Wandering Eyes

With last year's announcement that Belmont Park would be closed until the track is rebuilt and reopened in 2026 at the earliest, all of a sudden an impossible dream became possible for trainer Chad Brown.View the full article

6th-SAR, $100k, Msw, 3yo/up, f/m, 7f, 3:35 p.m. ET Trainer Todd Pletcher sends out a pair of debuting 3-year-old fillies by Into Mischief for Bass Stables as the 6-5 morning-line favorite entry. The homebred CHANTEUSE is a half-sister to GI Arkansas Derby winner Magnum Moon (Malibu Moon), while AUDACIOUS, a $700,000 Keeneland September purchase, is a granddaughter of multiple graded winner Yell (A.P. Indy). Yell also produced the dams of multiple graded winner Tax (Arch) and multiple Grade I winner Elate (Medaglia d'Oro). TJCIS PPs 1st-CD, $120k, Msw, 2yo, 5 1/2f, 5:00 p.m. ET Boardshorts Stables' SUMMER VIBES (Good Magic) makes his first trip to the post for trainer Brad Cox. The chestnut colt was a $600,000 purchase at the 2023 Keeneland September sale. He is a half-brother to last year's GI Natalma S. winner and GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf third-place finisher She Feels Pretty (Karakontie {Jpn}). Trainer Dale Romans sends out firster Keep It Easy (Hard Spun), a $435,000 Keeneland September purchase, on behalf of St Elias Stables and West Point Thoroughbreds. Also debuting is Winchell Thoroughbreds' Magnitude (Not This Time), a $450,000 Keeneland September purchase trained by Steve Asmussen. TJCIS PPs The post June 6 Insights: Bass Into Mischief Fillies Debut at Saratoga appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Listed winner Zweig (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}) (lot 512) has been added as a wildcard to the Arqana Summer Sale, which is due to take place from July 1-4. Trained by Jean-Claude Rouget, the three-year-old Zweig will be sold with an entry in the G1 Grand Prix de Paris at Longchamp on Saturday, July 13, having completed a hat-trick when winning the Listed Derby du Languedoc by a neck at Toulouse last month. Bred by Knocktartan House Stud, he sold for €80,000 at the Goffs November Foal Sale and was later bought by Rouget for €110,000 at the Arqana August Yearling Sale. He is the third winner from as many runners out of the Winker Watson (GB) mare Euthenia (GB), a half-sister to the G2 Prix de Sandringham heroine Laugh Out Loud (GB) (Clodovil {Ire}). A pair of National Hunt performers have also been added to the sale, namely the Niort bumper winner Kremlin (Fr) (Karaktar {Ire}) (lot 522), who is out of a half-sister to the multiple Grade 2 winner Natal (Fr) (Funny Baby {Fr}), and the three-year-old Sagarric (Fr) (Bathyrhon {Ger}) (lot 523), runner-up on his recent hurdling debut at Compiegne. He is out of the G3 Diego White scorer Poliaurea (Arg) (Poliglote {GB}), the dam of four winners. The full catalogue for the Arqana Summer Sale can be viewed here. The post Classy Zweig One Of Three Wildcards Added To Arqana Summer Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The day after the Louisiana Racing Commission held an emergency meeting in which it voted to restore the Association of Racing Commissioners International (ARCI) guidelines that were governing Clenbuterol and Depo-Medrol in the state, the President of the ARCI, Ed Martin, reacted to the news in a press release. The statement is printed in its entirety. “The ARCI Model Rules process has served the horse racing industry and fans well for decades and has been a vehicle to achieve a substantially common approach to anti-doping regulation in a sport not limited by the borders or any state, province or county. Recent actions by the Louisiana Racing Commission indicated a desire to rethink some of those rules. We respect the laws that authorize each regulatory entity to determine its own rules, but we encourage a collective and transparent approach to policy formation where all viewpoints are openly considered and discussed. That is what the ARCI Model Rules process offers. Reasonable people can disagree on a particular rule, threshold or recommended policy. There are clearly different approaches to anti-doping in sport and athlete health as evidenced by the World Anti-Doping Agencies policy of permitting the use of certain medications in training and competition if there is a documented medical need. With the exception of Lasix, horse racing does not allow equine athletes to compete with such substances. Years ago, when I discussed these different approaches to integrity with the head of the Partnership for Clean Competition (U.S. human sport's equivalent of the RMTC) she said the thinking of those making the rules was that certain medically necessary administrations would not allow the athlete to compete beyond his or her natural ability and was therefore not considered doping. Representatives from the Louisiana Racing Commission have told ARCI that the impetus for their desire to revisit their medication rules is based on a desire to protect the health of each horse and not to negatively affect the integrity of any race. The ARCI Model Rules are a living document. If there is compelling reason to modify a recommended policy we have demonstrated time and again our ability to do that. Sometimes we decide not to change a recommended policy but that is after open discussion and debate. Some agree with what we recommend, some don't but the recommendations are the collective thinking of our member agencies. Louisiana has asked the ARCI to consider the information they reviewed that prompted some of the modifications they put forward. We will do that through our Drug Testing Standards and Practices Committee (DTSP), chaired by Dr. John Chancey, DVM. We will consider this in an open forum and other organizations, individuals or regulatory entities like HISA afforded the opportunity to provide input. Horse racing continues to struggle with breakdowns. By working together collectively we have reduced the rate, but we must remain ever vigilant to ensure that we never stop trying to improve. We applaud yesterday's decision by the Louisiana Commission to re-engage in this process. I make no representation as to what will or will not happen as a result of our discussions. Likewise, we would encourage HISA to become active in the ARCI Model Rules process as the horse racing industry does not stop with Thoroughbreds or at the borders of the U.S. or states where HISA is in effect. We continue to encourage all racing regulatory entities to rely upon the Model Rules. There is nothing wrong with a regulatory entity trying a new approach and it should not matter whether it is Louisiana, HISA or someone else. What matters is whether it works better than what we have been doing. If it does, then everyone should embrace it.” Click here to read TDN's complete coverage of the Louisiana Racing Commission story. The post ARCI President Ed Martin Issues Statement On Louisiana Medication Rules appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The Louisiana Racing Commission voted unanimously June 4 to rescind two controversial, recently passed rules related to clenbuterol and methylprednisolone that would have significantly relaxed Thoroughbred medication rules in the state.View the full article

