Wandering Eyes

Even though many of his friends and some family members had a pretty good idea of what his career path would eventually be, Chris Elliott wasn't sure if he wanted to follow in the stirrups of his father, jockey Stewart Elliott of Smarty Jones fame.View the full article

Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher, who saw Tapit Trice make a successful return with a 5 1/4-length romp in the Monmouth Cup Stakes (G3), earned a $75,000 bonus from Monmouth Park as a result of the $150,000 Haskell Weekend Trainer Challenge.View the full article

Vladimir Cespedes, an owner, exercise rider and stable employee based at Parx Racing was found in possession of an electrical device and illegal human narcotics on Monday, July 23, during an integrity sweep of the barn area which was led by Pennsylvania State Horse Racing Commission (PSHRC) investigators who were in coordination with the racetrack and the Pennsylvania Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association (PTHA), according to a stewards' ruling (24172PP) posted on the Commission's portal. That same day, Cespedes was summarily suspended by the stewards for a potential violation of 7 PA Code Section 305.273 (h) and 185.2, and Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA) Rule 2273. The Keystone State rule book's Section 305.273, which applies to a jockey and apprentice license, as well as owners, makes it unlawful for them to be in possession or control of any shocking device. Also, section 185.2–conduct of licensee–bans inappropriate, illegal or unethical conduct which violates the state's rules for racing. The integrity of the sport and public perception of the industry are covered under this provision. Finally, HISA Rule 2273 specifically states that no covered horse may have an electrical or mechanical device used on them at any time on racetrack grounds or during a workout. According to Jason Klouser, the director of enforcement for the PSHRC, searches like the one performed on Monday at Parx are part of a wider program in Pennsylvania to catch perpetrators by working with local organizations who are integral to their program. Members of the investigative team at Parx | PSHRC “The team was able to catch this individual because we used concentrated tactics,” said Klouser. “It included our own people, but also members of the Organization of Racing Investigators. For the sake of these horses, I am just glad we found this device when we did.” Jeff Matty, the executive director of the PTHA, said, “The PTHA is proud of our collaborative efforts with the Pennsylvania State Horse Racing Commission in conjunction with Parx Racing. We strive for a fair and level playing field across the board, along with a safe and secure backstretch community. Efforts like this ensure that is achieved.” As for Cespedes's horses that he owns through Yellow Stripe Stable, Klouser confirmed that Wynn Giant (Freud), who is trained by Ilias Tapsas, was scratched from the twelfth race at Parx on Monday. Also, Angelus Warrior (Jersey Town), who is trained by Osvaldo Rojas, was scratched from the first race at Parx on Tuesday. The licensee does have the right to appeal the decision with a written response within 10 days of the violation. Per the ruling, during the suspension Cespedes is denied access to all grounds under the jurisdiction of the Pennsylvania Horse Racing Commission. A hearing is scheduled for Thursday, July 25 to determine whether the summary suspension will remain in place. Then a future disciplinary hearing will formally hear the merits of the case. Cespedes's last violation occurred in late November of 2023 which resulted in a fine of $100.00 for failing to follow the instructions of an outrider and disrespect for that individual. The post Owner-Exercise Rider Found With Electrical Device And Illegal Drugs At Parx appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The G1 July Cup winner Mill Stream (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}) will bid to maintain his unblemished Deauville record when he returns to the Normandy seaside for a crack at the G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest on August 4. “He loves travelling so there are no worries there,” says his trainer Jane Chapple-Hyam, who has once again demonstrated her skills in guiding the four-year-old through the grades to the very top. He is currently the co-highest-rated sprinter in Europe with a Timeform mark of 122, and it was at this time last year that he first came to wider prominence by winning the Listed Prix Moonlight Cloud. On the same card, his half-brother Asymmetric (Ire) (Showcasing {GB}) won the Listed Prix du Cercle. For a time the elder of the pair, who had also won the G2 Richmond Stakes, held the bragging rights, but Mill Stream, with his Group 1 credentials, as well as picking up a Group 3 and Group 2 along the way, has now surpassed Asymmetric. In so doing, he has given another major boost to his breeders, the Murphy family of Redpender Stud. In the Chapple-Hyam stable Mill Stream has filled the void left by the dual Group 1 winner Saffron Beach (Ire) (New Bay {GB}), who subsequently sold for 3.6 million gns to Najd Stud at the Tattersalls December Sale. “We all need that big horse,” says the trainer. “We all know how hard it is to find one, and it's getting harder and harder to hold onto them, too. Anything that's good, the phone's ringing.” There's little doubt that the stallion farms have been circling for Mill Stream, but Chapple-Hyam is in the fortunate position of already having been told by the colt's owner Peter Harris that his star performer will stay in training at the age of five. Harris, a former trainer and breeder, whose successes in both spheres notably include the G1 Middle Park Stakes winner Primo Valentino (Ire), held a dispersal of his Pendley Farm stock at Tattersalls in 2010. But he has remained a regular visitor to Park Paddocks and, with the help of bloodstock agent Anthony Stroud, has made significant investment in young stock to race. “It has been terrific to be able to reward him with a Group 1 winner,” says Chapple-Hyam. “Peter having been a trainer, he understands that there are more lows than highs, and he's a good sounding board and a great support to the yard. “I'm lucky he knocked on my door. I didn't know him before that; I got a call, and that was that.” She continues, “It's nice for him to get something back as it's been hard work on his behalf as he walks around Tattersalls and looks at all the yearlings for Book 1 and Book 2, so it's good that his homework has paid dividends.” Mill Stream's longer-term targets include the Haydock Sprint Cup and the British Champions Sprint at Ascot in October, but in the immediate future a clash with Puchkine (Fr) and co is on the cards at a course where he is two-for-two. “It's an extended six,” Chapple-Hyam says of the Maurice de Gheest, “but going on how he hit the line in the July Cup I don't think it will be a problem, and he likes the track. “There wouldn't be a Breeders' Cup on the cards because Peter is happy to keep him in training next year so I don't want to run the risk of sending him there.” Among the dozen or so horses she has in training for Harris is the two-year-old Echalar (Ire), who is set to make his debut at Ascot on Saturday in the British EBF Crocker Bulteel Maiden. The trainer clearly holds the half-brother to G3 Chester Vase winner Youth Spirit (Ire) and Listed winner Canberra Legend (Ire) in some regard and has also given him a Gimcrack entry. “He's a lovely Too Darn Hot colt and he has trained well,” she says. “I'll be expecting a big show from him, but we're up against some horses who have already