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The Sceptre Sessions at this year's Tattersalls December Mares Sale will include Way To My Heart (Galileo), the dam of dual Group 1-winning juvenile Precise. She will be consigned by The Castlebridge Consignment. Precise, a daughter of Starspangledbanner has won her last four starts, including the Fillies' Mile and the Moyglare Stud Stakes, and she is currently favourite for next year's 1,000 Guineas. The 12-year-old Way To My Heart, who will be sold in foal to the late Wootton Bassett, is out of the Listed winner and Group-placed Mystical Lady and is a sister to the multiple Listed winner and Irish Derby-placed Kingfisher. “The victories of Precise in the Fillies' Mile and Moyglare Stud Stakes make her the highest rated two-year-old filly in Europe and she looks an outstanding prospect for next year,” said Tattersalls chairman Edmond Mahony. “It is a privilege to be asked to offer her dam Way To My Heart in the Sceptre Sessions of the Tattersalls December Mares Sale and she joins a growing cast of exceptional fillies and mares set to be offered at Europe's premier breeding stock sale.” The December Mares Sale begins its four-day run on December 1, with the Sceptre Sessions taking place during Monday and Tuesday.   The post Dam of Precise to be Sold In Foal to Wootton Bassett at Tattersalls appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Trainers Ben, Will and JD Hayes have unleashed another promising juvenile when two-year-old filly Torture (NZ) (Sword of State) proved too good for her rivals on debut in the Listed Debutant Stakes (1000m) at Caulfield.  Sent out a $21 chance, Torture came from just behind the leaders to score by half a length from stablemate Free Flying in the hands of Ethan Brown in what was a professional performance.  The well-related filly is the first winner and stakes winner by freshman sire Sword Of State, a Group One winning son of Snitzel who stands at Cambridge Stud. Sword Of State at Cambridge Stud. Photo: Supplied “It was nice to run one-two in the race, and to get some black-type with a filly is very important,” Ben Hayes said. “I thought she won very well. She loomed into it and hit the front and did everything right today, so it’s a big thrill for the whole team. Two-year-olds are something that we really enjoy doing, and coming out and winning the first two-year-old stakes race of the season is a big thrill. “She is well-bred and now a stakes winner, so there are a couple of big ticks there and she is a beautiful looking horse with much more improvement to come, which is exciting.”  Bred by Sir Owen Glenn’s Go Bloodstock, Torture is a half-sister to Group One winner Ruthless Dame, with the pair out of the stakes placed Keeper mare Ruthless Lady.  Torture was raised and sold by Gordon Cunningham’s Curraghmore, with Lindsay Park and Dean Hawthorne Bloodstock going to $250,000 to secure the filly at the Karaka Book 1 Yearling Sale earlier this year.  “For her to come out and win The Debutant, probably wasn’t what we were thinking when we bought her,” Hayes said of the filly who was an October 20 born foal.   “But she just kept improving and kept showing us that she could get there. Her trial leading up was good and we thought why not.  “She’s a stakes winner now, so maybe the Blue Diamond (Gr.1, 1200m) or something like that would be right up her alley.”  Winning rider Ethan Brown said the filly had come on in leaps and bounds from a jumpout at Caulfield a fortnight ago.  “My feedback after that trial here at Caulfield was that she probably lacked a bit of substance, but she is very professional and that will take her a long way,” Brown said.  “Funnily enough, she feels like she has strengthened again from that trial, they put the winkers on, which proved to be the winning move. The boys are such terrific trainers in general but are especially good with a young horse.  “From that gate, I gave her a squeeze to get her into the bridle, she lobbed into a beautiful position, and she got up on the bit. “I just had to dodge heels there for a bit coming around the corner, but she really flowed into it well.  “I thought we hit the front a bit soon, but luckily those winkers were on, she kept her focus and was strong through the line.” Torture is raced by a syndicate headed by passionate Richmond supporter John O’Neill and sports silks featuring the famed yellow and black.  