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On Nov. 22 at Churchill Downs, Giocoso became a millionaire in rallying to defeat Chapman's Peak by a head in the $299,800 Commonwealth Turf Stakes (G3T). View the full article

Then next race…. Interview with Anj Mugford… said horse was going ok, but i dont really want it to win🤣🤣🤣🤣 FFS, how did the punters that backed it at $6 feel…. did gallop early, so no explaining to do.

Uncorking a ferocious rally in the lane, Giocoso (Not This Time) became racing's newest millionaire after claiming the GIII Commonwealth Turf Stakes at Churchill Downs. Coming into the race with a win at the graded level under his belt–three back in the Aug. 9 GII Secretariat Stakes at Colonial Downs–and hovering just beneath the seven-figure mark in earnings, the son of red hot Not This Time had spent his last three races on the board. He was game as they come Sept. 6 at Kentucky Downs when he begrudgingly yielded late in the Gun Runner Stakes to finish second, and last out Oct. 25 employed his wicked kick to get up for third in Keeneland's GIII Bryan Station Stakes behind GISW Troubleshooting (Not This Time). The latter returned here as the 5-2 favorite. Setting up well off the pace in eighth for most of the race, Giocoso went into the four path along the first turn and was able to avoid some of the traffic problems that ultimately eliminated Troubleshooting early on, and King's Plate winner Mansetti (Collected) later, from contention. Still well off the fence after six panels in 1:11.67, Jose Ortiz had a wall of horses in front of him around the final bend and had to come six wide for racing room in the lane. Sights locked on Chapman's Peak (Quality Road) and Outrunner (American Pharoah), as that pair had been at each other's throats since the gates opened, Giocoso relentlessly closed the distance to nail the former in the shadow of the wire by a head. Outrunner was a length back in third. Troubleshooting faded to ninth after being checked repeatedly early on, and tiring in the stretch. “It was a little anxious moment down the stretch but the good horses know how to get the job done,” trainer Keith Desormeaux said. “Jose was able to get him to relax down the backside and I was blessed to have a jockey that used his skills to do that and we got the job done.” “He's a horse that comes to run every time and always gives you his best,” said Ortiz. “I couldn't have gotten the job done today without Keith and his team back at the barn to get him ready to run. He broke well and I got him to settle going into the first turn. I asked him to go little by little and at the quarter pole when I tipped out, I could tell I had a ton of horse left. GIOCOSO ($9.48) soars home in the $300,000 Commonwealth Turf Stakes (G3) with @jose93_ortiz in the irons. The son of @TMStallions Not This Time is trained by Keith Desormeaux. pic.twitter.com/YJkH2DkQaJ — FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) November 22, 2025 Pedigree Notes: Giocoso is the most successful of his dam's offspring and her only black-type runner thus far. He is one of three winners with two of those siblings entering the winner's enclosure in Japan and Argentina while an unplaced half-sister named Ecoro Diana (More Than Ready) also campaigned in the Land of the Rising Sun. Nutcracker Suite (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}), herself a half-sister to multiple group producer GSW-Ire Beauty Bright (Ire) (Danehill), had a stillborn 2024 McKinzie foal. She did produce a 2025 Up to the Mark filly since then and was bred to Cogburn for 2026. Another of the dam's half-siblings, MSW-Aus & G1SP-Eng Aloft (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), was a five-time winner in his career but was the only one to be elite-placed for second dam Dietrich (Storm Cat). A second sister named Marquesa (Kingmambo) produced a fleet of stakes performers in Japan. Saturday, Churchill Downs COMMONWEALTH TURF S.-GIII, $299,800, Churchill Downs, 11-22, 3yo, 1 1/16mT, 1:41.47, fm. 1–GIOCOSO, 123, c, 3, by Not This Time 1st Dam: Nutcracker Suite (Ire), by Fastnet Rock (Aus) 2nd Dam: Dietrich, by Storm Cat 3rd Dam: Piquetnol, by Private Account ($75,000 Ylg '23 KEESEP). O-Rocker O Ranch LLC; B-Breed First LLC (KY); T-J. Keith Desormeaux; J-Jose L. Ortiz. $177,250. Lifetime Record: 13-4-2-2, $1,119,971. Werk Nick Rating: B. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. 2–Chapman's Peak, 118, g, 3, Quality Road–Dickinson, by Medaglia d'Oro. 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. O/B-Godolphin (KY); T-Brad H. Cox. $57,500. 3–Outrunner, 118, c, 3, American Pharoah–Gale Force, by Giant's Causeway. ($150,000 Ylg '23 KEESEP). O-Colts Neck Stables LLC; B-Dixiana Farms LLC (KY); T-Jorge Duarte, Jr. $28,750. Margins: HD, 1, HF. Odds: 3.74, 4.53, 49.50 Also Ran: Anegada, Montador, California Burrito, Plensa, Mansetti, Troubleshooting, Flying Mohawk. Scratched: Simulate. Click for the Equibase.com chart or the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. The post Not This Time’s Giocoso Runs’em All Down to Claim Commonwealth Turf appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Her horse today in Race 2 at Motukarara…. i am puzzled. Bizza To’o, now i get drivers want to take it easy on first starters, especially trotters…. but she looked like she was in a workout. Looking at front legs and wheels, back legs , you name it. I would like to see stipes report, as i thought drivers had to give their horses the best chance of winning the race? Horse had no show, while driver was gawking at everything, one thing she should have been looking at was the gap in the field in front of her…. end result, horse finally tagged on around turn, ran on well for 4th, a more positive drive easily gets it 2nd. Not a good look….

