Wandering Eyes

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

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD NEWSLETTER View the full article

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

Imperialist (outer) wins the Listed The Phoenix (1500m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday in impressive fashion. Photo: Grant Peters Trainer Chris Waller has a good opinion of progressive two-year-old Imperialist, who came with a perfectly timed run under James McDonald to claim the Listed The Phoenix (1500m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday in impressive fashion. The New Zealand-bred son of Churchill notched his first win from just three starts and relished the solid tempo of the juvenile feature to close in the manner of a horse that has an exciting Classic season ahead of him. Waller will now ponder whether to push on to next week’s Group 1 J.J. Atkins (1600m) with the talented colt. “James did a great job to weave a path through the field after getting him to settle in the first half of the race. The horse did the rest in the second half,” Waller said. The champion trainer said the Queensland Winter Carnival was a perfect testing ground for late season two-year-olds. “That’s part of the reason why we bring them up here to Queensland. They have a trip away and we see how they cope with the experience, the pressure and how they perform under that type of situation. He’s just a two-year-old and he has got a bright future. “It wasn’t the must-be plan to go to the J.J. Atkins, but on the strength of that win today and depending on the opinion of some form people, we would have to consider it.” Winning Jockey James McDonald was delighted to win for a number of loyal owners, with the horse sporting the colours of prominent Queensland-based Irishman Noel Greenhalgh. “He’s a nice progressive horse and he did a good job out there today. It’s nice to win in these colours again,” McDonald said. “He sprang into life out of the stalls but he’s still pretty new and he did a few things wrong, but he’ll be right.” Horse racing news View the full article

The Listed Eyeliner Stakes (1350m) is on the radar for Fancify. Photo: Bruno Cannatelli A trip to Queensland for a black-type assignment is on the agenda for South Australian galloper Fancify after her win at Flemington. The daughter of Niagara has won three of her past four starts, her last two in Melbourne, after leading throughout in a Benchmark 78 Handicap (1400m) on Saturday. Ridden by Tatum Bull, Fancify ($6) scored a 1.75-length win from Jenny Jerome ($12) with Brazen Lady ($5.50) a short-neck away third. Trainer Michael Hickmott said the Listed Eyeliner Stakes (1350m) at Ipswich on June 22 was on the radar for Fancify, with the mare who was previously owned by Kiwi breeder Trish Dunell recently purchased by Imperial Racing who sponsor the Eyeliner Stakes. “She will fly up for the Eyeliner on Tuesday,” Hickmott said. “(Brother) Rob and I were talking about heading up and he’s got Beltoro potentially going. “Imperial Racing are the sponsor of the Eyeliner Stakes, so it’s been a well thought out plan.” Hickmott said he was approached by Imperial Racing’s racing manager Trevor Lambourne during the week about purchasing the mare. “Unfortunately, we couldn’t have the colours here today, but it’s a fantastic result for the new owners,” Hickmott said. “Tatum and I had a good chat before the race, and I said just roll to the front. “My horses are known for their fitness as we train on the heavy sand at home, and we didn’t want to make it a sit and sprint. “I was hesitant when she was in front as I thought she would win here on Oaks Day last year, but she got run down in the last couple of strides. “But she rode her beautifully today.” After racing in Queensland, Hickmott is hopeful Fancify will return to his base in South Australia to be prepared for a shot at the Melbourne Spring Carnival. Horse racing news View the full article

