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Not one bit, but can't wait to see it in the Magic Millions race for 2yos , surely thats where its headed?

The Wyoming Gaming Commission has approved Wyoming's first mile-long horse racing track for 16 live race dates in 2025, as well as simulcasting and related activities.View the full article

NEWMARKET, UK — Among a boutique offering, a half-sister to two Group 1 winners, by the champion sire-elect, was always going to be a standout and the 18-year record for the top price at the Tattersalls December Yearling Sale duly fell to Clara Stud's Dark Angel filly, who was sold for 900,000gns. Solo De Lune (Ire) (Law Society), now best known as the dam of Irish Oaks winner Moonstone (GB) (Dalakhani {Ire}), held the previous record at 775,000gns back in 2006 as part of the Britton House Stud dispersal. That transaction also contributed to record turnover for that sale, but that marker was also surpassed by three-quarters of the way through Monday's single session at Park Paddocks. The day ended with turnover of 7,105,000gns, up from 4,777,200gns last year, with new record figures set for the median of 30,000gns (+50%) and average of 51,861 gns (+38%). At 82%, the clearance rate was on par with 2023. Henry Lascelles saw off competition from a number of interested parties for the day's top lot, including Oliver St Lawrence, Jason Kelly, Will Douglass and eventual underbidder Yuesheng Zhang of Yulong Investments. Though Lascelles was unable to divulge the name of the filly's buyer, he did confirm that the half-sister to Group 1 winners Camille Pissarro (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) and Golden Horde {Ire}) (Lethal Force {Ire}) would remain the UK to be trained for an English owner-breeder. There was a happy sense of deja vu for her breeder James Cloney of Clara Stud, who, since buying the Pivotal (GB) mare Entreat from Cheveley Park Stud for 14,000gns at the 2016 July Sale, has seen the 18-year-old mare's profile soar. Back in 2016 she was carrying to Dark Angel's Group 1-winning son Lethal Force and the resultant foal became known as Golden Horde, winner of the G1 Commonwealth Cup and G2 Richmond Stakes for Clive Cox and now a stallion for Nurlan Bizakov's Sumbe operation. The pedigree has also been upgraded by the listed success of Exhort (GB) (Dutch Art {GB}) in the Cheveley Park colours and by fellow listed winner Line Of Departure (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}), but it is the mare's most recent runner who is currently the most exciting prospect. Camille Pissarro, a 1,250,000gns Book 1 purchase last year by MV Magnier, won the G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere last month and will be one of Coolmore's leading Classic hopes for next season.  Cloney said of the filly, who was forced to miss Book 1 herself after getting cast in her box, “Typically, just as you get the update you get a setback. These things happen, but it's great for Tattersalls to put on today and deliver this result.” Of the 18-year-old Entreat he added, “She's some mare, she just pours pure class into her stock. It's an emotional rollercoaster with her but when she does it, she does it so well. As breeders, we're all dreamers and you do kind of dream for this to happen. It's unbelievable that it just keeps happening with this mare. It's kind of exciting, especially because Entreat has travelled to Justify so we're expecting a nice foal by him in early January. She's back with me now, she came back home in May, so she'll be getting an extra scoop of nuts this evening.”   Cloney continued, “Sometimes you get mares who produce good racehorses but they don't perform at the sales. But in my eyes, and I think in a lot of people's eyes, she ticks every box because she's able to throw the stock and then they go and back it up. There are not too many mares with two Group 1 winners under their belt, or four stakes winners, especially all by different stallions. “She stamps her stock no matter what stallion she goes to. This is a big strong filly and I'd draw a lot of comparisons with Camille Pissarro. I know I might sound biased but I actually thought she might be that little bit stronger at the same stage.” A Day of Stars Three of the top five prices in the December Yearling Sale's history were achieved on Monday. Along with the day's leading lady, a filly and a colt by the perennially popular Aga Khan Studs resident Sea The Stars (Ire) brought the morning session to life when selling for 400,000gns and 375,000gns respectively.  