Wandering Eyes

Scotty Macnab looks forward to competing in The New Zealand Hunts’ Association Duke Of Gloucester Cup (2100m) every season, and he will be aiming for a third crown in the iconic amateurs event on Saturday at Hastings. Macnab has been New Zealand’s most successful amateur rider for the better part of a decade, winning the Flair Amateur Rider Series five times, including last year’s edition staged through the winter and early spring. A farmer from Wanganui, Macnab followed in the footsteps of his father Dave in competing in the series, while his niece Sarah (O’Malley) also won the title in 2016 before commencing her apprenticeship. “I fell into doing these races really, I wanted to look at how Kevin Myers did his horses in the mornings and went there one day with Jo Rathbone,” Macnab said. “As soon as I got there, Kevin went into the tack room, came out with a pair of boots and told me to get on a horse. I had no intention of riding when I was going there whatsoever.” Myers and Macnab have been an unstoppable force in the amateur races since he commenced race riding, with their multitude of wins as a combination including Macnab’s first and long-awaited success in the Duke of Gloucester Cup of 2017, which he swiftly followed up with another in 2018. The race is contested every year at a different venue, dating back to 1935 when Prince Henry attended the Marton Jockey Club meeting and rode in the amateur race before donating the trophy. “My father won four of them, and that was my goal right from the start to win one. It took me so long to get that first one, it’s not easy and it’s the biggest race for us for the year,” Macnab said. “It’s a big highlight, especially for those of us that have ridden in the races for a little while, it becomes more and more of a prestige. Some of the kids in their first or second year don’t realise that it is the be all and end all of amateur riding, so if you’ve won a Duke of Gloucester you’ve done pretty well.” Macnab picked up where he left off last season in the first amateur race of the year at Hawera when winning aboard Myers’ five-year-old Rakanui, and he will partner last-start hurdle winner Run Jakko Run in the Epic Journey’s USA / Canada 2025 on Thursday at Te Aroha. “This year I haven’t been riding very much at Kevin’s, just once or twice a week, but I won on Rakanui at the Castlepoint Beach Races and liked him,” Macnab said. “My manager Jason (Myers), as he likes to think, rang me up and said he thought this horse would go alright, and he was right which was good. “I’ve got a seven-hour drive up now to Te Aroha with Kevin’s horses, and apparently if we get a winner we can put a lolly on our ice-cream on the way home. “Jakko is a bit of a character, I’m not quite as confident for tomorrow as I was riding Rakanui.” Myers has five runners accepted into Saturday’s Duke of Gloucester Cup and each in good form, but which Macnab will partner remains to be seen. “I’ll be riding one of Kevin’s on Saturday, I’m not sure which one yet though so I just look at the website when it comes out,” he said. “I just usually ride the horses that Kevin needs me to ride, I won’t really ride for anyone else because if they have a kid that wants to have a go in the amateurs, I’d rather see them have a turn and keep it going.” More recent rule changes including no whip-use behind the saddle have changed the landscape of the amateur races in Macnab’s perspective, and how they prepare the budding apprentices for professional riding. “The amateur races nowadays are so much more professional, you don’t get silly stuff happening. But I do worry that the kids that are riding these days aren’t readying themselves enough for being an apprentice,” he said. “We aren’t allowed to whip the horses, and as soon as they become apprentices, they’re expected to go out there and not only whip the horse, but also count how many whips they are doing so they don’t get fined, which is happening every week. “I think they took it out to make the amateurs look better because we do all have our own styles, and it does help, but possibly even just allowing us to hit them twice or three times, just so the kids start learning to count. “A big part of it as well is getting them into the race day scene with being on TV and all the dramas that come with that. If they can get somewhat used to that before going into the professional ranks, it has got to be better for them. “I would love to see a riding mentor bring all of the riders in to watch the replay, and tell us what happened in the race and why. “It wouldn’t be picking holes in anyone at all, more just to explain so the riders can understand and know for next time. We only race once every three or four weeks usually, so you get so nervous and built up for the one race. You can’t turn around two races later on the day and change something, it’s really a one-off. “I would find that very beneficial personally, even just having someone to help us walk the track before the race to show where it’s heavy or chopped up.” Macnab has seen plenty of high-profile racing figures use the amateur series to get their start, something he would like to see continue into future years. “There are lots of kids that have gone on to do really well, when I first started Rosie Myers (Fell) was in the amateurs and we all know what she went on and did as a jockey,” he said. “Aaron Kuru is a good mate of mine and I used to ride with him, he was a very good rider then and you could see he was always going to do well, same with Shaun Fannin. A lot have had a go at it and moved on, which is what it’s all about. “I’ve been retiring for a long time, pretty much every year, but Kevin keeps putting my name down in the book, so I keep turning up. But I do love it, and the moment I don’t, I’ll give it up.” View the full article

Talented mare Betty Spaghetti is one of a number of well-performed younger horses recently welcomed back into Shane Kennedy and Anna Furlong’s Riccarton operation. The daughter of Stratum Star has put together a tidy record of four wins and five minor placings, including a credit at black-type level, from 14 starts and has returned to the stable to build toward her spring preparation. Fellow stakes performers Quintabelle, Miss Layla and promising two-year-old Lil Zena are also among those to have come back into the system following time in the paddock. “Over half the team are young horses and it’s going to be exciting to get them up and going,” Furlong said. Betty Spaghetti’s form through her last campaign earned her a trip north earlier this year to Trentham where she was devoid of any luck in two appearances. She was unplaced in the Gr.3 Anniversary Handicap (1600m) after being denied any room to improve in the straight and a week later finished fifth in the inaugural $350,000 Remutaka Classic (2100m), again having no favours in the running. “She didn’t have a lot of luck, but we were still pretty happy with her,” Furlong said. “She has come back this week and she’s a very capable mare who has really developed with a good, long spell. “She looks like a much more mature mare now.” Quintabelle’s last three appearances included a runner-up finish in the Southland Guineas (1600m), third in the Listed NZB Insurance Stakes (1600m). The daughter of Embellish went for a break after her fourth in the Listed Warstep Stakes (2000m) after blundering at barrier rise. “She had a good season and was a bit unlucky not to pick up a nice race, but still excellent to get some black type with her. She has just come back in as well,” Furlong said. Last season’s Listed NZB Airfreight Stakes (1600m) winner Miss Layla added to her record last time in when the Burgundy mare ran third in the Gr.3 Canterbury Breeders’ Stakes (1400m) and was second in the Listed Timaru Stakes (1400m). Lil Zena was given three runs through the autumn with the U S Navy Flag filly’s stand-out performances a pair of thirds, including in the Listed Welcome Stakes (1000m), behind the unbeaten Nucleozor. “She did really well in her first prep and she’ll get ready for the three-year-old fillies’ races,” Furlong said. The stable will have sparce representation through the winter months with Wiseman’s Diva their only representative at Wednesday’s meeting on the all-weather track. “It’s not our time of the year, we don’t generally have winter horses and we’re more prepping for the spring,” Furlong said. To be ridden by Ashvin Goindasamy, Wiseman’s Diva will be given an opportunity to turn her form around from an inside gate in the Entain-NZB Insurance Pearl Series Race (1400m). “She’s been a bit disappointing and we’ve tried a couple of different things with her,” Furlong said. “She has drawn well, which is a bonus, but she needs to step up.” View the full article

