Wandering Eyes

Zac Purton doubts Ka Ying Rising will lower his track record at Sha Tin on Sunday, but he still expects the world’s best sprinter to produce an electrifying display when he defends his Group One Hong Kong Sprint (1,200m) crown. The David Hayes-trained superstar chases a 16th consecutive victory and comes into the HK$28 million feature off the back of what Purton believes was “probably his career-best performance last start”. On his first start since his Group One The Everest (1,200m) success in...View the full article

Dylan Browne McMonagle will not be worrying about Romantic Warrior and will be riding his own race when Galen looks to upset the odds in the Group One Hong Kong Cup (2,000m) at Sha Tin on Sunday. The Irish champion jockey will begin a short-term contract in Hong Kong from January 1 but will get a sighter on Sunday when he rides Galen in the Cup and Al Riffa in the Group One Hong Kong Vase (2,400m). McMonagle has already got himself acquainted with his new surroundings and is expecting a...View the full article

James McDonald is still in awe of Romantic Warrior as he prepares to chase a record-extending fourth consecutive Group One Longines Hong Kong Cup (2,000m) on the champion galloper at Sha Tin on Sunday. The 10-time Group One hero and world’s highest-earning racehorse with HK$217.7 million in prize money heads into the city’s richest race off the back of a stunning return from injury, comfortably claiming the Group Two Jockey Club Cup (2,000m) last month. “It’s pretty remarkable to think what he’s...View the full article

Trainer Liam Birchley has long earmarked the Listed TAB Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m) for highly promising juvenile Dream Roca, and the daughter of El Roca took another step in the direction of the Ellerslie feature with a dominant win at Eagle Farm on Saturday. Dream Roca finished runner-up on debut over 1000m in October and showed the benefit of raceday experience as she closed over the top of favourite Star Of Jamaica to score over the same course and distance by two lengths on Saturday. “The fence was pretty hot that day on debut and the favourite drew inside us,” Birchley reflected. “But with the race experience and being here before, she got the drop on them today, the way the race worked out and she was quite professional. “She’ll head over for the Karaka Millions. She’s fully qualified now, but she’ll probably have another run on the way there and hopefully we can draw a gate and give them some curry.” Birchley said the filly’s relaxed demeanour will hold her in good stead. “She’s actually bred to run a mile and beyond, and let’s hope she does. But it’s good for a two-year-old to have that demeanour and not waste too much energy and save it all for when they need it,” he said. The Sunshine Coast trainer has previously enjoyed successful raids to New Zealand, having prepared Hardline to win the Karaka Millions in 2015 and Sister Havana in 2010, while Sarge In Charge finished second for the stable in 2009. Winning rider Ben Thompson was impressed with the improvement Dream Roca had derived from her debut run. “With a two-year-old, that race experience can count for so much,” he said. “I just thought taking natural benefit, albeit today looked a stronger contest of the unraced horses from the trials, she’s still been here and done it. “It always fills you with a lot of confidence riding a two-year-old for Liam Birchley and he’s got another nice one in his hands.” Thompson was effusive when pressed as to whether he’d like to make the trip to New Zealand to ride the promising youngster. “Absolutely. I’ll be there tomorrow to swim her if he needs.” Dream Roca is now a $3.50 joint favourite for the January 24 contest with the Johno Benner-trained De Armas. By Fastnet Rock’s Randwick Guineas (Gr.1, 1600m) runner-up El Roca, Dream Roca was purchased by Birchley for $75,000 from the Westbury Stud draft at this year’s Karaka Yearling Sales. The filly is out of the five-win Redwood mare Petrachor. View the full article

Underrated sprinter First Five produced a barnstorming finish to capture his first stakes victory when he took out the Gr.3 J Swap Sprint (1400m) at Te Rapa Carrying the familiar colours of well-known thoroughbred identity Gerald Shand, the David Greene-prepared five-year-old has been a model of consistency in his career so far although his task on Saturday looked a daunting one with a quality line-up carded for the Group Three feature. Allowed to start at odds of better than $26 in the 16-horse line-up, First Five was spotting pacemaker Kitty Flash more than ten lengths turning for home after being shuffled back beyond midfield approaching the home turn. Jockey Lynsey Satherley didn’t panic as Kitty Flash looked the winner halfway down the straight as she shot three lengths clear, with First Five finally seeing clear air as he weaved his way into a gap between runners. First Five sprouted wings and mowed Kitty Flash down at the 100m, going on to win by more than a length from the late-closing Tuxedo and a brave Kitty Flash who held out race favourite Smart Love for third. Greene has always held a huge opinion of his charge and despite the hefty price on the tote, was confident a win was on the cards. “I can’t say it is unexpected to be honest, as we have had a massive rap on this horse for a long time,” Greene said. “We haven’t seen the best of him yet and he has stamped himself as a real Group One contender. “There are a few conversations to be had now about whether we are wanting to drop back to 1200m for something like the Telegraph (Gr.1, 1200m), which is a very hard run 1200m. “He is just so good at this distance (1400m), I think back here for the sprint (Gr.1 BCD Group Sprint, 1400m) is the big one, but how we get there is the conversation to be had. “This guy is up with the best horses we have had and it is a pleasure to watch him at trackwork each morning, with the way he goes through his gears.” Satherley was always confident during the running despite being in an awkward position approaching the home turn. “He is just so explosive this horse and he just needs the right things going for him,” she said. “He gives you an amazing feel and the gaps just came for him. “When he gets through them (the gaps) he just finds and I think he is still untapped and a definite Group One horse. “I knew the gaps would come today and when they opened I was lucky I had a horse underneath me to take them.” By Cambridge Stud stallion Almanzor out of the six-race winner Payette, First Five was bred by Shand who co-owns him along with with Jenna McLeod and Jackie and Philip Rogers. He has now won six of his 18 starts and over $206,000 in prizemoney. View the full article

