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By Wandering Eyes · Posted
The Florida Gaming Control Commission (FGCC) has approved an amended awards plan that fixes in-state breeder and stallion awards at 15% of gross purses, down from the 20% rate established in 2024, according to a release from the Florida Thorougbbred Breeders' and Owners' Association (FTBOA). The new rates are effective as of Sept. 1, 2025. The adjustment reflects industry funding streams legislation, the release said, but despite the cut, total awards in 2026 for Florida breeders are expected to remain level thanks to the launch of new Florida-Bred 'Export' Incentives. With the objective of promoting Florida-bred horses that race out of state, the FTBOA will dedicate as much as $1 million to reward the breeders of registered Florida-breds that win in selected conditions beyond the borders of the Sunshine State. Under the new program, breeders will receive $7,500 for a Grade I win and $5,000 for wins at Grade II or Grade III level. Breeders are eligible for 15% of earnings in non-graded stakes races (up to $4,000) and for 15% of earnings up to $3,000 in allowance and maiden special weight races. According to the release, the FTBOA estimates that Florida-bred incentives in 2026 will total more than $20 million, not including money earmarked for purses for Florida-bred races. “This initiative shows gratitude to our longtime Florida breeders and demonstrates our commitment to supporting the industry wherever our nationally competitive horses succeed,” FTBOA CEO Lonny Powell said. “State legislation redirected $5 million of Florida-bred purses and owner incentives to the racetracks and injected another $2 million through the FTBOA. We are grateful to the Florida Senate and Governor DeSantis for their continued support of Florida Thoroughbred breeding. Florida-bred owners and breeders can anticipate unprecedented total awards in 2026. “Florida-breds perennially stand out amongst all regional producers across the nation, both on the racetrack and in the auction ring. These all-new incentives acknowledge that equine speed is a major Florida agricultural export,” Powell continued. The 2026 programs build upon FTBOA's recent elimination of most registration fees for Florida-bred and -sired foals of 2025, further reducing costs for breeders while maintaining comprehensive support programs. Combined with the Export Incentives, these initiatives demonstrate FTBOA's commitment to supporting Florida's Thoroughbred industry through multiple avenues, the release said. The post Florida Breeders, Stallion Awards Cut, New Export Incentive To Bridge the Gap 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
5th-CD, 120k, Msw, 2yo, 6f, 2:45 p.m. ET Our Forefathers (Constitution), a $1.2-million KEESEP yearling purchase by the Searing family's C R K Stable, makes his career debut for trainer Peter Eurton. The chestnut was produced by the Street Sense mare Via Veritas, who hails from the extended female family of GISWs Magnum Moon, Harmony Lodge, et al. Luis Saez rides. The deep field of 12 also includes: Tiz Authority (Tiz the Law), an $825,000 OBS April breezer debuting for Flatland Racing Stable and trainer Chris Hartman; and fellow firster Stirring Words (Constitution), a $975,000 FTSAUG yearling graduate for Lael Stables from the Cherie DeVaux barn. TJCIS PPS 8th-CD, 120k, Msw, 2yo, 6f, 4:22 p.m. ET Holy Seven (Into Mischief), a $700,000 FTSAUG yearling and half-brother to SW Corporate Power (Curlin), gets his career started for J and J Stables and Stonestreet Stables and Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen. The bay was produced by GII Golden Rod S. winner Road to Victory (Quality Road). The field of 12 also includes: Into the Beast (Into Mischief), a $475,000 OBS March breezer campaigned in partnership by West Point Thoroughbreds, St. Elias Stable, Beauty and The Beast Racing and SGV Thoroughbreds and trainer Dale Romans. TJCIS PPS The post Friday’s Racing Insights: $1.2-Million KEESEP Yearling Our Forefathers Debuts at Churchill Downs 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
