the close of trade for the November Yearling Sale, 117 sold from 160 offered (73.1%) for a gross of €600,500 (-36.8%). The average was €5,132 (-23.4%) and the median was €3,500 (-30%). The post Cloth Of Stars Colt Leads The Way At Arqana November Yearling Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Mind Sunday (Fr) (Never On Sunday {Fr}) (lot 810) has been added to the upcoming Arqana Autumn Sale as a wildcard. The National Hunt sale, which features 105 mares, 24 fillies and 83 foals, will take place from Monday, Nov. 18 and end on Thursday, Nov. 21. Mind Sunday is a half-sister to two-time Grade 1 winner Master Dino (Fr) (Doctor Dino {Fr}) and Grade 3 winner Master D'Oc (Fr) (Doctor Dino {Fr}). The 8-year-old mare is carrying her first foal by Doctor Dino and will sell on Thursday in the National Hunt and Breeding Stock part of the sale. Sessions start at 11 a.m each day. For the full catalogue, please visit the Arqana website. The post Wildcard Mind Sunday Added To Arqana Autumn Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Sam Agars BLAZING WIND - R1 (1) Improving galloper looksready to hit the board in this moderate race Jay Rooney BLAZING WIND - R1 (1) Bursting to win after a pair of close seconds and J Mac hops on Jack Dawling JOHANNES BRAHMS - R10 (1) Exciting import has been trialling well and can strike at the first time of asking Phillip Woo BLAZING WIND - R1 (1) Is ready to salute after solid seconds in two recent appearances Shannon (Vincent Wong) GALAXY PATCH - R8 (5) Exciting galloper looks primed for a bold run this afternoon Racing Post Online FAST NETWORK - R5 (7) Didn't have a lot of luck last start and he can make amends today Tom Wood FAST NETWORK - R5 (7) Had a few things go against him last time out and he can bounce backView the full article

Former Kiwi galloper Nikau Spur continues to provide Toowoomba trainers Corey and Kylie Geran with huge thrills and the momentum continued when scoring a last-stride victory in the Listed New Zealand Bloodstock Beauford (2300m) at Newcastle on Saturday. The eight-year-old son of Proisir was the winner of the Listed Queensland Cup (2400m) two starts back and relished the solid tempo on Saturday as he landed the thick end of the A$300,000 purse. Ridden by Tim Clark, Nikau Spur narrowly got the better of Herman Hesse, with Naval College a luckless third. Corey Geran, who prepares the third-hand galloper with his mother Kylie at Toowoomba, was on hand to savour the victory. “I love this horse. He is nothing short of a superstar. We travelled to Coffs Harbour on Thursday night, we worked him around Coffs Harbour track Friday morning and came down here this morning, and he can do that. He is just incredible,” Geran said. “He won the Queensland Cup over 2400m and there is a lack of staying races in Queensland, particularly genuinely-run staying races in Queensland. You come to these places and you get that genuine pace on. “This horse should have won last start but there was just not much pace in the race and it got him beat but he ran his last furlong in 11 seconds. I said to Tim Clark today that if he does that I genuinely think he can win.” Stayers trained out of Queensland have now hit the headlines over the past couple of weeks, with Knight’s Choice surprise Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) win coming for John Symons and Sheila Laxon, the training partnership Geran previously worked for for five years. “I think if you go back and look at the form from the mile race at Doomben in Winter this year, Gringotts was the winner, Knight’s Choice ran second and he ran third,” Geran said. Nikau Spur was initially trained in New Zealand by Rosie Buchanan for whom he placed in his only raceday start at Awapuni before he caught the eye of Ciaron Maher’s bloodstock manager Will Bourne, and a deal was negotiated to secure the talented galloper. The winner of three races for Maher, Nikau Spur has won a further six races for the Gerans and has now amassed A$ $686,932 in career earnings. By Proisir out of the stakes winning Ustinov mare Sarsarun, Nikau Spur was bred by Hallmark Stud and the Springvale Family Trust. View the full article

