Wandering Eyes

Carl Henderson is on the sidelines with a broken ankle and he is hoping Rua Rocks can boost his spirits when he heads to Te Aroha on Monday to contest the Te Aroha Veterinary Services Te Aroha Cup (2200m). Henderson spent a couple of weeks in the hospital earlier this month after being dislodged from a horse and fracturing his leg, which subsequently required surgery, and has put him on the sidelines for an extended period of time. “I fell off one (horse) and fractured it (ankle) in three places and dislocated it, so I have been in hospital for a couple of weeks,” Henderson said. “They have put rods and pins in there, it looks like a bit of a meccano set in my leg at the moment. It is going to be a bit of a long process. “I have got no weight bearing for six weeks and then maybe another two or three months after that as well just to get back to full strength. I am just taking it really easy at the moment.” While racing is heading into the quieter winter months, things were just starting to ramp up for Henderson’s Te Awamutu stable when the incident occurred. “We do a lot of ready to runners, and they were all in the stable, so we have had to cull a few numbers out and farm a few out to other people,” he said. “It wasn’t a great time to happen, but that is horses for you.” Henderson said his wife Cassie and staff members have been a huge help in his absence, and he is hoping that they can be rewarded for their hard work with a positive result from Rua Rocks on Monday. The son of El Roca was runner-up at Te Rapa last start on a Heavy8 track, and Henderson is hoping he can go one better at Te Aroha, which was rated a Heavy8 on Friday morning. “I am really happy with him,” Henderson said. “He is not very big, as everybody knows, and it was a great run last start, he didn’t deserve to finish where he did after his tough run, with the other horse taking him on. We are quite excited about Monday. “The (Heavy) track does worry me a little bit. He is a small horse, but he has got a huge stride on him, so he doesn’t love wet ground, but he has won in wet ground before. “I watched him work just before and we are really happy with him. A little bit extra distance is certainly going to help him.” While hoping for a positive outcome on Monday, Henderson was buoyed at his local trials on Thursday where his promising three-year-old Aspark Park was runner-up in his 1150m heat, and he will look to make his raceday debut in the coming month. “I had a horse trial yesterday that goes well. He is one of Ben Kwok’s horses and he is quite an exciting horse,” Henderson said. “He may have one more trial, he still has a bit to learn, but I do think a lot of him. He cruised up to them yesterday and didn’t quite know how to win. He will probably trial again at Rotorua and then we will look to go to the races with him. I think that he has got a bit of a future.” View the full article

Cambridge trainer Ken Harrison is looking forward to heading to Pukekohe on Saturday where he will have a two-pronged attack in the Dunstan Horsefeeds 2200. Tavistock gelding Espresso To Go has put in solid performances in his last two outings, placing over 2100m at Hawera on each occasion, and Harrison said he will appreciate stepping up to 2200m this weekend. Pukekohe was rated a Heavy10 on Friday morning, and that bodes the only concern for Harrison, but he said his charge will benefit from the weight relief of three-kilogram claiming apprentice Triston Moodley. “A Heavy track is a little bit of a query for him, but I think he should be alright, he has been working well and going well in his last few races,” Harrison said. “I put the light weight on him, claiming three kilos, and hopefully he will be able to use that inside draw (2) and settle either just in behind them or I am not too worried if he does lead.” Espresso To Go will be met in the race by stablemate King Khan, who will be second-up after running fifth over 2100m at Hawera earlier this month. “First-up he went huge on a firm track at Hawera,” Harrison said. “I thought it would be way too firm for him, but he ran well, and the wet track should suit him.” Weighing up between his two contenders, Harrison is leaning towards Espresso To Go as his better chance on Saturday. “I have always gone King Khan, but I would have to go with Espresso To Go on the way he has been working and going,” he said. “Being second-up for King Khan might hold him back a little fitness-wise.” Both horses are set to press on throughout the winter, with southern aspirations for King Khan. “Espresso has been up for a little while, but if he handles the wet tracks, we will just space his races a little bit,” Harrison said. “King Khan is starting his prep and will probably head to Riccarton for the Winter Cup meeting. There will be a few other races around here for him if he doesn’t go there.” Another stablemate tipped to head south is Not Ideal, who will head to Te Aroha on Monday to contest the Te Aroha Veterinary Services Big Day Out (1300m). The seven-year-old gelding has been lumbered with 62kg on Monday, but Harrison will once again utilise Moodley’s claim to gain some weight relief. “We have had to claim with the way he is up in the weights and with the wetter tracks now, but I think he will handle the heavy track alright, he seems to be working alright at Cambridge on the wet grass,” Harrison said. “He might head to the Winter Cup (Gr.3, 1600m), we will just see how he goes with these wetter tracks. We didn’t try him on the wetter tracks as such last year and stuck to Ruakaka, but the travel up there at the moment is a little bit of a problem.” View the full article

What Sandown Lakeside Races Where Sandown Racecourse – 591-659 Princes Hwy, Springvale VIC 3171 When Sunday, June 2, 2024 First Race 12:05pm AEST Visit Dabble The Listed Sandown Cup will headline the eight-race card on the Lakeside track this Sunday afternoon. The main course is expected to stay in the Good range after being rated as a Good 4 at the time of acceptances, and the jumps track is rated as a Soft 7. The rail will be in its true position for the entire circuit, with the opening race scheduled to jump at 12:05pm AEST. Sandown Cup tip: Let’sbefrankbaby Let’sbefrankbaby was last seen in the Listed Andrew Ramsden at Flemington, where the Robbie Griffiths & Mathew de Kock-trained mare battled on from behind the speed to run fourth. The top four in the Ramsden gapped the rest of the field, and this daughter of Frankel should appreciate a weaker race and more ground in the Sandown Cup. Craig Williams can settle in the box seat from barrier six, and if Let’sbefrankbaby gets clear with 400m to go, she will prove hard to hold out. Sandown Cup Race 6 – #4 Let’sbefrankbaby (6) 4yo Mare | T: Robbie Griffiths & Mathew de Kock | J: Craig Williams (54kg) +150 with Picklebet Best Bet at Sandown: Elouyou Elouyou and The Open will meet again at Sandown after the latter got the better of the former over 1400m last start; however, with a 2kg weight swing in favour of the Scott Cameron-trained gelding, he gets his chance to turn the tables. With more speed expected in this race, Damian Lane can settle Elouyou behind the speed and in front of Billy Egan on his main rival, which should prove the pivotal factor in the finish. Best Bet Race 7 – #5 Elouyou (3) 4yo Gelding | T: Scott Cameron | J: Damian Lane (60kg) +240 with Neds Next Best at Sandown: He’s Beset He’s Beset was very good last start when winning his first race on Australian soil for Nick Ryan. The son of Darci Brahma settled outside the leader and battled with Georgie Get Mad for most of the Caulfield straight, but he proved the stronger galloper in the final strides. Now that he steps up in trip to 1500m second-up, He’s Beset will get everything in his favour and should be able to bring up back-to-back wins. Next Best Race 8 – #7 He’s Beset (5) 4yo Gelding | T: Nick Ryan | J: Jordan Childs (59.5kg) +320 with Playup Sandown Sunday quaddie tips – 2/6/2024 Sandown quadrella selections Sunday, June 2, 2024 2-4-5-7-8 1-3-4-8 3-5 1-4-7 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip Horse racing tips View the full article

