Wandering Eyes

Matamata’s marvelous mare brings unique credentials to this year’s New Zealand Thoroughbred Horse of the Year Awards – sponsored by SENZ. Retired from racing following her autumn campaign, Imperatriz is amongst the standout contenders within the list of finalists for the 2023-24 Awards. After taking runner-up honours in 2023, the $6.6 million mare is likely a key contender for the sprinter-miler category this year, with obvious prospects for the major award. Campaigned by Te Akau Racing, the five-year-old mare is the first New Zealand-trained horse to win five Group I races in Australia in a single season since the introduction of the Australian group classification system, in the 1978-79 season. Group 1 Trackside NZ Derby winner Orchestral is the only horse this year to find herself in two categories. After her Australian campaign in the Group 1 Vinery Stakes over 2000m, the outstanding daughter of Savabeel cemented herself as a contender in both the three-year-old and staying categories. Trained by Roger James and Robert Wellwood, Orchestral had five wins and two seconds from her eight starts as a three-year-old and earned more than $2 million in stakes. Six horses, including four fillies, will contest the three-year-old section. Five were Group I winners and are joined by Antrim Coast, the runner-up to Orchestral in the Trackside NZ Derby and a Group II winner in Melbourne at his next start. The other male candidate is the Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand 2000 Guineas winner Crocetti who was the standout domestic performer in the spring. Crocetti and Orchestral never met in competition but between them they recorded 11 wins and three placings from 15 starts in the 2023-24 season and grossed close to $3 million in stakes. Their efforts also ensured that their owners – Daniel Nakhle (Crocetti) and Colin and Helen Litt (Orchestral) – are finalists for Owner of the Year. Jockey of the Year will be contested between six contenders including premiership winner Warren Kennedy, Opie Bosson who won five Group I races in Australia to go with his three in NZ while Grylls, McNab, Spratt and Doyle all had big seasons as well. The New Zealand Thoroughbred Horse of the Year results will be announced at the Awards dinner, at Mystery Creek Events Centre in Hamilton, on September 8. New Zealand Thoroughbred Horse of the Year finalists: Champion Two-Year-Old: Bellatrix Star, Captured By Love, Move To Strike, Velocious. Champion Three-Year-Old: Antrim Coast, Crocetti, Molly Bloom, Orchestral, Pulchritudinous, Quintessa. Champion Sprinter-Miler (Up to and including 1600m): Bonny Lass, Desert Lightning, Imperatriz, La Crique. Champion Middle Distance Horse (1601m-2200m): Campionessa, El Vencedor, Ladies Man, Legarto. Champion Stayer: (2201m & further): Asterix, Mahrajaan, Mark Twain, Mary Louise, Orchestral. Champion Jumper: Berry The Cash, Nedwin, The Cossack, West Coast. Trainer of the Year: Robbie Patterson, Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson Partnership. Jockey of the Year: Opie Bosson, Joe Doyle, Craig Grylls, Warren Kennedy, Michael McNab, Sam Spratt. Jumps Jockey of the Year: Shaun Fannin, Portia Matthews, Hamish McNeill. Owner of the Year: Barneswood Farm, Denise Bassett and John Elstob, Eddie Bourke, Gerry Harvey, Ben Kwok, Brendan and Jo Lindsay Partnership, Colin and Helen Litt, Daniel Nakhle, The Oaks Stud, Kelvin and Vanessa Tyler, Waikato Stud. View the full article

Recent stable acquisition Lady Moana (NZ) (Ocean Park) was swift in putting up a winning performance for Clinton Isdale, breaking her maiden stylishly at Waverley on Sunday. A filly by Ocean Park, Lady Moana was positively out of the gates in the 1200m contest under Leah Hemi, who allowed her to find her feet midfield and one-off the rail. Turning for home, the perfect gap opened for Hemi and Lady Moana started to let down strongly, eventually coming out on top in a tight two-way go to the line with a game Hokitika Bell (NZ) (Belardo). Formerly prepared by Ben and Ryan Foote at Cambridge, it was the recommendation of the former to send Lady Moana to the smaller environment of Isdale’s, a decision that has paid dividends for her connections. “It was a good win,” Isdale said. “She came to me from Ben Foote and he had a big opinion of her, but he felt she would suit a smaller stable and convinced the owners to let me train her. “I didn’t really know what to expect really, I hadn’t given her a proper gallop since she arrived three or four weeks ago as I’ve just been swimming her and trying to change a few things up. “I said to Leah just ride her how she jumps, I think her best run prior had been sitting three-deep the trip so she probably appreciated being on the outside of horses. “I’ll give her a week off out in the paddock to get some weight back on her, she’s only a fine little thing. After that, I’ll just look for a nice 65 somewhere.” Isdale will have three representatives at the final meeting of the season on Wednesday at Tauranga, with consistent filly Impressive Belle (Press Statement) due a winning turn after a trio of placings since joining his stable. “It looks to map out perfectly and be her race on paper, her last run was very encouraging and she’s done nothing but put her hand up in the three runs she’s had for me,” Isdale said. “She’s a nice, honest horse.” The daughter of Press Statement will contest the Ultimate Mazda Maiden 3YO (1200m), while stablemate Storms Ahead (NZ) (Astern) lines up in the Back To Black Maiden 2100. “I thought he could win that last race in the amateurs, but being a three-year-old, I don’t think he handled carrying the big weight,” Isdale said. “He had a horse outside of him annoying him the whole race as well and didn’t allow him to get into a rhythm, but I think we’ll see a different horse on Wednesday.” A four-year-old by Belardo, Stone Of Destiny (NZ) will start on debut in the Aztech Signs Maiden (1400m) after joining Isdale earlier this month. “I thought I’d put him in as he’ll get a wet track which the Belardo’s seem to love,” he said. “I haven’t taken him for many gallops, just three-quarter pace so it’ll be a learning run for both him and us.” View the full article