Princess Rhaenys overcame a wide run to score her fifth career victory. Photo: Grant Peters Well-related mare Princess Rhaenys has overcome a wide run to score the fifth victory of her career when landing a Benchmark 90 Handicap (1800m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday. The Tony Gollan-trained six-year-old was sent out a well-supported $2.90 favourite with James McDonald in the saddle. Sporting the colours of Linda and Graham Huddy’s Peachester Lodge, connections would have been anxious throughout as the mare travelled three-wide throughout, yet still dug deep to defeat Brookhaven by just over half a length at the line. A multiple stakes-performer, including a Group 3 placing in the Pam O’Neill Stakes (1600m), Princess Rhaenys will now get another black-type opportunity when she contests the Listed Tattersall’s Gold Crown (2100m) at Eagle Farm on June 29. “She got caught in an awkward spot and you could see that after they went a couple of hundred metres she wasn’t going to get in, so James just had to take his medicine,” Gollan said. “He was able to get her in a good rhythm and that is what we spoke before the race. “She’s got to relax and get breathing, and give herself a chance to really finish these trips off. We know she’s good over this distance and even further. He would’ve preferred not to be covering that much ground, but in the end it didn’t matter because she was the strongest stayer. “It’s good to get that run under our belt. I spoke to Mrs Huddy at the start of the week about going in this race or the mares race later (Magic Millions National Classic, 1600m) and she was in beautifully in benchmark grade. “The 1800m really sets us up well for the Tatts Gold over 2100 metres on Tatts Tiara Day. She was narrowly beaten in the race last year. She has had a faultless preparation until now and I think she’ll be the mare to beat in three weeks’ time.” Winning jockey James McDonald is confident Princess Rhaenys, a full sister to Derby hero Jon Snow, will relish getting over further. “She was in a comfortable rhythm even though we were trapped wide, so I didn’t want to take her out of it,” McDonald said. “Fortunately we were able to get a bit of cover from the 700m to the 400m, and she showed a good turn of foot at the end. “At least we know she’ll run 2000m-plus, because she probably ran it today!” Horse racing news View the full article

Dan Vegas winning at Ruakaka on Saturday. Photo: Therese Davis (Race Images) Ruakaka trainers Kenny Rae and Krystal Williams unveiled a promising young talent in the Marsden Metals Group 3YO (1400m) on their home track on Saturday afternoon. First-starter Dan Vegas went into the race with eye-catching pedigree credentials, being by Per Incanto out of the Savabeel mare Miss Bluebell – dam of black-type performers Gringotts and Millefiori from her only two foals to race. Miss Bluebell’s dam Operavega is a half-sister to Vegas Showgirl, the stakes-winning dam of the legendary Winx. Dan Vegas had also shown his share of ability at the trials, winning by three and a half lengths in a 1000m heat at Ruakaka on May 1. That was enough to earn him $3 favouritism for Saturday’s debut, and he made a bold first impression in the hands of jockey Jasmine Fawcett. Fawcett was happy to press forward from gate two, and Dan Vegas showed good speed out of the gates to go straight into the lead. He dictated terms from there and then produced a strong kick in the straight, putting himself out of reach of the late-finishing second placegetter Cintivee. Dan Vegas is bred and raced by Little Avondale Stud – home of the gelding’s outstanding sire Per Incanto – in partnership with long-time Rae stable clients Totara Park Stud. “I didn’t really think he could win today, but I was wrong – pleasantly wrong,” Rae said. “It was a great ride by Jasmine. “He’s been a bit of a work in progress and has over-raced in his trials, which had me a bit worried coming into a 1400m race today. But I told Jasmine to just let him run, and hopefully the others might not be able to stop him. He was impressive. “Totara Park have been clients of ours for a long time, and we’ve had this horse in the stable for a while now. He’s had a few issues along the way, but he’s put those issues behind him and has done something today that I didn’t think he could do. “He might come back and race again at the next meeting here (on June 29), although there might be some people interested in buying him after that win.” Horse racing news View the full article

Quality Time winning at Ruakaka on Saturday. Photo: Therese Davis (Race Images) The well-travelled Quality Time recorded his first New Zealand victory with a bold front-running performance in Saturday’s Bream Bay Cup (2100m) at Ruakaka. The six-year-old made an eye-catching New Zealand debut at Te Rapa in early May with a strong-finishing second behind Turn The Ace over 1200m, but he was tripped up by a heavy track second-up at Pukekohe on May 25 and beat only two runners home. Quality Time bounced back brilliantly on Saturday, aided by an outstanding Sam Spratt ride. Spratt drove Quality Time forward from the inside gate and withstood plenty of early pressure to take a clear lead by the time the field turned into the back straight. Spratt was able to give her mount the opportunity to catch his breath through the middle stages of the race, then began to up the ante again coming down the side of the track. Quality Time kicked away and had a big lead coming around the home turn, and the best efforts of the late-finishing Enright and Malfy Rosa only closed that margin to a length at the finish line. Quality Time is trained by Kylie Hoskin for syndicators Go Racing. Hoskin credited Go Racing manager Albert Bosma for coming up with Saturday’s successful tactics. “That was a great win,” Hoskin said. “Albert told me before today’s race that this horse had led and won in Germany earlier in his career, so we had a bit of confidence that those tactics might work here too. “There’s always a bit of a question mark when they’re stepping up over ground for the first time in a preparation, you’re not too sure about their fitness, and he was very fresh today as well. But that was a great effort. “It’s nice prizemoney that he’s won today, and now we can think about coming back here for some of the other meetings coming up. It’ll give him something to do through the winter.” Horse racing news View the full article