Christophe Ferland trainee Double Major (Daiwa Major), who was on the upside of a narrow verdict in last month's G2 Prix Kergorlay, made a successful pitstop and defended his title in Thursday's G3 Prix Gladiateur, remaining on course in his quest to claim an unprecedented third G1 Prix Royal-Oak at Saint-Cloud next month. His victory provided owner-breeders Alain and Gerard Wertheimer and rider Maxime Guyon with a clean sweep of ParisLongchamp's three Group races. “This horse is really at his very best during the second part of the season and he had remained in top form since his win at Deauville [last month],” said Ferland. “The plan remains the same, which is to try to win a third Prix Royal-Oak and he goes straight for that now.” Holding sway after a swift getaway and under a firm hold on the front end for most of this marathon, the 4-5 favourite was scrubbed along when tackled by Bel Et Bien (Hunter's Light) soon after straightening for home and stayed on in resolute fashion under a late drive to deny that determined rival by a neck. There was daylight back to Coetzee (Frankel), who finished three lengths adrift in third. Pedigree Notes Double Major is one of six winners and the leading performer out of Listed Prix de Liancourt third Dancequest (Dansili), who has also produced G3 Prix de Guiche victor Flop Shot (New Approach), Listed Grand Prix de Clairefontaine third Veritas (Camelot) and a yearling colt by Saxon Warrior. Dancequest is a half-sister to G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud heroine Plumania (Anabaa) and G2 Prix de Royallieu victrix Balladeuse (Singspiel). The latter is the dam of G1 Prix Vermeille winner Left Hand (Dubawi) and Sunday's Vermeille heroine Aventure (Sea The Stars), while Plumania has four stakes performers to her credit headed by G2 Prix du Muguet winner Plumatic (Dubawi). The March-foaled bay's second dam Featherquest (Rainbow Quest) is kin to G1 Prix Lupin-winning sire Groom Dancer (Blushing Groom) and is from the family of Vermeille-winning champion Indian Rose (General Holme), G1 Prix Ganay-winning sire Vert Amande (Kenmare) and G1 Grand de Paris hero Le Nain Jaune (Pharly). Thursday, ParisLongchamp, France PRIX GLADIATEUR-G3, €73,200, ParisLongchamp, 9-11, 4yo/up, 15 1/2fT, 3:34.70, sf. 1–DOUBLE MAJOR (IRE), 130, g, 5, by Daiwa Major (Jpn) 1st Dam: Dancequest (Ire) (SP-Fr), by Dansili (GB) 2nd Dam: Featherquest (GB), by Rainbow Quest 3rd Dam: Featherhill (Fr), by Lyphard O/B-Wertheimer & Frere; T-Christophe Ferland; J-Maxime Guyon. €36,600. Lifetime Record: MG1SW-Fr & GSP-UAE, 21-9-6-3, €1,122,579. *1/2 to Flop Shot (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}), GSW-Fr, $266,711; and Veritas (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), SP-Fr. Werk Nick Rating: B+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. 2–Bel Et Bien (Fr), 126, g, 5, Hunter's Light (Ire)–Ring My Bell (Fr), by Turtle Bowl (Ire). 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. O/B-Ecurie La Perrigne; T-Paul de Chevigny. €14,640. 3–Coetzee, 126, g, 4, Frankel (GB)–Sing Softly, by Hennessy. 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. O-Ecurie Lenglet; B-Orpendale, Chelston & Wynatt (KY); T-Francis-Henri Graffard. €10,980. Margins: NK, 3, 4. Odds: 0.80, 3.90, 5.60. Also Ran: Goya Senora (Fr), Mr Diafoirus (Ire). The post Double Major Completes Wertheimer Clean Sweep of Longchamp’s Group Races 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
Ahead of the Irish Champions Festival, Ado McGuinness opens up about one of the most difficult years of his life and his reinvention as a trainer of two-year-olds When Ado McGuinness was at his lowest ebb last year, he rightly would have looked at you twice had you told him that the next 12 months would see him bag a couple of premier handicaps, become an overnight success on the west coast of America and face into the Irish Champions Festival brimming with confidence about taking out a €250,000 pot. Yet, here we are. The seasoned handicappers that made this stable sing at all of the major festivals in Ireland in recent times are no more. Many have been retired while some were lost through the high-profile split with long-time assistant and nephew Stephen Thorne, who moved 11 horses from McGuinness's stable when embarking on his own training career. That hammer-blow represented a €25,000 