Te Akau Racing have had another stellar season and some of their stars that contributed to their success have returned to their Matamata barn to try and continue their dominance next term. The Waikato Stud-bred and raced Skew Wiff was the stable’s first Group One winner for the season, and consequently co-trainer Sam Bergerson’s first elite-level training triumph, following her victory in the Gr.1 Tarzino Trophy (1400m) at Hastings. She subsequently crossed the Tasman where she won the Gr.3 Hong Kong Jockey Club Stakes (1400m) at Flemington on Melbourne Cup Day. The daughter of Savabeel has returned to New Zealand and has enjoyed a month off at Waikato Stud before returning to trainers Mark Walker and Bergerson’s Matamata barn where she is preparing for another early spring assault. “She has done really well and has put on a lot of weight in a short period of time,” Bergerson told Trackside. “She has come back in good order and has been here (racing stable) just shy of two weeks but seems to have settled back in well. “We will probably look to do the same again (as last season). It (Tarzino Trophy) was my first Group One win, which was a massive thrill, so she certainly holds a special place in my heart. “We will look to trial her at Te Rapa in early August, head to the Foxbridge (Gr.2, 1200m) and then Tarzino. We will then just reassess plans and sit down with Mark (Chittick, Waikato Stud) and see whether they want to put her in-foal or we keep going if she is in fantastic form. We will just have to wait and see.” Campionessa is another that has returned from Melbourne. The rising seven-year-old mare was a standout in New Zealand over summer, winning the Gr.2 Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m), Gr.2 Cal Isuzu Stakes (1600m), Gr.1 Zabeel Classic (2050m) and runner-up in the Gr.1 Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m). She continued that good form in Australia when victorious in the Gr.2 Peter Young Stakes (1800m) and placed in the Gr.2 Sunline Stakes (1600m). “We got her back in the spring and she went a couple of okay races and then picked up a bug,” Bergerson said. “We turned her out and she came back in and was racing in fantastic form over Christmas and went to Australia and did a fantastic job. “She has done really well (spelling). She didn’t actually have that long out at Te Akau Stud but put on a lot of weight in a short period of time. We thought we better get her back in before we would have been spending a lot of time trying to strip the weight off her, she does so well. “We have pencilled her in for (a trial) early August at Te Rapa, like a lot of the good horses, and then we will map it out from there on how she comes up. That (Tarzino Trophy) seems a likely option.” Group One winners Quintessa and Move To Strike have also returned to Te Akau’s Matamata barn in preparation for their spring targets. “It (Levin Classic) was a huge win (for Quintessa),” Bergerson said. “It was a tough, gutsy effort aided by a fantastic ride from Opie (Bosson), who seems to get on wonderfully with her. “She had a good month off at Te Akau and is another one like Campionessa that did really well in a short space of time. She seemed to have enjoyed her time off and she came back via the water treadmill. We are slowly getting the work into her now and stripping that weight off. “It is extremely exciting to have Move To Strike back, he is a lovely animal to do anything with. He has done really well in his break, he had a good spell there after Manawatu (Sires’ Produce) and is growing into a lovely animal. “He has put on plenty of weight, so he is on a bit of a diet as we look to get him fitter and aim him towards the 2000 Guineas (Gr.1, 1600m) at Riccarton.” View the full article

New Zealand syndicator Go Racing is enjoying a pleasing season and hit a major milestone earlier this month. Quality Time’s win at Ruakaka on June 8 took their stakes earnings past the $6 million mark for Go Racing’s owners this term, capping a remarkable season. “It has been a wonderful season for our owners,” Go Racing Director Albert Bosma said. “We have won Group One races in New Zealand with Velocious, in Australia with Atishu and had stakes performers in Ireland, France and England. “Just last week Je Zous ran a hard finishing fifth in the Gr.2 Ribblesdale Stakes (2400m) at Royal Ascot. “I think what we have achieved is unique as I don’t believe any New Zealand thoroughbred racing operation has had stakes performers in five different countries in a season before. “A massive thanks go to our staff who work incredibly hard for our owners and are passionate about looking after them and achieving the success they have had.” Bosma credits their international success to their ability to be flexible with their horses and place them in environments where they will thrive. “We are a boutique operation and don’t have the numbers of the big stables in New Zealand,” he said. “However, what we do have is the ability to place horses globally for owners and change tack when it is best for the horse, not just following the same traditional lines or keeping them in the same stable. “The ability to give options for individual horses produces the results. Quality Time is a great example of this, he started in Germany, we moved him to Australia and now have him with Kylie Hoskin in New Zealand. He is approaching $500,000 in stake money and can go well beyond that. “Last year we bought 11 total, including Karaka Million winner Velocious – we are boutique and targeted compared to some of the mammoth racing operations.” Newly appointed General Manager Matt Allnutt was thrilled with the results gained during his first season in the role. “The thing I am most proud of is our relationship with owners,” he said. “Many stay with us long-term and we get to know them beyond just a business relationship. We had 12 owners fly to Royal Ascot last week to support their horse, the second time in two years we have had a runner at Royal Ascot, and creating events like this for them is very special”. Allnutt is feeling confident the winning momentum will continue into the new season. “I believe we have bought well in New Zealand, Australia and Europe this year in what has been a patchy market,” he said. “We want to improve on our record-breaking season and would like to have stakes-horses in more than five countries this coming season. I think we have the firepower to do that.” View the full article

