Wandering Eyes

Racetracks across the country will pay tribute to National Disability Independence Day and raise awareness and funds for the Jockeys' Guild and Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund (PDJF) the week of July 27. Racetracks will host activities this upcoming Saturday, while several racetracks that do not host live racing on that day will be participating on another date during the week. Fans and industry participants may contribute to the PDJF at www.PDJF.org. “I am honored by how this sport and the racing fans have given so much to me both before and after my injury in 1978,” said Triple Crown-winning rider Ron Turcotte. “One of the things I am most proud of is being affiliated with the PDJF and the work that the PDJF is able to provide permanently disabled jockeys. This work would not be possible without the support of the jockeys and all involved in hosting Jockeys Across America Day at racetracks around the country.” Jockeys are expected to participate in various activities to support the PDJF while paying tribute to National Disability Independence Day, which marks the 34th anniversary of the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The post Tracks, Jockeys Pay Tribute to PDJF July 27 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Liable (Seeking the Gold–Bound, by Nijinsky II), the dam of GI Breeders' Cup Classic winner Blame (Arch), died July 19 due to the infirmities of old age. She was 29. A homebred for Claiborne Farm, in partnership with Nicole Perry Gorman, Liable was out of the Grade I-placed Bound, who herself was bred by and raced for Claiborne. Adele Dilschneider later assumed Gorman's place in the partnership prior to Liable's racing career. Multiple stakes-placed on the track, Liable retired to the Claiborne broodmare band in 2000. Her first foal, Apt (A.P. Indy), is the dam of graded winner Carve (First Samurai) and stakes winners Sloane Avenue (Candy Ride {Arg}) and Apropos (First Samurai). Liable produced Blame in 2006. The bay won the 2010 GI Whitney Handicap and GI Stephen Foster Stakes before famously capping his career with a narrow victory over Zenyatta in the GI Breeders' Cup Classic. He was named the season's champion older male and his exploits earned Liable the title of broodmare of the year. Blame now resides as a stallion at Claiborne Farm, where he has sired six Grade I winners and is the broodmare sire of 2022 champion 2-year-old colt Forte (Violence), as well as 2024 graded/group stakes winners Switzerland (Aus) (Speightstown), Honor D Lady (Honor Code), and Tiny Temper (Arrogate). Liable is also the dam of multiple stakes winner Tend (Dynaformer). In all, she produced five winners from six total foals. Claiborne's broodmare band currently includes Liable's daughter Might, a full-sister to Blame, who produced a War of Will filly in 2024. Liable will be buried in Claiborne Farm's Marchmont Cemetery. The post Liable, Dam of Blame, Dies at 29 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The lack of top-class talent in this season's sprint division was laid bare by Timeform on Tuesday as the organisation revealed that the class of 2024 currently rank well below the 10 highest-rated sprinters to have raced in Europe since 2015. Australian-trained sprinter Asfoora (Aus) (Flying Artie {Aus}) achieved a rating of 122 when winning the King Charles III Stakes at Royal Ascot, a figure that was matched this month by Mill Stream (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}) when he gained his first Group 1 success in the July Cup at Newmarket, making them the joint highest-rated sprinters to have raced in Britain and Ireland this season. However, the overall weakness of the division is underlined by the fact that a Timeform rating of 122 still leaves that pair well adrift of Caravaggio, Ten Sovereigns (Ire) and Merchant Navy (Aus), who all achieved a rating of 126 and share joint-tenth position in the list of top sprinters since 2015. Top of the list is four-time Group 1 winner Battaash (Ire) with a rating of 136, with fellow Charlie Hills trainee Muhaarar (GB) next on 134 having also won four contests at the top level during a sparkling three-year-old campaign in 2015. July Cup and Sprint Cup scorer Harry Angel (Ire) is best of the rest in third on 132. A feature of the top three is that they all managed to win a Group 1 in open company at three, something this year's Commonwealth Cup hero Inisherin (GB) (Shamardal) (120) failed to manage when sent off the 11-8 favourite for the July Cup. Inisherin now shares top spot among this season's highest-rated three-year-old sprinters with King Charles III Stakes third Big Evs (Ire) (Blue Point {Ire}), with last weekend's Hackwood Stakes winner Elite Status (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}) next on 118. Last year's champion sprinter was Shaquille (GB) with a Timeform rating of 123, but it's now been five years–going back to Battaash's peak in 2019–since a European-based sprinter achieved a rating in excess of 128. Incidentally, it's been the same story across the range of distances so far this season, with that rating of 128 yet to be surpassed by any horse trained in Britain and Ireland. Gold Cup victor Kyprios (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Tattersalls Gold Cup winner White Birch (GB) (Ulysses {Ire}) currently top the Timeform standings on exactly 128, closely followed by Derby and Coral-Eclipse scorer City Of Troy (Justify) on 127p–the 'p' attached to his rating denotes that he remains open to improvement–and the six-time Group 1 winner Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) on 127, who heads the betting for Saturday's G1 King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Qipco Stakes at Ascot. Progressive four-year-old Passenger (Ulysses {Ire}) is another with the potential to improve on a rating of 126p, while Irish 2,000 Guineas and St James's Palace Stakes winner Rosallion (Ire) (Blue Point {Ire}) appears to be City Of Troy's biggest rival in the three-year-old ranks on a rating of 126. The post Sprinting Class of 2024 the Weakest in a Decade According to Timeform appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

When is it the right time to enact a succession plan? Already in this series, we've discussed the obstacles that can come with handing the reins over to the next generation and how families must adjust to a shift in dynamic as roles evolve. But how does a parent know when their son or daughter is sufficiently prepared for the task of running the family business? For Tom Hinkle, it was when he realized that his daughter's abilities surpassed his own. “I recognized that her attention to detail was better than mine,” Hinkle explained. “I'm pretty self-disciplined, but she's very disciplined.” Tom's daughter Anne Archer Hinkle is quick to interject into the conversation, saying she's not sure that's exactly fair, but her new credentials speak for themselves. Last fall, Anne Archer took over the role of general manager at Hinkle Farms from her father, continuing the tradition of a farm that has been family-run from the beginning. Tom's grandfather purchased the core acreage of their Paris, Kentucky-based operation back in the 1920s to farm cattle and Bluegrass seed. Tom and his siblings grew up on the farm, which was