Wandering Eyes

6th-WO, $111k, Msw, 3yo/up, f, 6 1/2f AWT, 3:52p.m. ET In against a mixed field which includes considerably more seasoned rivals, ONTARIO (Ghostzapper) will be unveiled for the partnership of LNJ Foxwoods and NK Racing. A $450,000 KEESEP yearling in 2022, the filly hails from the female family of Canadian Horse of the Year and two-time champion MGSW Wonder Gadot (Medaglia d'Oro) as well as GISW Hard Not to Love (Hard Spun) and SW & GSP Solemn Tribute (Medaglia d'Oro). Ontario's dam SP Mexican Hat (Street Cry {Ire}) is a half-sister to GI Beholder Mile winner Secret Spice (Discreet Cat), who went to Katsumi Yoshida for $1.4-million at the 2019 FTKNOV sale and who has since produced a winner in Japan. Ontario will enjoy a five pound weight allowance, and trainer Josie Carroll will send her to post. TJCIS PPs 7th-GP, $60k, Msw, 3yo/up, f, 5fT, 4:00p.m. ET Carrying the e Five Racing silks on her unveiling, MRS. GAMBOLINI (More Than Ready) will take on a field of seven from the far outside post. Posting back-to-back bullet works at Palm Meadows, the most recent June 28 being a four furlong move in company in :46.95 (1/23), she's out of a half-sister to GISW Promises Fulfilled (Shackleford) and the full-sister to MSW & GSP Marquee Miss. This is also the immediate family of Graded-placed runners Jag Warrior (Shackleford) and Tiesto (Tiznow). The barn of Joseph Saffie Jr. will send her out. TJCIS PPs The post July 7 Insights: From Canada to Florida, Well-Bred Fillies Debut appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Acting upon the recommendation of the Delaware Thoroughbred Racing Commission veterinarians and stewards, Delaware Park postponed racing July 6 due to the excessive heat index forecasted. The entire card is transferred to July 8.View the full article

Epsom Oaks (G1) winner Ezeliya was retired July 6 following a training setback that would keep her from racing the remainder of the year.View the full article

Showcase (c, 2, Uncle Mo–Buy Sell Hold {SW & GSP, $125,520}, by Violence) fired a pair of bullets at Todd Pletcher's Saratoga base and delivered as advertised as the 3-5 favorite to earn 'TDN Rising Star' honors on debut at the Big A Saturday. Drawn widest of all in post five, Showcase traveled nicely beneath Irad Ortiz, Jr. in an outside second, hit the front while racing in between rivals approaching the quarter pole and took off nicely when asked the question at the top of the stretch to win going away by 7 1/2 lengths. The pacesetter Protected (Maximum Security) held second by a whisker over $500,000 OBS April breezer Tiz Freedom (Tiz the Law). Showcase, a half-brother to Bourbon Bash (City of Light), MSP, $511,294, becomes the 19th 'Rising Star' for leading sire Uncle Mo. Buy Sell Hold, a full-sister to GISW and young sire Volatile, is also responsible for the unraced 3-year-old filly Sweet Pea (Union Rags) and a yearling colt by Gun Runner. She was bred to Life Is Good for 2024. Sales history: $300,000 yrl '23 KEESEP. Owner: Harrell Ventures, LLC Breeder: WinStar Farm, LLC (KY) Trainer: Todd A. Pletcher #5 Showcase wins easy in the opener at Aqueduct to win on debut for trainer Todd Pletcher with @iradortiz aboard! This 2YO colt is out of stakes winner Buy Sell Hold. #TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/buV6W0GNnd — TwinSpires Racing (@TwinSpires) July 6, 2024 The post Uncle Mo Colt Puts on a ‘Show’ for ‘Rising Star’ Honors appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

John Magnier was in mischievous form at Sandown after he and his wife Sue had joined the wider Coolmore team for celebratory photographs with their Derby and Eclipse winner City Of Troy. It has been well documented how important this colt is to the operation: the European champion two-year-old of 2023, he is by the Triple Crown winner Justify, who was recruited at vast expense to stand at Coolmore's Ashford Stud in Kentucky. For that stallion to prove himself adept at siring top-class runners on both dirt and turf would be the bloodstock equivalent of owning a licence to print money. Participating in what was, by his standards, a lengthy interview on Racing TV, Magnier said, “There's no point in us talking any more about this horse. This horse now has to do it himself.” He added with a laugh, “It's like his clothes are off and he's in the bed, so it's up to him.” Magnier admitted that City Of Troy's hard-fought win, by a length over Al Riffa (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), wasn't quite the dazzling performance that had been anticipated from the 1/4 favourite. He said, “It wasn't what we were expecting, to be honest, but we are not making excuses: you don't need to when a horse wins a race. “A quarter of the field was taken out because of the ground and he really is a good-moving horse. We posted a video of him working in the last few days and it's quite extraordinary how he moves.” He continued, “The year is long and I would just like to see him really run on his ground. But, look, he's only been beaten once in his life and we're complaining, so that will tell you what we think about him.” Of the excitement surrounding City Of Troy, he added, “It emanates from Aidan [O'Brien] and Ballydoyle, really, what they think of him and what they see in the morning. And that's why we published that video – we don't do that sort of thing, and I'm not a social media-type person. But it's just incredible and we wanted people to see it.” Last year, the team's Derby winner Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) closed out his season with victory in the Breeders' Cup Turf at Santa Anita. With the Japan Cup under consideration for that horse over a possible return to California for a tilt at the Breeders' Cup Classic, could the latter be a suitable option for City Of Troy to show his versatility? “Only God knows that; I can't answer that one,” Magnier said. “All I know is that we've tried it on several occasions. We tried it with Galileo and it didn't work. We tried it with Giant's Causeway and it nearly did. We hit the crossbar with Declaration Of War. We all enjoy having a go and seeing if we can try to do something that's a bit out of the ordinary. Whatever happens, we'll keep trying to do it.” The post John Magnier: ‘His clothes are off and he’s in the bed, so it’s up to him’ appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