Ross Beckett will head to Riccarton’s Synthetic meeting on Thursday with a handful of runners, including a couple of favourites. Last start winner Gemma Flitz heads the market in the National Breeding Stock Sale On Gavelhouse Plus – Ends 10 July (1200m) and Beckett is hopeful of a repeat performance on the surface. The daughter of Telperion has been in good form this preparation, finishing runner-up in her two races prior to posting her third career victory, and Beckett said she has continued to please in her work. “It was good to get that win and she has come through the run well. Her work has been good and she is up to the mark,” he said. Beckett said Riccarton’s polytrack is a key tool for his barn over the winter months. “She likes a firm track on the grass as well, but she handles the synthetic. She wouldn’t be in work if it wasn’t for the synthetic track,” he said. “That is what is good about the synthetic, her and Voice Over, and those sort of horses, you can keep going with them (over winter). “Donovan (Cooper, apprentice jockey) is back on, he does a good job.” Voice Over is another favoured runner for Beckett in the Cup Week Hospitality On Sale (1200m), sitting on the second line of betting at $4.50 behind Angels Wings at $3.20. Formerly trained by Peter Didham, Voice Over has had two starts for Beckett on Riccarton’s synthetic for a win and a second, and he is hoping the son of U S Navy Flag can continue that form this week where he will utilise the three-kilogram claim of Cooper, bring his impost down to 57kg. “He is only a very small horse, so the three kilograms helps him a lot,” Beckett said. “His form has been very good, I am more than happy with him.” Stablemate Muzzle Cat is a $4.20 favourite in the Entain – NZB Insurance Pearl Series Race Mdn (1400m) with TAB bookmakers, while Drake’s Drum and Montero will round out Beckett’s Riccarton quintet in the Speight’s Summit Ultra On Tap Maiden (1200m) and The Show Gate Riccarton Park Maiden (1600m) respectively. “Muzzle Cat has just been getting a bit far back in her races,” Beckett said. “Hopefully tomorrow we can ride her a bit handier and she should be quite competitive. “Drake’s Drum copped a fair bit of interference last start, so he had his excuses, but he ran third and went well. “The mile will suit Montero, but he is going to have to put his hand up and put some money in the till shortly.” View the full article

The final Group 1 race of the Queensland Winter Racing Carnival, the 2024 Tattersall’s Tiara, promises to be a thrilling contest with a capacity field of fillies and mares set to do battle at Eagle Farm this Saturday. The entries are headed by the in-form mare Bella Nipotina, who comes off a runner-up finish in […] The post Bella Nipotina Leads the Charge in Tattersall’s Tiara 2024 appeared first on HorseRacing.com.au. View the full article

What Wyong Races Where Wyong Race Club – 71-73 Howarth St, Wyong NSW 2259 When Thursday, June 27, 2024 First Race 12pm AEST Visit Dabble Wyong is the destination for NSW racing on Thursday afternoon, with a competitive eight-part program set for decision. The rail moves out +3m the entire circuit, and with nothing but sunny skies forecast in the lead-up, punters can expect the surface to be a genuine Good 4 prior to the opening event at 12pm local time. Check out our best bets and quaddie numbers for the meeting on June 27. Best Bet at Wyong: Pink Shalala Pink Shalala returns after a 385-day spell, and although it’s been a lengthy break for the son of Shaala, he looks primed to strike first-up. His recent trial at Rosehill on June 11 caught the eye, going on to score by a nose as he held out the likes of Captain Eagle and Dipsy Doodle. Gate one should allow Kerrin McEvoy to stalk the speed throughout, and provided he can bring that trial form to race-day, this lightly raced three-year-old will be hard to hold out. Best Bet Race 1 – #2 Pink Shalala (1) 3yo Gelding | T: Chris Waller | J: Kerrin McEvoy (59kg) +100 with Bet365 Next Best at Wyong: Tommy Thug The Michael Freedman-trained Tommy Thug impressed on Australian debut, only beaten by two lengths at Newcastle on June 15. The Irish import chased wide without cover on that occasion, still managing to hit the line well over the unsuitable 1500m journey. The margin back to third was another 2.8 lengths, suggesting there’s still plenty to come from this winless four-year-old. The 2000m second-up looks ideal, so with a bit more luck in transit this time should have Tommy Thug figuring in the finish. Next Best Race 5 – #7 Tommy Thug (7) 4yo Gelding | T: Michael Freedman | J: Jean Van Overmiere (56.5kg) +400 with Neds Best Value at Wyong: Snuba Snuba was awful on debut at Warwick Farm on June 5 but had clear excuses, with the post-race veterinary report detailing the three-year-old filly had respiratory issues throughout the run. She was forced to trial at Randwick on June 14, with the daughter of Deep Field seemingly recovering well, cruising through the wire under her own steam. She looks progressive, and provided Rory Hutchings can find cover from gate 10, Snuba should give a bold sight at good odds with online bookmakers. Best Value Race 4 – #9 Snuba (10) 3yo Filly | T: Chris Waller | J: Rory Hutchings (57kg) +700 with PlayUp Wyong Thursday quaddie picks – 27/6/2024 Wyong quadrella selections Thursday, June 27, 2024 6-7-10 1-2-3 2-3-5-10-11 1-2-3-4-5-6 Horse racing tips
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Gemma Flitz will lineup at Riccarton’s synthetic meeting on Thursday. Photo: Race Images South Ross Beckett will head to Riccarton’s Synthetic meeting on Thursday with a handful of runners, including a couple of favourites. Last start winner Gemma Flitz heads the market with top horse racing bookmakers and Beckett is hopeful of a repeat performance on the surface. The daughter of Telperion has been in good form this preparation, finishing runner-up in her two races prior to posting her third career victory, and Beckett said she has continued to please in her work. “It was good to get that win and she has come through the run well. Her work has been good and she is up to the mark,” he said. Beckett said Riccarton’s polytrack is a key tool for his barn over the winter months. “She likes a firm track on the grass as well, but she handles the synthetic. She wouldn’t be in work if it wasn’t for the synthetic track,” he said. “That is what is good about the synthetic, her and Voice Over, and those sort of horses, you can keep going with them (over winter). “Donovan (Cooper, apprentice jockey) is back on, he does a good job.” Voice Over is another favoured runner for Beckett, sitting on the second line of betting at $4.50 behind Angels Wings at $3.20. Formerly trained by Peter Didham, Voice Over has had two starts for Beckett on Riccarton’s synthetic for a win and a second, and he is hoping the son of U S Navy Flag can continue that form this week where he will utilise the three-kilogram claim of Cooper, bring his impost down to 57kg. “He is only a very small horse, so the three kilograms helps him a lot,” Beckett said. “His form has been very good, I am more than happy with him.” Stablemate Muzzle Cat is a $4.20 favourite with horse racing betting sites, while Drake’s Drum and Montero will round out Beckett’s Riccarton quintet. “Muzzle Cat has just been getting a bit far back in her races,” Beckett said. “Hopefully tomorrow we can ride her a bit handier and she should be quite competitive. “Drake’s Drum copped a fair bit of interference last start, so he had his excuses, but he ran third and went well. “The mile will suit Montero, but he is going to have to put his hand up and put some money in the till shortly.” Horse racing news View the full article

