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Her horse today in Race 2 at Motukarara…. i am puzzled.  Bizza To’o, now i get drivers want to take it easy on first starters, especially trotters…. but she looked like she was in a workout. Looking at front legs and wheels, back legs , you name it.  I would like to see stipes report, as i thought drivers had to give their horses the best chance of winning the race? Horse had no show, while driver was gawking at everything, one thing she should have been looking at was the gap in the field in front of her…. end result, horse finally tagged on around turn, ran on well for 4th, a more positive drive easily gets it 2nd.  Not a good look….

Nope. Just can't figure it out. Why on earth, at the end of another grueling sales cycle, would so many Americans scrape together the last of their resources, in energy and funds, and get on a plane for one final auction in France? Setting aside, that is, the langoustines and truffles; the calvados and cider; the designer boutiques; the Christmas lights that transform an elegant summer resort into a filmset apt for a French remake of It's A Wonderful Life; the medieval villages huddled, in the early dusk of midwinter, under idle plumes of chimney smoke; and a final chance for festivity among professional peers before dispersing for holidays at home, and a well-earned break. Unless, perhaps, it has something to do with the horses. Looking at recent editions of the Arqana Vente d'Elevage, it does seem actually seem quite conceivable that the catalogue itself may be animating the dozens of Americans who have again booked a trip to Deauville for December 6-9. Last year, indeed, four of the top five lots at the principal session were intended to continue their track careers in the United States, ahead of a potential endgame in introducing some genetic diversity to the Bluegrass. Not all those plans appear to have worked out quite as intended, but then these investments can always provide a moving target. Take Excellent Truth (Ire) (Cotai Glory {GB}), purchased at Arqana for €1.6 million as a Group 3 winner. Switched to Chad Brown, she earned just under $500,000 in three starts for Resolute Racing, notably winning the GI Diana Stakes, before being sold to Katsumi Yoshida for $2.5 million at the Fasig-Tipton November Sale. An unconventional pinhook, no doubt. But her career path-bred and sold in Ireland; raced and sold in France; raced and sold in America; and now evidently destined to begin her breeding career in Japan-shows just how flexibly these international “commodities” can nowadays be adapted to different strategies. And, of course, all those ancillary delights do count for something. Chad Schumer, unquestionably one of the hardest working agents on the international circuit, will naturally work this catalogue as diligently as he does any other. But he does acknowledge that business, at Deauville in December, can always be blended with a little pleasure. “Festive,” Schumer says. “That's definitely the word I would use to describe not only the beautifully decorated town, but the atmosphere surrounding the last sale of the season. You'd rarely encounter so many pleasant facial expressions, despite results in the ring! “Personally, we've had good luck at this sale and hope to again. If not, I'll come away as usual with some wonderful nights at any of the many fantastic restaurants-not to mention the lively conversations to be had, among many other stops, at the bar at the Normandy Hotel.” But first and foremost, of course, Schumer views the trip as a professional imperative. “For American buyers, there are so many options both in terms of breeding stock and racing opportunities,” he says. “In our country, grass racing seems to become more and more popular and, perhaps no less importantly, plentiful in options. The French fillies have done very well in the U.S. and usually there are plenty on offer that could go on and race over here. Siyouni-©Zuzanna-Lupa.jpg" alt="The sire Siyouni at Haras de Bonneval" width="1155" height="840" /> Siyouni | Zuzanna Lupa “In terms of breeding stock, the annual reduction by the Aga Khan Studs would have to be the first place to start. So many of those culls have gone on the be the cornerstones of other breeding programs. Americans would be remiss not to have a deep dive into the options, which include mares in foal to Siyouni (Fr) and Zarak (Fr), as well as the Studs' exciting young sires Vadeni (Fr) and Erevann (Fr).  