Wandering Eyes

It was back in 2006 and Brian Hernandez, Jr. was mired in 12th place in the jockey standings at Churchill Downs with 14 wins. It wasn't that he had been a failure. He won an Eclipse Award in 2004 as the nation's top apprentice, winning 243 races that year. And before moving to the Kentucky circuit in 2006, he was among the top riders at Evangeline Downs and Delta Downs in his native Louisiana. It's just that Hernandez had larger goals and he was starting to worry they would never come to fruition. “There was one point right after I lost the bug around 2006 that I got pretty discouraged. I was planning on packing it in and returning to Louisiana,” he said Sunday, a day after his winning ride aboard Mystik Dan (Goldencents) in the GI Kentucky Derby and two days after he captured the GI Kentucky Oaks with Thorpedo Anna (Fast Anna). But something made him stay, and it was the best decision of his career. Hernandez is anything but an overnight sensation. But he never quit, never stopped working and never lost the desire to be one of the leading riders in the sport. It took some time, but it looks like he has made it. Ordinary riders don't win the GI Kentucky Oaks and the GI Kentucky Derby on back-to-back days, with each win coming as the result of a perfect ride. “I'm hoping that we opened up some eyes,” the 38-year-old Hernandez said. He was born in Louisiana, where his father, Brian Hernandez, Sr., was riding on the Delta Downs-Evangeline Downs circuit. It didn't take the younger Hernandez long to figure out what he wanted to do. “We grew up around Evangeline and Delta Downs where my dad was a jockey,” Hernandez said. “My little brother, Colby, and I grew up watching him race and we both wanted to be jockeys. There's a photo floating around of me when I was about six years old wearing my dad's jockey pants and my saying that some day I was going to win the Kentucky Derby.” Like his father, he started off at Evangeline and Delta and in 2004 won 243 races and was named champion apprentice. After winning 100 races in 2005 without his apprentice allowance, he decided to move on to Kentucky in 2006, which would prove to be one of the worst years of his career. He won only 65 races. “I was a young kid and my business kind of tailed off,” he said. “It was one of those things. We fell out of the pecking order. We had to put our nose to the grindstone and work it out. Here in Kentucky, trainers want too see if you're going to stick things out and make things work. More than anything, it took putting in the time and the effort and having the kind of work ethic that says, 'Hey, we're just as capable of winning on your horse as any jock.'” His fortunes would improve and in 2012 he won the GI Breeders' Cup Classic with Fort Larned (E Dubai). But that changed little. He remained a middle-of-the-pack jockey in Kentucky. “The thing about my career is I've been fortunate to ride for many of the same guys for a long, long time,” he said. “That's the thing about when you ride for outfits. Guys go through cycles. There will be some years when they have really good horses and some years they don't. You have to stay loyal to the guys you ride for and you have to hope those guys stay loyal to you, which they have for the last 10 to 12 years.” In 2016, he won 156 races, the most since his apprentice year. That caught the attention of trainer Kenny McPeek, who started riding Hernandez in 2017 and would soon become his go-to rider. It was exactly the break Hernandez needed. Hernandez has won 232 races for McPeek, including 25 graded stakes. The list includes winning rides in the GI Ashland S., the GI Breeders' Futurity and the GI Alcibiades S. “He knows what to do out there,” McPeek said. “I always had a world of confidence in him. Rarely second guess anything he does.” As the year began, McPeek had a pretty good idea that he had some special horses in his barn. Mystik Dan won only one of three starts in 2023, but the win came in a rapidly run maiden race at Churchill Downs in which he turned some heads with a 7 3/4-length victory. He was fifth in his 3-year-old debut in the Smarty Jones, but followed that up with an eight-length romp in the GIII Southwest S. He then finished a well-beaten third in the GI Arkansas Derby. He wasn't winning every race, but on his best days, it appeared that he had the talent to beat the very best. Of course, getting a perfect ride doesn't hurt. Mystik Dan broke from the three hole and Hernandez instantly steered him to the rail out of the gate. He stayed glued to the rail while tracking front-runner Track Phantom (Quality Road). A narrow hole opened up as the field turned into the stretch and Hernandez and Mystik Dan squeezed their way through. After having saved ground every inch of the way, Mystik Dan had just enough left to hold off fierce late runs from Sierra Leone (Gun Runner) and the Japanese runner Forever Young (Jpn) (Real Steel {Jpn}). “Brian Hernandez gave him the ride,” McPeek said. “Look, he doesn't win the race without the job Brian did.” “It means a lot more winning it the way we did because that was the trip we envisioned,” Hernandez said. “I talked to Kenny about it. After we drew the three hole, that was kind of the trip I had envisioned. That's the beauty of riding for Kenny. He doesn't give me any instructions. He entrusts me to go out there and give the horse the best trip we can. When we drew the three hole I watched a lot of replays and picked out a horse we could follow that would get us to the second turn. When we crossed under the first time Track Phantom was on the lead and I was thinking 'Oh, man this is working out better than I dreamed.' It was a magical moment.” It was more of the same in the Kentucky Oaks. Hernandez guided Thorpedo Anna to the lead right from the start, never left the rail and never allowed another horse to get past him. Thorpedo Anna won, drawing away, by 4 3/4 lengths. With top jockeys like Tyler Gaffalione, Luis Saez, Florent Geroux and Jose Ortiz all calling the Kentucky circuit home, the competition at the Churchill meet will be fierce. But Brian Hernandez, Jr., who says he may ride in Saratoga this year, won't have to take a back seat to anyone. Not after the weekend he had. Why No Inquiry Did Sierra Leone cost Forever Young the win in the Derby? Maybe. In the stretch, Sierra Leone continued to bear in and was leaning all over Forever Young and bumped him at least six times. Had the two horses been separated by a couple of lengths at the wire, it would have been no big deal. But Forever Young, who was third, lost by two noses in one of the closest Derby finishes in history, and you can make a case that he might have won had Sierra Leone not laid all over him. Japanese rider Ryusei Sakai didn't claim foul, but that doesn't mean that the stewards couldn't have posted an inquiry and taken a look at the roughly run stretch. Taking down Sierra Leone was hardly a no-brainer, but at the very least the stewards should have taken a closer look at the stretch run. The post The Week in Review: Persistence Pays Off for Derby-Winning Jockey Hernandez appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

