Jump to content
Bit Of A Yarn

BOAY Racing News


39,685 topics in this forum

      • Journalists
    • 0 replies
    • 356 views
      • Journalists
    • 0 replies
    • 284 views
    • Journalists

    Opie cooks up century of wins

      • Journalists
    • 0 replies
    • 283 views
      • Journalists
    • 0 replies
    • 232 views
      • Journalists
    • 0 replies
    • 229 views
      • Journalists
    • 0 replies
    • 245 views
      • Journalists
    • 0 replies
    • 232 views
    • Journalists

    Zaila set to resume at Ellerslie

      • Journalists
    • 0 replies
    • 234 views
      • Journalists
    • 0 replies
    • 231 views
    • Journalists

    The Quokka – Waitak Update

      • Journalists
    • 0 replies
    • 197 views
      • Journalists
    • 0 replies
    • 277 views
      • Journalists
    • 0 replies
    • 220 views
      • Journalists
    • 0 replies
    • 239 views
      • Journalists
    • 0 replies
    • 234 views
    • Journalists

    Zaila set for Ellerslie return

      • Journalists
    • 0 replies
    • 293 views
      • Journalists
    • 0 replies
    • 228 views
      • Journalists
    • 0 replies
    • 307 views
      • Journalists
    • 0 replies
    • 252 views
      • Journalists
    • 0 replies
    • 241 views
      • Journalists
    • 0 replies
    • 296 views
    • Journalists

    The Box Seat – April 17

      • Journalists
    • 0 replies
    • 243 views
    • Journalists

    Jimmy starts run for Stradbroke

      • Journalists
    • 0 replies
    • 238 views
      • Journalists
    • 0 replies
    • 331 views
      • Journalists
    • 0 replies
    • 264 views
      • Journalists
    • 0 replies
    • 232 views

