Wandering Eyes

There is no escaping the irony that a man named Sonny has the potential to shine at the Dublin Racing Festival. That's if the weather Gods would relent and the meeting gets the go-ahead on Sunday. Stephen Carey, best known as Sonny, will be doubly-represented by Brosna Shine and Lilannbee in the Grade 2 Mares Bumper on Sunday and describes the former as the best horse he has ever had through his hands. That's saying something as the talented ex-National Hunt jockey, who cut his teeth with Arthur Moore and spent five years working for the dominant force that is Willie Mullins, has already had a couple of talented horses through his hands. But in Brosna Shine, Carey feels he could potentially be dealing with something a little bit different. “Ah she is,” comes the 39-year-old's reply when asked if Brosna Shine is the best horse that he has ever managed. “Now, she has to go and do it but she definitely is. She shows an awful lot. Lilannbee is not a bad filly, either. She wouldn't be as big as Brosna Shine but she goes well and her first two runs were my fault as she wasn't herself. I think she is improving and I think she will run well. She's owned by my wife and the local publican, so two very important people!” You may be forgiven for thinking that, if you weren't born a Mullins or an Elliott, these big National Hunt meetings in Ireland might be off limits. But that is not the case. Yes, Carey was put in a fortunate position to be sent to the sales with a six-figure order to fill but by God did he fill it. A daughter of arguably the hottest jumps stallions there is in No Risk At All, Brosna Shine boasts a good pedigree being a daughter of the highly-rated King's Theatre mare Baby Shine. She fetched €105,000 at the Goffs Arkle Sale – Sonny couldn't exactly shop elsewhere given his wife, Mary, is the bloodstock manager at Goffs – and that six-figure sum is beginning to look value. “Mary's uncle, Tony Kilduff, wanted to buy a nice mare to hopefully race and then breed from later. We went to the Arkle Sale at Goffs and, between myself, my wife and Michael O'Sullivan, we managed to pick her out. She has a beautiful pedigree, is a beautiful individual and she seems to have a big engine. We bought another filly for Tony, Brosna Queen, and she won her bumper last June so they are two nice fillies to have for him.” Brosna Shine will line out at Leopardstown after getting off the mark in very good style second time up at Fairyhouse back in December. That performance was by no means out of the blue given she travelled like the best horse in the race in last year's Goffs December Bumper before ultimately finishing third. She is deserving of her place towards the head of the betting in Sunday's race while the battle-hardened Lilannbee has rock-solid each-way claims. To have two fillies capable of running at a meeting as big as the Dublin Racing Festival certainly isn't lost on Carey. Sonny Carey and Marky Kilduff | Tattersalls “It's great, isn't it? To have the two of them going for the race is brilliant but I do think that they are entitled to go there. We've only two horses in training and I just hope they run well because I think they are capable of it. But, if they don't, what about it?” That nonchalant approach shouldn't be taken for a lack of focus. Carey has already sent out his best-ever tally of six winners this season and is operating at a 21 per cent strike-rate. He has already experienced winning big at Leopardstown over the Christmas period when The Nagger Reidy battled to a last-gasp success on Savills Chase day. This is a man enjoying something of a golden period and, what's more impressive, is that the training arm of his operation is not even the bread and butter of the business. He explained, “I rent 40 stables off Arthur Moore, who I started off with when I was 13 or 14. I rode a few winners for Arthur before spending five years with Willie Mullins. I came back and I set up my own business pre-training and we have built up some brilliant clients. The racing and the whole training has just been something on the side. A little bit of fun. We've basically been training a couple of family horses and horses on behalf of a few friends but it has been going really well and we've even managed to get a few horses sold along the way, which has been great. We're getting a bit busier but, definitely, the main job is the pre-training and the breaking.” He added, “I don't agree with the narrative of, 'how can you compete in Ireland?' Gordon Elliott, Gavin Cromwell and plenty of other trainers came from nothing. I was very lucky to have seen how Willie does things. The attention to detail in Closutton is amazing. Willie does everything off eye, everything off feel and his wife Jackie is just as big of a cog in the wheel as he is. She spots things in horses that would amaze you and I've seen the tiniest things that she has spotted make the biggest of differences. You wouldn't believe it. I tried to learn as much as I could in my five years there and my only regret is that I couldn't spend another five years in Willie's because you'd