Wandering Eyes

What Sandown Hillside Races Where Sandown Racecourse – 591-659 Princes Hwy, Springvale VIC 3171 When Wednesday, July 3, 2024 First Race 12:25pm AEST Visit Dabble Sandown’s Hillside track is set to host a competitive eight-race card on Wednesday. The track has come up as a Soft 6 after some rainy days in Melbourne, while the rail will come out 12m for the entire circuit. The Sandown races on July 3 will commence at 12:25pm AEST. Best Bet at Sandown: Nusumi Despite getting rolled by Furlanetto at the Sandown Lakeside 1600m on June 5, Nusumi looks poised to turn the tables on her key rival. The filly was forced to go around the field when they last clashed, while Furlanetto made her way through the pack to get up by a half-length. Nusumi will be out the back of the field once again, but at peak fitness, and with a similar turn of foot, she looks the goods over 1600m. Best Bet Race 4 – #7 Nusumi (4) 3yo Filly | T: David Bourne | J: Ethan Brown (59kg) Bet with Neds Next Best at Sandown: Greyt Mumma The Anthony & Sam Freedman-trained Greyt Mumma has two wins and a third to her name from four fresh runs and already boasts a win at the Sandown Hillside 1000m. She gets the gun draw in barrier two under apprentice hoop Jaylah Kennedy, whose claim gets the Capitalist mare in with just 56.5kg on her back. Greyt Mumma will be stalking what shapes to be a chaotic speed, and with even luck in the home straight, she should be too good for these. Next Best Race 3 – #3 Greyt Mumma (2) 4yo Mare | T: Anthony & Sam Freedman | J: Jaylah Kennedy (a3) (59.5kg) Bet with PlayUp Best Value at Sandown: Awapuni Princess Awapuni Princess was a smart second at the Sandown Hillside 1300m on June 19, finishing 1.3 lengths off the smart Rhapsody Chic while putting the same margin on the third-placed horse. She has three wins and six minor placings from 14 starts on rain-affected ground, suggesting she has everything her favour in this BM74. With Jaylah Kennedy on board claiming 3kg, she gets in with just 55kg on her back and can run a big race at a nice price with horse betting sites. Best Value Race 6 – #12 Awapuni Princess (12) 6yo Mare | T: Gavin Bedggood | J: Jaylah Kennedy (a3) (58kg) Bet with Picklebet Sandown Wednesday quaddie tips – 3/7/2024 Sandown quadrella selections Wednesday, July 3, 2024 2-3-4-5-7-13 3-4-7-12 1-2-3-4-5-8 2-6-7-10-14 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip Horse racing tips View the full article

What Canterbury Races Where Canterbury Park Racecourse – King Street, Canterbury NSW 2193 When Wednesday, July 3, 2024 First Race 12:50pm AEST Visit Dabble Canterbury Park Racecourse is the destination for NSW metro racing on Wednesday afternoon, with a competitive seven-race program set for decision. The rail is out +6m the entire circuit, and with the track rated a Heavy 9 at the time of acceptances and more rain on the way, punters should expect the surface to continue deteriorating in the lead-up. All the action is scheduled to get underway at 12:50pm AEST. Best Bet at Canterbury: Chief Conductor Chief Conductor was sensational resuming at Randwick on June 8, powering through the line to finish within 2.6 lengths of Fleetwood. The son of I Am Invincible was dragged back towards the rear of the field over the unsuitable 1000m journey, with the Sara Ryan-trained gelding doing his best work late. Barrier three should allow Tim Clark to take closer order, and provided he can land in the one-one this time, Chief Conductor should have the class to dispatch this lot. Best Bet Race 6 – #5 Chief Conductor (3) 5yo Gelding | T: Sara Ryan | J: Tim Clark (60.5kg) Bet with Neds Next Best: Extremely Hardys Extremely Hardys has impressed in her two barrier trials heading into her debut for the Chris Waller barn and finds a winnable first-up assignment. The filly by Extreme Choice caught the eye in a recent piece of work at Rosehill on June 21, being pushed out to score by a half-length on Soft conditions. She should get the ideal run in transit from barrier two, and although the Heavy surface will prove testing at the first time of asking, Extremely Hardys should be right in this. Next Best Race 1 – #5 Extremely Hardys (2) 2yo Filly | T: Chris Waller | J: Tim Clark (56kg) Bet with PlayUp Next Best Again at Canterbury: Diamond Model Diamond Model looks poised to strike third-up in the campaign after a luckless performance at course and distance on June 19. The daughter of Akeed Mofeed should’ve won on that occasion, sitting three wide without cover in the middle stages before exploding down the centre of the course to get within a half-length of Iron Man. She should find a midfield sit with cover under Nash Rawiller this time, and if she shows a similar turn-of-foot with fitness on her side, Diamond Model should be able to lug the big weight to victory. Next Best Again Race 4 – #1 Diamond Model (6) 4yo Mare | T: Mark Minervini | J: Nash Rawiller (60.5kg) Bet with Dabble Canterbury quaddie tips – 3/7/2024 Canterbury quadrella selections Wednesday, July 3, 2024 1-2-6-7 3-5-9-10 1-5-11-12 1-4-6-10 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip Horse racing tips View the full article

