Wandering Eyes

While copper has its origins in his moniker, Ballydoyle's star stayer Kyprios (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}–Polished Gem {Ire}, by Danehill) was all gold after adding to his 2022 triumph in a thrilling renewal of Thursday's G1 Gold Cup at Royal Ascot, becoming the first to regain his crown in the 2 1/2-mile contest since Kayf Tara (GB) (Sadler's Wells) did so at the turn of the century. His one-length victory provided Aidan O'Brien with a record-extending ninth edition, while Ryan Moore, now on four, remains some way shy of Lester Piggott's haul of 11. Kyprios stalked familiar foe Trawlerman (Ire) (Golden Horn {GB}) through the early fractions, but slipped back one spot to third before halfway. Regaining second on the home turn, the 11-10 favourite eyeballed the long-time leader approaching the final furlong and dug deep to deny that tenacious rival in game fashion nearing the line. The front two had it all to themselves inside the final quarter-mile, with Trawlerman's John and Thady Gosden stablemate Sweet William (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) finishing five lengths back in third. Kyprios went unbeaten through a six-race 2022 campaign, reeling off four straight Group 1s after opening that year with wins in the Listed Vintage Crop Stakes and G3 Saval Beg Levmoss Stakes. On an enforced sabbatical for almost one year after an extravagant score in the G1 Prix du Cadran, he ran second in September's G1 Irish St Leger and again, to a resurgent Trawlerman, in October's G2 British Champions Long Distance Cup. Kyprios followed a familiar route this year and notched repeat victories in the Vintage Crop and Saval Beg Levmoss in preparation for this date with destiny. Pedigree Notes Kyprios is the latest of 10 foals, all winners, produced by dual Broodmare of the Year Polished Gem (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), herself out of G1 Irish 1000 Guineas heroine Trusted Partner (Affirmed). Trusted Partner is the third dam of Wednesday's G2 Queen Mary victrix Leovanni (Ire) (Kodi Bear {Ire}). Kyprios is kin to seven black-type winners headed by dual G1 Irish St Leger heroine Search For A Song (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), G1 Prince of Wales's Stakes-winning sire Free Eagle (Ire) (High Chaparral {Ire}) and G2 British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes victrix Sapphire (Ire) (Medicean {GB}). Descendants of Polished Gem, a full-sister to GI Matriarch Stakes heroine Dress To Thrill (Ire), also include G1 Vincent O'Brien National Stakes hero Thunder Moon (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}). Kyprios's third dam, the GI Matron Stakes and GI Spinaway Stakes-winning US champion Talking Picture (Speak John), is the ancestress of G1 Grand Prix de Paris and G1 Sydney Cup hero Gallante (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}). Kyprios regains his Gold Cup crown! @Ascot #RoyalAscot pic.twitter.com/j5R3iEbW0x — At The Races (@AtTheRaces) June 20, 2024 The post Galileo’s Kyprios is All Gold at Royal Ascot appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

BH Interview: Janie BussView the full article

Securing the outright record of Royal Ascot winners, Ryan Moore was at his determined best to win a war of attrition on Ballydoyle's Port Fairy (Ire) (Australia {GB}–Fabulae {Ire}, by Fastnet Rock {Aus}) in the G2 Ribblesdale Stakes. Not seen since finishing runner-up in the Listed Cheshire Oaks last month, the product of the Whisperview breeding operation was the pick of Moore of the stable pair and was prominently-placed from the outset. Temporarily swamped two out by the smooth-travelling Lava Stream (Ire) (Too Darn Hot {GB}), the 12-1 shot stayed in the fight against the rail and despite being a neck down soon after battled gamely to wrest the advantage from her inside the final furlong. As if driven by her rider's quest for that landmark 82nd Royal Ascot winner, the visored chestnut who is Irish Oaks-bound dug deep to prevail by a neck and take Moore past Dettori for the first time. There was a 1 3/4-length margin back to the 9-4 favourite Kalpana (GB) (Study Of Man {Ire}) in third. 12/1 shot #8 Port Fairy finishes with plenty to prove best in the Group 2 Ribbersdale for jockey Ryan Moore (82 #RoyalAscot wins) and trainer Aidan O'Brien. pic.twitter.com/44QgpXrBuL — TwinSpires Racing (@TwinSpires) June 20, 2024 The post Australia’s Ribblesdale Winner Port Fairy Gives Moore Royal Ascot Record appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

An additional six wildcards have been added to the Arqana Summer Sale in Deauville on July 1-4. On the Flat, Nardaran (Fr) (Waldgeist {GB}) (lot 478) will sell after a debut third at Saint-Cloud. He is out of multiple group winner Narniyn (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}). Another Flat-bred horse is Fang Mich (Ger) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) (lot 503), who has a win and a placing from two starts. The half-sister to G1 Deutsches Derby hero Fantastic Moon (Ger) (Sea The Moon Ger}) is joined by jumps horses Policasta (GB) (National Defense {GB}) (lot 513) a Grade 2 winner; scorer Catch On Me (Fr) (Martinborough {Jpn}) (lot 514), the listed-placed Magic Flight (Fr) (Kapgarde {Fr}) (lot 534), and Mambonumberfive (Fr) (Born To Sea {Ire}) (lot 526), who has placed twice over obstacles. The post Another Sextet Of Wildcards Added To Arqana Summer Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Woodbine Entertainment and Helmets to Hardhats Canada (H2H), a group that supports Canadian veterans, reservists, senior cadets, military family members and Afghan interpreters in finding second careers through the construction industry, will partner for the 2024 running of the King's Plate held Aug. 17. The partnership will see H2H recognized as the Official Building Trades Unions Veteran's Liaison and a Canadian veteran will be included in the opening ceremony for the race. “Woodbine is proud to support Helmets to Hardhats and its valuable objectives,” said Woodbine Entertainment CEO Michael Copeland. “We can think of no better way to show our appreciation for our service people than to see them succeed in life after their years of hard work and sacrifice.” “We are thrilled to partner with Woodbine Entertainment to champion our mission of empowering Veterans with meaningful career opportunities in Canada's Building Trades Unions,” added James Hogarth, Executive Director of Helmets to Hardhats Canada. “Through this partnership, we aim to raise awareness about our organization and our services to the military community while showcasing the abundant career possibilities available within the unionized construction industry. Together, we will pave the way for a brighter future in the construction industry with the value added by a Veteran.” The post Woodbine And Helmets To Hardhats To Partner For 2024 King’s Plate appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Wathnan Racing's Shareholder (Not This Time–Cloudy Dancer {GB}, by Invincible Spirit {Ire}) had only announced himself a G2 Norfolk Stakes candidate 12 days ago when winning Beverley's Two Year Old Trophy Conditions Stakes and made light of the quick turnaround to capture the Royal Ascot prize. Held on to by James Doyle early among the group racing up the centre, the Karl Burke-trained 12-1 shot was in front passing the two-furlong pole and asserted to score by a length from Tropical Storm (GB) (Eqtidaar {Ire}), with a head back to Arizona Blaze (GB) (Sergei Prokofiev) who narrowly denied the red-hot 10-11 favourite Whistlejacket (Ire) (No Nay Never) a placing. “He's still learning, his debut was a bit messy at Beverley which is a hard place to teach a horse,” Doyle said of the colt, who recorded the third-fastest time in the race's history at Ascot and was just two ticks off Valiant Force's time of 12 months earlier. “I tried to keep a lid on him for as long as possible, as I just wanted to give him time to get organised. He took time to get balanced up but, once he did, he always felt as though he had enough in the tank to keep going. He's got a big engine. Karl was very confident and when he is that confident, you respect his opinion.” Burke is thinking predominantly of sprinting with the winner. “Shareholder did a lot wrong first time, but I knew he'd step forward from that, even physically and although he was two or three kilos lighter coming here today he looked bigger and stronger,” he explained. “I think this is a very good horse and he'll stay six furlongs as well–I would say he's speed and I'm sure he'll be a Commonwealth Cup horse. I don't think he'll be a Guineas horse, he hasn't shown us that, although he relaxed very well today so I suppose he has a chance.” For Wathnan Racing's bloodstock advisor Richard Brown, this was validation of his judgment at the Breeze-Up. “It is very hard, as you are up against breeding operations which have been going for 30 or 40 years and that really is the way to get the Derby-type horses, so we said if we could get some sharp juveniles it would give us some action coming through,” he said. “With Olly Tait, we put together a proposal to buy some breeze-up horses with a view to maybe having a couple that could get to Ascot. What has happened in the past two days, you couldn't even dream it would go like this.” “All credit to Karl Burke and his team. It is important to mention Richard Morgan-Evans and his team in Newmarket. Every horse we buy goes to Richard and they have a tailor-made, individual programme which involves immediate turnout in paddocks and giving them that recovery time,” he added. “Richard is a very important part of the process. It is usually said that it's too tight a turnaround to get a horse from the Arqana Sale to Royal Ascot, but we like a challenge and I thought this was the horse to do it.” Andrew Balding said of Tropical Storm, “He can mix it at a high level. He's done very little wrong. He is still a maiden, which is a bit frustrating, but his time will come, I'm sure.” Oisin Murphy added, “I have a lot of belief in Tropical Storm. I said before the race that he's probably the best maiden in the country and that was a super run. He has size and a big future.” Arizona Blaze's trainer Adrian Murray said, “He's a gorgeous horse, a beautiful horse. He would be very much on a par with [last year's winner] Valiant Force, but this fellow is probably more mature–built like a three-year-old. He has a lot of strength about him.” Wathnan strike again! Shareholder wins the Norfolk Stakes at Royal @Ascot! pic.twitter.com/iKPXaB5eL3 — At The Races (@AtTheRaces) June 20, 2024 Pedigree Notes Shareholder, a €460,000 Arqana May Breeze Up graduate, is out of the unraced Cloudy Dancer who is a daughter of the listed winner Ronaldsay (GB) (Kirkwall {GB}) and half to the sire Gale Force Ten (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) who took the G3 Jersey S. at this meeting a year after placing in this and was placed in the G1 Irish 2,000 Guineas and G1 Middle Park S. She is also a half to the listed scorer and group 3-placed Rousay (Ire) (Muhaarar {GB}), while the family also includes the G1 Moyglare Stud Stakes winner Bianca Nera (GB) (Salse), the G1 Fillies' Mile and G1 Falmouth Stakes heroine Simply Perfect (GB) (Danehill), her G1 Criterium International-winning son Proud And Regal (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and the triple graded-stakes winner Missed The Cut (Quality Road), another Royal Ascot winner who is G2 Hardwicke Stakes-bound on Saturday. She has been bred to Street Sense for 2024. Thursday, Royal Ascot, Britain NORFOLK S.-G2, £150,000, Ascot, 6-20, 2yo, 5fT, :59.77, g/f. 1–SHAREHOLDER, 129, c, 2, by Not This Time 1st Dam: Cloudy Dancer (GB), by Invincible Spirit (Ire) 2nd Dam: Ronaldsay (GB), by Kirkwall (GB) 3rd Dam: Crackling (GB), by Electric (GB) 1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GROUP WIN. ($62,000 Ylg '23 KEESEP; €460,000 2yo '24 ARQBRU). O-Wathnan Racing; B-Skyfall Thoroughbreds, LLC (KY); T-Karl Burke; J-James Doyle. £85,065. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $140,980. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. 2–Tropical Storm (GB), 129, c, 2, Eqtidaar (Ire)–Avon Breeze (GB), by Avonbridge (GB). 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (22,000gns Wlg '22 TADEWE; 50,000gns Ylg '23 TATSOM). O-Teme Valley; B-Hellwood Stud Farm & R C Dollar (GB); T-Andrew Balding. £32,250. 3–Arizona Blaze (GB), 129, c, 2, Sergei Prokofiev–Liberisque (GB), by Equiano (Fr). (36,000gns Wlg '22 TADEWE; £82,000 Ylg '23 GOFFUK). O-AMO Racing Limited & Giselle De Aguiar; B-Andrew Bengough & Partners (GB); T-Adrian Murray. £16,140. Margins: 1, HD, SHD. Odds: 12.00, 11.00, 14.00. Also Ran: Whistlejacket (Ire), Aesterius (Ire), Binadham (Ire), Loom (Ire), Moving Force (Ire), Blinky (Ire), Saturday Flirt, Milford (GB), The Man (Ire), Rock Hunter (GB). Scratched: Evening Saigon (Ire). The post Not This Time’s Shareholder Best In The Norfolk appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