never stop learning.” The lion's share of Carey's business would revolve around National Hunt horses but he bought, trained and sold Nunc Est Bibendum, who is now a three-time winner for Gary and Josh Moore. He also enjoyed a dream debut consigning at the Goffs Breeze-Up Sale last year when selling a £3,500 yearling purchase by Invincible Spirit for a cool £85,000. What's more, that filly, who was named Vishaka, came out and won on debut for David Simcock. In Carey's own words, he would “throw his hand to anything,” and it shouldn't be a major surprise that it usually works out for him. Sonny is the son of Paddy and Sally Carey, who are well-renowned in the industry, while his brother Jim is the hugely regarded stud manager at Newgate Stud in Australia. Sunday represents a massive opportunity for the spotlight to deservedly shine on Sonny. There would be few better stories to brighten up the Dublin Racing Festival. The post Brosna Shine Bids To Put Sonny Carey In The Spotlight At The Dublin Racing Festival appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Jay Rooney BUSTLING CITY - R1 (3) Has looked sharp in his trials and can make a splash on debut with Purton up Owen Goulding NYX GLUCK - R9 (3) Did best of those who raced handy last start and reunited with McDonald Trackwork Spy INVINVIBLE IBIS - R8 (3) Looks well placed to continue hot streak with a fifth straight win Phillip Woo WE ARE HERO - R6 (1) Has plenty of boxes ticked in his favour and should win down in grade Shannon (Vincent Wong) WARRIORS DREAM - R4 (10) Ran an eye-catching...View the full article

Palmerton North mare Manzor Blue (NZ) (Almanzor) caused a major upset when taking out the Gr.3 NZ Campus Of Innovation & Sport Wellington Cup (3200m) at Trentham on Saturday. The five-year-old daughter of Almanzor had previously only raced up to rating 75 grade and was taking a massive jump up to Group company on Saturday, a step punters thought was too far and they let her drift out to an 86-1 outsider. From her outside draw she was taken straight to the back to settle at the rear of the field for jockey Kate Hercock where she had an economical trip for most of the marathon journey. Turning for home, the pair had a wall of horses in front of them, but Hercock was able to weave a passage through the pack and Manzor Blue stuck her nose out in front with 50m to go and held onto her advantage to win by a short neck over fellow Awapuni galloper Crouch (NZ) (Tarzino), with a further half-length back to stablemate Be Real (NZ) (Iffraaj)in third. Prior to the start, Hercock told trainer Lisa Latta that she would ride her mare for luck and that’s exactly what she did, and while she was left querying their chances around the final bend, lady luck was on their shoulder down the straight and the Hawke’s Bay hoop was rapt to get the result. “I said (to Latta) if she gets back we will ride her for luck,” Hercock said. “From about the half mile we were getting in more carnage, at the 600m we were in a lot more carnage and then I rolled back into the inside and she has got such a phenomenal turn of foot on her day.” Latta said Manzor Blue has had her share of issues this season and she was pleased to overcome them and build towards the Wellington Cup, with Hercock’s advice proving to be the difference of her pressing on towards the Trentham feature following her last start sixth placing at the Upper Hutt track. “We have had a lot of niggles with this mare this season, she had a lot of back problems. We have worked extra hard to get her right,” Latta said. “She only ran sixth here a fortnight ago and I said to Kate ‘should we press on to the Wellington Cup?’ she said ‘press on, I think she is back’. At that time it didn’t even look like she would make the field. Good on Kate, she deserved it, she pinched runs and she got there.” Manzor Blue carried New Zealand syndicator Go Racing’s silks to victory and Latta was pleased to get the result for her loyal clients. “Go Racing has been fantastically loyal to me,” Latta said. “They do a fantastic job syndicating their horses. The last time I had a big winner was Sentimental Miss (NZ) (Reliable Man) at Wellington (for Go Racing).” Now proven at stakes level, Latta believes her mare has a bright future among New Zealand’s staying ranks. “She is only a five-year-old mare, she has got it all in front of her,” she said. “We have ironed out a lot of niggles and learned a lot about her this year.” Bred by Milan Park principal Tony Rider, Manzor Blue is out of Zabeel mare Turquoise Coast (NZ), a half-sister to Group Three winner Island Life (NZ) (Vadamos). Manzor Blue was offered through Milan Park’s 2022 New Zealand Bloodstock Book 1 Yearling Sale draft where was purchased by Go Racing for $130,000. She has now won three of her 21 starts and earned just shy of $280,000 in prizemoney. View the full article

