Wandering Eyes

Wednesday was a dark day for British racing. Racing cancelled across the land while the sport's leaders made an empassioned stand in the country's seat of power against a proposed rise in betting tax, warning of plenty more dark days to come. There can be no denying the intent with which the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) has set about alerting the government as to the very real threat to Britain's second-biggest spectator sport. The outcome of a proposed 'harmonisation' of betting taxes, which could see the tax on horserace betting elevated from 15 to 21 per cent, will not be known until chancellor Rachel Reeves sets out the Autumn Budget on November 26. In the interim, the BHA has led the charge, in the national media, on social media, and now on the streets of London, to warn of the dangers to a £4bn industry should this tax hike be enforced Wednesday's four scheduled race meetings at Carlisle, Uttoxeter, Lingfield and Kempton had all been moved to different dates to allow the sport to come together, the gates of all of the country's 59 racecourses firmly closed, to protest at the potential harm to a sector of the British workforce which is responsible for around 85,000 jobs and which already supplies £300m annually to the Treasury in tax revenue. It is feared that, should the tax hike be given the green light, it will cost dearly a sport which is already beleaguered by a fall in revenue from overweening affordability checks on punters and the eleventh-hour failure of an agreement over Levy reform as the previous government fell last summer. By lunchtime, jockeys unused to having a day with no race-riding wore silks emblazoned with 'Axe the Racing Tax' in Parliament Square. Tom Marquand and his wife Hollie Doyle, along with Saffie Osborne, Lily Pinchin, Oisin Murphy, Kieran Shoemark, Richard Johnson and Paul O'Brien, joined the demonstration in Westminster, before many of racing's leaders gathered in the nearby QEII Conference Centre for a rally of sorts. The BHA's acting chief executive Brant Dunshea was joined by new BHA chair Lord Allen, Jim Mullen, who took over as CEO of the Jockey Club in June, Arena Racing Company CEO Martin Cruddace, and six-time champion trainer John Gosden. “The implications are very dangerous. We're starting from a very weak position and this will take the lifeblood out of the game,” Gosden told the gathering of more than 200 people. “I have 100 employees and I won't be able to sustain that. I've been able to sustain that number this year, but if this continues the way it is going, I'll soon be in the situation of laying off 10, 20 or 30 people. That would be tragic, I desperately don't want to be in that position and you're talking to someone at the top of the tree – imagine how it is for the guys halfway down. If I can see the impact, that means they are already in the grinder. “We are not asking for anything other than to be left alone, I understand the government's position but I think this is something that will rebound.” The BHA has commissioned economic modelling which points to a potential cost to the sport in the first year of £66m, putting more than 2,750 jobs at risk. Leading jockeys joined the protest outside parliament | PA Media In his address, Dunshea said, “My job is to create an environment where our owners, breeders, trainers, racecourses, jockeys and our wonderful, wonderful stable staff all thrive. If they thrive, our sport thrives. “When our sport thrives, the people of our great nation thrive, but when people fear for their future, the nation struggles. Its people suffer and hope in an industry can decline overnight.” He continued, “The government says the purpose of this proposal is to create a simpler system. The government says its purpose is to create a more streamlined system. And the government says its purpose is to create a fairer system. The gover nment has encouraged all interested parties to participate and respond fully to this consultation. “We have, we are, and our response is clear – no, we do not support this proposed racing tax hike. British racing must be treated differently.” Dan Tomlinson, exchequer secretary to the Treasury, described the potential change in taxation as “levelling the playing field”. He said, “We know horseracing is part of the cultural fabric of the country, that's why it's the only sector that benefits from a government-mandated levy. Our wider gambling consultation is only about levelling the playing field and simplifying the system, and we are working closely with the industry to understand any potential impacts.” Those involved in British racing now have almost three months to wait before hearing the terms of the Autumn Budget which may or may not heap greater concerns on an industry already under pressure. They made their voices heard in Westminster on Wednesday. The question that will linger is whether the government was listening. The post ‘This Will Take The Lifeblood Out Of The Game’: British Racing Protests Proposed Betting Tax Rise appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Marchogion, a three-time winner for Andrew Balding, and the IHRB 139-rated hurdler Runcok are some of the star lots in the upcoming Tattersalls Online September Sale. Set for 11 a.m. on September 16 and closing at the same time the following day, the sale features 183 lots. There are 147 horses-in and out-of-training, 23 broodmares, six yearlings, four stores, one foal, a breeding right to Cotai Glory and a stallion share in Kodi Bear. Marchogion (lot 71) is rated 97, and the son of Mehmas was a 55,000gns graduate of Book 2 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale. He blossomed into a 160,000gns Guineas Breeze-Up alum when sold to JS Bloodstock and Opulence Thoroughbreds and is from Andrew Balding's Kingsclere draft. Set to be offered as lot 98, Runcok (Cokoriko) will be consigned by Willie Mullins's Closutton Stables. A winning chaser in addition to his tally over hurdles, the gelding is out of a half-sister to Grade 1 winner Sceau Royal (Doctor Dino). Other lots of note include Leopardstown maiden winner Falls Of Acharn (Sea The Moon) (lot 33); the placed Wootton Bassett colt Daary (lot 21); the IHRB 129-rated Lightkeeper (Walk In The Park) (lot 67); last-out winner Genie In A Bottle (Bungle Inthejungle) (lot 40); a 1/50th stallion share in multiple group sire Kodi Bear (lot 183), who is the sire of G2 Gimcrack Stakes hero Lifeplan); a breeding right in Tally-Ho's Group 1 sire Cotai Glory (lot 182); broodmare New Romance (Dubawi) (lot 174) who is out of the G2 Middleton Stakes heroine and Group 1-placed Beautiful Romance (New Approach); and Mil Et Une Nui Flo (Turgeon) (lot 171), the dam of listed hurdle winner and Grade 1 runner-up High Class Hero (Sulamani) carrying to Maxios. The post Marchogion And Runcok Lead Tattersalls Online September Catalogue appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