A change of tactics that saw promising mare Hinekaha go straight to the front from barrier rise paved the way for her biggest success when she scored a game win in the Gr.2 Cal Isuzu Stakes (1600m) at Te Rapa. The lightly-raced four-year-old daughter of Savabeel had never lead in any of her previous eight starts, however trainer Andrew Forsman was keen to see rider Craig Grylls take the initiative from the start in the seven-horse line-up. “I spoke to Craig and we thought the logical thing would be for Electron to lead,” Forsman said. “I thought if we hand up and they find their spots to quickly we don’t want to be caught in a situation where it is a sit and sprint home. “We really wanted to make it a strong run mile which would suit her a lot better than the others.” Grylls followed those instructions to the letter as he had Hinekaha trucking along nicely in front under her own steam with Electron and race favourite Qali Al Farrasha forced to chase him every step of the way. It was evident that Grylls had a lapful of horse turning for home and when he pressed the go button Hinekaha bounded clear to establish a winning three length break with 250m to run. Although tiring as the winning post loomed, Hinekaha held out strong late runs from Queen Zou and Jaarffi to register her second victory in stakes company. “She will get better as she strengthens and matures, but she has come on in leaps and bounds in this prep,” Forsman said. “She really has developed and has a lot of class as she has only had the nine starts and is now a Group Two winner. “We have always rated her highly, but we just had to stop at the right times and back off her as a three -year-old. “Christopher and Susanna (Grace, owners) are just so patient to let us do that and it has worked for her. “We will just enjoy today now and then start looking at where to next.” Grylls made no doubt of the high regard he has for the mare. “She was comfortable and pre-race we weren’t that sure what to do with the small field as it could have got a bit muddly,” he said. “She had been beginning well and Andrew said if she began well to let her roll along. “I have had faith in her right from the first day and while she is still maturing and is only going to get better, she had plenty more in the tank. “I thought she might be coming to the end of it but when I asked her she went again as she is tough and gritty. “I think she is a Group One horse.” Bred by co-owner Christoper Grace, Hinekaha is the first foal out of the Listed Rangitikei Gold Cup (1600m) winner Hinerangi and has now won five of her nine starts and over $232,000 in prizemoney. View the full article

Fraser Auret says he will be a proud man when Ka Ying Rising lines up in the HK$28 million G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint (1200m) at Sha Tin on 14 December against a strong international field with hopes of adding to his 15 consecutive wins. Auret is a trainer and horse trader from the Central Districts of New Zealand’s North Island in a small country with an outsized tradition of producing champion racehorses. But whatever he achieves in those facets of the game, he will be forever remembered as the breeder of Ka Ying Rising, widely acclaimed as the world’s best sprinter. Auret insists he won’t have mixed feelings on raceday, wishing perhaps he had kept the first foal of broodmare Missy Moo (by Per Incanto) for himself to race and train. “At the end of the day, our business only survives on selling good horses. Nobody could have predicted the heights Ka Ying Rising would scale. Saying that, we pride ourselves in selling untapped young horses. We’ve loved every minute of the entire journey,” he adds. Auret trains 60 horses at the old Marton Racecourse, near Palmerston North. He trained Missy Moo to win five races for one of his clients and then took her on himself as a broodmare. It was his first venture into breeding, and Ka Ying Rising was the first horse he bred. “Missy Moo was very talented but she had issues with one of her legs and was ultimately retired. It was that same leg that later led to her having to be put down after she had just two foals. “We always do the right thing by the horse. The arthritis in the back leg meant that the more pregnant she got, the more sore she was getting. We simply did the right thing by the horse, which was our number one priority.” Auret visited the Sha Tin stables of David Hayes, who also trains Ka Ying Rising’s half-brother Ka Ying Glory, who runs in the Class 4 Fairy King Prawn Handicap (1400m), the opening race at Sunday’s LONGINES Hong Kong International Races. “It was wonderful to get the opportunity to go and see them both. Their boxes are next to each other. “When you pass the baton on to another trainer, it’s out of your hands. I guess my feeling is one of immense pride. We are in the Central Districts, and typically we punch above our weight, breeding and developing horses that can compete all around the world.” Auret now owns seven broodmares. He has just received word that three of them are in foal to Shamexpress, the sire of Ka Ying Rising. Three years on from Ka Ying Rising’s Levin Jump Out that caught the attention of David Hayes, his breeder Fraser Auret travels to Hong Kong to see ‘rocket’ shoot for his 16th consecutive victory. View the full article

