Wandering Eyes

By Dave Di Somma, Harness News desk Red Rackham has started October the way he finished September – and that’s by winning at Cambridge on a Tuesday. The Vincent gelding has turned into a midweek marvel, winning five times there in his past six starts. The only time he didn’t win he was second. Fittingly his success last came in the Dunstan Horsefeeds Tuesday Pacers Final Mobile Pace while the Stephen Doody-trained Sweet Olivia took out the Garrards Horse and Hound Tuesday Trotters Final. The finals were eligible to horses that had had at least two starts at Cambridge since August 1. Both races had stakes of $12,500 and were penalty free to the winner. For all his success the Arna Donnelly-trained Red Rackham still paid $11.40 for the win. “He’s gained a lot of confidence from these Tuesday meetings and he’s racing in a great vein of form,” says Donnelly. Last night Red Rackham was driven for the first time by in-form junior driver Harrison Orange. Drawn seven over 1700 metres, Orange took the four-year-old to the front, as is his usual racing style, and he was looking good turning for home, only to veer out over the concluding stages. Precious Bet looked to actually get his head in front before Red Rackham rallied to win by three quarters of a length. “Once he gets in front he feels pretty big and brave and that’s where he seems to be winning his races,” says Donnelly. Before he started racing at Cambridge on a Tuesday on August 6 he had been winless in his first 12 starts, with his best effort being a second at Alexandra Park in July last year. “He’s found his spot,” says Donnelly. Now Red Rackham has a very handy career record of five wins from 18 starts and earnings of just over $33K. It’s just reward for breeder Bee Pears and owner Kym Kearns. When the horse was sent to Donnelly he had a major health scare. “He pulled a shoe about this time last year and he ended up having surgery because the infection went right up his foot nearly to the pedal bone.” “Kym stuck by him and went ahead with that (surgery) so it’s nice he’s repaid her this way.” Nicknamed after Red Rackham, the pirate captain in The Adventures of Tintin, the horse’s debut run was a sixth at Cambridge in May 2023. Donnelly is still working out where to next for the Cambridge specialist and he may yet be tried again at Alexandra Park. “He’ll be a nice Country Cups horse later in the piece so whether we trek down to Manawatu for some of those Cups later on but the way he’s racing he’s low enough rated (R56) to probably be competitive again at Auckland.” “So it would be nice to spin him around and see how he goes.” View the full article

By Adam Hamilton Classy Kiwi filly Coastal Babe has grabbed favouritism for the Group 1 Victoria Oaks. The absence of Australia’s best filly, Very Pretty, combined with a gun draw in Saturday night’s heat, has Coastal Babe into $1.80 to win the final a week later. Coastal Babe has won five of 12 NZ starts and is raced by the Summit Bloodstock team, who has a strong relationship with champion Aussie trainer Emma Stewart. Coastal Babe has been based with Stewart for a couple of weeks and should use her quick early speed to lead from gate two in Saturday night’s Oaks heat. The other Kiwi flavour in the series is Queensland Oaks winner Aardie B Miki, who will challenge for favouritism in the other Victoria Oaks heat. The Chantal Turpin-trained filly has the speed to take advantage of gate five, but has four talented Emma Stewart-trained fillies to overcome, headed by another former Kiwi, Kiss, from gate one. Stewart also holds the key to the Victoria Derby heats with nine runners across the two heats. The standout is Bay Of Biscay, who turned heads with a slashing and unlucky second in the TAB Eureka at his latest run. He is a hot favourite to win heat two from gate four. X X X New Zealand-bound trotting filly Keayang Zahara should stretch her unbeaten record to eight races in the $50,000 Need For Speed final at Melton on Saturday night. Excitingly, Kiwis will get to see the Marg Lee-trained filly in the $500,000 The Ascent at Addington on November 15. Keayang Zahara, who has been posting open-class trotting times, has the Victoria Oaks and possibly the Victoria Trotters’ Derby to come before crossing the ditch. X X X Over in Perth, former NZ Oaks winner Aardiebytheseaside will be chasing her seventh win from as many starts in WA when she tackles a mares’ free-for-all at Gloucester Park on Friday night. Team Bond think so much of the mare, they are setting her to take on the boys in the $450,000 Group 1 WA Pacing Cup on November 8. That race has been weakened this week by news stars Catch A Wave and Never Ending won’t be running. Catch A Wave is staying in Victoria and will then chase the Sydney Inter Dominion. While a lack of flights has left Never Ending stranded in Sydney since contesting the TAB Eureka on September 7. On the same card, star WA filly Water Lou, who boasts 21 wins from 27 starts, will be a hot favourite in the $150,000 Group 1 WA Oaks. View the full article

THE ASCENT and THE VELOCITY are the brand new $500,000 slot races that will be a big part of the Show Day Twilight race meeting at Addington Raceway on Friday, November 15. The slots for the two races for the three-year-old trotters and pacers were snapped up in quick time – so who are the people behind the names? Over the next few weeks we will profile many of the slot holders. Today is Diane Reilly By Adam Hamilton Hugely successful Aussie owner Diane Reilly (pictured above, second from left) has won an Inter Dominion and now she’s got her sights set on a huge new New Zealand race. Reilly, who owned 2022 Melbourne Inter Dominion winner I Cast Now Shadow, is excited to be one of the foundation slot owners in the inaugural $500,000 The Velocity, to be run at the Show Day Twilight meeting on Friday, November 1. “I love New Zealand harness racing, especially Addington in Cup Week,” the Queensland-based Reilly said. “I went to my first NZ Cup about 12 years ago with (the late) Bob McArdle and he showed me what a great week it was, including trips to Ashburton and everything that’s special about the busy week. “I was hooked. I think I’ve been to Cup Week eight times now and I’ll certainly be back this year.” Reilly said the experience with her current best horse, outstanding three-year-old Bay Of Biscay, fuelled her interest in taking a slot in The Velocity. “I was on the other side of the fence with Bay Of Biscay as a part-owner and we went through the slot process for the Eureka. We partnered with Kevin Seymour and it was a great experience, so I thought why not take a slot in The Velocity?” The Emma Stewart-trained Bay Of Biscay finished a luckless second in the Eureka. Despite being a three-year-old pacer, which The Velocity is restricted to, Reilly said Bay Of Biscay would not be a runner in NZ. “No, he’s had a big year already and Emma (Stewart) doesn’t want to take him away from home again. He’s been to Queensland and Sydney and he’s got the Victoria Derby at Melton next month,” she said. “But I’m involved with a couple of other nice three-year-olds based in NZ, including Hezasweetie and Dawson with Barry Purdon, who will get their chance to show if they’re good enough to fill my slot. “If not, I’ve had a few calls from owners of other horses wanting to talk about my slot. “I’m in no rush to decide.” The 83-year-old Reilly says she likes the immediacy of the slot racing concept. “When you’re my age you can’t buy yearlings and wait two years to see if they’re any good,” she laughed. “I’m excited to be part of this race and hopefully I can have a runner who gives it a big shake.” To see the profile of The Pukekohe Punter click here To see the profile of Peter and Janet Argus click here View the full article

