Wandering Eyes

Juddmonte homebred and 'TDN Rising Star' SCYLLA (f, 4, Tapit–Close Hatches, by First Defence) put away a talented group of fillies Saturday to take the GIII Shawnee S. under the Twin Spires for trainer Bill Mott. The 6-5 favorite, entered off a seven-length romp against allowance horses at Churchill on Derby Day, added blinkers and, when asked by Javier Castellano to go past pacesetter Xigera (Nyquist), was all power as she quickly opened up on the field to come home an easy winner. Lifetime Record: 6-4-1-1. O/B-Juddmonte; T-William Mott. The full sister to Tacitus and Batten Down, #7 Scylla gets blinkers and makes it back-to-back wins in the G3 Shawnee at Churchill Downs under @jjcjockey for trainer Bill Mott! @JuddmonteFarms #TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/fO3qld0gfL — TwinSpires Racing (@TwinSpires) June 1, 2024 The post Juddmonte’s Scylla An Easy Winner Of The Shawnee appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Darwin apprentice Emma Lines and the Carrol Hunter-trained Desert Lass, pictured after winning in the Red Centre in early May, teamed up once again in Alice Springs on Saturday to win the Pioneer Park Anniversary Cup (1400m). Picture: Nikki Westover Photography Carrol Hunter’s Desert Lass maintained her amazing 1400m record at Alice Springs with success in the $25,000 Pioneer Park Anniversary Cup (BM76) on Saturday. Second last year, the seven-year-old mare powered home over the concluding 200m to nail Terry Gillett’s That’s Justified (Stan Tsaikos) by half a length. That made it six wins from 15 starts for Desert Lass, the $3 favourite with online bookmakers, over 1400m, which also includes six seconds and a third. Rock Hero’s daughter, second in the 2023 and 2024 Alice Springs Cup (2000m), has had 43 starts in the Red Centre for 10 wins, 14 seconds and six thirds. Hunter was looking to retire the mare following the Darwin Cup Carnival, but those plans could change. “She does love the 1400m at Pioneer Park, and the Cummins Cup on Truckies Day is held in late August, so I don’t think I can say that it was her last Alice Springs run today,” she said. Desert Lass, the 2023 Cummins Cup winner, heads back to Fannie Bay where she finished sixth in last year’s Darwin Cup (2050m). With in-form apprentice Emma Lines the pilot on Saturday, Desert Lass (59.5kg) had a 2kg edge over That’s Justified ($5), who looked to have pinched the race when three lengths clear at the home turn. Paul Gardner’s Perkova ($21) produced a solid effort for third. Gardner (23) is 3.5 wins clear in the Alice Springs and Provincial trainers’ premiership after a winning double. The handy Red Wraith (Sonja Logan) was a class above over 1000m (0-70) and Lamoree (Lines) saluted over 1000m (0-58) after five seconds in 10 Alice starts. Red Wraith ($1.75 fav), sixth in the Pioneer Sprint (1200m) in April, was in no danger of defeat before beating the fast-finishing Cubic Zirconia ($14) and Boy Big ($15) home by a length. Lamoree ($4.80), who disappointed at Tennant Creek in May, stormed home to pip Family Ties ($7.50), who skipped away at the 600m, for the narrowest of wins with Freedom Day ($12) third. Tsaikos, who rode Family Ties, showed his ability to control the tempo when allowed to lead when Gillett’s Altar Boy ($2.90) crushed Hey Bull ($8) and Filthy Rich ($21) by 6.6 lengths over 1400m (BM54). Paul Denton (21) is 5.5 wins clear in the jockeys’ premiership after Kerry Petrick’s Prancingintherain ($10) made it two wins from as many NT starts after leading early before toppling Another Val ($15) and Dummy Spit ($2.35 fav) by 1.3 lengths over 1100m (Class 2). Il Don Cavallo ($3.90), ridden by Logan, sat off the pace over 1100m (Class 2) before sprouting wings to make it two wins from eight starts for Lisa Whittle after rolling Only The Best ($3.20 fav) and Eastside Diamond ($9.50) by 3.5 lengths. Leading Darwin rider Jarrod Todd knew what he was doing when he guided Faberge Tzar ($2.20 fav) home by 2.5 lengths for Sale trainer Andrew Perdon over 1400m (BM54) from Valley Prince ($5.50) and Mi Mijo ($11) after he made his move at the 600m despite sharing the lead and sitting three deep. Horse racing news View the full article

What Goulburn Races Where Goulburn Race Club – Racecourse Dr, Goulburn NSW 2580 When Monday, June 3, 2024 First Race 12:05pm AEST Visit Dabble The new week of racing is set to get underway at Goulburn Race Club on Monday afternoon, with a competitive eight-race program lined up for punters. The rail is out +4m the entire circuit, and with scattered showers forecast across the weekend, the current Soft 7 rating at the time of acceptances should hold for race-day. The first race is scheduled to jump at 12:05pm local time. Best Bet at Goulburn: Don’t Doubt Merlin Don’t Doubt Merlin makes his debut on the back of two impressive barrier trials. The son of Press Statement worked through the wire comfortably on both occasions, with his first piece of work resulting in a soft win at Canterbury on April 19. He’ll look to track across and lead from stall eight in this maiden contest, and provided Jay Ford can get there with relative ease, Don’t Doubt Merlin will take a power of beating. Best Bet Race 3 – #1 Don’t Doubt Merlin (8) 3yo Gelding | T: David Pfieffer | J: Jay Ford (59kg) -111.11 with PlayUp Next Best at Goulburn: Miss Thatcher Miss Thatcher returns after a 268-day spell and brings an element of quality to this Class 2 contest. The daughter of Churchill has been competitive in Highway company in the past, with the four-year-old managing several mid-field finishes in town. Coming back to country grade looks ideal, and although the 1000m may be short of her best trip, Miss Thatcher has the class to dispatch this lot regardless of the shorter journey. Best Bet Race 6 – #5 Miss Thatcher (4) 4yo Mare | T: Lucy Longmire | J: Olivia Dalton (a3kg) (57.5kg) +300 with Neds Best Value: The Bullet The Bullet is an intriguing debutant in the opening event and appears ready to strike first-up for the Richard & Will Freedman camp. The colt by Written By has been deceivingly impressive at the trials, with his most recent 7.2-length defeat at Rosehill on May 17 appearing much worse on paper than it was to the eye. He cruised through the wire under his own steam, and with this maiden contest lacking depth, The Bullet may be forward enough to make an immediate impact. Best Bet Race 1 – #7 The Bullet (7) 2yo Colt | T: Richard & Will Freedman | J: Keagan Latham (56.5kg) +550 with PlayUp Goulburn Monday quaddie tips – June 3, 2024 Goulburn quadrella selections Monday, June 3, 2024 2-7-9 2-5-7 2-4 1-2-5-6-10 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip Horse racing tips View the full article

