Galloping Chat

i thought pre war,the election was going to be pretty straghtforward with the current 3 party governmant being given a bit more time to get things back on track. but i feel trumps war has sown more seeds of  discontent in middle new zealand and swinging voters. . i've always been a swing voter. I feel nz first is the one  who can appeal best to many swinging voters this year..People who are sceptical of the motives of elites,they believe the're self serving,suspicious of institutions,especially after covid,culturally conservative,like its maori language week, but if your going to talk a language 85% of the population can't even talk a sentence in,at least put subtitles up....and nz first i think speak to the economically modest.Theres more of them now. National does have a problem with having chris luxon as their leader .Hes competent,but theres a bloke with all those houses whose party gave landlords all those tax breaks as soon as they won the last election. That will be brought up over and over and its going to hurt national and so it should.National speaks to the diminshing number of homes owners who may have another investment home,farmers.It'll lose part of the swing voter group it got last time. Act,i think they won't do as well this year.They've got a good enough message,but i just don't think the swing voters are  going to identify much with them this election cycle. labour party ,they make the right  noises to make out they support the bottom end and they do try harder than national,but lots of those people at the bottom end aren't concerned about climate change,co governance ,gender, and don't really want to vote labour,but labour will pick up a proportion of the swing vote more because voters see them slightly better than national as looking after their needs. both major parties alientated the vaccine hesitant and they won't forget. so i think its going to be close and i think how much support nz first get from the swing voters will determine whether we have a national/act/nz first or a labour/greens /maori party government. so,who's going to win will really come down to how much meida coverage peters and nz first are able to generate. like in the last week i've seen kieran Maculty giving speechs on tik tok.And hes hitting home runs each time.Like if labour can keep getting that type of publicity in the mainstream media as well,or simply run ads like that,they will win. But if nz first can get there message out there and get good social media coverage,then they will drag national into government. so i think its too early to be making a bet at the moment,but we'll get a much better feel for who's going to win closer to election time.

12 races with bigger fields would have been fine, less travel, less cost across the board, I'm sure they can still pay the power bill going past 10 0 cock  lol. One has to wonder how long harness racing continues in the CD or Palmy specifically, meetings cut in half, no dogs now, must be just a matter of time.

by Jessica Martini & Christina Bossinakis LEXINGTON, KY – The Keeneland September Yearling Sale stormed out of the gates with a power-packed, record-setting opening session Monday in Lexington. “It was a great opening session,” Keeneland President and CEO Shannon Arvin said when the dust had settled at the end of Monday's session. “It was really fun to see. I don't remember seeing that many people in the sales pavilion in seats since we sold the interest in Flightline in '22. There was really lots of energy, lots of excitement, lots of interest certainly in the sale, and the results were incredible.” For the session, 97 yearlings sold for $71,770,000. The average of $739,897 was up 13.3% from the 2025 opening session, and the median of $625,000 was up 16.3%. Both figures were also up over the cumulative Book 1 section of last year's auction, which produced an average of $664,447 and a median of $550,000, and were the highest figures ever produced at any session of the September sale. “When you see confidence in the buyers and the sellers, there is just a feeling that we're in a good market,” said Keeneland's Vice President of Sales Tony Lacy. “It's a good, healthy market, and it allows breeders to feel confident about what they're doing.” Lacy continued, “The quality of stock that's being bred right now–we heard that this was probably the strongest group on the sales grounds in a long time. We had 18 $1-million plus horses for the first time since 2006. So it's a real encouraging stat to watch those numbers come through.” The 18 horses who sold for $1 million or over included three who brought over $2 million. Leading the way was a son of Gun Runner who sold from the Four Star Sales consignment for $2.8 million to RTM Racing. Seven of the day's top 12-priced offerings–including the top two–were by Gun Runner.   “It just was really strong, and again, very diverse,” Arvin said. “Thirteen different consignors sold 14 of the top lots, and there was a very diverse buying bench again. There was lots of Japanese participation, lots of domestic participation. We saw some new faces. So it really was encouraging, and what we were hoping to see today.” From a catalogue of 184, 140 yearlings went through the sale ring Monday with 43 failing to meet their reserves for a buy-back rate of 30.71%. It was 20.90% a year ago. “People are not letting them go, as we've seen in the last couple of years where they value their horses and they're happy to run them if they feel like they're not getting enough, and that's again, it's very healthy,” Lacy said. “Obviously, the RNA rate was a little higher than last year, but again, there was a little protectionism in there.” The final Book 1 section of the Keeneland September sale begins at 1 p.m. Tuesday. Book 2 sections begin at 11 a.m. Wednesday and Thursday. Following a dark day, the auction continues through Sept. 26 with sessions beginning at 10 a.m. Kentucky Dreaming: Tagermeen Racing Goes to $2.8 Million for Gun Runner Colt When Mahmud Mouni signed the ticket at $2.8 million to acquire a colt by Gun Runner (hip 84) on behalf of Tagermeen Racing Monday at Keeneland, he said the goal was clear. “Our dream is for Kentucky,” Mouni said. “We bought the horse for the Kentucky Derby.”   The yearling was consigned by Four Star Sales on behalf of his breeder, Three Chimneys Farm. He is out of Twenty Carat (Into Mischief) and his 3-year-old full-sister French Blue was third in this year's GIII Santa Ysabel. The pedigree could get another update this Friday when his 2-year-old full-brother Bletchley makes his debut at Belmont Park. That colt was purchased by M.V. Magnier and White Birch Farm for $1.55 million at last year's Keeneland September sale and is now trained by Chad Brown. “The full-brother with Chad Brown is amazing,” Mouni said, while adding hip 84 will also be heading to the Brown barn. Mouni, signing on behalf of the Tagermeen Racing partnership as RTM Racing, also paid $1 million for a colt by Not This Time (hip 115) from the Brookdale consignment. The seven-figure result continued a big day for Four Star Sales, which also consigned a $1.1-million son of Justify. “The reserve was a million, so it was quite fair,” Four Star's Kerry Cauthen said of hip 84. “I think we all thought we would possibly get two [million], but it was a great sale for everybody. It's like all of them, you don't ever want to expect something like that, but it was always a possibility.” Twenty Carat has a weanling colt by Gun Runner and was bred back to the Three Chimneys stallion this year. @JessMartiniTDN $2.3-Million Gun Runner Colt Tops Coolmore, Brant Purchases Coolmore's M.V. Magnier and Peter Brant's White Birch Farm went all in on Gun Runner Monday at Keeneland, acquiring three seven-figure yearlings by the Three Chimneys stallion. Leading the trio was a $2.3-million half-brother to multiple Grade I winner Colonel Liam (Liam's Map) (hip 116) who was consigned by Darby Dan Farm. Coolmore was co-owner of champion and 2024 GI Breeders' Cup Classic winner Sierra Leone and now stands that son of Gun Runner at Ashford Stud. They also stand Gunite (Gun Runner).   “We were lucky enough to have Sierra Leone and he was exceptionally popular at stud this year,” Magnier said. “And Gunite is going very well.” Of hip 116, Magnier said, “All the lads liked him, Peter Brant liked him. It's a great pedigree from a very good farm. We haven't decided where he is going to go, but he will stay in the U.S.” Hip 116 was bred by GRS and Phillips Racing Partnership and the Phillipses involvement in the pedigree goes back generations. His second dam is multiple Grade I winner Wonder Again (Silver Hawk) and the Phillipses have owned the family back to his fifth dam. “It was credit to the team and the pedigrees and generations of Darby Dan horses,” said John Phillips. “This colt has done nothing but improve ever since he was a baby. My expectations are always modified because you can come in here and get disappointed. And on occasion elated. Today, I am elated. The whole crew is happy. They deserve the credit, not me.” Asked what it was like watching the colt sell, Phillips said, “My heart was pounding, to say the least. It's exciting. You get to watch them grow up. In January, I never would have guessed that we would have gone to those levels, but it's a great pedigree, and it's been in our family for five generations now.” Also Monday, Magnier and Brant purchased a Gun Runner half-brother to Nyquist (hip 17) for $1.4 million from Hinkle Farms and a Gun Runner colt from the Lane's End consignment (hip 98) for $1.5 million. 