A number of highlights were witnessed on a mixed day of trade at NZB’s 2024 National Weanling Sale, where nine lots sold for $100,000 or more alongside healthy increases in the average and median. Quality horses were well sought after with strong competition at the top end of the market between pinhookers, international investors and domestic end users at the Karaka Sales Centre and online. The top lot came early in the day when Lot 25, a filly by Satono Aladdin from Henley Road was secured by Gary Harding for $170,000 from Brighthill Farm’s draft. Lot 3, a colt by emerging sire Super Seth out of Drama Series, was the second highest-priced weanling of the day, selling for $140,000 to GTS Bloodstock. While Lot 36, a colt by the champion sire Proisir out of La Donna E Mobile was also purchased for $140,000 to the bid of Riversley Park. Both lots were offered by leading vendor Curraghmore, where principal Gordon Cunningham reflected on the day. Lot 3, a colt by Super Seth was the second highest-priced weanling of the day, selling for $140,000 from Curraghmore’s draft. “We’ve enjoyed a good Sale as vendors and have been rewarded for bringing good stock here.” “It’s been a good week here at Karaka, there was good competition on them right through. I’m confident those that have bought from us will be pleased and enjoy good success with them.” Raptors Thoroughbreds were leading buyers at the close of selling, highlighted by their biggest purchases in Lot 125, a colt from the first season sire Noverre out of Alagant Satin for $100,000 from Curraghmore and Lot 146, a filly by Proisir out of Christmas Day for $130,000 from Seaton Park. “We’re very happy with the five horses that we bought today,” commented Raptors Thoroughbreds Jessica Yang. “Those were the weanlings that we came here wanting to buy, so we got everything that we had on our list.” NZB’s Managing Director Andrew Seabrook commented on the weanling session at Karaka. “As reflected by the figures, it was a sale of two halves. The good horses sold extremely well with the average increasing from $23,000 to $32,000 and the median increasing from $12,000 to $18,000.” “On the flipside, the clearance rate falling to 58% suggests the lower end of the market is tough. “The fact that nine horses made more than $100,000, opposed to five last year, on a smaller catalogue confirms that the top end of the market is alive and well. “It was also encouraging to see how the market embraced the first season sires, particularly Noverre and Sword of State. “We were hoping that more end users would participate in the middle to lower end of the market but that didn’t eventuate.” All weanlings purchased are eligible to be nominated for NZB’s lucrative Karaka Millions Series. Graduates can compete in the $1m TAB Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m), followed by the $1.5m TAB Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m), as well as the new $1m Mega Maiden Series comprising of 40 non-Saturday maiden races located throughout New Zealand. To nominate your weanling, contact finance@nzb.co.nz or call +64 9 298 0055. Entries close Monday 15 July 2024. To make enquiries about Passed Lots contact Patrick Cunningham on +64 21 181 5898 or email Patrick.Cunningham@nzb.co.nz. View final results here. View the highlights, lot-by-lot ring footage and interviews here. Next on the sales calendar is NZB’s Ready to Run Sale of Two-Year-Olds, held at Karaka on 20 & 21 November 2024. Meanwhile, entries for NZB’s Karaka 2025 National Yearling Sales Series are now open via the NZB Portal, with the Sale set to take place at Karaka from 26 – 30 January. 2024 National Weanling Sale Statistics (at end of selling) 2024 NATIONAL WEANLING SALE 2023 NATIONAL WEANLING & BROODMARE SALE – WEANLING SESSION 2022 NATIONAL WEANLING SALE (INCL. VALACHI DOWNS DISPERSAL SALE) 2021 NATIONAL WEANLING SALE Aggregate $2,485,000 $2,609,100 $3,486,000 $1,820,000 Average $32,273 $23,089 $33,200 $22,195 Median $18,000 $12,000 $16,000 $11,000 Clearance 58% 70% 88% 82% Catalogued 150 183 132 120 Sold 77 113 105 82 Top Lot Lot 25 B.F Satono Aladdin – Henley Road $170,000 Lot 144 B.C Per Incanto – She’s Apples $150,000 Lot 1005 Br.C Savabeel – Bohemian Lily $360,000 Lot 78 B.C Almanzor – Girl of My Dreams $145,000 2024 National Weanling Sale Top Lots LOT SIRE DAM SEX VENDOR PURCHASER PRICE 25 Satono Aladdin Henley Road Filly Brighthill Farm Mr GE Harding $ 170,000 3 Super Seth Drama Series Colt Curraghmore GTS Bloodstock $ 140,000 36 Proisir La Donna E Mobile Colt Curraghmore Riversley Park $ 140,000 146 Proisir Christmas Day Filly Seaton Park Ltd Raptors Thoroughbreds Ltd $ 130,000 140 Maurice Butter Chicken Colt Haunui Farm Landsdowne Park $ 115,000 79 Proisir Respect Colt Haunui Farm Kilgravin Holdings Ltd / Bevan Smith Bloodstock $ 110,000 49 Proisir Mail Order Filly Highline Thoroughbreds Lyndhurst Farm $ 105,000 125 Noverre Alagant Satin Colt Curraghmore Raptors Thoroughbreds Ltd $ 100,000 126 Almanzor Amonmarie Colt Haunui Farm Merrick Staunton $ 100,000 73 Contributer Pipsqueak Rose Colt Curraghmore Devcich Bloodstock Ltd $ 95,000 2024 National Weanling Sale Leading Purchasers by Aggregate PURCHASER BOUGHT AGGREGATE TOP PRICE TOP LOT Raptors Thoroughbreds Ltd 5 $ 390,000 $ 130,000 0146 Riversley Park 3 $ 265,000 $ 140,000 0036 GTS Bloodstock 2 $ 184,000 $ 140,000 0003 Mr GE Harding 1 $ 170,000 $ 170,000 0025 Lyndhurst Farm 2 $ 152,500 $ 105,000 0049 Devcich Bloodstock Ltd 2 $ 130,000 $ 95,000 0073 Landsdowne Park 1 $ 115,000 $ 115,000 0140 Kilgravin Holdings Ltd / Bevan Smith Bloodstock 1 $ 110,000 $ 110,000 0079 Merrick Staunton 1 $ 100,000 $ 100,000 0126 Hallmark Stud Ltd / M Kirwan 1 $ 72,500 $ 72,500 0139 2024 National Weanling Sale Leading Vendors by Aggregate VENDOR ENTRIES SOLD AGGREGATE AVERAGE TOP PRICE TOP LOT Curraghmore 10 8 $ 731,500 $ 91,438 $ 140,000 36 Haunui Farm 18 10 $ 474,000 $ 47,400 $ 115,000 140 Brighthill Farm 13 8 $ 280,000 $ 35,000 $ 170,000 25 Seaton Park Ltd 8 6 $ 265,500 $ 44,250 $ 130,000 146 Highline Thoroughbreds 11 6 $ 222,000 $ 37,000 $ 105,000 49 HGT Bloodstock Ltd 6 5 $ 114,500 $ 22,900 $ 40,000 121 Hallmark Stud 8 3 $ 109,000 $ 36,333 $ 55,000 108 Little Avondale Stud 12 4 $ 59,500 $ 14,875 $ 35,000 69 Beckam Equine 2 2 $ 37,000 $ 18,500 $ 31,000 82 Rich Hill Stud 6 4 $ 33,500 $ 8,375 $ 26,000 32 2024 National Weanling Sale Leading Vendors by Average (three or more sold) VENDOR OFFERED SOLD AVERAGE AGGREGATE TOP PRICE TOP LOT Curraghmore 10 8 $ 91,438 $ 731,500 $ 140,000 36 Haunui Farm 18 10 $ 47,400 $ 474,000 $ 115,000 140 Seaton Park Ltd 8 6 $ 44,250 $ 265,500 $ 130,000 146 Highline Thoroughbreds 11 6 $ 37,000 $ 222,000 $ 105,000 49 Hallmark Stud 8 3 $ 36,333 $ 109,000 $ 55,000 108 Brighthill Farm 13 8 $ 35,000 $ 280,000 $ 170,000 25 HGT Bloodstock Ltd 6 5 $ 22,900 $ 114,500 $ 40,000 121 Little Avondale Stud 12 4 $ 14,875 $ 59,500 $ 35,000 69 Rich Hill Stud 6 4 $ 8,375 $ 33,500 $ 26,000 32 Cambria Park 4 3 $ 8,000 $ 24,000 $ 18,000 41 2024 National Weanling Sale Leading Sires by Average (three or more sold) SIRE OFFERED SOLD AVERAGE AGGREGATE TOP PRICE TOP LOT Proisir 9 7 $ 90,286 $ 632,000 $ 140,000 36 Satono Aladdin 8 4 $ 66,250 $ 265,000 $ 170,000 25 Noverre* 4 3 $ 53,667 $ 161,000 $ 100,000 125 Sword of State* 12 9 $ 38,556 $ 347,000 $ 75,000 134 Tarzino 7 4 $ 9,000 $ 36,000 $ 18,000 41 Darci Brahma 3 3 $ 8,833 $ 26,500 $ 12,000 75 Time Test 10 4 $ 8,375 $ 33,500 $ 20,000 145 Ribchester 3 3 $ 6,833 $ 20,500 $ 10,000 132 Redwood 3 3 $ 6,000 $ 18,000 $ 7,000 66 Vadamos 6 4 $ 5,000 $ 20,000 $ 10,000 9 *First season sire View the full article