The Paul Preusker-trained Torranzino has come from near last to score a narrow victory in the A$500,000 Hyland Victorian Country Cups Final (2000m) at Caulfield on Saturday. The five-year-old son of Tarzino was the first emergency and gained a start care of the scratching of You Betcha Woo. Going back from the widest barrier of 15, Torranzino carried 52kgs with Celine Gaudray’s claim, and worked into the race at the right time, coming widest to defeat Charterhouse and the game Arran Bay. Torranzino has been in work since May and the quirky yet talented galloper has now won A$512,540 in prizemoney. “He’s been a handful,” the Preusker said. “He’s brutal tough. Emily who rides him all the time at home – I chime in every now and then – she does well persevering. Quite a difficult horse but in saying that a good galloper. “He’ll go home tonight, he’ll eat, and he’ll be bucking tomorrow. That’s just him. Whether he’s mentally quite right, I don’t know, but anyway we’ll keep plodding along and I thought if he won today we might go to the Ballarat Cup.” The A$500,000 Listed Ballarat Cup (2000m) is on December 7. “They’ve done a terrific job with this horse,” Gaudray said. “He still does a bit wrong. He wants to over-race and wobble around. I had to do my best to keep him straight. He does want to lay in. “We drew a sticky gate and we always planned to come out neutral but he had a bit of toe about him today so I had to get him to relax and the track is starting to deteriorate on the inside and I was probably on the better part of the surface.” By Westbury Stud stallion Tarzino, Torranzino was bred by Payne Family Racing Pty Ltd. He is the first foal to race out of the Helmet mare Goldilicious, who is a half-sister to the Group Three winner Showbeel, who in turn is out of Champion Stayer Showella. Torranzino was offered by Janine Dunlop’s Phoenix Park as a yearling in Book 1 of Karaka 2021, where Preusker bought him for $75,000. View the full article

After going into the New Zealand Cup Carnival without any black-type victories to her name, Mehzebeen leaves Riccarton with two of them including Saturday’s time-honoured Gr.3 Martin Collins 161st New Zealand Cup (3200m). This has been a career-changing week for Mehzebeen, who showed bright promise with a Gr.1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m) placing as a three-year-old but has alternated between disappointing and unlucky through the 18 months since. The first sign that Mehzebeen might be turning a corner came on the first day of the carnival last Saturday, where she scored an all-the-way win in the Listed Metropolitan Trophy (2600m) and announced herself as a genuine New Zealand Cup contender. The circumstances were different when the Almanzor mare backed up for the $400,000 feature on Saturday, with a Soft7 track, a different jockey and a change of tactics, but the result was the same as Mehzebeen romped to victory by three lengths. Mehzebeen was ridden by Craig Grylls, who missed the ride in the Metropolitan last Saturday when he was unable to make the weight and was a late replacement by Sam Spratt. Grylls played his role to perfection on Saturday, settling in fourth and one off the rail as a very keen Just Charlie set the pace. Mehzebeen travelled with ease all the way around the expansive Riccarton circuit, and she began to build momentum coming up to the home turn. Grylls asked her to quicken and the five-year-old sailed away, opening up a big margin over placegetters Beavertown Boy and Canheroc. “That was a big performance,” Grylls said. “The plan was to get a bit of cover, and we managed to do that quite quickly. She just travelled so well throughout. Coming up to the turn, I thought that all she would have to do to get them all off the bridle would be to just quicken up a little bit, and she did that. She won easily in the end.” Trained by Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson, Mehzebeen has now had 19 starts for five wins, three placings and $474,010 in stakes. That total is a sharp increase on the $186,510 she had to her name coming into the carnival. “This is a massive thrill,” Bergerson said. “It’s one of the iconic races in New Zealand racing, so it means a lot to have our names on the trophy. “Thanks to all of our team, both at Matamata and down here. The start of her prep didn’t quite go to plan, but she’s just improved, improved and improved. “That win last week gave us the confidence to press on into today. She’s absolutely thrived and bounced through the run on the first day, and then