Wandering Eyes

What Sunshine Coast races Where Sunshine Coast Turf Club – 170 Pierce Ave, Caloundra QLD 4551 When Sunday, September 1, 2024 First Race 12:40pm AEST Visit Dabble Sunshine Coast Turf Club will host a very competitive eight-race card this Sunday afternoon, with racing set to kick off at 12:40pm AEST. The track was rated as a Good 4 at the time of acceptances and it is expected to stay in the Good range with warm weather forecast across the weekend. The rail will be pushed out to the +7m position for the entire circuit. Best Bet at Sunshine Coast: Redford Redford will step out for new trainer Stuart Kendrick off the back of a 37-week spell on Sunday, seeking to maintain his unbeaten start to his career. The son of Snitzel won dominantly in both of his starts at Bathurst and Orange, with the Orange victory being the most impressive as he proved way too good for a Class 1 field and won by 3.8 lengths. James Orman has been booked to ride this guy first-up, and with a nice trial over 850m under his belt, Redford should prove too good once again. Best Bet Race 4 – #4 Redford (10) 4yo Gelding | T: Stuart Kendrick | J: James Orman (60.5kg) Bet with Bet365 Next Best at Sunshine Coast: Antonito Antonito was only just beaten first-up by Mystic Mac at Doomben over 1200m, where the David Vandkye-trained gelding was run over late after leading for most of the journey. This son of Sacred Falls will benefit from his fresh run, and he will appreciate a slower run race with less speed expected in this contest. Damien Thorton will be legged aboard for his first ride on this four-year-old gelding, and if he can find the front and run the race to suit his mount, Antonito will prove hard to run down late. Next Best Race 8 – #11 Antonito (4) 4yo Gelding | T: David Vandyke | J: Damien Thorton (56.5kg) Bet with Dabble Best Value at Sunshine Coast: Adalie David Vandyke has engaged 2kg claiming apprentice Chelsea Baker to ride Adalie first-up following a strong trial win on the inner track at the Sunshine Coast over 850m. This lightly raced five-year-old mare led the field up and wasn’t touched in the final 400m as she held off her rivals to win the trial. The daughter of Exceed And Excel has only missed the placings once from four starts at the track and trip (4:2-1-0), and if Baker can settle behind the speed from barrier two, Adalie can return with a win. Best Value Race 6 – #2 Adalie (2) 5yo Mare | T: David Vandyke | J: Chelsea Baker (a2) (62.5kg) Bet with Picklebet Sunshine Coast quaddie tips for Saturday Sunshine Coast quadrella selections Sunday, September 1, 2024 4-6-9-10 2-3-6-7 1-2-4-5-6 1-3-11 Horse racing tips View the full article

Quintessa heading off rivals in the Group 3 Cockram Stakes. Photo: Bruno Cannatelli Group One winner Quintessa returned with a bang when running out a resounding winner of the Group 3 Cockram Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on Saturday. The Mark Walker-trained mare lumped 60kg topweight under Daniel Stackhouse and looks set to contest races over sprint-mile distances this campaign after getting out to 2400m when fourth in the Group 1 Australian Oaks (2400m) last autumn. Coming from midfield, Quintessa forged away from her rivals to record a three-quarter-length victory from Extratwo and La Danseuse Rouge. 2024 Group 3 Cockram Stakes Replay – Quintessa Although racing out of Walker’s Cranbourne stable, Quintessa returned to Te Akau Stud in New Zealand to spell between her three and four-year-old seasons and did much of her preparation out of the stable’s Matamata base, including a trial at Te Awamutu in mid-August. “She actually went home and spelled and has been prepared over there,” Walker’s Assistant Trainer Ben Gleeson said. “She had one trial over there and they had been really happy with her. She had a gallop just before she came over and she really pleased Mark. “Hindsight is a wonderful thing in racing and while she is bred to stay, this preparation Mark has thought that if we train her a bit fresh and keep her at the shorter trips, she might be that sprinter-miler sort of mare and that tale has been true today. “There is a lovely program for these fillies and mares. She will go two weeks to the Let’s Elope Stakes (Group 2, 1400m) and ideally we will get her to the Empire Rose (Group 1, 1600m) during Cup Week at Flemington. “That is probably the perfect race for her.” Te Akau Racing has previously enjoyed success in the Cockram Stakes, with star mare Probabeel winning the 2021 edition under the tutelage of now Hong Kong-based trainer Jamie Richards. Horse racing news View the full article

What Wyong Races Where Wyong Race Club & Function Centre – 71-73 Howarth St, Wyong NSW 2259 When Sunday, September 1, 2024 First Race 12:55pm AEST Visit Dabble The Listed Mona Lisa Stakes (1350m) is the headline act at Wyong on Sunday afternoon, supported by a strong eight-race program. The $200,000 feature is for the fillies & mares, with a quality field of 12 set to line up. The rail is out +3m for the meeting, and with the official start of spring providing plenty of sunny skies in the lead-up, punters should be assured a genuine Good 4 surface. The opening event is scheduled to get underway at 12:55pm local time. Mona Lisa Stakes Tip: Tulsi New Zealand import Tulsi did enough on her Australian debut for the Matthew Dale barn to suggest she’s worth following second-up into the campaign. The daughter of The Autumn Sun was rattling home over an unsuitable journey first-up at Randwick on August 10, closing within a head of Cosy Corner in BM78 company. Her form across the ditch suggests she will take dramatic improvement as she steps out in trip, and although Regan Bayliss will have to do some work to find cover from barrier 14, Tulsi should be making big strides at an each-way price with horse racing bookmakers in the 2024 Mona Lisa Stakes. Mona Lisa Stakes Race 7 – #10 Tulsi (14) 4yo Mare | T: Matthew Dale | J: Regan Bayliss (55kg) Bet with Neds Best Bet at Wyong: Excelindeed Excelindeed returns after a 198-day spell and looks ready to fire after two eye-catching barrier trials. His latest piece of work at Randwick on August 19 was particularly impressive, with the three-year-old eased down through the wire to score by 4.8 lengths. His boast two minor placings as a two-year-old heading into this event, and with many of these dual accepted to go elsewhere, Excelindeed appears to have the class to account for this lot despite his lengthy absence. Best Bet Race 5 – #4 Excelindeed (4) 3yo Colt | T: Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | J: Tim Clark (57kg) Bet with Picklebet Next Best at Wyong: After Match After Match was only narrowly claimed in the shadows of the post at Hawkesbury on August 13 and is unfortunate not to be staring down the barrel of a hat-trick of wins. The son of Zoustar appeared to have them covered with 200m left to travel but was swallowed up by Weeping Woman as the lightly raced three-year-old appeared to be discourage by the use of the whip. A step back to the 1000m should be ideal, and if the fence is the place to be at Wyong throughout the afternoon, punters can be confident After Match can cling to victory this time around. Next Best Race 6 – #8 After Match (7) 3yo Colt | T: Peter Snowden | J: Tyler Schiller (57.5kg) Bet with Playup Sunday quaddie tips for Wyong Wyong quadrella selections September 1, 2024 2-3-4-9 2-3-4-8 1-4-5-10 2-3-4-6-7 Horse racing tips View the full article

While no match for Hong Kong superstar Romantic Warrior in their two Sha Tin showdowns, the galloper has proven a force on the world stage all the sameView the full article

Rider Penalties J Chung | Wanganui 31 August; careless riding; suspended 9-22 September inclusive. T Moodley | Wanganui 31 August; use of whip; fined $250. C Campbell | Canterbury 31 August; use of whip; fined $500. L Hemi | Canterbury 31 August; use of whip; fined $250. D Cooper | Canterbury 31 August; use of whip; fined $200. W Pinn | Canterbury 31 August; use of whip; fined $350. A Najib | Canterbury 31 August; use of whip; suspended 9-22 September inclusive. Trainer Penalties P Lock | Waikato 28 August; neglect in saddling; fined $100. J & K Parsons | Canterbury 29 August; incorrect gear; fined $100. Horse Penalties DEAR OH DEAR | Waikato 28 August; bled; stood down for 3 months and veterinary clearance required. MAURIKEE | Canterbury 29 August; cardiac arrhythmia; veterinary clearance required. CHRISTABELLA | Canterbury 29 August; late scratching after failing to load; must complete trial. TIME IS KING | Canterbury 29 August; late scratching on veterinary advice; veterinary clearance required. WURUHI | Wanganui 31 August; cardiac arrhythmia; veterinary clearance required. Protests JAZZ WITH DRAGON | Waikato 28 August; rider weighed in light; disqualified from 8th. SHE’S SO RELIABLE | Wanganui 31 August; caused interference; relegated from 1st to 2nd. The post 26 August – 1 September 2024 appeared first on RIB. View the full article