Seven-year-old mare Wrote To Arataki (NZ) (Wrote) landed her second Gr.3 Geoffrey Bellmaine Stakes (1200m) three years after her first, with a strong front-running success under Dean Yendall at Caulfield on Saturday. The Matthew Williams trained daughter of Wrote has competed in the race in four consecutive years, with fourth and third placings in the mare’s feature between her 2023 and 2026 victories. Wrote To Arataki had a length to spare over fellow Kiwi bred mare Damask Rose (NZ) (Savabeel), with Bossy Benita (So You Think) in third. Williams said the mare’s soundness was a key asset as she advanced her career record to seven wins and nine placings from 28 starts with A$903,980 in prizemoney. “She’s done a great job and she’s been so sound all the way through,” Williams said. “She had a couple of little viruses there in the spring and we just couldn’t get her back right, so we opted to pull up stumps. “The owners have been very patient and were happy to do that, and then we’ve just set her for this race which has been a great kick-off to her autumn in previous prepartions. She always runs a pretty cheeky race in the Bellmaine.” The Gr.3 Frances Tressady Stakes (1400m) at Flemington in a fortnight is the likely next assignment, a race Wrote To Arataki won last year. “It’s a good mare’s program for her,” Williams said. “She’s not a good traveller, so we don’t look to go anywhere interstate, and mares are very well catered for here in Victoria. She loves these 1400m and 1600m races, so it just works well and they’re on your back door.” Dean Yendall, who’s daughter Mia celebrated her 12th birthday was pleased to land a Group Three on the day, having missed the mare’s last win in the race through injury. “I was down at the time with a bad fall but I am back now and I have ridden her the last couple of seasons,” Yendall said. “She has been good to me, the owners have been good to me and obviously so has Matthew. “She got the job done and the track is beautiful out there which played into her hands. There is a nice bit of give in it and it is not rock hard. “She goes well fresh and her last couple of trials show that she is back in town and going well.” Bred by Noelene Bishop, Wrote To Arataki is by Highview Stud’s proven sire Wrote, a Group One-winning son of High Chaparral. The dam of Wrote To Arataki is the multiple winning Align mare Galloping Gerte (NZ). Wrote To Arataki finished third in her only trial in New Zealand for former trainers Emma-Lee and David Browne before her private sale to the Williams stable through bloodstock agent Phill Cataldo. A yearling full brother to Wrote To Arataki was sold to John Foote Bloodstock out of the Leanach Lodge draft for $200,000 at the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sales this week. View the full article

Taranaki visitor Special Sakura (NZ) (Staphanos) upset the applecart when she led from go to whoa to bring up just her third career victory, and first at black-type level, when winning the Listed Fulton Family Stakes (1500m) at Ellerslie. The four-year-old daughter of Novara Park stallion Staphanos had finished close up in second behind Romilly (NZ) (So You Think) in a rating 75 contest at the course when brought north by trainer Janelle Millar on New Year’s Day. Millar produced stable star Final Return (NZ) (Reliable Man) to run a gallant fourth in the open 2200m event just one race earlier and stablemate Special Sakura more than matched that effort as she showed plenty of grit to hold out a field headed by multiple Group One winner El Vencedor (NZ) (Shocking), who started a warm $3.10 favourite. Punters were prepared to ignore Special Sakura’s chances, allowing her to reach $31 in the Fixed Odds market and she made them pay as rider Chris Dell produced a front running classic to land the major slice of the $100,000 prize pool on offer. Dell made no bones he was heading to the front at barrier rise and held out all challenges to lead clearly after 200m, despite being hotly challenged by Takeshi (NZ) (Satono Aladdin) throughout. Special Sakura shook free turning for home although she looked a sitting duck as El Vencedor ranged up on her outer while eventual runner-up What You Wish (NZ) (Embellish) For tracked him into contention. The challenge of the favourite quickly came to an end and it was left to What You Wish For and Moxie (NZ) (Strasbourg) to chase Special Sakura in vain as the mare kicked away again to win stylishly by nearly two lengths. Millar was thrilled with the performance, particularly as it opens many opportunities for the mare over the coming months. “We’ve always thought a lot of her and I also have her full-sister at home as when Luigi (Muollo, Novara Park principal) asked if I wanted her as well I couldn’t say yes quick enough,” Millar said. “Chris had said last time when she ran second that more ground would suit her, although halfway through the race I was worried she was going too hard. “As it turned out she had a super kick in the straight and ended up winning quite easily. “She is a tall, lanky thing that we have had some trouble with in keeping the weight on her, but lately she has been eating really well and looks a very happy horse. “I haven’t looked at what is coming up but this will give her plenty of opportunity to start in some nice races and a mile at her next start might be just perfect for