Wandering Eyes

5th-CD, $120k, Msw, 3yo/up, f, 1mT, 2:45p.m. ET MIXOLOGIST (Frosted) will break from the middle of the field in this maiden on the grass, and the LNJ Foxwoods color bearer has big shoes to fill as the half-sister to Australian multiple Group 1-placed Princess Grace (Karakontie {Jpn}). Said sister was a three-time graded winner and three-times Grade I-placed in the States before changing hands for $1.7-million in 2022 at FTKNOV to China Horse Club and being exported to Australia. She twice came a neck short of winning her first race at the highest level in her adopted country last season, once in the G1 Winx S. and again in the G1 Stow Storage Memsie S. Not to be lost on the honor roll is her half-brother Catnip (Kitten's Joy), who is also a graded winner and twice Grade I-placed. Brad Cox will send out the grey. TJCIS PPs 9th-CD, $120k, Msw, 3yo/up, 6f, 4:55p.m. ET Hailing from a family with members who need little introduction, Team Maxfield reassemble to unveil his half-brother MAXWELL (Uncle Mo) Sunday beneath the Twin Spires. His aforementioned half-brother was a two-time Grade I-winner and ran second in Saratoga's GI Whitney S. Maxfield also claimed the GIII Matt Winn S., which will run a race prior to this nightcap. Their dam Velvety is a daughter of 13-time winner MGSW Caress (Storm Cat), who herself produced GISW Sky Mesa (Pulpit) and MGSW & GISP Golden Velvet (Seeking the Gold). That daughter would form a broodmare line which would eventually yield MGISW Matareya (Pioneerof the Nile). This is a very busy, Graded black type-heavy family with several successful sires to its credit. He sits at 5-1 on the morning line. From the rail, Bello (Speightstown) will carry the Kaleem Shah colors to post. The half-brother to SP Appraised (Shanghai Bobby) is out of a half-sister to GISP Realm (Haynesfield) and SW North Freeway (Jump Start), who herself produced SW & GISP Take The One O One (Acclamation). TJCIS PPs The post June 9 Insights: Half-Siblings to Princess Grace, Maxfield Debut appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Saturday's session of the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's June Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training included a son of Lord Nelson (hip 809) who put up the fastest quarter-mile time of the day. Consigned by Omar Ramirez Bloodstock, the colt worked in :20.4 and is the second foal out of Kodiak's Dancer, a half-sister to SP Baby Gray (Precise End). He'll make his third trip through the sales ring next week, having RNA'd at both KEENOV as a weanling for $9,500 and again as a yearling for $8,500 at FTKOCT last year. Seven juveniles shared the session's fastest eighth-mile time, each working in :10. That list includes a daughter of Mitole consigned by Really and Truly Thoroughbreds (hip 702), a son of Vekoma for Majestic Agent (hip 756), a son of Valiant Minister for Wildheart Thoroughbreds (hip 757), a daughter of Maclean's Music consigned by De Meric Sales Agent (hip 783), a Curlin's Honor filly for Two Oaks Equine (hip 832), a filly by Brooks 'n Down consigned by Champions of the Future (hip 835) and a son of Global Campaign for Navas Equine (hip 870). The under-tack show concludes Sunday morning with a final session beginning at 7:30 a.m. The June sale will be held next Wednesday through Friday with bidding starting each day at 10 a.m. The post Lord Nelson Colt Earns Quarter-Mile Bullet At OBS Saturday appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Veteran race caller Bill Downes has been hired on as the new voice of Wine Country Racing in Santa Rosa, Calif.View the full article

A daughter of Coolmore stallion Sioux Nation's only crop from a one-season shuttle to Australia, Socks Nation upset the June 8 Queensland Oaks (G1) to become her sire's first top-level winner.View the full article

Baby Yoda continued his love affair with Saratoga Race Course by winning the $350,000 True North Stakes (G2) June 8 on the Belmont Stakes (G1) undercard.View the full article

Ice Chocolat sprung a surprise hand on his Poker Stakes (G3T) rivals, hustling to the lead en route to a gate-to-wire score under jockey Jose Ortiz June 8 at Saratoga Race Course.View the full article

WinStar Farm's grade 1-winning stallion Global Campaign was represented by his first winner June 8 as Global Legend won a maiden special weight contested as Gulfstream Park's second race.View the full article

A return to Saratoga Race Course brought out the best in Randomized as she dug in gamely on the lead to hold off champion Idiomatic by a nose in the $500,000 Ogden Phipps Stakes (G1) June 8.View the full article

