Wandering Eyes

Pride Of Jenni (Pride Of Dubai) has appeared on the leaderboard in the Longines world’s best racehorse rankings for the first time, but her Randwick performance of last month is still not the standout Australian run so far this year. The extraordinary 6.5 length Gr.1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) win of Pride Of Jenni earned her an international rating of 120, to have her placed equal sixth for performances throughout the world from January 1 to May 8 this year. That sees her tied with Private Eye on 120 with the Joe Pride-trained sprinter earning that mark for his narrow Lightning Stakes placing behind Imperatriz (I Am Invincible). They share that line with Hong Kong champion Romantic Warrior, who retained his 120 mark. The 120 Pride Of Jenni recorded takes into account the mares’ weight advantage at weight-for-age level where, because of her gender, Pride Of Jenni carried 57 kilograms compared to her male colleagues who had to carry 59kgs. The 8.5 length victory from Laurel River in March’s Dubai World Cup is more than enough for him to easily lead the rankings on 128. There were a host of Australasian gallopers on 119 including sprinters of the ilk of the retired Imperatriz and of I Wish I Win (NZ) (Savabeel), who scored that mark in the T J Smith Stakes. Mr Brightside (NZ) (Bullbars) also has a 119 as does the now retired three-year-old Militarize, who earned his rating via his Doncaster Handicap placing, where he carried 54kgs. View the full article

New Plymouth trainer Allan Sharrock will be represented by a talented team of half a dozen on his home track on Saturday afternoon, including a pair of potential black-type contenders in the day’s open handicap feature. Sharrock will saddle Sumi and Justaskme in the $40,000 The Rock FM (1400m), and both could be in line for a shot at the Listed Rangitikei Gold Cup (1600m) at Trentham the following weekend. Sumi brings a consistent formline into Saturday’s race. The daughter of Atlante was a placegetter at Hastings and Trentham, then ventured to Te Rapa and scored an impressive win over Freeze Frame in an open 1400m race on April 14. Those two rivals lined up again for a rematch on April 27, with a weight swing in Freeze Frame’s favour, and the result was reversed as Sumi finished third behind Freeze Frame and Karman Line. Sumi was a placegetter in the Gr.3 Rotorua Stakes (1400m) on this day last year, but Sharrock decided against taking a second shot at the fillies and mares’ feature. “I was happy with her performance again when she placed at Te Rapa the other day,” he said. “She just over-raced in the early part of the race, but she was good to the line. “I’ve decided to line her up at home on Saturday, and then there’s a Listed race at Trentham coming up that we can have a look at. That’s probably a better plan than travelling to Rotorua to take on La Crique at weight-for-age this weekend. “I’m happy with how she’s progressing in this campaign and she should run well again.” Sumi will carry 54kg on Saturday and will be ridden by Ashvin Goindasamy. A similar pathway looms for 12-race winner Justaskme, who carried 59kg when outside the placings in the Gr.3 Easter Handicap (1600m) on April 27. Elle Sole’s 4kg claim will reduce his impost to 58kg this weekend. “He’ll run on Saturday and then probably back up into Trentham a week later as well,” Sharrock said. “There’s two weeks into the Listed weight-for-age race over 1600m at Wanganui after that, so it should be a good build-up for that race, which is our main target. “He’s going really well. I thought his Easter Handicap run was okay under that weight, and he’s heading in the right direction.” Another notable member of Sharrock’s New Plymouth contingent on Saturday is Bridal Train, who is the third emergency for the HEL Rimu (1800m) and is also entered for the Seaton Park (1600m). The three-year-old daughter of U S Navy Flag has had six starts for a win, three seconds and a third, and she was a strong-finishing second placegetter at Te Rapa last start behind the Queensland-bound filly Tomodachi. “I think Bridal Train is a pretty good filly and she’s going super at the moment,” Sharrock said. View the full article

Within the space of less than half an hour on Saturday afternoon, Andrew Forsman will be represented by key chances in Group Three races in both Australia and New Zealand. At 3:37pm, the Cambridge trainer will send out Mary Shan and the defending champion Wessex in the Gr.3 Rotorua ITM Stakes (1400m). Just 25 minutes later, Forsman’s classy staying filly Positivity will line up as favourite for the Gr.3 Ken and Helen Smith SA Fillies’ Classic (2500m) at Morphettville. Positivity has come a long way in a short time, having made her debut with a fourth placing at Matamata just three days before Christmas. The Almanzor filly won at Tauranga next time out, then finished seventh and eighth without much luck in the Gr.3 Desert Gold Stakes (1600m) and Gr.2 David & Karyn Ellis Fillies’ Classic (200m). The breakthrough came in the Gr.3 Sunline Vase (2100m) at Ellerslie on March 2, where she scored a tenacious victory over Qali Al Farrasha, and that pair went on to finish second and third behind Pulchritudinous in the Gr.1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m) at Trentham. Positivity stepped back down to 2000m for a last-start appearance in the Gr.1 Australasian Oaks at Morphettville on April 27, and Forsman was far from disappointed with her Australian debut. She dropped well back in the 16-horse field and did her best work late, running on into ninth. She finished 3.7 lengths behind the winner Vibrant Sun, with subsequent Gr.1 South Australian Derby (2500m) heroine Coco Sun in third. The step back up to 2500m on Saturday is expected to be a big help for Positivity, who the TAB rated a $2.50 favourite on Friday morning. “It was a pretty good effort in the Australasian Oaks after nothing really went to plan for her,” Forsman said. “We ideally wanted her to settle in the first three or four, but she went up in the air when the gates opened and then got squeezed out the back. She was just in the wrong position from that point on, but I thought she was quite strong late in the race. “She’s had a good few weeks since then. She’d had a decent gap between races and was a touch fresh going into the Oaks, so I think she might have needed the run a little bit. “The extra distance this week should be absolutely ideal for her. We’ve seen her perform very strongly over that sort of trip already this season, and against a field that’s probably lacking some of the classiest fillies from the Oaks, it looks like a really nice race for her.” Back home, Mary Shan is rated an $8.50 chance for the Rotorua ITM Stakes, holding fourth favouritism behind La Crique ($3), Karman Line ($8) and I’munstoppable ($8). Like Positivity, Mary Shan is a daughter of Cambridge Stud stallion Almanzor. She was a four-length maiden winner over the 1400m distance of the Rotorua Stakes back in the spring, then finished second in the Gr.2 Soliloquy Stakes (1400m), fifth in the Gr.1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m), second in the Gr.2 Eight Carat Classic (1600m), fourth in the Gr.1 Levin Classic (1600m) and fifth in the David & Karyn Ellis Fillies’ Classic. In her first appearance for more than two months, Mary Shan produced an eye-catching finish from near last to run sixth in the Gr.3 Cambridge Breeders’ Stakes (1200m) at Te Rapa on April 27. “I thought she was great in a race that wasn’t really run to suit her,” Forsman said. “The pace was only steady, which made it hard to make up ground, and she was back and wide. But I was really happy with the way she found the line, and she’s come through that run in good order as well. Stepping up to 1400m will suit her.” Wessex won last year’s Rotorua Stakes on a Heavy10 track, and Forsman suggested that the Soft7 conditions at Rotorua this time around might negate her advantage. “I’m happy with how she’s coming up,” he said. “She’s had an exhibition gallop and a trial, and I think she’s pretty much where we need her to be. “The question with her is whether the track will be as heavy on Saturday as it was when she won the race last year. She can really skip through wet ground a lot better than some other horses, but it’s looking like she won’t have that as much in her favour this time around.” Saturday’s other black-type feature at Rotorua is the Listed Campbell Infrastructure Rotorua Cup (2200m), which features last-start Listed Hawke’s Bay Cup (2200m) placegetter Sporting Chance. “His run in the Hawke’s Bay Cup was very game and he seems to be coming of age,” Forsman said. “I’ve been very happy with him in between times. It can be tricky going between different types of wet tracks at this time of the year, but he’s in good form at the moment and can be very competitive again if he produces a similar performance.” View the full article