run second. It's going to be a hot little maiden.” Mill Stream's memorable July Cup victory was made all the sweeter by a double that day at Newmarket being brought up by the filly Asian Daze (Ire). The star of the first crop of Frontiersman (GB) had already won three times for Johnny Murtagh and was bought by Gai Waterhouse at the Goffs London Sale for £200,000. Asian Daze winning in the colours of Gai Waterhouse | Racingfotos “It was an honour to get the call from Gai to train her and, thank God, we got the job done,” she says, though the trainer has already had to bid farewell to the three-year-old who will eventually head south for Chapple-Hyam's native country, Australia. “She's a tough little nugget and her character is like that as well. She left this morning for quarantine. It was nice that they ran her and she won, so she goes down there 104-rated and I'd be surprised if she doesn't get black type in Australia.” She adds, “I've known Gai over the years but it was a call out of the blue and, like I said, it was an honour. It's such a shame that Gai wasn't here this year, because usually she attends the July Cup, but she had commitments back in Australia. “You could see how tough the filly is by the way she fought back when she got headed. She got a great ride from Billy Loughnane and he's going to go out [to Australia] in the winter to have six weeks with Gai, which will be a brilliant experience for him. It all worked out well.” Mill Stream is not the only member of Chapple-Hyam's stable who will be having his passport stamped for France this year, as she is also planning a Deauville raid with the three-year-old Sons And Lovers (GB) (Study Of Man {Ire), who has been both Group 3 and Listed-placed this season. “I'm going to send him to Deauville on the 11th to the Prix Nureyev,” she says. “I feel he's still progressing and, back in his own age group, let's give it a go. You just never know going over to France, but he has a great attitude and character so I think he'll travel fine. He's not a worrier. “He'll be bigger and stronger as a four-year-old but the door is being knocked at.” The trainer is clearly no stranger to success in Deauville, where Saffron Beach also landed the G1 Prix Rothschild two years ago, and it would be no surprise if Sons And Lovers is the next member of her stable to come bursting through that door. The post Mill Stream Set for Deauville Return and Will Race on Next Year appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Some of the most highly anticipated races during the summer racing season are the 'baby' races during the boutique meetings at Saratoga and Del Mar and at Ellis Park, which attract its fair share of high-priced offspring from a variety of top national outfits. Summer Breezes highlights debuting 2-year-olds at those meetings that have been sourced at the breeze-up sales earlier in the year, with links to their under-tack previews. To follow are the horses entered for Thursday at Saratoga: Thursday, July 25, 2024 Saratoga 1, $90k, 2yo, f, (S), 5 1/2fT, 1:10 p.m. ET Horse (Sire), Sale, Price ($), Breeze Heavenly Light (City of Light), OBSMAR, 55,000, :10 2/5 C-Halcyon Hammock Farm, agt; B-Victoriam Farm, B Kinsell, agt Saratoga 6, $90k, 2yo, (S), 6f, 4:02 p.m. ET Ark Royal (McKinzie), OBSAPR, 90,000, :10 3/5 C-Top Line Sales LLC, agent; B-Lewis & Roslyn Titterton Man of Mischief (Instagrand), OBSMAR, 50,000, :10 2/5 C-Grade One Investments LLC, agent; B-Kenneth McPeek, agent The post Summer Breezes, Sponsored By OBS: July 25, 2024 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Star stayer Kyprios (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) is set to spearhead the Ballydoyle team at Goodwood next week when he lines up in the G1 Al Shaqab Goodwood Cup on the opening day of the meeting, Tuesday, July 30. The six-year-old spent the first few months of last season on the sidelines due to injury, denying him the opportunity to try and defend the Goodwood Cup crown he won so memorably when beating Stradivarius (Ire) and Trueshan (Fr) in a thrilling contest in 2022. However, this year he's set to return to West Sussex with an unblemished record of three wins from three starts so far in 2024, culminating with a gutsy performance at Royal Ascot where he regained the Gold Cup title he also won in 2022. Now a five-time Group 1 winner, Kyprios is reported to be in rude health ahead of the feature race on Tuesday's card, with trainer Aidan O'Brien describing stayers of his calibre as “very rare”. “Kyprios is lazy in his work, but we're very happy with him,” said O'Brien. “Everything has gone well since Ascot. “He's a very special horse and has a lot of class. He has a lot more class than most people think. He does stay which is unusual, but he'd have no problem being a group horse over a mile and a quarter. As he goes up in distance, he just gets better. Those good stayers are very rare. When you go to those distances, very few horses get them really, but he has the class and gets the trip as well.” Discussing the injury which forced Kyprios to miss last year's Goodwood Cup, O'Brien added, “It was a long process. At one stage we didn't think he'd live, but when he got through that part, we had to teach him how to use his joint and walk again. When he started walking again, he had to walk on a very slow treadmill with bails on either side of him to stop him falling over. That should tell you where he came from. “It's incredible really–I never thought he would race ever again. There are so many people I should be mentioning who were involved in getting him back so all credit to them.” O'Brien is also set to be represented in the other two Group 1 races at the Qatar Goodwood Festival, with Henry Longfellow (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) bound for the Qatar Sussex Stakes and Opera Singer (Justify) an intended runner in the Qatar Nassau Stakes. Unbeaten in three starts as a two-year-old, Henry Longfellow was last seen finishing second in the G1 St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot, while Opera Singer was also in action at that meeting when filling the same position in the G1 Coronation Stakes. “We're looking forward to him in Goodwood,” O'Brien said of Henry Longfellow. “We always thought he was a special horse based on what he did last year. We were over the moon with his run at Royal Ascot. “If we'd got a clearer run in France, we would have known more going into Ascot, so we went into Ascot just learning about him. There's every chance he'll progress.” “We were delighted with Opera Singer at Ascot,” he continued. “The other horse who led just messed up her pace a little bit, but we were over the moon with her. “We were always going to step up to go to a mile and a quarter in the Qatar Nassau Stakes with her after that. We're very happy with her and everything has gone well since Ascot. “She has an incredible pedigree and is by Justify which just makes her extra special. We think she'll be happy with the trip and track and she can probably go even further too.” The post Ballydoyle Assemble Star-Studded Team for the Qatar Goodwood Festival appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Karl Burke trainee Miss Lamai (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}–Tough Spirit {Ire}, by Iffraaj {GB}) bounced back off a close-up fourth in last month's G2 Queen Mary Stakes to secure a career high in Wednesday's Arqana Irish EBF Marwell Stakes at Naas. The 10-11 favourite, a debut winner at Thirsk in April and runner-up in May's Listed Marygate Stakes at York, raced off the pace towards the rear through the initial fractions of this five-furlong dash. Powering forward on the bridle once past