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By Taku Umanga · Posted
.... and they dropped the NZ fee to make him eligible for the Harness 5000 methinks -
By Wandering Eyes · Posted
To a degree, 2025 was the year of the gelding. Those who won at least one Group or Grade 1 race included Calandagan, Ka Ying Rising, Romantic Warrior, Goliath, Cicero's Gift, Lazzat, American Affair, Half Yours, Caballo De Mar, Candelari, Ethical Diamond, Never So Brave, Rebel's Romance, and Trawlerman. Indeed, three of those were among the top-ten-rated horses in the world. There is no doubting the popularity and resonance of some of those names above but to what extent should we prioritise promoting the sport over protecting the breed, or vice versa? Since 1904 no gelding has been allowed to run in the Derby, and that ban extends to the 2,000 Guineas, St Leger and Commonwealth Cup in Britain, the Irish 2,000 Guineas, Irish Derby, Poule d'Essai des Poulains, Prix du Jockey Club, Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, Deutsches Derby, German 2,000 Guineas, Derby Italiano, and Premio Parioli (Italian 2,000 Guineas). It is naturally a topic which divides opinion, and that has long been so. One hundred years ago, Mr J Reid Walker submitted a letter to the Bloodstock Breeders' Review on the subject. He wrote, “I cannot help thinking that racing would be even more interesting than it is if more horses were added to the list than at present. Geldings retain their temper, soundness and form much longer and are more useful for leading work, whereas the entire in many cases loses his temper altogether, and requiring as he does, more work, there is a greater strain on his legs…Even if retained as a stallion and sent to stud, he is, unless a high-class horse, generally a drug in the market, and frequently sold for an old song.” A century on, we have asked some knowledgeable members of the bloodstock community one simple question: should geldings be allowed to run in Group 1 races? Here are their thoughts on the matter. John Hammond, racing manager and former dual Arc-winning trainer “I don't think that you should ban them from all Group 1 races because some of the mythical horses over the years, Australian, American and so on, have been geldings. “Make no mistake, it does improve horses. I think it's an advantage because they'll be a bit lighter so they tend to need less work and it's easier to keep them sound. It also makes them more willing compared with the colts, who, when they get to four or five, tend to put on the handbrake a bit. “It's a bit difficult to give constructive arguments because none of us really know the consequences of it. It's a bit like moving the Derby from the Wednesday to the Saturday. The thinking was that so many people can't go to the races on the Wednesday so it should be on the Saturday, then anybody can go to the Derby. And actually, it's been an absolute disaster, but the original idea behind moving it has a certain logic to it. “Personally, I think they should probably let them run in the Arc and in all Group 1s apart from the Classics.” Kirsten Rausing, breeder and stallion owner, Lanwades “My view on this is well known. I know the counter-argument is that if colts were not gelded, then they would perhaps not run in so many races but, of course, the counter-counter-argument is that if we were all running in the same ballpark, i.e. if these races were only, as they used to be, open for full, entire colts, then horses who had temperament problems and so on would be sorted out. “We are well aware of the scarcity of stallions already at stud in, for example, Britain and Ireland. Their number is dwindling further and we are now below 100 active thoroughbred stallions in Britain. Most of these 100 would cover only a very limited number of mares each. All of this makes for a further concentration of thoroughbred mares being bred to perhaps two dozen stallions, at most, with the very significant implication for the thoroughbred herd inbreeding coefficient this carries. “We are in definite need of more stallions at stud – and thus more stallion candidates winning good races.” Anna Kerr, chief executive, The National Stud “I think the answer is that there are plenty of Group 1 races for all to run in, and conditions are in place for a reason. Sourcing stallions to stand at stud is not an easy business, and the Classics in particular provide that gauge of each generation's ability and ranking which then feeds into where they fit in that year's roster of stallions going to stud. “It is always important to question if things should remain or change, however I would be wary of unintended consequences.” Patrick Cooper, bloodstock agent and racing manager “Yes, because we have got to look after the sport and the sport requires the best to meet the best. And anything that diminishes that takes away from the spectacle of horse racing. It's