Autumn Glow winning the Up And Coming Stakes. Photo: RacingNSW Autumn Glow ($2.00) has justified the short price with horse racing bookmakers in the Group 3 Up And Coming Stakes (1300m) at Rosehill on Saturday, careering away with the prize to remain undefeated in her two starts. The Chris Waller-trained filly was given a perfect ride by Kerrin McEvoy, slotting into the ideal midfield position with cover throughout the 1300m, utilising the light weight to stalk a genuine tempo every step of the way. Axius ($7.50) and Wanaruah ($5.50) were sent forward to fight out the early lead, leaving McEvoy with no choice but to hand up, as she did on debut, biding her time in behind before exploding in the final 400m. She was only building the revs up in the final furlong, but it was all over, with only the James Cummings-trained Snack Bar ($10.00) making any impression from the back-half of the field. 2024 Group 3 Up And Coming Stakes Replay – Autumn Glow The daughter of the Autumn Sun appears ready to tackle tougher company next time out, with Waller confirming those decision will be made by the ownership as to whether she heads towards the Group 1 Golden Rose (1400m). “She is a very very serious horse,” said Waller. “It was only her second race start. A lovely ride from Kerrin. It is pretty tricky out there today, it is so windy and blustery, catching a few younger horses off guard. He parked her in a beautiful spot and had some cover. “Today was a bigger level to what she won her debut on. She had to make the necessary step. I loved the way Kerrin just coaxed to her. I think he was just cuddling her a little bit. “It would be up to Mr Messara and Hermitage to make that decision not me (heading to the Golden Rose). It was only second start today and taking on the likes of Storm Boy and the big guns at Group 1 level this early is probably a little bit premature. If we can keep her against her own age and sex, it just helps her a little bit.” Kerrin McEvoy was impressed with the win and suggested the untapped three-year-old still has plenty of upside. “I think she is pretty good,” said McEvoy. “She has gone a long way in her couple of starts and she just gives you that good horse feel.” “She had the right scenario today with a light weight on her back but at her second start to give me that sort of feel I’d say she’s got a very high ceiling. “I think there is still a bit of growing. Her wither will come up a bit once she fully furnishes.” Autumn Glow is now on the third line of betting at $9.00 for the Group 1 Golden Rose (1400m) on September 28. Horse racing news View the full article

Under-rated Taranaki mare Hi Yo Sass Bomb (NZ) (Complacent) took her career to all-new heights last season, and a smart fresh-up performance in Saturday’s Balance Accountants Open (1200m) at Wanganui hinted at more to come in 2024-25. It was the fourth win from only seven starts in a fresh state for Hi Yo Sass Bomb, who kicked off last season’s campaign with a first-up victory at Hawera before finishing sixth in the Gr.3 Thompson Handicap (1600m), fourth in the Gr.3 Canterbury Breeders’ Stakes (1400m), fifth in the Gr.2 Cal Isuzu Stakes (1600m) and second in the Gr.3 Taranaki Cup (1800m). That career-best preparation culminated in a deserved first black-type victory in the Gr.3 Cuddle Stakes (1600m) at Trentham in March. Despite Hi Yo Sass Bomb’s formidable fresh-up record, her New Plymouth owner-trainer Kim Reid went into Saturday’s resuming run with low expectations. This was the first 1200m appearance in the six-year-old’s 17-race career, and her talented line-up of opponents included a number of specialist sprinters. But Hi Yo Sass Bomb’s touch of black-type quality shone through. Rider Joe Doyle settled in second-last before angling Hi Yo Sass Bomb towards better ground out wide around Wanganui’s home turn. She came second widest of all into the straight and quickened impressively through the Heavy10 ground, surging past Spencer (NZ) (Derryn) and taking command through the final 100m. Hi Yo Sass Bomb went on to beat that rival by a length and a quarter, with the resuming Group One performer One Bold Cat (NZ) (The Bold One) producing an eye-catching late run into third. Hi Yo Sass Bomb has now had five wins and four placings from her 17 starts, earning $198,270 for Reid and her parents, Josephine and Graeme. “We were really only treating this race as a trial, so it was pretty exciting to see her win the way she did,” Reid said. “I wasn’t expecting that at all. “It was a bit of an experiment today with blinkers. The last time she raced in blinkers was a maiden, and I took them off because she over-raced. She relaxes a lot better now as an older mare and I wanted to try the blinkers again, and Joe said she did a great job in them today.” Reid is now looking forward to stepping Hi Yo Sass Bomb back up into stakes company. The Gr.3 Taranaki Breeders’ Stakes (1400m) at Hawera on October 5 is one option, but Reid is open to the possibility of shooting for Group One glory at Hastings in the Arrowfield Stud Plate (1600m) on September 28 and Livamol Classic (2040m) on October 12. “We’ll run her in a 1400m open handicap at New Plymouth in a couple of weeks, and then we’ll have a few options to choose from after that,” Reid said. “We could look at the Taranaki Breeders’ Stakes, but we’ve also nominated her for those Group Ones at Hastings. Depending on what the weather does there, I think those distances might suit her better, so it would be pretty tempting to have a go at those races if the tracks are rain-affected.” View the full article

Major sprint features are looming large on Mystic Park’s (NZ) (Ocean Park) horizon after the classy local kicked off his five-year-old season with victory in Saturday’s Pryde’s Easifeed Open Sprint (1000m) at Riccarton Park. Mystic Park made barnstorming progress through the grades last season, winning four of his seven starts in increasingly impressive style. The Ocean Park gelding won by four lengths in Rating 65 company first-up during the New Zealand Cup Carnival in November, then added two Rating 75 victories and an open handicap before the season was out. Saturday’s 1000m dash was a significantly shorter first-up assignment than the 1200m and 1400m trips Mystic Park excelled over last season, but the exciting up-and-comer was nevertheless backed into $3.20 favouritism. He produced a performance that had his trainers Michael and Matthew Pitman and jockey Sam Weatherley thinking about bigger and better things to come. Mystic Park broke only fairly from gate seven, but strode forward through the first 200m of the race to take up a comfortable position alongside the front-running La Bella Nera. Weatherley released the brakes at the top of the Riccarton straight and Mystic Park warmed into his work, slowly but surely edging ahead of La Bella Nera (NZ) (Sweynesse). Mystic Park’s stablemate Third Decree chimed in on his outside with a determined challenge, but Mystic Park lifted again and held her out by three-quarters of a length. La Bella Nera stuck on for third, another two and a half lengths adrift of the Pitman pair. “He’s a good horse,” Weatherley said. “He could potentially be a Telegraph (Gr.1, 1200m) horse. He wasn’t fully screwed down today, but he really wanted to win. The stablemate came up to challenge him, and he just said ‘no chance’ and really pinned his ears back. He’s a lovely horse.” Mystic Park was a $40,000 purchase by the Pitman team from Book 1 at Karaka 2021. His 11-start career has now produced six wins, three placings and more than $156,000 in stakes. “We knew that there would be speed in the race today, so we were hopeful that our two could just track in behind that speed and pick them up late,” Matthew Pitman said. “The Parsons horse fought hard, but our two showed their class over the concluding stages. “They’re both lightly raced and still have a bit of improvement. Hopefully they can go on to big things this season.” Mystic Park stopped the clock at 56.29 seconds for 1000m on a Soft5 track. “He can really run quick times,” Pitman said. “He showed that with some of his closing sectionals in the autumn. We’re confident that he can go on to some nice races. He’s pretty quick, and especially when he relaxes like that. He’s a very good horse when he can relax in behind another runner that gives him something to follow. I think he’s hardly been beaten when that’s been the case. “Hopefully a Stewards’ Stakes (Listed, 1200m) or Telegraph is calling him now, and then maybe Aussie further down the line. “We’ll look at the carnival on our back doorstep for Third Decree (NZ) (War Decree) too. She might go to a Canterbury Breeders’ Stakes (Gr.3, 1400m).” View the full article