A berth in the G1 Melbourne Cup is at stake in Thursday's GII Belmont Gold Cup, the first of the weekend's graded stakes during the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival at Saratoga. The New York Racing Association has gone so far as to fly in one of the world's premier commentators, Victoria-based Matt Hill, to describe the action in the two-mile test–essentially two laps of the inner turf course at the Spa. Godolphin won the 2018 Melbourne Cup with Cross Counter (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) and Siskany (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) returns to New York looking for back-to-back scores in the Gold Cup. Whereas the 6-year-old had a run between his near-miss second in the 2023 G2 Dubai Gold Cup and his victory in this downstate 12 months ago, he arrives a fresher sort this time off a three-race preparation in Dubai over the winter. A stayer with a very good turn of foot, Siskany needed every yard of the Meydan straight after breaking from a high draw in the Listed Al Khail Trophy in January, coming from third-last to be up on the line. Pouncing from closer range for a second straight victory in the Feb. 23 G3 Nad Al Sheba Trophy, he loomed a wide threat in this year's Dubai Gold Cup, but peaked on his finish 100 meters from home and lost a photo for third behind the very impressive Tower of London (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). Any one of those efforts should see Siskany back in the winner's circle in the Thursday finale. “Siskany was last seen in Dubai in the Gold Cup running his usual solid race,” said trainer Charlie Appleby, looking for a 12th graded winner in New York. “He's in good form and hopefully he can get it done again.” The Grey Wizard (Ire) (Caravaggio), beaten two lengths into second in last year's renewal, returned from a nine-month absence and trailed in behind Godolphin's Silver Knott (GB) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) in Keeneland's GII Elkhorn S. in April, but improved for the comebacker to finish a running-on third in the GIII Louisville S. at Churchill May 18. The extra half-mile should work in his favor. From a speed-figure perspective, Limited Liability (Kitten's Joy) has run three of his four fastest races over extended trips, including back-to-back 96 Beyers in the GI United Nations S. (fourth) going a mile and three furlongs and in the GIII Sycamore S. (third) over 12 panels. He is out of a mare by Blame from a female family full of Janney black-type and he may just enjoy himself going this far. Starting Over (Liam's Map), winner of the GII Mac Diarmida S. in March, goes out for the Mike Maker barn, which is always dangerous with its grass marathoners, while Cibolian (Temple City) makes his third straight Gold Cup appearance, having finished fourth in 2022 and fifth last year. The post Siskany Freshened Up For Belmont Gold Cup Defense appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Nevin Truesdale is expected to step down from his role as group chief executive at The Jockey Club at the end of 2024, having asked the board of stewards to start the process of finding his successor. Truesdale, who spoke to TDN in a recent interview, joined The Jockey Club in 2013 and was appointed as the organisation's permanent group chief executive from the start of 2021, having served in an acting capacity since Delia Bushell resigned the previous August. He was tasked with navigating the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic and the cost-of-living crisis, while more recently he helped lead the petition to Parliament against betting affordability checks, which gained over 100,000 signatures and led to a debate on the matter. “The Jockey Club has a unique role; being run solely to invest the money it makes back into our sport,” said Truesdale. “It has been a true privilege and my career highlight to work for and then lead this organisation over the past 11 years. “Together we have laid strong foundations for the future which will enable my successor to continue to grow The Jockey Club and ensure it continues to invest for the benefit of our sport and the communities it serves.” The post Nevin Truesdale Set To Step Down From His Role As The Jockey Club’s CEO appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Veteran handler surges to lead in city circuit standings after Packing Power and Helene Warrior’s big winsView the full article

Tisbury Stud's Austin and Amanda Luttrell have purchased Springland, a 260-acre horse farm located in Bourbon County, Kentucky. Founded in 1962 by W.K. Taylor while he was the general manager at Claiborne Farm, parts of Springland's original parcel were eventually sold to Hidden Brook and Beau Lane. However, it was Taylor's grandson, Bill Nicholls, who added to the estate in the late 1990s. The Luttrells–who started Tisbury Stud two years ago by leasing 130 acres–intend to offer the ultimate in racehorse care with breeding, foaling, racetrack lay ups and sales prep as focal points. “We have an incredible farm, great clients and a very solid team,” said Austin Luttrell. “I might be the last Kentuckian who grew up in a tobacco field to start a horse farm. It is a dream come true.” Austin's equine background includes stints serving under several trainers like Rusty Arnold, Christophe Clement and Kiaran McLaughlin. He also worked for Magic Millions in Australia before becoming a manager at Denali Stud and Donamire Farm in Kentucky. As for Amanda, she is a life-long equestrian and former show jumper who was based in Middleburg, Virginia and Wellington, Florida before moving to Kentucky. “I'm excited to expand the business,” Austin said. “Our top priority at Tisbury Stud is to get horses into the winner's circle.” The post Luttrell’s Tisbury Stud Purchases Springland Farm appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Vandeek (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}) is firmly on course for the G1 Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot. That is despite the fact that Simon and Ed Crisford's dual Group 1-winning juvenile star lost his unbeaten record in the G2 Sandy Lane S. at Haydock. However, connections have reported the colt to have come out of that seasonal return effort in rude health, and that it is full steam ahead to the royal meeting. “He's come out of the race very well, Simon and Ed Crisford have been pleased with his work since and it's all systems go for the Commonwealth Cup,” said Chris Wall, racing manager to owners KHK Racing. “It was very soft ground at Haydock and though he has encountered that before, he was against race-fit rivals on his first run of the season and his legs just couldn't act on it. “That was the purpose of the run and he's in good form afterwards, we're excited to run him at Royal Ascot.” KHK Racing also own Sakheer (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}), a Roger Varian-trained colt who impressed as a juvenile when winning the Mill Reef at Newbury. Things have not gone entirely smoothly since, however, and in two runs last year he was well beaten in the 2000 Guineas and the Commonwealth Cup with a large absence after the latter run. He returned from that 337-day break to contest the Listed Cathedral S. at Salisbury late last month, finishing last of the six contenders. “He actually scoped very dirty after that run, he had been working well beforehand so it was disappointing at the time,” said Wall. “Now we have a perfectly good explanation, he will undergo treatment and then when we have him back healthy and hearty we will find something for him – how long that takes, I'm not sure. “We will move on to plan Z! Realistically we are on about plan G with this horse, but at least we have a reason for his run last time out.” The post Vandeek Team Excited For Commonwealth Cup Challenge At Royal Ascot appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