Darwin Cup favourite Bear Story. Picture: Caroline Camilleri (Fotofinish Racepix) The Neil Dyer-trained Bear Story is top-weight for the $200,000 Darwin Cup (2050m) at Fannie Bay on Monday after being handed 61kg. A six-year-old gelding by Kodiac, Bear Story has only had one Top End start when he blitzed his rivals by 4.3 lengths in the Chief Minister’s Cup (1600m) at weight-for-age on July 13. Victory guaranteed the former Irish galloper an automatic start in the NT’s biggest race and he is the $2.25 favourite with online bookmakers as Dyer eyes his fourth Cup. The Kyneton-based trainer has already celebrated Cup victories with Hawks Bay (2011 and 2012) and Royal Request (2017). A last start fourth over 1800m (BM100) at Sandown in May before heading to the NT, Bear Story had three wins in Ireland before debuting in Australia in March 2023 when 11th for Cranbourne trainer Clinton McDonald in the Group 2 Blamey Stakes (1600m) at Flemington. The gelding’s first win was over 1609m at Dundalk as a two-year-old in December 2020 before posting back to back wins at the track in the Group 3 Dubai Diamond Stakes (2149m) in September 2021 and 2022. Bear Story also finished among the minor placings on eight occasions in 18 Irish starts. Gary Clarke’s five-year-old gelding Wolfburn (56.5kg), third in last year’s Darwin Cup, has had four wins from five starts from 1200-1600m since returning from SA, including victory in the Metric Mile (1600m) by 2.5 lengths on Saturday. Wolfburn, the son of Snitzel, is flying, but will need to find another gear after finishing second behind Bear Story in the Chief Minister’s Cup. Victory in the Cup will also make it four wins for Clarke, Darwin’s leading trainer, following the success of Lightinthenite (2015), Zahspeed (2018) and Playoffs (2022). Other winners of feature races leading up to the Darwin Cup include Wolfburn (ROANT Gold Cup), He’s Maverick (Darwin Guineas), Hettinger (Toyota Finance Cup), Masatora (NT Derby) and Hadouken (Buntine Handicap). Kerry Petrick’s Venting won the Alice Springs Cup (2000m) in April. Meanwhile, Chris Nash’s six-year-old gelding Ideas Man is top-weight for the $135,000 Palmerston Sprint (1200m) on Saturday after being assigned 61kg. Ideas Man, the son of Brazen Beau, finished second behind Dick Leech’s Early Crow in the Palmerston last year and in 22 Fannie Bay starts from 1000-1200m his record stands at 22: 9-6-1. In 11 Darwin starts since May 2023, Ideas Man has never missed the top four and he was a last start winner over 1100m (BM76) on July 17. Early Crow, currently the $5 favourite, now trained by Chris Pollard, completed his Palmerston preparations on July 20 with a last start win over 1200m at weight-for-age. Other likely Palmerston starters to taste success against quality opposition over the short course since May include Spaceship, Rising Sphere, Canton Kid, Kerioth and the in-form Star Magnum. Terry Gillett’s Dakota Lee, who has won 10 races from as many starts in Alice Springs, makes her Fannie Bay debut, while Kym Healy’s Mathematics is unlikely to get a start despite winning the $100,000 Pioneer Sprint (1200m) in the Red Centre in April. Horse racing news View the full article

The Melbourne Spring Carnival and Sydney Spring Carnival’s are set to kick off in August, with the opening Group 1 races to be held on August 24 and August 31, respectively. In this week’s edition of The Follow Files, we have found three runners that are worth following into each of the spring carnivals. You can add these horses to your blackbook with your chosen bookmaker and receive notifications when they run next. Top horses to follow during the 2024 spring carnivals Horse to follow: Berkshire Breeze Berkshire Breeze won his last three starts, with the winning hat-trick concluding in the Banjo Patterson Series Final over 2600m at Flemington, where he won by 4.75 lengths. Since joining the Ciaron Maher stable in November last year, the lightly raced five-year-old gelding has been to the races five times for three wins and one placing, with four of his five starts being over 2000m-plus. This son of Mastercraftsman has gone through his grades nicely during the winter, and he will seek to gain a golden ticket into the Melbourne Cup later in the spring through The Bart Cummings. Potential spring target: The Melbourne Cup appears to be the main target for Berkshire Breeze this spring; however, if he doesn’t win The Bart Cummings, he could try and plot a path to the Caulfield Cup a few weeks later. Berkshire Breeze is marked as a $15 chance for the Melbourne Cup & Caulfield Cup with Neds Berkshire Breeze with another impressive win! He’s one to follow this Spring… @cmaherracing @Brown_ethan8 pic.twitter.com/XL6xRjWyPu — 7HorseRacing (@7horseracing) July 6, 2024 Horse to follow: Veight After impressing trainers Tony & Calvin McEvoy in the autumn during his two-year-old season, Veight returned with a big win before the autumn carnival kicked off as a three-year-old, winning the Group 2 Australia Stakes. The son of Grunt then finished fourth behind two subsequent Group 1 winners, Mr Brightside and Pride Of Jenni, in the C.F. Orr Stakes before finishing second behind Southport Tycoon in the Group 1 Australian Guineas. The McEvoy team sent him to Rosehill to run in the Group 1 George Ryder Stakes, where he tackled 1500m for the first time. He saluted by a small margin over Lady Laguna to finish his autumn off with a victory. Potential spring target: Now that Veight enters the spring as a four-year-old entire, the $10 million Golden Eagle stands out as a clear target for him. With the Golden Eagle being raced over 1500m, expect the McEvoy team to kick off his preparation over 1200m and 1400m in readiness for his main target on November 2 at Rosehill. Veight is marked as an $8 chance with Playup to win the Golden Eagle. A ripping edition of The Agency George Ryder Stakes Veight for @mcevoymitchell @LaneDamian hold off the fast-finishing Lady Laguna to capture the Group 1 at Rosehill Gardens!#ExpectItAll #TABGoldenSlipper pic.twitter.com/mhCJbl2kgG — Australian Turf Club (@aus_turf_club) March 23, 2024 Horse to follow: Tower Of London For those that don’t know much about Tower Of London, he is a four-year-old entire who is trained by Aidan O’Brien in Ireland, and he has won six of his 12 starts for the master trainer. The son of Galileo has won multiple Group races, including the Group 2 Curragh Cup (2830m) and Group 2 Dubai Gold Cup (3200m). His most recent start was in the Curragh Cup, where Ryan Moore settled near last for most of the journey before peeling wide to unleash with a devastating turn of foot. Tower Of London bridged a near-25-length gap over the final 800m to run down his stablemate Grosevenor Square and win by 1.25 lengths. Tower Of London has the perfect racing style to perform well and win races under Australian conditions. Potential spring target: Although it hasn’t been confirmed if O’Brien will bring Tower Of London down to Australia to race in the Melbourne Cup, he has said that he believes the 3200m race would suit his galloper. Online bookmakers rate him as an equal-second favourite for the race that stops the nation, and many expect him to make the trip down under in the coming months. Timed to perfection! Tower of London and Ryan Moore get there late in the Group 2 Comer Group International Curragh Cup as the pair flash home to deny trailblazing stablemate Grosvenor Square for trainer Aidan O’Brien pic.twitter.com/vBiZw4pge9 — The Curragh Racecourse (@curraghrace) July 20, 2024 Top horse racing sites for blackbook features Horse racing tips View the full article

