Wandering Eyes

Due to continued flash flooding from the burn-scarred areas in the Ruidoso area, Ruidoso Downs has canceled Quarter Horse racing July 1, meant to be a make-up day for the Rainbow Derby trials that were canceled June 30.View the full article

It's all about Camelot really, isn't it? Twelve years on and some of us are still not over him being denied the Triple Crown, but every new Group 1 winner he sires helps to ease the pain a little. Though this column doesn't like to hear a word against him, it is fair to say that Camelot has his detractors. His latest Classic winner Los Angeles (Ire) doesn't look the most relaxed of horses but once the colt's mind is engaged in his primary job of galloping then it is hard to fault his resolve and talent. He is also a mighty beast: deep brown and even deeper of girth. A tad burly when he appeared in the parade ring for the Cashel Palace Hotel Derby Trial at Leopardstown in mid-May, Los Angeles had tightened up a little by Epsom, where he suffered the only defeat of his five-race career so far in running third behind his stable-mate City Of Troy in the Derby. Now he is a Derby winner himself, of the Irish variety, after a jump-out-of-your-seat tussle with the Epsom runner-up Ambiente Friendly (Ire). The Irish Derby has been much maligned of late. Some of the criticism is justified, though not all. But the first question that must be asked, of this and other top middle-distance races, is where on earth are all the eligible horses? They are out there somewhere, because plenty of this type are still being bred (for now) and not all are being hoovered up by overseas buyers, but why aren't more of the larger stables entering and running in these races? Not for the first time, Aidan O'Brien and John Magnier propped up the Irish Derby, releasing a statement from Ballydoyle last week detailing their four intended contenders which would ensure eight runners for the race, which in turn helped in the engagement of the race for punters on a World Pool day. We could well be in a similar situation for the Eclipse on Saturday, judging by the 11 to have stood their ground after Monday's confirmations. Ballydoyle is of course the most powerful stable in Ireland, if not the whole of Europe, and O'Brien duly landed his 16th Irish Derby victory. But he is not the only trainer of a large, well-bred string of horses. Some of his compatriots also enjoy decent support from major owners, along with a number of stables in Britain, and the fact that only one other Irish trainer – Ger Lyons – and three from Britain fielded an Irish Derby runner is frankly a pretty poor show. I don't buy the argument that the Irish Derby is now so looked down upon that people no longer want to run in it. If you don't want to have a shot at a Classic, given a suitable candidate, then you've really no business being involved with racehorses. Even if we take, as an example, a handful of the most popular sires who would be capable of siring a winner over 10 or 12 furlongs – Dubawi (Ire), Frankel (GB), Sea The Stars (Ire), Camelot (GB), Galileo (Ire) and Sea The Moon (Ger). This sextet alone covered just shy of 1,000 mares in 2020. Even allowing for the usual fluctuations of mares not getting in foal or producing a live foal, that's still a lot of middle-distance blood for this year's Classic crop, especially when factoring in the offspring of other capable sires. But where are they? Of course, only a small portion of each year's foal crop will become top-class horses, but one wonders if the rise of the super-stables, in which a desire to keep stable-mates apart can be a factor in running plans, is starting to have worrying consequences for these crown-jewel races. Make no mistake, however, the Irish Derby is still a special race. You don't need to take my word for it. After all, what do I know? But here's someone who has had his finger on the pulse of the stallion market for longer than most of us have been legally allowed to have a bet. John Magnier, who was at the Curragh on Sunday, spoke to David Jennings of the Racing Post about retaining the race's distance. He said, “That's important, especially since the French have changed their race and it's not really the Derby any more… That's the tradition and that's the history. The thing is that you need to go from the top to the bottom, you don't need all five-furlong races.” Indeed. The Prix du Jockey Club cannot rightly be considered to be the French Derby since its shortening in distance to 2,100m in 2005. The real French Derby, the Grand Prix de Paris, takes place on July 13. That may come too soon for those who fought out the finish of the Irish Derby, but here's hoping the race provides another enticing clash of the best three-year-old colts. France Galop is certainly doing all it can to encourage runners. In 2019, it launched the 'Grand Free Pass', which constitutes refunded entry fees for those horses already entered, or a reduced supplementary fee of €15,000 for the winners of nine qualifying races, including four in England, and for the first three home in the Derby or Prix du Jockey Club. This year, the Irish EBF Gowran Park Classic offered not just prize-money of €200,000 but also free entry to the Irish Derby for the winner (though in the event, the winning filly, Fleur De Chine (GB), did not take up this engagement). Clearly the teams at HRI and the Curragh have been thinking along similar lines to France Galop, and there is scope to expand on this incentive. Stocking Up The Camelot Group 1 weekend got rolling on Saturday when Bluestocking (GB) mowed down Emily Upjohn (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) on the rainswept Curragh. The Juddmonte filly is now a deserving winner at the top level after several near misses, including in last year's Irish Oaks, and following a confidence-boosting six-length romp in the G2 Middleton Stakes on her first run of the season. Both Bluestocking and Los Angeles are out of mares by Dansili (GB), the former being a daughter of fellow Group 1 winner Emulous (GB), and Los Angeles being out of the unraced Frequential (GB). Now 10, the latter was picked up from the Godophin draft at the Tattersalls February Sale of 2017 for 48,000gns and has fully justified that outlay. For breeding partners Lynch Bages and Longfield Stud she has now produced three black-type performers all by Camelot. More than that though she has a pretty special pedigree, her granddam being Allez Les Trois, a group winner herself, half-sister to Urban Sea and King's Best, and dam of the Prix du Jockey Club winner Anabaa Blue (GB). Two more of Camelot's 12 Group/Grade 1 winners, Athena (Ire) and Sir Dragonet (Ire), are from the same family. Athena's dam Cherry Hinton (GB) (Green Desert) is a daughter of Urban Sea, while Sir Dragonet is out of Sparrow (Ire), a mare by Green Desert's son Oasis Dream (GB) and out of another of Urban Sea's daughters in All Too Beautiful (Ire), who is a full-sister to Galileo. Bluestocking completes a nice brace of Curragh Classic winners for Ralph Beckett with Juddmonte runners after the 2022 Irish Derby victory of Westover (GB). He too had previously finished third at Epsom. Bravo to Menuisier To revert briefly to the early pondering as to why some well-stocked stables are not so well represented in major races, this is certainly not a charge which could be levelled at David Menuisier. The Frenchman, who is based in the south of England at Guy Harwood's Coombelands, has not swerved a challenge all year. He has saddled Tamfana (Ger) to run fourth and third in the 1,000 Guineas and Prix de Diane, beaten no more than a length on each occasion; his 50/1 shot War Chimes (Fr) was third in the Oaks, and Sunway (Fr) stayed on well to take close second in the Irish Derby. Devil's Point (Ire) interrupted the flow of near misses by winning the G2 German 2,000 Guineas and, though it must be frustrating for Menuisier to have come so close in a number of Classics, we salute him for taking up the challenge with horses who are frequently confirming his judgement and ability by outrunning their odds. Ignore this trainer at your peril, particularly when considering that his string of around 70 is only a third of the size, perhaps less, of some of the major stables. Pride of Somerville Lodge Dubai Honour (Ire) led the charge during a fruitful fortnight for William Haggas when claiming his third Group 1 victory in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud on Sunday. The win was significant, it being his first top-level win in Europe and at 2,400m. In 2023, he won both the G1 Ranvet and G1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes in Sydney over 2,000m. A further two Group 2 wins and placings in Group 1 company in Hong Kong and on Ascot's Champions Day mean that the six-year-old now has earnings in excess of £3.5m. His sire Pride Of Dubai (Aus), a Group 1-winning son of Street Cry (Ire) from the family of Invincible Spirit (Ire) and Kodiac (GB), shuttled for only three years to Coolmore in Ireland, with Dubai Honour being a member of his first northern hemisphere crop. The stallion's other three Group 1 winners to date have all come in Australia, where on Saturday his daughter Bella Nipotina (Aus) won her ninth race and third Group 1. She too is a testament to soundness and durability: also six, she has raced 49 times. In what could just be put down to opportunity, given where he stands, it is perhaps worth noting that two of Pride Of Dubai's Group 1 winners are out of mares by Montjeu (Ire) and High Chaparral (Ire) respectively, while two further group winners are also out of High Chaparral mares, as well as daughters of Hurricane Run (Ire), Galileo, and Teofilo (Ire). That's seven of his 13 group winners from Sadler's Wells-line mares. From Haggas's Somerville Lodge stable, another six-year-old triumphed in a group race this weekend. Montassib (GB) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}) claimed the notable scalp of Kinross (GB) in the G3 Chipchase Stakes and was one of three winners on Saturday for the yard, which has celebrated 15 wins in the last fortnight, including Unequal Love (GB) (Dutch Art {GB}) at Royal Ascot. Prescott Not Farhh Behind William Haggas's former boss Sir Mark Prescott is another Newmarket trainer in good form. Following his Royal Ascot strike with Pledgeofallegiance (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), his Heath House Stables has also been represented by Tiffany (Ire), winner of the G3 Hoppings Fillies' Stakes. Commentator Richard Hoiles wins our best tweet of the week award for quipping that Tiffany was “running just as fast as she can” (if you know, you know) and the four-year-old was part of a worldwide group-race double for her sire Farhh (GB) over the weekend. In Japan, Godolphin landed Fukushima's G3 Radio Nikkei Sho with Farhh's son Off Trail (GB), whose pedigree is every bit as regal as it is international. By a British-bred stallion whose female line represents a top German family, Off Trail is out of the American-bred Rose Trail (Kingmambo), herself a granddaughter of the brilliant Australian Group 1 winner and producer Bint Marscay (Aus) (Marscay {Aus}). Not all Doom and Gloam Back in 2017, a yearling filly then known as Gloam (Ire), by Galileo (Ire) out of Breeders' Cup heroine Dank (GB) (Dansili {GB}), topped Book 1 of the October Yearling sale at Tattersalls when sold by Norris Bloodstock for 4 million gns to Godolphin. Bred by James Wigan, as was her dam, the filly's name was changed to Maria Danilova (Ire) but disappointingly she never made it to the racecourse. However, she is now the dam of winner, with her first foal, Blessed Honour (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), having struck at Nottingham on Friday. The three-year-old filly must be held in some regard by her trainer Charlie Appleby as she has an entry for the G1 Yorkshire Oaks. The family received another boost at Royal Ascot when Maria Danilova's half-sister Doom (GB), who is also by Dubawi and was retained by Wigan, ran third in the G2 Duke of Cambridge Stakes having already won a French Listed race. The post Seven Days: The Legend of Camelot appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Horse racing's federal governing body has been in the crosshairs of a couple recent U.S. Supreme Court actions, both directly and indirectly. In one major ruling, the conservative-leaning Supreme Court struck down a legal precedent called the Chevron doctrine, which since 1984 had given federal agencies