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Asked to sum up his victory with Mystik Dan (Goldencents) in Saturday's GI Kentucky Derby, trainer Ken McPeek succinctly said, “Wow,” Sunday morning on the Churchill Downs backside. An 18-1 outsider, Mystik Dan just held on to a nose victory after a rail-skimming trip under Brian Hernandez, Jr. “Brian Hernandez gave him the ride,” a joyous but sleep-deprived McPeek said. “Look, he doesn't win the race without the job Brian did.” For his part, Hernandez was appreciative of McPeek's faith in him. “I was fortunate to ride for Kenny,” said Hernandez. “He and the owners entrusted me to have the daring trip that we had. And we were fortunate to have a horse that trusted us, and he went through a couple of tight spots, and never thought twice about doing it. It was like, 'No problem,' and did it. It's a big team effort, more than anything.” Of his trip in the Derby, Hernandez said, “It got pretty tight. Going around the second turn, I was watching those horses to the outside, and the thing about a race like that, everyone starts to make their moves. They can just stack and stack and stack, but we were just sitting there waiting. And the minute that Joel [Rosario, riding 41-1 Track Phantom] made a half a step to go meet those horses, we're shooting through. When we did that, [Joel] tried to come back down, but by then, Mystik Dan was already through there.” With the wire fast approaching, Mystik Dan was all out to hold off the late-closing Sierra Leone (Gun Runner) and Forever Young (Jpn) (Real Steel {Jpn}) in a dramatic three-way photo finish. “We kind of busted through there right before we straightened up and headed for home,” Hernandez said. “And Mystik Dan switched leads, and spurted off, it was like, hurry up and get to the wire as fast as we can. It was just rolling. When we got to the eighth pole, I was thinking, 'Wow, we're about to win the Kentucky Derby. And then, right at the wire, it was like, maybe we got beat. He never stopped running. It was the first time they were going a mile-and-a-quarter, those horses were getting to him late, but he was there for us.” The Derby win completed a big 24 hours for McPeek and Hernandez, who teamed to win the GI Kentucky Oaks with Thorpedo Anna (Fast Anna) Friday. “For three weeks, I've felt that we had a shot at winning both races,” McPeek said. “Both horses have been doing fantastic. There was never any little issue, anywhere or anytime, with either horse. It was always all systems go.” Two members of the partnership that owns Mystik Dan were at the McPeek barn Sunday, checking out the horse, talking to the news media, and accepting the presentation of WWE championship title belts that the fight organization is presenting to winners at various sporting events this year. When asked how many trips to the Kentucky Derby they've made, both Lance Gasaway and Sherilyn Gasaway, wife of Lance's cousin Brent, made a startling admission. “Just one,” the two said in unison. McPeek is taking a wait-and-see approach to an engagement in the second leg of the Triple Crown in the May 18 GI Preakness S. “We're not committing,” the trainer said. “When I ran him back in two weeks [at Churchill Downs last November], it completely backfired. And we skipped the Rebel because it was too short as well. So we'll watch him over the next week, and probably decide then. It will be a last-minute decision. We'll let him tell us.” The newly minted Derby winner will ship to McPeek's Saratoga base and, should he skip the Preakness, will prepare there for the June 8 GI Belmont S. Thorpedo Anna will likely make her next start in the June 7 GI Acorn S. Of speculation the filly could take on the boys in the Belmont, McPeek said, “I couldn't have Brian riding both horses.” Also heading to Saratoga is Derby runner-up Sierra Leone. “He's good, but he's not going to the Preakness,” trainer Chad Brown said of Sierra Leone. “I'm going to take him to Saratoga tomorrow