By Mike Love Premiership leading trainers Robert and Jenna Dunn have a lot of reasons to be confident going into both two-year-old features at Ashburton today. The Sapling Stakes at Group 2 level and the Helen Pope Fillies Classic at Group 3 will highlight today’s card. Race 6, the time-honoured Group 2 $60,000 Rakaia Seed Cleaning Sapling Stakes over 1700m will see the Dunns line up three of the six starters. Group 1 Welcome Stakes winner Got The Chocolates is undoubtedly the horse to beat, with the TAB opening him at $1.25 with usual reinsman John Dunn aboard. “He has trained on nicely since his last win, and has been holding his condition. He’s got high gate speed and will be prominent early on,” says co-trainer Robert Dunn. “He will be hard to beat.” Dunn’s other two runners in the field Bruntwood Brigade and Malakai are also strong chances with luck. Bruntwood Brigade, driven by Bob Butt, has come on in leaps and bounds since his maiden victory at Addington last week. “He really improved on his first couple of runs and he’s really improved nicely on those. We are really happy with him.” While Malakai with Tim Williams on board will need to work at some stage from his wide draw, Dunn is excited about the Captain Crunch juvenile looking into the future. “He’s done really well. It was an excellent run last time. He’s a good stayer in the making. He’s going to be an excellent horse in the making. We think he’ll be an even better three-year-old.” Race 7, the Helen Pope Fillies Classic at Group 3 level for a stake of $40,000 will see Dunn line up two runners, with the scratching of opening favourite Queen Tyron due to a lung infection. Gone Surfin and driver Tim Williams now move into barrier one with that scratching. “She will get a good run. We were thrilled with her last run. The time she went was pretty good. We are really happy with her. It should be a great race.” While Tyron’s Connoisseur is slammed with another wide draw junior driver Korbyn Newman will likely be looking for one run at them. “Another wide draw to deal with. She’ll go back and run home. She’s done a great job this time in.” “They’ll all be going for a break after … and we are really looking forward to getting them back in the spring.” The Dunn team also line up eight other runners on the card including Harrison John, Miki’s Courage, Hadron Collider and Neverseentherain in race 8, the Rural Business Accountants Champion Stakes which carries a healthy purse of $30,000. Racing commences at 11:35am. View the full article

Jockey Keith Asmussen, unseated in the first race at Churchill Downs June 1, was transported to University of Louisville Hospital for "further evaluation of a probable left femur fracture and possible hip injury," according to track publicity.View the full article

City of Troy silenced his doubters in emphatic fashion as last year's European champion juvenile male bounced back to form with a dominant success in the Epsom Derby (G1) June 1 at Epsom Racecourse. View the full article

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2nd-Monmouth, $51,675, Msw, 6-1, 2yo, f, 4 1/2f, :51.92, ft, 4 lengths. OBLIGING (f, 2, Munnings–Humor Me Colonel, by Colonel John) was well-backed at the windows for this debut as the 1-10 choice. The filly sat just to the outside of longshot Apocalyptic (Cairo Prince) up the backstretch. Putting away the speed around the far turn, the 2-year-old galloped home under a hand ride to get her picture taken by four lengths over Teca (Improbable). The winner is a half-sister to Beautiful Empire (Classic Empire), SW-Can, SP-USA, $157,494. A half-sister to MGISW and sire Practical Joke (Into Mischief), Humor Me Colonel gave Obliged a full-sister in 2023 and she visited Jack Christopher for this term. Sales History: $310,000 Ylg '23 KEESEP; $120,000 2yo '24 OBSMAR. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $31,500. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. O-Amo Racing USA; B-Springhouse Farm (KY); T-Jorge Delgado. #2 OBLIGING ($2.20) cruises to an effortless debut victory in race 2 at Monmouth Park! The 2yo filly by @coolmoreamerica's Munnings was ridden by Paco Lopez for trainer @RacingDelgado and @amoracingltd. pic.twitter.com/8B19lfxSh7 — FanDuel Racing (Formerly TVG) (@FanDuel_Racing) June 1, 2024 The post Daughter Of Munnings Obliging Sails Home On Debut At Monmouth appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

