Wandering Eyes

The first of the Aussie horses are here, a change for SENZ radio, and two NZ records at Ashburton all feature in this week’s News Briefs. The Aussies have landed The first of the Australian visitors for IRT New Zealand Trotting Cup week have landed. The Jess Tubbs-trained quartet of Just Believe, Better Eclipse, One Over All and He’s From Heaven were due to touch down at 8am today. Superstar trotter Just Believe will go straight to the $400,000 Renwick Farms Dominion Trot at Addington on Tuesday, November 12 while One Over All and Auckland Cup winner Better Eclipse will race at Kaikoura next Monday (November 4). He’s From Heaven will race for slot holder Entain in the $500,000 Hill Lee and Scott THE VELOCITY at Addington’s Show Day twilight race meeting on Friday, November 15. Millwood Nike to be a mum Superstar mare Millwood Nike is in foal. Retired with a tendon injury after winning all 17 of her starts, Millwood Nike was recently purchased by Breckon Farms and she has been based at their Ohaupo property in the Waikato for the past month or so. It’s now been confirmed she is in foal to Art Major and reportedly adapting very well to her new life. SENZ to become Sport Nation New Zealand’s only dedicated sports radio and audio platform is evolving, with SENZ rebranding to Sport Nation from November 19. The rebrand marks a new chapter for the station, reflecting its commitment to being the Kiwi voice of sport – by Kiwis, for Kiwis. Sport Nation will continue to deliver the same comprehensive sports coverage, offering fans access to all the sports Kiwis love, 24/7, from local legends to international events, as well as bringing the latest and greatest from the racing world. Keeping it in the family Merlin’s win the NZB Airfreight Ashburton Flying Stakes capped off a good few days for broodmare star Imaginary Bet and Southland breeders Todd and Fleur Anderson. The now 12-year-old mare has had seven foals. A $1m plus earner Merlin (Art Major – Imaginary Bet) is by far the most successful and high profile of them. His win on Monday followed half brother Magician (Captaintreacherous) winning at Addington on Friday night, while his full sister Captains Mistress was second in her Sires’ Stakes heat at Ashburton on Monday and Merlin’s full brother Durrant was third in a race at Invercargill on Sunday. All four were bred by the Anderson’s Taffy Limited. Two NZ records at Ashburton Two New Zealand records were set during Ashburton’s Labour Day meeting on Monday. Dreams Are Free took out the Garrard’s Sires’ Stakes Sophomore Classic when the Nathan Williamson trained and driven colt got the perfect trail behind favourite Jeremiah to win by more than a length in 1:59.2. That lowered the New Zealand 3YO colts and geldings record over 1700 metres set by Hadron Collider, who won in 1:59.5 at Cambridge Raceway in April this year. And Got The Chocolates, driven by John Dunn, eclipsed the 2YO Colts and Geldings 1700m mobile record when he won the Woodlands Stud Sires’ Stake Heat in 1:58.1. That was just under Franco Indie’s record of 1:58.2, also set at Ashburton, in 2021. Big leads in respective premierships With two months of the year to go the drivers’ and trainers’ premierships are looking pretty clear-cut. In the drivers Robert and Jenna Dunn are poised to win another premiership with 126 wins in 2024, 22 ahead of nearest rivals Steve and Amanda Telfer while Blair Orange, on 157 wins, has a sizeable 36-win buffer over John Dunn. Sam Thornley (52) has a nine win lead over Carter Dalgety in the junior drivers’ race. Surgery notification requirements As the Accountable Person you are now responsible for informing HRNZ of any Notifiable Surgeries that a horse in your care has had. The Notifiable Surgeries feature is now available online through your My HRNZ login. If you login online or to your My HRNZ app, and then go to My Horses, you will find the Notifiable Surgeries feature available here. It is straight forward and easy to use. It is a requirement that HRNZ is notified of any surgeries as soon as practical. You will be required to : · Name the Horse · Date of the procedure · Name of Vet · Choose the surgery/procedure A video tutorial on how to use the app can be found here In the case of a horse being gelded, HRNZ must be notified within 5 days. Club News : Methven The Methven Trotting Club action resumes on Friday November 1 with a twilight meeting scheduled to start at 3 pm with the last likely to go about 7.30 p.m. The track is likely to be in first class order on the back of forecasted rain a week prior to the meeting. The programmed is based around lower tier horses and most of the races are short distance. The club in conjunction with the Canty Owners Association will once again provide a BBQ and drink for owners, trainers and stablehands over the last few races. This has been very popular with connections and many thanks to Nigel and Brenda Armstrong for their selfless efforts. View the full article