Godolphin, too, offers a reduction with many of those ready to carry on racing.” As we noted in recently browsing the upcoming December Sale at Tattersalls, American prospectors generally target such opportunities because they want to introduce something different to their broodmare bands. While few commercial programs in the U.S. are truly walking the walk, when it comes to turf bloodlines, nobody can deny the increasingly lucrative horizons opening on grass (and synthetics). But a sale like this does offer another, residual opportunity: mares with American backgrounds, which would not perplex or frighten off commercial shoppers if “repatriated” to a catalogue page in America. It might seem perverse to go all the way to France to import the kind of horses that saturate the domestic market, especially given the extra costs nowadays. But the fact is that such horses might well fall between the cracks: between, that is, the notoriously insular European shoppers and the Americans in town precisely because they want to diversify. There are, for instance, five daughters of Justify in the catalogue. These include the 3-year-old Just Before[217], who won a couple of small races in Ireland before being retired with a cover by St Mark's Basilica. She's a daughter of Gagnoa (Ire) (Sadler's Wells), the dual Classic-placed sibling to G1 Derby winner Pour Moi (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}). Gagnoa is now advancing in years but has produced a few accomplished types, notably Ancient Rome (War Front), who missed a Group 1 by a head as a juvenile. Ancient Rome's sister Etoile herself won a Group sprint as a youngster and is since the dam of No Nay Mets (Ire) (No Nay Never), triple stakes-winning juvenile sprinter in the US a couple of years ago. Another 3-year-old, Misty Quality [130] (Quality Road) has an internationally resonant page. She is a minor winner in France, having been exported from Book I of the Keeneland September Sale as a yearling, and offers a conduit to an outstanding Coolmore family: she's out of triple Group 1 winner Roly Poly (War Front), herself a sister to the top-class sprinter U S Navy Flag out of the aristocratic Classic winner Misty For Me (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). American Pharoah | Sarah Andrew Perhaps still more resonant is the family behind the unraced 6-year-old Pretty Milanova [163], an American Pharoah half-sister to the four-time Group 1 winner Peeping Fawn (Danehill), who has produced a couple of very talented runners. Their mother Maryinsky (Ire) (Sadler's Wells) was a Group 1-placed half-sister to none other than blue hen Better Than Honour (Deputy Minister). Pretty Milanova arrives with a cover of corresponding glamor in Lope De Vega (Ire), so that puts her next owner €200,000 ahead of the game just in terms of a covering fee. Another tremendous Coolmore family is accessible through the 4-year-old Mo Tambourine, who showed little in a light career but is by Uncle Mo out of a full-sister to a series of elite performers including the Classic winners Minding (Ire) and Tuesday (Ire): they're all by Galileo (Ire) out of the G1 Coronation Stakes winner Lillie Langtry (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}). Minding is the dam of the classy Henry Longfellow (Ire) (Dubawi {GB}), so the quality is repeating. Mo Tambourine arrives with a first cover by Metropolitan (Fr). A somewhat older mare who may nonetheless have some extra mileage is the 11-year-old Spooky Woods [237], a daughter of Justify's damsire Ghostzapper with a couple of black-type placings to her credit. That's because her half-sister by Astrology is now the dam of GI Pacific Classic winner and young Hill 'n' Dale stallion Arabian Knight; while her daughter by Speightstown included a couple of stakes wins when going on a streak of four last winter. She's in foal to Big Rock (Fr). Good Business [443} might also warrant consideration, at the age of 10: in foal to Onesto (Ire), she's a Speightstown half-sister to a multiple graded stakes performer in Compelled (War Front)-and their dam was a Dynaformer half-sister to none other than Malibu Moon (A.P. Indy). Other stallions to have come out of this family, either side of the water, include Temple City. This page could well find extra traction in Kentucky. Freddy Powell, director-general at Arqana, acknowledges that the catalogue's emphasis is turf. “But that doesn't just mean performers that can go on and race on the grass circuits in America, but also proper turf bloodlines: the best damsires in Europe, and mares in-foal to the best European stallions,” he says. “We have quite a few high-profile fillies to race on, with 40 rated 90 or more.” By way of example, Powell mentioned the juvenile Half Sovereign (Fr) (Ten Sovereigns {Ire}) [195], recent winner of the G3 Prix Miesque; the multiple stakes-placed Ginalyah [205] (Chachnak {Fr}); German Classic-placed Nyra (Ger) (Isfahan {Ger}) [187]; and the Aga Khan Studs sophomore Ashikidah (Fr) (Belardo {Ire}) [11], lately beaten just a head in a field of 18 for a Listed prize at Longchamp. Powell also noted that the dams of Gewan (GB) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}), Zavateri (Ire) (Without Parole {GB}) and Balantina (Ire) (Ten Sovereigns {Ire})-all 2-year-olds Group 1 winners in 2025-each passed through this auction. (In fact, Gewan's dam is a half-sister to Ginalyah.) “The Deauville Breeding Stock Sale is unique,” Powell declares, in summary. “Sort of, 'Find your next Grade I winner in an atmosphere of compulsory fun!' A combination of great bloodstock and a wonderful lifestyle experience.” The post Deauville ‘De Rigueur’ in December for American Enthusiasts appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