It was only a year ago that Wathnan Racing first came to prominence during Royal Ascot following their high-profile purchases of subsequent Gold Cup and Queen's Vase winners Courage Mon Ami (GB) (Frankel {GB}) and Gregory (GB) (Golden Horn {GB}). It was revealed in TDN that the Emir of Qatar was behind the new name on the scene, and it is one of which we have heard plenty in the intervening 12 months. Since then, the operation's bloodstock agent Richard Brown has been busy both at public auctions and in conducting private sales on Wathnan's behalf. He swooped to buy the Listed winner and Classic prospect Fast Tracker (GB) (Churchill {Ire}) who subsequently disappointed in Sunday's Prix du Jockey Club, and Brown revealed on Wednesday on the Nick Luck Daily podcast that he has also bought the Richard Hannon-trained Haatem (Ire) (Phoenix Of Spain {Ire}), placed in the 2,000 Guineas in both England and Ireland this season for Sheikh Abdullah Almalek Alsabah, and the Irish Oaks prospect Lope De Lilas (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), trained by Willie Mullins. Further recent purchase include the 111-rated sprinter Shartash (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) and the Bronte Collection's smart juvenile Shadow Army (GB) (Showcasing {GB}), based with trainers Archie Watson and Richard Fahey respectively and both bound for Ascot. At the spring breeze-up sales, Brown was one of the biggest spenders for various clients, and Wathnan Racing has already reaped some of the rewards from those purchases, with juveniles Aesterius (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}), Columnist (GB) (Ardad {Ire}), Catalyse (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) and Electrolyte (Ire) (Hello Youmzain {Fr}) all having won in the last fortnight. That quartet alone cost £1.07 million at the Goffs UK Breeze-up Sale. Entries for the owner this week include another five two-year-olds bought for just shy of £1.5 million. The statement of intent is clear, and we can expect to see those colours made famous by Germany's Gestut Rottgen featuring in plenty of races throughout the week at this year's royal meeting. “Hopefully we have assembled a team of horses who can go there [to Royal Ascot] and have chances,” Brown told Luck. “Haatem is obviously one of them. He almost certainly won't run in the St James's Palace – we're probably going to run him in the Jersey [Stakes]. This is a tough horse – he's come up against the two best milers around and he got closer in Ireland than he did at Newmarket. I think we just felt that in Ireland he showed plenty of speed. He will have a three-pound penalty for his Craven win but we think that the stiff seven [furlongs] at Ascot could be right up his alley.” James Doyle left his position with Godolphin last October to take up his new role as retained jockey for Wathnan Racing, and it is easy to start to draw parallels between Qatar's new major player and the growth of the Dubaian ruler Sheikh Mohammed Al Makotum's Godolphin operation from the early 1980s into one of the sport's global superpowers. Brown, one of three founding members of the Blandford Bloodstock agency along with Tom Goff and the late Joss Collins, was recruited by Wathnan Racing's advisor Olly Tait as agent last year. Blandford Bloodstock was the leading buyer this year at the Goffs UK, Arqana, and Tattersalls Guineas Breeze-up sales, with a more modest outlay at the Tattersalls Craven Sale. Of the 27 two-year-olds bought at those four sales for an equivalent of £5,673,000, 11 were signed up for Wathnan Racing. Brown said on Nicky Luck Daily, “We bought about 15 yearlings last year. They were much more the Kingmans, the Frankels – more backward three-year-old types. We thought, when strategising over the winter, to go into the breeze-up market and to buy sharper types of horses would be a good way of keeping the momentum rolling. “The four that have won, the plan is for them to go to Ascot as long as everything is okay. Aesterius won at Bath and will go either Norfolk or Windsor Castle. Columnist, who won at Chester over six, will go to the Coventry. Catalyse won at Hamilton, looking quite stylish, and he'll go to the Coventry and Electrolyte will also go to the Coventry.” A further development for Wathnan Racing was revealed in early April with the announcement that Qatar's champion trainer Hamad Al-Jehani would be based in Newmarket through the summer, initially with a small team of horses at the bottom yard of Tom and Jackie Clover's Kremlin House Stables. Al-Jehani had his first three runners last week, at Leicester and Epsom, with Beshtani (Fr) being beaten just a nose in second on Oaks day. Brown said of the trainer, “At the moment he's got the five or six horses who have been brought over from Qatar. He's made a tremendous start, actually. “[Beshtani] will go for the Royal Hunt Cup and then there is Make Me King, who brings some very good form, and he will go for the Buckingham Palace or the Hunt Cup as well.” Along with Al-Jehani's team, Wathnan Racing has had runners from 12 different British and Irish stables this season, with Tom Clover having retained Rogue Lightning (Ire), who was bought for £1 million at the Goffs sale at Ascot on QIPCO British Champions' Day. Another seven trainers in France have sent out runners for Wathnan Racing this year, including Carlos and Yann Lerner, who saddled Jasna's Secret (Fr) (Galiway {GB}) to win the Listed Prix Marchand d'Or on a memorable Sunday for their stable following the Classic success of Look De Vega (Fr) (Lope De Vega {Ire}). The latter is not owned by Wathan Racing – yet. The operation will be without Courage Mon Ami at Ascot this year after the stayer suffered a training setback, and Group 1 runner-up Remarquee (GB) (Kingman {GB}), an in-training purchase last year, is also sidelined, but Gregory is reported to be on course for the Gold Cup. The post Haatem Among a Swathe of Purchases for Wathan Racing appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

When Dr. Barbara Hippie drove through the backstretch gates at Mahoning Valley Race Course last September, she knew she had some substances and medications on her truck that were banned by the Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit (HIWU). But she said she thought she had no reason to worry. She said she knew the banned medications were not to be used with any covered Thoroughbred racing or training at an Ohio racetrack. Hippie, part of a three-person practice based in Chagrin Falls, Ohio, has a vast practice and treats many non-race horses at farms spread across Ohio and West Virginia. Because horses on those farms are not covered by the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA) no restrictions were in place for using those medications on farm animals. But could they be on her truck when she entered a racetrack? That was the key question. According to Hippie's lawyer Craig Roberston, HISA Chief of Science Mary Scollay visited several racetracks to educate veterinarians on the rules regarding what could and could not be on their trucks. He said they were told that it was permissible to have otherwise illegal medications on their trucks as long as there was “compelling justification.” Robertson said that Scollay said on multiple occasions that racetrack veterinarians who also worked at outside farms could possess banned substances as that was a matter of compelling justification. According to Roberston, during a March, 2023 seminar in Oklahoma, Scollay said the following: “(if) veterinarians are practicing also on a population of non-Covered horses, they're taking care of quarter horses, or they've got a country practice part-time they are able to possess a Banned Substance because we don't have control over those horses… But at the end of the day if someone is practicing out in the country, we don't have the authority to control the medications they administer or carry for non-Covered horses.” But soon after she entered the Mahoning Valley backstretch, Hippie's truck was searched by HIWU investigators. Because of what Scollay had told several veterinarians, Hippie said she still wasn't concerned and went about her business, having no idea what was to come. Eight days later she was notified that four banned substances were found on her truck and that she was being provisionally suspended. She admits she was in possession of the medications, but can't understand why she was being charged when she was told she had permission to keep the drugs on her truck when entering a racetrack covered by HISA. For each banned medication, she faces a two-year suspension and a $25,000 fine. The incident could wind up costing her eight years and $100,000. “She was trying to do the right thing and follow the rules,” said Hippie's attorney, Craig Robertson. “She had raised the question regarding if she could have these medications on her truck and the answer was that she could. She relied on that. Now they're charging her with a violation.” At roughly the same time investigators were checking Dr. Hippie's truck at Mahoning Valley, a separate team at Thistledown was examining the truck of Dr. Scott Shell, who was in the same practice as Hippie. They found three banned medications on his truck. Dr. Margaret Smyth, the third member of the vet practice in Chagrin Falls, had her truck searched on Oct. 4 at Thistledown. Two banned substances were found, Levothyroxine and Pitcher Plant Extract. At the time, Smyth had no idea that her two partners had been busted by HIWU. Persons accused of drug violations by HIWU do not learn that they have allegedly broken a rule and face a possible suspension until the offense is posted on the HIWU website. In the cases of Drs. Hippie and Shell, the posting was made on Oct. 6, two days after Smyth ran into problems of her own. To the lawyers representing the three vets, the case isn't complicated. The doctors had the prohibited medications on their trucks because they were told by HISA's Chief of Science that it was okay to do so. “Their defense is simply that they were told they could possess them because they had farm practices and treated horses that were outside of HIWU's jurisdiction,” Robertson said. “They claim that the statements of Dr. Scollay were unequivocal: if you have a farm practice, you can possess Banned Substances.” The process of adjudicating the fines and suspensions is still in the early stages. Dr. Shell had a Provisional Suspension hearing, and his suspension was not lifted by the hearing officer. Currently, he is not able to practice Dr. Hippie's suspension was lifted after a Provisional Suspension hearing, and, as a result, HIWU did not impose a Provisional Suspension against Dr. Smyth. However, these are just preliminary steps. Hearings will be held regarding the incidents involving the three vets on June 17, 18 and 19, at which time they could be fully exonerated or suspensions and fines could be ordered. So why did HIWU provisionally suspend the three? Did Mary Scollay tell vets who also work outside the racing industry that these drugs could be on their trucks on the grounds of a racetrack? We asked HIWU, who said that just having an outside practice wasn't enough to meet the compelling justification requirement, and that further proof will be examined at those hearings. “As per Rule 3214(a), Possession of a Banned Substance is an Anti-Doping Rule Violation (ADRV) `unless there is compelling justification for such Possession,' HIWU Director of Communications & Outreach Alexa Ravit said in an email. “Dr. Scollay advised veterinarians that the treatment of non-Covered Horses could be a basis for showing `compelling justification' for possession of Banned Substances. However, the Covered Person has the burden of proving a `compelling justification,' which is a defense to a 3214(a) ADRV Charge. “On its own, a Covered Person's verbal statement that they have a non-Covered Horse practice is not sufficient proof to establish the compelling justification. To properly establish the compelling justification defense, the Covered Person needs to demonstrate the existence of their non-Covered Horse practice with supporting or corroborating evidence, such as treatment records, day logs, prescription records, billing invoices, or any other documentation or evidence that demonstrates that the Banned Substance(s) in question were possessed to treat non-Covered Horses. “Each case is handled based upon the specific facts and circumstances, and 'compelling justification' can be established by myriad circumstances so long as there is actual, credible evidence to support the defense.” Robertson isn't buying it. “Now they're trying to backtrack from what Dr. Scollay said.” Robertson said. “That's a long detailed answer but you have to look at her quotes, and the words she actually said at these seminars, when she was going around the country before HISA went into effect. She gave the same presentation and said the same thing everywhere. If you look at what she said at these seminars, she didn't say any of that. She didn't say, 'Oh, hey, you have to prove you treat farm horses and you have to show us records, etc., etc. She just said if you have a a non-covered practice you're allowed to posses these banned substances. Period. I don't think anyone is going to argue that my clients don't have a non-covered practice. They treat horses at farms and on the racetrack. What they're trying to do is backtrack from what Mary Scollay said at these seminars. If they wanted it done this way, what they needed to do was to come out with a pronouncement and say, 'Just so you know, here is how were going to interpret compelling justification going forward.' But that's not at all what she said. “What's not fair is that people got swept up in this because they relied on what Dr. Scollay said. “These people are facing penalties that could ruin their career and force them into bankruptcy.” The post Vets Who Say They Thought There Were Following HIWU Rules Now Face Lengthy Suspensions appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