8th-Churchill Downs, $117,975, Msw, 11-22, 2yo, f, 6 1/2f, 1:19.17, sy, 3/4 length. MARJORAM (f, 2, Quality Road–Cardamon, by Pioneerof the Nile), a Juddmonte homebred and full-sibling to this summer's GIII Mahony Stakes winner Spiced Up, debuted Saturday at 3-1 under Louisville's twin spires. The bay juvenile was a joint and distant last through the :22.68 first quarter, rushed up to fourth going into the far turn, continued to advance as the clock stopped in :46.25 for the half, and swung wide to take command down the lane. Frontrunner Kayla's Komet (Mitole) was loathe to surrender, but Marjoram continued to drive to the wire and edged clear late for a three-quarter length triumph. Marjoram's winning dam is a half to MGISW Emollient (Empire Maker), to SW & MGISP Hofburg (Tapit), and to the dam of 2024 G1 Dubai World Cup victor Laurel River (Into Mischief). Her yearling filly is by Into Mischief, her weanling colt is by Flightline, and she returned to the latter for 2026. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $69,300. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. O/B-Juddmonte (KY); T-Michael W. McCarthy. Marjoram is a debut winner in R8 at @churchilldowns under @luissaezpty for trainer Michael McCarthy! #TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/cTji4Jk9wi — TwinSpires Racing (@TwinSpires) November 22, 2025 The post Quality Road’s Marjoram Strikes at First Asking for Juddmonte at Churchill appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Nope. Just can't figure it out. Why on earth, at the end of another grueling sales cycle, would so many Americans scrape together the last of their resources, in energy and funds, and get on a plane for one final auction in France? Setting aside, that is, the langoustines and truffles; the calvados and cider; the designer boutiques; the Christmas lights that transform an elegant summer resort into a filmset apt for a French remake of It's A Wonderful Life; the medieval villages huddled, in the early dusk of midwinter, under idle plumes of chimney smoke; and a final chance for festivity among professional peers before dispersing for holidays at home, and a well-earned break. Unless, perhaps, it has something to do with the horses. Looking at recent editions of the Arqana Vente d'Elevage, it does seem actually seem quite conceivable that the catalogue itself may be animating the dozens of Americans who have again booked a trip to Deauville for December 6-9. Last year, indeed, four of the top five lots at the principal session were intended to continue their track careers in the United States, ahead of a potential endgame in introducing some genetic diversity to the Bluegrass. Not all those plans appear to have worked out quite as intended, but then these investments can always provide a moving target. Take Excellent Truth (Ire) (Cotai Glory {GB}), purchased at Arqana for €1.6 million as a Group 3 winner. Switched to Chad Brown, she earned just under $500,000 in three starts for Resolute Racing, notably winning the GI Diana Stakes, before being sold to Katsumi Yoshida for $2.5 million at the Fasig-Tipton November Sale. An unconventional pinhook, no doubt. But her career path-bred and sold in Ireland; raced and sold in France; raced and sold in America; and now evidently destined to begin her breeding career in Japan-shows just how flexibly these international “commodities” can nowadays be adapted to different strategies. And, of course, all those ancillary delights do count for something. Chad Schumer, unquestionably one of the hardest working agents on the international circuit, will naturally work this catalogue as diligently as he does any other. But he does acknowledge that business, at Deauville in December, can always be blended with a little pleasure. “Festive,” Schumer says. “That's definitely the word I would use to describe not only the beautifully decorated town, but the atmosphere surrounding the last sale of the season. You'd rarely encounter so many pleasant facial expressions, despite results in the ring! “Personally, we've had good luck at this sale and hope to again. If not, I'll come away as usual with some wonderful nights at any of the many fantastic restaurants-not to mention the lively conversations to be had, among many other stops, at the bar at the Normandy Hotel.” But first and foremost, of course, Schumer views the trip as a professional imperative. “For American buyers, there are so many options both in terms of breeding stock and racing opportunities,” he says. “In our country, grass racing seems to become more and more popular and, perhaps no less importantly, plentiful in options. The French fillies have done very well in the U.S. and usually there are plenty on offer that could go on and race over here. Siyouni-©Zuzanna-Lupa.jpg" alt="The sire Siyouni at Haras de Bonneval" width="1155" height="840" /> Siyouni | Zuzanna Lupa “In terms of breeding stock, the annual reduction by the Aga Khan Studs would have to be the first place to start. So many of those culls have gone on the be the cornerstones of other breeding programs. Americans would be remiss not to have a deep dive into the options, which include mares in foal to Siyouni (Fr) and Zarak (Fr), as well as the Studs' exciting young sires Vadeni (Fr) and Erevann (Fr). Godolphin, too, offers a reduction with many of those ready to carry on racing.” As we noted in recently browsing the upcoming December Sale at Tattersalls, American prospectors generally target such opportunities because they want