and he's going to train there for the Belmont. He's a little tired. He's a real laid back horse, but when we brought him he out, was a little more tired than he normally is after his races. I think giving him the five weeks to the Belmont is definitely the right thing to do.” Sierra Leone rallied from 18th early on, made a wide, sweeping move off the far turn, traded bumps with third-place finisher Forever Young in the lane and still only came up inches short. Brown said Sierra Leone does have a tendency to lean in and that jockey Tyler Gaffalione was trying to keep the colt straight in tight quarters with Forever Young without accidentally striking that rival with his stick. “There was so much bumping going on there,” Brown said. “When horses are fatigued, they have a tendency to lean in a bit like he did with his last two wins and it's going to be more exaggerated when they're more tired. He had so much to do and by the time he got to the eighth pole, he was leaning in a bit. “What Tyler was attempting to do is make room for his left stick, which the horse really respects, and keep him straight. And he was looking for sort of a pathway to use his left stick. But with the bumping, the tight duel between those two horses, it disarmed him with the stick. All he had was a rein to pull on and it really hurt his momentum. He couldn't use it because he had no room to use his left stick without hitting his horse. He didn't want to do that either. So he was trying create a path not only to straighten out my horse who really respects that, he was trying not to foul the other horse with the stick.” Brown concluded, “I'm very proud of the horse. I'm disappointed with the result, but I'm so proud of the horse. In my mind, he ran the best race. That's no disrespect to the winner. It's just, it's a hard race to win, everything has to go right. With the winner, the horse showed up and was prepared right and he ran terrific. You have to have a trip where everything goes right. “It's not [Mystik Dan's] fault the doors opened for him, I wish that would have happened for me. But I don't think lesser of the winner's performance. It's just an example of two trips. But that's what has to happen here. For us, I don't think we had a bad trip. But our horse was very far back on a track that favors speed and he had to go around a lot of horses and he had a ton of ground to make up. To almost get there despite all that, I really feel he ran the best race. We'll see going forward the rest of the year where he stacks up with the entire body of work.” Susumu Fujita's Forever Young was scheduled to return to Japan Tuesday starting with a van trip to Chicago and then a flight to Narita. Fujita left Louisville after the race Saturday night, but told Hiroshi Ando, racing manager for trainer Yoshito Yahagi, that he “enjoyed the massive atmosphere and was proud of his horse's performance.” Despite the bumping down the lane between Sierra Leone and Forever Young, no claim of foul was made by jockey Ryusei Sakai. “Claims of foul do not happen much in Japan,” Ando explained. “It is the stewards' call, not us.” Kentucky Derby favorite Fierceness (City of Light) came out of his disappointing 15th-place effort none-the-worse for wear, according to trainer Todd Pletcher. “The colt seems fine this morning,” trainer Todd Pletcher said. “He cooled out fine and scoped clean and he's doing OK. I haven't had a chance to discuss what's next with [owner] Mike [Repole], but I think we will take a couple of weeks and let the dust settle before we make any decision. I believe he'll ship up to Saratoga in the next week.” The post Wowed by Derby Win, McPeek Won’t Commit to Preakness with Mystik Dan appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Jantar Mantar, Japan's top 2-year-old colt of 2023, defeated Ascoli Piceno, the top 2-year-old filly of 2023, in the May 5 NHK Mile Cup with the aid of a cutback in distance and some racing luck.View the full article