My Chablis winning at Cambridge Synthetic on Wednesday. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images) Patience with My Chablis has paid dividends for Stephen Marsh as the filly secured the second win of her brief career at the Cambridge Synthetic on Wednesday. A rising four-year-old, My Chablis made her debut in mid-January but was put aside until the polytrack meeting on June 12, where she collected her maiden success at start two over 970m. Stepping into Rating 65 grade, the daughter of Burgundy was rated a $5.50 chance with horse racing bookmakers behind the well-performed Tears Of Victory and Pax Mundi. In the hands of her regular rider, Courtney Barnes, My Chablis was forced to travel three-wide in the small field after jumping positively from gate five, as Tears Of Victory led the field through the running. Barnes placed pressure on My Chablis nearing the home bend and she got into a strongly contested battle to the line, eventually coming out on top over a fast-finishing Don’t Look Ethel and Tears Of Victory, while Pax Mundi never saw clear air placing her back in the field. Assistant trainer Rhys Mildon represented Marsh at the meeting, indicating the three-year-old may be set for a higher-stakes synthetic race if the opportunity arises. “It was another tough run, she was stepping up another 330m in distance and she was three-wide the whole way, so I couldn’t have been more impressed to be fair,” Mildon said. “We would’ve forgiven her for getting tired and running third, but she dug deep and she’s a really gutsy filly. “She’ll probably come back here in a fortnight if she’s all good, at this time of the year we’ll keep her off the heavy grass tracks. “She may just have one more here and we’ll reassess, there may be a big money race on the synthetic but I’m not sure what Stephen has in mind for her, possibly one of the final races. “She just had a couple of fetlock issues earlier in her career, but Stephen has been really patient with her and it’s certainly paying off now.” A daughter of three-win mare Rio Nugget, My Chablis is a half-sister to Group One-performer turned sire Ferrando, and was bred by Mapua Bloodstock Ltd. She has earned $19,040 in prizemoney from three starts for connections, which include All Black Damien McKenzie. Marsh will be represented across the North and South Islands through the rest of the week, with runners at the Riccarton Synthetic on Thursday and Ruakaka on Saturday. Miss Nico Belle will headline the Riccarton contingent, while consistent gelding Winning For All lines up in the Northpine Waipu Cup (1200m) in the far north. “His (Winning For All) work has been really good but he’s just taken a few runs to get fit this time,” Mildon said. “He’s drawn well (four) in a small field so he’s probably one of our better chances on Saturday at the low weight.” Sam Spratt will partner the Shooting To Win gelding, while Masa Hashizume has been engaged aboard last-start winner The Exponent. “Everything went right that day for him to get a win on the poly, but I think he’s a better grass track horse in time,” Mildon said. “Being an open three-year-old race it’s certainly a lot tougher than last-start, but if he can get a forward position and a bit of luck in the running, he’ll be there or thereabouts that’s for sure.” Horse racing news View the full article

Matamata trainer Davey Ellis. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images) It was a case of like father, like son at Cambridge on Wednesday when Davey Ellis recorded his first training win courtesy of Spectrier. Ellis, 40, is the son of Te Akau Racing principal David Ellis, who as well as founding and operating the thoroughbred behemoth, also trained at the turn of the century, recording three victories in the 2000/01 season. Ellis junior has been surrounded by horses his entire life and said his passion for the animal began on the rolling hill country of Te Akau Stud. “I grew up on Dad’s sheep station and I was saddling my ponies to go and see my mates and getting the sheep in down off the hills,” he said. While Ellis started to follow in his father’s footsteps into the racing industry, he found a career as a farrier more alluring, and has followed that path after working for numerous trainers on both sides of the Tasman. “I have worked for well over 30 different trainers before I started shoeing horses,” Ellis said. “I have worked for pretty much every trainer in Matamata and lots of trainers in Cambridge. I have worked in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.” While he enjoyed his time in racing stables, the lifestyle of a full-time trainer didn’t appeal, and he pursued his farrier apprenticeship under Kym Hughes and Malcolm Telfer. “With the lifestyle, you have to be pretty dedicated to be a full-time trainer,” Ellis said. “With family life, shoeing horses you can be done by 2pm on a Friday afternoon and have the rest of the weekend to do as you please, and I have got a lot of other hobbies as well.” Racing will always be in the blood for Ellis, and he has enjoyed training Spectrier before work every morning. “This is only my second horse I have trained, so this is just a hobby for me. He is the only horse I have in work, it is just a little bit of fun. I more enjoy just training the horse really,” he said. Ellis was rapt to get the win on Wednesday, with Spectrier having finished runner-up first-up at the track earlier this month. “He went a good second in his first-up run and he had improved a little bit through the week,” he said. Spectrier was initially purchased as a weanling by David Ellis senior out of Rich Hill Stud’s 2019 New Zealand Bloodstock May Yearling Sale draft for $80,000 and found his way to his son’s care after he didn’t meet the mark at Te Akau Racing. “Dad bought him as a weanling and they (Te Akau) trained him, but he wasn’t going too well for them. I liked the look of the horse and decided to take him on,” Ellis said. Ellis said he does all the work with the horse, which made Wednesday’s victory all the more enjoyable. “I ride his trackwork and strap him, I do the whole thing,” he said. “If my horse goes somewhere I have got to take him.” Horse racing news View the full article

Skew Wiff winning the Group 1 Tarzino Trophy (1400m) at Hastings last year. Photo: Peter Rubery (Race Images Palmerston North) Te Akau Racing have had another stellar season and some of their stars that contributed to their success have returned to their Matamata barn to try and continue their dominance next term. The Waikato Stud-bred and raced Skew Wiff was the stable’s first Group One winner for the season, and consequently co-trainer Sam Bergerson’s first elite-level training triumph, following her victory in the Group 1 Tarzino Trophy (1400m) at Hastings. She subsequently crossed the Tasman where she won the Group 3 Hong Kong Jockey Club Stakes (1400m) at Flemington on Melbourne Cup Day. The daughter of Savabeel has returned to New Zealand and has enjoyed a month off at Waikato Stud before returning to trainers Mark Walker and Bergerson’s Matamata barn where she is preparing for another early spring assault. “She has done really well and has put on a lot of weight in a short period of time,” Bergerson told Trackside. “She has come back in good order and has been here (racing stable) just shy of two weeks but seems to have settled back in well. “We will probably look to do the same again (as last season). It (Tarzino Trophy) was my first Group One win, which was a massive thrill, so she certainly holds a special place in my heart. “We will look to trial her at Te Rapa in early August, head to the Foxbridge (Group 2, 1200m) and then Tarzino. We will then just reassess plans and sit down with Mark (Chittick, Waikato Stud) and see whether they want to put her in-foal or we keep going if she is in fantastic form. We will just have to wait and see.” Campionessa is another that has returned from Melbourne. The rising seven-year-old mare was a standout in New Zealand over summer, winning the Group 2 Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m), Group 2 Cal Isuzu Stakes (1600m), Group 1 Zabeel Classic (2050m) and runner-up in the Group 1 Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m). She continued that good form in Australia when victorious in the Group 2 Peter Young Stakes (1800m) and placed in the Group 2 Sunline Stakes (1600m). “We got her back in the spring and she went a couple of okay races and then picked up a bug,” Bergerson said. “We turned her out and she came back in and was racing in fantastic form over Christmas and went to Australia and did a fantastic job. “She has done really well (spelling). She didn’t actually have that long out at Te Akau Stud but put on a lot of weight in a short period of time. We thought we better get her back in before we would have been spending a lot of time trying to strip the weight off her, she does so well. “We have pencilled her in for (a trial) early August at Te Rapa, like a lot of the good horses, and then we will map it out from there on how she comes up. That (Tarzino Trophy) seems a likely option.” Group One winners Quintessa and Move To Strike have also returned to Te Akau’s Matamata barn in preparation for their spring targets. “It (Levin Classic) was a huge win (for Quintessa),” Bergerson said. “It was a tough, gutsy effort aided by a fantastic ride from Opie (Bosson), who seems to get on wonderfully with her. “She had a good month off at Te Akau and is another one like Campionessa that did really well in a short space of time. She seemed to have enjoyed her time off and she came back via the water treadmill. We are slowly getting the work into her now and stripping that weight off. “It is extremely exciting to have Move To Strike back, he is a lovely animal to do anything with. He has done really well in his break, he had a good spell there after Manawatu (Sires’ Produce) and is growing into a lovely animal. “He has put on plenty of weight, so he is on a bit of a diet as we look to get him fitter and aim him towards the 2000 Guineas (Group 1, 1600m) at Riccarton.” Horse racing news View the full article

