Wandering Eyes

In this continuing series, we take a look ahead at US-bred and/or conceived runners entered for the upcoming weekend at the tracks on the Japan Racing Association circuit, with a focus on pedigree and/or performance in the sales ring. Here are the horses of interest for this Sunday running at Sapporo and Kokura Racecourses: 5th-SAP, ¥13,720,000 ($87,149), Newcomers, 2yo, 1800mT ARDE FOX (c, 2, Medaglia d'Oro–Curlin's Fox, by Curlin) is the latest to make the races out of a dual stakes-winning daughter of five-time graded winner and Grade I-placed Foxysox (GB) (Foxhound), who was acquired by this breeder for $260,000 in foal to Uncle Mo at the 2021 Keeneland January Sale. A $325,000 Keeneland September purchase by Swynford Management, this Feb. 25 foal is a half-brother to that aforementioned Uncle Mo produce, a filly named Oncourtcommentator, who broke her maiden for The Elkstone Group and trainer Brittany Russell at Laurel June 28. Foxysox is also responsible for the colt Tejon Pass (Justify), third in last year's GIII Bob Hope Stakes. Yutaka Take sees fit to ride. B-The Elkstone Group (MD) 6th-KOK, ¥10,480,000 ($66,579), Maiden, 3yo, 1700m BODY BLOW (c, 3, City of Light–Race to Urga, by Bernstein), a $250,000 KEESEP graduate, is a debuting half-brother to Gormley (Malibu Moon), winner of the GI FrontRunner Stakes at two and the GI Santa Anita Derby the following season. The colt's second dam Miss Mambo (Kingmambo) was a listed winner in Ireland and third in the 2004 G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches (French 1000 Guineas). B-Castleton Lyons & Kilboy Estate (KY) The post Medaglia d’Oro Colt Kicks Off at Sapporo appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

In the absence of Ezeliya (Fr) (Dubawi {Ire}), Saturday's G1 Juddmonte Irish Oaks already had an open feel before Ryan Moore decided to give up the ride on the winner of one of this Classic's key pointers in Port Fairy (Ire) (Australia {GB}). Two of the last five Irish Oaks heroines had captured the G2 Ribblesdale Stakes en route, so the rejection of such a promising and unexposed winner of that Royal Ascot feature can only point to the strong claims of his pick from the Ballydoyle trio. Much more journeyed than her stablemate, Content (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) was a heavily-campaigned 2-year-old whose best form came over a mile when winning the G3 Staffordstown Stud Stakes here and finishing fourth in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf. Perhaps it was the fact that she was out of the high-class sprinter Mecca's Angel (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) or maybe it was due to the furious pace she had shown early in her career, but the G1 Pretty Polly Stakes was the first time Content had tried more than a mile and she showed enough to Moore when third three weeks ago to suggest she was too good to pass up here. Success would provide her landmark sire with his overdue landmark century of Group 1 winners and not many jockeys would want to miss out on being part of that episode. Aidan O'Brien is looking for a record-extending eighth renewal and said, “Ryan loved the filly he rode in Ascot and obviously had to think about riding the other filly, but the other filly's run in the Pretty Polly was exceptional. We weren't sure what was going to happen, with those Galileo fillies when they go up in trip things can happen like that sometimes. Ryan said she absolutely flew through the line. He said she relaxed well and he'd have been very comfortable going further with her. He was very impressed with her that day.” “Content has lots of class, we weren't sure about the mile and a quarter but she got it well and it looks like she'll get further,” he added. “Port Fairy is very genuine and straightforward. She's been in good shape since Ascot. She got the trip well in Ascot and she's a lovely filly as well. We were delighted with her in Ascot and she's come forward every week since. They are two good-moving fillies, so I'd imagine soft ground wouldn't be a plus for any of them.” Port Fairy held Lava Stream (Ire) (Too Darn Hot {GB}) in the Ribblesdale and it is hard to see how that form can be turned around with identical ground conditions and behind them is a clutch of fillies who have appeared on the biggest stages with admirable bit-parts so far. Although the Oaks third, fourth and fifth War Chimes (Fr) (Summer Front), You Got To Me (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) and Caught U Looking (Ire) (Harzand {Ire}), the G1 Prix de Diane fifth Dare To Dream (Fr) (Camelot {GB}) and the G1 Irish 1,000 Guineas fifth Purple Lily (Ire) (Calyx {GB}) have claims, none offer major clues that they are Irish Oaks winner material. Perhaps that is why Wathnan Racing's untried Lope De Lilas (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) has attracted so much attention in the lead-up to this race, but Willie Mullins will have had to work the oracle to get her to a pitch where she can be competitive off just a Leopardstown maiden win. This is not a Classic that tends to be won by a filly with such a low-key profile, so she would have to be special to make the leap. Willie Mullins is looking to repeat the feat of his late father Paddy, who saddled the 2003 Irish Oaks winner Vintage Tipple (Ire) (Entrepreneur {GB}), and his son and assistant Patrick explained the importance of the moment for the family. “It would mean a huge amount to Willie if he could emulate his father in winning an Irish Oaks and it would be up there with the top of his achievements,” he said. “I vividly remember Vintage Tipple winning, I was actually at a hunter trial in Stradbally and I was listening to it on the radio with my cousin, Emmet.” Lope De Lilas has it to do to figure in this and Patrick Mullins is under no illusions as to the size of the task in hand. “It is obviously a big ask coming straight out of maiden company into a Group 1 Classic, but that is the route we have decided to take,” he added. “She's had a fantastic preparation at home.” Wathnan's European racing adviser Richard Brown added, “I'm sure she has a bright future, but whether she is going to be streetwise or not on Saturday, we will find out. Willie does exceptionally well with the runners he does have on the Flat and is obviously a world-class trainer, so it is exciting to be doing this with him.” Johnny Murtagh said no to this race for Hanalia (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) immediately after her win in the Listed Naas Oaks Trial last month, so it is interesting that she is here to attempt to continue The Aga Khan's momentum this year. The Aga Khan's Irish Studs manager Pat Downes explained the change of tack. “Johnny has been very pleased with Hanalia since she won the Oaks trial at Naas and unfortunately she wasn't in the Irish Oaks, so we had a discussion about it and he was keen to supplement her,” he said. “We would have a question mark over the trip, but we hope that she will get it and if she does, we would expect her to run a nice race,” he added. “We did think Ezeliya would be lining up, but unfortunately that went out the window a couple of weeks ago. That's racing. I think it looks a competitive race, so hopefully Hanalia is in the mix there somewhere.” Regional Battle Ensues at Newbury Elsewhere on Saturday, Newbury's G3 Hackwood Stakes looks a strong renewal of the six-furlong test, with last year's G1 Haydock Sprint Cup hero Regional (GB) (Territories {Ire}) met by Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum's classy but accident-prone Elite Status (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}) and Tony Bloom and Ian McAleavy's G1 Commonwealth Cup runner-up Lake Forest (GB) (No Nay Never). This is also the next port of call for Michelle Morris and Jan and Peter Hopper's TDN Rising Star Kind Of Blue (GB) (Blue Point {Ire}), who performed with such merit when fourth in the Commonwealth Cup on only his third career start and first in any type of black-type contest and whose relatives Deacon Blues (GB) (Compton Place {GB}) and The Tin Man (GB) (Equiano {Fr}) both won this for the James Fanshawe stable. The post ‘Ryan Was Very Impressed’: O’Brien Champions Content Ahead Of Irish Oaks Quandry appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The catalogue for the Goffs UK Doncaster Premier Yearling Sale, featuring 30 more 'Donny Rockets' this year, was released on Friday. A total of 479 lots will pass through the Doncaster ring over the two-day stand on Aug. 27-28. Some lots of note include a Showcasing (GB) half-brother to Group 2 winner and Group 1-placed Stepper Point (GB) (Kyllachy {GB}) (lot 48); lot 195, a Night Of Thunder (Ire) filly out of Group 3 winner Aim To Please (Fr) (Excellent Art {GB}); an Invincible Spirit (Ire) full-brother to the group-placed Invincible Gal (GB), with the duo out of Group 3 winner Alsindi (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}); a Churchill (Ire) colt out of Group 3 winner Angel's Hideaway (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) (lot 222); a Ten Sovereigns (Ire) half-brother to Group 2 winner Yonkers (Medaglia d'Oro) (lot 223); a Blue Point (Ire) half-brother to the listed winner and Group 1-placed Jabaara (Ire) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}) (lot 243); lot 343, a New Bay (GB) colt who is a half-brother to group winner Sporting Chance (GB) (Kodiac {GB}); and a Cracksman (GB) colt out of Group 2 winner Meeznah (Dynamformer) (lot 457). There are yearlings by a variety of sires including Blue Point (Ire), Cracksman (GB), Dark Angel, Kingman (GB), Kodiac, Night Of Thunder (Ire), No Nay Never, Oasis Dream (GB), Starspangledbanner (Aus), Too Darn Hot (GB) and Wootton Bassett (GB) among others. There are also sires represented by larger amounts of yearlings like Ardad (Ire) (20), Cotai Glory (GB) (11), Havana Grey (GB) (19), Kodi Bear (Ire) (16), Mehmas (Ire) (17), Sergei Prokofiev (21), and Sioux Nation (16). First season sires include A'Ali (Ire) (14), Lope Y Fernandez (Ire) (15), Lucky Vega (Ire) (7), Nando Parrado (GB) (10), Space Blues (Ire) (9), St Mark's Basilica (Fr) (2), Starman (GB) (28), Supremacy (Ire) (17), Ubettabelieveit (Ire) (12), and Victor Ludorum (GB) (4). The £500,000 Harry's Half Million sales race will also be held during York's Ebor Festivial on Aug. 22. All yearlings offered this year will be eligible for the 2025 edition of the race. Goffs UK Managing Director Tim Kent said, “The Premier Sale is all about the individual, it's about what you see in front of you, the racehorse, and it's that approach on which the sale has built its reputation. We remain fiercely loyal to that mantra so when buyers arrive at Doncaster in August, they know what they are going to see before they set foot on the complex, yard after yard full of precocious, good walking, smart athletes. “Importantly, Premier is also delivering on the racecourse, as it consistently produces the highest percentage of 2YO winners, and it has also sent out its share of stars. Premier has a proud history of elite horses coming from its ranks, think Acclamation, Dark Angel, Wootton Bassett, Tasleet (GB), all winners of our sales race at York, and more recently Harry's Angel (Ire), Advertise (GB), A'Ali and Supremacy, the latter two seeing their first yearlings sell at Premier this year. And let's not forget fillies like Laurens (Fr), Fev Rover (Ire) and Sacred Angel (Ire) to graphically illustrate the quality on offer. “This is why this sale has carved out such a unique identity over so many years and has proved to be one of the most enduringly popular sales for yearling buyers. We have another enticing catalogue for 2024 and we invite buyers from the world over to come and test their eye at Doncaster on 27 – 28 August.” The post ‘All About The Individual’: Goffs Premier Yearling Sale Catalogue Released appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