Trainer Stephen Nickalls. Photo: Peter Rubery (Race Images Palmerston North) An inch perfect front running ride by Kate Hercock paved the way for former Group 1 performer Chase to return to the winners’ enclosure at Otaki. The seven-year-old son of Zed, who has twice run third at the highest level over the 1600m distance of Saturday’s contest, hadn’t fired in the first three runs of his new campaign however a victory in a 1000m trial at Waverley trial on Tuesday indicated he may have been ready to strike form. With just five rivals and no clear pacemaker, Hercock took the bull by the horns and bounced the Stephen Nickalls-prepared runner to a clear lead and set up the pace on her own terms. Chase was travelling well turning for home and despite being challenged by Kick On out wide and closer in by favourite and eventual runner-up, Bold Belle, he found plenty in the concluding stages to run out a handy two length winner. Nickalls was overjoyed with the victory as he acknowledged he had partially lost his voice after cheering hard as Chase kept his rivals at bay. “I’ve lost my voice, my breath and everything as it’s a hell of a thrill,” Nickalls said. “Kate (Hercock) has made me look like a good trainer with a beautiful ride. “He’s a tryer, but every now and then he just doesn’t want to jump out (from the barriers). At the trials the other day Scrapper (Jonathan Riddell) led on him, and he said try and get him forward. “There was no pace on today and Kate made the right decision by going forward and that was the winning of the race. “I genuinely have no idea where he will be going next, but my daughter will be giving him a big pat tonight and planning the next holiday. “She rides him around the paddock at home and she is only eight. We all just love him to bits.” Hercock was pleased a pre-race plan had played out in her favour. “He’s a bit of an old bludger and has got used to getting back and not doing anything,” she said. “I said to Stephen there is no speed and he said I will leave it all to you. It’s lovely to ride for people like Stephen as he just leaves it in our hands. “He (Chase) really dug deep today and is hard to get past. He only had 54kgs and he hasn’t carried that for quite some time.” Horse racing news View the full article

Malt Time winning at Ruakaka on Saturday. Photo: Therese Davis (Race Images) Quality mare Malt Time showed her undoubted class when she blitzed her rivals in the closing stages of the feature event at Ruakaka on Saturday, the Bream Bay Sprint (1400m). The Shaun and Emma Clotworthy-trained mare was having her second run in a new campaign and stripped a lot fitter after finishing fifth first up over 1300m at Te Rapa last month. Ridden by apprentice Ace Lawson-Carroll, who reduced her 59kgs impost down to 57kgs with his 2kg apprentice allowance, the multiple Group 1 placegetter lobbed along nicely at the rear of the nine-horse field as Side Eye and Trigon Lad disputed a solid pace throughout. Approaching the home bend, it was evident that Malt Time was travelling better than her rivals and when Lawson-Carroll found a gap three off the fence at the 300m she exploded clear to put the final result beyond doubt, winning under a hold by nearly six lengths from Trigon Lad and local runner Chevron who fought out the minor placings. It was mission accomplished for Shaun Clotworthy as he and Emma work out the next mission for the daughter of former Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m) winner Adelaide. “It was a good effort and getting back on a bit better surface helped,” Clotworthy said. “Ace rode her a treat as they were in a tricky position early on, but he didn’t panic and has nice hands which saw her get a good run through them. “He has nice balance and he really gets on with her which is half the battle. “She will probably have just one more race which could be the Tauranga Classic (Listed, 1400m) or she might come back up here for the ITM/GIB Sprinter’s Final (1400m) on the 13th of July. “After that she will have a week or two out and then we will get her ready for the Spring.” A beaming Lawson-Carroll was quick to admit he got a buzz out of the rapid finish from his mount. “That felt good and fast too,” he said. “It’s half the job to get her to settle and she did that well today. I saw Chevron making his run near the 600m and I waited and got the run inside of him and she let down really well. “The track seems to be shifting a little bit but if you are patient enough you get the run you want.” Horse racing news View the full article