The penultimate heat of the Silk Road Northern Spring Series for the Fillies and Mares will be held at Alexandra Park on Friday night. So far there have been three heats, with the first two in each automatically qualifying for the $30,000 Final on Friday, October 18. Those six are Wicked Wanda, Mhai Surfer Girl, Courtney Rose, Always B Stunning , You Little Beauty and Cyren Shard. The series, in its first year, is all about encouraging and rewarding intermediate grade (up to R54) fillies and mares to race at Alexandra Park as part of the Look North strategy to revitalise racing in and around Auckland. The heats so far : Heat 1, September 13 – You Little Beauty, Cyren Shard, Kourtney Kardash Heat 2, September 21 – Courtney Rose, Akatea, Always B Stunning Heat 3, September 27 – Wicked Wanda, Mhai Surfer Girl, Minjee Following the fourth heat this Friday, the final heat will be held on October 11, ahead of the final the following week. Comprising 12 horses, the final will be penalty free for any horse winning both a heat and the final. The meeting on October 18 will not only see the $30,000 final of the Silk Road Northern Spring Series for the Fillies and Mares but also the start of the next Northern Metro Series for the Pacers and Trotters. There will be two $16,000 heats for both gaits on that night, before two $35,000 finals on October 25. All horses racing in both series will be eligible for the new $1m Golden Gait series. The series on December 20 features 10 races, each worth $100,000 – with five pacing and five trotting races, all over a mile. Three-year-old and older horses have to have raced at least six times at Alexandra Park in the qualifying period (January 1 – December 6) while 2YO horses most have a minimum of four starts. To see the fields click here View the full article

Dexter Dunn on fire in the US, Kypros Kotzikas into the Hall of Fame, the NZ Sires’ Stakes latest podcast and Methven gearing up for its biggest race day all feature in this week’s News Briefs. Dexter Dunn goes No 1 in USA Dexter Dunn’s amazing run of success in North America has continued with six more wins at Ohio over the weekend. The former Kiwi champion driver dominated the card with a clean sweep of the four Dayton Derbies. His stellar day was spearheaded by Twin B Joe Fresh, who he co-owns, who won by more than four lengths in a track record 1:48.6. The other winners on the day were Jiggy Jog S, Logan Park, Abuckabett Hanover, Odds on Hialeah and Odds On Chesapeake. Dunn is now the highest earning driver in the USA in 2024 with total stakes of $11.6m and 249 wins. In the last week he has overtaken Yannick Gingras at the top. He is second on 11.1m and 326 wins. Dunn is a four-time Driver of the Year in the USA after first making the move from New Zealand in 2018. Kotzikas into Hall of Fame High profile harness racing figure Kypros Kotzikas has been inducted into the Addington Hall of Fame. Among his most notable achievements as an owner was winning the country’s most prestigious pacing and trotting features. He won the IRT New Zealand Trotting Cup with Iraklis in 1997 and the Dominion Trot twice with Master Lavros in 2013 and 2015. He was the first owner to do the double since Allan Holmes in the 1950s. The Lavros and Lavra horses have been his trademark for decades. He has also been a big advocate for Life After Racing for retired horses and is a supporter of the Horse Ambulance Trust. Latest Sires’ Stakes podcast The latest NZ Sires’ Stakes Podcast is out. Hosted by Sheldon Murtha and Martin Pierson, the podcast is the third in their current series and focuses on breeding. It explores different aspects including rock star overseas vs New Zealand stallions, and different theories around spending your stud fee budget. To hear the podcast click here Aussie trotters target Cup week Haras des Trotteurs principal Pat Driscoll is preparing for a two-pronged attack on Addington in November with Callmethebreeze targeting the $400,000 Renwick Farms Dominion Trot on Tuesday, November 12 and I’m Ready Jet eyeing up the $100,000 Group 1 NZ Trotting Free For All as part of the new look Show Day Twilight races three days later. Callmethebreeze scored a big win in the Kilmore Trotters Cup for his third win in a row since joining Andy Gath’s stable six weeks ago and is a $3 second favourite for the Dominion behind fellow Aussie champ Just Believe. $4000 prize at Cambridge The Framptons are having a good spell of success at Cambridge on a Tuesday. Last night the Rodney Frampton-trained Whitfield won the MVS Neo Natal ICU Mobile Pace and last week wife Paula won $4000 as part of the Trot in to Tuesdays promotion. To enter all racegoers had to do was buy a drink or some food on course and they would go into a weekly $250 draw. Then after four weeks the grand draw was made with the winner walking away with $4000. Three southern wins at Addington Southland certainly made its presence felt at Addington last Friday with three big wins. Trained by Craig Ferguson at Wyndham, Wag Star cleared out by 15 lengths in the Commodore Hotel For Your Cup Week Accommodation Mobile Pace, Kirstin Green trained and drove Fiery Bandito to win the Airpark Canterbury Handicap Trot at double figure odds ($12.30) and then Winton’s Trevor Proctor and his Canterbury-based caretaker trainer Mark Jones produced the impressive Tact McLeod to win the Lamb and Hayward Canterbury Classic by over a length, paying $16.20. Tact McLeod was the first Southland horse to win the Canterbury Classic since Prince Rashad in 1996. Assured now of a start in the IRT New Zealand Trotting Cup, Tact McLeod’s next start is likely to be the Kaikoura Cup. Club News : Methven The Methven Trotting Club is gearing up for its big meeting for the year this Sunday. The feature races are the $40,000 Lazarus Methven Cup over 3,000m for the open class pacers and the $25,000 What The Hill Fillies and Mares Trotting Classic (2400m). The track has blossomed over the last month and is certain to be in top order thanks to Laurence Hanrahan, track man Neil Burton and the hard working track committee. The club will also combine with the Canterbury Owner’s association for a complimentary BBQ, late in the day for trainers, stablehands and connections, thanks to Nigel and Brenda Armstrong. Another highlight will be the Entain Methven Punter of the Year. There’ll be prizes up to the value of $5,000, entry fee is $600 (for a team up to four people). Part of the winning prize is a free entry to Addington’s upcoming punting contest. Entry to manager@methventrottinglub or on the day prior to race 1. The competition will be run over the final 10 races on the day meaning that the minimum bet per race will be $60. All entrants will receive a food and beverage voucher each and the event will be hosted in Methven’s Old Tote Building where the TAB will have dedicated windows exclusive to entrants only. View the full article

Check out this week’s The Box Seat with Matt Cross and Greg O’Connor. View the full article