Te Akau Racing might have just welcomed four Group One winners back into recent work at its Matamata stable, but trainers Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson aren’t getting distracted from the immediate task at hand: chasing stakes spoils at Tauranga on Saturday. Skew Wiff, Quintessa, Campionessa and Move To Strike have all returned to the stable to prepare for racing in the new season, but for now they’ve had to relinquish the spotlight to talented mares Aris Aris and Fashion Shoot, who give Te Akau a strong hand in the Listed Team Wealleans Tauranga Classic, a 1400m weight-for-age fillies and mares feature. Six-year-old Savabeel mare Fashion Shoot returns to domestic racing after a fruitless Australian campaign, while Contributor five-year-old Aris Aris has been a consistent performer in recent starts, winning over 1300m at Te Rapa last month before an unplaced last-start run at Te Aroha. “Both are in really good order. They worked together on the course proper here which is obviously pretty rain-affected and both worked really well. It was really strong work,” Bergerson said after Wednesday morning trackwork. “Aris Aris probably got through the ground a little bit better. I’m really hoping it dries out a little bit though that’s probably unlikely. But I can’t fault either of them. They seem to be going into Saturday in good order.” Raced by Gordon Cunningham and Greg Tomlinson, Aris Aris has yet to win at 1400m, but she has pleased the stable with her buildup to her target race. “Aris Aris was really good two starts ago. She struck a really loose track at Te Aroha. She travelled into it nicely but sort of fell out of the bridle a bit. Unfortunately, it’s probably going to be wet at Tauranga, albeit they are forecasting a fine rest of the week. How much drying there is still remains to be seen. But she’s in really good form.” A winner of seven of her 35 starts, Fashion Shoot was a winner of the G3 Canterbury Breeders’ Stakes at Riccarton earlier in the season and finished a brave fourth in the G1 New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes at Ellerslie before her three-race campaign in Victoria and South Australia. “Fashion Shoot has returned from Australia in really good order. She ran a really good Group 1 placing before leaving in the Breeders,” Bergerson said. “While she was a shade disappointing over there, she drops back to New Zealand company and hopefully she can show her best because I’m sure if she does, she could be in it. Her soft ground form is really good. Her heavy ground form remains to be seen but we’ve done all we can with her, and it’d be really nice to pick up some black type for some great supporters of the stable. “She has had a big season. It’d be lovely to sign it off on a winning note or to see her put in a really good performance because she’s a really gutsy, tough man. She’s done a fantastic job for the stable.” Bergerson suggested retirement was beckoning Fashion Shoot. “We’ll reassess after Saturday. Obviously, this will be her last start for the season but whether that’s it for her racing career, we’ll just see. If it is, she’s done an amazing job. She has been a fantastic mare.” Bergerson was excited to have the stable’s domestic Group One quartet from last season back in training ahead of the new season. G1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes winner Move To Strike credited Bergerson with his fourth Group One win in his rookie training season and he was looking forward to the I Am Invincible colt’s three-year-old spring campaign. “It’s extremely exciting to have him back. He’s a lovely animal to do anything with. You’d almost forget he was a colt – he’s that laidback,” Bergerson said. “He’s done really well in his break. He’s put on plenty of weight so he’s on a bit of a diet as we aim to get him fit and target the 2000 Guineas at Riccarton. We’re just stoked to have him back. Hopefully he’s in for a really good three-year-old season.” Bergerson said the trio of Skew Wiff, Campionessa and Quintessa were also building up well with the possible early-season target of the G1 Tarzino Trophy at Hastings on September 7. View the full article