If there is any merit to the theory that racing against Pride Of Jenni (Pride of Dubai) takes more out of horses, no galloper has been exposed to potential ill-effects more this year than Mr Brightside (NZ) (Bullbars). The Ben, Will and Jd Hayes-trained gelding has been a rival of Pride Of Jenni four times in 2024, starting with the C F Orr Stakes – which he won narrowly – but then chased her home in the All-Star Mile (second), Australian Cup (fifth) and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (third). Mr Brightside headed for a well-earned break after the Queen Elizabeth on April 13, which Ben Hayes said the rising seven-year-old, who returned to work earlier this month, embraced. “We can’t fault him, he’s a happy horse and he’s working great,” Hayes said. “He put on nearly 40-45 kilos, so he had a really good holiday. “He’s carrying some nice condition, but that’s a good position to be in at this time.” The son of Bullbars will be stepped up to even-time work this week but is being prepared to start his spring campaign later than the past two seasons. Last year he became just the third dual winner of the P B Lawrence Stakes and a shot at becoming the first three-time winner of that Group 2 event beckons, but Hayes said his new-season debut would come in Caulfield’s other 1400m weight-for-age event in August. “We’re going to miss the Lawrence,” Hayes said. “We just wanted to give him a little bit more of a break and we’ll go to the Memsie first-up. “There are not many other options for a horse like him, otherwise you’re kicking off over a mile, so the Memsie will be the go at this stage and then there is no direct path towards a race like a Cox Plate for us.” Mr Brightside also won last year’s $750,000 Group 1 Memsie Stakes, which will this year be run at Caulfield on August 31. View the full article

Group Three winner Trust In You (NZ) (Sweynesse) made his first public outing of his preparation at Pukekohe on Tuesday, with trainers Grant Cooksley and Bruce Wallace eyeing a potentially lucrative spring campaign with the rising six-year-old. The son of Sweynesse was one of the top staying performers of the summer, winning the Dunstan horsefeeds Stayers Championship Final (2400m) and Gr.3 Queen Elizabeth II Cup (2400m) at Pukekohe on Boxing Day and New Year’s Day respectively, and was runner-up in the Nathans Memorial (2200m) at Ellerslie. He returned to Pukekohe on Tuesday to compete in a pipe-opener over 800m, and Cooksley was satisfied with his fourth placed run. “He just had a run over 800m to bring him on a little bit and he went quite well,” Cooksley said. “He is just getting stronger as he gets older, and he has come back really good, I am quite happy with him.” Spring feature targets await Trust In You, with Sydney being the favoured destination at this stage of his preparation. “We are thinking about going to Sydney for the Metropolitan (Gr.1, 2400m), but we will just see how he comes up,” Cooksley said. Trust In You was joined in his heat by new stablemate Meaningful Star (Pivotal), who pleased with his third placed hit-out. The Irish-bred gelding was formerly trained in Hong Kong by Francis Lui, for whom he won four races up to Class 2 level. Cooksley said they are still learning about the son of Pivotal and are yet to map out a spring plan for the horse with an 87 rating. “I don’t know much about the horse,” Cooksley said. “The owner rang us about six or seven months ago, we gave him a bit of work, put him out and have brought him back and gave him a run around (today) to see what he can do. It was quite a good trial. “We have no plans for him at the moment, we will just see what happens.” Meanwhile, promising juvenile So Naïve (NZ) (U S Navy Flag) has returned to work alongside Group Three winner Sacred Satono (NZ) (Satono Aladdin). “The plan (with Sacred Satono) is to go to the Foxbridge (Gr.2, 1200m) and then the first leg at Hastings (Gr.1 Tarzino Trophy, 1400m).” View the full article

Mont Ventoux (NZ) (Nom Du Jeu) may have won seven races and more than $170,000 on the flat, but the eight-year-old gelding is finding it a bit harder to break maiden ranks over fences. The son of Nom du Jeu has had nine hurdle starts for seven placings and he will be looking to secure his maiden jumps victory when he heads to Te Aroha’s rescheduled meeting on Thursday where he will tackle the Majestic Horse Floats Hurdles (3100m). “It has been a little disappointing that he hasn’t managed to win. For a seven-win flat horse he is taking a while to crack maidens,” trainer Rudy Liefting said. “I think that he just has trouble seeing out the trip a little bit. He did win a Kiwifruit Cup (2100m), but a lot of his wins were 1400m to a mile. Even though he is bred to stay, he hasn’t quite got that dourness and toughness that a lot of the seasoned jumpers have got to grind out a distance. “Last start he wasn’t beaten far. Watching the replay, he chipped in a short one in the last two or three jumps and I think that just cost him half a length. “He has made $200,000 in prizemoney and he keeps ticking over the till. He should be a chance and if he runs in the first three, we will be happy.” Stablemate Renegade Fighter (NZ) (Zed) will also be out to score his maiden jumps victory in the TAJC Hospitality Function Centre Hurdles (3100m), however, Liefting would have preferred to have started the gelding in the Agrisea NZ Steeplechase (3500m). “I have had trouble getting riders for him,” he said. “I would rather have him in a steeplechase, because I think he will make a steeplechaser, but I can’t get a rider in the steeplechase. “Call Me Jack looks like a home run (in the hurdle), but we are a second or third place chance with the field having fallen away with a few scratchings. “He wants a really heavy track so hopefully we get that, and I think he will be some sort of chance.” Mont Ventoux is a $1.65 favourite for the opening race on the card with TAB bookmakers, while Renegade Fighter is a $17 outsider in his contest. View the full article