EPSOM, UK — This is what vindication looks like: a usually composed superstar trainer with a hint of tears in his eyes, his chest heaving, the emotion a bit too much. City Of Troy was Aidan O'Brien's 10th Derby winner – but this one felt different. It would be ludicrous to say his credibility was on the line, but his words certainly were, and perhaps his judgment, at least in relation to last year's No 1 two-year-old, whose balloon had popped three furlongs out in the 2,000 Guineas. O'Brien has built such a wall of success around himself that critics rarely try to climb it. His talent is beyond dispute. Yet the eulogies around City Of Troy over the winter and spring exposed him to scorn when the 4-6 favourite traipsed home nearly 17 lengths behind Notable Speech at Newmarket. Guess who had the last laugh. The Auguste Rodin-City of Troy sequence of 2,000 Guineas flops and Derby triumphs is one of the oddest in the Derby's 244-year history. Last year, and again on this day of reckoning for “our Frankel,” as part-owner Michael Tabor called City of Troy, O'Brien dispatched a horse to Epsom with a battered reputation. Both had been portrayed as Triple Crown contenders, only to fail in that mission on day one. Auguste Rodin finished 12th in the Guineas, 20 lengths behind Chaldean. City Of Troy's nosedive 12 months later was equally perplexing; embarrassing even, for O'Brien, who rummaged for explanations. He had shown “the best two-year-old I've trained” too much respect on the gallops. City Of Troy had been too fizzy in the stalls. Punters listened to this growing list of mitigations without being fully convinced by any of them. But the Auguste Rodin story also offered a route out of trouble – a redemptive precedent. His three-quarter-length win at Epsom righted the wrong of Newmarket and obliged us to consider that horses are flesh and blood who have good days and bad. And Auguste Rodin's boom-and-bust pattern continued throughout a campaign that was thrilling one minute and baffling the next. O'Brien had sampled salvation once, but could he do it again? Was City of Troy too small? Had he trained on? Would the Epsom stalls be his undoing? No, yes, and no were the answers, as the Big Hope of this Flat season quickened away from Ambiente Friendly, restoring his reputation, along with the hope that 2024 has unearthed a champion. O'Brien called him his best Derby winner yet. City Of Troy also caused him more angst than the other nine. You could see it as he struggled to catch his breath in the winner's enclosure. No matter how 'great' people are in sport, they are only one calamity away from self-doubt. All the triumphs of the past can be stripped away by misplaced faith, or hyperbole that falls flat, or the murmured inference that they mucked it up. O'Brien was brave enough to admit minor errors in the build-up to the Guineas. But you could tell, too, that his defences had been pierced. “There's always a stick to beat you with,” he said here. Stepping down from the trophy presentation dais, he considered a question about the power of vindication in sport. It struck a chord. “I feel relieved, really,” he said. “Every opinion that everybody has, everyone is entitled to it, totally. And you have to take it on board. Sometimes you don't always agree with it. You feel like trying to explain it to people. But that's not the way. Everybody has to have an opinion and everyone has to voice it. “And all that you do is – you hope the faith you had in the horse, or the person, comes through. We felt he was the most special horse that we had, last year. He only had three runs. I focused hard on him through the winter. We had to look under a few stones we haven't had to look under before – and they were the ones that came and got us.” It helps when your pilot is the supreme Flat race jockey of his generation. On a retrieval mission, Ryan Moore is the rider you would send in to recover the goods. “Ryan was very cool on him,” O'Brien agreed. “After the Guineas he didn't have to be that cool, a lot of stuff could have happened, but he stayed cool and calm.” Moore paid his own tribute to a trainer who has elevated two consecutive Guineas duds to the stars. He said: “Aidan knew what he had, he didn't lose faith in him.” Sometimes promising horses flop – and keep flopping. Epsom is the resting place of many big reputations. Not City Of Troy's. A bad day doesn't have to be terminal. A defeat isn't always a disaster. O'Brien said it better than anybody: “It just goes to show that in horseracing, in sport, in life, nobody knows what's round the corner, or what can happen.” The post Vindication For O’Brien With a Perfect Ten appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

EPSOM, UK — Ryan Moore wouldn't admit to sleepless nights ahead of the Derby despite some intense speculation regarding his mount but he did concede, “It's the one race of the year that you want to win.” Moore kept the faith, kept his head, and just like that Coolmore has another enticing stallion prospect. The legend of Galileo still stalks the Epsom Downs some three years after the horse's death, and there he was again, as the broodmare sire of this year's Derby winner City Of Troy, just as he was last year with Auguste Rodin (Ire). Far more important, however, for the world's most dominant stallion operation, is the identity of the winner's sire. A Triple Crown winner on the dirt – and one who, unusually, was unraced at two – Justify is now the sire of a Derby winner. A gulf has been narrowed. “We're trying to make the world a smaller place,” joked Coolmore's MV Magnier as he stood in the winner's circle, the relief palpable, but more on behalf of the operation's chief ally, Aidan O'Brien. “There has been a huge amount of pressure on that man, undeservedly so, and I am just pleased that the horse has shown how good he is. It's a huge relief,” he continued. “They are not machines. Horses can put in a bad run. Things can go wrong, and we're not really sure what did go wrong. But he justified it today – excuse the pun.” Such was the anticipation of seeing a potential superstar in City Of Troy that the disappointment ran deep following the 2,000 Guineas to the point where it was hard for those outside the camps of Ballydoyle and Coolmore to approach Epsom with anything other than caution. While the world of social media was preoccupied by the horse's height, his trainer stood firm in his belief that City Of Troy's reputation, at least, was in for a sudden growth spurt. “I can't explain to you how confident Aidan was,” Magnier said. “Last year he told me that he was happy with Auguste Rodin before the horse ran and this year he was just as confident.” A handful of classy juveniles by Justify were sprinkled around the world last season: City Of Troy and Opera Singer were the top-rated colt and filly in Europe, Ramatuelle the top-rated two-year-old in France, and Just F Y I and Hard To Justify each landed a Grade I at the Breeders' Cup. So far so good, but what really matters for any stallion is what their offspring can do at three. Of those named, Ramatuelle and Opera Singer managed a third-place finish in the 1,000 Guineas in England and Ireland respectively, while Just F Y I was second in the Kentucky Oaks. But Saturday's result is what really mattered. “It's huge,” Magnier said. “It's something we couldn't have imagined, but Dad was always keen on Justify and he always thought he would be the perfect outcross for our operation. To be fair to the lads, they put their neck on the line and they ended up being offered him. “When a horse can do it on both [dirt and turf] – he could hopefully be something we haven't seen before.” He continued, “All that stuff on Twitter about whether or not he was a small horse. It's crazy. Fair enough, maybe he is a small horse but there's one thing for sure, he's bigger than Northern Dancer. “Everyone was a bit gutted after the Guineas but we've seen the way he has worked since, and Aidan was full of confidence. Ryan said he was just different gravy today and that there's a lot more to come from him. When Aidan O'Brien and Ryan Moore are confident that's enough for me.” With the Derby horses home but barely hosed, thoughts inevitably turn with almost indecent haste to what comes next. Anyone watching as City Of Troy took hold of his bit again after the line, as is his wont, may well think that the St Leger would be within his grasp. It seems unlikely that he will be aimed at that particular Classic, but one over on America's west coast on the first weekend of November will certainly be given serious consideration. “That would be the biggest dream we could have,” Magnier said of the Breeders' Cup Classic. “We've tried it before and we'll try it again, and that's what the sport wants. They want these horses competing with the best; that's what the people want to see. It would be great for European racing and great for worldwide racing.” Great for the Derby, too. And on this day a proper winner is what matters most. The post Magnier: ‘It’s Something we Couldn’t Have Imagined’ appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