The Hayes team have saddled the first two winners of Victorian two-year-old races after Per Incanto colt Eurocanto won the Listed Maribyrnong Trial (1000m) earlier this month.  Torture’s victory continues a great run of form for breeder Sir Owen Glenn who bred last Saturday’s Gr.1 Toorak Handicap winner Transatlantic.  “Fittingly, he bred this filly’s Group One winning sire Sword Of State and was keen to support him,” Curraghmore’s Gordon Cunningham said.  “He is a big supporter of our industry, and he will get great satisfaction from that win. He happily remained in the ownership after she was purchased by Lindsay Park and the mare has a lovely yearling filly by Proisir.” View the full article

Trainers Ben, Will and JD Hayes have unleashed another promising juvenile when two-year-old filly Torture (NZ) (Sword of State) proved too good for her rivals on debut in the Listed Debutant Stakes (1000m) at Caulfield.  Sent out a $21 chance, Torture came from just behind the leaders to score by half a length from stablemate Free Flying in the hands of Ethan Brown in what was a professional performance.  The well-related filly is the first winner and stakes winner by freshman sire Sword Of State, a Group One winning son of Snitzel who stands at Cambridge Stud. Sword Of State at Cambridge Stud. Photo: Supplied “It was nice to run one-two in the race, and to get some black-type with a filly is very important,” Ben Hayes said. “I thought she won very well. She loomed into it and hit the front and did everything right today, so it’s a big thrill for the whole team. Two-year-olds are something that we really enjoy doing, and coming out and winning the first two-year-old stakes race of the season is a big thrill. “She is well-bred and now a stakes winner, so there are a couple of big ticks there and she is a beautiful looking horse with much more improvement to come, which is exciting.”  Bred by Sir Owen Glenn’s Go Bloodstock, Torture is a half-sister to Group One winner Ruthless Dame, with the pair out of the stakes placed Keeper mare Ruthless Lady.  Torture was raised and sold by Gordon Cunningham’s Curraghmore, with Lindsay Park and Dean Hawthorne Bloodstock going to $250,000 to secure the filly at the Karaka Book 1 Yearling Sale earlier this year.  “For her to come out and win The Debutant, probably wasn’t what we were thinking when we bought her,” Hayes said of the filly who was an October 20 born foal.   “But she just kept improving and kept showing us that she could get there. Her trial leading up was good and we thought why not.  “She’s a stakes winner now, so maybe the Blue Diamond (Gr.1, 1200m) or something like that would be right up her alley.”  Winning rider Ethan Brown said the filly had come on in leaps and bounds from a jumpout at Caulfield a fortnight ago.  “My feedback after that trial here at Caulfield was that she probably lacked a bit of substance, but she is very professional and that will take her a long way,” Brown said.  “Funnily enough, she feels like she has strengthened again from that trial, they put the winkers on, which proved to be the winning move. The boys are such terrific trainers in general but are especially good with a young horse.  “From that gate, I gave her a squeeze to get her into the bridle, she lobbed into a beautiful position, and she got up on the bit. “I just had to dodge heels there for a bit coming around the corner, but she really flowed into it well.  “I thought we hit the front a bit soon, but luckily those winkers were on, she kept her focus and was strong through the line.” Torture is raced by a syndicate headed by passionate Richmond supporter John O’Neill and sports silks featuring the famed yellow and black.  The Hayes team have saddled the first two winners of Victorian two-year-old races after Per Incanto colt Eurocanto won the Listed Maribyrnong Trial (1000m) earlier this month.  Torture’s victory continues a great run of form for breeder Sir Owen Glenn who bred last Saturday’s Gr.1 Toorak Handicap winner Transatlantic.  “Fittingly, he bred this filly’s Group One winning sire Sword Of State and was keen to support him,” Curraghmore’s Gordon Cunningham said.  “He is a big supporter of our industry, and he will get great satisfaction from that win. He happily remained in the ownership after she was purchased by Lindsay Park and the mare has a lovely yearling filly by Proisir.” View the full article