Sacred Mist winning at Wingatui on Sunday. Photo: Monica Toretto Terry Kennedy had a successful outing at his home track of Wingatui on Sunday, winning the last three races in the track’s final meeting of the season. Kennedy picked up an early placing with Anticipate in the Rating 80 contest, and his winning roll commenced with three-year-old filly Sacred Mist collecting her maiden over 1400m in a rails-hugging ride by Dan Subramaniam. While the field fanned out across the straight, the daughter of Sacred Falls saved ground through the inside and pulled away from Perfect California to score by 1.5 lengths. “She actually went through the ground well and won with a wee bit in hand,” Kennedy said. “She’ll probably go to Oamaru on the 20th, then go out for a spell and come back to be ready after Christmas.” Sacred Mist was a $25,000 purchase by Kennedy out of Waikato Stud at the 2022 Karaka Yearling Sales, and was out of an eight-time winning race mare Galaxy Miss. Kennedy’s race-to-race double was completed by Hakaharry, a son of Highly Recommended who had been knocking on the door for his breakthrough success with eight placings from 18 starts. Partnered by local apprentice Ruvanesh Muniandy, who picked up a treble of his own at the meeting, Hakaharry settled back in the field early before being set alight nearing the home turn and couldn’t be run down. “He’s always promised to win a race and did it alright on Sunday, hopefully he can carry on now and win another couple,” Kennedy said. “He’ll probably just have another one or two runs before going out.” Kennedy and Subramaniam combined in the last to salute with Miss Belle, the Belardo mare thriving in the heavy conditions to storm over the top of Mininjagirl, who hung late under pressure which proved detrimental to her chances. After starting her career with Roydon Bergerson in Awapuni, Miss Belle was purchased by Mosgiel residents Syd and Shona Brown for $6,000, the pair also having been successfully involved in the standardbred industry. Kennedy applauded the efforts of Subramaniam, who posted his two first winners since returning to Wingatui this season. “He rides trackwork for me most mornings, and when the jockeys ride work you put them on,” Kennedy said. “It was good to see him kick home a couple of winners because he tries hard, he’s fit and he’s a quite a good rider.” With racing completed at his home course this term, Kennedy will be keeping a small team of runners while following his daughter and in-form apprentice jockey Jaylah closely from across the Tasman. “I may have one or two going to Christchurch over National week, but we don’t race a lot over winter,” he said. “It gets pretty hard to train with the frosts, if you want to gallop you sometimes can’t until about 11 o’clock in the morning. Plus, travel to Christchurch is quite expensive so you have to have the right sort of horse to take them up there. “Jaylah’s riding gives us something to watch, she’s got a big following in New Zealand which is good and she’s doing exceptionally well. She’s got five or six (rides) at Sandown on Wednesday after having an eight-day suspension. “I think she’s five behind Celine Gaudray in the Victorian apprentice premiership, so we’re hoping she can get a few more winners in the next month and possibly get the win. We’ll be heading over to the awards on the 10th of August.” Horse racing news View the full article

Riviera Rebel will lineup at Ashburton on Thursday. Photo: Monica Toretto A trip to Ashburton on Thursday will be an important step towards next month’s Group 3 Winter Cup (1600m) for exciting three-year-old Riviera Rebel. The son of Pure Champion has hardly put a foot wrong this season, winning two and placing in five of his nine starts, including a placing in the Listed Southland Guineas (1600m). He has run in the money in his last four outings and trainer Graham Eade is hoping he can continue his purple patch of form at Ashburton on Thursday. Eade is looking forward to seeing how his charge handles the long trek north from his Riverton base, and said Thursday’s outcome will be a deciding factor in whether they press on for the Winter Cup. “He is just getting better with age,” Eade said. “It is his first time away and if everything goes well, he should be thereabouts. “I could have put him in the three-year-old race, but I opted to go for this race because it will probably be a bit stronger, and I wanted to see where he was at. “We are still humming and hawing (about the Winter Cup), but I just don’t want to be too hard on him in his three-year-old prep. “If he comes through this and we think he is capable, we will probably have a crack.” He will be joined in the float trip north from Riverton by stablemate Ataahua Pipedream. The Rip Van Winkle gelding was victorious two starts back at Ascot Park before finishing ninth at Oamaru last month. “He is quite capable,” Eade said. “On his day he has got a good turn of foot and is hard to beat. He just makes up his own mind, if he feels like it, he can run a bit. “We don’t know what happened last start, whether it was the track. He is a funny horse, he likes Invercargill and Riverton, but he picks his tracks.” Eade has won five races to date this season and more than $150,000 in prizemoney, and he is excited about his stable’s prospects next term. “We only train a few and it has been quite a good season,” he said. “I have got The Tui Toiler, he has recently come to the barn as Stephen Blair-Edie has finished up training and he has handed him off to us. We will just take him one step at a time.” Horse racing news View the full article