halfway, she came under pressure to launch her challenge approaching the final furlong and was driven out in the closing stages to defeat Make Haste (GB) (Blue Point {Ire}) by 1 3/4 lengths. The long-time leader Shamrock Breeze (Ire) (Ardad {Ire}) was a head adrift in third with the fast-finishing Merrily (No Nay Never) a nose further back in fourth. “She's a good, tough filly and I thought that, if she ran up to either of her last two runs, she would be hard to beat, although you never know with two-year-old fillies,” said Burke. “We walked the track and when I watch Naas on TV, they are always coming stands' side and it walked that way as well. I said to Cliff [Lee] if they all go the other way to make sure he was on this side to make his challenge and, if they split, to definitely come this way. I think that helped. She got caught in the last 50 yards in the Marygate and at Royal Ascot they were spread across the track and she never got cover. That's the first time I've really seen her finish off her race. I've always thought she'd be a better filly with a bit of cover and that's worked out today. She's in the [G2] Lowther and we'll discuss that. This is huge for [owner] Chris [Hirst], who lives in Thailand, as he's building up a broodmare band.” Miss Lamai is the third of five foals and one of three scorers produced by a winning half-sister to Grand Prix de Vichy victrix One For Bobby (Ire) (Frankel {GB}). The March-foaled bay's second dam, multiple Group-placed Listed Owenstown Stud Stakes winner One Spirit (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), is out of a half-sister to dual Group 1-winning sire Diktat (GB) (Warning {GB}). Miss Lamai is a half-sister to the stakes-placed Spirit Of Camelot (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), a yearling colt by Australia (GB) and a weanling filly by Blackbeard (Ire). Listed success! Another winner in Ireland for @karl_burke as Miss Lamai flashes home under @CliffordleexLee to land the Listed Arqana @IrishEBF_ Marwell Stakes @NaasRacecourse pic.twitter.com/pN4Fi4nYAC — Racing TV (@RacingTV) July 24, 2024 The post Karl Burke Trainee Miss Lamai Powers to Marwell Triumph at Naas appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Thoroughbred After Alliance will work to advance its initiatives at Saratoga in August, with a presence both at the racetrack for the GI Whitney Stakes weekend, as well as at the sales pavilion for both Fasig-Tipton Saratoga yearling sales. The TAA will be present at the New York Racing Association's Community Outreach Booth on both Aug. 3 and 4. Patrons and race fans can visit to learn about accredited aftercare. Branded merchandise will also be available at the booth in exchange for a donation, including a limited-edition Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance 'Saratoga' T-shirt. In addition, TAA will host the winners of the Saratoga VIP Experience from the “Off to the Races” online benefit auction. This experience, donated by NYRA, the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame, and Anne's Washington Inn, will include a horseman's box for five, paddock and winner's circle access for the TAA race, and a tour with Tom Durkin at the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame. TAA representatives will also be on-site to converse with consigners, buyers, and supporters to discuss accredited aftercare at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Sale Aug. 5 and 6 and will hand out New York Thoroughbred Breeding and Development Fund co-branded rub rags to consigners of the New York Bred Yearlings Sale, which will be held Aug. 11-12. While in Saratoga, TAA officials will visit accredited aftercare facilities to conduct inspections as part of the accreditation process. Staff will also meet with trainers, owners, and other supporters throughout the week to discuss accredited aftercare. TAA board members will convene for an annual board meeting Aug. 8. “We are very excited to once again participate in so many industry events and spread awareness for accredited aftercare while we are at the NYRA Saratoga race meet,” said Stacie Clark Rogers, Operations Consultant, Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance. “It's wonderful to connect with supporters and partners during the race meet and the Fasig-Tipton sale and to visit and meet with many of our New York accredited organizations.” The post TAA on Site for Saratoga Races, Sales appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Thursday's Observations features a seven-figure sales graduate. 14.40 Sandown, Mdn, £10,000, 2yo, 7fT Godolphin's RULING COURT (Justify) caused a stir when realising a whopping €2.3-million at this year's Arqana Breeze-Up sale and makes his eagerly awaited debut in a contest won in recent years by Arabian Crown (Fr) (Dubawi {Ire}), Nostrum (GB) (Kingman {GB}) and Kameko (Kitten's Joy). The Charlie Appleby trainee, a $150,000 Keeneland September pinhook by Norman Williamson, is out of the Grade III-placed Inchargeofme (GB) (High Chaparral {Ire}) and encounters one dozen opponents in this one-turn test. 14.30 Doncaster, Nov, £6,800, 2yo, 7f 6yT Wathnan Racing's DAMYSUS (GB) (Frankel {GB}), a 460,000gns Tattersalls October Book 1 acquisition, is kin to a trio of stakes performers produced by G1 Prix Marcel Boussac and G1 Prix de l'Opera third Legerete (Rahy) and is opposed by nine rivals in this debut. They include Victorious Racing's Roger Varian trainee Ride The Thunder (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}), himself a 400,000gns Book 1 graduate, who is out of the dual stakes-placed G1 Irish Oaks sixth Stellar Glow (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}). 17.15 Leopardstown, Mdn, €18,000, 2yo, 8fT Coolmore's DELACROIX (IRE) (Dubawi {Ire}), who possesses a G1 Vincent O'Brien National Stakes entry, is a son of six-time elite-level heroine and dual US champion Tepin (Bernstein) and has Ryan Moore in the plate for this debut. Rivals include his Aidan O'Brien stablemate Scandinavia (Justify), who is a half-brother to G1 Prix Saint-Alary heroine Above The Curve (American Pharoah). 18.20 Leopardstown, Mdn, €25,000, 2yo, f, 7f 57yT Jessica Harrington trainee PROXIMA CENTAURI (IRE) (Circus Maximus {Ire}), twice scratched from seven-furlong heats at this venue, is the second foal produced by multiple Group 1-winning Irish 1000 Guineas heroine Alpha Centauri (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}). Her 17 rivals include Coolmore's $550,000 Keeneland September yearling Medici Venus (Tiz The Law), who is an Aidan O'Brien-trained half to two black-type performers out of GII Adirondack Stakes third Fully Living (Unbridled's Song). 