After achieving back-to-back victories as the LONGINES World’s Best Jockey, James McDonald is hoping to cap off an extraordinary season by creating more history at Sha Tin tomorrow (Sunday, 14 December) on Romantic Warrior. McDonald, who also won the LONGINES World’s Best Jockey award in 2022, will ride Romantic Warrior in search of a historic fourth consecutive HK$40 million G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Cup (2000m) victory. McDonald, 33, was presented with a crystal vase trophy on Friday night (12 December) by Mr Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges, Chair, International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA) and Chief Executive Officer of The Hong Kong Jockey Club, at the LONGINES Hong Kong International Races Gala Dinner at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. McDonald, who also received a special LONGINES watch from Mr Patrick Aoun, President and Chief Executive Officer of LONGINES, said he was great to again win such a prestigious award. “The first was time in the clouds sort of job and I suppose if anyone gets a good horse, they can win the award once but to do it three times is pretty cool and Ryan (Moore) Frankie (Dettori) have won it four times and we are talking about the greatest jockeys on earth,” McDonald said. McDonald modestly said he would not put himself in that category and believes his success was propelled by being lucky enough to ride three exceptional horses – Romantic Warrior, Voyage Bubble and Via Sistina – in the one year. “Romantic (Warrior) is the best, Via (Sistina) is phenomenal for what she has achieved and so is Voyage Bubble,” he said. McDonald won 12 of the world’s Top 100 Group 1 or Grade 1 races. Three of those were on Voyage Bubble, one on Romantic Warrior, who was sidelined for several months following fetlock surgery, six on Via Sistina and also one each on Joliestar and Sunshine In Paris. He topped the rankings with 184 points, from Mickael Barzalona (132), William Buick (114) and Ryan Moore (102). The LONGINES World’s Best Jockey title is based on performances in the 100 highest-rated Group 1 and Grade 1 races as established for the year by the LONGINES World’s Best Racehorse Rankings Committee. The scoring incorporates races from 1 December of the previous year until 30 November of the current year where jockeys accrue 12 points for a win, 6 points for second, and 4 points for third. McDonald said it had been a wonderful year but it was only through the deeds of the champion race horses he ridden throughout the year that allowed him win the award. “And I mean they are incredible race horses, a (Hong Kong) Triple Crown winner (Voyage Bubble), a Hong Kong champion (Romantic Warrior) and an Australian champion as well (Via Sistina),” McDonald said. “To get them all in one year doesn’t happen often at all and to be partnering them is just an incredible feeling and I feel very humbled to be riding them.” McDonald, who is on short-term contract in Hong Kong and will return to Sydney just before Christmas, said the standout of all the performances was Voyage Bubble’s Triple Crown victory in HK$13 million G1 Stewards’ Cup (1600m), HK$13 million G1 Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup (2000m) HK$13 million G1 Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup (2400m). A win on Romantic Warrior tomorrow could top what he has achieved this year, and if everything pans out all right, McDonald would love to return for another crack at the G1 Saudi Cup (1800m, dirt) in 2026 and attempt to avenge the narrow loss to Forever Young. View the full article

Progressive staying mare Shockletz proved a class above her rivals when running out a strong winner of the Ray White Pakenham & Officer Handicap (2500m) at the Pakenham standalone meeting on Saturday. The two-kilo claim of apprentice Luke Cartwright aided the daughter of Shocking, who was carded 60.5kg topweight, with Shockletz having two lengths to spare on the line from runner-up Leonchroi. Prepared by Ciaron Maher, Shockletz raced well through the winter months and had a relatively light spring. The four-year-old raced without luck at her previous outing at Cranbourne but there was no such issue on Saturday as Shockletz posted the sixth victory of her career from just 12 starts. “She’s a talented mare with a good record and just needed the distance today and the bigger track,” assistant trainer Jack Turnbull said. “She’s been running well without winning and if you trusted her, you would have found her today.” “It was a good ride by Luke because he didn’t panic. It was a funky race up front, they were doing everything. We went from a nice spot, to second last and there were moves left, right and centre. “We said pre-race to trust that you were on the best horse, which is easy to say when you’re watching from the sidelines, but he just let her build and pick-up and she was the best stayer today.” The Listed Bagot Handicap (2800m) at Flemington on New Year’s Eve now shapes as an option for the mare, who relishes roomy tracks. “We’ve got the Bagot in two-and-a-half weeks,” Turnbull said. “We will have a discussion and just work out where we go. We didn’t want to tax her too much. We’re very focused on the autumn and then the spring of next year.” Bred and raced by Eales Racing, headed by Laurence Eales who raced the filly’s sire Shocking, Shockletz is a full sister to Group Three placed stayer Horrifying, who has won on seven occasions. View the full article

The Brad Widdup-trained Hyperbolic was a comfortable winner of the In Memory Of Sam Kavanagh Handicap (1600m) at Randwick on Saturday as the daughter of Proisir made it back to back metropolitan victories. Sent out a well-supported $2.90 favourite, Hyperbolic was given a trouble-free ride by Tommy Berry, who elected to make an early three-wide challenge in a muddling run race as the four-year-old mare cruised to her fifth career success from 13 starts. “She’s going the right way,” Widdup said. “We’ve been patient, just waiting to get to this Saturday level, and it’s starting to reap rewards. She’s won two in a row now (in town), which is not easy to do, and I think she’s got a lot more. “I don’t want to do anything silly just at the moment, I’ll just see if we can place her again in BenchMark company. She was only third-up, so I think we can keep going.” Hyperbolic defeated former New Zealand trained gallopers Bella Montagna and Deal N’ Dash, who both made good ground off the sit and sprint tempo, but winning rider Tommy Berry had already put the race to bed. “It was a bit of a muddling run race,” Berry said. “They ran along for the first furlong and a half and really brought the speed out of the race, mid-race. “That’s why I just put her into the three-wide line from the 600m and let her work through her gears. I knew the horse in front was going to be hard to run down and she stuck to her task. “She’s still just doing enough. She gets a little bit lost when she hits the front, but it just shows she’s probably up to better company than this. Once she does, we’re going to have a little bit of fun with her. “She feels like she’ll get over a little bit further than a mile as well, but she might just need one more at the mile before she does.” Bred by Liz and Alan Galbraith, Celia Galbraith and Mike Lewis, Hyperbolic is by Rich Hill Stud stallion Proisir out of the four-win Sir Percy mare Piazza. Widdup went to $240,000 to purchase Hyperbolic from the draft of Rich Hill Stud at the 2023 Karaka Yearling Sales, with the mare closely related to Group One performer Riodini. The mare has already amassed A$280,400 in prizemoney with more to come. View the full article