hole in the business through training fees that needed to be plugged every month. And fast. But with the horses-in-training market proving harder and harder to navigate due to the strength of foreign buyers, which was illustrated this year by the fact McGuinness left the July Sale at Newmarket empty-handed for the first time in his life, another reservoir needed to be sniffed out. Channelling more of his owners' resources into the yearling sale market has already proved to be a wise move and McGuinness puts his rejuvenation as a trainer down to his reinvention of sorts along with the fact his daughter Aisling and son Tadhg [23-year-old twins] have taken a more prominent role within the business. “I love training two-year-olds,” the 58-year-old says, striding out between lots at his freshly-built stable in North County Dublin. “Okay, people might not associate me with training two-year-olds, but I still won a Birdcatcher a few years ago and we also had Beau Recall, who went on and won four Group 2s and was beaten a nose in a Group 1 in America. We always tricked around with the odd two-year-old but never anything too serious. But, if I'm honest, it's given me a new lease of life over the past year. I love it. And then with the family – my daughter Aisling and son Tadhg – coming into the business, it's been great. “Thankfully we saw what was coming down the line. We bought horses like Bowerman, Current Option and Saltonstall at the horses-in-training sales but, over the past few years, the value just hasn't been there. You used to be able to go to those sales and, for say €70,000, you would be able to buy a premier handicapper. Now that same type of horses is costing twice or three times as much as he was before. You are forced to pay black-type prices for premier handicap horses and that's not a game we wanted to play.” BBA Ireland's Adam Potts with McGuinness at Tattersalls Ireland last year | Tattersalls Not only does McGuinness label juvenile Aqua Bear as his best chance of a winner at the Irish Champions Festival, but he goes as far as saying he will “be sick” if the €36,000 yearling purchase does not fight out the finish for for lucrative Tattersalls Ireland Super Auction Sales Stakes at the Curragh on Sunday. Aqua Bear makes up a two-pronged attack on the race for the trainer alongside Coincidental Glory. Both horses were sourced by BBA Ireland. “It's funny, Aqua Bear wouldn't have been one you'd have been dreaming about earlier on in the year,” McGuinness revealed. “But, I think if you went into most yards in the country in February and March and asked what their best two-year-olds were, they'd have a very different answer for you come September or October. That's the beauty about these two-year-olds – they can change so much throughout the year and I'm convinced Aqua Bear is a good horse now. If he doesn't pick up a big cheque on Sunday, I will be sick.” He added, “Coincidental Glory is not without a chance either. He'll run a big race. But definitely, Aqua Bear is the one. He worked very well on the Curragh the other day – pulled four lengths clear of what he was working with – and everyone was very impressed by what he did.” McGuinness has sent out 23 winners domestically this year, which is roughly half of what he achieved [49] in 2024. His current prize-money tally is just €328,942 short of the €790,355 the stable achieved last year but, what you won't see in any of these tables is the amount of business being done abroad. Within the space of 24 hours last month, two McGuinness-trained graduates – Later Than Planned and Yours Sincerely – made winning debuts for California-based trainer Phil D'Amato. The combined sum those runners fetched at the yearling sales was €6,000 but they sold for many multitudes of that figure after their respective efforts in Irish maidens. These are the sort of trades that are now deemed necessary for even a trainer of McGuinness's status in order to survive in Ireland. “They were only cheap yearlings,” McGuinness says of his Californian delights. “The owners couldn't get a bid in the ring for Later Than Planned so they sent him to me and Yours Sincerely only cost six grand. All of those lads will go again at the yearling sales so it's great