then call Hidaway Farms, and when their father bought a couple of mares in the mid-60s, Tom and his brother Henry were the two that developed an interest in the Thoroughbred business. After Henry graduated college he began managing Hidaway, but eventually moved over to the other family business, Hinkle Contracting Corporation. When Tom graduated from Centre College in 1979, he took over managing the farm and focused on building their reputation as a boarding business while also maintaining the family's own small broodmare band and cattle division. In the 1980s, the operation fell on hard times and Tom made the decision to maintain his leadership role with the farm while also providing for his young family by joining his brother at Hinkle Contracting. Since then, Tom and Henry have worked together to run their family's Thoroughbred division. The business changed its name from Hidaway Farm to Hinkle Farms (the latter being much easier for people to say and spell) and about 15 years ago, they shifted focus from boarding client horses to building their own boutique broodmare band. The property has expanded to over 1,000 acres. Anne Archer visits with Seeking Gabrielle's Constitution filly | Katie Petrunyak In spite of those changes, the family's commitment to their land and the animals raised on it has remained unchanged. Now there is a new generation of Hinkles. Of the 10 cousins that follow Tom and Henry's generation, Tom's daughter Anne Archer was the one who always had a passion for animals. Anne Archer did not grow up with the expectation that she would take over the farm one day. As a child she hoped to become a veterinarian, perhaps someday tending to the farm's variety of equine and bovine constituents. After double majoring in Spanish and History, Anne Archer was working at a small animal clinic when she decided that a career in veterinary medicine was not for her. She realized that most animals did not receive the meticulous care that the Thoroughbreds at her family farm enjoyed. “If I could have just stayed in the back all day and worked with the animals, I would have really enjoyed it,” Anne Archer explained. “But I got really upset seeing the way some animals were treated. It made me think that you should really have some sort of background check before you can take care of animals. I realized I didn't want to feel like I had to convince someone to spend $20 on a medication for their animal.” In 2014, Anne Archer returned to her family's farm. She started out in the office studying racing forms and poring over pedigrees. She researched fillies in the claiming ranks that might make good pinhooking or broodmare prospects. One of her early finds, Denali Dreamscape (Corinthian), has produced two stakes horses bred by Hinkle Farms. The latest was last year's GIII Smarty Jones Stakes third-place finisher Daydreaming Boy (Goldencents). Over the next decade, Anne Archer became increasingly involved in the day-to-day aspects of the farm. She began working alongside her father and uncle during the sales and when it came time to plan stallion matings, she improved the efficiency of their selection process. “I think she really helped us improve what we did analytically in making decisions about matings,” explained Tom. “Some of the things that we did were more by feel and intuition and less by analysis. She has helped develop some metrics and does quite a bit of research.” When Anne Archer took over the role of general manager last year, it was a seamless transition. Tom and Henry are still very much involved in major business decisions, but Anne Archer is the one working closely with farm management and overseeing the day-to-day tasks of the operation. “I did not make a real effort or go out of my way to try to get any of my kids interested,” said Tom. “I'm certainly glad that they are interested, and Anne Archer is in particular, but it's such a hard way to make a living. It can be very challenging emotionally. With most assets, at the end of the day you can lock the doors, turn off the lights and call it a day. Chances are most everything's going to be fine the next morning. With these animals, that's part of it. They're subject to doing anything at any time and despite all the best efforts you make to make sure they're safe, there are things that happen that you can't control.” Tom and Anne Archer both recall a story that illustrates the unpredictability of their chosen profession. In the summer of 2018, a group of yearlings got through the fence in the middle night and were gallivanting down the center of Cane Ridge Road by moonlight before they were all rounded up. One of those youngsters was a daughter of War Front out of the farm's prized broodmare Seeking Gabrielle (Forestry), the dam of champion Nyquist. Thankfully, the filly returned to her stall unscathed. A few weeks later, she was the highest-priced filly to sell at the 2018 Keeneland September Sale, going to Godolphin for $1.75 million. Seeking Gabrielle, who the Hinkle family purchased for $100,000 out of the 2013 Keeneland November Sale immediately after they watched a weanling-aged Nyquist go through the ring just before her, is still the matriarch of Hinkle Farms today. This year she produced a Constitution filly and was bred back to Gun Runner. With around 35 mares bred at Hinkle Farms each year, there can hardly ever be enough hands helping keep the business up and running. As Anne Archer has stepped into her new role, one of her first orders of business has been related to the people on the farm rather than the horses. “I think the most challenging part about running an operation is managing your team of people,” she explained. “With most farms unless you are really, really large, you have to figure out a way to effectively utilize your staff and move them around the farm throughout the year. I think that through those transitions, like when your focus shifts to the yearlings in the summer, it can be easy to lose track of what's happening with the mares and the foals unless you stay really diligent and mindful about basic things that have to happen every day. You have to be disciplined about how you structure your crew and where you put them. You don't necessarily want to put all your best horsemen where the biggest fire is burning because you still have half the farm that needs to be cared for too. Even when you're in the midst of yearling prep, the work doesn't go down on the mare and foal side.” “We have an awesome team on the farm and a great broodmare manager and yearling manager,” she continued. “Because they're so good at what they do, it makes what I do a lot easier.” Through her background in veterinary care, biosecurity is another area where Anne Archer has raised the bar. “Overall, how the farm treated biosecurity 20 or 30 years ago is a lot different,” Tom reflected. “I think Anne Archer would probably say we can do better than what we're doing, but we're doing a heck of a lot better than we ever used to.” A Nyquist filly out of Whoa Nessie (Square Eddie), a full-sister to the dam of Grade I victor Slow Down Andy (Nyquist), enjoys a sunny afternoon at Hinkle Farms | Katie Petrunyak Ever since the devastating effects of rotavirus B began in 2021, Anne Archer has led the charge in the Hinkle Farm team's relentless pursuit of improving their level of