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    • Deauville, FRANCE-Talk about timing. The Arqana Breeze-Up Sale will get underway a week to the day after star graduate Ruling Court did his thing in the 2,000 Guineas. Take that result and couple it with the fact the sales results at the breeze-up sales in America and Europe have been off the charts this year, there is rightly optimism in the Deauville air.  Three horses made more than a million-including Ruling Court who sold to Godolphin at €2.3 million-at the breeze-up sales last year. That figure has already been equalled between the Craven and the Doncaster breeze-up sales and it's anyone's guess as to what numbers will fly through the air when the sale gets underway here in Deauville at 11am on Saturday.  Arqana boss Freddy Powell said, “All of the signals are showing that things could be good. We have been around the barns and vendors are happy. The breeze went very well and, while it is never good to throw flowers to yourself, everyone has been very complimentary. Plenty of people are coming to this sale and obviously the results at the breeze-up sales in America and in Europe have been good so let's hope that things can continue in the right way.” He added, “It was a great satisfaction seeing Ruling Court win the 2,000 Guineas and we were delighted for Godolphin and Sheikh Mohammed. They do a lot of work at the sales and when they get a big result like this it is great for everyone. Obviously, Norman Williamson, who travels all over the world and has brought us some very nice horses year after year, is an excellent consignor and it was brilliant for him as well.”  No surprise then that there were a number of familiar faces busy inspecting on the ground at Arqana this week. From Charlie Appleby to MV Magnier and Kia Joorabchian, everyone who should be here is here. And there is also talk of a number of leading buyers from Australia flying in before the sale kicks off.  Another familiar face bidding the get in on the action is legendary jockey turned burgeoning bloodstock agent Olivier Peslier. The 52-year-old called time on his glittering career last year and, since hanging up his saddle, has channeled his energy into bloodstock and has been busy inspecting stock at Arqana this week.  Peslier said, “I have become an owner since I retired. I have one horse with clients of mine and he is in training with Antoine de Watrigant. Indian Streak is his name and he has been second and third in his two starts for us and the plan is to run him next in June where hopefully he can win. We bought him for €34,000 at the October Yearling Sale here in 2023 and I was like 'why not?' I am really enjoying being an owner and I actually ride that horse once a week so it is nice to be able to help prepare. “I have a client that told me to come here and watch the breeze and to try to find him a horse. I arrived on Wednesday and saw every horse breeze and looked at the ones we liked with the vet. Now we wait for tomorrow. But it is very interesting. The breeze was excellent because you got to see the gallop, the stride and there were a lot of nice horses. I am very interested in bloodstock and finding new ways of finding a good horse. All my life, I could tell a horse was good by riding as a jockey, but now I have to find new ways of finding the good horses. Of course, sometimes when people are thinking about buying a horse, they will ask me to ride that horse to see what I think.” He added, “I find bloodstock agency work very interesting and I would like to step it up. It was not an easy decision to stop riding but I knew for a while that I needed to stop. So it wasn't such a sudden decision. It wasn't as if I woke up one day and said, 'okay, I need to stop'. I had thought about it for a while. But I am very happy with my life right now. I still ride out to keep myself fit and healthy and I enjoy it. Let's see how tomorrow goes.” There are also new faces in attendance. Noel Fehily and David Crosse, who are the driving forces behind the Noel Fehily Racing Club, one of the most successful National Hunt syndicates in the business, are starting to branch out into the Flat. Fehily explained, “It's our first time coming to the breeze-ups. We bought three Flat yearlings last year and now we are branching out into the breeze-ups. We are looking for something that would run before the back end of the season and that can make up into a three-year-old. There are a lot of good horses here and trade will be pretty strong but we'll give it a go.” Crosse added, “We had owners approach us about getting more involved on the Flat and our first yearlings are progressing nicely. We'll probably have our first runners within the next six weeks and it will be interesting to see how it goes. If they can go well, you'll probably see us a lot more at these breeze-up and Flat yearling sales in the future.” It must be noted that for all that last year's sale was electric at the top, there were holes in the middle tiers. Powell revealed that Arqana have put in extensive work all year to convince buyers that this is a sale worth shopping at for every level and pointed to French 1,000 Guineas hope She's Perfect as being a prime example as what can be found. He concluded, “It is very difficult to control the middle market because it really depends on the circumstances at that moment, the economy and a lot of other things. When you have a big sale with horses making a lot of money at the top, it can frighten some clients that would have been coming to work at the middle market. But this is something we have been working all year long on. We have been trying to show people that there is something for everyone here and there really is. Take for example She's Perfect, who runs in the French 1,000 Guineas on Sunday. She was bought for €50,000 outside the ring last year and is a good example of what you can get when you come and work the sale hard.” The post Familiar Faces On The Hunt For The Next Ruling Court At Arqana Breeze-Up Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article
    • GII Wood Memorial Stakes winner and 'TDN Rising Star' Rodriguez (Authentic) will miss the upcoming GI Preakness Stakes as he continues to heal from a foot issue, trainer Bob Baffert told the Daily Racing Form Friday morning. Scratched from the GI Kentucky Derby due to a foot bruise, the colt will now aim for the GI Belmont Stakes at Saratoga in June. “He'll be perfect for the Belmont,” Baffert told the DRF. “I couldn't prep him like I wanted to [for the Preakness]. Once he had the foot issue, you got to let those things simmer down. I didn't have enough time.” Baffert will still be represented in the Preakness starting gate by fellow 'Rising Star' Goal Oriented (Not This Time). The post Wood Memorial Winner Rodriguez, Scratched From Derby, Will Also Miss Preakness appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article