One of two maidens in the line-up for Friday's Listed Ire-Incentive – Pays To Buy Irish Rose Bowl Stakes at Newbury, Phil Cunningham's Yah Mo Be There (GB) (Mohaather {GB}–Shurakaa {Ire}, by Night Of Thunder {Ire}) produced a telling turn of foot to provide his first-crop sire with a breakthrough black-type winner at the track on which the Shadwell freshman captured the G3 Greenham Stakes and G3 Horris Hill Stakes. Second on debut to the highly-regarded Andesite (GB) (Pinatubo {Ire}) at York in May before running down the field in Royal Ascot's G2 Coventry Stakes, the Richard Spencer-trained 9-2 shot was slowly away but fortunate in that he had the ultimate hold-up specialist Jamie Spencer on his back to steer him. Allowed to languish in last for most of the contest, the £95,000 Goffs UK Premier Yearling Sale graduate delivered a surge to take control passing the furlong pole and beat Jungle Drums (Ire) (Bungle Inthejungle {GB}) with authority by 1 1/4 lengths. The race was robbed of a crucial actor when Godolphin's Symbol Of Honour (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}) was ruled out by Charlie Appleby, but this was an impressive display from a colt who was clear-best of those left to contest the juvenile staging post. Yah Mo Be There is so far the only foal out of the unraced dam, a daughter of the G3 Oak Tree Stakes-placed Namhroodah (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) and full-sister to the G1 Moyglare Stud Stakes third and G2 Prix du Calvados runner-up Ornellaia (GB). He is also the third winner for Mohaather. A @JPSPENCER1980 special at @NewburyRacing! Very impressive from Yah Mo Be There as @Richspencer89's two-year-old moves from last to first to grab the Listed Rose Bowl Stakes… pic.twitter.com/5b14iMW2jh — At The Races (@AtTheRaces) July 19, 2024 IRE-INCENTIVE – PAYS TO BUY IRISH ROSE BOWL STAKES-Listed, £45,000, Newbury, 7-19, 2yo, 6fT, 1:11.73, gd. 1–YAH MO BE THERE (GB), 128, c, 2, by Mohaather (GB) 1st Dam: Shurakaa (Ire), by Night Of Thunder (Ire) 2nd Dam: Namhroodah (Ire), by Sea The Stars (Ire) 3rd Dam: Independant (GB), by Medicean (GB) 1ST BLACK TYPE WIN. (£95,000 Ylg '23 GOFPRM). O-Phil Cunningham; B-Stuart McPhee & Nigel Kelly (GB); T-Richard Spencer; J-Jamie Spencer. £25,520. Lifetime Record: 3-1-1-0, $41,881. 2–Jungle Drums (Ire), 128, c, 2, Bungle Inthejungle (GB)–Ayr Missile (GB), by Cadeaux Genereux (GB). 1ST BLACK TYPE. (€38,000 Ylg '23 GOFOR). O-Bronte Collection 1; B-Newlands House Stud & Mrs A M Burns (IRE); T-Karl Burke. £9,675. 3–Big Cyril (Ire), 128, c, 2, No Nay Never–Last Jewel (Ire), by Invincible Spirit (Ire). 1ST BLACK TYPE. (120,000gns Wlg '22 TADEWE; €125,000 Ylg '23 GOFOR). O-Allsopp and Co; B-Lynch Bages Ltd & Lindy Farms (IRE); T-Alice Haynes. £4,842. Margins: 1 1/4, HD, HD. Odds: 4.50, 14.00, 5.00. Also Ran: Principality (Ire), Dubai Bling (Ire), Calyxoh (Ire), I Got Soul (GB), Spirit Of Leros (GB), Two Shoes (Ire). Scratched: Symbol Of Honour (GB). The post First Black Type Winner for Shadwell’s Mohaather 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 Saturday at Saratoga and Ellis Park: Saturday, July 20, 2024 Saratoga 1, $100k, 2yo, 1 1/16mT, 12:35 p.m. ET Horse (Sire), Sale, Price ($), Breeze Papiamento (Medaglia d'Oro)-AE, OBSMAR, 250,000, :10.1 C-Wavertree Stables Inc (C Dunne), agt; B-Legion Bloodstock, agent for Kamp Racing What Me Worry (Ghostzapper), OBSMAR, 95,000, Gallop C-Ocala Stud, agt for Lothenbach Dispersal; B-Ken McPeek, agt Ellis 5, $71k, 2yo, 7f, 2:53 p.m. ET Saudi Vision (Khozan), OBSAPR, 160,000, :10 C-Navas Equine, agent; B-Alabdulattif Bloodstock, agent Whiskey Shot (Gun Runner), OBSAPR, 175,000, :10.2 C-de Meric Sales, agent; B-R Brisset, agent for Storyteller Racing Saratoga 7, $100k, 2yo, 6f, 3:54 p.m. ET Dapper Moon (Malibu Moon), OBSAPR, 130,000, :10 C-S B M Training & Sales, agent; B-Valene Farms The post Summer Breezes, Sponsored By OBS: July 20, 2024 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Australian champion and dual Group 1 winner Prowess (NZ) (Proisir {Aus}) will be offered on Gavelhouse Plus in a special standalone sale from Aug. 2-8, the online sales company announced on Friday. Bred by Hallmark Stud, Ltd., the bay brought NZ$230,000 at the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale in 2021 and raced for a family syndicate led by Dean Skipper. Trained by Roger James and Robert Well, Prowess won her only start as a 2-year-old, and won six of her eight starts at three. After placing in the G3 Soliloquy Stakes and the G1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas, she rattled off five consecutive stakes victories beginning with the G2 Auckland Guineas, then the Karaka Million 3YO Classic, the G2 David & Karyn Ellis Fillies' Classic, and the G1 Bonecrusher New Zealand. She won her fifth stakes in succession across the Tasman at Rosehill when successful in the G1 Vinery Stud Stakes. Her efforts at three also awarded her the accolade of Australian Champion Middle Distance Horse in 2023. Kept in training at four, she added the G2 Crystal Mile and, after sustaining an injury, was retired with a mark of 12-8-1-2 and $965,964 in earnings. “She's taken us on an amazing ride and it's definitely a shame that it's coming to an end,” Skipper said. “We have some mixed emotions about putting her up for sale. But the way we look at it is that we were just so fortunate to have had one as good as her, and now she's ready to go on to the next stage of her career. “She's bright and well and a happy horse. She could probably even have made it back to the racetrack if we wanted to wait a bit longer. But she's at a premium stage of her life to start her breeding career now, and we always set it up so that we would sell her at around this time and have her in the best possible condition for that.” A full-sister to Prowess topped the New Zealand Bloodstock Book 1 Yearling Sale at NZ$1.6 million in 2023. “It was unbelievable to see the full-sister sell for such a big price at Karaka earlier in the year,” Skipper said. “It shows how highly the family is regarded now, and it's a great reward for the hard work that Mark Baker and the Hallmark team have put in. “Based on that, I guess we could say that we got Prowess quite cheaply in hindsight. But it was still quite a heady price to pay at the time.” A half-sister to the New Zealand stakes-placed Ajay Tee (NZ) (Foxwedge {Aus}), Prowess is the fourth foal out of the placed Don Eduardo (NZ) mare Donna Marie (NZ). Second dam Scarlet Runner (NZ) (Kingdom Bay {NZ}) captured the G2 Sir Tristram Classic, and also foaled the highly regarded Singapore stakes winner Onceuponatime (NZ) (Van Nistelrooy). Skipper added, “We started to realise just how good she was when she won the Auckland Guineas, and it was a picket fence from there and she just kept raising the bar. Roger James has been training for a long time and has had some great horses in his stable, so when he started saying she was up there with the best he'd ever trained, it was incredibly exciting. “One thing about her career that was very special was that we managed to capture the attention of a few people who weren't previously into racing. They got behind her and were opening up TAB accounts so that they could bet on her. That was another part of the experience that we really enjoyed. “It was just so much fun and we can't thank everyone enough – the vets, spelling farms, the farriers and all the team at Kingsclere Stables. They're the ones getting up at 3 a.m. and putting in all that hard work. We just paid the bills and got to enjoy the end result. She gave us some incredible memories, and now we're looking forward to seeing what she can do in the broodmare paddock.” For more information on Prowess, please visit the Gavelhouse Plus website. The post Two-Time Group 1 Winner Prowess To Sell On Gavelhouse Plus appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Horse Racing Ireland has blamed the bad weather and adverse ground conditions for the reduction in attendances, entries, runners and field sizes in the first six months of the year. Key statistics for the first half of 2024, released today by HRI, also show an increase in total prize-money, race sponsorship, and the number of new owners, along with a slight decrease in the number of horses-in-training. Attendances at key dates including Leopardstown's Dublin Racing Festival, BoyleSports Irish Grand National Day at Fairyhouse and Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby Day at the Curragh were all up on last year. Overall, reported attendances reduced by 1.5% to 535,831. Total race sponsorship came in at €4.6m, an increase of 4.5%, with total prize-money reaching €31m, up 1.3% despite a reduction in the number of race meetings by three to 173 compared to the same period in 2023. The total number of horses-in-training fell by 2.5% to 8,394 and total entries were 7% down at 27,692. The number of new owners rose to 486, an increase of 6.8% on the first six months of last year, while the number of active owners reduced by 2.1% to 3,763. Total Tote betting (excluding World Pools) was down 5% to €32.2m while total on-course betting came in at €35.1m, a reduction of 2.8%. On-course bookmaker betting reached €31.3m, down 2.5%. Suzanne Eade, CEO of Horse Racing Ireland, said, “While the overall reduction in the number of meetings is minimal, the disruption to the fixture list, in April in particular, had a negative impact in a great number of areas. In the face of the adverse conditions, it is to the industry's credit that the vast majority of the races lost were run off at a later date. “But it is clear that losing 12 of the 33 fixtures originally scheduled for April left its mark. That disruption, coming as it did as the National Hunt season was drawing to its conclusion and as the new Flat term was kicking off, affected many of our figures, including entries, runners and field sizes. “Rescheduled fixtures do not attract the same crowd figures that might have attended on the original date. The drop in attendances in the first six months of the year would have been avoided if a number of those fixtures had gone ahead as planned.” She added, “Attendances at the bigger meetings held up well, a record crowd on the opening day of the Dublin Racing Festival for example led to a rise of 4% year-on-year across both days of the fixture that continues to attract considerable numbers of overseas visitors. “An increase in attendance was also recorded on Irish Grand National Day at Fairyhouse and on Derby Day at the Curragh with figures from Punchestown Festival coming in close to one year ago. “It was important for Ireland to host the World Pool on two days at the Curragh in May and June. These days bring the very best of Irish racing to an audience across the globe and we certainly look forward to the World Pool returning to Leopardstown for day one of Irish Champions Festival in September. Everything is pointing to a truly international flavour to this year's Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes, one of the season's great races.” The post Drop In Attendances And Field Sizes As HRI Release Six-Month Statistics For 2024 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Dubai World Cup night will be held on Saturday, Apr. 5, the finale of an expanded 16-week Dubai Racing Carnival, the Dubai Racing Club (DRC) announced on Friday. The DWC will be held a week later than previously as a culmination of a week of Eid Al Fitr celebrations. The desert stand will begin at Meydan Racecourse on Friday, Nov. 8, with Festive Friday earmarked for Dec. 20 with the running of AED1-million G2 Maktoum Mile. Three other feature race days will be held throughout the Dubai Racing Carnival: Fashion Friday–with an all Pattern race card including the AED3.68-million G1 Al Maktoum Challenge which is a 'Bonus Scheme' entry into the DWC–on Jan. 24, Emirates Super Saturday on Saturday, Mar. 1 with another automatic 'Bonus Scheme' entry for the winner of the G2 Al Maktoum Classic, and then the aforementioned Dubai World Cup night finale. For the full calendar, please visit the DRC website. Sheikh Rashed bin Dalmook Al Maktoum, chairman of Dubai Racing Club, said, “The Dubai World Cup is one of the best-established sporting and social events of the year in Dubai. This incredible race meeting has grown year on year, since its 1996 inception, and we look forward to welcoming the best horses, jockeys, trainers and owners from around the world to Meydan Racecourse on Saturday, 5 April 2025. “We are also delighted to offer two additional days of racing this season, providing more opportunities for horses based locally and those joining us from overseas. The Dubai Racing Carnival has been instrumental in transforming the horseracing landscape globally. It is a celebration of the sport, combining top-tier racing action with world-class entertainment, fashion, and hospitality. With the introduction of new race days and an enhanced prize pool, the Carnival continues to attract elite participants and audiences from around the world. “Under the visionary leadership of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Dubai Racing Carnival has reached new heights. His passion and commitment to the sport has not only elevated the status of the Dubai World Cup but has also placed Dubai firmly on the global horseracing map. His Highness's efforts has fostered international cooperation, bringing together the best in the industry and promoting the sport's growth and development.” The post Dubai World Cup Night Set For Apr. 5, As Dubai Racing Carnival Expanded To 16 Weeks appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