biosecurity. “When rotavirus B came out, we reworked how we foal,” she explained. “We built a lot of new paddocks and got these big outdoor lights so we can foal everyone outside. We do still occasionally get sick foals where you do all these diagnostics to figure out what exactly it is and all the tests will show up negative for everything. Every time that we have a sick horse, my mind immediately goes to finding the gap in biosecurity.” One area of focus for Henry and Tom throughout their years of managing the farm was developing mares and their families. They purchased the broodmare Affordable Price (Drouilly {FR}) before the turn of the century and she was responsible for several stakes winners that went on to be producers for Hinkle Farms. One of her daughters Buy the Barrel (E Dubai) raced for Hinkle Farms and won the 2008 GII Allaire DuPont Distaff Stakes before having her own successful breeding career. She was responsible for Indian Bay (Indian Charlie), who is the dam of Hinkle Farms-bred Tarabi (First Samurai)–the third-place finisher in the 2021 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies. “Now Affordable Price is the third dam in some of the yearlings that we sell,” said Tom. “It's been our theory that if we're going to stay in the game as a breeder, rather than sell mares when they get to the top, we keep them. There's certainly risk in doing that, but if Anne Archer and her brother and sister and cousins want to still be in the game when my brothers and I are gone, they've got to have a foundation to build from.” With two children ages four and two and another on the way come October, Anne Archer is in the process of renovating the original home on Hinkle Farms for her family to move into. Soon another generation of Hinkles will be raised on the sprawling acreage of the family's Bourbon County farm. For now, Anne Archer is the only member of her Hinkle generation with a passion for Thoroughbreds, but she hopes that someday, between her siblings, cousins, nieces, nephews and even her own children, that might change. “A lot of them are involved in other aspects of the family business, but everyone is really supportive,” she said. “What makes this so enjoyable for me I think is that I am able to share it with my dad and my uncle. Neither of them are going anywhere anytime soon, but one day I'd like to be out at the sale looking at mares or poring over mating decisions with my family.” “Who knows what the future holds for the next generation down the road?” added Tom. “The main part of the farm has been in our family for over 100 years now and hopefully it will still be with us in another 100 years. I'm proud that we have been able to be in the breeding game and stay in it for a long time. I think statistics can figure out that we've been a breeder of better-than-average racehorses. I'm proud that we have a reputation for integrity where people like buying from us and now I'm proud that we have transitioned into another generation.” With Anne Archer at the helm, the commitment to the horses raised at Hinkle Farms that started back with Tom and Henry is as strong as ever. “Our guiding light when we're trying to make a decision is what is the right thing to do for the horse,” said Anne Archer. “We will always do the right thing by the horse. I never doubt that.” The post ‘Succession’ Presented by Neuman Equine Insurance: Hinkle Farms appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Next week's G1 Qatar Sussex Stakes looks set to be the highlight of Glorious Goodwood, with a clash of the Guineas winners on the cards as Rosallion (Ire) (Blue Point {Ire}) clashes once more with Notable Speech (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}). Rosallion, who was second to Notable Speech in the 2,000 Guineas and then won both the Irish 2,000 Guineas and G1 St James's Palace Stakes, is currently the highest-rated miler in the world and is said by trainer Richard Hannon to be “peaking”. At Goodwood, he is also likely to have to take on his Royal Ascot runner-up Henry Longfellow (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire})once more along with some classy older horses including the G1 Dubai Turf winner Facteur Cheval (Fr) (Ribchester {Ire}). Speaking at a stable visit organised by Goodwood Racecourse, Hannon said, “You always dream and hope that they are something that they are probably not, but this fella is probably everything you could ever dream of. My dad might disagree but I think Rosallion is the best miler we have had and certainly the best since Canford Cliffs. Time will tell whether he is better. “Rosallion has won three Group 1s, including one as a two-year-old, and has got better with every run. He can sometimes be a little bit keen, but he has always been professional. He is in such good nick and has never been moving better. I think he is peaking. He has been a different horse since the 2,000 Guineas and he has turned from a boy to a man as the season has progressed. “The Irish 2,000 Guineas was not run to suit him and that's maybe why he didn't have loads to spare, but he made up loads of ground and clocked 42mph at one stage. We might ride him a little closer to the pace at Goodwood.” He continued, “There were three Guineas winners in the St James's Palace Stakes. For me it was a championship race. This time we are taking on older horses for the first time, so it is a new challenge. I am hoping the track at Goodwood won't be a problem. It is an unknown. The tracks he has run at – Ascot, Newbury, Doncaster, Longchamp, the Curragh – are flat. I am not sure he came down the hill that well at Newmarket, so it is a little bit of a worry.” Hannon is nevertheless relishing the prospect of his stable star's return and said that he hopes Rosallion's owner-breeder, Sheikh Mohammed Obaid, might consider keeping him in training as a four-year-old. “He has always been a bit special,” said Hannon, who also trained the top miler Night Of Thunder (Ire). “You can sometimes be guilty of describing horses how you hope they are rather than what they actually are. I feel this fella has now proved it. He has been massively important to us and the horse of my career so far. I have won Classics and Group 1s but this horse seems a little bit more. “Maybe I didn't appreciate things early in my career as much as I should have. Then when you have a few years when you don't have really good horses, you really miss them. So when you get one again, you are not going to allow the moment to pass you by. He added, “After this race, we might take in a Prix du Moulin and then put him away. Whether he stays in training next year is a decision for Sheikh Mohammed Obaid but I very much hope so.” Hannon confirmed that Wathnan Racing's Haatem (Ire) (Phoenix Of Spain {Ire}), who was runner-up to Rosallion in the Irish 2,000 Guineas and then won the G3 Jersey Stakes, would head to France for his next run. “Haatem will go for the Prix Jacques Le Marois,” he said. “He is reliable, sound and talented, and a Group 1 win will surely come his way soon. He has exceeded expectations and wears his heart on his sleeve.” The post Rosallion to Sussex; Haatem to Jacques le Marois 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 Wednesday at Saratoga: Wednesday, July 24, 2024 Saratoga 2, $90k, 2yo, (S), 5 1/2fT, 1:44 p.m. ET Horse (Sire), Sale, Price ($), Breeze Epitaph (Country House), FTMMAY, 15,000, :10.3 C-Randy Miles, agent; B-Gary Contessa, agent Nonno Joe (Solomini), OBSAPR, 85,000, :10.2 C-Britton Peak, agent; B-Bloodstockadvisors.com, agt J Taisey Pay the Juice (Omaha Beach), OBSMAR, 200,000, :10 C-Eddie Woods, agent; B-August Dawn Farm Strand Road (Astern {Aus}), OBSJUN, 15,000, :10.1 C-Santa Fe Thoroughbreds; B-Blackstone Street Racing The post Summer Breezes, Sponsored By OBS: July 24, 2024 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Colonial Downs has added an extra day of live racing Sept. 4 to its meet to make up for the nine-race card which was cancelled July 12 due to severe weather and excessive rain fall in the New Kent area. The added card on Sept. 4 will kick off a four-day race week to close the 2024 meet, which wraps up with the New Kent County Virginia Derby Day Sept. 7. The GIII New Kent County Virginia Derby headlines a card with $1.3 million in stakes purses, including five other turf stakes. The post Colonial Downs Adds Make-Up Date appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The GIII Southwest Stakes, won by subsequent GI Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan (Goldencents) this year, will be worth $1 million in 2025, Oaklawn Park announced Tuesday. The race was worth $800,000 this year. The second of four Kentucky Derby points races to be contested at Oaklawn, the Southwest will be run Jan. 25 and joins the $1.25-million GII Rebel Stakes and the $1.5-million GI Arkansas Derby as Oaklawn's seven-figure preps for the first race of the Triple Crown. Oaklawn's Derby prep series begins with the Jan. 4 $250,000 Smarty Jones Stakes. The Rebel is scheduled for Feb. 22 and the Arkansas Derby will be run Mar. 29. The Smarty Jones, Southwest and Rebel are run at 1 1/16 miles, while the Arkansas Derby is 1 1/8 miles. Purses for Kentucky Oaks points races at Oaklawn have also increased, with the GIII Honeybee Stakes being bumped $100,000 to $500,000 and the Martha Washington Stakes increased to $300,000. The Martha Washington kicks off the series and will complement the Southwest Stakes Day card. The Honeybee is scheduled to complement the Rebel Stakes Day program. Both serve as preps for the $750,000 GII Fantasy Stakes, which served as a launching pad this year for GI Kentucky Oaks winner Thorpedo Anna (Fast Anna). “With the success of Arkansas-owned Mystik Dan and of Thorpedo Anna, the facts speak for themselves and echo what we've been saying for a number of years,” Oaklawn president Louis Cella said. “There is no better place for horsemen to prepare Thoroughbreds for future success than Oaklawn. Not only were our runners able to win the Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks this year, Seize the Grey (Arrogate) keyed a Preakness Stakes trifecta of horses that had competed in Oaklawn races.” In addition to the 47 traditional stakes races that offer a total of $16.2 million in purses, Oaklawn also announced the addition of 10 restricted overnight stakes races, each offering a purse of $145,000, making the Arkansas track's 2024/2025 stakes schedule worth $17.65 million. Other premiere races on the Oaklawn schedule include the $1.25-million GI Apple Blossom Handicap for older fillies and mares Apr. 12, and the $1.25-million GII Oaklawn Handicap Apr. 19. Prep races for the Apple Blossom include the $250,000 GIII Bayakoa Stakes, which will be run Feb. 8, and the $400,000 GII Azeri Stakes Mar. 8. Preps for the Oaklawn Handicap include the $500,000 GIII Razorback Stakes Feb. 22 and the $500,000 GIII Essex Stakes Mar. 22. The $250,000 GIII Whitmore Stakes will be run Mar. 15, and the $500,000 GIII Count Fleet Sprint Handicap is scheduled for Apr. 12. The $500,000 GIII Oaklawn Mile is one of the three stakes races that will support the Arkansas Derby Day card Mar. 29. Oaklawn's 2024-2025 season opens Dec. 6 and continues through May 3. The post 2025 Southwest Stakes Worth $1 Million appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

There was no secret about what Get Smokin would try to do in the July 20 United Nations Stakes (G2T) at Monmouth Park - go to the lead and see if he could hold on. He did. But just barely.View the full article

Emma-Lee Browne intends to set her sights a bit lower with her smart stayer Basilinna (NZ) (Staphanos) as she plots out a spring program designed to avoid the bigger races with the rising four-year-old mare. As the Pakenham-based trainer pointed out, Basilinna has spent virtually all of her career running at the higher levels. “She’s only won one race. She’s done her time in the deep end,” Browne said of a horse who followed a maiden win at her second start at Cranbourne last September with her next seven runs comprising two Group One races, three at Group Two level and two Group Threes. Basilinna has proven adept at in Group class, having finished third last spring in the Gr.1 VRC Oaks and Gr.3 Ethereal Stakes. Basilinna’s autumn campaign consisted of four starts, with her best effort a second placing behind Autumn Angel (The Autumn Sun) in the G2 Kewney Stakes at Flemington, while she finished sixth in the ATC Oaks at her most recent start, also behind Autumn Angel. “We’re pretty excited about her and what we can do but we will be taking it easy. There are a lot of nice fillies and mares races in the spring, which we think we will target,” she said. Browne said a race such as the Matriarch Stakes at Flemington on the final day of the Melbourne Cup Carnival could be a target. Browne, who trains in partnership with her husband David, said Basilinna has done her first piece of fast work at Cranbourne and they were really pleased with it. View the full article

James Doyle has been confirmed to ride Irish Derby runner-up Sunway (Fr) (Galiway {GB}) in the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Qipco Stakes at Ascot on Saturday. A Group 1 winner in last season's Criterium International, David Menuisier's colt ran the best race of his three-year-old campaign when pushing Los Angeles close at the Curragh last month. With Oisin Murphy confirmed to ride the John and Thady Gosden-trained Middle Earth, Menuisier has snapped up the services of Doyle. He confirmed, “James Doyle is going to ride. He won't need any riding instructions – he knows his way around!” Sunway is a 10-1 shot with William Hill, who on Tuesday morning trimmed the odds of Ralph Beckett's top-class filly Bluestocking to 5-1 from 7-1. Auguste Rodin is the 5-4 favourite. Menuisier continued, “He had a stretch of the legs this morning and seems A1 and in very good form. Fingers crossed, all being well between now and then, he'll go to Ascot. “The horse ran really well in Ireland and we know that if you're a good three-year-old, getting 11lb in the King George is definitely a plus. The opposition is strong, but we feel the horse is on the up and we feel he could improve with decent ground as well, so we ought to try and take it from there.” The post James Doyle To Ride Irish Derby Runner-Up Sunway In King George appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Michelle Payne, who became a global sensation when partnering 100-1 outsider Prince Of Penzance (NZ) (Pentire {GB}) to a memorable triumph in the 2015 Melbourne Cup, has officially retired from the saddle. A winner of 772 races throughout her career, Payne will now switch her attention to training winners rather than riding them. “I've handed in my license so that's it for me,” Payne told justhorseracing.com.au. “It was a tough decision to come to and obviously took a lot of time to decide on. But I've achieved my biggest dream of winning the Melbourne Cup and had my time in the sun. I really enjoyed it and obviously loved the competitive side of riding and being out there and being connected with the horse.” She added, “(I'm now) really looking forward to the training side of things, you still get as much of a kick out of it just watching it. I probably get a bit more nervous, which is interesting because it gets taken out of your hands a bit. But at the end of the day, it was always going to come to an end and I'm content and looking forward to the next step.” The post Melbourne Cup Winner Michelle Payne Confirms Retirement From Saddle appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Dollars & Sense with Frank AngstView the full article