    • The Maryland Jockey Club, Inc., a newly formed nonprofit entity charged with overseeing live Thoroughbred racing at Laurel Park, Pimlico Race Course and a new, state-of-the-art training facility built in Carroll County Maryland, has named its inaugural Board of Directors, the Maryland Thoroughbred Racetrack Operating Authority announced Friday. The MTROA, established to secure the long-term stability and modernization of Thoroughbred racing in the state, played a central role in establishing The Maryland Jockey Club, Inc. as a nonprofit operator that prioritizes the interests of horsemen, fans, and the broader Maryland community. The list of board members includes James Dresher, Jr., Tim Keefe, Chuck Tildon, Lisa Golden Hofstetter, Michael Hopkins, TK Kuegler, Jeff Cherry, Dr. Kathleen Anderson and Michael Hankin. “I could not be more thrilled that this all-star group has agreed to volunteer their deep experience and time to take the baton from MTROA and build off of the new foundation that is in place for Maryland racing as we look to the future,” said MTROA chair Greg Cross. “The Maryland Horse Breeders Association looks forward to working with the State and the new Maryland Jockey Club Board as we work to revitalize Maryland's horse industry,” added executive director Cricket Goodall. “With a new Pimlico and energized Preakness coming soon, the future looks bright.” David Richardson, Executive Director of the Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association, concurred. “The Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association congratulates the newly appointed Board of Directors of The Maryland Jockey Club. This group brings together a diverse and experienced cross-section of leadership that understands the historic significance and future potential of Maryland racing.” The post Maryland Jockey Club Names Inaugural Board Of Directors appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article
    • With new plans unveiled for a redesigned Pimlico Race Course by the Maryland Stadium Authority, Governor Wes Moore and the Board of Public Works approved a demolition package for the track after next week's GI Preakness Stakes and also the acquisition of Shamrock Farm in Carroll County as the state's new training center hub, according a Wednesday press release from the governor's office. “Today we take another step toward a new, reimagined Pimlico,” said Gov. Moore. “I thank my colleagues on the Board of Public Works, the Maryland General Assembly, the Maryland Stadium Authority, the Maryland Thoroughbred Racetrack Operating Authority, and our local community partners for securing the future of Preakness in Maryland. Together, we will continue to drive economic growth in Park Heights, throughout Baltimore, and across the entire state.” During the meeting, representatives from the Maryland Stadium Authority revealed the design concept for Pimlico. “We are excited to deliver a new, modern Pimlico for racing fans and the Park Heights community,” said Maryland Stadium Authority Chairman Craig Thompson. “But this work is bigger than a racetrack, as historic and important as it is. This is about bringing hundreds of millions of dollars in state investment to Park Heights and working in partnership with MEDCO and the local community to realize a shared vision for the future.” The new Pimlico grandstand | Maryland Stadium Authority The Maryland Stadium Authority–in partnership with The Maryland Jockey Club and the Park Heights community–will oversee the construction of Pimlico. The new facility will support approximately 500 jobs and will be a year-round hub of economic activity in Park Heights. Pimlico, which currently hosts about 15 racing days per year, will become the permanent home of Maryland Thoroughbred racing with well over 100 racing days annually. The site design centers around a new clubhouse inspired by Baltimore landmarks such as the Rawlings Conservatory in Druid Hill Park and the original grandstand. The new Pimlico stretch | Maryland Stadium Authority The approved acquisition of Shamrock Farm sets in motion one of the largest state investments in Carroll County in recent history, following a two-year investigation of more than eight sites across six Maryland counties. The State of Maryland will direct at least $110 million to the new training center, which will offer 328 acres to create a training facility with more than 800 boarded horses, housing for backstretch workers and a training track with dimensions identical to those at Pimlico. The Shamrock Farm acquisition is supported by the Carroll County government, which has agreed to commit $1.5 million to offset infrastructure costs. The post Gov. Moore And Co. Talk Pimlico Demo, Training Facility And Concept Art appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article
    • In this continuing series, Alan Carasso takes a look ahead at US-bred and/or conceived runners entered for the upcoming weekend at the tracks on the Japan Racing Association circuit, with a focus on pedigree and/or performance in the sales ring. Here are the horses of interest for this Sunday running at Tokyo Racecourses, where 3-year-old turf milers are front and center in the G1 NHK Mile Cup: Sunday, May 11, 2025 5th-TOK, ¥15,200,000 ($105k), Allowance, 3yo, 2100m MERCURY DIME (JPN) (f, 3, Medaglia d'Oro–Lucky Dime, by Creative Cause) overcame a wide draw and a three-wide journey to win her maiden narrowly at first asking over 1800 meters at Nakayama at the back end of January (see below, SC 11). Lucky Dime is a winning daughter of Indian Miss (Indian Charlie), whose five additional scorers include Eclipse Award-winning sprinter and top young sire Mitole (Eskendereya) as well as the popular GISW and multiple Classic-placed Hot Rod Charlie (Oxbow), now standing in Japan. Lucky Dime was offered at Keeneland November in 2021 and was purchased by Katsumi Yoshida for $850,000 with this filly in utero. Just days after Hot Rod Charlie belied odds of 94-1 when second to 'TDN Rising Star' and future champion Essential Quality (Tapit) in the 2020 GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile, Indian Miss fetched $1.9 million from OXO Equine at KEENOV while pregnant to Into Mischief. Mercury Dime carries the famed Sunday Racing colors and will once again by ridden by Christophe Lemaire. O-Sunday Racing Co Ltd; B-Shunsuke Yoshida; T-Ryo Takei       The post Well-Related Medaglia d’Oro Filly Looks To Stay Perfect at Tokyo 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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