18.45 Newbury, Mdn, £12,000, 2yo, f, 7fT Cheveley Park Stud homebred FORMAL (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) is a daughter of G1 Falmouth Stakes heroine Veracious (GB) (Frankel {GB}) and faces a reduced field of seven in this unveiling. Opposition includes Juddmonte's Sir Michael Stoute stablemate Polygram (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire}), who is out of a half-sister to GI Breeders' Cup Mile-winning sire Expert Eye (GB) (Acclamation {GB}). The post €2.3m Arqana Breeze-Up Sensation Set For Sandown Debut appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Thursday's stakes action centres on a trio of juvenile heats at Leopardstown and Sandown, with runaway Listed Chesham Stakes victrix and 'TDN Rising Star' Bedtime Story (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) the star attraction in the G3 Jockey Club of Turkey Silver Flash Stakes over an extended seven furlongs at the Foxrock track. The five-runner field also features her Aidan O'Brien stablemate Exactly (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) and last month's G2 Airlie Stud Stakes fourth Barnavara (Ire) (Calyx {GB}), from the Jessica Harrington yard. Ballydoyle is also represented by another 'TDN Rising Star' morning-line favourite in the Japan Racing Association Tyros Stakes. The twice-raced Surpass (Ire) (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}) justified odds-on favouritism when notching an impressive three-length triumph at Tipperary last month and will head postward at cramped odds for the second of two Group 3 contests on the card. He is set to be accompanied by stablemate Swagman (Ger) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), who claimed a narrow victory at Naas earlier in the month, and Joseph O'Brien trainee Scorthy Champ (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}), who comes back off a 69-day break after shedding maiden status at this venue in May. The six-runner-field also includes Newtown Anner Stud's undefeated homebred Beckman (Ire) (Beckford {GB}). Aidan O'Brien is the winningmost trainer in both contests, with 13 prior victories in the Silver Flash and a whopping 16 wins in the Tyros. All but one of 11 entries for Sandown's Listed EBN Star Stakes are previous winners with Juddmonte's likely favourite Flaming Stone (GB) (Kingman {GB}) seeking to confirm the promise of an impressive four-length tally in a Newbury novices' heat last month. “She won well and it might not have been the strongest contest, but she hit the line well and the runner-up ran well next time when second at Newmarket,” commented Juddmonte racing manager Barry Mahon. “She looked good and Oisin Murphy was very complimentary of her. It's the next stepping stone now, into stakes company, and she will hopefully go there and have a good chance. It's a lovely time on the calendar for her to try for some black type and then there's a whole host of lovely fillies' Group races coming up later in the year. Hopefully she will be able to step up to this kind of level and then we can keep moving up the ladder slowly.” The Andrew Balding trainee's opponents include the hitherto undefeated Anshoda (Ire) (Inns Of Court {Ire}), The Terminus (Ire) (Too Darn Hot {GB}) and Del Ray (GB) (Kameko), with the latter bidding to become her freshman sire's first black-type scorer. The post Bedtime Story The Star Attraction As Juveniles Take Centre Stage At Leopardstown And Sandown appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

This year marks the 150th anniversary since legendary jockey Fred Archer was first named champion jockey, and a one-off guided tour will be offered on Sept. 4 to celebrate the milestone, Discover Newmarket announced on Wednesday. The tour will investigate the close ties between Archer and Newmarket, with his great granddaughter, Diana Reynolds, providing details on Archer's life. On the tour, there will be a visit of Sir Mark Prescott's yard, Heath House Stables, where Archer began as an apprentice, and a guided visit by trainer James Fanshawe of his Pegasus Stables, formerly Falmouth House which Archer built as a trainer's yard. Tickets to the event cost £120 per person and are bookable through Discover Newmarket. Reynolds, will also sign copies of her book Just One More Smile: Fred & Helen Archer's Tragic Love Story at the National Horseracing Museum at the end of the tour. To learn more about the tour, please visit Discover Newmarket's website. The post Fred Archer Tour To Be Offered By Discover Newmarket appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The Graham Lee IJF Fund Stable Staff Stakes, sponsored by Sky Bet, will take place on Friday, July 26 in support of the Injured Jockeys' Fund and Graham Lee, Thirsk Racecourse announced on Wednesday. The race sees 10 volunteers from racing yards compete in a one-mile 'hands and heels' race. The riders will be led up by professional jockeys, with all participants having agreed to meet the minimum sponsorship obligation of £500. A Grand National-winning rider, Lee prevailed in 2004 aboard Amberleigh House (Ire) (Buckskin {Fr}). He also won the 2015 G1 Gold Cup aboard Trip To Paris (Ire) (Champs Elysees {GB}). The 48-year-old sustained life-changing injuries after a fall at Newcastle last November. For more information on the charity race, please visit the Thirsk Racecourse website. Race organiser Adele Mulrennan said, “We did this a few years ago before lockdown, raising funds for Racing Welfare, and it was a great success. It was a chance for the jockeys to show their appreciation for stable staff, so we came up with the idea of swapping roles, with stable staff riding in the race and jockeys leading them up. “I have been chatting to a few jockeys this year, who said they have not had a chance to get behind any of the fundraising for Graham Lee. They were keen to do something, so I said why don't we do this again, except this time raising funds for the Injured Jockeys Fund and Graham.” The post Graham Lee Charity Race Scheduled For Thirsk On July 26 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

A total of 465 yearlings have been catalogued for the fourth edition of the Tattersalls Somerville Yearling Sale, which will be held over two days at Park Paddocks for the first time this year. The opening session starts at 10am on Monday, September 2. Graduates of the Somerville Yearling Sale include Anisette (GB) (Awtaad {Ire}), who started her career in Britain after being bought for 26,000 guineas back in 2021. She later joined Leonard Powell in the US and was last seen gaining her third top-level win in the Gamely Stakes at Santa Anita in May. Anisette joins Bradsell (GB) (Tasleet {GB}), successful in last year's King's Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot, as top-level winning graduates. Bradsell sold for 12,000 guineas, also in 2021, while last year Arabian Dusk (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}) was picked up for 80,000 guineas. She went on to fetch 525,000 guineas at the Tattersalls Craven Breeze-up Sale and recently showed her top-class potential when winning the G2 Duchess Of Cambridge Stakes at Newmarket's July Festival. The catalogue for this year's sale includes full- or half-siblings to 77 Group and Listed performers, plus 66 yearlings out of mares who achieved Group or Listed black type while racing. Highlights include lot 235, a half-sister to the GI Natalma Stakes winner La Pelosa (Ire) (Dandy Man {Ire}) by Earthlight (Ire); lot 279, a half-brother to last weekend's G2 Sapphire Stakes heroine Believing (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) by Inns Of Court (Ire); lot 156, a colt by Lucky Vega (Ire) out of the G2 Queen Mary Stakes scorer Gilded (Ire) (Redback {GB}); and lot 366, a Kameko colt out of the multiple Group 3 winner Rose Of Kildare (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}). All yearlings catalogued will be eligible for the £100,000 Tattersalls Somerville Auction Stakes, as well as the £150,000 Tattersalls October Auction Stakes. In addition, 110 fillies are registered for the Great British Bonus scheme and are eligible to win up to £20,000 in bonus prize-money per qualifying race. Tattersalls chairman Edmond Mahony said, “The Tattersalls Somerville Yearling Sale has quickly established itself as a leading source of top-class racehorses with Group 1 winners Anisette and Bradsell leading the way alongside recent Group 2 Duchess Of Cambridge Stakes winner Arabian Dusk. “Ultimately the decision to expand the sale to two days was a straightforward one with the unprecedented demand for places reflecting not only the strength of the first three Tattersalls Somerville Yearling