Lot 53, Norelands Stud's filly out of Crimean Queen (GB) (Iffraaj {GB}), was bought by Jamie McCalmont on behalf of owner Marc Chan, who already races the filly's full-brother, the two-year-old Seacruiser (Ire), winner of a Newmarket maiden on debut for Ralph Beckett.  “We hope that [Seacruiser] will be a really nice horse for next year,” said the agent. “We bought Sir Dinadan from Norelands last year, and Seacruiser, and Green Impact was raised there. It was a farm that was founded by Harry [McCalmont] and my grandfather, so there is a lot of sentiment, and, more importantly, it seems to be working.” He added, “Marc wants to start breeding horses and Sea The Stars is a a great broodmare sire and if the brother ends up really good, it will be really nice to have a sister. Marc is really happy, he really wanted this filly.” The filly's dam, bred by Hascombe and Valiant Studs, is a half-sister to the Group 2 winners Bronze Cannon (Lemon Drop Kid) and Across The Stars (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) and to Crimson Ribbon (Lemon Drop Kid), the dam of Ascot Gold Cup winner Courage Mon Ami (GB) (Frankel {GB}). Underbidder on the day's top lot, the Yulong team had earlier been successful in signing up lot 46, the Sea The Stars first foal of the Group 3 winner Cloudy Dawn (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}), at 375,000gns. Sold as a foal by breeder James Wigan for 100,000gns, the colt is from the family of French Group 1 winners Grey Lilac (Ire) and Golden Lilac (Ire) and will begin his racing career in the UK with the option to race in Australia in the future. Yulong's general manager Vin Cox said, “He's by a good stallion out of a good mare and he's well put together. He fits our plans, which is to try to put together a good batch of horses to go to the races.” Yulong, which has its base in Australia, has made its presence felt at the European sales in recent years, not least when buying Group 1 winner Via Sistina (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) from last year's December Mares Sale for 2,700,000gns. The six-year-old mare has repaid her new owner handsomely since joining Chris Waller's stable in Sydney. Reflecting on Via Sistina's success in Australia, which includes breaking Winx's track record when winning the G1 Cox Plate by eight lengths, Cox said, “To have bought her last year for the money we did – she had the pedigree and the race record to justify that sort of price – but to end up where she is now is beyond our wildest expectations. She has had seven starts in Australia now for five Group 1 wins. It's a stunning record and we'd have to say she's on the way to being Horse of the Year in Australia, though of course there's a large part of the Australian season still to play out. But also to be rated the top mare in the world is quite phenomenal.” The run of demand for the Sea The Stars yearlings continued later in the session through lot 140. William Haggas knows the family of her dam My Timing (GB) (Street Cry {Ire}) well, having trained all three of her winning offspring to date, all of whom are by Sea The Stars and bred by the Tsui family's Sunderland Holdings. The trainer went to 360,000gns to buy the mare's yearling filly. “She is for one of my owner-breeders,” he said of the sister to Sea On Time (Ire) and Sea Just In Time (Ire).  “I know the family well, all of them have been more than useful, the first [foal] was the best. This is a nice, straightforward but backward filly and it will be age three or four  before she comes good.” Blue Point Colt for Johnston Charlie Johnston will train the Blue Point colt out of the group-placed Haatef mare Achnaha (Ire) who was bought by Anthony Stroud for 240,000gns. Offered as lot 18 by his breeder Plantation Stud, the colt is the second living foal of the 13-year-old mare, whose filly foal by Advertise (Ire) is in the same stud's draft for Tuesday's foal sale. On behalf of Godolphin, Stroud also signed for a No Nay Never colt (lot 138) out of a half-sister to new Ballyhane Stud stallion Sakheer (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) for 170,000gns from New England Stud. Golden Touch Dermot Cantillon of Tinnakill House enjoyed a decent pinhooking result with a colt bought back in February at Goffs for €30,000. By Make Believe (GB), he is out of the Moyglare Stud-bred mare Unaccompanied (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}), who was both a listed winner on the Flat and Grade 1-winning juvenile hurdler.  Returned to Tattersalls as lot 7, the May-born colt from the further family of Kyprios (Ire) and Search For A Song (Ire) was bought for 125,000gns by John Gosden.  