to introduce something different to their broodmare bands. While few commercial programs in the U.S. are truly walking the walk, when it comes to turf bloodlines, nobody can deny the increasingly lucrative horizons opening on grass (and synthetics). But a sale like this does offer another, residual opportunity: mares with American backgrounds, which would not perplex or frighten off commercial shoppers if “repatriated” to a catalogue page in America. It might seem perverse to go all the way to France to import the kind of horses that saturate the domestic market, especially given the extra costs nowadays. But the fact is that such horses might well fall between the cracks: between, that is, the notoriously insular European shoppers and the Americans in town precisely because they want to diversify. There are, for instance, five daughters of Justify in the catalogue. These include the 3-year-old Just Before[217], who won a couple of small races in Ireland before being retired with a cover by St Mark's Basilica. She's a daughter of Gagnoa (Ire) (Sadler's Wells), the dual Classic-placed sibling to G1 Derby winner Pour Moi (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}). Gagnoa is now advancing in years but has produced a few accomplished types, notably Ancient Rome (War Front), who missed a Group 1 by a head as a juvenile. Ancient Rome's sister Etoile herself won a Group sprint as a youngster and is since the dam of No Nay Mets (Ire) (No Nay Never), triple stakes-winning juvenile sprinter in the US a couple of years ago. Another 3-year-old, Misty Quality [130] (Quality Road) has an internationally resonant page. She is a minor winner in France, having been exported from Book I of the Keeneland September Sale as a yearling, and offers a conduit to an outstanding Coolmore family: she's out of triple Group 1 winner Roly Poly (War Front), herself a sister to the top-class sprinter U S Navy Flag out of the aristocratic Classic winner Misty For Me (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). American Pharoah | Sarah Andrew Perhaps still more resonant is the family behind the unraced 6-year-old Pretty Milanova [163], an American Pharoah half-sister to the four-time Group 1 winner Peeping Fawn (Danehill), who has produced a couple of very talented runners. Their mother Maryinsky (Ire) (Sadler's Wells) was a Group 1-placed half-sister to none other than blue hen Better Than Honour (Deputy Minister). Pretty Milanova arrives with a cover of corresponding glamor in Lope De Vega (Ire), so that puts her next owner €200,000 ahead of the game just in terms of a covering fee. Another tremendous Coolmore family is accessible through the 4-year-old Mo Tambourine, who showed little in a light career but is by Uncle Mo out of a full-sister to a series of elite performers including the Classic winners Minding (Ire) and Tuesday (Ire): they're all by Galileo (Ire) out of the G1 Coronation Stakes winner Lillie Langtry (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}). Minding is the dam of the classy Henry Longfellow (Ire) (Dubawi {GB}), so the quality is repeating. Mo Tambourine arrives with a first cover by Metropolitan (Fr). A somewhat older mare who may nonetheless have some extra mileage is the 11-year-old Spooky Woods [237], a daughter of Justify's damsire Ghostzapper with a couple of black-type placings to her credit. That's because her half-sister by Astrology is now the dam of GI Pacific Classic winner and young Hill 'n' Dale stallion Arabian Knight; while her daughter by Speightstown included a couple of stakes wins when going on a streak of four last winter. She's in foal to Big Rock (Fr). Good Business [443} might also warrant consideration, at the age of 10: in foal to Onesto (Ire), she's a Speightstown half-sister to a multiple graded stakes performer in Compelled (War Front)-and their dam was a Dynaformer half-sister to none other than Malibu Moon (A.P. Indy). Other stallions to have come out of this family, either side of the water, include Temple City. This page could well find extra traction in Kentucky. Freddy Powell, director-general at Arqana, acknowledges that the catalogue's emphasis is turf. “But that doesn't just mean performers that can go on and race on the grass circuits in America, but also proper turf bloodlines: the best damsires in Europe, and mares in-foal to the best European stallions,” he says. “We have quite a few high-profile fillies to race on, with 40 rated 90 or more.” By way of example, Powell mentioned the juvenile Half Sovereign (Fr) (Ten Sovereigns {Ire}) [195], recent winner of the G3 Prix Miesque; the multiple stakes-placed Ginalyah [205] (Chachnak {Fr}); German Classic-placed Nyra (Ger) (Isfahan {Ger}) [187]; and the Aga Khan Studs sophomore Ashikidah (Fr) (Belardo {Ire}) [11], lately beaten just a head in a field of 18 for a Listed prize at Longchamp. Powell also noted that the dams of Gewan (GB) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}), Zavateri (Ire) (Without Parole {GB}) and Balantina (Ire) (Ten Sovereigns {Ire})-all 2-year-olds Group 1 winners in 2025-each passed through this auction. (In fact, Gewan's dam is a half-sister to Ginalyah.) “The Deauville Breeding Stock Sale is unique,” Powell declares, in summary. “Sort of, 'Find your next Grade I winner in an atmosphere of compulsory fun!' A combination of great bloodstock and a wonderful lifestyle experience.” The post Deauville ‘De Rigueur’ in December for American Enthusiasts appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