Trainer Robbie Patterson has some big plans ahead for impressive Group 2 HS Dyke Wanganui Guineas (1200m) winner Read About It. Photo: Peter Rubery (Race Images Palmerston North) Exciting three-year-old prospect Read About It made all the headlines in the feature event at Wanganui, the Listed HS Dyke Wanganui Guineas (1200m). The Robbie Patterson-prepared galloper was having just his third start on Saturday but had created plenty of buzz around his chances and future prospects after closing off his two-year-old campaign with a scintillating victory in the Listed Ryder Stakes (1200m) at Otaki. Patterson was keen on his chances prior to the contest and despite settling towards the rear in the seven-horse field, Read About It never gave him a moment’s worry as he put in a clinical effort to secure the victory. Rider Craig Grylls slowly moved the son of Highview Stud stallion Wrote around the field to issue his challenge rounding the home bend and after a brief tussle with eventual runner-up Unbridled Joy, he eased clear to score by a length and a half in a respectable 1.16.61 for the 1200m journey on a Heavy10 rated surface. Patterson was pleased to see his charge return with a win as he looks ahead to bigger prizes later in the season. “He was very professional and Gryllsy summed the race up perfectly,” Patterson said. “He rode him the way we had planned out and I just like the way he gets to the front and then buttons off. “He’s a lot like Dan Carter (former All Black) in that he always has a lot of time on his side. “Going forward I think he is an out and out stayer and I have been going on about the Derby (Group 1, 2400m) for him as he is so relaxed and is very exciting.” Paterson also alluded to the fact that numerous offers have been made to buy the horse however owner Kirk Devers, who races Read About It under his KRD Racing banner, has so far resisted that interest and has kept the horse in Patterson’s care. “I gives you a lot of confidence when an owner puts that much trust in you as it is a lot of money (the purchase offers) and it would be life-changing for me,” he said. “We don’t normally get to keep these ones so I’m just going to savour the moment. “We will go home and have a think but I’m not keen on going to Christchurch for the 2000 Guineas (Group 1, 1600m) as he has a big season ahead of him and I don’t want to bury him now.” The Group 1 New Zealand Derby (2400m), raced on the 8th of March at Ellerslie, will be one of the major highlights on the biggest day of thoroughbred racing in New Zealand next year with seven stakes races including four Group 1 events plus the inaugural running of New Zealand’s first thoroughbred slot race, the NZB Kiwi (1500m) for three-year-olds, on the card. Horse racing news View the full article

Hi Yo Sass Bomb in winning form during Saturday’s Balance Accountants Open (1200m) at Wanganui. Photo: Peter Rubery (Race images Palmerston North) Under-rated Taranaki mare Hi Yo Sass Bomb took her career to all-new heights last season, and a smart fresh-up performance in Saturday’s Balance Accountants Open (1200m) at Wanganui hinted at more to come in 2024-25. It was the fourth win from only seven starts in a fresh state for Hi Yo Sass Bomb, who kicked off last season’s campaign with a first-up victory at Hawera before finishing sixth in the Group 3 Thompson Handicap (1600m), fourth in the Group 3 Canterbury Breeders’ Stakes (1400m), fifth in the Group 2 Cal Isuzu Stakes (1600m) and second in the Group 3 Taranaki Cup (1800m). That career-best preparation culminated in a deserved first black-type victory in the Group 3 Cuddle Stakes (1600m) at Trentham in March. Despite Hi Yo Sass Bomb’s formidable fresh-up record, her New Plymouth owner-trainer Kim Reid went into Saturday’s resuming run with low expectations. This was the first 1200m appearance in the six-year-old’s 17-race career, and her talented line-up of opponents included a number of specialist sprinters. But Hi Yo Sass Bomb’s touch of black-type quality shone through. Rider Joe Doyle settled in second-last before angling Hi Yo Sass Bomb towards better ground out wide around Wanganui’s home turn. She came second widest of all into the straight and quickened impressively through the Heavy10 ground, surging past Spencer and taking command through the final 100m. Hi Yo Sass Bomb went on to beat that rival by a length and a quarter, with the resuming Group 1 performer One Bold Cat producing an eye-catching late run into third. Hi Yo Sass Bomb has now had five wins and four placings from her 17 starts, earning $198,270 for Reid and her parents, Josephine and Graeme. “We were really only treating this race as a trial, so it was pretty exciting to see her win the way she did,” Reid said. “I wasn’t expecting that at all. “It was a bit of an experiment today with blinkers. The last time she raced in blinkers was a maiden, and I took them off because she over-raced. She relaxes a lot better now as an older mare and I wanted to try the blinkers again, and Joe said she did a great job in them today.” Reid is now looking forward to stepping Hi Yo Sass Bomb back up into stakes company. The Group 3 Taranaki Breeders’ Stakes (1400m) at Hawera on October 5 is one option, but Reid is open to the possibility of shooting for Group 1 glory at Hastings in the Arrowfield Stud Plate (1600m) on September 28 and Livamol Classic (2040m) on October 12. “We’ll run her in a 1400m open handicap at New Plymouth in a couple of weeks, and then we’ll have a few options to choose from after that,” Reid said. “We could look at the Taranaki Breeders’ Stakes, but we’ve also nominated her for those Group Ones at Hastings. Depending on what the weather does there, I think those distances might suit her better, so it would be pretty tempting to have a go at those races if the tracks are rain-affected.” Horse racing news View the full article

Mystic Park runs triumphant at Riccarton Park for trainers Michael and Matthew Pitman. Photo: Ajay Berry (Race Images South) Major sprint features are looming large on Mystic Park’s horizon after the classy local kicked off his five-year-old season with victory in Saturday’s Open Sprint (1000m) at Riccarton Park. Mystic Park made barnstorming progress through the grades last season, winning four of his seven starts in increasingly impressive style. The Ocean Park gelding won by four lengths in Rating 65 company first-up during the New Zealand Cup Carnival in November, then added two Rating 75 victories and an open handicap before the season was out. Saturday’s 1000m dash was a significantly shorter first-up assignment than the 1200m and 1400m trips Mystic Park excelled over last season, but the exciting up-and-comer was nevertheless backed into $3.20 favouritism. He produced a performance that had his trainers Michael and Matthew Pitman and jockey Sam Weatherley thinking about bigger and better things to come. Mystic Park broke only fairly from gate seven, but strode forward through the first 200m of the race to take up a comfortable position alongside the front-running La Bella Nera. Weatherley released the brakes at the top of the Riccarton straight and Mystic Park warmed into his work, slowly but surely edging ahead of La Bella Nera. Mystic Park’s stablemate Third Decree chimed in on his outside with a determined challenge, but Mystic Park lifted again and held her out by three-quarters of a length. La Bella Nera stuck on for third, another two and a half lengths adrift of the Pitman pair. “He’s a good horse,” Weatherley said. “He could potentially be a Telegraph (Group 1, 1200m) horse. He wasn’t fully screwed down today, but he really wanted to win. The stablemate came up to challenge him, and he just said ‘no chance’ and really pinned his ears back. He’s a lovely horse.” “We knew that there would be speed in the race today, so we were hopeful that our two could just track in behind that speed and pick them up late,” Matthew Pitman said. “The Parsons horse fought hard, but our two showed their class over the concluding stages. “They’re both lightly raced and still have a bit of improvement. Hopefully they can go on to big things this season.” Mystic Park stopped the clock at 56.29 seconds for 1000m on a Soft5 track. “He can really run quick times,” Pitman said. “He showed that with some of his closing sectionals in the autumn. We’re confident that he can go on to some nice races. He’s pretty quick, and especially when he relaxes like that. He’s a very good horse when he can relax in behind another runner that gives him something to follow. I think he’s hardly been beaten when that’s been the case. “Hopefully a Stewards’ Stakes (Listed, 1200m) or Telegraph is calling him now, and then maybe Aussie further down the line. “We’ll look at the carnival on our back doorstep for Third Decree too. She might go to a Canterbury Breeders’ Stakes (Group 3, 1400m).” Horse racing news View the full article