Trainers Ben, Will and JD Hayes have unleashed another promising juvenile when two-year-old filly Torture (NZ) (Sword of State) proved too good for her rivals on debut in the Listed Debutant Stakes (1000m) at Caulfield.  Sent out a $21 chance, Torture came from just behind the leaders to score by half a length from stablemate Free Flying in the hands of Ethan Brown in what was a professional performance.  The well-related filly is the first winner and stakes winner by freshman sire Sword Of State, a Group One winning son of Snitzel who stands at Cambridge Stud. Sword Of State at Cambridge Stud. Photo: Supplied “It was nice to run one-two in the race, and to get some black-type with a filly is very important,” Ben Hayes said. “I thought she won very well. She loomed into it and hit the front and did everything right today, so it’s a big thrill for the whole team. Two-year-olds are something that we really enjoy doing, and coming out and winning the first two-year-old stakes race of the season is a big thrill. “She is well-bred and now a stakes winner, so there are a couple of big ticks there and she is a beautiful looking horse with much more improvement to come, which is exciting.”  Bred by Sir Owen Glenn’s Go Bloodstock, Torture is a half-sister to Group One winner Ruthless Dame, with the pair out of the stakes placed Keeper mare Ruthless Lady.  Torture was raised and sold by Gordon Cunningham’s Curraghmore, with Lindsay Park and Dean Hawthorne Bloodstock going to $250,000 to secure the filly at the Karaka Book 1 Yearling Sale earlier this year.  “For her to come out and win The Debutant, probably wasn’t what we were thinking when we bought her,” Hayes said of the filly who was an October 20 born foal.   “But she just kept improving and kept showing us that she could get there. Her trial leading up was good and we thought why not.  “She’s a stakes winner now, so maybe the Blue Diamond (Gr.1, 1200m) or something like that would be right up her alley.”  Winning rider Ethan Brown said the filly had come on in leaps and bounds from a jumpout at Caulfield a fortnight ago.  “My feedback after that trial here at Caulfield was that she probably lacked a bit of substance, but she is very professional and that will take her a long way,” Brown said.  “Funnily enough, she feels like she has strengthened again from that trial, they put the winkers on, which proved to be the winning move. The boys are such terrific trainers in general but are especially good with a young horse.  “From that gate, I gave her a squeeze to get her into the bridle, she lobbed into a beautiful position, and she got up on the bit. “I just had to dodge heels there for a bit coming around the corner, but she really flowed into it well.  “I thought we hit the front a bit soon, but luckily those winkers were on, she kept her focus and was strong through the line.” Torture is raced by a syndicate headed by passionate Richmond supporter John O’Neill and sports silks featuring the famed yellow and black.  The Hayes team have saddled the first two winners of Victorian two-year-old races after Per Incanto colt Eurocanto won the Listed Maribyrnong Trial (1000m) earlier this month.  Torture’s victory continues a great run of form for breeder Sir Owen Glenn who bred last Saturday’s Gr.1 Toorak Handicap winner Transatlantic.  “Fittingly, he bred this filly’s Group One winning sire Sword Of State and was keen to support him,” Curraghmore’s Gordon Cunningham said.  “He is a big supporter of our industry, and he will get great satisfaction from that win. He happily remained in the ownership after she was purchased by Lindsay Park and the mare has a lovely yearling filly by Proisir.” View the full article