Knight’s Realm will lineup at Te Rapa on Saturday. Photo: Peter Rubery (Race Images Palmerston North) Promising four-year-old Knight’s Realm could book his ticket south to the Group 3 Winter Cup (1600m) at Riccarton next month if he performs up to expectations at Te Rapa on Saturday. The son of Castledale has be in a purple patch of form, winning two and finishing runner-up in two of his four starts this preparation, including carrying 60kg to victory over 1300m at Pukekohe last start. Trainer Clinton Isdale has plenty of time for the gelding and believes he is capable of featuring in the Winter Cup. “Knight’s Realm is a really exciting horse,” he said. “Every time we step him up, he just keeps on putting his hand up. Even the other day with 60 kilos was quite impressive. “This will tell us if we have got a horse good enough to go down for the Winter Cup.” Meanwhile, Isdale will head to Rotorua on Wednesday where he will be represented by last-start runner-up Impressive Belle. “It was her first start for me the other day and she went nice enough,” Isdale said. “Hopefully she handles the wet track tomorrow and I am hoping she will be thereabouts.” The Cambridge trainer will head south to line up two runners at Awapuni’s Synthetic meeting, including Mirabella and San Simeon. “Mirabella is a nice two-year-old,” Isdale said. “She trialled up really well ahead of her two-year-old races, but she was probably a bit immature, and I probably should have been a bit more patient with her. “She trialled up really well at Cambridge two weeks ago and she will have 52 kilos on her back after Jess Allen’s claim, and she will be hard to beat. “San Simeon has come from Tim and Margaret Carter. He has had a bit of jumping and swimming just to try and keep him off the track and hopefully the jumping can spark a bit of a return to form for him.” Isdale will round out the week at Tauranga on Sunday where he will line-up Storms Ahead in the 2100m maiden. “He went down to Otaki first-up for me and Jonathan Riddell said he didn’t give him the best of rides, but the horse kept coming and the horse would be hard to beat next start,” Isdale said. “He ran second the other day at Pukekohe with Wiremu (Pinn) on and it was quite a pleasing run.” Horse racing news View the full article

Mahrajaan winning the Group 3 New Zealand Cup (3200m). Photo: Race Images South Early trans-Tasman discussions have encouraged Shaune Ritchie to aim at Australasia’s top staying prize with his distance specialist Mahrajaan. The Cambridge-based horseman trains the six-year-old with Colm Murray and all roads will lead to the Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) in the spring. Mahrajaan emphatically ticked the stamina box last preparation with victories in the Group 2 Auckland Cup (3200m) and the Group 3 New Zealand Cup (3200m). “He is definitely going to be set for the Melbourne Cup and I’ve spoken to the Victorian handicapper, he said based on nine of the last 10 Cups he would get a run off his rating,” Ritchie said. “That’s unless there is a massive influx of English horses, which there hasn’t been lately due to the sensitive veterinary exams etc. and no free rides, they have to pay their own way. “That’s probably good for the race as it gives Australian and New Zealand horses eligibility into it so he would be unlucky not to get a run.” Process of elimination has also been a major factor in placing the focus on the Flemington feature. “What choice have we got? He would be weighted out of the New Zealand Cup, the Wellington Cup (Group 3, 3200m) and probably the Auckland Cup so it’s our main goal,” Ritchie said. “To have a runner would be something very special, but we’re not foolish enough to suggest that if his form is woeful we would press on. “We are mindful though that his form can be pretty average leading up to the two miles and it’s not until he gets there that he excels. “The only race that would suit him in his lead-up is the Moonee Valley Gold Cup (Group 2, 2500m) at set weights and penalties.” Mahrajaan is likely to have a couple of domestic outings before he departs for Melbourne. “At this stage, we’ll give him two runs at Ruakaka and then go over,” Ritchie said. “I’d also be keen to run him in the Bart Cummings (Group 3, 2500m) as I would want him to have a look at Flemington, he seems to go well on those roomier tracks like Riccarton and Ellerslie. “We fully understand how hard it would be to win a race like the Cup, but it’s a huge opportunity for the owners.” An American-bred son of Kitten’s Joy, Mahrajaan was purchased by Ritchie out of the Tattersalls Autumn Horses In Training Sale for 75,000gns and he will be returning to England on another buying mission next week. “I’m going to the July Sale to try and buy a similar horse because of how well we’ve done with him and there’s interest in getting another one,” he said. “That will be fun and hopefully we can buy a horse of similar profile. We got this one in the hope of getting into a Melbourne Cup and it’s great that we’ve got this far. “I used Jason Smith, who works for Cambridge Stud, last time and he follows the European form extensively. He selected 12 to 15 horses and we selected Mahrajaan out of those so I’ll use his services again.” It won’t be all business for Ritchie, who will be accompanied by his 15-year-old daughter Delta. “It will be a great experience for her and we’ll try and shoot down to London for a day or two,” he said. “She’s 15 and at that stage they are learning to spend, so I might have to win the Melbourne Cup to pay for it all.” Ritchie will also realise a long-held ambition with a sporting date in the United States. “I’m going to New York and not that I’m a big baseball fan, but I love the atmosphere of the big stadiums,” he said. “The New York Yankees are playing the Boston Red Sox and I’ve got some dugout tickets behind the home team. “I’ll probably be the only bloke sitting there at Yankees Stadium in an All Blacks jersey.” Horse racing news View the full article