Growing Empire on the way to the barriers prior to the running of McNeil Stakes at Caulfield. (Photo by George Sal/Racing Photos) Growing Empire ($2.50) has returned to the racetrack in fine style, finishing off with a brilliant turn of foot to run away from his rivals in the Group 3 McNeil Stakes at Caulfield. Ciaron Maher and Mark Zahra combined with the three-year-old colt, who has now won three of his four career starts, with this win being the best of the lot. Zahra tried to cross the field and settle on speed aboard this son of Zoustar; however, Stay Focused ($4.60), Astapor ($8.50), and Band Of Brothers ($19) kicked up to lead the race, so he chose to sit three-wide with cover. The field turned for home, and Zahra was sitting quietly on his mount, but as soon as he pushed the button, Growing Empire lengthened quickly and took over with 200m to go. Wonder Boy ($5) wobbled on the corner and lost some ground on the eventual winner before picking himself up to run on strongly into second place. It was all honours to Growing Empire as he was eased down by Zahra to win by a margin that could have been much bigger. 2024 McNeil Stakes replay – Growing Empire Following back-to-back winners at Caulfield, Maher spoke post-race about the win. “We’ve certainly got him on the same path (as Merchant Navy), he’s a very exciting colt,” Maher said of Growing Empire. “I didn’t really tie Mark down with too many instructions, if he pinged the lids we were going to go forward. “He ended up with a beautiful run, he’s a very very progressive colt and he’s on a Coolmore path so he’s started the prep well. “He’s probably one of our benchmark colts. “He’s always had that really good ability and he spelled well at Yulong. “He’s come back in, the team have done a great job, you can still see late that there’s a lot more there, he still wobbles around and that’s why we wanted to get him to the races now, he needs that bit of experience. “We’ll get him to Flemington, he can have a couple of looks down the straight and hopefully he’s right to go on Derby Day.” Zahra was complimentary of the winner in his post-race interview. “They don’t win much better than that,” Zahra said. “I thought this prep, today would be the day, if he was going to get beaten, today would be the day and at the 400 (metres) I didn’t have to worry about that. “Unbelievable feel. “It was good to see him without the blinkers, I’ve been trying him in the blinkers and I said to Ciaron ‘I think he just wants to be a bit too keen in them… let’s just see how he goes first up with the option of putting them on’. “The way he won I don’t think he needs them. He’s there for you, his turn of foot’s electric, he looks a pretty smart horse.” When asked about the spring goals for Growing Empire, Zahra responded quickly, “Win a Coolmore would be nice.” Growing Empire is the $5 favourite with horse racing bookmakers in the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes futures market. Horse racing news View the full article

Young Werther beats Duke De Sessa in the Quayclean Handicap at Caufield. Photo: Bruno Cannatelli Seven-year-old gelding Young Werther indicated he is in for another good campaign when resuming from a brief break with a strong win in the Quayclean Handicap (2000m) at Caulfield on Saturday. The Danny O’Brien-trained son of Tavistock lumped 61kgs under Blake Shinn and sat just behind a strong tempo set by eventual runner-up Duke De Sessa, getting the better of that rival after the pair sprinted for home early, scoring by three-quarters of a length. With five wins to his name from 34 starts and a further 12 placings, the veteran middle-distance galloper has competed at the highest level and is five-time Group 1 placed. Among those elite level placings are a second and third placing in the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m) at Flemington in 2021 and 2022 respectively, and connections of Young Werther are keen to make it third time lucky. Winning trainer Danny O’Brien was impressed with the win as Young Werther advanced his career earnings to A$2,100,950 in a slick time of 2:01.41. “He’s got 61kgs on his back and he is only a little fella, but he did that last spring, winning a race with 61.5kgs,” O’Brien said. “It was a proper race for the two of them really, they levelled out a long way from home. It always looked like he was going to get the better of the second horse, but he had to do it, and I thought it was a good effort.” O’Brien is convinced Young Werther has continued to improve as he has aged. “He was always a little backward horse and his last two winters he has been to Brisbane and he has come back from Queensland both times really well,” he said. “I think he will go to a better level again this spring and he only needs to find a length or two to win a nice race. He has been around the mark in a few decent Group Ones.” The Group 1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m) on October 5 looms as an obvious target. “He has run second in it and third in it as a younger horse and he still gets in well at set weights and penalties, where he doesn’t get the penalty,” O’Brien said. “He has got a great record at Flemington over the 2000m and we can use that to see where he goes to from there. “We have stayed away from Caulfield because he has never really gone well here, but he has won here today so there is a chance he could go from a Turnbull into a Caulfield Cup (Group 1, 2400m) this year.” Horse racing news View the full article

Storm Boy winning as a juvenile. Photo: RacingNSW The Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott-trained Storm Boy ($2.30) has returned with a bang to claim the Group 3 San Domenico Stakes (1100m) at Rosehill on Saturday afternoon, making every post winner under Adam Hyeronimus. The son of Justify was a shade disappointing at the end of his two-year-old campaign, going down a short-priced favourite in the Group 1 Golden Slipper (1200m) and Group 1 Sires’ Produce (1400m). The now-three-year-old appears to be back at his brilliant best, and although the jury was out after two even barrier trial victories heading into Saturday, there’s no doubt the $20 million Coolmore purchase is back on track. He pinged the lids from the inside draw (1) and never looked in much danger despite the equal favourite Gatsby’s ($2.30) sliding across into the one-one under James McDonald. Storm Boy was able to produce sustained speed from the outset, with his rivals spotting the leader an unassailable head start, with only Mayfair ($7.00) and Tropicus ($17.00) making any inroads in the final furlong. Conditions have favoured on-speed runners throughout the afternoon; however, it was clear to see the class rise to the top in the 2024 San Domenico, with Storm Boy cruising to a comfortable 2.9-length win. 2024 Group 3 San Domenico Stakes Replay – Storm Boy Co-trainer Adrian Bott was on course representing the stable post-race and suggested there’s still plenty options for Storm Boy in the spring but confirmed the Group 1 Golden Rose (1400m) would be the next target. “There is so much talent there,” said Bott. “I’m glad he’s been able to come back and race in that manner and showcase his talents and natural speed that’s he’s got today. “There is further improvement. I’ve always thought he’s going to be better getting over further, but to do that today showing that sustained speed, he was able to run them into the ground and that’s the quality colt that he is. “In the back of our minds, we’ve always thought a Caulfield Guineas, Cox Plate type of program for him. That’s what we thought going into the campaign. “But the brilliance he has shown today, whether he could be an Everest horse dropping back off a Golden Rose. “Everything is on the table, no decision has been made. We’re heading towards the Golden Rose, that’s his immediate target.” Adam Hyeronimus was delighted with the performance and credited the stable for the conditions of the horse, suggesting he knew his fate heading to the stalls. “We know what he can do,” said Hyeronimus. “I was very pleased to be able come here and have him do the talking. “That is very much the role of the stable. They are colts, but you would think they were a four-year-old gelding. I knew my fate when I cantered off into the gates and we went around lovely and relaxed, in a good rhythm. I knew we were on. “I thought he jumped relatively well at 1100m. I didn’t have to be probably as aggressive as I thought I was going to have to be. I knew once I did find the front he’d drop the bit. He only needed a breather for 100m given the sectionals I know he can run are pretty devastating. “Once I got that 200m rest and I kicked him up at the top of the straight he just grew again and off he went.” Storm Boy is now an equal favourite and marked a $4.00 chance with horse racing bookmakers for the Group 1 Golden Rose (1400m) on September 28. Horse racing news View the full article