she came out and was really strong through the line. “There are plenty of nice Cup races coming up, both here and in Australia. The further, the better is what we’ve always believed with her. She’s just taken a bit of time and hasn’t always had the rub of the green.” Mehzebeen was bred by Pencarrow Thoroughbreds and offered in their draft at Karaka 2021, where she was bought for $50,000 by Danny Rolston, who was previously Director of Sales for New Zealand Bloodstock and is these days Executive Manager, International Sale / Owners Advisory Services for the Hong Kong Jockey Club. “She was sourced by Danny Rolston, who’s obviously a fantastic judge,” Bergerson said. “He bought her for some keen owners and small-time breeders. They’ll all be over the moon with this result. “It’s been quite a ride with her, a lot of ups and downs, but days like today make it all worthwhile.” View the full article

Riccarton’s Listed Lindauer Stewards’ Stakes (1200m) is a special race on the calendar for local trainers Michael and Matthew Pitman, who won the $140,000 sprint showpiece again on Saturday with a remarkable performance from a rising star. Mystic Park became the Pitman stable’s sixth Stewards’ Stakes winner in the last 17 years, joining Coup Bloomsbury (2007), Coup Align (2009 and 2010) and El Chico, who won it as a seven-year-old in 2011 and again as an 11-year-old in 2015. With those previous winners along with Group One speedsters like Enzo’s Lad and Sensei, the Pitmans have had plenty of sprinting talent on their hands throughout the last couple of decades. But the father-son pair believe Mystic Park could be the best of the lot. The Pitmans paid $40,000 to buy the son of Ocean Park as a yearling at Karaka in 2021. He went into Saturday’s race as the winner of six of his 11 starts, placing in another three. The Stewards’ Stakes was Mystic Park’s first shot at black-type level, and he had to carry a 59kg topweight against a 16-horse field that was mostly on 53kg. Mystic Park and jockey Sam Weatherley settled well back in a tightly bunched field, then began to warm into their work in the straight. The favourite had his momentum halted on two occasions as Weatherley had to duck and weave to find clear running. Last week’s Listed Pegasus Stakes (1000m) winner Illicit Dreams swept to the lead out wide on the track in what looked like a winning move, but Mystic Park hit top gear in the final 50m and clawed his way past her to win by a head. Mystic Park was the first topweight in more than a decade to win the Stewards’ Stakes. The last was Durham Town, who won under 59.5kg in 2013. “He’s a proper horse,” Weatherley said. “He had no real right to win that. He’s not really at home on that ground, he was stopped in his tracks a couple of times in the straight, and he was carrying 59kg and giving six kilos to most of the field. It was a huge effort. “It’s a great training performance from the Pitmans as well. It was pretty bold to give him just the one run back in August and then wait for today. They have bigger ambitions up north later in the season, and I’m sure he’ll do them proud. “These Pitman colours mean a lot to me. They’ve been big supporters of mine all the way through. I’m thrilled to get a big winner for them during Cup Week.” Mystic Park has now had 12 starts for seven wins, three placings and $237,170 in stakes. The TAB now rates him a $10 chance for the Gr.1 Telegraph (1200m) at Trentham on January 4, with a quote of $26 available for the Gr.1 Sistema Railway (1200m) at Ellerslie three weeks later. “We were offered huge money by the Ciaron Maher stable when he won his first start, but we didn’t sell him,” Michael Pitman said. “The times he’s run, he’s as good as any horse around. We’ve still got to prove that, of course, but that’s what we believe. “He almost got knocked over twice in the straight today and still got up to win. He’s a good horse. “I love this race. We’ve won it six or seven times now, including with an 11-year-old. This race and the Telegraph are probably my two favourite races.” View the full article