After winning a maiden route at Keeneland Oct. 10 by 20 lengths, Spendthrift Farm's Further Ado makes a highly anticipated stakes debut Nov. 29 against six juvenile rivals in the $400,000 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (G2) at Churchill Downs.View the full article

Doc Sullivan romps by 5 1/2 lengths in the $121,250 Thunder Rumble division of the New York Stallion Stakes Series Nov. 22 at Aqueduct Racetrack, before Khali Magic surprises in the Staten Island division a few races later.View the full article

Sunday, Kyoto, Japan, 15:40, MILE CHAMPIONSHIP-G1, ¥347,520,000, 3yo/up, 1600mT Field: 1-Toshin Macau (Jpn) (Big Arthur {Jpn}), 2-Champagne Color (Jpn) (Duramente {Jpn}), 3-Water Licht (Jpn) (Drefong), 4-Magic Sands (Jpn) (Kizuna {Jpn}), 5-Ascoli Piceno (Jpn) (Daiwa Major {Jpn}), 6-Gaia Force (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn}), 7-Cervinia (Jpn) (Harbinger {GB}), 80Kangchenjunga (Jpn) (Big Arthur {Jpn}), 9-Elton Barows (Jpn) (Deep Brillante {Jpn}), 10-Lavanda (Jpn) (Silver State {Jpn}), 11-Off Trail (GB) (Farhh {GB}), 12-Win Marvel (Jpn) (I'll Have Another), 13-Long Run (Jpn) (Victoire Pisa {Jpn}), 14-Lebensstil (Jpn) (Real Steel {Jpn}), 15-Jantar Mantar (Jpn) (Palace Malice {Jpn}), 16-Docklands (GB) (Massaat {Ire}), 17-Soul Rush (Jpn) (Rulership {Jpn}), 18-Wide Latour (Jpn) (California Chrome). Click here for the complete field. The post Black-Type Analysis: Jantar Mantar Faces Docklands In Mile Championship appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Darley stallion Space Blues sired his second stakes winner on Saturday, with the victory of Drago Blues in the Listed Premio Campobello-Memorial Paolo Ferrario in Milan. Space Blues already has G1 Phoenix Stakes hero Power Blue, as well as the group-placed Do Or Do Not and Bourbon Blues, and listed-placed Polly Shelby from his first crop. In midfield from the bell, the 67-25 chance inched toward the head of affairs on the turn. Wanda (Cracksman) had cut the corner into the homestretch, and it took the Giovanni Vittorio Vitale-owned colt the length of the lane to get past and win by a neck. Bred by Plantation Stud, the colt cost 50,000gns as a weanling at Tattersalls, and passed through that same ring when sold for 45,000gns out of the October Yearling Sale Book 2. Offered for sale once more, he was purchased by Marco Bozzi Bloodstock for €12,000 out of the Arqana May Breeze-Up Sale. The first foal out of the stakes-placed Simplicity (Casamento), the colt was previously third in the G3 Premio Guido E Alessandro Berardelli. His dam has a yearling filly by Showcasing that was sold to Manor House Stables and SackvilleDonald for 70,000gns out of the October Yearling Sale Book 1. The post New Stakes Winner For Space Blues In Italy appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Chevotel Racing's Orion Queen handled the heavy Milan turf and ran away with the G3 Premio St Leger Italiano in Italy on Saturday. The daughter of Sea The Moon was trying the 3000-metre distance for the first time. Setting off in a tracking second several paths off the fence, the 11-1 shot kept a close eye on last year's winner Taany (Teofilo) for the majority of the race. The field stayed well off the fence when rounding the bend into the home straight, and, despite covering more real estate than the pacesetter, the chestnut had dead aim on that foe leaving the bend. Taking over in early straight, the homebred ground her rivals into submission and crossed the line 3 1/4 lengths to the good of Ismahane (Isfahan) in second. It was another eight lengths back to Moon Wolf (Intello) in third, with Taany staying on for fourth by a length. The homebred won on debut at Nimes in February and added another win to her ledger four starts later at Hyeres over 2500 metres in June. After a second-place run at Divonne in August, she rebounded back at Lyon Parilly in a Class 3 handicap in September and warmed up for this with a second-place effort at Saint-Cloud in another handicap on October 26. Pedigree Notes Orion Queen is the 37th stakes winner for her sire, who stands at Lanwades Stud. She is also his 21st group winner and second from a Declaration Of War mare after GIII Honeymoon Stakes heroine Selenaia. Oriental Queen won thrice in a three-year career and also has the three-year-old filly Oriental Princess (Galiway), who has yet to place. Her granddam claimed the Listed Prix Urban Sea and is a half-sister to stakes winner Orion Star (Sternkoenig), who placed in both the G1 Grand Prix de Paris and in the G1 Prix du Cadran. Saturday, Milan, Italy PREMIO ST LEGER ITALIANO-G3, €70,400, Milan, 11-20, 3yo/up, 3000mT, 3:35.70, hy. 1–ORION QUEEN (FR), 123, f, 4, by Sea The Moon (Ger) 1st Dam: Oriental Queen (Fr), by Declaration Of War 2nd Dam: Orion Girl (Ger), by Law Society 3rd Dam: Okocha (Ger), by Platini (Ger) 1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN. 1ST GROUP WIN. O-Chevotel Racing. B-Chevotel de la Hauquerie (Fr). T-Manon Scandella Lacaille. J-Antonio Orani. €27,200. Lifetime Record: 9-4-2-1, €61,724. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. 