Wandering Eyes

Patience proved key for jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. as his "plan B" turned into a winning ride for Juddmonte Farms homebred Segesta in the $200,000 Wonder Again Stakes (G2T) at Aqueduct Racetrack May 27.View the full article

Monday's first race at Belmont-at-Aqueduct was scheduled to be contested at five-and-a-half furlongs on the dirt, but due to what NYRA called an “outside-vendor issue,” it was run at the incorrect distance of five furlongs. “Monday's first race at Belmont at the Big A was run at the incorrect distance of five furlongs due to a program diagram error,” said NYRA's Vice President of Communications Patrick McKenna. “The race was written at 5 1/2-furlongs for 2-year-old maidens, however,,due to an outside-vendor issue, the corresponding race graphic in the program portrayed a five-furlong race. The race was subsequently run at five furlongs with War Tax [No. 2, $6.90] winning with Jose Gomez up for trainer Carlos Martin.” The graphic that appears in the program showing the distance of the race–with the section to be run appearing in black–shows a five-furlong race, and the inside part of the graphic says “5 furlongs.” But in the text of the conditions just below, it reads Five And One Half Furlongs. The stewards apparently did not notice that the gate was placed in the wrong place, allowing the race to take place. The mistake was discovered after the race was run. The field was comprised of six first-time starters. “This is a highly unusual scenario and despite the correct distance being written in the program, on the overnight and across wagering platforms, the race was unfortunately contested at the incorrect distance. NYRA will review its protocols to ensure this scenario does not present itself again.” The post Race 1 at Belmont-at-Aqueduct Contested at Incorrect Distance appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Grade 1 winner Tapit Trice returns to racing action June 1 as he faces 10 competitors in the $275,000 Blame Stakes (G3) at Churchill Downs, a local prep for the $1 million Stephen Foster Stakes (G1) June 29.View the full article

Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott said he was pleased with Batten Down's five furlong work in 1:01.09, but is not ready to confirm the son of Tapit for the $2 million Belmont Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Race Course June 8.View the full article

Henrietta Topham attempts to defend her crown while making her seasonal debut June 2 in the $250,000 Mint Julep Stakes (G3T) at Churchill Downs.View the full article