Sales, but also the outstanding racecourse successes. “In terms of quality we are confident that the sale has taken another step forward and Europe's most progressive yearling sale yet again looks set to attract a wide cross-section of domestic and international buyers.” The post Tattersalls Release Catalogue for First Two-Day Somerville Yearling Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Champion and Group 1 sire The Autumn Sun (Aus) (Redoute's Choice {Aus}) will miss the 2024 Southern Hemisphere breeding season as he continues to recover from a pelvic injury, Arrowfield Stud announced on X. “Leading young sire The Autumn Sun will miss the 2024 breeding season after sustaining a pelvic injury in his paddock in late March,” the stud said in a statement. “He has been under close veterinary care and restricted to box rest at Arrowfield since that time. A scan earlier this week revealed his injury is healing but not to the extent necessary for him to be able to serve this coming season. “The Autumn Sun is otherwise in good health and coping well with his recuperation. We are confident he will make a full recovery and resume stud duties in the 2025 season.” The five-time Group 1 winner, whose eldest foals will turn four on Aug. 1, already has six top-level performers to his name. The son of Azmiyna (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) also sired a trio of first-crop Group 1 Classic-winning fillies during the 2023/2024 racing season–Autumn Angel (Aus), Coco Sun (Aus), and Vibrant Sun (Aus). The post The Autumn Sun To Miss 2024 SH Breeding Season, As He Recovers From Pelvic Injury appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Todd Gralla, principal at Populous, will be the keynote speaker at the 72nd annual Round Table Conference on Matters Pertaining to Racing, which will be held Aug. 1 at the Excelsior Springs Event Center in Saratoga Springs. Populous is a global design firm that focuses on sports and entertainment, from stadiums and arenas to event spaces and urban environments. Gralla will discuss cutting-edge racetrack projects around the globe and he will provide a look into the redesign of Belmont Park, which attempts to integrate modern technology into racetrack operations, while retaining the traditions of Thoroughbred racing. Joe Asher, the chair of the board of the Wilson Center and the former CEO of William Hill US and president of IGT's PlaySports business, will present on the intersection of horse racing and sports betting, and Meghan Rodgers, senior vice president of Public Affairs, National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA), will give an overview of the NTRA's Safety Runs First campaign. Gary Fenton, managing partner of Little Red Feather Racing, and a member of The Jockey Club, will cover the present and future of California racing, and Dionne Benson, chief veterinary officer, 1/ST Racing, will share how California has improved the safety of its athletes, including the use of cutting-edge technology at the track. The presentations will begin with an update on The Jockey Club and its companies by president and COO, James L. Gagliano. Stuart S. Janney III, chairman of The Jockey Club, will preside over the conference, which begins at 10 a.m. ET. It will be livestreamed on The Jockey Club's website at jockeyclub.com. The website will also post a full agenda and bios of speakers in advance of the conference. The post Todd Gralla to be Keynote Speaker at Round Table Conference appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Every week, the TDN posts a round-up of the relevant Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA) related rulings from around the country. Among this week's rulings, trainer Charles Essex has been suspended for 15 days and fined $1,000 after his trainee, The Golden Egg, tested positive for acepromazine after finishing second at Emerald Downs May 31. A ubiquitous sedative across the nation's backstretches, acepromazine is a Class B controlled medication under HISA, a maximum first-time violation for which is what the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Unit (HIWU) meted out to Essex. NEW HISA/HIWU STEWARDS RULINGS The following rulings were reported on HISA's “rulings” portal and through the HIWU “pending” and “resolved” cases portals. Resolved ADMC Violations Date: 07/23/2024 Licensee: Ernesto Padilla-Preciado, trainer Penalty: A fine of $500; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points. Admission. Explainer: Vets' list medication violation for the presence of Phenylbutazone—Controlled Medication (Class C)—in a sample taken from Dontinvademyspace on 6/21/24. Date: 07/22/2024 Licensee: Victor Barboza, trainer Penalty: Disqualification of Covered Horse's Race results, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); a fine of $500; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points. Admission. Explainer: Medication violation for the presence of Dantrolene—Controlled Medication (Class C)—in a sample taken from Tiffany Gold, who won at Gulfstream Park on 5/12/24. Date: 07/18/2024 Licensee: Charles Essex, trainer Penalty: 15-day period of Ineligibility for Covered Person, beginning on July 19, 2024; Disqualification of Covered Horse's Race results, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); a fine of $1,000; imposition of 2 Penalty Points. Final decision by HIWU. Explainer: Medication violation for the presence of Acepromazine—Controlled Medication (Class B)—in a sample taken from The Golden Egg, who finished second at Emerald Downs on 5/31/24. Pending ADMC Violations 07/23/2024, Saul Morales, trainer: Intra-articular injection within 7 days of a timed and reported workout on the horse Condemnation on 7/2/24. 07/23/2024, Paul McEntee, trainer: Pending vets' list medication violation for the presence of Aminocaproic Acid—Controlled Medication (Class C)—in a sample taken from Honors Legacy on 6/18/24. 07/23/2024, Fernando Abreu, trainer: Pending medication violation for the use or attempted use of Magnesium sulfate and Methylsalicylate—Controlled Medications (Class B and C respectively)—during the race period from an event dated 6/16/24. 07/22/2024, Juan Carlos Avila, trainer: Intra-articular injection within 7 days of a timed and reported workout on the horse Little Vic on 6/29/24. 07/22/2024, Carlos Martin, trainer: Intra-articular injection within 7 days of a timed and reported workout on the horse Autumn on 6/27/24. 07/22/2024, Tom Amoss, trainer: Intra-articular injection within 7 days of a timed and reported workout on the horse Baa De Yah on 6/26/24. 07/22/2024, Aaron Shorter, trainer: Pending vets' list medication violation for the presence of Phenylbutazone—Controlled Medication (Class C)—in a sample taken from Business as Usual on 6/18/24. 07/22/2024, Paul McEntee, trainer: Pending medication violation for the presence of Cetirizine—Controlled Medication (Class C)—in a sample taken from Thirsty Accountant, who finished second at Belterra Park on 6/5/24. 07/19/2024, Christopher Davis, trainer: Pending medication violation for the presence of Flunixin—Controlled Medication (Class C)—in a sample taken from Papa Yo, who finished fifth at Hawthorne on 5/18/24. 07/19/2024, William Mott, trainer: Pending medication violation for the presence of Flunixin—Controlled Medication (Class C)—in a sample taken from Authorize, who was euthanized after pulling up in a race at Aqueduct on 4/26/24. 