Jantar Mantar (Jpn) (Palace Malice), who was crowned Japan's champion two-year-old colt in 2023, resumed winning ways with a decisive defeat of the unlucky-in-running Ascoli Piceno (Jpn) (Daiwa Major {Jpn}) in Saturday's G1 NHK Mile Cup at Tokyo Racecourse, his fourth win from six career starts. Unbeaten in three starts at two, culminating with a first top-level win in the Asahi Hai Futurity S. at Hanshin, Jantar Mantar had been forced to settle for minor honours on his first two starts as a three-year-old, including when finishing a close-up third behind Justin Milano (Jpn) (Kizuna {Jpn}) and Cosmo Kuranda (Jpn) (Al Ain {Jpn}) in the G1 Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2,000 Guineas) at Nakayama three weeks earlier. That performance–where Jantar Mantar led for much of the straight before being overhauled close home–suggested he would be suited by the drop back to 1,600 metres at Tokyo against Ascoli Piceno (Jpn) (Daiwa Major {Jpn}), Japan's champion two-year-old filly in 2023 and runner-up in the G1 Oka Sho (Japanese 1,000 Guineas) on her previous start. Jantar Mantar broke sharply from a wide stall and was settled in around fifth, never far away from his chief market rival. Both horses moved up to take closer order on the home turn before enduring contrasting fortunes in the straight. Briefly held in by the strong-travelling Jantar Mantar, Ascoli Piceno was switched towards the inside by Christophe Lemaire, but space continued to be at a premium and she stumbled after clipping heels with less than two furlongs to run. She finished strongly once finally seeing some daylight, snatching second from Logi Leon (Jpn) (Leontes {Jpn}) in the final strides, but the damage had already been done and she couldn't get on terms with Jantar Mantar, who was still two and a half lengths clear at the line. It was a seventh Group 1 win for trainer Tomokazu Takano and a twenty-seventh for jockey Yuga Kawada, who was celebrating his second victory in the NHK Mile Cup after that of Danon Scorpion (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) in 2022. “I had every confidence in my colt,” said Kawada. “Once we were off, I knew he was going to win, there were no doubts in my mind. He ran in good rhythm and showed his true strength. Concerns of his tight schedule–his latest Satsuki Sho start being only three weeks before–obviously was nothing to be worried about. I hope I can prove he is the best miler in Japan in the future.” KAWADA LEMAIRE Yuga Kawada on JANTAR MANTAR closes the door on Christophe Lemaire on ASCOLI PICENO, paving the way for the colt to beat the filly in the G1 NHK Mile Cup! #川田将雅 | #ジャンタルマンタル | #アスコリピチェーノ | #ルメール | #競馬pic.twitter.com/lNUs5ZlTEe — World Horse Racing (@WHR) May 5, 2024 Pedigree Notes Jantar Mantar is one of two top-level winners for his sire, Palace Malice, whose first-crop son Structor won the 2019 GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf and was sold to Japanese interests in 2022 for his stallion career. India Mantuana, the dam of Jantar Mantar, produced the best effort of her career when winning the GIII Red Carpet H. at Del Mar in 2018. She was led out unsold on a bid of $145,000 at the 2019 Fasig-Tipton November Sale, before being purchased by Shadai for $100,000, pregnant to Accelerate, at Keeneland January in 2020. She unfortunately aborted that foal and was bred to this sire prior to her export to Japan, where she slipped her Kizuna (Jpn) foal in 2022. She has a yearling filly by Pyro and was covered in 2023 by Isla Bonita (Jpn). Sunday, Tokyo, Japan NHK MILE CUP-G1, ¥253,520,000, Tokyo, 5-5, 3yo, 1600mT, 1:32.40, fm. 1–JANTAR MANTAR (JPN), 126, c, 3, by Palace Malice 1st Dam: India Mantuana (GSW-US, $223,100), by Wilburn 2nd Dam: Speed Wagon, by Tomorrows Cat 3rd Dam: Rajica, by El Baba O-Shadai Race Horse; B-Shadai Farm (Jpn); T-Tomokazu Takano; J-Yuga Kawada; ¥133,864,000. Lifetime Record: Ch. 2yo Colt-Jpn, 6-4-1-1, ¥320,528,000. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. 2–Ascoli Piceno (Jpn), 121, f, 3, by Daiwa Major (Jpn)–Ascolti (Jpn), by Danehill Dancer (Ire). O-Sunday Racing; B-Northern Farm (Jpn); ¥53,104,000. 3–Logi Leon (Jpn), 126, c, 3, by Leontes (Jpn)–B B Barrel (Jpn), by Pyro. 1ST GROUP 1 BLACK TYPE. (¥37,000,000 Ylg '22 JRHAJUL). O-Masaaki Kumeta; B-Bando Farm; ¥33,552,000. Margins: 2HF, NK, NK. Odds: 1.90, 1.90, 27.50. Also Ran: Gonbade Qabus (Jpn), Ipheion (Jpn), Channel Tunnel (Jpn), Di Speranza (Jpn), Water Licht (Jpn), Arsenaal (Jpn), Enya Love Faith (Jpn), Yukino Royal (Jpn), Noble Roger, Danon McKinley (Jpn), Arranger (Jpn), Mask All Win (Jpn), Strauss (Jpn), Bond Girl (Jpn), Captaincy (Jpn). Click for the JRA chart & video. The post Jantar Mantar On Top As Champion Juveniles Lock Horns In NHK Mile Cup appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Unbeaten colt Vandeek (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}) continues to progress in his preparation for the G2 Sandy Lane S. at Haydock on May 25. The Simon and Ed Crisford-trained colt's long-term goal is Royal Ascot's G1 Commonwealth Cup S. next month. A winner of all four of his starts including the early August G2 Richmond S., G1 Prix Morny later that month, and the G1 Middle Park S. in September, the colt is pleasing his connections. “He's coming along nicely now, so we're hoping we'll be all systems go at the end of May,” said co-trainer Ed Crisford. “I'm really happy with him and he has done extremely well. He's a bigger, stronger horse this year and has really filled his frame. “He just showed us so much speed and the whole pedigree says he was a sprinter. Last year he was learning still and he didn't quite know what was going on. It took until the Middle Park to see that real electric turn of foot. Plus he ran on bad ground all the time. “When we saw him in the Middle Park he showed us that raw speed and we'll definitely stick to sprinting for now. The Commonwealth Cup is the main target and Haydock will be the prep run and on from there.” The post Vandeek Primed For Sandy Lane appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Jockey Brian Hernandez Jr. and the other connections of Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Mystik Dan greeted the media May 5 at Churchill Downs, a day after the colt's memorable nose victory there. View the full article

