Chief Stipe

TDN International Editor Kelsey Riley will be riding in the Mongol Derby in August 2018, and will be regularly blogging about her preparations and ultimately, her 1000-kilometer, 10-day ride across Outer Mongolia. Every rider chooses a charity for which they raise money as part of the process. Kelsey has chosen the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation’s Second Chances Program at the Blackburn Correctional Complex in Lexington, KY. To learn more about Blackburn, click here. If, after wrestling with a wayward 2-year-old Thoroughbred that has bolted on you for a mile, you finally pull him up–with legs, arms and back screaming in pain–and the first thought to cross your mind is, ‘that was a great workout!’…you may be meant for the Mongol Derby. I don’t know what exactly possesses around 40 riders from across the world each year to take up the challenge of riding half-broke horses across the outer Mongolian steppe for 1000 kilometres (4,960 furlongs), but I have a much better idea after learning recently about the 42 riders from 13 different countries that I’ll be saddling up (and likely, on a few occasions crashing down) with come August. Reasons for taking on the world’s longest and toughest horse race? One American is riding in memory of his late wife and her horse-loving and adventurous spirit (amazing!); three past competitors are returning looking to improve on their previous finishes (or not finishes!); and one Irishman is searching for a wife (has he forgotten there are no showers out there?). The youngest rider is 19 and the eldest 70 (an Australian rancher, can’t wait to meet that dude!). The U.S. is the most represented country with 14 riders, and Australia is second with 12. New Zealand and South Africa each field three and also represented are Botswana, Canada (hey, that’s me!), Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Pakistan, Portugal, the UK and Uruguay. Professions range from professional riders to your more office-bound folk like myself. There are also a few nurses and paramedics (I will make fast friends with these!), two safari operators (maybe they’ll have some tips on how to handle those wild dogs?), a translator (sadly, not in Mongolian), an accountant, a real estate agent and a lawyer–not too sure how those skills will translate to the steppe! To be fair, as a journalist I’ll be totally useless in any kind of predicament, except for documenting it so we can laugh about it later. Click below for Kelsey’s GoPro Gallop video: All 42 riders possess a wicked sense of adventure and relish the chance to take on a challenge that a very small percentage of the world’s population could actually begin (let alone finish-only about half the riders who start each year reach the finish line). And, most importantly, many riders, like me, are riding for charity. I am taking this as an opportunity to raise awareness for Thoroughbred racehorse aftercare, and the many jobs racehorses are suitable for once their racing careers are over. Specifically, I’m raising money for the Second Chances Program at the Blackburn Correctional Complex in Lexington, where minimum security inmates care for off-track Thoroughbreds. Not only does the program provide a respite and a life after racing for the Thoroughbreds, but it gives back to the local community by providing inmates with a renewed sense of responsibility and skill set that they can take with them when they leave the prison. In fact, the program is so highly regarded that when 43 abandoned and emaciated horses were rescued from a Mercer County farm in the summer of 2016, some of the worst cases went to Blackburn for their rehabilitation. The wonderful folks at The Adventurists, the organization that puts on the Derby, have been great at sending out plenty of guides and tips on preparing for the rigors of the Derby. The latest touched on the three key areas of training: physical, mental and health. Physical is pretty self explanatory: riding and hitting the gym/running as much as possible. Health-wise, it is about preparing for how your body may react to the Mongolian diet. I’m sure that Sue Finley, especially, will be very keen to join me after this latest update on what we’ll eat: “goat garnished with sheep or sheep garnished with goat, served on a base of white flour, either in noodle or pastry form, with a good dollop of dairy on the side.” As such, they suggest, don’t treat your body like a temple while training (won’t have a problem there–hello beer and pizza!): there are no vegan, vegetarian or gluten-free menus out there! Finally, mental: They say your body can handle almost anything; it’s your mind you have to convince. I was told by one former Derby finisher that, barring serious injury, if you can be ok with being uncomfortable, you’ll finish the race. To prepare for that might mean adding extra mental challenges to training sessions, or making a rule of never skipping a session due to inclement weather. Seeing as how I’ve spent every morning of the last two months galloping racehorses in subzero temperatures, some days with ice pelting my face, I feel like I’ve started out decently in this realm. Stay tuned. View the full article