A perfect ride by Nash Rawiller has aided Harlow Mist to record her fourth career victory for trainer John Sargent when successful in the Bella Group Midway Handicap (1600m) at Newcastle on Saturday. The four-year-old mare by Contributer was back in the winner’s circle for the first time in just over 12 months, having campaigned in elite company as a three-year-old. Group Two placed in the Wakeful Stakes (2000m) last spring, Harlow Mist had been building towards a win with a good fifth in the A$500,000 Four Pillars (1500m) at her previous outing. Under a ground-saving Nash Rawiller ride, Harlow Mist travelled midfield on the fence throughout and only went around the leader and eventual third Magnatear before withstanding the late challenge of runner-up Piraeus. “She is very honest and very tough,” Rawiller said. “I felt very vulnerable over the last 80m but her will to win got her there. It was a good effort. “I thought the second horse had me and my horse wanted it more. “She has always shown good ability and it is great to see her back in form. Bred by the Hawkins family’s Llanhennock Trust, Harlow Mist was sold as a yearling at Karaka through their Wentwood Grange draft, fetching $85,000 to the bid of James Moss’ Tricolours Racing & Syndications. Out of the stakes-placed mare Sila Jasak, Harlow Mist’s granddam is the champion galloper Grand Archway, who won both the Gr.1 VRC Oaks (2500m) and the Gr.1 Australian Oaks (2400m) among her four elite-level victories. View the full article

Promising mare Bella Waters indicated she is on the right path to success in some of the upcoming major summer feature events when she came from last to secure victory in the Gr.2 Gartshore Tauranga Stakes (1600m) at Tauranga. Carrying the colours of Cambridge Stud principals Brendan and Jo Lindsay, who bred and race her, the Moira and Kieran Murdoch-prepared five-year-old was having just her second start in a new campaign after signing off her four-year-old season with success in the Listed Rotorua Cup (2200m) back in May. A decent winter spell resulted in her furnishing further and following a runner-up finish in a 1000m trial at Avondale she kicked off with a handy effort when finishing midfield over 1200m at Tauranga earlier in the month. On this occasion regular pilot Warren Kennedy was happy to settle the daughter of Sacred Falls beside the well backed Ladies Man ($3.40) at the rear of the eight-horse field and was still in last position with just 500m to run. Kennedy tracked wide in the home straight and found plenty of space as Ladies Man battled to clear traffic when seeking an inside run, with Bella Waters driving home to nail favourite Pearl of Alsace ($2.90) on the line, winning by a nose with a further neck back to Mali Ston and Ladies Man in a blanket finish. Moira Murdoch admitted she had some concerns when faced with a Heavy9 track in the morning (subsequently improved to a Soft6) and how relaxed the mare appeared when it was time to get serious in the home straight. “She has really come of age and is relaxed, maybe too relaxed coming around the corner and has turned into a real racehorse,” Murdoch said. “I thought she was a little unlucky first-up and we were a little worried about the track, but is has turned out really good as she is untried on the heavy.” Murdoch is looking ahead to some lofty goals with the mare who she believes is a potential Group One performer. “I think she is probably at that level (Group One) and she earned that today,” she said. “It would be nice to think she could get to those big races that are coming up.” Out of the Pivotal mare But Beautiful, who won three races in a limited career, Bella Waters is a half-sister to the Gr.2 Autumn Stakes (1800m) winner Immediacy and has now won four of her 11 starts and more than $176,000 in prizemoney. View the full article

The emerging rivalry between exciting fillies Alabama Lass and Captured By Love swung back in Captured By Love’s favour with an outstanding performance in Saturday’s Gr.1 Barneswood Farm 52nd New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton. The Matamata-trained stars clashed for the first time in the Gr.2 Matamata Breeders’ Stakes (1200m) on their home track in February, where Captured By Love beat Alabama Lass by a length and three-quarters. That was the only defeat from the first five career starts for Alabama Lass, who went on to string together three blistering victories this spring including the Gr.3 Gold Trail Stakes (1200m) at Hastings and last month’s Gr.2 Soliloquy Stakes (1400m) at Ellerslie. In the Gold Trail, the Ken and Bev Kelso-trained flier reversed the Matamata Breeders’ Stakes result with a three-quarter-length defeat of Captured By Love. The evenly matched pair headed to Riccarton on Saturday with their scoreline all square at one-all ahead of the prestigious $550,000 classic. Alabama Lass was sent out as the $2.20 favourite for the 1000 Guineas with Captured By Love the second elect at $4.30, but it was the Te Akau Racing chestnut who took out the all-important Group One. Visiting Australian jockey Josh Parr found a midfield position in sixth and one off the rail on Captured By Love, while Alabama Lass took up her expected front-running role and enjoyed some easy sectionals coming down the side of the track. The field came out to the middle of the Riccarton strip at the home turn, searching for the better footing on the Soft7 surface. Parr opted to angle Captured By Love back closer the rail, quickly looming up on the inside of Alabama Lass at the 300m mark. Alabama Lass saw her nemesis coming and lifted again in a brave front-running performance, but Captured By Love surged past her in the last 100m and went clear to win by a length and a quarter. Alabama Lass held second, with the lightly raced Movin Out storming home from near last to finish third in only the third race of her career. “It feels great to win a Group One race in New Zealand,” Parr said. “Two years ago I came to ride for Te Akau at this carnival, and this day didn’t go well with the races being cancelled. “Middle to three-quarters of the way out on the track is the place to be, but it opened up on the middle to inside, so I took the shortcut. We idled up alongside the favourite and she was the stronger filly. “The Te Akau team has been great to me in the past and they’re huge contributors both here and in Australia.” Captured By Love was bought for A$525,000 by Te Akau Racing principal David Ellis from the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale last year. The Written Tycoon filly has now had 10 starts for five wins and five placings, earning $703,435 for the Te Akau 2023 Magic Fillies’ Breeding Syndicate. “That was a great win,” said Mark Walker, who trains in partnership with Sam Bergerson. “Well done to our racing manager Reece Trumper for getting the services of Josh Parr. “At the top of the straight it could have got ugly, but Group One jockeys make Group One decisions and Josh got a lovely run through on the inside. “Big thanks to Dave (Ellis), who bought the filly without any owners. It takes great nerve to buy the ones you want, and full credit to Karyn (Fenton-Ellis) for filling the syndicate. “It’s been an interrupted preparation for Captured By Love, but the 1000 Guineas was the one we wanted. Full credit to Sam – I’ve spent a lot of time at our Melbourne stable during the spring. He held his nerve by not giving her a hard gallop on Tuesday, just didn’t think she needed it, and the result was a very satisfying win for everyone involved. “She’s only going to improve heading into the autumn, so very exciting times ahead for Captured By Love.” Captured By Love became the seventh 1000 Guineas winner for the Te Akau stable, following on from Insouciant (2007), King’s Rose (2010), Costa Viva (2013), Risque (2015), Kahma Lass (2020) and The Perfect Pink (2021). “It’s a privilege to win this race for the seventh time,” Karyn Fenton-Ellis said. “Congratulations to David Ellis for buying this filly, the owners who understand how good she is, and Mark and Sam for the way they have managed her through a somewhat difficult preparation. “Today she showed all the spirit and class that she possesses, and thank you to Josh Parr for coming over and riding such a great race. “Nothing gives us more joy than to win a race like the 1000 Guineas for such a great group of owners, and it’s a special privilege to be on the podium accepting the awards from the Canterbury Jockey Club.” Jockey Sam Spratt was far from disappointed with the performance of runner-up Alabama Lass. “I thought she was really good,” she said. “She just didn’t cop the wet track today. Coming up to the turn, she wasn’t travelling well and I thought the whole field might go past me. So she fought well. “The mile not quite be right up her alley, but I think she could have got away with it on dry ground. She’ll keep, and Ken is talking about freshening her up for a shot at the Railway (Gr.1, 1200m).” View the full article