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Darwin apprentice Jade Hampson with the Neil Dyer-trained Ziggi Rocks after they combined to get the cash at Fannie Bay on Saturday. Picture: Caroline Camilleri (Fotofinish Racepix) She missed last year’s Darwin Cup Carnival with injury, so apprentice Jade Hampson is understandably looking forward to the 2024 event starting this weekend. And the 20-year-old is flying after winning doubles at Darwin on Saturday and Alice Springs on Sunday. After partnering Neil Dyer’s Ziggi Rocks and Garry Lefoe’s Canton Kid at Fannie Bay, Hampson saluted aboard Yannick Valenti’s Get Out Mick and Dan Morgan’s Boy Big at Pioneer Park. It was ROANT Gold Cup Day on Saturday, and it was in the opening race over 1600m (0-70) that the third-year apprentice won on Ziggi Rocks. Wind the clock back 12 months ago, and it was in the very same race that Hampson was dislodged from Paul Gardner’s Glacier Grey. Hampson injured her back, while Glacier Grey was sadly euthanised after fracturing its near fore leg. For the next four months, Hampson received treatment after suffering five fractures in her spine from the C7 (cervical vertebrae) to the T4 (thoracic vertebrae) before returning on Melbourne Cup Day. “The year has gone quick, but I’m definitely back to full strength,” Hampson said. “The recovery took a bit longer than I expected, but I’m feeling at my best and I’m really looking forward to Carnival. “It probably wasn’t until earlier this year that I started feeling comfortable in the saddle, I wasn’t having much trouble with my back. “I still go to the chiropractor every week and get the occasional massage. “There’s always going to be something that’s there for life, but I feel like my back is at a level now that I can tolerate and manage a lot more easily.” Hampson, an Alice Springs Cup winner who has represented the NT in the National Apprentice Race Series, will partner Super Defense for her boss Tayarn Halter in the $75,000 Darwin Guineas (1600m) this Saturday. Super Defense, from Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou’s Rosehill stable, caught the eye first up when second behind He’s Maverick over 1300m (BM66) on June 22. With 80 career wins, Hampson (17), who still claims 1.5kg, sits third behind Jarrod Todd (49) and fellow apprentice Emma Lines (27) in the Top End and Country premiership. Apart from her commitment to the Halter stable, Hampson also has strong links with the Chole Baxter and Garry Lefoe stables. She hopes to continue her association with Baxter’s He’s The Ultimate, fifth in last year’s Darwin Cup (2050m), after they combined to finish second behind Wolfburn in Saturday’s ROANT Gold Cup (1300m). And has her fingers crossed that she will keep the ride on Canton Kid, a Palmerston Sprint (1200m) aspirant, after he also made a successful return over 1000m (0-76) on Saturday. Halter and Lefoe have potential Darwin Cup prospects following the arrival of Makbeel from Pakenham trainer Reece Goodwin and Cormorant, who has raced in Ireland and England, from Warrnambool trainer Maddie Raymond, respectively. Hampson, who has also had success at Sandown, SA and WA, and who rode at Eagle Farm and Doomben during the NARS, has hinted that she could relocate following the Darwin Cup Carnival. Horse racing news View the full article