Twelve months ago, the team at Nasser Lootah’s Emirates Park Stud truly left Inglis’s Easter yearling sale with the one they wanted, admittedly spending their entire budget on one jewel: a A$1.7-million Snitzel (Aus) filly out of the dual Group 1 winner Response (Aus) (Charge Forward {Aus}). Two weeks ago that filly, Estijaab (Aus), fully justified that decision when winning the G1 Golden Slipper. That result for the Dubai-based businessman Lootah followed a year on from the fairytale story of A$20,000 Inglis Classic graduate She Will Reign (Aus) (Manhattan Rain {Aus}) winning the Slipper for her large syndicate of many first-time owners. The scale of what is on offer at all levels of the market at an Inglis yearling sale is clearly evident, and from Apr. 9 to 11 buyers will have the opportunity to get their hands on some of the most valuable Thoroughbreds on the planet at the first renewal of the company’s flagship Easter sale to be staged at Inglis’s new Riverside Stables in Sydney. “Only in Australia can the world’s richest 2-year-old race be won by a syndicated A$20,000 Classic filly one year and a A$1.7-million Easter filly the next,” said Jonathan D’Arcy, Inglis’s general bloodstock manager. “This is what makes our racing industry so appealing to all levels of ownership.” D’Arcy, who two weeks ago was in the Hunter Valley conducting the latest round of inspections of some of the 534 yearlings catalogued for this year’s Easter sale, said, “There’s some very nice yearlings out there. Given the success of last year’s sale I think people have been very careful with what they’ve sent to Easter. I think they’ve had an open mind in sending really nice fillies because the filly market was so good last year. I think you’ll see some really top-class fillies in the sale.” Indeed, regular readers of this space would have noticed the latest ad campaign of Arrowfield Stud, which sold Estijaab last year and this year brings the largest consignment of the sale with 50. The campaign advertises “30 exquisitely bred fillies” under the slogan “a diamond is forever.” But we’ll return to this later. While these are the kinds of pages that spark dynasties, it’s not all about the girls, as Easter has also been the source this year alone of multi-million dollar stallion prospects Merchant Navy (Aus) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) and Russian Revolution (Aus) (Snitzel {Aus}), who were bought at Easter for A$350,000 and A$320,000, respectively. The opportunity to purchase these types of valuable colts, which come on the market year after year Down Under, is a major factor in what has also more recently driven a larger number of international buyers to Australia. This year’s catalogue numbers 534. There are 38 siblings to Group 1 winners and 31 progeny of Group 1-winning mares, but perhaps the stat that best expresses the sheer quality on offer is that 37% of the catalogue is sired by the current top five active sires in the country: Snitzel (64), I Am Invincible (41), Fastnet Rock (39), Not A Single Doubt (19) and Sebring (34). Sixty-four offerings by the country’s record-breaking, reigning champion sire Snitzel-imagine the opportunity, in the Northern Hemisphere, to at one sale alone choose between 64 Galileos or Dubawis, Tapits or War Fronts. “[Marketing arm] Aushorse has made the point that Australian breeders sell the majority of their yearlings,” D’Arcy said. “Investors, be they our local investors, or from North America or anywhere else in the world, they have the opportunity to buy the Golden Slipper winner, or the Golden Rose or Caulfield Guineas winner; the top horses are sold here. It’s what makes the Australian market quite unique compared to other parts of the world, in particular England and Japan; the best horses are offered and I think that’s what our investors really appreciate.” “This is one of most appealing features of the Australian yearling sales series, the fact that breeders offer for sale the best of what they have bred,” said Arrowfield’s John Messara. “It would be unusual to see as many yearlings in Europe or the U.S. from mares of the quality available at this year’s Easter sale. That is because, unlike other Thoroughbred breeding centres, the breeding scene in Australia is dominated by commercial breeders who offer for sale most, if not all, of what they breed each year.” Eclectic Offering From Arrowfield… Arrowfield brings the largest consignment with 50, and it is a diverse mix of offerings by its own sires including Redoute’s Choice and his highly successful sire sons Snitzel and Not A Single Doubt, a colt by Frankel (GB), and its now customary sprinkling of offerings by Japanese sires: three fillies by that country’s perennial champion sire Deep Impact (Jpn), a filly by G1 Japan Cup winner Epiphaneia (Jpn), whose eldest Japanese-born progeny are two this year, and a colt by the champion sprinter Lord Kanaloa (Jpn). Arrowfield sold a pair of Lord Kanaloa fillies at the Gold Coast sale in January for A$800,000 and A$280,000 apiece. Arrowfield has a strong relationship and partnership with Katsumi Yoshida’s Northern Farm, which stands all three sires in addition to three others that Arrowfield shuttles, and indeed Yoshida is the breeder of Estijaab. “Each year we breed a handful of mares to the Japanese stallions we feel will suit them, and Northern Farm will also send mares to join our breeding joint venture that are in foal to their stallions, Southern Hemisphere time,” Messara explained. The Deep Impact fillies are lot 11, out of the G1 Coolmore Classic winner Alverta (Aus) (Flying Spur {Aus}); lot 70, out of Charming Estelle (Aus) (Redoute’s Choice {Aus}), a full-sister to champion sprinter Lankan Rupee (Aus); and lot 442, a daughter of the listed winner and G1 Australian Guineas second You’re So Good (NZ) (Savabeel {Aus}). “One horse we’re really looking forward to selling the progeny of is Deep Impact,” D’Arcy said. “We have three fillies and they’re three outstanding fillies. It’s amazing Arrowfield could send four top-class mares [the other being Alinghi, who produced a filly Arrowfield retained] and get these three stunning fillies. From my recollection it’s the first time Deep Impacts [yearlings] have been sold outside Japan. It’s a unique opportunity for Thoroughbred investors anywhere in the world to buy the progeny of one of the breed-shaping stallions of our time.” Arrowfield’s Frankel colt (lot 21) is one of two set for sale, the other being Cressfield’s lot 6, who is out of a half-sister to Invincible Spirit (Ire). Also among those with potential to feature in the draft are a Snitzel half-sister to Japanese Group 1 winner Aerolithe (Jpn) (Kurofune) (lot 25); a Snitzel filly out of a half-sister to Azamour (Ire) (lot 32); a Redoute’s Choice filly out of a half-sister to Not A Single Doubt (lot 103); a Redoute’s Choice colt out of a half-sister to Hong Kong champion Silent Witness (Aus) (El Moxie) (lot 358); a full-brother to G1 Myer Classic winner and Royal Ascot-bound Shoals (Aus) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) (lot 400); and a Snitzel colt out of a half-sister to seven-time Group 1 winner Dundeel (NZ) (High Chaparral {Ire}). Arrowfield’s three-time champion sire and dynasty-maker Redoute’s Choice, whose colt out of Secluded (Aus) (Hussonet) topped last year’s sale at A$2.5-million, has 23 total catalogued, and D’Arcy said of his legacy, “Redoute’s Choice has been the king of the yearling sale ring for the last decade and once again he’ll have plenty of competition from his stablemate Snitzel. He has some outstanding fillies in particular coming to the sale. His fillies on the racetrack have been nothing short of brilliant this year so we’re really looking forward to offering them.” Rock-Solid Coolmore Consignment… Coolmore was the seller of the aforementioned Royal Ascot contender Merchant Navy at this sale two years ago, and they bought back into him to stand at stud after his win in the G1 Coolmore Stud S. in November. Coolmore this year offers the second-largest consignment of 39, including a handful of potential standouts by Merchant Navy’s sire, its resident champion sire, Fastnet Rock. “It is generally my nature to be conservative in advance of the major yearling sales, especially in this part of the world where the market is so incredibly competitive, but I feel we are going to this Easter sale with a particularly exciting group of horses,” said Coolmore Stud Manager Jim Carey. “On paper it is an extraordinary draft, with 34 of the 39 yearlings catalogued bred from stakes-performed or stakes-producing mares but, crucially, it is an outstanding group of horses from a physical standpoint. We have hosted a series of on-farm parades in advance of the sale and the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, so it’s a very exciting time.” “I am very reluctant to single out particular lots given the depth of quality in the draft, however we have a number of Fastnet Rock colts that look to have similar credentials to a horse like Merchant Navy and it wouldn’t surprise if one or more of them was to emulate him and develop into a world-class sprinter. Pierro is emerging as a top-class young sire–he sits second on the 3-year-old sires’ list with just his first crop–and there are a number of good yearlings by him in our draft, in particular the colt out of Pontiana [lot 291, the half-brother to G1 Randwick Guineas winner Inference], who is a little bit special. I expect the fillies as a group will find favour with most, particularly those out of Cierzo [lot 72], Estelle Collection [lot 117] and Rezoned [lot 325], who I suspect will rank amongst the best fillies in the whole sale.” D’Arcy said, “Fastnet Rock has some very nice yearlings coming to the sale. He has had a stunning few months winning the [2017] Blue Diamond and his son Merchant Navy winning the Coolmore Stud S. and subsequently being syndicated for stud duties by Coolmore. We have some outstanding Fastnet Rock yearlings coming to the sale.” The Invincible Factor… Yarraman Park Stud’s I Am Invincible (Aus) has been red hot this year both on the racetrack and in the sales ring, his results at this year’s sales thus far rivaling the top-of-the-market superiority in recent years of Snitzel. He sired the top two lots and three of the top five at Magic Millions, while at Classic he sired the second top lot, the topper being by his first-crop son Brazen Beau (Aus). Easter is almost certain to throw up some highlights for I Am Invincible, his progeny including Newgate’s colt out of Black Caviar (Aus)’s half-sister Belle Couture (Aus) (Redoute’s Choice {Aus}) (lot 40); Segenhoe’s full-sister to a colt that made A$1.6-million last year (lot 64); Yarraman Park’s first foal of the five-time winner Danish Spy (Aus) (Dane Shadow {Aus}) (lot 85) and third foal of the stakes-winning Hoss Amor (Aus) (General Nediym {Aus}) (lot 169), who last year provided a A$2.4-million Medaglia d’Oro colt; and Segenhoe’s filly out of the G1 Myer Classic winner Hurtle Myrtle (Aus) (Dane Shadow {Aus}) (lot 171). Snitzel leads the general sires’ table by wins and earnings, with I Am Invincible second and Fastnet Rock third. “It’s going to be neck-and-neck at the sales,” D’Arcy said of the Snitzel/I Am Invincible rivalary. “Snitzel has more runs on the board than I Am Invincible, but I Am Invincible is very popular with trainers; they’re easy to train, they get up and run early. We’re very, very fortunate here in Australia to have two top-class stallions that are plying their trade at the same time and have come through the ranks together, I Am Invincible being younger of course. Both of them started at much lesser fees than what they currently stand at now, but they’re starting to see some of the best books of mares they’ve covered and that’s made a marked increase in what buyers are prepared to pay for them in the sales ring.” Collector’s Items From Newgate… Newgate Farm also played a part in the Estijaab story, having sold the filly’s dam, the dual Group 1 winner Response, while carrying her to Katsumi Yoshida for A$1.5-million in 2015. Newgate, one of Australia’s youngest yet most powerful studs, has spent plenty with its partners in recent years to acquire some of the world’s best-pedigreed mares, most notably when it made a big splash on mares from the Teeley dispersal in 2014. Newgate offers Snitzel fillies out of two of those mares, Precious Lorraine (Aus) (lot 294) and Your Life Style (Aus) (lot 443) at Easter. Both mares are daughters of Monsoon Wedding (Aus) (Danehill), the five-time stakes producing full-sister to Redoute’s Choice from an absolutely star-studded family, and as such can be described as nothing short of collector’s items. Those are just a very small sample of the quality that will be on offer at Riverside Stables next week, and of course, as is reiterated year after year by horses like She Will Reign, plenty of quality will also emanate from middle and lower ends of the market. While polarization has been the buzz word at sales of all varieties in America and Europe over the past couple years, Australia’s yearling sales regularly return clearance rates in the neighbourhood of 90%, with vigorous trade in the top, middle and lower tiers. This is no doubt helped by the fact that the country has such a healthy racehorse ownership culture-about one in every 244 Australians is a racehorse owner-and that syndicates are incredibly popular and regulated so as to allow them to not spend more than a half-million on any individual horse. “We’re very fortunate that we have levels of ownership from syndicates of 50 people that buy a yearling for A$20,000 and win the Golden Slipper, all the way through to the likes of Sheikh Khalifa and Sheikh Hamdan; wealthy individuals from around the world who invest in Australia because they love our racing,” said D’Arcy. “All the way through, we have trainers who get to the sales and work really hard to find horses at the level their owners want. Syndication is a real key to the strength of the Australian market at the present time. Darby Racing [owners of She Will Reign] bought 24 yearlings at our Classic sale. We’ve had syndicators like Triple Crown who won The Everest last year with Redzel, but in addition to that we have a lot of other syndication companies that do a very good job in bringing new people into racing.” “When you go racing there is an understanding of what the industry is about,” D’Arcy said. “All our daily papers still carry the fields for our racing. We’re fortunate that we have the support of media that brings racing to a mainstream audience. And as long as you have the fairytale stories like She Will Reign winning the Golden Slipper or Michelle Payne winning the Melbourne Cup, these stories capture the imagination of everyday people in Australia and that leads them into racehorse ownership.” The positive impact of this buoyant industry on the yearling market has been evident at all yearling sales in recent years, and this year’s Easter sale has plenty of work to do to match last year’s figures, which were well up across the board. Despite a catalogue of 46 fewer yearlings, last year’s gross grew 10.5% to A$109,320,000 for 308 sold (87% clearance). The average was up 25% to A$354,935, and the median rose 30% to A$260,000. The catalogue this year is 50 stronger than last, but D’Arcy insisted the quantity has not come at the expense of quality. “The Easter yearling catalogue, ever since I’ve been involved with the company, has been selected to a standard,” he said. “Some years we’ve selected 600 yearlings, some years we’ve selected 450. It really depends on the ebb and flow of where breeders see their horses best-placed. This year we have about 50 additional yearlings than last year. Last year’s sale was a phenomenal success, the second-strongest Easter yearling sale on record, so I think that did give breeders confidence to bring more horses to the sale. A lot of money turned up at the sale to buy those horses and we’re hopeful we can achieve the same sort of result this year.” “We’re lucky with Easter it has that reputation that you have to have a good type, so breeders are very particular about what they offer us,” D’Arcy added. “Our team of 10 bloodstock staff get around the farms and look at them as weanlings, we look at them again prior to entries and we look at them again as they’ve been entered. Hopefully we’ll continue to see the likes of Merchant Navy, Russian Revolution and these sorts of horses go on and ply their trade on the racetrack and become the stallions of tomorrow.” The Easter sale falls amidst a busy two weeks in Sydney: it begins on Thursday evening with the second renewal of The Chairman’s Sale: Elite Racing Prospects, including smart colts like Siege of Quebec (Aus) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}), Hypnotist (Aus) (Snitzel {Aus}), Almighty (Aus) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}) and Assimilate (Aus) (Sebring {Aus}). Saturday is Day One of The Championships at Royal Randwick featuring the Doncaster H. The Easter sale takes place Monday, Apr. 9 to Wednesday, Apr. 11, and is followed the next day by The Chairman’s Sale: Elite Breeding Prospects. Day Two of The Championships, featuring Winx (Aus) (Street Cry {Ire}) in the G1 Queen Elizabeth S., is Saturday, Apr. 14. The Inglis Australian Broodmare and Weanling Sale takes place Apr. 15 to 17. View the full article

Did last week’s dissolution of the Tommy Berry-John Moore partnership finally sound the death knell of the stable-retained rider? We did a piece last year looking back 20 years to a very different composition of the jockeys’ room at the time of the handover – just three club jockeys and eight stable retainers, 21 apprentices and six local freelancers. The retained rider system had its roots in racing as a betting sport even earlier than that, a huge part of which was quietly... View the full article

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Dubai Sheema Classic winner Hawkbill will become the first foreign-trained horse to contest the Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup next month, with Godolphin stablemate Blue Point, and not Jungle Cat, to run in the Chairman’s Sprint Prize on April 29. Trainer Charlie Appleby had already made plans for Hawkbill to come to Sha Tin for the 2,400m Group One on May 27 and the five-year-old’s dominant all-the-way win on World Cup night confirmed the trip. Blue Point was a late... View the full article

The training preview for the Barretts Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training was held beneath overcast skies and temperatures in the low 60s at Del Mar Monday and a trio of juveniles shared the bullet furlong time of :10 flat. The preview was held in four sets and the Del Mar oval remained fairly consistent throughout the day. “They are training here now, so they have the track just a little bit slow,” said Barretts General Manager Kim Lloyd. “It is very, very safe. The horses are getting a hold of it well and they are showing themselves off well. Which is very important. People can see their action well over this track. And the main thing is that they come back good. So far, so good. Horses that prepped last week for the preview today came back good and we didn’t hear any talk of any problems. That’s the main thing. We need to get through these previews with horses that are usable and sound.” The Del Mar grandstand was packed with prospective buyers Monday. “We are very pleased with the turnout today,” Lloyd said. “A lot of people showed up. There will be plenty of people to buy the ones they want.” Among the trainers in the stands Monday were Phil D’Amato, Paddy Gallagher, Nick Hines, Bob Hess, Art Sherman, Brian Koriner, Ron Ellis, Dan Hendricks and Simon Callaghan. The bloodstock contingent included Dennis O’Neill, Ben McElroy, David Ingordo, Alex Solis, Jason Litt and Shawn Dugan. West Point’s Terry Finley was on hand, as were Aron Wellman of Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Billy Koch of Little Red Feather Racing, and Stonestreet’s John Moynihan. The first bullet furlong work was recorded during the day’s third session, when hip 167 covered the distance in :10 flat for Ciaran Dunne’s Wavertree Stables. Out of Cape Discovery (Cape Town), the bay colt was purchased by Ronald Fein’s Superfine Farms for $110,000 at last year’s Keeneland September sale and was supplemented to the Spring sale. “He was supposed to go to OBS [March], but he had a little bit of a setback,” said Dunne. “We took the high road and gave him the time and we came here. It looks like he rewarded us for it. We always thought he was a nice horse from day one.” Bruno DeBerdt’s Excel Bloodstock sent out hip 58 to work the co-bullet during Wednesday’s fourth set. By Mineshaft, the filly is out of Noble Grey (Forestry) and was purchased by DeBerdt for $85,000 at last year’s September sale. “She had the athleticism that we look for in a horse,” DeBerdt said of the filly’s appeal as a yearling. “When we broke her, she was a really nice filly all the way through. When we started working her a little bit at the farm, she didn’t show a lot of talent, but she was always right in with the pack. It’s just been recently that she has really separated herself. She acclimated to this track really well. We knew she had a lot of ability and I thought if I had any horse that would go in :10 flat, it would be her.” DeBerdt agreed the Del Mar surface played fair throughout the day. “I think it’s a good track,” he said. “If you have a good horse, they are going to work in :10 1/5, or :10 flat and :10 2/5 is a very good move on this track. I’d much rather see a track like this than a bunch of :9 3/5s and :9 4/5s. I’m really happy with it. And it was consistent all day long.” Rounding out the trio of :10 flat workers was hip 63, a colt by Smiling Tiger. He is consigned by Havens Bloodstock Agency on behalf of breeder Phil Lebherz’s Premier Thoroughbreds. Out of Perfect Feat (Pleasantly Perfect), he is a full-brother to stakes winner Spiced Perfection. Of the handful of juveniles to work a quarter-mile, hip 121, a colt by Graydar, turned in the fastest time of :21 flat. The gray colt is out of Witch Princess (Exchange Rate) and is consigned by Top Line Sales. In the lone hiccup of the under-tack show, hip 7, a son of Champ Pegasus, lost the rider and galloped down the stretch before being corralled by the outrider on the backstretch. The incident caused some confusion for the next horse to work, hip 40, a son of He’s Had Enough out of graded stakes winner Le Me Geaux (First Samurai). The youngster, consigned by Wavertree Stables, eventually worked in :10 2/5. “He got halfway around the turn and the horse got loose,” Dunne explained. “He had to come back and he was back and forth in the chute because they couldn’t figure out whether they were going to stop or go. By the time he actually got around to breezing, he didn’t know whether he was coming or going. Coming out here, we thought he was every bit as fast as the Into Mischief. So he was our big disappointment for the day. We know he is a really good horse from everything he has done at home, so it is a little disappointing when one of yours works and it comes down to a moment that wish you could have back.” The Barretts Spring Sale will be held Wednesday with bidding scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. View the full article