What Alice Springs Races Where Pioneer Park Racecourse — Stuart Hwy, Connellan NT 0870 When Saturday, June 1, 2024 First Race 1:51pm ACST Visit Dabble The $25,000 Pioneer Park Anniversary Cup (1400m) is the feature race on Saturday’s seven-race card in Alice Springs. There’s the slight chance of showers on Friday, with sunny conditions, light southerly winds and a top temperature of 17C forecast on Saturday. The rail will be in the true position and it will be a good dirt surface. BEST BET: PROTOSTAR Protostar is stepping up to the 1400m for the first time, but punters should feel confident after he decimated his rivals by 12 lengths at Tennant Creek over 1200m two weeks ago. Before that, he had recorded a win, two seconds, a third and a fourth in the Red Centre before finishing a disastrous seventh as a $1.80 favourite over 1100m on May 5. Nothing went right for the son of Star Turn that day when he failed to settle after blowing the start, but he showed his class on the Tennant Creek sand. Best Bet Race 6 – #2 Protostar (6) 5yo Gelding | T: Terry Gillett | J: Dakota Gillett (a2) (60kg) Bet with Bet365 NEXT BEST BET: DESERT LASS In what could be her final Pioneer Park start, Desert Lass will be out to maintain her amazing 1400m record. The daughter of Rock Hero takes on a decent nine-horse field, but with five wins, six seconds and a third over the trip, it’s hard to ignore her claims. The seven-year-old mare, who ran second in the past two Alice Springs Cups (2000m), was an impressive last-start winner over 1400m on May 5 when lumping 58.5kg. Next Best Race 7 – #4 Desert Lass (1) 7yo Mare | T: Carrol Hunter | J: Emma Lines (a1.5) (61.5kg) Bet with Neds BEST VALUE: EASTSIDE DIAMOND Eastside Diamond returned from a spell two weeks ago and ran a strong fourth over 1100m in Class 2 company, finishing less than two lengths off the winner. That was a marked improvement on her last run before heading to the paddock in February — a disappointing 10th in an 1100m BM64. Staying at the trip and dropping 2kg, the Ray Viney-trained mare can figure in the finish if she shows any improvement on her first-up run. Best Value Race 2 – #4 Eastside Diamond (6) 4yo Mare | T: Ray Viney | J: Ianish Luximon (55kg) Bet with PlayUp Saturday Alice Springs quaddie selections Alice Springs quadrella selections Saturday, June 1, 2024 1-2 1-2-3-4-5 1-2-3-4 3-4-6 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip Horse racing tips
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Connello (centre) will contest the Listed Castletown Stakes (1200m). Photo: Peter Rubery (Race Images Palmerston North) Lisa Latta’s 2023-24 season features an unusual statistic of seven Group wins and none at Listed level, but the Awapuni trainer has two opportunities to rectify that anomaly at Wanganui on Saturday. Latta’s black-type wins this season have come from Belclare in the Group 1 New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m) and Group 2 Westbury Classic (1400m), Lantern Way in the Group 2 Hawke’s Bay Guineas (1400m), Diss Is Dramatic in the Group 2 Japan Trophy (1600m) and Group 3 Thompson Handicap (1600m), and Belardo Boy in the Group 3 Winter Cup (1600m) and Group 3 Metric Mile (1600m). Latta will be represented in both of Saturday’s Listed features at Wanganui, with last-start winner Connello contesting the Castletown Stakes (1200m) while Belardo Boy and Chikira Lass line up in the AGC Training Stakes (1600m). Connello is part-owned by David Woodhouse, whose black and white striped colours were carried to those Group triumphs by Belclare earlier in the season. That high-class daughter of Per Incanto was offered during the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale on the Gold Coast during the week, but fell short of her A$700,000 reserve. Woodhouse paid only $10,000 to buy Connello from the 2022 National Weanling Sale at Karaka. The two-year-old Time Test filly showed some early promise with two thirds, a fourth and two fifths from her first five starts, but then took a big step forward when she returned from a freshen-up with an impressive last-start win at New Plymouth on May 11. “That was a really good performance last start,” Latta said. “She’s always shown us quite a bit. We gave her a little freshen-up at the right time and she came back and won very nicely. “She’s pleased me with everything that she’s done since then. The track is going to be a bit wetter on Saturday than the one she won on at New Plymouth, so we’ll have to watch and see how she handles that, but I’m hopeful that she’ll get through it okay.” Belardo Boy hit career-best form in the early stages of this season, winning the Winter Cup and Metric Mile and finishing third behind Puntura and Belclare in the Group 2 Manawatu Challenge Stakes (1400m). The five-year-old returned from a summer break with an eighth over 1300m at Te Rapa on May 18. He carried 61.5kg in that race and was beaten by five and a half lengths by Aris Aris, who had 53kg. The 94-rated Belardo Boy is suited to the weight-for-age conditions of this Saturday’s $80,000 race. “He’s taken some good improvement from that first-up run and is going the right way,” Latta said. “He loves heavy tracks and gets on well with Joe (Doyle, jockey), so I’m expecting an improved performance from him at weight-for-age this week.” Chikira Lass, who was a stakes placegetter in last year’s Listed ANZAC Mile (1600m), was sold for $30,000 on Gavelhouse in April and now races in the colours of Jamieson Park. A five-time winner from 49 career starts, the six-year-old finished fourth over 2060m in her most recent appearance on May 9. The Proisir mare has a strong record at Wanganui, where her nine starts have produced two wins and two placings. “Her best form is at a mile, and she does race particularly well at Wanganui,” Latta said. “She’s going up in class for this, but she’s in good order. “We’re just trying to have a go at picking up some more black type before she goes off to stud.” Saturday’s TAB Odds Surge (1200m) will be the second start of a new campaign for seven-race winner Old Town Road, who has recorded a win and three placings from his four starts at Wanganui. He is joined in the $40,000 open sprint by his resuming stablemate Make Time. “Old Town Road has a run under his belt now and is building into his new campaign nicely,” Latta said. “He’ll appreciate the heavy track this week. “Make Time is coming up nicely and I’d expect him to be doing his best work late in this race.” Horse racing news View the full article

Rua Rocks will contest the Te Aroha Cup (2200m) on Monday. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images) Carl Henderson is on the sidelines with a broken ankle and he is hoping Rua Rocks can boost his spirits when he heads to Te Aroha on Monday to contest the Te Aroha Cup (2200m). Henderson spent a couple of weeks in the hospital earlier this month after being dislodged from a horse and fracturing his leg, which subsequently required surgery, and has put him on the sidelines for an extended period of time. “I fell off one (horse) and fractured it (ankle) in three places and dislocated it, so I have been in hospital for a couple of weeks,” Henderson said. “They have put rods and pins in there, it looks like a bit of a meccano set in my leg at the moment. It is going to be a bit of a long process. “I have got no weight bearing for six weeks and then maybe another two or three months after that as well just to get back to full strength. I am just taking it really easy at the moment.” While racing is heading into the quieter winter months, things were just starting to ramp up for Henderson’s Te Awamutu stable when the incident occurred. “We do a lot of ready to runners, and they were all in the stable, so we have had to cull a few numbers out and farm a few out to other people,” he said. “It wasn’t a great time to happen, but that is horses for you.” Henderson said his wife Cassie and staff members have been a huge help in his absence, and he is hoping that they can be rewarded for their hard work with a positive result from Rua Rocks on Monday. The son of El Roca was runner-up at Te Rapa last start on a Heavy 8 track, and Henderson is hoping he can go one better at Te Aroha, which was rated a Heavy 8 on Friday morning. “I am really happy with him,” Henderson said. “He is not very big, as everybody knows, and it was a great run last start, he didn’t deserve to finish where he did after his tough run, with the other horse taking him on. We are quite excited about Monday. “The (Heavy) track does worry me a little bit. He is a small horse, but he has got a huge stride on him, so he doesn’t love wet ground, but he has won in wet ground before. “I watched him work just before and we are really happy with him. A little bit extra distance is certainly going to help him.” While hoping for a positive outcome on Monday, Henderson was buoyed at his local trials on Thursday where his promising three-year-old Aspark Park was runner-up in his 1150m heat, and he will look to make his raceday debut in the coming month. “I had a horse trial yesterday that goes well. He is one of Ben Kwok’s horses and he is quite an exciting horse,” Henderson said. “He may have one more trial, he still has a bit to learn, but I do think a lot of him. He cruised up to them yesterday and didn’t quite know how to win. He will probably trial again at Rotorua and then we will look to go to the races with him. I think that he has got a bit of a future.” Horse racing news View the full article