Announcements



  • Posts

    • From a small commercial broodmare band, which currently numbers just six mares, Vincent Colbert has had a remarkable amount of success in a short amount of time, breeding Grade I winners Callback and Chocolate Gelato, as well as Grade III winner Shotgun Hottie. The Massachusetts native had success almost right from the start of his breeding operation with the purchase of Quickest (Forest Wildcat) for $40,000 as a 2-year-old at the 2007 Keeneland January sale–three years before her half-brother Super Saver (Maria's Mon) won the GI Kentucky Derby. The bay mare never made it to the races, but she produced Callback (Street Sense). Colbert discussed his 2026 mating plans with Thoroughbred Daily News. QUICKEST (21, Forest Wildcat–Supercharger, by A.P. Indy) Will be bred to First Mission (Street Sense) I picked him because the cross works–Street Sense is Callback's sire–and he's $10,000. The family is cooking with Mob [a first-out 3-year-old winner out of Quickest's daughter Onslaught (Street Sense), Six Speed, and [Callback's son] Page Turner (Jpn) in Japan. She's getting old and this is the last time I will breed her. She will be retired after this. MPEMBA (8, Frosted–Quickest, by Forest Wildcat) Will be bred to Locked (Gun Runner) She is a half to Callback and she is the only female that I still have in the family. She has a 2-year-old by Practical Joke that is selling at OBS this year and shouldn't be missed. She is currently in foal to Domestic Product–physically, I had to go to him. She is going to Locked at Gainesway. I wanted to do a foal share with Gun Runner, but I got shot down with that. Locked, as a freshman sire, $35,000 is a great price point for him. The connections are really good. To me it was a no-brainer for her. ALLIANNA (11, Flat Out–Elusive Royalty, by Elusive Quality) Will be bred to Violence (Medaglia d'Oro) We sold her and then I bought her back privately. I got her back in foal to Maclean's Music and last night she foaled a full-brother to [stakes winner] Coming In Hot. She is going to Violence. It's a good cross, he's a gorgeous horse and I think he's a proven sire for $30,000. He's got Boyd, Forte, Volatile, Mullikin, Obliteration. Why not? FUNDAY SUNDAE (5, Palace Malice–Special Treat, by Candy Ride {Arg}) Will be bred to Maximus Mischief (Into Mischief) She is a half-sister to Chocolate Gelato (Practical Joke). She had a few little issues, so I didn't race her. I bred her to Timberlake last year pretty much just because he was a son of Into Mischief and she's going to Maximus Mischief this year. For $20k at Spendthrift, so now I get invited to the breeders' party in September. GIBBET (11, War Front–Cross, by Mighty) Will be bred to Essential Quality (Tapit) I own her with my cousin Jim Connor. She is currently in foal to Tapit Trice. We picked him last year because he's just a gorgeous horse and my cousin Jim is a lot like Dave Portnoy, he only wants to breed to gray stallions. This year we are going to Essential Quality. He has [Jerome Stakes winner] My World on the Kentucky Derby trail and I think The Puma is running this weekend at Tampa [in the Sam F. Davis Stakes]. He was a dynamite racehorse from a deep family. We got a good price on him from Darley. I enjoy doing business with Darley. I think Kate is great. And they throw me swag. Swag is very important. SHANGHAI TARIFF (11, Shanghai Bobby–Star White, by Naevus) Will be bred to Johannes (Nyquist) She was a fast filly who raced a lot, but her babies haven't done that good for me at the sales. I am sending her to Johannes. Number one because he's by Nyquist and two, the female family, that first dam, Cuyathy (Congrats) is cooking. Every one of her babies has had black-type–well not every one–we might find out on Saturday if the current one will as well. Soaring Angel (Knicks Go) is entered in the Sweet Life Stakes at Santa Anita Saturday. Plus, it was only $10,000. Jacob West purchased Chocolate Gelato as a 2-year-old, so I figured I would throw him a bone and help him get his new career [at Claiborne Farm] off to a good start. The post 2026 Mating Plans: Vincent Colbert appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article
    • It would have been understandable had Pierre Gasnier felt daunted by the task at hand when he succeeded Georges Rimaud as manager of the French studs for the Aga Khan family at the start of 2025. But then, so eventful a year did it out turn to be, it was probably for the best that he didn't have much chance to stop and weigh up the enormity of his new role. For a start, this week brought with it the one-year anniversary of the death of His Highness Aga Khan IV, who became one of the most successful owner-breeders of the modern era after taking control of the family's bloodstock interests upon the death of his father, Prince Aly Khan, in 1960. The loss of Aga Khan IV was a hammer blow to all of those who worked for him, as well as instilling in them a determination to continue the methods that had been successful for so many years. “Very badly, as you can imagine,” Gasnier says of how the tight-knit team at the Aga Khan Studs was affected by the death of its leader. “We started the year in bad way, because there are people who have been working at the Aga Khan Studs for so long that, when the news came about the loss of His Highness, they were very much heartbroken. “But we still had to do our job and to look after the horses in the best way possible – the way he would have liked us to do it. We did that and, thankfully, nature played in our favour.”     