Team Valor’s GI Natalma S. heroine Capla Temptress (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) has returned to the care of original trainer Marco Botti from American Hall of Famer Bill Mott and her connections are eyeing the G1 French 1000 Guineas as a potential target. The April-foaled bay holds entries in both the May 6 G1 QIPCO 1000 Guineas at Newmarket and the French equivalent at Longchamp a week later. “She is back with us and I’m very pleased with her,” said Botti of his charge, who ran seventh in her lone start for Mott in the GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Del Mar on Nov. 3 when last seen. “She ran at the Breeders’ Cup, then the owners had a meeting afterwards and decided to send her back to Europe. She had 40 days in quarantine after the Breeders’ Cup and arrived back in Newmarket in December. She did well for us last year and I thought she was going to America for good, but thanks to Team Valor she is back.” Added the Italian, “She will not go for a trial in the [G3] Fred Darling [S. on Apr. 21] or [G3] Nell Gwyn [on Apr. 18]. We are entered in the English Guineas and the French Guineas. We will see how she is mid-April and it would be silly not to consider the English Guineas, but at this stage I would say she is more likely to take her chance in the French Guineas. She has not grown much, but she has done well physically and I think she looks stronger than last year. There is no doubt she has the ability and a great mind and that is a big plus.” Capla Temptress made her first two starts for Capla Developments and Les Boyer, resulting in a pari of wins over the Chelmsford all-weather on June 21 and in the Lettergold Fillies’ Novice Auction S. that July, before being purchased privately by Team Valor. She lost her unbeaten tag in the G3 Sweet Solera S. at headquarters in August, prior to her Woodbine triumph. View the full article

MENDELSSOHN (c, Scat Daddy—Leslie’s Lady, by Tricky Creek) O-Michael B. Tabor, Mrs. John Magnier & Derrick Smith. B-Clarkland Farm (KY). T-Aiden O’Brien. Sales history: $3,000,000 yrl KEESEP ’16. Lifetime Record: GISW, 7-4-1-0, $1,961,137. Mar. 27 TDN Top 12: N/A Last Start: 1st, G2 UAE Derby, MEY, Mar.31 Accomplishments: 1st, GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf, DMR, Nov.3; 2nd, G1 Darley Dewhurst S., NEW, Oct. 14 Next Start: GI Kentucky Derby, CD, May 5 Equineline PPs. Kentucky Derby Points: 100. On the superlatives side, on Saturday we witnessed an 18 1/2- length blowout win in track-record time by a $3 million KEESEP Scat Daddy colt who is a half-brother to four-time champion Beholder (Henny Hughes). But the field for the G2 UAE Derby was not overly deep in terms of competition, and the Meydan races on Saturday generously rewarded forwardly placed runners, so it’s wise to temper Mendelssohn’s front-running blowout with those caveats so it doesn’t have such a too-good to-be-true aura. Yet even with that reality check under advisement, the performance resonates strongly, because this May 17 foal was attempting both his first start on dirt and his first go beyond a mile. He responded assertively to being asked to establish a prominent position straight from the starting stalls, was able to relax a bit in the middle stages of the race, then opened up at will in the home straight once the outcome had already been decided in his favor. “He is bred to handle the dirt, being by Scat Daddy,” said trainer Aidan O’Brien. “But that was an unbelievable performance. We weren’t sure how he would handle the distance, but you have to say he saw it out pretty well…. He is naturally quick and has a lot of tactical early speed. He did it the hard way, but he did it so easily. He is very well bred, he has a great physique, and you can see why he cost the lads a lot of money at the sales. We will look forward to going to Kentucky with him now.” VIDEO PPS FINISH RACE 1st GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf. View the full article

Dschingis Secret (Ger) (Soldier Hollow {GB}), owned by Hong Kong entrepreneur Horst Pudwill and trained by Markus Klug, was voted German Horse of the Year in a public vote, Galopponline.de reported on Monday. The 2017 G1 Grosser Preis von Berlin hero was well clear of stablemate and last year’s G1 Deutsches Derby victor Windstoss (Ger) (Shirocco {Ger}) with 56.6% of the German public’s vote, to the latter’s 32.8%. Dschingis Secret was also in front of German MG1SW Guignol (Ger) (Cape Cross {Ire}), who came in third with 10.6% of the votes. The ceremony took place at Cologne on Easter Monday. By 2004 German honoree Soldier Hollow, the Gestut Park Wiedingen-bred won four of his seven starts in 2017, beginning with the G2 Gerling-Preis at Cologne in May, and added his second victory of the campaign two starts later in the G2 Grosser Hansa-Preis on July 1. Stretching his winning skein to three, the €200,000 BBAGSEP yearling defeated G1 Sheema Classic scorer Hawkbill (Kitten’s Joy) in the Grosser Preis von Berlin that August, and also scooped Chantilly’s G2 Prix Foy on Sept. 10. Winless in his next two starts, Dschingis Secret was third to Guignol in the G1 Grosser Preis von Bayern on Nov. 1. View the full article