Coolmore and Westerberg's G1 Irish 1000 Guineas and G1 Coronation Stakes placegetter Opera Singer (Justify) and supplementary entry Emily Upjohn (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) are the leading lights left after 10 of 12 overnight nominees stood their ground for Thursday's G1 Qatar Nassau Stakes. Opera Singer, last term's impressive G1 Prix Marcel Boussac winner, is on course to make her first start beyond the one-mile distance while it will be dual Group 1 winner Emily Upjohn's first visit to the Sussex Downs venue. The latter's Team Gosden stablemate Inspiral (GB) (Frankel {GB}) and Zinlo Syndicate's 'TDN Rising Star' Purple Lily (Ire) (Calyx {GB}) were the only absentees at Tuesday morning's declaration stage. Thursday's £665,000 renewal of the near 10-furlong contest also marks the first appearance of G1 Prix de Diane heroine Sparkling Plenty (Fr) (Kingman {GB}) since she caused a stir at last month's Goffs London sale. Al Shaqab Racing parted with £5-million for 50% of the 3-year-old distaffer in the immediate aftermath of a staggering £8.1-million final bid at the Kensington Palace Gardens fixture. Al Shaqab also stumped up the £40,000 fee to add Ralph Beckett trainee Doha (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), a stakes-placed daughter of dual Arc heroine heroine Treve (Fr) (Motivator {GB}), before last Friday's supplementary deadline and she will likely be utilised as a pace regulator for Sparkling Plenty. Beckett also has G2 Lancashire Oaks third Lady Boba (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) engaged. Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum's G1 1000 Guineas heroine Elmalka (GB) (Kingman {GB}) finished two places behind Opera Singer when fourth in Royal Ascot's G1 Coronation Stakes last month and, like that reopposing rival, will go beyond the one-mile trip for the first time. Coronation Stakes fifth See The Fire (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), the third representative of her sire, returns off a fourth behind City of Troy (Justify) in this month's G1 Eclipse Stakes at Sandown. The field is completed by Michael O'Flynn's Lumiere Rock (Ire) (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}), Omar Jackson's Novus (Ire) (Dandy Man {Ire}) and Hughie Morrison trainee Stay Alert (GB) (Fastnet Rock {Ire}). The post 10 Declared for Thursday’s Nassau, Opera Singer and Emily Upjohn to Face Off in Clash of the Generations appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Star miler Rosallion (Ire) (Blue Point {Ire}) will miss the Qatar Sussex Stakes at Goodwood on Wednesday due to a respiratory infection. Runner-up to Notable Speech (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) in the 2,000 Guineas on his three-year-old debut, Rosallion went one better in the Irish edition before turning the tables on his Newmarket conqueror when landing the St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot. Richard Hannon's colt was again set to clash with Notable Speech, who disappointed at the royal meeting, and the St James's Palace runner-up Henry Longfellow (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) in the Group 1 feature on day two of the Qatar Goodwood Festival. However, he was officially declared a non-runner shortly after 11am on Tuesday, with a respiratory infection put forward as the reason for his defection. The post Rosallion To Miss Sussex Stakes Due To Respiratory Infection appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The catalogue for Goffs Orby Book 1 is now available online and features some exceptionally-bred horses. A total of 516 Lots will be offered on October 1 and 2, while all yearlings at Orby Book 1 and Book 2 are eligible for the Goffs Two Million Series in 2025. Offering a guaranteed minimum prize fund of €2,000,000, the Two Million Series will be headed once again by Europe's Richest 2YO Race, the seven-furlong Goffs Million worth €1,000,000 with prize money to tenth place. In addition, the enhanced Goffs One Million Bonus Race Series will see the number of Goffs €50,000 Bonuses for eligible Orby graduates double to 20 in 2025 whilst, importantly, it will be expanded to include two-year-old races in the UK as well as in Ireland. Winners of the €50,000 Bonuses so far this year include ante-post Derby favourite The Lion In Winter. Dubawi, Frankel, Kingman, Lope De Vega, Sea The Stars, Siyouni, and Wootton Bassett head an Orby Book 1 sire profile to rival any major international sale, while siblings to a host of Group 1 winners as well as Group 1 dams can be found throughout. Commenting on publication of the catalogue, Goffs Group Chief Executive Henry Beeby said, “Irish thoroughbreds are celebrated worldwide and our aim throughout the Orby inspections was to work with leading breeders to hand pick a more concise selection of elite Irish yearlings for Ireland's National Yearling Sales. We are thrilled to now present a Book 1 catalogue of significantly stronger quality to meet the ever-increasing global demand at Orby and are extremely grateful to our vendors for sending a greater share of their best to Goffs.” He added, “Unique to Orby, all yearlings in Book 1 and Book 2 are eligible for the Goffs Two Million Series in 2025 featuring Europe's Richest Two-Year-Old race and the Goffs One Million Bonus Series. As the concept evolves we are doubling the number of €50,000 Bonus prizes as well as expanding them to the UK to appeal to the large numbers of British owners and trainers who flock to Orby. The bonuses have really caught the imagination, as we have presented €50,000 cheques to connections of a number of exciting juveniles this season with more to come, and so we are delighted to create even more chances for Orby buyers to win in 2025”. The catalogue for Orby Book 2 which takes place from 3 – 4 October will be published this week. The post “Elite Irish Yearlings” On Show As Goffs Release Orby Book 1 Catalogue appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

What Sandown Hillside Races Where Sandown Racecourse – 591-659 Princes Hwy, Springvale VIC 3171 When Wednesday, July 31, 2024 First Race 12:25pm AEST Visit Dabble Another Wednesday metro meeting in Victoria heads to Sandown this week, with eight races set down for decision. Clear skies are forecast leading into the meeting, so the Heavy 8 track looks set to become at least a Soft 7 by raceday. The rail comes out 4m for the entire circuit, with the action commencing at 12:25pm AEST. Best Bet at Sandown: Orlabent Since transferring to Melody Cunningham’s barn, Orlabent has produced two stunning victories in recent weeks. The Hellbent progeny was a dominant winner on the Ballarat synthetic, and he was just as impressive at Murray Bridge next time out. He clearly loves wet tracks, winning three times and finishing second in another, and looks poised to build on that record as he steps up in grade. Best Bet Race 4 – #3 Orlabent (1) 4yo Gelding | T: Kris Lees | J: Beau Mertens (59kg) +340 with Neds Next Best at Sandown: Batrana After some luckless runs, Batrana registered a confidence-boosting win on the Ballarat synthetic on July 14. The Justify filly ran her rivals into the dirt after taking control of proceedings — a tactic she had never adopted before. It gives Beau Mertens options as she returns to town, and as she steps back into BM70 grade, Batrana looks like the best horse in the race. Next Best Race 7 – #1 Batrana (5) 3yo Filly | T: Tony & Calvin McEvoy | J: Beau Mertens (60kg) +270 with PlayUp Best Value at Sandown: Reprisal The Danny O’Brien-trained Reprisal caught the eye when running into second place at Flemington on July 20. The three-year-old gelding ran on powerfully from the rear of the field, and if the track does continue to improve, it will suit the son of Trapeze Artist perfectly. Reprisal will need a luck from barrier 12, but with a strong finish, he can blouse the leaders at nice each-way odds with online bookmakers. Best Value Race 6 – #5 Reprisal (12) 3yo Gelding | T: Danny O’Brien | J: Jamie Mott (58kg) +850 with Picklebet Sandown Wednesday quaddie tips – 31/7/2024 Sandown quadrella selections Wednesday, July 31, 2024 1-2-3-6-7 1-2-4-5 1-3 1-2-4-5-6-10 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip Horse racing tips View the full article