great business for everyone involved.” He continued, “There are an awful lot of trainers who are barely surviving in Ireland because they're not trading. If you win a €100,000 handicap, or even a €200,000 handicap, you don't get a lot of money out of that as a trainer. And tell me this; how many trainers in Ireland are winning €200,000 handicaps? Not many. We all have low-grade horses and they're important to have but you won't earn any money training them. Take Laytown last week for example, we had two winners there and it was great. But it's not going to pay many bills. That's the reality of it. To survive in this game, you have to go out there and make money trading. To me, that revolves around working the sales hard.” McGuinness is better-qualified than most to comment on what life at the coalface is like for a trainer operating in Ireland. The son of a vegetable farmer, he has held a licence for more than 25 years and, in his role of chairman of the Irish Racehorse Trainers' Association, he understands and listens to the middle-to-smaller-tier handlers. However, he does not deny that, in the current climate where costs are sky-rocketing, some trainers need to help themselves before asking for help. He explained, “One of the main problems within the training ranks in Ireland right now is lads underselling themselves. When a carpenter comes down to your house, he is so much an hour and that is that. Too many trainers are undercutting each other because they are so hungry for horses. The same lads will come crying saying they're struggling. They're struggling because they're not charging enough. An empty stable won't make you money but it won't lose you any money either. If you work for nothing, you'll never be idle.” And that's one thing McGuinness will never be. When his world was turned upside down last year through the loss of his second sibling to cancer, it was the responsibility of caring for 45 horses that drove him out of his bed every morning. “I got a bit of a kicking last year,” McGuinness says without a shred of self-loathing or pity. “Shamrock pulled out 11 horses and I lost my brother Johnny the following month through cancer. He was only 54 and was the second brother I lost within the space of three years to cancer so it was shocking. It broke my heart, to be honest. I just had to keep going and buried myself in work as a form of therapy. I could easily have taken to the bed while all of this was happening but I've never been afraid of hard work and keeping busy helped.” He added, “Johnny died the first week in July last year. He was a big racing man and I always called in to see him before I went to the races. I'll never forget calling in to see him in the month of May last year. I think I was on my way to the races at Cork. At this point, he was very bad, and he sat up at the side of the bed and he just said, 'Ado, I'm f*cked.' I can still see him now. I'll never forget the tears rolling down the bridge of his nose and me going to get him a hanky. I gave him a big hug and, by God, that was one of the hardest things I have ever had to do. Oh man, I got into the car after that and I bawled crying for at least an hour driving down the road to Cork. Until the day I die, I'll never forget the tears rolling off the bridge of his nose. Johnny was six foot four inches but here he was wasting away in the bed. He died not long after that so losing horses can be hard to take, but something like that puts life into perspective.” McGuinness regularly sends horses to the beach in Rush | Racingfotos.com McGuinness enjoyed eight of his best years as a trainer with Thorne alongside him. The latter has proved himself one of the brightest additions to the training ranks for many years and, while the relationship between the pair ended abruptly, nothing will take away the memories of A Case Of You landing the Prix de l'Abbaye and the Al Quoz Sprint or even Current Option scooping the Sovereign Path Handicap on what was then known as Irish Champions Weekend in 2019. “It just didn't end the way it should have ended,” McGuinness said of the split. “That's the sad part about it. We enjoyed success together and it probably shouldn't have ended like that.” Memories alone are not enough to sustain