By Brigette Solomon Cambridge trainer Nicky Chilcott has rounded out the year’s final Trot into Tuesday meeting at her home track with a winning training double. “It was a great night, I was rapt with the horses and a few of their owners were on course to enjoy it which was awesome,” said Chilcott. Chilcott’s first winner of the night was Katies Princess who took out the Flair Junior Drivers Trophy Mobile Pace driven by stable employee and junior driver Leah Hibell. In a confident drive by Hibell, Katies Princess was sent forward off the mobile and after some early work eventually found the lead over Baileys Pitch. From there Hibell rated the mare well and despite some pressure down the back from the parked Heaven High, Katies Princess was too good, letting down to score the win by 1.75 lengths. “It was fantastic for her owners the Messengers who made the trip up from Inglewood to watch her tonight and it was a great drive from Leah, she showed confidence out there and drove her really well,” said Chilcott, “Leah’s won five races on her now and has developed a good association with the mare.” The five-year-old mare by Raging Bull now has seven lifetime wins to her name and earnings just shy of $60,000. Later in the evening, Chilcott drove Alwaysbesecret to her maiden victory taking out the Garrards Horse and Hound Mobile Pace for Fillies and Mares. “I actually thought she would have won a race sooner but it has taken her some time to get the hang of racing despite running a few places on the way,” said Chilcott, “this was her third week in a row racing which was the only question mark but it turned out to be her best run yet.” From a starting draw of four, Chilcott sent Alwaysbesecret forward to lead and remained in front from there on out. In the home straight Spirited Peggy who had trailed the winner, issued a strong challenge up the passing lane and at one stage looked to head Chilcott’s horse, but Alwaysbesecret rallied and fought hard to win by a head. “She is still a bit weak yet and probably about 12 months away from being the full package but it’s great for the owners that we’ve been able to have some fun with her and get a win,” said Chilcott, “she’ll probably head to the paddock for a spell now.” Peter Ferguson also scored a winning driving double last night winning race 1, the Blue Water Waikato Handicap Trot with Crackerjack for trainers Dylan and Jo Ferguson. His next win was with Ruby Ridge in the Christmas At The Raceway Handicap Trot for the Pukekohe-based training partnership of Peter and Vaughan Blanchard. It was the Majestic Son mare’s 10th lifetime win. View the full article

The countdown is on for the $10 million Golden Eagle (1500m) this Saturday at Rosehill, with the barrier draw adding another layer of intrigue to this year’s race. Japanese trainer Yoichi Kuroiwa attempts to achieve a historic feat with Ascoli Piceno, the early favourite at $4.80 in Golden Eagle 2024 betting at Ladbrokes despite her […] The post 2024 Golden Eagle Field & Betting Preview appeared first on HorseRacing.com.au. View the full article

Cicero Farms' homebred 3-year-old filly Hope Road, winner of three straight races by five or more lengths, has been made the 6-5 morning-line favorite in the $200,000 Bayakoa Stakes (G3), which kicks off the stakes undercard Nov. 2 at Del Mar.View the full article

Breeders' Cup NotebookView the full article

Ascot Park trainer Jo-Ann Gordon has taken a patient approach with giant gelding Polly’s Guru (NZ) (Gallant Guru), and she is hoping she can be rewarded when he lines-up in the Southland Honda Maiden (1600m) at her local meeting on Friday. The five-year-old son of Gallant Guru made his debut at Gore last week where he finished runner-up over 1335m, much to the delight of Gordon, and her only concern heading into Friday is his barrier draw of two. “I am really happy with him, he is just really green,” Gordon said. “The only thing that I am concerned about is the inside draw because he is about 18 hands with a very large stride. “Hopefully we can get off the fence and just let him get into a rhythm. “He is still pretty weak. He will start on Friday, we will see how he gets through that, and perhaps have one more start at Invercargill and then he will have a spell again. “He is a long way off, but he is a really nice horse with a really good turn of foot for a big fella.” Stablemate Small Town Belle was also runner-up at Gore last week and will be looking to go one better in the Southport Handicap (1400m) on Friday. Gordon bought the daughter of Belardo off Gavelhouse.com last year for $1,100 and said it has taken her a little longer than desired to strip into race condition. “I bought her last November off Gavelhouse and she was so fat it took me six months to get the weight off her, that is why she was a wee bit disappointing last campaign,” she said. “This campaign she has come up and she is fit, which makes a massive difference. She has worked on well after Gore, so I expect her to go well again.” Gordon will also line-up Sutherland in the Heineken Handicap (2200m). “Sutherland just hated that sticky track at Gore and when he doesn’t like something he doesn’t go, and that shows in his form, he looks like he runs a bit hot and cold,” Gordon said. “2200m is more his go anyway, and I think he will go 100 times better than he did at Gore. We are due for a bit of rain on Thursday night, so the track shouldn’t be sticky, it will be looser, which will be his cup of tea. Signwriter finished seventh on debut at Gore last week and Gordon is hoping the addition of blinkers will aid the gelding’s chances this week in the McCallums Group Maiden (1200m), “Because of the lack of trials here, Signwriter hadn’t been anywhere for two years. I thought his start at Gore wasn’t the worst for a very green horse that would have usually had a couple of trials,” she said. “He will definitely be an improved run than what he was at Gore, the blinkers will improve him straight away. “I worked him in blinkers and he worked really nice with them, he really got up on the bit. He seems to have woken up. “I initially had him in the 1400m, but I have cut him back to 1200m. Gordon’s contingent on Friday will be rounded out by Holy Snitz in the ILT Foundation Maiden (1400m), and she is hoping for more luck than her first-up run at Gore. “The start at Gore with Holy Snitz you definitely have to disregard, she was a victim of circumstance, and because it was her first start, I think she panicked when they came over on her, which made the situation even worse,” Gordon said. “Krishna (Mudhoo, jockey) was confident that she was going to run in the first three in Gore before she got cleaned up. “We would just like a clean run with her and she should go okay.” View the full article