While co-owner Mike Repole would have preferred a graded stakes win earlier in Crupi's career, he certainly appreciated the timing of his last-to-first stretch run to win the $350,000 Suburban Stakes (G2) June 8 at Saratoga Race Course.View the full article

Randomized (f, 4, Nyquist–French Passport, by Elusive Quality), a strong second behind Idiomatic (Curlin) in the 2023 GI Breeders' Cup Distaff at Santa Anita, upset last year's champion older mare with a wire-to-wire victory in Saturday's GI Ogden Phipps S. at Saratoga. Second in her comebacker as a heavy favorite in the GII Ruffian S. at the Big A May 4, the 6-1 chance was sent to the front beneath Joel Rosario from her rail draw. Last year's GI Alabama S. winner showed the way throughout and braced for the challenge of Idiomatic while floating wide at the top of the stretch. Randomized had plenty left from there and dug down deep in the stretch to fend off Idiomatic by a nose. It was a long way back to Pretty Mischievous (Into Mischief) in third. Sales history: $420,000 yrl '21 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 9-5-2-1. O-Klaravich Stables, Inc.; B-Cove Springs, LLC (KY); T-Chad C. Brown. What a finish in the G1 Odgen Phipps! #1 Randomized holds off Idiomatic after going gate-to-wire under @jrosariojockey for trainer Chad Brown! #TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/wtHa8zMwcS — TwinSpires Racing (@TwinSpires) June 8, 2024 The post Nyquist’s Randomized Turns Tables on Idiomatic in Thrilling Ogden Phipps appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Sunday's black-type action is spread across Europe, with Goodwood's Listed Weatherbys/British EBF Agnes Keyser Fillies' S. one of the lesser of its kind in terms of status but possibly the most interesting of all given that it acts as the platform for the second act of TDN Rising Star Sea Just In Time (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}). Sunderland Holdings' homebred impressed on debut at Newmarket's Guineas Festival and holds an entry in the G1 Irish Oaks. “She's taking a while to come to herself and still looks a bit backward in her coat,” William Haggas said. “The race at Newmarket took the stuffing out of her and I've wanted to run her before now to see if she was a Ribblesdale type. We missed those because I wasn't happy with her, but she's fine now. She won't run in the Ribblesdale and we will just see how we go on Sunday, she might not even win on Sunday but hopefully she will run a good race. We will take one step at a time with her.” ParisLongchamp boasts five black-type events, with the pick being the G3 Prix Paul de Moussac where Nurlan Bizakov's winning machine Lazzat (Fr) (Territories {Ire}) goes again. Up to a mile for the first time, the G3 Prix Djebel scorer has to navigate the European Pattern open to geldings and there are a lot of those upcoming. In the G3 La Coupe, Al Shaqab Racing's 2022 Arc fourth Al Hakeem (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}) is on the comeback trail, while the day's other notable race is Hoppegarten's G3 Diana Trial where Gestut Rottgen's unexposed Erle (Ger) (Reliable Man {GB}) is on the path to emulate the 2010 G1 Preis Der Diana victory of her second dam Enora (Ger) (Noverre). The post Sea Just In Time Takes To Goodwood Stage appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

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Fans arriving for Belmont Stakes day, June 8, will be greeted by mild temperatures. The Belmont Stakes (G1) is free of scratches.View the full article

