Wandering Eyes

Karl Burke is targeting an autumn campaign with Fallen Angel (GB) (Too Darn Hot {GB}) after injury ruled the G1 Irish 1,000 Guineas heroine out of an intended appearance in the G1 Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot last week. “She's got a small bit of bone bruising, but it's nothing serious,” Burke summed up. “We'll leave her alone now and hopefully she'll be ready for September and an autumn campaign. “She'll be back in steady work in the next week or so, but we won't rush her back. We'll prepare her from September onwards.” Burke enjoyed a Royal Ascot double courtesy of Shareholder (Not This Time) in the G2 Norfolk Stakes and Leovanni (Ire) (Kodi Bear {Ire}) in the Queen Mary, but Fallen Angel was not his only high-profile absentee. Elite Status (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}) was considered a major contender for the G1 Commonwealth Cup but was ruled out of the race at the eleventh hour due to a persistent issue with a joint, while exciting juvenile Andesite (GB) (Pinatubo {Ire}) had to miss the G2 Coventry Stakes after suffering a freak accident in his box. “With Elite Status, it's exactly the same issue as we've had in the past with a knocked joint, but we've got him home and got on top of it,” Burke continued. “We've changed a couple of little things with how we train him day to day. “I'm sure he'll be back out sooner rather than later and he's in the July Cup. I'm not sure the track will play to his strengths, the undulations there, but he is in it and it's a possibility. “Andesite was very lucky not to be seriously injured–he's literally just back walking now. He must have kicked out with his hind legs and got his leg caught on the Anti Weave Grille on top of the stable door as he dragged it off. His leg was still stuck and he's obviously gone berserk in the box trying to get it off–it was a nasty one.” On future plans for the half-brother to Dramatised (Ire) (Showcasing {GB}), Burke added, “We'll take our time with him. I think mentally he'll be fine, but it's just going to take a little bit of time as there's a lot of superficial cuts, luckily no serious damage, but it will be a few weeks before he's back doing any serious work.” The post Autumn Campaign Planned for Royal Ascot Absentee Fallen Angel appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

There was a well-known Thoroughbred trainer who was accused of a medication violation by the governing anti-doping agency at the time. This conditioner had a history of putting the horse first, so the case was shocking and the evidence stacked against him did not quite add up. The owner of the animal in question did everything possible to help him mount a defense by calling in experts to give testimony, but in the end he was found negligent and given a year suspension. The trainer was none other than Tom Smith of Seabiscuit fame, while the owner was Elizabeth Arden. It was 1945. Arden, the matron of beauty from the first half of the 20th century who built a layered empire, was one heck of a horsewoman. Becoming Elizabeth Arden cover | Penguin In a new biography by Iowa State University historian Dr. Stacey A. Cordery entitled Becoming Elizabeth Arden: The Woman Behind the Global Beauty Empire which is due out in early September, we find out how ahead of her time she was with her spa-like approach to racing and breeding Thoroughbreds. The progressively-minded Florence Nightingale Graham–who re-christened herself Elizabeth Arden–was born in Canada and was as self-made as could be. Cordery does an expert job piecing together Arden's rise as a 'beauty culturalist' in New York City. As we discover, her subject steadily built newfangled salons in both America and Europe into the 1930s, expanded into the burgeoning field of cosmetics and in the process her 'red door' turned her into an icon. What you might not know about Mrs. Graham, who never married, but used 'Mrs.' as a means to gain respectability, is she was willing, able and quite successful at 'taking on the boys' of the turf world. As Cordery reminds us, she spent copious amounts of cash in the sales rings at Keeneland and Saratoga, plus in Europe after the war, and built a powerful stable in Kentucky called Maine Chance Farm–named after her destination spa for the rich and powerful. The farm is now utilized for teaching and research by the University of Kentucky. In her salons, Arden became accustomed to meeting the beauty needs of her well-heeled clients, but she also was keen to see her “beauties,” as she called her equine athletes, win at tracks from Saratoga to Hialeah and from Churchill to Santa Anita. She ran her stable as shrewdly as her beauty empire, and she was adamant that a holistic approach to both humans and horses was the only acceptable treatment. Refusing to hire trainers who used harsh methods, Arden believed her horses deserved the most thorough massages and she developed creams for sore muscles that could be applied just like they would at her spas. One of her closest advisors was Spendthrift Farm's Lesley Combs II, who assisted her with bloodstock decisions, but as Cordery points out, it was Mrs. Graham who had the final say about everything from picking yearlings to which of her horses would be entered to race. Elizabeth Arden with Knockdown at Santa Anita | Getty Images Arden's relationship with Tom Smith came about because of the sudden death of Elizabeth Cromwell Bosley, who was a rising star among conditioners in the late 1930s. Women trainers were scarce then, but Arden wanted her at the helm because she had the right touch. Sadly, Bosley died in a car accident and never had the chance to see her career flourish. The matron of Maine Chance weathered all sorts of storms as an owner, which included not only Smith's suspension at the hands of The Jockey Club of America and the New York State Racing Authority for doping a horse, but several stable fires. One destructive blaze in particular at Arlington Park in Chicago just two days before the 1946 Kentucky Derby claimed the lives of 23 Thoroughbreds whose value topped $500,000. Arden had an insurance policy which she took out on all of her runners, but when the ensuing police investigation tried to finger African American backstretch workers, she ordered her own detective to get to the bottom of it. Arden's expansive stable included the likes of Beaugay, Knockdown, They Say and the 1947 Derby winner Jet Pilot, who was trained by the reinstated Smith and ridden by a 23-year-old jockey named Eric Guerin who the beauty empress selected herself. In 1945, Maine Chance earned over $10 million in today's currency, which was when you think about mid-century purse structures the figure was extraordinary. And that is Cordery's chief biographical point here, and what makes this such a seminal work. In an era of conspicuous consumption which gave way to the world wars, Elizabeth Arden dreamed big, eclipsed gender norms, redefined beauty, and as horsewoman defied the power of the turfmen and redefined equine care. To put it another way, she knew how to 'beat the boys' at their own game. Becoming Elizabeth Arden: The Woman Behind the Global Beauty Empire by Viking, 512 pages, Sept. 3, 2024 The post Book Review: Beauty Icon Elizabeth Arden Took On The Boys, Won The Derby And Advanced Thoroughbred Care appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