Sumi will contest the The Rock FM (1400m) at New Plymouth on Saturday. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images) New Plymouth trainer Allan Sharrock will be represented by a talented team of half a dozen on his home track on Saturday afternoon, including a pair of potential black-type contenders in the day’s open handicap feature. Sharrock will saddle Sumi and Justaskme in the $40,000 The Rock FM (1400m), and both could be in line for a shot at the Listed Rangitikei Gold Cup (1600m) at Trentham the following weekend. Sumi brings a consistent formline into Saturday’s race. The daughter of Atlante was a placegetter at Hastings and Trentham, then ventured to Te Rapa and scored an impressive win over Freeze Frame in an open 1400m race on April 14. Those two rivals lined up again for a rematch on April 27, with a weight swing in Freeze Frame’s favour, and the result was reversed as Sumi finished third behind Freeze Frame and Karman Line. Sumi was a placegetter in the Group 3 Rotorua Stakes (1400m) on this day last year, but Sharrock decided against taking a second shot at the fillies and mares’ feature. “I was happy with her performance again when she placed at Te Rapa the other day,” he said. “She just over-raced in the early part of the race, but she was good to the line. “I’ve decided to line her up at home on Saturday, and then there’s a Listed race at Trentham coming up that we can have a look at. That’s probably a better plan than travelling to Rotorua to take on La Crique at weight-for-age this weekend. “I’m happy with how she’s progressing in this campaign and she should run well again.” Sumi will carry 54kg on Saturday and will be ridden by Ashvin Goindasamy. A similar pathway looms for 12-race winner Justaskme, who carried 59kg when outside the placings in the Group 3 Easter Handicap (1600m) on April 27. Elle Sole’s 4kg claim will reduce his impost to 58kg this weekend. “He’ll run on Saturday and then probably back up into Trentham a week later as well,” Sharrock said. “There’s two weeks into the Listed weight-for-age race over 1600m at Wanganui after that, so it should be a good build-up for that race, which is our main target. “He’s going really well. I thought his Easter Handicap run was okay under that weight, and he’s heading in the right direction.” Another notable member of Sharrock’s New Plymouth contingent on Saturday is Bridal Train, who is the third emergency for the HEL Rimu (1800m) and is also entered for the Seaton Park (1600m). The three-year-old daughter of U S Navy Flag has had six starts for a win, three seconds and a third, and she was a strong-finishing second placegetter at Te Rapa last start behind the Queensland-bound filly Tomodachi. “I think Bridal Train is a pretty good filly and she’s going super at the moment,” Sharrock said. Horse racing news View the full article

Molly Bloom will contest the Listed Gold Coast Bracelet (1800m) at the Sunshine Coast on Saturday. Photo: Race Images South Matamata trainers Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott are hoping to make their mark in the three-year-old filly ranks during the Queensland Winter Carnival, starting at a rain-soaked Sunshine Coast on Saturday. The Wexford Stables pair will present Group 1 winner Molly Bloom for her Australian debut in the Listed Gold Coast Bracelet (1800m). It will be the first start since February for the Ace High filly, who has won four of her eight starts including the Group 1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m), the Group 2 Eight Carat Classic (1600m) and the Group 2 David & Karyn Ellis Fillies’ Classic (2000m). Her domestic campaign earned her the title of New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year. Molly Bloom left New Zealand on April 28 and travelled to Brisbane via Sydney. O’Sullivan reported on Friday that she has settled in well, but the Heavy 10 track conditions on the Sunshine Coast have dented the team’s confidence. “She handled the trip brilliantly and we’re very happy with how she’s been looking since she arrived,” O’Sullivan said. “The issue with her is that it’s been a long time since she’s had a race – not since February – and she’s got to run over 1800m on a heavy track. It’s a good field with a number of fillies that are really hard and fit, while she’s probably going to need this run. “Realistically, I’m not sure that she can win on Saturday, being first-up and running over that distance on a testing track. But we need to get this run into her, and we don’t really have the option of taking her out of this race and waiting for something else next week. Who’s to say the track conditions will be any better then, anyway? “But hopefully we’ll get her back underway again with a nice first-up performance this weekend, and then we can carry on towards the Doomben Roses (Group 2, 2000m) in a couple of weeks’ time.” Molly Bloom will be ridden by star Kiwi jockey Opie Bosson. She will race in the colours of prominent Australian owner Ozzie Kheir, who bought a majority share in the filly earlier this year. O’Sullivan and Scott could have two runners in the Roses at Doomben on May 25, with the up-and-comer Tomodachi also travelling across the Tasman this week. Bred and owned by Sir Peter Vela, the daughter of Tarzino has won all of her last three starts, most recently a 1600m three-year-old race at Te Rapa on April 27. “Tomodachi has travelled over this week, so a week later than the other filly,” O’Sullivan said. “She seems to have handled everything well at this stage. “She’s quite a different filly to Molly Bloom, who eats everything, and we have to do a bit of work to try to keep the weight off her. Tomodachi’s a bit more of a delicate filly, but she’s looking good and it’s so far, so good with her.” Horse racing news View the full article