Two races, one at Addington and one in Kilmore in Australia, have had a big bearing on the latest rankings for the IRT New Zealand Trotting Cup at Addington Raceway on Tuesday, November 12. The first three from Friday’s Group 2 Lamb and Hayward Canterbury Classic were always going to gain automatic qualification for the Cup, with Tact McLeod, Franco Marek and Alta Meteor duly doing the business. Before the win Tact McLeod was 30th in last week’s rankings while Franco Marek was 24th and Alta Meteor 13th. With that trio confirmed in the field, along with Leap To Fame, Better Eclipse and Dalton Shard, there has been a shuffling further down the leaderboard. For instance Merlin has gone from fourth to seventh. One big mover is Australian Major Moth. He has gone from 28th to 15th and inside the cut-off after winning the Kilmore Cup in Victoria on Saturday night. He was part of a Jason Grimson-trained quinella along with District Attorney, who is now right behind him at 16th in the rankings. Tellingly both beat Auckland Cup winner Better Eclipse, who finished third. Grimson is gunning for back to back IRT New Zealand Trotting Cups following Swayzee’s victory last year, and it was Major Moth’s fourth win from five starts under his care. Major Moth and District Attorney will now head to the $300,000 Group 1 Victoria Cup on October 12. The rankings for the Renwick Farms Dominion Trot are largely unchanged from last week, though Australian trotter Callmethebreeze moves up one spot, to fourth after also winning at Kilmore on Saturday night. The Great Southern Star winner thrashed his rivals in the Group 3 Trotters Cup. And moving ever closer is southern trotter Fiery Bandito. He has improved six places to 20th following his win in the Airpark Canterbury Handicap Trot at Addington on Friday night. The final rankings for both the IRT New Zealand Trotting Cup and the Renwick Farms Dominion Trot will be decided following Kaikoura’s meeting on Monday, November 4. View the Rankings here View the full article

Harness Racing New Zealand’s Blue September campaign is over for another year, with the total raised in excess of $40,000. Following the month’s final race meeting at Timaru on Sunday it’s estimated the final figure will be around $41,000, at least $7000 higher than last year. Money was raised every time one of the 12 Blue September ambassadors won a race during the month, with contributions coming from HRNZ ($100 per win), clubs and the drivers’ individual sponsors. The country’s leading driver Blair Orange led the way with 24 wins in September, raising $8200. Driver Breakdown (with their individual sponsors) : Blair Orange – Friday Night Lights and Margo Nyhan Racing – 24 wins, $8200 Tony Cameron – Steve Blake, Christine Montagna, Marten Bakker Timbers, Strike Won Racing, StructureMaxx, Jeremy Young Racing, Ray White Tuakau – 4 wins, $5800 Matty Williamson – Wayne Spanjer, Total Lawn Care Company Ltd, Robin and Geraldine Wilson, Ken Johnston, Tony Crofts, Andrew Fry, Matthew and Charlotte Williamson, Bruce and Colleen Negus, Sumo Hand, Luke Whittaker Racing, Steven Clarkson, MarQue, Scott Elliffe, Brian Ferns – 9 wins, $5600 Robbie Close – Keast Racing, Equine Products NZ Ltd, Cavalier Trotting Products, Megan Swain Racing, Mick Hand, SMARCK Family, Any Excuse Syndicate, The Dumpster Syndicate, Graham Hand, Bee Buzz Apiaries Ltd, Waiuku Mitre 10, John and Christine McDermott, Executive Decision, Paul Hogan – 3 wins, $4591 Nathan Williamson – Brendon Franks Farrier, P & L Ltd, Peter Lagan Standardbreds, Stalker Vets Mossburn, Phillips Horse Transport, Williamson Racing Ltd, Goodman Plumbing – 6 wins, $3870 Sam Thornley – East West Fencing Ltd, Leisa Thomas, MWS Vehicle Testing LTD, AGF Builders, Hugo Trust – 3 wins, $3610 Jonny Cox – Matt Markham, Advance Properties, N40 Racing, Total Lawn Care Company Ltd – 3 wins, $2535 Henry Sail – Matt Purvis Racing, Ben Hope Racing, The Kaik Tavern, Julie Sail, Kelvin Home Holdings Ltd, Murray and Deb – 1 win, $550 Benjamin Butcher – Lyndon Jones Electrical – No wins, $500 Rory McIlwrick – Tania Kettle, J and R Painters, Tyler Dewe Racing Stables – 1 win, $500 Dylan Ferguson – Ferguson Racing Stables, FM Maintenance, No wins. Zev Meredith – Tania Kettle, The Clubhouse, Derek Balle Racing Stables, Betavet, Tim Vince, Cambridge Grain, Arna Donnelly Harness Racing, Logan Ropiha Farrier, Bluey Barber, Brent Donnelly, Superior Cabins – No wins Many individuals also contributed to the cause though donations or at fund-raising events throughout the month and HRNZ would like to thank everyone for their generosity. We would also like to thank the ambassadors and their sponsors for their support – without them there is no Blue September. Let’s go even bigger and better in 2025. View the full article

By Jonny Turner Tom Kilkelly hasn’t lost any of his enthusiasm for harness racing after putting 200 wins on the board as an owner. The Invercargill breeder-owner, former trainer and longtime industry sponsor (pictured above, second from right) reached the milestone in grand style when his promising trotter Fiery Bandito ran to a big win in the Airpark Canterbury Trot at Addington on Friday night. The victory continued an incredible ride for Kilkelly whose interest in the sport goes back to his teenage years, before he first started racing horses in Southland in the 1980s. When looking back, the passionate harness racing supporter feels it’s important to focus on the great thrills he has enjoyed in the sport. “You have to try and focus on the positives with them, you can have a few disappointments along the way but when you look back on it all you think of all the positives.” Kilkelly takes the same approach when thinking back on the career of one of his best horses in U May Cullect. The brilliant but injury-plagued pacer caught the imagination of harness racing fans with a string of brilliant victories to begin his short career. “We bought him for $5000 and the best thing was Southland got behind him.” “You look back and you think about what could have been but you have to think of the positives and the amazing amount of fun we had with him.” Kilkelly counts his 200 wins as horses that have passed through his property, which these days is operated by Kirstin Green. The tally is made up mostly of horses Kilkelly has bred and owned, with many raced with his wife Julie and other family members. After tasting more success than some owners dream of, the southern stalwart hasn’t lost any passion for the industry. “We have made the decision to breed from seven broodmares this season.” “It is hard not to be positive with what is happening in the game at the moment.” Kilkelly rates the recently retired Smokin Bandar as another of his best horses. The trotter succumbed to injury almost a year after running second in the Group 1 Renwick Farms Dominion Trot at Addington. But only a matter of days after he bowed out, his not-so-little half-brother The Fiery Bandito put his hand up to be a Dominion threat. “I don’t think that run will get him to the Dominion, but he is going to stay up in Christchurch for a couple of weeks and he will get his chance to qualify.” Just a day prior to Fiery Bandito’s big win another sibling in Burning Love won easily at Gore, continuing the outstanding record of Kilkelly’s broodmare The Fiery Filly. Though there are dozens of other winners to look back on, one of Kilkellly’s horses that southern harness racing fans may remember fondly is Guns N Roses. The pacer was brilliant at his best though punters never knew what sort of frame of mind the horse would turn up in. “He was a fantastic horse, I remember Dave McDonald would say ‘Here comes Guns N Roses’.” “Some weeks he would front up and others he wouldn’t, he was a bit different.” “But he had a brilliant turn of foot.” Kilkelly has more to look forward to this week with Fiery Bandito back on the Dominion trail at Addington on Thursday night and Burning Love stepping out at Wyndham on Friday. View the full article