Express Yourself (inside) will campaign in Melbourne this spring. Photo: Peter Rubery (Race Images Palmerston North) Group 1 performer Express Yourself will test her talents in Melbourne this spring, with part-owner and former trainer Nikki Hurdle entrusting her to the care of Cranbourne conditioners Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr. The rising six-year-old daughter of Shamexpress had a breakthrough season for Hurdle, winning four and finished runner-up in three of her eight starts, including a nose defeat to Mercurial in the Group 1 Telegraph (1200m). Express Yourself, who will race as Expressiveness in Australia, crossed the Tasman earlier this month and Hurdle believes it is the right time to test her mare in the competitive racing jurisdiction. “She is on a temporary visa,” Hurdle said. “She is going to have a spring campaign in Melbourne. It is pretty open-ended, but the plan is that she will be back here in December. “I have looked through what is coming up for her in New Zealand and when you get to a rating like her, it is just so limited. Every time she races now, she is going to be carrying a lot of weight and we just felt that the time was so right to give her a go in Australia. “There are a lot of fillies and mares races there and we thought it was a great place to try her. We thought the worst thing we could do is not have a go, so I got in touch with Mick Price and he was very keen to have a go with her. We worked out a plan and she has been over with him now for just over three weeks. “Mick told me to do it now because she is at the right age, she is at the right point of her career, she is at the right rating, and she has had very few starts for a horse of her age. He said he thinks she is exactly the right horse to do this with.” Hurdle said she has received glowing reports from Kent and Price, and she has been impressed with the level of communication from the pair. “The Price/Kent stable have been outstanding, the communication has just been awesome,” she said. “He (Price) sends us videos and voice mails. I have had quite a bit of contact with Mick, he did give me the time to talk with him about this mare. We have had several long talks about her and I just felt he got her, which you would expect from a trainer of his experience. “She had her first jumpout at Cranbourne on Monday morning and went very well, he was thrilled with her.” Hurdle’s son Ryan, a jockey based in Ballarat, guided Express Yourself to her Group 1 placing earlier this year and she is keen to give him the opportunity to do the same in his adopted homeland in the coming months. “I would hope that he will have the opportunity to ride her in Australia,” Hurdle said. “When I first got her, he won a trial on her at Foxton when he happened to be home. He has had three rides on her for two wins and a very narrow miss in a Group 1. He does get on really well with her and we would love to see him ride her in Australia. “Blake Shinn rode her on Monday and Mick Dee is a good friend of Ryan’s and he said he would like to ride her too. There is no lack of good riders.” While an Australian jockey has yet to be locked in, Hurdle said regardless of the spring, Ryan will be reunited with Express Yourself in New Zealand when she returns later this year with an eye towards going one better in the Telegraph. “Whatever happens, he (Ryan) will come back and ride her again in the Telegraph for me,” Hurdle said. “After that we may give her a go at the BCD Group Sprint (Group 1, 1400m) and then that would be her for the season.” Hurdle has the two New Zealand Group 1 sprints firmly in her sights but is opting to stay clear of the Group 1 Railway (1200m) for now, having been put off by Ellerslie after her mare finished 12th in the Group 2 Westbury Classic (1400m) on Karaka Millions night in January. “The worst race she ran was at Ellerslie and I am a little worried about taking her back there,” she said. “We struck it on Millions night and she did not go at all on that track, and I won’t be in a hurry to bring her back. She told us in no uncertain terms that she didn’t go on that surface.” Hurdle is also eyeing a potential return across the Tasman next year with Express Yourself if everything goes to plan this spring. “I pre-trained her this year for Mick and it has worked out quite well,” she said. “If this experiment goes well, we will do it all again (next year). We would probably leave her there and get her in foal as she would be seven by then.” While Express Yourself is campaigning in Melbourne, Hurdle said she will be occupied back at home in Manawatu with a new stable acquisition. “I only ever do one or two, and I have been very fortunate to pick up a lovely Darci Brahma filly who is a half to (six-win mare) Meglio Di Falcrest. What got my interest is that Falcrest, the mother, is a half to an incredibly good sprinter called Centre Crest who won 16 races for Wayne Marshment. “This wee filly came along and I just couldn’t grab her quick enough. She is a really nice horse. I am playing with her while Express Yourself is having her working holiday in Australia, and I am quite optimistic about her too. “We have leased her off a good friend of mine and they have kept shares. Some of the Express Yourself syndicate have also taken shares in her. It is nice to have something to move on with.” Hurdle is excited about the spring on both sides of the Tasman and is looking forward to heading to Australia to watch Express Yourself compete. “It is a big syndicate and we are all planning on heading over at some point to watch the horse race,” she said. “It is a big leap of faith for us (sending her over to Melbourne), but we are keen. We have such faith in her, we think she is a really nice horse, and we are keen to see what she can do in Australia. I hate the thought of dying wondering. “She is in a brilliant stable and will be given every chance. We are looking forward to seeing what Mick can do with her. “He is thinking of racing her on the 17th of August at Caulfield, all going well.” Horse racing news View the full article

Steven Cole is hoping he can end the season on a bright note when he heads to Tauranga on Wednesday. The Byerley Park trainer will take three runners to the last meeting of the season, including last start winner Mighty Bright (NZ) (Power), who will contest the Gartshore Construction (1400m). The four-year-old son of Power is rated a $2.35 chance by TAB bookmakers to make it back-to-back wins, and Cole shares their confidence. “He seems to have come through it well and it looks the same quality field, so I am hoping for another nice run,” he said. Cole will also be represented in the Contributer Standing At Mapperley Stud 1400 by Monkhana (NZ) (Mongolian Khan), who will head into Wednesday in a fresh state after winning at Pukekohe last month. “Monkhana is a nice chance,” Cole said. “She had a little freshen-up after that last run where she was trapped wide. Off her first two runs she would have to be a nice top three chance. She is training well and seems to get through the wet ground well.” Cole will also line-up Wye Valley (NZ) (Darci Brahma) in the Back To Black Maiden 2100. “Stepping up to 2100m for the first time and onto a wet track, which Bailey (Rogerson, apprentice jockey) suggested, hopefully we can see an improved run there,” Cole said. Looking ahead to the weekend, Cole will head north to Ruakaka on Saturday with three runners, including stakes performer Chicago Jack (All Too Hard), who will contest the 3YO SW+P 1100m. The son of All Too Hard had five starts as a juvenile, including a last start placing in the Listed TAB Star Way Stakes (1200m) at Ellerslie in April, and Cole has been pleased with the way he has returned from his spell. “He is coming up really well and trialled at Avondale the other day under Hamish (McNeil), who was carrying plenty of pudding, and just went around for a run around and has taken plenty of improvement out of it,” Cole said. “I would expect on that quality of field and what he was racing as an early two-year-old, he will be pretty hard to beat.” Cole will also be represented by Matetsi (NZ) (Proisir) in the Rating 65 2100 and Let It Begin in the Maiden 1200m. “Matetsi little bit disappointing last time (when seventh behind Might Bright), but it was a very heavy track at Pukekohe so Kelly (Myers, jockey) suggested to put him in at Ruakaka where you are going to get a better surface,” Cole said. “Stepping up in distance will help him too, so I am expecting an improved run there. “Let It Begin is going well. She ran some good sectionals last time stepping up to 1400m. She has had a bit of a freshen-up stepping back to 1200m and she should run well.” View the full article