After the excitement of the Derby, there was a moment of futurity at the start of Doncaster's evening meeting on Saturday as Twafeeg (Ire) (Far Above {Ire}–Disko {Ire}, by Kodiac {GB}) became the latest TDN Rising Star with her impresive success in the 6 1/2-furlong maiden. Sent off at 18-1, the Archie Watson-trained newcomer from the first crop of Starfield Stud's resident tanked her way to the front soon after the start under Connor Beasley. Sent clear passing the two-furlong pole, Sheikh Hamed Dalmook Al Maktoum's 65,000gns Tattersalls Book 3 bargain was notably green in front en route to a 1 1/2-length defeat of the 525,000gns Tattersalls Craven Breeze-Up purchase and 9-4 favourite Arabian Dusk (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}). Adding real substance to the form 3 1/4 lengths further back in third was Ripple Effect (GB) (Kameko), who had previously finished closer to TDN Riding Star Mountain Breeze (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), while the sixth-placed Never Forget You (Ire) (No Nay Never) was also beaten further than she had been by another TDN Rising Star in Spherical (GB) (Blue Point {Ire}). Lovely debut as Twafeeg makes a winning start under Connor Beasley and @Archie_Watson at @DoncasterRaces! pic.twitter.com/82jucH2AJ9 — At The Races (@AtTheRaces) June 1, 2024 The post Twafeeg A New TDN Rising Star For Far Above appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

After all the speculation leading up to Saturday's G1 Betfred Derby, TDN Rising Star City Of Troy (Justify–Together Forever {Ire}, by Galileo {Ire}) gave an emphatic and euphoric answer to grace Epsom's Blue Riband with one of its finest displays. In huge contrast to Newmarket, where Ryan Moore became embroiled in a half-mile drag race, the champion juvenile of 2023 was in a hack-canter from stall one so often a disadvantage but which for this talented colt turned out a blessing. Able to let the pace play out in front and tuck in on the rail a little worse than mid-division, the 3-1 favourite needed racing room heading to Tattenham Corner and with it at a premium his rider had to go all Calvin Borel which is such a risky tactic here. Diving through the inner from three out, Aidan O'Brien's 10th Derby hero was in front a furlong later with only the loose Voyage (GB) (Golden Horn {GB})–who had unshipped his rider exiting the stalls–up ahead. Using his ground-devouring stride to power on from the smooth-travelling Ambiente Friendly (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}), he was able to open up a 2 3/4-length margin on that Listed Lingfield Derby Trial winner at the line, with Ballydoyle second-string Los Angeles (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) a further 3 1/4 lengths away in third. Don't say you weren't TOLD 𝐂𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐎𝐟 𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐲 bolts up in the @Betfred Derby @coolmorestud | @Ballydoyle | @ChampionsSeries pic.twitter.com/zNiHHquAOC — Racing TV (@RacingTV) June 1, 2024 The post Justify’s City Of Troy Is The Derby Winner appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Saturday's top tips from the Post's racing teamView the full article

Bouncing back to his best at Epsom on Saturday, Fitri Hay's Royal Scotsman (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}) dominated the G3 Betfred Diomed S. Sent straight to the lead by Jamie Spencer, the Paul and Oliver Cole-trained 17-2 shot who had won the G2 Richmond S. and finished runner-up in the G1 Dewhurst S. at two and been third in the G1 2,000 Guineas last term kept rolling to record a 2 1/4-length success from Royal Dubai (Fr) (Seahenge). Woooooooooooah. Jamie Spencer doing Jamie Spencer moves on Royal Scotsman who eases to Group 3 @Betfred Diomed Stakes victory in ferocious style! pic.twitter.com/kHtwZihsKm — Epsom Downs Racecourse (@EpsomRacecourse) June 1, 2024 Saturday, Epsom, Britain BETFRED DIOMED S.-G3, £100,000, Epsom, 6-1, 3yo/up, 8f 113yT, 1:45.31, g/s. 1–ROYAL SCOTSMAN (IRE), 134, c, 4, by Gleneagles (Ire) 1st Dam: Enrol (GB) (MSP-Eng), by Pivotal (GB) 2nd Dam: Constitute, by Gone West 3rd Dam: Appointed One, by Danzig (125,000gns Ylg '21 TATOCT). O-Mrs Fitri Hay; B-Rabbah Bloodstock Ltd (IRE); T-Paul & Oliver Cole; J-Jamie Spencer. £56,710. Lifetime Record: MG1SP-Eng, 11-3-1-2, $406,827. *1/2 to Encountered (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}), GSW-HK, $1,667,905. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. 2–Royal Dubai (Fr), 134, c, 4, Seahenge–Sand Rose (Fr), by Aussie Rules. 1ST BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (36,000gns 2yo '22 TATBRG). O-Saeed Sultan Al Rahoomi; B-Societa Agricola Gem SRL & Societa Agricola La Pluma (FR); T-Marco Botti. £21,500. 3–Highland Avenue (Ire), 137, g, 6, Dubawi (Ire)–Lumiere (GB), by Shamardal. O/B-Godolphin (IRE); T-Charlie Appleby. £10,760. Margins: 2 1/4, 1, 2 1/4. Odds: 8.50, 6.00, 3.50. Also Ran: Sean (Ger), Embesto (GB), Epictetus (Ire), Regal Reality (GB), Silver Sword (GB). The post Gleneagles’ Royal Scotsman Wins The Diomed appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Warmonger (NZ) (War Decree) became the fourth consecutive New Zealand-bred winner of the Gr.1 Queensland Derby (2400m) with a breathtaking performance in the A$1m classic at Eagle Farm on Saturday. A spectacular first Group One winner for Inglewood Stud stallion War Decree, Warmonger blew his rivals away by more than 10 lengths. He joined the Queensland Derby honour roll alongside the other recent Kiwi-bred winners Kovalica (NZ) (Ocean Park) (2023), Pinarello (NZ) (Tavistock) (2022) and Kukeracha (NZ) (Night Of Thunder) (2021). This year’s Queensland Derby produced a New Zealand-bred quinella, with the Andrew Forsman-trained filly Moonlight Magic (NZ) (Almanzor) launching a late run into second. Forsman and owner-breeders the Sunlight Trust had celebrated a Listed win in New Zealand earlier that afternoon with the filly’s half-brother Belardi (NZ) (Belardo). But the Derby belonged entirely to Warmonger. A Listed winner of the TAB Trophy (1800m) at Flemington in the spring, the gelding had caught the eye with strong finishes for second in the Listed Port Adelaide Guineas (1800m), fifth in the Gr.3 Chairman’s Stakes (2000m) and second in the Gr.1 South Australian Derby (2500m) in his three most recent starts. Those performances gave trainers Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr the confidence to carry on up to Brisbane, where Warmonger produced one of the most dominant performances in Queensland Derby history. Drawn the outside gate in a full field of 18, Warmonger was caught four wide as the field rounded the first turn out of the home straight. Jockey Blake Shinn never panicked and allowed him to roll forward, taking up a position in fifth behind runaway leader Navy King (NZ) (U S Navy Flag). Warmonger cruised up into second as Navy King began to come back to the field down the side of the track, and he soared past that tiring leader soon after straightening for home. Warmonger had opened up a lead of more than two lengths by the 300m mark, but he was just getting started. He effortlessly moved further and further in front from there, crossing the finish line 10 and a half lengths in front of Moonlight Magic. “What a great run by that horse,” Shinn said. “He did it the tough way out wide on the track, but he was just so comfortable all the way. He was really enjoying it and had his ears pricked going down the back of the track. It was like a track gallop. “I asked him to extend from the 500m and he just kept building. The horse really deserved this. He’s been putting up some big performances and running second. “The wide barrier may have played into our hands a little bit, with the inside really cutting up now. I was happy being wider out in the fresher ground, and he just enjoyed it all the way around.” Going into Saturday’s race, Price and Kent were unsure about how Warmonger would handle a track that appeared to be on the worse side of Soft6. “The wet track was definitely the query,” Kent said. “I was wondering what Blake was thinking at some points during the race, but he made all the right calls and put the horse in the race. “In the end it was a real stamina test, and it was just a huge staying performance from this horse. “He’s just flying at the moment. It’s a credit to the whole team. The horse travelled to Queensland so well.” Warmonger is now clearly the best performer among the 37 winners from 75 runners for War Decree, whose oldest crop are four-year-olds. His other leading performers include the Gr.2 Lowland Stakes (2100m) winner Val Di Zoldo (NZ) and the stakes-placed Luvnwar (NZ), Hakadecree (NZ) and Third Decree (NZ). Out of the winning Savabeel mare Princess Sapphire (NZ), Warmonger was bred by Kevin Hickman and sold as a yearling for $75,000 before being presented by Prima Park at the 2022 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale. Riccarton trainer Shane Kennedy went to $165,000 to secure the youngster, having prepared his Almanzor half-sister Blue Solitaire (NZ) to finish third behind Legarto (NZ) (Proisir) in last season’s Gr.1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m). Warmonger carries the colours of OTI Racing, who purchased him after a dominant 800m trial victory at Ashburton in April of last year for original trainers Shane Kennedy and Anna Furlong. Inglewood’s Gus Wigley took enormous excitement out of Warmonger’s Derby demolition. “He won that like a superstar,” he said. “It’s so great for War Decree.” View the full article