There will be something for everybody at this year's Tattersalls July Sale, according to Edmond O'Mahony, chairman of the sales company, who pointed to Group 1-winning sprinter Regional and classy broodmare Bumbasina as poster horses for what is one of the most diverse sales in Europe. Regional, who provided trainer Ed Bethell with a day he will never forget when winning last year's Betfair Sprint Cup, was sold for just 3,5000gns at the July Sale while Bumbasina, dam of Australian star Amelia's Jewel, is another high-profile graduate. This year's catalogue boasts 917 lots which comprises of 819 horses and fillies in and out of training and 89 broodmares, six of which have foals at foot, and it takes place from Tuesday, July 9, to Thursday, July 11. O'Mahony commented, “Regional, a 3,500 guineas purchase who has gone on to win the Group 1 Haydock Sprint Cup, as well as Bumbasina, dam of star Australian filly Amelia's Jewel, are prime examples of the outstanding quality to be found at all levels of the market at the Tattersalls July Sale. Quality and diversity are the hallmarks of Europe's premier midsummer sale and this year's catalogue as ever looks set to appeal to buyers from throughout the world.” The catalogue for the 2024 Tattersalls July Sale can be viewed online at www.tattersalls.com, with a physical copy published on Thursday, June 13. The three-day sale features high-class consignments from many of the world's leading owner-breeders including Godolphin, Juddmonte and Shadwell Estates. The post ‘Quality And Diversity’ On Offer As Tattersalls July Sale Catalogue Released appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Oisin Murphy has been booked to ride the ex Natalia Lupini-trained Kitty Rose (GB) (Invincible Army {Ire}) in the Sandringham Handicap at Royal Ascot where the Listed-winning filly will make her debut for Australian-based trainers Mick Price and Michael Kent Junior before continuing her career Down Under. Kitty Rose enjoyed an excellent juvenile campaign under the care of Lupini, winning at Naas and Leopardstown before finishing second in Group 3 company at the Curragh. She still represented Lupini when runner-up to A Lilac Rolla in the G3 Priory Belle S. at Leopardstown on her seasonal reappearance, going down by just a head. However, the talented three-year-old will now represent her new connections at the royal meeting, with Kent Jnr telling racing.com, “We could have easily put her in the Irish or English Guineas, but we had the mindset that we really wanted to win a race at Ascot, that was the goal, so we'll go there. He added, “It's great to get a rider of Oisin's calibre as the Sandringham is often a race where you need a good ride and a bit of luck to go your way. “He is an outstanding rider who knows her form well and he'll have a sit on her at Newmarket before she runs. Her ultimate aim in Australia in the spring will be the Golden Eagle as she has a beautiful mix of speed and stamina and can race close to the pace.” The post Oisin Murphy Booked To Ride Kitty Rose In The Sandringham At Royal Ascot appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Bella Voce winning at Matamata on Wednesday. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images) The impressive recent strike-rate of Opie Bosson continued at Matamata on Wednesday, with the top hoop steering home three winners for Te Akau trainers Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson. Bosson has shared his riding engagements between New Zealand and Australia this season, most notably to partner the recently sold star Imperatriz, but has still managed to guide home 84 winners on Kiwi soil from just 320 rides. The first of his winning treble at Matamata was aboard Bella Voce, a daughter of Fastnet Rock, who had collected two second placings and a fourth in as many career starts. She was fancied near-unbeatable at $1.70 in the Entain – NZB Insurance Pearl Series Race (1200m), and after jumping positively, raced boldly along the back straight on-speed outside of Waiterimu. Bosson allowed the filly to slide into the lead turning for home, and that margin only continued to extend as she raced away for a 3.5-length victory. “She was on the job and pretty keen early,” Bosson said. “She will be better ridden in behind them but was too good for them ridden that way today.” Bella Voce was purchased by Te Akau principal David Ellis at the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, and Walker was pleased to see her performing well in the early stages of her career. “She appeared to have the race under control a long way from home and looked really good stretching out in the straight,” Walker said. “She’s taken a bit of time to mature, but she’s certainly got ability and you’d expect her to continue growing in confidence with the win. “It was good to see her being able to quicken with give in the ground, which is a big help at this time of the year, and we can now look to a Saturday grade race from here. “She’s developing into a big strong filly, has a beautiful pedigree, and it’s great to get a win early in her career.” Te Akau Racing stablemate Akenehi was tipped at a similar quote ($1.90) to enter the winner’s circle for the first time in the Thank You Vaughan Nowell 1400, and after a comfortable run midfield, she set to fight out the finish alongside second-favourite One More Dance. The pair put distance between the remainder of the field, but Akenehi proved too strong in the finish and scored by a long neck in the colours of breeders Trelawney Stud. Completing the combination’s winning treble was Polly Plum, who bounced back from her last-start effort on the Cambridge Synthetic to claim the Toby Autridge Memorial (1400m). A daughter of impressive former Te Akau representative Xtravagant, Polly Plum travelled midfield and was kept closer to the inside by Bosson while others veered to the outer turning for home, and that move paid off when she held off the late charge of Vino Valentino by a head. Wednesday’s win was the five-year-old mare’s fourth in 25 starts for the Te Akau Enfranchise Racing Partnership. Horse racing news View the full article