The Chris Pollard-trained Early Crow winning at Fannie Bay last Saturday. Picture: Darwin Turf Club Write Your Name and Early Crow will defend the Darwin Cup (2050m) and Palmerston Sprint (1200m) at Fannie Bay in August. On August 5, Write Your Name will contest the $200,000 Darwin Cup, while Early Crow will line up in the $135,000 Palmerston Sprint on August 3. During the 2023 Darwin Cup Carnival, Write Your Name and Early Crow raced for long-time NT trainer Dick Leech. In March, Leech was disqualified for 12 months when found guilty of injecting a horse without the permission of stewards. The suspension was imposed during the Alice Springs Cup Carnival, with the Top End’s leading trainer, Gary Clarke, agreeing to take over Leech’s stable. Write Your Name, an eight-year-old gelding by Written Tycoon, had two starts for Clarke in the Red Centre, finishing fifth in the Chief Minister’s Cup (1600m) and ninth in the Alice Springs Cup (2000m). Early Crow, a five-year-old gelding by Kuroshio, was 10th in the Pioneer Sprint (1200m). Write Your Name, last year’s Alice Springs Cup winner, was named Horse of the Year and Middle Distance/Stayer of the Year in Darwin and Alice Springs for 2023. Early Crow was named Sprinter of the Year in the Top End and in the Red Centre for 2023. A majority of Leech’s team are now with Darwin trainer Chris Pollard, while a handful remain with Clarke. Write Your Name, victorious in an open 1200m handicap in early March before the Alice Springs Cup Carnival and Leech’s suspension, made his Darwin return on July 17 when he carried 62kg before finishing strongly for fourth in an 1100m open handicap. To complete his Darwin Cup preparations, Write Your Name lines up in the $50,000 Metric Mile (1600m) on Saturday – the feature on Day 5 of the Darwin Cup Carnival. “He’s a bit behind the eight ball, but he was terrific last year, and he did race on well the other day,” Thoroughbred Racing NT chief executive Andrew O’Toole said. Early Crow was a first-up fifth in an 1100m open handicap at Fannie Bay on July 6 before he powered home to claim a narrow win at weight-for-age level over 1200m last Saturday. Prominent NT jockey Sonja Logan missed out on riding Early Crow in last year’s Palmerston Sprint when sidelined due to injuries suffered when assaulted outside her Darwin home. Logan piloted the gelding to victory last weekend and is booked to ride Early Crow in the Palmerston. “He’s definitely going to be a good contender once again coming into the Sprint off his last win, that’s for sure,” Logan said. “They went pretty hard up in front, he just tracked into the race and finished off strong. “He finished off the way you want a nice sprinter to finish. “He had a lot left in the tank, which is a good sign as well. “I was meant to ride him when he won the week before the Palmerston, that’s before I was assaulted. “Aaron Sweeney picked up the ride, and a week later he came out and won the Sprint.” Horse racing news View the full article

Race 8 SADDLERY WAREHOUSE 2000m UNEQUIVOCAL (M McNAB) – Stable representative Mr. J Walker advised stewards, trainer Mr. A Forsman was satisfied with the post-race condition of the filly, however, UNEQUIVOCAL has now been sent for a spell. The post Waikato Thoroughbred Racing @ Cambridge Synthetic, Saturday 10 July 2024 appeared first on RIB. View the full article

Francis-Henri Graffard may have had to contend with the disappointment of retiring his Classic-winning filly Rouhiya (Fr), but he still has much to look forward to in the coming weeks, not least another trip to Ascot with Goliath (Ger) (Adlerflug {Ger}) for Saturday's G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes. Owned by his breeder Baron Philip von Ullmann of Gestut Schlenderhan, the four-year-old was last seen running second to Isle Of Jura (Ire) in the G2 Hardwicke Stakes. Following his win in the G3 Prix d'Hedouville in early May, Goliath was then fourth in the G2 Grand Prix de Chantilly won by Junko (GB), but just ahead of him in third that day was Dubai Honour (Ire), who subsequently returned to France to win the G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud. The pair looks set to meet again on Saturday, but stepping into Group 1 company for the first time also means that Goliath is likely to have to take on seasoned top-level performers such as Auguste Rodin (Ire), Rebel's Romance (Ire) and Bluestocking (GB). “The plan is to come,” Graffard confirmed to TDN. “The horse worked [on Monday] morning and he is great form.” Christophe Soumillon is booked to ride Goliath for the first time and they will be the only French contenders in a field which could contain five British-trained runners and up to five from Aidan O'Brien's stable. The last French-trained horse to win the King George was Hurricane Run (Ire), trained by Andre Fabre, in 2006, but there have been two German winners in the intervening years: Danedream (Ger) and Novellist (Ger). Graffard continued, “I was very pleased with his [Hardwicke] run. He's a horse who needs a bit of pace and last time at Ascot there was no pace in the race and he pulled a little bit too hard, but the course and the distance are no problem. Hopefully the ground isn't too fast, but on his last run he has the right to try for this race anyway. It looks to be a strong race and that's good for the King George.” Goliath is a son of the Listed-winning Shamardal mare Gouache (Ger). His third dam Guadalupe (Ger) (Monsun {Ger}) was the German champion three-year-old filly and is a full-sister to Getaway (Ger), a dual Group 1 winner in Germany and Group 2 winner in France and England for von Ullmann's father, Georg. Those same famous yellow silks with blue cross-belts have also been borne by the likes of fellow Group 1 winners Shirocco (Ger) and Manduro (Ger). “Philip is very excited,” Graffard said. “It's the only horse running in his colours so this is great for him.” Graffard, left, and Nemone Routh, right, with Calandagan | Scoop Dyga Not since the brilliant Triptych in 1987 has a French raider made off with the trophy for the G1 Juddmonte International but that is another major British prize in Graffard's sights and he will be taking aim with his highly impressive Royal Ascot winner Calandagan (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}). The