After placing in all of his first four starts of the season, Waikato Stud’s sensational sprinter I Wish I Win (NZ) (Savabeel) returned to the top of the podium in Saturday’s Gr.1 EVA Air Kingsford-Smith Cup (1300m) at Eagle Farm. It was the seventh win of a remarkable 21-start career for the Savabeel gelding, who has now earned more than A$11.8m in prize-money. His previous triumphs included last year’s Gr.1 TJ Smith Stakes (1200m) at Randwick, along with the A$10m Golden Eagle (1500m). Before Saturday’s breakthrough, I Wish I Win’s five-year-old season had featured a third in the Gr.1 Memsie Stakes (1400m), second in the A$20m The Everest (1200m), third in the TJ Smith Stakes and second in the Gr.1 Doomben 10,000 (1200m). I Wish I Win’s inside gate worked against him in the Doomben 10,000 and he was upstaged by star mare Bella Nipotina (Pride of Dubai), who was among the opposition again on Saturday. Despite drawing the inside gate again, this time I Wish I Win emphatically turned the tables. I Wish I Win was reunited on Saturday with his TJ Smith and Golden Eagle-winning jockey Luke Nolen, who took up a position in sixth along the rail as Uncommon James (Cable Bay) set the pace. Nolen moved away from the fence coming up to the home turn, and he presented I Wish I Win on the outside of the favourite Think About It (So You Think) at the top of the straight. I Wish I Win accelerated sharply and burst into contention, with Bella Nipotina chiming in closer to the inside. The Doomben 10,000 first and second placegetters went to war again through the final 200m, with I Wish I Win edging ahead this time to beat a gallant Bella Nipotina by a neck. I Wish I Win is trained by his part-owner Peter Moody along with Katherine Coleman, who joined him in a training partnership at the beginning of this season. The Kingsford-Smith Cup was Coleman’s third Group One victory, but the first she has witnessed in person. “I haven’t been on course for the other Group One wins, so this is incredibly special,” she said. “We’ve got the whole crew here today and it’s just amazing. “There was plenty of confidence in the horse today, but he was going to need a good ride from barrier one. We needed a bit of magic from Luke, and he provided that. I’m so thrilled for Luke as well – he worked very hard to get back on this horse, and that adds another layer to this win. “Everything has been super with this horse since the Doomben 10,000. I was so happy when I saw him today. He looked incredible. Huge credit to the team that’s been up here in Brisbane looking after him. The horses have been staying at Desleigh Forster’s stable, and she’s been a big help as well.” The Kingsford-Smith Cup is likely to bring the curtain down on I Wish I Win’s season. “I’d say he’d have a little break now and then we’ll prep him for the spring,” Coleman said. “Another shot at The Everest is the plan.” Nolen was delighted to regain the mount on I Wish I Win, who he has ridden to four wins and four placings from nine previous mounts. He missed the ride in this year’s TJ Smith Stakes due to injury and was replaced by James McDonald, who then retained the mount for the Doomben 10,000. McDonald was absent this week due to commitments in Japan, which allowed Nolen to put the green, blue and white Waikato Stud colours back on. “I’m just really grateful for the privilege of being back on this horse,” Nolen said. “Obviously I’ve done a lot on him previously, so I was a bit disappointed to be taken off, but we made amends today. “The race worked out pretty well. He can get a bit stirred up in amongst horses, but today he showed a bit of grit. “We gained a run outside the leader in the straight. I knew we could finish over them, but two weeks between runs isn’t his usual style. He was only tradesman like today, and on softer ground as well. On top of the ground, I don’t think they would have seen which way he went.” I Wish I Win began his career in the Matamata stable of Jamie Richards, for whom he won two of his nine starts, along with Group One placings behind On The Bubbles (Brazen Beau) in the Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) and behind Imperatriz (I Am Invincible) and On The Bubbles in the Levin Classic (1600m). I Wish I Win is out of the Pins mare Make A Wish (NZ), whose five winners from seven foals to race also include the well-performed Another Dollar (NZ). That daughter of Ocean Park won five races including the Gr.3 Premier’s Cup (2200m) and Listed Gosford Gold Cup (2000m), while her seven black-type placings included a second in the Gr.1 Queensland Oaks (2200m). Make A Wish had two further foals after I Wish I Win. A colt by Ocean Park was born in 2021 and was bought by Moody Racing for $375,000 at Karaka last year, while a filly by Super Seth followed in the spring of 2022. View the full article