2–Ismahane (Ger), 117, f, 3, Isfahan (Ger)–Identity (Ger), by Manduro (Ger). 1ST BLACK TYPE. 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (€90,000 Ylg '23 BBAGSEP). O-Darius Racing. B-Gestut Karlshof (Ger). T-Henk Grewe. €11,968. 3–Moon Wolf (Fr), 127, h, 7, Intello (Ger)–Diyakalanie (Fr), by Ashkalani (Ire). (€45,000 Ylg '19 ARQAUG). O-Stephane Wattel, JP Menville, Ecurie Ascot & Ecurie de Spa. B-Haras de Sainte Gauburge (Fr). T-Stephane Wattel. €6,528. Margins: 3 1/4, 8, 1. Odds: 11.30, 8.40, 8.25. Also Ran: Taany (Ire), Jolly Jumper (Ire), Almenkonig (Ger), Thine Be The Glory (Ire), Oberer (GB), Nonna Vanda (Ire), Maestro Del Mar (Fr). The post Orion Queen Rules In The St Leger Italiano 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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Champion filly Porta Fortuna still has “plenty of racing left in her” according to trainer Donnacha O'Brien, who admitted that he will be experiencing “mixed emotions” when his stable star goes through the ring at the forthcoming December Mares Sale at Tattersalls. The daughter of Caravaggio made it to the racecourse only once in 2025, when registering her eighth career win in May's G2 Lanwades Stud Stakes at the Curragh, but she has been given a clean bill of health by O'Brien ahead of her appearance during the second of the two Sceptre Sessions on Tuesday, December 2. “She's always been a very, very sound filly throughout her career, other than the little tweak that we got before Ascot [after her win at the Curragh],” said the trainer. “She put on a good bit of weight when we gave her the break and we decided that we probably weren't going to get her to the [G1] Matron [Stakes] in time. When that happened, the owners took the decision just to keep her in light work until the sales and keep her happy and healthy, so that's what we're doing.” He added, “She's in a great place now. She's a filly that potentially has plenty of racing left in her if that's what her new owners want. She's a special filly. She's achieved a lot already and possibly can achieve much more in the future.” Certainly, whether she races again or not, Porta Fortuna has already put together a CV which identifies her as one of the most decorated fillies to have raced in Europe in recent years. A four-time winner as a juvenile, including the G3 Albany Stakes and G1 Cheveley Park Stakes, she returned the following the season with a runner-up finish in the G1 1,000 Guineas, before winning at Royal Ascot for the second year in a row when beating five individual Group 1 winners in the G1 Coronation Stakes. “My highlight of her racing career so far would probably be the Coronation in Ascot as a three-year-old,” O'Brien said of that memorable success. “It was probably the highest-quality race she ran in. She impressively beat the Cartier Champion Two-Year-Old filly in Opera Singer and obviously to do it on the biggest stage in Royal Ascot is very special.” Porta Fortuna herself was crowned the Cartier Champion Three-Year-Old Filly at the end of 2024, having followed her Coronation victory with two further top-level triumphs in the Falmouth Stakes and Matron Stakes. The horse of a lifetime for a partnership consisting of Taylor Made's Medallion Racing, Steve Weston, Dean Reeves and Barry Fowler, Porta Fortuna was bought privately after making a successful debut at the Curragh in the colours of her owner-breeder, the O'Brien family's Whisperview Trading Ltd. She is the first foal out of Holy Roman Emperor's Too Precious, who is a full-sister to the triple Australian Group 2 winner and G1 Australian Cup runner-up Numerian, as well as the G3 Prix Francois Boutin third Montesilvano. This is also the family of the G1 St Leger-winning sire Milan and the Derby and Irish Derby hero and prolific sire Kahyasi. O'Brien continued, “She was one of my picks of our homebreds when she was a yearling. Then, when she came in, she was very professional and did everything very nicely from day one. She was always a very precocious two-year-old. “She's a very good-looking filly. She's not massively tall, but she's very scopey. She has great length and she's a great mover. She has a very strong backside on her, strong neck, shoulder and back – she's an impressive specimen. “She's built probably like a fast filly, but she stretches out to a mile easily and probably would get a little bit further if we ever tried it. She looks quite like her sire Caravaggio in that sense.” Characterising his stable flagbearer for the past three seasons, O'Brien added, “There's no badness in her. She's just a very hardy filly. She loves her work and loves everything she does. “I'm really looking forward to the Tattersalls Sales and seeing her selling. Obviously, it'll be mixed emotions but, at the same time, it'll be exciting to see who's there and trying to buy her. Hopefully, it'll be a night to celebrate her, her career and everything she's achieved. It'll be exciting to find out what the next chapter holds for her.” The post Sceptre Sessions Headliner Porta Fortuna “In A Great Place” And Could Race On appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