He said, “Thady came and found him. He is a lovely sort, scopey, a good mover and, of course, we know the sire well through Mishriff. We will put together a syndicate to own him.” Cantillon added, “I don't pinhook too many foals, but I am a big admirer of that family and when I saw him in the ring in February, I just took a liking to him and bought him. I like stayers and I like late foals, when everyone else is going the other way, I like to buck the trend. “It was always the plan to come to this sale because he was a May foal and he looked like he was going to need every day. It was always the plan – and he has made way more than I was expecting.”   Shirley Anderson-Jolag is set to become the first female auctioneer at Tattersalls   Anderson-Jolag a Trailblazer An important milestone will be reached on Tuesday when Shirley Anderson-Jolag takes to the rostrum to become the first female auctioneer at Tattersalls. It is believed that she is also the only woman to be currently auctioning horses in the thoroughbred world. An immensely popular member of the sales scene, Anderson-Jolag has a background in performing arts, and in particular opera singing, a talent which will surely aid her performance in the ring at Park Paddocks. She said at Tattersalls on Monday, “I hope by this time next year there will be another woman auctioneer, and then another.” Congratulations and best of luck, Shirley.   The post Dark Angel Filly The Star on Record Day at Tattersalls  appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

A total of 1,088 lots have been catalogued for the 2025 New Zealand Bloodstock (NZB) National Yearling Sale, which is scheduled to take place at Karaka from January 26-30. The catalogue, which is now available to view online, features 661 yearlings in Book 1 and another 427 in Book 2. Previous graduates of the sale include Mr Brightside (NZ) (Bullbars {Aus}), an eight-time Group 1 winner in Australia, in addition to Lucky Sweynesse (NZ) (Sweynesse {Aus}) and Ka Ying Rising (NZ) (Shamexpress {Aus}), both top-class sprinters in Hong Kong. A full-sister to Lucky Sweynesse will be offered at the 2025 edition of the sale, along with yearlings out of Group 1 winners such as Bonneval (NZ) (Makfi {GB}) and Jennifer Eccles (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle {Ire}). This will also be the first time that NZB has combined both Book 1 and Book 2 into one physical catalogue. NZB's managing director Andrew Seabrook said, “Although they still remain separate sales, it was a request made at a post sales vendor meeting earlier this year, so we thought it was worth doing and advantageous from a marketing perspective to have just one catalogue. “Of all the sales in Australasia this year, Karaka saw the biggest increase in average, turnover and median–that was really encouraging. We're incredibly proud of the New Zealand-bred and Karaka graduate results over the last 12 months.” The post Catalogue for the NZB National Yearling Sale Released appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

How did we get hooked on this sport? We all have stories about how our love affair developed and blossomed. The TDN will be reaching out to numerous notable people in the industry to get their stories to find out how they got hooked and stayed hooked on the sport. Dr. Barry Eisaman, Eisaman Equine I've been in the horse world my entire life. So, I think it started just with horses and a love for them in general. That quickly transferred to love of horse racing because in my teenage years, and earlier, I started working around racehorses. But I think as the years would go by, I'm not really remembering, 'oh, that was the moment I got hooked' but instead I get constant reaffirmation of what a wonderful sport this is and what wonderful creatures these racehorses are. A lot of the work that I do is breaking and preparing young horses to go to the races and for rehabilitation. It's just so impressive how tough horses can be, and then the flip side of the coin is how fragile they can be. In my life I've enjoyed trying to help them stay healthy, get them fixed up and get back to their athletic wellness. So, my love of the horse just grew and kept getting reaffirmed over the years. Anytime that I have hands on a young horse or a rehab horse that goes on to be something really special, that's a reaffirmation that this is a wonderful sport. You get the sense of pride that maybe in some way you helped. My whole exposure was when I went to veterinary school and then it was in equine practice at the racetracks in Miami for eight or 10 years. Then I moved to the Ocala area. Those years were spent being impressed by horses from a veterinary standpoint. And then during my years in