07/19/2024, Mike Puype, trainer: Provisional suspension for the possession of Isoxsuprine and Levothyroxine—banned substances—from an event dated 4/24/24. More on the story here. 07/18/2024, Raymond Handal, trainer: Medication violation for the presence of Betamethasone—Controlled Medication (Class C)—in a sample taken from He Has it All, who finished second at Aqueduct on 5/18/24. Violations of Crop Rule One important note: HISA's whip use limit is restricted to six strikes during a race. COLONIAL DOWNS Monica McGoey – violation date July 19; $500 fine, no other information available DELAWARE PARK Kirsten Swan – violation date July 20; 5250 fine and one-day suspension DEL MAR Joe Talamo – violation date July 20; 5250 fine and one-day suspension, 2 strikes over limit SARATOGA John Ortiz – violation date July 19; $500 fine, no other information available Danilo Rave – violation date July 19; $500 fine and one-day suspension THISTLEDOWN Roberto Perez – violation date July 18; 5250 fine and one-day suspension The TDN also publishes a round-up of key official rulings from the primary tracks within the four major racing jurisdictions of California, New York, Florida and Kentucky. Here's a primer on how each of these jurisdictions adjudicates different offenses, what they make public (or not) and where. CALIFORNIA Del Mar Date: 07/20/2024 Licensee: Ron Brewer, owner Penalty: Owner Ron E. Brewer, having failed to respond to written notice to appear before the Board of Stewards at Del Mar Race Track on July 18, 2024, is suspended for violation of California Horse Racing Board rule #1547 (Failure to Appear), pending an appearance at a hearing before the Board of Stewards to answer to charges alleging violation of CHRB rule #1876 (Financial Responsibility $773.62 to Veterinarian San Dieguito Equine Group-Dr. Manno). Suspension to commence July 27, 2024. Del Mar Antonio Fresu – violation date July 21; Five-day suspension, careless riding The post Weekly Rulings: July 18-24 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The ballot-free run to the Melbourne Cup of Mark Twain (NZ) (Shocking) will begin in the Victorian capital next month, with four lead-in runs planned for the quality Kiwi stayer. OTI Racing director Terry Henderson said on Tuesday that the son of Shocking will campaign solely in Melbourne in the lead-up to the November 5 Flemington feature, with his final lead-in run likely to come in the Group 3 Geelong Cup (2400m) on October 23. The winner of the Roy Higgins Quality at Flemington in March is expected to have his first run for the campaign for trainer Roger James on August 17 in a handicap at Caulfield. “We have that race in mind on the 17th of August to kick him off and then it’s into a 1700-metre race at Flemington on Makybe Diva Stakes Day (September 15), before we aim up at a Turnbull (October 5),” Henderson said. “That leaves us with a possible Geelong Cup run to prime him for Flemington.” View the full article

Welcome to the Entain Edition for July 2024. We’ve been flat to the boards across Australia and New Zealand getting our new brand and website/app ready for launch in only a few short weeks now. The launch of betcha (detailed below) will put an exclamation point on a huge season of transformation here at Entain. We can’t wait to get stuck into promoting and selling some of the excellent racing and sport content coming up and showing all of our stakeholders and customers what our new betting and media platforms can truly do. I had the fortune last week to spend some time with Dr Elliot Forbes, the new CEO of the Racing Integrity Board. Dr Forbes’ ambition for the Board, and his areas of immediate focus gave me great confidence – and reminded me how fortunate we are to have a truly independent body charged with ensuring racing operates with the highest integrity, and with a level playing field for all participants. On a related note, we were very pleased to see the Sports Integrity Commission (Te Kahu Raunui) officially open its doors this month. Customers having the confidence that both racing and sport in this country are clean and free from corruption is critical to its long-term sustainability, and we believe New Zealand can be world-leading in this space. As always, you are welcome to share or forward this newsletter to anyone in the industry who you think might like to read this. They can sign up to receive the Entain Edition directly by contacting . The winners of the first ever Industry Excellence Awards will be announced at a function in Auckland on Sunday. For a list of the finalists, check out the media release from earlier this month, and we’ll look to profile some of the category winners and the overall Entain Excellence Award winner across various outlets in the next few weeks. We share regular updates on LinkedIn around what’s happening in the world of Entain Australia & New Zealand. If you’re on LinkedIn, keep up to date by following us. Entain team profile Name: Simon Godber Role: General Manager – Retail NZ Time with Entain: 14 months What excites you about the strategic partnership: It is obviously very difficult to pinpoint just one thing. However, a couple of key aspects for me are: Access to deeper talent pools right across the business, enabling us to deliver meaningful changes for our customers at record speed; At a team level, it is extremely exciting to be able to make a deeper investment into the retail network than would have been possible without the strategic partnership, with the intention of genuinely transforming New Zealand into the best physical wagering experience in the world What race, event or opportunity are you most looking forward to in NZ racing in the next 12 months? Without a doubt, the inaugural running of Champions Day in 2025 and The NZB Kiwi. The race card is like no other in New Zealand and will make for an unbelievable day’s racing and raceday experience with some of the best talent (horses and jockeys) across New Zealand and Australia on display. View the full article

Crocetti pictured with trainers Danny Walker (left) and Arron Arron Tata, and owner-breeder Daniel Nakhle. Photo: Race Images South This season’s standout three-year-old Crocetti made a pleasing start to his spring preparation on Tuesday at the Cambridge Synthetic trials, closing late to finish second in his 800m heat, and he could be in for a lucrative spring preparation. The Daniel Nakhle-bred and raced gelding won six of his seven starts this term, including the Group 1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m), Group 3 Northland Breeders’ Stakes (1200m), Group 2 James and Annie Sarten Memorial (1400m), Group 3 Almanzor Trophy (1200m), and was runner-up in the Group 1 BCD Group Sprint (1400m). “I am just proud of the horse and the way he came through it all, he just took it in his stride, nothing fazed him,” said Danny Walker, who trains the gelding in partnership with Arron Tata. “We got beaten in the last run, but he was beaten on his merits and beaten by a horse (Bonny Lass) who deserved it.” Walker and Tata have been pleased with how Crocetti has returned, which was further enhanced following his first public outing this preparation on Tuesday. “He is heading in the right direction,” Walker said. “He had a really good spell, he was out for three-and-a-half months so I am mindful that when he gets back to the races, it will be six months without a race.” Crocetti is set to return to the trials before a possible tilt at the Group 1 Tarzino Trophy (1400m) at Hastings in September. “The plan is to go to the Tarzino, weather permitting,” Walker said. “I would be reluctant to run him on a heavy track. Should he not go there, he will probably go to Australia, and we are mindful that Sydney can get some wet tracks too. We just have to play the weather game. “There are some nice races over there in the spring, but also some very good horses, so we have got to be on our game.” One of those races is the $10 million Golden Eagle (1500m) at Rosehill in November, which is the ultimate aim for Crocetti. “The dream has always been the Golden Eagle, but how we get there and whether we are good enough to get there is another thing,” Walker said. “I think he is good enough to try races like that but you have got to be going 100 percent.” Horse racing news View the full article