that simple. “The guy who goes to Ascot to see the two best horses running against each other doesn't give a monkey's whether it's a mare, a colt or a gelding. He just wants to see Calandagan against City Of Troy, or whoever it happens to be. “I'm quite happy to have the outliers like the Derby and the Arc as a sop to the purists, if you like. But to be honest, it's the same argument I have with the Irish Derby. We have got to force the horses to race against each other, and Cheltenham has been wrecked because they've allowed them to avoid each other. “The other question is that if the colts can't beat the geldings, are they deserving of a place at stud? I'm sure you've heard the great quote of Alfred Vanderbilt, who owned Native Dancer. He had hundreds and hundreds of horses and as he was quoted as saying 'If I had gelded every single colt I ever owned, I would have made one mistake.' “You'll always get stallions like Havana Grey, for example. The breed will look after itself but we've got to look after the sport. We need Liverpool against Manchester United.” Jim McGrath, broadcaster and breeder “The last gelding to be placed in the Derby was in 1895, and they were banned in 1904, but why were they banned? I can't find a good reason. “In top races in America, i.e. the Kentucky Derby, they can run. They were banned for a little while, but reinstated. Winners of the Kentucky Derby have included geldings, and that hasn't damaged the race. “I remember asking a vet about what gelding actually does, apart from the bleeding obvious. And of course, when you castrate a horse, you're taking away his capacity to produce testosterone, but it's not just that. Testosterone is present in males and females, but in the male particularly it's very important, and when you take it out of a male, you are creating an imbalance. You're interfering with chemicals naturally in the body. “So there are consequences for interfering, and in horses, in particular, it affects the epiphysis – the end of the bone splints, basically. We've heard the phrase, 'I cut him, threw him in the field and gave him time.' Why? Because they grow bigger. “Now, why did they stop doing it to humans? To preserve choirboys, in Italy in particular, before the Middle Ages, they had them castrated. And they stopped the practice because a lot of them got rickets – they grew tall and stooped a bit. “The physical alterations that happen when you castrate a horse include that they are lighter and, of course, they are easier to train from a temperament perspective. “So you've got to ask yourself, is that a good enough reason for them not to run? Because in some cases, they might be at an advantage. But, to me, the Kentucky Derby argument counteracts that. “Most times, geldings enhance races because they're representative of the crop. If you're trying to make a stallion and you want breeders to use a horse, how is he completely proven if in some of your most important races, your benchmark of excellence, [geldings] are taken out of the equation? “At heart, I am a traditionalist, but because I worked at Timeform, and we're all boring nerds that work there, through Phil Bull, Reg Griffin, Geoff Greetham, Dave Newton – the senior men that we all have learned from down the years – they demanded of us to present some reasoning. But I can't really see a reason [for geldings not to run], and the idea that it's protecting the breed is a bit highfalutin. In essence, really, it's poppycock.” Stuart Williams, trainer and breeder “I'm a bit of a traditionalist, I'm afraid. The reason we had parades and such for the Group 1 races was to test the stock to see if they had the temperament to be good stallions. “By the trainer's admission, horses like Calandagan almost certainly wouldn't have been Group 1 horses without the advantage of being geldings. “I understand the argument for the best horses competing being good for racing and creating interest, etc. In my opinion, a handful of races restricted to colts and fillies or mares doesn't impinge too much on the excitement of the overall programme.” Felix Lepeudry, breeder, Elevage de Tourgeville “The geldings are wonderful as they go on through time. Cirrus Des Aigles ran against several generations of stallions and it allowed us to compare them. Some horses run in the Arc with a 100/1 chance because they weren't gelded, meanwhile some well-rated geldings aren't considered and end up running abroad. It would make a lot of big owner-breeders think again before selling. “In trotting, the best horses stay on the track for five or six years and the public gets attached to them a lot more – and they cover in the meantime but that's another topic!” Kate Sigsworth, breeder and deputy chair of the TBA “In the UK and Europe generally we are struggling to supply enough runners of the right calibre to populate these races. The inclusion of geldings make the races more