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There is no doubt that one of the feel-good moments in an excellent week of action at Royal Ascot came when Isle Of Jura (GB) (New Approach {Ire}) won the G2 Hardwicke Stakes on the final day of the meeting. Much of the joy that sprung from the result was aimed towards jockey Callum Shepherd after he had missed out on a plum ride in the Derby. But the importance of the win for the horse's trainer, George Scott, who was enjoying a first Royal Ascot success, and his owner Shaikh Nasser Al Khalifa of Victorious Racing, should not be underestimated. Isle Of Jura can already be considered the pride of Bahrain for having won three consecutive Cups, two of them carrying Listed status, which form a Triple Crown for the island nation which is swiftly emerging on the international racing scene. Isle Of Jura, a winner at Newbury and Newmarket last summer, arrived in Bahrain in late November and won four of his five starts through the ensuing three months, as well as being beaten just a short-head in the fifth. Following his return to Scott's Newmarket stable he won the Listed Festival Stakes at Goodwood before launching his assault on Ascot. “We were just unsure how the form was going to stack up on the back of Bahrain, and I was a little bit underwhelmed with him at Goodwood, but we saw a huge improvement from him at home after that and he's clearly a horse who wants a nice, even pace on fast ground, so it all came together really,” said Scott. “There was a current of good feeling towards Callum winning a race like that, and obviously the Bahraini contingent, headed by Shaikh Nasser, are just very good people. They love their racing, and he is a very special horse in their eyes. He's won all he can in their country and now he's come to Ascot and won like that. Shaikh Duaij said to me on the day, 'You've made Bahrain proud today', which is a lovely thing to say. “I think [Isle Of Jura] has been the best advertisement for Bahrain racing, and for the Bahrain contingency involved in British racing. They really want to promote racing in Bahrain and to improve the quality there, and I think this horse helps their argument.” The four-year-old gelding, who is a full-brother to Godolphin's four-time Australian Group 1 winner Cascadian (GB), will take a deserved step up into the top echelon himself for his next run, which looks set to be in the G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes back at Ascot on July 27. “The logical step for him is the King George,” Scott continued. “He's obviously a course-and-distance winner and he'll carry a Group 2 penalty now but it is the obvious race for him. We are under no illusions that he is going to have to step forward again but I think that he will be going into a race like that with plenty of respect. “He has come out of the race really well. He's not a horse that needs much training – we're not hard on him and he doesn't need a lot of fast work so he's just ticking over. He was jumping up and down like a big cat in his pen this morning.” The trainer is also considering a further international campaign for Isle Of Jura later in the season, potentially culminating in a trip to Del Mar. He said, “He's rated 119 now, so I think after the King George we will be working back from the Breeders' Cup. It's just a question of how we get there. He's good at travelling, that's for sure, and he does appreciate fast ground and flat tracks. I like the idea of the Sword Dancer in Saratoga maybe, but we'll see in the King George how he stacks up against those horses and then make a plan.” Scott, who also trains the G3 Palace House Stakes winner Seven Questions (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) for Victorious Racing and Fawzi Nass, added, “It's really important to be competing on that stage and it was really special because Shaikh Nasser has obviously been a big part of the story in the last few years. It's been well documented how grateful I am to him, and I had lots of friends and family at Ascot so we all watched it together, which again is a moment you don't really get very often. It all slowed down in that last furlong and we were able to enjoy it. It was the Hardwicke at the end of the day, it wasn't a handicap. The Hardwicke is a race you grow up watching and some of the great horses and great trainers have won that race. It was a dream.” The post Bahrain’s Pride Isle Of Jura Heads to King George With Breeders’ Cup on Wish List appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

David Menuisier is ranking Caius Chorister (Fr) (Golden Horn {GB}) as “the best staying filly in Europe” but the trainer says he is keen to avoid bumping into her Gold Cup conqueror Kyprios (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) any time soon. Owned by Clive Washbourn, Caius Chorister is likely to head to Goodwood next, but which race she lines out in has yet to be decided. “She's as bright as a button,” the trainer said. “She clearly just didn't stay [in the Gold Cup] but she has come out of the race as bright as anything really and is ready to go again. She's different to any other horse we've ever had–she is made of different stuff. She is just the toughest thing ever. “Glorious Goodwood will be the next stop, either for the Goodwood Cup if Kyprios does not turn up, or the Lillie Langtry if he does, because Kyprios is by far the best stayer in Europe and wherever he goes, we will avoid him.” He added, “I think over two miles, I will be happy enough to take on the rest of the stayers, because she does have speed, especially on quick ground. But we will not be able to crack Kyprios–and if he does turn up, that is why she has two engagements. “She looks like being the best staying filly in Europe at the moment; we don't know how the three-year-olds will do later in the season, but right now she looks the best older staying filly. It's exciting really.” Devil's Point (Ire) (New Bay {GB}) is another talented member of Menuisier's string owned by Washbourn, but the Sussex Stakes entrant is likely to skip a visit to his handler's local track in favour of a summer campaign on the continent. A winner of the German 2,000 Guineas at Cologne on his most recent outing, Devil's Point will drop back in trip for two potential assignments at Deauville-first the seven-furlong Prix Jean Prat before a possible return to the Normandy coast to compete for top-level sprinting honours. “He will go for the Prix Jean Prat at Deauville, which has always been the main target after the Guineas in Germany,” continued Menuisier. “If all goes well after that, then he is likely to swerve the Sussex Stakes to go back to Deauville for the Prix Maurice de Gheest. “That is pretty much the same as the Jean Prat but half a furlong shorter and against the older horses while getting a decent weight allowance. I think that is very much his programme for the summer.” The post Menuisier Maps Out Plan For “Best Staying Filly In Europe” Caius Chorister appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Betfred will be the new sponsor of Newmarket's 2,000 Guineas and 1,000 Guineas from 2025 onwards, it was announced on Thursday. The multi-year agreement means the bookmaker will become the first brand to sponsor all five of Britain's Classics–the others being the Betfred Oaks and Betfred Derby at Epsom and Doncaster's Betfred St Leger–at the same time. To mark their sponsorship of the prestigious contests, Betfred have also announced that a £2-million bonus will be on offer to connections of any horse who completes the 'Betfred Triple Crown' by winning the 2,000 Guineas, Derby and St Leger. The Triple Crown has been won 15 times, although not since Nijinsky in 1970. Betfred will also sponsor an additional seven races across the three days of the Betfred Guineas Festival, which next year takes place from May 2-4. Betfred owner Fred Done said, “Nobody has ever sponsored all five British Classics and I am so proud to be the first. I am honoured as a bookmaker to be supporting the sport that I love. “I want to put the British Classics back where they belong, at the forefront of global horseracing. As The Bonus King, it only seems right that I should offer a bonus. Therefore, I am offering £2 million to any horse who wins the Betfred Triple Crown, consisting of the Betfred 2000 Guineas, Betfred Derby and Betfred St Leger. “It hasn't been done since Nijinsky back in 1970, and although Camelot came very close in 2012, it seems about time we were celebrating another Triple Crown winner.” Amy Starkey, managing director of The Jockey Club, said, “We love working with Fred and all his team so we are absolutely thrilled that Betfred have become the new sponsors of the two iconic Classics staged on Newmarket's Rowley Mile, the 2,000 and 1,000 Guineas. “We have already seen how Betfred's tremendous enthusiasm and dynamism has elevated the Derby and Oaks at Epsom Downs and their passion for racing is fantastic for the sport. The offer of this huge bonus for the Triple Crown is another superb initiative and we're already really excited about how we can promote these iconic British Classic races in 2025.” Aidan O'Brien is the most successful trainer of all-time in the five British Classics with a total of 44 wins, including 10 editions of both the 2,000 Guineas and Derby. He said, “It's a great incentive that Betfred have put up a £2m bonus for any horse that wins the Triple Crown. We all at Ballydoyle and Coolmore greatly appreciate all their sponsorship throughout the season and this bonus will make the Classic races even more exciting. “It takes a very unique horse to go through all the Triple Crown races–they have got to have quality, class, speed, stamina and mental strength.” The post Betfred to Offer £2 Million Triple Crown Bonus as New Sponsor of All Five British Classics appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