Sent off at 4-1 with 'TDN Rising Star' Sweet Rebecca (American Pharoah) taking the lion's share of the pari-mutuel action in Monday's GII Wonder Again S. at a rainy Aqueduct Racetrack, Juddmonte's beautifully bred SEGESTA (f, 3, Ghostzapper–Antonoe, by First Defence) was given a heads-up ride by Irad Ortiz, Jr. to cause a mild upset. Quickly into stride from the inside gate in a scratched-down field of six, the dark bay–whose dam was highly impressive in winning the GI Just A Game S. in 2017–led into the first turn, but Ortiz was looking to drop anchor and achieved that nicely, allowing Curlin's Girl (Curlin) to lead while retaining rail position. Into the box seat when a keen Sweet Rebecca tugged her way up into second at the half-mile, Segesta was on hold turning for home, quickened up better than Sweet Rebecca to her outside and rebroke in the final sixteenth of a mile before holding sway. Sy B (English Channel) closed for second ahead of Vive Veuve (Collected) in third. Sweet Rebecca, who was mooted as a possible starter in the G1 Coronation S. at Royal Ascot next month before landing here, could do no better than fifth. Segesta is the 102nd worldwide stakes winner and 56th graded winner for her sire and is bred on a similar cross to Paulassilverlining, purchased privately by Juddmonte before going on to win the GI Madison S. and GI Humana Distaff. Segesta is the sixth Wonder Again winner and third in a row for the Chad Brown barn. Lifetime Record: 4-2-1-0. O/B-Juddmonte (KY); T-Chad Brown. SEGESTA, the 3YO daughter of @HillnDaleFarm stallion Ghostzapper, wins the Grade 2 Wonder Again Stakes with @iradortiz aboard for trainer Chad Brown. pic.twitter.com/2sqvgq4QHz — NYRA () (@TheNYRA) May 27, 2024 The post Ghostzapper’s Regally Bred Segesta Proves Best In the Wonder Again appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Juddmonte homebred Batten Down (Tapit), a full-brother to multiple graded winner Tacitus, worked five furlongs in company in 1:01.09 (1/4) over the Oklahoma training track in Saratoga Monday, but trainer Bill Mott is still considering whether the sophomore will line up for the June 8 GI Belmont S. Batten Down, with jockey Junior Alvarado up, went on the outside of stablemate Arthur's Ride (Tapit) as NYRA clockers caught them through splits of :12.54, :24.80, :36.99 and through five-eighths in 1:01.99 before galloping out in 1:14.19 and 1:28.94. The pair stayed on even terms throughout with Arthur's Ride, a 4-year-old allowance winner, a long head in front at the wire. Both horses wore blinkers for the work. “I don't know if I'm running in the Belmont–he had a nice work,” said Mott. “It couldn't have gone better. He went with an older horse and they breezed nicely together. Junior was pleased with him, so [now] we decide where we go. “Maybe we skip the Belmont and go to Ohio possibly,” Mott added, referencing the GIII Ohio Derby June 22 at Thistledown. “We've got to figure it out.” With Alvarado aboard, Batten Down rolled to an 8 3/4-length maiden victory going 1 1/4 miles at Churchill Downs Apr. 30. “I love him. He's a very nice horse to be around and he's a very kind horse,” Alvarado said. “He's a little different in the afternoon and gets very aggressive and wants to go, go, go. But he lets you do whatever you want in the morning. Arthur is a good work horse and it was a very good pairing–beautiful and enjoying their work together.” Batten Down ran with his head tilted slightly as he ran alongside Arthur's Ride in the stretch, but Alvarado said it is not something that concerns him. “He does that. When he gets a little in front or he's about to pass a horse, he always likes to lean in and play around,” said Alvarado. “He's always been that kind of horse, but we know that when it's race time, he gets serious. He's a totally different animal in the afternoon.” Also on the tab Monday for Mott was GII Wood Memorial winner Resilience (Into Mischief), who posted his first work since finishing sixth in the May 4 GI Kentucky Derby. The bay colt worked alone through splits of :13.32, :26.29 and a half-mile in :50.45 (5/7) before galloping out in 1:04.20. “I'm trying to figure out what's next,” Mott said of a potential next start for Resilience. Mott sent four-time Grade I winner Casa Creed (Jimmy Creed) to work four furlongs in :48.02 (1/7) Monday. Working in company with 3-year-old maiden Timeout (Curlin), the 8-year-old went through splits of :12.87, :24.64 and galloped out in 1:01.25, according to NYRA clockers. “He was very, very, very good,” Mott said of the veteran. Owned by LRE Racing and JEH Racing Stable, Casa Creed has made three straight starts in the GI Jaipur S.–including a win in 2022–when it was contested at six furlongs at Belmont Park, but will skip this year's event at the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival with the race being run at 5 1/2 furlongs. He will instead aim for the one-mile GIII Poker S. on the Belmont S. undercard. The post Batten Down Works, Still on the Fence for Belmont appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Ghostwriter (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), last seen finishing fourth in the G1 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket, is said to be an intended runner in Sunday's G1 Prix du Jockey Club at Chantilly as he tries to provide trainer Clive Cox with a first Classic success. One of 21 colts still in contention for the Prix du Jockey Club, Ghostwriter shaped as if ready for a step up in trip when beaten four and a half lengths on the Rowley Mile, form which received a couple of boosts on Saturday when Rosallion (Ire) (Blue Point {Ire}) and Haatem (Ire) (Phoenix Of Spain {Ire}) filled the first two places in the G1 Irish 2,000 Guineas at the Curragh and Inisherin (GB) (Shamardal) won the G2 Sandy Lane S. at Haydock. Unbeaten in three starts as a two-year-old, culminating with victory in the G2 Royal Lodge S. at Newmarket, Ghostwriter has always been held in the highest regard by Cox and the trainer is excited to see what he can do on Sunday when his rivals could include the Aidan O'Brien-trained Diego Velazquez (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), David Menuisier's Sunway (Fr) (Galiway {GB}) and the G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains winner Metropolitan (Fr) (Zarak {Fr}). “I'm very pleased indeed with him,” Cox said of Ghostwriter. “He's had a healthy timeframe between the Guineas and this weekend and the form of the Guineas has worked out brilliantly, with Kevin's horse winning as well as Richard's two finishing first and second in Ireland, so we're very happy. “We've been looking forward to stepping him up to a mile and a quarter, more importantly. He did really well last year when he was unbeaten and winning over a mile at two would give us every indication that he should get a little bit further this year. I hope we fare well in the draw and I'm really looking forward to it.” The post Ghostwriter On Course For Classic Test In Prix du Jockey Club appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Trainer Clive Cox has confirmed that all roads lead to Royal Ascot for Kerdos (Ire) following the four-year-old's victory in Saturday's G2 Temple S. at Haydock. Cox was winning the race for a third time having previously struck in 2016 with Kerdos's sire, Profitable (Ire), and the following year with Priceless (GB) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}), a half-sister to Kerdos's granddam, Ballyalla (GB) (Mind Games {GB}). Profitable went on to win the G1 King's Stand S. at Royal Ascot on his next start and that five-furlong sprint–which will be run as the King Charles III S. for the first time this year–is now on the agenda for Kerdos after he justified Cox's belief in him with a career-best effort at Haydock. “I was really pleased but it was no surprise,” Cox summed up. “We always believed he could perform at this level, especially after the way he won the Beverley Bullet last year. “He's a horse that normally takes a couple of runs to get into full flight and I was really pleased that he managed in that ground, but it shows he's versatile as it was very quick when he won the Beverley Bullet, so we were very happy. He