HOKKAIDO, Japan–Expectation rather than trepidation. Pre-JRHA Select Sale nerves are different to the ones we go through back in Europe, that's for sure. A quick scan through the over 500-strong catalogue of foals and yearlings will remind you just how small the world is with many familiar names cropping up on any given page. However, a morning spent in the company of JRHA chairman and Shadai Farm boss Teruya Yoshida followed by a trip to Northern Farm, which will consign a massive 180 lots at the sale, pegs into light what the Japanese are doing better than most. Perhaps Yoshida, who dominates Japanese racing along with his brothers Katsumi and Haruya, has reason to be confident. After all, he approaches the sale, which kicks off with yearlings on Monday, with reason for optimism given the Japanese Derby winner Danon Decile (Jpn) (Epiphaneia {Jpn}) is fresh in everyone's mind. “This spring time, horses bred by Shadai Farm have won four Group 1s, so it is not just about Danon Decile,” Yoshida rightly corrects the interviewer! “For example, Jantar Mantar (Jpn) (Palace Malice) won the NHK Mile Cup so it has been a very good spring.” He added, “We are expecting a lot for this sale. So far, this has been a very good sale and a lot of good horses have been sold here. As you said, the Japan Derby winner was sold at this sale a couple of years ago. We have had many, many lookers visiting the farm in recent weeks so I am expecting good things.” Last year's JRHA Select Sale was a behemoth and flew somewhat in the face of what many people were experiencing in Europe and even to a certain extent in America when the words 'polarised' and 'market correction' didn't miss a sales report. But Japanese racing is in a very different place to the rest of the world right now. Prize-money is soaring, as is betting turnover, owner-incentives give people a proper chance of recouping their losses and the quality of the stock being presented to the sales has never been stronger. It's this perfect storm, according to Yoshida, that has Japanese racing in such a healthy state. “I expect the market to be strong,” he continued. “But last year's market was a record-breaking market so we don't know if it will be as strong as it was last year. It should be very strong, though. There are a lot of new owners who want to spend money. I think there are many people ready to spend ¥100 million. There are always new people wanting to get involved with Japanese racing. “It is good circulation. Prize-money is good, many new people are coming into the industry and they invest a lot of money in the yearling market. That provides breeders with an opportunity to reinvest that money in mares and stallion fees.” He added, “The quality is on the up. And I am very confident in the quality of our horses. There are so many good horses with good pedigree and nice conformation. Those horses should attract good buyers. No problem. And we have buyers coming at every level. “Also, we have seen a lot of good runners bought here for a reasonable price. For example, Derma Sotogake (Jpn) (Mind Your Biscuits), who finished second in the Breeders' Cup Classic last year, cost less than $100,000 at this sale. This year, his full-brother will be more expensive, no problem! My son Tetsuya's father-in-law bought Derma Sotogake. He is a lucky man.” Yoshida stands proud with Carina Mia and her Epiphaneia colt foal | Brian Sheerin When it is put to Yoshida that luck has been his friend in life as well, mainly when it came to finding the breed-shaping Sunday Silence, the backstory of which was excellently laid out by Emma Berry in these pages almost exactly 12 months ago, he agrees. “Not just Sunday Silence but Northern Taste as well. Both of them, we have been very lucky. When we bought Northern Taste at the Saratoga Sale, he cost us $100,000. He would become the champion sire in Japan 11 times. That was the very beginning of our luck. Even at that time, Nijinsky (Can) had run already and was the Triple Crown winner. We saw many sons of Northern Dancer in the sale. When they had run already, we knew we couldn't afford them, so that's why we decided to buy as a yearling. Very, very lucky.” He added on Sunday Silence, “We had a farm in Kentucky and Arthur Hancock was our neighbour. One day, our horses got loose and got out on the road. Arthur helped us catch the horses and put them back in the field. From that day, we became friends.” But is Yoshida lucky or good? How Zenya Yoshida and now his sons Teruya, Katsumi and Haruya have transformed the ownership model throughout the past couple of decades to drive fan engagement has proved to be one of Japanese racing's secret weapons. Okay, large-scale ownership groups are not exactly a new phenomenon in this game. But where else in the world have genuine superstars like Almond Eye (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) and more recently Equinox (Jon) (Kitasan Black {Jpn}) raced for multi-share racing clubs? Lest we forget that, of the five Japanese-trained winners on Dubai World Cup Night in 2022, four of those were successful for similar clubs. Such is the importance of racing clubs and syndicates in Japan, they are understood to make up 70 per cent of the entire ownership pool in the country. “Maybe not a secret weapon but a weapon,” Yoshida laughs. “It has been very popular. Many racing fans like to get involved and it fuels future ownership. The purse system in Japan is very good, so that is one reason why it is possible. The other is that horse racing is very popular with the people here and there are a lot of racing fans. Many people come to the races to see the horses. Naturally, they would like the feeling of owning a horse and getting that experience. It's like supporting a team. Europe has the same thing–like the Highclere Syndicate for example. But because of our purse system and the amount of racing fans we have, it is much better than in Europe.” He added, “If we have a superstar in sport, regardless of the sport, they become so popular here in Japan. In baseball for example, we have a guy in America doing many home runs called Shohei Ohtani. He earns $700 million for 10 years. Ninety per cent of American people know his name and he is super famous over here. He gave free baseball gloves to every elementary school in Japan. That's a big number of gloves.” The point being drilled home by Yoshida is that Japanese people remain infatuated with stardom. A quick walk through the Northern Farm Horse Park, which is open to the public, confirms as much with an entire shop dedicated to selling racing-related merchandise. One cannot help but notice the countless teddy-bear sized horses bedecked in famous silks. From Almond Eye to Deep Impact (Jpn), you can purchase your very own superstar. The fan-driven syndicate model is a step above that level of transaction but it speaks to the same principal. “We have produced many [individual] horse owners after they had a good feeling owning a horse [at a smaller level]. When they get older and richer, they might decide to own a horse of their own. Do you know that 70 per cent of the entire owners in the JRA are made up by our racing clubs? Amazing. This is very important and JRA knows this. At first, the JRA may have been a little bit suspicious of our system, but now they are great believers. When we decided to do this, we decided to do it right. We do everything correct and we present good, quality horses. This is also very important.” Northern Farm will offer 180 lots at the JRHA Select Sale, including this handsome Flightline colt . Lot 419 is one of only three Flightline foals in the sale and is out of Tan Gritona, a champion 2yo filly in Argentina. pic.twitter.com/Gn8hIWi5mA — Brian Sheerin (@BrianSheerin91) July 6, 2024 And with this, a brochure featuring 88 exquisitely-bred yearlings that will soon be put on the market and syndicated under the banner of Shadai Race Horse Co Ltd is opened up. There is a guide price beside every horse and Yoshida reveals that the expectation is that each share will be filled within a fortnight of those 88 yearlings being put on the market. The ownership model is a simple one, in that syndicate members are only signing up for the racing experience and, if the horse becomes a stallion prospect or a potential blue hen broodmare, she can be circulated back into the Shadai breeding operation. Ingenious really. But when this ownership model is providing people with up-close and personal experiences with this year's leading three-year-old miler in Japan Jantar Mantar, for example, and other recognisable forces like Sol Oriens (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn}), Stars On Earth (Jpn) (Duramante {Jpn}) and more, the relationship works both ways. Those horses being offered for syndication in that brochure are obviously completely separate to the ones who will go under the hammer at the Select Sale on Monday and Tuesday. Having scouted through the barns at Shadai Farm followed by Northern Farm, it's hard to disagree with Yoshida's prediction that another blockbuster sale could be in store. But then again, you reap what you sow. “We have spent a lot of money on our broodmare band down through the years,” Yoshida says. “We just look for what everybody else wants-high-class mares. We bought a lot of broodmares all over the world in the past 20 years and in Europe especially as the Japanese Yen was so strong. We could afford to buy them. Also, your market [the European market] was not strong. Even Deep Impact's mother, [Wind In Her Hair (Ire) (Azao)] was second in the Oaks and we bought her.” And last year Japanese buyers were very active at the December Mares Sale at Tattersalls. “Yes, because we are still rich–we still can buy,” Yoshida says, before erupting into belly laughter. This may be serious stuff but nobody seems to get bogged down about anything here. Yoshida himself has time for a laugh and a joke just as much as anyone else on the tour of the barns and sits through each show as if it were his first. One sire that pops up more than most is Contrail (Jpn). It is clear from visiting both farms that the hope is that the Japanese Triple Crown-winning son of Deep Impact can be spoken of in the same glowing terms of his father. It was at this sale 12 months ago when Contrail really announced himself as a sire to take serious note of when a colt of his topped the foal session at ¥520 million [$3.7m]. Lot 367: a Contrail colt foal at Shadai Farm | Brian Sheerin Lot 377, a Contrail colt out of Argentinian 1,000 Guineas heroine Joy Nikita (Arg) (Fortify) is being tipped by Shadai's Tsubasa Sato to fly the flag for the stallion once again. Then you have lot 364 at Northern Farm, a Kitasan Black (Jpn) colt foal out of German Oaks winner Serienholde (Ger) (Soldier Hollow {GB}). He's a half-brother to Schnell Meister (Ger) (Kingman {GB}) and his reserve–which is completely transparent in Japan–has been set at ¥70 million, the highest reserve set by Northern Farm in the sale. Add that to Shadai's Epiphaneia (Jpn) colt foal [lot 384], who clearly holds a certain amount of sentimental value to Yoshida, as he didn't need to be asked twice to pose for a photograph with the mare Carina Mia (Malibu Moon) and her offspring. Shadai forked out $2.6 million on the Grade I winner at Fasig-Tipton in 2021 and, with a cracking Epiphaneia colt foal at foot, is now happily reported to be in foal to Equinox. Not to mention Northern Farm offering the only Gun Runner foal in the sale and one of three foals by Flightline as well. With such quality everywhere you look, perhaps Yoshida's confidence is well-placed. The post Yoshida: ‘There are a Lot of New Owners Who Want to Spend Money at the Select Sale’ appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Providing a boost to the form of TDN Rising Star Polyvega (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), Juddmonte's Apollo Fountain (GB) (No Nay Never–Fount {GB}, by Frankel {GB}) made light work of Saturday's five-furlong Listed Prix Yacowlef at Deauville. Runner-up to that Wertheimer blueblood at Chantilly last month, the 3-1 favourite was keen early in the hands of Alexis Pouchin as he opted to drop out last. Delivering a dramatic surge to hit the front passing the furlong pole, the Andre Fabre-trained daughter of the operation's G3 Prix de Lieurey winner Fount from the family of Ventura (Chester House) stayed on powerfully to record a three-length success from Kaadi (Ire) (Soldier's Call {GB}). Looks smart! Apollo Fountain comfortably claims Yacowlef Listed Stakes at @fgdeauville to land her first success for @pouchinalexis and Andre Fabre! pic.twitter.com/JNjpTcq0iQ — At The Races (@AtTheRaces) July 6, 2024 Saturday, Deauville, France PRIX YACOWLEF-Listed, €60,000, Deauville, 7-6, 2yo, 5fT, :58.52, sf. 1–APOLLO FOUNTAIN (GB), 122, f, 2, by No Nay Never 1st Dam: Fount (GB) (GSW-Fr), by Frankel (GB) 2nd Dam: Ventura, by Chester House 3rd Dam: Estala (GB), by Be My Guest 1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN. O-Juddmonte; B-Juddmonte Farms Ireland Ltd (GB); T-Andre Fabre; J-Alexis Pouchin. €30,000. Lifetime Record: 2-1-1-0, €39,500. 