A service of thanksgiving for the life of Tim Preston will be held at Dalham Parish Church near Newmarket on Monday, July 8 at 2.30pm. Preston, the immensely popular former European representative for racing and sales at Keeneland, died earlier this month at the age of 80. In a tribute published recently in TDN, Keeneland's former president, Bill Greely, who was responsible for appointing Preston to the role he held for 23 years, said, “[Tim] was one of the nicest, most personable, capable and horse-savvy people with whom I ever had the pleasure to work. The words 'no' and 'I can't' were not in his vocabulary. He was always there to assist anyone who needed his help or his sage advice.” The post Thanksgiving Service for Tim Preston appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Race 8 GRAND NATIONAL TICKETS ON SALE 1400m ROYAL WINGS (C Barnes) – Trainer Ms. K Murphy reported Stewards, she was satisfied with the post-race condition of the mare, with no abnormalities to report, however, ROYAL WINGS has been retired from racing. The post Ricarrton Park – Amberley @ Riccarton, Saturday 22 June 2024 appeared first on RIB. View the full article

Race 1 N MCHUGH CONSTRUCTION MAIDEN 2140m HEADLINE NEWS (L Allpress) – Trainer Mr. J Kiernan advised Stewards, he was satisfied with the post-race condition of the gelding, however, HEADLINE NEWS has now been sent for a spell. The post Marton Jockey Club @ Awapuni Synthetic, Friday 21 June 2024 appeared first on RIB. View the full article

By Adam Hamilton Nathan Purdon’s attack on Queensland’s winter riches has slipped under the radar a bit, but he’s hoping to turn that around at Redcliffe on Saturday night. Purdon has runners in both the Oaks and Derby and is especially keen on his prospects with Major Hot in the $53,000 Group 3 Derby. The Art Major gelding, who opened his Queensland campaign with an Albion Park win on June 15, has been backed from $4.40 into $3.60 despite needing luck from an inside back row draw (gate seven). “He’s the one we built the trip around,” Purdon said. “He’s pretty smart and an all-round package. He’s got gate speed and some zip, so we felt he’d suit the (Queensland) style of racing. “He’s probably about three or four lengths behind our best, say a three-year-old like Chase A Dream, but he’s good enough to be very competitive in these races we think.” Former Kiwi Adam Sanderson will keep the reins on Major Hot after partnering him to his first Albion Park win, which came first-up from a break. “He’ll be better again, but he’ll need to be because the race is a bit harder,” Purdon said. Interestingly, Major Hot’s biggest danger looks to be a filly, Soho Spectre, who obviously could have run in the Redcliffe Oaks instead. Trainer Rickie Alchin has focused on stablemate and favourite Lux Aeterna in the Oaks, paving the way for Soho Spectre to tackle the boys. Luke McCarthy has the drive. In the Oaks, McCarthy will be with Purdon when he drives Treacherous Love from gate two. “It was a late decision to send her because she was up and going at a time there wasn’t much for her at home,” Purdon said. “The owners were happy for her to go on the trip with Major Hot. We don’t have a lot of confidence in her as far as this week goes.” Beyond this week, both three-year-olds have races like the South-East Derby/Oaks and Queensland Derby/Oaks if Purdon is happy with them. View the full article

Capable flat performer Mont Ventoux scored a deserved maiden success over the fences in the Majestic Horse Floats Hurdles (3100m) at Te Aroha on Thursday. Mont Ventoux collected seven victories during his flat-racing career including three at open grade, and since transitioning into the jumps role he had been the perennial bridesmaid with seven placings from nine attempts. His consistent record for trainer Rudy Liefting placed the eight-year-old a seemingly-unbeatable favourite in Thursday’s contest at $1.20, and his experience was evident in the early stages as he out-jumped the remainder of the field to control proceedings. Nick Downs, who scored a double on the card with promising hurdler Helena Baby, allowed Mont Ventoux to slide further in front nearing the 800m from the second favourite in Murphy, and his lead only continued to extend with the eventual margin 15-1/4 lengths. Pukekohe-based Liefting was pleased to see the son of Nom Du Jeu collect his maiden with such dominance at the post. “I was pretty happy, especially because he was still in a full gallop at the line. Sometimes you can win these races and be walking at the finish, but he was full of power,” he said. “He has wilted at times in his races and been run over the last little bit, but he went to the line really strongly. “Although he’s won three open handicaps on the flat, he took a while to win this maiden hurdle but he always ran in the top four up close, so it has been a bit frustrating, but he got there today.” Liefting has utilised jump schooling as a tool in his training for years, a skill that assisted Mont Ventoux when making the switch. “I always get my horses jumping from day one, in case they don’t come up on the flat. He did and won seven races, but we still did regular jumping with him and work on the farm as well,” Liefting said. “When it did come to hurdling, it was just second nature to him. “It teaches the horses to pick themselves up and think a little bit. A lot of them are just going to the track and following a rail around, but it gets them using their minds. “We rotate their work a bit, we’ve got a pool and a walker and hills with some logs around, and they enjoy the change. I still go into the track every morning just to keep my riders going, Sarah Fisher does a lot of my trackwork and gallops and she does a great job. “I’m in my mid-sixties now so I am tapering off a little bit, I’ve been doing it for about 25 years and I don’t really want to ride too many young horses, just to stay in one piece and be careful. “I only do a couple, but I don’t mind schooling the jumpers, we were brought up in my era to do pony club, show jumping, and going to the hunts, so I’ve always just done it.” Liefting has several options to consider for Mont Ventoux as the season progresses, but a shortage of jockeys may halt a journey to Trentham for the Wellington Hurdles (3400m) next month. “I don’t know where we’ll go next because we don’t really know if we have a rider for him if we went down to Wellington,” he said. “We may look for another meeting at Te Aroha closer to home and stick to that and look at something else further down the line.” Riccarton Park holds many fond memories for Liefting, and a trip south for National Week is also a possibility. “We may look at something like the Sydenham Hurdles or a 0-1 at Riccarton for him,” he said. “We used to go down to Riccarton all the time for National Week, we took him down for the Winter Cup (Gr.3, 1600m) a couple of times and he was a shade disappointing, but he couldn’t fly down and had a tough trip with ferry hold-ups,” he said. “Just Got Home ran in the Grand National and Danza Lad ran third in the Winter Cup, and a long time ago I won the 1000 Guineas (Gr.1, 1600m) with Justa Tad, so it’s been a very good track for me. “The people are so friendly down there as well, and we always have enjoyed ourselves. We’ll definitely consider it.” View the full article