Mark Twain pictured with co-trainer Roger James, strapper Matthew Ivil, Tour Ambassador Damien Oliver and co-trainer Robert Wellwood. Photo: Angelique Bridson The Melbourne Cup Tour made its way to Cambridge on Monday and local trainers Roger James and Robert Wellwood got their first glimpse at the iconic trophy they hope to get their hands on at Flemington on the first Tuesday in November. The Cambridge horsemen have a guaranteed spot in the race that stops two nations courtesy of Mark Twain after he won the ballot-exempt Listed Roy Higgins (2600m) at the Melbourne track in March. James has tasted plenty of success at elite-level, but the Melbourne Cup has eluded him to date, having just had the one previous runner in Railings, while his multiple Group One winner Silent Achiever was ruled out of the Cup at the 11th hour 11 years ago with injury. James said the Melbourne Cup is the pinnacle in Australasian racing and he is excited to have a lightweight chance in this year’s edition of the time-honoured race. “For anyone that is involved in racing, the Melbourne Cup is the one race that stands out in Australasia,” James said. “Anybody that is not involved in racing knows about the Melbourne Cup as well. It has built a name over the years that is steeped in history and to be able to have a runner in it is a privilege.” James has been happy with the way Mark Twain has returned from his spell and said they have time to iron out some issues with his racing manners, which were showcased in his Roy Higgins win, prior to the Cup. “He is in the early stages (of his preparation) but he is where we want him,” James said. “He is a late maturing horse, and he is getting there, and I think he will strengthen through the programme. “He has been capable of doing a bit wrong on race day, but I don’t think they are problems that we can’t remedy. He won’t be in the same gear that he raced in that (Roy Higgins) day, but we haven’t decided what he will race in yet.” Mark Twain’s entire Melbourne Cup preparation will take place across the Tasman, and James said a lengthy duration in Melbourne poses no concerns. “He will probably have three, maybe four runs in the build-up (to the Melbourne Cup) and we have got the job of peaking him on his day, and he should get in with a nice weight,” he said. “It (first run) will be in Melbourne. I think it is just too risky to stay here and there is a lot of travel involved and a lot of wet tracks. “I just think he is better to get over there. He enjoyed the atmosphere in the stable over there once he got there in the autumn and I have no worries about having him there for a length of time.” While looking forward to having his second runner in the Melbourne Cup, James said it will be good to share the experience with his training partner. “For somebody of his age to win a Cup it would be phenomenal,” James said. A victory in the Melbourne Cup by Mark Twain would be fitting, having been named after the American author, who in 1895 went to Flemington and saw the three-year-old filly Auraria win the Melbourne Cup and penned the lines after the event: ”Nowhere in the world have I encountered a festival of people that has such a magnificent appeal to a whole nation. The Melbourne Cup is Australasian National Day. I can call to mind no specialised annual day in any country whose approach fires the whole land with a conflagration of conversation and preparation and anticipation and jubilation. The Cup astonishes me.” This year’s Melbourne Cup Tour is travelling to 39 destinations in six nations, including New Zealand, Australia, Japan, USA, United Kingdom and Ireland. The Cup is being accompanied by Tour Ambassador and three-time Melbourne Cup-winning jockey Damien Oliver, who was impressed with Mark Twain when visiting Cambridge on Monday. “I was really impressed by his win in the Roy Higgins at Flemington. It looked like the second coming of Kiwi (1983 Melbourne Cup winner) launching down that straight,” he said. “Even seeing him in the flesh here today, he looks great, his coat looks fantastic for the middle of winter. We know how good a horseman Roger is, so I am sure he is going to get the chance to show his best on the first Tuesday in November.” Having ridden Doriemus (1995), Media Puzzle (2002), and Fiorente (2013) to victory in the great race, Oliver knows what it takes to be a Melbourne Cup winner, and he said Mark Twain will need to improve his racing manners ahead of November. “He is going to get a pretty light weight, he has raced really well on the course, although he probably needs to get his race manners a little bit better than what he showed there (Roy Higgins),” Oliver said. “He is a young horse and I think there is obviously improvement to come with him, but in a race like the Melbourne Cup you can’t afford to do too much wrong. He will need to mend his ways a little bit, but he looks like he has got some raw ability there and I am sure Roger has got a bit of time up his sleeve to get the best out of him.” New Zealand has a rich history in the Melbourne Cup, with Kiwi-breds having won the race on 44 occasions, and James and Wellwood are hoping they can extend that to 45 in November. Horse racing news View the full article

Ballymore Stables New Zealand trainer Pam Gerard. Photo: Supplied Pam Gerard is hoping to finish her final term in partnership with Michael Moroney on a high over the coming month, kicking off with a small team at Rotorua on Wednesday. Gerard has been at the helm of the Matamata stable since 2016 and the pair have celebrated their best season to date with 32 winners, the latest being promising stayer Mineshaft at Ruakaka last Saturday. The Merchant Navy four-year-old relished the step-up over ground, ridden patiently by Kelly Myers at the back before powering through the field to score by 1.5 lengths, the third success in his last six starts. “He’s a horse that just likes to find his feet early, and we probably rode him a little bit handier than he was used to in the wet track at Te Aroha the start before,” Gerard said. “When he races in amongst the field he can be a bit competitive, and when we took him down to Wellington and tried him in the Remutaka Classic he led up and that wasn’t quite the right thing to do. “He’s a pretty laidback type so he just likes to potter away, but he’s got a pretty nice turn of foot. He was really good on the weekend.” Gerard is now contemplating whether Mineshaft will return in a fortnight for the ITM/GIB Finals in the north, with a strong line-up likely on the better track conditions. “We’re still tossing up but at this stage I’d say we probably will go up there, it will be interesting to see how he measures up in a good field over ground,” she said. “He does always seem to go better on the fresh side though, so no decision has been made yet.” Turning her focus to the Arawa Park meeting, Gerard’s contingent include Tarzana, a Tarzino half-sister to On The Rocks, her first Group One winner in 2019. The filly finished a narrow second on debut at Hawera and will be chasing her breakthrough victory. “She was super at Hawera, we went down there trying to get an easy kill and she came up against a very nice horse,” Gerard said. “She’s had a bit of a freshen-up and we’re very happy with her work. I don’t think she’s a true wet-tracker so we’ll keep an eye on the weather, but she’s pretty easy to ride anywhere so she should jump out of the gates and put herself there.” Mood Painter and Juwala have made positive returns at the trials and will resume. “I think she (Mood Painter) will be hard to beat, she’s flying in her work and went well in her trial. She’s come back mentally a lot more mature this time,” Gerard said. “Juwala was super at the trials, he’s taken a wee while to make but I think he’s pretty much on the mark now. He’ll be another that is hard to get past as long as the track doesn’t get too wet, but if it does, we’ll be happy to wait for him.” Complacent four-year-old Presuming will make his debut after trialling smartly in the heavy conditions at Rotorua in mid-June. “He’s just taken a bit of time but trialled up really well and the wet track won’t worry him. 1200m is probably a bit short for what he needs, but he can go pretty hard so we’d like him to settle back and run home,” Gerard said. With plenty of exciting young talent and returning performers, Gerard is looking forward to the coming season with the likes of Group 3 Matamata Slipper (1200m) winner Savaglee, and Harlech, who had a successful campaign in Canterbury concluding in an Easter Cup (1600m) success. “Savaglee has grown a little bit and is a lot more even, he’s pretty much up to the mark and will trial in August before those early three-year-old races,” Gerard said. “Harlech will return back to work and have a prep doing a few different things, then he will head back down to Christchurch for the summer. “The business changeover starts today, but Mike is on board until the end of the season. I’ve got some big shoes to fill and it is a bit daunting, but it’s pretty exciting and fingers crossed we can get a good start to the season. “We’ve got a lot of nice young horses, so we’ll be trying our best to keep the Ballymore name up to the mark.” Horse racing news View the full article