2–Kaadi (Ire), 122, f, 2, Soldier's Call (GB)–Ruby Girl (Ire), by Fast Company (Ire). (€52,000 Ylg '23 TATIRY). O-Abdulrazaq Mohamdi & Mrs Elaine Burke; B-Brian Miller (IRE); T-Karl Burke. €12,000. 3–Binadham (Ire), 126, c, 2, Kodiac (GB)–Rajmahal (UAE), by Indian Ridge (Ire). 1ST BLACK TYPE. (85,000gns Ylg '23 TATOCT). O-Salhia Stud Ltd; B-Tally-Ho Stud (IRE); T-Kevin Philippart De Foy. €9,000. Margins: 3, 1 1/4, HD. Odds: 3.00, 9.00, 5.20. Also Ran: Aviation Time (Ire), Kuwaitya (Ire), Rock Hunter (GB), Weissmuller (Ire). Video, sponsored by FanDuel TV. The post No Nay Never’s Apollo Fountain Impresses for Juddmonte in the Yacowlef appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Well, he's clearly not Frankel, but City Of Troy (Justify–Together Forever {Ire}, by Galileo {Ire}) at least stayed on a winning course as he provided more nervous tension than dazzle at Sandown on Saturday. Labouring rather than surging up the hill to the culmination of the G1 Coral-Eclipse, Ballydoyle's Derby hero proved that he had the grit to get the unique British double done as he ultimately satisfied the abundant odds-on takers. Connections were quick to admit that he had underwhelmed here, so we were again left with a sense of anti-climax as the stable's latest enigma keeps us guessing. When you are 1-4 for a substandard Eclipse missing the likes of White Birch (GB) (Ulysses {Ire}) and Passenger (Ulysses {Ire}), you are in some ways on a hiding to nothing. Little went very wrong here, so the fact that he crossed the line just a length ahead of the largely inconspicuous 4-year-old Al Riffa (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) was certain to engender a degree of deflation. That was only enhanced by the close proximity of Ghostwriter (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), an undoubtedly talented 3-year-old but also one who had so far looked below the elite and who was reportedly also unsuited by the easing ground. He stayed in the fight until very late, before fading to be another length away in third. Unlike Newmarket, where he roared off too fast before burning out, City Of Troy was able to saunter through the early stages of this test and retain energy for what turned out to be a surprisingly arduous finale. Lugging right towards the rail after taking over from his listed/group 3-class pacemaker Hans Andersen (GB) (Frankel {GB}) passing two out, Ballydoyle's beau ideal was briefly threatened by Joseph O'Brien's runner in the kind of slow-motion finale that this track can produce. Ryan Moore admitted to being surprised at how the race panned out, but also offered a telling insight into his underlying faith in his mount. “I thought he'd win better than that–I thought he'd probably beat them by ten lengths to be honest with you and I wouldn't be surprised if he does it next time,” he revealed. “The ground is slower than he wants and I got it wrong–I took him up the middle, but he wanted go to the fence–and I never really got it out of him until I really had to, so I think there's a lot more in there.” City Of Troy visibly lost his action turning into the straight and Moore went on to stress the importance of that incident. “I wasn't happy halfway around the bend, where the ground was a little bit loose and it took me a while to organise him and get him balanced after that, but he still got the job done and I thought he did well,” he added. “He never felt like he was going to get beat and he found plenty. We're still learning about him and there are a few things I'd do differently next time. He has an extravagant action and slow ground into a headwind is not easy–he'll be better in a higher-tempo race.” Aidan O'Brien pointed to deteriorating ground conditions, which had earlier put paid to the participation of Jayarebe (Fr) (Zoffany {Ire}) and Stay Alert (GB) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}). “We walked the course beforehand and it was soft, tough, deep ground,” he said after greeting his eighth Eclipse winner. “All fairness to the Lads–15 years ago they would have taken the horse out, but they enjoy their racing so much now and wanted to run him. It would have been easy to take him out and it was a long discussion before we ran.” “He is a beautiful, good-ground horse and a real fast-ground mover so he has won today despite the ground. It was proper soft ground today, softer than when he won the Dewhurst last season–it was tough, specialist ground. I'd imagine the Lads will now look at the Juddmonte or Irish Champion Stakes before America. He could finish up in the Breeders' Cup Classic–that is what he is bred to be.” John Magnier is not looking to shirk the Breeders' Cup Classic challenge any time soon. “We've tried it on several occasions and we all enjoy having a go,” he said. “Ballydoyle is founded on North American blood and it's a very important race for us. We want to try and do something a bit out of the ordinary, so whatever happens we'll keep trying to do it.” Expanding on the afternoon's spectacle, the Coolmore supremo admitted to also being taken aback by how close it got. “This wasn't what we were expecting, to be honest with you, but he really is a good-moving horse–it's quite extraordinary how he moves,” he added. “It's no use us talking about him, he has to do it himself and it's like his clothes are off and he's in the bed. The year is long and we'd just like to see him really run on his ground. He's only been beaten once in his life and we're complaining, so that tells you what we think about him.” “What Aidan and Ballydoyle think about him and see in the morning is just incredible and we want people to see it, so hopefully it'll happen before the end of the year,” he concluded. “I've been there watching him work and seen the times he does without being asked. We'll see what the next day brings.” Joseph O'Brien was delighted with the effort of Al Riffa, who was getting back to the big time with much water having passed under the bridge since his success in the 2022 G1 Vincent O'Brien National Stakes. “I think we all thought for a moment he was going to make it interesting and he did,” he said. “It was a fantastic run and the first time he has had a bit of juice in the ground since the National Stakes. We'll probably make the rest of the season all about the Arc, which will be his main target. He should enjoy the mile and a half as his family is all stamina.” Clive Cox said of Ghostwriter, “I am over the moon. It was a tremendous performance bar being beat and he has run with full credit. We are all very proud of him and he has tried very hard. We would appreciate slightly drier ground, but I am not making any excuses as he has still run a very solid race. I think a mile and a quarter is a perfect for him and Richard [Kingscote] agrees. He is in the Juddmonte and York is a track that I think he would enjoy.” Pedigree Notes City Of Troy's pedigree has been covered on many occasions, but it bears repeating that he is out of one of the many Galileo mares at Coolmore who have won at the highest level and who promise to serve Justify with the perfect turf class to complement his dirt prowess. Together Forever, whose big moment came in the G1 Fillies' Mile, is a full-sister to the Oaks heroine Forever Together (Ire) and a half to the G1 Prix Jean Prat-winning sire Lord Shanakill by another dirt sire in Speightstown. Together Forever, who is related to the G1 Irish 1,000 Guineas heroine Al Bahathri, the GI Yellow Ribbon Invitational winner Spanish Fern (El Gran Senor) and the GI Santa Anita Handicap hero Heatseeker (Ire) (Giant's Causeway), previously produced a trio of black-type performers by War Front including the G3 Tyros Stakes winner Military Style (War Front). Her 4-year-old Bertinelli by Justify took the London Gold Cup for this stable before going to Hong Kong to be third in the G3 Queen Mother Memorial Cup. Next up from Together Forever is the unraced 2-year-old filly by Uncle Mo named Takemetothemoon (Ire), while she also has a yearling filly by Dubawi (Ire) and a filly foal by Into Mischief. Saturday, Sandown, Britain CORAL-ECLIPSE-G1, £750,000, Sandown, 7-6, 3yo/up, 9f 209yT, 2:09.80, sf. 1–CITY OF TROY, 125, c, 3, by Justify 1st Dam: Together Forever (Ire) (G1SW-Eng & SW-Ire, $318,729), by Galileo (Ire) 2nd Dam: Green Room, by Theatrical (Ire) 3rd Dam: Chain Fern, by Blushing Groom (Fr) TDN Rising Star. O-Mrs John Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith; B-Orpendale, Chelston & Wynatt (KY); T-Aidan O'Brien; J-Ryan Moore. £425,325. Lifetime Record: 6-5-0-0, $2,120,730. *Full to Bertinelli, GSP-HK, $327,857; and 1/2 to Military Style (War Front), GSW-Ire; Absolute Ruler (War Front), GSP-Ire; and King Of Athens (War Front), SP-Ire. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. 2–Al Riffa (Fr), 135, c, 4, Wootton Bassett (GB)–Love On My Mind (Ire), by Galileo (Ire). (€31,000 Wlg '20 ARQDEC; 150,000gns Ylg '21 TATOCT). O-Al Riffa Syndicate; B-SARL de Chambure Haras d'Etreham, Benoit Chalmel & SARL Compagni (FR); T-Joseph O'Brien. £161,250. 3–Ghostwriter (Ire), 125, c, 3, Invincible Spirit (Ire)–Moorside (GB), by Champs Elysees (GB). 1ST GROUP 1 BLACK TYPE. (100,000gns Wlg '21 TADEWE). O-J C Smith; B-Norelands Bloodstock & Irish National Stud (IRE); T-Clive Cox. £80,700. Margins: 1, 1, 5HF. Odds: 0.25, 11.00, 12.00. Also Ran: See The Fire (GB), Hans Andersen (GB), Dancing Gemini (Ire). Scratched: Stay Alert (GB), Jayarebe (Fr). The post Justify’s City Of Troy Completes the Derby-Eclipse Double appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Returning to the course and distance of her G3 Lester Piggott Stakes win, Qatar Racing's Queen Of The Pride (GB) (Roaring Lion–Simple Verse {Ire), by Duke Of Marmalade {Ire}) mastered Saturday's G2 Lancashire Oaks at Haydock to continue her upward trajectory. Held up by Oisin Murphy throughout the early stages, the John and Thady Gosden-trained 100-30 second favourite moved to Tiffany (Ire) (Farhh {GB}) with 1 1/2 furlongs remaining and drew away from that 85-40 favourite to win by three lengths, with the Lester Piggott Stakes runner-up Lady Boba (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) a further half-length away in third. Queen Of The Pride bolts up in the Gr.2 Lancashire Oaks! The @Qatar_Racing homebred was born and raised at Tweenhills and is out of their Classic winner Simple Verse, by the much missed Roaring Lion! Congratulations to all connections pic.twitter.com/NJNlzxOJiR — Tweenhills (@Tweenhills) July 6, 2024 Saturday, Haydock, Britain BET365 LANCASHIRE OAKS-G2, £125,000, Haydock, 7-6, 3yo/up, f/m, 11f 175yT, 2:31.40, gd. 1–QUEEN OF THE PRIDE (GB), 133, f, 4, by Roaring Lion 1st Dam: Simple Verse (Ire) (MG1SW-Eng, $1,456,105), by Duke Of Marmalade (Ire) 2nd Dam: Guantanamera (Ire), by Sadler's Wells 3rd Dam: Bluffing (Ire), by Darshaan (GB) (115,000gns 2yo '22 TATMA). O-Qatar Racing Ltd; B-The Simple Verse Partnership (GB); T-John & Thady Gosden; J-Oisin Murphy. £70,888. Lifetime Record: 5-3-1-0, $174,960. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. 2–Tiffany (Ire), 133, f, 4, Farhh (GB)–Affinity (GB), by Sadler's Wells. O/B-Elite Racing Club (IRE); T-Sir Mark Prescott. £26,875. 3–Lady Boba (GB), 133, f, 4, Lope De Vega (Ire)–Moi Meme (GB), by Teofilo (Ire). (160,000gns Ylg '21 TATOCT). O-Andrew Rosen & Barry K Schwartz; B-Fortescue Bloodstock (GB); T-Ralph Beckett. £13,450. Margins: 3, HF, 3 1/4. Odds: 3.33, 2.13, 4.00. Also Ran: Sweet Memories (Ire), Novus (Ire), Sea Theme (Ire), Kolossal (Ger), Forest Fairy (Ire). The post Roaring Lion’s Queen Of The Pride Wins The Lancashire Oaks appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Veteran handler trails Pierre Ng Pang-chi 67-66 after the exciting King Miles breaks through at Class Three levelView the full article