Last Saturday was headlined by the Ipswich Cup meeting as the Queensland Racing Carnival moved away from Brisbane; meanwhile, Flemington and Belmont were the main support cards after Randwick was abandoned due to wet weather. In this week’s edition of The Follow Files, we have found three horses that appear ready to win at their next start after strong performances early in the preparation. Flemington Track rating: Good 4 Rail position: +11m entire circuit Race 1: 2YO Handicap (1420m) | Time: 1:24.44 Horse to follow: Henlein (3rd) Following his impressive maiden victory on debut at Bendigo, Henlein took on metropolitan grade in his second start, and the Anthony & Sam Freedman-trained colt was far from disgraced. The son of Dundeel ran home nicely from the rear of the field to finish third behind Sneaky Sunrise and Pisces over 1420m. This two-year-old colt recorded the third-fastest last 600m section (33.38s), fastest last 400m section (22.16s), and second-fastest last 200m section (11.47s) of the entire meeting, indicating that he will appreciate another rise in trip third-up. When to bet: The Freedman’s will more than likely keep Henlien in two-year-old grade and rise in trip to 1500 or 1600m, which should suit him nearing peak fitness third-up. If they can find him a suitable race on a big track like Flemington, he will be a very good bet. Race 9: 3YO Handicap (1100m) | Time: 1:03.61 Horse to follow: Prinzerro (2nd) Prinzerro has recorded back-to-back placings over 1100m down the Flemington straight to begin his second racing preparation, where the Phillip Stokes-trained gelding has finished behind two smart ones in Right To Party and The Black Cloud. Connections thought enough of this son of Pierro to run him in the Group 3 Caulfield Guineas Prelude, and even though he finished last, this guy has shown good ability throughout his career to finish in the top three six times from his eight starts. When to bet: Stokes and his team will be looking for another race against his own age group, but over 1200m now that he is third-up and nearing peak fitness. With a similar performance, Prinzerro can break through for a win at the end of the season. Belmont Track rating: Soft 5 Rail position: True entire circuit Race 9: RTG66+ Handicap (1300m) | Time: 1:19.61 Horse to follow: Deamber (2nd) Deamber returned from a five-month spell last Saturday, and the Stephanie Bakranich-trained mare ran home strongly from the back of the field to finish second behind Fluro Neuro over 1300m at Belmont. The winner was second-up for this preparation, and he proved too strong in the concluding stages for this daughter of Vert De Grece, who looked as though she needed the run first-up. After such a strong performance fresh, it is expected that she will be ready to win second-up over the same distance or slightly further. When to bet: Bakranich will seek to find a similar race for Deamber second-up, and if she does find a suitable race on a Good track, this mare will get every chance to win again. Top horse racing sites for blackbook features Horse racing tips View the full article

