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By Wandering Eyes · Posted
Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Friday's Observations features a pricy auction purchase. 16.00 Cork, Mdn, €12,000, 3yo, 12f 25yT Aidan O'Brien trainee HIGHBURY (FR) (Galileo {Ire}) is a full-brother to the stakes-placed Friendly Face (Ire) out of G3 Prix d'Arenberg victrix and G1 Cheveley Park S. third High Celebrity (Fr) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}). Opposition to the €650,000 Arqana August graduate include Marguerite Joyce's Royal Entry (Ire) (Fracas {Ire}), who is a homebred full-sister to G3 Round Tower S. victor Smash Williams (Ire), from the Jim Bolger stable. 14.33 Doncaster, Nov, £10,800, 3yo, 7f 6yT Juddmonte's hitherto unraced STANAGE (GB) (Kingman {GB}), a John and Thady Gosden trainee, is a full-brother to G2 Coventry S.-winning sire Calyx (GB) and Listed Rosemary S. victrix Coppice (GB). His 10 rivals include Andrew Balding-trained Juddmonte debutante Upscale (GB) (Kingman {GB}), who is a homebred daughter of G3 Fred Darling S. winner Dandhu (GB) (Dandy Man {Ire}). 16.10 Sandown, Nov, £20,000, 3yo, 9f 209yT Juddmonte debutante SIYOLA (IRE) (Siyouni {Fr}), another John and Thady Gosden representative, is a homebred daughter of G1 Falmouth S. heroine Timepiece (GB) (Zamindar). She encounters seven rivals in this distaffers' heat. The post 650k Arqana August Graduate Set For Cork Debut 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
Europe swings back into pattern-race action Friday, with Sandown playing host to the G2 bet365 Mile, G3 Gordon Richards S. and G3 bet365 Classic Trial on a seven-race card. Godolphin's emphatic G3 Zetland S. winner Arabian Crown (Fr) (Dubawi {Ire}) lays his G1 Derby credentials on the line and will be confronted by eight in the Classic Trial. The €600,000 Arqana August graduate, who also snagged last term's Listed Stonehenge S., shed maiden status at the Esher venue in July. “Arabian Crown has track experience at Sandown, which is always handy, and we were pleased with his recent racecourse gallop at Newmarket,” said Charlie Appleby. “It's the same situation with a lot of early 3-year-olds as we are trying to find out where the rest of the season lies. We will hopefully be a lot wiser afterwards as to whether he's a Derby horse or not.” Arabian Crown's rivals include G1 Criterium International third Portland (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire), G2 Royal Lodge S. fourth Macduff (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) and stakes-placed 'TDN Rising Star' War Rooms (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}). Three-time G1 Dubai Turf hero Lord North (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) failed in his bid for a fourth straight renewal of that nine-furlong Meydan contest last month and is one of the main contenders for the Mile. Nominees also include 2022's G1 Dewhurst S. third Nostrum (GB) (Kingman {GB}), who ran sixth in August's G3 Strensall S. at York when last seen, and Nurlan Bizakov's Charyn (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), who has a fitness edge returning off a win in last month's Listed Doncaster Mile. Group 2 winners Flight Plan (GB) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) and Poker Face (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) also feature in the seven-strong line-up. This year's edition of the Gordon Richards is an open renewal and includes another Godolphin winner of the Stonehenge and Zetland. Flying Honours (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) has not been on the track since finishing last of 11 in May's G2 Dante and has been gelded in the interim. Trainer Charlie Appleby is looking forward to the homebred's comeback and said, “Flying Honours hasn't run since last May, so there will be some improvement to come from whatever he does here. A mile-and-a-quarter is a good starting point, although we will be looking at stepping him up in trip afterwards. We are hoping for a nice comeback run that we can build on.” The 4-year-old's rivals include G1 St Leger third Desert Hero (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), another to have been gelded since his last run, G2 Princess of Wales's S. victor Israr (GB) (Muhaarar {GB}) and this month's Listed Magnolia S. runner-up Okeechobee (GB) (Time Test {GB}). The post Arabian Crown Set For Classic Trial Test 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 5-year-old gelding Disguisedlimit (Ire) (Mahler {GB}) (lot 25) took pride of place when selling for £150,000 at the Tattersalls Cheltenham April Sale on Thursday. Consigned by Monbeg Stables, he caught the eye of agent Tom Malone with Philip Hobbs and Johnson White after winning a Curraghmore point-to-point on Apr. 24. His dam is a half-sister to Bobs Worth (Ire) (Bog Back), a multiple Grade 1 winner at Cheltenham. He was purchased by Monbeg Stables for €70,000 out of the 2022 Tattersalls Ireland Derby Sale. Monbeg also consigned the second highest lot of the day, lot 13, On The Bayou (Ire) (Affinisea {Ire}), who went to Kevin Ross Bloodstock for £140,000. Related to Listed Prix de Cluny heroine Suprematie (Fr) (Gay Mecene), the 4-year-old gelding also sports a one-for-one record. He prevailed in a Castletown-Geoghegan point-to-point earlier this month. At the close of trade, 28 lots sold (76%) of 37 lots offered for an aggregate of £1,679,000. The average dropped slightly to £59,964 (-1%) and the median was £44,000 (-12%). Tattersalls associate director Mathew Prior said, “It has been a tricky spring and we, alongside our Irish and British point-to-point consignors, have been hostage to the vagaries of the wet weather, but as ever our vendors have produced fantastically talented horses who have been turned out to perfection.” The post Winner Disguisedlimit Tops Tattersalls Cheltenham April Sale 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