Kiwi handler and champion jockey forecast bright future for three-year-old after slashing victory at his first startView the full article

Due to a weather forecast that calls for hot temperatures, high humidity and corresponding excessive heat index readings, officials at Delaware Park, acting upon the recommendation of the Delaware Thoroughbred Racing Commission (DTRC) veterinarians and stewards, have decided to cancel Saturday's live racing program. The heat and humidity combined are forecast to reach 105 degrees during the day on Saturday. Saturday's program will not be redrawn and will be run as carded on Monday, July 8. Racing is expected to resume Sunday, July 7 with a first post of 12:30 p.m. ET. A 10-race card is scheduled, featuring the GIII Robert G. Dick Memorial Stakes for older fillies and mares at a mile and three furlongs on the turf, and the annual centerpiece of the meeting, the $500,000 GII Delaware Handicap. The post Delaware Cancels Saturday Program, Card To Be Run As Drawn On Monday appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Victorian trainers Anthony and Sam Freedman sent their emerging Kiwi-bred talent Rhapsody Chic to Sydney on Saturday and came away with a stunning win in the A$160,000 TAB Handicap (1400m) at Randwick. The Benchmark 78 handicap was the third straight victory for the four-year-old gelding, who had won a Benchmark 64 at Seymour and a Benchmark 70 at Sandown in his two previous starts. The Randwick raid marked a much tougher test as he stepped up into Saturday class and lined up for his first start the Sydney way around. His task grew even more difficult when he was slow to leave the starting gates, settled second-last and was languishing more than a dozen lengths from the leader with 800m remaining. But jockey Nash Rawiller angled Rhapsody Chic into clear air in the Randwick straight and got him balanced up, and his mount changed gears and bounded home down the middle the track. He was still only sixth with 200m to run, but quickened superbly to sprint past Pure Alpha and snatch victory by half a length. “They said he’s a pretty nice horse, and he had to be to overcome the run that he had,” Rawiller said. “He stood there when the gates opened, and I thought that if I’d given him a squeeze at that point, he might have got it all wrong. “He twice wanted to go the Melbourne way – once on the home turn and again after the line. He’s done a really good job to balance up and get the job done today. He’s a horse you can definitely follow with a bit of confidence.” Racing in the colours of syndicators Roll The Dice Racing, Rhapsody Chic has now had eight starts for four wins, four placings and A$156,449. Rhapsody Chic was bred by Blandford Lodge owners Helen-Gaye and Graham Bax. He is by Sacred Falls out of the Pour Moi mare Boho Chic, who is a half-sister to Singapore’s Champion Two-Year-Old, Three-Year-Old and Four-Year-Old Better Than Ever. Kurtis Pertab paid just $700 to buy Rhapsody Chic as a weanling from a Gavelhouse.com auction in May of 2020. Pertab later offered him at the 2021 Ready to Run Sale at Karaka, where he failed to meet his $25,000 reserve. Rhapsody Chic remained in Pertab’s Matamata stable and won by three lengths at Matamata last June in his only New Zealand start before being purchased privately by Roll The Dice. Saturday’s TAB Handicap produced a New Zealand-bred quinella, with favourite Pure Alpha finishing a close second after sitting outside the leader and taking command in the straight. Pure Alpha was bred by JML Bloodstock and is by Ardrossan out of the Written Tycoon mare Bridgewater. From five starts, Pure Alpha has recorded two wins and three seconds and earned A$108,550. Earlier in Saturday’s Randwick card, Preferment gelding Strathtay collected his second consecutive Sydney victory in the A$160,000 Task Handicap (2000m). Ridden by Jay Ford for trainer Chris Waller, the four-year-old settled in the second half of the field before lengthening stride in the straight and surging to a powerful staying victory. Strathtay has now had 11 starts for four wins, a placing and A$208,178 for owner-breeder Iain Bruce. He was a two-time winner in New Zealand for Matamata trainers Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott before being sent across the Tasman. Strathtay is out of the Savoire Vivre mare Miss Remington, who was a placegetter on the racetrack and is a half-sister to the Group Three winner and Gr.1 Robert Sangster Stakes (1400m) fourth placegetter Miss Steele. Both of Miss Remington’s two foals to race have been winners. Since Strathtay was foaled in the spring of 2019, Miss Remington has had two further matings to Preferment and produced the three-year-old filly Cash Treasure and an unnamed two-year-old colt. She foaled a colt by young Cambridge Stud stallion Sword Of State last spring. View the full article