'The [market]'s very strong,” Magnier said. “Keeneland has done a great job, like they always do. They have brought a very international group of people here. The sale is going really well. It's fantastic.”  @JessMartiniTDN Japan Strikes Late for Not This Time Colt When the last yearling cataloged in the main section of the September sale entered the ring Monday, it was clear that something was about to happen given the assembly of buyers still found both on the front and back end of the Keeneland pavilion. Escalating past the $1-million mark in a flash, Hip 181, a colt by Not This Time, ultimately brought $2.1 million from J. S. Company, buying on behalf of Japanese-based Yosuke Imafuku. The 18th yearling to bring over seven figures on Day 1, the colt was consigned by Gainesway, who also bred the colt. In attendance at Keeneland on Monday, Yoshito Yahagi, internationally known for training reigning Japanese Horse of the Year and U.S. Champion Older Horse Forever Young (Jpn) (Real Steel {Jpn}), will also train the newest acquisition. “It was a very nice pedigree and a very nice conformation,” said Yahagi through a translator. “Although a bit expensive. [It was] more than expected.” The Mar. 14 foal is out of SW and GSP Danzatrice, already responsible for GI Toyota Blue Grass Stakes winner Tapit Trice (Tapit), who was a $1.3 million purchase at this venue in 2021. The 14-year-old mare is also a half-sister to champion juvenile filly Jaywalk (Cross Traffic). The colt represents the third $1-million plus yearling out of the mare, who was secured by Gainesway for $105,000 at OBS April in 2014. Also during Monday's session, Imafuku purchased Hip 112, a filly by Not This Time out of Allende (Candy Ride {Arg}), herself a daughter of dual champion Ashado. Consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency, the filly brought $850,000. Imafuku campaigns Japanese Group 3 winner Realize Sirius (Jpn) (Poetic Flare {Ire}), who was runner-up to Lovcen (Jpn) (World Premiere {Jpn}) in the G1 Satsuki Sho Japanese 2000 Guineas in April. Lovcen, who returned to win the G1 Japanese Derby on May 31, will attempt to complete the Japanese Triple Crown in the G1 Kikua Sho in October. Relatedly, earlier in Monday's session, Hip 12, a colt by Justify, went the way of Haruki Sugiyama for $1.1 million. The Japanese-based horseman, who also trains Lovcen, indicated the colt is expected to head to Japan. Consigned by Four Star Sales, the May 27 foal is out of Australian champion sprinter and G1 Blue Diamond heroine Samaready (Aus) (More Than Ready), making him a half to champion juvenile and G1 Golden Slipper hero Shinzo (Aus) (Snitzel {Aus}). —@CBossTDN $1.9-Million Justify Half-Brother to Winchell Ron Winchell went to $1.9 million to acquire a half-brother by Gun Runner to Triple Crown winner Justify (Scat Daddy) (hip 47) from the Glennwood Farm consignment Monday at Keeneland. The chestnut colt is out of Stage Magic (Ghostzapper) and, like Justify, was bred by John Gunther of Glennwood.   “He was a very nice colt and from a very nice family,” Winchell's racing manager David Fiske said. “The Gunthers have a reputation for raising very successful horses. We had some people who wanted to go partners on him with him. We will see how that goes.” Fiske added, “Steve Asmussen will train him. Hopefully, he will turn out.” Winchell and Fiske did their bidding a few rows behind Gunther, who congratulated them on the purchase as the ticket was being signed. “I said I would love to stay in for a piece of him, for a quarter,” Gunther said afterwards. “If I could do that, that would be fantastic. He said he would get back to me.” Gunther saw a lot of similarities between the colt and his famous brother. “He was such a beautiful colt and so smart,” Gunther said. “He is just going to develop a lot more. If you give him a couple months, he will look