the legal latitude to determine how best to interpret and implement Congressionally-passed legislation. The Chevron doctrine has been used by the U.S. government to defend a whole host of federal laws over the decades, including environmental regulations, consumer and workplace protections, and those governing the financial markets. It held that a federal agency's interpretation of a law should be honored in cases questioning the law's meaning, provided that interpretation is reasonable. In such cases moving forward, the decision puts greater legal deference into the hands of judges. The Supreme Court also declined to hear a challenge to the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA) filed by Oklahoma, Louisiana and West Virginia after the Sixth Court Circuit's Court of Appeals had found HISA constitutional. All the while, the industry awaits rulings on HISA's constitutionality by the Fifth and Eighth Circuit Appeals Courts. To discuss the possible implications for HISA from the Supreme Court's Chevron ruling, as well as the latest developments in the circuit courts, the TDN spoke with constitutional law expert Lucinda Finley. Finley is the Frank Raichle Professor of Trial and Appellate Advocacy, and director of Appellate Advocacy at the University of Buffalo Law School. The following has been lightly edited for brevity and clarity. TDN: Does the Supreme Court's decision overruling the Chevron doctrine have any bearing on the legal arguments used so far by HISA's opponents to question the law's constitutionality? LF: No. None at all. The Chevron doctrine is a rule about how courts should interpret, should decide, whether a particular rule issued by an agency is justified by the statute that creates the agency. The constitutional challenges to HISA are not about the particular rules–how many strikes with the whip or how long of a withdrawal period for a medication–adopted by the [Federal Trade Commission] FTC. Rather, the constitutional challenges to HISA are about much more fundamental structural issues, such as whether the statute gives too much authority to a private entity compared to a governmental entity. Or whether the statute is too coercive of states, forces them to collect fees as opposed to encouraging them to collect fees. All of those constitutional issues that have been raised in the Sixth Circuit, the Fifth Circuit, the Eighth Circuit, are not about the particular content of any rule, and the Chevron doctrine is only about the particular content of particular rules that agencies adopt. TDN: So, why should anyone involved in horse racing care about the Supreme Court's decision to overrule the Chevron doctrine? LF: Once the constitutionality of HISA is settled–assuming it's settled that it's constitutional–the next frontier of legal challenge might be brought by people who don't like the content of a particular rule. 'I think 10 strikes of the whip is okay and protective for the safety of a horse, but six is too strict,' for example. That's when you get to the level of detail of challenging regulations. The overruling of Chevron means that courts won't defer to the expertise of the agency and their scientific advisors. Courts could now say, 'I'm a judge who knows nothing about horses and nothing about whips, but I think I can make my own decision about whether the six-strikes rule is too strict or too lenient.' So, in other words, it will be not just be for HISA and horse racing, but for any federal regulations–environmental laws, food and drug safety, you name it–that the overruling of Chevron will, I think, encourage any groups affected by a rule, but who don't like the particular rule, maybe think it's too strict, to challenge it. I think it may give greater leeway to judges without any expertise about the area to feel emboldened to substitute their own judgment about the rules for the expertise of the agency. TDN: In other words, this might be a way for critics of HISA to pick apart the law rule-by-rule–at least, those rules that perhaps aren't clearly written, or which, some may argue, don't strictly align with the law's written intent? LF: It could be. But hopefully, I think the [HISA] horseman's advisory group–I mean, at least those horsemen in the states that have been accepting of the rules of HISA–are finding that when they make suggestions about the need to moderate or change a rule, that the Authority and the FTC have been very receptive to that. Pick any controversy, like environmental contamination from human drugs that your stable employees may be using, which is a hot issue right now. If you're a group of horsemen who questioned the approach of the current rules, what are your choices? You can go hire a lawyer and engage in years of expensive litigation. Or, you can work with your horseman's advisory group to approach the HISA Authority, which has so far seemed to be open-minded to making adjustments. So, in the long run, the overruling of Chevron may not have a huge practical effect for the particular rules adopted by the FTC as suggested by the HISA Authority because horsemen's groups may realize that it is more effective, low cost and efficient for them to work through the horseman's advisory body and to continue to work with the Authority. TDN: So, in terms of its regulatory framework, it could play to HISA's favor here to remain flexible? LF: The FTC or any other agency when it decides to adopt a suggested rule has to go through a legally prescribed procedure of putting out a notice of the change, a period of publishing it in the federal register, and a period of comment before taking the comments into consideration. Before a rule is officially promulgated by the FTC, HISA can listen to the horseman's advisory group and say, 'well, before we get this locked into law at the FTC level, we are listening and being receptive to the horsemen affected by our rules, who are telling us how this is working in practice.' I would hope that people who may not like a particular rule would realize that that process is better than immediately running off to court. TDN: Are you able to speculate as to which parts of HISA's rules are perhaps most vulnerable to legal attack? LF: I really, really can't speculate. I just don't want to speculate. TDN: When might such legal efforts begin? LF: My assumption is that the states opposed to HISA are much more focused on trying to get the whole structure of HISA thrown out completely, and to get complete control back to the states–they're not going to focus on challenging particular rules. In challenging a particular rule, it almost seems like you're conceding that HISA has authority over you. Right now, their strategy and goal is to get rid of HISA and to get rid of HISA's authority over racing in their state. So, I don't think the opponents of HISA are immediately going to change their attack by challenging particular rules instead of trying to challenge the entire idea of federal authority over their state racing rules. TDN: Speaking of which, what can be read into the U.S. Supreme Court's denial to review the Sixth Circuit decision? LF: As I've always said in the Q&As with you, as long as there was no conflict between rulings of different federal circuit courts about whether HISA is constitutional or not, I always thought it was very unlikely that the U.S. Supreme Court would review the decisions. So, I think their recent rejection of the appeal from the Sixth Circuit reflects that. Right now, the only federal appellate court that has ruled on constitutionality of HISA after it was amended by Congress is the Sixth Circuit. And the Supreme Court, once the final briefs were in, very quickly rejected taking the case. But if the Fifth or the Eighth Circuit were to rule differently than the Sixth Circuit, now you have what's called a conflict in the circuit courts where you have two different appellate courts coming to different conclusions about whether a federal statute is or is not constitutional. If that happens, if either the Fifth Circuit or the Eighth Circuit should disagree with the Sixth Circuit, then I think it is extremely likely that the U.S. Supreme Court would accept an appeal from one of those other cases. You can't have a situation where a federal statute is considered in some parts of the country and not okay in other parts of the country. You need a uniform decision that affects the whole country. It takes us right back to what I've always been saying to you–we're waiting for the Fifth Circuit. They're taking so long to resolve that case. Who knows why it's taking much longer than usual for resolving a case after it's been fully briefed and argued. TDN: Can you read anything into that? LF: Too speculative. But it suggests there's a disagreement amongst the three judges who heard the case, and there may be some exchanging of drafts trying to internally convince each other. There may be somebody writing a concurrence or dissent, but you can't really read anything into it. TDN: Getting back to Chevron, are there any other important angles of note that we haven't discussed? LF: Chevron has been a guiding principle for how courts have dealt with challenges of the particular rules that agencies issue, but the Supreme Court didn't substitute it with any concrete approach for courts to follow. There's going to be several years of uncertainty now for any federal regulations about how judges who get a case where somebody's challenging a particular rule are supposed to decide whether the rule is authorized by the statute or not. So, in that regard, HISA's rules are facing the same uncertain legal landscape that any other agency's rules are. This overruling of Chevron doesn't have particular implications for HISA's rules; it just creates uncertainty about how any federal agency's health and safety regulations will be evaluated by courts. The post Lucinda Finley Q&A: HISA, Chevron, The Fifth Circuit Wait appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Following Monday's confirmation stage, City Of Troy could face up to 10 rivals as he attempts to become the first Derby winner since Golden Horn (GB) in 2015 to follow up in Saturday's G1 Coral-Eclipse at Sandown. Disappointing on his first start of the campaign in the G1 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket, City Of Troy bounced back to form with a sparkling performance at Epsom, fully confirming the promise he showed when unbeaten in three starts as a two-year-old. The son of Justify is as short as 8-15 with the sponsors to complete the Derby/Eclipse double at Sandown, where he could be joined by up to three stable companions from Ballydoyle, namely Continuous (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}), Luxembourg (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) and Hans Andersen (GB) (Frankel {GB}). The main danger according to the betting is likely to be the John Murphy-trained White Birch (GB) (Ulysses {Ire}), who turned over another of Ballydoyle's star names when making the breakthrough at the top level in the Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh last time. That three-length defeat of Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) was his third victory from as many starts this season, before an unsatisfactory blood test ruled him out of Royal Ascot. “The Coral-Eclipse is renowned for being the first clash of the Classic generation against their elder rivals over the 10 furlongs trip,” Coral's David Stevens said of the Sandown highlight. “In City Of Troy versus White Birch we have a Derby hero taking on a Group 1-winning four-year-old, with this pair dominating the betting on this year's race.” The potential raiding party from Ireland is completed by Joseph O'Brien's Al Riffa (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), while Stay Alert (GB) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) could make a quick return to action having run in Ireland as recently as Saturday when finishing fifth in the G1 Pretty Polly Stakes at the Curragh. Meanwhile, City Of Troy is one of five possible three-year-old runners, along with Royal Ascot winner Jayarebe (Fr) (Zoffany {Ire}) and Derby sixth Dancing Gemini (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), plus the Jeff Smith-owned pair of Ghostwriter (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) and See The Fire (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}). The post City Of Troy and White Birch Star in Coral-Eclipse Confirmations appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