Belclare pictured with breeder and co-owner David Woodhouse. Photo: Race Images Group 1 winner Belclare’s retirement from racing has been short-lived, with the daughter of Per Incanto set to join expat Kiwi trainer Bjorn Baker’s Sydney barn. The six-year-old mare had a stellar racing career in New Zealand, winning 11 races for Awapuni trainer Lisa Latta, including the last two editions of the Group 1 New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m). She was subsequently offered at Magic Millions’ National Broodmare Sale last month where she failed to meet her A$700,000 reserve. While initially disappointed with the outcome, breeder and co-owner David Woodhouse is excited by the prospect of racing his dual Group 1 winner in Australia. “I am sending her to Bjorn Baker,” Woodhouse said. “They obviously didn’t rate New Zealand Group racing, so I am trying to prove a point. “Everyone is amazed she didn’t sell. Maybe I put too high a reserve on her, but I was taking advice on the reserve. “I am actually quite excited about the prospect of having another go with her.” Spring targets await Belclare, with her new trainer already eyeing the Listed Mona Lisa Stakes (1350m) at Wyong on September 6 as a possible first target. “We will just see how she comes up. We are just trying to win a Group race in Australia,” Woodhouse said. “There is a fillies and mares 1350m race at Wyong at the start of September, and that might be a starting point.” While a Group win in Australia is the primary objective, Woodhouse said there are contingency plans if she doesn’t flatter Baker in the early stages of her preparation. “Bjorn said that if she doesn’t show him anything early on, he won’t be persevering with her,” Woodhouse said. “I would then get her in-foal in Australia and either try and sell her in foal or bring her home and let Lisa (Latta) have another go with her.” Selling Belclare would be the ultimate goal for Woodhouse, who said in his stage of life, racing has become his primary passion. “I am now 73 and it is getting increasingly more difficult to handle foals,” he said. “I just love racing horses, so I thought if I can make a bit of money out of her, I could carry on racing horses for the rest of my days. That plan didn’t come to fruition, but I am looking forward to plan b.” Woodhouse has got plenty to look forward to with Belclare’s siblings. “I have got a full-brother (to Belclare), Ardoe, he is just spelling and will come back into work in two months’ time,” Woodhouse said. “The half-sister by Time Test (Rithim) is going to the trials next Tuesday, Lisa (Latta) is very happy with her. We have got a beautiful weanling full-sister at home, and the mare is in-foal to Satono Aladdin.” Woodhouse is also excited about next season with his rising three-year-old filly Connello, who has returned to his Wairarapa property for a spell following her sixth-placed run in last Saturday’s Listed Castletown Stakes (1200m) on an unsuitable Heavy 10 track at Wanganui. “She is home for a month. She just didn’t handle how wet it was at Wanganui on Saturday,” Woodhouse said. “She is jumping out of her skin, she is tearing around the paddock like a lunatic. “She was due for a little let-up, that was quite the number of starts (seven) for a little two-year-old. We will bring her back and maybe target the Gold Trail (Group 3, 1200m) or find a suitable Pearl Series race for her.” Horse racing news View the full article

New Plymouth trainer Allan Sharrock. Photo: Peter Rubery (Race Images Palmerston North) Well-related mare Dresse’ Par Joli will have her final opportunity to break her maiden on Wednesday before she heads off on a winter break. The Tavistock four-year-old has finished close up in all three of her runs this preparation and the step up to a middle distance in The Underbelly Tito Transport Maiden (2000m) at New Plymouth will aid her cause. Trained on the course by Allan Sharrock, Dresse’ Par Joli is a daughter of the Listed Matamata Cup (1600m) winner Cote D’Or from the Pencarrow Stud family of multiple Group 1 winner and successful sire Darci Brahma. “She will go to the paddock after this, she’s a well-bred mare who is still a bit weak, but she should go close to getting up this time,” Sharrock said. Dresse’ Par Joli finished runner-up at Otaki over 1600m two runs back and was then fourth at Trentham over a mile again and easing out in trip is expected to suit the mare. She will further benefit from Triston Moodley’s three kilogram claim and the in-form apprentice will also partner fancied stablemates Librasi and Lazio. The former will resume in the Entain/NZB Insurance Pearl Series Race (1200m) and has had the benefit of a trial outing to ready the Reliable Man for her return. Librasi has only won once but has showed her quality when third in the Group 3 Eulogy Stakes (1600m) and also ran fourth in the Listed O’Leary’s Fillies’ Stakes (1200m). “It’s the old story, a bit like Sophmaze who came back well on Saturday, they had busy two and three-year-old years and they can bail out for a bit, but Librasi has come up well,” Sharrock said. “I like her fresh-up and she has drawn well in one.” Per Incanto four-year-old Lazio is another returning from a break in the One Bold Cat Counties Cup Winner Maiden (1200m). “He’s got to be tough to beat after two runs for two seconds,” Sharrock said. “He would have been a very smart horse if he didn’t have knee problems, but he’s still a good galloper and he’s pretty forward.” Lazio is a half-brother to the champion Hong Kong performer and four-time Group 1 winner Lucky Sweynesse. Continuing the apprentice theme, Brigit will be ridden by Toni Davies in Lazio’s event or by Niranjan Parmar if she contests the Mary Louise Wellington Cup winner 3YO Maiden (1200m). “She goes really well and is another I’d expect to be pretty competitive,” Sharrock said. Both of the Time Test filly’s outings have been over the course and distance and she was a close runner-up on debut and then followed up with a sound effort for fourth. Sharrock is enjoying another satisfying 2023-24 term with 34 winners and the stable surpassing the $1 million mark in earnings for the fourth consecutive season. “We’ve still got 40 in work and sorting through them all so I can’t complain,” he said. Horse racing news View the full article

Waverley trainer Bill Thurlow. Photo: Peter Rubery (Race Images Palmerston North) Waverley trainer Bill Thurlow is hoping to collect a couple of breakthrough successes with four runners heading to New Plymouth on Thursday. The meeting is solely for apprentice jockeys, and Thurlow has engaged the country’s top two in Niranjan Parmar and Lily Sutherland to ride his quartet, both of which he has had success with in the past. “Lily has ridden for us for a while and had a little bit to do with these horses,” he said. “Niranjan Parmar is a very capable apprentice, he’s a strong, aggressive rider who has ridden a few winners for me before. I’m very happy to have him on.” Sutherland leads the charge in the Central Districts region, and she will partner promising debutant O’Dee in the Mary Louise Wellington Cup Winner Maiden 3YO (1200m), who won at the Foxton trials on May 14. “He’s just a nice progressive horse, he went well at the trials, and we expect him to run well tomorrow,” Thurlow said. “I think he’ll go a good race, he’s done well since that trial and is reasonably well educated by now. He can get a little bit fierce, but he’s getting there so I’d expect him to go pretty well. “If he can just settle off the speed, we’d be happy and hopefully he can finish it off, it depends how it pans out but he should be able to do that from the draw (6).” She will also guide the fortunes of Steal My Thunder, a Derryn mare who came close to breaking maiden status last-start at Trentham. “It was a very good run at Wellington, she probably just got to the front a bit soon and got caught late. We were confident she would run well there and I think she loves a wet track,” Thurlow said. “She’s done well since she raced, and I’m very happy with her. “Tomorrow’s looking like it’s going to be reasonably wet, although we haven’t had any rain, but I think the rating is still a heavy so that shouldn’t worry her. “She’s drawn out a little bit (12), but that might not matter either if it’s wetter.” Parmar will travel south from the Waikato to fulfil his rides aboard Towrope in The Underbelly Tito Transport Ltd Maiden (2000m) and Champagne Linda in the Robbie Patterson Regal Lodge Maiden (1400m). “Towrope just didn’t really handle the heavy track at Wellington, but he’s come through it well. He physically looks good and he’s fit so he should race well tomorrow,” Thurlow said. A daughter of Darci Brahma, Champagne Linda has shown promise in her short career and contested the Group 3 Eulogy Stakes (1600m) last preparation. “She’s going well and I’m happy with her, she went to Taupo first-up and went a really good race, the race just didn’t really pan out to suit her,” Thurlow said. “She’s come through it well and her work has been good, we’ve got a good rider, so we are expecting a good run from her.” Horse racing news View the full article