Ezeliya (Fr), winner of this year's Oaks for HH Aga Khan and trainer Dermot Weld, has been retired from racing. The news was announced on Saturday morning by the Aga Khan Studs. A post on the operation's social media accounts read, “The Aga Khan Studs regret to announce that 2024 Oaks winner Ezeliya has been retired from racing. The filly suffered a setback in training and will join the broodmare band.” In June, Ezeliya, ridden by Chris Hayes, became the first daughter of Dubawi (Ire) to win the Oaks at Epsom. She raced just twice in each of her seasons in training in Ireland, finishing fourth on debut in a Leopardstown maiden and then winning a Cork maiden over a mile at the end of September. She returned at three to win the G3 Salsabil Stakes and then went straight to the Oaks, in which she finished three lengths clear of the runner-up, Godolpin's Dance Sequence (GB), who is also by Dubawi. Ezeliya is the second foal of the multiple Group winner Eziyra (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}), who was also trained by Weld. Eziyra is herself out of a half-sister to two Gold Cup winners in Estimate (Ire) (Monsun {Ger}), who raced for the late Queen Elizabeth II, and Enzeli (Ire) (Kahyasi {Ire}). Ezeliya is one of two Classic winners for the Aga Khan this season along with the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches victrix Rouhiya (Fr) (Lope De Vega {Ire}). The post Oaks Winner Ezeliya Retired After Training Setback appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Pacheco (outside) and Mont Ventoux battle out the final stages of the TAB Hurdle (2800m) at Te Rapa on Saturday. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images) Capable flat performer Pacheco continued to make a serious impression as a jumper in the TAB Hurdle (2800m) at Te Rapa on Saturday. With the advantage of former Champion Jump’s Jockey Shaun Phelan as his trainer, Pacheco transitioned into jumps racing with ease at the venue last month when winning a maiden contest. Moving into 0-1 company, a two-horse race was tipped between Pacheco ($3.50) and fellow last-start winner Mont Ventoux ($2.50), and after jumping away well the son of Makfi settled quietly in fourth under Jay Kozaczek. Run Jakko Run controlled proceedings through the mid-stages before Mont Ventoux took over and made his claim for back-to-back wins turning for home. Pacheco soon hunted him down and a polished jumping display in the home straight had him drawing away to win by 2.5 lengths at the post. Phelan was represented by Elen Nicholas on-course, who was complimentary of Kozaczek’s efforts on the six-year-old. “It was an excellent ride from Jay, he just tucked him away and was so calm and collected,” she said. “It was nice to see him do that as he is a strong horse and can run a bit freely, so it was good to see him on the rail and switching off. “Shaun’s put a lot of work into schooling him, but he’s quite natural as well. You can only teach them so much as they have to have some natural ability to take them the rest of the way.” The victory was Kozaczek’s second from just six rides since joining the Kiwi riding ranks last month and came close to adding another aboard Captains Run in the 0-1 steeplechase later on the card. “He (Pacheco) jumped well and I couldn’t pull him up, he’s got a lot more to offer,” Kozaczek said. “Shaun does a lot with them so they are all spot on and safe as houses. “It (his time in New Zealand) has started off amazing, I’ve only been here for three weeks and rode another winner now so I’ll just keep cracking on. I came over here looking for opportunities because I was struggling back home and I’m loving it.” Horse racing news View the full article

Luxuriant winning the Ashhurst Deer And Duck Inn 1200 on the Awapuni Synthetic on Friday. Photo: Peter Rubery (Race Images Palmerston North) Te Akau Racing mare Luxuriant is taking every opportunity with fortnightly polytrack meetings at Awapuni Synthetic, going back-to-back on Friday in the Ashhurst Deer And Duck Inn 1200. The Iffraaj six-year-old was explosive late in her victory on June 21 at the venue, and stepping into Rating 75 grade, punters were anticipating a repeat performance backing her into $1.90 ahead of Kana ($3.80) and Lincoln’s Kruz ($5). Quietly settling near the tail of the compact field under Warren Kennedy, Luxuriant allowed the speed-duel to play out in front of her with Lincoln’s Kruz eventually assuming control and running them strongly into the home straight. Lincoln’s Kruz sprinted valiantly under his hefty 63kg impost but Luxuriant produced her powerful finishing surge to hunt down the pacemaker, the eventual margin being three-quarters of a length with Kana a further two lengths adrift in third. Prepared by Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson at Matamata, Luxuriant has found career-best form with three wins and four minor placings this term. “It was another very good win, as it’s always hard to step up from Rating 65 to Rating 75 grade and she end up beating a horse that had won seven races including a stakes race (Lincoln’s Kruz),” Walker said. “She’s getting on beautifully with Warren. He was patient and looked to rider her as though he knew what he had beneath him. “They went at breakneck speed and she was out in time with the momentum over the last 100 metres, so it was really good to see.” Luxuriant has now earned north of $64,000 for the Te Akau Opulent Syndicate, and Walker gave unique recognition for her recent success. “The owners have been so patient with her because she just struggled to win a race there for a while, but now she’s racing really well and it’s not easy to keep going up in grades and win like she has,” he said. “It shows that she’s full of confidence, and I’d also like to give a mention of ‘Poppy the pony’ that travels everywhere with her and lives in the same box as her at home. “Since we started doing that with Luxuriant, she’s just like a different horse. I think that has helped her immensely in this preparation, just having that little pony living in the box with her and travelling to the races. It just seems to keep her in the zone, mentally.” Kennedy claimed three wins on the Awapuni card with Bee Enchanted and Lincoln Towers also saluting for Lisa Latta, two of her four victories at the local meeting. Horse racing news View the full article