A good week for the Charlton family became a great deal better after Tom, who married his fiancé Alana in Sicily last Tuesday, launched into a training partnership with John O'Shea in Australia. The announcement comes after Charlton, son of multiple Group 1-winning handler Roger and brother to the recently Royal Ascot-winning handler Harry, spent over five years working as an assistant to O'Shea. In his 24 years operating with a licence, O'Shea has managed the careers of many classy types, including Charge Forward, Racing To Win, Foxwedge and Hartnell, and has sent out 29 Group 1 winners. The news comes after Harry Charlton, who recently took over from Roger at Beckhampton, registered his first Royal Ascot winner when Hand Of God claimed the Golden Gates Stakes. Speaking on Monday, Roger commented, “It has been a very proud few weeks for the family. Harry had a great week at Royal Ascot and has enjoyed a good start to his training career and now this announcement that Tom is to join forces with John O'Shea is great news as well.” He added on the 28-year-old's appointment, “Tom is on his honeymoon and gets back to Australia next week. He was determined that he wanted to work for John O'Shea and never looked over his shoulder for other options. I believe, not that I've witnessed, that he works incredibly hard. I know that he is good with people and that he's dedicated. They get on very well together.” The post O’Shea Launches Training Partnership With Recently-Married Tom Charlton appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