'TDN Rising Star' Mindframe (Constitution), who led into the final furlong of last month's GI Belmont Stakes before his inexperience cost him the final leg of the Triple Crown, rates the marquee in Saturday's GI Haskell Stakes at Monmouth Park, a 'Win and You're In' qualifier for the GI Breeders' Cup Classic at Del Mar in early November. A $600,000 Keeneland September purchase campaigned by the formidable team of Mike Repole's Repole Stable and Vinnie Viola's St Elias Stable, the Maryland-bred won his seven-furlong Gulfstream debut by a towering 13 3/4 lengths, earning a 103 Beyer Speed Figure that was just seven points less than champion Fierceness (City of Light) in the GI Curlin Florida Derby in the closing event on Mar. 30. A 7 1/2-length allowance winner on the Kentucky Derby undercard May 4, he was backed at 5-1 in the Belmont and sat handy to the pace from his high draw, pouncing to lead at the eighth pole before drifting out and allowing Dornoch (Good Magic) to sneak home late. “On one side I was elated with his effort in the Belmont and on the other I was a little disappointed he didn't win,” said trainer Todd Pletcher. “At the eighth pole he had a big chance. One of our concerns going into the Belmont was he was running against horses with a lot more experience. We hoped that his lack of experience wouldn't compromise his chances. I think that little bit of greenness he showed in the mid-stretch when he veered out may have cost him the win. I couldn't be disappointed in his effort, but I was disappointed we couldn't get the job done.” Both Dornoch and Fierceness were entered Wednesday, but as of this writing, neither is a confirmed runner on Saturday. Dornoch, the full-brother to 2023 GI Kentucky Derby hero Mage, drew the dreaded inside stall on the first Saturday in May and his race was more or less over at the start, though he did manage to split the field in 10th. No better than a 17-1 chance at Saratoga last time, he was ridden positively by Luis Saez and willed himself to the wire. But trainer Danny Gargan was non-committal about the Haskell after landing gate one yet again. “We're not really happy with the one-hole, so we're going to have to make a decision if we're definitely going to run from it,” he said. “If you're in the one hole, obviously, you have to show speed. We don't have to be on the lead. We don't want to get stuck inside and checked.” Pletcher, whose most recent of three Haskells came courtesy of Verrazano (More Than Ready) in 2013, also saddles Tuscan Sky (Vino Rosso) for Spendthrift Farm. Having failed to win his way into the Derby when a low-odds seventh in the GII Wood Memorial Stakes Apr. 6, he took in this track's June 15 Pegasus Stakes and thrashed next-out GIII Dwyer Stakes romper Domestic Product (Practical Joke) by nearly seven lengths. More From the Shore The Haskell is one of five graded events at Monmouth on Saturday and is supported by the $600,000 GII United Nations Stakes, which has drawn a dozen middle-distance turfers. The locally owned Webslinger (Constitution) has a reputation as one of the unluckiest horses in training, but he stretched out to the 11 furlongs for the first time in the June 15 Charleywood Stakes at Churchill Downs and was up late to score by a half-length. His come-from-behind style is juxtaposed to that of his stablemate Get Smokin (Get Stormy), a reliable sort at distances from eight to 10 furlongs, but who popped the race of his life to wire the field in the GII FanDuel Kentucky Turf Cup Stakes last September. Forced to miss the GI Breeders' Cup Turf, he resumed with a better-than-it-looks fourth in Woodbine's GII Eclipse Stakes June 1. 'TDN Rising Star' Far Bridge (English Channel) exits a third in the GI Manhattan Stakes June 8 and is the 4-1 morning-line choice in a field that also includes 2022 UN winner Adhamo (Ire) (Intello {Ger}). The expected large crowd is set to be treated to an appearance by champion Idiomatic (Curlin) in the GIII Molly Pitcher Stakes. Easy winner of the GI La Troienne Stakes on seasonal return May 3, she just missed to the classy Randomized (Nyquist) in the GI Odgen Phipps Stakes June 8 at Saratoga and should win this from Oceanport to Asbury Park. Sophomore Fillies Centerstage at the Spa Where it comes to the 3-year-old filly division, there is no brighter light than 'TDN Rising Star' Thorpedo Anna (Fast Anna) and she'll be prohibitively favored to add Saturday's GI Coaching Club American Oaks to her previous wins in the GI Longines Kentucky Oaks and GI Acorn Stakes. “She's done great here and she goes out the first set. She's been happy,” said trainer Ken McPeek. “She does everything we ask her. She likes her work and she's an easy filly to be around.” Thorpedo Anna | Sarah Andrew Her march to a championship should continue here, but she faces two other elite-level winners among her four other rivals Saturday. 'Rising Star' Leslie's Rose (Into Mischief) downed champion Just F Y I (Justify) in the Central Bank Ashland Stakes in April and most recently rounded out the Acorn exacta, bouncing back from a dull performance in the Kentucky Oaks. Her Todd Pletcher stablemate Candied (Candy Ride {Arg}) took out last year's GI Darley Alcibiades Stakes and exits a 4 1/2-length thrashing of recent GII Delaware Handicap winner Honor D Lady (Honor Code) in Monmouth's Lady's Secret Stakes June 8. Klaravich Stables's Oversubscribed (GB) (Too Darn Hot {GB}) is the 5-2 pick to give trainer Chad Brown a sixth consecutive victory in the GIII Lake George Stakes, as she took advantage of a fast pace to overwhelm her competition in the June 22 Wild Applause Stakes at Aqueduct. John Stewart's Resolute Racing is represented by an uncoupled entry in the form of 'Rising Star' Sweet Rebecca (American Pharoah)–who lost all chance when taking an awkward step as the heavy favorite in the GII Wonder Again Stakes downstate May 27–and Fasig-Tipton Digital acquisition Pounce (Lookin At Lucky), who scooped the GIII Herecomesthebride Stakes days after her purchase in early March. 'Rising Star' Manama Gold (Star Guitar), this year's G3 UAE Oaks victress, switches to the grass and has a license to do so, as she is a full-sister to the star turf sprinter Ova Charged. San Clemente Highlights Opening Day at Del Mar Horseplayers (and us turf writers alike!) are accustomed to burning the candle at both ends–especially during the summer months–and will have to wait until the 9 p.m. hour Saturday for the first graded event of the Del Mar meeting, the GII San Clemente Stakes. Also restricted to 3-year-old fillies, the 8 1/2-furlong contest has lured its typical mix of familiar faces and horses with prior form overseas. C R K Stable's Medoro (Honor Code) is drawn out wide as she looks to take her record to a perfect five-from-five, having earned her first graded success when just lasting in the GIII Providencia Stakes at Santa Anita Apr. 20. Antonio Fresu has a return call from Peter Eurton. Iscreamuscream (Twirling Candy) also brings an unblemished mark into the San Clemente, having won her maiden over six grassy furlongs in Arcadia last October before easily defeating Rascality (Into Mischief) in an allowance over that course and distance June 13. Invincible Molly (GB) (Invincible Army {Ire}) won two of her four English starts for trainer Ralph Beckett and added blinkers when scoring by a head over six furlongs at Santa Anita May 11. Trevor Denman will be in the commentator's booth for his 40th season at the oceanside oval. The post ‘Rising Star’ Mindframe The One To Beat In the Haskell appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