just like Justify.” Between Justify's success on the track and so far in the breeding shed, his half-brother has all the makings of a promising stallion prospect and it's a path well-traveled by Winchell with both leading stallions Gun Runner and Tapit. “That's kind of what we do,” Fiske said. “Or, it's what we hope to do. We like all things Gun Runner, all things Tapit.” Gunther admitted it was tough to watch the colt sell Monday. “I wanted to keep him,” the breeder admitted. “I have been having sleepless nights for two weeks. I wanted to keep him so much. So many times, I wanted to scratch him. I think Justify is doing so well now, I think he could be the leading sire in Europe in a couple of years. And if all that happens, by the time this colt is a 3-year-old, one stakes win and he's a stallion.” @JessMartiniTDN Flightline Colt Provides Quick Return for Bentleys Gregory and Caroline Bentley, generally active in the breed-to-race sphere, made a less usual appearance at the sales Monday and came away with a home run when selling a colt by Flightline (hip 160) for $1.7 million to J.S. Company. Consigned by Paramount Sales, the yearling was out of Chasing Summer (Uncle Mo), a mare the Bentleys purchased with the foal in utero for $320,000 at the 2024 Keeneland November sale.   “They said if I saw something that I liked that I should call Joe Cassidy, who is their farm manager,” Paramount's Gabriel Duignan said of the purchase of Chasing Summer. “I've had a long relationship with Joe. I called him and told him, 'I found a lovely mare, if you're interested.' He said, 'Give me 10 minutes,' and then he called me back and said they'd try to buy her.” Chasing Summer is a half-sister to champion Accelerate (Lookin At Lucky). The yearling is her first foal. “He is a beautiful horse,” Duignan said of the bay colt. “I knew he was extremely popular and everyone was on him. He's a fantastic-looking horse with a fantastic temperament. He's the real deal. And Jim Moloney at Dunlane Farm did a fantastic job prepping him.” Of the Bentleys, Duignan said, “They breed to race and every now and again, they will peel one off to sell. They thought this was one that might be good to sell and they were right.” @JessMartiniTDN Gun Runner Colt Brings $1.5M from Coolmore With the session in full swing, team Coolmore and Peter Brant's White Birch Farm stepped up to the plate again to secure a son of Gun Runner for $1.5 million. Offered as Hip 98, the bay colt was consigned by Lane's End on behalf of Alpha Delta Stables. “He's been a really special colt,” said Lane's End's Allaire Ryan. “We foaled and raised him for his breeder, Jon Clay. And he's been a forward and impressive individual from Day 1.”   The final foal out of Forest Wildcat's Wild Forest, the bay is a half-brother to MGISW Paradise Woods (Union Rags), SW Forest Chatter (Dixie Chatter) and Paradise Bay (Blame), the dam of GISW Reef Runner (The Big Beast). This is the family of GSW and sire Mr. Greeley. “He's just one of those horses that carries himself with so much class and composure,” added Ryan. “Even as a baby, very laid back, kind of a cool dude. And he showed himself so consistently up here. He's really well received by the market and everybody's very pleased with the results.” —@CBossTDN Half to Grade I Winner Faiza Goes to the Lows For $1.5M Continuing the tour-de-force of Not This Time, a colt by the Taylor Made sire realized $1.5 million from Jacob West, acting on behalf of Robert and Lawana Low. Offered as Hip 61, the chestnut colt was consigned by Airdrie Stud, who also bred the colt. Brereton Jones bought the mare for $33,000 at the Keeneland November Sale in 2016.   “The stallion needs no introduction. He's one of the best stallions we have here in America, arguably in the world,” said West. “The cross has worked in the past. He was a big, beautiful horse that looked like he handled the stress of the sale well. “He comes from an incredible breeder, Airdrie Stud. You have a lot of confidence going in and buying off of those guys. Mr. and Mrs. Low were in love with him. “We kind of stretched a little bit, but with as competitive as the market is, it's only going to get more competitive as the sale goes on. But we felt like we got a good one.” Faiza (Girvin), a $90,000 Fasig-Tipton July yearling purchase in 2021, flourished into a $725,000 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic juvenile purchase by Donato Lanni for Michael Lund Petersen. The Grade I winner was purchased