Saturday's G1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot will see a field of 14 sprinters line up in an open-looking renewal which includes last year's surprise winner Khaadem (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}). Jamie Spencer, who partnered that Charles Hills-trained 80-1 shot 12 months ago, will instead be on Fitri Hay's other runner Mitbaahy (Ire) (Profitable {Ire}) from the same stable following his success in The Curragh's G2 Greenlands Stakes last month. Peter Harris's G2 1895 Duke of York Stakes winner Mill Stream (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}) represents the Jane Chapple-Hyam stable, while Marc Chan's 2022 G1 Prix de la Foret and G1 British Champions Sprint Stakes-winning TDN Rising Star Kinross (GB) (Kingman {GB}) is back at Ascot with Ralph Beckett handing Rossa Ryan the ride in the absence of Frankie Dettori. Wathnan Racing's acquisition Shartash (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) drops back from seven furlongs for the Archie Watson stable, while Highclere Thoroughbred Racing's filly Believing (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) is backed up by George Boughey having finished fourth in Tuesday's G1 King Charles III Stakes. In the G2 Hardwicke Stakes, Ballydoyle's St Leger hero Continuous (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}) begins his 4-year-old campaign taking on Qatar Bloodstock and Ciaron Maher's Doncaster Classic also-ran and subsequent G3 Aston Park Stakes winner Middle Earth (GB) (Roaring Lion) from Clarehaven and The King and The Queen's William Haggas-trained Leger third Desert Hero (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}). Aidan O'Brien saddles another big gun in the 20-runner G3 Jersey Stakes in the G2 Coventry S.-winning TDN Rising Star River Tiber (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), who was third in the Irish 2,000 Guineas last time. He renews rivalry with that Curragh Classic's runner-up Haatem (Ire) (Phoenix Of Spain {Ire}), who is another of Wathnan Racing's recent purchases and who bids to add to Richard Hannon's big week. Others to note in the seven-furlong contest are Clipper Logistics' Karl Burke-trained TDN Rising Star Night Raider (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), who is back in trip having failed to stay the mile of the 2,000 Guineas, and another TDN Rising Star who trailed in the Newmarket Classic in Juddmonte's Ralph Beckett-trained Task Force (GB) (Frankel {GB}). The Listed Chesham Stakes sees the Rosegreen stable represented by this month's Leopardstown maiden-winning TDN Rising Star Bedtime Story (Ire) (Frankel {GB}). She encounters 17 juveniles, including Godolphin's impressive Yarmouth novice scorer Age Of Gold (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) from the Charlie Appleby stable. The post Spencer Picks Mitbaahy Over Khaadem in the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The emergence of syndicators and traders Raptors Thoroughbred continued at Karaka on Thursday with the title of leading buyers at the 2024 New Zealand Bloodstock National Weanling Sale. Raptors Thoroughbred has had a growing presence on the buyers’ bench since debuting at the 2022 National Yearling Sale, and their handful of yearling purchases in that short space of time have included the winners Raptylight, Incredible and Dajieda. Raptylight also finished fourth in the Listed NZB Airfreight Stakes (1400m) at Wingatui in March. Thursday marked a big increase in Raptors Thoroughbreds’ sale-ring impact. They bought five weanlings for a total of $390,000, averaging $78,000. Raptors Thoroughbred saved the biggest of those purchases for last, paying $130,000 for a filly by star Rich Hill Stud stallion Proisir. The Seaton Park filly was catalogued as Lot 146 and is a half-sister to the Australian black-type winner Pudding. Raptors Thoroughbred also paid $100,000 for a colt by first-season Waikato Stud stallion Noverre out of Group Two winner Alagant Satin, plus $75,000 and $50,000 for a pair of colts by Cambridge Stud newcomer Sword Of State, and $35,000 for a son of Per Incanto. “We’re very happy with the five horses that we bought today,” Raptors Thoroughbred’s Jessica Yang commented. “Those were the weanlings that we came here wanting to buy, so we got everything that we had on our list. “We haven’t decided yet which ones we will pinhook and take to the two-year-old sale, and which ones we might keep to race ourselves. “We bought a very nice filly by Proisir for $130,000 just before the end of the sale, and we were also happy to go up to $100,000 to buy a son of Noverre. That horse was highly recommended by our bloodstock team, so we had no problem with taking that risk on a first-season sire.” View the full article

New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Weanling Sale got off to an exciting start at Karaka on Thursday morning with three weanlings fetching $140,000 or more within the first hour, headed by prominent owner Gary Harding’s $170,000 purchase of a sale-topping Satono Aladdin filly. Offered by Brighthill Farm and catalogued as Lot 25, the attractive bay filly surpassed the $150,000 price paid for last year’s sale-topping colt by Per Incanto. She also set a new record weanling price for Rich Hill Stud’s high-flying shuttle stallion Satono Aladdin, beating the A$145,000 price tag for a filly in Melbourne just last week. Thursday’s headline-grabbing filly is the second foal out of the Rip Van Winkle mare Henley Road, who placed on the racetrack and is a half-sister to the multiple Group One-winning Karaka weanling graduate Callsign Mav. Bloodstock agent John Cameron withstood a spirited bidding battle to secure the filly, who will be retained by Harding to race in his familiar white and orange colours. “There were a few things that drew me to her today, just not so much the price,” Harding said. “She’s a very nice filly. We also bought a weanling filly in Australia the previous week, so I thought we should pick out a mate for her from this sale as well. “We had a good look at quite a few of the weanlings in this catalogue, and she’s the one that ticked the boxes for us. She’s the one that we wanted. “She’s a lovely filly with a good walk and a bit of presence about her, and she’s by a stallion that’s doing a good job, so she has a bit going for her. “We’ll be keeping her and taking her through to race. Hopefully she’ll come up well. Buying weanlings is a higher-risk venture than yearlings, so we’ll just have to wait and see. But she was the one we particularly wanted today and I’m pleased that we’ve got her.” Brighthill Farm sold the sale-topping filly on behalf of Laura Day, who bought Henley Road for just $1850 on Gavelhouse.com. A total of nine weanlings sold for $100,000 or more at Karaka on Thursday. The first of them came only a few minutes after the 11am start time, with Lot 3 bought by GTS Bloodstock for $140,000. Offered by Curraghmore, the colt is by this season’s outstanding first-season sire Super Seth and is out of well-related Pierro mare Drama Series. Herself the dam of talented three-year-old filly Raptylight, who finished fourth in stakes company this season, Drama Series is out of a half-sister to the Group One winner First Seal. That $140,000 price was later matched by Lot 36, a Proisir colt from the Curraghmore draft. Renowned pinhookers Riversley Park secured the colt, whose unraced dam descends from a top-class European family featuring Group One stars Hellenic, Islington, Greek Dance, Mountain High and Fiorente. That was the first of four six-figure yearlings for Proisir, who later had fillies sell for $130,000 and $105,000 and a colt for $110,000. View the full article

Promising jumper Auld Jock (Adelaide) could earn a place in his first prestige jumping assignment with a strong showing on Sunday at Te Aroha. Auld Jock is trained at Matamata by Peter and Jessica Brosnan, who reaped the rewards of an educational season last year when the gelding went back-to-back over fences at Hawera and Woodville in May. The Adelaide six-year-old has accepted into both the Piako Rural Services Steeplechase (3500m) and The Bottle-O Te Aroha Hurdles (3100m) on Sunday, with the decision of which to run in still up in the air for the Brosnans. A number of recent injuries and retirements have led to a lack of licensed jumps jockeys this season so far, although another English rider will join the Kiwi ranks on Sunday in Jay Kozaczek. “We’re not sure which race we’ll run Auld Jock in yet due to the lack of riders available, but I think he’ll be competitive whatever race he ends up running in,” Brosnan said. “Hopefully the jockey situation can be helped by getting the riding fee up as well, but we’ll make the call later in the week for Jock’s race.” With a strong showing in either event, a trip to Hastings for next Saturday’s AHD Hawke’s Bay Steeplechase (4800m) is on the cards. “Our idea was to potentially back-up next Saturday with him, so if he can keep stepping up, then we’ll go onto the steeplechase there,” Brosnan said. “We put him in a race down there last year and he jumped some fair, then some good, so he’s had a look around the jumps course. “When he won the steeplechase at Woodville the fences weren’t live and that’s pretty much horses for courses, similar to Hastings.” Jakama Krystal (NZ) (Jakkalberry) is another in consideration for the Hawke’s Bay features, dependent upon her performance in the open hurdle after finishing a distant sixth in the Awapuni Hurdle (3000m) last month. “She just needs that bit of moisture in the track which she didn’t get down at Woodville,” Brosnan said. “We’ve freshened her up a little bit and she pulled Peter’s arms off this morning so she’s feeling well. “We would like to have a couple at Hastings, so hopefully she can go alright to possibly follow on to the Hawke’s Bay Hurdles. We’ll make our minds up after the weekend.” Ima Wonder (NZ) (Eighth Wonder) picked up her maiden steeplechasing success at the course last-start and will step into open grade against the likes of returning Great Northern Steeplechase (6200m) winner Te Kahu. “I’ve just taken her up for a farm ride and she’s come through the run really well,” Brosnan said. “Those top couple of horses such as Te Kahu do like the track so he should be hard to beat, same with Jo Rathbone’s horse (Des De Jeu) going back to the live fences. “It’s hard to win two in a row, so we’ll see how it plays out on Sunday and then make a plan for her. She’s really a day-by-day kind of horse.” Maideners Civil Unrest (NZ) (Civics) and Rocem (NZ) (El Roca) will contest the Agrisea NZ Steeplechase (3500m) and TAJC Hospitality Function Centre Hurdles (3100m) respectively, with the latter having her third start over fences under Portia Matthews. “She’s not a bad horse Rocem, if she can just get over those last couple of fences she should be right in the finish on Sunday,” Brosnan said. “It’s not an overly strong field and she’s working well.” Molly’s Gold (NZ) (Puccini) will continue her preparation on the flat for an impending jumping career in the Duck N Cover Maiden (2200m), following in the footsteps of her talented dam Southern Countess (NZ) (Star South). The Stark South mare won seven races for the stable and five of these were in her favoured jumping role, including the 2011 Great Northern Hurdles (4190m) at Ellerslie. “She (Molly’s Gold) has had a couple of jumping trials now and that will be her go,” Brosnan said. “We’re just getting a bit more race fitness into her now on the flat so she can really learn how to be a racehorse. It’s hard to put these older horses straight into jumping races when they haven’t been around on the flat. “If she can be half as good as her mother, we’ll be rapt.” View the full article

