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IMAGINATION (h, 5, Into Mischief–Magical Feeling, by Empire Maker) was behind the eight ball after missing the break in Saturday's $2-million G2 Riyadh Dirt Sprint and found himself in a cloud of dust from near the back of the pack. Trainer Bob Baffert earlier in the week lamented the testing nature of the long stretch at King Abdulaziz Racecourse, having 'lost millions of dollars' in that final 100 meters, but that worked in his favor on this occasion, as he was up in the final yards. The Riyadh Dirt Sprint earns Imagination a 'Win and You're In' ticket to the GI Breeders' Cup Sprint at Keeneland later this fall. Favored at odds-on, Imagination raced well back as GIII Elite Power Stakes hero Just Beat The Odds (Munnings), Echo Point (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) and American Stage (Into Mischief) fought out the early fractions with Muqtahem (Ire) (Soldier's Call {GB}), last year's runner-up, tracking from out wide. Switched off heels while racing on his wrong lead approaching mid-stretch, Imagination continued to plug away gamely and surged past Just Beat The Odds for the victory despite never changing his legs. Muqtahem was a gallant third ahead of American Stage, with California's Lovesick Blues (Grazen) coming home belatedly for fifth. Sales history: $1,050,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP. O-SF Racing LLC, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables LLC, Stonestreet Stables LLC, Bashor, Dianne, Masterson, Robert E., Waves Edge Capital LLC, Donovan, Catherine and Ryan, Tom J.; B-Peter E Blum Thoroughbreds LLC (KY); T-Bob Baffert   The post Into Mischief’s Imagination Leads American 1-2 In Riyadh Dirt Sprint appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

AL HARAM (IRE) (c, 3, Iffraaj {GB}–Liberamente {Ire}, by Tagula {Ire}) got the home team on the board in the first of the six group-level contests on the Saudi Cup program, launching a rally from far back with 400 metres to travel and racing over the top of 'TDN Rising Star' presented by Hagyard Obliteration (Violence) and Japan's favoured Satono Voyage (Jpn) (Into Mischief) to become the second locally trained winner of the $1.5-million G3 Saudi Derby. He picks up 30 points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby in the process, though he was not an original entry at the January closing. He can be supplemented for $6,000 in early April. Drawn gate two with leading local rider Ricardo Ferreira at the controls, Al Haram was taken hold of right out of the gate as the speedy Obliteration made the running from Satono Voyage in the two path, with the latter's Japanese compatriot Keiai Agito (Jpn) (Espoir City {Jpn}) also prominently positioned. Beginning to find his best stride entering the final 600 metres, Al Haram began weaving his way through traffic, spilt a pair of the Japanese horses approaching the furlong grounds and savaged the line to post a comfortable victory. Obliteration held off Satono Voyage for second money. Sales history: £150,000 Ylg '24 GOFPRE. Lifetime Record: 4-4-0-0. O-Sheikh Abdullah Homoud Almalek Alsabah; B-Seamus Phelan; T-Abdullah Alsidrani The post Iffraaj Colt Al Haram Stays Unbeaten in Saudi Derby appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Star Of Wonder (Uncle Mo) has been scratched from the G1 Saudi Cup on the advice of the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia (JCSA) stewards on Saturday morning. Racing for King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz and Sons, the five-year-old entire was administered a topical substance to all four limbs on raceday in contravention of Article 134(10)(4) of the Rules of Racing. Trained by Saad Aljenade, Star of Wonder was third in the GIII Pimlico Special Stakes last year. Sold for $325,000 at the Fasig-Tipton July Horses of Racing Age Sale, he has won both his starts in Saudi Arabia, including the Listed King Faisal bin Abdulaziz Cup. With his scratching, the $20-million Saudi Cup field is down to 13 horses, led by defending champion Forever Young (Real Steel). The post Star Of Wonder Scratched From Saudi Cup appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Francis Lui Kin-wai continued his remarkable 2026 with another double at Sha Tin on Saturday, spearheaded by the impressive success of Turquoise Velocity in the Class Three TVB Midlife, Sing & Shine Handicap (1,000m). The 2023-24 champion trainer topped the charts in January in tandem with David Hayes, securing 10 winners, and February has seen him continue his rampant period. Lui raced to five winners in February thanks to a pair of smart winners, with Turquoise Velocity looking a very smart...View the full article

Frankie Lor Fu-chuen will consider backing up Stormy Grove on Thursday while connections contemplate paying a late entry fee for the Hong Kong Derby (2,000m) after his blistering victory at Sha Tin on Saturday. Capping Lor’s 60th birthday celebrations in style on Saturday, Stormy Grove was promoted from first reserve after China Win was scratched on the eve of the Class Three TVB Miss Hong Kong Pageant Handicap (1,600m) and took full advantage to snare his first Hong Kong triumph. Taken back to...View the full article