Andy Win winning at Matamata on Wednesday. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images) Andy Win completed a memorable Prima Park graduate double this week in the Matamata Glass & Joinery 2000 on Wednesday, and farm principal Kelly Van Dyk couldn’t be any happier with the result. Andy Win was a breeze-up partner to last Saturday’s Group 1 Queensland Derby (2400m) winner Warmonger at the 2022 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run Sale, where the latter was sold to Champagne Racing’s Shane Kennedy for $165,000, while Andy Win failed to reach his $80,000 reserve. Warmonger was subsequently on sold to Australian syndicator OTI Racing and entered the care of trainers Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr, for whom he has won three of his nine starts, including Saturday’s Derby win, and he was also runner-up in the Group 1 South Australian Derby (2500m) the start prior. Warmonger was a pinhook for Van Dyk, in association with Ben Kwok and bloodstock agent Bevan Smith, after they went to $75,000 to purchase him out of Valachi Downs’ 2022 New Zealand Bloodstock Book 2 Yearling Sale draft. He would go on to join Prima Park’s Ready to Run Sale draft later that year, alongside Andy Win, who the same partnership had gone to $55,000 to purchase out of Carlaw Park’s 2021 New Zealand Bloodstock National Weanling Sale draft. Winning a maiden at a midweek meeting at Matamata might be poles apart from a Derby victory, but Van Dyk, who also trains Andy Win, was just as rapt to pick up the victory with Andy Win on her home track. “It was a really impressive win today,” she said. “It was his first time over 2000m, so you are always going to be apprehensive with how they will go, but his work on Saturday was huge galloping on the course proper at Matamata, and we were pretty confident heading into today. “I thought his first-up run over a mile at Te Rapa was really encouraging, just the way that he found the line. He has always looked like an out-and-out stayer. “Fittingly we (Van Dyk and Ben Kwok) owned Warmonger together and sold him. This horse (Andy Win) breezed up with Warmonger at the ready to run sale. “We are a long way from a Derby win in Queensland at Matamata on a Wednesday, but I think this horse is progressive and to do what he did today on his first trip over ground, I think it is all in front of him. “We bought him as a weanling and took him to the ready to runs. He was pretty green in his breeze-up and failed to make his reserve, so we just decided to keep him and push on with him, which we have done.” Van Dyk was rapt to see Warmonger win the Queensland Derby over the weekend in impressive fashion. “It was an awesome feeling to see a horse that you have selected yourself and done all the work with, and just to see him win like that was really satisfying,” she said. Van Dyk said Andy Win was always going to take a bit of time and she is hoping that he is now just starting to hit his straps compared to Warmonger who gave the impression her was a more precocious type during his time at Prima Park. “They were quite different,” she said. “Andy Win was always a big horse and you could see he was going to be a stayer in the making, and time was going to be his friend, and that is exactly what has happened, he has continued to keep getting better and better as time has gone on. “Warmonger was probably a bit more compact and has that huge heart and stamina to have done what he has done now. Both were very lovely horses in their own right and headed down different paths.” There has been a fair bit of interest in Andy Win from bloodstock agents, and he too could find himself across the Tasman in the near future. “He has had a few people sniffing around, so he might be sold before we get to carry on with him,” Van Dyk said. “If not, we will just keep progressing through the grades. He is just going to get better with time, he is a big horse and we have just been really patient with him.” Horse racing news View the full article

The impressive recent strike-rate of Opie Bosson continued at Matamata on Wednesday, with the top hoop steering home three winners for Te Akau trainers Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson. Bosson has shared his riding engagements between New Zealand and Australia this season, most notably to partner the recently sold star Imperatriz (I Am Invincible), but has still managed to guide home 84 winners on Kiwi soil from just 320 rides. The first of his winning treble at Matamata was aboard Bella Voce, a daughter of Fastnet Rock, who had collected two second placings and a fourth in as many career starts. She was fancied near-unbeatable at $1.70 in the Entain – NZB Insurance Pearl Series Race (1200m), and after jumping positively, raced boldly along the back straight on-speed outside of Waiterimu. Bosson allowed the filly to slide into the lead turning for home, and that margin only continued to extend as she raced away for a 3-1/2 length victory. “She was on the job and pretty keen early,” Bosson said. “She will be better ridden in behind them but was too good for them ridden that way today.” Bella Voce was purchased by Te Akau principal David Ellis at the 2022 Gold Coast Yearling Sale, and Walker was pleased to see her performing well in the early stages of her career. “She appeared to have the race under control a long way from home and looked really good stretching out in the straight,” Walker said. “She’s taken a bit of time to mature, but she’s certainly got ability and you’d expect her to continue growing in confidence with the win. “It was good to see her being able to quicken with give in the ground, which is a big help at this time of the year, and we can now look to a Saturday grade race from here. “She’s developing into a big strong filly, has a beautiful pedigree, and it’s great to get a win early in her career.” Te Akau Racing stablemate Akenehi (Fastnet Rock) was tipped at a similar quote ($1.90) to enter the winner’s circle for the first time in the Thank You Vaughan Nowell 1400, and after a comfortable run midfield, she set to fight out the finish alongside second-favourite One More Dance (NZ) (Sweynesse). The pair put distance between the remainder of the field, but Akenehi proved too strong in the finish and scored by a long neck in the colours of breeders Trelawney Stud. Completing the combination’s winning treble was Polly Plum, who bounced back from her last-start effort on the Cambridge Synthetic to claim the Toby Autridge Memorial (1400m). A daughter of impressive former Te Akau representative Xtravagant, Polly Plum travelled midfield and was kept closer to the inside by Bosson while others veered to the outer turning for home, and that move paid off when she held off the late charge of Vino Valentino (NZ) (Zacinto) by a head. Wednesday’s win was the five-year-old mare’s fourth in 25 starts for the Te Akau Enfranchise Racing Partnership. View the full article