Aga Khan's three-year-old put six lengths between himself and the chasing pack when bowling to victory in the G1 King Edward VII Stakes. “Calandagan is in very good form,” he said. “I gave him a little bit of time after Ascot and he is now back in full work and looks fantastic. I am leaning towards going to York with him.” Nemone Routh, racing manager for the Aga Khan Studs, confirmed the intention of another cross-Channel outing for the gelding, who has now won four of his six starts, having landed the G3 Prix Noailles and G3 Prix Hocquart ahead of Royal Ascot. Calandagan also holds an entry for the G2 Prix Guillaume d'Ornano at Deauville, which takes place six days before the International. She said, “We're all of the opinion that York will suit Calandagan better than Deauville, as we are bringing him back in trip. He has run over a mile and a quarter most of the year anyway, so it's not a big thing to bring him back, but we just think that long straight at York will suit him more. Deauville is quite a sharp track, really, it's flat and it's only just over two furlongs in the straight. York is probably going to be a tougher race but we feel that he really proved himself at Ascot and we don't really have much to lose. “He doesn't really have any ground preference, so it doesn't matter what happens there. We were conscious that he was really stepping up on what he'd done in France when he went to Ascot, and this is another massive step up, but the form-lines of his races have actually worked out very well.” Routh added, “We'll have to see how he gets on at York, but I know Francis is considering the Champion Stakes for him as well. He has improved through the year and he is an exciting horse to have.” The post Graffard Eyes Major UK Prizes as Goliath Heads to King George and Calandagan to York appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Rouhiya (Fr) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), winner of the G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches, has been retired with a setback that would have ruled her out for the remainder of her three-year-old campaign. Her owner-breeder the Aga Khan has been represented by two Classic winners this season but both have now been retired. Earlier this month, it was announced that the Oaks winner Ezeliya (Fr) (Dubawi {Ire}) had also been retired to the paddocks. Speaking after the filly's Classic success at Longchamp for trainer Francis-Henri Graffard, Princess Zahra Aga Khan said of Rouhiya, “To win the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches is huge for a breeder and to produce a filly like her is very important for the future. […] This race and the Diane mean everything for us as breeders because they can launch a whole family. For this family to come back in a Group 1 like this adds great value to all her sisters and the entire line.” Rouhiya is the second foal out of Listed-placed Raven's Pass mare Rondonia (Fr), a half-sister to G2 Debutante Stakes winner Raydara (Ire) (Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire}) and from a family which includes the Group 1 winners Ridasiyna (Fr) and Laurens (Fr). The mare has a colt foal by Siyouni (Fr) and is in foal to Sea The Stars (Ire). Georges Rimaud, manager of the Aga Khan Studs in France, said, “While it is naturally disappointing not to see her again in competition, she represents a very exciting addition to our broodmare band. Prior to Rouhiya, the last winners of the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches for His Highness were Ervedya (Siyouni), who went on to produce Erevann at stud, and Zarkava, the dam of Zarak. Rouhiya represents a different lineage and exemplifies the depth and diversity of our breeding families. We look forward to seeing what her future progeny can do.” The post Rouhiya Becomes Second Aga Khan Classic Winner to Retire This Season appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Belardo Boy (NZ) (Belardo) is on target to defend his crown in next month’s Gr.3 Winning Edge Presentations 127th Winter Cup (1600m) at Riccarton following his victory in Tuesday’s rescheduled Listed Sinclair Electrical & Refrigeration Opunake Cup (1400m) at Hawera. The topweight was the slowest away in the Taranaki feature and settled towards the rear of the field for jockey Joe Doyle, while race favourite Wessex (NZ) (Turn Me Loose) set a strong tempo up front, opening up several lengths on the rest of the pack during the middle stages of the race. The pack quickly ate into Wessex’s lead around the final turn, with Doyle navigating Belardo Boy to the extreme outside of the track on the Heavy10 footing, and the son of Belardo was able to show his class in the concluding stages to draw away and score by two lengths over Spencer (NZ) (Derryn), with a further long head back to Gospodin (NZ) (Proisir) in third. It was the second consecutive stakes victory for Belardo Boy, who was triumphant in the Listed AGC Training Stakes (1600m) at Wanganui at the start of last month. He won a trial over 1200m at Foxton in the interim to keep him up to the mark and Latta was pleased with what she saw from her gelding on Tuesday. “It was a really good win,” she said. “It was a few weeks in between runs but he trialled up nicely with Amber (Riddell) on and pulled up well from that.” Belardo Boy will now head south to Riccarton next month where he will be vying to defend his crown in the Winter Cup. “He has had one or two trips down there, he’s a bit older, so it is not like he is having his first trip down there,” Latta said. “Providing he pulls up well, he will go.” Meanwhile, Latta will have strong representation at Awapuni’s Synthetic meeting on Thursday, with eight runners contesting the seven-race card. Latta is buoyant about her chances in the Manawatu ITM Pre Hung Doors 2140, where she will be represented by last start placegetters Platinum Sixty Six (NZ) (Per Incanto) and last start winner Final Chapter (NZ) (Almanzor). “Platinum Sixty Six has had no luck in his last two (starts). Drawing out a bit (7) will help him,” Latta said. “Final Chapter won really well on the Synthetic last time and he has trained on well.” Bee Enchanted (NZ) (Per Incanto) and Lincoln Towers (NZ) (U S Navy Flag) also take winning form into the Humphries Construction 1400 and Manawatu ITM Crane Hire 1400m respectively. “Bee Enchanted has been in good form and loves the synthetic,” Latta said. “Lincoln Towers is in a tricky field, but he has gone in the right direction since his win and he looks great.” Stablemate Verardino (NZ) (Belardo) has been knocking on the door in his last few starts, placing in his last three outings, and Latta is hoping he can break through for a deserved maiden victory in the Goodwood Stud 2140. “He has drawn out (10) again,” Latta said. “He hasn’t had much luck with draws, that’s for sure, but we will just ride him quietly and get him out to the centre of the track hopefully and he can get home.” View the full article