Stablemates Master Marko (NZ) (Contributer) and Prince Alby (NZ) (Sacred Falls) will end their northern tours of duty at Trentham before their focus switches to feature events closer to home. The Kelvin Tyler-trained duo will return to the South Island after Saturday’s meeting with major targets to chase during New Zealand Cup week at Riccarton. Master Marko will drop back in trip in the Courtesy Ford Redcraze Bowl (1400m) following his bold effort to finish fifth in the Gr.1 Livamol Classic (2040m). “I was really rapt and it did suit him with the style of racing at Te Rapa, which favoured on-pace runners and the back ones just couldn’t make ground,” Tyler said. “He goes forward and puts himself in the race, so I was thrilled with him.” Master Marko was given an easy time following the Livamol and the drop back in distance at Trentham will be a snug fit for the son of Contributer. “He had a quiet week after the Livamol and his next main target will be the TAB Classic (Gr.3, 1600m) at Riccarton, in my eyes his best distance is probably a mile,” Tyler said. “It will be a wet track on Saturday, it will be tough going so 1400m on that sort of going should be ideal. “He’s a tough horse and a really good eater who gets over his races well.” While the relocation of the Livamol to Te Rapa suited Master Marko, it didn’t favour Prince Alby who finished at the tail of the field and will bid to turn his form around in the Mode Technology Feilding Cup (2100m). “Both him and Lightning Jack went back and they just couldn’t make ground, it was a frontrunners’ track,” Tyler said. Prince Alby had previously finished out of the money in an open handicap at Matamata. “I tried to keep him a bit fresh for those races, but when they got transferred from Hastings to Matamata and Te Rapa it just changed the dynamic and I think he’ll be a different horse on Saturday,” Tyler said. Safely through the weekend, Prince Alby will head to the Gr.3 Martin Collins New Zealand Cup (3200m) at Riccarton. Tyler will be represented by Radiant Reach and Zambezi Flyer at Friday’s Southland meeting at Ascot Park with the former his best chance of success. The daughter of Vadamos will resume in the Southport Handicap (1400m) and her previous success at Gore came off a spell. “It’s been quite hard to get horses ready in the deep south, we’ve had no jump-outs since May,” Tyler said. “It’s been pretty tough going but we’re on the other side of it now and Radiant Reach will be my best. “She’s a bit older now and very capable and won fresh-up last season. She’s been working well and I’d be disappointed if she wasn’t in for a good year.” View the full article

As New Zealand Racing Hall of Fame trainer Graeme Rogerson prepares for his shot at again winning racing’s Holy Grail, he has revealed: “I’m just lucky to be alive”. Rogerson and his wife Debbie will produce three-time Group One winner Sharp ‘N’ Smart (NZ) (Redwood) in next Tuesday’s $A8.56 million Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington but the larger-than-life trainer has already tasted victory in a much bigger event. Earlier this year, Rogerson underwent life-saving cardiac surgery. It took months before he was fully recovered and while he still bears the scars of that ordeal, “Rogey” can’t help finding himself looking at the bright side of life. “Every day now is a good day,” he said. Rogerson revealed that his surgeon had told him his heart was operating at only 50 percent efficiency. “Now I’ve had the operation, I’ve got the other half working,” he quipped. “I didn’t know that when they saw you in half, it would cut you up so much. But I’ve got through it. They said (the recovery) would take six months and I’ve got two-and-a-half months to go. Then I’d like to think I might find another good horse.” That next good horse has a high bar to reach to compare with the Rogersons’ current star, Sharp ‘N’ Smart. A winner of the Gr.1 Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) in Sydney, the Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) and Gr.1 Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m) at Te Rapa, Smart ‘N’ Smart was last year’s New Zealand Horse of the Year. While a bug prevented him from racing at his best as a four-year-old, he has returned as a stronger spring five-year-old, as demonstrated by his last-start third placing in last Friday’s Gr.2 Moonee Valley Gold Cup (2500m), a performance that confirmed he was on song for the Melbourne Cup. “It was very good when you look at it from the sectionals, and you’ve got to remember he had 59 kilos. He’s only got 53 and a half in the Cup,” Rogerson said. “In racing, weights and measures mean a lot. He’s well off in the Cup, he’s got a lot going for him. He just needs an ounce of luck.” A 12-time New Zealand champion trainer with 55 Group One wins to his name, including Savabeel’s Cox Plate and Polar Success’ Golden Slipper, Rogerson has a proud history in the Melbourne Cup. Working closely with Lloyd Williams, Rogerson bought 1978 Cup winner Arwon and 1985 Cup winner What A Nuisance. And Rogerson got to hoist his own trainer’s Cup when he produced Efficient to win the 2007 feature in Williams’ colours. “When you win one, you want to win another, then another. Lloyd’s won seven,” Rogerson said. “You never know for two miles until they go up (in distance) but this horse shows every attribute needed to get it. He’s got to the stage now where he wants to relax. He reminds me of Arwon and What And Nuisance. “He’s going to have to be at his top of his game, but I think he’s not far from it. The only thing he doesn’t want is a wet track.” With Rogerson recovering from his heart surgery, Debbie has navigated Sharp ‘N’ Smart’s campaign, and her work has only earned accolades from one of racing’s most renown hard-markers. “She’s done a super job. He had a bad bacterial virus and while he showed glimpses, he never produced his best form from when he was a three-year-old,” Rogerson said. “But Debbie’s done a hell of a job to get him back. Now, he’s not far away. It would be lovely to win it. It would be good for New Zealand. But if not, we’ll be back again to try next year.” View the full article