Group One performer Red Sea. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images) A pair of exciting young prospects from Andrew Forsman’s stable are in the running to strut their stuff in Melbourne this spring. Stakes performers Red Sea and Yaldi were among a number of the Cambridge trainer’s team in action at Tuesday’s trial meeting on their home synthetic course. The two-year-olds stepped out in a juvenile heat over 950m and they dominated the finish, with Red Sea getting in the bob by a slender margin under rider Warren Kennedy. “We would like to see how Red Sea trials on a rain-affected track at Te Rapa in a couple of weeks, so that will be the next step for him,” Forsman said. “How he handles that, and Warren’s feedback, will determine whether we give him a run here or go straight to Melbourne. “I know the connections would like to consider a Melbourne spring campaign with him.” Raced by breeders Cambridge Stud, the son of Pierro has won once from five appearances and was last seen when runner-up in the Group 1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m). “He looks to be coming up really well and the first target (in Melbourne) could be the Danehill Stakes (Group 2, 1200m),” Forsman said. Ardrossan’s lightly son Yaldi has already made his presence felt across the Tasman with a third placing in the Listed Anzac Day Stakes (1400m) at Flemington in April, following his winning debut at Pukekohe Park. “Again, we’re going to have to see how he trials at Te Rapa and then make a call whether he’s best placed here in the spring if he handles rain-affected ground,” Forsman said. “There are also a number of good options for him in Melbourne, so post his next trial we will sit down and make a plan.” Stable stalwart Aegon, who is closing in on $2 million in career earnings, was spelled after he ran second in the Group 1 Otaki-Maori WFA Classic (1600m) and his placing in an open 950m trial showed he was making good progress. “He went very well and is another who will trial again at Te Rapa and we just have to wait and see what the weather will do,” Forsman said. “We would love to give him a run or two here, he’ll handle wet ground but we don’t want to run him on a bottomless track and it will be down to weather and track conditions what we then do with him. “It is exciting to see some of the better horses out and doing a bit and gives you a feeling that some good races aren’t too far away. “It’s nice to have options for all of them and knowing that if the tracks are going to be wet here for the next two or three months then we have the back-up option of getting them to Melbourne.” Five-time winner St Bathans was successful in his open 950m heat in the Maurice five-year-old’s first outing since he ran third in the Group 3 Easter Handicap (1600m). “He was super and he’s still relatively well rated so we’ll probably just chip away with him here in his grade,” Forsman said. “He handles the rain-affected surfaces well and we’ll look at handicap miles, perhaps the Matamata Cup (Listed, 1600m) or the Merial Metric Mile at Awapuni.” Horse racing news View the full article

Leading jockey Michael McNab has been sidelined with injury. Photo: Peter Rubery (Race Images Palmerston North) Champion rider Michael McNab will be sidelined by injury for an indefinite period. After his first ride at Tuesday’s trial meeting on the synthetic track at Cambridge, the two-time National Jockeys’ Premiership winner was unable to fulfil his remaining commitments due to severe back pain. “He had his first ride and afterwards he was in agony and obviously couldn’t carry on,” McNab’s agent Aidan Rodley said. “He went to pack up his gear and couldn’t even do that, (trainer) Colm Murray had to help him.” McNab was taken to hospital and X-rays revealed a fractured vertebra, which is thought to stem back to a fall on June 15 at Te Rapa, where he parted company in the straight with the Stephen Marsh-trained favourite Takeshi. Following the incident, apprentice Ngakau Hailey pleaded guilty to a charge of careless riding and was handed a month’s suspension. At that stage, McNab was in the running to retain his premiership crown, but in his absence after the fall, Warren Kennedy gained a break in the chase for the title. “We thought Michael was on track to be winning his third premiership in a row at the time of the fall,” Rodley said. “He had twice come from a long, long way behind. He was 15 behind and 19 behind earlier on to come back and square up with Warren.” McNab has nevertheless enjoyed another terrific season with 124 winners and five at Group or Listed level, with his mounts earning more than $4 million in prizemoney. “I would say a highlight would be riding a stakes winner (Maharba, Listed Hareeba Stakes, 1200m) for Grahame Begg at Mornington,” Rodley said. “That’s the second year in a row that Michael has gone to Australia and won a stakes race. “He’s getting very few opportunities over there, but he’s showed he’s up with the best in Australasia.” Last season, McNab combined with the Barry Lockwood-trained Petronius to claim top honours the Listed Lightning Handicap (1000m) at Eagle Farm. Horse racing news View the full article

Champion rider Michael McNab will be sidelined by injury for an indefinite period. After his first ride at Tuesday’s trial meeting on the synthetic track at Cambridge, the two-time National Jockeys’ Premiership winner was unable to fulfil his remaining commitments due to severe back pain. “He had his first ride and afterwards he was in agony and obviously couldn’t carry on,” McNab’s agent Aidan Rodley said. “He went to pack up his gear and couldn’t even do that, (trainer) Colm Murray had to help him.” McNab was taken to hospital and X-rays revealed a fractured vertebra, which is thought to stem back to a fall on June 15 at Te Rapa where he parted company in the straight with the Stephen Marsh-trained favourite Takeshi. Following the incident, apprentice Ngakau Hailey pleaded guilty to a charge of careless riding and was handed a month’s suspension. At that stage, McNab was in the running to retain his premiership crown, but in his absence after the fall Warren Kennedy gained a break in the chase for the title. “We thought Michael was on track to be winning his third premiership in a row at the time of the fall,” Rodley said. “He had twice come from a long, long way behind. He was 15 behind and 19 behind earlier on to come back and square up with Warren.” McNab has nevertheless enjoyed another terrific season with 124 winners and five at Group or Listed level, with his mounts earning more than $4 million in prizemoney. “I would say a highlight would be riding a stakes winner (Maharba, Listed Hareeba Stakes, 1200m) for Grahame Begg at Mornington,” Rodley said. “That’s the second year in a row that Michael has gone to Australia and won a stakes race. “He’s getting very few opportunities over there, but he’s showed he’s up with the best in Australasia. ”Last season, McNab combined with the Barry Lockwood-trained Petronius to claim top honours the Listed Lightning Handicap (1000m) at Eagle Farm. View the full article