Trainer Kenny McPeek is undecided on whether Mystik Dan will run in the May 18 Preakness Stakes (G1). If he runs, he could possibly be the lone Derby starter in the gate.View the full article

Sunday's five-furlong Tattersalls £40,000 EBF Fillies' Novice S. at Newmarket looked by far the most intriguing 2-year-old race staged in this country so far in 2024 and the outcome did not disappoint as Godolphin's Charlie Appleby-trained Mountain Breeze (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}–Lava Flow {Ire}, by Dalakhani {Ire}) justified 7-4 favouritism to earn TDN Rising Star status. A half-sister to her stable's juvenile champion Pinatubo (Ire) (Shamardal), the chestnut who had only turned two at the start of the month broke smartly and had an ideal target ahead in the Karl Burke-trained River Seine (Ire) (Soldier's Call {GB}). Subduing that daughter of the celebrity Indian Ink (Ire) (Indian Ridge {Ire}) at the furlong pole, she drew away with relish up the rising ground to score impressively by 2 3/4 lengths. There was a head back to the Hannon runner Miss Collada (GB) (Mehmas {Ire}) in a race that will need close monitoring as Royal Ascot nears. “She is a very straightforward and professional filly and pulled away from them, which is nice to see,” William Buick said. “I think she wants six now, so that's where her immediate future lies and I'd expect her to get further too.” Appleby added, “We were pretty confident coming here and hoping that she'd do what she did. We'll hopefully get another run into her before Ascot and look at the [six-furlong G3] Albany.” She is smart! Mountain Breeze looks all over a Pattern-class juvenile as she powers away from her rivals in the final half-furlong to make a winning debut for the Charlie Appleby team. A Queen Mary filly?@godolphin | @NewmarketRace pic.twitter.com/2PP63zgKAB — Racing TV (@RacingTV) May 5, 2024 The post Lope De Vega Half To Pinatubo A New TDN Rising Star appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Like Saturday's 2000 Guineas winner Notable Speech (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) introduced on the all-weather during the winter, Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum's blueblood Elmalka (GB) (Kingman {GB}) arrived late on the scene to emerge triumphant in the G1 QIPCO 1000 Guineas and cause a second surprise in Newmarket's weekend mile Classics. Coming off her debut success at Southwell in late November to finish a staying-on third in the seven-furlong G3 Fred Darling S. at Newbury last month, the Roger Varian-trained daughter of the G1 Prix de l'Opera and GI Flower Bowl Invitational heroine Nahrain (GB) (Selkirk) and half-sister to Benbatl (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) was last and detached early and looked to be struggling at times. Cajoled along by Silvestre De Sousa, the 28-1 shot found some momentum on the wing to reel in the likely winner Ramatuelle (Justify) in the last strides and prevail by a neck from Porta Fortuna (Ire) (Caravaggio), who denied the French raider the silver medal in the shade of the post by a short head. The result represented a notable double on the card for Kingman, with his potentially top-class Friendly Soul (GB) having captured the Listed Pretty Polly S. 1000 Guineas Stakes (G1) 1.610 m – 523.750 GBP – for 3yo mares Newmarket Elmalka (GB) (Kingman- Nahrain , by Selkirk) J : @SilvDSousa T : Roger Varian O :Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum B : @godolphin pic.twitter.com/T1fF7obqOY — (@WorldRacing1) May 5, 2024 The post Elmalka Caps Big Day For Kingman In The 1000 Guineas appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

We already knew we were dealing with an Oaks filly in Juddmonte's Kalpana (GB) (Study Of Man {Ire}) prior to Sunday's Listed William Hill Pretty Polly S. at Newmarket, but now we have another after George Strawbridge's Friendly Soul (GB) (Kingman {GB}–In Clover {GB}), by Inchinor {GB}) took her measure in an epic renewal of the 10-furlong Classic trial. To the fore soon after the start under Kieran Shoemark, the 10-1 shot who scored on debut at Kempton in December had everything on the stretch bar that 4-6 favourite heading to the final two furlongs and they went on to make it a match to the line. Despite the effort of the eventual runner-up, it was Friendly Soul who had more to give to provide the Gosdens with another major Oaks contender. At the line, there was 1 1/4 lengths between the homebred half-sister to the group 1 winners With You (GB) (Dansili {GB}), Call The Wind (GB) (Frankel {GB}) and We Are (Ire) (Dansili {GB}) and Kalpana, who in turn had a huge 12-length margin to spare over the third Kitteridge (GB) (Camelot {GB}). “She's a big, scopey filly and very fresh, but she couldn't have impressed me any more,” Shoemark said. “She has a big stride and I let her use herself and she quickened up nicely. She was getting lonely in front and so it helped me when Oisin [Murphy] came to me and she was well on top at the line. She's really one to look forward to and is obviously going to improve off that fitness-wise. She's by Kingman and while I'm sure a mile and a half won't be an issue in time, possibly the Diane might be for her.” Thady Gosden added, “She's got plenty of speed and that was a hot race. There is the French Oaks as well as the Oaks, so we'll have to see.” These two pull a LONG way clear… FRIENDLY SOUL denies the odds-on favourite on just her second start for Kieran Shoemark and John & Thady Gosden in the William Hill Pretty Polly Stakes pic.twitter.com/OFu3RmuO3N — Newmarket Racecourse (@NewmarketRace) May 5, 2024 The post Kingman’s Friendly Soul Wins The Pretty Polly appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