Via Sistina ridden by James McDonald winning the 2024 Cox Plate at Moonee Valley. (Photo by Pat Scala/Racing Photos) Via Sistina, the dominant winner of the 2024 Cox Plate (2040m) will not line-up in Tuesday’s Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington. Despite the ease with which she disposed of one of the best Cox Plate fields, owners Yulong Investments confirmed the news on X on Tuesday morning that their star mare would bypass the race that stops the nation. “The Cox Plate has always been her main target, to win it is nothing short of a dream,” the tweet read from the official Yulong Investments account. “Following this peak performance and after much consideration, it has been decided she will not contest the 2024 Melbourne Cup. “We look forward to taking aim at the G1 Champions Stakes a week on Saturday (November 11).” The Chris Waller-trained mare will now head to the Group 1 VRC Champions Stakes (2000m) on November 11 as she looks to add a fourth Group 1 win this campaign. Prior to her withdrawal, Via Sistina was a $7 winning hope with horse racing bookmakers for the Melbourne Cup. Just 33 horses remain in contention for the Melbourne Cup following the withdrawal of market fancies Jan Brueghel and Via Sistina over the last 24 hours. Horse racing news View the full article

The gates are scheduled to open at 9:30 a.m. on Friday. Post time for the first race is 11:35 and the first Breeders' Cup race goes off at 2:45. But long before those bright-eyed Breeders' Cup attendees begin filling the grandstands of Del Mar, the backside will have been awake for hours. For those back in the barns as Breeders' Cup morning dawns, in many ways it's just like any other day. It is the same routine of raking barn aisles, topping off water buckets, checking temps, preparing feed, wrapping legs, walking hots and passing out peppermints. And in other ways, it is very much not like any other day. It's the grand finale of a year's worth of highs and lows, celebrations and disappointments, sweat, sore muscles and impossibly long hours, all to get a horse to the Breeders' Cup. “It's the pinnacle of the racing year,” said Lee Vickers, an assistant trainer for Christophe Clement who works with Breeders' Cup Turf starter Far Bridge (English Channel). “It's the culmination of the year. When you're going into these big races, that's where the year ends and that's where you want to go.” “Getting on a horse that's going into a big race like the Breeders' Cup, it's so exciting,” said Jeramie Fennell, the exercise rider of Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf-bound Minaret Station (Instilled Regard). “There are times that I'll think about it and I almost want to cry about it, you know? There are tears of joy because it's very exciting for this team to get to send a horse to a race like that.” The Arthur's Ride team includes exercise rider Damian Hinds and longtime Bill Mott assistant and groom Erma Scott | Sara Gordon The TDN's Breeders' Cup Connections project was about the horses, yes. But more than that, it was a tribute to the individuals behind the athletes. It was created to celebrate the horsemen who live for grandiose days packed with Grade I racing, but also quiet afternoons in sleepy stalls and an unexpected win from the barn's favorite claimer. “I love racing and I love everything about what we do, but I just really love horses,” said Katie Tolbert, an assistant trainer for Brad Cox who is also the exercise rider for Classic contender Highland Falls (Curlin). “It's fun just to be in the barn and see them grow and learn and be successful, to see them do what they're bred to do.” “One thing about me is I'm going to try to do my best, it doesn't matter what kind of horse you put me on,” said Carlos Rosas, the exercise rider for Turf Sprinter Cogburn (Not This Time) who has worked for trainer Steve Asmussen for the past 21 years. “It can be a really cheap horse, like a $5,000 claimer, or a stakes horse.” In an industry that can oftentimes appear rather uniform, this project organically wound up featuring people from a multitude of backgrounds. Jeramie Fennell and Lee Vickers are both former jockeys. While Fennell grew up in South Dakota and started riding Quarter Horse races at age 16, Vickers is from Yorkshire, England and followed in the footsteps of his father and grandfather in becoming a jockey in England before he moved to the U.S. to work for Christophe Clement in 2010. Carlos Rosas and Cogburn this summer in Saratoga | Sarah Andrew Exercise rider Damian Hinds and assistant trainer/groom Erma Scott have formed a fast friendship during their time working for Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott and that bond has only strengthened this year through their shared adoration of Classic contender Arthur's Ride (Tapit). While Hinds discovered a passion for the sport while attending the races in Jamaica with his uncle, Scott was working at a restaurant in New Orleans when she landed a job with Mott. Now in her 70's, she has been a beloved member of Mott's racing stable for decades. Then there was Byron López and Edgar Revolorio, both grooms from Guatamala who shared their story with us in Spanish, but the passion they have for their horses broke through any language barriers. “I am motivated by the horses,” said López, who is the groom of Classic contender Fierceness (City of Light) and has been responsible for other Grade I winners like Malathaat (Curlin) and Life at Ten (Malibu Moon) during his 24 years of working for Todd Pletcher. “They are so affectionate and I get along with my horses well. I never really liked to work, but I like working here. It has been a lot of years and I just got used to it. It became home. I feel good working at the stable with everybody around.” Of course, the thing that brings this wide assortment of horsemen and women together is their passion for the horse. At one point or another, every one of them discovered a love for the animal and never looked back. Carlos Rosas had just moved from his home in Mexico to work a landscaping job in Texas when he spotted horses grazing in nearby pastures. He asked his boss if he could stop trimming hedges and instead, start looking after the horses on the farm. Over the 30 plus years since, Rosas has ridden champions like Curlin, Gun Runner and Midnight Bisou. Katie Tolbert grew up in South Carolina looking for any opportunity she could find to get her hands on a horse. She never had one of her own as a kid, but would clean stalls in exchange for time on horseback. After working at Juddmonte Farm and Sagamore Farm, she landed a job with trainer Brad Cox and has ridden stars like Essential Quality, Cyberknife and Idiomatic. Jeramie Fennell knew he wanted to dedicate his life to the industry from a young age, but he came close to giving up his career because addiction was taking over his life. He learned about a program called Stable Recovery, where men in the early stages of recovery from addiction are placed in a supportive, therapeutic community that was centered around horses. “I talked to a guy there named Christian Counselor, and he asked me, 'Are you ready to change your life?' And I said, 'Yes, I am,'” recalled Fennell. “I said, 'I'm open minded and willing to do anything, go to any length, to change my life because I just want to be on the backside of a racetrack on a horse.'” Jeramie Fennell and Juvenile Turf contender Minaret Station | Katie Petrunyak Fennell graduated from Stable Recovery this spring and landed a job with Will Walden. Now, he is the exercise rider for Walden's first Breeders' Cup contender, Minaret Station. Getting a horse to the Breeders' Cup is no easy task and oftentimes, it takes a lot of luck. Some of the stars of this series will be snug in their stalls this weekend, but the stories of their caretakers are just as inspiring. Priscilla Schaefer, who grew up working cattle on horseback on her family's ranch in Idaho, rode this year's GI Belmont and GI Haskell hero Dornoch (Good Magic). Zurdo Estrada, the groom of GI Beholder Mile victress Sweet Azteca (Sharp Azteca), spends hours in the barn after morning training has wrapped up each day simply because he loves being around the horses. Taylor Cambra, an assistant for Richard Mandella who shares a bond with GI California Crown victor Subsanador (Arg) (Fortify), works every day towards his dreaming of becoming a trainer. Through this series, we've learned tiny details about each Breeders' Cup star that only those closest to the horse would know. Like how Minaret Station often teases Jeramie Fennell as he walks down the barn aisle, playfully nipping at the saddle Fennell is carrying. Or how Fierceness is always in a better mood if Byron López gives him a peppermint before he starts working with him each morning. And how Arthur's Ride can sometimes have some toddlerish tendencies, but loves when Erma Scott sings and dances with him. Lee Vickers and Far Bridge | Sarah Andrew “He's just like a baby,” Scott said. “He likes to play. He likes to eat his carrots. If I call him, he looks up at me. He's special. We all love him. We love all our horses and we take care of our horses. They're our hearts.” And that's the 'why' for each of these connections. The horse is at the heart of everything they do. “I think that's the only reason I do it,” said Katie Tolbert. “I mean, there are plenty of jobs where you can make more money or have a better schedule or whatever, but it's the only thing I want to do.” “This job is no days off,” said Carlos Rosas. “If you love it, you're going to do it. I want to do this for as long as I can. I just love racing, I love the horses and I don't want to do anything else.” So cheers to the connections of this year's class of Breeders' Cup performers. Through this project, hopefully you may know a few new names. More than likely there will be plenty of faces that you don't recognize, but if you look closely, you'll know where to find them. They'll be the ones sitting on a straw bale by a stall keeping their horse relaxed before they make their way to the paddock, the ones waiting anxiously with shanks slung over their shoulders as the field enters the starting gate, and ultimately, the ones who so graciously hand over the reins so that the owner can be in the spotlight as a champion stride into the winner's circle. Click here to view each feature from Breeders' Cup Connections. The post Cheers to the Connections appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