Riviera Rebel will contest the Win a Hilux With Property Brokers (1600m) at Wingatui on Sunday. Photo: Monica Toretto Talented Riverton three-year-old Riviera Rebel will head to Wingatui on Sunday to kick off a winter campaign that could culminate in a shot at the Group 3 Winter Cup (1600m). The son of Pure Champion will take on older Rating 75 opposition in the $35,000 Win a Hilux With Property Brokers (1600m), which will be his first appearance since winning a Rating 65 over the same distance at Riverton nine weeks ago. That home-track victory was an impressive front-running performance in Heavy 10 conditions on March 30, kicking away at the home turn and winning by two lengths with an even bigger margin back to third. Riviera Rebel’s trainer and part-owner Graham Eade was pleased to see him handle testing ground so successfully in that most recent appearance and has started thinking about the $110,000 Winter Cup at Riccarton on August 3. “It’s going to be interesting to see how he goes on Sunday,” Eade said. “He hasn’t had a race since March, but he doesn’t take much to get him fit, so I think he’s ready. I’m happy with how he’s going leading into the race. “As far as the rest of the winter goes, a lot is going to depend on what he does this week. If everything keeps going well with him, we’d love to have a look at the Winter Cup. That could be a really nice target to work towards, although it’s a fair way off at the moment.” Riviera Rebel was a well-beaten fifth in his only start as a two-year-old last season but has been admirably consistent as a three-year-old with two wins and four placings from his eight starts. A maiden win at Riverton on New Year’s Day launched a strong run of summer form that included a third placing behind Aberlour and Quintabelle in the Listed Southland Guineas (1600m) on February 17. Eade’s other runner at Wingatui on Sunday is Cosy Nook, who gets through heavy ground well and was a last-start placegetter over 2147m at Riverton. The six-year-old Tavistock gelding is entered for the Positive Signs + Print (2200m) and is also the fifth ballot for the Ray Kean – Property Brokers (1600m). “He’s going well and shouldn’t mind the track this weekend,” Eade said. “He likes Riverton, and Wingatui is quite a similar track in some ways.” Horse racing news View the full article

Superstar galloper dealt an ideal gate in his bid for a fifth consecutive Group One: ‘He can sit wherever he’s comfortable and he’s got an engine’View the full article

Not Ideal will contest the Te Aroha Veterinary Services Big Day Out (1300m) at Te Aroha on Monday. Photo: Race Images Cambridge trainer Ken Harrison is looking forward to heading to Pukekohe on Saturday where he will have a two-pronged attack in the Dunstan Horsefeeds 2200. Tavistock gelding Espresso To Go has put in solid performances in his last two outings, placing over 2100m at Hawera on each occasion, and Harrison said he will appreciate stepping up to 2200m this weekend. Pukekohe was rated a Heavy 10 on Friday morning, and that bodes the only concern for Harrison, but he said his charge will benefit from the weight relief of three-kilogram claiming apprentice Triston Moodley. “A Heavy track is a little bit of a query for him, but I think he should be alright, he has been working well and going well in his last few races,” Harrison said. “I put the light weight on him, claiming three kilos, and hopefully he will be able to use that inside draw (2) and settle either just in behind them or I am not too worried if he does lead.” Espresso To Go will be met in the race by stablemate King Khan, who will be second-up after running fifth over 2100m at Hawera earlier this month. “First-up he went huge on a firm track at Hawera,” Harrison said. “I thought it would be way too firm for him, but he ran well, and the wet track should suit him.” Weighing up between his two contenders, Harrison is leaning towards Espresso To Go as his better chance on Saturday. “I have always gone King Khan, but I would have to go with Espresso To Go on the way he has been working and going,” he said. “Being second-up for King Khan might hold him back a little fitness-wise.” Both horses are set to press on throughout the winter, with southern aspirations for King Khan. “Espresso has been up for a little while, but if he handles the wet tracks, we will just space his races a little bit,” Harrison said. “King Khan is starting his prep and will probably head to Riccarton for the Winter Cup meeting. There will be a few other races around here for him if he doesn’t go there.” Another stablemate tipped to head south is Not Ideal, who will head to Te Aroha on Monday to contest the Te Aroha Veterinary Services Big Day Out (1300m). The seven-year-old gelding has been lumbered with 62kg on Monday, but Harrison will once again utilise Moodley’s claim to gain some weight relief. “We have had to claim with the way he is up in the weights and with the wetter tracks now, but I think he will handle the heavy track alright, he seems to be working alright at Cambridge on the wet grass,” Harrison said. “He might head to the Winter Cup (Group 3, 1600m), we will just see how he goes with these wetter tracks. We didn’t try him on the wetter tracks as such last year and stuck to Ruakaka, but the travel up there at the moment is a little bit of a problem.” Horse racing news View the full article

Eliud will contest the Property Brokers 3YO 1600 at Wanganui on Saturday. Photo: Race Images Palmerston North Fillies have dominated recent editions of the Listed Castletown Stakes (1200m), and Tony Pike is hoping Raziah can be next on the honour roll this Saturday at Wanganui. Raziah debuted in a competitive juvenile race at Pukekohe in April and showed immediate improvement from that effort with a storming run into second behind race-rival Connello at Taranaki on May 11. “She’s a filly we’ve always really liked. Her run fresh-up was good without a lot of luck and she obviously improved off that, having a tough trip at Taranaki but closing off the race really strongly late,” Pike said. “She’s come on well from her last start and her work on the wet grass track at Cambridge through the week suggests she should handle the conditions reasonably well. “That gives us some confidence heading down to Wanganui, and we’re obviously hoping to get some black-type for her.” The filly is a half-sister to Drakaina, who won the Listed NZB Airfreight Stakes (1400m) at Wingatui in March before being sold to Western Australia, and races in the colours of breeders The Oaks Stud. “It most likely will be the last start for her before a spell, but we’ll get through Saturday and talk to Rick Williams before making any plans,” Pike said. Joining Raziah on the journey from Cambridge is Eliud, a dominant last-start winner over 1400m who will contest the Property Brokers 3YO 1600, with Michael McNab engaged to ride both stablemates. “He’s a horse that has always shown ability, but just taken time to mature,” Pike said. “He’s growing into a lovely big horse now, and he was dominant in a weak race at Taranaki and looks to have improved off that. I’d say he should be hard to beat, and stepping up to the mile should be ideal.” Pike will also have representatives further north on Saturday at Pukekohe Park, and he indicated Trelawney Stud mare Acquarello would be one to watch come spring. “She’s a mare we really like going forward into next season but it’s probably not ideal track conditions for her on Saturday, she’s handled a genuine soft track at Te Rapa but the heavy is a little bit of a mystery,” Pike said. “We do think she can go through the grades quite quickly, and it would be nice to get her rating up on Saturday before coming back for some of the better carnival meetings in the spring.” The daughter of Written Tycoon will aim to go back-to-back in the Elsdon Park 1400, while Maldini will also chase a consecutive success in the SkyCity Horizon 1600. “He (Maldini) has done a fair bit wrong in his races, but he’s just starting to put things together now and his record is pretty good,” Pike said. “He won pretty dominantly last start so he’ll get plenty of confidence out of that, so as long as the inside of the track is holding up well from gate one, he should go close to winning again.” Recent stable addition Delz Abeel will run on debut in the TAB NZ 1200, alongside Revualto, who was well-favoured at his first start but resented the kick-back at Te Rapa. “I’ve only had Delz Abeel for a very short time, just a couple of weeks as Annabelle Johnson prepared him for Bruce Dell (owner),” Pike said. “His trials appeared very solid, obviously I don’t know a lot about him yet but his work through the week has been good and it looks like a nice race to kick off his career on Saturday. “Kelly (Myers, jockey) has ridden him at the trials so she probably knows more about the horse than I do, he looks to have reasonably good gate speed so he should settle in a handy position which is always beneficial on a heavy track over a short distance. We’ll leave it up to her from there. “I’ve put blinkers on Revualto for Saturday, he trialled up really well but he got three-back the fence at Te Rapa and really resented the kick-back. He wasn’t travelling a long way from home. “He seems to handle these track conditions reasonably well, it’s probably not the ideal barrier draw (2) for him but I’d expect an improved performance.” Horse racing news View the full article