The news that rocked the GI Kentucky Derby Top 12 over the weekend involved No. 1-ranked McKinzie (Street Sense) having his training halted while conditioner Bob Baffert awaits further testing to determine the extent of a potential hind-leg injury. The colt was declared out of his expected start in Saturday’s GI Santa Anita Derby, and he has been removed from this list–at least temporarily–until a more definitive diagnosis reveals whether he is off the Derby trail for good. Subsequent reverberations have altered the makeup of the remaining ranked horses, several of which have had their prep-race plans changed in response to this news. The timing is crucial–this Saturday marks the most important weekend of nine-furlong preps on the Triple Crown calendar, with significant stakes at Santa Anita, Keeneland, and Aqueduct, so be prepared for additional shuffling within this list in one week’s time. 1) BOLT D’ORO (c, Medaglia d’Oro—Globe Trot, by A.P. Indy) O-Ruis Racing. B-WinStar Farm (KY). T-Mick Ruis. Sales History: $630,000 yrl FTSAUG ’16. Lifetime Record: MGISW, 5-4-0-1, $816,000. Mar. 27 TDN Top 12 Rank: 2 Last Start: 1st GII San Felipe S., SA, Mar. 10 Accomplishments Include: 1st, GI Del Mar Futurity, DMR, Sept. 4; 1st GI FrontRunner S., SA, Sept. 30. 3rd GI Sentient Jet Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, SA, Nov. 4 Next Start: GI Santa Anita Derby, SA, Apr. 7 Equineline PPs. Caulfield on Bolt d’Oro. KY Derby Points: 64 For awhile over the past few days it looked like Saturday’s Santa Anita Derby would be a cakewalk for Bolt d’Oro. When arch-rival McKinzie defected from the race over the weekend, it initially seemed like we’d see the heaviest favorite of the year in a 3-year-old graded stakes. But Monday morning’s confirmation that the up-and-coming Justify (Scat Daddy) will now be re-routed from a projected start in the GI Arkansas Derby to face “Bolt” puts some spice back into Santa Anita’s showcase race for sophomores and tilts the playing field back to more of a challenge for the divisional kingpin. What makes this $630,000 FTSAUG Medaglia d’Oro colt’s second start off a prolonged layoff even more tantalizing are owner/trainer Mick Ruis’s repeated assertions that we still have not witnessed the fully cranked, 100% version of Bolt d’Oro. That’s a scary-good prospect to consider, and it’s an opinion shared by respected independent observers who have watched Bolt train this winter and spring. Ruis has also been on the record as saying that “we’re not babying him going into this race,” so get tied on for what could be a sublime performance that vaults this colt into the solid favorite’s role for the first Saturday in May–provided the horse lives up to the hype and can fend off a fresh, undefeated rival and what will likely turn out to be a slightly larger field of long-shot hopefuls. In his final Santa Anita workout for Saturday’s engagement, Bolt worked an in-company, no-pressure five furlongs Sunday in 1:10.20 (11/77). 2) MAGNUM MOON (c, Malibu Moon–Dazzling Song, by Unbridled’s Song) ‘TDN Rising Star’ O-Robert E. & Lawana L. Low. B-Ramona S. Bass, LLC (KY). T-Todd Pletcher. Sales history: $380,000 yrl KEESEP ’16. Lifetime Record: GSW, 3-3-0-0, $577,800. Mar. 27 TDN Top 12 Rank: 4 Last Start: 1st, GII Rebel S., OP, Mar. 17. Next Start: GI Arkansas Derby, OP, Apr. 14 Equineline PPs. Caulfield on Magnum Moon. KY Debry Points: 50 Magnum Moon’s lofty placement within this week’s Top 12 represents a gamble on my part based on a belief that his unrealized potential will leapfrog him into contention as one of the Kentucky Derby favorites once we see what he delivers in the Apr. 14 GI Arkansas Derby. And yes, this is a highly speculative ranking, especially considering that trainer Todd Pletcher just saddled the winners of the GII Louisiana Derby and GI Florida Derby on back-to-back weekends, and those horses today occupy slightly lower spots on my 3-year-old totem pole. Certainly, you could cite statistical trends that suggest this May 9 foal who didn’t begin his racing career until Jan. 13 is up against the grain of tradition for winning the Kentucky Derby. But we’re embarking upon an era when training methods, the spacing of races, and a reliance on in-race experience are shifting dramatically in North American racing, and it’s becoming increasingly more important to depend on a different set of emerging benchmarks to get young horses to peak in Classic races. This $380,000 KEESEP Malibu Moon colt gave the impression of a far more seasoned racehorse when he broke running, commandeered prime early-race placement, responded willingly to emphatic handling, then swatted away the favorite in the Mar. 17 GII Rebel S. at Oaklawn. To top it off, this ‘TDN Rising Star’ looked like he had more left to give, and a stamina-strong pedigree suggests that Magnum Moon is likely to be able to handle nine (and subsequently 10) furlongs with similar, unruffled aplomb. He leveled a bullet :48.07 half-mile at Palm Beach Downs (1/13) Mar. 31 as part of his preparation for a return engagement at Hot Springs. 3) MENDELSSOHN (c, Scat Daddy—Leslie’s Lady, by Tricky Creek) O-Michael B. Tabor, Mrs. John Magnier & Derrick Smith. B-Clarkland Farm (KY). T-Aiden O’Brien. Sales history: $3,000,000 yrl KEESEP ’16. Lifetime Record: GISW, 7-4-1-0, $1,961,137. Mar. 27 TDN Top 12: N/A Last Start: 1st, G2 UAE Derby, MEY, Mar.31 Accomplishments: 1st, GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf, DMR, Nov.3; 2nd, G1 Darley Dewhurst S., NEW, Oct. 14 Next Start: GI Kentucky Derby, CD, May 5 Equineline PPs. Kentucky Derby Points: 100. On the superlatives side, on Saturday we witnessed an 18 1/2- length blowout win in track-record time by a $3 million KEESEP Scat Daddy colt who is a half-brother to four-time champion Beholder (Henny Hughes). But the field for the G2 UAE Derby was not overly deep in terms of competition, and the Meydan races on Saturday generously rewarded forwardly placed runners, so it’s wise to temper Mendelssohn’s front-running blowout with those caveats so it doesn’t have such a too-good to-be-true aura. Yet even with that reality check under advisement, the performance resonates strongly, because this May 17 foal was attempting both his first start on dirt and his first go beyond a mile. He responded assertively to being asked to establish a prominent position straight from the starting stalls, was able to relax a bit in the middle stages of the race, then opened up at will in the home straight once the outcome had already been decided in his favor. “He is bred to handle the dirt, being by Scat Daddy,” said trainer Aidan O’Brien. “But that was an unbelievable performance. We weren’t sure how he would handle the distance, but you have to say he saw it out pretty well…. He is naturally quick and has a lot of tactical early speed. He did it the hard way, but he did it so easily. He is very well bred, he has a great physique, and you can see why he cost the lads a lot of money at the sales. We will look forward to going to Kentucky with him now.” 4) AUDIBLE (c, Into Mischief–Blue Devil Bel, by Gilded Time) O-WinStar, China Horse Club & SF Racing. B-Oak Bluff Stables LLC (NY). T-Todd Pletcher. Sales history: $175,000 FTNSAR yrl ’16; $500,000 FTFMAR 2yo ’17. Lifetime Record: MGSW, 5-4-0-1, $882,920. Mar. 27 TDN Top 12 Rank: 7 Last Start: 1st, GI Florida Derby, GP, Mar. 31 Accomplishments: 1st, GII Holy Bull S., GP, Feb. 3. Next Start: GI Kentucky Derby, CD, May 5. Equineline PPs. KY Derby Points: 110 Audible stepped up in class, shouldered the burden of favoritism, and punched out another open-length victory in Saturday’s GI Florida Derby by doing what he does best–showing up and executing his task in straight-up, professional fashion. What this $500,000 FTFMAR New York-bred son of Into Mischief (Harlan’s Holiday) might lack in flash or panache, he more than makes up for with consistency, capability, and an adaptable demeanor. Audible broke alertly, put himself into stalk mode without any fuss, then seemed a little too relaxed about five-eighths out, losing position at one point while widest on the backstretch. But he had the benefit of a colossally helpful pace boil-over percolating on the front end, and by the time the field hit the far turn, Audible was targeting and reeling in the horses in front of him, all under his own power. When jockey John Velazquez finally cued him to quicken, the bay responded immediately, and he drew off as much the best while being kept busy down the lane. “I think the farther he goes, the better he gets,” Velazquez added post-race. If you want to take the contrarian position, it’s true that Audible will be headed to Louisville without having faced a stern, multi-horse stretch-drive test at the graded stakes level: In his GII Holy Bull S. win, the favorites simply never fired and he opened up unopposed through the lane. And in the Florida Derby, the third- and fourth-faves in the betting dueled themselves into defeat while the second favorite reportedly bled. But it’s hardly Audible’s fault those races turned out that way. If anything, it’s to his credit that he’s an opportunist who reliably puts himself in good position and has the athletic ability to take advantage of whatever circumstances arise. 5) JUSTIFY (c, Scat Daddy-Stage Magic, by Ghostzapper) ‘TDN Rising Star’ O-China Horse Club, Head of Plains Partners LLC, Starlight Racing & WinStar Farm. B- John D. Gunther (KY). T-Bob Baffert. Sales history: $500,000 yrl KEESEP ’16. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $66,000. Mar. 27 TDN Top 12 Rank: 9 Last Start: 1st Allowance Optional Claiming, SA, Mar. 11. Next Start: GI Santa Anita Derby, SA, Apr. 7 Equineline PPs. KY Derby Points: 0 Justify will stay home to contest Saturday’s Santa Anita Derby instead of shipping to Oaklawn next week for the Arkansas Derby. That’s part of the fallout from the previous No. 1-ranked horse on this list, McKinzie, being declared out by trainer Baffert, who conditions both colts. Will fate now deliver us a better matchup than Bolt d’Oro vs. McKinzie? It’s unusual for a two-for-two allowance-level winner to be ranked so highly on a Derby list this deep into the season, but this $500,000 KEESEP Scat Daddy colt’s first two afternoon attempts were so freakishly good that he has drawn glowing accolades and now has dizzyingly high expectations tacked onto his slim (but stacked) resume. He needs to deliver a first- or second-place try on Saturday to garner enough qualifying points to earn a berth into the Kentucky Derby, and a powerful six-furlong workout in 1:13.20 Monday morning at Santa Anita has him primed to attempt the jump into Grade I company at nine furlongs. “We’ll run here,” said Baffert, who was holding off on a next-race commitment until he got back from Dubai and watched Justify work in person. “He went nice and it looked like he handled it pretty well. As long as he comes out of it well, he runs.” This long-striding athletic specimen hasn’t been bounced around in a tenacious in-race battle just yet, but through the first three weeks of his racing career he already handled the shift from sprinting to routing, responded positively to an equipment change (blinkers off), and has proven himself both on a fast, dry track and a sealed muddy surface. “The sky’s the limit,” jockey Mike Smith said after Justify’s Mar. 11 shredding of an allowance field. 6) GOOD MAGIC (c, Curlin—Glinda the Good, by Hard Spun) O-e Five Thoroughbreds & Stonestreet Stables. B-Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings (KY). T-C Brown. Sales History: $1 million yrl KEESEP ’16. Lifetime Record: Ch. 2yo, GISW, 4-1-2-1, $1,255,000. Mar. 27 TDN Top 12 Rank: 5 Last Start: 3rd, GII Fountain of Youth S., GP, Mar. 3 Accomplishments Include: 1st GI Sentient Jet Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, SA, Nov. 4.; 2nd GI Champagne S., BEL, Oct. 7. Next Start: GII Blue Grass S., KEE, Apr. 7 Equineline PPs. KY Derby Points: 34 Big news elsewhere on the Derby trail has allowed the 2-year-old champ to prepare relatively quietly for Saturday’s GII Blue Grass S., and over the weekend Good Magic drilled a half-mile bullet at Palm Meadows Training Center in :48 (1/54). This million-dollar KEESEP Curlin colt will start favored at Keeneland, where he’ll be looking to regroup off a beaten-fave third in the GII Fountain of Youth S. Although his lone career win was a very smart score in the GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile over some imposing foes, the fact remains that Good Magic is still just one-for-four lifetime and direly needs a big win or an impressively close finish to be considered a top Triple Crown threat. Will he continue to employ a stalking style or will Good Magic attempt to force the issue a little more assertively in what is shaping up to be a sizable field for the Blue Grass? Trainer Chad Brown has predicted “a big forward move,” and depending on how Saturday’s other two important Derby preps shake out, a dominant performance could vault Good Magic forward several spots within the Top 12 heading into the final four weeks before the first Saturday in May. 7) INSTILLED REGARD (c, Arch--Enhancing, by Foresty) O-OXO Equine LLC. B-KatieRich Farms (KY). T-Jerry Hollendorfer. Sales history: $110,000 RNA yrl KEESEP ’16, $1,050,000 2yo OBSMAR ’17. Lifetime Record: GSW & GISP, 6-2-2-1, $244,000. Mar. 27 TDN Top 12 Rank: 8 Last Start: 4th, GII Risen Star S., FG, Feb. 17 Accomplishments: 1st, GIII Lecomte S., FG, Jan. 13; 2nd, GI Los Alamitos Futurity, LRC, Dec. 9. Next Start: GI Santa Anita Derby, SA, Apr. 7 Equineline PPs. Caulfield on Instilled Regard. KY Derby Points: 19 The repercussions of McKinzie’s defection from the Santa Anita Derby trickle all the way down to spot No. 7 in this weeks’ rankings. In Instilled Regard’s instance, trainer Jerry Hollendorfer had indicated about a week ago that he’d prefer to race this $1.05 million OBSMAR son of Arch in a larger field as opposed to a shorter one. Although the floodgates weren’t exactly thrown wide open just because McKinzie was declared out of Saturday’s race, a couple more additional entries might emerge from the woodwork before Wednesday’s draw, and a slightly bigger bunch might afford a small pace-and-placement advantage to this talented colt’s attempted comeback off a puzzling, beaten-fave fourth in the GII Risen Star S. Draw a line through that one flawed effort in New Orleans, and Instilled Regard would still be ranked with the upper crust of the division at this stage of the season. A sharp-looking physical specimen with a deep pedigree, this multi-dimensional stalker was able to fuse tactical early prowess with a commanding late turn of foot to produce an eye-catching GIII Lecomte S. win back in January, but that breakthrough effort is now some 2 1/2 months in the rear-view mirror, and he needs to step up again on Saturday to prove he belongs in Louisville. Instilled Regard has now worked eight times since his last race, and a 1:01.60 (28/70) five-furlong maintenance move Mar. 31 served as his final timed tune-up prior to Saturday’s Grade I try. 8) NOBLE INDY (c, Take Charge Indy–Noble Maz, by Storm Boot) O-WinStar Farm LLC & Repole Stable. B-WinStar Farm LLC. T-Todd Pletcher. Sales history: $45,000 RNA yrl KEESEP ’16. Lifetime Record: GSW, 4-3-0-1, $691,600. Mar. 13 TDN Top 12 Rank: 10 Last Start: 1st, Louisiana Derby, FG, Mar. 24. Next Start: GI Kentucky Derby, CD, May 5 Equineline PPs. Caulfield on Noble Indy. KY Derby Points: 110 Noble Indy might be the most under-the-radar of the three Todd Pletcher prospects ranked on this week’s Top 12, but he’s not yet over the top, talent-wise. Even looking beyond his past performance lines, progression was evident leading up to his GII Louisiana Derby win because this ‘TDN Rising Star’ keeps getting better at handling intrinsics like shipping, being saddled in front of large crowds, and responding positively to equipment changes like the addition of blinkers. More importantly, this $45,000 KEESEP Take Charge Indy colt showed at the Fair Grounds that he is capable of getting first run on a front-end target then being able to fend off multiple challengers through the stretch (even when they briefly wrested away the lead from him). He’ll have six weeks of spacing between the Louisiana and Kentucky Derbies, and it will be intriguing to see how Pletcher hones Noble Indy, especially knowing that through only four lifetime starts, the colt has already displayed a willingness to fight that some of the higher-ranked horses on this list haven’t proven they possess just yet. 9) ENTICED (c, Medaglia d’Oro—It’s Tricky, by Mineshaft) O-Godolphin Racing. B-Godolphin (KY). T-Kiaran McLaughlin. Lifetime Record: MGSW & GISP, 5-3-0-1, $410,680. Mar. 27 TDN Top 12 Rank: 11 Last Start: 1st GIII Gotham S., AQU, Mar. 10 Accomplishments Include: 1st, GII Kentucky Jockey Club S., CD, Nov. 25 3rd, GI Champagne S., BEL, Oct. 7. Next Start: GII Wood Memorial S., AQU, Apr. 7 Equineline PPs. KY Derby Points: 63 Enticed will attempt to get to Louisville via the New York route, which so far this season has proven to be a path of least resistance. But that level of difficulty could change if the shuffling at the top of this list causes some unexpected late action at the entry box for the GII Wood Memorial S. Judging by his last three races, it’s tough to know which Enticed will show up on Saturday. The version we saw storming down the Churchill stretch to fight out a photo in the Nov. 25 GII Kentucky Jockey Club S. was this homebred Medaglia d’Oro colt’s most impressive performance to date. His Feb. 3 GII Holy Bull S. fourth as a flat, beaten favorite came without an obvious excuse. And Enticed’s last-out, one-turn mile score in the GIII Gotham S. doesn’t really tell us much because he coasted home under wraps after putting away a spent 35-1 pacemaker as his main stretch challenger. Enticed takes a while to wind up to hit his best cruising speed, and he does seem capable of torquing into higher gears when needed. But the in-race danger for this big-framed, robust colt is that he’ll get stopped or have to shift momentum so suddenly that he won’t be nimble enough to recover on the fly. “We had a perfect draw last time out and he was able to stay in the clear,” trainer Kiaran McLaughlin said. “Hopefully, we draw well and he runs well. He’s been training well and a mile and an eighth shouldn’t be a problem.” 10) SOLOMINI (c, Curlin-Surf Song, by Storm Cat) O-Zayat Stables LLC. B-Glenna R. Salyer (KY). T-Bob Baffert. Sales history: $270,000 KEESEP ’16 yrl. Lifetime Record: MGISP, 4-1-2-1, $472,000 Mar. 27 TDN Top 12 Rank: 12 Last Start: 2nd, GII Rebel S., OP, Mar. 17 Accomplishments Include: 3rd GI Los Alamitos Futurity, LRC, Dec.9; 2nd GI Frontrunner S., SA, Sept. 30; 2nd GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, DMR, Nov. 4 Next Start: GI Arkansas Derby, OP, Apr. 14. Equineline PPs. KY Derby Points: 34 The shock waves from McKinzie having his training put on hold with a potential injury filtered all the way down to stablemate Solomini’s ranking and next-race plans, as trainer Baffert confirmed to the Santa Anita press notes team on Monday that he will be detouring this $270,000 KEESEP Curlin colt from a projected start in the Wood Memorial to race in the Apr. 14 Arkansas Derby instead. Although the Wood is coming up on paper as a softer spot, both Baffert and Solomini’s owners, Zayat Stable, have had good luck at Oaklawn Park in the past, and Solomini himself handled that track when second despite trip trouble in the GII Rebel S. He’ll now get a rematch with Magnum Moon, who was 3 1/2 lengths clear of him last month, but expect a tighter, fitter Solomini in his second start back off a December layoff. This colt always seems on the verge of breaking through to a higher level, but at times he appears to be his own impediment to further progression, like when he lost focus in the stretch of the Breeders’ Cup, got DQ’d in the stretch run of the GI Los Alamitos Futurity, or got caught in tight and on the heels of a rival in his 2018 debut. 11) QUIP (c, Distorted Humor—Princess Ash, by Indian Charlie) O-Winstar Farm LLC, China Horse Club International & SF Racing LLC. B-WinStar Farm LLC (KY). T-Rodolphe Brisset. Lifetime Record: GSW, 4-3-1-0, $282,800. Mar. 27 TDN Top 12 Rank: N/A Last Start: 1st, GII Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby, TAM, Mar. 10. Next Start: GII Blue Grass S., KEE, Apr. 7 Equineline PPs. KY Derby Points: 50 Quip is a difficult read at this stage of the season. He’s lightly raced but owns a three-for-four record, and this ‘TDN Rising Star’ was a 19-1 upsetter of the GII Tampa Bay Derby after chasing a favored pacemaker through moderate splits all the way around the track coming off a 2 1/2-month winter layoff. The final clocking for the Tampa Derby came back as the slowest for that stake in 21 years, but the Beyer Speed Figure held up as a respectable 94, which represents a 17-point jump over his previous best number. How will he fire second back off the break, especially against a more talented bunch in Saturday’s Blue Grass? Note that this Distorted Humor colt has already posted an impressive wire job over the Keeneland strip going two turns (6 1/2-length allowance win back on Oct. 19), and looking farther down the road to a potential Derby berth in Louisville, it’s a plus that Quip broke his maiden over the Churchill surface. A Sunday in-company breeze in 1:00.40 (2/15) at Keeneland while ridden by jockey-turned-trainer Rodolphe Brisset featured Quip tracking a workmate from about two lengths back before finishing up on even terms. 12) FLAMEAWAY (c, Scat Daddy—Vulcan Rose, by Fusaichi Pegasus) O-John Oxley; B-Phoenix Rising Farms (ON). T- Mark Casse. Sales history: $150,000 yrl KEEJAN ’16; $400,000 yrl SARAUG ’16. Lifetime Record: MGSW, 8-5-1-0, $504,834. Mar. 27 TDN Top 12 Rank: N/A Last Start: 2nd, GII Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby, TAM, Mar. 10. Accomplishments: 1st, GIII Bourbon S., KEE, Oct. 8; 1st, GIII Sam F. Davis S., TAM, Feb. 10. Next Start: GII Blue Grass S., KEE, Apr. 7 Equineline PPs. KY Derby Points: 30 Flameaway is currently parked at 18th on the Road to the Kentucky Derby points list that determines entry eligibility, so a solid, point-earning showing in Saturday’s Blue Grass at Keeneland is imperative to his chances at landing a spot in the starting gate for the Kentucky Derby. He slid off the TDN Top 12 rankings after his second-place try in the Tampa Derby, but he endured an eventful enough go in that race (bumped at break, steadied, closed fast off the turn into a speed duel but was slightly erratic down the lane) to think that a cleaner trip this weekend could produce a more solid, representative showing of what he can do. I appreciate the fact that this $400,000 FTSAUG Scat Daddy colt is a fighter on the lead and seems to thrive under pace pressure (go watch his six-way photo turf score in Gulfstream’s Kitten’s Joy S. as the prime example), and his versatility regarding footing is evident in that he’s the only Top 12 contender to have won so far over fast dirt, firm turf, mud, slop, and a synthetic surface. On the Bubble (in alphabetical order) Blended Citizen (Proud Citizen): Blinkers-on, synth stakes winner at Turfway advances to Blue Gras S.; trainer O’Neill upset same Keeneland prep last year at 31-1. Bravazo (Awesome Again): Currently ranked sixth on points and will go straight to Derby per Lukas: “He’s assured himself a spot, so I’ve got the luxury of having [several extra] weeks to fine tune him. I’ll have a nice fresh horse for the Derby, it looks like.” Free Drop Billy (Union Rags): Currently ranked 20th on points; most recently third in GIII Gotham. Will try to be only third horse to sweep both GI Breeders’ Futurity S. and Blue Grass S. at Keeneland. Gronkowski (Lonhro {Aus}): Qualifies for Derby via European points. Noseda: “He hasn’t got real gears but if he can get into a rhythm, he can keep in a rhythm a long time.” Hofburg (Tapit): Very nice try when widest off turn in Florida Derby; couldn’t run down Audible yet never looked discouraged giving chase. Much better-than-looks try considering relative inexperience. If/when Mott sends one to Derby, pay attention. Promises Fulfilled (Shackleford): Dueled into defeat in Florida Derby but has accrued enough qualifying points (ranked seventh) to start in Louisville. Romans: “You live by the sword, you die by the sword. We went wire to wire last time, but that doesn’t mean we don’t regroup and go back in the Derby.” Restoring Hope (Giant’s Causeway): Baffert trainee missed San Felipe with minor foot issue, then failed to make earnings cut to enter GIII Sunland Derby. As of Monday Baffert was still undecided about next-race start. Runaway Ghost (Ghostzapper): Qualifies on Sunland Derby victory points (ranked ninth). Will work once in New Mexico, followed by two works at Churchill. Sporting Chance (Tiznow): Rerouted to Blue Grass instead of Arkansas Derby. Would likely have to win or finish second to earn Derby points berth. View the full article