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The equine fatality rate in North America has shrunk significantly over the last 15 years, from 1.98 per 1,000 starts in 2009 to 1.32 last year. Still according to officials, that number remains higher than other racing jurisdictions around the globe such as Australia, Great Britain, Hong Kong, Japan, and New Zealand. If there was a unifying theme running through Tuesday's Jockey Club Welfare and Safety of the Racehorse Summit, however, it was that the industry has all the tools necessary to uniformly reduce fatality rates to meet and beat international levels. Indeed, several tracks in the U.S. are already there–including Santa Anita, which concluded its winter-spring season with a 99.97% safety record, marking it out among the safest major North American tracks. This, just five years on from a welfare crisis that brought the state's racing industry to its knees. “My career, my daily life, I thought it might be twilighting, that there might be a change in California,” said Southern California-based trainer Tim Yakteen, when discussing events from five years ago. “But the changes that took place are something I'm very proud of–the success that we've achieved.” Using these experiences, Yakteen issued an industry-wide plea: “If we don't embrace change, we're going to stay stagnant,” he said. Providing a broad framework for the day, McKinsey and Company's Dan Singer and Ben Vonwiller outlined seven key “opportunities” to make a wholesale leap forward. 1: Post-entry screening McKinsey's analysis breaks down post-screening protocols three ways. AAA: About 10% to 15% of the nation's tracks have what they've defined as a full suite of post-entry screening protocols. This includes a panel report gathering together information like PPs, work history, vets' list history and other high-risk factors; a panel meeting to identify which horses entered to race are at highest risk of injury; and physical examinations by regulatory veterinarians. These so-called “AAA” tracks have a 30% to 40% lower fatality rate than tracks with lesser post-screening protocols. AA: These are the tracks where the regulatory vets might pull only a few risk factors when assessing horses, and might not have access to the full suite of health and performance histories necessary to make a comprehensive pre-race assessment. A: There are the tracks where the regulatory vets might look only at PPs when assessing risk of injury pre-race, and where post-entry examinations might not take place at all. These account for between 55% to 70% of all tracks, according to McKinsey. Why are these panel reports so important? Horses with lay-up periods of between 31-60 days are 29% more likely to suffer a fatal injury. Horses previously on the vets' list are at a 34% higher risk of fatal injury. Horses four and older making their first start are 48% more likely to suffer a fatal injury than an average horse. Will Farmer, Churchill Downs equine medical director, moderated a wide-ranging panel discussion on the significance of these post-screening protocols, with a particular focus on life since the advent of the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA). Sarah Hinchliffe, a regulatory veterinarian with the New York Racing Association (NYRA), identified the ability for regulators to see a trainer's equine medical records, along with the extra regulatory eyes on the track of a morning, as key areas of improvement. “Watching morning training has been a huge help to us in identifying horses that are of concern and preventing those injuries during training–particularly turning horses back that aren't sound,” said Hinchliffe, adding how a decrease in equine injuries has correlated to a decrease in human injuries as well. Farmer agreed with Hinchliffe's assessment on medical records, saying that it creates a “timeline” for veterinarians and trainers to make better medical decisions. Lyndsay Hagemeyer, an Ohio regulatory veterinarian, said trainers in the state were apprehensive about what the extra veterinary scrutiny would entail–a fear that proved largely unfounded, she added. “With this racing season, it's been a welcome change. They're used to us being in the barns now,” Hagemeyer said. Coglianese Chip Johnson, a private veterinarian in Central Kentucky, was more ambivalent in his assessment. HISA, he said, “has made horses safer.” At the same time, he identified some of the key teething problems from a private practitioner's perspective, including the additional paperwork and costs of hiring additional staff to manage that workload. “I don't think people understand or appreciate the volume [or paperwork] that a racetrack practitioner goes through every day,” Johnson said. 2: Wearable Technologies Wearable biometric sensors have sprung to prominence over the last few years due to their promise of identifying those small percentage of at-risk horses who might appear sound to the human eye, but which might display subtle lameness at various gaits, including racing pace. Indeed, McKinsey reports that 90% or more of international veterinarians when asked said that wearable gait analysis technologies are a “significant” tool to reducing fatalities. Sara Langsam, a veterinary partner at Teigland, Franklin and Brokken, discussed an American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) project seeking to identify the wearable biometric sensors most adept at identifying horses at elevated risk of suffering musculoskeletal injuries that are easy to use and affordable. Toward the end of last year, the AAEP issued a request for proposal on the project. Twelve applicants replied, and the AAEP has subsequently whittled that number down to six. As of the beginning of next year, these six technologies will each be trialed on teams of 100 2-year-olds trained across the U.S. The project will carry on throughout the year. Highlighting one of the key concerns raised, Langsam said that none of the data collected will be shared with anyone other than the AAEP subcommittee, put together to oversee the project. “This is purely an experiment,” she said. “What do we need from the industry?” Langsam asked, rhetorically. Compliance is the answer. “These horses are just starting off at training centers–obviously, they're not allowed onto racetracks until March. Some of these may be sold. Some of them signed up for the study may change hands. So, if you all of a sudden now have a horse in your barn that you didn't sign up for, we ask that you keep the sensor on them and keep them in the study,” she said. “We would like to have a year's worth of information.” The end goal, she said, is for the AAEP to recommend to HISA one or two sensors for nationwide implementation. “Obviously at AAEP, we are an advisory group. We don't have any teeth,” said Langsam. “But HISA will take this on, and they've promised to listen to our recommendation and, potentially, go forward with full implementation on all 55,000 racehorses in the United States.” A previous panel on equine sudden death discussed the role biometric sensors–like Arineo's electrocardiogram (ECG) monitor–might play in better understanding the currently poorly understood reasons behind these events. Another related topic raised in several of the panel discussions was that of a new wave of sophisticated imaging modalities, like PET, CT and MRI. During the discussion on post-entry screening protocols, Chip Johnson said that one of the challenges with diagnostic technologies is to “get these machines in front of the horses that need it.” These wearable biometric sensors offer a potential avenue for streamlining that process. 3: Race Conditions/claiming races According to McKinsey, there's a 25% higher risk of injury associated with claiming races, and a 17% higher risk of fatal injury associated with horses running at up to six furlongs. Tim Parkin, head of the veterinary school at the University of Bristol, expanded upon these details in his presentation at the beginning of the morning. Parkin pointed out how the first four starts a claimed horse makes with a new trainer is vitally important. Using as a baseline a horse that never switches trainer, Parkin said that a horse having its first start for a new trainer has a 25% greater risk of injury, and a horse within the 2-4 start range for a new trainer has a 20% elevated risk of injury. Sarah Andrew “But then what the model is telling us is once the horse gets to within five-plus races with the new trainer, actually they're not at any statistical greater risk than they were if they hadn't changed trainer,” said Parkin. Parkin also pointed out how the type of void claim rule is important, saying that the “most stringent void claim rules at a track reduce the risk by the most degree.” Nor is this just an academic assessment. Ohio regulatory veterinarian Lyndsay Hagemeyer described HISA's voided claim rule as having a “really significant” change for the better in the state. 4: Improved surface Maintenance McKinsey's data breaks dirt surfaces into four climate groups. The safest dirt tracks are in hot dry climates (with a 1.31 fatality rate per 1,000 starts), and the dirt surfaces with the worst equine fatality rates are in climates with hot summers and cold, freezing winters (1.53 fatalities per 1,000 starts). Their data also points out how improved track maintenance protocols come with lower equine fatality rates. Mick Peterson, executive director of the Racing Surfaces Testing Laboratory and professor of Biosystems & Agricultural Engineering at the University of Kentucky, expanded upon these details in an information and data-rich presentation (that is hard to summarise). Peterson explained that key to honing track maintenance best practices–built around the notion of racetrack consistency–is understanding how the “primary load” comes from the horse's muscle-generated force. “The primary load and damage is from muscle-generated force–it's not the surface,” he said. “Muscle-generated force is much larger. And so, what's happening is, you've got this muscle-generated force but then it's suddenly different. The horse has already adapted to the muscle-generated force.” With that in mind, the ultimate goal under HISA, Peterson said, “is when you ship from one track to another, and you start out the race meet, it's going to look like wherever you came from. It's going to have the smallest variation possible.” HISA and the nation's superintendents have made progress in recent years in several important areas, said Peterson, including in grade measurement and maintenance, in racetrack design, and standardized current harrow design. But to close the variability gap from track to track, the industry must invest in better tools for better measurement, more advanced water truck designs, and real-time measurement of track moisture content, he added. “Then I want to mention next generation surfaces,” Peterson added. “Right now, we're just looking for consistency. I think there's a really strong argument for consistency. But at some point, we've got to step back and ask: What is the optimum surface for the horse?” This question leads onto the next of the identified “opportunities” for improvement… 5: All-weather surfaces While there have been huge strides forward in the maintenance of dirt tracks, all-weather surfaces remain safer on average. According to the McKinsey analysis, all five synthetic surfaces in North America are among the 15 safest tracks overall. The researchers also sought to dispel some common myths associated with synthetic surfaces, including the following: “Average field sizes by race on all-weather were not smaller than those on dirt, when compared at North American racetracks who had operated both dirt and all-weather tracks between 2009 and 2022.” “Average win/place/show handle was not significantly different per race on all-weather surfaces vs. dirt surfaces, when compared at racetracks that had operated both; at one track that hosted Breeders' Cups on both all-weather and dirt surfaces.” “Average career length in years and number of races were not significantly different between horses who ran more on synthetic vs. those who ran more on dirt.” Sarah Andrew Which brings the topic back to Mick Peterson's remark about next generation surfaces. “These next generation surfaces need to be able to deal with water. Hydrophobic like the synthetic surfaces, or [better] control the moisture. Biomechanically, they'll probably be more like the turf than anything else, because I've rarely heard anyone say, 'my horse doesn't like the turf,'” said Peterson. “The big data question about all this is learn about the biomechanics.” 6 & 7: Trainers and breeders Just 50 trainers with what appears over 1,000 starts between 2018 and 2022–0.7% of the total–account for 13% of North American fatalities, according to McKinsey. These 50 trainers also account for 5.7% of all starts in North America. They did not name these trainers individually. McKinsey also identified how 50 breeders with what appears over 500 starts between 2018 and 2022–0.1% of the total active breeders–account for 8.4% of the total North American fatalities. They also account for 4.2% of all starts. Again, they did not name the breeders individually. The panellists briefly broached the how and the why of this dynamic. As to resolving these disparities, they mentioned the sharing of best practices among trainers, and the need for greater accountability, as in the publishing of fatality data like in California and New York. Talking of California, trainer Tim Yakteen said the culture of horse care has changed markedly in the state since the advent of stricter rules, beginning five years ago. A key reason for this? “Association vets have made the biggest change in my eyes, especially the way we do it in California,” he said. “We apply for our workouts in advance. It gives the association vets an opportunity to look at our horses prior to workouts. Association vets are very visible on the racetracks, positioned in different areas. They're continuously watching our horses train. They're seeing the trends in our horses. And again, we can see the results.” The post Welfare and Safety Summit: Tools Available to Close Safety Gaps appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott said 2022 Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Rich Strike's return will be taken "a day at a time" as he oversees the 5-year-old's preparations at Saratoga Race Course.View the full article