Cambridge trainer Stephen Marsh. Photo: Trish Dunell After a flurry of winners in the final few days of May, Cambridge trainer Stephen Marsh hopes to extend that good form into June with a talented team at Pukekohe on Saturday. Marsh sits in second place on the New Zealand trainers’ premiership with 86 wins this season, 10 of them at Group and Listed level. His runners have earned more than $5 million in prizemoney, which is a new career best. He is closing in on his overall highest season total of 104 wins, which he set in 2021-22. Marsh has trained six winners since May 22 alone, winning races with Irish Miss, Lovaci, Night Raider, Brynderwyn, Hoard The Bourbon and Thursday’s Riccarton winner Miss Nico Belle. Saturday’s seven-race card at Pukekohe features four members of Marsh’s stable, and he is expecting a bold showing from every member of that quartet. “It’s only a small team this week, but I think we’re going into that meeting with four really nice chances, so I’m looking forward to it,” Marsh said. Marsh’s day kicks off with Shaking Stevens in the second race on the card, the Barfoot & Thompson (1600m). The Oaks Stud homebred is by Triple Crown champion American Pharoah out of the unraced Darci Brahma mare Revise, who is a full-sister to Group 1 winner Devise, three-quarter-sister to Group 1 winner Catalyst, and half-sister to the multiple Group winner and Group 1-placed Zurella. Shaking Stevens was a two-time placegetter in the spring over Saturday’s 1600m distance, and the three-year-old gelding resumed with a solid fourth over 1400m at Te Rapa on May 4. “I thought that was a really nice performance first-up, and getting back up to the mile on Saturday should really suit him,” Marsh said. “We’ve got Opie Bosson on. “The track conditions are probably a bit of a concern – it’s going to be pretty testing. But he’s been working well, he looks great and he should be very competitive as long as he copes with the track.” The TAB NZ (1200m) features fellow three-year-old The Exponent, who finished fourth at Rotorua on April 17 before stepping up to 1300m with a second placing on the Cambridge synthetic track on May 15. “He probably just tried to go a little bit hard last start,” Marsh said. “He’s dropping back to 1200m for this race and the side winkers come off. He’s drawn wide, but hopefully Opie can get him into a nice position. “The track conditions are a bit of a query again, but I think he’ll be hard to beat if he handles the ground.” Marsh has two runners in the Skycity Horizon (1600m). Three-year-old Savabeel filly Irish Miss was a last-start maiden winner over 1750m at Taupo, while five-year-old mare Bassoroc has been close up in recent races and has a strong record on heavy tracks. “Irish Miss is going from 1750m back to the mile, but I don’t see that as a negative for her,” Marsh said. “Her work has been good and I don’t think the track will worry her. I think she’s a really nice chance and might be a bit over the odds. “The wetter, the better for Bassoroc. She’s been thereabouts lately and this will be her first run of the campaign on a track that really suits her. Sam (Weatherley, jockey) got off her last start and said he thought she could win her next race. I think she’s spot on.” Horse racing news View the full article

Ben Smith’s training career is again in strife, following two breaches of the rules of racing. PIC Bradley Photos. Group 1 winning trainer Ben Smith has been banned for 13 months, after both he and one of his horses tested positive to a banned substance. Smith, who claimed his first group 1 with In Her Time in the Galaxy in 2018, had only returned to racing in late 2022 following an almost four year ban for cobalt offences. But the latest ban from Racing NSW spells trouble for Smith, after they charged him with seperate offences, including the use of a banned substance while handling a horse. Smith’s urine sample, taken on April 4, revealed he had multiple banned substances in his system. He pleaded guilty to this charge under AR140, and received year-long ban, which was reduced to nine months. The Kembla Grange trainer also received a four month ban after a February 2 runner, Arale, tested positive for meloxicam, following a win in the Earthlight First Yearlings, Fillies and Mares Benchmark 72 at Canterbury. Arale was ultimately disqualified from the race. Smith has indicated that he intends on appealing the ban, with it a bitter blow, considering his short time back in the hot seat. Horse racing news View the full article

Throughout a proud history spanning more than 50 years, the NZB Filly of the Year Series has repeatedly unveiled superstars of the racetrack and the breeding barn. But the 2023-24 edition of the series turned out to be one for the ages, with three different fillies going on to win Group One races during the season and one standout racehorse that could not be caught. At the end of the exciting 11-race series, the name added to the honour roll as the 52nd Filly of the Year was the exceptional Molly Bloom (NZ) (Ace High). Having won the Group One New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m), Group Two Eight Carat Classic (1600m) and Group Two David & Karyn Ellis Fillies’ Classic (2000m), Molly Bloom had amassed 28 points – a total that would take plenty of catching despite her taking no further part in the series and the grand finale that was the New Zealand Oaks. Originally purchased by Wexford Stables for $150,000 from Seaton Park’s Karaka 2022 draft, Molly Bloom is set to part ways from trainers Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott to start her next chapter in the care of ex-pat Kiwi and leading trainer Chris Waller. Now under the majority ownership of Australian Ozzie Kheir, Molly Bloom’s recent Queensland campaign has since seen her place in the Listed Gold Coast Bracelet (1800m) and run a commendable fifth in the Group Two The Roses (2000m). With the glamour three-year-old filly now transferring to the care of Chris Waller, co-trainer Lance O’Sullivan reminisced on the prestigious achievement for their talented filly. Wexford Stables trainers Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott with irish jockey Joe Doyle following Molly Bloom’s Guineas Win. “She is such a good quality filly and to win this time-honoured award is recognition of her class,” he stated. “It’s always a dream to buy a filly of her quality and we loved her from the day we first saw her at Karaka. She’s certainly lived up to what we hoped she would be.” “Thank you to NZB for their longstanding sponsorship of the Filly of the Year Series, it is such a prestigious title acknowledging three-year-old filly excellence and we are delighted that she has won it,” he added. Molly Bloom’s connections have earned $50,000 in bonus cheques including $10,000 for breeder Seaton Park, $10,000 for trainers Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott, and $30,000 for her syndicate of owners. She joins the NZB Filly of the Year Honour Roll alongside racing star Legarto (NZ) and talented star fillies turned elite broodmares, Belle En Rouge (NZ), Amarelinha (NZ), Bonneval (NZ), Katie Lee, Daffodil (NZ) and many more. The NZB Filly of the Year award will be accepted later in the year at the 2024 Horse of the Year awards ceremony, while the 2024-25 Series will kick off in September with dates to be finalised. For more information about the NZB Filly of the Year Series, visit here. View the full article