Donnacha O'Brien has a lot to look forward to as he launches into his fifth year of training since retiring as a champion jockey in Ireland. The 25-year-old, who operates under the nom-de-course Bawnmore Racing, is off to a fast start already this spring as he had his first 2-year-old winner of the year at Dundalk on April 13 with Usdi Atohi (Ire) (Ten Sovereigns {Ire}) and just this past weekend at the Curragh, his 4-year-old trainee Yosemite Valley (GB) (Shamardal {USA}) claimed the listed Lester Piggott Gladness S. But there is plenty more horsepower in the pipeline back at O'Brien's base in County Tipperary and of course the horse that everyone is asking about is still backstage preparing for her much-anticipated 3-year-old debut. Porta Fortuna (Ire) (Caravaggio {USA}), a top juvenile in 2023 whose victories include the G1 Juddmonte Cheveley Park S., will return to the spotlight for the G1 Qipco 1,000 Guineas at Newmarket on Sunday, May 5. Like many horsemen who attempted to circumvent the temperamental weather over the winter, O'Brien has had to remain flexible while constructing an early campaign for his star filly. He initially considered sending her to the G3 Ballylinch Stud 'Priory Belle' 1,000 Guineas Trial S. at Leopardstown on April 7, but opted to skip the contest due to less-than-optimal conditions and point straight for Newmarket. “The weather has been a bit of a nightmare,” O'Brien admitted. “Just trying to get them on grass and make sure their works all go okay and trying to get them to come into their coats. But Porta Fortuna has strengthened up very well over the winter. She was always quite a long filly, not very tall, so we think she has grown a little bit. She has filled into her frame and strengthened up behind the saddle. I think she's more mature mentally as well, so we're very happy with her.” Porta Fortuna took O'Brien's team and her American owners on a thrilling journey last year. Bought by partners Medallion Racing, Parkland Thoroughbreds, Reeves Thoroughbred Racing and Barry Fowler after her winning debut, the daughter of Caravaggio quickly reeled off victories in the G3 Coolmore Stud Irish EBF Fillies Sprint S. and G3 Albany S. for her new owners and then placed in a pair of Group 1 contests before claiming the Cheveley Park. One of four Group 1 winners O'Brien has already campaigned, 'Porta' has always been a yard favourite having been bred by Donnacha's parents Aidan and Annemarie O'Brien, but the ever-dependable filly also went on to become Donnacha's first Breeders' Cup performer as a trainer. She put in a game runner-up effort half a length behind Hard to Justify (Justify) in the GI Juvenile Fillies Turf at Santa Anita Park. “She's a very special filly in many ways,” O'Brien reflected. “It's a very hard thing for a filly to do, to have that many races and have that long of a year. Her best two performances were arguably her last two races. She's just a super tough, consistent filly and we're really lucky to have her in the yard. We think she's in a good place and we're excited for the year.” When Porta Fortuna's syndicate originally purchased the filly, their plan was to get to Ascot and then bring her to the U.S. But as she put in one breakout performance after another, there became fewer opportunities for her to race in America at the top level so they decided to keep her at her home base until the Breeders' Cup. The situation is similar this year, with only a handful of Grade I races available for 3-year-old turf fillies in the U.S. “Pretty much all of those races are at or over a mile and an eighth,” explained Medallion Racing's Phillip Shelton. “So I think a lot of it depends on how she handles the trip in the Guineas. A mile might be the absolute max she can handle, but there's plenty of pedigree that makes you think she could stretch.” Porta Fortuna's dam Too Precious (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) was a winner going over a mile and another daughter of Caravaggio, Whitebeam (GB), has thrived since shipping to the States and claimed last summer's GI Diana S. at a mile and an eighth. O'Brien also seems to believe that Porta Fortuna should handle added distance. “We'll see how the Guineas goes,” he noted. “We're still not 100% sure what her trip is going to be, but I think she's bred to stay a mile. We'll start her off in Newmarket and depending on how that goes, we're probably going to Ascot whether it be for the Coronation or possibly back to the Commonwealth if we feel that she hasn't really stayed in the Guineas.” Despite Porta Fortuna's upcoming start happening during one of the biggest weekends in American racing with the GI Kentucky Derby on Saturday, May 4, several members of the filly's ownership group will be making the trip across the pond for the occasion. Shelton will be especially busy as he watches another Medallion-owned horse race during the Kentucky Oaks undercard Friday afternoon at Churchill Downs and then boards an overnight flight with the hopes of reaching Newmarket well before Porta Fortuna's performance on Sunday. Porta Fortuna at Santa Anita Park | Horsephotos Medallion Racing is the racing partnership branch of Taylor Made Farm and was created with