What Ballarat Races Where Ballarat Turf Club – 240 Kennedys Rd, Miners Rest VIC 3352 When Sunday, May 12, 2024 First Race 12:40pm AEST Visit Dabble The Ballarat Turf Club will host a competitive eight-race meeting this Sunday afternoon from 12:40pm AEST. Although the track was rated as a Soft 6 at the time of acceptances, with no rain on the forecast for the weekend, it is expected that the surface will improve into the Good range by the start of the program. The rail will be pushed out to the +3m position for the entire circuit, which should see it play favourably to on-speed runners. Best Bet at Ballarat: Layeruponlayer Layeruponlayer was ultra-impressive on his Australian debut, running away from his rivals in the final 400m to record a dominant seven-length victory. The son of Stratum Star showed that he can jump well to put himself in a forward position before sprinting strongly late. From barrier four, John Allen will attempt to replicate the last-start victory by leading all the way to record back-to-back wins. Best Bet Race 7 – #4 Layeruponlayer (4) 5yo Gelding | T: Mathew Smerdon | J: John Allen (60kg) +170 with Bet365 Next Best at Ballarat: All So Clear All So Clear tasted his first defeat at the Ballarat 1600m on April 28, going down to Matriarch Rose in Benchmark 64 grade. Even though this son of So You Think finished 2.3 lengths off the winner, he beat the rest of the field by over four lengths. Now that he is third-up, All So Clear looks primed to run a big race and should be at peak fitness for this contest at his favourite track and trip. Next Best Race 5 – #4 All So Clear (5) 5yo Gelding | T: Ben, Will & JD Hayes | J: Matthew Cartwright (60.5kg) +340 with Picklebet Best Value at Ballarat: Blast Wave Blast Wave experienced a torrid run on debut, as she was made to travel three wide for the entire 1217m trip and battled on gamely to finish fourth. The daughter of Grunt will have taken a lot out of her first raceday experience, and from an inside barrier, Lachlan King will be able to settle this girl off the speed in a stalking position. If Blast Wave travels as well as she did first-up and lets down strongly, she will play a prominent role in the finish. Best Value Race 2 – #8 Blast Wave (8) 3yo Filly | T: Robbie Griffiths & Mathew de Kock | J: Lachlan King (57.5kg) +900 with Neds Ballarat Sunday quaddie tips Ballarat quadrella selections Sunday, May 12, 2024 4-8 2-3-5-7 4-10 1-2-6-9-13 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip Horse racing tips View the full article

Romantic Warrior is a two-time Hong Kong Cup winner. Romantic Warrior will bid for a fifth Group 1 victory this season following trainer Danny Shum’s confirmation the Hong Kong champion will contest the Group 1 Yasuda Kinen (1600m) at Tokyo Racecourse on June 2, when he will clash with fellow Hong Kong contender Voyage Bubble. Shum made the decision to travel abroad for the second time this season with seven-time Group 1 winner Romantic Warrior after discussions with owner Peter Lau. “He will go to Japan,” Shum said. “He will leave around the 21st of May.” Referring to the 133-rater’s recovery from his narrow, record-breaking Group 1 QEII Cup (2000m) triumph on 28 April, Shum said: “He should be okay – he can be better.” Romantic Warrior will be accompanied to Japan by Romantic Charm, who also travelled to Australia last year when his decorated stablemate clinched Hong Kong’s first victory in the Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley Racecourse on October 28. With subsequent wins in the Group 1 Hong Kong Cup (2000m), Group 1 Hong Kong Gold Cup (2000m) and QEII Cup, Romantic Warrior will next attempt to match the feats of Ivan Allan-trained Fairy King Prawn (2000) and Tony Cruz’s Bullish Luck (2006) in landing the Yasuda Kinen. Shum’s most recent representative in Japan was sprinter Victor The Winner, who finished third in the Group 1 Takamatsunomiya Kinen (1200m) at Chukyo Racecourse on 24 March. With 14 wins and three seconds from 19 starts, Romantic Warrior has raced only twice at 1600m, winning the Hong Kong Classic Mile in 2022 before finishing second, beaten a length, by Golden Sixty in the 2023 Group 1 Stewards’ Cup. With Zac Purton booked to ride Voyage Bubble, James McDonald is expected to again partner Romantic Warrior in the Yasuda Kinen. With 43 Hong Kong victories to his credit this season, Shum is sixth in the Hong Kong trainers’ championship behind Pierre Ng (58), Francis Lui (53), John Size (44), Tony Cruz (43) and Ricky Yiu (43) and will saddle six runners at Sha Tin on Saturday (11 May) – including Romantic Charm, who runs in the Class 3 Tsim Sha Tsui Handicap (1650m, dirt). Shum is represented in the meeting’s feature – the Class 2 Hong Kong China Rugby Cup Handicap (1600m) – by Helene Feeling, who resumes after his ninth in the Hong Kong Derby (2000m) behind Massive Sovereign. The four-year-old faces several older rivals in the 10-horse field, including The Golden Scenery and Flaming Rabbit, who will again be ridden by Lyle Hewitson. “I thought he (Flaming Rabbit) performed admirably (last start), it was a very good run. He had to shoulder a big weight (134lb) over a distance (1800m) he was trying for the first time and he was strong to the finish and just got overhauled late,” Hewitson said of the gelding’s third to C P Brave on 20 April. “It was very, very good run. He’s got the big weight again, but he’s back to the trip where he has performed very well consistently. He’s come out of that race really well, so he should be a live chance again.” Fresh from a Happy Valley double on Wednesday night (8 May), Harry Bentley will search for a third win this season on Mr Ascendency. “He’s obviously run some extremely good races recently, having won twice and finishing third last time, so he might just be at a rating (96) the handicap might just have got a hold of him but he’s still in a position where he can run a solid race and I certainly wouldn’t discount him being capable of winning,” Bentley said. “He’s in a rich vein of form and he’s holding his form well.” Saturday’s 10-race card starts with the Class 5 Yau Ma Tei Handicap (1400m) at 1pm HKT. Horse racing news View the full article