The winners have been announced for the NZB-sponsored Best Newcomer Award this season, formed as part of the NZTR and Equestrian Sports NZ wider show series, Thoroughbreds in Equestrian Sports (TiES). The NZB Newcomer Award recognises the success and versatility of thoroughbreds in equestrian sports for those newly registered with ESNZ (first year competing) with the eligible disciplines including dressage, eventing, showjumping and show hunter. With the season coming to an end, the successful newcomers showcased a range of ability on the track. From those that never raced to a two-start winner, including one mare who won two respective disciplines. Dressage and Eventing – Alpha Tauri (NZ) (Raise the Flag) The now eight-year-old mare by Raise the Flag out of Missy’s Filly, Alpha Tauri took away not just one but two NZB Newcomer awards, as well as the overall Dressage winner of the TiES series. Formally trained under the name Deebeewiththestars by Sophie Price in Winton, Alpha Tauri raced for nine starts, placing just twice on the track. Bred and owned by M J & P G Crooks, her racing career was short but she soon found a loving home with rider Chloe Cann and her mother, Jenna. “Chloe is just fourteen, and this is her first season with Sadie (Alpha Tauri),” commented Jenna after the mare was announced as the winner of the NZB Newcomer award in Dressage and Eventing. “She’s such a little superstar, amongst a warmblood-driven sport, we love her to bits. “TiES is such a great incentive for all thoroughbred owners and really fun to be part of,” she added. “Alpha Tauri is also a talented eventer, and we can’t wait for next season.” Showjumping – Tobruck (NZ) (The Bold One) Tobruk and Karen Patrick An unraced son of The Bold One out of Taatledoya secured the Showjumping Newcomer award this season. At just the young age of five, Tobruck is thriving in his new preferred role with his owner and rider Karen Patrick. “I was very lucky that Ted (Tobruck) made his way from Allan Sharrock’s stables to EventStars, to ending up in my paddock,” mentioned Patrick. “He is a very loveable character who is super gentle and kind with the kids, as well as being brave and consistently trying his heart out in the ring. “He has been an absolute pleasure to produce,” she added. Having competed Tobruk in the Showjumping Futurity Series as well as the Five-Year-Old Series in the show ring this season, the pair have made a successful start to their sport horse career. “He has really held his own against some pretty fancy sport horse breeding. At home, he’s just the perfect pet too.” Mogador and Mary Leatham Show Hunter – Mogador (NZ) (Proisir) Six-year-old Mogador (NZ) (Proisir) and his seventeen-year-old rider Mary Leatham were named winners of the NZB Show Hunter Newcomer award this season, as well as placing fourth overall in the TiES Show Hunter series. Bred by T Needham and Ms. S Whittaker and out of Essaouira, Mogador (NZ) raced thirteen times and earned a total of $18,437 in stakes for owners Ms D Cuthbert and P Smith and trainer Fraser Auret. With two wins to his name, he retired just over eighteen months ago and found his home with Kate Fleming and rider Mary. By champion sire Proisir, Mogador is now relishing in his new career. “He retired and was produced off the track my myself as an eventer and all rounder, commented Fleming. “Mary took over the reins in April 2023, and this is her first thoroughbred experience. She is totally converted, “They decided to give show hunter a go to solidify their foundations in the ring and they have loved competing in a new discipline this season.” For more information about the TiES Series, visit here. View the full article

Buyers at next month’s NZB National Weanling Sale at Karaka will have access to the progeny of emerging stallion talent with the same Karaka quailty but in smaller packaging. The catalogue for the National Weanling Sale features 49 different sires, including many of the most promising names among New Zealand’s stallion ranks, like U S Navy Flag, Ace High, Ardrossan, Embellish, Super Seth, Belardo, Ribchester, Time Test, Circus Maximus, Hello Youmzain and King of Comedy. ACE HIGH The youngest member of the high-performing Rich Hill Stud roster, Ace High is in a battle with U S Navy Flag for the title of New Zealand’s champion second-season sire of 2023-24. Ace High’s 18 first-crop winners include this season’s Group One New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) heroine Molly Bloom (NZ), who also scored twice at Group Two level and took out the prestigious title of NZB Filly of the Year. Drakaina (NZ) has also scored at Listed level, while My Lips Are Sealed (NZ) was beaten by a nose when second in the Group Three Eulogy Stakes (1600m). The four yearlings by Ace High in Book 1 of Karaka 2024 earlier this year averaged $163,750, while he also secured a healthy Book 2 average of $49,000. The 2024 National Weanling Sale catalogue features three progeny of Ace High. Lot 2 is out of a half-sister to the stakes performers Richracer (NZ) (Pentire) and Ky’s The Limit (NZ) (Bertolini), while another two half-siblings are the dams of Group Three winner Dee And Gee (NZ) (Darci Brahma) and the stakes-placed Secret Ambition (NZ) (Jimmy Choux). ARDROSSAN Ardrossan Waikato Stud’s Ardrossan has made a big impact from small numbers. His 37 runners to date include 15 winners, with Codigo (NZ), Beau Dazzler (NZ), Loch Katrine (NZ) and Saltcoats (NZ) all winning at black-type level. The lightly raced Yaldi (NZ), Renovations (NZ) and Rezeki (NZ) have been stakes-placed. Those racetrack successes saw Ardrossan’s average price soar to $182,500 for eight Book 1 yearlings at Karaka 2024. He also averaged $103,917 from six yearlings sold in Book 2. His service fee has been doubled from $10,000 to $20,000 this season. Ardrossan has four weanlings going through the Karaka sale ring next month. The very last lot in the catalogue, Lot 150, is a filly whose half-brother Qian Gua (NZ) (Cape Blanco) is a 10-time winner and placed at stakes level. This filly also comes from the legendary Eight Carat family. EMBELLISH Embellish Himself a Group One-winning three-year-old in the New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m), Cambridge Stud’s Embellish (NZ) has gone on to make an early impact as a sire of quality age-group performers. His 17 winners include Group Three Chairman’s Stakes (2000m) and dual Tasmanian stakes winner Bold Soul (NZ), New Zealand 2000 Guineas runner-up Talisker (NZ), Group Two placegetters Luberon (NZ) and What You Wish For (NZ), and the Listed-placed Quintabelle (NZ) and Paragon (NZ). His oldest progeny are still three-year-olds. Embellish has two weanlings catalogued for Karaka next month. Lot 94 is a filly whose unraced dam is a half-sister to the Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m) placegetter Fellini (NZ) (Belardo), while Group One-winning German star Zazou (Shamardal) is also closely related. HELLO YOUMZAIN Hello Youmzain Cambridge Stud’s exciting shuttle stallion Hello Youmzain was a top-class sprinter, winning five of his 12 starts including the Group One Diamond Jubilee Stakes (1200m) at Royal Ascot and the Group One Haydock Sprint Cup (1200m). The son of Kodiac began shuttling to New Zealand in 2021, and his first yearlings were enthusiastically received at Karaka earlier this year. He had 34 yearlings in the Book 1 catalogue and finished with an average of $171,324. The National Weanling Sale catalogue features two colts by Hello Youmzain. Lot 77 is out of an unraced Savabeel mare from a classy European family, while the dam of Lot 81 is an unraced daughter of multiple Group One winner Katie Lee (Pins). SUPER SETH Super Seth Waikato Stud’s Super Seth is New Zealand’s leading first-season sire this season. His first crop has already produced five two-year-old winners, including Linebacker (NZ), who won the Group Three Baillieu Stakes (1400m) at Rosehill and was runner-up in the Group One Champagne Stakes (1600m) at Randwick. Undefeated colt Super Photon (NZ) has had two starts for two wins including the Listed Waikato Equine Veterinary Centre 2YO Stakes (1400m). Poetic Champion (NZ) placed in the Group Two Wakefield Challenge Stakes (1100m), Group Three Matamata Slipper (1200m) and Listed Counties Challenge Stakes (1100m). Super Seth’s yearlings averaged $147,321 in Book 1 of Karaka 2024. He is the sire of three weanlings in the catalogue for the National Weanling Sale, including Lot 114, who comes from a quality Australian family and is closely related to the recent Group Three winner Boognish (Sooboog). U S NAVY FLAG U S Navy Flag The Oaks Stud stallion U S Navy Flag was New Zealand’s champion first-season sire in 2022-23 and also heads the standings for second-season sires in 2023-24. His southern hemisphere crops have so far produced 28 winners from 73 runners. (The) Pendragon (NZ) was a standout performer this season with his victory in the Group Two Auckland Guineas (1400m) and second placing in the $1.5m Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m), while Chantilly Lace (NZ) has been a dual Listed winner. To Catch A Thief heads U S Navy Flag’s black-type placegetters with three Group One placings, and Aprilia (NZ) was runner-up at Group One level last season and in a Group Two in Melbourne in the spring. Penvose Lad (NZ), Warning Signal (NZ) and Lil Zena (NZ) have all been Listed-placed. While Navy King (NZ) recently became U S Navy Flag’s first city winner at Flemington, and lines up in Saturday’s Group One Queensland Derby. U S Navy Flag’s yearlings averaged $114,167 in Book 1 of Karaka 2024. He is represented in the National Weanling Sale by Lot 97, who is out of a half-sister to the multiple Group One winner and sire Keeninsky (NZ) (Stravinsky). All weanlings offered in the National Weanling Sale are eligible to be nominated for NZB’s lucrative Karaka Millions Series. Graduates can compete in the $1m TAB Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m), followed by the $1.5m TAB Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m), as well as the new $1m Mega Maiden Series comprising of 40 non-Saturday maiden races located throughout New Zealand. Selling is set to take place at the Karaka Sales Centre from 11am (NZT) on Thursday 20 June. View the full article