Byerley Park trainer Barbara Kennedy. Photo: Trish Dunell A mix of excitement and relief was felt by Barbara Kennedy after Subtle Power crossed the line at Ruakaka on Saturday, delivering her first success as a trainer in New Zealand. Kennedy had previously trained 59 winners in her native South Africa, and after moving to New Zealand with her husband and jockey Warren, was given the opportunity to take over Peter and Dawn Williams’ successful barn at Byerley Park from the beginning of June. Subtle Power was one of the horses Kennedy took over from the Williams’ for owner-breeder Chittick Investments, and the Savabeel filly was rated a +500 chance with horse racing bookmakers in the maiden mile contest after finishing third on debut at Cambridge. In the hands of the premiership-leading hoop, Subtle Power settled in behind the speed through the running and took the lead early in the straight, managing to hold out several late chargers to score by a head. Kennedy was delighted to get on the board so early into her Kiwi career, made particularly special with her husband in the saddle. “I was really ecstatic on the day and a bit relieved at the same time to get the first win out of the way,” Barbara Kennedy said. “We were really happy and it was great to have Warren ride my first winner in New Zealand too. “She’s a filly who the penny hasn’t quite dropped yet, she was still very green after hitting the front quite early, and she got a bit lost. “She was one with Peter and Dawn, so Warren had done a lot of trackwork on her while she was with them and had ridden her at the trials as well. He was very happy with her. “She’s a decent type and has shown us tonnes of ability, so she’ll probably head out for a spell now and come back in the spring.” Back at Byerley Park, Kennedy is establishing a good foundation heading into the new season next month. “We have a nice little routine going with a great team that Peter and Dawn have trained up really well, they all know the swing of things,” she said. “We have 15 horses in training, so that’s a nice number to kick off with and slowly figure things out as we go. “I’m hoping Subtle Power can be something special for the new season and we have a few other decent prospects coming through, but my main goal is to get the winners rolling and being able to compete with the bigger trainers. “I’m looking forward to getting out there and showing them what we’ve got.” Horse racing news View the full article