What Canterbury Races Where Canterbury Park Racecourse – King St, Canterbury NSW 2193 When Wednesday, July 24, 2024 First Race 12:50pm AEST Visit Dabble Metropolitan racing returns to Canterbury Park Racecourse on Wednesday afternoon, with a quickfire seven-part program set for decision. The rail is in the true position for the entire circuit, and with pristine conditions forecast in the lead-up, the Good 4 rating should hold firm. The track should play fair throughout the day, with the first race set to get underway at 12:50pm AEST. Best Bet at Canterbury: Behaviour Behaviour debuts on the back of an eye-catching barrier trial at Rosehill on July 12. The son of I Am Invincible was taken back to the rear, making strong inroads under minor urging from Zac Lloyd to get within 1.6 lengths of Eminent Arrival. Barrier two should allow Kerrin McEvoy to lob into the one-one, and provided he is wound up for this event, Behaviour should prove ultra-competitive in this maiden contest for the colts and geldings. Best Bet Race 2 – #8 Behaviour (2) 2yo Colt | T: Chris Waller | J: Kerrin McEvoy (56.5kg) Bet with Bet365 Next Best at Canterbury: Lady Extreme Lady Extreme was luckless last time out at Hawkesbury on July 11. The four-year-old was held up with nowhere to go in the final 400m, but she still showed plenty of quality in the final furlong to close within a length of Nightingale. Jay Ford shouldn’t need to ride for luck this time from barrier five, and although this BM64 for fillies and mares has plenty of depth on paper, Lady Extreme deserves her chance to claim victory in metro company. Next Best Race 4 – #11 Lady Extreme (5) 4yo Mare | T: Blake Ryan | J: Jay Ford (59.5kg) Bet with Neds Best Value at Canterbury: All In The Mind All In The Mind didn’t go a yard on the Heavy surface at this course and distance on July 3, but he appears set to peak third-up in firmer conditions. The Bjorn Baker-trained gelding was excellent prior to that second-up failure, showing a stunning turn of foot to finish runner-up at this track and trip on June 10. Chad Schofield gets the opportunity to take closer order from gate three, and All In The Mind should give a bold sight at an each-way price with online bookmakers. Best Value Race 5 – #5 All In The Mind (3) 5yo Gelding | T: Bjorn Baker | J: Chad Schofield (59kg) Bet with Unibet Canterbury Wednesday quaddie tips Canterbury Park quadrella selections Wednesday, July 24, 2024 3-6-7-10-11 3-4-5 1-5-8-9 1-6-8-10-11 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip Horse racing tips
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What Sandown Hillside Races Where Sandown Racecourse – 591-659 Princes Hwy, Springvale VIC 3171 When Wednesday, July 24, 2024 First Race 12:25pm AEST Visit Dabble The Hillside circuit at Sandown Racecourse is the destination for metro racing in Victoria on Wednesday afternoon. The track is rated a Heavy 8 following plenty of rain in Melbourne over the past week, while the rail in the true position for the entire circuit. The first of eight races is set to commence at 12:25pm AEST. Best Bet at Sandown: Photograph Photograph was a dazzling maiden winner at Scone on July 2 when forced to travel wide with no cover on a bottomless track. The two-year-old filly is set to go the Melbourne way for the first time, but that should be no issue for this talented filly. While Blake Shinn will need a touch of cover early, Photograph should have a bit too much class on her rivals in the opening event. Best Bet Race 1 – #6 Photograph (8) 2yo Filly | T: James Cummings | J: Blake Shinn (59.5kg) Bet with Neds Next Best at Sandown: Spare Coin Spare Coin has won two of his last three starts, including a breathtaking performance on the Sandown Lakeside track last time out on July 10. That win came on a Heavy 8 surface, taking the four-year-old’s record to three wins and three minor placings from seven starts on rain-affected ground. Barrier one is a touch concerning, but if Thomas Stockdale can have him settled one of the rail in the second half of the field, Spare Coin will be hitting the line the best. Next Best Race 8 – #6 Spare Coin (1) 4yo Gelding | T: Symon Wilde | J: Thomas Stockdale (58kg) Bet with PlayUp Best Value at Sandown: Run Like Hell Run Like Hell is a first-up specialist, and with a strong wet-track record, she presents as a great value play with horse betting sites. The four-year-old mare has three wins from three fresh runs, along with two wins from four starts on rain-affected going. From barrier four, Ethan Brown will likely have Run Like Hell leading the field upon settling, and hopefully she can live up to her name in the quaddie opener. Best Value Race 5 – #3 Run Like Hell (4) 4yo Mare | T: Maddie Raymond | J: Ethan Brown (57.5kg) Bet with Picklebet Sandown Wednesday quaddie tips – 24/7/2024 Sandown quadrella selections Wednesday, July 24, 2024 1-3-5-6 1-7-10-12 1-3-12-16 3-6-13 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip Horse racing tips View the full article

Cambridge trainer Ryan Foote. Photo: Nicole Troost Well-travelled gallopers Ultimate Focus and Keegan have settled well into racing life back in New Zealand for Ben and Ryan Foote, who will start the pair at Cambridge Synthetic on Wednesday. A rising six-year-old, Keegan made his first public appearance at the trials in 2021 for Jim Collett before venturing to Hong Kong where he was unraced. The son of Swiss Ace returned to his homeland and the care of the Footes, who were thrilled to see him perform up to expectation winning a long-awaited debut in May. “We’d hoped to see that from him as we’ve always thought very highly of this horse. He just had a couple of issues up in Hong Kong so he’s come back to us,” Ryan Foote said. “He’s had a lot of progression mentally since he’s come back, he’s come a long way as he’s a pretty quirky individual but a cool horse to have in the stable.” Keegan will line-up in a competitive Martin Collins New Zealand MAAT 1300 at the meeting, with a tidy trial victory over well-performed mare Pippy last Tuesday keeping him ticking over between runs. “He’s got a wide draw (10) which will be a little bit iffy, but we think he’ll definitely run a race,” Foote said. Stablemate Ultimate Focus also spent time in Hong Kong in the early stages of his career, before breaking maidens at Cambridge Synthetic in mid-2022 and heading across the Tasman to Australia. Returning to New Zealand in the latter half of last year, Ultimate Focus has lived up to his name with his last three starts producing top-three finishes, all on the poly-track surface. “His prep has been good, we had a little issue with him last start meaning we had to late scratch, but he’s gotten over that now and looks to be ready for Wednesday,” Foote said. “We feel the step-up in distance won’t worry him too much, he’s got a good draw with a senior rider (Michael McNab) who knows him very well so he should be right in the finish. “He’s one of the coolest horses we have, he’s so quiet and just a lovely animal to have around.” The Smart Missile six-year-old will be joined by synthetic specialist Jimmy Dean in the Cambridge Equine Hospital 1550, with the latter eyeing the $100,000 special conditions race in a fortnight. “He seems to have come up well this prep having two runs back, so he can have another at that 1550 distance with the main target in a couple of weeks, the special conditions race over 2000m,” Foote said. “He’s going nicely and will perform well on Wednesday.” Horse racing news View the full article