Certainly, events on the racecourse in 2025 could not have worked out much better for the team at the Aga Khan Studs, now operating under the guidance of Aga Khan IV's daughter, Princess Zahra Aga Khan. Daryz (Sea The Stars), winner of the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, and Classic heroine Zarigana (Siyouni), who was successful in the Poule d'Essai des Poulains, were among the leading lights in the famous green and red silks, but star billing must go to Calandagan. The son of Gleneagles was recently crowned Longines World's Best Racehorse for 2025, having registered four straight Group 1 victories in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, Champion Stakes and Japan Cup. “The horses went all year from strength to strength, better than we expected. It was amazing, really,” says Gasnier. “If I sum up the emotions around the year that happened, I think the fact that we're a small team, working very closely with Princess Zahra and her family, makes it all the more special and amplifies the emotion. “I will never forget the first time that I met her. She kept telling me that the objective and the goal was to race to breed, which is something that needs to be mentioned because it's very special nowadays. Every foal we produce will be going at one stage to one of our trainers, which means that we know the family extremely well, and it's special because you're going full circle.” Gasnier is indebted to that small team at the Aga Khan Studs for their guidance and support ever since he first joined, having initially served as Rimaud's assistant for two years. “Very well – I think, anyway!” he says of how he's settled into the position held by Rimaud for 25 years before him. “I'm extremely lucky to have the team that I work with. I owe special thanks to Nemone Routh [director and French racing manager], Pat Downes [manager of the Irish studs] and, of course, Princess Zahra. “They worked with His Highness the Prince Aga Khan IV for many, many years, so they know the operation very well and they can teach me and guide me every day. I'm also surrounded by very good people on the farms. All of the advice is very important to me, because I have plenty to learn still, so I'm very lucky that they were there before I came.” Of his two years working with the fountain of challenge that Rimaud must have been, he adds, “It was a short period of time when you think about it, because you could spend a lifetime learning from a man like him. He is a true professional and a very passionate breeder. He's a man of great presence, intelligent, extremely rigorous and liked by everyone. “He taught me to always show respect towards the people and the staff that we work with, as well as to our clients and always to approach the situation with transparency. Also, patience, because breeding takes time. He kept reminding me that if you make sure every step of the way that the process is done well, it will pay off sooner rather than later. I learned plenty, but I could have learned much more.” Gasnier is also very grateful to another institution in racing and bloodstock circles for giving him his grounding at the coalface of the sport, at a time when he wasn't entirely sure that he wanted to devote himself to a career in racing. “I always grew up with horses,” he says of his background. “My parents always used to keep a couple of mares, especially National Hunt, to breed from. My brother, who is younger than me, was also a National Hunt jockey. So, you can imagine that I spent most of my weekends as a child touring the countryside racetracks. “I was following my family, let's say, but I didn't really want to work with horses. I studied Agriculture and Wildlife Protection and, when I was finished studying, I decided I needed to learn English, so I travelled to Ireland in 2010. I arrived in Tipperary and I stayed there for 13 years in Coolmore. That's really when I got the passion and it all made sense. I loved every bit of it. All credit to Mr Magnier and his family. I will be forever thankful to them for their trust.” Explaining how the opportunity to join the team at the Aga Khan Studs came about, he continues, “They were looking four years ago to employ a stud groom at [Haras de] Bonneval and [Haras de] Saint-Crespin to help Mr Rimaud. Obviously, I thought the opportunity was a nice one to consider and we started discussing it. I felt it was something that I shouldn't miss if I wanted to keep learning and building my career in the breeding industry.” Now, a few weeks into his second year as manager of the French studs, Gasnier is understandably optimistic about what the future holds for this most respected of operations, whilst still having to pinch himself to realise that it isn't all a dream. “As a young Frenchman, you're in full admiration of the Aga Khan Studs and the family,” he sums up. “The green and red silks are the most famous on the racetrack for years. It's a symbol of excellence, tradition and, obviously, great success. If you'd told me a long time ago that I would be a part of it, I would never have thought about it. It's a dream come true. “Again, I'm privileged, grateful and deeply thankful to Princess Zahra, her family and all of the team. Going forward, we just have to keep doing what we do. We are in a very good position because our stallion roster is performing at the highest level, led by Siyouni, and we can imagine and hope that we will have more stallions in the next couple of years entering our stallion barn.” He continues, “A special mention must go to Daryz, a son of Sea The Stars who is out of Daryakana, which is a magnificent family. He won the Arc, and he is a horse that is improving and very good-looking. He is a superstar and we really wish for him to continue to do well. We have others that will be coming along, including Rayif, Samangan and some that haven't raced yet but are showing plenty of potential. “Also, our broodmare band is very, very strong, with many young mares in foal to top stallions, so we can be optimistic and still believe that success will keep breeding success.” The post ‘It’s A Dream Come True’ – Pierre Gasnier Still Pinching Himself in Senior Role at the Aga Khan Studs appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article