David Eustace has three wins through his debut Hong Kong season. Riding high after a breakthrough double in Hong Kong on Sunday afternoon at Happy Valley, trainer David Eustace returns to the iconic city circuit on Wednesday armed with a trio of runners as he aims to build on a productive weekend. “The support’s been quite good and thankfully they’ve ran well. It gives you encouragement that whatever you’re doing and the routines the horses are in are working,” Eustace said. All three of Eustace’s wins have come at the Valley. He arrived in Hong Kong at the start of this season after achieving enormous success in partnership with Ciaron Maher in Australia. Swift Ascend provided Eustace with his initial Hong Kong victory. The Lord Kanaloa gelding returns to Class 3 this week after resuming victoriously on October 9 in Class 4. “I’m very happy with him. He was pretty fit going into his first run, so it’s just been a case of keeping him fresh, well and happy,” Eustace said. “His gallops have been good and his appetite has remained the same, so hopefully he can make that step into Class 3.” Andrea Atzeni partners the five-year-old from gate two, assigned 126lb. Super Joy N Fun (132lb), Sugar Sugar (131lb), Divano (130lb), Gustosisimo (129lb), Happy Fat Cat (129lb), Magniac (128lb), Harmony Fire (127lb), Beauty Infinity (126lb), Scotch Tycoon (125lb), Sergeant Pepper (121lb) and Bits Superstar (120lb) also feature in the nightcap. “I’m probably encouraged by the fact that he was still a bit green and having a look around when he hit the front. That tells me there is still some improvement there with racing,” Eustace said. Eustace’s first double in Hong Kong came via Charity Gain and Young Emperor. Debutant Hailtothevictors represents the 32-year-old in the second section of the Class 4 Bedford Handicap (1650m) under Vincent Ho. Ho has nine wins from the past five fixtures. Hailtothevictors breaks from gate eight. Eustace said: “He’s a nice horse. I think the Valley will pose a challenge for him but the timing is right for him to run and he’s a horse that we like. I’m sure he will probably need the experience. I think he’s a horse with a future this season.” The three-year-old has trialled three times ahead of his first start with Ho, including once at Happy Valley. The bay made ground late in his most recent practice effort at Sha Tin. An off-season stable transfer, Speedy Fortune lines up for Eustace with Atzeni up from barrier one. “He ran great first-up and will definitely come on for the run. He was fresh, well and will definitely strip that bit fitter. This is a suitable race,” Eustace said. Defeated by Double Show last start on October 9 by one length, Speedy Fortune meets the Douglas Whyte-trained galloper again on Wednesday. Double Show will carry 125lb from gate 10, while Speedy Fortune lugs 135lb. Eustace is the nephew of former Hong Kong trainer David Oughton, best known for the heroics of sprinting ace Cape Of Good Hope – a winner at Royal Ascot (at York) in 2005. Oughton also handled San Domenico, Che Sara Sara, Idol and Precision. Eustace’s father James is a former trainer. His brother Harry also trains, recently contesting the Group 1 W.S. Cox Plate (2040m) with Docklands, who is entered for December’s HK$126 million Hong Kong International Races at Sha Tin. Horse racing news View the full article