Grinzinger Prince might be priced at $151 to win group 1 The Goodwood at Morphettville on Saturday, but trainer Cody Reardon says his five-year-old gelding is already a winner. Reardon said his stable was in the doldrums until Grinzinger Prince was purchased for $12,000 in the Inglis Digital in February 2023 for $12,000. Since then Grinzinger Prince has raced 12 times for three wins and five placings and after a 49 day rest faces his biggest test yet, the $1million The Goodwood. Also read: Morphettville tips for May 11 “My partner Jess is incredible at finding a bargain online, she has always been able to,” he said. “I watch a lot of racing around Australia, so i get to see a lot horses go round and we seen him pop up online. “We were struggling at the time and we just needed something to go our way and find a bit of better stock. “We were lucky to pick him up for $12,000 plus GST, which we thought was a bit of a bargain and that was my final bid. “I know there was an underbidder that missed their bid… so it was meant to be. “Since I have bought this horse things have turned upside down for us — It’s not so much the success we’ve had with him but we’ve had some nicer younger horses.” Grinzinger Prince was originally purchased for $250,000 by Danny O’Brien and spent time with Jason Warren, but it is the move to South Australia that has sparked the son of More Than Ready. And Reardon is adamant Grinzinger Prince won’t be making up the numbers in The Goodwood, despite the race having progressive types like Amelia’s Jewell ($4.20 with Neds) and Benedetta ($4.40 with bookmakers) to contend with. “It’s been a bit of a target of ours, things kind of haven’t gone to plan going into the run, we obviously wanted to win one of those black type races to qualify,” Reardon said. “We were on the bottom of the ballot list, so we’re lucky to get a run, but it’s a huge thrill, the horse is going really well and i’m excited to just enjoy the day.” The Goodwood jumps at 4.30pm and is the eighth race on the card at Morphettville. Horse racing news View the full article

What Sha Tin Races Where Sha Tin Racecourse – Tai Po Rd, Sha Tin District, Hong Kong When Saturday, May 11, 2024 First Race 1pm HKT (3pm AEST) Visit Dabble Hong Kong’s Sha Tin Racecourse is set to host a competitive 10-part program this Saturday afternoon. The rail is in the C position, and with sunny skies predicted in the lead-up, the surface should be rated Good 4 prior to the opening event at 1pm local time. Below are our best bets and quaddie selections for the meeting. Best Bet at Sha Tin: King Miles King Miles finally cracked his maiden at this course and distance on April 14. He circled most of his rivals as he cruised to victory by a length, suggesting the son of Exceed And Excel still has plenty of upside in Class 4 company. He must lug top weight this time, but with barrier five giving Hugh Bowman the opportunity to slot in midfield with cover, watch for King Miles to produce a stunning turn of foot in the concluding stages. Best Bet Race 5 – #3 King Miles (5) 3yo Gelding | T: Francis Lui | J: Hugh Bowman (60.5kg) Bet with Bet365 Next Best at Sha Tin: Prince Of Porty Dropping in grade almost paid dividends for Prince Of Porty on April 20, as he finished off gamely over the 1000m at Sha Tin to land in the minor money. Getting back to the turning circuit over 1200m appears ideal for the David Hall-trained gelding, with his latest test in this grade at the track and trip proving a fruitful one. Watch for Zac Purton to stalk his rivals from stall two, and when the whips are cracking, punters should expect Prince Of Porty to be right in this. Next Best Race 6 – #1 Prince Of Porty (2) 5yo Gelding | T: David Hall | J: Zac Purton (61kg) Bet with Bet365 Best Value at Sha Tin: Fast Responder Fast Responder is a European import who didn’t miss the frame in his four starts before landing in Hong Kong. He hasn’t missed a beat at the trials, going on to secure victory in his latest piece of work at Happy Valley on March 15. The Chief Stipelas Whyte stable has been patient with the placement of this guy, and it could pay off as Lyle Hewitson attempts to make every post a winner down the Sha Tin straight course. Best Value Race 3 – #2 Fast Responder (9) 3yo Colt | T: Chief Stipelas Whyte | J: Lyle Hewitson (61kg) Bet with Bet365 Hong Kong Saturday quaddie tips – 12/5/2024 Sha Tin quadrella selections Saturday, May 11, 2024 1-2-4-5-8 2-3-7-14 1-4-5-8-9 1-2-5-7 Horse racing tips
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British jockey holds high hopes for honest performer in Class Two Hong Kong China Rugby Cup on SaturdayView the full article

Connections of superstar galloper make the call to chase Group One feature at Tokyo racecourse next monthView the full article