by Godolphin for $4 million at the Fasig-Tipton November Sale in 2023. Dam Sweet Pistol (Smart Strike), a half-sister to Grade II scorer Thousand Words (Pioneerof the Nile), is out of GSW Pomeroy's Pistol (Pomeroy). “I loved him,” added West. “I told Mr. Low he was one of my favorites in the sale. And when he went over there and Mr. and Mrs. Low saw him, they were in agreement.” Following all the drama that swirled around the formal announcement that West would be parting ways with longtime client Repole Stable, West was nonplused. “I've been working for him for 14 years and it's 14 years that I could never repay him for. And hell, he was the first person I saw when I walked in here and he gave me a big hug,” said West about Mike Repole. “I don't know why people are making it out to be something that it's not, but he knows I love him. He loves me and we're going on about our lives. Obviously, we will still root for him and root for his horses. And I'll still try to buy stallions off of him. So I don't know why it's a big deal. It's not. It's not at all.” —@CBossTDN Airdrie Stud Wraps Early in Book 1, Fires With Not This Time Colt Airdrie Stud had four Book 1 yearlings, all scheduled to pass through the ring on Monday's opening session. By the time Hip 61, a colt by Not This Time, was led out of the ring, the consignor was in good stead, having sold three of four of its offerings, including the team's top seller of the day, who brought $1.5 million from Robert and Lawana Low.   “It's a fabulous price. It means so much to all of us at the farm,” said Airdrie's Bret Jones. “The Lows have been wonderful customers of ours, and I think they've bought a very, very special colt.” Brereton Jones bought dam Sweet Pistol for $33,000 at the Keeneland November Sale in 2016. The Smart Strike mare is already responsible for Grade I winner Faiza (Girvin), who was sold by Airdrie at the Fasig-Tipton July yearling sale in 2021. “The Grade I-producing Smart Strike mare, which are becoming rare. She's obviously been very good to us with Faiza,” explained Jones. “And Not This Time is one of the best stallions that we'll probably ever see. So just everything was in line and he brought a very good price.” During Monday's session, Airdrie sold two addition colts–Hip 29 by Girvin out of Sister Cloudy, who brought $725,000 and Hip 55, a colt by Life Is Good out of Street Mate who brought $425,000. A filly by Mage, out of Sea View Millie (Proud Citizen), RNA'd for $275,000. She is a half-sister to SW and GSP Noted (Cairo Prince). “I sold three of the four and we kept the filly,” said Jones. “I think she will have every chance to do very well for us on the race track.” —@CBossTDN Seeking Gabrielle Continues to Reward Hinkles with $1.4-Million Gun Runner Colt When the Hinkle family purchased Seeking Gabrielle (Forestry) for $100,000 at the 2013 Keeneland November sale, they could hardly have imagined the success they would have with the mare. That success started when the mare's first foal, an Uncle Mo colt who sold for $180,000 as a weanling at the same sale, went on to become GI Kentucky Derby winner and leading sire Nyquist. Seeking Gabrielle had her fourth million-dollar yearling for Hinkle Farms when a colt by Gun Runner (hip 17) sold for $1.4 million early in Monday's first session of the Keeneland September sale. He was purchased by Peter Brant's White Birch Farm and Coolmore's M. V. Magnier.   “That was a wonderful sale for him and we're very pleased,” said Anne Archer Hinkle. “He's a beautiful colt and people recognized it up here. We are grateful and appreciative to Coolmore and Peter Brant who teamed up to buy him. We wish them the absolute best. They are always welcome to come to the farm and give her a pat.” Seeking Gabrielle had a War Front filly sell for $1.75 million at the 2018 Keeneland September sale, a colt by Tapit sell for $2.5 million in 2019, and a filly by Curlin sell for $1.2 million in 2024. “It's a little emotional because I know we aren't going to have that many more to sell out of that mare,” Hinkle said. “And she's been wonderful to us. A really modest $100,000 purchase of a mare has been really transformative for our farm. Early on, we had a lot of offers from people to sell the mare. It's so exciting for our family to have a mare like that on the farm who consistently produces really, really lovely individuals.” Now 19, Seeking Gabrielle is in foal to another 19-year-old in Twirling Candy. “She is bred on a very, very late