Aidan O’Brien says Racing Victoria got Jan Brueghel decision wrong. Irish trainer Aidan O’Brien says his opinion and those of Racing Victoria stewards on unbeaten star Jan Brueghel differ wildly and he firmly believes he was the horse to beat in Tuesday’s Melbourne Cup. Racing Victoria made the tough decision to scratch the Melbourne Cup favourite on Tuesday morning, following scans, with the tough protocol surrounding international runners a major point of contention for O’Brien and other overseas trainers. O’Brien told Sky Sports said the ruling had been based off opinion, rather than fact, and he was confident the three-year-old could notch up a fifth successive victory. “No, everything was perfect,” O’Brien said. “He went through all the hoops, he had all the scans, and then there was another scan he had to do down there. Our vets looked at them and said they were fine, but the Australian vets weren’t happy with them.” O’Brien had been confident he could go one better than his two runner-ups in the Melbourne Cup with Jan Brueghel, with gun jockey Ryan Moore carrying just 54kg, but stewards ruled against the Irish stayer. “It’s unlucky for us, probably lucky for them because we think he’s a Group 1 horse proper,” O’Brien said. “An improving Group 1 horse in a handicap (carrying 54kg) with Ryan Moore on him… It’s easy to say it now but we thought he was a massive handicap blot. But that’s the way it is; they’re the rules and that’s what they decided.” O’Brien said Jan Brueghel may set his sights on Hong Kong racing, with several lucrative mile and half staying races coming up in the next few months, including the Hong Kong International Races. “We’ll get him back, regroup and we’ll see if we can take him to Hong Kong for the mile and a half and go from there,” O’Brien said. With Cox Plate winner Via Sistina also in doubt for the Melbourne Cup, Buckaroo ($6), Onesmoothoperator ($6.50) and last year’s favourite Vauban ($7) have been backed heavily. Horse racing news View the full article

Carrying a foal by hot sire Justify on Southern Hemisphere time, stakes-placed April Vintage (Vino Rosso) topped the Inglis Digital USA October Sale Tuesday when selling to Widden Stud of Australia for $180,000. More details on the mare and her consignment by WinStar Farm are available here. “She is an outcross to our traditional Australian sire lines and the fact that she showed good, natural speed as a 2-year-old was important,” said Antony Thompson of Widden Stud. “Physically, she looks suitable to plenty of our own stallions, and buying through a digital platform is something we have become very comfortable with thanks to Inglis's platform in Australia. She made a bit more than we thought, but she was an appealing offering and it makes sense that there was good demand for her. We'll now be bringing down two mares in foal to Justify from America as we also bred to him.” WinStar's Elliott Walden added, “We're excited about the result and glad she's headed to Widden. It makes sense that the Australians wanted her. It is great to be able to market our horses to a global audience without them leaving their office.” Inglis Digital USA offered 67 horses in Tuesday's online auction, grossing $417,250 with an average of $16,990. The highest-priced horse of racing age was Wake Surf (Classic Empire), who was offered by Tareq Moubarak and sold to G.O.A.T. Racing Stables for $55,000. G.O.A.T. Racing Stables, a New York-based partnership managed by Shawn Klotz with trainers Robert Falcone, Jr. and Wayne Potts, bought six horses Tuesday for a total of $122,500. Among the purchases made by Craig and Carrie Brogden's Machmer Hall were a racing/broodmare prospect named Splashy (Flatter), who was sold by Adelphi Racing Club for $50,000. “October was our largest sale to date,” said Kyle Wilson, Inglis Digital USA Senior Director of Sales & Recruitment. “We had bidding from all levels and all corners of the globe. We appreciate the support from all our buyers and sellers. It's been great to be a part of the growth of Inglis Digital USA and I'm looking forward to our next sale in December.” Entries are now open through Monday, Nov. 25 for the Inglis Digital USA December Sale. The catalogue will be released Friday, Nov. 29 and bidding will open Wednesday, Dec. 4. For more information, visit inglisdigitalusa.com. The post April Vintage Tops Inglis Digital USA’s October Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