What Sha Tin Races Where Sha Tin Racecourse – Tai Po Rd, Sha Tin District, Hong Kong When Sunday, May 12, 2024 First Race 1pm HKT (3pm AEST) Visit Dabble Hong Kong’s Sha Tin Racecourse is set to host a competitive 10-part program this Sunday afternoon. The rail is in the C position, and with sunny skies predicted in the lead-up, the surface should be rated Good 4 prior to the opening event at 1pm local time. Below are our best bets and quaddie selections for the meeting. Best Bet at Sha Tin: King Miles King Miles finally cracked his maiden at this course and distance on April 14. He circled most of his rivals as he cruised to victory by a length, suggesting the son of Exceed And Excel still has plenty of upside in Class 4 company. He must lug top weight this time, but with barrier five giving Hugh Bowman the opportunity to slot in midfield with cover, watch for King Miles to produce a stunning turn of foot in the concluding stages. Best Bet Race 5 – #3 King Miles (5) 3yo Gelding | T: Francis Lui | J: Hugh Bowman (60.5kg) Bet with Bet365 Next Best at Sha Tin: Prince Of Porty Dropping in grade almost paid dividends for Prince Of Porty on April 20, as he finished off gamely over the 1000m at Sha Tin to land in the minor money. Getting back to the turning circuit over 1200m appears ideal for the David Hall-trained gelding, with his latest test in this grade at the track and trip proving a fruitful one. Watch for Zac Purton to stalk his rivals from stall two, and when the whips are cracking, punters should expect Prince Of Porty to be right in this. Next Best Race 6 – #1 Prince Of Porty (2) 5yo Gelding | T: David Hall | J: Zac Purton (61kg) Bet with Bet365 Best Value at Sha Tin: Fast Responder Fast Responder is a European import who didn’t miss the frame in his four starts before landing in Hong Kong. He hasn’t missed a beat at the trials, going on to secure victory in his latest piece of work at Happy Valley on March 15. The Chief Stipelas Whyte stable has been patient with the placement of this guy, and it could pay off as Lyle Hewitson attempts to make every post a winner down the Sha Tin straight course. Best Value Race 3 – #2 Fast Responder (9) 3yo Colt | T: Chief Stipelas Whyte | J: Lyle Hewitson (61kg) Bet with Bet365 Hong Kong Sunday quaddie tips – 12/5/2024 Sha Tin quadrella selections Sunday, May 12, 2024 1-2-4-5-8 2-3-7-14 1-4-5-8-9 1-2-5-7 Horse racing tips
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Wexford Stables will have a mix of experience and emerging talent contesting Saturday’s Listed Rotorua ITM Stakes (1400m) with Karman Line and I’munstoppable. One of three fillies entered in the feature, I’munstoppable was an impressive winner of the Gr.3 Cambridge Breeders’ Stakes (1200m) at Te Rapa a fortnight ago, earning herself a place against the older horses at Arawa Park. “We were so pleased with her performance at Te Rapa, she really relaxed well and kicked well,” said co-trainer Andrew Scott, who trains in partnership with Lance O’Sullivan. “We are looking for something similar here, but we may look to ride her a wee bit more conservatively over that trip. “She’s had a good fortnight, the 1400m is a bit of a query, but she’s in good form and deserves the chance in a strong field.” Among the mare’s contingent is Karman Line, a Listed placegetter as a three-year-old who has only improved with age according to Scott. “Two starts ago she was in a Group One, and she was doing her best work at the line. She just got rolled in the last hop at Te Rapa and is certainly racing well at the seven furlongs (1400m). “We think she’s in career-best form at the moment and going as well as she can be. “Karman Line has been an incredibly slow-maturing mare, and we think she’s only just hitting her straps now, and has her best racing in front of her at six. “She’s sound, and we’ve only seen her now holding her weight well and campaign well, where in other preparations she wouldn’t hold her condition at all.” A daughter of Charm Spirit, I’munstoppable has drawn six, while Karman Line will jump from barrier 10, a draw held by both of Wexford’s former winners in Sleeping Beauty (2019) and Fascination Street (2015). “There looks to be a good bit of speed in the race and she (Karman Line) should be hitting the line strong. We certainly think she’s up to black-type level, and it would be wonderful if she could secure some this weekend,” Scott said. “She’s a strong finisher and that’s the best way to ride her, if anything last-start she may have just got there a fraction soon. She’s a good chaser, so we’ll let her find her rhythm and hopefully she can put in a strong performance.” The Matamata trainers have also engaged talented three-year-old Geriatrix for the Van Dyks 3YO 1400, which could be a stepping stone towards a trip to Queensland, where the stable has Molly Bloom and Tomodachi already located, with the former tackling the Listed Gold Coast Bracelet (1800m) on the Sunshine Coast on Saturday. “His last two runs have been in Group company, he missed the start in the Wellington Guineas (Gr.2, 1400m) and got wide, and then his sectionals and performance was very good in the Breeders’ Stakes (Gr.3, 1200m),” Scott said. “He’s back out to 1400m, got a nice gate (4), and we think the ground should be pretty solid on the weekend which will suit him. “He’s going well and if he can run to the level of his last two starts, he’ll be well competitive. This colt is holding up to a long preparation very well. “If he was to run well on the weekend, we would certainly look at taking him over. There’s a couple of good three-year-old races that are a possibility for him.” Scott has earmarked the Gr.3 Fred Best Classic (1400m) and the Gr.3 Gunsynd Classic (1600m) as possible ventures, held at Eagle Farm on the 1st and 15th of June respectively. Completing the Wexford runners at Rotorua are Winexpress in the Donna Fleming Memorial (1215) and Watergate in The Rotorua Club 1400, both to be partnered by Masa Hashizume. “Winexpress is fitter for the fresh-up run and gone the right way since, we think he’s improved and he’s a horse that will have a good winter. A win is very close, and we’re liking his chances,” Scott said. “We’ve certainly given Watergate some time and she’s appreciated that. Her trial last week was encouraging and we think she’ll sprint well fresh. “She’s a mare that has been slow-maturing but is in for a good preparation. It wouldn’t surprise us if she filled a placing at long odds.” View the full article