Jockey Jareth Loveberry claimed career win 2,000 in Friday's eighth and final race at Fair Grounds after a frontrunning score for trainer Justin Jeansonne. Two wins shy entering the day's action, Loveberry claimed the opener with the odds-on favorite Prince Day (Race Day) and bookended the card aboard Island Cabana (Custom for Carlos) to pass the threshold of the milestone. His career has taken him all over the country, with Loveberry best known for winning multiple titles at Arlington Park and finishing second in the Kentucky Derby aboard Two Phil's (Hard Spun) for trainer Larry Rivelli in 2023. He is currently riding in his fifth season at Fair Grounds and has finished in the top three in local standings for the past three. “Winning my 2,000th career race at a historic racetrack like Fair Grounds, it's pretty special,” Loveberry said. “Just thinking back 20 years ago, being tall like I am, I never thought I could get here.” “After I got the first one I said to myself, I have a couple of other horses with a chance today but I really think I could get the last. It's just good to get this weight off my shoulders. It's been a long road. Thanks to my wife (Stacie) and kids (Kennedy 13 and Colton 9) for supporting me every step of the way.” Loveberry also gave thanks to his agent, Steve Leving, for being an instrumental part of his journey. “Steve has been a big part of my success,” he said. “I was kind of going stale a little bit in 2019 when we got the connection to go to Chicago in the fall and we've been together ever since. I've got nothing but appreciation and gratitude for everything he has done.” The post Jareth Loveberry Notches Career Win 2000 at Fair Grounds appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Sunday's G1 Hanshin Juvenile Fillies brings together a maximum field of 18 over the 1,600-metre trip, with the undefeated pair of Alankar and Margot Love Me featuring among those who will be trying to etch their name alongside the likes of Vodka (2006), Buena Vista (2008) and Liberty Island (2022) on a glittering roll of honour. Trained by Takashi Saito, Alankar followed her debut victory at Fukushima with another dominant performance to win September's Nojigiku Stakes over this course and distance. The Epiphaneia filly is out of the G1 Yushun Himba (Japanese Oaks) winner Sinhalite (Deep Impact), who also filled the runner-up spot in the G1 Oka Sho (Japanese 1,000 Guineas). “She was a bit of a handful in her debut race, so in the Nojigiku Stakes we had her in a hood behind the gate,” Saito said of Alankar. “She had some problem taking the bit, which made for a somewhat rough race. But her speed was good after things picked up, and she won easily. She went to the farm after that, returned to the training center on Nov. 20, and worked in tandem over the course on Dec. 3 under Yuichi Kitamura. The focus was on the final stage and things went well. Her footwork and breathing were good. There are some concerns with the big field, how well she'll take the bit, the start, and how in tune she'll be with the rider. But she has a lot of talent and I have my hopes up.” Meanwhile, Margot Love Me will be a first Group 1 runner on the Flat for trainer Shinya Kobayashi. The daughter of Real Steel is also unbeaten in two starts, though the quick turnaround since her most recent success in the Shiragiku Sho at Kyoto in late-November is a concern for her connections. “Even though she doesn't have a strong constitution and she isn't the best eater, she won both her starts and I think the latter one was her better one,” said Kobayashi. “After work on Dec. 4, there appeared to be no problems and, after checking her over, we decided that afternoon to race her here. Her preparation has come along well and I'm hoping she too can do well if she brings out her strength and her early speed. In the days leading in to the race, if I see anything that worries me, we'll withdraw. But for now everything looks fine.” Star Anise (Drefong), last seen occupying the runner-up spot in August's G3 Chukyo Nisai Stakes, steps up in trip as one of the most experienced fillies in the field, along with Taisei Vogue (Indy Champ), who brings solid form to the table after finishing second in the G3 Niigata Nisai Stakes and third in the G3 Artemis Stakes on her last two starts. One place ahead of Taisei Vogue in the Artemis Stakes was Mitsukane Venera (Maurice), who is open to more improvement on just her third career outing, while Arbanne is most definitely a filly who has progressed with her racing. Runner-up on her debut at this venue, the daughter of Admire Mars has won both of her subsequent starts, including the Saffron Sho at Nakayama last time. “After winning the Saffron Sho and returning to the training centre after a bit of time off, we gave her the usual work,” assistant trainer Toshihiko Hokari said of Arbanne. “We were concerned that her pulse wasn't fast enough and so we put the jockey [Ryusei Sakai] up on Dec. 4 and he gave her a good ride. She was well in hand and her movement was good. There is some strong competition in this race, but I think she can hold her own in an all-filly line-up. From her debut, the riders have done a good job of getting the best out of her in a race's final stage. I'm looking forward to seeing how well she can do.” Other notable runners include His Masterpiece (Screen Hero), a dual winner over this distance at Tokyo, and the battle-hardened Shonan Charis (Real Steel), who stepped up again on her fifth start when finishing second in last month's G3 Fantasy Stakes at Kyoto. Stunning Lady (Benbatl), on the other hand, has raced just once, when winning in good style at Tokyo, while Sweet Happiness (Real Impact) is similarly promising going into this third start. She fared best of the rest behind Margot Love Me in the Shiragiku Sho last time. The post Best of Japan’s Juvenile Fillies Go Head-To-Head at Hanshin appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Charismatic Kid (lot 28) headlined Friday's Tattersalls Cheltenham December Sale when bought by trainer Gordon Elliott for £300,000. Consigned by Colm Ryan Racing, the son of Affinisea was an impressive winner of a Navan bumper last week. “He looks a nice horse,” said Elliott after outbidding Tessa Greatrex for the gelding. “We were at the races when he won and he won well. Colm has done a great job with him, so fair play to him. The horse won't jump a hurdle this season. We will see if he is okay for a bumper in the spring.” Elliott was responsible for buying four of the 23 lots that changed hands, with his other purchases including the impressive point winner Thinkitdontjinxit (Vadamos) (lot 20) from Denis Murphy's Ballyboy Stables at £185,000. Elsewhere, Anthony Bromley of Highflyer Bloodstock also struck a meaningful blow when stretching to £200,000 to secure Order On Time from Sean Doyle's Monbeg Stables. Runner-up on his point debut at Turtulla last month, the son of Order Of St George was bought to embark on a career under Rules with Paul Nicholls. Total turnover for Tattersalls Cheltenham's final sale of 2025 reached £1,936,000, with the clearance rate coming in at 85%. The average was £84,174 and the median was £60,000. The post Charismatic Kid Tops Friday’s Tattersalls Cheltenham December Sale at £300K appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Grade I winner Sandman (Tapit) posted his first work at Oaklawn Park Friday morning a week after arriving on grounds in advance of his 4-year-old debut in February. The GI Arkansas Derby hero went an easy half-mile in :49 flat, the 19th fastest of 73 at the distance, under exercise rider Autumn Lavertu over a fast track following the first surface renovation break. Clockers had his splits as an opening quarter in :25 and :36.80 for three furlongs. He galloped out five furlongs in 1:02. “Just have an easy half for him,” said assistant trainer Caden Arthur, who oversees Mark Casse's Oaklawn division. “His first breeze here, so I didn't want anything, like, too fast. Looked great on the track. Very comfortable.” Sandman has been unraced since late August, and had previously been based at Casse's Florida training center where he had published works Nov. 26 and Dec. 3 at three furlongs and a half-mile, respectively. “Hopefully, start looking for a race, maybe early February, middle February,” said Arthur. Casse went on record in November when stating that a major spring objective for the grey in 2026 would be the GII Oaklawn Handicap Apr. 18. The post Sandman Works Toward 2026 Return to Racing at Oaklawn Park appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Trainer Linda Rice captured a record 165th training win on the New York Racing Association circuit for 2025 when Snide posted a 28-1 upset in the fourth race Dec. 12 at Aqueduct Racetrack.View the full article