South African strikes with first three-timer since December while the Australian superstar retains crown with four meetings remainingView the full article

Gangnam Star and Super Bonus help second-season handler fire back in premiership duel with Francis LuiView the full article

The National Horsemen's Benevolent & Protective Association (HBPA) filed a Petition for Rulemaking under the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA) on Monday, requesting the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to create no-effect thresholds. A no-effect threshold, also known as a no-effect screening limit or no-effect cutoff, is a laboratory testing detection level below which no owner or trainer will be punished for innocent and pharmacologically irrelevant concentrations of foreign substances that have no effect on a horse, according to the HBPA. Under the petition, the no-effect thresholds would be required to be used by the HISA Authority's enforcement arm, the Horseracing Integrity & Welfare Unit (HIWU). “The problem of HIWU unfairly prosecuting blameless horsemen for irrelevant findings as low as one trillionth of a gram per milliliter is plaguing the horse-racing industry,” reads the release from the HBPA. “The National HBPA is calling on the FTC to end this injustice.” In a written statement, Eric Hamelback, CEO of the National HBPA, said, “The National HBPA is committed to doing everything it can to protect horsemen. We need to reshape the HIWU system into one that does not punish blameless trainers and their owners for barely detectible levels of foreign substances. The current process is harming the horseracing industry by publicly shaming as dopers good men and women with reputations for integrity in the sport. Worst of all, these 'adverse' analytical findings are doing nothing to protect the safety of horses. We hope that with this positive change, HISA will be able to focus on regulations that actually catch those they proclaim to be cheating rather than wasting valuable time and resources adjudicating irrelevant concentration findings.” In the petition, the HBPA points out that other federal agencies commonly utilize no-effect thresholds: “For example, the Department of Transportation, in its drug testing of commercial airline pilots, … allows 100 nanograms per milliliter of oxycodone. By contrast, HIWU publishes a zero-tolerance oxycodone policy.” The petition also says, “the EPA measures foreign substances in drinking water in micrograms per milliliter, or one millionth of a gram per milliliter. That is one million times larger than the picogram per milliliter level for which some HIWU laboratories are testing. The EPA recognizes that reporting picogram levels of foreign substances in American drinking water would needlessly alarm the public of the presence of foreign substances that the EPA knows have no effect.” Dr. Chief Stipe Daniels, President of the National HBPA, wrote, “Scientists know that infinitesimally small amounts of foreign substances are present throughout our world. In equines, they usually come from uncontrollable environmental transfers and do not affect the performance of the horse. The FTC must follow the science and adopt no-effect thresholds.” The petition cites several horsemen who were penalized under the existing zero-tolerance policy over commonly used human medications, such as Mike Lauer, who had a horse test positive for Metformin. “Mike Lauer is a 72-year-old trainer with five decades of licensure, who spent almost $50,000 and five months trying to clear his name from HIWU allegations that cost him even more in lost clients,” says the HBPA release. “Ultimately, HIWU concluded that a groom who had ingested his prescription diabetes medication Metformin at lunch then unintentionally contaminated Lauer's horse by touching its mouth while fitting it with a bit and bridle. Yet HIWU still suspended Lauer for 75 days and fined him $2,600.” The petition continues, “These horror stories are pushing other trainers, like Rusty Arnold, to simply admit to violations they did not commit just to get HIWU off their back.” In March, Arnold accepted a seven-day suspension, a $1,000 fine, and a lost a $40,000 purse after his horse Figgy (Candy Ride) tested positive for a metabolite of Tramadol. “Arnold's unjust punishment and widely disseminated statement urging horsemen to `speak up together to regulators–loudly' caused a furor in the industry,” the HBPA said. “The National HBPA gathered and included in the petition signatures from over 750 horsemen, decrying HIWU's unfair treatment of Arnold and demanding no-effect thresholds.” Arnold praised the HBPA's filing of the petition, saying, “Horses are grazing animals. They eat dirt. They love to lick smelly wet spots in stalls. They eat manure. They lick the walls of ship-in stalls. It is unreasonable to think we can control this. I applaud the National HBPA for asking the FTC to bring some common sense and fairness to HIWU's system of gotcha chemistry.” The petition goes on to criticize HISA for “violating the law by not publishing no-effect thresholds for the overwhelming majority of the substances on its list of permitted substances,” and asks the FTC to “issue allowable limits itself to bring the HISA Authority's list into compliance with the Act.” Peter Ecabert, the HBPA's general counsel of the National HBPA, said, “By not issuing allowable limits, the HISA Authority is flouting the law. The National HBPA calls upon the FTC to do its job to correct this violation.” The post HBPA Petitions for No-Effect Testing Thresholds appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD NEWSLETTER View the full article