A Not This Time colt out of the winning Ridingwiththedevil (Candy Ride {Arg}) sold to Albaugh Stable, St Elias, West Point Thoroughbreds, and Railbirds for $1.35 million Wednesday during the first session of Keeneland September's Book 2. The chestnut colt, consigned by Gainesway, is a half-brother to MGISP Reinvestment (Upstart). Bred in Kentucky by Whisper Hill Farm, LLC, Gainesway Thoroughbreds LTD, and Brian Graves, the April-foaled colt went through the ring as hip 480. Taylor Made's Not This Time had an additional six yearlings top the $1-million mark during Book 1. The post Albaugh, St. Elias, West Point, and Railbirds Join Forces, Going to $1.35M for Not This Time Colt appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

4th-CD, 127k, Alw, N2L, 2yo, f, 6f, 6:30 p.m. ET 'TDN Rising Star' Tennessee Belle (Yaupon), a runaway winner at second asking for owner Boyd Racing and trainer John Ortiz at Saratoga Aug. 16, takes on winners for the first time on Churchill's opening day program. The daughter of MGISW Belle Gallantey (After Market) was previously a debut second behind subsequent GI Spinaway S. heroine and fellow 'Rising Star' Tommy Jo (Into Mischief) at the Spa July 26. The $75,000 Keeneland November weanling turned $160,000 Fasig-Tipton February yearling RNA'd for $385,000 at Fasig-Tipton Saratoga. The field of 10 also includes Albaugh Family homebred On Time Girl (Not This Time), a daughter of GIII Pocahontas S. winner and GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies third-place finisher Girl Daddy (Uncle Mo). On Time Girl was a debut winner for trainer Brad Cox at Ellis Park Aug. 3. TJCIS PPS The post Thursday’s Racing Insights: ‘Rising Star’ Tennessee Belle Takes on Winners at Churchill Downs appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Fred Maas, who has served in myriad roles in industry, politics, sports and development and is a self-proclaimed horse racing fan, has been named the 10th member of the Board of Directors of the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club, the track announced in a release Wednesday. Maas, 68, is the current Chief of Staff and Counselor for the Los Angeles Chargers of the National Football League, overseeing all business and legal functions. A cum laude graduate of Syracuse University, he has worked in state and local politics alongside the likes of Senators Bob Dole and John McCain, Jack Kemp and Governor Mitch Daniels. He headed up MRV Systems LLC, a manufacturer of marine robotic vehicles for the oceanographic and defense industries, and also served as a partner at Potomac Sports Properties, the exclusive developer of the PGA TOUR Inc. He also represented the TOUR on marketing, regulatory, legislative and tax matters. Maas was appointed by former California Governor Jerry Brown to a term on the California Horse Racing Board in 2017 and regularly attended races from Belmont Park to Del Mar. “Like so many opportunities in my life,” Maas said, “work has allowed me to practice in areas I care deeply about, and hopefully, make a difference.” Added DMTC President Josh Rubenstein: “Fred's energy, extensive executive experience and love for horse racing make him a wonderful fit for our Board. We're delighted to have a man of his stature and ability join us in our quest to make Del Mar and horse racing better and better.” The post Fred Maas Added To Del Mar Board of Directors appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The third day at Keeneland's September sale, the first of two Book 2 sessions, kicked off with a bang Wednesday when April Mayberry signed for a Tapit colt to the tune of $1.3 million before the first hour had passed. Consigned by Gainesway as hip 413, the gray colt is out of the placed Manki (Arch). The mare has already produced GI Woody Stephens Stakes winner Drain the Clock (Maclean's Music), a young stallion who has his first yearlings this year and stands alongside Tapit at Gainesway. Bred by Nick Cosato and Tapit Syndicate in Kentucky, hip 413 is also a half-brother to MGSP Corposo (Vino Rosso). Mayberry signed the ticket for Lee Searing's CRK Stables. The post CRK Stables Strikes for $1.3M Tapit Half to Drain the Clock appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The Kentucky Thoroughbred Farm Managers' Club has selected David Hanley as its 2025 Ted Bates Farm Manager of the Year.View the full article