There is no doubting the staying credentials of Through Irish Eyes (NZ) (Tavistock), but the question remains is he ready to put his best foot forward after a long injury lay-off. The Ciaron Maher-trained galloper steps up in journey in the Deane Lester Flemington Cup (2800m) on Saturday, his third run in just under two years. Through Irish Eyes won the Listed VRC St Leger (2800m) at Flemington as a three-year-old and the following year ran second in the Group 2 Brisbane Cup (3200m) at Eagle Farm before running second in the Flemington Cup in 2022. The gelding had one more start that preparation, again finishing second over 2530m at Flemington before spending 22 months away from the racetrack. “He injured a tendon,” Maher’s assistant trainer Jack Turnbull said. “He went through the rehab process and has been given a slow build-up. “Given that time off and being the staying horse he is, there has been a little of trust put in the horse to get up to a suitable trip. “He’s not a fast horse, so hopefully 2800 metres, third-up, we start to get closer, and he starts getting warm getting out to that trip.” Through Irish Eyes was beaten more than 10 lengths first-up at Sandown and was then just over four lengths behind stablemate Wyclif at Caulfield over 2000m last time out. Turnbull described both efforts as a pass mark while also noting he needs to improve. “It is hard to come back from a tendon and hit the ground running,” Turnbull said. “I like to see them get a bit of racing under them, blow the cobwebs out and usually that brings them on. “He’s trained on well at Ballarat. Dec (Maher) and the team up there have been happy. “He looks terrific, his fitness levels are good, it’s just a matter of him getting back into the swing of things on race day. “If he got back to form, he’s clearly got the ability, and good flat ability, then he could run a race.” View the full article

Freshly retired from the racetrack, Te Akau Racing’s black-type winners Fashion Shoot (NZ) (Savabeel) and Viva Vienna(NZ) (All Too Hard) are available for purchase on gavelhouse.com and have the credentials to be quality young additions to any breeder’s broodmare band. The pair headline the latest fortnightly auction on gavelhouse.com, where bidding currently stands at $40,000 for Fashion Shoot and $20,000 for Viva Vienna. “They’re two really nice mares that have quality pedigrees behind them and performed very well on the track, and now we’re looking forward to seeing what they do in this next stage of their careers,” Te Akau principal David Ellis said. Fashion Shoot was bred by Waikato Stud in partnership with Howard and Pam Forbes. She is by Savabeel out of the dual Group Three winning mare High Fashion (NZ) (O’Reilly), whose only two foals to race have both been black-type performers – Fashion Shoot and her full-brother Savvy Valentino (NZ), who won seven times in Australia and placed in the Listed City Tattersalls Cup (2400m) at Randwick. Ellis paid $320,000 to buy Fashion Shoot from Waikato Stud’s Book 1 draft at Karaka 2019. She went on to earn $329,307 from a 36-start career that produced seven wins, five seconds and eight thirds. Fashion Shoot’s biggest win came at Riccarton last November, where she produced a stunning last-to-first performance in the Group Three Canterbury Breeders’ Stakes (1400m). After jumping from a wide gate and dropping out to a distant last among a 16-horse field, the six-year-old produced a scintillating sprint down the straight to snatch victory by a neck. She ran the last 600 metres in 33.15 seconds. Fashion Shoot later finished an unlucky fourth in the Group One New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m), where she was blocked until the 100-metre mark but made up late ground to get to within two and a half lengths of the winner. “It’s hard to beat stakes-winning Savabeel mares as broodmare prospects, they have such enormous value,” Ellis said. “Fashion Shoot always showed a lot of promise, and her performance to win the Canterbury Breeders’ Stakes was absolutely stunning. Coming from two lengths last in a field of 16 to win the way she did, it was as good a win as we’ve seen by any horse all season. “Winning a stakes race was very important for a mare like her. She’s exceptionally well bred and is a highly commercial proposition.” Meanwhile Viva Vienna is by All Too Hard out of the unraced Snitzel mare Anna Of Austria, who is a three-quarter-sister to the Listed Geelong Classic (2200m) winner Milestone (Redoute’s Choice). Their dam Cannyanna (Canny Lad) was a multiple black-type winner and placed in the Group One Salinger Stakes (1200m) at Flemington. Anna Of Austria is the dam of three winners from three foals to race, with Viva Vienna backed up by the Listed-placed Australian filly Divine Inanna (Real Impact) Viva Vienna was bought by Ellis for $100,000 from Book 1 of Karaka 2022. She recorded two wins and two placings from five highly promising starts as a two-year-old, performing strongly against standout juveniles such as Tokyo Tycoon (NZ) (Satono Aladdin), Impendabelle (Impending) and Ethereal Star (Snitzel). The classy chestnut carried on in a similar vein as a spring three-year-old, scoring smart wins in both of her first two starts including the Listed Canterbury Belle Stakes (1200m) at Riccarton. She later stepped up in distance and ran a brave second in the Group Three Barneswood Farm Stakes (1400m) at Ashburton. Viva Vienna finished her career with nine starts for four wins, three placings and $137,275 in stakes. “She showed a huge amount of talent from day one,” Ellis said. “Our vet Chief Stipe Black bought a share in her, so he must have been very impressed with her as a type. “Her dam is by an out and out champion stallion in Snitzel, who’s the broodmare sire of the likes of this season’s Doncaster Handicap and Randwick Guineas winner Celestial Legend (Dundeel) and Group One-winning juvenile Velocious (Written Tycoon).” Bidding is open now on the 53-lot fortnightly sale, with the first lot closing from 7pm on Monday July 22. View the full article