Trainer Brad Cox and jockey Shaun Bridgmohan added another Fair Grounds championship title to their respective resumes, while owners Maggi Moss and Brad Grady tied for winningest owner at the meet, which concluded Saturday. Cox earned his second consecutive training crown at the New Orleans oval with 54 winners, while Bridgmohan picked up his first Fair Grounds crown since the 2009-10 meet by booting home 66 winners. Moss and Grady each had 12 trips to the winner’s circle. This was Moss’s second Fair Grounds title and Grady’s first. View the full article

Keeneland will present a new race-day preview show called “Today at Keeneland” during its 2018 Spring Meet, which opens Friday. The show will be 30 minutes long and begin at 11:30 a.m. ET, previewing the day’s card and including handicapping discussions. It will be hosted by Keeneland handicappers Katie Gensler and Jesse Ullery. Elsewhere, Keeneland announced that its @BetKeeneland Twitter handle will benefit the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance through its Handicapper of the Day series. Kicking off Friday with TDN‘s own racing editor Brian DiDonato, the series features a different notable handicapper each day playing with a $200 bankroll to raise money for TAA. “The TAA is proud to partner with Keeneland as the beneficiary of @BetKeeneland during the 2018 Spring Meet,” TAA President John Phillips said. “Handicappers are some of our biggest supporters and we’re grateful for the continued support from the Keeneland Association, one of our seed-money donors.” View the full article

The New York State Budget, which was released late Friday night, includes two provisions lobbied for by New York horsemen that offer both near and long-term relief for insurance-related costs. The budget provides the New York Jockey Injury Compensation Fund with the ability to use up to $2 million from the New York Racing Association purse cushion to offset the cost of the premium for the policy that covers jockeys and exercise riders. Under the second provision, NYRA will establish an account utilizing funds from the purse cushion that can be used by the New York Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association as collateral for future workers’ compensation insurance programs. “We have to thank Governor [Andrew] Cuomo and his staff, as well Senator John Bonacic and Assemblyman Gary Pretlow, for their efforts in getting these important provisions included in the budget,” NYTHA President Joe Appelbaum said. “This is an example of what NYTHA and NYRA can do when we work together, and we thank [NYRA CEO] Chris Kay for his support and collaboration on this initiative.” View the full article