Ocala, time gradually changed things from a veterinary practice to a training center. My wife Shari [Eisaman] and I run Eiseman Equine, so we have well over 200 horses on campus at any one time. And it's just like a snowball. It just keeps getting bigger as life goes on. Shari has been instrumental in my thinking as she was involved in racing before she and I met. Her background was in horse sales. So, after we got married and over 30 years thereafter I became more involved in sales and getting horses ready to sell. Probably had we not met, I may have stayed in a more conventional veterinarian-only role. But the role that I'm in now is just like the best of all worlds. I get to work with young horses and use my veterinary skills much more than I would in a practice. All the contacts we have continue to reach out to us and that's never really stopped. That's a reason to stay hooked. I have to say that it's not like a Seabiscuit jogging through the dark sort of the moment. But it just continues to be really fun. Nick Tammaro, announcer/handicapper/oddsmaker Once I was old enough to join him on the day trips to racetracks in neighboring states, my Dad decided to bring me to Fair Grounds while we lived in the Dallas area. From the minute we walked in, and I remember it vividly, I was captured by the whole scene. The paddock, the box we sat in, the horses running by, and most importantly the Daily Racing Form. I opened it up and as he explained to me what was on a running line, it all seemed to make sense. From that point forward I asked him to buy me the DRF as often as possible so I could read it and handicap, even if we weren't going to the track. I asked a million questions of the veteran horseplayers we surrounded ourselves with at Trinity Meadows [near Ft. Worth] in an effort to hone my handicapping skills. The process to be a successful horseplayer started for me as a child and will never end. Racing is the greatest game in the world. Needless to say, I was hooked very early! To share your own story of how you got hooked on racing, email suefinley@thetdn.com. The post Hooked On Racing: Dr. Barry Eisaman And Nick Tammaro appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The Retired Racehorse Project's 2024 year-end giving campaign will include a total goal of $100,000, including a $38,700 match pledge that will double contributions from donors who support the organization's charitable mission to increase demand for Thoroughbreds beyond racing. The campaign comes on the eve of the RRP's 15-year anniversary in 2025. The match pledge is generously donated by Valerie Callcott-Stevens; Copper Beech Stables; The Happy Dog Fund; Hinkle Farms; Dr. Carolyn Karlson; Jen Roytz and Dr. Stuart Brown; and additional Makeover Champions. “The RRP's work spans multiple equine industry sectors, all in effort to ensure positive outcomes for Thoroughbreds who have finished their careers in racing and/or the bloodstock industry,” said RRP Executive Director Kirsten Green. “Initiatives that drive demand benefit the racing industry by facilitating efficient transitions through the aftercare stage of a horse's life and increases the capacity to serve more horses, while our educational programming ensures post-track owners have the resources and support they need to be successful with the breed and provide safe and appropriate homes.” Click here to learn more about the Retired Racehorse Project and its year-end giving campaign. The post Retired Racehorse Project Gets $38,700 Match For 2024 Year-End Giving Campaign appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Arqana today announced the launch of SirePower+, a tailored financing programme which offers breeders the possibility of having 50% of their 2025 covering fee financed by the Deauville auction house up until the offspring is sold. The initiative is aimed at French breeders with or without a stud, as well as foreign breeders who have mares in France or are planning to have mares in France, who wish to cover their top Flat mares. The programme will concentrate on the top international stallions that are in demand because of their progeny's results both on the racecourse and at the yearling sales. The young stock resulting from this programme will then be offered as foals or yearlings at Arqana. “With this initiative, we want to enable breeders to make their mares' coverings more attractive,” read a statement attributed to Olivier Delloye, president of Arqana, and Freddy Powell, managing director. “By concentrating on good mares and the elite stallions in the European stallion pool, this program is designed to help raise the level of our yearlings on offer