Hugh Bowman and Douglas Whyte made flying starts to the new Happy Valley season with doubles and Jamie Richards added to his opening-day haul with another brace on Wednesday night. Bowman and Whyte teamed up to win the city circuit’s first race of the term, the Class Five Admiralty Handicap (1,200m), with Dan Attack and the former made it a race-to-race double when he lifted Caspar Fownes’ Super Sicario to victory in the Class Five Kowloon Tong Handicap (1,650m). Whyte joined the top Australian...View the full article

Backside, an observational documentary that honors the primarily immigrant workforce that helps sustain the horse racing industry, will be screened at the Speed Art Museum in Louisville. Filmed over five years by an all-LatinX team, Backside 'offers an intimate look at the lives of workers who begin their days before dawn, seven days a week, caring for some of the world's most prized racehorses' in the barns behind Churchill Downs—known as the “backside.” According to a release, the documentary 'goes beyond the pageantry of the [Kentucky] Derby to reveal the grit, skill, and dedication of immigrant and multi-generational workers whose labor often goes unseen. The documentary examines the intersection of class, race, and labor, humanizing the people who sustain an elite American sporting tradition while emphasizing the deep, symbiotic relationship between humans and horses.' “Backside challenges audiences to see beyond the spectacle of the Derby,” said Dean Otto, Curator of Film at the Speed Art Museum. “It's an invitation to witness the dignity, expertise, and resilience of a community that quietly sustains one of America's most celebrated events.” The Museum is collaborating with the Backside Learning Center, which supports the educational, social and personal growth of the backstretch community at Churchill Downs. Further support for the project has been provided by the racetrack. “This film shines a light on those who are truly the soul of an industry so central to the history, culture and economy of our state.” said Sherry Stanley, executive director of the Backside Learning Center. Screenings will take place at Speed Cinema from Thursday, Sept. 25 through Sunday, Sept. 28, 2025, with post-film discussions featuring director Raul O. Paz-Pastrana, producers and grooms featured in the documentary. A Spanish-language screening with discussion in Spanish will also be offered. This marks one of the first screenings of Backside outside of its world premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival. Click here for ticketing information. The post ‘Backside’, Documentary Highlighting Backstretch Workers, To Be Screened In Louisville appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Group 3 winner A Bit Of Spirit will be trained toward the G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere on October 5, according to trainer Clive Cox. The son of Palace Pier, who carries the Paul and Clare Rooney colours, won the G3 Solario Stakes last month and was also under consideration for the G2 Royal Lodge Stakes closer to home on September 27. “We're over the moon with the success at Sandown and with that under his belt we're drawn towards the Lagardere,” said Cox. “With the ability to perform on any surface proven now, it enables us to have a relaxed focus on another nice target without worrying about ground. “He's matured well through the summer, both mentally and physically, and has just continued improving. He has a wonderful racing attitude and I don't think I've ever had one before with such a determined character as he has.” The post A Bit Of Spirit Pointing To Lagardere appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

George Todaro's ultra-consistent 5-year-old mare Aloha Breeze was voted Horse of the Meeting at the 30th Emerald Downs season that concluded Sept. 7.View the full article

Jaime Torres usually rides between Kentucky tracks and Fair Grounds but a trip to Colonial Downs in Virginia on Old Dominion Derby Day proved to be worthwhile with three mounts leading to three stakes wins including the Gr. III Old Dominion Derby. View the full article