anyone in sport. Especially not in the dog-eat-dog world that is the training ranks in Ireland. McGuinness agrees and, having come out the other side of what he openly admits was one of his most difficult years both in business and personally, he is optimistic about the next chapter. He said, “The Irish Champions Festival is watched by people all over the world and, the more people you meet and the more people who know your name, the better in this business. You have to get out there as a trainer and make people aware of who you are and what you can do. It's never about what you have achieved in this game, it's always about what you are going to achieve next. Last week's winners are forgotten about very quickly. Don't get me wrong, memories are brilliant, and we have had some brilliant memories. But what is most important is what you're going to do tomorrow, next week, next month and next year.” The post Ado McGuinness: ‘Memories Are Great But What You Do Tomorrow Is More Important’ 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
Friday, Doncaster, post time: 15:00, THE BETFRED HOWARD WRIGHT DONCASTER CUP-G2, £150,000, 3yo/up, 17f 197yT Field: Coltrane (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}), Hipop De Loire (Fr) (American Post {GB}), Kyle Of Lochalsh (GB) (Highland Reel {Ire}), Sunway (Fr) (Galiway {GB}), Sweet William (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), Tashkhan (Ire) (Born To Sea {Ire}), Oxford Comma (Ire) (Nathaniel {Ire}), Pendragon (Ire) (Camelot {GB}). TDN Verdict: Last year's winner Sweet William remains in good heart and is the obvious choice, but there is a chance that proper Group 1 horse Sunway could enjoy this extreme trip at the track at which he was third in the St Leger 12 months ago. Sir Mark Prescott saddles the only three-year-old and while Pendragon has improvement to find, he has a healthy weight-for-age advantage over what amount to largely beatable older horses. The trainer exploited it with the filly Alleluia in 2001, so knows what it takes. [Tom Frary]. Friday, Doncaster, post time: 14:25, THE CARLSBERG DANISH PILSNER FLYING CHILDERS STAKES-G2, £130,000, 2yo, 5f 3yT Field: Dickensian (GB) (Pinatubo {Ire}), Exclamation (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}), Havana Hurricane (GB) (Havana Gold {Ire}), Kansas (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), Military Code (GB) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), Mission Central (Ire) (No Nay Never), Argentine Tango (GB) (Mattmu {GB}), Killavia (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}), Lady Iman (Ire) (Starman {GB}), Palmeira (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}), Revival Power (Ire) (Bungle Inthejungle {GB}). TDN Verdict: Ballydoyle's Round Tower winner Mission Central goes again and Aidan O'Brien sees no issue with the drop back to five, but he won't be able to dominate the Molecomb winner Lady Iman over this trip if she is over her Nunthorpe experience. Revival Power beat Military Code in the Listed Roses Stakes over York's flat, fast five and should be equally suited by this track, while the Windsor Castle one-two Havana Hurricane and Dickensian are no back-numbers with plenty of experience to draw on. [Tom Frary]. Friday, Salisbury, post time: 15:25, THE IRE-INCENTIVE, IT PAYS TO BUY IRISH DICK POOLE FILLIES' STAKES-G3, £45,000, 2yo, f, 6fT Field: Anthelia (Ire) (Supremacy {Ire}), Awaken (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}), Azleet (GB) (Tasleet {GB}), Bella Lyra (Ger) (Oasis Dream {GB}), Dandana (GB) (Blue Point {Ire}), Flowerhead (Ire) (Starman {GB}), Golden Palace (GB) (Palace Pier {Ire}), Orion's Belt (Ire) (Starman {GB}), Ourbren (Ire) (Starman {GB}), Planet Seeker (GB) (Blue Point {Ire}), Reimagined (Ire) (Kodi Bear {Ire}), Spinning Lizzie (GB) (Kameko), Vishaka (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}). TDN Verdict: Rescheduled from last week, this features the Albany runner-up Awaken, who has since shed her maiden status at Leicester and will be a warm order. Also in the mix is the Queen Mary runner-up Flowerhead, but she hasn't really gone on from Royal Ascot while Jeff Smith's Goodwood maiden winner Planet Seeker could be anything at this