Trainers Ben, Will and JD Hayes have unleashed another promising juvenile when two-year-old filly Torture (NZ) (Sword of State) proved too good for her rivals on debut in the Listed Debutant Stakes (1000m) at Caulfield.  Sent out a $21 chance, Torture came from just behind the leaders to score by half a length from stablemate Free Flying in the hands of Ethan Brown in what was a professional performance.  The well-related filly is the first winner and stakes winner by freshman sire Sword Of State, a Group One winning son of Snitzel who stands at Cambridge Stud. Sword Of State at Cambridge Stud. Photo: Supplied “It was nice to run one-two in the race, and to get some black-type with a filly is very important,” Ben Hayes said. “I thought she won very well. She loomed into it and hit the front and did everything right today, so it’s a big thrill for the whole team. Two-year-olds are something that we really enjoy doing, and coming out and winning the first two-year-old stakes race of the season is a big thrill. “She is well-bred and now a stakes winner, so there are a couple of big ticks there and she is a beautiful looking horse with much more improvement to come, which is exciting.”  Bred by Sir Owen Glenn’s Go Bloodstock, Torture is a half-sister to Group One winner Ruthless Dame, with the pair out of the stakes placed Keeper mare Ruthless Lady.  Torture was raised and sold by Gordon Cunningham’s Curraghmore, with Lindsay Park and Dean Hawthorne Bloodstock going to $250,000 to secure the filly at the Karaka Book 1 Yearling Sale earlier this year.  “For her to come out and win The Debutant, probably wasn’t what we were thinking when we bought her,” Hayes said of the filly who was an October 20 born foal.   “But she just kept improving and kept showing us that she could get there. Her trial leading up was good and we thought why not.  “She’s a stakes winner now, so maybe the Blue Diamond (Gr.1, 1200m) or something like that would be right up her alley.”  Winning rider Ethan Brown said the filly had come on in leaps and bounds from a jumpout at Caulfield a fortnight ago.  “My feedback after that trial here at Caulfield was that she probably lacked a bit of substance, but she is very professional and that will take her a long way,” Brown said.  “Funnily enough, she feels like she has strengthened again from that trial, they put the winkers on, which proved to be the winning move. The boys are such terrific trainers in general but are especially good with a young horse.  “From that gate, I gave her a squeeze to get her into the bridle, she lobbed into a beautiful position, and she got up on the bit. “I just had to dodge heels there for a bit coming around the corner, but she really flowed into it well.  “I thought we hit the front a bit soon, but luckily those winkers were on, she kept her focus and was strong through the line.” Torture is raced by a syndicate headed by passionate Richmond supporter John O’Neill and sports silks featuring the famed yellow and black.  The Hayes team have saddled the first two winners of Victorian two-year-old races after Per Incanto colt Eurocanto won the Listed Maribyrnong Trial (1000m) earlier this month.  Torture’s victory continues a great run of form for breeder Sir Owen Glenn who bred last Saturday’s Gr.1 Toorak Handicap winner Transatlantic.  “Fittingly, he bred this filly’s Group One winning sire Sword Of State and was keen to support him,” Curraghmore’s Gordon Cunningham said.  “He is a big supporter of our industry, and he will get great satisfaction from that win. He happily remained in the ownership after she was purchased by Lindsay Park and the mare has a lovely yearling filly by Proisir.” View the full article

Trainers Ben, Will and JD Hayes have unleashed another promising juvenile when two-year-old filly Torture (NZ) (Sword of State) proved too good for her rivals on debut in the Listed Debutant Stakes (1000m) at Caulfield.  Sent out a $21 chance, Torture came from just behind the leaders to score by half a length from stablemate Free Flying in the hands of Ethan Brown in what was a professional performance.  The well-related filly is the first winner and stakes winner by freshman sire Sword Of State, a Group One winning son of Snitzel who stands at Cambridge Stud. Sword Of State at Cambridge Stud. Photo: Supplied “It was nice to run one-two in the race, and to get some black-type with a filly is very important,” Ben Hayes said. “I thought she won very well. She loomed into it and hit the front and did everything right today, so it’s a big thrill for the whole team. Two-year-olds are something that we really enjoy doing, and coming out and winning the first two-year-old stakes race of the season is a big thrill. “She is well-bred and now a stakes winner, so there are a couple of big ticks there and she is a beautiful looking horse with much more improvement to come, which is exciting.”  