Veteran Finger Lakes trainer Paul Barrow secures 1,000th victory of his career Sept. 9.View the full article

by Diana Li McPherson I have read with great interest the different Letters to the Editor people have sent in celebrating the life and love of Stuart Angus. Since my husband Steve McPherson and I loved and admired Stu, I felt compelled to share some thoughts on Stuart's extraordinary life. My husband met Stu several years ago at Saratoga while “Stuey” worked for Taylor Made at the Fasig-Tipton Sale. It was clear from the first time they met that their shared traits in humanity would create the foundation for a lifetime of friendship. Their love of horses, their ability to tell amazing stories, and–most importantly–their love for their fellow man was an instant magnet that brought the two of them together. That fact seems to be one of Taylor Made's superpowers. Whether it's Frank Taylor, Mark, Duncan, Steve Castagnola or a number of other players on their team, Taylor Made seems to find the most sincere people to handle their sale business. Certainly, Stuart Angus would be right at the top of anyone's 'most sincere' list. As people have shared over and over again, Stu's ability to connect with people, his awareness of their circumstances and his ability to make their lives seem so important is only a few of the many traits that made Stuart special. He was compassionate, loving and he cared so deeply for others that it was almost surreal how important he was to the development of humanity in Kentucky and beyond. I cannot tell you how many times my husband and Stu would be sharing 'another' glass of bourbon, then, remarkably, Stu would spout out something so profound that you would just sit there staring at him in amazement. The stories about how Stu enriched people's lives are being told over and over again in the TDN and in bars and restaurants all over Lexington. The number of young people he mentored will impact the Thoroughbred business for generations. If anything else, Stu taught us all that, while Thoroughbred racing is ultra competitive, kindness, grace and love can bring all of those competitors together. His impact on the industry and the people who work in horse racing can never really be measured. While Stu lost the battle that so many of us watched him wage, he did so with such grace and dignity that it stands to inspire us all for years to come. As life goes on, and time passes, Stuart's memory will begin to fade as people go on with their lives. Here is hoping that those who have taken the time to share their remarkable love for Stuart will continue to do so far into the future. Editor's Note: Stuart Angus, a Senior Thoroughbred Advisor for Taylor Made, passed away Aug. 28 at the age of 60. His friends are encouraging those he touched to submit `Stu stories' to the TDN. Please email suefinley@thetdn.com if you have a story to share. The post Stu Story #10 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

100 training wins for two northern trainers, a campaign to keep our roads safer, a flash fund-raiser for the Horse Ambulance Trust, and a dual sulky race with a difference all feature in this week’s News Briefs. Hopkins and Sharpe with 100th winners Two northern trainers had big milestones over the weekend. Tate Hopkins and Craig Sharpe both had their 100th training wins at Alexandra Park on Friday night. Hopkins’ victory was with Cyclone Rebel who won at big odds ($70) for driver Matty White in his Woodlands Stud Sires’ Stakes 2YO Heat. It was his 13th individual success to go with the 87 he had in combination with Frank Cooney. Sharpe was successful with Proviseur ($26.50) for driver Emily Johnson. It was his 20th win on his own account, to go with the 80 he had in partnership with Todd Macfarlane. Telfers now 40 clear The Telfers’ 2025 season just goes from strength to strength. In April they were second in the premiership 32 wins behind Michael House. Now they are 40 wins clear of their closest challengers. And they are winning the big races too with Alta Meteor taking out last Friday’s Avon City Ford New Brighton Cup to cement his place in the IRT New Zealand Trotting Cup on Tuesday, November 11. He is currently at $31 to win the Cup. In the drivers’ premiership Blair Orange is well clear on 118 wins, 27 ahead of his nearest rival Tim Williams. Road safety rides on this weekend Pass Wide and Slow awareness rides will be held around the country this weekend. The initiative is all about educating motorists to take greater care on the roads when approaching or passing both horses and riders and sulkies. Motorists should keep a 2m space between them and any horses on all roads. All riders/drivers are also being encouraged to wear hi vis at all times. Around 30 communities will be going on the rides this Saturday and Sunday. They will also take place in several other countries including the United Kingdom and the United States. The rides here are being organized by Pass Wide and Slow New Zealand, with research showing that on average two riders or drivers of horse-drawn carriages die on New Zealand roads every year. Horse Ambulance Trust auction now live A “luxurious” fund-raiser for the New Zealand Horse Ambulance Trust is now live on gavelhouse.com. It started at 5pm last night and continues through until next Tuesday. The winners will get brunch and a private farm tour at Ken and Karen Breckon’s state of the art complex at Ohaupo, a round of golf at the new Tieke Golf Estate in Tamahere as well as a food and accommodation package in Cambridge. All proceeds will go to the NZHAT which operates a fleet of specially equipped horse ambulances right round the country. To find out more about the auction click here Sires’ Stakes latest news Spring has really sprung for Sires’ Stakes racing in both Islands. To see the latest news click here Dunn moves into third in USA Dexter Dunn is now the third highest stakes-earning driver in North America this year. The former 10-time Kiwi champion has been in a rich vein of form of late to climb up the leaderboard with earnings of $US7.6m for the year. He is behind Jason Bartlett ($10.9m) and Yannick Gingras ($US8.2m). Dunn has had 194 wins, many of them in big money races, so far in 2025. Hat-trick for Kiwi-bred pacer The Group 1 winning Christopher Dance has now won three in a row in North America. The Sweet Lou four-year-old, who won two starts in this country for Logan Hollis and Shane Robertson, moved to Perth where he won three more at Gloucester Park for Greg and Skye Bond including the Group 1 Western Australian Derby. Now based in the USA he has won three in a row, his latest victory at the Meadowlands coming in a new personal best 1:49.6. And what a night out Gilles Barrieau had in Canada over the weekend. At Charlottetown he reined home nine winners on the 14-race programme. Not only was it a personal best or him but it a new record in Prince Edward Island (PEI) racing. Mayoral contenders in dual sulky race The battle to be Waitaki’s next mayor will take an interesting twist at Oamaru on Sunday. Four of the area’s mayoral candidates will be involved in a dual sulky race as part of Placemakers Hannon Memorial Day. The four are Guy Percival, Melanie Tavendale, Kelli Williams and David Wilson, with the race between races 5 and 6. The local body elections are on next month. View the full article