Ortega (NZ) (Reliable Man) has earned a late season shot at black type following her midweek success at Pukekohe. The juvenile daughter of Reliable Man produced a tenacious performance at her second appearance to break her maiden over 1200m on Wednesday for trainer Stephen Marsh and rider Masa Hashizume. “She did a good job, she was very gutsy after racing wide and worked pretty hard, so it was a really good effort,” Marsh said. The Cambridge horseman will keep Ortega ticking over and head to the Central Districts next month for the final two-year-old feature of 2023/24. “She seems to have come through the race well and at the end of July is the Ryder Stakes (Listed, 1200m),” Marsh said. “She handles wet ground so we’ll have a go at that for some black type and if she could win then she’s a valuable filly. “That’s what we’ll be doing and with the gap between races we can nurse her along and she could have a jump-out or a trial somewhere before that next run.” While Ortega has proven adept in winter conditions, Marsh doesn’t believe she is a one trick pony. “She’s one of those fillies that is tough and very genuine, she is getting through the wet tracks because she’s so gutsy,” he said. “She has a great attitude and will to win and I certainly don’t think she’s just a wet tracker.” Ortega set up a winning double for the stable at Pukekohe with Penurious (NZ) (Sacred Falls) later accounting for her Benchmark 65 rivals over 2200m under rider Tegan Newman. “She won very well and she’s a nice stayer on the rise,” Marsh said. By the late Sacred Falls, Penurious has won twice during a relatively brief career with both victories posted over middle distances. Meanwhile, Marsh will only have two runners at Saturday’s feature meeting with Dubai Diva (Pride of Dubai) and Hasstobefast (NZ) (Per Incanto) in the Listed Team Wealleans Tauranga Classic (1400m). “It’s a throw at the stumps, Dubai Diva was great first-up and has a good second-up record and she’s got a bit of black type and I would love to see her add to it,” he said. Runner-up behind the champion mare Imperatriz (I Am Invincible) in the Gr.3 Soliloquy Stakes (1400m) as a three-year-old, Dubai Diva ran second after a chequered run when resuming at Pukekohe last month. Hasstobefast has finished fifth in both of her runs at Pukekohe and on the synthetic track at Cambridge this preparation. “She was a bit plain second-up the other day, but she has trained on well since,” Marsh said. He will also have runners at the Amberley meeting at Riccarton on Saturday. “I quite like Miss Nico Belle and Thee Auld Minx, both are racing well are drawn to be right in it,” Marsh said. Miss Nico Belle (Nicconi) runs in the Daphne Bannan Memorial Open Handicap (1200m) off the back of a win and a third on the all-weather track at Riccarton. Thee Auld Minx (NZ) (Charm Spirit) will shoot for two on the bounce in the Cup Week Hospitality On Sale 26 June Handicap (1000m) after effortlessly breaking her maiden last time out at Timaru. View the full article

Chilli Con Khan (NZ) (Mongolian Khan) could have been described as leftovers at one point in her life but was given a chance by Murray Garrett and the Pukekohe trainer was rewarded with an impressive maiden win at his home track on Wednesday. Chilli Co Khan was part of Inner Mongolia Rider Horse Industry’s dispersal sale a couple of years ago, but was unwanted, with Garrett only taking her on after purchasing a Mongolian Falcon filly in the auction. “When they had their dispersal sale, I bought a Mongolian Falcon filly out of Middlebrook and she (Chilli Con Khan) was one of the ones that was leftover,” Garrett said. “I liked the look of her and thought we would give her ago.” She has rewarded Garrett for taking a chance on her, placing second-up at Te Aroha earlier this month before posting an impressive four length victory in the TAB NZ 1600 on Wednesday. “I broke her in myself and she has been a sweetheart the whole way,” Garrett said. “Her first time in, in her trial she ran third and then she was put out with shin soreness and came back in this time and has done everything right. “She had been showing a bit in previous starts, so it was good to get the win. She has shown that she can handle the sticky ground. “I think she can go on with it too, she is out of a Zabeel mare.” Earlier on the card, Garrett almost caused an upset with juvenile Beau Luca (NZ) in the First Weanlings By Sword Of State 1200, with the son of Embellish just getting pipped at the post by Ortega (NZ) (Reliable Man) following a brave front-running effort. “When he shot out a couple of lengths on them at the start I thought he would stop halfway down the straight, but to his credit he kept going,” Garrett said. “I think he will want the give in the track, I don’t think he will like the hard tracks, so we will just see how he comes through this and then have a look at what is around.” Garrett bred and owns the gelding and said it was a sentimental win for the family. “The mare was given to me by my uncle,” he said. “I have got a full-sister to him at home as well.” Meanwhile, Garret will head to Tauranga on Saturday with just the one contender. “Impaired Vision will be lining up at Tauranga on Saturday,” Garrett said. “He needs to do something, but he has gone a couple of reasonable races in his last couple of starts.” View the full article

Tony Cruz hopes for a good track for his superstar, who bids to become the first top weight to win the late-season feature in seven yearsView the full article

Te Aroha contender Auld Jock (left). Photo: Peter Rubery (Race Images Palmerston North) Promising jumper Auld Jock could earn a place in his first prestige jumping assignment with a strong showing on Sunday at Te Aroha. Auld Jock is trained at Matamata by Peter and Jessica Brosnan, who reaped the rewards of an educational season last year when the gelding went back-to-back over fences at Hawera and Woodville in May. The Adelaide six-year-old has accepted into both the Piako Rural Services Steeplechase (3500m) and The Bottle-O Te Aroha Hurdles (3100m) on Sunday, with the decision of which to run in still up in the air for the Brosnans. A number of recent injuries and retirements have led to a lack of licenced jumps jockeys this season so far, although another English rider will join the Kiwi ranks on Sunday in Jay Kozaczek. “We’re not sure which race we’ll run Auld Jock in yet due to the lack of riders available, but I think he’ll be competitive whatever race he ends up running in,” Brosnan said. “Hopefully the jockey situation can be helped by getting the riding fee up as well, but we’ll make the call later in the week for Jock’s race.” With a strong showing in either event, a trip to Hastings for next Saturday’s Hawke’s Bay Steeplechase (4800m) is on the cards. “Our idea was to potentially back-up next Saturday with him, so if he can keep stepping up, then we’ll go onto the steeplechase there,” Brosnan said. “We put him in a race down there last year and he jumped some fair, then some good, so he’s had a look around the jumps course. “When he won the steeplechase at Woodville the fences weren’t live and that’s pretty much horses for courses, similar to Hastings.” Jakama Krystal is another in consideration for the Hawke’s Bay features, dependent upon her performance in the open hurdle after finishing a distant sixth in the Awapuni Hurdle (3000m) last month. “She just needs that bit of moisture in the track which she didn’t get down at Woodville,” Brosnan said. “We’ve freshened her up a little bit and she pulled Peter’s arms off this morning so she’s feeling well. “We would like to have a couple at Hastings, so hopefully she can go alright to possibly follow on to the Hawke’s Bay Hurdles. We’ll make our minds up after the weekend.” Ima Wonder picked up her maiden steeplechasing success at the course last start and will step into open grade against the likes of returning Great Northern Steeplechase (6200m) winner Te Kahu. “I’ve just taken her up for a farm ride and she’s come through the run really well,” Brosnan said. “Those top couple of horses such as Te Kahu do like the track so he should be hard to beat, same with Jo Rathbone’s horse (Des De Jeu) going back to the live fences. “It’s hard to win two in a row, so we’ll see how it plays out on Sunday and then make a plan for her. She’s really a day-by-day kind of horse.” Maideners Civil Unrest and Rocem will contest the Agrisea NZ Steeplechase (3500m) and TAJC Hospitality Function Centre Hurdles (3100m) respectively, with the latter having her third start over fences under Portia Matthews. “She’s not a bad horse Rocem, if she can just get over those last couple of fences she should be right in the finish on Sunday,” Brosnan said. “It’s not an overly strong field and she’s working well.” Molly’s Gold will continue her preparation on the flat for an impending jumping career, following in the footsteps of her talented dam Southern Countess. The Stark South mare won seven races for the stable and five of these were in her favoured jumping role, including the 2011 Great Northern Hurdles (4190m) at Ellerslie. “She (Molly’s Gold) has had a couple of jumping trials now and that will be her go,” Brosnan said. “We’re just getting a bit more race fitness into her now on the flat so she can really learn how to be a racehorse. It’s hard to put these older horses straight into jumping races when they haven’t been around on the flat. “If she can be half as good as her mother, we’ll be rapt.” Horse racing news View the full article