If i was on a salary such as those referred to, above, I'm sure I could find some ideas. And, as pointed out in another thread, if funds hadn't been wasted on stakes for the last two decades instead of attending to track maintenance, we may not be quite so badly off.

Turquoise Bloodstock paid €65,000 for La Renegada (Lope De Vega) to top the second and final day of the Goffs November Breeding Stock Sale on Saturday. The four-year-old daughter of multiple listed winner Against Rules (Aussie Rules), herself third in the G3 Prix Belle de Nuit, is in foal to Group 1 sire Make Believe. Sold as lot 1353 by Ballylinch Stud, she is kin to Nice To See You (Siyouni), a multiple stakes winner in France and second in the G3 Prix Edmond Blanc. Fourth dam Mill Princess (Mill Princess) is responsible for star Antipodean sire Last Tycoon, who won a trio of top-flight races in the Northern Hemisphere before his sire success Down Under. Qasida (Nathaniel) (lot 1366) caught the eye of Midfork Bloodstock to the tune of €60,000. A winner in France, the five-year-old is carrying to Farhh and was consigned by Ballynure Park Stud. Her granddam claimed the Listed Grand Prix du Nord, and left stakes winners Hooking (Lope De Vega) and Le Destrier (Le Havre), with the former also second in the G3 La Coupe. Under the third dam is G1 Prix du Cadran winner Mille Et Mille (Muhtathir). Triple winner Scorchio (Kuroshio), a half-sister to G3 World Trophy Stakes hero Thunderbear (Kodi Bear), brought €46,000 from Maria Robertz. Part of the Ballybin Stud draft, lot 1309 is pregnant to Kodi Bear. The four-year-old counts Grade III winner Rosinka (Soviet Star), who placed in both the GI Flower Bowl Invitational Stakes and GI Spinster Stakes, as her second dam. She was sold to Barry Lynch for €24,000 out of the Goffs Autumn HIT Sale last year. At the close of trade on Saturday, 70 lots had sold from 94 offered (74%) for a gross of €685,200 (+54%). The average was €9,789 (+25%) and the median was €7,000 (+40%). Two lots made north of €50,000 compared to none on the same day in 2024. Overall, the two-day sale grossed €12,117,700 (+7%) for 265 sold from 322 offered (82%). The average fell 10% to €45,728 and the median rested at €20,000 (-9%). There were 10 lots that sold for €200,000 or more this term (12 last year). Additionally, 32 lots reached the six-figure mare compared to 28 in 2024. Beeby Reflects After Strong Five Days “Exceeding expectations,” said Goffs Group chief executive Henry Beeby of the five-day stand. “A key Goffs mantra and one we are pleased to have delivered on countless occasions over the last six days. So many vendors and consignors of both foals and mares gave positive feedback on the sale which delights the dedicated Goffs team as we exist to serve those that place their trust in our service. “In my comments at the conclusion of the foal sale I highlighted the frenzied demand from start to finish and would only add that such vibrancy was largely driven by the swathes of pinhookers who flock to Goffs November every year whether the yearling season has been good, bad or indifferent. They are an amazing group of hard working, committed men and women who are the epitome of accentuating the positives in everything and we are in their debt. It is our hope that they will choose Goffs when they come to reoffer as the Orby and Premier sales provide a vibrant and strong marketplace at all levels whilst the Goffs Customer Loyalty Scheme provides a distinctive and significant USP to vendors. “Our Breeding Stock Sale also delivered positive returns for large numbers although at a lower level today. Yesterday's top lot is a clear case in point of exceeding expectations as she realised double several pre-sale valuations, and she was far from alone in that achievement. “Once again Kildare Paddocks played host to a truly international group of buyers with the leader board reflecting the global appeal of the Irish thoroughbred at Goffs following the efforts of the Goffs Purchaser Attraction team and our friends at Irish Thoroughbred Marketing. Year after year this sale is the gateway to the world for Irish breeders and we are grateful for their ongoing support as, in common with every category at every sale, we recognise we are nothing without the horses. That said, I admit that we will be frustrated to see some high-profile Irish horses selling elsewhere in the coming weeks when we know, without any doubt, we would achieve the best price for them as we have done on so many occasions. It is, of course, for us to make the case and I can only state that we will not rest in our endeavours as we have supreme confidence that Goffs November is the measure of any sale in the world for both foals and breeding stock, and our track record proves it. “Finally, our thanks to all who have contributed to another superb week at Goffs. Vendors, purchasers, grooms, suppliers, and the wonderful Goffs team of which I am proud to be a part.” The post La Renegada Leads The Way On Saturday, As Goffs November “Exceeds Expectations” appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

What he said.