The 58 Lot catalogue for the latest fortnightly auction on gavelhouse.com features an outstanding selection of 22 horses from the globally renowned Cambridge Stud. The famous nursery is giving buyers access to 11 weanlings, two yearlings and nine broodmares, representing the high-class bloodlines that Cambridge Stud is known for. “We’ve used gavelhouse.com quite a few times to sell mares in the past, and we’ve noticed that the online market is gaining more and more traction,” Cambridge Stud’s sales and nominations manager Scott Calder said. “Buyers are very comfortable bidding on horses online now, particularly since Covid. It also suits us well as vendors, because we can sell straight off the farm, which reduces the stress for horses – such as the mares who are in foal. “We’ve traditionally taken a draft of weanlings to Karaka, but we’ve decided to offer those on gavelhouse.com this year as well. It allows us to keep them here on the farm, where people can come and have a look at them if they wish.” Cambridge Stud’s weanling selection on gavelhouse.com includes six progeny of exciting young shuttle stallion Hello Youmzain. The multiple Group One-winning sprinter made a splash with his first southern hemisphere yearlings this season, selling for up to $425,000 in Book 1 of Karaka 2024. “I think the Hello Youmzain weanlings are a really key opportunity for buyers among this group of horses,” Calder said. “His first yearlings sold very strongly at Karaka earlier in the year, and his first two-year-olds are off to an exciting start in Europe. He’s had nine starters up there for four winners and three placegetters. “From talking to agents based in the northern hemisphere, there’s a really positive vibe around the stallion. So from a pinhooking point of view, I think there’s a lot of upside to purchasing weanlings from his second crop. “We’re fortunate to have a large number of his progeny on the farm, so this is a good opportunity to give others the chance to secure some.” The Cambridge Stud broodmares are also set to command plenty of attention. “This is something that we do every year with our broodmare band,” Calder said. “We’re lucky to be in the position where Brendan and Jo have a large and successful racing team that’s made up primarily of fillies and mares. As those horses are retired off the track, we have to sell some of our other horses on a regular basis. If we don’t do that, the numbers just swell too much. “In terms of the quality of the mares we’re selling, the bar is getting higher and higher every year. A lot of the mares that we’re selling here are very current and active. “Eliza Blues (NZ) (O’Reilly) was a Group One placegetter herself in the Queensland Oaks (2400m), and she had a Group One runner last weekend with her son Navy King (NZ) (U S Navy Flag) in the Queensland Derby (2400m). He was well supported in the betting market for that race but just raced way too keenly. He was a very impressive winner at Flemington before that, so he has a bright future in front of him. “Phenetic (Zamindar) has a three-year-old filly by Almanzor racing in Melbourne this weekend. Tipilk (NZ) (Volksraad) is being offered in foal to Almanzor, who’s just going from strength to strength with his progeny. “We’re also selling mares in foal to Hello Youmzain, Sword Of State and Embellish (NZ), who all have a lot going for them as well. “I think this selection of horses represents some very good quality opportunities and great value for buyers. People have had some real success from pinhooking our weanlings in the past, and I’d expect this year to bring more of the same. “There have been some strong results with broodmares that we’ve sold online too, such as the mare Forest Of Seas (Sea The Stars), who’s the dam of our recent Group Two winner and Group One placegetter Aquacade (NZ) (Dundeel). We sold Forest Of Seas for $4,200 on gavelhouse.com a few years ago.” Overall, the 58-lot catalogue is made up of 15 weanlings, six yearlings, 25 broodmares and assorted racing stock. The sale features weanlings by the likes of Ace High, Almanzor, Embellish, Eminent, Hello Youmzain, Preferment, Turn Me Loose (NZ) and Wooded. The yearlings are by Embellish, Hello Youmzain, Jon Snow (NZ) and Turn Me Loose. Mares are being offered in foal to Ace High, Almanzor, Armory, Embellish, Hello Youmzain, Sword Of State, Redwood, U S Navy Flag and Turn Me Loose. Bidding is open now, with the first lot closing from 7pm on Monday June 10. Browse the full catalogue. Meanwhile, entries are also open for the National Online Breeding Stock Sale on Gavelhouse Plus. This sale will go live on Friday 28th June and close on Wednesday 10th July. View the full article

Waverley trainer Bill Thurlow is hoping to collect a couple of breakthrough successes with four runners heading to New Plymouth on Thursday. The meeting is solely for apprentice jockeys, and Thurlow has engaged the country’s top two in Niranjan Parmar and Lily Sutherland to ride his quartet, both of which he has had success with in the past. “Lily has ridden for us for a while and had a little bit to do with these horses,” he said. “Niranjan Parmar is a very capable apprentice, he’s a strong, aggressive rider who has ridden a few winners for me before. I’m very happy to have him on.” Sutherland leads the charge in the Central Districts region, and she will partner promising debutant O’Dee in the Mary Louise Wellington Cup Winner Maiden 3YO (1200m), who won at the Foxton trials on May 14. “He’s just a nice progressive horse, he went well at the trials, and we expect him to run well tomorrow,” Thurlow said. “I think he’ll go a good race, he’s done well since that trial and is reasonably well educated by now. He can get a little bit fierce, but he’s getting there so I’d expect him to go pretty well. “If he can just settle off the speed, we’d be happy and hopefully he can finish it off, it depends how it pans out but he should be able to do that from the draw (6).” She will also guide the fortunes of Steal My Thunder, a Derryn mare who came close to breaking maiden status last-start at Trentham. “It was a very good run at Wellington, she probably just got to the front a bit soon and got caught late. We were confident she would run well there and I think she loves a wet track,” Thurlow said. “She’s done well since she raced, and I’m very happy with her. “Tomorrow’s looking like it’s going to be reasonably wet, although we haven’t had any rain, but I think the rating is still a heavy so that shouldn’t worry her. “She’s drawn out a little bit (12), but that might not matter either if it’s wetter.” Parmar will travel south from the Waikato to fulfil his rides aboard Towrope in The Underbelly Tito Transport Ltd Maiden (2000m) and Champagne Linda in the Robbie Patterson Regal Lodge Maiden (1400m). “Towrope just didn’t really handle the heavy track at Wellington, but he’s come through it well. He physically looks good and he’s fit so he should race well tomorrow,” Thurlow said. A daughter of Darci Brahma, Champagne Linda has shown promise in her short career and contested the Gr.3 Eulogy Stakes (1600m) last preparation. “She’s going well and I’m happy with her, she went to Taupo first-up and went a really good race, the race just didn’t really pan out to suit her,” Thurlow said. “She’s come through it well and her work has been good, we’ve got a good rider, so we are expecting a good run from her.” View the full article