After winning a maiden route at Keeneland Oct. 10 by 20 lengths, Spendthrift Farm's Further Ado makes a highly anticipated stakes debut Nov. 29 against six juvenile rivals in the $400,000 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (G2) at Churchill Downs.View the full article

Doc Sullivan romps by 5 1/2 lengths in the $121,250 Thunder Rumble division of the New York Stallion Stakes Series Nov. 22 at Aqueduct Racetrack, before Khali Magic surprises in the Staten Island division a few races later.View the full article

Sunday, Kyoto, Japan, 15:40, MILE CHAMPIONSHIP-G1, ¥347,520,000, 3yo/up, 1600mT Field: 1-Toshin Macau (Jpn) (Big Arthur {Jpn}), 2-Champagne Color (Jpn) (Duramente {Jpn}), 3-Water Licht (Jpn) (Drefong), 4-Magic Sands (Jpn) (Kizuna {Jpn}), 5-Ascoli Piceno (Jpn) (Daiwa Major {Jpn}), 6-Gaia Force (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn}), 7-Cervinia (Jpn) (Harbinger {GB}), 80Kangchenjunga (Jpn) (Big Arthur {Jpn}), 9-Elton Barows (Jpn) (Deep Brillante {Jpn}), 10-Lavanda (Jpn) (Silver State {Jpn}), 11-Off Trail (GB) (Farhh {GB}), 12-Win Marvel (Jpn) (I'll Have Another), 13-Long Run (Jpn) (Victoire Pisa {Jpn}), 14-Lebensstil (Jpn) (Real Steel {Jpn}), 15-Jantar Mantar (Jpn) (Palace Malice {Jpn}), 16-Docklands (GB) (Massaat {Ire}), 17-Soul Rush (Jpn) (Rulership {Jpn}), 18-Wide Latour (Jpn) (California Chrome). Click here for the complete field. The post Black-Type Analysis: Jantar Mantar Faces Docklands In Mile Championship appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Darley stallion Space Blues sired his second stakes winner on Saturday, with the victory of Drago Blues in the Listed Premio Campobello-Memorial Paolo Ferrario in Milan. Space Blues already has G1 Phoenix Stakes hero Power Blue, as well as the group-placed Do Or Do Not and Bourbon Blues, and listed-placed Polly Shelby from his first crop. In midfield from the bell, the 67-25 chance inched toward the head of affairs on the turn. Wanda (Cracksman) had cut the corner into the homestretch, and it took the Giovanni Vittorio Vitale-owned colt the length of the lane to get past and win by a neck. Bred by Plantation Stud, the colt cost 50,000gns as a weanling at Tattersalls, and passed through that same ring when sold for 45,000gns out of the October Yearling Sale Book 2. Offered for sale once more, he was purchased by Marco Bozzi Bloodstock for €12,000 out of the Arqana May Breeze-Up Sale. The first foal out of the stakes-placed Simplicity (Casamento), the colt was previously third in the G3 Premio Guido E Alessandro Berardelli. His dam has a yearling filly by Showcasing that was sold to Manor House Stables and SackvilleDonald for 70,000gns out of the October Yearling Sale Book 1. The post New Stakes Winner For Space Blues In Italy appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Chevotel Racing's Orion Queen handled the heavy Milan turf and ran away with the G3 Premio St Leger Italiano in Italy on Saturday. The daughter of Sea The Moon was trying the 3000-metre distance for the first time. Setting off in a tracking second several paths off the fence, the 11-1 shot kept a close eye on last year's winner Taany (Teofilo) for the majority of the race. The field stayed well off the fence when rounding the bend into the home straight, and, despite covering more real estate than the pacesetter, the chestnut had dead aim on that foe leaving the bend. Taking over in early straight, the homebred ground her rivals into submission and crossed the line 3 1/4 lengths to the good of Ismahane (Isfahan) in second. It was another eight lengths back to Moon Wolf (Intello) in third, with Taany staying on for fourth by a length. The homebred won on debut at Nimes in February and added another win to her ledger four starts later at Hyeres over 2500 metres in June. After a second-place run at Divonne in August, she rebounded back at Lyon Parilly in a Class 3 handicap in September and warmed up for this with a second-place effort at Saint-Cloud in another handicap on October 26. Pedigree Notes Orion Queen is the 37th stakes winner for her sire, who stands at Lanwades Stud. She is also his 21st group winner and second from a Declaration Of War mare after GIII Honeymoon Stakes heroine Selenaia. Oriental Queen won thrice in a three-year career and also has the three-year-old filly Oriental Princess (Galiway), who has yet to place. Her granddam claimed the Listed Prix Urban Sea and is a half-sister to stakes winner Orion Star (Sternkoenig), who placed in both the G1 Grand Prix de Paris and in the G1 Prix du Cadran. Saturday, Milan, Italy PREMIO ST LEGER ITALIANO-G3, €70,400, Milan, 11-20, 3yo/up, 3000mT, 3:35.70, hy. 1–ORION QUEEN (FR), 123, f, 4, by Sea The Moon (Ger)             1st Dam: Oriental Queen (Fr), by Declaration Of War             2nd Dam: Orion Girl (Ger), by Law Society             3rd Dam: Okocha (Ger), by Platini (Ger) 1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN. 1ST GROUP WIN. O-Chevotel Racing. B-Chevotel de la Hauquerie (Fr). T-Manon Scandella Lacaille. J-Antonio Orani. €27,200. Lifetime Record: 9-4-2-1, €61,724. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the    eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the    free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. 