the goal of taking its investors to the biggest days in racing. Over the past year, Medallion Racing and the other members of Porta Fortuna's syndicate have expanded their involvement both in O'Brien's yard and in European racing at large. This year Medallion Racing, which focuses specifically on fillies, has a pair of 2-year-olds with Paddy Twomey and four juveniles with O'Brien. The half-sister to Porta Fortuna stands out among O'Brien's quartet. Named Sorella Carina (Ire), the daughter of Ten Sovereigns was bought for 400,000gns in Book 1 of the 2023 Tattersalls October Yearling Sale by Avenue Bloodstock, Medallion Racing and M.V. Magnier. She is slated to debut either this Saturday at Navan or on Monday at Naas. The group is rounded out by three more fillies recently named Sharpen (Ire) (Fastnet Rock (Aus}), Fitzroy Gardens (Ire) (Australia {GB}) and Lush Lips (Ire) (Ten Sovereigns {Ire}) who were bought for £200,000, £100,000 and £82,000 respectively. “We tried to buy a balance of horses that we felt like were going to be early, or at least early enough to have an Ascot dream with, and then a couple others that will be later maturing,” said Shelton. In the past, Medallion Racing has focused on purchasing horses that have already won with the goal of bringing them to the U.S., but it appears that Porta Fortuna may have set a new standard for the partnership. Shelton said that their groups' experience at Ascot last year combined with a trip to Ireland to visit O'Brien's yard the following week inspired several members of the syndicate to express an interest in going out and buying yearlings to race in Europe. “Ninety per cent of our horses are in America and all of our partners are in America, but we've had some success with Euro imports,” he explained. “We had 21 partners go over to Ireland and it was a very cool experience. Everyone got to tour Donnacha's yard and I think for a lot of people, they thought it was a way better environment for the horse than being at the track. Donnacha was very gracious with his time and came to dinner with us one night. He gave a lot of access to our partners.” Communication is key for a syndicate group based an ocean away from their horses and Shelton said that this is another factor that has increased their involvement in O'Brien's program. “Every time one of our fillies breezes, I get a video and a voice note,” said Shelton. “He is brutally honest. If the filly isn't doing good, you're going to hear about it. If one has an issue, you'll know. I can share the voice notes to all of my partners and it's not just me recapping a conversation. Our partners can be comfortable hearing the good and the bad.” Medallion Racing and the rest of Porta Fortuna's syndicate are not the only American groups who have found their way to O'Brien. D.J. Stable, Commonwealth Racing and Ocean Reef Racing are all part of a growing list of clientele. “We've been trying to get more owners in the yard and obviously fillies like Porta make it easier,” said O'Brien. “Through her and through different people we've been able to get some American clients which has been fantastic. We're lucky to have them and hoping to continue to expand over the next few years.” Bawnmore Racing, which is based just outside Cashel and is David Wachman's former yard, has its biggest crop of 2-year-olds yet this year and the ambitious O'Brien shows no signs of slowing down. “I think we have about 45 to 50 2-year-olds overall, so a nice mix of some earlier types and some later types,” he said. “Our goal is to continue to grow slowly. We want to make sure we have the right people and facilities to be able to deal with the number of horses. We want to grow in terms of quality as well, which is important. I don't see myself ever having 250 or 300 horses or those kinds of numbers, but we're hoping to gradually grow and we'll see where it takes us.” The post Guineas-Bound Porta Fortuna Spearheads Strong Team for Donnacha O’Brien 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
Bidding has opened on Fasig-Tipton Digital for the “Mensa Flash Sale,” a one-horse online auction of Mensa (Complexity), a debut-winning 2-year-old colt who was the first winner for his freshman sire. Bidding will close Monday, April 29, at 2 PM ET. Trained by Mark Casse for owner D.J. Stable LLC, Mensa won by three lengths going gate-to-wire in his debut at Gulfstream Park April 12. Mensa is scheduled to make his next start in the Kentucky Juvenile S. at Churchill Downs May 2. “Mensa earned a 9 Thoromanager figure in his first-out win, a faster number than Casse-trained champions Classic Empire and Wonder Wheel received in their debut wins in the spring as two-year-olds,” said Fasig-Tipton Director of Digital Sales Leif Aaron. “He is an exciting prospect that Mark Casse thinks has a very bright future. This is an opportunity for racing stables to buy a live two-year-old with unlimited potential.” Mensa is stabled at Churchill Downs and will train each day at 9:10 am in a special saddle cloth. Prospective buyers can follow him back to Barn 36 post-training to inspect him. Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent for D.J. Stables LLC Graduate, consigns Mensa. Successful horses sold by D.J. Stable on Fasig-Tipton Digital include Witwatersrand, who was recently named Champion Two-Year-Old Filly in Canada. Prospective buyers may view the entry and register to bid here. The post Bidding Open For Mensa Flash Sale Via Fasig-Tipton Digital 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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