Bred by Sir Owen Glenn’s Go Bloodstock, Torture is a half-sister to Group One winner Ruthless Dame, with the pair out of the stakes placed Keeper mare Ruthless Lady.  Torture was raised and sold by Gordon Cunningham’s Curraghmore, with Lindsay Park and Dean Hawthorne Bloodstock going to $250,000 to secure the filly at the Karaka Book 1 Yearling Sale earlier this year.  “For her to come out and win The Debutant, probably wasn’t what we were thinking when we bought her,” Hayes said of the filly who was an October 20 born foal.   “But she just kept improving and kept showing us that she could get there. Her trial leading up was good and we thought why not.  “She’s a stakes winner now, so maybe the Blue Diamond (Gr.1, 1200m) or something like that would be right up her alley.”  Winning rider Ethan Brown said the filly had come on in leaps and bounds from a jumpout at Caulfield a fortnight ago.  “My feedback after that trial here at Caulfield was that she probably lacked a bit of substance, but she is very professional and that will take her a long way,” Brown said.  “Funnily enough, she feels like she has strengthened again from that trial, they put the winkers on, which proved to be the winning move. The boys are such terrific trainers in general but are especially good with a young horse.  “From that gate, I gave her a squeeze to get her into the bridle, she lobbed into a beautiful position, and she got up on the bit. “I just had to dodge heels there for a bit coming around the corner, but she really flowed into it well.  “I thought we hit the front a bit soon, but luckily those winkers were on, she kept her focus and was strong through the line.” Torture is raced by a syndicate headed by passionate Richmond supporter John O’Neill and sports silks featuring the famed yellow and black.  The Hayes team have saddled the first two winners of Victorian two-year-old races after Per Incanto colt Eurocanto won the Listed Maribyrnong Trial (1000m) earlier this month.  Torture’s victory continues a great run of form for breeder Sir Owen Glenn who bred last Saturday’s Gr.1 Toorak Handicap winner Transatlantic.  “Fittingly, he bred this filly’s Group One winning sire Sword Of State and was keen to support him,” Curraghmore’s Gordon Cunningham said.  “He is a big supporter of our industry, and he will get great satisfaction from that win. He happily remained in the ownership after she was purchased by Lindsay Park and the mare has a lovely yearling filly by Proisir.” View the full article

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – In his opening remarks during this year's Kentucky Derby post-race news conference, Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott paid tribute to the entire team behind the brilliant Sovereignty (Into Mischief). “I'm so proud of everybody that had anything to do with getting this horse to this point and it takes a lot of people,” Mott said. “It takes a family, and it takes a community to get him ready, really.” Neil Poznansky, the regular morning work partner for the nation's top 3-year-old, has been with Mott as an assistant for more than 15 years. A native of Edmonton, Alberta, the 52-year-old was the champion apprentice jockey in both the U.S. and Canada in 1996. “I started out in Western Canada, which was Northlands and Stampede at the time, and from there I went over to Vancouver,” Poznansky said. “Starting on the bullring, it's a different style of riding–you have to ride a little tighter going into the turns. As a young rider, I knew where to be and where not be and how to ride things a little differently. I started with a bunch of good people out west in those small tracks. There's a lot of good memories out there.” There were plenty of good memories for Poznansky at Woodbine, too. He won the 1999 GII King Edward Breeders' Cup H. aboard Desert Waves and the 2000 GIII Nassau S. with Heliotrope. Poznansky rode 761 winners from 5,861 starters, good for career earnings of $15,669,892, according to Equibase. He retired as a jockey in 2008. Neil Poznansky keeping a close eye on Sovereignty earlier this summer at the Spa | Sarah Andrew “The last race I rode I won for David Carroll