    • LEXINGTON, KY–Hagyard Equine Medical Institute observed its Founder's Day on Thursday, Feb. 5, with a formal commemoration of its sesquicentennial. The occasion served as the kickoff to a year-long celebration of 150 years of accomplishments and contributions to the equine veterinary field. Hagyard announced plans to honor the milestone through a series of commemorative initiatives and events slated for the coming year. “At 150 years old, Hagyard is in elite company,” Hagyard's CEO Ken Ford said at Thursday's event. “Enduring for 150 years puts us in the same category as businesses such as John Deere, Wells Fargo and Anheuser-Busch. Less than half a percent of businesses in the U.S. make it through 100 years, so to make it to 150 is a remarkable achievement started by our founders. These milestones just scratch the surface of Hagyard's history and legacy.” Hagyard was founded in 1876 by Dr. Edward Thomas Hagyard, who traveled from Ontario, Canada to Central Kentucky and opened the original Hagyard practice with his two sons on East Short Street in downtown Lexington. In 1951, his grandson, Dr. Charlie Hagyard, partnered with Dr. Arthur Davidson and Dr. William McGee to form Hagyard, Davidson, McGee Associates. Twenty-three years later, they broke ground on the current facility on Iron Works Pike, which now sits on 110 acres. In 2004, the business was reincorporated and formed what is now known as Hagyard Equine Medical Institute. Today, the practice employs 65 veterinarians and over 400 support staff. Dr. Luke Hagyard Fallon, DVM, a fifth-generation representative of the Hagyard family recently profiled in the TDN, spoke to the firm's enduring legacy during Thursday's event. Fallon highlighted his family's multi-generational passion for equine care, noting that a sixth generation, including his son and niece, is currently enrolled in veterinary school. “Our mission is to deliver innovative, state-of-the-art equine veterinary care with a deep commitment to our legacy of integrity, compassion and a broader community,” he said. “This is as true today as it was in February of 1876 and we are dedicated to continuing our legacy of enduring passion and unrivaled expertise for another 150 years.” Fallon said that Hagyard has curated several initiatives to celebrate the milestone throughout the year. Chief among them, the Institute has partnered with the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) to introduce the E.T. Hagyard 1876 Scholarship. The program aims to address the shortage of equine veterinarians by reducing the cost of veterinary school for students pursuing the field. “Approximately one percent of graduating veterinarians choose equine practice and of that one percent, nearly fifty percent leave equine practice after the first five years of being out in the job market,” Fallon noted. Keith Kleine, Director of the AAEP's charitable arm The Foundation for the Horse, added, “The equine veterinary profession is currently facing a critical crossroads. The cost of a four-year veterinary school in the U.S. now ranges from $200,000 to $400,000 over the four-year period. Most graduates enter the field with over $175,000 in debt. The challenges we face are real, but they are not insurmountable.” The goal for the E.T. Hagyard 1876 Scholarship is to raise $1.5 million over the next three years to endow the fund, providing three $25,000 scholarships annually. Hagyard intends to continue supporting the fund with the goal of doubling the endowment every three years. Hagyard also announced plans to host a global continuing education symposium during the Keeneland Fall Meet for the institute's extensive alumni network of former interns, fellows and residents. Additionally, Hagyard revealed that a permanent monument will be erected on the Hagyard campus to serve as a lasting tribute to the 150-year milestone. Lexington mayor Linda Gorton was on hand Thursday to present a proclamation declaring Feb. 5, 2026 as Hagyard Equine Medical Institute Day in Lexington. “What started as a small family operation has grown into one of the finest equine medicine institutes in the world, and it's right here in Lexington,” said Mayor Gorton. “Since day one, Hagyard has continued to raise the bar, not just in Kentucky, but for the entire equine industry worldwide.” The post Hagyard Kicks Off Sesquicentennial, Unveols Year-Long Anniversary Plans appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article