Super Bonus seals a Pierre Ng double at Sha Tin. Pierre Ng reclaimed the ascendancy in the rollercoaster tussle for the 2023/24 Hong Kong trainers’ championship with a crucial double at Sha Tin on Monday to edge two wins clear of Francis Lui. With only four meetings left in the season, Ng leads Lui 67-65 after Alexis Badel piloted Gangnam Star to victory and Super Bonus won under Andrea Atzeni. “Brilliant. I’m quite happy. At this stage, I just have to keep going. Hopefully we get more winners in the next few meetings,” Ng said of the championship standings. “Andrea told me he lost his iron out of the gates (on Super Bonus), so luckily picked it back up. Luckily the pace wasn’t that fast – they did the first section in 24.35s, which is quite easy for him to roll along. “He was three-wide all the way, but he’s made improvement. He used to just stop or want to get away from horses in the straight, but now he’s more straightforward and finishes off hard.” Gangnam Star triumphed at his 12th start. “He took a bit of time to get his first win. He was very difficult from the start when he came to Hong Kong, so he needed time to get settled down. When we tried to run him (last October), he had a heart problem, so then we had to step back again and start him later on,” Ng said. “It’s good that he can find some confidence today to hit the front because he’s a thinker – he’s always thinking what to do and what not to do. He won well.” While Ng shared training honours with Chris So, Lyle Hewitson snared a treble with wins on So-trained pair Flying High and Parterre before saluting on Michael Chang’s Ching. “Just really happy, I came to the meeting thinking I had a decent book,” Hewitson said. “I didn’t think there was a standout but the cards fell in my favour and everything worked out really well. “To cap it off with Ching was great. He’s been a special horse to me in Hong Kong and, like Chris So’s horses, Ching was beautifully prepared and I was the lucky recipient.” Zac Purton logged a brace on a pair of promising talents – Bottomuptogether, who is unbeaten after three starts following his searing and Amazing Fun, who made an impressive debut with success for Dennis Yip. In the saddle for each of Frankie Lor-trained Bottomuptogether’s victories, Purton said: “He did a really good job. He had barrier one but he came under pressure mid-race, which I didn’t appreciate. He let down well in the straight, he’s done a good job.” Ridden quietly by Purton, Tivaci gelding Amazing Fun clocked 56.22s up the straight course. “He’s got ability, this horse. Early in the season I trialled him and he was very good but at that stage he didn’t relax,” Yip said. “After that he was ready to race, but he got injured. I put him in Conghua and told my son to teach him to relax in the morning. “The horse is now very relaxed and it’s lucky this race was there for him. When he passed the other horses, Zac said he didn’t know what to do and the horse was looking around a bit. He needs time to keep improving.” Alexis Badel also achieved a double and predicted a bright future for Manfred Man’s Chiu Chow Spirit after the former Australian galloper’s victory in the Class 2 Hong Kong Reunification Cup Handicap (1400m). “Brave horse, very good quality – he deserved this,” Badel said after the Frenchman threaded a gap along the fence to deny Tomodachi Kokoroe by a short head to earn a PP Bonus of HK$1.5 million plus the winner’s purse of HK$1.59 million. “I’m very happy, Manfred has been a good supporter and I’m happy that they stuck with me on the horse and I’m happy that I could deliver. “I was a bit worried about the draw because with the small field and from that gate (nine), I was worried about finding the right spot. But it worked out well, the pace was good enough and this horse has really got a great turn of foot – he can out-sprint the field. A Group 3 winner for Tony and Calvin McEvoy when he raced as Twin Stars in Australia, he took his Hong Kong career earnings to beyond HK$7 million with his second Sha Tin win. Flying High made it five course and distance wins after unleashing a powerful finish to clinch the CMA 90th Anniversary Cup Handicap (1000m) before Parterre (135lb) controlled the speed before fending off Giant Leap. Jimmy Ting’s Smiling Collector held on courageously to defy Forerunner for Harry Bentley before Ricky Yiu-trained Mighty Strength prevailed in another tight finish. Hong Kong International Sale graduate Harmony N Home posted his first win since March, 2021 with victory under Matthew Poon for Danny Shum. Horse racing news View the full article

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Victoria’s Saturday metro meetings will feature 10 races for an eight-month stretch in the 2024–25 season, as announced by Racing Victoria (RV). The series kicks off with the Group 1 Memsie Stakes event on August 31 and wraps up on April 26, 2025, at Caulfield. In a trial spanning from August 2023 to May 2024, the introduction of 10 race cards resulted in $5 million in betting revenue and an extra $2.8 million in prize money. Matt Welsh, RV’s Executive General Manager for Racing, mentioned that the scheduling of these extended cards would coincide with periods of daylight hours. Welsh highlighted how the decision strikes a balance between maximising industry returns and ensuring track efficiency and participant well-being. He pointed out that while Saturday city meetings make up 10% of their offerings, they drive 40% of wagering activity. The addition of the race has proven beneficial by meeting customer demand and boosting revenue to support the sport. To address concerns about race day duration, Welsh stressed their commitment to keeping any extensions minimal, typically limited to around 15 minutes extra per event. Looking ahead to the season, he shared plans to kick off these scheduled 10 race cards no earlier than noon, and the prize money for the race 10 will remain at $80,000. The Victoria Racing Club has decided to keep Derby Day and Champions Day during the Melbourne Cup Carnival at Flemington as nine race meetings. Additionally, Sandown will host eight races on AFL Grand Final Day. Horse racing news View the full article

Manfred "Manny" Roos, a prominent owner and breeder in New England and the former longtime president of the regional chapter of the National Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association, died peacefully on June 30. He was 88.View the full article

NYRA provided a window to some main components in the future of downstate racing as it announced the composition of dirt track at the new Belmont Park and that winter racing will be conducted for approximately three months on an all-weather track.View the full article

Ohio-based trainer Francisco Ramos has had five out-of-competition positive tests for clenbuterol since May 8. They followed a post-race positive for clenbuterol in April. The trainer was provisionally suspended May 31.View the full article

Santa Anita Derby (G1) winner Stronghold returns to racing action July 6 as he travels to Horseshoe Indianapolis for the $300,000 Indiana Derby (G3).View the full article

The Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority hosted a webinar July 1 discussing rule changes that go into effect July 8.View the full article