Warren Kennedy will welcome a less taxing riding schedule next season after achieving his ambition of securing the New Zealand Jockeys’ Premiership. With one more meeting to come at Tauranga on Wednesday, Kennedy secured the title with 139 winners, 17 at Group or Listed level, with his mounts earning just shy of $6 million in 2023/24. “It’s always been my goal and I am so happy to have achieved it,” he said. Kennedy won two premierships and an apprentices’ title in his native South Africa and with the New Zealand crown now to his credit, will take on a less punishing schedule in the new season. “I won’t be taking a prolonged break, just a couple of days here and there through August,” he said. “It’s been pretty taxing and the body is a bit tired and the mind as well, it’s been a hard season. “It’s difficult to compare with South Africa, the racecourses are really close to the airports there, so the travel is pretty easy. “Here, you have to fly and then drive and there are some remote courses, so I’ve spent a lot more time in the car. There won’t be quite as much travel next season, I’ll be more focussed on the carnivals and the Group races.” Kennedy arrived in New Zealand in October 2022, and was shortly after joined by wife Barbara, who now trains at Byerley Park, and daughters Jamie Lee and Ryleigh. “It’s been a great season and I’ve had a lot of help along the way, which you need to achieve the goals,” he said. “A big shout out to everyone and to my family, they are a racing family and know what it takes to win premierships and how demanding it is. “They have been so supportive of me and that’s also one of the reasons why I won’t be travelling as much, I want to spend more time with the people that helped me along the way.” Kennedy singled out two days as his highlights of the 2023/24 term. “Winning seven on New Year’s Day (at Pukekohe) was pretty special and winning the Guineas (Gr.1, 1600m) on Crocetti for Daniel (Nakhle) was also very special,” said Kennedy, with the Byerley Park founder having helped facilitate his move from South Africa, alongside former jockey Donovan Mansour. Trained by Danny Walker and Aaron Tata, the Nakhle-bred and raced Crocetti enjoyed an outstanding three-year-old campaign with six wins on the bounce, including the Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton. “He will have his first-up run at Ruakaka, but I’ll be at the winter carnival in Christchurch, so I won’t ride him,” Kennedy said. “I think he will then go straight to the Tarzino Trophy (Gr.1, 1400m) and I’ll hook up with him again there. “I trialled him the other day and he’s going fantastic. Toward the end of his term last season, he had grown in height but not in width. “He had got a bit leggy, but he’s filled into his frame and is more confident in his stride and with more purpose, he seems to have improved quite nicely.” View the full article

Group One performer Express Yourself (NZ) (Shamexpress) will test her talents in Melbourne this spring, with part-owner and former trainer Nikki Hurdle entrusting her to the care of Cranbourne conditioners Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr. The rising six-year-old daughter of Shamexpress had a breakthrough season for Hurdle, winning four and finished runner-up in three of her eight starts, including a nose defeat to Mercurial (NZ) (Burgundy) in the Gr.1 JR & N Berkett Telegraph (1200m). Express Yourself, who will race as Expressiveness in Australia, crossed the Tasman earlier this month and Hurdle believes it is the right time to test her mare in the competitive racing jurisdiction. “She is on a temporary visa,” Hurdle said. “She is going to have a spring campaign in Melbourne. It is pretty open-ended, but the plan is that she will be back here in December. “I have looked through what is coming up for her in New Zealand and when you get to a rating like her, it is just so limited. Every time she races now, she is going to be carrying a lot of weight and we just felt that the time was so right to give her a go in Australia. “There are a lot of fillies and mares races there and we thought it was a great place to try her. We thought the worst thing we could do is not have a go, so I got in touch with Mick Price and he was very keen to have a go with her. We worked out a plan and she has been over with him now for just over three weeks. “Mick told me to do it now because she is at the right age, she is at the right point of her career, she is at the right rating, and she has had very few starts for a horse of her age. He said he thinks she is exactly the right horse to do this with.” Hurdle said she has received glowing reports from Kent and Price, and she has been impressed with the level of communication from the pair. “The Price/Kent stable have been outstanding, the communication has just been awesome,” she said. “He (Price) sends us videos and voice mails. I have had quite a bit of contact with Mick, he did give me the time to talk with him about this mare. We have had several long talks about her and I just felt he got her, which you would expect from a trainer of his experience. “She had her first jumpout at Cranbourne on Monday morning and went very well, he was thrilled with her.” Hurdle’s son Ryan, a jockey based in Ballarat, guided Express Yourself to her Group One placing earlier this year and she is keen to give him the opportunity to do the same in his adopted homeland in the coming months. “I would hope that he will have the opportunity to ride her in Australia,” Hurdle said. “When I first got her, he won a trial on her at Foxton when he happened to be home. He has had three rides on her for two wins and a very narrow miss in a Group One. He does get on really well with her and we would love to see him ride her in Australia. “Blake Shinn rode her on Monday and Mick Dee is a good friend of Ryan’s and he said he would like to ride her too. There is no lack of good riders.” While an Australian jockey has yet to be locked in, Hurdle said regardless of the spring, Ryan will be reunited with Express Yourself in New Zealand when she returns later this year with an eye towards going one better in the Telegraph. “Whatever happens, he (Ryan) will come back and ride her again in the Telegraph for me,” Hurdle said. “After that we may give her a go at the BCD Group Sprint (Gr.1, 1400m) and then that would be her for the season.” Hurdle has the two New Zealand Group One sprints firmly in her sights but is opting to stay clear of the Gr.1 Railway (1200m) for now, having been put off by Ellerslie after her mare finished 12th in the Gr.2 Westbury Classic (1400m) on Karaka Millions night in January. “The worst race she ran was at Ellerslie and I am a little worried about taking her back there,” she said. “We struck it on Millions night and she did not go at all on that track, and I won’t be in a hurry to bring her back. She told us in no uncertain terms that she didn’t go on that surface.” Hurdle is also eyeing a potential return across the Tasman next year with Express Yourself if everything goes to plan this spring. “I pre-trained her this year for Mick and it has worked out quite well,” she said. “If this experiment goes well, we will do it all again (next year). We would probably leave her there and get her in foal as she would be seven by then.” While Express Yourself is campaigning in Melbourne, Hurdle said she will be occupied back at home in Manawatu with a new stable acquisition. “I only ever do one or two, and I have been very fortunate to pick up a lovely Darci Brahma filly who is a half to (six-win mare) Meglio Di Falcrest. What got my interest is that Falcrest, the mother, is a half to an incredibly good sprinter called Centre Crest who won 16 races for Wayne Marshment. “This wee filly came along and I just couldn’t grab her quick enough. She is a really nice horse. I am playing with her while Express Yourself is having her working holiday in Australia, and I am quite optimistic about her too. “We have leased her off a good friend of mine and they have kept shares. Some of the Express Yourself syndicate have also taken shares in her. It is nice to have something to move on with.” Hurdle is excited about the spring on both sides of the Tasman and is looking forward to heading to Australia to watch Express Yourself compete. “It is a big syndicate and we are all planning on heading over at some point to watch the horse race,” she said. “It is a big leap of faith for us (sending her over to Melbourne), but we are keen. We have such faith in her, we think she is a really nice horse, and we are keen to see what she can do in Australia. I hate the thought of dying wondering. “She is in a brilliant stable and will be given every chance. We are looking forward to seeing what Mick can do with her. “He is thinking of racing her on the 17th of August at Caulfield, all going well.” View the full article