competitive and, therefore, more appealing to a wider audience, something the sport is struggling with at the moment. “All geldings represent a stallion, a mare and her wider family, so to have them winning and competing in these races does help 'the breed'. “I know how hard it can be for trainers to persuade an owner to geld a horse who desperately needs gelding, even when they can still compete in Group 1 races. A horse should be gelded and not used to be bred from if they are unsound either in wind or limb, have temperamental issues, are not well conformed, etc., but they should not be prevented from attaining the best possible racing career they are able to achieve. “Geldings often have a better quality of life while in training than a colt – if there is available turnout it's easier to turn a gelding out, they can be kept in a mixed barn, they can go out with any string, either at the front or the back, and they are easier to give a holiday and rest, etc. “As a breeder I want colts to be tested against the best horses in the country and/or world, not just against the best colts. By doing this I have a better idea of his racing ability and that I am using the best possible stallion for my mare. If we have a champion gelding I would be looking at his sire/sireline to use on my mare. “The BHA has set up a working group to look at ways of stemming the exodus of quality horses to other racing countries – if we don't allow geldings to compete in Group 1 races then British racing is sending a mixed messages.” The post The Great Gelding Debate: Poppycock or Protectionism? appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article -
By Wandering Eyes · Posted
The President of Unified Door and Hardware Group, L C Racing's Glenn Bennett has grown from a regional, Pennsylvania-based breeding program to a band of 20 which now includes the dam of an Eclipse winner. Bennett, who lives close to Parx and still brings his family to the track for days like the Pennsylvania Derby card and Owner Appreciate Day, often partners with Chuck Zacney's Cash Is King Racing (best known for campaigning MGISW Afleet Alex) along with now-retired trainer Mark Reid who Bennett credits with the genius behind these mating plans. Together, Bennett and Zacney co-own successful young Spendthrift stallion Maximus Mischief who is heavily-supported in Bennett's 2026 blueprint. ADORABELLA, 10, Ghostzapper–Alydorable, by Arch. Due to Forte. Will be bred to Not This Time. L C Racing purchased her for $550,000 from the Fasig-November Sale in 2023 and the dam of newly-crowned Champion Sprinter Book 'em Danno (Bucchero) goes to one of the top stallions in the game in Not This Time. You can't go wrong with him. She nicks really well with him. Her first two foals were MSW Girl Trouble (Fast Anna) and Book'em Danno. Mark Reid, who helps put these breedings together, really liked Not This Time for Adorabella. We're swinging for the fences. BINSKY, 6, Curlin–Retraceable, by Medaglia d'Oro. Due to Mandaloun. Will be bred to Omaha Beach. We acquired her at the Fasig-Tipton June Digital Sale last year for $100,000. Mark [Reid] loved this mare and wanted to get her. She's out of a stakes-winning mare and a half to MSW and GII Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Spring third Another Miracle (American Pharoah). Another one of her half-sisters, Le Moine, is the dam of GSW Alpine Princess (Classic Empire). Her first foal is now a 2-year-old Uncle Mo colt. She's in foal to Mandaloun and then she'll go to Omaha Beach. BLACK MAGIC WOMAN, 9, Uncle Mo–Dazzling Song, by Unbridled's Song. Due to Vekoma. Will be bred to Vekoma. She's the newest one we just bought (for $450,000 at Keeneland January). She's a half to GI Arkansas Derby winner Magnum Moon (Malibu Moon). She has a Guntie yearling and Mark loves her match with Vekoma so she's likely to go back to him. BOUQUET OF GOLD, 11, Medaglia d'Oro–Bouquet Booth, by Flower Alley. Will be bred to Maximus Mischief. The first of four mares that I'm sending to Maximus this year. She wasn't bred this year just because it got so late last year. She's already produced a two-time stakes winner by him in Mailata along with another stakes filly in Jeanne Marie (Speightster). Mailata's going to the Gotham to try and get on the Derby trail. Plenty of back class in the family with MGISW Riskaverse (Dynaformer), Horse of the Year Havre de Grace (Saint Liam) and MGISW and sire Tonalist (Tapit) under her third dam. DR B, 8, Liam's Map–Boleyn, by Proud Citizen. Due to Constitution. Will be bred to Life Is Good. Chuck and I raced this mare and she's a nice one, won the GIII Go For Wand Stakes twice and was also placed in the GII Honorable Miss Handicap twice and the GIII Vagrancy Stakes once. Her dam placed in the GII Demoiselle Stakes and she has two stakes-winning half-siblings. She produced her first foal in 2025, a Flightline colt, and now she's due