Talented New Zealand mare Cindy Falls opened her Australian account in style with a brilliant last-to-first performance in Saturday’s A$150,000 Leilani Series Final (1400m) at Flemington. The daughter of Sacred Falls showed bright promise in her homeland with three wins from 12 starts for Cambridge trainer Jon Miller. The most recent of those victories was a barnstorming finish from the back to win a 1300m Rating 75 at Te Rapa on April 27. Owner Mark Brady subsequently sent the five-year-old across the Tasman to join the Seymour stable of Lee and Shannon Hope, and she made an encouraging start with a third in a 1600m Benchmark 74 at Sandown on June 15. Cindy Falls stepped back down in distance for Saturday’s Leilani Series Final and made a huge impression. Ridden patiently by Dean Yendall, Cindy Falls jumped from the outside gate and eased back to settle at the tail of the 12-horse field. Yendall brought her to the outside at the top of the straight and let her rip, and Cindy Falls showed an outstanding turn of foot. Still last with only 300m remaining, she flew down the outside to reel in Brazen Lady and catch that rival right on the line. “They went at a good tempo and she relaxed beautifully out the back,” Yendall said. “She had a massive turn of foot in the last 400m. With no weight on her back, she’s run through the line really strongly.” Cindy Falls has now earned A$158,919 from a 14-start career that has produced four wins and four placings. “This is very satisfying,” Shannon Hope said. “She came over from Jon Miller in very good order. He said he thought there was plenty left in her. “I’ve trained for the owner before and he’d always said that he’d send one back over to us, and he’s lived up to his word. “There wasn’t a lot around for her last week, so we decided to come back to 1400m for this race. She’ll probably go back up to the mile again next time. “She just keeps coming on. She’s not very big, but she’s obviously got a motor. How good she is, we’ll find out.” The Hope stable previously trained Prima to win races at Kilmore, Sandown and twice at Moonee Valley for Brady along with co-owners Rob and Keith Tunnicliffe. That son of Sir Percy also began his career in New Zealand, where he placed in the 2015 runnings of the Gr.2 Waikato Guineas (2000m) and Gr.2 Avondale Guineas (2100m). Cindy Falls was bred by Tony Rider and is out of the Big Brown mare Vickezzcristal, who is a daughter of Rider’s Group One-performed foundation mare Vickezzchardonnay. Vickezzcristal is a half-sister to the multiple Group winner Aromatic and the stakes-placed (Oh So) Splendido. Rider offered Cindy Falls under his Milan Park banner in Book 2 of Karaka 2020, where she failed to meet a reserve of only $10,000. Cindy Falls is the first winner out of Vickezzcristal, who has subsequently produced an unnamed colt by No Nay Never, two-year-old Super Seth filly Miss Seth, a yearling filly by Anders and a weanling filly by Super Seth. She was served by Staphanos last spring. View the full article

Capable flat performer Pacheco continued to make a serious impression as a jumper in the TAB Hurdle (2800m) at Te Rapa on Saturday. With the advantage of former Champion Jump’s Jockey Shaun Phelan as his trainer, Pacheco transitioned into jumps racing with ease at the venue last month when winning a maiden contest. Moving into 0-1 company, a two-horse race was tipped between Pacheco ($3.50) and fellow last-start winner Mont Ventoux ($2.50), and after jumping away well the son of Makfi settled quietly in fourth under Jay Kozaczek. Run Jakko Run controlled proceedings through the mid-stages before Mont Ventoux took over and made his claim for back-to-back wins turning for home. Pacheco soon hunted him down and a polished jumping display in the home straight had him drawing away to win by 2 ½ lengths at the post. Phelan was represented by Elen Nicholas on-course, who was complimentary of Kozaczek’s efforts on the six-year-old. “It was an excellent ride from Jay, he just tucked him away and was so calm and collected,” she said. “It was nice to see him do that as he is a strong horse and can run a bit freely, so it was good to see him on the rail and switching off. “Shaun’s put a lot of work into schooling him, but he’s quite natural as well. You can only teach them so much as they have to have some natural ability to take them the rest of the way.” The victory was Kozaczek’s second from just six rides since joining the Kiwi riding ranks last month and came close to adding another aboard Captains Run in the 0-1 steeplechase later on the card. “He (Pacheco) jumped well and I couldn’t pull him up, he’s got a lot more to offer,” Kozaczek said. “Shaun does a lot with them so they are all spot on and safe as houses. “It (his time in New Zealand) has started off amazing, I’ve only been here for three weeks and rode another winner now so I’ll just keep cracking on. I came over here looking for opportunities because I was struggling back home and I’m loving it.” Bred by Kevin Hickman, Pacheco was purchased for $10,000 by part-owner Thomas Nicholson from gavelhouse.com in 2021 and increased his stakes earnings to just shy of $100,000 with five wins from 24 starts. View the full article

Seasoned campaigner Conor O’Ceirin will head to the South Island in preparation for a feature target after a fighting victory in the UBP Te Awamutu Cup (1600m) at Te Rapa on Saturday. Conor O’Ceirin entered Robbie Patterson’s stable in late 2022 after recording four wins for the late Kevin Rohloff, and has continued to perform under the Taranaki horseman recording placings in the Gr.3 Anniversary Handicap (1600m) and Gr.3 Winter Cup (1600m) during 2023. Patterson earmarked another shot at the Winter Cup with Conor O’Ceirin this August at Riccarton Park, and the gelding stripped a fit horse after a pair of conditioning runs set him up nicely for his first run at the Waikato venue. In a market dominated by Turn The Ace ($2.10) and Freeze Frame ($2.50), the son of Dial A Prayer closed to $9.10 and looked very comfortable tracking the favourite and topweight through the running under Courtney Barnes. When a gap opened up at the top of the straight, Barnes sent Conor O’Ceirin into contention and when Freeze Frame levelled up at the 50 metre mark, he kept finding to come out on top by a short head. Away in England, Patterson watched the victory from afar and was thrilled to see the rising eight-year-old performing at his best. “I watched from the hotel room, I’ve been up all night watching the races and it was a beautiful ride by Courtney,” he said. “He’s taken another run to hit his straps this year, but he’s there now and we’ve just got to keep him happy.” Patterson indicated Conor O’Ceirin will be off to Canterbury at short notice with the Oamaru Cup (1600m) set to be his final lead-in to the Winter Cup. “I think we’ll keep him away from the Opunake Cup (Listed, 1400m), we’ll probably go down for the Oamaru Cup instead the day after on the 21st and on to the Winter Cup,” he said. “It’s getting a bit sticky this time of the year and it doesn’t suit him, so hopefully he can get a good track down there. “He’s probably getting back up in the weights a little bit now so we’ve got to be a bit careful, but we’ll take any win we can because he’s nearly an eight-year-old now. “We’ll get him down there and settled in, he’s travelled a bit and is used to it all.” A winner of seven races from 35 starts and $165,944 in stakes, Conor O’Ceirin was bred and owned by The Keenan Family Trust, out of their four-win mare Plaything. “I’ve been training for Wayne Keenan for two or three years now and this was the first one he sent me, he’s a real character and everyone in the Central Districts knows him,” Patterson said. “He loves his racing and his horses and puts plenty of money in, so he deserves the success.” The victory also marked Patterson’s 50th winner for this term, matching his career-best figure from 2022/23 highlighted by Puntura’s victory in the Gr.1 Thorndon Mile (1600m) in January at Trentham. “It was super to get the 50 with this horse, he’s an old warrior and really deserved it,” he said. “I’d like to thank my staff for everything they have done, I wouldn’t be able to do it without them.” Patterson also recognised the role of his main owner Eddie Bourke, who placed the likes of Gr.3 Counties Cup (2100m) winner One Bold Cat, Gr.3 Wellington Cup (3200m) winner Mary Louise, and top performers The Hottie and The Underbelly in his care. “Eddie has been a massive influence in my training career of late and if it wasn’t for his support, we wouldn’t be getting 50 winners for the season,” he said. View the full article