Check out this week’s The Box Seat with hosts Matt Cross, Brittany Graham and Greg O’Connor. View the full article

Alta Meteor has been the biggest mover in this week’s rankings for the IRT New Zealand Trotting Cup, to be held at Addington Raceway on Tuesday, November 11. The Steve and Amanda Telfer-trained pacer made it back to back wins this campaign when he was victorious in last Friday’s Avon City Ford New Brighton Cup. As the race is an automatic qualifier for the Cup Alta Meteor is guaranteed a place in the $1m race, if nominated He is now fifth in the rankings, up eight places from last week. The rest of the leaderboard is largely unchanged. In the Renwick Farms Dominion Trot, Oscar Bonavena is guaranteed a start after his emphatic win in last Friday’s Ordeal Cup, one of three automatic qualifiers for the race. He is ranked third behind Bet N Win and Arcee Phoenix while Midnight Dash, who was runner-up in Friday, moves up three places from 10th to seventh. The next automatic qualifier for the Dominion is the Worthy Queen (October 10) and then Canterbury Park Trotting Cup (October 17), both at Addington Raceway, while the next automatic qualifier for the New Zealand Cup is the Holmes DG at Alexandra Park on October 3, followed by the Canterbury Classic at Addington (October 17). Both the NZ Cup and the Dominion will be limited to 15 starters. Rankings will be updated weekly with the final rankings coming out after the Kaikoura meeting on Monday, November 3. View them here View the full article

By Adam Hamilton Star Aussie trotter Arcee Phoenix took a giant step towards another successful Kiwi raid with the first few steps of his Melton trial yesterday. The Inter Dominion trotting winner pleased trainer-driver Chris Svanosio with how well he stepped away from a rare standing-start task when a late-closing second to fellow Inter Dominion finalist Parisian Artiste in the 2240m trial. “It was great to get a standing trial given his main (NZ) target is the (Group 1) Dominion from a stand,” Svanosio said. “It was his first trial since he break after the winning the Inter Dominion, so we were there as much for practice from the standing-start as we were to do anything special. “But he stepped well, sat third and finished it off really well in quick time behind Parisian Artiste. “I’d call it an ideal kick-off and I’ll find another trial for him in the next week or two before we go back to the races.” Arcee Phoenix’s first major target is the Group 1 Bill Collins Sprint, the trotting feature on the huge Victoria Cup meeting (October 18) where Leap To Fame and Swayzee will be the other headline acts. “He’ll need a run before that, so I’ll find something around the end of the month,” Svanosio said. “I’m really pleased how well he seems. He didn’t have that long off after the Inter Dominion, but he certainly thrived.” Svanosio is weighing up two options for when he heads across the ditch for what will be Arcee Phoenix’s fourth trip to NZ. “He won’t have a lead-up race over there, but if we went early we’d have the option of running the Cup Trials at Addington six days ahead of the Dominion,” he said. “There’s the early option and one closer to the race, I’ll decide once we get him back to the races.” Arcee Phoenix ran fourth behind now retired Aussie champion Just Believe in last year’s Dominion as well as fourth in the Group 1 NZ Trotting Free-For-All three days later. He returned to NZ in April for the breakthrough “major” win of his career in the $NZ600,000 TAB Trot before adding the $500,000 Inter Dominion final at Albion Park on July 19. View the full article