stage. [Tom Frary]. Friday, Doncaster, post time: 13:50, THE BETFRED FLYING SCOTSMAN STAKES-Listed, £65,000, 2yo, 7f 6yT Field: Avicenna (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}), Catullus (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), Do Bronxs (Ire) (Oasis Dream {GB}), Do Or Do Not (Ire) (Space Blues {Ire}), Electrical (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}), Frescobaldi (Ire) (No Nay Never), Hankelow (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}), Northern Champion (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), Sir Albert (Ire) (No Nay Never), Sunset On Leros (GB) (Almanzor {Fr}). TDN Verdict: This is a race that has grown in importance in recent years since Frankel made sure it obtained Listed status and the major stables are present with unexposed types with Classic potential. Godolphin's Catullus had it easy at Yarmouth last time, but won't here with the likes of the York winners Hankelow and Frescobaldi and the Arqana Series des Poulains winner Northern Champion. He joins fellow TBT Racing-Ed Walker representative Do Or Do Not who is a rarity as a six-times maiden with four Group 2 placings. [Tom Frary]. Friday, Saint-Cloud, France, post time: 15:28, PRIX TURENNE-Listed, €50,300, 3yo, 12fT Field: Surabad (GB) (Bated Breath {GB}), Sea Scout (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), Prosecutor (Fr) (Persian King {Ire}), Zarraf (Fr) (Zarak {Fr}), Gethin (Ire) (Ghaiyyath {Ire}), Maneki (Ire) (Cracksman {GB}), Waldnebel (Ger) (Reliable Man {GB}), Best Secret (Fr) (Persian King {Ire}). TDN Verdict: Owen Burrows trainee Gethin, who boasts a two-for-two record, has not been out since posting a wide-margin win at Newbury in April and puts his unbeaten record on the line in this black-type debut. Fellow British challenger Sea Scout has finished off the board in four stakes starts since annexing Epsom's Listed Blue Riband Trial back in May and comes back off a fourth in last month's Listed Prix Nureyev. Aga Khan Studs representative Surabad finished sixth of six in July's G1 Grand Prix de Paris and the Francis Graffard entry is better judged on his runner-up finish in Chantilly's G3 Prix du Lys and a win in April's Listed Prix de l'Avre. Wathnan Racing's Goodwood handicap winner Best Secret and G1 Deutsches Derby eight Waldnebel offer hope in an open edition, while Prosecutor and Maneki, representing Andre Fabre and Jean-Claude Rouget, merit respect. Zarraf completes the line-up. [Sean Cronin]. Saturday, Doncaster, post time: 15:40, THE BETFRED ST LEGER S.-G1, £700,000, 3yo, Open, 14f 115y Field: Carmers (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), Furthur (Ire) (Waldgeist {GB}), Lambourn (Ire) (Australia {GB}), Rahiebb (GB) (Frankel {GB}), Scandinavia (Justify), Stay True (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), Tarriance (GB) (Frankel {GB}). TDN Verdict: Judged on the evidence of the first day's racing here, staying power is going to be a must and Scandinavia certainly has that. From one of Coolmore's finest Classic families, he has surged to promise in the last two months and mastered last year's Leger runner-up Illinois in the Goodwood Cup. Lambourn was so disappointing in the Voltigeur that it leaves a question mark over what looked a rock-solid Leger proposition beforehand. Winning the Derby and Irish Derby in the manner of a true stayer, he would probably be the more likely candidate of the pair if he is back to his best. Galileo's last Classic runner Stay True and the Queen's Vase winner Carmers were in front of Lambourn at York and both promise to improve significantly for this step up in trip in what will probably be an Irish-dominated affair. [Tom Frary]. Saturday, Leopardstown, post time: 17:30, ROYAL BAHRAIN IRISH CHAMPION S.