Niarchos runner Passenger (Ulysses {Ire}), favoured for the G1 Prince Of Wales's S. at Royal Ascot later this month, will not participate after sustaining a setback according to the owner's racing manager Alan Cooper. Third in the G2 Dante S. and a winner of the G3 Winter Hill S. at three, the 4-year-old colt returned with a 1 1/2-length victory in the G2 Huxley S. at Chester on May 10 for Sir Michael Stoute. Cooper said, “He has an infection and it would be a race against time to have him spot on for Ascot. Hopefully he will be ready for the Eclipse, but that will be up to Sir Michael. “We'll get the horse right first and then we will make a plan when everybody is happy.” Replacing Passenger in the advance markets is Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) who ran second to the re-opposing White Birch (GB) (Ulysses {Ire}) in the G1 Tattersalls Gold Cup on May 26. The post Niarchos Family’s Passenger To Miss Prince Of Wales’s Stakes After Setback appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Runner-up in the Listed Daisy Warwick S. at Goodwood last month, Qatar Racing's Queen Of The Pride (GB) (Roaring Lion) went one better in Saturday's G3 Lester Piggott S. At Haydock. Slowly building momentum after a slow start, the Gosdens' 9-2 second favourite worked her way to the front approaching the furlong pole en route to a short-head success from Lady Boba (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}). Queen Of The Pride holds onto the lead after a late challenge from Lady Boba in the @Betfred Nifty 50 Lester Piggott Fillies' Stakes with @oismurphy onboard for the John & @thadygosden stable! pic.twitter.com/uApDvcfL4L — Haydock Park Races (@haydockraces) June 8, 2024 Saturday, Haydock, Britain BETFRED NIFTY 50 LESTER PIGGOTT FILLIES' S. (PINNACLE S.)-G3, £85,000, Haydock, 6-8, 4yo/up, f, 11f 175yT, 2:34.65, gd. 1–QUEEN OF THE PRIDE (GB), 128, f, 4, by Roaring Lion 1st Dam: Simple Verse (Ire) (MG1SW-Eng, $1,456,105), by Duke Of Marmalade (Ire) 2nd Dam: Guantanamera (Ire), by Sadler's Wells 3rd Dam: Bluffing (Ire), by Darshaan (GB) 1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. (115,000gns 2yo '22 TATMA). O-Qatar Racing Ltd; B-The Simple Verse Partnership (GB); T-John & Thady Gosden; J-Oisin Murphy. £48,204. Lifetime Record: 4-2-1-0, $84,116. Werk Nick Rating: D. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. 2–Lady Boba (GB), 128, f, 4, Lope De Vega (Ire)–Moi Meme (GB), by Teofilo (Ire). 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (160,000gns Ylg '21 TATOCT). O-Andrew Rosen & Barry K Schwartz; B-Fortescue Bloodstock (GB); T-Ralph Beckett. £18,275. 3–Mistral Star (GB), 128, f, 4, Frankel (GB)–Shirocco Star (GB), by Shirocco (Ger). 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. O-Helena Springfield Ltd; B-Meon Valley Stud (GB); T-Hugh Morrison. £9,146. Margins: SHD, 2 1/4, HD. Odds: 4.50, 6.00, 12.00. Also Ran: Sea Theme (Ire), Madame Ambassador (GB), Scenic (Fr), Night Sparkle (Ire), Starry Heavens (Ire), Sapphire Seas (GB), Ching Shih (Ire), Caernarfon (GB), Wynter Wildes (GB), Moogie (GB). Scratched: Miss Cantik (Fr). The post Roaring Lion’s Queen Of The Pride On Top At Haydock appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Three-year-old maintains unblemished record with a determined Class Four victory at Sha Tin on SaturdayView the full article

Debuting in Saturday's Two Year Old Trophy at Beverley, Wathnan Racing's €460,000 Arqana May Breeze purchase Shareholder (Not This Time) made the perfect start to point to Royal Ascot's juvenile features. Slowly away under James Doyle, the Karl Burke-trained 6-4 favourite made his way to the front inside the final furlong and held Moving Force (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) by a short head. Shareholder fends off Moving Force to land the bet365 Two Year Old Trophy Conditions Stakes in the hands of James Doyle for Karl Burke @bet365 / @karl_burke pic.twitter.com/dYt05zLOKk — Beverley Racecourse (@Beverley_Races) June 8, 2024 The post Wathnan’s 460k Not This Time Colt Wins On Debut appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Emerging galloper fights hard for first triumph away from Happy Valley as champion jockey nails a trebleView the full article

Four-year-old gelding Virtuous Circle registered his first win in more than 650 days when taking out the RDA Daylesford Lesley Hewitt Trophy (2000m) at Flemington on Saturday for trainer Liam Howley. The talented son of Almanzor last tasted success in August 2022 in a three-year-old 1500m race at Moonee Valley. Virtuous Circle followed up running third in the Gr.2 Bill Stutt Stakes (1600m) and second in the Gr.2 The Vase (2040m) at The Valley before later in his three-year-old year running second in the Gr.1 Australian Derby (2400m). His four-year-old campaign was all geared around the Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) in which Virtuous Circle finished 18th, after which he was gelded. Virtuous Circle ($14) was having the third start of his current campaign and under Ethan Brown scored a three-quarter length win from Beltoro ($11) with the $3.30 favourite Silent Surrente the same margin away third. “People are quick to forget in this game,” Howley said. “He’s only had 16 or 17 starts and I think we’re still scratching the surface with him. “Gelding him after the Melbourne Cup, certainly had an effect on him. We gave him time and the team at home have done a super job with him. “We’ve never lost faith, but today is a great result.” Howley said a winter campaign, which was likely to stretch to the Gr.2 Hotham Handicap (2500m) and the Gr.3 The Bart Cummings (2500m), both at Flemington and both ballot exemption races for the Melbourne Cup, was on the agenda for Virtuous Circle. He said he wants to continue to build the confidence of Virtuous Circle. “We know they run on confidence,” Howley said. “He came back after his last start and had a real temper about him. He was angry and has been angry ever since, and I took that as he was ready to win. View the full article