Success aboard grand winter campaigner Justaskme in Saturday’s Listed AGC Training Stakes at Wanganui could provide leading jockey Jonathan Riddell with one of the final highpoints of his illustrious career. Leading into Saturday’s weight-for-age feature, for which Justaskme is a $3.20 favourite, Riddell has revealed he is considering his future in the saddle, conceding his time left as a jockey is coming to an end. For a jockey who has excelled at the elite level of the sport, most notably winning 14 Group 1 races, including the New Zealand Derby and Rosehill Guineas on Jimmy Choux and finishing second on that horse in the 2011 Cox Plate, Riddell’s career has been accentuated by his tenacity through ongoing struggles with weight. “I’m going on holiday in three weeks to the UK to see my mum. It will be a good chance to freshen up and I’ll think about it – whether I put myself through another year or whether I just pull stumps and be proud of what I’ve achieved,” Riddell said. “One of things I’m most proud of is that the trainers I’m riding for now are the trainers I’ve ridden for since I started and that there’s been an enduring loyalty from both sides. Hopefully I’ve paid them back for the support they’ve given me and they’ve put me back for the support I’ve given them.” A former accomplished jumps jockey, Riddell sits on 955 wins in New Zealand, the carrot of joining the exclusive 1000-win club perhaps enough to convince the 45-year-old hoop to keep riding for another 12 months. “It’s a bit of a niggle more than anything. It was never an ambition of mine but since I got to 900, a few good mates have been riding me to get there. It’s started to annoy me a bit too,” Riddell said. “Since I’ve got to less than 50 to go, I just don’t know. I’m not saying I’ll do it anyway. I’m just hanging in there at the moment. But I’m still earning a living out of it and enjoying it. “I’ve only had one black-type success this season which is grinding me a bit. I’ve always prided myself on getting good results in the big races. “Numbers-wise I’m down on previous seasons, but I haven’t travelled as much as I’ve done in the past and I’m enjoying that – not putting my body under so much pressure day in, day out and not doing so many miles on the road.” Justaskme gives Riddell a terrific chance of adding to his black-type tally, the Allan Sharrock-trained eight-year-old set to relish his return to weight-for-age company, having won the AGC Training Stakes last year and finished second 12 months earlier. “He was really good at Trentham last start. It wasn’t till I got him right out wide in the better going that he finished off really strongly. His last bit was really good,” Riddell said. “He wasn’t as lazy as he’s been before. He’s never really gone that well for me in the past so for him to feel that good going into this race is pretty encouraging. “He’s been so consistent through his career but he’s felt it at the top end of the handicaps as a result and that hasn’t helped him. But weight-for-age brings him right back into it. “Allan is pretty bullish from his run the other day, especially going to weight-for-age. I expect he’ll improve naturally from the other day, as Allan’s do when he sets them for a race – and this is the race he’s been setting him for. You know the job is going to be done right.” Riddell’s other key ride on the day is Wewillrock, a last-start Trentham runner-up who returns to the scene of his win two starts back for the TAB Odds Surge Every Race at Whanganui 1200. “It wasn’t a bad run at Trentham. The big weight factor didn’t help and the winner got away with an easy run up front,” Riddell said. “He’s a beautiful horse and just one of those horses that really grabs you. He’s not a world-beater but he’ll give you everything he has every time. And he’s beautiful to ride. “Back to Wanganui, he won well there the other day. It’s often a horses for courses track, Wanganui.” View the full article

Fillies have dominated recent editions of the Listed John Turkington Forestry Ltd Castletown Stakes (1200m), and Tony Pike is hoping Raziah can be next on the honour roll this Saturday at Wanganui. Raziah debuted in a competitive juvenile race at Pukekohe in April and showed immediate improvement from that effort with a storming run into second behind race-rival Connello at Taranaki on May 11. “She’s a filly we’ve always really liked. Her run fresh-up was good without a lot of luck and she obviously improved off that, having a tough trip at Taranaki but closing off the race really strongly late,” Pike said. “She’s come on well from her last start and her work on the wet grass track at Cambridge through the week suggests she should handle the conditions reasonably well. “That gives us some confidence heading down to Wanganui, and we’re obviously hoping to get some black-type for her.” The filly is a half-sister to Drakaina, who won the Listed NZB Airfreight Stakes (1400m) at Wingatui in March before being sold to Western Australia, and races in the colours of breeders The Oaks Stud. “It most likely will be the last start for her before a spell, but we’ll get through Saturday and talk to Rick Williams before making any plans,” Pike said. Joining Raziah on the journey from Cambridge is Eliud, a dominant last-start winner over 1400m who will contest the Property Brokers 3YO 1600, with Michael McNab engaged to ride both stablemates. “He’s a horse that has always shown ability, but just taken time to mature,” Pike said. “He’s growing into a lovely big horse now, and he was dominant in a weak race at Taranaki and looks to have improved off that. I’d say he should be hard to beat, and stepping up to the mile should be ideal.” Pike will also have representatives further north on Saturday at Pukekohe Park, and he indicated Trelawney Stud mare Acquarello would be one to watch come spring. “She’s a mare we really like going forward into next season but it’s probably not ideal track conditions for her on Saturday, she’s handled a genuine soft track at Te Rapa but the heavy is a little bit of a mystery,” Pike said. “We do think she can go through the grades quite quickly, and it would be nice to get her rating up on Saturday before coming back for some of the better carnival meetings in the spring.” The daughter of Written Tycoon will aim to go back-to-back in the Elsdon Park 1400, while Maldini will also chase a consecutive success in the SkyCity Horizon 1600. “He (Maldini) has done a fair bit wrong in his races, but he’s just starting to put things together now and his record is pretty good,” Pike said. “He won pretty dominantly last start so he’ll get plenty of confidence out of that, so as long as the inside of the track is holding up well from gate one, he should go close to winning again.” Recent stable addition Delz Abeel will run on debut in the TAB NZ 1200, alongside Revualto, who was well-favoured at his first start but resented the kick-back at Te Rapa. “I’ve only had Delz Abeel for a very short time, just a couple of weeks as Annabelle Johnson prepared him for Bruce Dell (owner),” Pike said. “His trials appeared very solid, obviously I don’t know a lot about him yet but his work through the week has been good and it looks like a nice race to kick off his career on Saturday. “Kelly (Myers, jockey) has ridden him at the trials so she probably knows more about the horse than I do, he looks to have reasonably good gate speed so he should settle in a handy position which is always beneficial on a heavy track over a short distance. We’ll leave it up to her from there. “I’ve put blinkers on Revualto for Saturday, he trialled up really well but he got three-back the fence at Te Rapa and really resented the kick-back. He wasn’t travelling a long way from home. “He seems to handle these track conditions reasonably well, it’s probably not the ideal barrier draw (2) for him but I’d expect an improved performance.” View the full article

Industry organizations and horsemen are voicing concerns about possible negative consequences for Louisiana following rule changes that will roll back restrictions on controlled medications and allow increased use of substances of high concern.View the full article