Hurling for Cancer Research returns to Netwatch Cullen Park in Carlow on Monday, August 12 with an array of stars from the world of racing, GAA and top sports personalities confirmed to line-out for this unique hurling match in aid of the Irish Cancer Society's cancer research programmes. Hurling for Cancer Research, which began in 2011, is the brainchild of leading racehorse trainer, Jim Bolger and former jockey Davy Russell. Both have secured another star-studded panel, including Kerry star footballer Paudie Clifford, Kilkenny legend TJ Reid, Aintree Grand National-winning jockey Rachael Blackmore and more. A firm favourite in the calendar of hurling fans nationwide, Hurling for Cancer Research has raised €1.5 million to date, providing hope for cancer patients by funding groundbreaking cancer research and cancer trials across Ireland. Bolger said, “Once again, we have unbelievable support from so many racing, hurling and football, and leading sports personalities for the 2024 renewal of Hurling for Cancer Research. It has become a very competitive game which is a testament to everyone who has supported the match over the years, on and off the pitch. “Special thanks to my namesake Jim Bolger and the Carlow County Board for generously providing such a wonderful venue like Netwatch Cullen Park. I'm looking forward to seeing a bumper crowd on Monday August 12 for a cause that I know is close to a lot of people's hearts.” Irish Cancer Society CEO, Averil Power, said, “Hurling for Cancer Research is a highlight in the Irish Cancer Society's events' calendar. Every year we are blown away by the star-studded line-up brought together by Jim and Davy, and we're sure this year will be no different. “The funds raised from Hurling for Cancer Research go directly towards new, innovative cancer research in Ireland. As the largest voluntary funder of cancer research in Ireland, we rely on events like Hurling for Cancer Research to bring us closer to the day when nobody dies from cancer in Ireland. By supporting this year's event you're helping to fund over 100 cancer research projects across Ireland each year. We can't thank Jim, Davy and their army of volunteers enough for all the work they do to make this annual event such a huge success.” The post Stars Of The Racing World Set To Line Out For Hurling For Cancer Research appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Too Darn Hot (GB) will not shuttle to Darley Australia for the 2024 season, the outfit confirmed on Monday morning. Already a Classic-producing sire, thanks to the exploits of 1,000 Guineas heroine Fallen Angel and German 1,000 Guineas scorer Darnation, Too Darn Hot is enjoying a memorable year. He has also sired Group 1 winner Broadsiding in Australia and is the leading first-season sire Down Under. A statement posted on Darley in Australia on X read, “#TooDarnHot will not shuttle to Darley Australia's Kelvinside base for the 2024 season.” It added, “Following nine straight seasons covering full books in both hemispheres, it has been decided to give the horse a break from shuttling.” The post Too Darn Hot Will Not Shuttle To Darley Australia For 2024 Season appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

What Scone Races Where Scone Race Club – 434 Bunnan Rd, Scone NSW 2337 When Tuesday, July 2, 2024 First Race 11:35am AEST Visit Dabble NSW racing heads to the Hunter region on Tuesday afternoon as Scone Race Club gets set to host a bumper nine-race program. The rail is out +5m between the 800m to 400m markers, while the remainder is out +3m the rest of the way around. Consistent rainfall is likely to hit the course proper in the lead-up, so with the track already rated a Soft 7 at the time of acceptances, punters can expect a genuine Heavy deck. Racing is scheduled to get underway at 11:35am local time. Best Bet at Scone: Photograph Photograph returns after 116-day spell and appears to be travelling exceptionally well heading into this first-up assignment. She saluted in a recent jump-out at Warwick Farm on June 17, travelling wide throughout before bolting clear to score under her own steam. She’s drawn awkwardly in barrier 11, but watch for Zac Lloyd to drag back towards the rear before unleashing Photograph down the centre of the course. Best Bet Race 1 – #12 Photograph (11) 2yo Filly | T: James Cummings | J: Zac Lloyd (56kg) +260 with Picklebet Next Best at Scone: Fernao Fernao impressed on Australian debut, closing off gamely to get within four lengths of The Creator at Canterbury June 19. He was hopeless out of the barriers, forcing Tyler Schiller to steal rails runs in the final 400m, showing a blistering turn-of-foot first-up for the Annabel Neasham barn. The Irish import should take dramatic improvement from that performance, and with this Class 1 contest a much easier assignment on paper, Fernao should be figuring in the finish again. Next Best Race 4 – #3 Fernao (7) 5yo Gelding | T: Annabel Neasham | J: Alysha Collett (59kg) +160 with Bet365 Best Value at Scone: Delrico Delrico looks a big price with online bookmakers as he makes his debut for the Chris Waller stable. The son of Kingman caught the eye in a recent piece of work at Rosehill on June 21, cruising through the wire behind Mawjood, who subsequently dominated his rivals first-up. The form looks strong, and although this unraced two-year-old might want further distance later in the preparation to hit his peak, the each-way price about Delrico is too good to ignore in this wide-open maiden contest. Best Value Race 2 – #5 Delrico (2) 2yo Colt | T: Chris Waller | J: Lee Magorrian (57kg) +900 with Bet365 Tuesday quaddie tips for Scone races Scone quadrella selections Tuesday, July 2, 2024 5-6-12 1-6-8 1-7 2-3-5 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip Horse racing tips
 View the full article

Golden Path’s (NZ) (Belardo) Listed McKell Cup (2000m) win was the latest chapter in the Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr Sydney success story for 2023/24 and the bad news for trainers permanently-based in the Harbour City is the team is hoping to quadruple its numbers there. The training partnership, whose main base is at Cranbourne, is currently operating out of six borrowed boxes at Rosehill, which are overseen by Ben Elam. Price and Kent have won three Stakes races since setting up base during the Autumn Carnival, which has inspired Price to want a permanent presence with his own 24-horse stable. “I’ve got a nice little barn but I’ve only got six horses there and I’m waiting on a barn so I can be a permanent resident,” Price said. “I’ve got good staff up there. Ben Elam is doing a good job. “I’ve always liked Sydney racing and I’m just waiting on a (bigger) barn.” Golden Path’s Listed win last Saturday was his second in a row in Sydney and was Price and Kent’s fifth win from 31 starters in New South Wales this season with Wee Nessy’s (Snitzel) Gr.2 Sapphire Stakes (1200m) success the biggest. They also won the Listed Gosford Gold Cup (2200m) with Hezashocka (NZ) (Shocking), while Amenable (Lonhro) finished runner-up in the Gr.1 All Aged Stakes (1400m). Another of their Sydney winners is The Creator (NZ) (Wrote), who was successful last time out at Canterbury, and the Kiwi recruit will chase another victory at the same venue this Wednesday. They have one runner nominated for this Saturday’s Randwick meeting, Loco (So You Think), who is a chance to contest the benchmark 78 event over 2000m. Price and Kent are set to raise the bar further with Golden Path, who made it back-to-back wins at 2000 metres and now boasts a record of four wins from 11 starts. “He ate up the 2000 metres,” Price said of the son of four-year-old son of Belardo. “He was an 87-rater, he goes to a Listed race and probably gets 12 points now, so he’s got to be Black Type all the way.” View the full article

