Wandering Eyes

James McDonald and Hugh Bowman are confident Galaxy Patch and Helios Express are primed to produce peak performances at the Longines Hong Kong International Races (HKIR) after competing in a star-studded trial at Sha Tin on Thursday. Set for the Group One Hong Kong Sprint (1,200m) on Sunday week, Helios Express under Bowman vied for the lead with Packing Hermod in Thursday’s dirt hit-out over 1,200m and kept on solidly to run second to that galloper. Fellow Hong Kong Sprint contender Raging...View the full article

By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk As she approaches the end of her racing career, I Dream Of Jeannie could mark her 100th start in style when racing returns to Geraldine in South Canterbury. Saturday will mark the 75th anniversary of the first meeting held by the club at the Orari track. I Dream Of Jeannie will be a leading contender in the day’s feature trot at Orari, the Fresh Choice Geraldine Trotters Cup (4.34pm). In her last start the Robert and Jenna Dunn-trained eight-year-old produced a huge finish to win the Group 2 Grand Duchess at Addington on November 21. It was her eighth win in 99 starts. “She does start off 25 metres but it is not an overly big field,” says driver John Dunn, “and she has trained on nicely since that last win.” Dunn also confirming that it won’t be long before she heads to the broodmare paddock. “We’ve been given the green light that she is in foal to Tactical Approach.” With three wins in his last four starts, the Bob Butt trained and driven Tactical Bid looks I Dream Of Jeannie’s toughest rival while Maui will be looking to repeat his success from 2024. The Dunns’ Diamond Racing also lines up It’s Tough in the Placemakers Timaru/Twizel/Oamaru Geraldine Cup (3.24pm). The four-year-old gelding won three in a row before his ninth in the Group 1 Christian Cullen at Addington on Show Day but he does have to take on the very talented The Lazarus Effect, who’s at $1.60 in the early markets. It’s Tough is at $3.10. “He’s well placed but The Lazarus Effect will be hard to beat,” says Dunn. It will also be It’s Tough’s first standing start though Dunn is not expecting any issues. The Dunns chalked up win number 100 for 2024 when Burt won at Timaru yesterday. They are third in the premiership behind Steve and Amanda Telfer on 158 and Michael House on 102. With a favourable weather forecast and some much needed rain during the week the track is expected to be in good shape for the meeting, which starts at 12.05pm. The club is hopeful of a big crowd with nearly 500 in their Christmas At The Races marquees alone. “About 50 per cent of them are repeat business,” says committee member Jackie Nelson, “which is great.” “If the weather plays ball we’d love to get a crowd of around 2000.” The “Lean On A Gate” passing lane will also be in action. It’s the club’s way to support the mental health programme that Craig Wiggins and his team run in rural communities. “Wiggy”, as he’s known, will also be clerking on the course throughout the meeting. To see the Geraldine fields click here View the full article