    • NEWMARKET, UK — The racing programme in the Gulf region is becoming ever busier, with this Saturday's $1m Abu Dhabi Gold Cup the latest valuable contest to be enter the fray, followed by a double bill next weekend of Qatar's Emir's Sword Festival and the blockbuster Saudi Cup meeting.  The various horses-in-training sales at Park Paddocks have long been a lure for owners from that part of the world, and the final day of the Tattersalls February Sale proved to be no exception, with the top lot, Space Invasion, going the way of Bahrain's Sheikh Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa for 230,000gns. The three-year-old colt from the first crop of Space Blues was bred and raced by Steve Parkin's Clipper Logistics and has won his last two starts at Lingfield under the care of trainer Richard Hannon to earn a rating of 88. Agent Alastair Donald, who conducted the bidding on Shaikh Isa's behalf, said that Space Invasion will be trained by Daniel and Claire Kubler, who are in the middle of their first season training in Bahrain. Donald said, “[Shaikh Isa] is very keen to support Daniel and Claire Kubler, who've had a very good start out there. A couple of the horses we bought at the sale in October have looked pretty exciting for them in Lord Montague and Up The Pace. Bahrain is a very progressive racing jurisdiction and has an exciting future, and Sheikh Isa has been very pleased with the start Daniel and Claire have made there. “There's a flight at the end of February so this horse can get straight over there. The advantage with the Kublers is that they still have their horses in Lambourn, so they can keep him going there and then he can run in Bahrain in March, when there's still a couple more Series races that he'd qualify for. “He's a good-looking horse with ideal fast ground conformation. He's shown a good turn of foot, and the horse he stuffed last time [Sovereign Wealth] made 100,000gns yesterday.” He continued, “He's progressive, well rated and if he wins his next race he becomes a very valuable horse. The trainer [Hannon] was underbidder, and it's always encouraging when they want to keep them. Hopefully he's got a bright future. He looks ideal for Bahrain. “That was at the higher end of our valuation, but when there's a standout horse like this, they can sell well. Horses like this don't often turn up at the February Sale.” Another of the four six-figure lots for this mixed auction came in the form of four-year-old New Bay filly Wilhelmina, an 80-rated dual winner for Ballylinch Stud and partners when trained by Kevin Phillipart de Foy. She is off to the paddocks now, having been bought for 125,000gns by breeders Neil Goldie-Scot and Clare Salmon, and will join their five-strong broodmare band at Apedroc Stud in East Sussex. She will make a very smart addition as Wilhelmina is a half-sister to the G1 British Champions Fillies and Mares Stakes winner Poptronic (Nathaniel). She was bought through Arthur Dobell of Oliver St Lawrence Bloodstock. “She is absolutely beautiful, she is a very sweet filly and we love the breeding with Poptronic,” said Salmon. “We saw her yesterday morning, and as she came out of the box I thought I can't keep a straight face as I really want to buy her.”   Arthur Dobell, Neil Goldie-Scot and Clare Salmon | Tattersalls   The four-time winner and Listed-placed Enfjaar will return to trainer Roger Varian but will race in different colours after being bought from Shadwell for 120,000gns through agent Alex Elliott.  The five-year-old son of Lope De Vega, bred by James Wigan, has a rating of 110 and counts the John Smith's Cup at York among his successes.  Figures rallied through the second session to put the median and average on par with last year, though the turnover dipped slightly to 3,639,000gns. The clearance rate of 83% was achieved through the sale of 204 horses from 246 offered.  At the conclusion of this first sale as managing director of Tattersalls, Matthew Prior said, “The Tattersalls February Sale is undisputedly Europe's premier midwinter sale, and once again we welcomed a typically diverse domestic and international group of buyers to Park Paddocks in Newmarket. While the key metrics fell narrowly short of last year's figures, buyers from more than 20 countries and a turnover in excess of 3,500,000gns represent a positive start to 2026. “We saw the second-highest-priced colt ever sold at this fixture, with Space Invasion realising 230,000gns following an intercontinental bidding duel, while consignments from leading Newmarket-based operations Godolphin and Juddmonte again featured among the highlights of the Tattersalls February Sale. “The sale also featured the Retraining of Racehorses Showcase for the second time, alongside the ever-popular British EBF Stallion Parade, and it was great to welcome such a large crowd to Tattersalls to see former stars of the turf thriving in their second careers. “We now look forward to the Tattersalls Craven Breeze-up Sale, which has an outstanding record in recent years, with graduates including Classic and Group 1 winners Native Trail, Cachet, Hotazhell, Vandeek and Believing, as well as exciting Classic prospects Six Speed and Title Role.”   The post Space Invasion Tops Tattersalls and Heads to Bahrain appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article
    • Aga Khan homebred Ezeliya delivered her first foal on Sunday, according to a post from The Aga Khan Studs on X. By Dubawi, the 2024 G1 Oaks heroine foaled a chestnut Justify filly. She will visit Sea The Stars at Gilltown Stud in Ireland later this year. The G3 Salsabil Stakes-winning daughter of group winner and G1 Irish Oaks third Eziyra (Teofilo), Ezeliya is a granddaughter of the stakes-placed Eytarna (Dubai Destination). The extended family of Ezeliya features G1 Gold Cup heroine Estimate (Monsun), who raced for the late Queen Elizabeth II, among many other talented runners. The post Oaks Heroine Ezeliya Welcomes First Foal, A Filly By Justify appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article
  • Topics

×
×
  • Create New...