David Greene pictured with Goldiluxe. Photo: Race Images David Greene is taking a good opportunity to run his last start winners Goldiluxe and Toa Haka in MAAT grade at Cambridge Synthetic on Wednesday. The Te Rapa horseman journeyed north to Ruakaka in search of better track conditions for Goldiluxe last start and the trip paid off, with her clearing maiden ranks by a comfortable margin in early May. Coming off a short freshen-up, the Ghibellines mare will contest the Martin Collins New Zealand MAAT 1300 with Sam Spratt retaining the ride. “She’d obviously been knocking on the door of clearing maidens for a while there, so it was good to finish the job off and she did it with a bit of style,” Greene said. “She looks like a mare who can carry on with it.” A rising five-year-old, Goldiluxe has been lightly-raced with just five starts under her belt to date. “She’s a lease horse and her breeder-owner had left her in the paddock for 12 months before organising what she would do. He’s stayed in the ownership and we’ve put together a group to race her on lease,” Greene said. “She had a little freshen-up after her win at Ruakaka, so this race mapped out well with the special conditions. We thought we would resume here, and there’s another race at Ruakaka in the middle of August that we’ll look to go back up north for. “She’s not really one to handle an off track, so we’ve got to look for those better surfaces for her.” Consistency also paid off for stablemate Toa Haka at Cambridge in mid-May, capping off a string of placings with a runaway success over the sprint distance of 970m. The son of Iffraaj is the second foal out of talented race mare Rasa Lila, who contrastingly picked up Group honours over a mile to 2000m. Toa Haka will be the sole race-winner of the eight-horse field in the Martin Collins New Zealand MAAT 970 on Wednesday. “He had run quite a few placings at 1200 metres, where he hit a wall very late,” Greene said. “You’re never quite sure if those types of horses just keep doing that, but getting a turnover that 1000m sort of distance, he was very strong the whole way which was good. “To get another opportunity to run in that sort of grade and distance, he looks a nice chance.” Horse racing news View the full article

Belardo Boy winning the Listed Opunake Cup (1400m) at Hawera on Tuesday. Photo: Peter Rubery (Race Images Palmerston North) Belardo Boy is on target to defend his crown in next month’s Group 3 Winter Cup (1600m) at Riccarton following his victory in Tuesday’s rescheduled Listed Opunake Cup (1400m) at Hawera. The topweight was the slowest away in the Taranaki feature and settled towards the rear of the field for jockey Joe Doyle, while race favourite Wessex set a strong tempo up front, opening up several lengths on the rest of the pack during the middle stages of the race. The pack quickly ate into Wessex’s lead around the final turn, with Doyle navigating Belardo Boy to the extreme outside of the track on the Heavy 10 footing, and the son of Belardo was able to show his class in the concluding stages to draw away and score by two lengths over Spencer, with a further long head back to Gospodin in third. It was the second consecutive stakes victory for Belardo Boy, who was triumphant in the Listed AGC Training Stakes (1600m) at Wanganui at the start of last month. He won a trial over 1200m at Foxton in the interim to keep him up to the mark and Latta was pleased with what she saw from her gelding on Tuesday. “It was a really good win,” she said. “It was a few weeks in between runs but he trialled up nicely with Amber (Riddell) on and pulled up well from that.” Belardo Boy will now head south to Riccarton next month where he will be vying to defend his crown in the Winter Cup. “He has had one or two trips down there, he’s a bit older, so it is not like he is having his first trip down there,” Latta said. “Providing he pulls up well, he will go.” Horse racing news View the full article

Warparty ridden by Jordan Childs returns to the mounting yard after winning at Seymour. (Photo by Pat Scala/Racing Photos) Jordan Childs registered his 100th Victorian winner of the season by partnering Warparty to victory at Seymour. The 28-year-old has maintained an impressive 14.1 percent strike rate this season, earning just under $5.8 million in prize money. This marks the second season in which Childs has reached triple digits. “That’s number 100 – it’s been a solid season, with lots of winners and lots of support from different trainers,” Childs told Racing.com. “It’s good to get the hundred and I’m looking forward to next season.” Horse racing news View the full article

The penultimate Saturday race meetings for the 2023–24 racing season were held at Flemington, Eagle Farm and Rosehill along the eastern seaboard, with two Listed races headlining proceedings in Victoria and New South Wales. From the Melbourne and Sydney programs, we have found three runners that are worth adding to your blackbook. Flemington Track rating: Heavy 8 Rail position: +3m entire circuit Race 9: Benchmark 78 Handicap (1000m) | Time: 0:59.85 Horse to follow: Big Me (3rd) After just two starts in Hong Kong, Big Me was sent to Australia to join the Nick Ryan stable. The five-year-old gelding hadn’t raced since October 2022 before making his Australian debut at Flemington last Saturday over 1000m. He travelled well throughout the race, and once he let down with his finish, he charged home to join Moonhaven before peaking on his run in the final 100m. When to bet: Considering the long layoff between starts, Big Me is expected to take a lot of fitness benefit from his fresh run. If Ryan and his team can find a similar race over 1000m, this guy can go a couple better and record his first win on Aussie soil. Rosehill Track rating: Soft 5 Rail position: +3m entire circuit Race 4: Benchmark 72 Handicap (1500m) | Time: 1:31.70 Horse to follow: Imposant (8th) Kris Lees sent Imposant to Rosehill last weekend after her strong win at Newcastle three weeks prior, and the three-year-old filly was well backed with online bookmakers pre-race. The daughter of Epaulette settled midfield on the fence before Jason Collett gave her a squeeze and got into clear air. However, when it appeared as though Imposant was going to challenge, she was blocked for a run and dropped out of the race to finish second last. When to bet: Imposant appeared to be going as well as the winner before being blocked, so it is fair to assume she would have played a prominent role in the finish with a clear run. This filly deserves another chance next time. Race 8: Listed Winter Challenge (1500m) | Time: 1:30.06 Horse to follow: More Secrets (2nd) After racing exclusively in Group company during last spring and autumn, More Secrets dropped back to Listed grade last weekend and went very close to recording a drought-breaking win. The Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes-trained mare returned in the Group 1 Tatts Tiara before heading back to Sydney, where she finished much closer to the winner over 1500m. Reece Jones settled the daughter of More Than Ready near the rear of the field before she let down strongly on the outside of the field to finish second, beaten by a long neck. When to bet: More Secrets improved a lot between her first and second runs this campaign, and if the Hawkes team steps her up to a 1600m race next, she can finally claim a victory. Top horse racing sites for blackbook features Horse racing tips View the full article