New Zealand bred horses dominated at Kranji on Saturday winning eight races on the ten race card with Cavalry (NZ) (Tavistock) winning the feature S$85,000 Class 2 (1600m) race as he aims for the $1 million Kranji Mile on 18 May. Bred by Marie Leicester, Cavalry was purchased by Tony Pike for $250,000 out of Haunui Farm’s draft at Karaka, a half-brother to 14-time Group One winner Melody Belle, he was a dual stakeswinner under the name Tutukaka for Tony Pike and changed hands in a deal brokered by bloodstock agent Bevan Smith. In a strong run race Cavalry sat midfield with cover before having a last crack and eventually winning by a neck over a game Raising Sixty-One (NZ) (Belardo). Cavalry’s second win from five starts in Singapore took his prizemoney to over S$160,000 for the King Power Stable. Trainer Steven Burridge confirmed that the Kranji Mile would be Cavalry’s next outing. “That was the plan and he goes straight to the (Kranji) Mile,” he continued. “We will take it quietly. He’s fitter now and will need to be against the champ (Lim’s Kosciuszko). “Ruan has been booked and he (Cavalry) looks like he pulled up good, so fingers crossed he will be there fit and well in two weeks time. Maia, who rode a double on the card, thought Cavalry still has plenty of improvement left in him. “This horse (Cavalry) hasn’t raced much lately, so to win today was very good,” said the Brazilian hoop. “Steven did such a good job to have him in such good condition for this race and he (Cavalry) can only improve. “He ran second in the (Singapore) Derby (1800m) last year so he will be better over more ground with more races under his belt. “He has a big action, so we got a beautiful run following the pace today and he was strong in the last 50m. “I’m on him (Cavalry) in the Kranji Mile and I hope I can get a similar run like today.” Other New Zealand bred winners were Golden Way (NZ) (Swiss Ace), Free And Happy (NZ) (The Bold One), The Wild Prince (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle), Very Surprise (NZ) (Star Witness), Jin Sakamoto (NZ) (Shamexpress), Engine Start (NZ) (Highly Recommended) & Paletas (NZ) (Iffraaj). View the full article

Inglewood Stud’s young stallion War Decree will stand at a slightly increased fee of $7,000 +GST in 2024, up from $5,500 in 2023. The announcement comes off the back of a strong season for the son of War Front. With his oldest just four-year-olds, he produced five stakes performers led by the exciting 3YO Warmonger, a stakes winner at Flemington on Melbourne Cup Day and a fast finishing second in last weekend’s G1 South Australian Derby. “It was a magnificent run in the Derby by Warmonger,” said Inglewood Stud’s Gus Wigley. “From a wide draw he ended up back and four wide most of the trip and went round them on the bend to run down all but the winner. He’s going to be a very exciting Cups horse next season.” War Decree has also made a quick impact in Hong Kong where three of his four runners are already winners, while at Karaka this year his yearlings sold very well, fetching up to $150,000 and averaging over 10 times his service fee at $69,000. “We’re very pleased with the way War Decree is tracking, he consistently leaves a very good looking horse and is leaving winners all over Australasia and to boot he has now shown he can leave a Group One class horse. “He’s proving well sought after in the trade market and also in the sales ring, and importantly his fillies are in as much demand as his colts, so we see him as a very safe horse for breeders to use.” View the full article

La City Blanche leads home a one-two for trainer Tony Cruz as the 33-year-old rider celebrates his third success in the HK$4.2 million featureView the full article

Three-year-old continues his march up the ratings with the most dismissive of Class Two victories at Sha Tin on SundayView the full article

Champion jockey continues surge towards another premiership with biggest haul since JanuaryView the full article

Dog Penalties TELL IVY | Christchurch 29 April; unsatisfactory performance; must complete trial. AMALTHEA | Christchurch 29 April; marring; stood down for 28 days and must complete trial. HIDDEN FATES | Christchurch 2 May; showed aggression to another Greyhound at lure; must complete trial. General The Christchurch GRC meeting of 3 May was abandoned following Race 10 due to track conditions. The post 29 April – 5 May appeared first on RIB. View the full article

THOROUGHBRED Rider Penalties A Najib | Canterbury 2 May; use of whip; suspended 13-24 May inclusive. P Matthews | Woodville-Pahiatua 3 May; failed to make weight; fined $100. T Moodley | Waikato 4 May; use of whip; suspended 12-19 May inclusive. C Butler | Waikato 4 May; careless riding; suspended 12-18 May inclusive. T Ladouceur | Canterbury 4 May; careless riding; suspended 5-12 May inclusive. A Goindasamy | Canterbury 4 May; use of whip; suspended 12-19 May inclusive. R Juan | Canterbury 4 May; careless riding; suspended 5-11 May inclusive. Trainer Penalties A Carston | Canterbury 2 May; incorrect gear; fined $50. S Gordon | Woodville-Pahiatua 3 May; late rider declaration; fined $100. R Patterson | Canterbury 4 May; late rider declaration; fined $50. Horse Penalties WHISKEY LULLABY | Whangarei 1 May; unsatisfactory performance; must complete trial. THE AULD MINX | Canterbury 2 May; cardiac arrhythmia; veterinary clearance required. INSPIRATION | Canterbury 2 May; abrasions to hocks and fetlocks; veterinary clearance required. SAILOR GIRL | Woodville-Pahiatua 3 May; lame; veterinary clearance required. LE GRAZIE | Woodville-Pahiatua 3 May; suspensory ligament injury; veterinary clearance required. OPAEA JOE | Waikato 4 May; bled; stood down for 3 months and veterinary clearance required. IT’S THE VIBE | Canterbury 4 May; unsatisfactory performance; must complete multiple trials. The post 29 April – 5 May appeared first on RIB. View the full article