John Bell has always had plenty of time for Spanish Lad and his patience has paid off with the well-bred three-year-old breaking maidens comfortably in the Martin Collins New Zealand MAAT 1550 at Cambridge Synthetic on Wednesday. A son of Shocking out of Group One performer Celebrity Miss, Spanish Lad had a trio of races in the spring period but took until the following winter to show his true capabilities. Fresh-up over 1300m on the synthetic surface, he ran on with merit and was suited to the step-up in distance a fortnight later. Ridden assertively out of the gates by Sam Spratt, Spanish Lad settled into the trialling position behind pacemaker Miss Bee and eased off the rail as the field rolled down the back straight. Spratt began to press the gelding turning for home and he showed a strong kick to pull away from Claimed Gift and Lemon Curd, who chased gamely to fill the minors. Bell praised the ride of Spratt and was pleased to see his expectations being met by Spanish Lad. “Sam got him out of the gates really well, so he was in an attacking position right from the start,” Bell said. “When he swung into the straight, she had him off the rail and he did what was expected, to run on. He did that in his last start, ran home beautifully from back in the field. “He’s a beautifully bred horse, he’s got a big future because he’s still a youngster. “We’ll see what happens from here, he’ll let us know. We won’t be pushed at all because he’s still immature.” Spanish Lad was bred and is raced by Elizabeth Martin, while Celebrity Miss was bred by her late mother Ada Parnwell. The Civics mare won seven races including the Listed Jakkalberry Classic (1950m) and placed in the 2015 Gr.1 Livamol Classic (2040m) behind Addictive Habit. Bell will be represented by two runners at Rotorua on Thursday, with Ata Rangi reverting back to the flat after making a solid debut over hurdles at Hastings in late June. A winner of five races on the flat, the son of Haradasun will contest the Have Your Function At Arawa Park 1950 with Ryan Elliot in the saddle. “He’s very fit and the ground will suit him. He’s been over the hurdles and is a gutsy horse who always tries,” Bell said. Also wearing the stable’s familiar lime green and maroon silks will be Hot Salsa, who will be out for an improved run among a small field in the Sherlock Contracting 1400. “Hot Salsa has a huge amount of talent but has never had any luck in his entire racing career. It’s always been one thing or another with him,” Bell said. “We’re pulling some weight off him with a very nice rider in Triston (Moodley) claiming two kilograms, so hopefully we can get a positive result for him as well.” View the full article

A pair of exciting young prospects from Andrew Forsman’s stable are in the running to strut their stuff in Melbourne this spring. Stakes performers Red Sea and Yaldi were among a number of the Cambridge trainer’s team in action at Tuesday’s trial meeting on their home synthetic course. The two-year-olds stepped out in a juvenile heat over 950m and they dominated the finish with Red Sea getting in the bob by a slender margin under rider Warren Kennedy. “We would like to see how Red Sea trials on a rain-affected track at Te Rapa in a couple of weeks, so that will be the next step for him,” Forsman said. “How he handles that, and Warren’s feedback, will determine whether we give him a run here or go straight to Melbourne. “I know the connections would like to consider a Melbourne spring campaign with him.” Raced by breeders Cambridge Stud, the son of Pierata has won once from five appearances and was last seen when runner-up in the Gr.1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m). “He looks to be coming up really well and the first target (in Melbourne) could be the Danehill Stakes (Gr.2, 1200m),” Forsman said. Ardrossan’s lightly son Yaldi has already made his presence felt across the Tasman with a third placing in the Listed Anzac Day Stakes (1400m) at Flemington in April following his winning debut at Pukekohe Park. “Again, we’re going to have to see how he trials at Te Rapa and then make a call whether he’s best placed here in the spring if he handles rain-affected ground,” Forsman said. “There are also a number of good options for him in Melbourne, so post his next trial we will sit down and make a plan.” Stable stalwart Aegon, who is closing in on $2 million in career earnings, was spelled after he ran second in the Gr.1 Otaki-Maori WFA Classic (1600m) and his placing in an open 950m trial showed he was making good progress. “He went very well and is another who will trial again at Te Rapa and we just have to wait and see what the weather will do,” Forsman said. “We would love to give him a run or two here, he’ll handle wet ground but we don’t want to run him on a bottomless track and it will be down to weather and track conditions what we then do with him. “It is exciting to see some of the better horses out and doing a bit and gives you a feeling that some good races aren’t too far away. “It’s nice to have options for all of them and knowing that if the tracks are going to be wet here for the next two or three months then we have the back-up option of getting them to Melbourne.” Five-time winner St Bathans was successful in his open 950m heat in the Maurice five-year-old’s first outing since he ran third in the Gr.3 Easter Handicap (1600m). “He was super and he’s still relatively well rated so we’ll probably just chip away with him here in his grade,” Forsman said. “He handles the rain-affected surfaces well and we’ll look at handicap miles, perhaps the Matamata Cup (Listed, 1600m) or the Merial Metric Mile at Awapuni.” View the full article

Casino Princess (NZ) (Casino Prince) earned her first stakes-level crown last month and Cliff Goss is eyeing a bigger prize with the talented five-year-old. Casino Princess has been one of the finds of the winter, placing and winning at Rating 75 grade on four occasions before a comfortable success in the Listed Tauranga Classic (1400m) on June 22, much to the delight of her locally-based trainer. “It was great, she really deserved it because she’s a very kind filly who anyone can ride and she always tries. I was very happy with her,” Goss said. “She’s done really well, she hadn’t had a race for quite a while when she won that and since then she’s really come ahead.” The victory gave Goss plenty to consider heading into the spring with his mare, and with the Gr.2 Waikato Stud Foxbridge Plate (1200m) looming on August 24, the Arawa Park Hotel Rotorua 1230 at Rotorua’s rescheduled meeting on Thursday was deemed the suitable option. “I galloped her on Monday, I like to give them three days after to ensure they’re nice and fresh. She worked really well so she hasn’t done much since then, she had a little canter around this morning,” he said. “It was the only race we could put her in really, we want to go to the Foxbridge Plate which is also at 1200. “I would’ve liked her to run at 1400, but I’ve freshened her up a bit and she’s won at the distance before earlier on. “I think she’s more of a miler now, she’s gotten stronger and matured a lot. I believe she could win a race like an Easter Handicap (Gr.3, 1600m). We’ll definitely look to get her out to that distance in the spring, but we only have the shorter distances in open grade at this stage available for her.” The daughter of Casino Prince had a significant rating boost after winning the feature contest, placing her on top of the book at open handicap conditions with 60 kilograms, decreased by Triston Moodley’s two-kilogram claim. “She had 60 kilos, so I thought that was just about as much as she’ll handle,” Goss said. “Michael McNab, who was meant to ride her got hurt, so I took the opportunity to get a claimer on which brings her down to 58, which she has won with before. “He (Moodley) is a good rider too, he’s right up there with the top ones.” View the full article