Lofty British jumps jockey Jay Kozaczek made the perfect start to his riding venture in New Zealand at Te Aroha on Thursday when guiding Sound of Silence to victory in the Agrisea NZ Steeplechase (3500m) for Dave Blackie, who also celebrated his first training success. Kozaczek kept a cool head aboard Sound of Silence for the majority of the journey, sitting at the rear of the field before pushing the go button after the third to last fence. Sound Of Silence was able to quickly reel in runaway leader Pontardawe and storm home to a 11-1/4 length victory. “I rode him in a trial and I thought he jumped so well,” Kozaczek said. “I think he will want a bit more distance by the way he keeps finding. He kept going well and the more he found the more I kept on pushing him. “It was my first race day (in New Zealand) today. I am ecstatic, I can’t believe it.” Earlier on the card, Kozaczek also picked up a placing aboard Shocking Penny in The Bottle-O Te Aroha Hurdles (3100m) for trainer Reece Cole. “She went well,” Kozaczek said. “It was her first run back, so she wasn’t that fit. She usually goes out in front, but I just put her in behind because she didn’t feel that fit in the race. She finished well and I was happy with her.” Kozaczek has been involved with horses his entire life and started his riding career in Scandinavia before trying his hand in England. With a lack of riding opportunities in his homeland he decided to come out and try his luck in New Zealand at the behest of his family. “I have ridden horses all of my life,” he said. “I did pony club and went to the Horse of the Year Show with mounted games. Straight out of school I went to the British Racing School in England and worked my way up from there. I worked in yards in England and then got the opportunity to go to Scandinavia and start race riding over there. “I rode four winners on the flat and then I grew. I am six foot two (inches) now, so it was time to go jumping. I rode four or five winners over jumps in Scandinavia and then I went back to England for a year or two, but I couldn’t really get going. There are just that many jockeys that you can’t get going. “I have got family over here (New Zealand) and they said I should come out here and there are great opportunities here and it is an amazing country, so I thought ‘why not?’ “I jumped straight on a plane and came over three weeks ago, and I have already ridden a winner, I can’t believe it.” Kozaczek is basing himself with family just outside of Cambridge, and he said he is enjoying his time downunder and will look to quickly add to his tally at Hastings on Saturday where he will ride Greystone in the Best Forsyth Electrical Maiden Hurdle (2500m) and Imperial Party in the Birchleigh Polo Club Maiden Hurdle (2500m). “I am just out of Cambridge at Matangi. It is beautiful there and quite handy to the Cambridge track,” he said. “I am riding at the Cambridge track for a lot of trainers trying to get my name out there.” View the full article

Proven flat performer Helena Baby continued his flawless transition to jumping with another easy victory in Thursday’s $30,000 The Bottle-O Te Aroha Hurdles (3100m). The grey son of Guillotine boasts seven wins on the flat, headed by the 2019 and 2022 editions of the Listed Opunake Cup (1400m). He was also a multiple placegetter in Hong Kong and finished third behind Melody Belle and Wyndspelle in the 2019 running of the Gr.1 Tarzino Trophy (1400m). Trainer and part-owner John Bell gave the nine-year-old his first start over hurdles in a 3100m maiden race at Te Aroha on June 3, where he led all the way and scored a convincing victory by seven lengths. Thursday marked a step up into open company but a very similar result. Rider Nick Downs drove Helena Baby to the lead and dominated the race from there, cruising to the finish line five and a half lengths ahead of Invisible Spirit. “It was another impressive performance today and he’s showing quite a bit of class,” Bell said. “He’s a lovely jumper and does everything right. A big team effort has been put into him over quite a period of time, and what he’s doing now is reward for all of their hard work.” Thursday’s win took Helena Baby’s career earnings to just under $320,000. The next step in his rise among New Zealand’s hurdling ranks is to move into Prestige Jumping Race company – potentially in the $75,000 Wellington Hurdle (3200m) at Trentham on July 13. “Nick Downs seems to think we should head to Wellington now,” Bell said. “I haven’t looked that far ahead yet, so that’s something we’ll work out over the next few days. “I thought my days of travelling much south of Taupo were behind me, but a horse like him might force me to reassess that.” Bell will also be involved in Saturday’s jumping action at Hastings, where Ata Rangi will contest the Birchleigh Polo Club Maiden Hurdle (2500m). Curious George is entered for the Te Whangai Romneys Hawke’s Bay Hurdle (3100m) but will be scratched after finishing fourth behind Helena Baby on Thursday. “Ata Rangi is going well and will head to Hawke’s Bay, where he should be competitive,” Bell said. “We’ll take Curious George out of the Hawke’s Bay Hurdle. He doesn’t like wet ground at all. He’s a beautiful jumper and ran well for fourth on an unsuitable heavy track today. We’ll work out a plan for him that hopefully involves some drier ground.” View the full article

Group One performer Chase will be out to make it back-to-back wins when he heads to Hastings on Saturday to tackle the Vintech Pacific Poverty Bay Cup (1600m). The seven-year-old gelding was back in winning form last start at Otaki in the hands of Kate Hercock, who will reunite with the son of Zed this weekend where he has been lumbered with top weight of 60kg on what was rated a Heavy10 track on Thursday morning. “Kate gets on well with him and always has done,” trainer and part-owner Stephen Nickalls said. “It was really good to get the result there (at Otaki), we were thrilled with that. It is always good when they get their nose in front. “He has done really well since then, the biggest concern is the 60 kilos on Saturday. It is a big impost in that wet ground, but we can’t do too much about that.” Nickalls doesn’t have any set plans with Chase but hasn’t ruled out a tilt at the Gr.3 Winter Cup (1600m) at Riccarton in August. “We will just see what he does on Saturday, we have got no set plans,” he said. “We got burnt a little bit last year when we nominated for a whole lot of races which cost us a lot of money, so we are taking it race-by-race at the moment and if he is going well enough we will pay the late nomination for anything that may come up, like a Winter Cup.” Meanwhile, on Friday, Nickalls will head south to Otaki with a couple of contenders, including Stolen Rubies in the Harcourts Otaki Maiden (1600m) and Manolo in the Cavallo Farms & Chris Rutten Bloodstock Handicap (1600m). “Stolen Rubies is a nice mare and hopefully she will get through the Heavy10 down there,” Nickalls said. “She is a big mare and when they sprint off the back she gets left a bit flat-footed. She is a lovely mare and she has trained on well from her effort the other day. “Manolo is in the 65 mile and he will appreciate the wet ground. I know he ran last the other day, but on a (Soft) 5 he probably ran as fast as he has ever run. He has trained on well since then as well.” View the full article

A $100,000 carrot at Cambridge’s synthetic meeting in August is firmly in the sights of trainer Howie Mathews with a pair of his gallopers, but he is being forced to take an unsuitable path to the lucrative target. With no suitable races at Awapuni’s polytrack, the Otaki horseman has opted to test both Weneedashock and Free Spirit on Heavy10 footing at their home track on Friday in the TAB Raukawa Cup (2100m). “The reason that I have got them in work and racing at this time of year is the lure of the $100,000 staying race on the synthetic at Cambridge on August 8,” Mathews said. “They have both won two races on the synthetic, so I am hoping to get them into some sort of fitness shape and a little bit of form to get them to Cambridge to go at that 2000m $100,000 race. “It is unfortunate that there is no (rating) 75 miles or staying races on the synthetic to prepare them. I was bitterly disappointed that the 75 staying race was dropped the other day at Palmerston North. “It is a bit of a muddling way to do things on a Heavy10, which I don’t think the horses are overly happy with the conditions. It is at home and hopefully they can hit a bit of form before early August. Free Spirit is looking to recapture some form on Friday after running into a series of issues. “She hasn’t really come up this year, she has had a few niggly problems,” Mathews said. “Being a mare she has seasonal problems and a couple of times she has been caught on the fence. “She likes to have free running, so when I saw that she has drawn wide (16) I think with Lisa Allpress on she will be a lot better. I am hoping for a lot better run from her and it will be good for Lisa to get off and say ‘you are going in the right direction’. “Weneedashock, we don’t think he is a wet track horse but we just want to get him fit enough so that he has got a chance at Cambridge on the 8th of August.” Earlier on the card, Mathews will line-up Susie Jane in the New World Otaki Handicap (1200m). The daughter of Nadeem was runner-up in her two first outings this preparation before she ran ninth on a Heavy10 track at Trentham earlier this month. “She ran a good race fresh and at Trentham I thought she was just one of those runners that just didn’t cop Trentham,” Mathews said. “She jumped well and was outside, she raced right with them to the turn and then a couple came around us and Ashvin (Mudhoo, jockey) had to switch her to the inside. Once she switched to the inside she went down on the ground that wasn’t to her liking so she just didn’t finish it off as good as I would have liked. “Back on her home track on Friday, we are expecting a nice run from her.” View the full article