Apprentice jockey Lily Sutherland brought up the 100th win of her career with a well-timed finish aboard Aljay in Saturday’s Beard Brothers Handicap (2200m) at Hastings. Sutherland headed to Hawke’s Bay on Saturday with 99 wins to her name, and she had a frustrating start to the day with a series of second placings on Honey Badger, Tanner and Carignan. But the well-performed Aljay delivered the milestone for his 20-year-old jockey with an irresistible come-from-behind performance in the day’s $40,000 staying feature. After settling in second-last behind a steady speed set by Marroni, Sutherland brought Aljay to the centre of the track in the home straight and started to move him through his gears. Aljay warmed into his work and finished over the top of Marroni and Never Look Back, edging past that pair to win by a length. Sutherland’s landmark 100th win was made even more special by the fact that Aljay is trained by her employer Kevin Myers. “This is very special,” she said. “It’s even better doing it in these colours, because Kevin has been a huge supporter in my career. I’m very grateful to Kevin and his owners for this ride. “He’s got a lot of class and was definitely the best horse in the field today. I was very grateful for the opportunity to ride him. I know I could only claim 1kg off his 60kg on a heavy track, but he was just too good for them.” Aljay’s victory was the 47th winning ride of the season for Sutherland, and another win later in the afternoon with Who Knows brought her level with apprentice jockeys’ premiership leader Niranjan Parmar on 48. Aljay has now had 37 starts for seven wins, eight seconds and seven thirds, earning $397,862 for the ownership pair of Myers and Charlie Gestro. The Rock ‘N’ Pop gelding’s name comes from Gestro’s initials, L J. Bought for just $10,000 as a weanling, and later secured by Myers for $39,000 from the 2019 Ready to Run Sale at Karaka, Aljay won the Gr.3 New Zealand Cup (3200m) in November 2022 and has also placed in this year’s Listed Rotorua Cup (2200m) and the last two editions of the Listed Metropolitan Trophy (2600m). View the full article

Trainer Andrew Forsman had just one runner engaged at Hastings on Saturday which was all he needed to collect the major spoils in the feature flat event, the Valley D’Vine Restaurant Handicap (1400m). Talented four-year-old Wessex duly rewarded the many punters who sent her out as the dominant $1.70 favourite for the open 1400m contest, off the back of a gritty performance to finish third behind Casino Princess in the Listed Tauranga Classic (1400m) at her last start. Well handled by apprentice Rihaan Goyaram, the Turn Me Loose mare assumed her normal pace making role in the contest and set up a steady speed throughout on a track that was favouring front runners in the early races. Second favourite Dusty Road ($4.20) sat outside the pace throughout and looked to level up at the 300m, however Wessex found plenty as she enjoyed carrying just 50kgs thanks to Goyaram’s four-kilogram claim and drew clear in the final stages to win comfortably by three lengths at the post. The expat Mauritian apprentice has now won four races since commencing his career last month and was enthusiastic about the performance. “She is a very good horse, and I would like to thank Mr Forsman for giving me such a good horse to ride,” Goyaram said. “She jumped well, and the plan was to lead. I gave her a good breather and on the bend I asked her (for an effort) and she just never gave up. “Once I saw the other horse coming, I asked for more and she (Wessex) did so well as she gave me more.” Forsman was in attendance at Te Rapa and caught the race on television. “We were a little nervous about 1400m again as after her run last time we thought she might need the mile at his stage of her preparation,” he said. “Once it came down to a fight though the weight relief kicked in which was the winning of the race. “We will take a look around now and although the Opunake Cup (Listed, 1400m) is an option I still think in that class of field the 1400m is too short for her. “The other option is to keep her fresh and chip away at them as there are plenty of options for her over the next couple of months.” Bred by Windsor Park Stud, Wessex was a $150,000 purchase by Forsman and part-owner Ben Kwok out of the Stud’s Book 1 draft during the 2021 New Zealand Bloodstock Yearling Sale at Karaka. Out of the stakes winning mare Trepidation, who finished third on two occasions in the Gr.1 Telegraph (1200m) at Trentham, Wessex has won four of her 20 starts and over $184,000 in prizemoney. View the full article

A few days after the loss of legendary Hawke’s Bay studmaster and administrator Tom Lowry, his nephew Guy played a starring role on Saturday with Wewillrock’s scintillating victory in the Group One Turf Bar Sprint (1200m) at Te Rapa. Tom Lowry died on Monday at the age of 88, just a day after being a special guest at the Hawke’s Bay/Poverty Bay Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association’s annual weanling walk last Sunday. The third generation to operate Hawke’s Bay’s iconic Okawa Stud, Lowry was an enormously influential figure in the New Zealand thoroughbred industry. In the 1970s he purchased and imported the Irish stallion Three Legs, who went on to become a three-time champion New Zealand sire and is best known for the deeds of his champion daughter Horlicks. Lowry was president of the Hawke’s Bay Jockey Club from 1987 to 1991, and after the club became part of Hawke’s Bay Racing Incorporated in the 1990s, he served as chairman from 2000 to 2002. He was also vice-president of the New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association from 1983 to 1987. Lowry’s passion for thoroughbreds and influence on the Kiwi thoroughbred scene is being carried on by his nephew Guy, who has more than 320 training successes to his name at an excellent strike rate and now operates his Hastings stable in partnership with Leah Zydenbos. Wewillrock was the only runner on Saturday for the Lowry/Zydenbos team, and he was sent out as a red-hot $1.70 favourite for Te Rapa’s $40,000 sprint feature. A runner-up under big weights in both of his previous appearances, he dropped to 56kg for this race thanks to apprentice jockey Triston Moodley’s 3kg claim. Wewillrock jumped well from the inside gate and scampered through to take the lead inside the first 50m, and there was barely a moment’s doubt about the result from that point on. The El Roca gelding turned it on down the side of the track, charging ahead and rounding the home turn more than five lengths clear of his nearest challenger. Moodley took a long look over his shoulder in the straight and eased his mount down in the final few strides, crossing the finish line three lengths in front of the runner-up Chajaba. “I was just glad to be aboard him,” Moodley said. “He took me along. “It looked like there would be plenty of speed in the race, so we didn’t know if we’d get taken on if we went forward. But he jumped well enough and was in such a good rhythm all the way around. “I couldn’t believe it when he quickened so well coming down the side. He’s got plenty of gears and is a very good horse.” Wewillrock has now had 21 starts for seven wins, nine placings and more than $299,000 in stakes. Lowry and Zydenbos will consider giving him an opportunity to take on elite weight-for-age opposition in the Gr.2 Foxbridge Plate (1200m) and Gr.1 Tarzino Trophy (1400m). Wewillrock finished eighth in the Foxbridge last year. “Wow, that was impressive,” Zydenbos said on Saturday. “He was cruising. The 3kg claim definitely helped today, and Triston did an awesome job for us with a pearler of a ride. “This horse has done plenty of travelling and he handles it so well. He’s just like a big dog – you can do anything with him. “The Foxbridge Plate is definitely an option. He’d come back from a campaign in Sydney when he ran in it last year, so I think we can have him in better shape for a race like that if we have another crack at it this time around. “The Tarzino could be a possibility too. We’d never really thought he was quite up to Group One level before, but gee he was impressive today.” The TAB has installed Wewillrock as an equal $5 favourite in its brand-new market for the Foxbridge Plate at Te Rapa on August 24. He shares that quote with Pier and Waitak, with defending champion Dragon Leap just behind them at $7. Wewillrock is rated an $18 chance in a Tarzino Trophy market headed by Legarto ($3.50), Crocetti ($4.50) and Orchestral ($6). The first Group One race on the New Zealand calendar, the Tarzino will be run at Wewillrock’s home track of Hastings on September 7. View the full article