Emerging Waverley trainer Erin Hocquard will have her first taste of black-type racing when her stable star Spencer (NZ) (Derryn) lines up as favourite in Saturday’s Listed Sinclair Electrical & Refrigeration Opunake Cup (1400m) at New Plymouth. Hocquard has trained 13 winners since taking out her licence in the 2016-17 season. Five of those wins have come from Spencer. A maiden winner on the Opunake Cup undercard last year, Spencer added another victory to his record at Awapuni in the spring. But he has gone to a new level this autumn and winter, winning all of his three starts in impressive style. The Derryn gelding kicked off his campaign with a potent finishing burst to take out the $50,000 Autumn Sprint Final (1200m) at Trentham on May 25, then captured another Rating 75 sprint at Otaki on June 8. He stepped up into open class at Hastings on June 29 and delivered more of the same, edging out Opunake Cup rivals Samoot and Old Town Road by a neck and a neck. Spencer gets into Saturday’s $100,000 on the 53kg minimum weight and is rated a $4.60 favourite by the TAB. He will be ridden by Lisa Allpress, who boasts a perfect three-from-three record with the talented four-year-old. “He just keeps stepping up to the plate,” Hocquard said. “He’s probably a bit stronger in this campaign than he was before, and he’s got a bit of confidence in himself now. That seems to be just growing with every race at the moment. “I’ve just been taking it race by race with him in this campaign, but the Opunake Cup has probably been in the back of my mind for a little while. He’s done really well since his last start win at Hastings and seems to be very happy with himself at the moment, so there’s no reason not to have a go at it. “Going up to 1400m won’t be a problem – he’s won over that distance before (at Awapuni in September). I think going back to New Plymouth might be an advantage for him too, because he actually scored his maiden win at this meeting last year.” Spencer is also nominated for the Gr.3 Winning Edge Presentations Winter Cup (1600m) at Riccarton on August 3, for which the TAB rates him a $10 chance. Aljay and Jay Bee Gee are the $7 equal favourites, with Opunake Cup runners Belardo Boy and Bradman both at $8. Hocquard’s other runner at New Plymouth on Saturday is Our Sassie Anne in the UBP Ltd (1100m). The four-year-old mare finished second at Wanganui last start, beaten by a nose by Rosesrred. “She started looking around a little bit towards the end of that race, which might have cost her a little bit,” Hocquard said. “I’ll put blinkers on this time, which should hopefully help.” View the full article

Passenger (Ulysses {Ire}) could make his eagerly-awaited return to the track in the Sky Bet York Stakes if getting the go-ahead from trainer Sir Michael Stoute. The Niarchos family-owned colt made a thrilling start to his four-year-old campaign, brushing Israr (GB) (Muhaarar {GB}) aside with a degree of ease at Chester in the Huxley Stakes. However, a setback has kept him on the sidelines since, ruling out a clash with Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) in the Prince of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot and then a Coral-Eclipse showdown with City Of Troy (Justify) at Sandown. He holds an entry for the Juddmonte International Stakes at York on August 21, but Stoute will decide over the weekend whether the son of Ulysses will get an early sighter of the Knavesmire in the Group 2 over the same course and distance on Saturday week. Alan Cooper, racing manager for the Niarchos family, said, “Passenger is progressing well and at the beginning of next week Sir Michael will decide if we go to York next weekend or straight to the Juddmonte. “The York Stakes is an option but let's wait and see. The horse is very well in himself.” The Freemason Lodge handler won the inaugural running of the York Stakes with Best Alibi (Ire) (King's Best) in 2006, while potential opponents for Passenger could include William Haggas' impressive Dante Stakes scorer Economics (GB) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}). The post Passenger ‘Progressing Well’ Ahead Of Intended York Return appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Having already equalled his highest number of wins in a season, Cambridge trainer Clint Isdale is hoping to break new ground with one of his runners at Rotorua or New Plymouth on Saturday. Isdale has held a licence since the 2015-16 season and has trained a total of 58 winners, including 12 from his 199 runners this season. That matches his previous career-best total, which he set in 2022-23. “It’s been good to get to 12 again, and now hopefully we can pick up at least one more at some stage,” Isdale said. “I’ve had 24 second placings this season too – it would have been nice if a few of those had been wins, but you take the good with the bad.” Isdale’s team this weekend includes the potential Gr.3 Winter Cup (1600m) candidate Knights Realm, who will line up in the Sherlock Contracting (1400m) at Rotorua. The Castledale gelding made a good impression with two wins and two second placings in a four-start sequence through May and June, then stepped up to Rating 75 company with a last-start fourth at Te Rapa on July 6. “That performance was a little bit plain, but he’s bounced out of it really well and I’ve forgiven him for that run,” Isdale said. “The Te Rapa track was a little bit holding that day, not loose, and I think he prefers it to be looser. The way the weather is shaping up at Rotorua, he should have a looser track that’ll be more to his liking.” The TAB rates Knights Realm a $4.80 chance for Saturday’s race, while his quote for the Winter Cup at Riccarton on August 3 is currently $51. “It’s still something we’re thinking about, but I think this next race will be the telling factor on whether we take him down to Christchurch or not,” Isdale said. Low-priced Gavelhouse purchase Impressive Belle is the $3.70 favourite for the opening event on Saturday’s Rotorua card, the Macmillan Accountants 3YO (1230m). The daughter of Press Statement finished sixth on debut in April and has subsequently produced eye-catching runs for fourth at Matamata, second at Cambridge and a last-start third at Rotorua. “We paid $500 for her, so she’s been a nice little purchase off Gavelhouse,” Isdale said. “She’s eligible for Pearl bonuses, so it’s been really good. “It’s a smaller field on Saturday. Hopefully she’ll get a comfortable enough lead, and then I wouldn’t be surprised if Tayla Melvin’s 4kg claim made her quite hard to run down.” Isdale will also be represented at New Plymouth, where Quintain contests the UBP Ltd (1100m). The Iffraaj filly has yet to finish closer than fifth in three raceday starts and was a well-beaten seventh on an all-weather surface last time out, but a three-length trial win on a Heavy9 track at Waipa on July 4 hinted at a potential turnaround. “I took her down to Awapuni last start and she just absolutely hated the synthetic track there,” Isdale said. “She’s always shown ability, but she’s a bit of a cantankerous filly and not the easiest. “It came down to the idea that the last chance for her was to see how she went on a wet turf track. She certainly trialled very nicely at Waipa, so if she produces a similar performance again on Saturday, she could be very competitive.” View the full article