High-class Kiwi mare La Crique put her best foot forward when pulling clear of her rivals in Saturday’s A$500,000 Magic Millions National Classic (1600m) at Eagle Farm. Prepared by Simon and Katrina Alexander, the lightly-framed daughter of Vadamos took her time to balance up under champion hoop James McDonald before her class prevailed, defeating Foxy Freda and Maracana by just over a length. A dual Group One winner at a mile, La Crique was perfectly placed in the lucrative weight-for-age feature, with the 110 rated mare rated 8 points superior to her nearest rival. Katrina Alexander was pleased to see La Crique find the winner’s circle in Australia, with her only other appearance in the lucky country resulting in a fourth placing in the Gr.1 Empire Rose Stakes (1600m) when a strong favourite in 2022. “I feel like we let the punters down in Melbourne [in the Group 1 Empire Rose], so to come back and do that was a big thrill and it’s nice to get a result,” Alexander said. “We knew she was well-placed, weight-for-age races seem to suit her and she’s performed well in them in the past. Stepping up to the mile second-up after her first-up run back home also ticked the right boxes for her, so it was good placement. “If this race wasn’t on offer we might have been scratching our heads wondering which race to come for, but we can build on this now and we’re in no rush to take her home. I’d love to put together a couple of races over here, and we’re mindful we’ve missed the hot end of the carnival. I’m thrilled for the owners, and I’m thankful to James for sticking with her.” Alexander said they will now ponder what to do next with the five-year-old mare, with the Gr.1 Tattersall’s Tiara (1400m) on June 29 not a confirmed target. “We don’t have to do a lot with this mare, she’s incredibly clean-winded. As you can see, there’s not a lot of her so we’ll have a nice quiet week to ten days with her now before slowly building her up again,” Alexander said. Winning jockey James McDonald said he was concerned in the run. “I thought she was out of play at the top of the straight, she hit a big flat spot and I didn’t think we were going to get out of it. But when I gave her a reminder with the left, she found a bit so it was a good effort to win,” he said. By Rich Hill Stud stallion Vadamos, La Crique is raced by her breeders, John and Jan Cassin, who also raced her five-time winning dam Destiny Cove. From 20 starts La Crique boast eight wins and eight placings and advanced her career earnings to A$1,211,829 after Saturday’s win. View the full article

One year after a Triple Crown that saw attention drawn away from the races to equine safety and scratched horses, this year's edition has provided the annual boost that the industry has counted on for decades.View the full article

Vilana ridden by James McDonald takes out the Group 2 Moreton Cup at Eagle Farm. Photo: Darren Winningham James McDonald capped off an outstanding day in the Group 2 Moreton Cup, piloting Vilana (+240) to victory to claim his fifth win of the day at Eagle Farm on Saturday afternoon. Combining with James Cummings, McDonald’s mount was heavily backed before the final race of the day and the five-year-old gelding didn’t let those punters down as he strode clear to win with ease in the 1200m contest. As expected, Zarastro (+1300) jumped well and went to the front to take the lead ahead of At Witz End (+5000), with Mazu (+550) settling behind the leading duo, tasked with bringing the rest of the field up to the leaders before the home turn. However, by the time the leader had straightened for the run to the judge, McDonald was biding his time on the outside of runners and pushed the button on Vilana, who exploded with a blistering turn of foot. Under the urgings of a red-hot McDonald, the son of Hallowed Crown stormed up to the leader and kicked clear to put a massive space on his rivals with 200m to go. Mazu, Jigsaw (+1800) and All That Pizzazz (+1100) finished off nicely and battled it out for the placings, with the trio finishing in that order, but it was all honours to Vilana as he claimed victory by 3.7 lengths and booked a spot in the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap. 2024 Moreton Cup replay – Vilana James Cummings was on course to speak about Vilana’s win post-race. “The Stradbroke has always been a desirable goal for Vilana, he was beautifully placed in the set weights and penalties today and we felt he had a lot of hidden merit to his run in the BRC Sprint,” Cummings said. “It’s exciting to see him loom up and win a race like this so easily. “I was trying to keep a lid on him in the last 200 metres, because he needs have a bit of gas left in the tank for the Stradbroke. “We liked the horse in the race two years ago as a three-year-old, and now that he’s been gelded this preparation he’s been flying. “A couple of things haven’t quite gone his way, but third-up he was bang on and is now on track for the Stradbroke in seven days. “We know what we’re doing with him, he’s going so well that we just stick to the routine. “Provided he pulls up well, we’ll have him in good shape for the race. “He’s a dynamic late bloomer into the race given the form he carries into it, he’s going to be a real X-factor.” James McDonald spoke about the two horses that he qualified for the Stradbroke post-race, on what was a massive day for Australia’s leading jockey. “I’ve qualified two horses for the Straddie today, and can’t get on either of them,” McDonald said. “Both are really good horses for that sort of race, they’re down in the weights and if it’s a fast run race I’m sure they’ll produce the goods. “He exploded and gave me a beautiful feel. “The race panned out perfectly and he’s been promising that sort of performance. He’s a beauty to ride.” “It was a very good performance and it’s difficult to split them, but Yellow Brick at 51 kilos has got to be a really good chance. “He gave me an excellent feel so there’s not much between them, I’ll sit on the fence.” Vilana is now a +1400 chance in the Stradbroke Handicap futures markets with online bookmakers. Horse racing news View the full article