In a coup for Central Districts racing, respected track manager Bryce Mildon has returned to New Zealand to take up the position of General Manager of Track Development and Operations with Hawke’s Bay Racing at Hastings Racecourse. Mildon has had a lifelong involvement in the industry, which was instigated by his owner-trainer grandfather Jim Mouat, and he found his way into turf management after studying horticulture, while his brother Rhys was also bitten by the racing bug and is currently assistant trainer to leading Cambridge trainer Stephen Marsh. “My grandfather was an owner-trainer, so I would always go to track work and race meetings with him,” Bryce Mildon said. “When I left school I studied horticulture, so I am a qualified gardener. When I was working as a gardener, I did a few turf units and had a bit of interest in turf and growing grass. That is when I went to Matamata (Racing Club) for 10 years and that is where I qualified in sports turf management.” After a decade at Matamata, Mildon moved across the Tasman to further his career. With the exception of spending a year at Pukekohe Park, Mildon has plied his trade in Victoria, Australia, for the last decade, working at several clubs. “I went from Matamata to a small track in Victoria called Stawell. I was there for 12 months and then I spent three years at Sale and then I moved to Pakenham where I was track manager,” Mildon said. “I was then at Pukekohe for 12 months before returning to Pakenham for five years where I was General Manager of Racecourse. I was looking after all the infrastructure and development there as well, so I got to see a lot, do a lot, and learn a lot. “Pakenham is quite unique because it has synthetic racing as well as turf racing. The turf track was also a sand profile track that was fibre reinforced. There were a lot of things I had to learn to be able to look after those particular profiles and grass types. That really broadened my knowledge. “To come to Hastings and continue that on will be really good.” Mildon has been working at Hastings for a fortnight and he is already enjoying his new role, with the track having conducted its first race meeting since February over the weekend, and Mildon has given the track his tick of approval. “The club hadn’t raced since February, but we had our first meeting back on Saturday which went well,” he said. “The club did a really good renovation in the autumn, which has got the track in really good order. “It has come through the meeting well, we are racing again this Saturday, so it is a quick back-up, but the track has got a good cover of grass, and we are moving the rail out to get over that wear and tear. We had a lot of rain last week as well and the track took that rain well. It was a genuine heavy track on Saturday and performed well. I am happy with where it is at.” Mildon is looking forward to the challenge of preparing the Hastings track for the looming Hawke’s Bay Spring Carnival but holds even more excitement about potential developments at the club in years to come. “As part of my role, the club is looking at whether they redevelop their current site here at Hastings or whether they move to a different site and build a new racecourse in Hastings,” Mildon said. “That will be a great challenge but full of excitement as well. I am really looking forward to that.” Mildon is also enjoying being back in his homeland after several years away from family. “It is good being back, I was away for over 10 years,” he said. “With what is happening in racing in New Zealand at the moment, it is quite an exciting time to be back here and be a part of.” View the full article

The 2024 Lexus 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 Lexus 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. View the full article

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 1-½ 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 in the MacMillan Accountants 3YO (1215m). “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 in the Entain/NZB Insurance Pearl Series (1215m) and The Graham Brown & Co Julie Tribute Race (1400m). “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 in the Greenlight Insurance Brokers (1215m) 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 Gr.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.” View the full article

Dan Vegas is continuing Totara Park Stud’s outstanding run of success with the family of the unbeaten three-year-old. He is out of Dirk and Nicci Oberholster’s Savabeel mare Miss Bluebell, who has a 100 percent winning record from two visits to Little Avondale Stud’s Per Incanto. The Kenny Rae and Krystal Williams-trained Dan Vegas followed up his debut victory at Ruakaka over 1400m earlier this month with another dashing course and distance victory on Saturday. He is raced by co-breeders Totara Park and the Little Avondale Trust and is a younger brother to the Oberholster-bred and sold pair of Listed Members’ Handicap (1600m) winner Gringotts and stakes placed half-brother Millefiori. The flying start Dan Vegas has made to his career has attracted buyer interest. “There’s been nothing concrete yet. We’re probably getting harder to deal with by the day as far as selling him goes,” Nicci Oberholster said. “With the stakes in New Zealand racing now, things are a lot brighter on that front as far as keeping them to race here.” Dan Vegas was to have been offered through Riversley Park’s 2022 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale draft before fate intervened. “He was always going to be a sales horse but for one reason or another he never got there and that’s ended up being our good luck,” Oberholster said. “He breezed up for the Ready to Run Sale and ran a good time, but when they did the final x-ray he had a little chip on his knee. “We took the chip out and gave him to Kenny to get him up and going. “We’ll just see where he takes us. It wouldn’t be a bad thing to just have some fun.” Dan Vegas’ unraced mother Miss Bluebell is out of a half-sister to dual stakes winner Vegas Showgirl who secured her place in breeding and racing folklore as the dam of champion mare Winx. “We were halves in Miss Bluebell, she was a foal share with Mark Chittick,” Oberholster said. “She didn’t get to the races and Mark signed her over to us as he had Savabeel fillies and mares coming out of his ears at that point. “She’s had a stakes winner and stakes placegetter who have both won seven and now he (Dan Vegas) has come out and won two on the trot.” Currently empty, Miss Bluebell will be returning later this year to Per Incanto after producing a daughter to champion sire Proisir last season before she failed to get in foal to Satono Aladdin. “The Proisir filly will be going to the sales with a healthy reserve on her. She’s a beautiful filly and we’ve got Miss Vegas who has got a Proisir filly and a colt,” Oberholster said. The first foal of Miss Bluebell’s half-sister Miss Vegas, a daughter of Carlton House, is Dan Vegas’ stablemate Vegas Queen who ran third in Saturday’s two-year-old event at Ruakaka. From the same family is Vegas Dancer, dam of the multiple winner and Gr.2 Wakeful Stakes (2000m) and Gr.3 Ethereal Stakes (2000m) runner-up Vegas Jewel, a daughter of Shocking. “We’ve got an Ace High colt out of the old girl and that’s probably her last foal. We probably won’t mate her again, she’s been very kind to us,” Oberholster said. View the full article