2–Ismahane (Ger), 117, f, 3, Isfahan (Ger)–Identity (Ger), by Manduro (Ger). 1ST BLACK TYPE. 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (€90,000 Ylg '23 BBAGSEP). O-Darius Racing. B-Gestut Karlshof (Ger). T-Henk Grewe. €11,968. 3–Moon Wolf (Fr), 127, h, 7, Intello (Ger)–Diyakalanie (Fr), by Ashkalani (Ire). (€45,000 Ylg '19 ARQAUG). O-Stephane Wattel, JP Menville, Ecurie Ascot & Ecurie de Spa. B-Haras de Sainte Gauburge (Fr). T-Stephane Wattel. €6,528. Margins: 3 1/4, 8, 1. Odds: 11.30, 8.40, 8.25. Also Ran: Taany (Ire), Jolly Jumper (Ire), Almenkonig (Ger), Thine Be The Glory (Ire), Oberer (GB), Nonna Vanda (Ire), Maestro Del Mar (Fr). The post Orion Queen Rules In The St Leger Italiano 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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Champion filly Porta Fortuna still has “plenty of racing left in her” according to trainer Donnacha O'Brien, who admitted that he will be experiencing “mixed emotions” when his stable star goes through the ring at the forthcoming December Mares Sale at Tattersalls. The daughter of Caravaggio made it to the racecourse only once in 2025, when registering her eighth career win in May's G2 Lanwades Stud Stakes at the Curragh, but she has been given a clean bill of health by O'Brien ahead of her appearance during the second of the two Sceptre Sessions on Tuesday, December 2. “She's always been a very, very sound filly throughout her career, other than the little tweak that we got before Ascot [after her win at the Curragh],” said the trainer. “She put on a good bit of weight when we gave her the break and we decided that we probably weren't going to get her to the [G1] Matron [Stakes] in time. When that happened, the owners took the decision just to keep her in light work until the sales and keep her happy and healthy, so that's what we're doing.” He added, “She's in a great place now. She's a filly that potentially has plenty of racing left in her if that's what her new owners want. She's a special filly. She's achieved a lot already and possibly can achieve much more in the future.” Certainly, whether she races again or not, Porta Fortuna has already put together a CV which identifies her as one of the most decorated fillies to have raced in Europe in recent years. A four-time winner as a juvenile, including the G3 Albany Stakes and G1 Cheveley Park Stakes, she returned the following the season with a runner-up finish in the G1 1,000 Guineas, before winning at Royal Ascot for the second year in a row when beating five individual Group 1 winners in the G1 Coronation Stakes.     “My highlight of her racing career so far would probably be the Coronation in Ascot as a three-year-old,” O'Brien said of that memorable success. “It was probably the highest-quality race she ran in. She impressively beat the Cartier Champion Two-Year-Old filly in Opera Singer and obviously to do it on the biggest stage in Royal Ascot is very special.” Porta Fortuna herself was crowned the Cartier Champion Three-Year-Old Filly at the end of 2024, having followed her Coronation victory with two further top-level triumphs in the Falmouth Stakes and Matron Stakes. The horse of a lifetime for a partnership consisting of Taylor Made's Medallion Racing, Steve Weston, Dean Reeves and Barry Fowler, Porta Fortuna was bought privately after making a successful debut at the Curragh in the colours of her owner-breeder, the O'Brien family's Whisperview Trading Ltd. She is the first foal out of Holy Roman Emperor's Too Precious, who is a full-sister to the triple Australian Group 2 winner and G1 Australian Cup runner-up Numerian, as well as the G3 Prix Francois Boutin third Montesilvano. This is also the family of the G1 St Leger-winning sire Milan and the Derby and Irish Derby hero and prolific sire Kahyasi. O'Brien continued, “She was one of my picks of our homebreds when she was a yearling. Then, when she came in, she was very professional and did everything very nicely from day one. She was always a very precocious two-year-old. “She's a very good-looking filly. She's not massively tall, but she's very scopey. She has great length and she's a great mover. She has a very strong backside on her, strong neck, shoulder and back – she's an impressive specimen. “She's built probably like a fast filly, but she stretches out to a mile easily and probably would get a little bit further if we ever tried it. She looks quite like her sire Caravaggio in that sense.” Characterising his stable flagbearer for the past three seasons, O'Brien added, “There's no badness in her. She's just a very hardy filly. She loves her work and loves everything she does. “I'm really looking forward to the Tattersalls Sales and seeing her selling. Obviously, it'll be mixed emotions but, at the same time, it'll be exciting to see who's there and trying to buy her. Hopefully, it'll be a night to celebrate her, her career and everything she's achieved. It'll be exciting to find out what the next chapter holds for her.” The post Sceptre Sessions Headliner Porta Fortuna “In A Great Place” And Could Race On appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article