Wexford Stables enjoyed a winning afternoon on both sides of the Tasman on Saturday, including a fourth win in a row for breakthrough performer Little Bit Of Love (NZ) (Time Test) in the Elsdon Park (1400m) at Pukekohe. Little Bit Of Love’s heroics came less than an hour after his three-year-old stablemate Geriatrix (NZ) (Almanzor) took out the A$85,000 HKJC Handicap (1400m) at Eagle Farm in his first Australian start. “It’s been a very special day today, and it’s a credit to all of our team,” said Lance O’Sullivan, who trains in partnership with Andrew Scott at Matamata. This has been a coming-of-age campaign for Little Bit Of Love, who made his debut with a well-beaten ninth on his home track in December. The four-year-old son of Time Test was a maiden winner at Tauranga second-up in early January, followed by seventh and fifth placings in his next two starts. Then he started winning and never looked back. Little Bit Of Love strung together three victories in a row at Te Rapa, producing booming finishes out wide on the track to win a 1300m Rating 65 and two 1400m Rating 75 events. He stayed in the same grade again on Saturday but rose to the top of the handicap at 60.5kg, with apprentice jockey Ngakau Hailey reducing that impost to 57.5kg with his 3kg claim. Hailey was in no hurry in the early stages of the race, easing back to third-last as his best-credentialled rival Wessex (NZ) (Turn Me Loose) took up her customary role in the lead. Wessex still had plenty to offer at the top of the straight and scooted away from the field, while Hailey brought Little Bit Of Love to the outside to produce the finishing flourish that is becoming his trademark. Little Bit Of Love hit top gear and soon drew up alongside Wessex, who fought back hard on his inside. In a head-bobbing battle through the last 100m, Little Bit Of Love gradually gained the upper hand and edged out Wessex by a head. The third-placed Jack In The Box (NZ) (Jakkalberry) finished another two lengths behind the first pair. Little Bit Of Love has now had a total of eight starts for five wins, earning $99,725 in stakes. “He’s really put things together this autumn,” O’Sullivan said. “It’s probably fair to say that he’s no oil painting, but he tries very hard and that’s a big part of the battle. It’s not easy to win four races in a row. “We’ll get him home now and see how he comes through this race before deciding on our next move. He could go to the paddock, or there might be another race for him coming up somewhere. He’s in such good form at the moment and gets through rain-affected ground well, and that’s what we’re racing on at the moment.” Little Bit Of Love was bred by Graham and Helen-Gaye Bax and is raced by the One Second Syndicate, managed by their daughter Kylie. He is a half-brother to the four-race winner and multiple stakes placegetter Cork (NZ) (Complacent). View the full article

Little Bit Of Love won his fourth-straight race at Pukekohe on Saturday. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images) Wexford Stables enjoyed a winning afternoon on both sides of the Tasman on Saturday, including a fourth win in a row for breakthrough performer Little Bit Of Love in the Elsdon Park (1400m) at Pukekohe. Little Bit Of Love’s heroics came less than an hour after his three-year-old stablemate Geriatrix took out the A$85,000 Benchmark 78 Handicap (1400m) at Eagle Farm in his first Australian start. “It’s been a very special day today, and it’s a credit to all of our team,” said Lance O’Sullivan, who trains in partnership with Andrew Scott at Matamata. This has been a coming-of-age campaign for Little Bit Of Love, who made his debut with a well-beaten ninth on his home track in December. The four-year-old son of Time Test was a maiden winner at Tauranga second-up in early January, followed by seventh and fifth placings in his next two starts. Then he started winning and never looked back. Little Bit Of Love strung together three victories in a row at Te Rapa, producing booming finishes out wide on the track to win a 1300m Rating 65 and two 1400m Rating 75 events. He stayed in the same grade again on Saturday but rose to the top of the handicap at 60.5kg, with apprentice jockey Ngakau Hailey reducing that impost to 57.5kg with his 3kg claim. Hailey was in no hurry in the early stages of the race, easing back to third-last as his best-credentialled rival Wessex took up her customary role in the lead. Wessex still had plenty to offer at the top of the straight and scooted away from the field, while Hailey brought Little Bit Of Love to the outside to produce the finishing flourish that is becoming his trademark. Little Bit Of Love hit top gear and soon drew up alongside Wessex, who fought back hard on his inside. In a head-bobbing battle through the last 100m, Little Bit Of Love gradually gained the upper hand and edged out Wessex by a head. The third-placed Jack In The Box finished another two lengths behind the first pair. Little Bit Of Love has now had a total of eight starts for five wins, earning $99,725 in stakes. “He’s really put things together this autumn,” O’Sullivan said. “It’s probably fair to say that he’s no oil painting, but he tries very hard and that’s a big part of the battle. It’s not easy to win four races in a row. “We’ll get him home now and see how he comes through this race before deciding on our next move. He could go to the paddock, or there might be another race for him coming up somewhere. He’s in such good form at the moment and gets through rain-affected ground well, and that’s what we’re racing on at the moment.” Horse racing news View the full article

Mauritian jockey backs rising star to handle biggest challenge of his career in Group Three sprintView the full article