What 2024 Epsom Handicap Where Royal Randwick – Sydney, NSW When Saturday, October 5, 2024 Prizemoney $1,500,000 Distance 1600m Conditions Handicap 2023 winner Rediener (2) | T: Chris Waller | J: Kathy O’Hara (50kg) Visit Dabble The Group 1 Epsom Handicap (1600m) headlines the action at Randwick on Saturday afternoon, with a star-studded field of 20 set to battle it out for the $1.5 million prize. The Chris Waller barn will be represented with a strong hand once again, with seven runners engaged in this year’s edition, including Rediener looking for back-to-back wins in this race after securing victory 12 months ago. There are plenty of form-lines to dissect heading into the 2024 Epsom Handicap; will it be another low-weighted chance claiming victory? Or can something at the top of the weights stick on to secure Group 1 glory in one of the great Australian handicaps. 2024 Epsom Handicap odds After a dominant Australian debut victory in the Group 2 Tramway Stakes (1400m), Royal Patronage has been installed as the $5.50 favourite for the 2024 Epsom Handicap. Kovalica has been well-supported on the second line of betting at $7.00, while Ceolwulf ($7.50) has plenty of admirers dropping back in trip after suffering defeat at the hands of Eliyass in the Group 3 Kingston Town Stakes (2000m). Double-figure odds are available for every other runner, including the likes of Major Beel ($10.00), Tom Kitten ($13.00) and My Oberon ($16.00) all garnering some early support in betting. 2024 Epsom Handicap speed map Punters can expect a genuine tempo in this year’s Epsom, with the Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott-trained Major Beel likely to storm across to the lead from barrier nine. Stable companion Royal Patronage (17) will have no choice but to be ridden forward from the awkward draw, while Kovalica should get the back of the leading pair from stall one. Arctic Glamour (6), Chrysaor (5), Berkshire Shadow (8) and Kintyre (7) should be chasing from the mid-field pack, while the likes of Tom Kitten (19), My Oberon (21), and Ceolwulf (14) will be ridden quietly in search of cover in the early stages. With so many low-weighted chances, don’t be surprised if we see some mid-race moves, with some horses unlikely to gain cover in the 20-horse field. Continue reading for HorseBetting’s top selections and $100 betting strategy for the 2024 Epsom Handicap. Recommended! The Better Bettors! Australian-owned and operated bookmaker! Join MarantelliBet 18+ Gamble Responsibly. THINK. IS THIS A BET YOU REALLY WANT TO PLACE? Epsom Handicap 2024 preview & form The 2024 Epsom is a wide-open edition, and punters should be willing to take on some of the well-supported runners with a couple at big odds with horse racing bookmakers. Arctic Glamour gets the verdict as she heads into this on the one-week backup, closing gallantly on the worst part of the track in the Group 2 Golden Pendant (1400m) at Rosehill last Saturday. She was excellent in the Tramway Stakes the start prior, and she gets in on the minimum of 50kg under handicap conditions. Gate six should allow Andrew Adkins to sit in the ultimate stalking position throughout the journey, and with the daughter of Frosted possessing a lethal turn-of-foot, Arctic Glamour warrants plenty of respect in the 2024 Epsom Handicap. The Ciaron Maher-trained Nugget continues to get overlooked in these Group 1 handicaps, with the seven-year-old representing terrific value. The Siyouni gelding simply doesn’t know how to run a bad race, including a luckless effort in the Group 1 Doncaster Mile (1600m) at this course and distance in the autumn. He got a pass mark first-up in the Tramway Stakes heading into this, and although he isn’t as well-weighted against some key rivals, Nugget will give another bold showing amongst Group 1 company. My Oberon needs to carry top-weight for a reason. He’s a proven weight-for-age galloper, only finding one better in the form of Fangirl in his most recent effort at this course and distance in the 7 Stakes (1600m) on September 21. Nash Rawiller will have it all to do from barrier 21; however, if My Oberon has any luck in transit, the double-figure odds available are simply too good to pass up. Kovalica, Royal Patronage and Ceolwulf all have strong claims but have been well-found now. Let’s hope they’re only fighting for minor money in what appears to be an outstanding renewal of the Epsom Handicap. Epsom Handicap 2024 selections & best bets Selections: 15 ARCTIC GLAMOUR 8 NUGGET 1 MY OBERON 4 KOVALICA $100 betting strategy $50 Win Arctic Glamour (#15) @ +2200 with Neds $25 Win Nugget (#8) @ +2500 with Playup $25 Win My Oberon (#1) @ +1500 with Picklebet Epsom Handicap 2024 final field 1. My Oberon (21) T: Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald J: Nash Rawiller W: 56.5kg F: 20×03 Age: 8YO Colour: Bay Sex: Gelding Sire: Dubawi (IRE) Dam: My Titania (IRE) +1500 +320 2. Royal Patronage (17) T: Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott J: Tim Clark W: 56kg F: 31×45 Age: 6YO Colour: Bay Sex: Horse Sire: Wootton Bassett (GB) Dam: Shaloushka (IRE) +500 +130 3. Detonator Jack (16) T: Ciaron Maher J: Jason Collett W: 56kg F: 45×82 Age: 6YO Colour: Brown Sex: Gelding Sire: Jakkalberry (IRE) Dam: Red Delicious (NZ) +1900 +375 4. Kovalica (1) T: Chris Waller J: James McDonald W: 55.5kg F: 3×563 Age: 5YO Colour: Bay Sex: Gelding Sire: Ocean Park (NZ) Dam: Vitesse (NZ) +650 +175 5. Rediener (12) T: Chris Waller J: Joshua Parr W: 55.5kg F: 4×011 Age: 5YO Colour: Bay Sex: Gelding Sire: Redoute’s Choice Dam: Wiener +3000 +525 6. Democracy Manifest (10) T: Chris Waller J: Kerrin McEvoy W: 55kg F: 04×81 Age: 6YO Colour: Bay Sex: Gelding Sire: Flying Artie Dam: Slippery Satin +1400 +300 7. Ceolwulf (14) T: Joseph Pride J: Chad Schofield W: 54kg F: 216×8 Age: 4YO Colour: Brown Sex: Gelding Sire: Tavistock (NZ) Dam: Las Brisas (GB) +600 +150 8. Nugget (11) T: Ciaron Maher J: Dylan Gibbons W: 54kg F: 8×704 Age: 8YO Colour: Bay Sex: Gelding Sire: Siyouni (FR) Dam: Gemstone (IRE) +2200 +425 9. Tom Kitten (19) T: James Cummings J: Tommy Berry W: 54kg F: 51×46 Age: 4YO Colour: Bay Sex: Gelding Sire: Harry Angel (IRE) Dam: Transfers +1400 +300 10. Berkshire Shadow (8) T: Ciaron Maher J: Ashley Morgan W: 53kg F: 36×98 Age: 6YO Colour: Grey Sex: Gelding Sire: Dark Angel (IRE) Dam: Angel Vision (IRE) +2200 +425 11. Loch Eagle (18) T: Kris Lees J: Jay Ford W: 52.5kg F: 806×0 Age: 6YO Colour: Brown Sex: Gelding Sire: Lonhro Dam: Song Street (IRE) +1400 +300 12. Major Beel (9) T: Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott J: Winona Costin W: 51.5kg F: 51×04 Age: 5YO Colour: Brown Sex: Gelding Sire: Savabeel Dam: Gram (NZ) +900 +210 13. Chrysaor (5) T: Chris Waller J: Craig Williams W: 51.5kg F: 1×667 Age: 4YO Colour: Brown Sex: Gelding Sire: Better Than Ready Dam: New Wings +1400 +300 14. Molly Bloom (3) T: Chris Waller J: Zac Lloyd W: 50.5kg F: 0x852 Age: 4YO Colour: Bay Sex: Mare Sire: Ace High Dam: Dancilla (NZ) +8000 +1275 15. Arctic Glamour (6) T: Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou J: Andrew Adkins W: 50kg F: 372×0 Age: 4YO Colour: Bay Sex: Mare Sire: Frosted (USA) Dam: Fartoo Flashy +1900 +375 16. Mchale (15) T: Chris Waller J: Rachel King W: 50kg F: 1×304 Age: 4YO Colour: Bay Sex: Gelding Sire: Shooting to Win Dam: Xaar’s Jewel +1900 +350 17. Ausbred Flirt (2) T: Brad Widdup J: TBC W: 50kg F: 5×629 Age: 6YO Colour: Bay Sex: Mare Sire: Maurice (JPN) Dam: Seven Year Itch +8000 +1300 18. Kintyre (7) T: Gary Portelli J: Cejay Graham W: 50kg F: 45×31 Age: 4YO Colour: Bay Sex: Gelding Sire: Hallowed Crown Dam: Mull Over +2200 +425 19. Firestorm (13) T: Chris Waller J: Mark Du Plessis W: 50kg F: 11×03 Age: 4YO Colour: Bay Sex: Mare Sire: Satono Aladdin (JPN) Dam: Dancing Embers (NZ) +5000 +850 20. Galeron (4) T: Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald J: Alysha Collett W: 50kg F: 32665 Age: 5YO Colour: Bay Sex: Gelding Sire: Camacho (GB) Dam: Society Gal (IRE) +9000 +1450 21. Floating (1E) (20) T: Matthew Smith J: Reece Jones W: 50kg F: 159×4 Age: 6YO Colour: Grey Sex: Gelding Sire: Puissance de Lune (IRE) Dam: Goujon +4500 +800 Horse racing tips View the full article