It’s nearing noon, just about an hour before first post at Keeneland. The crowd is already substantial, with rows of cars and trucks interrupted by the odd camper van or re-purposed school bus. Footballs are launched into the air. Games of corn hole are in full swing. Cans of beer are in full swig. A band plays nearby. It is springtime in Kentucky, and the horses and the people are happy. Welcome to The Hill, the official tailgating lot at Keeneland. On a busy Saturday, as many as 5,000 people may gather here. The area is, yes, elevated, and sits above the track, a good mile away as the crow flies. Both are part of Keeneland’s sprawling 1,000-acre campus. The Hill celebrates its five-year anniversary in 2018, and if it’s too new to call iconic, it’s for sure become an integral part of what makes Keeneland, well, Keeneland. “For years, the hot spot for tailgating was the gate house parking lot,” says Christa Marrillia, Keeneland’s chief marketing officer. “But we were outgrowing the space, and while a big party at our front door was great, but there was a need to provide more amenities for our customers.” The Hill was envisioned, and if there were skeptics at first, Keeneland quelled them with its unique stamp on tailgating. A jumbotron with the live race feed was erected, as was a tent with betting windows staffed with “Betologists,” there to educate neophytes on the ins and outs of handicapping. Local food trucks were invited. A gift shop with souvenirs, attire and fashion accessories was established. Keeneland began a free shuttle service to and from the track. That, assuming that fans want to vacate the party on The Hill. Many, as it turns out, don’t. “It’s been wildly popular, a destination for people,” says Marrillia. “When we first sat around and talked about it, we assumed the average Hill customer would be the college kids, the sorority girls in dresses and frat boys in bow ties. But it’s also become an area for corporate events and meetings, for family reunions and wedding showings. It’s a mixed bag of wonderful people up there, kicking off and spending their day at the races.” On this particular day, all those demographics are represented. Armed with a video camera and a microphone, tools of immense magnetic attraction to many here, we set out to see what makes for a good day on The Hill. (The “we” is the author, hauling the camera, and Jim Mulvihill, the NTRA’s director of communications.) We are not disappointed with what and who we find. Under a tent, two musicians, a drummer and guitarist, jam out to ZZ Top’s “Cheap Sunglasses.” The guitarist has a long gray beard and, who knows, maybe have BEEN in ZZ Top. The drummer, once aware of the camera, sucks in his gut. We talk to Jessica, a young lady whose friends are throwing her a baby shower. Jessica is having a girl, and says her daughter will soon join the Keeneland fan base. “Absolutely,” she says. “My parents brought me–I’ve been coming my whole life–and I’ll bring her whenever we can take her out in the stroller.” We talk to a group of University of Kentucky coeds who don’t seem to have slowed down from the night before. “We’ve been coming here every weekend for the last four years,” said two female students. Presumably seniors, they nonetheless look a little a little confused when Jim says, “You mean, when you’re not studying.” We talk to Jimmy, proprietor of the Princess Party Bus, a bright pink contraption that Jimmy gives us a personal tour of. There are tiaras embroidered on the seats and a dancer pole and, at this point in time, “Devil Went Down to Georgia” is playing through the sound system. (In what turns out to be the most interesting interview of the day, Jimmy reveals, with very little prodding, that he’s a retired WWE wrestler formerly known as… Jimmy Wang Yang. He tussled with, among others, John Cena and Hacksaw Jim Duggan!) It’s hard to imagine that Keeneland’s founders didn’t imagine this sort of star power when the doors first opened here in 1936. Marrillia has her own stories to tell about The Hill, including the one time when a bank, having a function there, inflated a 20-foot dog so that invitees could find the party easily. “I was guilty of having to deflate the dog, but they were having a great time and didn’t mind,” she says with a laugh. If The Hill’s open spaces offer Keeneland’s fans more space to stretch out–inflatable dogs aside–it also provides opportunities for business partners. After all, the tight proximity inside the grandstand doesn’t allow for much in the way of sponsorship tents or displays. “The real estate here allows us to work with our partners and be creative,” says Marrillia. “This spring, for example, Maker’s Mark is going to be doing this cool experiential destination on The Hill, where people can learn more about the bourbon industry. It’s something we could have never fit inside the gates.” At 1:05 p.m., the day’s first race goes off. Some people begin to make their way down to the shuttles, but from what we can tell, many are content to sit back, soak up the sunshine and enjoy the races from their current vantage point. And that, really, is the point of The Hill. “The Hill is way for us to bring the sport to a group of customers looking to experience racing in a different way,” says Marrillia. “Maybe they don’t want to be right on the rail in the thick of the action. Maybe they want to be sitting on a blanket, having a picnic and eating a sandwich from a food truck. It adds variety, and people love it.” If you’re planning on a visit to The Hill this spring, here is a quick list of some Do’s and Dont’s. DON’T: Expect to pay an entrance fee. Access to The Hill is free. DO: Bring a dog. Bring eight or 10, even, if you have access to that many. But attach a leash to them. Otherwise they won’t be welcome. DON’T: Bring giant inflatables and/or helium balloons. We know, we know. These things are great fun. But due to Keeneland’s proximity to the Blue Grass Airport, and the killjoys over at the FAA, you can’t have them at The Hill. DO: Bring your own beer and/or cocktails. But be cool about it. Only if you’re of age, obviously, and no kegs or full bars. DON’T: Make a fire pit. Again, fun, but… DON’T: Bring your own DJ. We’re sympathetic that your friend has crafted a giant styrofoam helmet shaped like a chipmunk and is now calling himself DJ EvilAlvin, but any amplified sound is going to be shut down. And really, DJ EvilAlvin just is not that good anyway. DO: Come on Fridays and Saturdays–these are the only days that The Hill is open. View the full article

Undefeated ‘TDN Rising Star’ Justify (Scat Daddy), originally scheduled to make his stakes debut in the GI Arkansas Derby Apr. 14 at Oaklawn, will instead stay home to run in this Saturday’s GI Santa Anita Derby, trainer Bob Baffert said Monday. In his place, Baffert will send GII Rebel S. runner-up Solomini (Curlin) to Hot Springs. The shakeup comes after an injury to barn star McKinzie (Street Sense), who was slated to go in the Santa Anita Derby, was discovered Saturday. Baffert made his decision after Justify worked six furlongs in 1:13 1/5 (2/8) Monday morning at Santa Anita. The chestnut colt is two-for-two so far, having dominated his debut by 9 1/2 lengths Feb. 18 in Arcadia before cruising again going two turns Mar. 11. With zero GI Kentucky Derby qualifying points, he likely will have to win the Santa Anita Derby to ensure himself a spot in the Run for the Roses. “We’ll run here,” Baffert told the Santa Anita notes team. “He went nice and it looked like he handled it pretty well. As long as he comes out of it well, he runs.” Solomini, who crossed the wire first in the GI Los Alamitos Derby before being disqualified, ran a quality second in his seasonal debut at Oaklawn and punched his return ticket with a five-furlong work in :59 4/5 (2/82) Monday. Justin Zayat of Zayat Stables confirmed the decision on Twitter shortly thereafter. View the full article

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Tuesday’s Insights features a daughter of G2 Sun Chariot S. bridesmaid Strawberrydaiquiri (GB) (Dansili {GB}). 2.20 Chantilly, Mdn, €30,000, 3yo, f, 10fT ZALZALAH (FR) (Dubawi {Ire}) is a daughter of the G2 Windsor Forest S. winner and G1 Sun Chariot S. runner-up Strawberrydaiquiri (GB) (Dansili {GB}) who debuts for Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani and Andre Fabre. He saddles three in total, including fellow newcomer C’est Ca (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), a 750,000gns TAOCT daughter of the GI Frizette S. heroine A Z Warrior (Bernardini) who represents Mayfair Speculators and Michael Tabor. View the full article

It’s hard to find fault with Thunder Snow (Ire), who, despite being a Group 1 winner at two, three and now so early in his 4-year-old season, seems never to have captured the public imagination as some other horses have. It would be a travesty if he becomes remembered best for his buckaroo routine at the start of the GI Kentucky Derby. That high-profile blot on his copybook aside, he has done little wrong and managed to pick up two Meydan Classics last season before his eventful trip to Churchill Downs, which was later absolved when he finished second to Churchill (Ire) in the G1 Irish 2000 Guineas and won the G1 Prix Jean Prat. Thunder Snow is the stand-out performer for his sire Helmet (Aus), though an equal amount of his talent must be attributed to his Darley-bred dam Eastern Joy (GB). The daughter of Dubai Destination has turned out to be prophetically named as three of her first five foals have won Classics in Dubai, including this year’s UAE 1000 Guineas winner Winter Lightning (Ire) (Shamardal), and all five are stakes winners. What’s more, they are all by Darley stallions, with her first foal Ihtimal (Ire) also being by Shamardal, and Always Smile (Ire) and First Victory (Ire) by Cape Cross (Ire) and Teofilo (Ire), respectively. Eastern Joy has twice subsequently visited Dubawi (Ire), who by a wide margin was the most ubiquitous stallion at Meydan on Saturday, which is perhaps only fitting for the best son of the horse who presumably remains Sheikh Mohammed’s favourite World Cup winner, Dubai Millennium (GB) (Seeking the Gold). Dubawi’s sole winner of the night was Benbatl (GB) in the G1 Dubai Turf, but he provided the runner-up in the G2 Godolphin Mile, the second, third and fourth in the G2 Dubai Gold Cup, in which he was the sire of six of the 16 runners, and the third home in the World Cup, Mubtaahij (Ire), another former G2 UAE Derby winner. If World Cup night was a Godolphin rout, the same was true for the Darley stallions, with Helmet’s sire Exceed And Excel (Aus), Manduro (Ger), and Iffraaj (GB) also providing a major winner each. And with the very juicy cherry on top being a homebred Dubai World Cup hero from a homebred sire and dam, no wonder Sheikh Mohammed was dancing on the podium on Saturday night. Mendelssohn Calls The Tune… By far the most visually stunning performance of World Cup night–and perhaps the most arresting we’ll see all year–belonged to Mendelssohn (Scat Daddy). It’s unlikely that he’ll have the run of Churchill Downs the way he did Meydan for his UAE Derby tour de force, but he is now an intriguing contender for the Run for the Roses. The only downside for his connections will be the headache he will give Ryan Moore in trying to decide between whether he should side with Mendelssohn in America or Saxon Warrior (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) in the G1 2000 Guineas at Newmarket. Mendelssohn’s win is likely to have made for uncomfortable viewing for the team from Phoenix Thoroughbreds, whose Gronkowski (Lonhro {Aus}) had staked his own Kentucky Derby claim a day earlier at Newcastle. The latter is unbeaten in his last four starts but remains untried on dirt. Though there will be 18 other horses in the field that he’ll also have to beat, the Phoenix hearts will have sunk lower with every lengthening stride Mendelssohn took along the Meydan home straight. Gronkowski came about as a result of the shuttling stints to Jonabell of former Australian Horse of the Year and champion sire Lonhro (Aus), whose sire Octagonal (NZ) was also Horse of the Year, father and son winning 10 and 11 Group 1 races, respectively. The family of Octagonal, a son of Zabeel (NZ) and the outstanding broodmare Eight Carat (GB), was to the fore in Group 1 company again on Saturday when Eight Carat’s great grand-daughter Hiyaam (NZ) (High Chaparral {Ire}) won the Vinery Stud S., but more importantly for the sireline was the G2 Tulloch S. victory of Levendi (Aus), by Lonhro’s young son Pierro (Aus). The colt’s triumph sparked mid-morning celebrations at Meydan from trainers Peter and Manny Gelagotis, who later that day saddled their first overseas runner Illustrious Lad (Aus) to finish fifth in the G1 Al Quoz Sprint. Levendi is now one of the leading fancies for Saturday’s G1 AJC Australian Derby. Rathasker’s Rampant Start… Maurice and Madeline Burns of Rathasker Stud will be hoping that the Flat season can continue in the way it has begun. Their young stallion Bungle Inthejungle (GB) has already been represented by seven runners and the first winner by a freshman sire in Europe, Jungle Jane (Ire), who struck at Dundalk last Wednesday for Willie McCreery. Rathasker is also the breeder of the leading 2-year-old of the very young season to date in Izzer (Ire), who added to his Brocklesby victory by becoming one of four winners ridden by Franny Norton at Bath on Friday. With continuing wet conditions in Britain meaning that only Bath’s sprint track could be used, the Good Friday meeting was reduced to four races and Norton followed Gordon Richards, Alec Russell and Frankie Dettori on the short list of jockeys to have gone through the card. He landed a double each for Izzer’s trainer Mick Channon and Ron Harris. Izzer’s sire Clodovil (Ire) has stood at Rathasker since retiring to stud in 2004, and he has been joined there by his son Es Que Love (Ire), who also has first 2-year-old runners this season. Good Friday For French… French trainers had to suffer many of their country’s big prizes being plundered by their British counterparts last season, and Ralph Beckett has already landed the first turf group race of 2018 in Paris, the G3 Prix Exbury, with Air Pilot (GB) (Zamindar), while Ed Walker sent out Stormy Antarctic (Stormy Atlantic) to win yesterday’s G3 Prix Edmond Blanc. But a successful cross-Channel raiding party gained some revenge on Good Friday after being dispatched to Lingfield’s All-Weather Championships. Four French trainers had runners at the seasonal finale and three had winners, with Christophe Ferland’s Funny Kid (Lemon Drop Kid), Stephane Wattel’s City Light (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) and the Joel Boisnard-trained Lucky Team (Fr) (Namid {GB}) collectively taking home just over €300,000. City Light and Lucky Team, the winners of the sprint and mile races on the card, had met in their last race prior to Lingfield, finishing first and third in the Prix Anabaa at Chantilly on Mar. 6. The horse who separated them that day was the Andre Fabre’s filly Rosa Imperial (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}), who was also in action at the weekend, finishing a decent fifth in the G2 Godolphin Mile at Meydan. Walking With God… As a Lent pilgrimage, the Bishops of Dunwich and St Edmundsbury conducted a walking tour of the diocese, within which Newmarket falls. Racing Welfare’s excellent chaplain Simon Bailey was on hand to guide them around the parish along with Newmarket trainer and former town mayor John Berry, who, the bishops would have been disappointed to hear, gave up his place to read theology at Oxford in order to pursue a somewhat less spiritual life in horseracing. During the tour, the group called in at Bedford House Stables where the first horse introduced to the men of the cloth by the quick-witted Luca Cumani was the Group 3 winner God Given (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}). View the full article