Racing returns to Newmarket's July Course later this month but prior to that John and Thady Gosden took advantage of the fresh turf to give three of their stable's Royal Ascot runners a racecourse gallop on Saturday morning, including the Breeders' Cup victrix Inspiral (GB) (Frankel {GB}). Now five, the Cheveley Park Stud homebred was fourth behind her stable-mate and fellow Thompson family colour-bearer Audience (GB) (Iffraaj {GB}) on her return in the G1 Lockinge S. on May 18. She now looks likely to have another attempt at the G1 Queen Anne S., having been beaten just a neck in that contest last year when second to Triple Time (GB) (Frankel {GB}). Inspiral, who won the G1 Coronation S. at the royal meeting of 2022, also holds an entry for the G1 Prince of Wales's S., along with her work-mate on Saturday morning, Lord North (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}). The pair was joined by Juddmonte's G1 Sun Chariot S. runner-up Laurel (GB) (Kingman {GB}), who has been absent since last year's Lockinge. After watching the trio work over a mile, John Gosden said of Inspiral, who was ridden by Kieran Shoemark and appeared to travel easily alongside Lord North and Rab Havlin, “She's worked well. She'd had a long time off since the Breeders' Cup and she definitely needed her race in the Lockinge. I'm sure it will bring her on a lot.” Of the Lockinge, he said, “I thought Audience did exceptionally well and was ignored. He had a nice track up the middle and she came across, just like she did in the Jacques le Marois when Frankie was riding her. She had to move a long way across from stall one but she picked up well and then just needed the race, definitely in the last furlong and a half. But she's breezed at home and has done a nice piece of work here today and hopefully that will set her up nicely for Ascot.” Inspiral, who was on her toes on arrival at the July Course, will again face Audience if she heads to the Queen Anne on the opening day of Royal Ascot. Gosden added, “She's a big five-year-old mare now and, as you can see, she has a strong mind of her own. Basically you play to her, you don't tell her what to do. “[The Queen Anne] looks the most likely place to be going but she's in both races and we know that a mile or a mile and a quarter are fine for her.” The trainer, who has earlier watched Gold Cup hope Gregory (GB) (Golden Horn {GB}) in action on the gallops on the other side of Newmarket, also confirmed that Lord North will head to the Prince of Wales's S., while Laurel, who was partnered in her work by Kieran O'Neill, is set to return in the G2 Duke of Cambridge S. on the Wednesday of the meeting. He said, “Laurel just slightly needed the work but she'll come on a lot for it. She went back to the farm [after last year's Lockinge] but she worked well today. She just needed the work, the last furlong up the hill, but she has had a good blow and all being well we'll go to the Duke Of Cambridge.” Inspiral (Kieran Shoemark, burgundy cap), Lord North (Rab Havlin, black) and Laurel (Kieran O'Neill, blue) having a pre-@Ascot spin on Newmarket's July Course this morning. pic.twitter.com/nNsmv2bhFb — Emma Berry (@CollingsBerry) June 8, 2024 The post Queen Anne ‘Most Likely’ For Inspiral appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Socks Nation (inside) ridden by Ryan Maloney takes out the Group 1 Queensland Oaks at Eagle Farm. Photo: Darren Winningham Ciaron Maher and Ryan Maloney have combined with Socks Nation to cause a massive boilover in the Group 1 Queensland Oaks at Eagle Farm on Saturday afternoon. Although Maher only had the one runner in the feature race, the daughter of Sioux Nation got under the guard of most, as she was sent around as +12500 outsider with online bookmakers. With most of her rivals running in the key lead-up races and before Saturday’s Oaks, Maher took his filly through a 3YO Open Handicap at Caulfield in April before racing in a Benchmark 72 at Randwick on May 25 in readiness for the 2200m contest. Oceans Of Energy (+25000) speared out of the gates and ran straight to the lead to set up a strong tempo ahead of the eventual winner who settled behind and received an economical run in transit a length away. The race favourites were scattered throughout the field, with Mare Of Mt Buller (+400) in fifth, while Molly Bloom (+550) and Scarlet Oak (+360) settled towards the rear. However, as Oceans Of Energy and Socks Nation turned into the home straight, they had well and truly cleared out from the rest of the field and by the 200m mark, Maloney had a good break at the front. Our Gold Hope (+1700) let down with her finish and looked as though she would run straight past Socks Nation, but the filly found again and held on to win by a long neck on the line, with Miss Jolene (+1800) replicating her Roses run as she finished off strongly to nab third. 2024 Queensland Oaks replay – Socks Nation Ciaron Maher was on course to speak about the win of Socks Nation post-race. “It’s phenomenal, the team has done a super job,” Maher said. “She’s been in work 13 months, this filly, and she just keeps on running really well. “I didn’t tie Ryan down too much with instructions, he’s pretty casual at the best of times. “I was surprised she was that far forward in the run, but it worked out perfectly. “She goes to a lot of locations, she’s been to the beach and sometimes a change is as good as a holiday. “She’s a tough, Kiwi bred filly and they do it time and time again in these races. “She worked well in the week so we didn’t have to do much with her.” Ryan Maloney was ecstatic with the win and he spoke glowingly of Maher, who has supported him throughout his career. “The race couldn’t have panned out any better for me. I was surprised nobody came to put any pressure on us,” Maloney said. “I knew she’d stay and you just can’t rule out any of Ciaron’s horses, even though she was a big price. “He can do it all and it’s great to win my fourth Group 1, especially for Ciaron as he used to put me on his horses when I’d just come out of my time as an apprentice. “You can’t knock her form down south, it was a great training effort. We got all the breaks and she just outstayed them in the end.” “I was confident at the 600 metre mark, when I pressed the button we put a bit of a margin on them. “I didn’t want them to outsprint me so I went a bit earlier than I would’ve done usually. “When Craig came up to me, I thought we might be passed but she was so tough.” Horse racing news View the full article