her.” Dell was also delighted with just how well the mare fought when tackled in the straight. “She just relished the extra distance today,” he said. “She flew the coop at the start and with 53kgs on your back it made it an easy decision to lead. “She just cruised along and opened up in the straight where she just kicked so well. That was a nice field today and she won it pretty easily in the end. “This is also such a good reward for Janelle who has really backed me throughout my career. She is like a second Mum and I can’t thank her enough for the support she has given me.” Bred and raced by Luigi Muollo under his Explosive Breeding Ltd banner, Special Sakura is out of three-race winner Mia Mamma (NZ) who includes multiple Group One winner Explosive Jack (NZ) ( Jakkalberry) and Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) winner Vin De Dance (NZ) (Roc de Cambes) in her extended family. View the full article

Pierre Ng Pang-chi is confident Sagacious Life has improved again since his last-start victory as the Brazilian import bids to deliver Zac Purton an elusive win in Sunday’s Classic Mile at Sha Tin. Sagacious Life has burst into four-year-old series contention with two wins from three local starts, scoring brilliantly on his Hong Kong debut in October before a tough Class Two success on his latest appearance. Beaten but far from disgraced when sixth with excuses in between the two triumphs, the...View the full article

Trainer Mick Nolan’s Stylish Secret (NZ) (Sweet Orange) produced a plucky front-running performance to deny in-form mare Sun Gift (NZ) (Savabeel) when winning the Ule Hoof Oil Handicap (2400m) at Caulfield on Saturday. Given a perfect ride by apprentice Luke Cartwright, Stylish Secret enjoyed a breather mid-race and filled up the lungs enough to stave off the challenge of Sun Gift as the pair cleared out by more than three lengths from third-placed American Wolf (NZ) (Tivaci). The diminutive son of Sweet Orange carried just 52.5kg after Cartwright’s claim and has taken his connections on an enjoyable ride. From 20 starts, the four-year-old gelding has won on four occasions and is three-times placed, advancing his career earnings to A$351,525. Among those wins are now two victories at the course and distance. “Definitely the 52 kilos was in his favour today, as well as Luke’s lovely ride in front,” Nolan said. “I said to him before the race, ‘you’ve got 52, make sure the others know you’ve got the lightweight and don’t let them dictate. You dictate to them, because he’s fit and will run the 2400.” “He just hasn’t got that sprint like Sun Gift’s got, but he’s a tough grinder and that’s what he did today.” Nolan said he would give consideration to running Stylish Secret in the Gr.3 Launceston Cup (2400m) on February 25. “It’s nice if you go there and win it, but then you’re handicapping yourself. All these horses that were top weights here today have all won good races, and that makes them hard to place in the future,” Nolan said. Stylish Secret was purchased in New Zealand by part-owner Helen Thomas off Gavelhouse.com for just $2,300 as a weanling. A highly-acclaimed journalist, broadcaster and author, Thomas was on the hunt for a staying type and sought the advice of long-time friend, the late Deane Lester, one of Australia’s most respected form students, who approved of the pedigree, which includes six-win half-brother Unseen Ruler (NZ) (Mongolian Khan). View the full article

Robbie Patterson looks to have another serious Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand Oaks (2400m) contender on his hands following Ultimate Habit’s victory at Trentham on Saturday. The promising daughter of Embellish broke through for her maiden win in the Gr.2 Jennian Homes Lowland Stakes (2100m), a race Patterson won last year with Leicy Lucy before she won the Oaks, and he is looking forward to shooting for back-to-back wins in the Classic at its new home of Ellerslie next month. “We are definitely going to go to the Oaks on that,” Patterson said. “It is going to be a lot trickier going the other way around at Ellerslie, but she is such a laidback filly.” Ultimate Habit had three prior starts, finishing second at New Plymouth last month before running sixth in the Gr.3 Desert Gold Stakes (1600m) at Trentham a fortnight ago, and Patterson was confident of a bold showing despite her last start result. “I wasn’t disappointed with her run the other day, she just got stuck on the inside on a tricky track, but I knew she was a good filly,” he said. “The two runs at home, the way she got home she was unlucky, she should have won her maiden. “Gryllysy (Craig Grylls) rode her a peach, got her in a good rhythm and the horse had a good turn of foot.” Grylls was impressed with Ultimate Habit’s good turn of foot when running down her rivals late after racing off the pace for the majority of the journey, but he said she still has plenty of maturing and improvement to come. “She had enough speed, which was good,” Grylls said. “She raced a little bit keen still, but she cruised into it at the right time. She is still pretty new and green to it, she wanted to lay in and still did a couple of things wrong, but she has done it pretty comfortably in the end. “I was really happy to secure the ride. Her last run wasn’t that great on paper, but Robbie filled me with confidence, he said he had a good one and he has proved that right.” From Taranaki racing royalty, Ultimate Habit hails from the family of 11-time Group One winner Rough Habit, which also includes Group One winners Molly Bloom and Addictive Habit, and Group One performer Citi Habit. Out of winning Bachelor Duke mare Queens Habit, Ultimate habit has now won one and placed in one of her four starts to date and earned more than $107,000 in prizemoney. View the full article