Trainer Andrew Perdon (left) with Starspangled Baby after winning the Bairnsdale Cup on March 24, 2024. (Ross Holburt/Racing Photos) Sale trainer Perdon will have three starters — Starspangled Baby, Faberge Tzar and Dummy Spit — in Alice Springs on Saturday as preparations for the forthcoming Darwin Cup Carnival continue. Perdon, 51, left Sale in eastern Victoria on Monday and stopped at Murray Bridge and Coober Pedy before arriving in the Red Centre on Wednesday afternoon. Alice Springs received some 30mm of rain from the front that is currently crossing Australia, and subsequently Pioneer Park was closed for track work. With rain easing on Friday and sunny weather tipped for Saturday, Perdon remains hopeful his trio will step out on Pioneer Park before the meeting this weekend. “The plan was to come here to mainly try and get them acclimatised, and give them a run on a dirt-and-oil-based track,” he said. “Then head to Darwin and give them a few weeks up there to acclimatise before they run again. “Hopefully, it clears up and I can work them before Saturday’s program. “Starspangled Baby, she’s heading hopefully to the Darwin Cup, and for Faberge Tzar, it’s the Guineas and Derby. “Dummy Spit, just find the appropriate races where he can pay his way. “It’s more like just giving them that experience on the dirt surface this weekend to see how they go. “Come to Alice Springs first, a few days on the track, race them, give them a break, and take them to Darwin. “Whether they’re good enough and measure up is the key — they’ve also got to handle the travel, the Darwin heat and Fannie Bay.” Starspangled Bay, a six-year-old mare, features in the Pioneer Park Anniversary Cup (1400m) at BM76 level; Faberge Tzar, a three-year-old gelding, runs in a 1400m BM54; and Dummy Spit, a four-year-old gelding, starts in a 1100m Class 2. Starspangled Baby won the Bairnsdale Cup (1600m) before finishing eighth in the Country Oaks (1950m) at Yarra Valley in March, while Faberge Tzar and Dummy Spit both raced twice during May. Leading Darwin jockey Jarrod Todd, who rode for Perdon when he was based in Victoria, will partner the trio on Saturday. “Jarrod actually rang me, he contacted me because we have history,” Perdon said. “He’s also one of the better jockeys up here, so he’s the one to probably get.” Horse racing news View the full article

Due to a drop in ticket sales for the 2024 Darwin Cup Carnival, the centrefield at Fannie Bay will be closed throughout. With the 2024 Cup Carnival imminent, the Darwin Turf Club Board met this week before agreeing to make a significant change to its format. It was decided to take a cautious approach to operational and infrastructure investment due to a general decline in ticket sales. This decline is attributed to limited interstate access to the Northern Territory, cost-of-living pressures, and other economic challenges reducing discretionary spending. Attempts to secure additional funding from stakeholders to enhance the carnival have been unsuccessful. Consequently, the Board elected to close the centrefield at Fannie Bay and focus resources on improving service delivery to all guests on the grandstand side of the track. This decision follows consultation with the accommodation, events, and hospitality sectors, reflecting a softer than expected tourism uptake during this year’s dry season. Despite these challenges, DTC Chairman Craig Trezise remains optimistic about the success of the Darwin Cup Carnival. “We remain extremely confident we can produce an exceptional event keeping with the highest quality and services that our stakeholders have come to expect from one of the NT’s largest events,” he said. The 2024 Cup Carnival, which accommodates eight meetings, starts on July 6 and culminates with the running of the Darwin Cup on August 5. It was only recently that the DTC announced four new board members following its annual general meeting. New board members on the 10-member panel include Carol Need, Molly Upstill, Raymond Bail and Skefos Tsoukalis. Trezise made special mention of the efforts of previous board members and added that he is looking forward to working with current and newly appointed board members in facilitating further growth opportunities for the club. “I’d like to pass on my thanks to our former board members Daniel Banks and Donna Murray for their commitment and their contribution over the last three years,” he said. “I now look forward to working with our new board members to further enhance our racing product for both industry and our members whilst providing a fantastic customer experience in the coming years for our general racing public.” Meanwhile, Bronte Pearson, who hopes to be a sports presenter, is the 2024 Darwin Cup Carnival Ambassador. Pearson, who is studying for her Bachelor of Media Communications degree, proved to be the outstanding candidate from a strong list of applicants for the coveted role. “Having been born and raised in the Territory, I have a deep understanding of the local culture values and community spirit that define our region,” she said. “I can’t wait to represent the Darwin Turf Club and contribute to the success of this prestigious event, whilst also showcasing some of our wonderful retailers and designers during the carnival.” 2024 Darwin Cup Carnival schedule July 6 – Darwin Guineas Day July 13 – Chief Minister’s Cup Day July 17 – Ladies Day July 20 – NT Derby Day July 27 – Metric Mile Day July 31 – Corporate Cup Day August 3 – Palmerston Sprint Day August 5 – Darwin Cup Day Horse racing news View the full article

David Hall has Chairman’s Sprint Prize victor primed for Group Three sprint this weekendView the full article

The GI Belmont S. lost a major contender Thursday when trainer Todd Pletcher revealed that last year's juvenile champion Fierceness (City of Light) will pass the final leg of the Triple Crown and will instead point for the GI Haskell S. on July 20 at Monmouth Park. The Daily Racing Form's David Grening was first with the story. “We felt like Fierceness needs more time and will point for the Haskell,” Pletcher said in a text message. Fierceness has not run since finishing 15th as the beaten favorite in the GI Kentucky Derby, repeating a pattern where he seems to run his best every other race. Prior to the Kentucky Derby, he won the GI Florida Derby by 13 1/2 lengths. Pletcher still has three horses pointing for the Belmont in GIII Peter Pan S. winner Antiquarian (Preservationist), maiden Protective (Medaglia d'Oro) and recent allowance winner Mindframe (Constitution). All three will work Saturday. Though he has yet to announce his final decision, trainer Kenny McPeek said Thursday he is leaning toward running Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan (Goldencents) in the final leg of the Triple Crown. He also said he will point for the GI Travers S. “The Belmont actually seems to be a little more attractive because I don't have to ship, it is Grade I, obviously the prestige is a no-brainer,” said McPeek, who has already shipped Mystik Dan to Saratoga. “We want to run, we do, we just got to make sure that all boxes are checked, t's are crossed and i's are dotted.” The post Fierceness to Pass Belmont, Point to Haskell appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