wasn't beaten far in the Abbaye last season and I'm just delighted that he's hit his stride at this time of year, with some very nice races to get excited about.” On the family connection, Cox added, “What nobody picked up on on Saturday was his dam is out of a half-sister to Priceless and he's by Profitable, so he really is the glue of our previous Temple winners, which was very nice. “Most definitely it will be the King Charles III now and we'll sleep easy knowing he has won on both types of ground, which is always a relief. I'm pleased that we will be heading there with two realistic chances, with Diligent Harry in great form as well.” The opposition to Kerdos and Diligent Harry (GB) (Due Diligence) at Royal Ascot is likely to include last year's G1 Sprint Cup winner Regional (GB) (Territories {Ire}), who delighted trainer Ed Bethell when returning to action with a runner-up finish behind Mitbaahy (Ire)–another son of Profitable–in Saturday's G2 Greenlands S. at the Curragh. “He ran really well,” Bethell said of the six-year-old. “A stiff six just found him out and all roads lead to the King Charles at Royal Ascot. Hopefully we'll get good, fast ground there and I'm really excited about his chance over five furlongs on that track. “The whole idea was to go to the Temple, but the ground went against us at Haydock, so we went to the Curragh for the ground. A stiff six would never have been his cup of tea, but a stiff five at Ascot will be tailor-made for him. It's what we all do it for, to have chances going down there, let alone a live one. We're really excited and fingers crossed he'll get there.” One horse who won't be in action at the Royal meeting is Live In The Dream (Ire) (Prince Of Lir {Ire}), who was beaten just half a length in the Temple having led for much of the race. Trainer Adam West is now considering a return trip to Haydock as he plots a route back to the G1 Nunthorpe S. at York which Live In The Dream won so impressively in 2023. “He was out in the sunshine yesterday and this morning and he looks fantastic,” said West. “We couldn't have asked for a better start to the season really. I think Sean [Kirrane, jockey] showed a lot of maturity. He took him through the gears nicely and wasn't hard on him. He just said in the last 50 yards he's got a tiny bit leg weary, but he absolutely felt the best he's ever felt and the maturity level of the horse has come on since last year, so we're delighted. “We're still looking at Sandown [for the Coral Charge], but we are actually going to throw a curveball in and look at the Achilles Stakes back at Haydock first. The dates have worked out so well for us and despite being a Group 1 winner in a Listed race, because the Nunthorpe was before the end of August he's able to run, so it would be silly of us not to consider it. We'll enter him and see what the ground is like.” The post Royal Ascot Next For Kerdos As Plans Take Shape For Sprinting Stars appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Following Monday's confirmation stage, there remains the possibility of a maximum field going to post for Saturday's G1 Betfred Derby at Epsom, with City Of Troy (Justify) the standout name among 20 colts still in contention for the Classic. Unbeaten in three starts as a two-year-old, City Of Troy is a short-priced favourite to provide trainer Aidan O'Brien with a record-extending tenth success in the Derby, despite disappointing on his return to action in the G1 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket. O'Brien could field up to six runners at Epsom, with the G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud and G3 Derby Trial S. winner Los Angeles (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) also featuring in the first three in the ante-post betting. Diego Velazquez (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), Euphoric (GB) (Frankel {GB}), Illinois (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Portland (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) make up the list of possible runners from Ballydoyle. Last month's G3 Ballysax S. winner Dallas Star (Fr) (Cloth Of Stars {Ire}) is the only other Irish-trained entry. He sports the familiar purple silks of Amo Racing–along with the Dominic Ffrench Davis trainees Mr Hampstead (Galileo {Ire}) and Padesha (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB})–and is set to be a first runner in the Derby for trainer Adrian Murray, who confirmed that he couldn't be happier with his charge ahead of the big day on Saturday. “Dallas Star is doing very well,” Murray said on a Zoom call organised by The Jockey Club. “The plan after he won the Ballysax was to go straight to the Derby. I have been very happy with him since Leopardstown–he is improving all the time and we are hoping for a big run. “He had a racecourse gallop at Naas last week and we were very happy with how he went. We don't really know much about him on quicker ground, although he handled it okay at Naas last week. If I had the chance, I would maybe be looking for a bit of ease in the ground. “For me, it's unbelievable to have a runner in the Derby and I'm very excited. It is a race I have been watching all my life and I'm sure it's going to be a huge experience. We are not going over as favourite but we are delighted to be in the race and hopefully he has an each-way chance.” The James Fanshawe-trained Ambiente Friendly (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}) is the bookmakers' second favourite following his four-and-a-half-length victory in the Listed Lingfield Derby Trial S. last time, while last year's G1 Futurity Trophy winner Ancient Wisdom (Fr) (Dubawi {Ire}) is the only other horse currently trading at single-figure odds behind City Of Troy, Ambiente Friendly and Los Angeles, having reappeared with an encouraging second in the G2 Dante S. at York. Dancing Gemini (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), runner-up in the G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains at Longchamp on his most recent start, and Macduff (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), who filled the same position in the G3 Classic Trial, warmed up for the Derby by getting a feel for the track on a press morning last week, along with last-time-out novice winners, Deira Mile (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) and Voyage (GB) (Golden Horn {GB}). One horse who already has winning form at Epsom is last month's Listed Blue Riband Trial hero Bellum Justum (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), who represents Andrew Balding and King Power Racing and will be ridden by multiple champion jockey Oisin Murphy as he seeks a first victory in the Classic. “The Derby and Oaks are incredibly prestigious races that I haven't been fortunate enough to win yet,” said Murphy. “I dreamt of being part of them as a child and one day I'd like to get my name on the roll of honour. I missed out on the ride on Adayar in 2021 when Adam Kirby became available but hopefully luck will be on my side one day and it can happen. “Bellum Justum won the trial at Epsom over a mile and a quarter. He's a beautiful horse with a lot of quality. We don't know how good he is, but we'll find out on Derby Day. Andrew has had horses placed in the Derby and won an Oaks with Casual Look, so it would be a dream if we can take gold on Derby Day.” Bellum Justum could be joined in the line-up by stable-mate Sayedaty Sadaty (Ire) (Anodin {Ire}), while the list of possible runners is completed by John and Thady Gosden's God's Window (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), plus the Abdulla Al Mansoori-owned pair of Kamboo (Ire) (Awtaad {Ire}) and Tabletalk (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) after the latter was supplemented on Monday at a cost of £75,000. The post City Of Troy One Of 20 Colts Left In Derby Picture At Five-Day Stage appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Just over a week after winning the May 18 Preakness Stakes (G1) at Pimlico Race Course, Seize the Grey and jockey Jaime Torres met some of his many MyRacehorse shareholders for breakfast at the D. Wayne Lukas barn at Churchill Downs May 26.View the full article