Champion trainer John Size said the Audemars Piguet QE II Cup is the likely next target for Hong Kong Derby hero Ping Hai Star, provided he gives off all the right signs at Tuesday morning’s barrier trial session. Size’s first Derby winner, Fay Fay, pushed on to the QE II Cup but the trainer switched back to the Champions Mile with his subsequent Derby winner, Luger, in 2015. “Luger did always appeal as more of a miler. Ping Hai Star had a pedigree to run further and the way... View the full article

In Hong Kong racing heavy is the head that wears the crown and many observers have noted not only a change in Joao Moreira’s riding this season but in his once happy-go-lucky demeanour. And given the effervescence that was Moreira’s trademark through the first part of his tenure at Sha Tin, maybe performances and mood are inexorably linked. The general sense this season has been that Moreira has been “different”, perhaps subdued or distracted, and it has shown in a... View the full article

Trainer Richard Gibson was declaring the horse “a 10” while jockey Nash Rawiller was giving himself the same score after Harmony Hero justified some big wraps in the final race. “I can’t name a better horse, physically, in Hong Kong,” said Gibson after Harmony Hero was made to earn his first local victory. “Having a great physical specimen is 90 per cent of the game and this horse is a brilliant sort. It was no secret that everyone was trying to buy him after... View the full article

Douglas Whyte’s first winning double since May last year perhaps wasn’t even the best news he got all day at Sha Tin as John Moore confirmed the Durban Demon would be aboard Beauty Generation in the Group Two Chairman’s Trophy on Sunday. With Zac Purton committed to Time Warp in the race, Whyte takes over on the dual Group One winner. “That’s a lovely ride – I can tell you I’m very happy about that one,” Whyte beamed after delivering Star Shine... View the full article

Nigel Twiston-Davies is no stranger to Grand National success after having trained Bindaree (2002) and Earth Summit (1998) to victory at Aintree. The hat-trick of wins so nearly happened last year with Blaklion, who eventually finished fourth, although the 9-year-old will get a second chance in the 2018 race with his son, Sam Twiston-Davies in the saddle. The popular combination were early favourites for the coveted race, however at 11/1 they are now second behind the 10/1 Total Recall, and if the pair can pull of victory, they will become the first father-son combination to win the race since 2000, when Papillon, trained by Ted Walsh stormed to victory with son Ruby Walsh. Ahead of the National Hunt season’s showpiece, RaceBets had the opportunity to catch with ambassadors Sam Twiston-Davies, Luke Harvey and the fantastic Blaklion, with this exclusive interview. New Customer Welcome Offer Grand National Bet Now Check out Luke Harvey and Sam Twiston-Davies go head to head in a Grand National Quiz here Check Out Our Boosted Acca Specials Here The post Grand National 2018 Favourites – Blaklion and Sam Twiston-Davies appeared first on RaceBets Blog EN. View the full article