Andy Win (NZ) (Almanzor) completed a memorable Prima Park graduate double this week in the Matamata Glass & Joinery 2000 on Wednesday, and farm principal Kelly Van Dyk couldn’t be any happier with the result. Andy Win was a breeze-up partner to last Saturday’s Gr.1 Queensland Derby (2400m) winner Warmonger (NZ) (War Decree) at the 2022 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run Sale, where the latter was sold to Champagne Racing’s Shane Kennedy for $165,000, while Andy Win failed to reach his $80,000 reserve. Warmonger was subsequently on sold to Australian syndicator OTI Racing and entered the care of trainers Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr, for whom he has won three of his nine starts, including Saturday’s Derby win, and he was also runner-up in the Gr.1 South Australian Derby (2500m) the start prior. Warmonger was a pinhook for Van Dyk, in association with Ben Kwok and bloodstock agent Bevan Smith, after they went to $75,000 to purchase him out of Valachi Downs’ 2022 New Zealand Bloodstock Book 2 Yearling Sale draft. He would go on to join Prima Park’s Ready to Run Sale draft later that year, alongside Andy Win, who the same partnership had gone to $55,000 to purchase out of Carlaw Park’s 2021 New Zealand Bloodstock National Weanling Sale draft. Winning a maiden at a midweek meeting at Matamata might be poles apart from a Derby victory, but Van Dyk, who also trains Andy Win, was just as rapt to pick up the victory with Andy Win on her home track. “It was a really impressive win today,” she said. “It was his first time over 2000m, so you are always going to be apprehensive with how they will go, but his work on Saturday was huge galloping on the course proper at Matamata, and we were pretty confident heading into today. “I thought his first-up run over a mile at Te Rapa was really encouraging, just the way that he found the line. He has always looked like an out-and-out stayer. “Fittingly we (Van Dyk and Ben Kwok) owned Warmonger together and sold him. This horse (Andy Win) breezed up with Warmonger at the ready to run sale. “We are a long way from a Derby win in Queensland at Matamata on a Wednesday, but I think this horse is progressive and to do what he did today on his first trip over ground, I think it is all in front of him. “We bought him as a weanling and took him to the ready to runs. He was pretty green in his breeze-up and failed to make his reserve, so we just decided to keep him and push on with him, which we have done.” Van Dyk was rapt to see Warmonger win the Queensland Derby over the weekend in impressive fashion. “It was an awesome feeling to see a horse that you have selected yourself and done all the work with, and just to see him win like that was really satisfying,” she said. Van Dyk said Andy Win was always going to take a bit of time and she is hoping that he is now just starting to hit his straps compared to Warmonger who gave the impression her was a more precocious type during his time at Prima Park. “They were quite different,” she said. “Andy Win was always a big horse and you could see he was going to be a stayer in the making, and time was going to be his friend, and that is exactly what has happened, he has continued to keep getting better and better as time has gone on. “Warmonger was probably a bit more compact and has that huge heart and stamina to have done what he has done now. Both were very lovely horses in their own right and headed down different paths.” There has been a fair bit of interest in Andy Win from bloodstock agents, and he too could find himself across the Tasman in the near future. “He has had a few people sniffing around, so he might be sold before we get to carry on with him,” Van Dyk said. “If not, we will just keep progressing through the grades. He is just going to get better with time, he is a big horse and we have just been really patient with him.” View the full article

Group One winner Belclare’s (NZ) retirement from racing has been short-lived, with the daughter of Per Incanto set to join expat Kiwi trainer Bjorn Baker’s Sydney barn. The six-year-old mare had a stellar racing career in New Zealand, winning 11 races for Awapuni trainer Lisa Latta, including the last two editions of the Gr.1 New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m). She was subsequently offered at Magic Millions’ National Broodmare Sale last month where she failed to meet her A$700,000 reserve. While initially disappointed with the outcome, breeder and co-owner David Woodhouse is excited by the prospect of racing his dual Group One winner in Australia. “I am sending her to Bjorn Baker,” Woodhouse said. “They obviously didn’t rate New Zealand Group racing, so I am trying to prove a point. “Everyone is amazed she didn’t sell. Maybe I put too high a reserve on her, but I was taking advice on the reserve. “I am actually quite excited about the prospect of having another go with her.” Spring targets await Belclare, with her new trainer already eyeing the Listed Mona Lisa Stakes (1350m) at Wyong on September 6 as a possible first target. “We will just see how she comes up. We are just trying to win a Group race in Australia,” Woodhouse said. “There is a fillies and mares 1350m race at Wyong at the start of September, and that might be a starting point.” While a Group win in Australia is the primary objective, Woodhouse said there are contingency plans if she doesn’t flatter Baker in the early stages of her preparation. “Bjorn said that if she doesn’t show him anything early on, he won’t be persevering with her,” Woodhouse said. “I would then get her in-foal in Australia and either try and sell her in foal or bring her home and let Lisa (Latta) have another go with her.” Selling Belclare would be the ultimate goal for Woodhouse, who said in his stage of life, racing has become his primary passion. “I am now 73 and it is getting increasingly more difficult to handle foals,” he said. “I just love racing horses, so I thought if I can make a bit of money out of her, I could carry on racing horses for the rest of my days. That plan didn’t come to fruition, but I am looking forward to plan b.” Woodhouse has got plenty to look forward to with Belclare’s siblings. “I have got a full-brother (to Belclare), Ardoe, he is just spelling and will come back into work in two months’ time,” Woodhouse said. “The half-sister by Time Test (Rithim) is going to the trials next Tuesday, Lisa (Latta) is very happy with her. We have got a beautiful weanling full-sister at home, and the mare is in-foal to Satono Aladdin.” Woodhouse is also excited about next season with his rising three-year-old filly Connello (NZ) (Time Test), who has returned to his Wairarapa property for a spell following her sixth-placed run in last Saturday’s Listed Castletown Stakes (1200m) on an unsuitable Heavy10 track at Wanganui. “She is home for a month. She just didn’t handle how wet it was at Wanganui on Saturday,” Woodhouse said. “She is jumping out of her skin, she is tearing around the paddock like a lunatic. “She was due for a little let-up, that was quite the number of starts (seven) for a little two-year-old. We will bring her back and maybe target the Gold Trail (Gr.3, 1200m) or find a suitable Pearl Series race for her.” View the full article

Well-related mare Dresse’ Par Joli (NZ) (Tavistock) will have her final opportunity to break her maiden on Thursday before she heads off on a winter break. The Tavistock four-year-old has finished close up in all three of her runs this preparation and the step up to a middle distance in The Underbelly Tito Transport Maiden (2000m) at New Plymouth will aid her cause. Trained on the course by Allan Sharrock, Dresse’ Par Joli is a daughter of the Listed Matamata Cup (1600m) winner Cote D’Or (NZ) (Makfi) from the Pencarrow Stud family of multiple Group One winner and successful sire Darci Brahma. “She will go to the paddock after this, she’s a well-bred mare who is still a bit weak, but she should go close to getting up this time,” Sharrock said. Dresse’ Par Joli finished runner-up at Otaki over 1600m two runs back and was then fourth at Trentham over a mile again and easing out in trip is expected to suit the mare. She will further benefit from Triston Moodley’s three kilogram claim and the in-form apprentice will also partner fancied stablemates Librarsi (NZ) (Reliable Man) and Lazio (NZ) (Per Incanto). The former will resume in the Entain/NZB Insurance Pearl Series Race (1200m) and has had the benefit of a trial outing to ready the Reliable Man for her return. Librarsi has only won once but has showed her quality when third in the Gr.3 Eulogy Stakes (1600m) and also ran fourth in the Listed O’Leary’s Fillies’ Stakes (1200m). “It’s the old story, a bit like Sophmaze who came back well on Saturday, they had busy two and three-year-old years and they can bail out for a bit, but Librasi has come up well,” Sharrock said. “I like her fresh-up and she has drawn well in one.” Per Incanto four-year-old Lazio is another returning from a break in the One Bold Cat Counties Cup Winner Maiden (1200m). “He’s got to be tough to beat after two runs for two seconds,” Sharrock said. “He would have been a very smart horse if he didn’t have knee problems, but he’s still a good galloper and he’s pretty forward.” Lazio is a half-brother to the champion Hong Kong performer and four-time Group One winner Lucky Sweynesse (NZ) (Sweynesse). Continuing the apprentice theme, Brigit (NZ) (Time Test) will be ridden by Toni Davies in Lazio’s event or by Niranjan Parmar if she contests the Mary Louise Wellington Cup winner 3YO Maiden (1200m). “She goes really well and is another I’d expect to be pretty competitive,” Sharrock said. Both of the Time Test filly’s outings have been over the course and distance and she was a close runner-up on debut and then followed up with a sound effort for fourth. Sharrock is enjoying another satisfying 2023-24 term with 34 winners and the stable surpassing the $1 million mark in earnings for the fourth consecutive season. “We’ve still got 40 in work and sorting through them all so I can’t complain,” he said. View the full article