Warren Kennedy winning the Group 1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) aboard Crocetti. Photo: Race Images South Warren Kennedy will welcome a less taxing riding schedule next season after achieving his ambition of securing the New Zealand Jockeys’ Premiership. With one more meeting to come at Tauranga on Wednesday, Kennedy secured the title with 139 winners, 17 at Group or Listed level, with his mounts earning just shy of $6 million in 2023/24. “It’s always been my goal and I am so happy to have achieved it,” he said. Kennedy won two premierships and an apprentices’ title in his native South Africa and with the New Zealand crown now to his credit, will take on a less punishing schedule in the new season. “I won’t be taking a prolonged break, just a couple of days here and there through August,” he said. “It’s been pretty taxing and the body is a bit tired and the mind as well, it’s been a hard season. “It’s difficult to compare with South Africa, the racecourses are really close to the airports there, so the travel is pretty easy. “Here, you have to fly and then drive and there are some remote courses, so I’ve spent a lot more time in the car. There won’t be quite as much travel next season, I’ll be more focussed on the carnivals and the Group races.” Kennedy arrived in New Zealand in October 2022, and was shortly after joined by wife Barbara, who now trains at Byerley Park, and daughters Jamie Lee and Ryleigh. “It’s been a great season and I’ve had a lot of help along the way, which you need to achieve the goals,” he said. “A big shout out to everyone and to my family, they are a racing family and know what it takes to win premierships and how demanding it is. “They have been so supportive of me and that’s also one of the reasons why I won’t be travelling as much, I want to spend more time with the people that helped me along the way.” Kennedy singled out two days as his highlights of the 2023/24 term. “Winning seven on New Year’s Day (at Pukekohe) was pretty special and winning the Guineas (Group 1, 1600m) on Crocetti for Daniel (Nakhle) was also very special,” said Kennedy, with the Byerley Park founder having helped facilitate his move from South Africa, alongside former jockey Donovan Mansour. Trained by Danny Walker and Aaron Tata, the Nakhle-bred and raced Crocetti enjoyed an outstanding three-year-old campaign with six wins on the bounce, including the Group 1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton. “He will have his first-up run at Ruakaka, but I’ll be at the winter carnival in Christchurch, so I won’t ride him,” Kennedy said. “I think he will then go straight to the Tarzino Trophy (Group 1, 1400m) and I’ll hook up with him again there. “I trialled him the other day and he’s going fantastic. Toward the end of his term last season, he had grown in height but not in width. “He had got a bit leggy, but he’s filled into his frame and is more confident in his stride and with more purpose, he seems to have improved quite nicely.” Horse racing news View the full article

Mighty Bright will contest the Gartshore Construction (1400m) at Tauranga on Wednesday. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images) Steven Cole is hoping he can end the season on a bright note when he heads to Tauranga on Wednesday. The Byerley Park trainer will take three runners to the last meeting of the season, including last start winner Mighty Bright, who will contest the Gartshore Construction (1400m). The four-year-old son of Power is rated a $2.35 chance by bookmakers to make it back-to-back wins, and Cole shares their confidence. “He seems to have come through it well and it looks the same quality field, so I am hoping for another nice run,” he said. Cole will also be represented in the Contributer Standing At Mapperley Stud 1400 by Monkhana, who will head into Wednesday in a fresh state after winning at Pukekohe last month. “Monkhana is a nice chance,” Cole said. “She had a little freshen-up after that last run where she was trapped wide. Off her first two runs she would have to be a nice top three chance. She is training well and seems to get through the wet ground well.” Cole will also line-up Wye Valley in the Back To Black Maiden 2100. “Stepping up to 2100m for the first time and onto a wet track, which Bailey (Rogerson, apprentice jockey) suggested, hopefully we can see an improved run there,” Cole said. Looking ahead to the weekend, Cole will head north to Ruakaka on Saturday with three runners, including stakes performer Chicago Jack, who will contest the 3YO SW+P 1100m. The son of All Too Hard had five starts as a juvenile, including a last start placing in the Listed Star Way Stakes (1200m) at Ellerslie in April, and Cole has been pleased with the way he has returned from his spell. “He is coming up really well and trialled at Avondale the other day under Hamish (McNeil), who was carrying plenty of pudding, and just went around for a run around and has taken plenty of improvement out of it,” Cole said. “I would expect on that quality of field and what he was racing as an early two-year-old, he will be pretty hard to beat.” Cole will also be represented by Matetsi in the Rating 65 2100 and Let It Begin in the Maiden 1200m. “Matetsi little bit disappointing last time (when seventh behind Might Bright), but it was a very heavy track at Pukekohe so Kelly (Myers, jockey) suggested to put him in at Ruakaka where you are going to get a better surface,” Cole said. “Stepping up in distance will help him too, so I am expecting an improved run there. “Let It Begin is going well. She ran some good sectionals last time stepping up to 1400m. She has had a bit of a freshen-up stepping back to 1200m and she should run well.” Horse racing news View the full article

What Warwick Farm Races Where Warwick Farm Racecourse – 2 Hume Hwy, Warwick Farm NSW 2170 When Wednesday, July 31, 2024 First Race 12:15pm AEST Visit Dabble Metro racing returns to Warwick Farm Racecourse on Wednesday afternoon, with a competitive eight-part program set to get underway at 12:15pm local time. The rail is out +5m between the 1000m marker and the winning post, while the remainder is out +3m. The track is rated a Heavy 10 at the time of acceptances, but with sunny skies predicted in the lead-up, punters can expect an upgrade to the Soft range prior to the opening event. Best Bet at Warwick Farm: Qatars Choice Qatars Choice debuts on the back of an eye-catching barrier trial at this course on July 1. The daughter of I Am Invincible was ridden quietly in the jump-out, doing her best work late to score by a head over 814m. Although the 1100m first-up may seem a stretch, barrier four should allow Jason Collett to lob into the one-one and give Qatars Choice every chance in this wide-open maiden contest. Best Bet Race 2 – #11 Qatars Choice (4) 2yo Filly | T: Ciaron Maher | J: Jason Collett (54kg) +400 with Unibet Next Best at Warwick Farm: Sailor Sailor comes through a hot form race at Randwick on July 13, with two subsequent winners emerging. The six-year-old hit the line well on that occasion, finishing fourth behind the likes of Ha Ha Ha and Space Age in BM78 company. Coming back to this BM72 appears to be ideal placement by the Kris Lees barn, and with the soft draw (4) allowing Benjamin Osmond to take closer order, watch for Sailor to be careering down the centre of the course when the whips are cracking. Next Best Race 6 – #2 Sailor (4) 6yo Gelding | T: Kris Lees | J: Benjamin Osmond (a3kg) (60.5kg) +450 with Bet365 Best Value at Warwick Farm: Theblade Theblade has shown plenty of quality in his three barrier trials to date. He claimed victory in his most recent piece of work at Rosehill on July 23, closing off impressively under minimal riding by star hoop Tommy Berry. He maintains the ride, and with barrier one giving him all the options, Theblade should be figuring in the finish provided the breaks fall his way in the home straight. Best Value Race 3 – #7 Theblade (1) 2yo Colt | T: Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes | J: Tommy Berry (56kg) +600 with Neds Warwick Farm quadrella selections Wednesday, July 30, 2024 1-2-6-7 2-5 2-3-10-11 3-4-6-7 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip Horse racing tips View the full article