Now that Cheltenham has been and gone, it’s time to start focusing on this year’s Grand National Festival, at Aintree (12th-14th April). Read on, for previews of the big races we can look forward to at this famous Liverpool racecourse. Check Out Our Boosted Acca Specials Here Thursday Injured Jockeys Fund Handicap Hurdle Grade 3 3m 110y 4yo + This was a Listed affair up until 2010, when it was given Grade 3 status. Fountains Windfall was last year’s winner. Jonjo O’Neill’s Albertas Run is probably the most famous champion (2007). The Trevor Hemmings-owned horse went on to win the Reynoldstown Novices’ Chase (2008), the Royal and SunAlliance Chase (2008), the Amlin 1965 Chase (2009), the Ryanair Chase (2010, 2011), the Melling Chase (2010) and the Old Roan Chase (2011). Betway Bowl Chase Grade 1 3m 1f 5yo + First run in 1984, the race was created to cater for horses that were unable to take part in the Gold Cup at Cheltenham, along with horses that did take part but failed to win. However, as it has been a Grade 1 event since 2010 it is no longer thought of as just a consolation event! Wayward Lad, Docklands Express, First Gold and Silviniaco Conti all won the race twice. The last of those was trained by Paul Nicholls and he remains the leading trainer, with 4 victories. No horse, under the age of 8, has won since What A Friend (2010). Desert Orchid (1988) is undoubtedly the best-known winner. It was the grey’s first success on a left-handed track. Might Bite, runner-up to Native River in the Gold Cup, is now being aimed at this race by Nicky Henderson, although connections will not be taking any chances. “Nicky will tell us a lot nearer the time if he’s ready for that. He’ll only go, I guess, if Nicky’s 100 percent happy with him. He’s had fewer races this season, but I think Friday (in the Gold Cup) was probably the first time he went into the red zone. You can’t tell what the recovery would be, but unless he was absolutely right I don’t think we’d consider sending him – he’s far too precious to take a chance on.” said co-owner Simon Philip, earlier this week. Anniversary 4-Y-O Novices’ Hurdle Grade 1 2m 1f 4yo only This contest has traditionally been viewed as the next natural step for juveniles that have won, or at least impressed, in the Cheltenham Triumph Hurdle. However, only Defi Du Seuil and Zarkandar have followed-up in the last ten years. It was made a Grade 1 encounter in 2005 and we’ve certainly seen stronger fields since the turn of the Millennium. The likes of Al Eile, Detroit City, Katchit and Binocular have all won in the last 15 years – along with Apple’s Jade who was the 2016 Champion. Alan King has an outstanding record, winning 4 of the last 11 renewals. Redicean was disappointing for him in the Triumph Hurdle, but perhaps King will look upon this race as a chance for him to make amends? Aintree Hurdle Grade 1 2m 4f 4yo + This is the feature contest, on the opening day at Aintree and the big guns will be out in force. The last 5 winners have been Zarkandar, The New One, Jezki, Annie Power and the 2017 Champion Buveur D’Air who will be seeking consecutive back-to-back Champion Hurdle and Aintree Hurdle doubles if Nicky Henderson’s brilliant inmate lines-up. The have been so many great Aintree Hurdle Champions, but Morley Street is the one that really stands out. Trained by Toby Balding, Morley Street’s dam was not even a thoroughbred, but that didn’t prevent him from winning the race 4 years straight – from 1990-1993. Morley Street also recorded back-to-back wins in the Breeders’ Cup Steeplechase and was named American Champion Steeplechase Horse twice (1990 and 1991). Our man Sam Twiston-Davies was the pilot, when The New One won in 2014. The race looked already in the bag at the 2nd-last, but Rock On Ruby proved very game and Sam had to muster all his riding skills to hold-off the challenge and win by a head. Red Rum Handicap Chase Grade 3 2m 5yo + Named after the horse who won the Grand National 3 times, this race has gone up and down in status having actually been a Grade 2 event between 1999 and 2001. 12 fences must be negotiated, over the 2 mile trip, with the contest being open to horses aged 5 and up. It used to be a limited handicap (with a restricted weight range), but was standardised in 2001. Since then, no trainer has won the race more than once. Horse that have tasted success, in the Red Rum Handicap Chase in recent years, include Parsnip Pete, Surf And Turf, Katachenko and last year’s winner Double W’s. Manifesto Novices’ Chase Grade 1 2m 4f 5yo + The final race on opening day was only introduced in 2009. It was initially a Grade 2 encounter, but was upgraded within 3 years. It’s named after Manifesto, a double Grand National winner who took part in the race on no less than 8 occasions. As of yet, none of the 9 winners have gone on to achieve what connections might have hoped. Tartak won in 2009 and he was followed by Mad Max, Wishfull Thinking, Menorah, Captain Conan, Uxizandre, Clarcam, Arzal and last year’s champion Flying Angel – a horse trained by Nigel Twiston-Davies. 6-year-olds have won 4 of the last 5 renewals. It’s regarded as being on the soft side, compared to other Grade 1 encounters. Will the winner of this year’s Manifesto suffer the same fate as previous champions? Friday Top Novices’ Hurdle Grade 2 2m 110y 4yo + This race will be the next step for some of the horses that competed in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, at Cheltenham. Recent winners include Darlan, My Tent Or Yours, Buveur D’Air and Pingshou who landed the spoils for Colin Tizzard’s yard as a 7-year-old last term. With 5 winners since 2010, Nicky Henderson has utterly dominated this race. However, only Claimantakinforgan represented him in the Supreme and that horse finished 5th behind Summerville Boy, Kalashnikov, Mengli Khan and Paloma Blue. Tizzard fielded 3 runners, but only Lostintranslation made it home (7th). Shoal Bay pulled-up at the final flight, while Slate House fell at the same obstacle. Harry Whittington is expected to aim Simply The Betts at this race. The horse was disappointing in the Supreme, but Whittington felt the conditions did him no favours. “He hated the ground at Cheltenham but he stayed on all the way to finish mid-division. Sean (Bowen) said the ground was too soft. He is a very tough horse and we will keep him on the go. If the ground dries out, we might consider running him in the two-mile Grade One there (at Aintree). If he wins great, but if he gets beat he is still a novice for next season. He could well be one tailor-made for those valuable two-mile handicaps next season.” Topham Chase Grade 3 2m 5f 110y 5yo + The Topham is one of 3 races that are run over the Grand National fences, the other 2 being the Fox Hunters Chase and of course the National itself. It’s a contest that has been dominated by Peter Bowen and Nicky Henderson, since 2007, although other trainers have won it very-recently including Jonjo O’Neill with Eastlake (2016) and Colin Tizzard with Ultragold (last year). Older horses tend to do well. 4 of the last 9 winners have been aged 10, or over. The oldest horse to ever take the Topham was Sirrah Jay, who went first past the post at the ripe old age of 13 in 1993. Barry Geraghty was on-board 3 of the last 5 winners. 7 of the last 9 winners carried 10st 11lbs, or less. Sefton Novices’ Hurdle Grade 1 3m 110y 4yo + Barton Bank is almost-certainly the best-loved horses to win this race. Trained by David Nicholson, he triumphed in 1992 and went on to land the Worcester Novices’ Chase (1992), the Charlie Hall Chase (1993, 1995), the Martell Cup Chase (1997) and the King George VI Chase (1993). Thistlecrack, champion in 2015, was expected by many to have an even more successful career although Colin Tizzard’s inmate has yet to recover from the epic defeat handed to him by Many Clouds in last year’s Cotswold Chase. Nicholson won the race 3 times, in the 1990s (also with Corner Boy and Forest Ivory). Nigel Twiston-Davies is the only other trainer to have saddled a trio of champions (King’s Road, Pettifour and Ballyoptic). The Sefton is often the next destination for horses that ran in the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle, at Cheltenham, so perhaps we will see the likes of Santini, Chef Des Obeaux and Calett Mad line-up for the 2018 renewal? Mildmay Novices’ Chase Grade 1 3m 1f 5yo + Along wit the RSA Chase, this is where pundits will be looking for horses that look capable of going on to win the Gold Cup, at some point in their careers. Looking at recent winners, it’s easy to see why. Native River was the victor in 2016, while Nicky Henderson’s Might Bite won last year. That pair finished 1st and 2nd, respectively, in the 2018 Gold Cup. There can be little doubt that the best horse to have won the Mildmay was Jenny Pitman’s Burrough Hill Lad. By the end of his outstanding career he had scooped the Welsh National (1983), the Gainsborough Chase (1984, 1985, 1986), the Cheltenham Gold Cup (1984), the Charlie Hall Chase (1984), the Hennessy Gold Cup (1984) and the King George VI Chase (1984). He’s regarded as one of National Hunt’s greatest ever performers and rightly so. It’s possible that we could see a mare going very close, in the 2018 renewal. Anthony Honeyball’s Ms Parfois finished runner-up to Rathvinden in the Cheltenham National Hunt Chase. Her trainer was gutted to have lost the race and eager to put her back into the fray at the earliest opportunity. “She ran very well at Cheltenham and we were pleased with the run, but I was very disappointed not to win and I can’t hide that. She got there in tip-top shape after a great season. It was not necessarily the target but with the ground coming right, it looked like the right thing to do. It was an amazing race and the two pulled a long way clear. I thought she might do it halfway up the run-in, but she didn’t quite have that extra injection of speed. We will keep her ticking over and see what the weather does. There is the three-mile-one Grade 1 novices’ chase at Aintree or there is a Listed handicap over the same trip we could stick her in.” Melling Chase Grade 1 2m 4f 5yo + Introduced in 1991, this encounter is often the next port of call for Champion Chase runners. Sprinter Sacre was the 2013 winner. The conditions at this year’s Cheltenham Festival led to some notable absentees in just about all of the major chasing contests and it would be a surprise if several aren’t in-line for a return in this famous race. Waiting Patiently is among those who could figure. Ruth Jefferson’s charge held-off the challenge of Cue Card, in the Grade 1 Ascot Hurdle, a race in which Nicky Henderson’s Top Notch failed to shine. It would be a surprise if this terrific jumper began his 8-year-old career without having raced at either Cheltenham or Aintree and Jefferson will probably be in the process of deciding whether the Melling Chase represents a better option than the Betway Bowl. Some true greats have won the Melling Chase, over the years. They include Remittance Man, Viking Flagship, Martha;s Son, Moscow Flyer and Alan King’s Voy Pur Ustedes. Saturday Maghull Novices’ Chase Grade 1 2m 5yo + Saturday gets off too a real bang with a race that his been a fertile field for 6-year-olds to plough, since 2012. All but 5 of the winners have been that age, including last season’s champion Sam Benedeto – trained by Paul Nicholls. Under Nick Schofield, San Benedeto became Nicholls’ 6th winner since 1999 and he’s the top trainer in the race’s history. Arkle runners often take part, although Nicholls had no runners in this year’s renewal which was contested by just 5 horses. The race was easily won by Footpad, trained by Willie Mullins. Jonjo O’Neill’s Night Nurse must be ranked the greatest-ever winner of the Maghull. The Peter Easterby-trained gelding’s triumphs are too numerous to list fully, but include the Champion Hurdle in 1976 and 1977. His Timeform rating of 182 was the highest ever awarded to a hurdler and it remains the case to this day. Grand National Chase Grade 3 4m 2f 74y 7yo + The world’s most-famous jumps race shows no signs of losing popularity and once again people will be tuning-in from all around the planet to watch one of sport’s greatest spectacles. Horses expected to run in the 2018 Grand National include Total Recall, Blaklion, Tiger Roll, The Last Samurai and Willie Mullins’ Bellshill. Keep an eye on the blog, as we will be publishing a special in-depth preview of this race very soon! View Latest Grand National Odds Now! Liverpool Hurdle Grade 1 3m 110y 4yo + Most of us know the great Big Buck’s for winning a quartet of World Hurdles, at the Cheltenham Festival, but he also won this race 4 times as well (2009, 2010, 2011, 2012). However, it isn’t Paul Nicholls (Big Buck’s trainer) who holds the record for victories. That honour goes to Martin Pipe Snr, whose 5 wins came via Pragada (1992), Sweet Glow (1994), Galant Moss (1999), Maid Equal (2001) and Deano’s Beeno (2003). Yanworth won the 2017 renewal and Barry Geraghty was on-board Alan King’s mercurial inmate. He was disappointing in the Stayers’ Hurdle though and King is still unsure if he’ll be returning to Merseyside to defend his crown. “I was very disappointed with Yanworth in the Stayers’ Hurdle. I wouldn’t have thought the ground or the slow pace would have been a problem but he finished distressed, which he’s never done before. His tests were clear afterwards but that wasn’t him. We’ll need to discuss whether to send him to Aintree.” The Liverpool Hurdle has favoured British trainers, in recent years and no horse over the age of 9 has won since Deano’s Beano. Champion Standard Open NH Flat Race Grade 2 2m 1f 4yo-6yo You can bet that the talk around the Twiston-Davies’ dinner-table will turn to this contest, soon enough – if it hasn’t already. The family has enjoyed huge success, in the Liverpool bumper. RaceBets’ brand ambassador, Sam, rode both The New One and Ballybolley to victory, both for his father Nigel who has 4 wins in total to his name. The New One won in 2012, the same year that Champagne Fever won the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham. Subsequent winners of both encounters have not really enjoyed careers as impressive as that pair though. Lalor won this race in 2017, but has yet to win since then and looked out of sorts in the Betfair Hurdle, at Newbury in February. Let’s hope that this year’s renewal can produce a genuine star of the future. Mersey Novices’ Hurdle Grade 1 2m 4f 4yo + The final Grade 1 race of the Grand National Festival tends to feature horses that ran in the Baring Bingham Novices’ Hurdle (The Neptune). Few would disagree that the greatest ever champion was the Henrietta Knight-trained Best Mate, who was the victor in 2000. This incredible campaigner went on to secure the November Novices’ Chase (2000), the Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase (2001), the Haldon Gold Cup (2001), the Cheltenham Gold Cup (2002, 2003, 2004), the Peterborough Chase (2002) and the King George VI Chase (2002). Best Mate won 14 of the 22 contests he started and never fell at a fence or hurdle. Finian’s Oscar won in 2017, for Colin Tizzard. Betting With RaceBets Good luck, if you are having a bet at Aintree. Our Grand National ante-post market is already live, if you fancy an early flutter! Check Out Our Boosted Acca Specials Here The post 2018 Aintree Grand National Festival Preview appeared first on RaceBets Blog EN. View the full article

The Grand National is one of the world’s most iconic National Hunt horse races held at Aintree Racecourse in Liverpool. The handicap steeple chase, first run back in 1839, is over 4 miles and 514 yards with 30 fences for the jockey’s and horses to negotiate, Becher’s Brook, The Chair and the Canal Turn being the most famous. For fans this is a race that stops the nation, and for the riders this is the ultimate test. In celebration of the historic event, RaceBets decided to test the knowledge of ambassadors Sam Twiston-Davies and Luke Harvey on the Grand National. Watch who came out on top and check out some interesting Grand National facts we have dug-out on the history of the race. New Customer Welcome Offer Grand National Bet Now Watch exclusive interview with Sam Twiston-Davies and Blaklion here Grand National Historical Facts And Stats The first race was run back in 1839 and was won by the 5/1 favourite Lottery In the same race, the winner Lottery, finished the course in 14:53, which is the slowest recorded time. The most starters in the Grand National came in the 1929 race which saw 66 begin under starters orders. Frisk stormed to victory in the 1990 edition in a time of 8:47, the fastest ever recorded. The most number of horses ever to finish the race was back in 1984 when 23 made it over the line In 1928 only 2 horses completed the race, 100/1 outsider Tipperary Tim crossing the line first. The tallest fence in the race is 5ft 2ins and is known as The Chair Aintree has also hosted the European Grand Prix and five British Grand Prix’s. Sir Stirling Moss in fact won his first F1 race there back in 1955. Red Rum is the most successful horse in the history of the race with three wins, 1973, 1974 and 1977. Abd-El-Kader was the first horse to win back-to-back races, in 1850 and 1851. The Colonel, (1869 & 1870), Reynoldstown (1935 & 1936) and Red Rum (1973 & 1974) have also retained the crown. Golden Miller (1934) is the only horse to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup and Grand National in the same year. Manifesto (8) has run in more Nationals than any other horse. Between 1895 and 1905 he registered 2 wins, 3 third places and 1 DNF. The French have registered five Grand National winners, Alcibiade (1865), Reugny (1874), Lutteur III (1909), Mon Mome (2009) and Neptune Collonges (2012). Only thirteen mares have won the Grand National, the most recent being Nickel Coin back in 1951. George Stevens is the most successful jockey, winning the race on no less than 5 occasions. At the tender age of 17, Bruce Hobbs on Battleship, remains the youngest jockey to have won the race. Katie Walsh is the most successful female jockey when she achieved a third place finish on Seabass in 2012. Jenny Pitman, Venetia Williams and Sue Smith are the only women to have trained a Grand National winner. Grand National Bet Now The post Grand National Historic Facts And Quiz appeared first on RaceBets Blog EN. View the full article

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