Recommendation ridden by Blake Shinn wins the Vale Black Caviar at Caulfield. (Photo by George Sal/Racing Photos) Recommendation ($2) brought up a hat-trick of Group 3 wins at Caulfield on Saturday afternoon when Blake Shinn piloted the Ciaron Maher-trained gelding to victory in the Vale Black Caviar. The race named in honour of the late great Black Caviar is registered as The Heath 1100 Stakes, and it is also the first time that Maher has won the race with any of his runners. With two of the key market chances, Chain Of Lightning and Arkansaw Kid, withdrawn earlier in the day, the race was left as a match race between Recommendation and Kallos ($2.50), and they didn’t disappoint. Shinn took the son of Shalaa to the front of the field and sat on the girth of Acromantula ($34), while Jamie Kah on the Godolphin galloper followed the eventual winner every step of the way. However, as the field turned for home, Shinn pushed the button on his five-year-old gelding, and he quickly put a margin on the second favourite. In the final 100m, Recommendation held a margin, and the runner-up couldn’t bridge the gap, going down by just under a length, with Nettuno ($9.50) running home into third place. 2024 Heath 1100 replay – Recommendation Ciaron Maher was on course to speak about Recommendation and the victory. “He was very confident, Blake (Shinn), he rode the horse very confidently, he’s just found his sweet spot here, Caulfield 1100 (metres),” Maher said. “We knew Kallos would be very hard to beat, he’s got a great fresh record and he executed it perfectly, Blake. “They’ve got a great affiliation, he gave him a perfect run… he controlled the race, great effort by him, great effort by the team, Jack (Turnbull) at Cranbourne is managing him very well. “He just seems to bounce off the bend and bridles up, we’ll have a look at Flemington and see how he goes, he certainly seems to have gone to another level, we’ll pick our way through.” Blake Shinn also spoke about the win post-race. “I still had to ride my own race, I just had to ensure that I didn’t put too much pressure into the race early because I knew Kallos, I’ve won on him before, he’s got an amazing turn of foot,” Shinn said. “He met us better at the weights when they met in the Oakleigh Plate, I knew if he went quick early and were vulnerable late he’d be coming over the top of me so I didn’t lead on him today. “There was that quick horse (Acromantula) inside of me, I thought if it jumped it’d lead so I just rode our own race and made it a race from the top of the straight. “Geez he was brave, at the two hundred when he got challenged I loved his tenacity. “1100 is really his wheelhouse, he’s hard fit, I just love him. “I love how far he’s developed this prep, full credit to Ciaron and the team and more importantly the horse.” Horse racing news View the full article

Snitzel colt To Bravery Born completes a comfortable victory in the first two-year-old race of the season. Photo: Peter Rubery (Race Images Palmerston North) The familiar tangerine and blue colours of Te Akau Racing were back to doing what they do best when To Bravery Born took out the traditional opening two-year-old race of the season at Wanganui on Saturday. Despite there being only four runners to face the starter, the Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson-prepared son of Snitzel showed he has what it takes to feature later in the season with a professional performance in downing race favourite Toretto by a comfortable two-length margin. Rider Opie Bosson never panicked when his mount was slightly tardy at the start and then hampered by Toretto and Bordeaux Belle as he looked to find a handy position. Angled three-wide around the home bend To Bravery Born quickly established his dominance and had things well under control as he eased down close to the finish line to provide a pretty picture for owners, the Te Akau Secret Identity Racing Partnership. Co-trainer Mark Walker had plenty of praise for the performance. “I remember when Dave (Ellis) bought him as a yearling, we looked at each other and couldn’t believe that he only made $200,000, and were quite perplexed at the time as to why, but it was late in the day and there was torrential rain,” Walker said. “For a Snitzel colt he was great value, and it was exciting to see him win the way he did on his debut outing. “He broke in well, has always been a very forward type, and the way he relaxed and went to the line today, really uncontested, suggests he has a nice future.” Bosson was suitably impressed by his mount given he didn’t have things go all his own way during the race. “He travelled fairly, although the horses inside me ran us out really wide at the start, but he got into a nice rhythm,” Bosson said. “Once I stoked him up before the turn he stretched out nicely and did it pretty easily in the end. “He’s got the ability there and a few gears left so the further he goes the better.” Te Akau Racing have built a strong record in the race with Group 2 Eclipse Stakes (1200m) winner Bellatrix Star securing victory last year, while Rubicon Crossing won in 2022 before being twice stakes placed and in 2019 Cool Aza Beel scored prior to also taking out the Karaka Million 2YO (1200m) for the stable, along with the Group 1 Sistema Stakes (1200m) of that year. Horse racing news View the full article