Star hurdler Berry The Cash (NZ) (Jakkalberry) will chase his first title at Hastings on Saturday, while stablemate West Coast (NZ) (Mettre En Jeu) is out to defend his crown in the AHD – Animal Health Hawke’s Bay Steeplechase (4800m). A dual Grand National Steeplechase (5500m) and Great Northern Steeplechase (6500m) winner, West Coast has led the charge for trainer Mark Oulaghan in recent seasons and returned in the same unstoppable fashion with a Manawatu Steeplechase (4000m) victory last month. The son of Mettre En Jeu has become accustomed to carrying the 73kg benchmark topweight for jumpers, and he will do the same at in the Hastings feature under regular hoop Shaun Fannin. “He seems pretty good, he hasn’t had a run for a while but he’s working well, his weight is good and he’s well within himself,” Oulaghan said. “We don’t have to do much with him because he’s naturally pretty fit and clean winded, so we just work away and don’t put any undue pressure on him, more just maintenance. “Even though he hasn’t had a run, I think he’s right up to the mark.” Berry The Cash has made a serious account of himself since winning the Grand National Hurdles (4200m) at Riccarton last August, putting 4-1/2 lengths on the field in the Awapuni Hurdle (3000m), and more than doubling that figure in the Waikato Hurdle (3200m) a fortnight ago. The Jakkalberry seven-year-old will carry his highest allocated weight to date in 72.5kg in the Te Whangai Romney’s Hawke’s Bay Hurdle (3100m) in the hands of Portia Matthews. “He was pretty good at Waikato, he had them pretty well covered,” Oulaghan said. “I don’t think the heavy track will hold any worries for him, he likes bad ground, so he’s got a bit going for him on Saturday. “Hopefully he can just go out and settle midfield, we’ll see how he’s going down the back the last time but liking the wet is an advantage.” Oulaghan will be well-represented in the maiden jumping contests with Listed performer Semper Magico (NZ) (Per Incanto) having his jumping debut in the Birchleigh Polo Club Maiden Hurdle (3100m), and Kentucky Boy (NZ) (Jakkalberry) engaged in the I See Red Syndicate Maiden Steeplechase (4000m). “Semper Magico jumped a little bit last year off and on, but that hasn’t been the concentrated focus. He does know how to jump though, and schools well,” Oulaghan said. “I like to start them off on better ground, but it is the first race (of the day), and he handles the wet so he should be okay. “Kentucky Boy won a hurdle on a heavy-ish track at Wanganui, then we backed him up at Hawera when the track was possibly a little good for him that day. “Back to a heavy track, bigger fences and a bit further on Saturday should work out pretty well for him.” A sole runner from Oulaghan’s stable will head down to Otaki on Friday in Jack Morrison (NZ), a son of Darci Brahma resuming off a 127-day break in the Riverstone Café Maiden (1400m). “He’s quite a nice horse, he went reasonably well at the Levin jumpouts the other day so we’re expecting a reasonable sort of run fresh-up,” he said. “It’s 1400m and he’s probably better off at a mile, but the track should be heavy anyway.” Oulaghan is having his best season since 2012/13 with 17 winners and a personal best of $641,535 in domestic stakes earnings, a result he puts down to patience with his talented contingent. “Obviously West Coast has been around for a while, but we had Berry The Cash last year and the year before getting him trialling and being patient with him, and he’s really come to it now,” he said. “Some of the others like Super Spirit (last-start winner) have been around and just taken time to mature.” View the full article

Four-time Group One winner back walking at Sha Tin as he recovers from leg fractureView the full article

Mont Ventoux on his way to winning at Te Aroha on Thursday. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images) Capable flat performer Mont Ventoux scored a deserved maiden success over the fences in the Majestic Horse Floats Hurdles (3100m) at Te Aroha on Thursday. Mont Ventoux collected seven victories during his flat-racing career including three at open grade, and since transitioning into the jumps role he had been the perennial bridesmaid with seven placings from nine attempts. His consistent record for trainer Rudy Liefting placed the eight-year-old a seemingly-unbeatable favourite in Thursday’s contest at $1.20, and his experience was evident in the early stages as he out-jumped the remainder of the field to control proceedings. Nick Downs, who scored a double on the card with promising hurdler Helena Baby, allowed Mont Ventoux to slide further in front nearing the 800m from the second favourite in Murphy, and his lead only continued to extend with the eventual margin 15.25 lengths. Pukekohe-based Liefting was pleased to see the son of Nom Du Jeu collect his maiden with such dominance at the post. “I was pretty happy, especially because he was still in a full gallop at the line. Sometimes you can win these races and be walking at the finish, but he was full of power,” he said. “He has wilted at times in his races and been run over the last little bit, but he went to the line really strongly. “Although he’s won three open handicaps on the flat, he took a while to win this maiden hurdle but he always ran in the top four up close, so it has been a bit frustrating, but he got there today.” Liefting has utilised jump schooling as a tool in his training for years, a skill that assisted Mont Ventoux when making the switch. “I always get my horses jumping from day one, in case they don’t come up on the flat. He did and won seven races, but we still did regular jumping with him and work on the farm as well,” Liefting said. “When it did come to hurdling, it was just second nature to him. “It teaches the horses to pick themselves up and think a little bit. A lot of them are just going to the track and following a rail around, but it gets them using their minds. “We rotate their work a bit, we’ve got a pool and a walker and hills with some logs around, and they enjoy the change. I still go into the track every morning just to keep my riders going, Sarah Fisher does a lot of my trackwork and gallops and she does a great job. “I’m in my mid-sixties now so I am tapering off a little bit, I’ve been doing it for about 25 years and I don’t really want to ride too many young horses, just to stay in one piece and be careful. “I only do a couple, but I don’t mind schooling the jumpers, we were brought up in my era to do pony club, show jumping, and going to the hunts, so I’ve always just done it.” Liefting has several options to consider for Mont Ventoux as the season progresses, but a shortage of jockeys may halt a journey to Trentham for the Wellington Hurdles (3400m) next month. “I don’t know where we’ll go next because we don’t really know if we have a rider for him if we went down to Wellington,” he said. “We may look for another meeting at Te Aroha closer to home and stick to that and look at something else further down the line.” Riccarton Park holds many fond memories for Liefting, and a trip south for National Week is also a possibility. “We may look at something like the Sydenham Hurdles or a 0-1 at Riccarton for him,” he said. “We used to go down to Riccarton all the time for National Week, we took him down for the Winter Cup (Group 3, 1600m) a couple of times and he was a shade disappointing, but he couldn’t fly down and had a tough trip with ferry hold-ups,” he said. “Just Got Home ran in the Grand National and Danza Lad ran third in the Winter Cup, and a long time ago I won the 1000 Guineas (Group 1, 1600m) with Justa Tad, so it’s been a very good track for me. “The people are so friendly down there as well, and we always have enjoyed ourselves. We’ll definitely consider it.” Horse racing news View the full article