What Seymour Races Where Seymour Racing Club – 55 Kobyboyn Rd, Seymour VIC 3660 When Thursday, September 11, 2025 First Race 1:30pm AEST Visit Dabble The Seymour Racing Club is the destination for racing in Victoria on Thursday, with a competitive nine-race meeting set down for decision. The meeting is set to be run on a Soft 6 despite clear skies forecast for the program, while the rail will be out 8m the entire circuit. The first race is set to jump at 1:30pm AEST. Best Bet at Seymour: Perfect Picture Perfect Picture resumed with an excellent second at Sandown on August 13 and gets the right race shape to go one better. The mare maps to tag the leaders from a midfield draw, and a return to 1200m keeps him sharp. The Grahame Begg yard is flying with lightly raced types, and this mares’ ratings from his narrow defeats are already good enough to win a standard BM62. If Jordan Childs can hold a spot and present at the bend, Perfect Picture’s sustained 400m sprint can put this to bed. Best Bet Race 6 – #7 Perfect Picture (8) 4yo Mare | T: Grahame Begg | J: Jordan Childs (59.5kg) Next Best at Seymour: Keep It Real Keep It Real was strong through the line on debut at Wangaratta when second beaten a lip and gets his chance to go one better. A Soft 6 holds no fears given her action, and the Freedman/Stackhouse combo is a big tick at country level. This doesn’t look any deeper than her latest assignment, and with natural third-up improvement, she should be able to put them away late. If she parks one-off with cover from the draw, Keep It Real’s turn of foot can prove decisive. Next Best Race 5 – #5 Keep It Real (10) 3yo Gelding | T: Anthony & Sam Freedman | J: Daniel Stackhouse (57kg) Best Value at Seymour: Wise Legend Wise Legend arrives off a tough first-up victory on the Ballarat synthetic and at 2046m lands a scenario that looks ideal second-up. He’s a handy wet-tracker, carries a fair impost, and gets John Allen to offset a tricky gate by letting him drift and build momentum down the side. This BM62 is even enough, so the proven fitness and stronger last-start figure make him a solid each-way play with horse racing bookmakers. Expect him to be improving late when others are feeling it, and at the odds, he’s the one we want on side. Best Value Race 7 – #4 Wise Legend (12) 6yo Gelding | T: Dan O’Sullivan | J: John Allen (61kg) Thursday quaddie tips for Seymour Seymour quadrella selections Thursday, September 11, 2025 1-2-3 2-4-5-9 2-4-5-6-7 1-4-5-6-8 Horse racing tips View the full article

Hec Anderton, one of New Zealand racing’s most respected horsemen, has died at the age of 84. He passed away at the Otago Community Hospice in Dunedin last week, surrounded by his wife Pat and their children, Michael, Paul, Debbie Kennedy, Janine Carroll and Tania Batt. His death came poignantly just hours after Descaro, a horse he bred and raced in partnership, won at Wingatui. The gelding is trained by his brother Brian and nephew Shane, underlining the Anderton family’s deep-rooted place in southern racing. Born Hector Thomas Anderton, he was immersed in racing from childhood. He signed on as a probationer apprentice at 12 and rode his first winner, Irish Wings, at Beaumont in 1956 at the age of 15. Among his best rides was the 1958 Churchill Stakes at Riccarton on Fountainhead, and in 1960 he captured three races on Ravelston across the Riverton Easter meeting, a rare treble that stood out in his career as a jockey. He began training in partnership with his father Hector in the early 1960s before branching out on his own at Wingatui, where he would prepare some 350 winners. His first star was Crown Agent, who won 12 races in the 1970s, but his finest came later with Mellseur, winner of the 1980 Gr.1 Penfold’s Chardon Mile (now the Thorndon Mile), along with a string of feature races. In partnership with his son Steven, he trained The Jewel, who won the 2002 Gr.1 New Zealand One Thousand Guineas and Gr.1 International Stakes, as well as Sand Sweeper, a multiple stakes winner including the 2005 Gr.2 Canterbury Gold Cup. Anderton also made his mark in jumps racing. He won the 1974 Great Western Steeplechase with Jack Tat and the prestigious 1986 Nescafe Steeplechase at Ellerslie with Rock Crystal, then the country’s richest jumping race. Rock Crystal returned to win a second Great Western in 1988, a testament to Anderton’s horsemanship. His breeding interests brought further success. He co-bred De Montfort, winner of the 1999 Dunedin Cup with daughter Debbie in the saddle, and Lofty’s Gift, who captured the same race in 2025. His horses also enjoyed success in Australia, where he won races at Flemington, Caulfield, and Moonee Valley, including listed victories with Native Monarch. Anderton was equally admired as a mentor. He guided many apprentices, including his daughter Debbie Kennedy, leading rider Jason Laking, and Jarrod Todd, who has since ridden more than 700 winners in Australia’s Northern Territory. Though he retired in 2008, he returned to help his daughter-in-law Claire following the tragic death of his son Steve in 2015, showing his enduring commitment to family and the sport. From his first winner as a teenager to his final day, Hec Anderton’s life was interwoven with racing. A jockey, trainer, breeder, and mentor, he leaves behind a legacy that shaped southern racing for more than six decades. He is survived by Pat, their children, and an extended family whose involvement in the sport ensures that his name will live on. View the full article