Local marvel Justaskme will attempt to become the first three-time winner of the Listed Sinclair Electrical & Refrigeration Opunake Cup (1400m) when he contests the $100,000 feature for the fourth time at New Plymouth on Saturday. Justaskme won the race in both 2021 and 2023, finishing fourth in between times behind Helena Baby. The Allan Sharrock-trained gelding is one of three dual winners of the Opunake Cup since it was elevated to Listed level in 2006, alongside Longchamp (2016, 2017) and Helena Baby (2019, 2022). On Saturday he will shoot for an unprecedented treble. Justaskme has gone winless in 11 starts since last year’s Opunake Cup success, but he has run a number of notable races including a fourth in the Gr.3 Winter Cup (1600m), third in the Gr.3 Metric Mile (1600m) and fifth in the Gr.1 Arrowfield Stud Plate (1600m). The eight-year-old has caught the eye this winter with a strong-finishing fifth in the Listed Rangitikei Cup (1600m), a close third in the Listed AGC Training Stakes (1600m) and a last-start fifth over 1400m at Hastings on July 6. “He’s flying,” Sharrock said. “He’s going really, really well. Obviously the AGC Training Stakes at weight-for-age at Wanganui was the first real target race and we missed there, but the other two targets are this one and the Winter Cup. “He’s progressed very well since his last start run and I really think he’s in great order leading into this race.” Justaskme’s victory in last year’s Opunake Cup came under a hefty topweight of 60kg. He will carry 58kg on Saturday, 1kg less than topweight Belardo Boy, with Johnathan Parkes booked to take the ride. “Not being the topweight makes a nice change,” Sharrock said. “But he’d only have to win again to go straight back up to the top of the handicap. That’s the way it goes. “But he won with 60kg last time, so you’d have to say he looks quite well placed under 58kg on Saturday.” The TAB rates Justaskme a $6 chance for the Opunake Cup, sharing second favouritism with Bradman. The $4.60 favourite is Spencer, who has won all of his three starts in this campaign and will carry 53kg. Justaskme headlines a 10-strong team at New Plymouth on Saturday for Sharrock, who also has a high opinion of his pair of three-year-olds that will line up in the Delaval Coastal Agri (1400m). “There won’t be much between them,” Sharrock said. “Indian Gold won very well on debut, and then he came from last to finish fourth in his second-up run. That was a big effort on a day where up and in was the place to be. I really like the horse. “Tisse has shown a lot of ability as well and I expect the application of blinkers to make a hell of a difference. I’m very happy with both of those horses. “The three-year-olds in the special conditions 1800m (Smartroad and Explosive Impact) should be very competitive too. Later in the day we’ve got Fleming, who disappointed me last time, but he probably races better at home and the blinkers go on. “Librarsi produced a typical second-up run last time. With only 50.5kg on her back on Saturday, she should be thereabouts.” View the full article

Pam Gerard has made the most of opportunities in the South Island this year and will be well-represented on Sunday with Cork (NZ) (Complacent) contesting the Crombie & Price Ltd Oamaru Cup (1600m). The six-year-old mare has been prominent during this period over the past two seasons, placing in the Listed Opunake Cup (1400m) two years ago before narrowly missing out on top honours in last year’s Gr.3 Winter Cup (1600m) to Belardo Boy (NZ) (Belardo). On track to contest the latter again next month at Riccarton Park, Gerard opted to send the mare down early with few options closer to home. “With Tauranga not having the meeting they usually have, it left us with the choice of Wellington last week and Oamaru,” Gerard said. “She was in at Wellington, but we scratched as transport-wise she would’ve had to stay there for four days before moving on to Christchurch. There was no way of getting her across before then and we didn’t want to bring her all the way home. “Instead, we decided to wait, send her down and give her a run at Oamaru where she should get a nice enough track without it being too heavy and being a gut buster. “It should be a nice little race for her.” A daughter of Complacent, Cork will carry just 53.5kg courtesy of apprentice Lily Sutherland, while fellow visitor Conor O’Ceirin (NZ) (Dial A Prayer) sits at the top of the book with 60kg. “I think she’ll be running home, certainly after the trip down she’ll just settle midfield and be running home on her own steam really,” Gerard said. “We don’t want to give her too hard of a run, it’s just to really top her off before Riccarton.” Cork has travelled south with speedy Time Test filly Tonia’s Dragon (NZ), who has been allocated an outside draw in the Easy Made Marmalade Ltd (1200m). “I’m not too worried about the gate, they’d have to be pretty quick to beat her out and she’s quick to get up and running,” Gerard said. “She’s a smart filly that I think, down the track, could sneak a bit of black type but just needs a little bit of confidence and go through the grades. “There’s some nice races down there for her, it’s a little bit hard to place a 65 1200m horse up here at the moment as they are quite tough. “There’s an option for her at National Week, then another for both her and Cork a few weeks later for decent money at Riccarton. They’ll be down there for a wee while.” Based at Matamata, Gerard entrusts her travelling horses in the care of Richard Fallon, who accompanied both Sassy Merlot (NZ) (Burgundy) and Harlech (NZ) (Darci Brahma) when the pair picked up feature races at Riccarton in the early autumn period. “Richie has been in racing for a long time and is very experienced, and absolutely loves a trip away especially to the South Island,” Gerard said. “He was with Sassy Merlot and Harlech when they came down earlier in the year and did such a fantastic job with them. “He does all of my travelling away and is based at Riccarton with them, he’s got all of his contacts there so he’s very capable.” View the full article

What Hawkesbury Races Where Hawkesbury Race Club – 1 Racecourse Rd, Clarendon NSW 2756 When Sunday, July 21, 2024 First Race 11:50am AEST Visit Dabble Hawkesbury is the destination for NSW racing on Sunday afternoon, with a competitive eight-part program set for decision. The rail is out +2m between the 1100m and 450m markers, while the remainder is in the true position. The track is rated a Soft 5 at the time of acceptances, but with sunny skies forecast across the weekend, punters can expect an upgrade to a genuine Good 4 prior to the opening event at 11:50am AEST. Best Bet at Hawkesbury: Coast Guard Online bookmakers are unable to split Coast Guard and Mysterio, with both coming through the same form reference. The former gets the nod, however, after suffering a torrid run in transit in the small field at Scone on July 2, with the two-year-old sustaining a long run down the centre of the course. He gains the services of Tommy Berry from gate two this time, and with the opportunity to sit in the ideal stalking position, Coast Guard should get the upper hand. Best Bet Race 1 – #8 Coast Guard (2) 2yo Gelding | T: Peter & Paul Snowden | J: Tommy Berry (56.5kg) +240 with Bet365 Next Best at Hawkesbury: Our Anchorage Our Anchorage is winless across his four Australian starts, but that looks set to change as he drops back into Class 1 company. He had no luck in running at Randwick on July 13 but showed plenty of fight to get within four lengths of Ha Ha Ha. He appears primed to strike as he steps up to 2000m for the first time in Australia, and provided Rachel King can navigate a passage from stall eight, Our Anchorage should prove too good for this lot. Next Best Race 2 – #2 Our Anchorage (8) 5yo Gelding | T: Bjorn Baker | J: Rachel King (59kg) +140 with Unibet Best Value at Hawkesbury: After Match After Match returns from a 130-day spell after an impressive piece of work at Rosehill on July 12. He was pushed out early to hold a position before being allowed to go through the line under his own steam, and although he was defeated by four lengths, the margin was deceiving. Tommy Berry will look to lob into the one-one from gate four, and once asked for the ultimate effort, watch for After Match to be careering down the centre of the course to shirk the maiden tag. Best Value Race 3 – #6 After Match (4) 2yo Colt | T: Peter & Paul Snowden | J: Tommy Berry (56.5kg) +1100 with Neds Hawkesbury Sunday quaddie tips Hawkesbury quadrella selections Sunday, July 21, 2024 1-7-8-9-10 2-3-4-5-6 1-2-4-5-6 3-6-10 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip Horse racing tips View the full article

By Brigette Solomon Tony Herlihy’s barn will be heavily supported at Cambridge tonight, and stable foreman Tony Cameron thinks they are all each way prospects. “Of the three in tonight I’m driving The Revenant and Luby Lill, while Monika Ranger drives Regal Girl,” says Cameron. The Revenant ($5.50FF) starts in Race 2, the North Island Stallion Expo – Karaka July 27 Mobile Pace over 2200 metres. The Revenant finished second on this track and trip at his last start on July 5 in a race taken out by an impressive winner in Kings Watch. In that race, The Revenant trailed the leading Kings Watch and fought on bravely to hold on for second. “He’s got a good draw again tonight and was good when second here in behind Kings Watch,” says Cameron, “ff he gets a good run tonight, I think he’s a chance in this race.” Cameron’s next drive is Luby Lill in Race 4, the Watchu Security Mobile Trot over 2200 metres. “She’s going well enough but will need a few things to go her way tonight,” says Cameron. Luby Lill ($3.80FF) starts the race from barrier two tonight and has been racing consistently well without placing in her last two starts, though she had three placings before that. The Herlihy stable’s final runner for the night is the talented Regal Girl ($4FF) who lines up in Race 8, the Gavelhouse.com Mobile Pace. “She’s fresh up tonight but has trained well this time in,” says Cameron, “It’s a mobile start tonight with her being one on the second line, and she follows out Jasinova driven by Luk Chin so we will be hoping to get a nice run through.” Driven tonight by junior driver Monika Ranger, the four-year-old mare by What The Hill resumes from a spell having last raced in December. She has had two preparatory workouts for a win and a third in the lead up to tonight’s assignment. “She’s a nice mare and should be thereabouts tonight and benefit from the run.” Alongside her drive on Regal Girl, Ranger also has three other drives including two trained by Cambridge based David Butcher who she is confident will give strong performances tonight. Those horses are Brookside Girl in Race three, the IRT Your Horse. Our Passion. Mobile Pace, and Hooray Henry in Race seven, the Dunstan Horsefeeds Mobile Pace. “Brookside Girl has dropped back in the ratings a bit and meets a slightly weaker field tonight,” says Ranger, “and Hooray Henry was good first up and with the couple of scratchings in his race I think he should be good enough in that field.” Tonight’s racing action gets underway at 5:26pm. View the full article