Jay Kozaczek on his way to recording his first win in New Zealand aboard Sound Of Silence at Te Aroha on Thursday. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images) Lofty British jumps jockey Jay Kozaczek made the perfect start to his riding venture in New Zealand at Te Aroha on Thursday when guiding Sound of Silence to victory in the Agrisea NZ Steeplechase (3500m) for Dave Blackie, who also celebrated his first training success. Kozaczek kept a cool head aboard Sound of Silence for the majority of the journey, sitting at the rear of the field before pushing the go button after the third to last fence. Sound Of Silence was able to quickly reel in runaway leader Pontardawe and storm home to a 11-1/4 length victory. “I rode him in a trial and I thought he jumped so well,” Kozaczek said. “I think he will want a bit more distance by the way he keeps finding. He kept going well and the more he found the more I kept on pushing him. “It was my first race day (in New Zealand) today. I am ecstatic, I can’t believe it.” Earlier on the card, Kozaczek also picked up a placing aboard Shocking Penny in The Bottle-O Te Aroha Hurdles (3100m) for trainer Reece Cole. “She went well,” Kozaczek said. “It was her first run back, so she wasn’t that fit. She usually goes out in front, but I just put her in behind because she didn’t feel that fit in the race. She finished well and I was happy with her.” Kozaczek has been involved with horses his entire life and started his riding career in Scandinavia before trying his hand in England. With a lack of riding opportunities in his homeland he decided to come out and try his luck in New Zealand at the behest of his family. “I have ridden horses all of my life,” he said. “I did pony club and went to the Horse of the Year Show with mounted games. Straight out of school I went to the British Racing School in England and worked my way up from there. I worked in yards in England and then got the opportunity to go to Scandinavia and start race riding over there. “I rode four winners on the flat and then I grew. I am six foot two (inches) now, so it was time to go jumping. I rode four or five winners over jumps in Scandinavia and then I went back to England for a year or two, but I couldn’t really get going. There are just that many jockeys that you can’t get going. “I have got family over here (New Zealand) and they said I should come out here and there are great opportunities here and it is an amazing country, so I thought ‘why not?’ “I jumped straight on a plane and came over three weeks ago, and I have already ridden a winner, I can’t believe it.” Kozaczek is basing himself with family just outside of Cambridge, and he said he is enjoying his time downunder and will look to quickly add to his tally at Hastings on Saturday where he will ride Greystone in the Best Forsyth Electrical Maiden Hurdle (2500m) and Imperial Party in the Birchleigh Polo Club Maiden Hurdle (2500m). “I am just out of Cambridge at Matangi. It is beautiful there and quite handy to the Cambridge track,” he said. “I am riding at the Cambridge track for a lot of trainers trying to get my name out there.” Horse racing news View the full article

What Tamworth Races Where Tamworth Jockey Club – 28 Britten Rd, Taminda NSW 2340 When Friday, June 28, 2024 First Race 12pm AEST Visit Dabble Country racing heads to the New England region of NSW on Friday afternoon as Tamworth Jockey Club gets set to host a competitive eight-race program. The rail is in the true position the entire way around, and with minimal rain forecast in the lead-up, the current Soft 5 rating should hold for race-day. All the action is scheduled to kick off at 12pm local time. Best Bet at Tamworth: On The Charge On The Charge impressed in his one outing last preparation at Gilgandra on January 7, finishing within a length of Off The Press. He attempted to make every post a winner on that occasion; however, it took the son of Charge Forward a long time to cross to the lead, leaving the three-year-old vulnerable turning for home. His recent jump-out at Scone suggests he’s returning in supreme order, and with the gun run from barrier three, On The Charge should get every chance to secure his maiden victory. Best Bet Race 1 – #3 On The Charge (3) 3yo Gelding | T: Cody Morgan | J: Aaron Bullock (59kg) Bet with Neds Next Best at Tamworth: Enterprise Dancer Enterprise Dancer failed to finish in her one start for the Steven O’Dea & Matthew Hoysted barn, suffering cardiac arrhythmia at Eagle Farm on February 7. She’s since been transferred to the Kris Lees stable and seems to have adapted well to her new conditions, impressing in a recent trial at Scone on June 12. Barrier one should allow her to gain a soft run in transit, and provided she’s back to full fitness, Enterprise Dancer should be right in this. Next Best Race 5 – #5 Enterprise Dancer (1) 3yo Filly | T: Kris Lees | J: Christian Reith (57kg) Bet with Bet365 Best Value at Tamworth: Image Of The Sun Image Of The Sun ran on well at Scone on June 11 and looks primed to strike second-up. The daughter of The Autumn Sun got back in an awkward spot first-up from a 19-week spell, labouring towards the rear of the field before showing an electric turn-of-foot to get within 1.5 lengths of Who Ever Thought. The 1600m appears to be her ideal trip, and with Ashley Morgan likely to sit on the leaders back throughout, Image Of The Sun should be edging clear when the whips are cracking. Best Value Race 3 – #12 Image Of The Sun (1) 3yo Filly | T: Paul Messara & Leah Gavranich | J: Ashley Morgan (55.5kg) Bet with Playup Tamworth Thursday quaddie tips Tamworth quadrella selections Thursday, June 28, 2024 1-3-5-8 3-4-6-10-11 1-2-10-12 1-3-4-7-8-9 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip Horse racing tips
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Trainer Stephen Nickalls. Photo: Peter Rubery (Race Images Palmerston North) Group 1 performer Chase will be out to make it back-to-back wins when he heads to Hastings on Saturday to tackle the Poverty Bay Cup (1600m). The seven-year-old gelding was back in winning form last start at Otaki in the hands of Kate Hercock, who will reunite with the son of Zed this weekend where he has been lumbered with top weight of 60kg on what was rated a Heavy 10 track on Thursday morning. “Kate gets on well with him and always has done,” trainer and part-owner Stephen Nickalls said. “It was really good to get the result there (at Otaki), we were thrilled with that. It is always good when they get their nose in front. “He has done really well since then, the biggest concern is the 60 kilos on Saturday. It is a big impost in that wet ground, but we can’t do too much about that.” Nickalls doesn’t have any set plans with Chase but hasn’t ruled out a tilt at the Group 3 Winter Cup (1600m) at Riccarton in August. “We will just see what he does on Saturday, we have got no set plans,” he said. “We got burnt a little bit last year when we nominated for a whole lot of races which cost us a lot of money, so we are taking it race-by-race at the moment and if he is going well enough we will pay the late nomination for anything that may come up, like a Winter Cup.” Meanwhile, on Friday, Nickalls will head south to Otaki with a couple of contenders, including Stolen Rubies in the Harcourts Otaki Maiden (1600m) and Manolo in the Cavallo Farms & Chris Rutten Bloodstock Handicap (1600m). “Stolen Rubies is a nice mare and hopefully she will get through the Heavy10 down there,” Nickalls said. “She is a big mare and when they sprint off the back she gets left a bit flat-footed. She is a lovely mare and she has trained on well from her effort the other day. “Manolo is in the 65 mile and he will appreciate the wet ground. I know he ran last the other day, but on a (Soft) 5 he probably ran as fast as he has ever run. He has trained on well since then as well.” Horse racing news View the full article