Trainer Linda Rice captured a record 165th training win on the NYRA circuit for 2025 when owned/trained Snide (Tonalist) won race 4 at Aqueduct Friday. Snide stepped into the maiden special weight out of the maiden claimers for the third jump of her career, and dueled her rivals into submission to win by 4 3/4 lengths in a final time of 1:41.23. Rice is also the leading owner on the NYRA circuit this year with 58 wins, and the conditioner credited her entire team, including assistant Marsha Barrs, for the successes. “My team has done a tremendous job all year. We get this done because of them. My office staff, the exercise riders, grooms and hotwalkers–they're all working hard every day,” Rice said. “We're always trying to continue to improve our stable and our results. Over the past 5-to-10 years, I've really concentrated on New York racing, and the stable has certainly improved along the way.” Rice is closing in on her second year-end title as well, having already earned leading trainer honors at the Aqueduct winter [51 wins] and Aqueduct spring [15] meets. She is currently the leading trainer at the Aqueduct fall meet with 24 wins. “It's quite remarkable,” Rice said. “I train for Mr. Ralph Evans; Jon Clay of Alpha Delta Stable; Barry Schwartz; Chester Broman; Jane Lyon of Summer Wind Farm and Winning Move Stable to name a few. I'm very proud to have horses with all of them.” The post Linda Rice Establishes Single-Season NYRA Record with 165 Training Wins appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

High-class filly Zarigana, who was awarded this year's Poule d'Essai des Pouliches in the stewards' room after suffering interference from the first past the post, Shes Perfect (Sioux Nation), has been retired from racing. Speaking from Hong Kong, trainer Francis-Henri Graffard told Sky Sports Racing, “She [Zarigana] is retired now. She has been a complicated filly and she has been very frustrating this season. I think she was so talented, but difficult and tricky. She could have won four Group 1s and only managed to win one in the stewards' room. She has been a frustrating filly this year and we've had hard days with her.” The Aga Khan Studs homebred heads to the paddocks as the winner of four of her seven starts for the Graffard stable. In addition to her controversial success at ParisLongchamp in May, the daughter of Siyouni filled the runner-up spot at the top level on three other occasions. Beaten just a nose by stablemate Vertical Blue (Mehmas) in last year's Prix Marcel Boussac, she later followed her Classic victory with near-misses in both the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot and Prix de la Foret back at ParisLongchamp. The post ‘We’ve Had Hard Days With Her’ – Classic Winner Zarigana Retired From Racing appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Toaster (McKinzie) firmed into even-money favoritism at the off, took command of what appeared to be a wide-open race in upper stretch and kept on nicely to graduate at first asking Friday at Los Alamitos. Drawn one from the outside, the $247,000 Fasig-Tipton October yearling turned $525,000 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic breezer showed enough early toe to track the pace from well off the inside beneath Juan Hernandez. Allowed to stride into the lead approaching the long straight, Toaster was asked for her best five away from the fence leaving the quarter pole and withstood all challenges to the wire, prevailing by a bit more than a length. Toaster is the second winner out of an unplaced half-sister to SW & GSP Quiet Dance (Quiet American), whose dozen winners include Horse of the Year & MGISW Saint Liam (Saint Ballado), GISW Funtastic (More Than Ready) and GSW Quiet Giant (Giant's Causeway). 3rd-Los Alamitos, $46,500, Msw, 12-12, 2yo, f, 6 1/2f, 1:16.62, ft, 1 1/4 lengths. TOASTER (f, 2, McKinzie–Paulownia, by Quiet American) Sales history: $247,000 Ylg '24 FTKOCT; $525,000 2yo '25 EASMAY. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $27,000. Click for the Equibase.com chart. O-Sarah Kelly & William Strauss; B-Whisper Hill Farm LLC (KY); T-Bob Baffert. TOASTER ($4.00) wins on debut with @JJHernandezS19 in the saddle at @LosAlRacing for trainer @BobBaffert and owned by Kelly or Strauss. Another winner by @Gainesway stallion McKinzie. Bet Los Al with @FanDuel Racing.https://t.co/XqSggd881k pic.twitter.com/vNPG9AhUBb — FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) December 12, 2025 The post McKinzie Filly Toaster Too Tough On Los Al Debut appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Dylan Browne McMonagle admits it will be hard to top his breakthrough 2025, when he won his first Irish jockeys' championship and scored in the Breeders' Cup Turf (G1T) at Del Mar, but he has no intention of resting on his laurels.View the full article