Driver Penalties R Reekie | NZ Metropolitan 1 May; drove in a manner capable of diminishing chances; suspended 2 May – 1 September inclusive. B White | NZ Metropolitan 1 May; careless driving (2 charges); suspended 2 May – 1 June inclusive and fined $300. B White | NZ Metropolitan 1 May; use of whip; suspended 2 June – 1 July inclusive. O Thornley | NZ Metropolitan 1 May; careless driving; suspended 6-12 May inclusive. R Houghton | NZ Metropolitan 1 May; careless driving; suspended 6-12 May inclusive. D Reardon | NZ Metropolitan 1 May; use of whip; suspended 6-12 May inclusive. D Dolan | NZ Metropolitan 1 May; failed to activate hopple shorteners; fined $100. A Sanderson | Auckland 26 April (heard Auckland 3 May); use of whip; suspended 8-14 May inclusive. B Hope | Auckland 3 May; careless driving; suspended 6-15 May inclusive. R Harrison | NZ Metropolitan 1 May (heard Rangiora 5 May); use of whip; suspended 6-12 May inclusive. J Morrison | NZ Metropolitan 3 May (heard Rangiora 5 May); careless driving; fined $250. B Orange | Rangiora 5 May; careless driving; suspended 11-15 May inclusive. R Cameron | Rangiora 5 May; use of whip; suspended 9-12 May inclusive. Trainer Penalty M House | NZ Metropolitan 1 May; failed to affix gear so as not to come adrift; fined $100. Horse Penalties WUDABUBBIT | NZ Metropolitan 1 May; broke in running; must complete 2 trials. MECHANICAL BULL | Riverton 4 May; lame; veterinary clearance required. SHADOW CREEK | Rangiora 5 May; unsatisfactory performance; must complete trial. ROLLIE IN SHOT | Rangiora 5 May; refused to come into position at start; must complete standing start trial. Protests TU TANGATA | NZ Metropolitan 3 May; lapped on; relegated from 3rd to 4th. SOFIA ROSE | NZ Metropolitan 3 May; denied a fair start; declared a non-runner. MAJOR MEDLEY | Riverton 4 May; excessive galloping in home straight; disqualified from 4th. DOUBLE QUICK | Rangiora 5 May; caused interference; relegated from 2nd to 3rd. ROLLIE IN SHOT | Rangiora 5 May; unsatisfactory manners prior to start; declared a non-runner. The post 29 April – 5 May appeared first on RIB. View the full article

Talented hurdler English Gambler (Casino Prince) extended his impressive front-running record over the fences in Saturday’s Modern Transport Group Hurdle (2800m) at Te Rapa. The Lauren Brennan-trained son of Casino Prince has a reputation for putting a sizable margin on his rivals early, and the restricted-open contest proved no different as he extended his lead to near 20 lengths by the winning post on their first occasion. Regular jockey Hamish McNeill was able to steady the nine-year-old down the back straight, and after resuming a slick pace at the 800m, was too strong and held out a game Mont Ventoux by 1 ¼ lengths. The victory was English Gambler’s fourth over the hurdles in twelve starts, with his most impressive to date a dominant performance in the open hurdle on Pakuranga Hunt Day last August, warranting his $2.00 TAB favouritism. Cambridge-based Brennan was pleased with the effort post-race, particularly under the 70.5kg top-weight. “His gallops have been really solid and he hasn’t really put a foot wrong,” Brennan said. “He jumped really well today, he hasn’t schooled this time in so that was his first for the whole season. “I wasn’t sure about the weight, I took the saddle back and nearly needed a wheelbarrow, but the horse has been training really well. “Hamish has ridden him enough times that he knows his quirks, and knows what he can and can’t do on him.” English Gambler’s pace in front has also proved his Achilles heel when contesting the longer staying efforts in the likes of the Great Northern Hurdle (4200m), and Brennan indicated she will be wary of that this preparation. “We just take it race by race with him, we know he doesn’t stay much further than 3200m and we want a half-decent track for him. We’ll just see what weather conditions come up and go from there,” she said. “We’ll probably incorporate a few flat runs between jump races, because they’ll probably be few and far between. He can go on the flat over ground.” McNeill has mixed his jumping commitments with riding on the flat in recent seasons, and had plenty of confidence in the gelding’s ability over the shorter distance. “Just look at what he did in the Pakuranga last year, especially over 2800m on a good track,” McNeill said. “He’d switched off by the top of the straight once he’d jumped the first. I was surprised how far they let me get in front when I looked back at the winning post, but he’s a machine of a horse. “The last came up really long, but he took a short one instead of taking off last he did last year. “It’s just a shame he can’t see a trip out, but you never know what could happen this year, he is a year older.” English Gambler was bred by New South Wales-based nursery Stratheden Stud, and was originally a $34,000 purchase at the 2016 Magic Millions Yearling Sale out of Vinery Stud’s draft. With 45 starts under his belt, the gelding has now accumulated 9 victories, 13 minor placings and $215,007 in stakes for Australian syndicator Roll The Dice Racing, alongside Brennan’s Monacurragh Lodge and Richard McIntosh. View the full article