5th-AQU, $85k, Msw, 2yo, 1m, 2:10p.m. ET After heavy winds cancelled the card he was originally going to debut on last week, OTTINHO (Quality Road) looks to make it second-try lucky for his unveiling here. Most notably out of Quiet Giant (Giant's Causeway), who is famous for her son, Hall of Famer Gun Runner (by Candy Ride {Arg}), the bay is a Three Chimneys homebred who goes postward for the barn of trainer Chad Brown. Drawn in the middle of the field, he enters this race with a healthy worktab and plenty of foundation. Flavien Prat gets the call on the 5-2 morning line shot. Ottinho hails from the same female family as GISW Funtastic (More Than Ready) and MGSW Lull (War Front). Drawn to the far inside on the rail is his stablemate, Up Yonder (Curlin). A $500,000 KEESEP full-brother to GSP Urban, the son of Curlin is out of SP Moonlight Sky (Sky Mesa), herself a half-sister to champion 3-year-old filly MGISW Abel Tasman (Quality Road). There are several noteworthy names beneath the third dam, such as the likes of MGSW & GISP Grand Sonata (Medaglia d'Oro); SW Snow Face Princess (Midshipman); GSW Ballerina d'Oro (Medaglia d'Oro); and 12 other black-type earners with five at the graded level. St Elias homebred Enforced Agenda (Liam's Map) goes out for conditioner George Weaver. The colt is the first foal for Heart of Hope (Tapit), whose half-sister is MGISW Cavorting (Bernardini), the dam of MGISW Clairiere (Curlin). Chad Summers signed the ticket for $550,000 at the Keeneland September sale for Baltimore (Quality Road). Owned by Al Gold and trained by Summers, the colt is out of Canadian MSW Win The War (War Front), who Hinkle Farms acquired for $750,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Fall Mixed sale in 2020. This mare is a half-sister to GSW Dixie City (Dixie Union) and the dam of current sire Unified (by Candy Ride {Arg}). TJCIS PPs 10th-CD, $120k, Msw, 2yo, 6 1/2f, 5:24p.m. ET Drawn to the farther side of the field, Wall Street (Into Mischief) heads out of the shedrow of trainer Brad Cox for this unveiling. A full-brother to MGISW Patch Adams (Into Mischief), the pair is out of a stakes-winning half-sister to GISW American Patriot (War Front) and GSW Parchment Party (Constitution), who was recently seen contesting the G1 Melbourne Cup in Australia. Beneath the third dam is multiple Group/Grade I winner Well Armed (Tiznow) as well as a half-sister to that one who would ultimately created the branch of the family that yielded MGISW Cyberknife (Gun Runner). That female family is also responsible for the likes of GISW Played Hard (Into Mischief) and MGSW Mr. Money (Goldencents). To his inside is Three Chimneys homebred Exhibition (Munnings), who is out of a half-sister to GISW Twirling Candy (Candy Ride {Arg}). The Steve Asmussen-trainee fired a bullet two works back and has been a familiar face on the worktab since arriving in Kentucky from New York. His immediate neighbor in the gate is $560,000 KEESEP grad Mob (Gun Runner), whose dam is a full-sister to GISW Callback (Street Sense)–herself mother to GSP Tommy Bee (Medaglia d'Oro). The third dam's claim to fame is GI Kentucky Derby winner Super Saver (Maria's Mon) and graded stakes winners Cyrus Alexander (Medaglia d'Oro) and Brethren (Distorted Humor). TJCIS PPs 8th-DMR, $60k, Msw, 2yo, f, 6 1/2f, 7:02p.m. ET A fleet of well-related and well-connected fillies will be unveiled here, led by $550,000 FTSAUG buy Nimah (Gun Runner) for trainer Bob Baffert. The half-sister to SP My Indy (English Channel) posted a bullet work of 40 Nov. 13 at Santa Anita and comes in with a strong tab under her belt. To her outside are Mesmerize (Maclean's Music) and Lerios (Into Mischief). The former is a half-sister to MGSW Soothsay (Distorted Humor) and hails from the extended female family of Triple Crown winner Justify (Scat Daddy). The latter is the first to the races for GISW Paris Lights (Curlin) for owner/breeder Spendthrift Farm and she also hails from the extended family of MGSW & GISP First Captain (Curlin). TJCIS PPs The post Nov. 23 Insights: Half to Gun Runner Unveiled in New York, Full to Patch Adams Debuts at Churchill appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Sam Agars MY WISH - R7 (7) A class act who should prove far too good for this lot Jay Rooney SUNNY Q - R2 (9) Just fell short of making it back-to-back wins last start, can go one better Owen Goulding BLAZING WUKONG - R10 (14) Two big runs off massive weights this season and carries 18lb less here Phillip Woo NOISY BOY - R4 (3) Gets right trip to salute after two encouraging runs over a mile trip Shannon (Vincent Wong) MADE FOR LIFE - R1 (11) Trials have suggested he looks hard to beat...View the full article

Did you have a share in the two Des's jackpot? I also remember amongst others on the organising panel were Wendy Cooper and Lisa O'Sullivan. I don't know if it was ever repeated but, it should have been.

With a successful defence of his title in Saturday’s A$1 million The Illawarra Mercury Gong (1600m) at Kembla Grange, Kiwi-bred marvel Gringotts has now won five races worth $1 million or more within the space of barely a year. The Per Incanto gelding’s back-to-back victories in The Gong sit alongside his dual triumphs in the A$3 million The Big Dance (1600m) at Randwick, plus the most prestigious victory of his career in the A$1 million Gr.1 George Ryder Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill last March. The Ciaron Maher-trained Gringotts has now had 25 starts for 12 wins, nine placings and more than A$6.1 million in prize-money. Saturday’s second win in The Gong came courtesy of a daring ride from Nash Rawiller and a lion-hearted performance from Gringotts under 61kg. Persistent rain throughout the afternoon sent the Kembla Grange track down to a Heavy8, and the majority of the field in The Gong came wide around the home turn in search of better ground. But Rawiller saved ground and stayed closer to the inside, and Gringotts suddenly moved from midfield to be right in the firing line early in the run home. Most of the action was down the outside of the straight, headed by second favourite Estadio Mestalla under 56kg, but Gringotts refused to be denied. He kept finding, kept lifting, and clawed his way in front to win by just under half a length. “You’ve got to back your judgement,” Rawiller said. “But when they all went to the outside so quick, I thought, ‘Oh my god, I’ve done the wrong thing here.’ “But I was still confident that if I stayed patient, went through my gears and kept the horse building under me, that there’d be something there at the 100m. There really had to be. “He’s a warrior. He’s such a good horse. I really loved that win. It was very thrilling.” Gringotts was bred by Totara Park Stud and is by Little Avondale Stud’s outstanding sire Per Incanto out of the Savabeel mare Miss Bluebell. Herself unraced, Miss Bluebell is a daughter of Operavega, whose half-sister Vegas Showgirl was the dam of the legendary Winx. Miss Bluebell is the dam of two stakes performers from three foals to race. The other is Millefiori, who has won seven races for Te Akau Racing and placed in the Listed Great Easter Stakes, while the other full-sibling to Gringotts, Dan Vegas, was sold to Hong Kong. Gringotts was offered by Archer Park in Book 1 of Karaka 2021, where Kasa Bloodstock bought him for $100,000. He was re-offered at the Ready to Run Sale later that year, but failed to meet his $450,000 reserve. He was subsequently sold privately after winning a trial at Waipa for Simon and Katrina Alexander. View the full article