Hey Bella ridden by Jamie Mott wins the Rosemont F&M Maiden Plate at Cranbourne Racecourse on April 12, 2024 in Cranbourne, Australia. (Photo by Scott Barbour/Racing Photos) Racing Victoria stewards are looking into findings in test samples from horses trained by Clinton McDonald and Luke Oliver. A pre-race blood test on McDonalds horse Flying On A Limb, which didn’t perform well at Flemington in April, showed the presence of triamcinolone acetonide, an inflammatory drug that is not allowed on race days. Oliver’s filly Hey Bella tested positive for dexamethasone in a post-race urine sample after winning a race at Cranbourne in April. Dexamethasone is used to treat allergies and inflammatory conditions and is prohibited during races. Further tests confirmed the results. Although no formal charges have been brought forth, stewards are actively investigating the matter and have informed both trainers that it is still under scrutiny. Horse racing news View the full article

Trainer William Haggas has issued a positive bulletin on his impressive G2 Dante Stakes winner Economics (GB), with a return to the Knavesmire for the G2 Sky Bet York Stakes on Saturday, July 27 among the options being considered for his next appearance. The son of Night Of Thunder (Ire) is only three starts into his career and it was because of his relative experience that his connections resisted the temptation to supplement him for the Derby after his emphatic Dante success which saw him power clear of Ancient Wisdom (Fr) (Dubawi {Ire}) to land the spoils by six lengths. Haggas is hopeful that the patient approach he's taken with Economics will pay dividends when it comes to the colt's long-term prospects, which could involve him staying in training for at least one more season. “He's back in work and he should have a good second half of the season,” Haggas told The Nick Luck Daily Podcast. “He's a lovely horse, but he's a great, big horse and he's not just a three-year-old–he's going to be a four-year-old and maybe even a five-year-old, who knows? “I don't know how long it will be because if he's top, top, top class he'll be whisked off to stud, but I can't believe he's not going to be better next year. He's a baby–he's only run three times in his life and he's got lots to look forward to.” Moving on to the subject of where Economics might run next, Haggas continued, “Obviously, the Royal Bahrain Irish Champion is right on the radar because of the race title and His Highness' involvement in it [referring to Bahraini owner Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa]. “The Prix Guillaume d'Ornano [at Deauville] is on August 15, so that knocks out the Juddmonte International [at York on August 21] and I'm quite keen to look at the Juddmonte as well. The obvious fit is the Sky Bet race [also at York] on July 27, but if we don't make that or don't want to go there then we can go for the Juddmonte and he can do a racecourse gallop. “I think to get the freshness out of him it would do him good [to have a run] and that's the sort of [plan]. It's York/York or Deauville/Ireland–that's how you think, but we've got lots to discuss.” Haggas also spoke of the pride he felt in watching stable stalwart Dubai Honour (Ire) (Pride Of Dubai {Aus}) break his Group 1 duck in Europe with victory in Sunday's Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud, teeing him up nicely for a tilt at the G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot on the same day as the York Stakes. “I was hoping he could do something like that,” the trainer added. “I've always believed him to be better right-handed, but he was good left-handed yesterday. He was always travelling well–it was a good set-up for him and he did well. I watched him all the way round and to me he never looked like he was going to get beaten. “He doesn't get much credit, but he's a pretty good horse. Maybe he's just getting his act together aged six or maybe we're just getting the hang of him. I think he might go for the King George–I don't see that we've got anything to lose.” The post Haggas Ponders Next Steps for Dante Hero Economics appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

NYRA said it is committed to improving all aspects of winter racing at the new Belmont Park and that shifting from dirt to the all-weather in the winter months will enhance equine safety.View the full article

Racecourse Media Group (RMG) announced on Monday that its chief executive, Martin Stevenson, has asked the Board to start the process of finding his successor. RMG is the holding company responsible for a range of media rights management businesses. It is owned entirely by its 37 racecourse shareholders, giving the racecourses complete control over the commercialisation of their media and data rights. It is anticipated that Stevenson, who joined RMG in 2007, will step down from the role he's held since 2020 at the end of the year. “I have a significant birthday approaching and I think now is the right time for me to relinquish the role and enable the business to put in place its leadership in plenty of time ahead of the next rights renewal cycle,” said Stevenson. “It has been a huge honour and privilege to have been involved in the RMG project. Having joined as finance director when it was still a start-up, to helping it grow to become the largest funding organisation in British horseracing, it has been an exciting and engaging journey. The business has achieved a great deal in reclaiming control of our racecourses' media and data rights and has created real substantial commercial success for the industry, having now delivered more than £1.2bn to the industry. “The industry undoubtedly has some challenges, but RMG is an excellent example of what can be achieved when the industry comes together in the right way with clear focus, commitment and good governance.” Conor Grant, chair of RMG, added, “Martin has made an enormous contribution to Racecourse Media Group over the last 17 years, serving with great distinction as chief financial officer for 13 years and as chief executive since 2020. “He has been a great ambassador for RMG and leaves the business in rude health and with exciting plans to ensure our continued growth. I would like to thank Martin for his wonderful service and dedication to the business and, on behalf of the board and all RMG shareholders, we wish him every success in the future.” The post RMG Chief Executive Martin Stevenson to Step Down appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article