It doesn't take long for the Kentucky Downs meeting to hit full gear, as Saturday's program features three graded contests, including the GIII DK Horse Nashville Derby Invitational Stakes, with prize money that could reach $3.1 million. The purse remains intact should one of the 10 Kentucky-breds–eight in the main body of the field and two also-eligibles–is home first over the mile and five-sixteenths journey along the Kentucky/Tennessee border. The four foreign raiders are ineligible for the KTDF money, but the base purse of $2.5 million already makes it one of the richest Derbies in the world. The European invader with the best form in the book is King Power's Bellum Justum (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) for trainer Andrew Balding. A 375,000gns Tattersalls October yearling, the bay colt was a maiden winner from four juvenile appearance, accounting for future G1 Commonwealth Cup hero Inisherin (GB) (Shamardal) going a mile at Newmarket in September. After landing the Listed Blue Riband Trial on seasonal return at Epsom Apr. 23, he was seventh to City of Troy (Justify) in the June 1 G1 Derby, but has since finished third in the G3 Hampton Court Stakes at Royal Ascot June 20 and just missed when last seen in the G3 Gordon Stakes at Goodwood Aug. 1. Cugino (Twirling Candy) heads up the home defense, having made all the running to defeat Lagynos (Kantharos) in the June 1 Audubon Stakes at Churchill Downs. The latter, a consistent sort for Steve Asmussen, was subsequently an even fourth in the June 29 American Derby and was just nabbed on the line by Neat (Constitution) in the GII Hall of Fame Stakes at Saratoga Aug. 2. Carson's Run (Cupid), victorious in last year's GI Summer Stakes, enters the Nashville Derby off victories in the June 23 Tale of the Cat Stakes and a late-running tally in the GI Saratoga Derby Invitational Aug. 11. Navy Seal (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) could be one for the bottom of vertical wagers. A maiden winner and fifth in the G2 UAE Derby for Coolmore and Aidan O'Brien, the regally bred bay was purchased by Jim and Fitri Hay and was moved the barn of Wesley Ward. Third in an off-turf allowance at Canterbury June 22, he was just beaten in Saratoga allowance company by Friday's GIII Saranac Stakes winner West Hollywood (Uncle Mo) over a mile and a sixteenth July 27 and could improve for this step up in trip. His dam Athena (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) won the 2018 GI Belmont Oaks going 10 panels. Carson's Run | Sarah Andrew The fairer sex features in the afternoon's other marquee races, each of which carries prize money of $1.5 million for Kentucky-breds. Secret Money (Good Samaritan) is an 8-1 chance in the GII Ladies' Turf Sprint, having defeated Danse Macabre (Army Mule) and Bling (American Pharoah) in last year's age-restricted GIII Music City Stakes. California shipper Ruby Nell (Bolt' d'Oro), front-running winner of Santa Anita's GII Buena Vista Stakes going a mile back in March, cuts back to a sprint for the first time since winning the Unzip Me Stakes last October. Mission of Joy (Kitten's Joy) gets some class relief in the GIII Ladies' Turf Stakes, as she cuts back to a mile off a sixth in the GI Diana Stakes, where she was beaten three lengths by the repeating Whitebeam (GB) (Caravaggio). Implicated (Connect) is perfect in two starts since switching to the Chad Brown barn, an easy allowance win at Churchill May 12 followed by a 1 3/4-length victory in the GII Nassau Stakes at Woodbine. Behind in second was Fev Rover (Ire) (Gutaifan {Ire}), who just failed in her repeat bid in the GII Beverly D. Stakes Aug. 11. Pacific Classic One Of Three BC Qualifiers at Del Mar The Friday scratching of Adare Manor (Uncle Mo) leaves a maximum field of eight for Saturday's GI FanDuel Pacific Classic at Del Mar, with a berth in the GI Breeders' Cup Classic over the same course and distance on Nov. 2 at stake. Dr. Venkman (Ghostzapper) was the 5-2 morning-line second choice behind the mare and looks to be the chief beneficiary of Adare Manor's absence. Having debuted just this time last year with a pair of victories, the bay was second in the Oct. 21 Perryville Stakes and resumed with a runner-up effort in the GII Triple Bend Stakes June 1. Bred top and bottom to handle a route of ground, Dr. Venkman took over at about the midway stage of the GII San Diego Handicap and carried Antonio Fresu to a one-length victory over Katonah (Klimt). Dr. Venkman | Benoit Dr. Venkman could face some pressure from Reincarnate (Good Magic) in his first try at the mile and a quarter. A two-time Grade III winner at three, the $775,000 KEESEP yearling is winless in four starts this year, but has run well in his two tries at Saturday's trip. Third to Newgate (Into Mischief) in the GI Santa Anita Handicap Mar. 3, he set the pace before weakening late to be runner-up in the GI Gold Cup at Santa Anita May 27. He exits a distant second in the 12-furlong GIII Cougar II Stakes July 25. Middle-distance turf males compete for a 'Win and You're In' ticket to the GI Breeders' Cup Turf in the GII Del Mar Handicap earlier on the program. Gold Phoenix (Ire) (Belardo {Ire}) is the two-time defending champion of the 11-furlong heat and was just up in the 1 1/4-mile GII Charlie Whittingham Stakes May 4 ahead of a somewhat troubled seventh in the July 28 GII Eddie Read Stakes over a nine-furlong trip that is short of his best. Rockemperor (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) is as reliable as they come, even if it's been over two years since he last saluted. Sixth to Gold Phoenix in the Whittingham, he led late but was chinned on the wire in the 14-furlong GIII San Juan Capistrano Stakes June 16 and may want that sort of trip to bring out his best. Balnikhov (Ire) (Adaay {Ire}) ran on for third in the Read and will try this distance for the first time, while an interesting new shooter is El Encinal (Arg) (Il Campione {Chi}), last seen winning the G1 GP Carlos Pellegrini at San Isidro last December. Motorious (GB) (Muhaarar {GB}) is back to defend his title and shoulders top weight of 123 pounds in the GIII Green Flash Handicap, which offers the winner a fees-paid berth into the GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint over the same course and trip in a little more than two months. Beaten a length and a half into fifth as the favorite in last year's Turf Sprint at Santa Anita, the bay was a rough-trip seventh to Cogburn (Not This Time) in the GII Turf Sprint at Churchill May 4 and fourth in a six-furlong allowance in Arcadia June 16. Cal-bred Connie Swingle (Grazen) represents a real danger if building on a smooth success (99 Beyer) in the July 27 Daisycutter Handicap, her first start in 21 months. No Nay Hudson (Ire) (No Nay Never), winner of the William Walker Stakes last season at three, raids from Saratoga for Wesley Ward off a one-length fifth with trouble in a July 28 allowance. War Like Goddess Tough To Deny in Flower Bowl George Krikorian's 7-year-old nails-tough mare War Like Goddess (English Channel) does not appear to have lost her zest for racing and continues a march towards a fourth consecutive appearance at the Breeders' Cup as the 7-5 morning-line favorite in the GII Flower Bowl Stakes, a 'Win and You're In' qualifier for the GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf. War Like Goddess was a fractionally unlucky third as the public choice in the 2021 renewal at the seaside oval. Seventh against the boys in last year's GI Breeders' Cup Turf, the bay has just two runs under her belt this season, a pace-compromised third in the GI New York Stakes here June 8, but she bounced back to return a relatively generous $4 to her backers in the mile and three-eighths GIII R. G. Dick Memorial Stakes at Delaware July 7. War Like Goddess | Sarah Andrew Parnac (Fr) (Zarak {Fr}) made every yard of the running last year, controlling a soft pace before easily holding off McKulick (GB) (Frankel {GB}) by 1 1/4 lengths. The two met again in the GII Glens Falls Stakes Aug 1, with McKulick turning the tables by 2 1/4 lengths, as favored Eternal Hope (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) could do no better than fourth in her first start of the season. The Queens M G (Thousand Words) seems to have righted the ship in her last couple of starts and looms the one to beat in the GI Spinaway Stakes. Inexplicably down the field in the June 6 Astoria Stakes, the dark bay filly lit up the tote to the tune of $91 in the opening day