cover,” Hinkle said. “We bred her in June. We weren't going to breed any more mares, but I said, 'She looks great, let's give her one more shot.' And she is in foal and carrying a colt. We were hoping for a filly, but we do have some fillies from the family from the mare, but the foal she is carrying now may very well be her last foal. She'll obviously always have a home at our farm.” @JessMartiniTDN Uncle Mo Filly Garners $1.4 Million Early at KEESEP Only moments into Monday's opening session, a filly from the final crop of Uncle Mo became the third seven-figure purchase of the session, realizing a $1.4-million final bid from agent Kerri Radcliffe, who was bidding on behalf of Peter and Corin Leidel. Offered as Hip 26, the Apr. 6 foal was consigned by Hill 'n' Dale at Xalapa, agent for St. Elias Stables.   “I bought her for my very loyal clients Peter and Corin Leidel,” Radcliffe confirmed. “The filly was like the Cindy Crawford of a horse. She was absolutely stunning.” Leidel also campaigns Seismic Beauty (Uncle Mo), a winner of three graded stakes, including last year's GI Clement L. Hirsch Stakes and GII Santa Margarita Stakes. The 5-year-old was a $550,000 purchase at this venue in 2022. Radcliffe has also enjoyed success with Uncle Mo previously, having also signed for Dream Tree. That filly, a $750,000 purchase at the Fasig-Tipton Florida Sale in 2017, won five consecutive races during her racing career, including the GI Starlet Stakes. “He also owns Seismic Beauty, who was also by Uncle Mo. We won a Grade I so I have two fillies, both by Uncle Mo. So hopefully she lives up to the others.” The bay filly is out of stakes winner and Grade III-placed Shippy. St. Elias purchased the daughter of Midshipman for $130,000 at Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Yearlings Sale in 2021. “She will go to the same trainer, Bob Baffert,” added Radcliffe. “Hopefully, we can do the same again as with Seismic Beauty.” –@CBossTDN Spanish Star Continues to Reward Schwarzes Andrew Schwarz and his sister Wendy Schwarz-Gilder were planning on slowly building up a quality broodmare band when they purchased the unraced Spanish Star (Blame), in foal to Arrogate, for $275,0000 at the 2020 Keeneland November sale. She was the new operation's second mare and, as it turned out, it was more running from the start than slow burn when the mare's first foal for the Schwarzes was graded stakes winner and Grade I-placed Just Basking. It only got better from there when her second foal for the farm went on to become Grade I winner Kilwin (Twirling Candy). The mare continued to prove her worth when her filly by Cody's Wish (hip 42), consigned by Crestwood Farm, sold for $925,000 to Flying Dutchmen Monday at Keeneland. This followed her Essential Quality colt, who sold for $500,000 in September 2024. “She's absolutely perfect, physically, if there's such a thing in a racehorse,” Schwarz told TDN's Chris McGrath last summer. “Just an outstanding specimen and we had a good feeling already for Blame mares. Our concept was to get quality by concentrating on the physical and the family. You can't have everything, so we concentrate more on those than on race record. And in those terms, she was a standout.” Spanish Star has a 2-year-old filly by Flightline and weanling filly by Twirling Candy. She was bred back to Gun Runner. The post $2.8-Million Gun Runner Colt on Top as Keeneland September Yearling Sale Blasts Off appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. 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A Not This Time half-brother (hip 181) to GISW Tapit Trice (Tapit) brought $2.1-million just two hips from the end of Monday's Book 1 opener at Keeneland September, selling to J.S. Company Ltd. The ticket was signed by Japan's Yoshito Yahagi, the trainer of Breeders' Cup Classic winner Forever Young (Jpn) (Real Steel {Jpn}). Out of a half-sister to champion 2-year-old filly Jaywalk (Cross Traffic), the colt was bred in Kentucky by Gainesway Thoroughbreds and consigned Monday by his breeder. “A very nice pedigree and very nice confirmation,” Yahagi said, while also confirming that the colt would travel to Japan.   The post Not This Time Half To Tapit Trice Japan-Bound After Bringing $2.1 Million appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

FOX's planned coverage of the Jockey Club Gold Cup Stakes (G1) from the new Belmont Park is one of the highlights of this week's racing coverage on TV, radio, streaming.View the full article