Three-year-old filly Passiflora (NZ) (Farnan) showed promise at the trials and transferred that potential into raceday success when scoring on debut in the NZ Horse Ambulance 970 at Cambridge on Wednesday. The daughter of Farnan had won a 850m trial at Te Awamutu a fortnight ago and was backed into a $4.70 favourite second favourite on Wednesday behind fellow debutant Zivou (NZ) (Bivouac). From her wide draw, Passiflora was sent forward early by jockey Jasmine Fawcett and wrestled the lead off Remember Ferrando (NZ) (Ferrando) and took control of the race from the 600m. She had opened a margin on her rivals when turning for home, but Zivou was taking chase and closing fast, however, Passiflora didn’t falter and scored a 1-1/4 length victory, much to the delight of trainers Steven Ramsay and Julia Ritchie. “I am really rapt with that,” Ramsay said. “She drew the outside and we were a wee bit worried, but the other plan was to go to Taranaki on Saturday and that is going to be a Heavy10. “She has got a fair bit of speed this filly and it was a very good effort from the outside gate. I think she is going to get better and better. She rails like a greyhound, she is not overly big, but she has got a tonne of speed.” Fawcett rode Passiflora in her trial and she was delighted to stay aboard to collect the winning cheque on debut. “Rambo (Ramsay) contacted me and he said he had a filly for me to ride at the trials that I would get along with,” she said. “You just let her do what she wants and she has got a lot of speed. “She showed today that she has got a bit of ability, so I am quite happy with her.” Bred by Pencarrow Stud and raced by farm principal Sir Peter Vela, Passiflora is out of Lilikoi (NZ), who won the Gr.3 Eulogy Stakes (1600m) and placed in the Gr.2 Royal Stakes (2000m), and Ramsay believes she is capable of reaching the same heights as her dam. “She is out of a nice enough mare who won a Eulogy,” he said. “She is not overly big but has still got a bit of upside still.” View the full article

Tardelli (I Am Invincible) has the looks to match his rich pedigree, and his upcoming preparation will be focused on adding a top-level performance to boost his future stallion prospects. The Stephen Marsh-trained four-year-old showed he was in prime order to resume when untouched by rider George Rooke to win an open 1100m heat at Tuesday’s Ellerslie trials. “He’s a really smart horse, we haven’t seen the best of him yet and the goal is obviously to win a Group One with him,” Marsh said. The son of I Am Invincible is a two-time winner and has placings to his credit in last season’s Gr.3 Easter Handicap (1600m) against the older horses and in the Gr.2 Levin Classic (1400m) and Listed Uncle Remus Stakes (1400m). “He’s come up super and the plan is to kick off at Ellerslie on September 20 in an open 1400m,” Marsh said. “He might go to the Matamata Cup (Listed, 1600m) and then maybe look at something like the Thorndon Mile (Gr.1, 1600m).” Tardelli was offered by Yarraman Park at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale and sold for A$360,000, with agent Bruce Perry signing the ticket for a syndicate including Lib Petagna’s JML Bloodstock, Hawridge Developments, Jamieson Park and the Little Avondale Trust. He is a son of Pierro Moss, an unraced daughter of Pierro and the stakes-winning Fastnet Rock mare Upon This Rock with the Gr.1 Robert Sangster Stakes (1200m) winner Charm Stone also featuring on his pedigree page. Tardelli’s stablemates Ardalio (NZ) (Ardrossan) and Glamour Tycoon (Written Tycoon) also furthered their upcoming preparation with trial outings at Ellerslie. Dual Group Three winner Ardalio was given an easy time when runner-up in her 1100m heat and is on target to resume at Te Rapa on September 27. “She’ll run in an open 1200m and then look at the weight-for-age race at Rotorua (Gr.3 Sweynesse Stakes, 1215m) on October 12,” Marsh said. “We would like to get her in the big sprints later and have a crack at the Telegraph (Gr.1, 1200m) with her. “Glamour Tycoon went really well in her trial and she needs good tracks, so we’ll wait and see if she goes toward the Sweynesse.” The promising pair of Erin Go Bragh (NZ) (Vadamos) and Bourbon Proof (Justify) also won their heats at Ellerslie. “Erin Go Bragh will have one more quiet trial and I’m very happy with him and he’s well above average,” Marsh said. “Bourbon Proof will kick off in a Rating 75 1400m at Te Rapa and I thought he was great as well.” Marsh will also have runners at Matamata on Friday and, on a likely heavy track, tipped Feel The Stag (Too Darn Hot) in the KR Bell Electrical (1200m) as his best chance. View the full article