If you are a racing tragic, and I'd like to think that most TDN readers fall into this celebrated bracket, it is impossible to have a day off at the moment. Trials, Classics, they come thick and fast in these heady weeks of spring. We've waited winterlong, starved of any meaningful action, and now it's hard not to feel a little queasy at the veritable feast of racing which is set before us, course after course after course. There's barely even room for the Cartmel Sticky Toffee Pudding Maiden Hurdle. The Brits have been suitably chastened by the marauding Irish at the Cheltenham Festival in recent years but the Flat boys evened a few scores at the Curragh over the weekend when Richard Hannon notched a notable one-two in the G1 Irish 2,000 Guineas while Karl Burke celebrated victory in the G1 Irish 1,000 Guineas on a day in which he also lifted the G2 German 1,000 Guineas. Remarkably those two homebred fillies, Steve Parkin's Fallen Angel (GB) and Newtown Anner Stud's Darnation (Ire), are both first-crop daughters of Darley's Too Darn Hot (GB), while another young Darley sire, Blue Point (Ire), was represented by his first Classic winner, Rosallion (Ire). The latter narrowly denied his stable-mate Haatem (Ire) from emulating his own sire, Phoenix Of Spain (Ire), in the Irish 2,000 Guineas. Hannon clearly has a soft spot for Haatem, who was a Group 2 winner at two and bounced out in the G3 Craven S. on his seasonal resumption to win by three and a half lengths. He now has two Classic placings to his name and was just a head away from giving his breeder John Bourke a second Classic winner in three years following the 1,000 Guineas success of Cachet (Ire) (Aclaim {Ire}). “Standing there being second and third in the English Guineas was galling,” said Hannon at the Curragh. “I feel so sorry for Haatem. It pulls at your heartstrings. He's such a gentleman.” Rosallion is now a proper star from a family who can do no wrong at the moment. To his victory in the G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere and runner-up finish to Notable Speech (GB) in the 2,000 Guineas he can now add his own Classic laurels, and his victory at the Curragh came less than an hour after his close relation, the 2,000 Guineas sixth Inisherin (GB) (Shamardal), blitzed his rivals in the G2 Sandy Lane S. at Haydock for Kevin Ryan. The pair are both grandsons of Sheikh Mohammed Obaid's illustrious broodmare Reem Three (GB) (Mark Of Esteem {Ire}). Ryan also trained Triple Time (GB) (Frankel {GB}), who is a half-brother to the dams of both Rosallion and Inisherin, to win last year's G1 Queen Anne S. at Royal Ascot. He is now positioned alongside Too Darn Hot in the stallion wing at Dalham Hall Stud, where it will be hoped that he can add another dimension to the burgeoning success of this dynasty. As for Too Darn Hot, burgeoning is also the word to apply to his stud career. Fallen Angel and Darnation are not new stakes winners for him: they were respectively Group 1 and Group 2 winners as juveniles, but their transition to Classic winners adds to the growing reputation of their sire, who is also responsible for the G1 Champagne S. winner Broadsiding (Aus) in Australia and Grade 2 winner Etes Vous Prets (Ire) in Japan, as well as the Group 3 winners Alyanaabi (Ire) and Carolina Reaper (GB). Here's to Lady Jane The real life Lady Jane Digby created plenty of stir during her her colourful life with a string of love affairs before spending her latter years in Syria married to a sheikh. Her equine namesake was typically well named by Kirsten Rausing – the Group 1 winner is by Oasis Dream (GB) out of Scandalette (GB) (Niniski) – and she has stolen the limelight over the last week from the more celebrated Lanwades family which descends from Alruccaba (GB). Lady Jane Digby (GB) was trained for Rausing by Mark Johnston and her daughter Madame Ambassador (GB) (Churchill {Ire}) is now in the care of Johnston's son Charlie. She won Wednesday's Listed Rothesay S. at Ayr and the family was back in the spotlight on Saturday when the Listed Height Of Fashion S. went to Francophone (GB), who, less than a fortnight earlier, had been second in the G3 Musidora S. While we're talking about the new stallion class of 2020, it would be remiss not to mention Francophone's sire Study Of Man (Ire), who now has four stakes winners to his name. Also trained by Charlie Johnston for her owner-breeder, Francophone represents the next generation of the family, being out of Lady Jane Digby's winning daughter Francophilia (GB) (Frankel {GB}). It was a good week for the white and green hoops of Lanwades as the previous Monday Lingua Franca (GB) landed another Listed race, this time in Hanover. She too is by Study Of Man and is a half-sister to Le Don De Vie (GB) (Leroidesanimaux {Brz}), who was beaten a nose in Group 1 company in Australia having also won the Listed August S. at Windsor before he was exported down under. Murphy at the Top Table Before we get on to this year's Derby, let's just cast our minds back to last year, when Auguste Rodin handed out a five-length beating to White Birch (Ire), who ran a terrific race to finish third having been beaten only a neck in the Dante. Cheveley Park Stud bred the grey colt, who is by the stud's resident stallion Ulysses (Ire) (who, like Study Of Man is a representative of the Niarchos breeding programme). White Birch has rewarded his trainer John Joseph Murphy and owner Chantal Regalado-Gonzalez with a faultless season to date, his three wins in 2024 culminating in his first Group 1 success. That perhaps tasted even sweeter given that his victory in the Tattersalls Gold Cup came at the expense of Auguste Rodin. “We've been waiting a long time for one as good as him,” said the trainer's son George, who was celebrating the stable's first top-flight winner on the Flat. That quest for the good one has long been rooted in the history of the sport, and especially when it comes to the Derby, as Paul Hayward discusses in his column this week. It was heartening to hear owner Julie Wood speaking at Epsom last Tuesday as she watched her intended Derby runner Voyage (GB) (Golden Horn {GB}) have a spin round the track. Her excitement was palpable and her optimism level has perhaps risen again since Voyage's trainer Richard Hannon saddled the first two home in the Irish 2,000 Guineas. Hannon doesn't take himself too seriously in media interviews and he was happy to pull the owner's leg about her throwing in “a curveball” by sending him a stayer to train each year from her selections bought at the foal sales. Wood, however, was adamant that it had long been her dream to have a Derby runner and now, all being well over the next few days, she will have her wish. Of the 20 remaining in the Derby reckoning, four of the colts are by the 2012 winner Camelot (GB), the horse who, to these eyes, came closest to resembling his revered sire Montjeu (Ire), whose own influence on the Derby would almost certainly have been profound had he not died at the age of only 16. It was already significant: from his first crop, Montjeu had the first two home, Motivator (GB) and Walk In The Park (Ire). His later winners were Authorized (Ire) and Pour Moi (Ire), with Camelot completing the set, and Pour Moi going on to be responsible for the shock 2017 winner Wings Of Eagles (Fr). If you like the idea of a Derby winner being by a Derby winner then this may be your year, because along with Camelot's quartet, we could also have two runners by Sea The Stars (Ire) and a first for Golden Horn (GB). Then there's the king of them all, Galileo (Ire), with two colts from his penultimate crop, Illinois (Ire) and Mr Hampstead (Ire), still engaged at the five-day confirmation stage. Gone But Not Forgotten The 2016 King's Stand S winner Profitable (Ire) may now have been sequestered to the Turkish stallions ranks but he was very much to the fore on Saturday when first Kerdos (Ire) won the G2 Temple S., followed an hour later by the G2 Greenlands S. victory of the five-year-old Mitbaahy (Ire). The latter set up a memorable day for his owners Jim and Fitri Hay, who enjoyed four winners from four different stables, at the Curragh, Goodwood and York. Both horses, trained respectively by Profitable's former trainer Clive Cox and by Charlie Hills, are entered to attempt to emulate their sire at Royal Ascot in the race which now been renamed the King Charles III S. Whitsbury's Wonders Any stallion master will tell you how hard it is even to hit on one good stallion but Ed Harper of Whitsbury Manor Stud is currently the man with the Midas touch when it comes to introducing young sires. Showcasing (GB), bought from his breeder Juddmonte in 2010, set a good run rolling, escalating from a £5,000 stallion in his debut year of 2011 to a high of £55,000, with his current fee now having been trimmed to £45,000. He is already represented by seven sons at stud and has four Group 1 winners to his name. Then came the current buzz stallion Havana Grey (GB), whose sustained success last year after his first runners dazzled in 2022, has seen his fee rise from £6,000 to £55,000 in six years. He has four second-crop sons entered in the G1 Commonwealth Cup, including his star performer to date, Vandeek (GB). There is a long season ahead, but the latest recruit to Whitsbury Manor is also starting to turn heads with his first runners. Sergei Prokofiev, with six winners to his name already, clicked into a different gear this week, with the Listed National S. win of the unbeaten Enchanting Empress (GB), followed by victory in the G3 Marble Hill S. for Arizona Blaze (GB), who was co-bred by Whitsbury Manor with Llety Farms and had won the opening juvenile race of the Irish turf season. Both youngsters are co-owned by Amo Racing with Giselle de Aguiar and will presumably be seen next at Royal Ascot. A Mug's Game? Brian Sheerin reported last week on the decision by Star Bloodstock to wind down its breeze-up business and focus instead on racing two-year-olds with a view to selling them on in training. The operation's Matt Eves referred to the sale of subsequent multiple group winner Malavath (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}), who had actually been a profitable pinhook for Star Bloodstock, rising from a £29,000 yearling to a £120,000 breezer. Eves said, “Malavath selling for €3.2 million at Arqana. That was the moment I asked myself, 'why are we the mugs in the middle?'” It would not be a surprise to see more in the breeze-up sector adjust their focus for next year, despite the addition of two new sales in Ireland in 2025, for this year has been tricky for plenty of consignors. Eddie O'Leary didn't pull his punches in TDN on Saturday after the Tattersalls Ireland Breeze-up Sale when giving his thoughts on the plans for extra dates. He said, “I'm going to be very vocal on this. The clearance rate has been good here today but there is only a finite number of horses that can pass through the breeze-up sales every year. It was always about 500 or 600 horses that would go through the breeze-ups. That's all the market would take. Now it's up to 1,500. It just can't take it. That's why the middle market is on its knees. There's too many horses in the system.” And that was just the edited version. But there is little doubt that, whether you are a breeder, a pinhooker or a consignor, you need everything to fall right for you on sale day – or even before that in order even to get your horse into a sale. The winds of fashion blow so quickly hither and thither that it is very hard to catch it right if you are a commercial breeder operating on a relatively limited budget. And perhaps the small breeders (this correspondent included) are the biggest mugs of all. Last week I watched as a bunch of yearlings for different owners were paraded before a sales inspection team. By far the nicest among them physically was a filly who, unfortunately for her breeder, just happens to be by the 'wrong' stallion (albeit one who sired a Classic winner only two seasons ago). “We can't give those away,” said the inspector. The sales companies know what's hot and what's not, and have a difficult job, from an abundance of horses put forward, in making the best selection for their sales. But it was a stark illustration of just how hard it is even to get eyes on your horse. A Rider Fit for a Duchess In Derby week, we shouldn't really be talking about the winner of a Class 6 handicap at Yarmouth, but there's a link, so bear with me. Our own small stable has been fortunate enough to be able to call on the services of David Goodwin, whose list of equine connections couldn't get much loftier. The first person to sit on Shergar (Ire) when the great horse was being broken in at Michael Stoute's stable, Goodwin later rode the Derby winners Slip Anchor (GB) and Commander In Chief (GB) in his days working for Henry Cecil. A daily visitor to the gym before riding out second lot for John Berry, he simply refuses to retire and remains one of the most stylish riders on Newmarket Heath. His recent partner has been Duchess (Fr), a three-length winner at the seaside on Wednesday, much to the delight of Goodwin, who turned 73 on Tuesday. “It just meant that my birthday lasted for two days,” he said with a smile as he brought the mare a bag of celebratory apples and carrots. The post Seven Days: From Fast to Feast appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD NEWSLETTER View the full article