Warmonger ridden by Blake Shinn takes out the Group 1 Queensland Derby at Eagle Farm. Photo: Darren Winningham Warmonger (+850) has given his rivals a galloping lesson in the Group 1 Queensland Derby (2400m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday afternoon, pulling away to score an impressive 10-length victory. The Group 1 South Australian Derby (2500m) runner-up looked to have it all to do pre-race, with most judges mapping the son of War Decree to drag back towards the rear of the field from barrier 18; however, Blake Shinn had other ideas. The Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr)-trained gelding was sent forward early in the contest, proving to be the winning move for the three-year-old, as Shinn gained an economical run in transit. He hadn’t shown much early speed in the past, but with Navy King (+1200) charging forward under Craig Williams, it allowed Shinn to work his mount towards the front of the field, while the pair of pre-race favourites, Autumn Angel (+130) and Tannhauser (+360), were forced to work from awkward positions in the strung-out field. Moonlight Magic (+2500) and Felix The Scat (+7000) added some massive value to exotic players, but they were simply fighting out the minor money, as Shinn pulled the whip with 500m to travel, bursting clear of his rivals to assure a dominant victory in the 2024 Queensland Derby. 2024 Queensland Derby replay – Warmonger Michael Kent (Jnr) was on course to represent the stable and credited his team before praising the brave steer by Shinn. “He’s just flying, credit to the whole team, the horse took the travel well to Queensland,” said Kent (Jnr). “The query was getting through the wet track, Blake (Shinn) said it was more like a heavy than a soft. “During the race I’m thinking what are you thinking here Blake, but he just made all the right calls. By putting him into the race and when that leader got away you had to be near the pace. In the end it was just a huge staying performance by the horse. “He obviously handled the ground very well, he’s a kiwi so he was born in it, but he clearly relished the stamina test today.” Blake Shinn was delighted with the win in his post-race assessment. “What a great run by that horse,” said Shinn. “He did it the tough way but he was comfortable. I just wanted to make sure he kept going on his run. He did it tough. “It was a bit of a track gallop for him. He enjoyed it. He had his ears pricked down the back. He could see Navy King up in front. I asked him to extend from the 500 (metre mark) and he just kept building. I made sure he kept going to the line, but the horse really deserved it. “He’s been putting up some great displays in running second and it was really well deserved. I’m grateful for the ride.” Horse racing news View the full article

Belardo Boy powers through the heavy conditions to win the Listed AGC Training Stakes (1600m) at Wanganui. Photo: Peter Rubery (Race Images Palmerston North) Proven miler and winter track specialist Belardo Boy bounced back to winning form when he produced a powerful home straight surge to capture the feature event at Wanganui on Saturday, the Listed AGC Training Stakes (1600m). The 2023 Group 3 Winter Cup (1600m) winner was having just his second run in a new campaign for trainer Lisa Latta and stripped in good condition after taking plenty of benefit from his first up run for eighth at Te Rapa a fortnight ago. The five-year-old son of former Haunui Farm shuttle stallion Belardo settled near the rear for rider Joe Doyle, but travelled sweetly as he saved ground underneath runners approaching the home bend. Last start winner Bradman went for glory as he shot two lengths clear shortly after straightening, however Belardo Boy had a full head of stream as he surged in the final 200m to hit the front in the shadows of the post, winning by a long neck from Bradman with last year’s winner Justaskme finishing resolutely for third. Latta was delighted to see the popular stable runner step back to the winner’s enclosure so early in his preparation. “He was pretty fresh first up and he can get up and pull when he’s like that and is not an easy horse to ride,” Latta said. “I said to Joe it’s not the pattern of racing today but just get him to relax as I know he has a great turn of foot if you can get him to do that. “When he got him relaxed, I knew he could finish it off.” Latta was pleased for the big team involved with the horse although she was wary about what the immediate future holds for him. “He is a stable favourite and good for the team to get the result,” she said. “He is going to be hard to place in the handicaps now, so we will have to have a think about things. “We were considering the Winter Cup again but possibly not now as he will get weighted out of it. “I think he is up to good company and if we could get a track with the fire out, he might be a chance in the first of the big races at Hastings in the spring (Group 1, Tarzino Trophy 1400m).” Doyle admitted Belardo Boy was one of his favourite mounts although he could be quite a handful when he wanted to be. “He’s probably my favourite horse in the country as I’ve won quite a few on him now,” he said. “He’s not a straight-forward ride but when he really lets down it takes a fair horse to beat him on that sort of surface. “All Lisa said to me was bury him but he still got a bit keen as he’s still a bit fresh but that just means there is plenty of meat left on the bone. “He could have a really really good winter and he feels as good as I’ve ever felt on him.” Horse racing news View the full article

Eventual winner Caitlyns Wish (outside) and Wewillrock battle out the Open 1200m at Wanganui. Photo: Peter Rubery (Race Images Palmerston North) Apprentice Ciel Butler made good use of her 2kg claim when she guided Matamata visitor Caitlyns Wish to victory in the Open 1200m Handicap at Wanganui on Saturday. The Stephen Autridge-prepared four-year-old daughter of Belardo had been thereabouts of late without securing top spot on the podium and was well backed in the market to start a $3.90 second favourite behind the heavily supported Wewillrock ($2.30). Wewillrock (59.5kgs), who carried a full 7.5kg more in weight than the eventual winner with senior rider Jonathan Riddell in the saddle, made a swift beginning and disputed the early pace with Caitlyns Wish (52kgs), before Bold Belle attacked the pair out wider as Butler eased her mount into a perfect trail. Rounding the home bend, Wewillrock took a direct path to the better going on the outside of the track however Butler had already angled into a similar space with Caitlyns Wish, and the pair set down to stage a length of the straight battle that went in favour of the Matamata mare by a long neck at the line. Butler was all smiles afterwards as she explained the instructions that Autridge had encouraged her to follow. “He (Autridge) said just be positive as she likes to be up there and although it didn’t go exactly as he thought she relaxed lovely behind the pace and it was just a matter of letting her go today,” Butler said. “Once Bold Belle went around us, she really started breathing well and relaxed so nicely. “They will all be coming down the outside today and I was always going to follow Riddell across (to the outside rail).” Horse racing news View the full article