Apprentice jockey Celine Gaudray produced an inch-perfect front-running ride to land the RDAV Mary Longden Mile (1600m) at Flemington aboard smart three-year-old Rise At Dawn. Trained by Ben, JD and Will Hayes, the son of Almanzor was resuming over a mile following an enforced break and he hung on grimly to win by the barest of margins in a driving finish from the fast-finishing Craig. “I thought he had got beaten so it’s nice the photo went our way this time,” Ben Hayes said. “We had been hoping to get to a Derby with him, but he pulled up a bit sore after the Port Adelaide Guineas (Listed, 1800m) at Morphettville. “He had freshened up really well and to come back and win a race at Flemington is fantastic. “We just thought we’d back off, keep him happy, and he responded really well. “He’s a horse we have to manage and if we turned him out, he could have gone the wrong way, so it’s good to have him bounce back as he’s a horse we’ve always liked. “I think it’s the right time of year for him and he loves wet tracks, even though it wasn’t wet today. “Celine had him nice and relaxed in front and I can’t say she went too early, because she won.” Rise At Dawn made the running and kicked well clear 300m from home and had enough in reserve to post the fourth win of his seven-start career. “I rode him in his last jump-out and was pleased,” winning rider Celine Gaudray said. “We got an easy lead and while he paddled the last bit, he’s done a great job.” Bred by the Smithies family’s Monovale Holdings, Rise At Dawn was purchased by Lindsay Park for A$90,000 at the Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale. He is an older brother of this season’s Gr.3 Taranaki 2YO Classic (1200m) placegetter Kay’s Ruebe with their dam the Listed Newmarket Handicap (1200m) winner and multiple Group One placegetter Kay’s Awake. View the full article