Haras du Mont Goubert resident Threat (Ire) (Footstepsinthesand {GB}) became Europe's latest first-crop sire to get off the mark when his Christophe Escuder-trained daughter By Sensation (Fr) shed maiden status over six furlongs in Monday's Prix du Petit Cercle at Marseille-Borely. Sent forward to claim the lead after the opening exchanges, the 7-1 chance was shaken up at the top of the straight and came under sterner urging inside the final furlong to hold the late bid of Anaconda (Fr) (Chachnak {Fr}) by a neck. The post Freshman Sire Threat Off The Mark At Marseille appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

William Johnson Bloodstock secured the day's top lot on Day 2 of the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast National Weanling Sale when lot 297, an imposing daughter of the Champion Sire I Am Invincible, was knocked down for A$800,000 on behalf of Hill 'n' Dale at Xalapa. The fact that this is one of Australia's most prolific black-type families was not lost on this filly's new owners, with William Johnson explaining that the Sikura family of Hill 'n' Dale have been keen to tap into the best Australian bloodlines. “Racing is a global sport,” Johnson said, “and the Sikuras love these well-bred fillies with great physiques. Their investment here is a great endorsement for Australian racing.” This is not Hill 'n' Dale's first Australian venture into the sales; earlier this year they purchased an I Am Invincible yearling filly out of the dual Group winner Madam Rouge (Zoustar).in partnership with Gai Waterhouse, Adrian Bott and William Johnson for A$1.7 million. Johnson said that no trainer has been decided upon for this filly. “We will let her grow out and go from there,” he said. The post Hill ‘n’ Dale at Xalapa Buys A$800,000 I Am Invincible Filly at Magic Millions appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Godolphin superstar’s comprehensive victory at Sha Tin on Sunday should blaze a trail for more international participation in the final Group One of the Hong Kong seasonView the full article

