February, 2023 | Horse Racing Free Tips

One Last Festival Hurrah for Honeysuckle

Kenny Alexander's dual Champion Hurdler Honeysuckle (GB) (Sulamani {Ire}) will make her swansong in the G1 Close Brothers Mares' Hurdle at next month's Cheltenham Festival.

The 9-year-old was beaten for the first time in 16 starts when tackling the Hatton's Grace Hurdle at Fairyhouse in December, in which she was third. She went on to finish runner-up to State Man (Ire) in last weekend's Irish Champion Hurdle, a race she had won for the three previous seasons.

A 12-time Grade 1 victrix, Honeysuckle is also a treble winner at the Cheltenham Festival, having won the last two Champion Hurdles and the Mares' Hurdle in 2020.

Peter Molony, racing manager to Kenny Alexanxder, announced the news on Tuesday morning.

He told PA Media, “I think after Sunday, on mature reflection, most reasonable people would agree she has taken a step back. She still fought her heart out and when Vauban came to take second off her she put her head down and her ears back and went 'not on your life'.

“So she still has that competitive spirit, she's still a racehorse and that's why we've decided to give her one last hurrah. She deserves it and Cheltenham would be a lovely place to bow out.”

He added, “The whole day on Sunday, strangely enough, even though we got beat, was one of the best days we've had on a racecourse with Honey. The reception she got, the cheer when Rachael got legged up, the roars as she cantered down to the start–Rachael said when she got down to the start she had a stupid grin on her face from the huge reception they got.

“The public have really taken her to their hearts and it's wonderful, so Cheltenham is probably the right place for her to finish her career.”

Honeysuckle will retire eventually to Alexander's New Hall Stud in Scotland, where the owner-breeder is assembling a formidable team of National Hunt mares. The Ayrshire farm was the birthplace of Group 1 winner Donna Blini (GB) (Bertolini), who was bred by Gordon Thom and later found ever greater fame as the dam of Japanese Horse of the Year Gentildonna (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}).

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Trainer Gordon Elliott faces BHA hearing over Cheltenham positive test for Zanahiyr

Trainer Gordon Elliott faces a hearing on Wednesday after his horse Zanahiyr tests positive for a banned substance.

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Champ Wonder Wheel Gearing Up for Sophomore Debut

Every morning at 8:30 sharp, 'The Wonder Wheel Show' takes over Casse Training Center in Ocala. Just after the break, the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies champion and newly crowned Eclipse Award winner takes to a freshly groomed track and flies through her paces solo before regular training resumes.

“She gets her own set,” trainer Mark Casse said with a grin. “She's special.”

Casse's smile grew even wider Monday morning as he watched Wonder Wheel in action. After a day off on Sunday, the daughter of Into Mischief was enthusiastic about getting back to training as she tugged on the bit at a gallop.

Wonder Wheel went through her early schooling as a 2-year-old at Casse's training center and she returned to the Ocala operation following her Breeders' Cup victory. After a bit of time off, she resumed her training. Now, Casse said the D.J. Stable colorbearer is looking better than ever.

“She's training super,” he reported. “She's a tall filly. She's almost 17 hands. I think she has filled out a little bit. When you give a horse time off like we did, it takes them a little while to kind of get back in the groove. But she's in the groove.”

The champ has put in four works in Ocala this year, most recently breezing five furlongs in :59 on Jan. 25 and then going four furlongs in 48 flat last Thursday in preparation for her 3-year-old debut in Saturday's Suncoast S. at Tampa Bay Downs.

“She had as good a work last week as I've seen her ever work,” Casse said. “And more importantly, her training has been really good coming up to this race.”

Along with fellow Casse trainee Ticker Tape Home (Medaglia d'Oro), probables for the Suncoast include Stonestreet Stables homebred Julia Shining (Curlin), who is undefeated in two starts and will be coming in off a win in the GII Demoiselle S. in December.

Casse said he hopes that on Saturday, Wonder Wheel and Tyler Gaffalione can perhaps find a happy medium between their come-from-behind Breeders' Cup performance and the prior wire-to-wire victory in the GI Darley Alcibiades S.

“I think normally if she breaks running, Tyler will have her fairly close,” he explained. “But as she showed in the Breeders' Cup, she can do a little bit of anything.”

According to Casse, Wonder Wheel's road to the GI Kentucky Oaks after the Suncoast will go through Lexington for the GI Ashland S.

Casse has always been enthusiastic in his praise for the big bay, comparing her to the likes of Wonder Gadot, Classic Empire and War of Will as early as last August in Saratoga ahead of her runner-up effort in the GI Spinaway S. (TDN story here). Now that Wonder Wheel has given Casse his sixth Breeders' Cup victory, he remains unwavering in his faith in the talented filly.

“She may be one of the best horses I've ever trained,” he said. “But I don't want to get too far ahead. Let's see how she does going from two to three. We're going to let her do the talking.”

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Kentucky Derby Futures: Latest Las Vegas Odds for Top Contenders

With February upon us, we’re deep into the prep schedule for this year’s Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve May 6 at Churchill Downs. Four stakes races offering qualifying points for the Kentucky Derby have been held since the last edition of this blog on Jan. 10, and aside from that, several other exciting prospects have gained notice in maiden or allowance races.