Caitlyns Wish will contest the Arawa Park Hotel Rotorua 1230 on Saturday. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images) Stephen Autridge has been well-represented during the winter period by bonny mare Caitlyns Wish, and she will be looking for a return to the winner’s circle in the on Saturday. The Belardo four-year-old had been a model of consistency through her preparation with three wins and a minor placing from five starts, before track conditions weren’t to suit at Te Rapa where she finished at the tail of the field behind a dominant Wewillrock. “They ran two seconds quicker than when she won the start before, and she really appreciates rain on the day,” Autridge said. “That’s what it’s looking like we’re getting on Saturday, so fingers crossed that will be the case for her.” With her regular rider back in the saddle in Maria Sanson, Caitlyns Wish will take three kilograms off her 59.5kg impost, while last start Listed winner Casino Princess sits on top with 60kg. “We’ve drawn one, so you would think she would end up in front on the fence. It shouldn’t be too concerning on the rail by race three, but she could always come out a couple if she has too,” Autridge said. “This would’ve been a big weight rise, so we’re lucky to be claiming three.” The mare will be joined by older stablemate Thunder in the open contest, who will drop back in distance with the impending rain also to be his preference. “We only put him in because we knew it would be that heavy, it’ll be more like a 1400 or 1500,” Autridge said. “He could be getting home well late.” Horse racing news View the full article

Justaskme will contest the Listed Opunake Cup (1400m) at New Plymouth on Saturday. Photo: Peter Rubery (Race Images Palmerston North) Local marvel Justaskme will attempt to become the first three-time winner of the Listed Opunake Cup (1400m) when he contests the $100,000 feature for the fourth time at New Plymouth on Saturday. Justaskme won the race in both 2021 and 2023, finishing fourth in between times behind Helena Baby. The Allan Sharrock-trained gelding is one of three dual winners of the Opunake Cup since it was elevated to Listed level in 2006, alongside Longchamp (2016, 2017) and Helena Baby (2019, 2022). On Saturday he will shoot for an unprecedented treble. Justaskme has gone winless in 11 starts since last year’s Opunake Cup success, but he has run a number of notable races including a fourth in the Group 3 Winter Cup (1600m), third in the Group 3 Metric Mile (1600m) and fifth in the Group 1 Arrowfield Stud Plate (1600m). The eight-year-old has caught the eye this winter with a strong-finishing fifth in the Listed Rangitikei Cup (1600m), a close third in the Listed AGC Training Stakes (1600m) and a last-start fifth over 1400m at Hastings on July 6. “He’s flying,” Sharrock said. “He’s going really, really well. Obviously the AGC Training Stakes at weight-for-age at Wanganui was the first real target race and we missed there, but the other two targets are this one and the Winter Cup. “He’s progressed very well since his last start run and I really think he’s in great order leading into this race.” Justaskme’s victory in last year’s Opunake Cup came under a hefty topweight of 60kg. He will carry 58kg on Saturday, 1kg less than topweight Belardo Boy, with Johnathan Parkes booked to take the ride. “Not being the topweight makes a nice change,” Sharrock said. “But he’d only have to win again to go straight back up to the top of the handicap. That’s the way it goes. “But he won with 60kg last time, so you’d have to say he looks quite well placed under 58kg on Saturday.” Horse racing bookmakers rate Justaskme a $6 chance for the Opunake Cup, sharing second favouritism with Bradman. The $4.60 favourite is Spencer, who has won all of his three starts in this campaign and will carry 53kg. Horse racing news View the full article

Knight’s Realm will lineup at Rotorua on Saturday. Photo: Peter Rubery (Race Images Palmerston North) Having already equalled his highest number of wins in a season, Cambridge trainer Clint Isdale is hoping to break new ground with one of his runners at Rotorua or New Plymouth on Saturday. Isdale has held a licence since the 2015-16 season and has trained a total of 58 winners, including 12 from his 199 runners this season. That matches his previous career-best total, which he set in 2022-23. “It’s been good to get to 12 again, and now hopefully we can pick up at least one more at some stage,” Isdale said. “I’ve had 24 second placings this season too – it would have been nice if a few of those had been wins, but you take the good with the bad.” Isdale’s team this weekend includes the potential Group 3 Winter Cup (1600m) candidate Knights Realm at Rotorua. The Castledale gelding made a good impression with two wins and two second placings in a four-start sequence through May and June, then stepped up to Rating 75 company with a last-start fourth at Te Rapa on July 6. “That performance was a little bit plain, but he’s bounced out of it really well and I’ve forgiven him for that run,” Isdale said. “The Te Rapa track was a little bit holding that day, not loose, and I think he prefers it to be looser. The way the weather is shaping up at Rotorua, he should have a looser track that’ll be more to his liking.” Horse betting sites rates Knights Realm a $4.80 chance for Saturday’s race, while his quote for the Winter Cup at Riccarton on August 3 is currently $51. “It’s still something we’re thinking about, but I think this next race will be the telling factor on whether we take him down to Christchurch or not,” Isdale said. Low-priced Gavelhouse purchase Impressive Belle is the $3.70 favourite for the opening event on Saturday’s Rotorua card. The daughter of Press Statement finished sixth on debut in April and has subsequently produced eye-catching runs for fourth at Matamata, second at Cambridge and a last-start third at Rotorua. “We paid $500 for her, so she’s been a nice little purchase off Gavelhouse,” Isdale said. “She’s eligible for Pearl bonuses, so it’s been really good. “It’s a smaller field on Saturday. Hopefully she’ll get a comfortable enough lead, and then I wouldn’t be surprised if Tayla Melvin’s 4kg claim made her quite hard to run down.” Isdale will also be represented at New Plymouth, where Quintain contests the UBP Ltd (1100m). The Iffraaj filly has yet to finish closer than fifth in three raceday starts and was a well-beaten seventh on an all-weather surface last time out, but a three-length trial win on a Heavy 9 track at Waipa on July 4 hinted at a potential turnaround. “I took her down to Awapuni last start and she just absolutely hated the synthetic track there,” Isdale said. “She’s always shown ability, but she’s a bit of a cantankerous filly and not the easiest. “It came down to the idea that the last chance for her was to see how she went on a wet turf track. She certainly trialled very nicely at Waipa, so if she produces a similar performance again on Saturday, she could be very competitive.” Horse racing news View the full article

This time last year Conor O’Ceirin was getting ready to tackle the Listed Opunake Cup (1400m) on his home track of New Plymouth, but 12 months on trainer Robbie Patterson has elected to bypass the local feature in favour of chasing a lucrative southern bonus. The seven-year-old gelding has crossed the Cook Strait and trekked south to Oamaru where he will line-up in the Crombie & Price LTD Oamaru Cup (1600m) on Sunday. Patterson has targeted the southern feature as the key lead-in race for next month’s Gr.3 Winning Edge Presentations 127th Winter Cup (1600m) at Riccarton, a race Conor O’Ceirin finished in third last year, with the added bonus of potentially becoming eligible for a lucrative bonus. “That race (Oamaru Cup) fitted in nicely heading into the Winter Cup,” Patterson said. “He doesn’t race that well at New Plymouth, so we thought we would go down there, and there is a $100,000 bonus if you can win the Oamaru Cup and Winter Cup. “He is tricky at the weights with 60 kilos, but he is there and should be competitive. “It (Oamaru Cup) has come up really competitive, he will know he has been at the races.” Stablemate Margherita Veloce has also made the float trip south after placing at Trentham last weekend. The daughter of Vespa will tackle the Thank You Oamaru Jockey Club Supporters (1400m) ahead of Riccarton’s Grand National Festival of Racing next month. “It’s a quick back-up from last Saturday and she should target a couple of races over the Winter Cup Carnival,” Patterson said. “She will improve a heap with that run the other day, she hadn’t raced for a long time. Ciel (Butler, apprentice jockey) has made the trip down to ride her, so she gets in well at the weights. “I expect a really good run from her, she has gone down south before and won and run second at Riccarton, so there is no reason why she wouldn’t be competitive on Sunday.” A day prior, Patterson will line-up a handy team at New Plymouth, including in-form mare Catherinenz in the Sandfords Rural Carriers 1200. “She has won three of her last four and she is creeping up in the weights a little bit in that 75 grade,” Patterson said. “We are not claiming, Gryllsy (Craig Grylls, jockey) is back from holiday, so he is on and she should be competitive on a testing track. “Going back to 1200m a little bit fresh, I expect a really good run from her. “She has drawn well. The natural leader (Amend) has drawn one and she has drawn two, so she should be able to follow him around and hopefully ping off his back.” Belles Beau is another stable runner in good form, taking a placing and a win into the Delval Coastal Agri 1400. “He is a really nice horse going forward,” Patterson said. “He is not the biggest horse and has got a fair bit of weight (58kg) on Saturday, but he will be competitive that’s for sure. He will ping the gates and put himself right there and he shouldn’t be far away.” Patterson also has high hopes for his full-sister Belles Fate, who will make her debut in the IBP LTD 1100. “She had an operation to get some bone chips taken out of her fetlock,” Patterson said. “She is very smart, she is a full-sister to Belles Beau out of a very good mare, Belles Fast of Eddie Bourke’s, who set a track record. “She should be very competitive, she is a good horse, and Ciel knows her very well and she gets in really well at the weights. No one else has claimed up the top and we are claiming, so she gets in very well, I think she will be a massive chance.” Patterson will also line-up Sack The Publican in the 24/7 Security 1800, and Balladonna Lily and Ragamuffin in the AgFirst 1600. View the full article