The common man or woman rarely owns a Derby winner but they are peppered across the 244-year history of what Disraeli called 'the Blue Riband of the Turf.' The race tends to be exclusive, but the urge to win it was always universal. The finest challenges in sport go beyond financial incentive to the Corinthian urge to achieve victory for its own sake. This year, we scan the field for a romantic outcome knowing there will probably be a familiar one. Despair not. It was always thus, and the wealthy dreamer has more in common than you might think with the less affluent one. The last seven Derbys have gone to Coolmore, Godolphin and Saeed Suhail, a Dubai businessman. Anthony Oppenheimer (2015) and the Aga Khan (2016) interrupted another Coolmore sequence of four consecutive wins from 2011 to 2014. Princess Haya of Jordan and the late Prince Khalid Abdullah of Saudi Arabia are other 21st Century winning owners. Nowadays nobody takes any notice of Lord Weinstock's joke: “It is vulgar to win the Derby two years running.” We tend to think of great wealth as being incompatible with romance. It may not always be so. Horse, trainer, jockey and stable staff are also part of the package. Wins in the saddle for Adam Kirby, Richard Kingscote, Emmet McNamara and Padraig Beggy in the last seven runnings qualify as Epsom fairytales. Motivator (2005) and Sir Percy (2006) were relatively recent reminders that the best horses sometimes evade the reach of the mightiest operators. The Derby is having another identity wobble. And no wonder, when the easy Dante Stakes winner, Economics, sidesteps Epsom to take a different route to stardom. In this year's field the underdogs are perhaps most strongly represented by the James Fanshawe-trained Ambiente Friendly and Dancing Gemini from Roger Teal's yard. With nearly 250 years to draw on, the Derby is predictably rich in context, perspective and anecdote. The owner of the second Derby winner, Young Eclipse, in 1871, was so short of cash when he arrived in England from Ireland that he carried sedan chairs for coins. Dennis O'Kelly also had a spell in the Fleet Street prison as a debtor. On his socially upward trajectory later he would announce himself at various points as Count or Colonel O'Kelly. Nowadays nobody takes any notice of Lord Weinstock's joke: “It is vulgar to win the Derby two years running.” John Gully was a butcher, publican, prize-fighter, MP and “polished gentleman” who fought a man called Gregson at Six Mile Bottom in 1807 so violently that some of the 'seconds' in the fighters' corners were said to have fainted. Gully's switch from boxing to betting ring led him to own the 1846 and 1854 Derby winners. Said to be “totally without education,” Gully was an early (though rare) exemplification of the Derby as democratic event. In 1865, Comte de Lagrange, the son of one of Napoleon's generals, delivered Gladiateur to become the first French winner of the race. In the late 19th Century, Hungarian and Russian noblemen entered the fray, along with an Italian senator and rich Americans. Lined up against them were the royals and landed aristocrats of Victorian England: the Dukes of Westminster, Portland and Rosebery. By then Epsom was the No 1 playground of the internationally titled and wealthy. These days it faces fierce competition for that role. All this is gleaned from the marvellously atmospheric 'The Romance of the Derby Stakes' by Alan Macey (1930), which features a filmic passage about a group of women making their way to the first running of the race in 1780… “They had been dancing until early morning and their pencilled eyelids were a little weary. They asked for their smelling-salts and yawned discreetly behind their fluttering fans. These high-born ladies were inclined to boredom; they had seen most of the pageant of life and were inclined towards ennui. The prospect of a new horse-race could scarcely be expected to excite them.” But the Derby has excited generations across the world for the 244 years of its life. The thrill of owning the winner, though, tends to extend only to the super rich, the cleverest breeders and every now and then the lucky, plucky dreamer who finds a Derby horse cheaply in a sales ring. It's not meant to be easy to win. If it were, everyone would be doing it. What Alan Macey's book and the Derby's history say is that romance is embedded in the race's very nature. Always has been, always will. Decades and centuries ago, titled owner-breeders dominated. Now, the industrialised production and acquisition of the best bloodstock by the biggest operators sets a pattern familiar from the rest of economic life. Example: 60% of UK veterinary practices are now owned by six companies. The knack is to look deeper than the headline of which owner or trainer is etched next to the name of the winner to the myriad of tales and struggles that led up to the victory. Each is a small miracle, and we see one every year on Epsom Downs. The post From Kings to Commoners: the Quest for a Derby Miracle appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Opawa Scarlett (inside) winning on debut at Trentham on Saturday. Photo: Peter Rubery (Race Images Palmerston North) Dual license holder Shaun Fannin had a weekend to remember, training a double at Trentham on Saturday with Hazel Schofer, before jumping in the saddle at Woodville on Sunday to guide Champion jumper West Coast to victory. “It was a wonderful weekend and hopefully we can get a few more like that,” he said. Opawa Scarlett kicked off proceedings at Trentham when taking out the Lisa Latta Racing 1300 on debut by a long neck over the Bill Thurlow-trained Steal My Thunder. “It was a really tough win,” Fannin said. “She has always shown a lot and we thought she would be hard to beat. There was just a question mark over the really heavy track at Trentham and we thought she might be better on a better track. It was pleasing to see that she got through it well enough, and she stuck her neck out and really wanted to win. “I think we will just back off Opawa Scarlett, I think she might be a nice mare in the spring when she gets out over a mile to 2000m.” Later on the card, recent stable acquisition Farrenc improved on her first-up placing when taking out the Manawatu ITM Steeplechase Day Tomorrow At Woodville 1200 by a head over Super Time. “We haven’t had the mare very long in our stable. She came to us a happy horse and she loved the heavy track there, stuck her neck out and wanted to win as well, so that was pleasing to see,” Fannin said. “She seems to like those wet tracks and I might find a nice 75 rating race for her in the next few weeks.” Closer to his Awapuni base on Sunday, Fannin jumped back in the saddle at Woodville aboard Mark Oulaghan’s champion jumper West Coast, who once again showed his tenacity when beating Izymydaad by a neck in the Manawatu Steeplechase (4000m). With training becoming more of a priority for Fannin of late, he has made a conscious decision to reduce his riding commitments but has maintained his association with West Cost. “I make an exception to ride such a good horse as him,” Fannin said. “It was wonderful to see him back carrying such a big weight. “He definitely hasn’t gone backwards, I think he has come back the same as he was last season. “He got back and relaxed nicely and came into the race when I asked, and he showed that usual fight that he always does. He seems like and old marvel, he comes back just as well every year. “You always get excited when you know he is going somewhere and have the opportunity to ride him. It definitely makes it more exciting for the winter looking forward.” Fannin now has 12 training wins for the season, bettering his previous best mark of 10 last term, and with two months to go in the season he is hoping he can extend that margin. “We are trying to work hard and do the best for all the horses and try and place them as best we can,” he said. “It is nice to see we are getting some results now, which is very pleasing.” Horse racing news View the full article

Emily Woller was all smiles after recording her first win in the saddle at Trentham on Saturday. Photo: Peter Rubery (Race Images) After beginning her career in the amateurs, Emily Woller broke into the apprentice jockey ranks in style when riding her first winner aboard Quid at Trentham on Saturday. Waikato-based Woller had her first raceday ride as an amateur twelve months ago, and with another year of experience under her belt, took her first ride as a licensed apprentice for her mentor Clinton Isdale at Ellerslie last month. “It didn’t feel like as much of a step-up for me which was quite good, I got to have the basics of race riding in the amateurs,” Woller said. “It is a bit more competitive now with the whip use.” She picked up a second placing on another of Isdale’s contingent Pontardawe during April but headed to Trentham in pursuit of an elusive win partnering Kevin Myers’ five-year old, who was on debut and the outsider at $54. The early part of the race didn’t go as she had planned with Quid travelling wide near the tail of the field into the first bend, but he travelled kindly along the back straight as stablemate Winewomenandsong controlled the pace up-front. Quid tracked the widest again turning for home as the field fanned across the track, the long Trentham straight playing in his favour as the gelding wound up strongly down the outer and chased down Paradis, taking the win by a long neck. Woller was thrilled to collect her first success and expressed her gratitude to Myers post-race. “It was lovely, he just travelled up really nicely and I’m very grateful to Kevin for putting me on. He’s a nice horse,” she said. “I was a bit worried being wide, but I found some cover, and as soon as he straightened up he dug really deep.” The 17-year-old was born in Wanganui and returned to the River City recently to gain some experience under Myers, who rewarded her with the ride aboard the son of Rios. “I just thought I’d come down and get some more experience somewhere different, and I’m really loving it down here,” Woller said. “I grew up riding ponies all my life, and my sister was working as ground staff for Shelley Houston, so I went in one day to help out and I haven’t looked back since. “I went from Shelley’s to Clinton Isdale, and he mentioned about me getting my license, so we got onto that and here I am now.” Myers also spoke after Woller’s win, indicating Quid may commence his career over fences sooner rather than later, following in the footsteps of full-brother Lochwinnoch and half-brother Yardarm, the latter a former winner of the Hawke’s Bay Steeplechase (4800m) and Wellington Steeplechase (5500m). “It was good for her (Woller), she was lucky to be on this horse as she was a bit overweight but she’s done the work at home over the past week, so we’ve given her the chance,” Myers said. “The Wallace’s (owners) sit back and wait for their horses (to mature), but he’s gone well at the jumping trials. He’ll probably go over the jumps next weekend.” Horse racing news View the full article