DEL MAR, CA – With the rising sun attempting to make its way out of a dense cloud cover, contenders for Saturday's $7-million GI Breeders' Cup Classic were out in force during about a 30-minute window following the renovation break at Del Mar Tuesday morning. 'TDN Rising Star' Newgate and Pyrenees, a pair of blaze-faced, 4-year-old sons of the all-conquering Into Mischief, both entered on their toes and filled the frame nicely while training with good energy. Newgate, listed at a very generous 20-1 on the morning-line, adds blinkers for Hall of Famer Bob Baffert following a fantastic third with a wide trip off the bench in the inaugural $1-million GI California Crown Stakes at Santa Anita. The Cherie DeVaux-trained Pyrenees was last seen finishing second behind Highland Falls (Curlin) in the GI Jockey Club Gold Cup. Into Mischief has been represented by seven Breeders' Cup winners, led by 2020 Classic hero Authentic. Newgate making a very nice impression this morning. Live at a price in the Classic. pic.twitter.com/kv0nZZwsxt — Steve Sherack (@SteveSherackTDN) October 29, 2024 Mike Repole's homebred full-brothers 'TDN Rising Star' Fierceness (City of Light) and Mentee (City of Light) (Juvenile Turf)–more on the Todd Pletcher-trained duo in a feature in Saturday's Breeders' Cup Preview Edition–hit the track together sporting their white bridles just before 8:00 a.m. The heart-stopping GI Travers Stakes winner seeks to become the first GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner to double up in the Classic. It is yet to happen from eight previous attempts. Speaking of white bridles, the aforementioned Highland Falls made a nice impression in his first local spin over the surface after arriving from Brad Cox's Churchill Downs base Monday. Fellow chestnut Rattle N Roll (Connect), the lone Classic entrant stuck on the also-eligible list, was under a snug hold by Danny Ramsey while galloping down the stretch. You didn't need need to wait to see their yellow Classic saddle towels to help identify stunning grays Arthur's Ride (Tapit) and Next (Not This Time) during their morning exercise. The runaway GI Whitney Stakes winner looks to bounce back after a disappointing fifth as the favorite in the Jockey Club Gold Cup. The streaking marathon man will put his well-documented, seven-race winning streak on the line while cutting back to the 1 1/4-mile Classic distance. 'TDN Rising Star' and $2.3-million Fasig-Tipton Saratoga yearling topper Sierra Leone (Gun Runner), along for third in the Travers, was reaching out very nicely during his easy gallop for Chad Brown. Tacked up with no shortage of red-and-white equipment for Yoshito Yahagi, Sierra Leone's closely related, rail-drawn rival Forever Young (Jpn) (Real Steel {Jpn}) wasn't far behind while breezing five furlongs in 1:04 (5/8). The two finished just noses apart in second and third after racing shoulder to shoulder in the GI Kentucky Derby. Up close with Classic contender Forever Young pic.twitter.com/Woduz1ilSj — Steve Sherack (@SteveSherackTDN) October 29, 2024 Yahagi put on a show winning two Breeders' Cup races with Marche Lorraine (Jpn) (Distaff) and Loves Only You (Jpn) (Filly & Mare Turf) the last time the Championships were held at Del Mar in 2021. And how about this to close out the morning? Classic morning-line favorite and 'TDN Rising Star' City of Troy (Justify) left the quarantine area and followed his GI Breeders' Cup Turf-bound stablemate Luxembourg (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) as part of an 11-deep brigade from trainer Aidan O'Brien, who was on hand to watch. Porta Fortuna (Ire) (Caravaggio) (Mile), trained by Aidan's son Donnacha, capped the group to make it a dozen. The team walked and jogged one clockwise lap before having an easy gallop of the same mile circuit. The G1 Epsom Derby winner did get a bit warm, but not at all uncommon for O'Brien's runners, especially during their first morning of trackwork. Classic ML favorite City of Troy and the Aidan Army pic.twitter.com/5Imq0x5vdR — Steve Sherack (@SteveSherackTDN) October 29, 2024 Editor's Note: Last year's Classic runner-up Derma Sotogake (Jpn) (Mind Your Biscuits) worked a bullet five furlongs in :59.40 (1/8) over the main track at 6:30 a.m. Tuesday. He is listed at 20-1 on the morning-line for Saturday's renewal. The post Tuesday’s Breeders’ Cup Report: Classic Contenders Take the ‘City’ by Storm appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Finger Lakes-based trainer James Acquilano, who has been training at the Farmington, New York track since 1981, won the 2,000th race of his career Tuesday when Jersey Gregg (Uncaptured) captured the 4th race, a six-furlong maiden claimer. Acquilano not only trains, but also owns, the 4-year-old gelding, who won by five lengths. All but 39 of Acquilano's 2,000 wins have been at his home track. The post Trainer James Acquilano Hits 2,000-Win Milestone appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Stay and Scam will take on stablemate Just Nails and stakes winner Kissed by Fire Nov. 1 in the $200,000 Senator Ken Maddy Stakes.View the full article

Whisper Hill Farm and Gainesway have announced that grade 1 winner and classic-placed Tapit Trice will enter stud at Gainesway upon his retirement from racing.View the full article