to Constitution. She'll go to Life Is Good. Maximus Mischief | Spendthrift Farm EXPECT WONDERFUL, 12, Tiz Wonderful–Holiday Peace, by Harlan's Holiday. Due to Maximus Mischief. Will be bred to Maximus Mischief. She's another one that I'm partnered up with Mark on and she's a big-time nick to Maximus. She's already produced GIII Withers Stakes winner Uncle Heavy (Social Inclusion) who also ran fourth in the GI Pennsylvania Derby and MSP Beyondexpectations (Peace and Justice). She has a yearling by Omaha Beach and she's due to Maximus this year too. FOOLERY, 8, Distorted Humor–Firefly, by Tapit. Due to Medaglia d'Oro. Will be bred to Maximus Mischief. She's in foal now to Medaglia d'Oro after producing a Maximus Mischief filly in 2025. And she's going back to Maximus. Her dam is a half to the mother of several Group 1 winners (G1 Darley Yorkshire Oaks winner Seventh Heaven {Ire} {Galileo [Ire]) and G1 Emaar Middle Park Stakes winner Crusade {Mr. Greeley). MAINSTAY, 7, Astern (Aus)–Vero Amore, by Mineshaft. Due to City of Light. Will be bred to City of Light. The half-sister to champion 2-year-old filly and $3.4 million FTKNOV broodmare buy Vequist (Nyquist). She placed in the GIII Schuylerville Stakes and her first foal, a Candy Ride (Arg) colt is now 3-years-old. She also has a Golden Pal 2-year-old and an American Pharoah yearling. She's due to City of Light and she'll go back to him. NIKKI M P, 6, Into Mischief–Allegheny Angel, by Medaglia d'Oro. Due to Munnings. Will be bred to Epicenter. This is a mare I partnered with Mark on. She had her first foal last year (a colt by Corniche) and she went to Munnings this year. Her half-sister (Whoa Nellie {Orb}) is a multiple stakes winner and twice placed in graded company and her second dam is a Grade I winner (Awesome Humor). QUIET VIRTUE, 14, Quiet American–Stage Dream, by Theatrical (Ire). Due to Maximus Mischief. Will be bred to Maximus Mischief. This was one of Mark's horses that I bought off of him. She already has stakes runner by Maximus in Maximus Meridius who has won over $600,000. And Flyin Hawaiian (Maximus Mischief), who ran in last year's GI Hopeful Stakes, was also from her. So she's another that's going back to Maximus. The post Mating Plans: LC Racing appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article -
By Wandering Eyes · Posted
Can Little Paradise follow in the footsteps of some of the best Classic Mile winners and progress to superstardom? On the strength of his explosive victory on Sunday, when he overcame a horrific run in the first half of the straight to dispose of what many rated as a strong crop of four-year-olds with ease, it’s hard to say no. Stepping up to the mile for the first time, Jimmy Ting Koon-ho’s stable star was in danger of being the hard luck story of the race when he was second last on the turn...View the full article -
By Wandering Eyes · Posted
Last year’s Australian Guineas winner Feroce (NZ) (Super Seth) is set return to racing this Saturday at Caulfield, where his trainer Dom Sutton is hopeful he can re-affirm his Group One form of 12 months ago. Sutton explained on Saturday that Feroce was likely to run first-up in the Gr.3 Kevin Heffernan (1400m) in a race that is likely to dictate which path the four-year-old takes this autumn. “He trialled on Friday (at Flemington) so we want to make sure he’s come through that trial,” Sutton said. “We haven’t made any set plans whether we go back to Group One level or stay in Group Two or Group Three level. “He’s come back really well, and he did show us plenty in the spring so we’re hopeful. The beginning of the spring was really good for him as he ran a personal best when third in the Group One (Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes) and then we got things wrong tactically in the Toorak. “After that, we went to Sydney (for the Golden Eagle) and it rained the morning of and the ground was horrific and he never went a yard in it. “But he’s shown that he is up to that level and if he runs well on Saturday then he’d probably go to the (G1) Futurity Stakes two weeks later.” Sutton said he carried some confidence that Feroce can compete successfully at Group One level this autumn as the subsequent record of Australian Guineas winners suggest. Subsequent Group One record of Australian Guineas winners (past 10 years): 2024 – Southport Tycoon (went on to win the Gr.1 Manikato Stakes) 2023 – Legarto (won Gr.1 Herbie Dike Stakes) 2022 – Hitotsu (win Gr.1 ATC Derby) 2021 – Lunar Fox – no more Group One wins 2020 – Alligator Blood (won six more Group Ones) 2019 – Mystic Journey (won inaugural $5 million All-Star Mile) 2018 – Grunt (won Gr.1 Makybe Diva Stakes) 2017 – Hey Doc (Won Gr.1 Manikato Stakes and Gr.1 Winterbottom Stakes) 2016 – Palentino (won Gr.1 Makybe Diva Stakes) 2015 – Wandjina (ran 2nd Gr.1 All Aged Stakes) View the full article
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