Month: September 2022

Champion New Zealand-bred mare Verry Elleegant gave her supporters a sight but came up short in Sunday’s €130,000 Gr.2 Prix Foy (2400m) at Longchamp, finishing third behind multiple French stakes winners Iresine and Bubble Gift. Verry Elleegant attempted to lead throughout in the traditional Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe lead-up for horses aged four or older, ambling through the first 1400 metres in 1:35.85 on ground officially rated soft. Christophe Soumillon rode the perfect race aboard Verry Elleegant ($3.90), the only mare in the field, asking her to quicken at…

Leading Western Australian owner Bob Peters will be bringing home Western Empire along with stablemates Regal Power and Stageman after the Danny O’Brien-trained trio failed to fire at Flemington on Saturday. “The way they are running, I thought they were entitled to improve on their first starts over there but they went backwards,” Peters told The West Australian. “We’ll get them back to the farm and have a look at them but they were disappointing. The only decision I’ve made with them is that they are flying home early next…

Darryn Weatherley is looking forward to heading back to Hastings next month with Pier after his runner-up effort behind Dynastic in the Listed El Roca – Sir Colin Meads Trophy (1200m) on Saturday. It was the Proisir gelding’s second start after winning on debut at Matamata last month and Weatherley was pleased with what her saw on the weekend from the three-year-old he co-bred, co-owns, and co-trains. “I thought it was a really good run considering it was only his second start. He only had two trials and he won…

Former successful apprentice jockey Alex Forbes now wears a number of hats within the thoroughbred industry and has successfully added to his variety of roles with his first winner as a trainer. The 26-year-old prepared Mandalo to score at Waverley on Sunday with the four-year-old’s maiden victory all the more memorable as family members are involved in the ownership of the son of Ekraar. “He has been going very well, he’s honest and tries very hard and I think he will only get better with time,” he said. “He’s still…

Given time to reflect, Rich Hill Stud boss John Thompson is getting immense satisfaction from Saturday’s red-letter day for the Matamata farm. Rich Hill Stud stallions sired the winners of both Group One races run in Australasia on Saturday: Shocking’s son I’m Thunderstruck producing a dazzling finish to secure a narrow win in the Gr.1 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) at Flemington, while closer to home Proisir four-year-old Dark Destroyer won the Gr.1 Tarzino Trophy (1400m) at Hastings. “People who don’t stand stallions probably don’t understand the resources you have to…

Lucky Sweynesse (NZ) (Sweynesse) extended his undefeated record at Sha Tin to three on Sunday when taking out the Class 1 HKSAR Chief Executive’s Cup Handicap (1200m),  Hong Kong Champion Griffin in 2021/2022 with five wins from seven starts, the New Zealand-bred resumed in superb fashion by trouncing his rivals by 3-1/4 lengths in the hands of Silvestre de Sousa. The authoritative nature of Lucky Sweynesse’s latest performance prompted Man, 65, to contemplate a possible tilt at December’s lucrative LONGINES Hong Kong International Races. “I’ll be looking towards all the…