Brotha Keny (Mo Town) parlayed a recent stakes victory into a record-sized payday for his connections on Wednesday during the Inglis Digital USA December sale with his $550,000 hammer price being the highest in the online auction platform's history and propelling a top overall gross of $869,250, the company said in a press release late on Wednesday. The 3-year-old gelding sold to Meah/Lloyd Bloodstock, as agent for Michael and Jules Iavarone, TTC Stables and Morplay Racing. Brotha Keny entered the December sale off a victory in the Zia Park Derby just eight days earlier, swinging wide and charging down the stretch to win by a half-length for trainer William Morey and owners Lance and Steve Kinross. “This is the type of horse you dream of owning, and they don't show up on the open market very often, so fair play goes out to Inglis Digital USA for recruiting him,” David Meah said. “He's been a model of consistency this year ever since he got back on the dirt. Numbers don't lie, and his are trending in a very positive direction.” Over the summer, Brotha Keny won the Bourbon Flight Stakes at Churchill Downs Sept. 20, and finished in-the-money in the GIII Indiana Derby and GIII West Virginia Derby. In total, he has won four of 13 starts and earned $499,528. “His last three races have been huge performances, even the loss at Keeneland in an allowance was a big run,” Meah added. “Then, he came back to win the Zia Park Derby with a dominant performance. He's only three, and has an entire career ahead of him. We are all thrilled, especially Jose D'Angelo, who will be the man taking over the training of him now.” Bred in Kentucky by Terrazas Thoroughbreds, Brotha Keny is out of the placed Northern Afleet mare Raramuri Princess, whose nine foals are all winners, also including stakes winner Concealed Carry (Competitive Edge). Eastern Sand (Line in the Sand), a Grade III winner, can be found in his extended family. Paramount Sales consigned Brotha Kenny, as agent, and he was made available for inspection at Morey's barn at Turfway Park. “It's great when a plan comes together,” said Paddy Campion of Paramount Sales. “Mr. Kinross and I spoke before the Zia Park Derby about Brotha Keny as a sales prospect. A few days later the horse kept up his side of the bargain, winning that race and now today in the sales ring. The timing could not have been better. Inglis made the process an easy one when there were many last-minute details to sort out. “Kudos to Bill Morey, who managed the horses's career masterfully,” he said. “He was bought by a great judge in David Meah, and we wish the best of luck to Mike, Jules, TTC Stables, and Morplay Racing.” Wednesday's highest-priced broodmare was Sea Rocket, who sold to Tropical Racing for $65,000. Dornoch | Sara Gordon The 4-year-old daughter of Into Mischief is a half-sister to recently-retired MGSW Royal Spa (Violence), and she hails from the family of GISW Sippican Harbor (Orb) and Japanese multiple stakes winner Awesome Result (Justify). She was offered carrying a foal from the debut crop of GI Belmont Stakes hero Dornoch (Good Magic). Sea Rocket was offered by Norrevale Farm, and she made available for inspection at the operation's Lexington, Kentucky, base. In total, Wednesday's auction finished with 48 horses sold and that record gross of $869,250. With the largest catalogue ever, offerings were made available locally to buyers and sellers, and inspection sites included Arkansas, California, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, New York, Oklahoma and Pennsylvania. Inglis Digital USA continued to attract a diverse selection of customers, with 40 different buyers on the horses that changed hands Wednesday. “What a great way to end the year, with a record sale for Inglis Digital USA,” said Inglis Digital USA CEO Kyle Wilson. “We've grown a lot this year, and we owe it all to our customers. We appreciate everyone who did business with us in 2025.” Offerings that finished under their reserves on Wednesday are still available to purchase on the Inglis Digital USA website. Visit the site's catalogue page and click on “make an offer” next to the available horses. Entries are now open for the Inglis Digital USA 2026 February sale, and they will be taken through Monday, Jan. 26. The catalogue will be released on Friday, Jan. 30, and bidding will close on Wednesday, Feb. 4. Click here to enter a horse for the January sale, register as a bidder or make a bid on an RNA horse from the December sale. The post Stakes Winner Brotha Keny Brings Record Price At Inglis Digital USA December Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Jokestar, much improved this year as a 4-year-old, battles Tosen Wish and seven others in the CA$150,000 Valedictory Stakes (G3) Dec. 6. Dresden Row will not contest this lengthy 1 1/2-mile race.View the full article

At a time when 2-year-olds are focusing on the preps for the Kentucky Derby (G1) and Kentucky Oaks (G1), the 5-year-old Bishops Bay is facing a prep of his own. View the full article

7th-FG, $55k, Alw (N2L)/OC ($125k), 2yo, f, 6f, 4:45 p.m. ET PAVING (Gun Runner) was no better than an 8-1 chance when unveiled over this distance at Ellis Park Aug. 23, but she belied her inexperience with a very professional effort, coming away to score by 2 1/2 lengths. Among the vanquished that day was Sister Troienne (Munnings), who has since rattled off three straight, including the Nov. 27 Wait a While Stakes as the odds-on favorite. The filly's stakes-winning dam Point System (Broken Vow) is a daughter of GSW & GISP Brownie Points (Forest Wildcat), whose other notable produce includes MGSW Synchrony (Tapit) and GSW Chocolate Kisses (Candy Ride {Arg}). Larry Hirsch paid $420,000 for Point System in foal to Improbable at the Pin Oak Dispersal in 2021. Jose Ortiz has the call for trainer Tom Amoss. TJCIS PPs The post Impressive Maiden Winner Paving Resumes In Big Easy appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