As is often the case, the opponent that may well have Ryan Moore looking over his shoulder as he attempts to win Coolmore yet another Classic could be coming from the same stable on Friday with Aidan O'Brien readying two salvos at the G1 Betfred Oaks. While there is no disputing that on the formbook, the G1 Fillies' Mile-winning TDN Rising Star Ylang Ylang (GB) (Frankel {GB}) is the number one, there is a sense of stealthy acceleration through the ranks for the yard's regally-bred maiden Rubies Are Red (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). A full-sister to the Arc heroine Found (Ire), the latter was impossible to ignore as she steamed through the line in the Listed Lingfield Oaks Trial. Interestingly sent to the same Leopardstown maiden in April used for last year's Oaks runner-up Savethelastdance (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), Rubies Are Red almost denied You Got To Me (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) her sensational success three weeks ago with barnstorming final splits. What played against her was her inability to travel down Lingfield's descent to the straight, so that might be a sticking point on these similar undulations, but equally that could have been down to inexperience. Forever Together (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) won this for Ballydoyle as a maiden and it is intriguing that she has been selected to come to Surrey despite the presence of the favourite. Ylang Ylang goes up four furlongs in trip, having run truer to her pedigree when fifth in the G1 1,000 Guineas four weeks ago than she did when beating the speedy Vespertilio (Fr) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) in the seven-furlong G3 Silver Flash S. at Leopardstown last July. If she was able to brandish her zealous nature in winning that prize, that side of her nature quickly led to a mid-season slump before a calmer, more tractable version of her was displayed in her Fillies' Mile success. Despite her obvious credentials, Ryan Moore's selection meets genuine mile-and-a-half-plus candidates here so she has something else to prove. Perhaps the devil was in the detail in Thursday's words on Rubies Are Red from O'Brien. “She is definitely an Oaks-type filly,” he declared. “Her running style is like Found's, in that she takes her time and comes late. Ryan said she was very green at Lingfield and he nursed her.” Of Ylang Ylang, he added, “We were very happy with her in the Guineas. We thought going to the Guineas that she was an Oaks filly given the way she had been working and that is how she ran. Her run in the Moyglare was a shocker. She was able to reverse it when she got into the right mindset and I imagine some of the fillies that were behind her in the Guineas were ahead of her in the Moyglare, so it's amazing the way things can swing around.” Ryan Moore seems confident that he has picked the right one and said, “It's an open Oaks, I suppose, but I'd say Ylang Ylang fully deserves her place at the head of the market. She was doing all her best work at the finish when winning the Fillies' Mile on soft ground last season and she again shaped as if a greater test of stamina would suit when fifth in the Guineas and that is the best form on offer going into this race. By some way. The mile-and-a-half trip is not certain on pedigree, but I'd be positive on that front and she is clearly the one to beat for me.” More Aga Khan Classic Glory In 2024? The Aga Khan's season has already started brighter than any in recent memory, with Rouhiya (Fr) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) winning the G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches, and it is fair to say that the operation's candidate Ezeliya (Fr) (Dubawi {Ire}) has Oaks written all over her. From the stamina-packed family of the G1 Gold Cup-winning half-siblings Enzeli (Ire) (Kahyasi {Ire}) and Estimate (Ire) (Monsun {Ger}) and the G1 Irish Oaks heroine Ebadiyla (Ire) (Sadler's Wells), the Dermot Weld project won a key trial in the 10-furlong G3 Salsabil S. at Navan looking for all the world like this Epsom test would suit. “I've had 24 winners of English and Irish Classics, but Blue Wind was the first and so that was a very special day for me,” Weld said as he reflected on his 1981 breakthrough winner. “She was a very good filly who went on to win the Irish Oaks and ended the season the champion filly of Europe. She was a big, strong filly and she won by seven lengths from Madam Gay, who went on to win the Prix de Diane. I've only had a few runners at Epsom, but it's been lucky for me. I also won the Derby with Harzand and we were second in the Oaks with Tarfasha, who was beaten only by another very high-class filly in Taghrooda.” “The Salsabil form was let down a little bit in the Irish 1,000 Guineas, but I'm satisfied with my filly,” the master of Rosewell House added. “She's a medium-sized filly with quality and I expect her to run a good race. She's never been over a mile and a half, but she gives every impression that the trip will suit. We hope it will, but I can assure you she isn't short of pace.” Continuing Of A Trend? Fascinatingly, both English Classics staged so far this term have gone to those who started on the all-weather during the winter and it would really be something if the unbeaten Forest Fairy (Ire) (Waldgeist {GB}) could carry on that quirk here. Dazzling on debut at Wolverhampton in February, the least-exposed of Ralph Beckett's four runners had to work for her follow-up three months later in the Listed Cheshire Oaks. What that form is worth remains to be seen, with Aidan O'Brien opting not to send the runner-up Port Fairy (Ire) (Australia {GB}) into action here, but it is notable that the filly that beat Rubies Are Red at Leopardstown, Galileo Dame (Ire) (Galileo Gold {GB}), was well-beaten. On pedigree, she is a far more suitable Oaks candidate than the G3 Musidora S. winner Secret Satire (GB) (Advertise {GB}) or Godolphin's G3 Oh So Sharp S. winner Dance Sequence (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), so it could be that she holds the key to the British defence from a stable that excels with middle-distance fillies. Can Emily Repeat? Anyone who knows anything about sectional timing knows that the 2023 G1 Coronation Cup success of TDN Rising Star Emily Upjohn (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) marked her out as one of the race's very best winners and she is back to defend her title on Friday. Her stunning 10.52 split between the three and the two went unmatched over the two days, including in the Derby and while it is true that her overall form is patchy, this is an elite performer so it is welcome that connections have kept her in training at five. Triptych won this as a five and six-year-old, so the ball is in the court of the Gosdens' mare to get some consistency in 2024. Like Emily Upjohn, fellow TDN Rising Star Feed The Flame (GB) (Kingman (GB) also needs to find a more level way of operating with his impressive G1 Grand Prix de Paris success now feeling more and more like a distant memory. His latest third in the 10 1/2-furlong G1 Prix Ganay gave hope that he is on the way back and it is worth remembering that Pascal Bary talked often of him being a “next-year horse” despite his 3-year-old exploits. Connections have come here looking for a mile-and-a-half test and with the likes of Hamish (GB) (Motivator {GB}) and Luxembourg (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) in attendance, he should get that. This was a race the French, and in particular Andre Fabre, at one time dominated with seven wins between 1986 and 1996. Epsom Dodges The Rain… While the forecast last week suggested this could be one of those soggy Derby festivals, Clerk of the Course Andrew Cooper had some welcome news on Thursday. “We haven't seen a lot of rain yet here today. It was a cloudy morning with a few light showers, which gave us about a millimetre and it actually ended up being quite a pleasant, dry afternoon. I think we've got some showery rain heading our way this evening, there's still some potential for that here, so watch this space on that, but I don't expect it to be thundery heavy or anything like that.” “I've left the ground for now at good-to-soft, which is where we were at first thing this morning, because prior to this morning, we'd basically been dry since Tuesday afternoon. There was nothing I'd really call soft, so I think good-to-soft remains a fair call as it is. It will have dried a fraction during the course of the day here, but it wasn't the kind of temperature or dry enough for it to dry very quickly. Tomorrow, there looks a lot of dry weather but we could have a kind of drizzly spell through the morning potentially.” “It's not a completely dry picture, but there doesn't look anything particularly heavy and Saturday looks dry. In Flat-racing terms, I think most people would say slightly faster ground would be perfect, but I think if it stays dry, we would be heading towards good, certainly. Whatever it ends up, it's a nice, consistent surface–it's not erratic and it walks very consistently.” The post “Her Running Style Is Like Found’s” – Has Moore Chosen Right In The Oaks? appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Tracks and horsemen are voicing concerns about possible negative consequences for Louisiana following rule changes that will roll back restrictions on controlled medications and allow increased use of substances of high concern such as clenbuterol.View the full article

7th-Gulfstream, $43,000, (S), Alw (NW1X)/Opt. Clm ($20,000), 5-30, 3yo/up, 1mT, 1:34.53, fm, 1 length. QUESTER (c, 3, Into Mischief–Osare {SW, $234,605}, by Medaglia d'Oro), third in his debut going 5 1/2 panels for Todd Pletcher on the main track here in March, came back to score extending to 8 1/2 furlongs Apr. 19. Given a 4-1 chance to make it two straight switching to the care of Heather Smullen, he stalked the early pace, took over in the stretch and inched clear late to score by a length over Dear Dad (Khozan). The victory represented the first victory for Smullen, former assistant to Ralph Nicks. During her tenure with Nicks, she also served as an exercise rider to champion 2-year-old filly Caledonia Road and GI Florida Derby and GI Travers S. winner Tiz the Law. “It feels great. I've been really lucky,” she said after her win Thursday. “I have a lot of owners and managers and people who have supported me over the years. I've been lucky to have the opportunity to have nice horses,” she said. Smullen's career as an exercise rider ended following an accident on Labor Day morning at Saratoga in 2022 that left her with a broken fibula and tibia in her right leg. She has served at Gulfstream Park as an assistant for Arindel Farms, as well as for trainers Dale Romans and Phil Serpe over the past several years. “I've worked as an assistant for about 20 years,” said Smullen, a niece of Tagg's assistant trainer Robin Smullen. “I've been lucky to have been around good horses.” Smullen currently has a stable of 12 horses at Gulfstream. Osare produced a full-brother to the winner in 2022 followed by a filly by Gun Runner last season. She was bred back to Life Is Good. Sales history: $775,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP; $100,000 3yo '24 KEEAPR. Lifetime Record: 3-2-0-1, $58,740. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. O-Lawana L. and Robert E. Low; B-Bridlewood Farm (FL); T-Heather Smullen. The post Into Mischief’s Quester Gives Trainer Heather Smullen Her First Winner appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article