Berry The Cash will contest Te Whangaui Romneys Hawke’s Bay Hurdle (3100m). Photo: Peter Rubery (Race Images Palmerston North) Star hurdler Berry The Cash will chase his first title at Hastings on Saturday, while stablemate West Coast is out to defend his crown in the Hawke’s Bay Steeplechase (4800m). A dual Grand National Steeplechase (5500m) and Great Northern Steeplechase (6500m) winner, West Coast has led the charge for trainer Mark Oulaghan in recent seasons and returned in the same unstoppable fashion with a Manawatu Steeplechase (4000m) victory last month. The son of Mettre En Jeu has become accustomed to carrying the 73kg benchmark topweight for jumpers, and he will do the same at in the Hastings feature under regular hoop Shaun Fannin. “He seems pretty good, he hasn’t had a run for a while but he’s working well, his weight is good and he’s well within himself,” Oulaghan said. “We don’t have to do much with him because he’s naturally pretty fit and clean winded, so we just work away and don’t put any undue pressure on him, more just maintenance. “Even though he hasn’t had a run, I think he’s right up to the mark.” Berry The Cash has made a serious account of himself since winning the Grand National Hurdles (4200m) at Riccarton last August, putting 4.5 lengths on the field in the Awapuni Hurdle (3000m), and more than doubling that figure in the Waikato Hurdle (3200m) a fortnight ago. The Jakkalberry seven-year-old will carry his highest allocated weight to date in 72.5kg in the Te Whangai Romney’s Hawke’s Bay Hurdle (3100m) in the hands of Portia Matthews. “He was pretty good at Waikato, he had them pretty well covered,” Oulaghan said. “I don’t think the heavy track will hold any worries for him, he likes bad ground, so he’s got a bit going for him on Saturday. “Hopefully he can just go out and settle midfield, we’ll see how he’s going down the back the last time but liking the wet is an advantage.” Oulaghan will be well-represented in the maiden jumping contests with Listed performer Semper Magico having his jumping debut in the Birchleigh Polo Club Maiden Hurdle (3100m), and Kentucky Boy engaged in the I See Red Syndicate Maiden Steeplechase (4000m). “Semper Magico jumped a little bit last year off and on, but that hasn’t been the concentrated focus. He does know how to jump though, and schools well,” Oulaghan said. “I like to start them off on better ground, but it is the first race (of the day), and he handles the wet so he should be okay. “Kentucky Boy won a hurdle on a heavy-ish track at Wanganui, then we backed him up at Hawera when the track was possibly a little good for him that day. “Back to a heavy track, bigger fences and a bit further on Saturday should work out pretty well for him.” A sole runner from Oulaghan’s stable will head down to Otaki on Friday in Jack Morrison, a son of Darci Brahma resuming off a 127-day break in the Riverstone Café Maiden (1400m). “He’s quite a nice horse, he went reasonably well at the Levin jumpouts the other day so we’re expecting a reasonable sort of run fresh-up,” he said. “It’s 1400m and he’s probably better off at a mile, but the track should be heavy anyway.” Oulaghan is having his best season since 2012/13 with 17 winners and a personal best of $641,535 in domestic stakes earnings, a result he puts down to patience with his talented contingent. “Obviously West Coast has been around for a while, but we had Berry The Cash last year and the year before getting him trialling and being patient with him, and he’s really come to it now,” he said. “Some of the others like Super Spirit (last-start winner) have been around and just taken time to mature.” Horse racing news View the full article

Helena Baby on his way to winning at Te Aroha on Thursday. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images) Proven flat performer Helena Baby continued his flawless transition to jumping with another easy victory in Thursday’s $30,000 The Bottle-O Te Aroha Hurdles (3100m). The grey son of Guillotine boasts seven wins on the flat, headed by the 2019 and 2022 editions of the Listed Opunake Cup (1400m). He was also a multiple placegetter in Hong Kong and finished third behind Melody Belle and Wyndspelle in the 2019 running of the Group 1 Tarzino Trophy (1400m). Trainer and part-owner John Bell gave the nine-year-old his first start over hurdles in a 3100m maiden race at Te Aroha on June 3, where he led all the way and scored a convincing victory by seven lengths. Thursday marked a step up into open company but a very similar result. Rider Nick Downs drove Helena Baby to the lead and dominated the race from there, cruising to the finish line five and a half lengths ahead of Invisible Spirit. “It was another impressive performance today and he’s showing quite a bit of class,” Bell said. “He’s a lovely jumper and does everything right. A big team effort has been put into him over quite a period of time, and what he’s doing now is reward for all of their hard work.” Thursday’s win took Helena Baby’s career earnings to just under $320,000. The next step in his rise among New Zealand’s hurdling ranks is to move into Prestige Jumping Race company – potentially in the $75,000 Wellington Hurdle (3200m) at Trentham on July 13. “Nick Downs seems to think we should head to Wellington now,” Bell said. “I haven’t looked that far ahead yet, so that’s something we’ll work out over the next few days. “I thought my days of travelling much south of Taupo were behind me, but a horse like him might force me to reassess that.” Bell will also be involved in Saturday’s jumping action at Hastings, where Ata Rangi will contest the Birchleigh Polo Club Maiden Hurdle (2500m). Curious George is entered for the Te Whangai Romneys Hawke’s Bay Hurdle (3100m) but will be scratched after finishing fourth behind Helena Baby on Thursday. “Ata Rangi is going well and will head to Hawke’s Bay, where he should be competitive,” Bell said. “We’ll take Curious George out of the Hawke’s Bay Hurdle. He doesn’t like wet ground at all. He’s a beautiful jumper and ran well for fourth on an unsuitable heavy track today. We’ll work out a plan for him that hopefully involves some drier ground.” Horse racing news View the full article

Weneedashock (inside) will contest the Raukawa Cup (2100m) at Otaki on Friday. Photo: Peter Rubery (Race Images Palmerston North) A $100,000 carrot at Cambridge’s synthetic meeting in August is firmly in the sights of trainer Howie Mathews with a pair of his gallopers, but he is being forced to take an unsuitable path to the lucrative target. With no suitable races at Awapuni’s polytrack, the Otaki horseman has opted to test both Weneedashock and Free Spirit on Heavy 10 footing at their home track on Friday in the Raukawa Cup (2100m). “The reason that I have got them in work and racing at this time of year is the lure of the $100,000 staying race on the synthetic at Cambridge on August 8,” Mathews said. “They have both won two races on the synthetic, so I am hoping to get them into some sort of fitness shape and a little bit of form to get them to Cambridge to go at that 2000m $100,000 race. “It is unfortunate that there is no (rating) 75 miles or staying races on the synthetic to prepare them. I was bitterly disappointed that the 75 staying race was dropped the other day at Palmerston North. “It is a bit of a muddling way to do things on a Heavy 10, which I don’t think the horses are overly happy with the conditions. It is at home and hopefully they can hit a bit of form before early August. Free Spirit is looking to recapture some form on Friday after running into a series of issues. “She hasn’t really come up this year, she has had a few niggly problems,” Mathews said. “Being a mare she has seasonal problems and a couple of times she has been caught on the fence. “She likes to have free running, so when I saw that she has drawn wide (16) I think with Lisa Allpress on she will be a lot better. I am hoping for a lot better run from her and it will be good for Lisa to get off and say ‘you are going in the right direction’. “Weneedashock, we don’t think he is a wet track horse but we just want to get him fit enough so that he has got a chance at Cambridge on the 8th of August.” Earlier on the card, Mathews will line-up Susie Jane in the New World Otaki Handicap (1200m). The daughter of Nadeem was runner-up in her two first outings this preparation before she ran ninth on a Heavy 10 track at Trentham earlier this month. “She ran a good race fresh and at Trentham I thought she was just one of those runners that just didn’t cop Trentham,” Mathews said. “She jumped well and was outside, she raced right with them to the turn and then a couple came around us and Ashvin (Mudhoo, jockey) had to switch her to the inside. Once she switched to the inside she went down on the ground that wasn’t to her liking so she just didn’t finish it off as good as I would have liked. “Back on her home track on Friday, we are expecting a nice run from her.” Horse racing news View the full article