A bold move before the home turn carried Kiwi-bred gelding Regal Lion to victory in Saturday’s A$130,000 John Duff & Co The Lester (2025m) at Cranbourne. Previously a Listed Ipswich Cup (2150m) winner and Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) placegetter, Regal Lion headed into Saturday’s Benchmark 84 handicap after running sixth at Moonee Valley on October 3 and at Caulfield on October 15, winning the Mortlake Cup (2000m) on November 1 and finishing fourth in last Sunday’s Moe Cup (2050m). The seven-year-old was a $17 longshot for Saturday’s race, but upstaged his higher-rated rivals under a well-judged ride from Jamie Mott. Regal Lion initially settled in third-last, but began to stride forward from the 800m mark. He pounced before the home turn, taking a clear lead as he came into the straight. Despite beginning to tire in the closing stages, Regal Lion fought hard all the way down the straight and held on to win by half a length. “I was hoping to be a bit closer in the run, but I would have had to use him to do so,” Mott said. “The tempo was genuine and I was hoping midway that they would slacken more and make it easier for me to do it, but they didn’t really slacken that much. I waited until just before the bottom corner to get moving. “This horse was in good order for today and the team has done a great job with him. When I asked for an effort, he really responded well and for a good 700m too. It was a good effort. “He was very genuine. He kept kicking, and every stride I asked for a bit more and he kept giving and giving. He was out on his feet late, the last few strides, but it was a good solid tempo and I got going quite early. He did a tremendous job.” Local horseman Gavin Bedggood is the third different trainer of Regal Lion, who has now had a total of 46 starts for five wins, six placings and A$599,163 in stakes. “I thought I had been too soft on him in between Mortlake and Moe,” Bedggood said. “I watched him walk around the yard last week and he looked soft. I thought he should have run second and he blew out the last 100m. He’s a good-doing horse, so the back-up didn’t hold too many concerns. Richie, his strapper, rides him every day and had been happy with him all week. He had a little jump this morning, which we do quite often leading into a run. He was quiet coming in, had a good blood on Thursday and all the indicators were there for a good run. “I thought he might have been a pair closer in the running, but I told Jamie to ride him where he was going to travel. He won an Ipswich Cup in a similar fashion and he won a Mortlake Cup recently. He doesn’t have a great change up speed, but if you throw the cat amongst the pigeons and if you get run down late, that’s on me. I would rather you get going 100 yards too early than 100 yards too late and wait for other horses to get going.” Originally trained by Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman for owner-breeders Barbara and Carl McComb, Regal Lion was a maiden winner at Rotorua in November of his three-year-old season. Subsequently partially sold to OTI Racing, he stepped up when third behind Asterix and La Crique in the 2022 New Zealand Derby, while he was also runner-up in the Gr.2 Tulloch Stakes (1850m) before relocating to the Annabel Archibald stable and winning the Ipswich Cup in June of 2023. By ill-fated former Novara Park stallion Jakkalberry, Regal Lion is the first foal out of the Congrats mare Red Delight, who has subsequently produced four foals by Shocking including the three-race winner Liquid Fire. Unplaced on the track, Red Delight is a granddaughter of Group One winner Danglissa and closely related to big-race performers Unite And Conquer, Profiteer and Sweet Redemption View the full article

Yes I remember the Ellerslie expo. Was an exhibitor there and actually got Telecom sponsorship as they were about to embrace the internet. Bevan Allen the owner of Red Tempo I think was the organiser.

The stars are out to play at Sha Tin on Sunday, with a trio of Group Two races as we look ahead to December 14’s Longines Hong Kong International Races. Ka Ying Rising, Voyage Bubble, Romantic Warrior and My Wish are the feature horses on a day to savour for every racing fan. There are 10 races on the card and Owen Goulding is in the hot seat to provide an extended rundown of his selections. Race 1 – Class Four BOCHK Cross-Border Services Handicap (1,200m) All’s Well can be forgiven a poor run...View the full article

For starters I want you at the helm of a racing club. That's just for starters, oh and also triple the number of Grand Tours , that'll get us about a quarter of the way there.

No that was the first hospitality option sold out. The Soft Food Suite.