Exciting filly Liguria (NZ) (Snitzel) opened her winning account in fine style with a courageous victory at stakes level when she claimed the Gr.3 Colin Jillings 2YO Classic (1200m) at Ellerslie. The impeccably bred daughter of Snitzel didn’t disgrace herself when finishing fourth on debut at the venue on Boxing Day and that experience stood her in good stead for Saturday’s juvenile feature that carries the name of the late New Zealand training legend Colin Jillings. Bearing the colours of Cambridge Stud principals Brendan and Jo Linday, who bred and race the filly, Liguria jumped nicely from barrier four with rider Warren Kennedy immediately slotting her in the trail behind pacemakers Parfait Dimanche (Anders) and race favourite Harvey Wallbanger (NZ) (Home Affairs). That pair set up a steady clip and looked to have the rest of the field in trouble rounding the home bend, with Harvey Wallbanger immediately assuming control with 300m to run. Kennedy had Liguria winding up nicely on the heels of the favourite and he looked vulnerable to a late attack as the filly hit overdrive to speed past him in the shadows of the post and claim a decisive short-neck victory. Trainer Lance Noble admitted he was showing his age a little as he recalled training Vernazza (NZ), the dam of Liguria, who took out the 2020 edition of the Gr.2 Matamata Breeders’ Stakes (1200m) before finishing second in the Gr.1 Sistema Stakes (1200m) during her juvenile season. “She is bred to be good being the first foal out of a mare I trained, Vernazza, who won the Matamata Breeders’ (Stakes),” Noble said. “It certainly ages you a little bit when you are training the daughters and granddaughters. “She is not very big but is supremely athletic and has that will to win. There is not much of her so we will have to nurse her along. “She does have a great attitude, a real sweetie, and is very popular around the stable. “We came here with a little bit of confidence after her first up run and she is only going to get better. “I’m just thrilled for everybody at the Farm (Cambridge Stud) which keeps the roll going for them after a wonderful yearling sale.” Liguria will now attempt to emulate her dam by winning the Matamata Breeders’ Stakes, which will be run on 14 February. The victory caps off an extraordinary week for Cambridge Stud who claimed the leading vendor title and offered the sale-topping yearling, a colt by resident stallion Sword Of State that sold for $1.1 million, at the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale at Karaka. View the full article

Perhaps the most salient aspect of Cherie DeVaux's 1-2 in one of the first GI Kentucky Derby rehearsals was that it didn't particularly feel like any kind of statement. It was just the sort of thing that now feels natural for a barn that took only six years to go from its first winner to a $10-million campaign, and has just housed its first Eclipse champion in She Feels Pretty (Karakontie {Jpn}). By sheer force of talent, DeVaux has rapidly dismantled some pretty lazy characterizations. She is no longer, for instance, described as a trailblazing female trainer. Yes, we can still admire how she has overcome gender bias in a male-dominated profession. But she is now a top trainer who happens to be female. By the same token, while she remains grateful to have one of the world's most accomplished bloodstock agents as a sounding board, people no longer know her as David Ingordo's wife, but Ingordo as DeVaux's husband. She is here, quite palpably, on her own terms. That said, even DeVaux is startled at the rate of her progress since saddling her first winner in 2019. “If you'd said back then that by now we'd have had a Breeders' Cup winner, multiple Grade Is, an Eclipse champion, I might have looked at you like you had eight heads,” she says. “I think I felt it would happen eventually, but it just seemed that once we got over the hump, right away things kept happening.” She has been around long enough, equally, to know that graphlines seldom run evenly. This time last year, she had just said farewell to the horse she will always cherish as responsible for her breakout–and More Than Looks (More Than Ready) really was a statement horse–and then had a dismal hometown meet at Keeneland last spring. But this is a lifelong horsewoman. She knows how the game can go and, perhaps most crucial to her rise, has ensured that her clientele