-G1, €725,000, 3yo/up, 10f 0y Field: Anmaat (Ire) (Awtaad {Ire}), Royal Champion (Ire) (Shamardal), Shin Emperor (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}), White Birch (GB) (Ulysses {Ire}), Delacroix (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), Hotazhell (GB) (Too Darn Hot {GB}), Mount Kilimanjaro (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}), Zahrann (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}). TDN Verdict: Given the likelihood of soft ground for this, it is very hard to envisage Anmaat not having a big say. One of the few to have beaten Calandagan, he may have too much for the race's obvious favourite Delacroix who won a falsely-run Eclipse but yet is described by Aidan O'Brien as needing a strong pace. This renewal is light on heavyweight players, so Japan's Shin Emperor who was third in what was probably a stronger renewal of this 12 months ago may not have to improve on that to continue Japan's fine recent record in Europe. Zahrann is on the upgrade, but his win in the Royal Whip leaves him probably short of what is required. [Tom Frary]. Saturday, Leopardstown, post time: 16:25, COOLMORE AMERICA 'JUSTIFY' MATRON S.-G1, €240,000, 3yo/up, 8f 0y Field: Duckadilly (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}), Fallen Angel (GB) (Too Darn Hot {GB}), Queen Of Thunder (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}), Sparks Fly (GB) (Muhaarar {GB}), Vera's Secret (Ire) (Epaulette {Aus}), Atsila (Ire) (Phoenix Of Spain {Ire}), California Dreamer (GB) (Mehmas {Ire}), Cathedral (GB) (Too Darn Hot {GB}), Cercene (Ire) (Australia {GB}), Exactly (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), January (Ire) (Kingman {GB}). TDN Verdict: Revived by her win in the Prix Rothschild, Fallen Angel bids for another overseas triumph with January looking to close the narrow gap between them from Deauville and become the bride for once. Second to Porta Fortuna 12 months ago, Fallen Angel holds the key but it might be a mistake to have taken Danny Tudhope off given how well they connect. The surprise Coronation heroine Cercene reverts to a mile after being put in her place by Whirl in the flag-started Nassau, while Vera's Secret is three-for-three around here and has two Group 3s over seven under her belt from her trio of visits. [Tom Frary]. Saturday, Doncaster, post time: 13:50, THE BETFRED CHAMPAGNE S.-G2, £150,000, 2yo, Open, 7f 6y Field: Cape Ashizuri (Ire) (St Mark's Basilica {Fr}), Cape Orator (Ire) (Mohaather {GB}), Gewan (GB) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}), Oxagon (Fr) (Frankel {GB}), Puerto Rico (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}). TDN Verdict: Under new ownership, the Acomb winner Gewan continues exactly on the Chaldean path for the same stable. Oxagon earned TDN Rising Star status with his eight-length Sandown romp, while the two “Capes” have claims. Cape Orator looked ready for this grade when bossing Deauville's Arqana Criterium d'Ete and Cape Ashizuri registered a taking debut success at Ayr. [Tom Frary]. Saturday, Doncaster, post time: 15:00, THE BETFRED PARK S.-G2, £140,000, 3yo/up, 7f 6y Field: Audience (GB) (Iffraaj {GB}), Devil's Point (Ire) (New Bay {GB}), King's Gamble (Ire) (Kingman {GB}), Quinault (Ger) (Oasis Dream {GB}), Room Service (Ire) (Kodi Bear {Ire}), Ten Bob Tony (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}), Zoum Zoum (GB) (Zoustar {Aus}), East Hampton (GB) (Cracksman {GB}), Marvelman (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), Shadow Of Light (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), Zabeel Alkabeir (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}). TDN Verdict: Back over seven, last year's Middle Park and Dewhurst winner Shadow Of Light bids to get back on track and it is probably a case of leaving it as late as possible to employ his deadly kick. Connections of the John Of Gaunt winner Ten Bob Tony have been patient and the ground has come right at last, while Audience needs to bounce back after a spell in the wilderness but has a flat track and his ideal trip to help. [Tom Frary]. Saturday, Leopardstown, post time: 16:55, TONYBET SOLONAWAY S.