Schulyerville Stakes July 11 and followed suit–albeit at much skinnier odds–in the GIII Adirondack Stakes last time Aug. 4. The waters are deeper Saturday, as the competition includes Quietside (Malibu Moon), who was named a 'TDN Rising Star' at first asking for a towering 6 1/4-length debut success Aug. 4, and Godolphin first-time starter winners Pondering (Hard Spun) and Immersive (Nyquist). In the GIII Prioress Stakes, the first of the day's three graded events on closing weekend at the Spa, Rigney Racing's 'TDN Rising Star' Two Sharp (Twirling Candy) figures a handful off an 11 1/4-length graduation going 6 1/2 panels Aug. 2. Brightwork (Outwork) was to have made her 3-year-old debut in the GI Test Stakes but lost her footing in the paddock and was forced to scratch. She is an obvious threat from the outside stall. The post Nashville Derby A Very Rich And ‘Grand Ole’ Showdown appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. — George Krikorian's dependable War Like Goddess (English Channel) will make her age-matching seventh career start at Saratoga Saturday in the GII $500,000 Flower Bowl. War Like Goddess has never been worse than third at Saratoga Race Course. The turf distance specialist won the 1 3/8-mile Flower Bowl in 2021, its last year as a Grade I, and was second by a neck in 2022. Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott did not run her in the race last year. The Flower Bowl will be her third start this season. She was third by 3 1/4 lengths in the GI New York on June 7 that was part of the Belmont Stakes at Saratoga meet. Exactly one month later, she won the GIII Robert G. Dick Memorial Stakes at Delaware Park. “We're well aware of the fact that she's getting a little older,” Mott said. “One day they eventually tire out, but she seems to be doing well at the moment. She's coming off of a good race, and she's going into this race seemingly quite good. There's other younger fillies in there that I'm sure are doing well, but we're still trying to compete.” On the advice of bloodstock agent Donato Lanni, Krikorian purchased War Like Goddess for $30,000 in June 2019 of the OBS 2-Year-Olds and Horses of Racing Age sale. In two previous trips to auction she sold for $1,200 as a weanling and was an RNA as a yearling when bidding stopped at $1,000. In a 2022 TDN story, Krikorian noted that he was not responsible for the filly's distinctive name. “I bought her with that name and I told Donato 'I don't like that name,'” Krikorian said. “I didn't see the horse then because he was in Florida and I was out here in California when he called me about the horse. I didn't get to see her for maybe four months or five months later. When I saw her, I looked at her and I said, 'Hey, we don't need to change her name. She's beautiful. She is a War Like Goddess.'” In her 20-race career she has proved to be a top-notch runner and a fabulous bargain with earnings of $2,775,184 from a record of 12-2-3. She has three Grade I wins, two of them over males in the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic. Mott has tried her twice against males in the GI Breeders' Cup Turf at 1 1/2 miles and she was a rallying third by three lengths in 2022. She has at least one win in each of her five seasons of competition. “The target this year would be the Breeders' Cup, the Filly and Mare Turf, because it's at a mile and three eighths this year at Del Mar,” Mott said. “The last two years, it's been odd distances. It's been a mile and three-sixteenths, which is a little short for her. We feel the mile and three-eighths might suit her a little better.” In her lone appearance in the Filly and Mare Turf in 2021 at Del Mar, she made the lead in the stretch but was caught and was third by a half-length. At 1 3/8 miles, War Like Goddess is 4-1-1 from six starts. Pyrenees Will Try to Continue Ascent in Gold Cup It's fair to say that Pyrenees (Into Mischief) has been a project for trainer Cherie DeVaux and owner-breeder Blue Heaven Farm that is turning into a success story. He enters the GI Jockey Club Gold Cup Sunday on an upswing with four wins and a second in his last five starts. Pyrenees Thursday morning at the Spa | Sarah Andrew DeVaux said the colt was a bit slow to develop, but after his career was interrupted has grown into a legitimate stakes horse. In his last two starts he won the GIII Pimlico Special and was second by 2 1/2 lengths to the now-retired Kingsbarns (Uncle Mo) in the GI Stephen Foster on June 29. “I just think it was time and maturity,” DeVaux said. “He had a really significant injury that caused him to be off for a year. When he came back from that, he was a completely different horse. Physically, he's always been slight and a bit feminine, but mentally, he really matured.” DeVaux said Pyrenees suffered the leg injury early in 2023 and it kept him away from racing until mid-December, when he broke his maiden at Fair Grounds. Though he was by top sire Into Mischief, early on DeVaux and her staff did not see him developing into a stakes-caliber runner. “It would be hard to justify saying that the way he trained, in the way he was running,” she said. “It's not because it was lack of talent. He just wasn't putting it out there on the track. You could tell that there was more in there, and he just wasn't putting it out. We had tried blinkers and were going to run him in blinkers, but then when he hurt himself, we just kind of regrouped with him.” By year's end, Pyrenees was a different horse. “When he came back, he was breezing much better, a lot more focused,” DeVaux said. “He was so aloof as a 2-year-old. That's the only word I can use for him.” Following the maiden-breaker, Pyrenees took the next steps on his climb with an allowance victory in late January and a three-length score at Keeneland on Apr. 12 over a sloppy track. He edged Kingsbarns in the GIII Pimlico Special, giving DeVaux her third stakes win on the program that day. While it was an important victory for the colt in his first stakes try, DeVaux said the turning point had already occurred. “I would say Maryland kind of just solidified that we were on the right track with him,” she said. “I was really impressed with his race at Keeneland. Then again, he followed it up with the Stephen Foster where then you're stepping up into Grade I company. It was a tough race, and he was there. I just think it actually might have been just a touch too short for him.” DeVaux said the decision was made to bypass the GI Whitney and point Pyrenees for the 1 1/4-mile Gold Cup. “He had done a lot in a short amount of time,” she said. “At some point we had the discussion that if he is going to make it to the Breeders' Cup, he's going to need a little break. Not a break from training, but just a break in racing. We decided that was probably the best opportunity after the Stephen Foster to just give him a little time for his next race.” Summer Holiday is Over for White Abarrio White Abarrio (Race Day)'s break from training and a vacation on a farm has ended and he has returned to the care of trainer Saffie Joseph, Jr. at Saratoga Race Course. “He's back here,” Joseph said. “He's back training. He's back galloping.” White Abarrio on Friday | Sarah Andrew White Abarrio's owners moved him from Abarrio's barn to Richard Dutrow, Jr.'s stable in May 2023. He went on to finish third in the GI Met Mile then won the GI Whitney Stable and the GI Breeders' Cup Classic. This year he was 10th in the G1 Saudi Cup. After finishing fifth in the Met Mile run at Saratoga, he was sent back Joseph, who decided he needed a break. “It was just give him a change-of-mind piece and see if he could drop himself down and relax,” Joseph said. “And he did. It just felt like he had nervous energy. He just wouldn't let himself down and was anxious, anxious, anxious.” Joseph said the goal is to prepare the 5-year-old for the GI Pegasus World Cup on Jan. 25 at Gulfstream Park. “That's kind of where he needs to get to and everything's kind of working backwards from there,” Joseph said. “How we get there, we don't know yet. There's possibilities. He could run in October, November, if everything went right, but we don't want to set a date and have to be changing. He's going to tell us. After a couple breezes, then we'll be able to come up with a formal plan.” Joseph said White Abarrio would remain at Saratoga for a while after the meet ends on Monday. The post Saratoga Notebook, Presented by NYRA Bets: Saratoga-Loving War Like Goddess Returns to Flower Bowl appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