Poser will contest the Seeka Kiwifruit Cup (2100m) at Tauranga on Saturday. Image: Kenton Wright (Race Images) All key indicators point to proven winter performer Poser going close to adding to her record at Tauranga on Saturday. The Paul Pertab-trained mare will tackle the Kiwifruit Cup (2100m) third-up after a pair of solid lead-up performances while stablemate The Ugly Sister’s recent form has earned her a crack at the Listed Tauranga Classic (1400m). Poser’s five career victories, including the Listed Rotorua Cup (2200m) have come on rain-affected going, she is a past winner on the track and hasn’t missed a beat ahead of her upcoming challenge. “The more rain the better for her and she’s at the top of her game,” Pertab said. “She’s certainly fit enough and I think she will be a really good chance.” Poser was spelled after she was unplaced on a good track in the Group 1 Livamol Classic (2040m) in the spring and returned to finish a resuming third over 1800m at New Plymouth and was then a gallant fourth over 2200m at Trentham. While Pertab has no set winter plans, there are a number of options ahead of the daughter of Ocean Park after Saturday. “She’s an older mare now and even though she’s sound, her riders and the vets are happy with her, you have to take it a day at a time,” he said. “There are other suitable races coming up and she’s a grinding sort of mare who doesn’t have a turn of foot, so we just have to place her well.” Poser has been ridden in all five of her career victories by Tegan Newman, who takes the reins again at the weekend. Barnmate The Ugly Sister, who will be partnered by Sam Spratt, has been in sparkling form with three successes and two placings from her last five appearances to earn a crack at stakes level. “It’s quite a strong field, there’s a bit of quality in there, and even though she’s consistent she’s going to have to bring her A-game,” Pertab said. “Her work was very good the other day though and she’ll definitely be a chance if she gets some luck in the running.” The Ugly Sister also holds a nomination for the Group 3 Winter Cup (1600m) at Riccarton on August 3. “As far as her broodmare worth goes, any black type whether it be down south or up here would add to her credentials. I’ll talk to the owner about it after Saturday,” Pertab said. Raced by Taranaki breeder Graham Meredith, the Tivaci four-year-old is out of a half-sister to the dual Australian Group Two winners Ugachaka. Horse racing news View the full article

Winexpress winning at Pukekohe on Wednesday. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images) Wexford Stables hope to live up to the name of their Pukekohe victor in Winexpress when they take a strong team to Tauranga on Saturday. The Matamata outfit led by Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott commenced the week in decisive fashion at Pukekohe’s Wednesday meeting with the son of Shamexpress. A previous winner of two races in heavy conditions, Winexpress relished the testing going late in the day under a patient ride by apprentice Ace Lawson-Carroll at the tail of the field. The four-year-old tracked race favourite Hey Hey Baby into the straight and came out on top in a driving finish down the centre of the track. Scott was pleased to see the gelding back in form after a couple of conditioning runs to build fitness. “He’s a gelding that, being a little bit older, has just taken a few runs to get his fitness up for the testing footing at this time of year,” he said. “We’ve found that when he gets fit like he is at the present time, he races consistently and honestly. “It was a pleasing performance from him today, he won with a good bit of authority and certainly by the way he won, it indicates that another win is close. “He’ll go up a grade now to 75, and there’s a good few options coming up, so that experience and age in horses is a massive aid.” Talented winter galloper Highlighter headlines Wexford’s contingent when they head across to the Bay of Plenty on Saturday, with the mare contesting the Listed Tauranga Classic (1400m). Another progeny of Shamexpress, the mare has been a consistent force for the stable in recent seasons, with a trio of wins and minor placings on the board this term, including a third behind the in-form Caitlyns Wish last Saturday. “We were really pleased with her performance last week, and it certainly warranted going forward into the stakes race this weekend,” Scott said. “She’s fit, and with the quick back-up it should aid her getting out over the 1400m. There is a bit of a question mark on whether she can stay the trip, but she’s in really good form and is another mare that is seasoned for the testing conditions.” Highlighter will have the services of Warren Kennedy in the feature for fillies and mares, jumping from barrier four. “She usually finds rhythm, you can’t really push or pull and just have to go with her,” Scott said. “She’s got a good strong finish, so we’re really hopeful she can pick up some valuable black-type on the weekend.” Among the stable’s other representatives is I Am Groot, a three-year-old by Wrote who has performed well in his first racing preparation. “He’s got good race day fitness behind him, we’ve freshened him and hopefully the ground holds well for the weekend,” Scott said. “He’s a horse that is racing consistently, and he should be right in the finish on the weekend. He looks particularly well in the coat for this time of the year and has held up well in a long preparation.” Consistent maidener Ever Charm has been knocking on the door for his breakthrough success with four third-placed efforts to date and will aim to collect that elusive win. “He’s building towards a win and is another with a good load of fitness under his belt. You would think with a bit of good fortune in the run, he should be hard to beat,” Scott said. “He’s working well, he’s consistent, and has confidence going into Saturday.” Jaffira, a versatile son of Iffraaj who has been within 1 ½ lengths of the winner in his last two efforts in heavy conditions. “He’s won around Tauranga before, he’s adept in the soft ground and he’s a tough, fit gelding which will be required with the track conditions on the weekend,” Scott said. “He can be a little bit hard to catch, but he’s working well and we’re confident that he’ll run well.” Each of the three runners will be ridden by young apprentice Ngakau Hailey, who picked up his 17th winner for the season at Pukekohe on Wednesday. “You start to see as we get deeper into the winter that the claims are a massive aid for the horses,” Scott said. “There are some really promising young jockeys out there with the likes of Triston (Moodley) and Ngakau, it’s the right time of the year for these kids to step-up.” Scott also made a notable mention of Silver Javelin, another contender with Lawson-Carroll claiming two-kilograms off her carded weight (57kg). “She definitely won’t be out of it either, her last couple of runs have been needed to get fit but she’s another on the back-up that can handle the really soft ground,” he said. “We expect her to be a lot more competitive this weekend.” Horse racing news View the full article

Frankie Lor (left) with Sword Point following victory. Frankie Lor heads into Sunday’s Group 3 double-header at Sha Tin with four representatives and he is optimistic their recent trips to Conghua can prove pivotal to success in either of the season’s final Group races this weekend. Lor saddles Healthy Happy (117lb) in the HK$4.2 million Group 3 Premier Cup Handicap (1400m), while Happy Together (126lb), Sword Point (118lb) and All For St Paul’s (115lb) tackle the HK$4.2 million Group 3 Premier Plate Handicap (1800m). The quartet of runners arrived at Sha Tin from Conghua this week ahead of the term’s 82nd fixture. Seeking a return to form, Sword Point was Group 2-placed earlier this season before failing to reach a top-five finish across six subsequent runs. The chestnut has since appeared in fine order in a recent barrier trial on the turf at Conghua, crossing the line second over 1200m. “Early on his first few runs were good this season, then later on his form dropped off a little bit. I’ve given him a break and he just returned from Conghua – he looks good after freshening up,” Lor said. “He trialled well there. He’s won over 1800 metres before, too.” Lor has 15 wins this campaign from horses who spent time at Conghua before returning to Hong Kong for victory at their first start in the city after shuttling back from the Mainland facility, which is renowned for its infrastructure, offerings and serene environment. “They have lots of facilities up there – spa, treadmill, massages and more. It’s good for the horses. It’s also quieter, the horses relax over there,” he said. Beauty Joy (135lb), Galaxy Patch (129lb), Nimble Nimbus (124lb), Five G Patch (121lb), La City Blanche (119lb), Chancheng Glory (115lb), C P Brave (115lb) and The Best Peach (115lb) also feature in the Premier Plate. Happy Together seeks a sixth win this season and second in the grade for Lor after capturing the HK$4.2 million Group 3 January Cup Handicap (1800m) at the start of 2024. “He’s going well and he looks good. He also came back from Conghua this week,” Lor said. All For St Paul’s has won nine races in Hong Kong, largely with go-forward tactics employed, although he is yet to be tested at Group 3 level. “He’s been an amazing horse for me. When he came to Hong Kong and trialled, the owners came to see his first trial and he showed nothing. He finished last. Sometimes they just need time,” Lor said. The seven-year-old has earned HK$14.37 million across 50 starts in Hong Kong. “It looks like there isn’t too much pace in the race, so maybe he can do this thing. Chancheng Glory will go forward but maybe our horse can lead in front,” Lor said. Healthy Happy is another of Lor’s veterans, who has won five times from 32 starts in Hong Kong, including first-up this campaign in the HK$4.2 million Group 3 Celebration Cup Handicap (1400m). “He’s good. He’s an old man now but he’s holding his form well. Tony Cruz has California Spangle in the race, he’s a really good Group 1 horse, but it depends, I think 1400 metres is the best distance for my horse, so we’ll try,” Lor said. California Spangle (135lb), Taj Dragon (120lb), Flying Ace (116lb), Mugen (115lb), Packing Treadmill (115lb) and Telecom Fighters (115lb) also line-up. Lor also fields Top Gun, Illuminous, Beauty Missile, Triple Bliss and Ever Smart on the undercard at Sha Tin. Horse racing news View the full article