By Jordyn Bublitz John Robinson arrives at Cambridge Raceway tonight with two strong opportunities to remind racegoers he’s still very much got the touch. With a driving career that stretches back to 1979 and a lifetime spent working with horses around his goat-farming day job, Robinson brings both experience and calm to a pair of promising Jason Teaz-trained trotters. Robinson first hopped in the sulky on race day more than four decades ago, getting involved in the game through his father. Although horses have always been part of his life, he ultimately made his living elsewhere. “For the last 31 years I’ve been a goat farmer and just worked the horses as a hobby,” he said. “As far as driving goes, I haven’t pursued a driving career for quite some time.” Normally, Robinson sticks to driving the small team he prepares himself. But his link with Teaz began when the Ohaupo trainer sought a steady hand for one of his trickier trotters. “He rang me one day to say that they were having some trouble with Veronica Jane and he wanted a regular driver for her.” Robinson’s first assignment tonight is Wynberg Janie in the Christmas Movie Series, Dec 7, 14 and 21 Trot. The five-year-old daughter of Majestic Son has had just two starts, but her last run at Cambridge turned heads. After getting things wrong on debut at Alexandra Park, she returned to Cambridge and delivered a faultless performance to score her maiden win. “At Auckland she looked like she panicked a little bit at the tapes, but the other night she got a nice trip and I know Jason thinks a bit of her,” Robinson said. “I’ve never driven her before so I’ll just have to take it as it comes, she’s up a grade so it will be a little bit tougher for her.” Later on the card, Robinson reunites with a mare he knows inside out — Veronica Jane in the Happy Hire Handicap Trot. She was impressive last start, clearing out to win by six lengths. Although she steps up in class and distance tonight and must contend with a 20m handicap, Robinson remains optimistic. “Her best races have been over 2200m, and this is 2-7, I don’t think the distance will worry her though,” he said. “The two wins she’s had, she’s gotten to the front, and she seems a lot happier when she’s there. Whether she can find the front from the 20m could be a bit of an ask.” Still, he’s confident she’s right in the mix with the right trip. “She likes the speed to be on, so long as we get that and a nice trip, she should be a good chance.” View the full article

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-bred horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Thursday's Observations features an interesting newcomer from the Gosden stable. 17.30 Chelmsford City, £40,000, Nov, 2yo, f, 8f (AWT) John and Thady Gosden trainee SYMBOL OF MAJESTY (GB) (New Bay {GB}) is an unraced half-sister to the stable's G1 Fillies' Mile heroine Commissioning (GB) (Kingman {GB}) and stakes-winning G3 Winter Derby runner-up Military Academy (GB) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}). She faces eight rivals, which include Team Valor and Hazel McCracken's Molly O'Mally (Ire) (St Mark's Basilica {Fr}), who is an Andrew Balding-conditioned 250,000gns Book 1 half-sister to multiple Group 1-winning sire Best Solution (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) and G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud hero El Bodegon (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}). The post Half to Fillies’ Mile Heroine Commissioning Primed for Chelmsford Bow appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Rocket Can (Into Mischief–Tension, by Tapit), a dual Grade III winner, will stand in Uruguay for the 2026 Southern Hemisphere breeding season through a partnership between Haras Los Robles and Haras San Miguel Queguay, according to an article first published in Turf Dario on Tuesday, Dec. 2. Set to reside at Haras San Miguel Queguay, Rocket Can was bred by Woodford Thoroughbreds LLC, campaigned by Frank Fletcher and trained by Bill Mott. The current 5-year-old started 16 times, won four races and earned $619,393, according to Equibase. The gray captured the GIII Holy Bull Stakes and was the runner-up in the GII Fountain of Youth Stakes–both at Gulfstream Park. After finishing fourth in the GI Arkansas Derby, Rocket Can was ninth in the GI Kentucky Derby. The Mott trainee's second graded score came in the GIII Harlan's Holiday Stakes in Hallandale late in his 4-year-old season. The post Rocket Can To Stud In Uruguay For 2026 Southern Hemisphere Season appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The Munnings gelding makes his graded stakes debut in the Elite Power Stakes (G3) Dec. 6 at Aqueduct Racetrack. Leading his five rivals is Tom Fool (G3) winner Full Moon Madness, the lone graded stakes winner in the field for the 6-furlong race. View the full article