Tayla Melvin pictured after riding her first winner at Pukekohe on Saturday. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images) Tayla Melvin had an afternoon to remember at Pukekohe Park on Saturday, riding her first winner in the saddle aboard the Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson-trained Devoted. The 21-year-old is apprenticed to the Te Akau Racing trainers and made her raceday debut aboard the stable’s mare Polly Plum in mid-April at Matamata, finishing third. With a further nine raceday rides under her belt, Melvin combined with the son of Contributer in the TAB NZ 2100, where he was rated a $16.30 chance after finishing strongly last-start for fourth under the young hoop at Rotorua. Devoted jumped fairly away from barrier seven and Melvin allowed the six-year-old to settle back at the tail of the 14-horse field, sitting three-wide in the heavy conditions. The gelding was travelling better than most turning for home, sweeping to the extreme outside and running down Charlbury to score by a neck at the post. Melvin was elated after the victory, which follows an extensive list of Te Akau apprentices to salute on raceday including Daniel Stackhouse, Vinnie Colgan, Opie Bosson and Troy Harris. “It’s good to finally get the monkey off my back this early in my career, it’s pretty good,” she said. “I probably rode him a bit further back than I had anticipated, but he’s the kind of horse that switches off and relaxes in behind midfield. “When he came into the home straight, he let down really nicely. “I did think it might be coming (the win), but I didn’t want to get too confident.” While Melvin didn’t initially have a career in horses in mind, she ended up working for Wingatui couple Terry and Debbie Kennedy, and a move to Matamata soon provided an opportunity to start an apprenticeship. “I said to myself when I left school that I didn’t want to pursue a career in horses, but here I am,” she said. “I’m originally from down south in Mosgiel, and I was based with Terry and Debbie Kennedy down there. “I started with Te Akau about a year ago, and Mark offered for me to stay and do my apprenticeship with him, so I haven’t looked back since.” Walker was full of praise for Melvin, while indicating a future over the fences is a possibility for her winning mount. “She’s an important part of the team, rides beautiful track work, and all the staff will be rapt for her,” he said. “She’s been getting better in every ride since starting off last month and her fitness is continuing to improve. I think she’s got a bright future. “And the horse, Devoted, he’s continuing to furnish and mature, although it has taken time, and he could develop into a really nice steeplechaser.” Horse racing news View the full article

Scarlet Oak (white cap) winning the Group 2 The Roses (2000m) at Doomben on Saturday. Photo: Grant Peters (Trackside Photography) A nightmare start for the Smithies family with Tactless’ breeding career has turned full circle following the emergence of high-class filly Scarlet Oak. Under their Monovale Holdings banner, they purchased the well-related broodmare in foal to Kermadec at the Inglis Digital Sale in 2020 and the result of that mating was Saturday’s impressive Group 2 The Roses (2000m) winner. Scarlet Oak’s progress has provided significant compensation for an early setback following the loss of the mare’s next foal by Street Boss. “That was so heart breaking, he was a belting colt and one of our stand outs,” Max Smithies said. “He had an x-ray issue that we unfortunately couldn’t get right, he had a serious infection as a foal in his hock. “It was a big loss, but she’s got a nice Contributer yearling that we’ll be looking to sell and has a weanling colt by Tarzino.” Tactless is now in foal to Deep Impact’s Group 1-winning son Profondo and breeding plans for later this year will be firmed up after Scarlet Oak runs in the upcoming Group 1 Queensland Oaks (2200m). “We’re still working out where the mare will go this year. We’ll wait and see what happens in two weeks before we make a decision on that,” Smithies said. A daughter of Commands, Tactless is a half-sister to the Group 1 Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) winner and sire Complacent and was secured by Monovale for A$10,000. “We liked the pedigree and always liked Kermadec so we thought she was pretty good buying,” Smithies said. “We liked the look of her from all the photos and spoke to the vendor, so we got a good feel for her. “We thought she was relatively cheap to access a good pedigree like that.” Scarlet Oak was originally destined to be sold at New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sale but luck of the draw, or bad luck in this case, resulted in her being withdrawn. “What happened was that she was prepped really well by Ross MacKay of Leanach Lodge and she was Lot 1 at Karaka,” Smithies said. “We felt that she wouldn’t get what she deserved, we always really liked her and based on that we were happy to push on and take her to the next stage. “It’s okay if you’re Lot 1 with a really big hitter, but when it’s a middle market horse it can be a bit risky to be right at the start of the sale and we thought she was better than that.” Scarlet Oak was subsequently placed with trainers Ken and Bev Kelso and following a debut victory at Matama in March was sold to clients of Chris Waller’s stable. “There are so many what ifs in racing, but we’re in the business of breeding and selling horses and we hope that they can go on and perform at the elite level,” Smithies said. “She’s ticking all the right boxes, so we’ve certainly got no hard feelings and hope she goes right on with it, that’s for sure.” Scarlet Oak has won two of her three Australian starts and finished runner-up in the Group 3 James Carr Stakes (1400m). She currently heads the Queensland Oaks market as a $3.20 favourite. Horse racing news View the full article

Check out this week’s Box Seat with hosts Greg O’Connor and Michael Guerin. View the full article