The Thoroughbred transcends borders, oceans, entire cultures. To do so literally, of course, it will need a little help: ideally, nowadays, a plane. And that's where Andrea Branchini's day job comes in, as a shipping clerk with the transport firm Mersant International. But this is a man himself without frontiers. Branchini has lived and worked in five different countries, and traveled widely in between, constantly absorbing what makes one society different from another, and what brings them together. Few fields of interest, Branchini has observed, achieve the latter quite like the Turf. Few horsemen, equally, can ever have absorbed its myriad stories and characters through quite so erudite a filter. TDN readers have occasionally been able to sample Branchini's omniscience through his explanation of arcane or witty horse names (“What's In A Name?”); and many in the professional community will have done likewise while enjoying his company at the sales. But now Branchini's Lexington neighbors are being offered the opportunity to tap into his knowledge on a more formal basis, in the nine-week course he will be offering at the Carnegie Center in the new year. They should be lining up round the block, for even so exceptional a store of knowledge becomes almost incidental to the charm with which Branchini dips into it, with his Italian accent thankfully resistant to the erosion of his years in America. Branchini was educated at one of the world's oldest universities, in his hometown Bologna, from which he holds a degree in Philosophy. His father, an engineer, had a passion for Standardbreds, as both owner and amateur driver; and was evidently also the source of Branchini's Wanderlust, leaving Italy to seek his fortune in North America in 1959. The horses retained their allure–Branchini has pictures of him at the 1966 Kentucky Derby–but would eventually also summon him home to Italy, after 20 years, to manage the celebrated San Siro racecourse in Milan. Branchini stayed in the United States, working in New York for a daily newspaper serving the Italian-American community, Il Progresso Italo-Americano. But then his own wanderings began: after a stint back in Italy, he joined the bloodstock and shipping agency Horse France. “Only with the idea that with this job I could live in Paris, and live a bohemian life,” he admits. “And I do treasure that time. I didn't actually produce any art, but I suppose it was quite bohemian. There was a hotel in Rue de Nesle, a bit of a commune where they put you in rooms with other people. I did stay two nights but there were people in my room, playing the guitar and smoking marijuana until 6 a.m., and I had to show up at the office at 8 a.m. And I thought, 'This is not going to work!'” So Branchini moved to a hotel where the only phone was in the lobby and they ran a stopwatch on his calls home to Italy. But his English was better than his French, so when the company opened a branch in Ireland he was posted there for a couple of years, before transferring to Newmarket. Finally in 1991 he started his own venture. “There was a lot of business,” he recalls. “When you're based in England, you have the Middle East, you have America, even destinations in the Far East like Japan and Malaysia. The Breeders' Cup was getting bigger and bigger, and a lot of Europeans were going to Keeneland with the big sale now in September. In a way those were pioneering years.” Sir Henry Cecil with Prince Khalid bin Abdullah | ScoopDyga One useful connection was with his compatriot Luciano Gaucci, whose Tony Bin (Ire) won the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in 1988. That opened a lot of new doors, and consolidated existing relationships with the likes of Sir Henry Cecil. “Those were happy days,” Branchini says. “It was my company, so of course I burned the midnight oil. It wasn't always easy to be an Italian in the Newmarket of those days: it was still very much 'Olde England' and you needed a lot of cultural preparation to know how to deal with it, to understand how the system works.” His three children were all duly born in Cambridge, but their mother is American and it was agreed to raise them in her homeland. So Branchini reconnected with Horse France, before joining Mersant in 2014. “I have always been a sales guy,” he says. “I would stay at Tattersalls all day, and it's the same here. I'm not very pushy, I don't chase ambulances. But in England, it was very easy for me to talk with Americans, having lived here; and then, when I came here, even the trainers and agents who hadn't been clients in Newmarket would talk to me, because I was a known quantity to them. I think the British, in particular, quite like some familiarity when they're abroad.” So much for his industry credentials. But Branchini has meanwhile always enriched his cultural hinterland, a voracious curiosity nourishing parallel academic activity both as student and teacher. For the last 10 years he has taught his native language to Lexington Italophiles; while he has topped up his Philosophy degree at the University of Kentucky besides also earning a B.A. in History. Recently his evergreen enthusiasm led him to pursue a course in writing for theatre. “Of course it's all young people,” he says with a shrug. “I'm Italian and 70 years of age, but I think they appreciate having somebody different around.” In this upcoming course, Branchini will take to a new level some of the territory he covered in a somewhat experimental spirit back in 2019. “I enjoyed that and was amazed by the variety of the people who came,” he recalls. “There were a couple who wanted to know more for their betting, there was a farm owner, there were Flying Start students, grooms, interns. One person said, 'I've learned more in this course than I did at university!' Somebody in Arizona asked for tapes to be sent. So I saw that there was an appetite for something like this. The Thoroughbred world is very complicated. For everyone who wants to work in it, or participate in any way, it takes a lot of knowing. “A lot of people who go to Keeneland races in the spring really don't know much about it. If we can give them a frame of reference, they will enjoy the spectacle so much more. But my hope is that this course can benefit anybody: both people who work in the business, or on farms, at all levels; and also people living here, surrounded by the industry, without really knowing about it.” Keeneland's Library has supported Branchini's scholarly endeavors | Keeneland Library Branchini is grateful for the support of the Keeneland Library, and will be hosting guest lecturers through the program. He hopes that industry employers might sponsor the attendance of staff whose professional engagement could be elevated by a course designed both to inform and enthuse. “This is a labor-intensive industry that will never be automated,” he notes. “And it has an increasing labor shortage.” Not that anyone needs a particular reason, beyond the fascination of a world as teeming with color and character as ours. “People like Tesio, Boussac, their stories are so interesting,” Branchini says. “The theory of breeding has plenty of pseudo-science, really it's theory against theory, a lot of gray areas. I've studied anthropology and when you read about Mendelism and so on, you see how it would actually all be quite boring if it were all a science. “I don't think I've led a particularly remarkable life. There has been a lot of drifting. But I've seen how my Italian classes have produced a community, among the students. And now, with this long life, and all these experiences of the horse industry in different countries, I would like to share that with whoever might like to listen.” History and Geography of the Thoroughbred, with Andrea Branchini and guest speakers: Carnegie Center for Literacy and Learning, 251 W. 2nd St, Lexington, KY 50507. $110 for nine Tuesday sessions as follows: February 3: Origins–foundation stallions, the first Epsom Derby (1780), the Stud Book (Weatherbys); February 10: Worldwide Expansion–including the stories of Federico Tesio and Marcel Boussac; February 17: The Stallion–from the classic era of the 30/40-share stallion to the large books of today (scientific progress/shuttling); February 24: USA Beginnings and Consolidation, 18th & 19th Centuries–including the black jockeys's era; March 3: Kentucky Derby–and the ascent of Keeneland; March 10: Geography–Japan, Australia, England, Ireland, France, Italy, Germany; March 17: Modern Times–commercialization, Sangster vs Darley, Breeders' Cup, HISA; March 24: Wagering in the World–fundamentals and variations in betting systems; March 31: Where does the Money come from?–the funding of horseracing. Click here for the complete schedule. The post Fly High In Lexington And See The Bigger Picture appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