What Kembla Grange Races Where Kembla Grange Racecourse – Princes Hwy, Kembla Grange NSW 2526 When Thursday, October 3, 2024 First Race 1pm AEST Visit Dabble NSW racing heads to Kembla Grange on Thursday afternoon, with the Illawarra track playing host to a bumper eight-part program featuring 122 acceptors. Although the track was rated a Heavy 8 at the time of acceptances, this week’s forecast suggests a possible upgrade into the Soft range. The rail will be out +6m the whole way around, and the opening event is set to get underway at 1pm local time. Best Bet at Kembla Grange: Copacabana Copacabana was edged out by Cristal Clear at Hawkesbury on September 12 but appears perfectly placed to turn the tables. The son of Toronado was unsuited by a slow tempo in a small field, only warming into his work as they passed the post. He gets a 2kg swing in the weights this time around, and with a genuine tempo expected in this 1600m contest, Copacabana should be much stronger as he searches for his second career victory. Best Bet Race 2 – #1 Copacabana (5) 4yo Gelding | T: Michael, John & Wayne Hawkes | J: Tommy Berry (60kg) Bet with Neds Next Best at Kembla Grange: Idolised Idolised got a pass mark on debut at this course and distance on September 14. The daughter of Zoustar couldn’t sustain her run in the final furlong but did a good job to cling onto the minor money under Alysha Collett. She will be looking to adopt similar tactics in this 1200m contest, and provided she can get a softer time up on speed, watch for Idolised to boot clear late. Next Best Race 5 – #7 Idolised (3) 3yo Filly | T: Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald | J: Alysha Collett (56.5kg) Bet with Picklebet Best Value at Rosehill: Fiftyfivechevy After an impressive performance at Muswellbrook on September 10, Fiftyfivechevy is searching for back-to-back wins. The progressive three-year-old by Puissance De Lune appreciated every inch of the 1500m second-up and should relish getting out to the 2000m third-up. While this is his toughest task to date, Fiftyfivechevy draws well in gate five and looks set to jump at a solid each-way price with top horse racing bookmakers. Best Value Race 3 – #9 Fiftyfivechevy (5) 3yo Gelding | T: Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald | J: Heavelon Van Der Hoven (55kg) Bet with Dabble Kembla Grange Thursday quaddie tips Kembla Grange quadrella selections Thursday, October 3, 2024 1-4-7 1-4-5-6-7-8-9 3-4-5-8-11 1-5-6-8-11 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip Horse racing tips View the full article

Robbie Patterson had his sights set on the Gr.1 Livamol Classic (2040m) for One Bold Cat (NZ) (The Bold One), but the gelding showed he can be just as impressive at a mile with a powerful victory in Wednesday’s Gr.1 Arrowfield Stud Plate (1600m) at Matamata. One Bold Cat burst onto the scene with a decisive win in the Gr.3 Counties Cup (2100m) last November, and he continued to feature prominently in the top-flight staying contests, placing behind Legarto and Campionessa in the Gr.1 Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m). Returning as a six-year-old, the son of The Bold One showed positive signs finishing into third over 1200m in August before a string of abandonments, firstly at New Plymouth and then last Saturday’s Arrowfield meeting at Hastings. Patterson was hopeful his work behind the scenes would prove enough to feature in the Group One contest. Any question of that was firmly put to rest, with One Bold Cat jumping positively from barrier four before settling in the second half of the field under Ryan Elliot. As the field turned for home, $2.90 race favourite Skew Wiff pounced to the lead and maintained that position for much of the home straight, before the bounding strides of One Bold Cat came chasing and caught the mare just short of the line, with the final margin a long head. South Islanders Matscot and Lightning Jack, who paid $41 and $77 respectively on the tote, put in huge performances to fill the first four, less than a length behind One Bold Cat. 25-year-old Elliot collected his 12th Group One victory in the race, but admitted he hadn’t been full of confidence during the mid-stages. “I don’t really know the horse but he’s such a laidback character that I was thinking bloody hell, but he tracked up beautifully and we got the right split. To pick up that horse (Skew Wiff), it was a good effort,” Elliot said. “It’s a credit to Robbie Patterson, he travels the horses to Hastings and he’s had to travel back up here to Matamata, it shows the training effort that goes into these horses to be able to cop the trip, then come out and do that. “He’s going to step-up and go from there, but hopefully Gryllsy (Craig Grylls) doesn’t pop on and Robbie keeps me on (for the Livamol).” New Plymouth-based Patterson had an outstanding 2023/24 season, earning him a nomination for Trainer of the Year, and a lot of that success he credits to Eddie Bourke, co-owner and breeder of One Bold Cat. “It’s pretty big, it means a lot because Eddie puts a lot into this business and we were only getting ready for the Livamol,” he said. “Where he’s come from, he dug in and he’s a serious horse. A few of the scribes call him a b-grader, but he’s not. “The Bold One’s take time, even in the Herbie Dyke he’s only run a length and a half from Legarto, and he’s had bad draws. It didn’t matter with the good draw today as he still got back, but with a lot of tempo, he’s just a good horse. “I could see him travelling around the top and Ryan rode him beautifully, they spread and he just popped through. He didn’t look like he was going to get there, it was a good effort to get over the top of them really. “It might be (Group One) number five, it’s good to get one this early in the season.” The Bold One, who stands at Grangewilliam Stud in Waitotara, earned his first Group One winner as a sire in the race, much to the delight of his co-owner in Bourke. “Unbelievable, we didn’t really set him (One Bold Cat) for this race and we thought the Livamol would be his go,” Bourke said post-race. “The stallion is the most underrated, I think, in New Zealand. I was just talking to Garry Chittick from Waikato Stud, and he sort of agreed with me. “I’m rapt, Robbie as a trainer, the track riders back home, the stable hands, the vet, the farrier, they’re all great people. They make this sort of day happen.” Out of two-win mare Floozie Cat, One Bold Cat has won eight of his 18 starts and more than $540,000 in stakes earnings. View the full article

