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By Chief Stipe · Posted
Well no OZ Grp 1 features in the top 10 world ratings. But yes our Grp 1's are struggling to hold status especially WFA and Open Class. Part of my theory is that the sit and sprint style of racing that has taken hold is making our horses weaker. They are just not used to maintaining a high cruise and then sprinting off that. It was great to see some class Jockeys not afraid to go forward at the start, sit wide or go early on the bend. -
True. That said, they have minced a Group 1 race here which says what for the relative quality of our G1s? -
By Chief Stipe · Posted
Fair enough. Both Arkinsaw Kid and Jigsaw are very useful Grp 2 winners in OZ. Both have won a number of black type races and each have over AUD$2m in stakes. I don't think that people realise that in OZ there are in my opinion less than 30 true elite horses that consistently perform at the top level. -
By Wandering Eyes · Posted
Jockey Junior Alvarado and trainer Bill Mott partnered up again for another win on Saturday's Pegasus World Cup card as GRAND JOB (f, 5, Justify–Sure Route {GB}, by Ishiguru) romped home as the favorite in the GII Inside Information Stakes. Exiting a non-factor eighth in her 3-year-old finale facing allowance winners at Churchill Downs in November, Grand Job had previously shown an affinity for the Gulfstream surface when second in the GIII Royal Delta Stakes over the local main track last March. Drawn outside, the 2-1 favorite had plenty of early speed up the backstretch, racing three wide with Jody's Pride (American Pharoah) and One Magic Philly (Good Magic) both to her inside on the run into the far turn. Alvarado clearly knew what he had as Grand Job swept past both runners and was alone turning for home before she even kicked into high gear. A few shakes of the reins kept her focused as she out-finished Sterling Silver (Cupid) under a hand ride for the win. Mott and Alvarado teamed up three races earlier to win the GIII Fred W. Hooper Stakes with 'TDN Rising Star' Knightsbridge (Nyquist). Lifetime Record: 10-4-4-0. O-Bell Tower Thoroughbreds and Medallion Racing; B-Fullbury; T-Bill Mott. Sales History: $105,000 ylg '22 KEESEP. The post Mott, Alvarado Partner For Another Win As Grand Job Romps In Inside Information 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
From the storied history of Haras de Bonneval to the beginning of a new chapter at Haras de Castillon, the 17th edition of La Route des Etalons had something to satisfy the curiosity of all who flocked to Normandy and its surrounding areas on Friday and Saturday. Among the overseas visitors taking part in the two-day event for the first time was renowned auctioneer John O'Kelly, just a few short weeks after bringing the curtain down on his time on the rostrum at Tattersalls. In any other year, O'Kelly would be in South Africa right now, carrying out the role he has made his own for over three decades, but a change of schedule for 2026 dictated that it was beef bourguignon rather than boerewors on the menu for this bright but blustery January weekend. As for the equine delights on offer, O'Kelly was so eager to sample them that he was reportedly the very first person through the doors at Haras d'Etreham when the clock struck 9am on Friday, the first of what proved to be many stops over the two days. “I think I made it to nine or ten [studs],” he told the TDN on Saturday evening, by now back in the comfort of his Belgian base. “I've always been abroad on this weekend, but the South African sale I'd usually be doing is actually going to be in March this year. That allowed me the time to get up there and do it. I mean, if you're going to be looking at yearlings by these sires, you better be looking at the sires themselves.” He added, “I'd recommend it [La Route des Etalons] to anybody. There was such enthusiasm and we all have to participate, don't we? The breeding world is not a hidden secret. It's there for the public and we need to encourage as many people as possible to get involved in this game. How do you sell this game to people unless you actually let them participate? “I think it's a wonderful initiative. I've been to the one in Ireland as well and there is always plenty of people there with young children. It's great for them to physically be there and be able to see the horses.” In total, 84 stallions from both codes were there for the public to see across the two days, headlined by established stars such as Siyouni and Zarak on the Flat and Doctor Dino and No Risk At All over jumps. Of the younger stallions still in their formative years at stud, Vadeni at Bonneval and Sumbe residents Charyn and Mishriff both received favourable mentions from O'Kelly, but there was seemingly another who stood out above the rest. “I just love Big Rock,” O'Kelly explained. “I'd seen him as a yearling and loved him then. He was my pick of the bunch [at Yeguada Centurion], but I just thought, a son of Rock Of Gibraltar, how commercial would that be in the ring? I followed his career and he obviously turned into a very good racehorse. He's a beautiful-looking horse, a gorgeous horse. He's got limb, he's got a lovely head on him and great movement – he's just a very fine horse. “It was actually lovely to see Haras de Grandcamp back with stallions again, because they were out of the game for a season or two.” Big Rock, who enjoyed his finest hour as a racehorse when winning the 2023 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes, and Zagrey, the winner of the same year's Grosser Preis von Baden, have recently been joined at Haras de Grandcamp by Whistlejacket, who was another to taste success at the top level when landing the 2024 Prix Morny. Whistlejacket is one of only four specifically Flat stallions to retire to France for 2026, along with Beauvatier at Etreham and the Group 1-winning duo Marhaba Ya Sanafi and Tribalist, both of whom could be found in the sunshine at Castillon on Friday afternoon. In total, the new operation is currently home to five stallions and, for Benoit Jeffroy, this event provided an ideal opportunity to show them all off to the public, with the investment that has gone into making the facilities fit for purpose also plain to see. “That was the aim, to get as many people as we can to come and discover the new stallion station,” Jeffroy summed up, with Loic Malivet, president of the Federation des Eleveurs du Galop (French TBA), among those in attendance for the final show on Friday. “I think it's been a very successful day and both of the new horses have been very popular. Obviously, Tribalist was a seven-time Group winner and he won the Prix du Muguet three times, which has never been done before. He was a tough, consistent horse who showed when he won the Prix du Moulin that he was a real Group 1 performer. And he's by Farhh, who has proved himself a top stallion from very limited opportunities. “Marhaba Ya Sanafi is a Classic winner and he was also third in the Prix du Jockey Club. Both him and Triablist were sound, tough horses who raced for three of four seasons. I think it's great breeders to see that longevity in stallions and I'm delighted to have them because I only want to stand stallions that I will use with my own mares.” He continued, “A lot of breeders were very thankful to us for standing them at a reasonable price and, to me, this is so important. What I really wanted to have is stallions who give the breeders to opportunity to breathe, because I've been on the other side and I've seen how much it costs to breed a horse and the margins you have. These are good horses and they offer good value.” One person who had plenty of complimentary things to say about what he encountered at Castillon was that man O'Kelly, who rowed in behind plenty of breeders in giving the redoubtable Tribalist his seal of approval. “Castillon and the big new departure there is very exciting, isn't it?” he added. “I'll tell you, there's some investment going on there and I wish them the best of luck in the world.” Certainly, Jeffroy and his wife, Annabelle Aime, deserve the well wishes of all who want to see the French racing and breeding industries succeed, with Jeffroy acknowledging that it was a brave move to launch a new stallion operation at what he himself describes as “a pivotal moment” for the sport in France. Jeffroy speaks in more detail about the challenges facing the domestic product – highlighted by a €20.3 million reduction in prize-money for 2026, announced by France Galop in May last year – in a second piece to appear in the TDN in the coming days, with other prominent figures such as Nicolas de Chambure, Mathieu Alex and Pierre Gasnier also lending their voices to the debate. The post ‘The Breeding World Is Not A Hidden Secret’ – Access All Areas For La Route Des Etalons 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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