-G2, €120,000, 3yo/up, 8f 0y Field: Chicago Critic (GB) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}), Johan (GB) (Zoffany {Ire}), Lord Massusus (Ire) (Markaz {Ire}), Mutasarref (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire}), Skukuza (GB) (Blue Point {Ire}), Alakazi (Fr) (Footstepsinthesand {GB}), Comanche Brave (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), Expanded (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), Scorthy Champ (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}), Copacabana Sands (Ire) (Sands Of Mali {Fr}). TDN Verdict: Comanche Brave probably has the most upside, with his Jersey third backing up a fine effort behind Henri Matisse in the G3 Ballylinch Stud Stakes here in March. Things haven't happened for last year's Vincent O'Brien National Stakes winner Scorthy Champ this term, but there is always another day for a colt of his class while there is no reason to expect a drop-off from the G3 Desmond Stakes-winning veteran Johan. [Tom Frary]. Saturday, Leopardstown, post time: 15:20, KPMG CHAMPIONS JUVENILE S.-G2, €90,000, 2yo, Open, 8f 0y Field: A Boy Named Susie (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}), Benvenuto Cellini (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), Hardy Warrior (Ire) (Pinatubo {Ire}), Montreal (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), Nil Bua Gan Dua (American Pharoah). TDN Verdict: It's an all-O'Brien affair, as Aidan, Joseph and Donnacha supply the runners in what will be a historic moment for Irish racing's supreme dynasty. The colts that Ballydoyle choose for this staging post are pointers to their Derby thoughts for the year ahead and it is no surprise that Benvenuto Cellini and Montreal carry the standard here. Kept back since his taking maiden win at Killarney, the former is a son of Newspaperofrecord who has already produced the smart full-sister Giselle, while TDN Rising Star Montreal is a half to Cayenne Pepper who couldn't have done any more than win by eight lengths over course and distance last month. As ever, Joseph has irons in the fire in Hardy Warrior who had Montreal back in third over this track and trip in July and the maiden Nil Bua Gan Dua, while Donnacha's Futurity fourth A Boy Named Susie completes the landmark line-up. [Tom Frary]. Saturday, Leopardstown, post time: 15:50, CMG GROUP S.-G3, €60,000, 3yo/up, 12f 0y Field: Al Aasy (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), Sons And Lovers (GB) (Study Of Man {Ire}), Trustyourinstinct (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}), Fleetfoot (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}), Sunchart (GB) (Teofilo {Ire}), Mo Ghille Mar (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}), Acapulco Bay (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), Convergent (Ire) (Fascinating Rock {Ire}), Omni Man (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), Reyenzi (Fr) (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}), It's A Heartbeat (Ire) (Too Darn Hot {GB}). TDN Verdict: This is competitive stuff, with the perpetual Group 3 winner Al Aasy looking to see off some smart Irish runners and the Deutsches Derby runner-up Convergent. Last year's winner Trustyourinstinct looks even better in 2025, while there is a chance that we haven't seen the best of Ballydoyle's Acapulco Bay during a frustrating campaign. [Tom Frary]. Saturday, Leopardstown, post time: 14:15, BALLYLINCH STUD IRISH EBF INGABELLE S.-L, €60,000, 2yo, Open, 7f 0y Field: Brownstown (GB) (Cracksman {GB}), Caught U Sleeping (Ire) (Cotai Glory {GB}), Diamond Necklace (Ire) (St Mark's Basilica {Fr}), Inbox (GB) (Ectot {GB}), Kensington Lane (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}), Killashee Warrior (GB) (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}), Mighty Danu (Ire) (Coulsty {Ire}), Red Autumn (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}), Sukanya (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}), Teewinot (Ire) (Sioux Nation), Venosa (Gun Runner). TDN Verdict: TDN Rising Star Diamond Necklace will be a warm order to kick off Irish Champions weekend in style for Ballydoyle and with good cause. The blueblood went through her Curragh debut with so much promise it is impossible not to envisage her in the 2026 Classics and anything other than a win will be deflating. Mighty Danu looked one to follow on her winning debut at Galway, while the Prestige fourth Sukanya had that form boosted on Thursday. [Tom Frary]. Click here for the complete fields. The post Black-Type Analysis: Round Tower Winner On A Mission In Flying Childers, As St Leger Draws Seven 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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