It had been more than a year since Saratoga Race Course witnessed what happened in the Aug. 30 Saranac Stakes (G3T).View the full article

2nd-SAR, $100k, Msw, 2yo, 1 1/16mT, 12:37p.m. ET Breaking from the rail for owner/breeder St. Elias Stable is COMPLEX AGENDA (Quality Road), who brings with him a loaded pedigree and a bullet work over the grass at Saratoga. Said move was three works back over the training track Aug. 2, where he went seven panels with the dogs up in 1:29 flat (1/4). His dam, GSW Nonna Mela (Arch), won the GII Adirondack and ran second in the GII Prioress Stakes. That mare is a half-sister to multiple Listed winner, Graded-placed Nonna Madeline (Candy Ride {Arg}). To his outside is the pinhooking success story made of dreams, namely Executive (Constitution). The colt was a $100,000 purchase at KEEJAN by Jim Fitzgerald as an agent, and would return to the Keeneland auction house in September to see the hammer fall for $900,000, going the way of Pin Oak Stud. He hails from the female line of MGISW Liam's Map (Unbridled's Song) and GSW & GISP Not This Time (Giant's Causeway). Also debuting here are a pair of European acquisitions in Repole Stables runner Battle Drum (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}), a 360,000 ARQMAY pick up this year, and Klaravich Stables's Early Adopter (GB) (Lope de Vega {Ire}), secured as a yearling for 170,000gns at TATOCT. The former claims German Highweight mare G1SW-Ger India (Ger) (Adlerflug {Ger}) as family while the latter is out of a Group 1-placed mare and is a half-brother to the dam of G1 Kennedy Oaks winner Zardozi (Aus) (Kingman {GB}). Early Adopter boasts dual Grade I-winner Program Trading (GB) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) as a relative. TJCIS PPs 6th-SAR, $100k, Msw, 2yo, f, 5 1/2fT, 2:47p.m. ET Debuting for Bregman Family Racing LLC, LAURICE (Bolt d'Oro) will go to post here for trainer George Weaver with Junior Alvarado in the irons. From the family of champion juvenile colt MGISW Shared Belief (Candy Ride {Arg}), the filly was a $460,000 purchase at this year's OBS April sale and had gone through the Keeneland sales pavilion on two occasions before that, selling for $75,000 at KEENOV as a weanling and then for $80,000 as a yearling at KEESEP. She's been working religiously on both surfaces, and is 7-2 on the morning line for this debut. TJCIS PPs 8th-SAR, $100k, Msw, 2yo, 7f, 3:55p.m. ET In what is shaping up to be an expensive maiden special race, GUNS LOADED (Gun Runner) leads the charge as the priciest of the bunch. A son of multiple graded-placed Sky My Sky (Bernardini), he hals from the female line of Media Nox (GB) (Lycius), who in addition to her racing prowess, found acclaim as the dam of G1 Prix de Diane Hermes-French Oaks and G1 NetJets Prix du Moulin de Longchamp victress Nebraska Tornado (Storm Cat). Most recently, the female family enjoyed success at the highest levels in Europe by way of multiple Group 1 winner Westover (GB) (Frankel {GB}). Sold for a princely sum of $800,000 at KEESEP, Guns Loaded will race for the partnership of Morplay Racing LLC, Joey Platts, and Lady Sheila Stable. To his inside debuts Well Suited (Uncle Mo) for owner and breeder Godolphin. Hailing from the immediate family of Scat Daddy, he's out of SW & MGSP Classic Fit (Bernardini), who in turn is out of a half-sister to the late, great sire. TJCIS PPs 1st-DMR, $75k, Msw, 2yo, f, 6f, 4:30p.m. ET On the rail and debuting for Richard Mandella, GRACE BY FAITH (Authentic) leads a competitive field in this Del Mar opener. A three-quarter sister to MGSW General Jim (Into Mischief), she was an $800,000 purchase from KEESEP last year by Spendthrift Farm, which stands her sire, and has been given a 10-1 morning line shot. To the outside of that one is Margarita Girl (Twirling Candy), a $575,000 OBSMAR purchase back in March by Saints or Sinners, and now races for them in partnership with Rancho Temescal Thoroughbred Partners. Mark Glatt's charge hails from the female line of Tempo West, herself responsible for multiple European Highweight, multiple Group 1 winner and GI Breeders' Cup Classic runner-up Declaration of War (War Front) and his full-brother MGSW & MGISP War Correspondent. She also produced French Listed winner, multiple Graded-placed Vertiformer (Dynaformer). This is the female family of GI Belmont Stakes hero Union Rags (Dixie Union). TJCIS PPs The post Aug. 31 Insights: Coast to Coast Debuts for Well-Meant Maidens appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit (HIWU) has granted a temporary stay of enforcement to connections in six pending total carbon dioxide (TCO2) cases, all of which are out of Pennsylvania. In total, 11 of the 14 pending and resolved TCO2-related cases reported since the advent of the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA) have concerned horses that ran in Pennsylvania. Of the three other TCO2-related cases, one ran in California and two were out of Ohio. When asked about the reason behind the temporary stay of enforcement, HIWU spokesperson Alexa Ravit wrote in an email that the agency continuously reviews all adverse analytical findings, “and is currently conducting a review of TCO2 analysis at the Pennsylvania Equine Toxicology and Research Laboratory (PETRL).” The PETRL, affiliated with the University of Pennsylvania, analyzed all samples collected for TCO2 testing within the state. Five of the 11 Pennsylvania-related cases concerned horses that ran at Penn National, five ran at Parx Racing, and one ran at Presque Isle Downs. “We cannot comment on the details of the review at this time, but if anything is found that affects the outcomes of the pending cases, that will be made public when the cases are resolved,” Ravit added. High total carbon dioxide (TCO2) levels could be an indication of bicarbonate loading–otherwise known as “milk-shaking”–which can neutralize the build-up of lactic acid in muscles, thereby helping the horse's performance. TCO2 is also naturally occurring in a horse's system. According to HISA's rules, the alkalization or use or administration of an alkalizing agent is prohibited on race day, and a TCO2 blood threshold in excess of 37 millimoles per litre (mmol) is reportedly evidence of “international administration.” Eight of the 14 cases have already been resolved. The trainer in each of the cases was issued a 30-day suspension and a $2,500 fine. This includes Salvador Naranjo, whose trainee Fever tested positive for TCO2 after running at Los Alamitos on Dec. 9 last year. According to Ravit, HIWU issued a temporary stay in the enforcement of that case due to the, at the time, pending federal intra-articular injection rule changes. “The affected Covered Person had penalty points from an intra-articular injection violation that were revoked (and the stay on the case lifted) upon implementation of the new HISA Racetrack Safety Program rules,” Ravit explained. In Naranjo's case, the sample was analyzed by the Kenneth L. Maddy Equine Analytical Chemistry Laboratory at UC Davis. Trainer Carlos Lopez was similarly issued a 30-day suspension and $2,500 fine due to two of his trainees testing positive for TCO2 after running at Belterra Park on Aug. 10 last year. Those samples were sent to the Ohio Department of Agriculture's Analytical Toxicology Laboratory. According to Richard Hackerman, who represents one of the trainers with two pending TCO2 cases, he finds it “extraordinarily unlikely that there's a rash of milk-shaking going on in Pennsylvania and virtually nowhere else in the country.” HIWU does not collect B samples when conducting TCO2 testing. However, trainers can request in advance the collection of a duplicate sample. In Pennsylvania, the duplicate samples go to PETRL, as per HISA's rules. “The official Sample and any duplicate Sample shall be analyzed by the same Laboratory. If the Agency, in its discretion, determines that the duplicate Sample cannot be analyzed within 5 days after the Sample is collected, the findings of the official Sample shall be final,” the HISA rules state. This is not the first time questions have been raised about testing procedures at laboratories contracted for use by HIWU. At the end of last year, the TDN reported on testing uniformity difficulties arising from different testing equipment, testing methodologies and sets of staff interpreting the results between the then-six laboratories contracted for use by HIWU. Internal reviews of the laboratories had uncovered different limits of detection in blood for the diabetes drug Metformin and for benzoylecgonine (BZE), a metabolite of cocaine. In light of the review, HIWU explained that it had subsequently harmonized its “testing sensitivity” in blood across the six labs for these two substances, and that it would repeat the harmonization process for other drugs, including banned substances. Earlier this year, HIWU severed its contract with the University of Kentucky's Equine Analytical Chemistry Laboratory due to questions raised about the lab's performance, and about “personnel” matters related to the former lab director, Scott Stanley. The Racing Medication and Testing Consortium (RMTC) also suspended its accreditation of the UK Lab. Investigations into these matters at the UK Lab are still ongoing. According to Ravit, there is no deadline for the stay to be lifted in the pending TCO2 cases while HIWU continues its review. The post HIWU Stays Enforcement of Pending TCO2 Cases, Conducting Review of Pennsylvania Lab appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Stronach Stables's Macho Uno, Eclipse Award-winning champion juvenile and whose progeny include GI Breeders' Cup Classic winner Mucho Macho Man, was euthanized at the age of 26 due to liver complications at his home at Adena South Aug. 30, according to a Friday press release from 1/ST Racing. A son of Horse of the Year Holy Bull bred by Adena and a half-brother to Breeders' Cup Classic winner Awesome Again, Macho Uno won on debut at Saratoga for trainer Joe Orseno in July 2000. After he was third in the GI Hopeful Stakes, Macho Uno won the GI Grey Breeders' Cup at Woodbine. The colt would follow that up with a score over future Hall of Famer Point Given in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile. Macho Uno's 3-year-old campaign was delayed until July due to an ankle injury. Once his season began, the grey won the GIII Pennsylvania Derby and was fourth in the Breeders' Cup Classic. The colt returned the next year with a victory in the GII Massachusetts Handicap and he was fourth in the GI Whitney Handicap before ending his racing career with a fifth-place finish in the Breeders' Cup Classic at Arlington. At stud, along with siring Mucho Macho Man–himself the sire of GISW Mucho Gusto–Macho Uno claims Grade I winners Macho Again, Private Zone, Tolomeo and V I P Zone. The stallion was represented by 17 crops prior to being pensioned to Adena South in 2020. The post Pensioned Sire Macho Uno Succumbs To Liver Complications appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The popular program designed to attract horses from outside California, will be back in effect for the track’s autumn meet. Eligible horses will receive $4,000 guaranteed for their first start at Santa Anita.View the full article

Evvie Jets runs in the Kentucky Downs Ladies Turf (G3T) Aug. 31, and it will be an emotional day. Michael Amendola said late father left him, his sister Jennifer, and his mother Shelia a half dozen horses. Evvie Jets is the last one running.View the full article

Santa Anita will once again implement the “Ship and Win” program for the 2024 Autumn Meet, which kicks off Friday, Sept. 27. The incentive program is designed to attract horses from outside California. Horses from out of state who made only one start at the Del Mar Summer Meet will remain eligible for Santa Anita's Ship and Win purse bonus provided they did not make an additional start elsewhere. Eligible horses will receive $4,000 guaranteed for their first start at Santa Anita, as well additional bonus money in excess of listed purses. “The Ship and Win program is now well known throughout the country and it should continue to attract a significant numbers of horses,” said Santa Anita Director of Racing and Racing Secretary Jason Egan. “We have a great facility at which to race and train with the best turf racing in America at this time of the year, which provides tremendous incentives for those considering stabling here in Southern California year-round.” Santa Anita will inaugurate the California Crown at the meet on Saturday, Sept. 28. The post Santa Anita’s ‘Ship and Win’ Program is Back appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article