New Plymouth two-year-old contender Pleasing has lived up to her name ahead of her debut on Saturday. The daughter of Russian Revolution will step out in the A B Electrical Ltd (1200m) and has displayed the pace to make use of her inside barrier. “She’s had a jump-out and a trial and won them both nicely over 800m this time in. I’m hopeful she’ll stretch out to 1200m and can’t see why she won’t,” trainer Mike Breslin said. “She’s a very fast horse, but in her general nature she’s relaxed and that’s probably the most exciting thing about her, she can run quickly and her demeanour is pretty chilled.” Pleasing will be partnered by Lisa Allpress who was aboard the filly when she won her 800m trial heat at Waverley at the end of last month. “She can run time and Lisa rode her at the trials and was pretty keen to stick with her. That’s always a positive and gives more confidence,” Breslin said. “She went shin sore in her first preparation and this time she’s gone along without any hitches and has showed plenty.” Breslin purchased Pleasing out of breeder Westbury Stud’s draft at Karaka last year for $75,000 and races the youngster with Hawke’s Bay owner Roy Potter. “Roy has raced horses for a few years and I’ve bought three promising horses for him,” Breslin said. “I’ve got Crouch, who has won three, and Revolt, who should have won a couple, and now this one.” Rider Masa Hashizume lost an iron and parted company with Revolt when in front 50m off the post at Otaki before the son of War Decree finished a game sixth in the Gr.2 Wellington Guineas (1400m). Meanwhile, Pleasing’s stablemate Papa Surf has been in good touch this preparation and another top showing is expected from him in the Brandlab Handicap (1200m). “He was a bit of a handful as a three-year-old and did a bit wrong, but he has really grown up and matured,” Breslin said. Papa Surf beat a handy line-up when opening his campaign at Tauranga and then finished fourth last time out after racing three wide without cover. “He won really well fresh-up, which wasn’t unexpected, and I thought he ran well again at Wanganui,” Breslin said. “He got caught a bit wide from a wide gate and he boxed on pretty well.” Papa Surf will be reunited with three-kilogram claimer Jim Chung after they successfully combined at Tauranga. “Jim is back on him and knows the horse, he’s been working a treat and from barrier one he should be right in the firing line,” Breslin said. View the full article

Dual Group One winner La Crique will be on trial for a trip across the Tasman when she heads to Arawa Park on Saturday to contest the Gr.3 Rotorua ITM Stakes (1400m). The daughter of Vadamos has been hampered by foot issues this season, which interrupted her spring preparation before she returned in summer to run fourth in the Gr.2 Westbury Classic (1400m) before winning the Gr.1 Otaki-Maori WFA Classic (1600m). She was on target to tackle the Gr.1 New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m) at Ellerslie in March, but her foot issues resurfaced while having a freshen-up in the paddock, and her trainers were forced to withdraw her from the feature mile. The Te Awamutu couple have subsequently worked tirelessly with their vet and farrier to overcome the issue, and they believe they are now on top of it and are hoping to target the later part of Queensland’s Winter Carnival with their mare. “We were tracking along nicely immediately after the Otaki run. We decided to put her out for a little bit of a freshen to give her a week out of the box. In hindsight, if we hadn’t had done that, we might have made it to the Breeders’. When we lose control and the feet get a bit wetter, and we did get a bit of rain around that time, that was the downfall,” Katrina Alexander told Trackside. “We worked very hard with the farrier and the vets and we appear to be on top of that at the moment. The foot is growing down really nicely now and we don’t have that wall space that we had before. At this point in time, we are all good.” La Crique pleased her trainers with her trial over 1150m at Te Awamutu last week and are excited to see what she can do fresh-up before she heads to Brisbane. “She had a nice trial here at Te Awamutu a week ago. She got back and came home nice and strong, which was nice to see her chase things down,” Alexander said. “All I really look at is her action and the way she goes about it – if she lowers and goes full stretch then that is all I can ask of her. I thought that was an attractive trial for where she was.” Arawa Park was rated a Soft7 on Friday morning and Alexander believes La Crique will handle those conditions. “I do believe she is going to handle a Soft track no problem,” she said. “In the past we have pulled her off Heavy tracks just because we have wanted to press on for the rest of the campaign. I think she will handle what is on offer.” Alexander is hoping La Crique can put in a solid performance on Saturday that warrants a trip to Australia to see out her preparation. “She has had a bit of a muddled prep but the runs we have gone for she has performed very well,” she said. “We know that when she is right, she has still got it. Because she hasn’t had a very taxing preparation to date, we can afford to go into this part of the season with her. “We are not really interested in the spring for her at this stage because it doesn’t really seem to suit. If we can stretch her out a little bit now, it makes the preparation a bit more worthwhile and get a line on how she can perform over there. “We did intend to be in Brisbane by now and perhaps miss this run, but it is just nice to give her a confidence run, for ourselves more than anything, and make sure she comes through a good, solid performance,” she said. “You would like to think she is right there amongst them at the finish to get on the plane to go anywhere.” Alexander said they will take it race-by-race with La Crique but has identified some nice Brisbane targets for the mare. “She is going to miss the ones that we had targeted,” she said. “The Hollindale (Gr.2, 1800m) was one of those and that is going to be run this weekend. “When she goes over, which will be two weeks after her Rotorua run, and then she races another two weeks after that in a fillies and mares mile. It is worth a bit of money but doesn’t carry any black-type. “It is just one race at a time for her, so we will pick the eyes out of it a little bit. We would always like to get her over more distance when we go to Australia, I don’t think she is best suited to distances against their sprinter-miler horses. We will just have to play that one by ear once we have got the first one under our belt.” The broodmare paddock is beckoning La Crique, with the mare rising six-years-old, but Alexander said a decision on her racing future won’t be made until she returns from Australia. “We are conscious of her age and the fact that she does have those two Group Ones under her belt and numerous other black-type placings,” she said. “She doesn’t really have much left to prove before being able to be a very successful broodmare, which I truly think she will be. “It is a discussion we have had very lightly with the Cassins (owner-breeders) as to how far we take her and they aren’t into pushing her unless she is right. At her age, she is probably getting ripe for the broodmare paddock. We will be guided by her after we get this part of the season completed.” View the full article