Te Akau Racing mare Luxuriant is taking every opportunity with fortnightly polytrack meetings at Awapuni Synthetic, going back-to-back on Friday in the Ashhurst Deer And Duck Inn 1200. The Iffraaj six-year-old was explosive late in her victory on June 21 at the venue, and stepping into Rating 75 grade, punters were anticipating a repeat performance backing her into $1.90 ahead of Kana ($3.80) and Lincoln’s Kruz ($5). Quietly settling near the tail of the compact field under Warren Kennedy, Luxuriant allowed the speed-duel to play out in front of her with Lincoln’s Kruz eventually assuming control and running them strongly into the home straight. Lincoln’s Kruz sprinted valiantly under his hefty 63kg impost but Luxuriant produced her powerful finishing surge to hunt down the pacemaker, the eventual margin being three-quarters of a length with Kana a further two lengths adrift in third. Prepared by Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson at Matamata, Luxuriant has found career-best form with three wins and four minor placings this term. “It was another very good win, as it’s always hard to step up from Rating 65 to Rating 75 grade and she end up beating a horse that had won seven races including a stakes race (Lincoln’s Kruz),” Walker said. “She’s getting on beautifully with Warren. He was patient and looked to rider her as though he knew what he had beneath him. “They went at breakneck speed and she was out in time with the momentum over the last 100 metres, so it was really good to see.” Luxuriant has now earned north of $64,000 for the Te Akau Opulent Syndicate, and Walker gave unique recognition for her recent success. “The owners have been so patient with her because she just struggled to win a race there for a while, but now she’s racing really well and it’s not easy to keep going up in grades and win like she has,” he said. “It shows that she’s full of confidence, and I’d also like to give a mention of ‘Poppy the pony’ that travels everywhere with her and lives in the same box as her at home. “Since we started doing that with Luxuriant, she’s just like a different horse. I think that has helped her immensely in this preparation, just having that little pony living in the box with her and travelling to the races. It just seems to keep her in the zone, mentally.” Kennedy claimed three wins on the Awapuni card with Bee Enchanted and Lincoln Towers also saluting for Lisa Latta, two of her four victories at the local meeting. View the full article

First-season sire Ferrando was credited with his first winner when Grove Street led all the way for an upset victory in Saturday’s Sign Central 2YO (1100m) at Hastings. Saturday’s $35,000 two-year-old sprint was the third career start and first for more than seven months for Grove Street. His previous appearances produced fifth placings behind the impressive Te Akau Racing winners About Last Night and Maracatu. Grove Street was sent out as a $27 outsider on Saturday and dominated the race from the front. The Team Rogerson gelding jumped quickly from the extreme outside gate, and jockey Leah Hemi drove him forward and slid across to the rail. First-starter Honey Badger loomed ominously on his outside at the home turn and was poised to run straight past him, but Grove Street lifted and found more and more down the Hastings straight. At the end of a head-bobbing battle through the final 50m, Grove Street clung on to win by a nose. “I watched his previous races and saw that he could ping out of the gates, so I was quite confident that he would be able to get to the front within a few strides,” Hemi said. “He’s very professional. The Rogerson team do a great job with their horses, and I was fortunate to get on this one today.” It was a big result for Graeme Rogerson, who co-trains, bred and part-owns Grove Street. Rogerson also trained and co-owned Ferrando during a 27-start career that produced eight wins, six placings and more than $270,000 in stakes. He won the Gr.3 Mr Tiz Trophy (1200m) and Listed Lightning Handicap (1200m) and was a two-time placegetter in the Gr.1 Telegraph (1200m). Grove Street now tops the list of Ferrando’s first-crop juveniles. The Fast ‘N’ Famous stallion is also the sire of Zorro’s Revenge, who is still a maiden but placed in the Listed Champagne Stakes (1600m) at Pukekohe in May. Ferrando himself was unraced as a two-year-old, and Rogerson said this week that he expects his progeny to continue to improve as they get older. “Grove Street is learning all the time, and he’s a typical Ferrando – they’re not really two-year-old types,” he said. “They’re also looking more like stayers than sprinters, which I’ve found hard to believe. “I think we’ve got a lot to look forward to with his progeny next season. We’ve got half a dozen of them that look really good. Zorro’s Revenge placed in the Champagne Stakes in the autumn, and he came back into the stable this week. We’re going to aim him at the 2000 Guineas (Gr.1, 1600m), and then I think he’s a lovely prospect for the Derby (Gr.1, 2400m). “Skymax is another one, she got home really well for fourth at Ruakaka the other day. She’ll go out for a spell now and will come back better at three.” View the full article

Wewillrock powers away to an impressive victory in the Group One Turf Bar Sprint (1200m) at Te Rapa. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images) A few days after the loss of legendary Hawke’s Bay studmaster and administrator Tom Lowry, his nephew Guy played a starring role on Saturday with Wewillrock’s scintillating victory in the Group One Turf Bar Sprint (1200m) at Te Rapa. Tom Lowry died on Monday at the age of 88, just a day after being a special guest at the Hawke’s Bay/Poverty Bay Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association’s annual weanling walk last Sunday. The third generation to operate Hawke’s Bay’s iconic Okawa Stud, Lowry was an enormously influential figure in the New Zealand thoroughbred industry. In the 1970s he purchased and imported the Irish stallion Three Legs, who went on to become a three-time champion New Zealand sire and is best known for the deeds of his champion daughter Horlicks. Lowry was president of the Hawke’s Bay Jockey Club from 1987 to 1991, and after the club became part of Hawke’s Bay Racing Incorporated in the 1990s, he served as chairman from 2000 to 2002. He was also vice-president of the New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association from 1983 to 1987. Lowry’s passion for thoroughbreds and influence on the Kiwi thoroughbred scene is being carried on by his nephew Guy, who has more than 320 training successes to his name at an excellent strike rate and now operates his Hastings stable in partnership with Leah Zydenbos. Wewillrock was the only runner on Saturday for the Lowry/Zydenbos team, and he was sent out as a red-hot $1.70 favourite for Te Rapa’s $40,000 sprint feature. A runner-up under big weights in both of his previous appearances, he dropped to 56kg for this race thanks to apprentice jockey Triston Moodley’s 3kg claim. Wewillrock jumped well from the inside gate and scampered through to take the lead inside the first 50m, and there was barely a moment’s doubt about the result from that point on. The El Roca gelding turned it on down the side of the track, charging ahead and rounding the home turn more than five lengths clear of his nearest challenger. Moodley took a long look over his shoulder in the straight and eased his mount down in the final few strides, crossing the finish line three lengths in front of the runner-up Chajaba. “I was just glad to be aboard him,” Moodley said. “He took me along. “It looked like there would be plenty of speed in the race, so we didn’t know if we’d get taken on if we went forward. But he jumped well enough and was in such a good rhythm all the way around. “I couldn’t believe it when he quickened so well coming down the side. He’s got plenty of gears and is a very good horse.” Wewillrock has now had 21 starts for seven wins, nine placings and more than $299,000 in stakes. Lowry and Zydenbos will consider giving him an opportunity to take on elite weight-for-age opposition in the Group 2 Foxbridge Plate (1200m) and Group 1 Tarzino Trophy (1400m). Wewillrock finished eighth in the Foxbridge last year. “Wow, that was impressive,” Zydenbos said on Saturday. “He was cruising. The 3kg claim definitely helped today, and Triston did an awesome job for us with a pearler of a ride. “This horse has done plenty of travelling and he handles it so well. He’s just like a big dog – you can do anything with him. “The Foxbridge Plate is definitely an option. He’d come back from a campaign in Sydney when he ran in it last year, so I think we can have him in better shape for a race like that if we have another crack at it this time around. “The Tarzino could be a possibility too. We’d never really thought he was quite up to Group One level before, but gee he was impressive today.” Bookmakers have installed Wewillrock as an equal $5 favourite in its brand-new market for the Foxbridge Plate at Te Rapa on August 24. He shares that quote with Pier and Waitak, with defending champion Dragon Leap just behind them at $7. Wewillrock is rated an $18 chance in a Tarzino Trophy market headed by Legarto ($3.50), Crocetti ($4.50) and Orchestral ($6). The first Group 1 race on the New Zealand calendar, the Tarzino will be run at Wewillrock’s home track of Hastings on September 7. Horse racing news View the full article