at Ellis Park,” Poznansky said. “I was struggling with my weight a little bit and not riding a lot. I remember it had to be about 110 degrees with humidity, you know how hot it can get down there. I won by a nose and rode my butt off. And I come back and didn't have a drop of sweat on me! I said, 'You know what? This is it.' I called my dad on the drive home and said, 'I'm done.'” Poznansky, paused, then added, “And Bill also happened to be in town.” Bill, of course, is Bill Mott. Poznansky met Mott working as an exercise rider at Payson Park during racing's off season in Canada. “I was getting on some of his horses at the time that were gonna be going into the Kentucky Derby, so he set me up with an agent at Churchill and he sent his horses there,” Poznansky said. “I would get on his horses, breeze them, that kind of stuff, but I couldn't really get rolling as a rider there.” Having spent some time around Leana Willaford and Kenny McCarthy–both are still two of Mott's top assistants–Poznansky admired the way Mott's operation was run. “I just started hanging around and eventually the position opened up and he gave me a shot,” Poznansky said. “It's been a tremendous experience and it's been a great lifestyle for me. “Being able to work for Bill, I'm in the spots where he is all the time. He's at Saratoga, I'm at Saratoga. I'm at Payson, he's at Payson. I get to work with him every day. Some of the things that he sees and does, it's almost every day he'll be watching a horse train and I can't see what he sees. Just his eye and all his knowledge.” Poznansky continued, “When I was riding and if you screwed up the race or something went wrong, I'd say, 'We'll get 'em next time.' Now, being on the other end of it, there's just so much that goes into it with every horse. I didn't know when I was riding just how much.” Sovereignty fired a five-furlong warning shot beneath Poznansky in a bullet :59.80 after the break over Saratoga's Oklahoma training track Sunday. It was his second straight move in company with his 3-year-old stablemate Playa Del Mar (Into Mischief), a last-out maiden winner at Ellis Park Aug. 22. The imposing GI Kentucky Derby, GI Belmont Stakes and GI Travers Stakes winner will take on older horses for the first time in the upcoming GI Breeders' Cup Classic at Del Mar Nov. 1. “His record speaks for itself,” Poznansky said. “When I put him on the van at Payson for the Derby, I was certain he was gonna win. He's just big and athletic and oozes class. He's got nerves of steel. He'll get pumped up in the paddock. But not in a bad way. He knows what it means when you get Junior (Alvarado) on. He's very smart and all racehorse. He's pretty special.” As dominating as Sovereignty has been this season, could we possibly see another forward move from him in the Classic? “I tell 'ya what,” Poznansky said. “Watching him train, going by every day. He's impressive. He possibly could. I don't see anything in him right now that says that he's not gonna move forward.” Godolphin's Michael Banahan and Neil Poznansky (center) celebrate Sovereignty's win in the Travers | Tod Marks Some of Poznansky's former star pupils and personal favorites from the Mott barn include: Close Hatches, Cody's Wish, Elate, Elite Power, Flat Out, Lea and Royal Delta. Sovereignty and the popular 2023 Horse of the Year and young Darley sire Cody's Wish are both homebreds for Godolphin. “I think Bill is lucky to have him there,” Godolphin USA Director of Bloodstock Michael Banahan said of Poznansky. “He was a very good rider in his own right, an Eclipse Award-winning apprentice, and being to able to have someone to draw on with his experience is a great comfort. If Neil comes back and is happy with the way a horse has breezed, everyone's happy.” Banahan added, “Bill has surrounded himself with a lot of talented people–Neil, Kenny (McCarthy), Leana (Willaford)–and they all do a tremendous job. He has a very talented team.” Like Mott said on the first Saturday in May, it takes a family. The post From the Bullring to the Breeders’ Cup: A ‘Tremendous Experience’ for Sovereignty’s Work Rider, Mott Assistant Poznansky appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

You might be dancing round your lounge like the Broadster if they win. 

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