Michael and Matthew Pitman’s outstanding carnival continued on Saturday at Riccarton Park, with handy sprinter Zoulander (NZ) (Zoustar) pulling off a tough victory in the Bush Inn Tavern Open Sprint (1200m). The local father-son training partnership collected a myriad of victories and placings through Riccarton Park’s autumn season, and snatched a further four at the final meeting with Star Ballot, Motiontime, Ocean Light and the seasoned son of Zoustar saluting. Zoulander recorded his last success in late February over the course and distance beating subsequent stakes-winner Our Echo, but was among the lesser-rated gallopers in Saturday’s contest sitting a $10.80 chance. In-form race favourites Sassy Merlot ($2.60) and Spartan ($3.10) headed the field as joint-pace makers from the jump, with jockey Kylie Williams hugging the rail aboard Zoulander midfield. As the pressure came on, Spartan led for majority of the long Riccarton straight and continued to fight hard after Zoulander drew level at the 100m, but the Pitman’s charge stuck his neck out and got the victory by a long head, with stablemate Benaud running into third. Southern-based hoop Williams has partnered Zoulander on seven occasions for two victories and two minor placings, and showed clear fondness for the six-year-old post-race. “He’s like your best friend, he’d give you the shirt off his back and he tries all the time,” she said. “Ideally, I didn’t want to be amongst them because he’s not that brave, but today he fought really hard and pushed his way out. “I travelled up quite nicely and so did Amberecho, so I just needed a bit of a gap and he’s come to that horse (Spartan) quite easily. He really wanted to win today.” Zoulander was bred by Gerry Harvey, and was originally purchased by Rogerson Bloodstock for $240,000 at the 2019 National Yearling Sale at Karaka. The six-year-old commenced his career with Team Rogerson, and Graeme Rogerson remained in the ownership when he was transferred to the Pitman’s base in mid-2022, accumulating $149,527 in stakes in total. Progressive sprinter Motiontime (Showtime) continued her affinity with the chute with a second victory at the course under Kavish Chowdhoory, defying her 30/1 odds in the Rating 75 1200m contest. In the final event of the day, Ocean Light (NZ) (Ocean Park) was marked higher in the betting at $5.70, and delivered in style with a scorching outside run to claim the Pitman’s fourth win under Lisa Allpress, who also snatched a hattrick in her southern mission. View the full article

Te Rapa specialist Turn The Ace (NZ) (Turn Me Loose) kicked off a new preparation with a commanding front-running performance in the Prezzy Card Sprint (1200m) at his favourite track on Saturday. It was the sixth win from 11 starts at Te Rapa for the Turn Me Loose gelding, whose previous victories included the Listed Waikato Equine Veterinary Centre 2YO Stakes (1100m) at the same meeting three years ago. That black-type success came second-up – a state in which Turn The Ace often runs his very best races and has an impressive three-from-four winning record. The five-year-old went into Saturday’s $40,000 race fresh, although he had beaten Group One-winning three-year-old filly Molly Bloom in a stylish trial win at Matamata on April 26. Turn The Ace was driven forward in the first few strides of Saturday’s race by jockey Michael McNab, and that was where he stayed. He shook free of Winning For All at the top of the straight and was all alone from there, opening up a winning margin of three and half lengths over the strong-finishing Quality Time and Highlighter. Trainer Andrew Forsman paid $30,000 to buy Turn The Ace from Karaka 2020. His 22-start career has now produced eight wins, three placings and $211,156 in stakes. “It was another good win today,” Forsman said. “He obviously loves Te Rapa, and his ability to race up on the pace was a real asset. “We thought he might be a run short going into today, with only the one trial under his belt. But we wanted to try to give him as many opportunities to race at that track as we could, so thought it would be worth running today even if it was effectively a second trial. “But we had a look at the field and thought he might not have too much competition for the lead. If he was able to get his way out in front and then rail the way he does at Te Rapa, he might be hard to catch, and that’s how it turned out. “We don’t have too much planned for the rest of his campaign now – just racing at Te Rapa as much as we can.” Runner-up Quality Time was an eye-catcher in his New Zealand debut for new trainer Kylie Hoskin. The gelding began his career with three wins in Germany, then won another three races and more than $350,000 for syndicators Go Racing while racing out of the Chris Waller stable in Australia. Notably, all of his victories have been between 1550m and 2200m. View the full article

It is a marriage of convenience, in the best sense of that word. Trainer Kenny McPeek and jockey Brian Hernandez Jr. are partners in peaceful coexistence.View the full article

Phil D'Amato-trained duo finishes one-two in the Charles Whittingham Stakes (G2T) at Santa Anita Park, with Gold Phoenix giving trainer and co-owner Little Red Feather Racing their second win on the card.View the full article