What Belmont Guineas Day Where Belmont Racecourse – Saintly Entrance, Burswood WA 6100 When Saturday, June 22, 2024 First Race 11:24am AWST Visit Dabble The Listed Belmont Guineas will headline the nine-race card at Belmont Park this Saturday afternoon. The track was rated as a Soft 5 at the time of acceptances; however, there is a lot of rain forecast to fall on Saturday, which will more than likely bring a downgrade or two before the program begins. The rail will move back into its true position, with the meeting scheduled to kick off at 11:24am AWST. Belmont Guineas Tip: Luvnwar Ex-Kiwi galloper Luvnwar broke through for her first victory under the care of Michael Grantham, when the three-year-old filly carried a big weight and recorded a slender win at this track over 1400m. The daughter of War Decree ran home strongly to nab the leader in the final strides, and she was only getting stronger at the end of the race, suggesting a rise in trip to 1600m would suit. Patrick Carbery will retain the ride, and from barrier three, Luvnwar should receive an economical run and will settle a lot closer to the speed than her main market rivals on the home turn. Belmont Guineas Race 8 – #14 Luvnwar (3) 3yo Filly | T: Michael Grantham | J: Patrick Carbery (54.5kg) +450 with Bet365 Best Bet at Belmont: Berbere Berbere was heavily backed on resumption this preparation, but the Grant & Alana Williams-trained gelding flopped out of the barrier and threw the race away within the first 100m. Although the four-year-old gelding ran home strongly to finish fourth, beaten 2.9 lengths on the line, he never played a role in the race and will have taken good fitness benefit from the run. William Pike will stick with the son of Gingerbread Man second-up, and if he jumps with the field from barrier five, Berbere should prove too classy for this field. Best Bet Race 9 – #6 Berbere (5) 4yo Gelding | T: Grant & Alana Williams | J: William Pike (55.5kg) +190 with Neds Next Best at Belmont: Citino Michael Grantham and Chris Parnham will combine once again with Citino as they seek to turn the tables on Strike Now after finishing two lengths off him in third place at this track and trip on June 8. The son of Demerit has been in career best form this preparation, recording two wins and three placings in his last five starts, with his best performances coming on rain-affected ground. With a 2kg weight swing in his favour for Saturday’s contest, Citino gets his chance to turn the tables here and record another victory. Next Best Race 4 – #3 Citino (10) 4yo Gelding | T: Michael Grantham | J: Chris Parnham (57kg) +180 with PlayUp Best Value at Belmont: The Agency The Agency debuted at this track and trip on June 5, when the Trevor Andrews-trained colt finished a narrow runner-up behind Repossession after racing greenly in the final 300m to go down in a tight photo finish. This son of A Lot settled close to the speed from barrier one and got every chance to run up the inside rail, but he showed his inexperience late as he couldn’t put the race away. Luke Campbell will retain the ride on this guy, and from barrier eight, he will settle worse than midfield and look to run on strongly down the outside. Best Value Race 2 – #4 The Agency (8) 2yo Colt | T: Trevor Andrews | J: Luke Campbell (a2) (56kg) +1300 with Picklebet Saturday quaddie tips for Belmont races Belmont quadrella selections Saturday, June 22, 2024 3-7-8-11 2-3-4-5-9 2-13-14-16 4-6 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip Horse racing tips View the full article

What Darwin Races Where Fannie Bay Racecourse – Dick Ward Dr, Fannie Bay NT 0820 When Saturday, June 22, 2024 First Race 1:38pm ACST Visit Dabble With the Darwin Cup Carnival starting next month, it’s no surprise that 64 horses have accepted for the seven-race meeting at Fannie Bay. Records show that it has only rained once in Darwin since April 5 – that’s when 0.4mm fell on April 13 – and on Saturday the forecast is for sunny conditions with a top temperature of 32C. The rail will be in its true position, and it will once again be a good dirt surface. BEST BET: Pharoah Magic Pharoah Magic has drawn a poor gate in the 12-horse field, but he still remains the one to beat after crunching his 0-58 rivals by six lengths over 1100m in his Fannie Bay debut on March 16. When linked with the Anthony Cummings stable during his NSW racing days, the son of American Pharoah kicked off his career with a second in a 1100m Hawkesbury maiden in December 2022 before the lightly raced gelding saluted in a 1200m Kembla Grange maiden in October last year. Pharoah Magic is seemingly above average and overcame quality opposition in a recent 900m trial. Best Bet Race 3 – #2 Pharoah Magic (12) 4yo Gelding | T: Gary Clarke | J: Jarrod Todd (60.5kg) Bet with Bet365 NEXT BEST: Starton It’s the last serious hit out for the three-year-olds before the Darwin Guineas (1600m) on July 6 and the former Victoria Starton will take some stopping after getting home by 4.5 lengths in his first Darwin start against his own age group over 1200m (BM64) on June 8. The son of Tosen Stardom had the inside gate that day, but with a 600m run to the first turn, jumping from a wide barrier should not be a burden. Next Best Race 2 – #6 Starton (11) 3yo Gelding | T: Kerry Petrick | J: Paul Denton (57kg) Bet with PlayUp BEST VALUE: A Big Chance He has yet to taste victory in Darwin after six starts, but A Big Chance got awfully close last Saturday. He looked to have the measure of his rivals over 1600m (0-58) after kicking clear at the 200m before being pipped right on the line by the fast-finishing Magnetic Tycoon. The son of Shinzig finished third on two occasions over 1300m (0-70) and 1600m (0-58) during May, so there are signs that a win is definitely around the corner. In 64 starts in Queensland for Brisbane trainer Jan Aitkenhead, A Big Chance posted six wins from 1400-1666m and was also placed on 11 occasions. Best Value Race 7 – #1 A Big Chance (3) 7yo Gelding | T: Chris Pollard | J: Thomas Doyle (60kg) Bet with Neds Saturday Darwin quaddie tips – 22/6/2024 Darwin quadrella selections Saturday, June 22, 2024 1-3-5-6 1-4-5 1-3-4-7 1-2-7-8 Horse racing tips View the full article

What Flemington Races Where Flemington Racecourse – 448 Epsom Rd, Flemington VIC 3031 When Saturday, June 22, 2024 First Race 11:50am AEST Visit Dabble Winter racing in Victoria heads to Flemington on Saturday for a competitive nine-race program that kicks off at 11:50am AEST. Despite there being no black-type racing on the card, the fields are filled with quality and there is plenty of value to be found. The rail comes out 11m, and although the track was a Soft 5 at the time of acceptances, the forecast suggests there is a chance of starting on a Good 4. Best Bet at Flemington: Aberfeldie Boy Having returned with an eye-catching performance at the Flemington 2000m, Aberfeldie Boy steps up to 2540m as he looks to double his win tally. He finished third in the Group 1 VRC Derby (2500m) back in 2022 at this track, while he also found the podium in last year’s South Australian Derby (2500m). He draws to gain every chance in running from barrier one, and with even luck at the top of the home straight, Aberfeldie Boy looks too tough to hold out in this field. Best Bet Race 2 – #4 Aberfeldie Boy (1) 4yo Gelding | T: Robbie Griffiths & Mathew de Kock | J: Jye McNeil (56.5kg) +450 with Picklebet Next Best at Flemington: Oak Hill Having returned with a pair of dynamic victories at Sandown, Mike Moroney’s Oak Hill makes his Flemington debut against a handy Sydney galloper, The Black Cloud. The price discrepancy is ridiculous between the two, and with Blake Shinn on Oak Hill from barrier five, he is sure to take some beating. The three-year-old gelding boasts a big turn of foot for a field like this and should send us home as winners. Next Best Race 9 – #1 Oak Hill (5) 3yo Gelding | T: Mike Moroney | J: Blake Shinn (59kg) +600 with PlayUp Best Value at Flemington: My Xanadu My Xanadu took forever to warm up at Caulfield on June 1, but she got her head when it mattered most and showed enough late to suggest the 2000m will be right up her alley. Linda Meech from barrier three is a notable booking, with the pair likely to dictate proceedings throughout. With the rail out 11m, and the way Flemington ‘circle’ races have suited those on pace, My Xanadu presents superb value with horse racing bookies in the penultimate. Best Value Race 8 – #9 My Xanadu (3) 3yo Filly | T: Peter Moody & Katherine Coleman | J: Linda Meech (54.5kg) +1400 with Bet365 Flemington Saturday quaddie – 22/6/2024 Flemington quadrella selections Saturday, June 22, 2024 1-5-6-8 3-7-8-16-18 1-4-5-6-9 1-2-5 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip Horse racing tips
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Champion trainer David Hayes to make call on Australian Group One winner’s future after major setbackView the full article