Dictation and Hamish McNeill on their way to winning at Hastings. Photo: Peter Rubery (Race Images Palmerston North) The maiden hurdlers put on a thrilling spectacle in the opening two races at Hastings on Saturday, with the first of a pair of photo finishes won by promising local jumper Dictation. Paul Nelson and Corrina McChief Stipeal have a stellar record at the annual Hawke’s Bay Hunt meeting, winning at least one race on the card every year since 2019. A son of Tavistock, Dictation collected a pair of victories on the flat in 2022 and made a commendable debut over the fences at Te Aroha earlier this month, finishing a close-up second to Jesko. Heading to Hastings, he was rated a +260 second-favourite with leading horse racing bookies behind a strongly-backed Semper Magico (+120), who was on jumping debut after nine victories and a stakes placing on the flat. Semper Magico’s inexperience was evident from the opening fence where he was wayward, but soon settled into stride under Portia Matthews while Dictation was all business up-front in the hands of Hamish McNeill. Dictation sat outside Rakanui through the mid-stages while Semper Magico tracked quietly in behind, and as the pressure came on at the 300m, the two favourites set to fight it out in a head-bobbing battle, with Dictation getting his head down to score by the barest of margins over Semper Magico. McNeill was thrilled to prevail in the photo-finish, earning his seventh win for the training combination. “He gave me a great feel at Te Aroha but just ran into a nice one in Jesko with (Shaun) Fannin,” he said. “He’s a lovely horse, he jumped perfectly and he did get the last a little bit wrong, but he’s tough and I rode him home. “It (Semper Magico) is going to be a nice jumper for the future and has plenty of flat form, but you can’t beat Paul on Hawke’s Bay day.” Bred by the Dowager Duchess of Bedford, Dictation is out of a Volksraad mare Solo, and was purchased for $20,000 by Nelson on gavelhouse.com in 2022 for the I See Red Syndicate after starting his career under Glen Harvey. “We were rapt with the run, it was only his second hurdle race so he did it pretty nicely. The way he fought back was extra good,” Nelson said. “We’re finding it hard to plan another start with him because the meetings and venues are getting changed so often, so no one really knows where we’re going yet. We’ll just have to see what comes up.” Saturday also marked 20 years since Nelson claimed his first success training for the syndicate at the Hawke’s Bay meeting, with Just A Swagger winning the maiden hurdle contest in 2004 before going on to win two Grand National Hurdles (4200m) and a Grand National Steeplechase (5600m). The stable went close to claiming their third Te Whangai Romneys Hawke’s Bay Hurdles (3100m) since joining forces with Taika, who pushed star hurdler Berry The Cash all the way in the feature to go down by a half-head. “We were very pleased with him, Berry The Cash has shown he is a pretty useful horse and it was only Taika’s second run, while he had another two races (Awapuni and Waikato) that he had won this year. He was pretty forward,” Nelson said. “We’ll probably keep him and Nedwin (stablemate) separate going forward, getting two riders for one race is a bit difficult but we’ll have to see what we can do.” Nelson was pleased with how the Hastings track held up despite recent torrid weather conditions on the East Coast of the North Island resulting in a true heavy 10. “The track appeared to play pretty fairly both on and off the rail all day, and I thought it looked good. There was a bit of top coming off but it definitely didn’t get too muddy,” he said. Horse racing news View the full article

Spencer (orange silks) prevailed in a thrilling finish at Hastings on Saturday. Photo: Peter Rubery (Race Images Palmerston North) Although understandably a little tired after making the long trip from their Waverley base to Hastings and back on Saturday, both trainer Erin Hocquard and her rising star Spencer were feeling satisfied about a job well done. The four-year-old Derryn gelding continues to impress as he took his current winning streak to three for Hocquard when he passed his biggest test to date at his first try in open company. Hocquard was nervous before the race as to how the star of her six-horse stable would handle the challenge, but was left in no doubt he has more to give as he out-toughed Samoot, Old Town Road and Durham in a stirring four-way finish to the contest. “I was a bit worried about the test for him and the track before the race as at one stage earlier in the week there was some talk the meeting may not go ahead with all the rain around,” Hocquard said. “As it turned out the track was perfect, and he came through with flying colours. “Lisa (Allpress, rider) said he just puffed himself up in the birdcage and went down to the start like he owned the place and when it got tight in the last 200m he just refused to lie down. “It was another 1200m race and I know he has won over 1400m, so I wasn’t worried about him being strong at the end, but the way he put them away was very heartening. “He doesn’t seem to have been bothered by it all as when I took him out of his box this morning, he pig rooted all the way down to his paddock and was pretty happy with himself. “He can be a little quirky at times and he spent the whole time in the swab box walking around trying to headbutt me as he thinks that is fun, but while he is a happy horse I’m certainly not complaining.” Hocquard will now turn her sights to a pair of stakes features which will present a new set of challenges for both horse and trainer over the next month. “He is entered for the Winter Cup down at Riccarton and will most likely need one more race before we go there,” she said. “He had three weeks between runs this time and if we do the same again then the Opunake Cup (Listed, 1400m) looks ideal for him as it would be three weeks to that and then a fortnight to the Winter Cup. “The trip to Riccarton will be a big one for him and I am worried about it along with some things closer to home including who will look after my horses here while I’m away, but racing people are very generous and I’m sure someone will step up to help me out. “Win, lose or draw I’m sure it will be a good experience for us both.” Horse racing bookmakers were suitably impressed by the performance and quickly shortened his odds to become the +700 equal favourite with Justaskme for the Group 3 Winter Cup (1600m) on August 3. Bred and raced by members of Taranaki’s well-known Schumacher family, Spencer has now won five of his thirteen starts and over $118,000 in prizemoney Horse racing news View the full article