New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing (NZTR) has today announced the resignation of Chief Executive Bruce Sharrock. “I joined NZTR with a genuine passion for racing and a determination to see us return to the glory days of the sport. I am immensely proud of what we have accomplished over the past 30 months, and feel the time is right to step aside and let the team continue to execute this vision for the future,” said Sharrock who has served as CEO since April 2022. Sharrock will remain in his role as CEO until 31 December and will continue as a consultant to NZTR until 31 March to oversee the implementation of current projects. “The building blocks are in place to enable a bright future for New Zealand Racing. We now need to accelerate and capitalise on the opportunities ahead,” he said. View the full article

There was plenty of drama with the abandonment of last Saturday’s feature meeting at Hawke’s Bay, and that drama continued at the transferred meeting at Matamata on Wednesday in the running of the Gr.2 AHD Animal Health Direct – Hawke’s Bay Guineas (1400m). Short-priced favourite Captured By Love reared up as the gates were released, losing six lengths at the start, and what looked to be all chance in the three-year-old feature. So Naïve took up the pace making role up front, while second favourite Savaglee (NZ) (Savabeel) was posted three-wide throughout. The race looked to be a three-way go down the straight between leader So Naïve, Poetic Champion and a brave Savaglee, with the latter getting the judge’s call following a photo finish with So Naïve, while Te Akau Racing’s Captured By Love put in the run of the race to capture third place. It took several minutes for the judge to declare a winner, and trainer Pam Gerard was sure Savaglee had failed to get up, but was relieved to hear otherwise over the loudspeaker. “We were in the stand, and it looked like a good neck or so (that So Naïve had won), but it is an angle, so I am going to take it because they don’t usually go our way,” she said. “He was a little bit fresh today, he did a lot wrong. He got posted three-wide and Sam (Spratt, jockey) said he was colty around at the gates and it showed coming for home, he wanted to lie on the other horse (Poetic Champion) a bit. “He has got a really good turn of foot and he didn’t quite have that today, so he has done it tough but he has got the job done.” The Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton next month remains Savaglee’s ultimate aim this preparation, and Gerard is looking forward to travelling the colt. “He is better when he is away from his home track,” she said. “We are building up, we want the Group One.” The Gr.2 James and Annie Sarten Memorial (1400m) at Te Rapa on Labour Day will likely be his next target, and Gerard said he will have the addition of some gear. “He has got to concentrate,” she said. “We have got the blinkers up our sleeve, which he had last year, and they will be going on pretty quickly, probably next start just to make sure he is totally focussed.” While Gerard was not confident of a winning result when Savaglee passed the post on Wednesday, jockey Sam Spratt was. “I thought I got it on the line, but I wasn’t sure, I thought my head was well in front,” she said. “It was a tough effort, he got posted wide, but I opted to cuddle him up because if I pushed forward they would have kicked forward with me, and it would have been even worse. I had to take a breather and embrace the three-wide train. “He was extra excited to be here. The whole way up the straight he was trying to lie on the other horse, Poetic Champion, a little bit. I think he might have been on the fresh side after it being called off (last Saturday). It was a tough effort.” Spratt believes Savaglee will take a lot of improvement from the run, and she is excited by his prospects in the 2000 Guineas. “I think there is huge improvement, and I think he just proved it,” she said. “He is definitely going to see the mile out, he is just as tough as nails.” View the full article

Group One performer To Catch A Thief is a maiden no longer after taking out the Betta Inspect It Premier (1300m) at Matamata on Wednesday. The four-year-old gelding was having his first start for Joanne Surgenor, having previously been trained by Graham Richardson and Rogan Norvall, for whom he placed in 10 of his 14 starts for the Matamata conditioners. The son of U S Navy Flag was a standout juvenile, running third in the Gr.1 Sistema Stakes (1200m), Gr.1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m), Gr.2 Eclipse Stakes (1200m) and Listed Champagne Stakes (1600m). He returned as a three-year-old where he posted the same result in the Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) and Gr.2 James and Annie Sarten Memorial (1400m), but he was unable to breakthrough for a maiden win. He joined Surgenor’s Ardmore stable ahead of his four-year-old season and he has done nothing but impress the South Auckland horsewoman, who was hopeful of a positive result on Wednesday. In the hands of leading hoop Opie Bosson, To Catch A Thief jumped well from barrier eight and was pushed forward and assumed the lead at the 1000m mark. It didn’t look like it would be his day once more when he was headed by Richard And I when turning for home, but he dug deep and recaptured the lead, running on to win by half a length over the Andrew Forsman-trained runner. Surgenor was rapt to get the result for his ownership group, which includes Ashford Lodge’s Peter and Sherin Walker, whose silks are carried by the gelding. “It is just a relief,” Surgenor said. “He has cracked his maiden finally and we are on the road. “I was a little bit nervous (when he was headed at the top of the straight), but I thought it was his day to get in and have a fight and he did, he dug in. It was a beautiful ride by Opie as always. “I am grateful for the owners to have an opportunity with such a lovely horse.” Feature targets now await To Catch A Thief, with Surgenor’s ultimate aim being the $1 million Elsdon Park Aotearoa Classic (1600m) at Ellerslie on Karaka Millions night in January. “I am thinking the Karaka four-year-old,” she said. “I was just waiting to see what happened today, how we went, and how he was. Now I can sit down and start mapping out a plan to hopefully get there.” View the full article

Five years after being bought on gavelhouse.com for just $5,000, stakes-winning mare Casino Princess(NZ) (Casino Princess) is being re-offered as a valuable broodmare prospect on Gavelhouse Plus. Trained by the remarkable 93-year-old Cliff Goss, who shared ownership with his friend Darryl Heaphy, Casino Princess had only 13 starts for six wins, four placings and $141,360 in stakes. “She did an amazing job for Dad in just a short career, winning six races up to Listed level,” Goss’s daughter Cherry Taylor said. “Had she not had a little bleed in trackwork last week, I think she would have been very competitive in the Matamata Cup (1600m) too. “She had a lot of ability and we probably never quite saw the best of her on the racetrack. But that stage of her career has come to an end now and she’s going up for sale on Gavelhouse Plus. The only reason Dad is letting her go is because he’s 93, so it’ll just take too long for her foals to get to the races. He wants to give someone else that opportunity. “She’s here with us at Trelawney Stud now and is looking great and enjoying the grass. I think she’ll make a lovely broodmare for someone. It’s not easy for any horse to win six races, including that valuable black type. She did that in only 13 starts, so she had a bit of quality that she’ll hopefully pass on to her foals.” Casino Princess made a bold start to her career with three wins from her first four appearances in 2022 and early 2023. Her rapid rise was interrupted by a stand-down period for bleeding, but she returned to the peak of her powers in 2024 with three outstanding wins from what proved to be her final four starts. The most significant of those was the Listed Tauranga Classic (1400m) in June, in which the runner-up was the multiple Group One performer Malt Time (Adelaide). Casino Princess is by successful Australian stallion Casino Prince, who is best known for his high-class son All Too Hard but is also putting together a strong record as a broodmare sire. Casino Prince’s daughters have produced 104 winners from 161 runners, with seven stakes winners including Shadow Hero (Pierro) and Jungle Magnate (NZ) (Tarzino) at Group One level. Three-year-old colt Perspiration (Too Darn Hot) was an impressive winner of the Listed Heritage Stakes (1100m) at Rosehill on Saturday. The auction of Casino Princess is underway now on Gavelhouse Plus, with bidding closing from 7pm (NZDST) on Monday 7 October. Meanwhile, entries for the latest mixed sale are due online by 10pm on Monday. View the full article