Proven miler and winter track specialist Belardo Boy (NZ) (Belardo) bounced back to winning form when he produced a powerful home straight surge to capture the feature event at Wanganui on Saturday, the Listed AGC Training Stakes (1600m). The 2023 Gr.3 Winter Cup (1600m) winner was having just his second run in a new campaign for trainer Lisa Latta and stripped in good condition after taking plenty of benefit from his first up run for eighth at Te Rapa a fortnight ago. The five-year-old son of former Haunui Farm shuttle stallion Belardo settled near the rear for rider Joe Doyle, but travelled sweetly as he saved ground underneath runners approaching the home bend. Last start winner Bradman (NZ) (Pins) went for glory as he shot two lengths clear shortly after straightening, however Belardo Boy had a full head of stream as he surged in the final 200m to hit the front in the shadows of the post, winning by a long neck from Bradman with last year’s winner Justaskme (NZ) (No Excuse Needed) finishing resolutely for third. Latta was delighted to see the popular stable runner step back to the winner’s enclosure so early in his preparation. “He was pretty fresh first up and he can get up and pull when he’s like that and is not an easy horse to ride,” Latta said. “I said to Joe it’s not the pattern of racing today but just get him to relax as I know he has a great turn of foot if you can get him to do that. “When he got him relaxed, I knew he could finish it off.” Latta was pleased for the big team involved with the horse although she was wary about what the immediate future holds for him. “He is a stable favourite and it was good for the team to get the result,” she said. “He is going to be hard to place in the handicaps now, so we will have to have a think about things. “We were considering the Winter Cup again but possibly not now as he will get weighted out of it. “I think he is up to good company and if we could get a track with the fire out, he might be a chance in the first of the big races at Hastings in the spring (Gr.1, Tarzino Trophy 1400m).” Doyle admitted Belardo Boy was one of his favourite mounts although he could be quite a handful when he wanted to be. “He’s probably my favourite horse in the country as I’ve won quite a few on him now,” he said. “He’s not a straight-forward ride but when he really lets down it takes a fair horse to beat him on that sort of surface. “All Lisa said to me was bury him but he still got a bit keen as he’s still a bit fresh but that just means there is plenty of meat left on the bone. “He could have a really, really good winter and he feels as good as I’ve ever felt on him.” The victory brought up a stakes race double for both Doyle and former Haunui Farm stallion Belardo with Belardi (NZ) scoring in the Listed John Turkington Forestry Ltd Castletown Stakes (1200m) earlier in the day. He also sired Wanganui winner Caitlyns Wish (NZ) and Pukekohe winner Hey Hey Baby (NZ). Belardi joined Belardo Boy, Verona (NZ), Avonallo (NZ) and Southern Warrior (NZ) as the fifth southern hemisphere stakes winner for Belardo, who shuttled to Haunui Farm between 2017 and 2022. Belardo Boy has now won four of his six starts over 1600m and nine of his 36 career runs for a touch over $330,000 in prizemoney after Latta purchased him for $28,000 out of the Haunui draft during the Book 2 Sale at Karaka in 2020. View the full article

Three and a half hours before Moonlight Magic (NZ) (Almanzor) took her place in Saturday’s Gr.1 Queensland Derby (2400m) at Eagle Farm, her half-brother Belardi (NZ) (Belardo) kicked off a huge day for the family with victory in the Listed John Turkington Forestry Castletown Stakes (1200m) at Wanganui. Both Belardi and Moonlight Magic are trained by Andrew Forsman for owner-breeders the Sunlight Trust, and they are among the five winners from just five foals out of the Encosta De Lago mare Japonica. Belardi became the second stakes winner in that group, with Moonlight Magic having previously captured the Gr.3 Championship Stakes (2100m) at Ellerslie in April. Saturday’s Castletown Stakes was the third career start for Belardi, who was well supported for his debut appearance at New Plymouth on May 11 after a stylish trial win. He finished only sixth that day, but bounced back strongly to lead all the way for a maiden success at Taupo on May 22. The two-year-old Belardo gelding faced a steep class rise on a sharp 10-day turnaround on Saturday, but he showed that he was up to the task. Jockey Joe Doyle adopted similar front-running tactics, driving him forward from his inside gate to take up a leading position after the first 100m. The previous two races on Saturday’s Wanganui card had established that the outside part of the track was clearly the place to be down the home straight, and Doyle was able to bring Belardi across the front of the field at the turn and into that better ground. Raziah (NZ) (Niagara) and He’s Lucid (NZ) (Contributer) finished strongly out of the pack and tried their hardest to pull Belardi back in down the straight, but the Cambridge gelding kicked away from them again in the last 50m to win by a length and a half. “He didn’t break particularly well, but he was quick into gear and then just travelled so smoothly from there,” said Doyle, who has now ridden 14 Group and Listed winners this season. “He’s a Belardo, and these kinds of tracks often seem to suit them. When we got on to the better ground in the straight and I gave him a squeeze, he picked up very nicely. He might have idled a touch when he was in front in the straight, so I’d say there’s still more in the tank. “He’s not overly big, but he’s a very willing horse. That tendency to idle won’t be there for much longer and I’m sure we’ll see more improvement from him.” Belardi’s three-start career has now produced two wins and $57,725 in stakes. With Forsman in Brisbane to saddle Moonlight Magic and First Innings (NZ) (Contributer) in Saturday’s Queensland Derby, he was represented at Wanganui on Saturday by assistant trainer Trina Riddell. “That was a really good win, and with his half-sister racing in the Queensland Derby today, it’s a big day for the Sunlight Trust,” Riddell said. “Belardi is a really nice horse, and I thought Joe did a great job to lead and get him to that outside ground in the straight.” Belardi became the second stakes-winning two-year-old in the space of a week for former Haunui Farm shuttle stallion Belardo, who also sired last Saturday’s Listed Champagne Stakes (1600m) winner Southern Warrior (NZ). View the full article

Carpe Diem (NZ) (Jimmy Choux) relished the heavy track and returned to the winner’s circle for the first time in over a year in The Foxton Cup 2040 at Wanganui on Saturday. The winter specialist had recorded four of his prior five career victories in heavy conditions, most recently last May at Trentham, and that factor was duly noted by punters who backed him into a $5 second-favourite behind King Of Hearts (NZ) (Jakkalberry) ($4.10). Waitarere Beach trainer Brendon McDermott secured the services of Warren Kennedy for the Cup and he allowed Carpe Diem to settle one off the fence in fourth while Rocktilyoudrop (NZ) (Rock ‘N’ Pop) controlled proceedings boldly in front. Nearing the 800m, Kahu Rock (NZ) (Alamosa), who defeated Carpe Diem by the narrowest of margins in last year’s edition, took control and made his claim for back-to-back titles, but Kennedy directed the gelding to the outside rail in the home straight in search of better ground and he burst to the lead at the 400m. Phats (NZ) (Embellish) and So Call Me (NZ) (Sweynesse) fought hard to catch Carpe Diem, but the victory was all sewn up as he stormed home by 1 ¾ lengths. Kennedy had studied the track pattern prior to his first ride at Wanganui since entering New Zealand’s jockey ranks 18 months ago and was pleased to see his plan come to fruition. “I watched replays of it being wet here, and it seems that generally the outside is the better going,” he said. “It was a nice 2040m race, I could just bide my time and have a good look at the track. “He enjoys the wet track, and when they’re going well you just have to let them go. He started to track up really nicely at the 800, so I just said if you want to run, you go boy. “He had a look around at the 200 and had a little shift, but when they came at him he rallied again. It was a really courageous win.” A son of Jimmy Choux, Carpe Diem was bred by Lisa Dunbar of Timberlee Thoroughbreds, out of a Scenic mare in Fashion Society. McDermott co-races the eight-year-old, who has earned over $157,000 in stakes in 64 starts. View the full article