Blake Shinn with trainer Mitchell Beer after his horse Mnementh won the 2023 Santa Ana Lane Sprint Series Final at Flemington. (Photo by Brett Holburt/Racing Photos) Mitchell Beer is looking forward to returning to Melbourne this weekend, bringing Mnementh for the Listed Santa Ana Lane Sprint Series Final (1200m) at Flemington. “Flemington’s just a special place, especially for someone who grew up in Melbourne, so to have the thought of having a good chance there in any race, especially a stakes race, it’s bloody exciting,” the trainer told Racing.com. Beer chose Flemington’s main winter fixture on Saturday over a trip to Brisbane, where Mnementh had been nominated for the Group 3 WJ Healy Stakes (1200m) at Eagle Farm. “That race was always in the back of my mind but just Eagle Farm, if they don’t get the rain, it’s a pretty firm sort of surface up there,” Beer explained. “Flemington drains pretty well but with that Melbourne weather, I just think we’re a big chance of getting a softer track down the straight. “I feel silly for saying it, he just seems to get better and better. He’s eight in a month, but his last run’s his best run, so you can only go off that. “He’s just in terrific form and if we do get a bit of rain next Saturday, well, that will only elevate his chances.” Horse racing news View the full article

Lee Searing had one of the biggest successes in his breeding career when Kingsbarns won the $1 million Stephen Foster Stakes (G1) at Churchill Downs June 29, proof that his decision to get more involved with breeding was the right one.View the full article

The Nick Ryan-trained Johnny Rocker. (Photo by George Sal/Racing Photos) Johnny Rocker is poised to establish himself as a top-tier sprinter, according to his trainer, Nick Ryan, who has mapped out an ambitious spring program for the rising five-year-old. Ryan is not holding back, planning for the entire to resume in the Group 1 Moir Stakes (1000m) on September 7 and then compete in the Group 1 Manikato Stakes (1200m) on September 27. Ryan is aiming for a slot in The Everest (1200m) at Randwick on October 19 for Johnny Rocker, confident that his form in those two races will secure it. “I think he’s going to improve in the next campaign. He’s going to be a five-year-old bull next season and there’s plenty to come,” the trainer told Racing.com. “That first preparation, he exceeded expectations. “We had nice plans and we were always going to raise the bar with him. Now we’re back for the Group 1 sprints at The Valley and we are after an Everest slot. “We won’t be making up the numbers in any race we contest with him.” Johnny Rocker is currently marked as a +7000 winning hope with horse racing bookmakers for The Everest. Horse racing news View the full article

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 $6 chance 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.” View the full article

Any queries about Lim’s Saltoro (NZ) (Shamexpress) seeing out a strong mile were quashed with some conviction on Sunday after the rising star under trainer Daniel Meagher bulldogged his way to victory in the S$150,000 Stewards’ Cup (1600m). That win could mean a clean sweep of the three four-year-old Group races is well and truly on the cards for the son of Shamexpress, with the Silver Bowl (1400m) already in his keep and the Singapore Derby (1800m) three weeks later seemingly at his mercy. However, the win on Sunday did not come easy as jockey Marc Lerner had to earn every penny of his riding fee with not only a patient ride, but also a strong one with plenty of argy-bargy late in the Stewards’ Cup. Upon jumping, things went to plan for most of the fancies as the favourite Lim’s Saltoro used gate one to his advantage to sit behind the expected pacemaker. While Lim’s Saltoro’s stablemate, January, pushed forward to race on the leader’s flank, Bestseller sat in a one-one position and second favourite Makin was also in a plum position to his inside. When things got serious upon turning for home, Bestseller made his move three wide but in the course of his action, left barely enough room for Lim’s Saltoro, who was sandwiched between the battling January on his outside and the tiring Aniki, to make his run at the 400m. But with Lerner showing little French flair but plenty of good old-fashioned grunt, Lim’s Saltoro bullied himself clear and a three-horse battle to the wire ensued as Makin chimed in with Bestseller at the 300m. It was still anyone’s guess at the furlong post but when the whips got cracking late, it was Lim’s Saltoro who prevailed by a short head over Bestseller while Makin ran another half-a-length back in third. Meagher was convinced Singapore Derby will be Lim’s Saltoro’s next assignment after he showed his sheer will to win over the mile on Sunday, which was a trait another champion galloper of his, Lim’s Kosciuszko, have. “He’s a good horse, isn’t he?” said an understated Meagher to racing presenter Ethan Mills after the race. “I spoke to Danny (ex-Kranji jockey Danny Beasley) just then and said he (Lim’s Saltoro) does things that (other) horses don’t do. They just win. “He had to fight through that gap and he did. He was going to the line as good as anything, so onwards and upwards with the (Singapore) Derby. “They’re (Lim’s Saltoro and Lim’s Kosciuszko) just winners, that’s their most similar trait, but they’re two different-sized horses. “We try to put them in our system to make them bombproof if that’s possible and the good one’s come through. He’s just a very good horse.” The Australian conditioner was succinct when queried about any concerns over the 1800m trip in the Singapore Derby for Lim’s Saltoro. “No,” he replied. Lerner, who was fast becoming used to big race success at Kranji, took nothing for granted. “I wished there could be many more (prize presentations),” said the French rider. “I’m very happy today. He was the best horse in the race but I think many people got scared at the 400m. “We took the risk of having some issue in the run, not to lose, but to teach him the proper way to the (Singapore) Derby and at least we know he will be very strong to the line (over 1800m) and it gave us more confidence. “To be fair, I had all the right to be beaten. Vlad did well when he came in to pocket us and he had the run on us. I was sure we would finish short and I don’t know how he (Lim’s Saltoro) just picked up. “Between him (Lim’s Saltoro) and Lim’s Kosciuszko, they just have the will to win.” Bred by Onyx Thoroughbreds, Lim’s Saltoro won two barrier trials while trained in New Zealand by Glenn Old. Now with eight wins and one second in nine starts, Lim’s Saltoro has taken his prizemoney to over S$350,000 for the Lim’s Stable. View the full article

Damian Lane returns to the mounting yard on Veight after winningAustralia Stakes at Moonee Valley Racecourse. (Photo by Reg Ryan/Racing Photos) It was another Saturday filled with its usual frustrations, but a candid Damian Lane has expressed his relief at returning to the winner’s stall on the biggest day of the racing week. Fresh from a quick trip to Japan, Lane resumed his quest for a maiden Melbourne Jockeys’ Premiership with a winning double at Caulfield. After an early win aboard Kin, Lane followed up with a victory aboard Bossy Nic. These were just his third and fourth metropolitan wins in June, but his first Saturday successes since partnering The Map to victory in the Listed Andrew Ramsden Stakes (2800m) on May 18. They were confidence-boosting results after what Lane himself described as a ‘tough’ period. “It’s been a tough period for me for city winners the last few weeks to be completely honest, particularly Saturdays, so I’m just working towards as many wins as I can,” Lane said. “It’s just been one of those frustrating runs that have come these last four or five weeks. “I’ve been riding handy horses in what look their right races, things just haven’t panned out, (there’s been) a lot of seconds. “There’s nothing I could put it down to, it’s just the way things have worked out.” Horse racing news View the full article