What Tatts Tiara Day 2024 Where Eagle Farm Racecourse – 230 Lancaster Rd, Ascot QLD 4007 When Saturday, June 29, 2024 First Race 11:43am AEST Visit Dabble The Group 1 Tatts Tiara will headline a massive nine-race card at Eagle Farm this Saturday in the penultimate meeting of the Queensland Racing Carnival. The program will feature three races in Listed grade and three at Group level, while the Battle Of The Bush Final will be a highlight for Queensland’s country trainers. The track is rated as a Soft 5 at the time of acceptances, and with little to no rain on the forecast, there is a chance the surface could improve before the start of the meeting. The rail will be in the +6m position from the 1600m-1000m and in the +7m position for the remainder, with the opening race scheduled to jump at 11:43am AEST. Race 1: QTIS 3YO Fillies Plate (1200m) Tony Gollan and James McDonald will combine with Cassiere following her encouraging runner-up performance on her Australian debut at Doomben on June 5. The daughter of Swiss Ace won her debut run at Matamata before being sent over to the Gollan stable, and after finishing off strongly over 1110m first-up, she should appreciate the rise to 1200m second-up. The booking of McDonald is a key factor, and if he can slot into midfield from barrier five, Cassiere’s turn of foot will give her every chance. Selections: 11 CASSIERE 9 NAVYONTHEHIGHWAY 1 PURE PARADISE 4 CIGAR FLICK Race 2: Listed Tattersall’s Stakes (1400m) After an ultra-impressive victory at Canterbury on debut, Depth Of Character was set a tough task in the Listed Oxlade Stakes on his second start. The Annabel Neasham-trained colt settled midfield and didn’t get the clearest of runs from the 600m mark; however, he weaved a passage back to the inside and nabbed third place. The son of Deep Field looks as though he will enjoy stepping out over 1400m third-up, and with James McDonald in the saddle, he should prove hard to beat. Selections: 1 DEPTH OF CHARACTER 5 HEINOUS 2 STEEL STRIKE 6 MISS TRUSTFUL Best Bet Race 2 – #1 Depth Of Character (5) 2yo Colt | T: Annabel Neasham | J: James McDonald (57kg) +130 with PlayUp Race 3: Benchamark 85 Handicap (1200m) After finishing an unlucky runner-up behind Hidden Wealth last start, Millane should get every chance to turn the tables on his main market rival in this race. The Tony Gollan runner jumped from a wide gate and was forced back before running up the inside to flash home for second, less than a length off the winner. Although the son of Zoustar has drawn wide again in barrier 12, there isn’t much speed in this race, so he can push forward to settle midfield this time. Selections: 4 MILLANE 11 HIDDEN WEALTH 16 NANAGUI 7 HATCHET Next Best Race 3 – #4 Millane (12) 4yo Gelding | T: Tony Gollan | J: James McDonald (60.5kg) +170 with Dabble Race 4: Battle Of The Bush Final (1200m) Jack Be Lucky has won four of his last eight starts and is coming off a good fourth-place finish at Ipswich over 1100m. The son of Holy Roman Emperor has only missed the placings once over 1200m, and he will be peaking for his target race as he heads to Eagle Farm for the first time. If Karl Zechner can settle midfield from barrier 12 and get to the middle of the track on the home turn, Jack Be Lucky can play a prominent role in the finish at a good each-way quote with online bookmakers. Selections: 12 JACK BE LUCKY 11 THE CARPENTER 9 PARKO 1 TIGER LEGEND Best Value Race 4 – #12 Jack Be Lucky (12) 5yo Gelding | T: Corey & Kylie Geran | J: Karl Zechner (54.5kg) +850 with Neds Race 5: Listed Tattersall’s Gold Crown (2413m) Deny Knowledge was putting together a good preparation before recording a 13th-place finish in the Group 3 JRA Chairman’s Handicap, where the Anthony & Sam Freedman-trained mare gave considerable ground in the final 600m. Now that she is fourth-up and strikes a race with no speed, the daughter of Pride Of Dubai can run the race to suit herself. If Deny Knowledge can produce a similar performance to her Mornington Cup run two starts back, her rivals will struggle to run her down late. Selections: 1 DENY KNOWLEDGE 2 THALASSOPHILE 4 PRINCESS RHAENYS 14 ELLA’S WORLD Race 6: Group 3 Tattersall’s Cup (2400m) It is hard to go past Knight’s Choice after his impressive display behind Fawkner Park in the Group 2 Q22 at this track over 2200m. The John Symons & Sheila Laxon-trained gelding is unproven at the trip, but he ran through the line as strongly as any of his rivals in this, and it shouldn’t be a problem with less weight. If Robbie Dolan can get him into clear air with 300m to go, Knight’s Choice can go one better and record his first win of the campaign. Selections: 7 KNIGHT’S CHOICE 1 VOW AND DECLARE 6 NAVAL COLLEGE 12 ENCODER Tattersall’s Cup Race 6 – #7 Knight’s Choice (2) 4yo Gelding | T: John Symons & Sheila Laxon | J: Robbie Dolan (56.5kg) +340 with Picklebet Race 7: Listed Tattersall’s Mile (1600m) Charterhouse has been good without winning in two starts this preparation, but he now gets to his favourite distance. Second-up, the son of Charming Thought ran home nicely from the back of the field to finish fifth, beaten 2.4 lengths behind Freedom Rally in the Listed Wayne Wilson. Jumping from gate three, Charterhouse will settle near the rear of the field and appreciate a hot speed before finishing off strongly down the outside. Selections: 4 CHARTERHOUSE 5 IKNOWASTAR 2 NEW MANDATE 7 MARACANA Race 8: Group 1 Tatts Tiara (1400m) The final Group 1 of the 2023/24 season will be the Tatts Tiara over 1400m for fillies and mares, with 17 runners expected to take their place. Ciaron Maher’s Bella Nipotina holds favouritism with top horse racing betting sites, just ahead of Chris Waller-trained mare C’est Magique. Will Australia’s top stables fight out the 2024 edition of the Tatts Tiara, or will one of the Queensland-trained runners continue the recent local dominance of the race? Check out HorseBetting’s free preview of the 2024 Tatts Tiara here Race 9: Group 3 W.J. Healy Stakes (1200m) All The Pizzazz has finished in the top four in all three starts this preparation and now drops back from Group 2 level after a solid showing in the Moreton Cup. The son of Sprit Of Boom ran home well from the back of the field to finish fourth in the June 8 feature, beaten 3.8 lengths by Vilana. James McDonald will take the ride on this four-year-old gelding, and if he lets down like he did last start, All That Pizzazz will play a big role in the closing stages of the W.J. Healy Stakes. Selections: 2 ALL THAT PIZZAZZ 5 ZARASTRO 9 KING KAPA 13 DEEPOUR W.J. Healy Stakes Race 9 – #2 All That Pizzazz (12) 4yo Gelding | T: Tony Gollan | J: James McDonald (58kg) +340 with Bet365 Eagle Farm free Saturday quaddie tips Eagle Farm quadrella selections Saturday, June 29, 2024 1-6-7 2-4-5-7-14 1-2-4-8 2-5-9-13-14 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip Horse racing tips View the full article