In recent years, trainer Bob Baffert has shown an affinity for the GII Los Alamitos Futurity, winning five of 11 editions since the race was moved to Los Alamitos. On Saturday, the Hall of Fame trainer will attempt to add another notch to his belt with a trio of entrants–Litmus Test (Nyquist), Provenance (Into Mischief) and Blacksmith (Liam's Map). Owned by SF Racing LLC, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Stonestreet Stables, Diane Bashor, Determined Stables, Golconda Stable, Waves Edge Capital LLC and Catherine Donovan, Litmus Test will be making his first start since finishing fourth behind undefeated Ted Noffey in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile at Del Mar on Oct. 31. He previously finished third behind the likely juvenile champ in the GI Breeders' Futurity at Keeneland in October. Juan Hernandez lands on the 4-5 morning line favorite. Spendthrift homebred Provenance, who is out of multiple champion Monomoy Girl, was third behind subsequent GI American Pharoah Stakes winner Intrepido (Maximus Mischief)) in his career debut at Del Mar in August before graduating next out while cutting back to six panels at Santa Anita in September. Still a maiden, Wathnan Racing's Blacksmith debuted with a runner-up effort at Santa Anita on Oct. 25 and followed-up with a fifth-place effort at Del Mar on Nov. 22. Formerly the Hollywood Futurity and the CashCall Futurity, the race was first run at Los Alamitos in 2014. Baffert first won at the venue in 2015 with Mor Spirit (2015) and won the next four renewals with Mastery (2016), McKinzie (2017), Improbable (2018) and Thousand Words (2019). Offering the strongest candidate to best the Baffert triumvirate is the Chief Stipe O'Neill-trained Ackowledgemeplz (Bucchero), campaigned by Purple Rein Racing and Mark Davis. Runner-up in June behind another well-regarded Baffert trainee–Desert Gate–the Florida-bred returned on Oct. 25 to hand Blacksmith a 3/4-length defeat going 6 1/2 furlongs at Santa Anita. Armando Ayuso joins the fray here. Hronis Racing's Captivator (Charlatan) will attempt to step up in both class and distance here. Runner-up in a sales-restricted 6 1/2-furlong maiden optional claimer at Santa Anita in October, the John Sadler trainee ran off to an eye-catching 10 1/4-length score in a six-furlong test at Del Mar on Nov. 8. The front-running colt will get blinkers off while Hector Berrios returns to ride. The post Baffert Offers Triumvirate in Los Alamitos Futurity appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The lone first-starter in a field of seven, Authentic Cat (Authentic) loaded as the 63-10 fourth choice in the wagering in the season opener at Oaklawn Park and was off to an uneventful beginning before settling in clear air in fifth as the top four were reasonably well-grouped up ahead. Patiently handled through the middle furlongs by Manny Esquivel, the gray filly made inside progress on the turn and into the stretch, came out to challenge in the two path in upper stretch and finished powerfully to graduate by 5 1/2 lengths. Favored Jolly Jolene (Girvin) completely missed the break, raced hopelessly detached from the field down the backstretch and passed a few rivals late in a race that can be tossed. Spendthrift acquired the winner's dam, a half-sister to GSW Ready to Act (More Than Ready), for $120,000 in foal to Tiz the Law at the 2021 Keeneland November Sale. Hrasky produced a full-sister to Authentic Cat in 2024, a colt by Bolt d'Oro this season and was bred back to Forte. 1st-Oaklawn, $100,000, Msw, 12-12, 2yo, f, 1 1/16m, 1:45.93, ft, 5 1/2 lengths. AUTHENTIC CAT (f, 2, Authentic–Hrasky, by Speightstown) Sales history: $85,000 Ylg '24 FTKOCT. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $60,000. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. O-John Holleman; B-Spendthrift Farm LLC (KY); T-Kenneth G McPeek. On debut #2 AUTHENTIC CAT ($14.60) by Authentic (@spendthriftfarm) was impressive pulling away from the field late in the stretch to easily win race 1 at @OaklawnPark. Emmanuel Esquivel was up for @KennyMcPeek and owner John Holleman. pic.twitter.com/N65684RCCE — FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) December 12, 2025 The post Authentic Filly Authentic Cat A Dominant Debut Winner at Oaklawn appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Sunday, Sha Tin, Hong Kong, post time: 4:40 p.m., LONGINES HONG KONG CUP-G1, HK$40,000,000, 3yo/up, 2000mT Field: Romantic Warrior (Jpn) (Acclamation {GB}), Bellagio Opera (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}), Rousham Park (Jpn) (Harbinger {GB}), Galen (GB) (Gleneagles {Ire}), Straight Arron (Aus) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}), Chancheng Glory (Mor Spirit), Quisisana (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}). Sunday, Sha Tin, Hong Kong, post time: 4:00 p.m., LONGINES HONG KONG MILE-G1, HK$36,000,000, 3yo/up, 1600mT Field: Soul Rush (Jpn) (Rulership {Jpn}), Voyage Bubble (Aus) (Deep Field {Aus}), Docklands (GB) (Massaat {Ire}), Beauty Joy (Aus) (Sebring {Aus}), Galaxy Patch (Aus) (Wandjina {Aus}), Beauvatier (Fr) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), Happy Together (Ire) (Dragon Pulse {Ire}), Red Lion (Ire) (Belardo {Ire}), Sunlight Power (Aus) (Capitalist {Aus}), My Wish (Aus) (Flying Artie {Aus}), Copartner Prance (Aus) (Epaulette {Aus}), Patch Of Theta (Aus) (Zoustar {Aus}), The Lion In Winter (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), Embroidery (Jpn) (Admire Mars {Jpn}), Pray For Mir (Aus) (Justify). Sunday, Sha Tin, Hong Kong, post time: 2:50 p.m., LONGINES HONG KONG SPRINT-G1, HK$28,000,000, 3yo/up, 1200mT Field: Ka Ying Ring (NZ) (Shamexpress {NZ}), Satono Reve (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}), Lucky Sweynesse (NZ) (Sweynesse {Aus}), Helios Express (Aus) (Toronado {Ire}), Win Carnelian (Jpn) (Screen Hero {Jpn}), Fast Network (NZ) (Wrote {Ire}), Khaadem (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), Lucky With You (Aus) (Artie Schiller, Beauty Waves (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}), Raging Blizzard (NZ) (Per Incanto), Tomodachi Kokoroe (Aus) (Written Tycoon {Aus}), Wunderbar (Aus) (Rich Enuff {Aus}), Divano (Aus) (Brave Smash {Jpn}). Sunday, Sha Tin, Hong Kong, post time: 2:10 p.m., LONGINES HONG KONG VASE-G1, HK$26,000,000, 3yo/up, 2400mT Field: Los Angeles (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), Al Riffa (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), Giavellotto (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}), Goliath (Ger) (Adlerflug {Ger}), Sosie (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), Urban Chic (Jpn) (Suave Richard {Jpn}), Ensued (Lemon Drop Kid), Eydon (Ire) (Olden Times {GB}), Moments In Time (Chi) (Lookin At Lucky), Bundle Award (Aus) (Shamus Award {Aus}), Ka Ying Generation (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}). Click here for the full preview of Sunday's Hong Kong International Races. Sunday, Hanshin, Japan, post time: 3:40 p.m., Hanshin Juvenile Fillies-G1, ¥123,300,000, 2yo, f, 1600mT Field: Angelitas (Jpn) (New Year's Day), Lady Goal (Jpn) (Rey de Oro {Jpn}), Mitsukane Venera (Jpn) (Maurice {Jpn}), Alankar (Jpn) (Epiphaneia {Jpn}), Garavogue (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}), Arbanne (Jpn) (Admire Mars {Jpn}), Margot Love Me (Jpn) (Real Steel {Jpn}), His Masterpiece (Jpn) (Screen Hero {Jpn}), Star Anise (Jpn) (Drefong), Inubono Utagoe (Jpn) (Siskin), Sweet Happiness (Jpn) (Real Impact {Jpn}), Maple Happy (Jpn) (Satono Crown {Jpn}), From Raven (Jpn) (Tower of London {Jpn}), Stunning Lady (Jpn) (Benbatl {GB}), Lasting Snow (Jpn) (Mozu Ascot), Rose Charis (Jpn) (California Chrome), Taisei Vogue (Jpn) (Indy Champ {Jpn}), Shonan Charis (Jpn) (Real Steel {Jpn}). Click here for the complete fields. The post Black-Type Analysis: Longines HKIR And Hanshin Juvenile Fillies Some Of The Last Group 1s Of The Year appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The Hanshin Juvenile Fillies (G1) Dec. 14 is the first of three big races for Japanese 2-year-olds with connections hoping to find contenders for next year's classics.View the full article

Two starters from the Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1), 2024 participant Skelly and 2025 runner Banishing, headline the $150,000 Ring The Bell Stakes for 3-year-olds and up at 6 furlongs Dec. 13 at Oaklawn Park.View the full article