The Taranaki racing community is mourning the loss of one of its greatest servants, Ivan Murray Hobbs, who passed away earlier this week aged 93. Hobbs had a lifelong involvement in racing in the region, holding many roles at the Taranaki Racing Club, including committee member, vice chairman to Brian Mason, steward, honorary bar manager, assistant judge, and racing syndicate member. He was bestowed life membership to the club, reflecting his decades of service. Hobbs’ son Carey, who led The Taranaki Racing Club for several decades, said racing was his father’s biggest passion in life. “Racing was an enormous part of Dad’s life,” he said. “In earlier years he helped out many a trainer in Taranaki, the pinnacle for him was strapping and travelling leading two-year-old and three-year-old filly Summer Haze for Stratford trainer Dick Bothwell. “He owned quite a few horses with moderate success but loved attending racedays to meet and mingle with old friends. He loved the horse, a drink and a punt. In later years, Trackside was rarely off in their house.” Taranaki Racing chairman Vaughan Watson said Hobbs will be sorely missed amongst the local racing community. “Ivan was an esteemed life member of our club. This was bestowed on him after decades of service on the committee rising to vice chairman,” Watson said. “He was well known and respected by all who visited New Plymouth Raceway.” A private cremation will be held on Saturday morning followed by a celebration of Ivan’s life at the Rough Habit Lounge on Sunday afternoon, May 12, between 1pm and 3pm. View the full article

The program requires out-of-state Thoroughbred horses to reside at least six consecutive months (prior to turning 3 years old) at a Virginia farm to receive a certification as a Virginia-certified thoroughbred horse.View the full article

What The Coast Raceday Where Newcastle Racecourse – 100 Darling St, Broadmeadow NSW 2292 When Saturday, May 11, 2024 First Race 11:15am AEST Visit Dabble After being transferred from Gosford due to the state of the track, metropolitan racing heads to Newcastle on Saturday with a bumper 10-race program set for decision. Three feature races headline the card, including the annual running of The Coast (1600m). Meanwhile, the Listed Gosford Gold Cup (2100m) and Takeover Target (1200m) bring plenty of quality to the undercard. The rail is in the true position for the entire circuit, but with rain set to continue in the lead-up, the surface — now listed as a Soft 7 — may prove the major factor in determining winners. The opening event is scheduled to get underway at 11:15am local time. The Coast tip: Grebeni The Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou-trained Grebeni gets the nod in this mouth-watering edition of The Coast. He was sensational on return at Rosehill on April 27, making strong inroads from the rear of the field despite a lack of race-day fitness. He should strip fitter for that effort, and although he is an unknown in Heavy conditions, watch for Grebeni to be storming over the top regardless of the 59.5kg on his back. The Coast Race 8 – #1 Grebeni (10) 4yo Gelding | T: Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou | J: Sam Clipperton (59.5kg) +900 with PlayUp Gosford Gold Cup tip: Goldman It was hard not to be impressed with the return of Goldman in the Group 3 JRA Plate (2000m) at Randwick on April 20. The son of Verdi sat wide without cover throughout the journey but showed plenty of tenacity to cling onto a runner-up placing, all while fending off some key rivals in this field. Regan Bayliss has the option to lead or take a sit behind the leader from stall one, and provided Goldman improves on that first-up performance, he will prove hard to hold out in the Gosford Gold Cup. Gosford Gold Cup Race 6 – #4 Goldman (1) 5yo Gelding | T: Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | J: Regan Bayliss (57kg) +250 with Picklebet Takeover Target Stakes tip: Stefi Magnetica Stefi Magnetica returns after a 69-day spell that followed a terrific performance in the Group 1 Surround Stakes (1400m) at Randwick on March 2. The All Too Hard filly kept coming at Tropical Squall but couldn’t quite manage to get over the top as the seven furlongs proved too testing for the lightly raced three-year-old. She’s a sprinter on the rise, and although she’ll be getting back in the ruck from barrier 13, Stefi Magnetica can finish best in the Takeover Target Stakes. Takeover Target Stakes Race 7 – #10 Stefi Magnetica (13) 3yo Filly | T: Bjorn Baker | J: Dylan Gibbons (53.5kg) +500 with Dabble Best Bet at Newcastle: Scarlet Oak Scarlet Oak got a pass mark on her Australian debut and should be ready to peak second-up. The New Zealand import held ground behind stablemate Konasana in the Group 3 James Carr Stakes (1400m) on April 20 and never shirked the task despite the testing Heavy track conditions. Zac Lloyd gets the opportunity to slot into the one-one from barrier three, and as Scarlet Oak drops back into BM72 company, she should prove too classy for this lot. Best Bet Race 5 – #9 Scarlet Oak (3) 3yo Filly | T: Chris Waller | J: Zac Lloyd (56.5kg) +360 with Bet365 Next Best at Newcastle: Passeggiata Passeggiata returns after 301 days off the scene and looks prepared to strike first-up. The daughter of Winning Rupert demolished her rivals by 10.32 lengths in a recent jump-out at Rosehill on April 23 to suggest she’s back to her electrifying best. Rachel King will attempt to make every post a winner, and if Passeggiata can bring that trial form to race-day, they won’t be able to chase her down. Next Best Race 9 – #5 Passeggiata (6) 4yo Mare | T: Bjorn Baker | J: Rachel King (56.5kg) +220 with Neds Newcastle quaddie for The Coast Raceday – 11/5/2024 Newcastle quadrella selections Saturday, May 11, 2024 3-6-7-10-14-16 1-2-3-9 5-11 3-5-6-8-12-13 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip Horse racing tips View the full article

D. Wayne Lukas, inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1999, has given the mount aboard Just Steel in the May 18 Preakness Stakes (G1) to the latest jockey elected into the Hall of Fame: Joel Rosario, whose induction ceremony is this summer.View the full article

The commercial stallion market loves 2-year-old success, and while it's very early, freshman stallion Caracaro has given co-owners Global Thoroughbreds and Crestwood Farm a reason to get excited.View the full article

Speaking during a National Thoroughbred Racing Association teleconference May 9, NTRA president and CEO Tom Rooney noted Maryland Gov. Wes Moore's signing of a bill into law Thursday that will remake Maryland racing around Pimlico Race Course.View the full article