are the right fit. “All along I've been really cognizant of trying to maintain my core values,” DeVaux stresses. “Which is to develop each horse, individualize the care to make them the best they can be, whether that means a Grade I winner or an allowance horse or just a nice one that can win a couple in the claiming ranks. Sometimes, in the very beginning, that could be hard. Hopefully people are realizing that the climate has changed, in the way we need to operate, but if you don't have the numbers, and a horse has problems, some people might be tempted to inject their way to pushing on. That was something I never did. And I think that just focused a lot of the clients that I still have now: they've been on board, they've been patient, and they've seen how it works out in the long term. She Feels Pretty with DeVaux on the pony | Sarah Andrew “There is always a learning curve with any new client. We can be best friends, go to dinner, but maybe my philosophies won't fit their expectations–and that's okay. It doesn't make one person wrong. It's just about making sure you have a good fit, for both of you. So I've always tried to say up front, here's how I operate and if this isn't for you, that's okay. My feelings won't get hurt, certainly not compared to somebody trying to get me to run in a spot I feel isn't right for the horse.” That kind of curation, of horse and owner alike, sits comfortably with DeVaux's desire to confine growth to quality rather than quantity. This is not a trainer who wants hundreds of horses in three different time zones. Selectivity is key. She not only wants clients on the same page but also expects to be pragmatic about cycling through quality. If a horse doesn't warrant its place in the barn, then it will be time to discuss a reset. That creates a kind of renewable energy that seems legible in an excellent start to 2026. All seven of her January winners at Fair Grounds have barely started their careers: three breaking their maidens second time out; another on debut; two following up debut wins in an allowance; and even when 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' Golden Tempo (Curlin) beat Mesquite (Union Rags) in the GIII Lecomte Stakes, both were inexperienced horses stepping out of maidens. “In the beginning, we had what we had and worked with that,” DeVaux reflects. “Now we're getting a higher level. And, with the best of them, it's not just the next race coming up in the book. You're drawing up campaigns, you see their big target, work backwards. You dial them up, dial them back. A horse like She Feels Pretty, you know she shows up every time she runs. So that's where relationships with the clients and farms are great, you can all work together so each horse is where it needs to be when coming in.” Tristan and Val de Meric, for instance, are credited for their groundwork with the newly minted champion turf female, who has a hometown Breeders' Cup beckoning at the end of the year. On her only previous start at Keeneland, She Feels Pretty won the GI Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup by six lengths. At Del Mar she saw off the European raiders until the very last strides, but second still took her earnings past $2.5 million and she is approaching a peak of maturity. “She's an interesting study,” DeVaux says of her physical development. “She is a completely different horse from when she came in: big, rangy, lots of substance. That wasn't always the case. There were times she would get really light, and then all of a sudden she'd be taller and longer. A lot of getting her to where she is now was about backing off, when she was going through a growth spurt, and only pushing when she was ready.” A perfect example, then, of working with the individual and keeping discipline for an optimal path to development. That's why DeVaux especially relishes the spring, when the 2-year-olds come in and start offering some clues as to where they need to go together. “That's my favorite time, their early works,” DeVaux says. “You'll see one that looks afraid of getting close to his company and if you didn't know any better, you'd think that you might be in trouble. Then, a week later, completely different experience. He's on the inside, goes right through a hole. That's so rewarding, the 'a-ha!' moment: 'Oh, okay, I can do this.'” DeVaux with husband David Ingordo at the sales | Keeneland This, of course, is an operation with an unusually close handle on that development curve: not many trainers debate the scouting of talent at the sales with their spouses over breakfast. Obviously Ingordo has clients across the board, but it has clearly been fulfilling for both to move DeVaux's wish-list up the catalogue each passing year. “Might have to find a new bloodstock agent if we don't have a few to be excited about!” DeVaux says with a grin. “Our biggest challenge is that we're both really intense. So if one person's going to be upset and disappointed, then the other has to take their turn as voice of reason and be realistic. Because it's not just stakes races. It's every race, every sale. So if we got