Lady Moana winning at Waverley on Sunday. Photo: Peter Rubery (Race Images Palmerston North) Recent stable acquisition Lady Moana was swift in putting up a winning performance for Clinton Isdale, breaking her maiden stylishly at Waverley on Sunday. A filly by Ocean Park, Lady Moana was positively out of the gates in the 1200m contest under Leah Hemi, who allowed her to find her feet midfield and one-off the rail. Turning for home, the perfect gap opened for Hemi and Lady Moana started to let down strongly, eventually coming out on top in a tight two-way go to the line with a game Hokitika Bell. Formerly prepared by Ben and Ryan Foote at Cambridge, it was the recommendation of the former to send Lady Moana to the smaller environment of Isdale’s, a decision that has paid dividends for her connections. “It was a good win,” Isdale said. “She came to me from Ben Foote and he had a big opinion of her, but he felt she would suit a smaller stable and convinced the owners to let me train her. “I didn’t really know what to expect really, I hadn’t given her a proper gallop since she arrived three or four weeks ago as I’ve just been swimming her and trying to change a few things up. “I said to Leah just ride her how she jumps, I think her best run prior had been sitting three-deep the trip so she probably appreciated being on the outside of horses. “I’ll give her a week off out in the paddock to get some weight back on her, she’s only a fine little thing. After that, I’ll just look for a nice 65 somewhere.” Isdale will have three representatives at the final meeting of the season on Wednesday at Tauranga, with consistent filly Impressive Belle due a winning turn after a trio of placings since joining his stable. “It looks to map out perfectly and be her race on paper, her last run was very encouraging and she’s done nothing but put her hand up in the three runs she’s had for me,” Isdale said. “She’s a nice, honest horse.” The daughter of Press Statement will contest the Maiden 3YO (1200m), while stablemate Storms Ahead lines up in the Back To Black Maiden 2100. “I thought he could win that last race in the amateurs, but being a three-year-old, I don’t think he handled carrying the big weight,” Isdale said. “He had a horse outside of him annoying him the whole race as well and didn’t allow him to get into a rhythm, but I think we’ll see a different horse on Wednesday.” A four-year-old by Belardo, Stone Of Destiny will start on debut in the Aztech Signs Maiden (1400m) after joining Isdale earlier this month. “I thought I’d put him in as he’ll get a wet track which the Belardo’s seem to love,” he said. “I haven’t taken him for many gallops, just three-quarter pace so it’ll be a learning run for both him and us.” Horse racing news View the full article

What Corporate Race Day Where Fannie Bay Racecourse – Dick Ward Dr, Fannie Bay NT 0820 When Wednesday, July 31, 2024 First Race 2:19pm ACST Visit Dabble There are 61 acceptors for the six-event program at Fannie Bay this Wednesday, and the feature race on Day 6 of the Darwin Turf Club’s extravaganza is the $40,000 Dabble Cup (1300m) at 0-76 level. It should be sunny and windy with a top temperature of 33C. The rail will be in the true position, and Fannie Bay will once again be a good dirt surface. DABBLE CUP TIP: SHAKATTAK In a very open race at 0-76 level, Shakattak steps up in grade after posting an impressive win over 1300m in 0-66 company on July 13. Jumping from barrier five, the son of Shalaa found the rails and was happy to share the lead before pinching a break in the home straight to seal victory by two lengths. The four-year-old gelding drops 2.5kg and has also drawn a much better gate. Dabble Cup Race 6 – Shakattak (2) 4yo Gelding | T: Gary Clarke | J: Jarrod Todd (57kg) Bet with Dabble BEST BET AT DARWIN: POLARISING Polarising jumped from a wide gate while lumping 58kg in a 1000m 0-58 race on July 13 and settled at the rear in the 11-horse field leaving the back straight. After Tom Doyle fell from Aplomado with 650m to go, the four-year-old gelding switched to the rails and motored home to seal a spectacular victory in the shadows of the post. Best Bet Race 4 – #1 Polarising (3) 4yo Mare | T: Tom Logan | J: Sonja Logan (58.5kg) Bet with Bet365 NEXT BEST AT DARWIN: IKNOWHATYOUREDOING Iknowwhatyouredoing never figured in his first two Darwin races, blowing the start in both. The son of Husson jumped well on July 13 over 1600m in 0-62 company but was miles off the pace passing the 1200m. However, the Alice Springs four-year-old produced a stunning final 800m, rounding the field before exhibiting remarkable speed in the home straight to win by 3.3 lengths. Next Best Race 1 – #3 Iknowwhatyouredoing (13) 4yo Gelding | T: Kevin Lamprecht | J: Mark Pegus (60kg) Bet with Neds BEST VALUE AT DARWIN: MR HAVE A CHAT Mr Have A Chat was spelled after an impressive first Darwin prep that included a win and two runner-up finishes. The son of I’m All The Talk returned in June when third behind Rising Sphere and Star Magnum over 1100m in 0-76 grade. The six-year-old gelding can recover from a last-start ninth over 1100m in 0-70 company on July 6. Best Value Race 3 – #3 Mr Have A Chat (4) 6yo Gelding | T: Chris Nash | J: Mark Pegus (59.5kg) Bet with PlayUp Darwin quaddie tips – 31/7/2024 Fannie Bay quadrella selections Wednesday, July 31, 2024 1-3-5-6 1-2-3-7 5-9 1-2-3-5-6 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip Horse racing tips View the full article

Trainer and global racing powerhouse confirm globetrotting star will return to Sha Tin for HKIR dayView the full article

With the lucrative Kentucky Downs meeting right around the corner, Kentucky's top turf horses begin preparations with a chance to earn automatic invitations on the second and final preview day at Ellis Park Aug. 4.View the full article

The New York Racing Association will offer a special all-stakes Whitney Weekend All-Turf Pick 5, linking races from Aug. 2-3 at Saratoga Race Course.View the full article