Japan is mourning the death of celebrated no-hoper racehorse Haru-urara, whose record of losing in all her 113 career appearances captured the hearts of millions of struggling citizens. The hapless mare inspired generations of Japanese battling to stay afloat in the throes of economic doldrums from her debut in 1998 to her final race in 2004. Her ill-fated performances attracted thousands of fans to the racecourse and inspired T-shirts, good-luck charms, postage stamps and a movie in her...View the full article

Myakkabelle performed with distinction in her three-year-old season, but a stakes win eluded the Ben and Ryan Foote-trained mare. She won two and placed in six of her 10 starts last term, including placings in the Gr.1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m), Gr.2 Lowland Stakes (2100m), and Gr.2 David & Karym Ellis Fillies Classic (2000m). “Her three-year-old season was good without a lot of luck,” Ryan Foote said. “From a wide draw she had to get back in the Oaks, which made it a bit hard. “We have given her a good break and she seems to have come back really well.” The daughter of Ware Decree placed in her resuming trial over 1300m at Ellerslie on Tuesday and Foote received positive feedback from jockey Vinnie Colgan. “She was just there for a day out yesterday,” Foote said. “We were very happy with her trial and the way she came through it. Vinnie was very happy with how she went and how she felt. “She is a horse that doesn’t show a lot in her trials, but she looks to be in for a good prep after yesterday.” Myakkabelle holds a nomination for next month’s Gr.1 Livamol Classic (2040m) and is 14th in order of entry for the Ellerslie feature. “It might be a season too early for her (for the Livamol) but we thought we would put a nom in just in case she comes up very well,” Foote said. “At the end of a big three-year-old season sometimes the mares can be a bit funny at the start of their four-year-old season, so we will see how she goes.” Foote was also pleased with the trial of stablemate The Odyssey in his 1300m heat, and he is hopeful of a big spring from the Zacinto gelding. “He has never been a horse to light up at the trials,” Foote said. “Vinnie was happy with how he felt. He is one to look out for when he gets up to 2000m.” The Odyssey won the inaugural $350,000 Remutaka Classic (2100m) last year before going on to place in the Gr.3 Waikato Cup (2400m), and Foote would like to see him score another feature scalp this time in. “We have given him a lot of time,” he said. “He hasn’t had that many starts, and he is a six-year-old now, so he is fully matured and ready to go, so it would be nice to see him come up well.” Former stable runner Greenwich has returned to the Footes Cambridge barn following a couple of years in Hong Kong and they were happy enough with his 1100m hit-out on Tuesday. He won both of his trials for the Footes as a two-year-old before his sale to Hong Kong, where he won two races and nearly $430,000 in prizemoney, and they are delighted to have him back in the barn. “We had him early on and sold him up to Hong Kong,” Foote said. “He was a very good galloper and he seems to have come back the same. “He is a really big, well-conditioned horse and he was only there for a very quiet trial yesterday. He is still slightly on the bigger side, so he will look to have another trial and will be more competitive next time.” Foote was also pleased with the respective 1100m trials of Yulong Investments’ trio of Azeele, Lough Eske and Judicial. “All three of them are quite cool horses and they seem to have come back really well,” he said. “We have given them a few weeks off in the paddock and they have come back in with a lot more life about them. I am really happy with the three of them.” View the full article

An untimely injury has ruled champion jockey Michael McNab out for the bulk of spring racing. McNab was set to partner a two-year-old at Tuesday’s Ellerslie trials when he was kicked and subsequent x-rays at Auckland Hospital revealed a leg fracture below the knee. “I have spoken to Michael, and he is really gutted,” his agent Aidan Rodley said. “He had made such a strong start to the season and was obviously hoping to capitalise on that through the spring and beyond. “It looks like he will be out for between six and eight weeks.” McNab’s length of time on the sidelines will be confirmed after he visits a surgeon. The injury has come at a heartbreaking time for the two-time champion jockey, who had made an electric start to the 2025/26 season. He had posted 17 winners to be six clear of Bruno Queiroz at the top of the New Zealand Jockeys’ Premiership. Top-class mare La Crique was one of McNab’s key sprint mounts following their runner-up finish in last Saturday’s Gr.1 Proisir Plate (1400m) at Ellerslie. A new rider will obviously be required to partner the Simon and Katrina Alexander-trained representative, should she run next in the Gr.1 Howden Insurance Mile (1600m) at Te Rapa on September 27. View the full article