and continue to broaden our customer base. “We hope to create a virtuous dynamic, with positive impacts at various levels for future generations and sales.” The post Launch of “Tailored Financing Programme” SirePower+ Announced by Arqana appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Australia's most decorated racemare, Winx (Aus) (Street Cry {Ire}), welcomed her third foal, a colt by Snitzel (Aus), on Monday morning. Winx endured a challenging start to her breeding career when her first foal by I Am Invincible (Aus) died shortly after foaling, before making history in April when her second foal by Pierro (Aus) sold for A$10 million (around €6.20 million) at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, a world record sum for a filly. The Pierro filly was bought by Debbie Kepitis, who raced Winx in partnership with Peter and Patty Tighe's Magic Bloodstock and the late Richard Treweeke. Trained by Chris Waller, who is also set to oversee the racing career of the Pierro filly, Winx retired as the winner of 25 Group 1 races, including four consecutive editions of the Cox Plate. “She foaled down just after midnight and by all reports it was very quick,” Peter Tighe told RSN927. “She was a bit late delivering–a couple of weeks overdue–but everything went smoothly and she had a beautiful, really long legged colt. He's still got a few hurdles to get over being so young so all the checks have to be done.” He added, “We're happy to have a colt, especially by Snitzel, because it is a super line of breeding, and Winx deserves every bloody thing she gets. Having a beautiful young boy is exactly what she needed. “She looked a million bucks beforehand yesterday and her coat was gleaming. The team at Coolmore and the vets in Scone are second-to-none–they look after her like one of their own family.” The post Wondermare Winx Welcomes Snitzel Colt appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Wyoming's first mile-long horse racing track, Thunder Plains Park, has been approved by the Wyoming Gaming Commission for 16 live race dates in 2025, as well as simulcasting and related activities. While the first racing season will feature temporary structures, the essential components, including barns, racing officials' tower, video patrol towers, and spectator areas, will be in place. The track, located 10 miles east of Cheyenne at Thunder Plains Park, will host its inaugural race day Friday, August 1 with additional race days to follow on August 2, 3, 8-10, 15-17, 22-24, 29-31 and September 1. Dates are subject to change per the Wyoming Gaming Commission. “As a fifth-generation Wyomingite, being able to bring this track to our state carries a lot of meaning,” said Thunder Plains managing partner Ryan Clement. “Thunder Plains sees an incredible opportunity to create a positive impact not only on the Wyoming horse racing industry but also the area's economy, in terms of new job opportunities and tourism revenue.” Through partnerships with elite industry veterans and horsemen, Thunder Plains looks forward to bringing high-quality, high-caliber racing to Laramie County. “We've established a strong partnership with 1/ST, North America's preeminent Thoroughbred racing, entertainment and pari-mutuel wagering company,” said Clement. “They've set the standard for horse safety across the nation, and we're looking forward to bringing that strong emphasis on safety and track protocols to Wyoming.” Of the partnership with Thunder Plains, 1/ST TECHNOLOGY's Senior Vice President Jeff True said he sees exciting opportunities ahead. “1/ST has a long history of operating premier racetracks and premier racing events across the country. We are thrilled to be entering the Wyoming horse racing market together with our local Wyoming partners, and we look forward to lending our expertise to help grow Wyoming horse racing.” For all simulcasting operations, 1/ST will leverage the expertise of its affiliates at Monarch Content Management, AmTote International, and PariMAX. “Our racetrack will be operated with numerous horse safety and welfare protocols in place,” said Clement. “The track itself, being a mile long and eighty feet wide, dramatically improves horse and rider safety. Throughout track design and construction, we collaborated with Dennis Moore, a renowned track surface specialist, to ensure the safest, most high-quality racing surface.” Future plans at Thunder Plains Park include building a regional equestrian center and establishing a high-altitude horse training and breeding program. The post Wyoming To Open First Mile-Long Track At Thunder Plains appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article