The Virginia-Certified Residency Program generated an estimated economic impact of $86.2 million between 2017 and 2023, according to a study commissioned by the Virginia Equine Alliance. The program requires horses to reside at least six consecutive months at a Virginia farm during his or her first two years to receive a certification as Virginia-certified and to qualify to receive bonuses in eligible races. “This is a significant total, especially taking into consideration that the program is still relatively new,” said Debbie Easter, president of the Virginia Equine Alliance. “The program didn't begin until 2017, yet already is demonstrating its value.” More than 5,000 horses have participated to date. Six Virginia-restricted stakes with combined purse money of $750,000 will be offered during the summer meet at Colonial Downs, with another 40 Virginia-restricted overnight races also offered in the track's first Condition Book. Other highlights of the study include: The direct spending of the program was estimated at $54.5 million from 2017 to 2023. The program produced an estimated $1.8 million in tax revenue for the state government. The cumulative economic impact is 5.9 times larger than the total incentive payout. The post Virginia Program Generated $86.2M Since 2017 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

In this continuing series, we take a look ahead at US-bred and/or conceived runners entered for the upcoming weekend at the tracks on the Japan Racing Association circuit, with a focus on pedigree and/or performance in the sales ring. Here are the horses of interest for this weekend running at Kyoto and Tokyo Racecourses: Saturday, May 11, 2024 3rd-KYO, ¥10,480,000 ($67k), Maiden, 3yo, 1900m CRITICAL HIT (c, 3, American Pharoah–Mythical Mission, by Giant's Causeway) was a creditable fifth on his Hanshin debut over 1800 meters Mar. 30 and returned on two weeks' rest to finish a solid runner-up over that same course and distance. The colt's stakes-winning dam is an Ontario-bred full-sister to multiple Sovereign Award winner Irish Mission and a half to GSW French Beret (Broad Brush) and to the dam of Grade III winner Mission of Joy (Kitten's Joy). Shimokobe Farm acquired Mythical Mission for $575,000 with this colt in utero from the Sam-Son Dispersal at Keeneland January in 2021. B-Shimokobe Farm (KY) Sunday, May 12, 2024 7th-TOK, ¥14,880,000 ($96k), Allowance, 3yo, 1400m ROLY GLORY (f, 3, Justify–Roly Poly, by War Front), a sound second debuting going six furlongs at Nakayama Jan. 20, graduated narrowly when last seen in a 1400-meter dirt maiden at Tokyo Feb. 18 (see below, SC 9). The bay filly is the first produce for her dam, winner of the G1 Sun Chariot S., G1 Falmouth S. and G1 Prix Rothschild and runner-up in the 2017 G1 Irish 1000 Guineas. Roly Poly's dam Misty For Me (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) saluted in the last-named event back in 2011, and her other winners include multiple champion and MG1SW U S Navy Flag (War Front) and Cover Song (Fastnet Rock {Aus}), a $2.3-million buyback at Keeneland November last fall. This is also the family of G1SW Ballydoyle (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Justify's Group 3 winner Red Riding Hood (Ire). Roly Glory is owned by Insel Racing, who also campaign Awesome Result (Justify), winner of the Listed Empress Hai earlier this week. B-Orpendale/Chelston/Wynatt (KY) The post Triple Crown-Winning Sires Well Represented In Japan appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

California-based GI Kentucky Derby runners Stronghold (Ghostzapper) and Endlessly (Oscar Performance) have returned to Santa Anita after their respective seventh- and ninth-place finishes at Churchill Downs, according to Santa Anita's track notes Thursday. Each was back in his own stall Tuesday. Stronghold jogged Thursday in his first time back to the track. “He came out of the race in good shape,” trainer Phil D'Amato said Thursday morning of the Eric and Sharon Waller homebred. D'Amato continued: “I thought he got a good stalking trip behind the speed. He made a nice little move at the top of the lane and then kind of faded the final eighth.” D'Amato said Stronghold will probably be pointed to some of the 3-year-old races over the summer, with the team taking a close look at some of the derbies held in the Midwest. “We're going to recharge the batteries and aim for some big stakes down the road,” he said. “We'll focus on mile and mile-and-eighth races this year.” Amerman Racing's Endlessly tried dirt for the first time in the Derby. “I thought he ran very well all things considered,” said trainer Michael McCarthy Thursday. “First time dirt, first time getting kickback. He was a little farther back than I would have liked, but he put in a mild run around the first turn and finished up nicely.” McCarthy indicated Endlessly will return to turf. “We're going to go ahead and get him back to his routine and look for something in July.” In other news from Santa Anita Thursday, last summer's GI Pacific Classic S. winner and 'TDN Rising Star' Arabian Knight (Uncle Mo) worked five furlongs in 1:01 for Bob Baffert as he continued to prepare for his 4-year-old campaign. It was his fifth work since Apr. 11. Also working for Baffert was MGSW and 'TDN Rising Star' Kinza (Carpe Diem), on the work tab for the first time since finishing second–her first career loss–in the Apr. 6 GII Santa Anita Oaks. She covered her four furlongs in :48.40. The post Stronghold and Endlessly Regroup at Santa Anita after Kentucky Derby appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

She’s Extreme has caused a massive upset in the Group 1 Champagne Stakes. Photo: Steve Hart Coolmore has successfully acquired the daughter of She’s Extreme at the Inglis Chairman’s Sale for $3.4 million, marking a notable addition to their roster. The young filly stole the show at the auction, nearly outshining last year’s top-selling horse, Nimalee, who fetched $3.6 million. Tom Moore from Coolmore expressed his enthusiasm for this purchase, drawing attention to the track record of success with high-value mares acquired at sales events. He pointed out the achievements of mares like Samaready, mother of Golden Slipper winner Shinzo and Booker, whose offspring have already amassed over $5.5 million in earnings. Moore emphasised the importance of bringing in top tier mares to complement Coolmore’s up and coming stallions. Despite a retirement due to injury, She’s Extreme made a lasting impact on the racing world with victories in races like the Champagne Stakes and VRC Oaks. Her impressive resume also includes a win in the Group 3 Magic Night Stakes and three top finishes in Group 1 races. Robert Crabtree, part of She’s Extremes breeding team and ownership group, expressed his joy over Coolmore’s acquisition of this mare. He admitted that the choice wasn’t about money but about the mare’s outstanding qualities. Crabtree thanked Coolmore for their faith and backing, remembering their purchase of Mizzy for $2.2 million. Horse racing news View the full article