Another exciting edition of the time-honoured Group 1 $1.5 million Epsom Handicap (1600m) is set for Royal Randwick this Saturday, and we have a capacity field vying for success in the prestigious mile classic. Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott‘s French-bred import Royal Patronage has retained top spot as the narrow favourite in Epsom Handicap betting […] The post Royal Patronage Narrow Favourite in 2024 Epsom Handicap Field & Odds appeared first on HorseRacing.com.au. View the full article

One Bold Cat on his way to winning the Group 1 Arrowfield Stud Plate (1600m) at Matamata on Wednesday. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images) Robbie Patterson had his sights set on the Group 1 Livamol Classic (2040m) for One Bold Cat, but the gelding showed he can be just as impressive at a mile with a powerful victory in Wednesday’s Group 1 Arrowfield Stud Plate (1600m) at Matamata. One Bold Cat burst onto the scene with a decisive win in the Group 3 Counties Cup (2100m) last November, and he continued to feature prominently in the top-flight staying contests, placing behind Legarto and Campionessa in the Group 1 Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m). Returning as a six-year-old, the son of The Bold One showed positive signs finishing into third over 1200m in August before a string of abandonments, firstly at New Plymouth and then last Saturday’s Arrowfield meeting at Hastings. Patterson was hopeful his work behind the scenes would prove enough to feature in the Group 1 contest. Any question of that was firmly put to rest, with One Bold Cat jumping positively from barrier four before settling in the second half of the field under Ryan Elliot. As the field turned for home, $2.90 race favourite Skew Wiff pounced to the lead and maintained that position for much of the home straight, before the bounding strides of One Bold Cat came chasing and caught the mare just short of the line, with the final margin a long head. South Islanders Matscot and Lightning Jack, who paid $41 and $77 respectively on the tote, put in huge performances to fill the first four, less than a length behind One Bold Cat. 25-year-old Elliot collected his 12th Group 1 victory in the race, but admitted he hadn’t been full of confidence during the mid-stages. 2024 Arrowfield Stud Plate replay – One Bold Cat “I don’t really know the horse but he’s such a laidback character that I was thinking bloody hell, but he tracked up beautifully and we got the right split. To pick up that horse (Skew Wiff), it was a good effort,” Elliot said. “It’s a credit to Robbie Patterson, he travels the horses to Hastings and he’s had to travel back up here to Matamata, it shows the training effort that goes into these horses to be able to cop the trip, then come out and do that. “He’s going to step-up and go from there, but hopefully Gryllsy (Craig Grylls) doesn’t pop on and Robbie keeps me on (for the Livamol).” New Plymouth-based Patterson had an outstanding 2023/24 season, earning him a nomination for Trainer of the Year, and a lot of that success he credits to Eddie Bourke, co-owner and breeder of One Bold Cat. “It’s pretty big, it means a lot because Eddie puts a lot into this business and we were only getting ready for the Livamol,” he said. “Where he’s come from, he dug in and he’s a serious horse. A few of the scribes call him a b-grader, but he’s not. “The Bold One’s take time, even in the Herbie Dyke he’s only run a length and a half from Legarto, and he’s had bad draws. It didn’t matter with the good draw today as he still got back, but with a lot of tempo, he’s just a good horse. “I could see him travelling around the top and Ryan rode him beautifully, they spread and he just popped through. He didn’t look like he was going to get there, it was a good effort to get over the top of them really. “It might be (Group 1) number five, it’s good to get one this early in the season.” The Bold One, who stands at Grangewilliam Stud in Waitotara, earned his first Group 1 winner as a sire in the race, much to the delight of his co-owner in Bourke. “Unbelievable, we didn’t really set him (One Bold Cat) for this race and we thought the Livamol would be his go,” Bourke said post-race. “The stallion is the most underrated, I think, in New Zealand. I was just talking to Garry Chittick from Waikato Stud, and he sort of agreed with me. “I’m rapt, Robbie as a trainer, the track riders back home, the stable hands, the vet, the farrier, they’re all great people. They make this sort of day happen.” Horse racing news View the full article

Savaglee (white silks) narrowly takes out the Group 2 Hawke’s Bay Guineas (1400m) at Matamata. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images) There was plenty of drama with the abandonment of last Saturday’s feature meeting at Hawke’s Bay, and that drama continued at the transferred meeting at Matamata on Wednesday in the running of the Group 2 Hawke’s Bay Guineas (1400m). Short-priced favourite Captured By Love reared up as the gates were released, losing six lengths at the start, and what looked to be all chance in the three-year-old feature. So Naïve took up the pace making role up front, while second favourite Savaglee was posted three-wide throughout. The race looked to be a three-way go down the straight between leader So Naïve, Poetic Champion and a brave Savaglee, with the latter getting the judge’s call following a photo finish with So Naïve, while Te Akau Racing’s Captured By Love put in the run of the race to capture third place. It took several minutes for the judge to declare a winner, and trainer Pam Gerard was sure Savaglee had failed to get up, but was relieved to hear otherwise over the loudspeaker. “We were in the stand, and it looked like a good neck or so (that So Naïve had won), but it is an angle, so I am going to take it because they don’t usually go our way,” she said. “He was a little bit fresh today, he did a lot wrong. He got posted three-wide and Sam (Spratt, jockey) said he was colty around at the gates and it showed coming for home, he wanted to lie on the other horse (Poetic Champion) a bit. “He has got a really good turn of foot and he didn’t quite have that today, so he has done it tough but he has got the job done.” The Group 1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton next month remains Savaglee’s ultimate aim this preparation, and Gerard is looking forward to travelling the colt. 2024 Hawke’s Bay Guineas replay – Savaglee “He is better when he is away from his home track,” she said. “We are building up, we want the Group One.” The Group 2 James and Annie Sarten Memorial (1400m) at Te Rapa on Labour Day will likely be his next target, and Gerard said he will have the addition of some gear. “He has got to concentrate,” she said. “We have got the blinkers up our sleeve, which he had last year, and they will be going on pretty quickly, probably next start just to make sure he is totally focussed.” While Gerard was not confident of a winning result when Savaglee passed the post on Wednesday, jockey Sam Spratt was. “I thought I got it on the line, but I wasn’t sure, I thought my head was well in front,” she said. “It was a tough effort, he got posted wide, but I opted to cuddle him up because if I pushed forward they would have kicked forward with me, and it would have been even worse. I had to take a breather and embrace the three-wide train. “He was extra excited to be here. The whole way up the straight he was trying to lie on the other horse, Poetic Champion, a little bit. I think he might have been on the fresh side after it being called off (last Saturday). It was a tough effort.” Spratt believes Savaglee will take a lot of improvement from the run, and she is excited by his prospects in the 2000 Guineas. “I think there is huge improvement, and I think he just proved it,” she said. “He is definitely going to see the mile out, he is just as tough as nails.” Horse racing news View the full article