Panelists at the Welfare and Safety of the Racehorse Summit discussed how the implementation of the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act has changed the environment for regulatory and attending veterinarians.View the full article

6th-Horseshoe Indianapolis, $32,000, Msw, 6-25, 2yo, f, 5f, :59.15, ft, 5 lengths. STUDIO HALL (f, 2, Instilled Regard–Beyond Ambition, by Tapit) became the third winner from four starters for her freshman sire (by Arch) with an open-lengths debut success. Pounded into 7-10 favoritism, the homebred was nudged along to take up a forward position and was three wide and close up entering the turn. In front under a hold as they passed the quarter pole, Studio Hall was thrown over onto her correct lead by Evin Roman just outside the eighth pole ans scampered clear under a hand ride. Larry Best paid $1.1 million for Beyond Ambition–whose Grade II-placed dam Arienza (Giant's Causeway) was a daughter of Horse of the Year Azeri (Jade Hunter)–at the 2017 Keeneland September Sale. Arienza's half-sister Wine Princess (Ghostzapper) is the dam of Grade III turf scorer Smokin' T (War Front). Beyond Ambition is also the dam of a colt foal by former Best runner Rowayton (Into Mischief). Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $19,200. Click for the Equibase.com chart. O/B-OXO Equine LLC (KY); T-Paulo H Lobo. Jockey Evin Roman wraps up on #6 STUDIO HALL ($3.40) as she wins her debut at @HSIndyRacing for trainer @P_H_Lobo and owner OXO Equine. LIVE Racing action continues. Wager on @FanDuel Racing. https://t.co/D7Oyk4P0QQ pic.twitter.com/w6iHK8PdoK — FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) June 25, 2024 The post Instilled Regard Filly Studio Hall ‘Passes’ Debut Exam at Indy appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Just days after he was represented by his eighth individual winner from his first crop, Spendthrift freshman sire Vekoma was responsible for a New Jersey-bred colt who was knocked down to Chris Gracie's Gracie Bloodstock for $150,000 to top Tuesday's Fasig-Tipton Midlantic June Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training in Timonium, Maryland. While last year's inaugural sale featured a $500,000 topper, four six-figure horses and turnover in excess of $2.5 million, Tuesday's trade was considerably more subdued. From a catalogue that was approximately 20% leaner than 12 months prior, a total of 48 horses–including post-sale transactions–were sold for gross receipts of $1,418,500. The average of $29,552 tumbled by 31.4% versus last year's sale, while the median price declined to $22,500, a decrease of 13.5%. “I thought overall the sale was fine. It was a fair marketplace for the horses that were presented,” said Fasig-Tipton President and CEO Boyd Browning, Jr. “Obviously we would have liked to have a bigger catalogue, but the numbers are what the numbers are in terms of the horses we had an opportunity to sell. I thought it was a satisfactory exercise.” Chris Gracie's Virginia-based Gracie Bloodstock made the highest bid on behalf of an undisclosed buyer during the 100-minute session for hip 4, a New Jersey-bred son of the in-form Vekoma from the 8-year-old mare Elusively (Pioneerof the Nile). The May 10 foal was bred by Greg Kilka, the co-breeder of recent Jersey-bred Grade I Woody Stephens S. hero Book'em Danno (Bucchero), and is a half-brother to the latter sire's 3-year-old daughter Hidden Vase, a blowout maiden winner in a Gulfstream turf dash in April. Hip 4, who breezed a furlong in a bullet :10 flat Monday, was consigned to the sale by Marcus and Crystal Ryan's Mason Springs. “We thought we got very good value for the colt,” Gracie said. “We've been familiar with him since he was a foal and he really breezed nicely on Monday. We're very pleased to have him. He continued, “He was kind of right in our ballpark for what we were willing to pay for him, so it kind of worked out. “He's a very pretty horse, there was a lot to like about him in terms of the way that he looked. You hope they're able to carry the speed that he has.” From Gracie's perspective, Vekoma picked the right time to get hot. “He looks like he has some significant runners out there,” he said. “Everyone has talked really highly of the Vekomas all spring and they're showing that they do have some ability. You certainly couldn't knock them at this point.” Elusively, a half-sister to MSW & GSP Colonel Sharp (Colonel John), was consigned by Gracie Bloodstock to the 2022 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic December Sale, where she fetched $37,000 in foal to Violence. She delivered a filly in 2023. EQB's Patti Miller paid the afternoon's top price for a filly, going to $85,000 for hip 30 from the draft of Crane Thoroughbred Services, agent. A Jan. 31 foal, the chestnut daughter of Munnings is the first produce from her dam Roadrunner's Honor (Honor Code), third in the 2020 GIII Sweet Life S. and a half-sister to Gabon (Ire) (Ten Sovereigns {Ire}), second in the $86,000 Ceske Derby in Prague on Sunday. The filly's third dam is 1996 Eclipse Award-winning juvenile filly Storm Song (Summer Squall), the granddam of the outstanding stayer Order of St George (Ire). Hip 30 was a :10.1 breezer on Monday. Browning indicated that he and his team will convene over the next several weeks to discuss the future of this particular sale. “You don't want to make any rash decisions,” he said. “We'll evaluate it in due course, probably within the next month. We always want to give something a legitimate chance to succeed and grow. “Frankly, I'm a little disappointed that the number of horses was down this year compared to last year. Part of that is probably indicative of the overall market, but we'll have to sit down and evaluate what makes sense for us and our consignors in the not-too-distant future.” The June Sale marks the end of this year's breeze-ups, and Browning looks forward to the beginning of yearling sale season, with 286 youngsters catalogued for the July Sale at the company's Newtown Paddocks in Lexington July 9. “I think it will be very competitive for the top offerings,” Browning said. “We saw a strong upper end in the 2-year-old sales and some weakness in the middle part, and those trends are likely to continue in the yearling market, like we've seen for the past several years.” Click here for full results of the Midlantic June Sale. Thank you to our buyers and consignors for supporting the Midlantic June Two-Year-Olds in Training sale! The sale has ended. Results are available online https://t.co/gntEjv3vQ2 pic.twitter.com/Q4VmF8OT60 — Fasig-Tipton (@FasigTiptonCo) June 25, 2024 The post Vekoma-‘Mentum’ Continues At Fasig-Tipton Midlantic June Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Maiden Watch: Week of June 18-24View the full article

An Irish winner is one of the very few things absent from legendary jockey John Velazquez's glittering CV, but that could change at Naas June 26 when he rides the Dermot Weld-trained De Janeiro (IRE).View the full article

Ottoman Fleet continues Godolphin's relentless assault on American turf racing when he lines up against five rivals in the Wise Dan Stakes (G2T) June 29 at Churchill Downs.View the full article