Last season’s Gr.1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) placegetter Movin Out (NZ) (Staphanos) made a winning start to her new preparation with an upset victory in the A$160,000 Macquarie St Social Handicap (1300m) at Randwick on Saturday. Originally trained by Bill Thurlow, Movin Out began her career with three starts in New Zealand for a win and two placings including a third behind Captured By Love and Alabama Lass in the 1000 Guineas at Riccarton. Subsequently purchased by thoroughbred powerhouse Yulong, the daughter of Staphanos joined Chris Waller’s operation in Sydney, where she ran an eye-catching fourth first-up in the Gr.2 Phar Lap Stakes (1500m). She followed that up with a ninth in the Gr.1 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m), a win in the Mornington Guineas (1600m), a fifth in the Gr.1 Australasian Oaks (2000m), a third in the Gr.2 Doomben Roses (2000m) and a fourth in the Gr.1 Queensland Oaks (2200m). Movin Out failed to fire in the spring of her four-year-old season, with the best of her five runs being a sixth in the Gr.2 Matriarch Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on November 8. Saturday’s Benchmark 88 handicap was her first raceday appearance since then, and she was back at her very best despite jumping as a $41 outsider. Ridden by Adam Hyeronimus, Movin Out raced in fifth beside the rail in a strung-out field. The race tightened up significantly at the top of the straight and Movin Out, who looked like she was about to cruise up on the outside of the two leaders, was checked out of that gap and put back into a pocket. Hyeronimus had to switch back towards the rail, and then Movin Out had to regather her lost momentum. She hit top gear again and flashed through one off the rail, edging out Gatsby’s (Snitzel), Bunker Hut (NZ) (Savabeel) and Glint of Silver (Rubick) in a four-way finish. “She ran really well,” Hyeronimus said. “Her trials have been great and she ran up to them today. She’s effective over further too, so she appears set for a really good campaign.” Movin Out is a daughter of the Stravinsky mare Wahaha (NZ), a half-sister to four-time Group One winner Wall Street (NZ) (Montjeu). Movin Out was bought out of Anistay Lodge’s Book 2 yearling draft for $24,000 at Karaka 2023. She has now had 15 starts for three wins, three placings and A$354,608 in stakes. Movin Out’s victory capped a hugely successful Saturday for Waller. The expat Kiwi horseman also saddled Joliestar to win the Gr.2 Expressway Stakes (1200m) and Autumn Glow (The Autumn Sun), Aeliana (NZ) (Castelvecchio) and Lindermann (Lonhro) for a trifecta in the Gr.2 Apollo Stakes (1400m), while Sixties (Flying Artie) won the Gr.3 CS Hayes Stakes (1400m) at Flemington. View the full article

Elie Hennau has left his role as managing director of France Galop with immediate effect, according to reports published in Jour de Galop and Paris-Turf. France Galop president Guillaume de Saint-Seine confirmed the news to staff on Friday afernoon. He said, “Elie Hennau is stepping down from his position as managing director. We would like to thank him for his work and commitment to the industry over the past two years. We wish him every success in his future endeavours.”  Hennau, a former amateur rider with a business background in the insurance company AXA, was appointed to the role in January 2024 to succeed outgoing managing director Oliver Delloye, who has returned to the sales company Arqana. Henri Pouret was announced at that time as deputy managing director, and he will now act as interim director of France Galop under what the president described as “a more streamlined” operation. He added, “Our priority remains unchanged: to restore racing to its rightful place with the public and to ensure the long-term future of the industry in all its dimensions. We will continue this work together for the future and development of France Galop.” Last May, France Galop announced a €20.3m reduction in prize-money for 2026 as part of a “major recovery plan” which includes the revitalisation of the Pari Mutuel Urbain (PMU) following years of falling turnover.   The post France Galop Boss Elie Hennau Departs After Two Years appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Caspar Fownes drew level with Mark Newnham at the top of the trainers’ premiership on 35 winners after a brilliant day at Sha Tin on Saturday, highlighted by Sky Trust’s gutsy win in the Class Two TVB Cup (1,200m). It was a day to savour for both Fownes and Ellis Wong Chi-wang, who gave both his winners superb rides from off the pace, with Sky Trust’s feature success far from straightforward. Settled midfield throughout the journey, Wong peeled his mount into the centre of the track off the turn...View the full article

no ya nong, he's the current voted 2025 Longines WORLD"s BEST JOCKEY. for the 3rd time. he ain't crying none.  Who the hell wants him on the sidelines?  when some of the best horses in the world were awaiting his talent today (Joliestar and Autumn Glory ) that he rode to easy victories with his fine talent.  It's only YOU Bawling your eyes out all the time Thommo,  like a big baby about whip strikes. wah wah wah . 😭 Its a bloody 500kg animal mate. you ain't gunna hurt the bastard with a floppy little hand whip. I've been whacked by whips from other drivers during a race . it just stuns you into action if anything. just like it does for the horse. gets your concentration up a bit. Some blokes need it in the bedroom too 🤭😉😎