To Catch A Thief winning the Betta Inspect It Premier (1300m) at Matamata on Wednesday. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images) Group 1 performer To Catch A Thief is a maiden no longer after taking out the Betta Inspect It Premier (1300m) at Matamata on Wednesday. The four-year-old gelding was having his first start for Joanne Surgenor, having previously been trained by Graham Richardson and Rogan Norvall, for whom he placed in 10 of his 14 starts for the Matamata conditioners. The son of U S Navy Flag was a standout juvenile, running third in the Group 1 Sistema Stakes (1200m), Group 1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m), Group 2 Eclipse Stakes (1200m) and Listed Champagne Stakes (1600m). He returned as a three-year-old where he posted the same result in the Group 1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) and Group 2 James and Annie Sarten Memorial (1400m), but he was unable to breakthrough for a maiden win. He joined Surgenor’s Ardmore stable ahead of his four-year-old season and he has done nothing but impress the South Auckland horsewoman, who was hopeful of a positive result on Wednesday. In the hands of leading hoop Opie Bosson, To Catch A Thief jumped well from barrier eight and was pushed forward and assumed the lead at the 1000m mark. It didn’t look like it would be his day once more when he was headed by Richard And I when turning for home, but he dug deep and recaptured the lead, running on to win by half a length over the Andrew Forsman-trained runner. Surgenor was rapt to get the result for his ownership group, which includes Ashford Lodge’s Peter and Sherin Walker, whose silks are carried by the gelding. “It is just a relief,” Surgenor said. “He has cracked his maiden finally and we are on the road. “I was a little bit nervous (when he was headed at the top of the straight), but I thought it was his day to get in and have a fight and he did, he dug in. It was a beautiful ride by Opie as always. “I am grateful for the owners to have an opportunity with such a lovely horse.” Feature targets now await To Catch A Thief, with Surgenor’s ultimate aim being the $1 million Elsdon Park Aotearoa Classic (1600m) at Ellerslie on Karaka Millions night in January. “I am thinking the Karaka four-year-old,” she said. “I was just waiting to see what happened today, how we went, and how he was. Now I can sit down and start mapping out a plan to hopefully get there.” Horse racing news View the full article

Wiremu Pinn has been cleared to ride following an incident at the Waipa trials on Tuesday. Photo: Race Images There were some anxious moments for talented hoop Wiremu Pinn on Tuesday following an incident at the Waipa trials that could have placed his trip to Sydney this weekend in jeopardy. “One just flipped over in the barriers and crushed me a bit at the back of the gates,” Pinn said. “My x-rays and scans are clean, I am just a little bit sore. I am just thankful nothing is broken. “I will be alright to ride this week, I just thought I would have today (Wednesday) off, but I will ride the rest of the week.” Pinn breathed a sigh of relief when he was given the all clear by doctors at Waikato Hospital on Tuesday, with a trip to Sydney this weekend to ride a favoured runner in the Group 1 Metropolitan (2400m) at Randwick on the line. Pinn has been booked to ride lightweight chance Unusual Legacy in the A$750,000 feature for leading Sydney trainer Chris Waller, who he struck up an association with during his riding stint in Melbourne last year. The New Zealand-bred son of Unusual Suspect has had three starts this preparation for a win and two placings, and Pinn is excited about his prospects on Saturday. “Chris is a gun trainer, it is a good opportunity and the horse looks like a good chance too,” Pinn said. “He still has to get a run in the race, but I think if he does make the race, he is going to be a big chance. He looks like a big, robust horse that will definitely get the 2400m.” Pinn said his light weight and previous association with Waller in Melbourne helped him gain the ride. “I rode a little bit for Chris Waller when I did my stint in Melbourne and I think just with the light weight that the horse has (50kg), not many riders can ride 50 kilos,” he said. “I am just lucky that I walk light and that is why I got the call up. It is a good opportunity and I am just hoping I can get a result and make the most of it.” Pinn said he will likely have another couple of rides at the Sydney meeting. “Tye Angland is helping out with getting other rides over there and I think I have got about three rides there (on Saturday),” he said. Saturday won’t be the last time Australian punters get to see Pinn this season, with the Waikato-based hoop intent on being a frequent flyer over the Tasman this spring before undertaking another riding stint in Melbourne next winter. “I will be back and forth from New Zealand to Sydney and Melbourne this year because of the handicap races over there,” he said. “I spoke with my old boss Mick Kent when I went on holiday with Tayla (Mitchell, partner) to Fiji. We flew to Melbourne and went and saw him,” Pinn said. “Whatever opportunities arise over there, I am happy to get on a plane and go. “I will probably do another little stint there, maybe in the winter time when racing gets quieter here. The prizemoney is still good in Melbourne, so I will probably look at doing three months there and if things go well, I might stay for a little bit longer. “I rode for big trainers and rode some nice horses while I was over there (last time). I would like to think if I went over again that same support base will still be there. I am willing to work hard for the rewards.” Meanwhile, Pinn will ready for his weekend trip to Sydney with three rides for local trainer Clinton Isdale at Cambridge’s synthetic meeting on Thursday where he is hoping he can add to his current season haul of 16 wins, which currently places him third on the National Jockeys’ Premiership. “They are all good chances too,” he said. “Things are going really well at the moment. I am just riding quality horses and that makes the job a lot easier. You can’t pick them up and carry them, so I am just grateful for the opportunities.” Horse racing news View the full article

The weekend’s racing action down under is headlined by the bumper Epsom Handicap Day card at Randwick on Saturday with the undefeated Autumn Glow heading markets for the prestigious Group 1 $750,000 Flight Stakes (1600m). Nine of the season’s top three-year-old fillies face off in the mile event and The Autumn Sun filly Autumn Glow […] The post 2024 Flight Stakes Field & Odds Update: Autumn Glow Set to Shine Again appeared first on HorseRacing.com.au. View the full article

Bregman Family Racing's daughter of Justify comes into the Jessamine Stakes off a victory in the P.G. Johnson Stakes in New York. The Jessamine is a Breeders' Cup Challenge qualifier for the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1T).View the full article

Arzak is 2-for-2 on the Keeneland Turf while the other 11 in the main field for the Oct. 5 Woodford Stakes (G2T) are a combined 3-for-25.View the full article

The name Pete Rose has been synonymous with baseball and, more notoriously, betting on that sport. But when Major League Baseball's all-time hits leader died Sept. 30 at the age of 83, many recalled Rose's love of horse racing.View the full article