GI Blue Grass Stakes winner Tapit Trice (Tapit–Danzatrice, by Dunkirk) will return to his birthplace, Gainesway Farm, to enter stud upon his retirement from racing, the Central Kentucky nursery and stud farm announced Tuesday afternoon. Tapit Trice's next scheduled engagement is Saturday afternoon in the $7-million GI Breeders' Cup Classic, where he will break from post 10. He races for the partnership of Mandy Pope's Whisper Hill Farm, LLC and Gainesway Stable. “Winning the Grade I Blue Grass Stakes in partnership with Gainesway has been a real highlight for our racing stable,” said Pope. “We are extremely excited about Tapit Trice's potential at stud and will be supporting him with some of our best mares.” Bred by Gainesway, the 4-year-old gray is out of a half-sister to 2018 champion 2-year-old filly and GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies winner Jaywalk (Cross Traffic). He realized $1.3 million as a yearling at the 2021 Keeneland September sale. Although he was a 2-year-old winner at Aqueduct, it was in the first start of his 3-year-old year he captured the collective imagination, romping by eight lengths at Gulfstream to earn 'TDN Rising Star' honors. Victories in the GIII Tampa Bay Derby and the aforementioned Blue Grass followed. Although he didn't win as the favorite in the 2023 GI Kentucky Derby, he placed in both the GI Belmont Stakes and GI Travers Stakes to close out his sophomore campaign. He's won two of three as a 4-year-old this year, including the GII Woodward Stakes and GIII Monmouth Cup Stakes. Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher has campaigned Tapit Trice to three triple-digit Beyer Speed Figures, earnings of more than $1.7 million to date, and six wins from 12 career starts. “I could not be prouder or more excited to partner with Mandy [Pope] and bring this exciting homebred son of Tapit back to Gainesway Farm,” said Gainesway's Antony Beck. “Tapit Trice is line-bred 3×4 to both A.P. Indy and Unbridled, two of the most influential stallions of this era. Our hope is he follows in his father's footsteps.” Gainesway stands Tapit Trice's perennial leading sire, Tapit. A stud fee for Tapit Trice will be announced at retirement. The post GISW and BC Classic Contender Tapit Trice to Gainesway Upon Retirement appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Japan’s prospects of going back-to-back in Saturday’s $10 million Golden Eagle at Rosehill were dealt a blow when the favourite Ascoli Piceno drew barrier 17. View the full article

Aidan O'Brien's hopes of winning the Melbourne Cup (G1) for the first time have been dashed as leading contender Jan Brueghel has been dramatically ruled out of this year's race after failing a vets check.View the full article

GII Oak Leaf Stakes winner Non Compliant (Tiz the Law) and Skidmore Stakes winner Out On Bail (Tiz the Law) were both declared from their respective Breeders' Cup engagements on Tuesday afternoon. Non Compliant, unbeaten in two starts and 9-2 on the morning line, was slated for the GI Juvenile Fillies, while Out On Bail, winner of two of six and never off the board, was scheduled to run in the GI Juvenile Turf Sprint and was tagged at 20-1 on the morning line. Campaigned by Georgia Antley Hunt, Jeff Giglio, and John L. Rogitz, Non Compliant is trained by Hall of Famer Bob Baffert. Antley Hunt took to Facebook to announce the scratch, saying, “Well, the highs are like mountains in this game, and the lows are pretty low. We're going to scratch Non Compliant from the Juvenile Fillies. Something came up on a pet scan that wasn't right, and her safety is the most important thing! She'll get 60 days of vacay, and then we'll embark on the KY Oaks trail. Thank you to everyone for the well wishes and loving support.” The Breeders' Cup entries page also listed Out On Bail as scratched Tuesday afternoon, although details on his situation were not yet forthcoming. Trained by Mike Maker, Out On Bail runs for Case Chambers, Paradise Farms Corp., and David Staudacher. Tiz the Law, sire of both Non Compliant and Out On Bail, currently leads the first-crop sire list. He has two more chances in Friday's Breeders' Cup races with Scythian and Tigerish, both in the GI Juvenile Fillies Turf. The post Non Compliant, Out On Bail Scratch from Friday’s Breeders’ Cup Races appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Maiden Watch: Breeders' Cup 2024View the full article

Group winner Delius (GB) (Frankel {GB}), third in the G1 Grand Prix de Paris this year, brought a record 1,300,000gns to take the lead late during the second session of the Tattersalls Autumn Horses-in-Training Sale. The Coolmore-consigned 3-year-old colt was purchased by De Burgh Equine, McKeever Bloodstock, Go Bloodstock, Waterhouse, and Bott Racing. Lot 749G is out of the placed Daylami (Ire) mare Whatami (GB) and he is a half-brother to stakes winner Nkosikazi (GB) (Cape Cross {Ire}) and a full-brother to stakes winner and multiple group placed Juan Elcano (GB) (Frankel {GB}). His dam is a half-sister to another pair of stakes winners, including the dam of G2 Mill Reef Stakes winner and G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest second James Garfield (Ire) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}). Bred by Mr. and Mrs. David Brown, he was purchased for 675,000gns by MV Magnier out of the Tattersalls December Foal Sale in 2021. The post Frankel’s Delius Headed Down Under After Australian Partners Pay Record 1,300,000gns At Tattersalls Autumn HIT Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

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