Stephen Autridge has been well-represented during the winter period by bonny mare Caitlyns Wish, and she will be looking for a return to the winner’s circle in the Arawa Park Hotel Rotorua 1230 on Saturday. The Belardo four-year-old had been a model of consistency through her preparation with three wins and a minor placing from five starts, before track conditions weren’t to suit at Te Rapa where she finished at the tail of the field behind a dominant Wewillrock. “They ran two seconds quicker than when she won the start before, and she really appreciates rain on the day,” Autridge said. “That’s what it’s looking like we’re getting on Saturday, so fingers crossed that will be the case for her.” With her regular rider back in the saddle in Maria Sanson, Caitlyns Wish will take three kilograms off her 59.5kg impost, while last start Listed winner Casino Princess sits on top with 60kg. “We’ve drawn one, so you would think she would end up in front on the fence. It shouldn’t be too concerning on the rail by race three, but she could always come out a couple if she has too,” Autridge said. “This would’ve been a big weight rise, so we’re lucky to be claiming three.” The mare will be joined by older stablemate Thunder in the open contest, who will drop back in distance with the impending rain also to be his preference. “We only put him in because we knew it would be that heavy, it’ll be more like a 1400 or 1500,” Autridge said. “He could be getting home well late.” Back at his Matamata base, Autridge was pleased to welcome back talented fillies Still Bangon and Livid Sky ahead of their four-year-old campaigns. Still Bangon picked up a well-deserved victory in the Gr.3 Eulogy Stakes (1600m) in mid-December, before placing in the Gr.2 Sir Patrick Hogan Stakes (2050m) and the Gr.3 Sunline Vase (2100m). Her preparation culminated with the Gr.1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m), where she finished back in the field. A daughter of Proisir, Livid Sky also made a strong account of herself this term, placing in the Gr.3 Bonecrusher Stakes (1600m), Gr.2 Sir Patrick Hogan Stakes (2050m) and Gr.2 Karyn & David Ellis Fillies Classic (2000m), while also finishing midfield in her grand final, the New Zealand Oaks. “Still Bangon will trial at Te Rapa on August 5, and Livid Sky will be about a month later. They’ve both done really well spelling and look really good,” Autridge said. “Looking back, 2400m may have been too far for them but they’d had a fairly hectic time and might have just been coming to the end of it in the Oaks. “This time in, we’re not concentrating on getting to that distance for races anyway, they’ll be mile to 2000 horses I would think and hopefully they’ll come up in the spring. “Sometimes you have to wait for the autumn, you’ve got to have the patience.” View the full article

A special standalone sale on Gavelhouse Plus will give breeders a rare opportunity to secure a trans-Tasman Group One winner. The auction of Prowess will run from the 2nd to the 8th of August on Gavelhouse Plus. Trained by Roger James and Robert Wellwood for a family syndicate headed by Dean Skipper, Prowess won eight of her 12 starts including five consecutive black-type victories as a three-year-old. Prowess was a $230,000 yearling purchase at Karaka in 2021 from the draft of breeders Hallmark Stud, and she turned that into more than $1.65 million in prizemoney in her glittering career. “She’s taken us on an amazing ride and it’s definitely a shame that it’s coming to an end,” Skipper said. “We have some mixed emotions about putting her up for sale. “But the way we look at it is that we were just so fortunate to have had one as good as her, and now she’s ready to go on to the next stage of her career. “She’s fit and well and a happy horse. She could probably even have made it back to the racetrack if we wanted to wait a bit longer. But she’s at a premium stage of her life to start her breeding career now, and we always set it up so that we would sell her at around this time and have her in the best possible condition for that.” Prowess was at the forefront of the meteoric rise of her sire Proisir, whose service fee soared from $17,500 to $70,000 after siring five Group One winners in a single season in 2022-23 – trans-Tasman stars Prowess and Legarto, plus elite New Zealand winners Levante, Pier and Dark Destroyer. Proisir has gone on to achieve blockbuster Book 1 averages of $188,947 at Karaka 2023 and $274,444 at Karaka 2024. The esteem for Prowess, her family and her sire was spectacularly illustrated in January when a full-sister to Prowess topped the Book 1 sale at $1.6 million. “It was unbelievable to see the full-sister sell for such a big price at Karaka earlier in the year,” Skipper said. “It shows how highly the family is regarded now, and it’s a great reward for the hard work that Mark Baker and the Hallmark team have put in. “Based on that, I guess we could say that we got Prowess quite cheaply in hindsight. But it was still quite a heady price to pay at the time.” Prowess wasted no time in making that $230,000 purchase price look like a worthwhile investment. She made a big impression with a trial win at Taupo as an autumn two-year-old in April 2022, then backed that up on raceday with a runaway romp by nine lengths at Wanganui in her only juvenile start. “We knew from quite early on that we might have something a bit special on our hands,” Skipper said. “Robert Wellwood texted me after the trial, telling me to watch the replay and then give him a call. I figured she must have done something, and I was blown away when I watched it. “Then we were on course at Wanganui for her debut, and we were a bit overwhelmed when she won it the way she did. We didn’t even really celebrate – we were just awestruck.” But it was as a three-year-old that Prowess really made her name. After spring placings in the Group Three Soliloquy Stakes (1400m) and against males in the Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m), Prowess embarked on a winning sequence that spanned five feature races between New Year’s Day and the end of March. She kicked off with a comfortable win in the Gr.2 Auckland Guineas (1600m), then produced a scintillating turn of foot to stun a star-studded field in the $1 million Karaka Million 3YO Classic (1600m). After returning to three-year-old fillies’ company with a five-length romp in the Gr.2 David & Karyn Ellis Fillies’ Classic (2000m), Prowess took on older horses at weight-for-age and recorded a rare win by a three-year-old filly in the Gr.1 Bonecrusher New Zealand Stakes (2050m). James and Wellwood then set their sights on Sydney, and Prowess produced perhaps the most impressive performance of her career with a three-length blitz in the Gr.1 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill. An injury-curtailed four-year-old campaign saw Prowess win the Group Two Crystal Mile (1600m) in Melbourne and place in the Gr.3 Taranaki Breeders’ Stakes (1400m). “We started to realise just how good she was when she won the Auckland Guineas, and it was a picket fence from there and she just kept raising the bar,” Skipper said. “Roger James has been training for a long time and has had some great horses in his stable, so when he started saying she was up there with the best he’d ever trained, it was incredibly exciting. “One thing about her career that was very special was that we managed to capture the attention of a few people who weren’t previously into racing. They got behind her and were opening up TAB accounts so that they could bet on her. That was another part of the experience that we really enjoyed. “It was just so much fun and we can’t thank everyone enough – the vets, the farriers and all the team at Kingsclere Stables. They’re the ones getting up at 3am and putting in all that hard work. We just paid the bills and got to enjoy the end result. “She gave us some incredible memories, and now we’re looking forward to seeing what she can do in the broodmare paddock.” View the full article

Melbourne Cup runner-up Soulcombe. (Photo by Scott Barbour/Racing Photos) Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) runner-up Soulcombe is unlikely to run this spring. The rising six-year-old, who was sidelined earlier this year with an off-fore leg injury during his preparation for the Group 1 Australian Cup (2000m), has been making good progress in his rehabilitation. However, managing part-owner Ozzie Kheir told Racing.com that the spring carnival is approaching too quickly. “He’s in light work at the moment, but he is highly unlikely to be back for the spring,” Kheir said. “He’s rehabbing as well as we could hope, but the injury just came at a bad time as far as getting him right for the spring. “We’ll just take our time and let him tell us, as you can’t rush coming back from an injury like that.” Horse racing news View the full article