What Doomben Races Where Doomben Racecourse – 75 Hampden St, Ascot QLD 4007 When Wednesday, May 29, 2024 First Race 12:13pm AEST Visit Dabble After racing on the same track on Saturday, the action returns to Doomben Racecourse this Wednesday for an eight-race card. The track was rated as a Soft 6 at the time of acceptances, but with little to no rain on the forecast, the surface should improve into the Good range by raceday. The rail will be pushed out to the +5m position for the entire circuit, with the opening race set to jump at 12:13pm AEST. Best Bet at Doomben: Hold On Honey Hold On Honey will return from a nine-week spell with the benefit of a 1000m barrier trial at Doomben on May 7. The Steven O’Dea & Matthew Hoysted-trained gelding hasn’t finished outside the top two in five first-up starts (5:2–3-0), so the form is on his side. With the benefit of Emily Lang’s 3kg claim and barrier three, the son of Counterattack can push forward and find the front before kicking clear in the home straight. Best Bet Race 4 – #4 Hold On Honey (3) 5yo Gelding | T: Steven O’Dea & Matthew Hoysted | J: Emily Lang (a3) (56.5kg) Bet with PlayUp Next Best at Doomben: Metalart After missing the jump at Eagle Farm last start, Metalart from the Kelly Schweida stable just held on over the 1200m trip to keep his unbeaten record intact. Dropping back in trip to 1110m will be ideal for this speedy galloper, and if Michael Rodd can get him to jump better from barrier three, Metalart can make it four from four to start his career. Next Best Race 7 – #6 Metalart (3) 3yo Gelding | T: Kelly Schweida | J: Michael Rodd (60kg) Bet with Neds Best Value at Doomben: Barbaric Lad Barbaric Lad was far from disgraced in Group 3 company first-up, finishing 1.7 lengths back to run fifth in the Ken Russell Memorial Classic at the Sunshine Coast on a Heavy track. Dropping back to Class 1 and rising in trip to 1350m will benefit this son of Janast second-up. Luke Currie will retain the ride, and from barrier one, Barbaric Lad will receive the run of the race and get every chance to return to the winners’ circle. Best Value Race 8 – #6 Barbaric Lad (1) 2yo Colt | T: Anthony & Sam Freedman | J: Luke Currie (58.5kg) Bet with Picklebet Wednesday quaddie tips for Doomben races Doomben quadrella selections Wednesday, May 29, 2024 1-4-5-9-14 2-3-5 5-6-7 6-7-8-13 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip Horse racing tips View the full article

After beginning her career in the amateurs, Emily Woller broke into the apprentice jockey ranks in style when riding her first winner aboard Quid at Trentham on Saturday. Waikato-based Woller had her first raceday ride as an amateur twelve months ago, and with another year of experience under her belt, took her first ride as a licensed apprentice for her mentor Clinton Isdale at Ellerslie last month. “It didn’t feel like as much of a step-up for me which was quite good, I got to have the basics of race riding in the amateurs,” Woller said. “It is a bit more competitive now with the whip use.” She picked up a second placing on another of Isdale’s contingent Pontardawe during April but headed to Trentham in pursuit of an elusive win partnering Kevin Myers’ five-year old, who was on debut and the outsider at $54. The early part of the race didn’t go as she had planned with Quid travelling wide near the tail of the field into the first bend, but he travelled kindly along the back straight as stablemate Winewomenandsong controlled the pace up-front. Quid tracked the widest again turning for home as the field fanned across the track, the long Trentham straight playing in his favour as the gelding wound up strongly down the outer and chased down Paradis, taking the win by a long neck. Woller was thrilled to collect her first success and expressed her gratitude to Myers post-race. “It was lovely, he just travelled up really nicely and I’m very grateful to Kevin for putting me on. He’s a nice horse,” she said. “I was a bit worried being wide, but I found some cover, and as soon as he straightened up he dug really deep.” The 17-year-old was born in Wanganui and returned to the River City recently to gain some experience under Myers, who rewarded her with the ride aboard the son of Rios. “I just thought I’d come down and get some more experience somewhere different, and I’m really loving it down here,” Woller said. “I grew up riding ponies all my life, and my sister was working as ground staff for Shelley Houston, so I went in one day to help out and I haven’t looked back since. “I went from Shelley’s to Clinton Isdale, and he mentioned about me getting my license, so we got onto that and here I am now.” Myers also spoke after Woller’s win, indicating Quid may commence his career over fences sooner rather than later, following in the footsteps of full-brother Lochwinnoch and half-brother Yardarm, the latter a former winner of the Hawke’s Bay Steeplechase (4800m) and Wellington Steeplechase (5500m). “It was good for her (Woller), she was lucky to be on this horse as she was a bit overweight but she’s done the work at home over the past week, so we’ve given her the chance,” Myers said. “The Wallace’s (owners) sit back and wait for their horses (to mature), but he’s gone well at the jumping trials. He’ll probably go over the jumps next weekend.” View the full article

Warrnambool trainer Symon Wilde is going to do something this week he hasn’t done for a long time and send a horse to race in Queensland, with Navy King (NZ) (US Navy Flag) to fly to Brisbane on Tuesday ahead of Saturday’s Gr.1 Queensland Derby (2400m). Wilde campaigned Baughurst and Hissing Sid in Brisbane 15 years ago but hasn’t been back with a runner since then. That’s all about to change though, after Navy King impressed connections with his last-start victory at Flemington, convincing them to pay the late nomination fee for Saturday’s $1 million contest. “We were taken by his win at Flemington. I just thought it might be a good time to go with a late three-year-old that I thought was quite impressive,” Wilde explained. “It’s a little bit of a roll of the dice, but I think it’s well worth doing since he’s won enough money to warrant doing it. It would be mad not to, he’s lovely and sound, there’s no problems with him, he just seems to be in red-hot form at the moment. “We just thought, why not?” Wilde revealed that he’d booked Craig Williams for the ride and emphasized the significance of the barrier draw for Navy King’s Derby hopes. “I think it’s pretty vital, he just needs to draw between one and six,” Wilde said. “If he draws down where we can get cover, I think that’s the key to him. He’s got cover quite easily from barrier one at Flemington the other day, that was the big difference. He switched off beautifully and then had a nice turn of foot. “We’ll be really praying that we draw well because I think that will be really vital for him, if he can just get that cover, he’ll switch off. I don’t think that he’ll have a problem with the 2400m if he does switch off ok.” Wilde has given Navy King some experience of galloping right-handed ahead of his trip to Queensland this week. “We’ve galloped him twice the reverse way,” he said. “Warrnambool were great, they let us on the course proper on Saturday and he had a little roll around right-handed and then again this morning at Terang, so he’s done two gallops, which I think is ideal.” Navy King is at $15 in Sportsbet’s market for the Queensland Derby. A son of The Oaks Stud stallion U S Navy Flag, Navy King was bred by Cambridge Stud owners Brendan and Jo Lindsay. The dam of Navy King is the O’Reilly mare Eliza Blues (NZ), who won two races and was runner-up behind Quintessential (NZ) (Fast N’ Famous) in the Gr.1 Queensland Oaks (2400m) in 2012. View the full article