What Ipswich Cup Day 2024 Where Ipswich Turf Club – 219 Brisbane Rd, Bundamba QLD 4304 When Saturday, June 22, 2024 First Race 11:43am AEST Visit Dabble The Ipswich Turf Club will host its marquee raceday this Saturday afternoon as three Listed races headline the massive nine-race program. Although the track was rated as a Soft 5 at the time of acceptances, there is no rain forecast to fall in the area in the lead-up to the meeting, so it is expected that the surface will improve into the Good range. The rail will be in the +0.5m position for the entire circuit, with the opening race scheduled to jump at 11:43am AEST. Ipswich Cup Tip: Encoder Following a good run in the Group 1 Queensland Derby last start, Encoder will drop back to Listed grade to take on the older horses in the Ipswich Cup for his fifth run of the preparation. This three-year-old gelding raced at this track and trip two starts back where he had to carry 60kg and started to fade late with the big weight; however, he will only have to carry 54kg here and should appreciate a firmer track. From barrier 14, Damien Thornton will settle near last, and Encoder will attempt to loop the field from the 600m mark. Ipswich Cup Race 7 – #9 Encoder (14) 3yo Gelding | T: Lee Freedman | J: Damien Thornton (54kg) +1500 with Dabble Eye Liner Stakes Tip: Wategoes Wategoes was very good when winning over this trip at Doomben two starts back before the Bjorn Baker-trained gelding finished a credible second behind Yellow Brick in the Listed Spear Chief Handicap last time out. This son of Capitalist has yet to lose at 1350m (2:2-0-0), and from barrier one, he should get all the favours and an economical run throughout. Damien Thornton will need to get off the fence on the home turn, and if he does, Wategoes will prove very hard to hold out late. Eye Liner Stakes Race 8 – #7 Wategoes (1) 5yo Gelding | T: Bjorn Baker | J: Damien Thornton (55.5kg) +130 with Neds Gai Waterhouse Classic Tip: Junqueira Junqueira returned with a solid performance at Scone on May 18, where the John O’Shea-trained mare ran home nicely from midfield to finish fifth over 1100m. This daughter of Capitalist has shown throughout her career that she doesn’t particularly enjoy Soft tracks, so after being beaten by two lengths on a Soft 6 first-up, it indicates that she has returned well and she will appreciate a firmer track second-up. Barrier 14 shouldn’t worry this girl too much, as she likes to settle near the rear in her race, and with only 53kg on her back, look for Junqueira to be charging down the outside in the concluding stages. Gai Waterhouse Classic Race 9 – #16 Junqueira (14) 4yo Mare | T: John O’Shea | J: Robbie Dolan (53kg) +1100 with PlayUp Best Bet at Ipswich: Hedged Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr have chosen to keep Hedged in Queensland after running home strongly to finish third in the Listed Queensland Day Stakes after settling too far back over 1200m. This three-year-old gelding will rise in trip to 1300m for the first time in his career, but given how well he ran on and smashed through the line last start, it appears as though the extra 100m will suit. With less speed in this contest, Vlad Duric can push forward from barrier eight and attempt to settle in the first six off the fence, and if he finds a back to follow around the home turn, Hedged should prove too good for his rivals. Best Bet Race 6 – #2 Hedged (8) 3yo Gelding | T: Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr | J: Vlad Duric (57kg) +150 with Bet365 Next Best at Ipswich: Rockribbed Rockribbed is yet to find the winners circle in two starts with Tony Gollan in Queensland; however, the form out of his two runs last preparation has stood up in better grade than this during the Queensland Racing Carnival. The son of Night Of Thunder was last seen finishing second behind Millane over 1200m, and that runner has since gone on to run well in Listed company. After a nine-week spell, this six-year-old gelding will return with the benefit of a trial under his belt, and if he can produce a similar performance to his last start, Rockribbed will get every chance to record his first win for his new trainer. Next Best Race 4 – #9 Rockribbed (5) 6yo Gelding | T: Tony Gollan | J: Vlad Duric (59.5kg) +320 with Picklebet Saturday quaddie tips for Ipswich races Ipswich quadrella selections Saturday, June 22, 2024 2-8 1-2-9-11 7-14 2-3-6-11-13-16 Horse racing tips View the full article

What Randwick Races Where Royal Randwick Racecourse – Alison Rd, Randwick NSW 2031 When Saturday, June 22, 2024 First Race 11am AEST Visit Dabble Metro racing returns to Randwick on Saturday afternoon, with a bumper 10-race program set for decision. The rail is out +3m the entire way around, and although the track is rated a Soft 7 at the time of acceptances, punters should expect an upgrade into the Good range thanks to the sunny skies forecast in the lead-up. The opening event is scheduled to underway at 11am local time. Civic Stakes Tip: Strait Acer Strait Acer has been underwhelming this preparation, unable to record a victory in six starts; however, the Listed Civic Stakes (1400m) appears to be his best opportunity to break the draught. The son of Headwater should appreciate getting back on top of the ground after striking a Soft surface at Doomben in the Group 3 BRC Sprint (1350m) on May 25. The Group 1 placegetter gets in well with 57kg on his back, and with Tim Clark likely to slot into the perfect stalking position from barrier four, Strait Acer should get every chance to return to winning ways in the $200,000 feature. Civic Stakes Race 8 – #4 Strait Acer (4) 4yo Gelding | T: Edward Cummings | J: Tim Clark (57kg) +500 with Picklebet Best Bet at Randwick: Elouyou Elouyou is being sent on the float to NSW for the first time after a hat-trick of runner-up performances to kick off the campaign. He hasn’t missed the frame in seven starts, with the four-year-old traditionally adopting front-running tactics, including his most recent performance at Flemington on June 8. He was only nosed out in the final 50m last time, and with this race lacking genuine speed on paper, watch for Elouyou to repay the faith, making every post a winner in the Randwick finale. Best Bet Race 10 – #9 Elouyou (12) 4yo Gelding | T: Scott Cameron | J: Jason Collett (56.5kg) +220 with PlayUp Next Best at Randwick: Dipsy Doodle Dipsy Doodle returns after a 119-day spell and looks to be back in terrific order based on her two recent barrier trials. The James Cummings-trained filly was hardly asked to stretch out in her latest effort, cruising through the wire at Rosehill on June 11 to get within a half-length of Pink Shalala. She’s promised plenty in previous campaigns, and although you may need to take the short price with online bookmakers, Dipsy Doodle should justify the price provided James McDonald can take control from barrier seven. Next Best Race 7 – #10 Dipsy Doodle (7) 3yo Filly | T: James Cummings | J: James McDonald (56.5kg) +170 with Neds Best Value at Randwick: Fortune Fortune prepares to make his Australian debut for the Annabel Neasham barn and brings some quality French form to this BM88 contest. The gelding by De Treville finished close behind the likes of Bold Act and Horizon Dore at Listed level, prior to his arrival, boasting two wins and two more minor placings in 10 starts. He won a jump-out at Hawkesbury on June 3 leading into this, and provided Tyler Schiller can gain an economical run despite the wide draw, Fortune should be careering down the centre of the course. Best Value Race 6 – #8 Fortune (13) 4yo Gelding | T: Annabel Neasham | J: Tyler Schiller (56kg) +700 with Bet365 Saturday quaddie tips for Randwick Randwick quadrella selections Saturday, June 22, 2024 6-8-10-15 1-4-8-14 3-5-16-19 9-13 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip Horse racing tips View the full article