a bad ride, a bad post, somebody needs to say, 'That just happens, it's luck.' You can't have two people saying it's the end of the world. That would be like two horses running off together; it's not going to end up well for either! “We've both worked really hard, and sometimes it feels like it has all been the blink of an eye. At some point you do have to think, 'We need to make sure we have some quality of life.' Our work-home life balance is always going to be skewed towards work, but I'm good at saying, 'No, it's 7 p.m., we're not talking about this. Send a text or email and we'll revisit it in the morning.'” A bigger sales budget should help DeVaux to avoid any kind of turf pigeonholing. After all, these big dirt pedigrees cost big money. “And to get those kinds of horses, you have to prove yourself,” DeVaux adds. “The first couple of years we bought quick, early horses from the 2-year-old sales. Now we're trying to get more Classic horses. But everyone has to earn their stripes, to get those opportunities.” To that extent, Vahva (Gun Runner) laid down a significant marker as a Grade I winner on dirt. She, too, finished second at the Breeders' Cup, but DeVaux acknowledges that More Than Looks may have consumed a fair proportion of luck winning the Mile the previous year. He was quite a high-wire act, to get there at his peak, and it was only a couple of days later that DeVaux noticed the problem that led to his retirement. More Than Looks | Horsephotos “I always had faith in him but you were always having to do everything perfectly,” she says. “And when does a plan like that ever work? Never. I can still see it in my mind, almost in slow motion: 'Can you please switch your lead!?' He took forever to do that, but then as soon as he got going, 'Oh my God, he's going to win.' Something like that, it validates what you're doing every day.” Her thoughts in the winner's circle went straight to Chuck Simon, her mentor, who had died that summer. “Really I owe everything to him,” DeVaux says. “Chuck's first job was with my father and his harness horses. I was two, maybe. And when I started working on the racetrack, galloping at Saratoga, a friend said she had a job for me, to come and gallop for this guy, she'd take care of it. So the first week, after I gave my information for payroll, he's like, 'Hey, why didn't you tell me who you were?' I said, 'I don't need any favors. I just want to work and learn.'” Cherie DeVaux at Saratoga | Sarah Andrew That December, she broke her leg–the luckiest break of her life. “I was 23 and Chuck could see that I was a hard worker, driven and motivated, but needed blinkers,” DeVaux says. “So when I came back from that injury, he said he was going to teach me to be assistant trainer. I didn't think I wanted that responsibility. But he was like, no, this was what was going to happen. He saw it in me and thought it was almost like a civic duty. I was there six years. We had limited horses, so that's where the patience came in: do what you can with what you have.” Of course, she had an earlier grounding yet, with her father's Standardbreds. “Those are sturdier, hardier animals,” she reflects. “But it's all horsemanship, all hard work. I come from a long line of horsemen. My grandfather was a harness trainer. I rode my whole life. I used to barrel race and I had a mare that was so hard to ride. I'd be flying through the air at some rodeo and it was just 'get out of my way.' A couple times I tried to school her, it just made her worse. So it's different perspectives. Okay, we're not fixing that one, let's try to find how to get along with her. It's always learning. I'm super intense, as a person. Horses can be frustrating, when things go wrong like they will. But you just have to keep the 'mo' going, no matter what. Be positive. So long as you're doing the right thing, then don't panic and just keep moving forward.” The post DeVaux Keeping up the Tempo appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Midnight Martini (Yaupon) wasn't the quickest from the gate but found her feet within a few strides and was intent on the lead, rushing up from the middle of the line to set the fractions in this turf debut. Hounded early by Sugar Doll (Into Mischief), this 9-1 shot had to work to put that rival away into the far turn as the half went in :43.82. With a safe enough margin built up, Midnight Martini was able to kick away for home without fear of the closers, crossing the line two lengths in front of Horsing Around (Practical Joke). A $350,000 OBS April grad from her sire's first crop, the winner is out of a half-sister to GSW Strait From Texas (Judge T C), a mare who was picked up by Japan's Katsumi Yoshida for $450,000 at Keeneland November back in 2005. Tex Appeal, now with a perfect six-for-six strike rate of winners from runners, has already produced this winner's half-sister Gastown (Vancouver {Aus}), SP, $241,850. She has a 2-year-old Colonel Liam colt and went to Cogburn for this season. MIDNIGHT MARTINI ($21.60) flew home under @jjcjockey in the closing race at @GulfstreamPark. @markecasse trains the debuting 3YO daughter of @spendthriftfarm's Yaupon. Nice shout by @andie_biancone! pic.twitter.com/uNzrV0grRA — FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) January 30, 2026 10th-Gulfstream, $76,600, Msw, 1-30, 3yo, f, 5fT, :55.95, fm, 2 lengths. MIDNIGHT MARTINI (f, 3, Yaupon–Tex Appeal, by Successful Appeal) Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $49,400. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. O-Blue Crevalle Racing and Torie Gladwell; B-Southern Wives Partners (FL); T-Mark E. Casse. The post Yaupon Firster Midnight Martini Wires Her Gulfstream Debut appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The Hong Kong Classic Mile, first leg of its 4-year-old Classic Series, looks wide open, but Zac Purton, who has ridden more than half the entries at one time or another, opts for Sagacious Life.View the full article

The winning Florida-bred 3-year-old filly Ifyousaidso (Cajun Breeze) topped the 2026 OBSOnline January Sale for 2-Year-Olds and Horses of Racing Age when she sold to Dare to Dream Stable Management LLC for $110,000 Friday. Consigned as hip 402 by breeder Shadybrook Farm, Ifyousaidso is a full-sister to multiple stakes winner Cajun Casanova and stakes-placed Full Disclosure. On the board in all four lifetime starts, Ifyousaidso is a winner on both dirt and turf. She last worked Jan. 29, going three furlongs in :36 3/5 at Gulfstream Park. Overall, the OBSOnline January sale grossed $297,400 with 14 horses sold and two RNAs. The 14 to sell averaged $21,243 with a median of $13,000. The top 2-year-old of the sale was a bay Collected filly out of MGISW Tough Tiz's Sis (Tiznow). Consigned by McKathan Bros. Sales as hip 403, the half-sister to GSW Tiz Midnight (Midnight Lute) sold for $22,000 to E-Class Racing. The post OBSOnline January Sale Topped by $110K Ifyousaidso appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) winner Forever Young defends his 2025 Saudi Cup (G1) title against Bob Baffert duo in expected fields announced Jan. 30 for the big weekend in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.View the full article

Nearly (Not This Time), an impressive winner of two straight by a combined 14 1/4 lengths, will make his two-turn debut in Saturday's GIII Holy Bull S. at Gulfstream Park. The Centennial Farms colorbearer earned a field-best 97 Beyer Speed Figure defeating three rivals in an optional claimer going seven furlongs at Gulfstream most recently Jan. 2. Produced by a winning Mineshaft mare, Nearly worked a bullet four furlongs in :48.59 (1/25) at Palm Beach Downs Jan. 24. He is the 9-5 morning-line favorite in the 1 1/16-mile Holy Bull, which offers 20-10-6-4-2 points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby. “Everything to us indicates that (two turns) should be to his advantage,” Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher said. “He's always trained like a horse that wanted more distance and he's got the pedigree to do it, so we're excited about stretching him out.” Cannoneer (Into Mischief) was a no-brainer 'TDN Rising Star presented by Hagyard' in the nightcap on the Stars of Tomorrow II card at Churchill Downs last out Nov. 29. Owned in partnership by St. Elias Stable and breeder Stonestreet Stables, the $1.75- million Keeneland September graduate delivered a 7 1/4-length maiden tally at second asking going seven furlongs that day, good for a 90 Beyer Speed Figure. Brad Cox trains. Pin Oak Stud's rail-drawn Incredibolt (Bolt d'Oro) makes his first start since delivering a smart, last-to-first victory in the GIII Street Sense S. at Churchill Downs Oct. 26. “We gave him a planned vacation at Pin Oak Stud, and they kept him ticking over for us until the beginning of December, at which point he came down here,” trainer Riley Mott said. “He hasn't missed a beat.” Buetane (Tiz the Law), runner-up in last summer's GI Spendthrift Farm Hopeful S. and the GII San Vicente S. Jan. 10, has been scratched in favor of next Friday's postponed GIII Southwest S. at Oaklawn Park. Gulfstream's 12-race program will feature five stakes races for 3-year-olds, including the GIII Forward Gal S., a seven-furlong prep for the Kentucky Oaks (20-10-6-4-2). 'TDN Rising Star presented by Hagyard' On Time Girl (Not This Time), last seen powering home first in the Fern Creek S. at Churchill Downs Nov. 29, is the 9-5 morning-line favorite for her sophomore debut. Her Cox-trained stablemate and fellow 'Rising Star' Sneaky Good (Into Mischief) made it two-for-two in the Sandpiper S. at Tampa Dec. 6. Last term's GIII Adirondack S. winner Mythical (St Patrick's Day) concluded her juvenile campaign with a pair of wins in the Florida Sire Susan's Girl S. Oct. 18 and FTBOA Florida Sire My Dear Girl S. Nov. 29, respectively. The latter was her first attempt around two turns. Saturday's graded action also includes: the GII San Pasqual S. and GIII Megahertz S. at Santa Anita; and the GIII Tampa Bay S. and GIII Endeavour S. at Tampa Bay Downs. The post Pletcher ‘Excited About Stretching Out’ Nearly in the Holy Bull appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article