7th-Ellis, $70,251, Msw, 7-29, 2yo, 6f, 1:11.97, my, 1 3/4 lengths. MESERO (c, 2, Not This Time–Lemon Liqueur {SP}, by Exchange Rate), a 5-1 shot, was away half a step slowly and raced near the back of the field as favored Snap Call (Volatile) pressed the pace three wide down the backstretch before settling just off the pace on the bend. Mesero began improving his position along the rail as the favorite settled just off the pace in third, but he was still some eight lengths back as the leaders turned for home. Snap Call, who hit the front at the top of the lane, began to dawdle and allowed pace-pressing Trew Violence (Violence) to retake the lead, but it was Mesero making eye-catching progress down the center of the track who flew to the lead in the final strides to graduate by 1 3/4 lengths. Trew Violence had 2 1/2 lengths on Snap Call in third. The victory gave trainer Dale Romans his second straight 2-year-old maiden winner on the Monday card at Ellis Park. Mesero, a $535,000 KEESEP yearling, is a half-brother to Bleecker Street (Quality Road), GISW, $894,700. Lemon Liqueur produced a colt by Quality Road this year and was bred back to Cody's Wish. Click for the Equibase.com chart. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $41,285. O-CJ Thoroughbreds & Delia Nash; B-Delia Nash (KY); T-Dale L. Romans. A slow start out of the gate didn't bother #2 MESERO ($12.58) who comes storming down the center of the track to win on debut in race 7 at Ellis Park. The son of Not This Time was ridden by @coreylanerie and is trained by @Romansracing. pic.twitter.com/WLgSolWbx7 — FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) July 29, 2024 The post Not This Time’s Mesero Flies to Debut Win at Ellis appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Carl Bowling, a longtime pinhooker in Ocala, Florida, died July 26 at the age of 84. The following is an obituary provided to the TDN by the Bowling family: “Carl Bowling passed away July 26, 2024, resulting from an accident while riding a motorcycle near Hiawassee, GA, where he enjoyed his summers with his family in the North Georgia mountains. Carl was 84 years young, born in 1940 in Black Mountain, NC. He was one of two boys and five girls. He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Joan, as well as his five adult children: Tony and his wife Dawn, Tammi, Mark, Keith, and Delaney. He was blessed with 10 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. Carl's love for God and sharing the blessings God has given him was his greatest passion. He was quick to tell others of God's blessings in his life including saving his life after crashing his private plane six years ago. Carl started in the race horse business in 1972 when he and his family started racing Quarter Horses. His racing operation added the name Straightaway Farm and was remarkably successful in the Quarter Horse circuit with notable horses such as Passum Flight, Wranglerette, Go Dicks Girl and many others. In 1977, Carl started the transition into Thoroughbred racing. His Straightaway Farm became known quite extensively through his success with horses such as City Zip, Western Pride, She Says It Best & many others. He was a great horseman with a vision, as well as a businessman with integrity, foresight and the desire to promote the racing industry. Carl was one of the pioneers in the “Pinhooking” of yearlings to 2-year-olds, before it ever gained the moniker of a pinhooker, at his farm in Ocala, Florida. Carl was a respected horseman, known for his knowledge of horses, his foresight promoting the racing industry and his ability to choose top racing prospects. Even more than those accomplishments, Carl was always ready and willing to help others succeed in this tough industry. He was always there to help anyone that asked and enjoyed sharing his knowledge and passion of the industry As one of the first to provide knowledge to Ocala Breeders Sales Company at its inception, Carl has also served on the Board of Directors there for many years. He retired from the Board following giving up the training aspect of his operation but was still partners with other horsemen, benefiting all involved. Carl was an icon in the industry and will be greatly missed by many. A celebration of Carl's life is scheduled for Thursday, August 1st at 3:00pm at Bevis Funeral Home located at 200 John Knox Rd., Tallahassee, FL. The family requests that anyone that would like to please make a donation to Ocala Farm Ministry, 489 NW 110th Ave., Ocala, FL 34482 or www.ocalafarmministry.org in Carl's memory. The family knows not everyone can make it to the celebration of life so it will be live streamed here.” The post Longtime Ocala Pinhooker Carl Bowling Dies At 84 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

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The West Virginia-bred filly Direct the Cat (Redirect), who was profiled in TDN earlier this month after winning six straight races by a combined 58 3/4 lengths, had her year-long, huge-margin win streak stopped Saturday night when she ran second at Charles Town in the $75,000 Sylvia Bishop Memorial S. for state-bred 3-year-old fillies. The 1 3/4-length defeat was administered by the 12-1 upsetter and second choice in the wagering, Overnight Pow Wow (Fiber Sonde). The two gray fillies are both owned and trained by Cyndy McKee, who, along with her late husband, John McKee, bred them both at the couple's Beau Ridge Farm near Charles Town. Prior to the July 27 defeat, the speed-centric Direct the Cat had won open allowance and state-bred stakes at Charles Town by 15 1/4, 6, 7 1/2, 12 1/4, 6 3/4 and 11 lengths dating back to her first victory in start number three on Aug. 10, 2023. On July 4, announcer Paul Espinosa, Jr. had admiringly described Direct the Cat as a “freak” of a racehorse when she won a seven-furlong allowance by about half the length of Charles Town's short, one-furlong stretch, and McKee subsequently told TDN that her filly was being courted by out-of-town racing secretaries to run in graded stakes. On Monday, some 36 hours after the one-two performance by her fillies, McKee told TDN she was “a little bit shocked” at the outcome. “Direct the Cat had a superficial cut on her hind leg where another horse got her in her previous race,” McKee said. Even though that cut had fully healed in time for Saturday's race, McKee explained, its presence had caused her to back off a bit in training for the Bishop Stakes, “and I think I ran a horse that wasn't quite fit. I didn't do as much with her as I should have done.” At the same time, McKee said, she believes she might have been underestimating Overnight Pow Wow, who is now 5-for-7 lifetime. Prior to Saturday's seven-furlong win, Overnight Pow Wow had raced exclusively in 4 1/2- and 6 1/2-furlong sprints, and McKee had kept her out of races where Direct the Cat was entered. “They'd never run together before,” McKee said. “Maybe Pow Wow is the better horse. I don't know. She's always been a bit of a baby. And that's because I babied the hell out of her.” Overnight Pow Wow earned a career-best 82 Beyer Speed Figure for her victory, while Direct the Cat regressed to 78 after posting Beyers of 89 and 92 in her two previous starts at age three. What's next for both fillies? “Everybody's still calling me about the [Aug. 23 GII Charles Town] Oaks,” McKee said. “But I don't know if I'm going to be even able to get into that race with either one of them” because the conditions include eligibility based on graded stakes earnings. “That's just the way it is. You can't pick your own [eligibility] rules and you can't pick your competitors,” she added with a laugh. McKee said additional state-bred races leading up to the Oct. 12 West Virginia Breeders' Classic series are options. The post Off At 1-10 Odds, West Virginia Filly’s One-Year Win Streak Halted By Uncoupled Stablemate appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article