In this series, we will have a look predominantly at American-bred first-time juvenile starters (through the end of 2025) and debuting 3-year-olds in maiden races at Meydan Racecourse, with a specific focus on pedigree and/or performance in a sales ring. The flagship venue for racing in the United Arab Emirates is Meydan Racecourse, which will host racing on Fridays through the end of March, with the exception of Super Saturday on Feb. 28 and Dubai World Cup night Mar. 28, 2026. Here are the horses of note for this Friday's program at Meydan: Friday, December 5, 2025 2nd-MEY, AED165,000 ($45k), Maiden, NH2yo/SH3yo, 1400m No fewer than seven first-starters feature in this field of 13 and if his lone trial to date is any indication, ISHTIAH (McKinzie) could take a fair bit of beating. Hailing from the family of the legendary G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen hero Reynaldothewizard (Speightstown), the bay colt was an $85,000 acquisition out of last year's Fasig-Tipton October Sale before changing hands for 150,000gns ($208,402) at this year's Tattersalls Craven Breeze-Up Sale (under-tack video). The Mar. 1 foal took a Nov. 12 trial by 5 3/4 lengths (see below) and the form has already been franked, as Duke of Immatin (Gun Runner), third in that hit-out, won his maiden impressively at first asking at Jebel Ali Nov. 29. Heart of Libya (Honor A. P.) was a $30,000 Keeneland September yearling before improving into a $300,000 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic Juvenile this past May (gallop). The colt's dam, a half-sister to MGISW Tonalist (Tapit) and already responsible for Peruvian SW & GSP Estrella de Fuego (Oscar Performance), was sold for $47,000 with the colt in utero at Keeneland November in 2022. This is the extended female family of Horse of the Year Havre de Grace (Saint Liam). Heart of Libya was fourth in the Ishtiah trial. Mirham (Maximus Mischief), whose unraced dam Bless You (Munnings) is a half-sister to GSW She's All Eltish (Eltish), fetched $260,000 from Harmash Racing after breezing a furlong in :9 4/5 at this year's OBS April Sale (see below), while New Jersey-bred Lino Padrino (Uncle Lino) was hammered down for $200,000 at FTMMAY after his blowout down the lane at Timonium (video). The latter hails from the family of the red-hot Upstart. The post Desert Doings: McKinzie Colt Look To Run Back To Promising Trial appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Jaber Abdullah's Million Gold (Earthlight), a half-brother to GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint hero Big Evs (Blue Point), made a winning debut in Wednesday's Unibet British Stallion Studs EBF Restricted Novice Stakes at Kempton. Swiftly into stride and positioned in a prominent second from flagfall, the 10-3 second choice ran green throughout the final quarter-mile and outmuscled Alasrae (Havana Grey) in the closing stages to register a 1 1/2-length verdict. Million Gold, the eighth of nine foals, becomes the seventh scorer from as many runners out of a half-sister to the multiple Group 1-placed dual Group 2 winner Lady Of The Desert (Rahy), herself the dam of G2 Lowther Stakes victrix Queen Kindly (Frankel). Queen Kindly, in turn, produced G2 Lowther and G3 Firth Of Clyde Stakes placegetter Queen Me (Dubawi). Million Gold's second dam is Group 1-winning European champion Queen's Logic (Grand Lodge). The April-foaled bay is a half-brother to GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint hero Big Evs (Blue Point) and a weanling filly by Havana Grey. The post Big Evs’s Half Brother Million Gold Too Good For Kempton Rivals appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

One of the most significant collections of American Thoroughbred racing trophies in the sport's history–the Whitney family collection–has been bequeathed to the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame by the late John Hendrickson, the institution's former chairman who unexpectedly passed away in August 2024, according to a press release from the repository on Wednesday. The collection is comprised of more than 400 trophies– including eight Triple Crown race trophies won by Whitney family-owned runners–as well as numerous prizes commemorating important victories by Hall of Fame inductees Equipoise, Regret, Silver Spoon, Top Flight, and Whisk Broom II. The collection includes trophies won by horses owned by William Collins Whitney, Harry Payne Whitney, Cornelius Vanderbilt Whitney, and Marylou Whitney, who was Hendrickson's late wife. “The Whitney family's legacy in American racing spans more than 125 years and is nothing short of exceptional,” said Charlotte Weber, the museum's chair. “The National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame is honored to receive such an important collection that represents the grand history of a wonderful family's unwavering multi-generational commitment to Thoroughbred racing and their remarkable achievements in the game. We look forward to being a steward of this wonderful gift and sharing these historic treasures with the public.” The oldest item in the collection is the 1899 Belmont Stakes trophy, which was won by Jean Bereaud in track-record time at Morris Park for William Collins Whitney, the patriarch of the Whitney racing dynasty. Four additional Belmont Stakes trophies won by Burgomaster (1906), Phalanx (1947), Counterpoint (1951), and Birdstone (Grindstone) (2004) are also part of the donation. The Whitney gift features the Kentucky Derby trophies won by Regret (1915) and Whiskery (1927). Hall of Famer Regret became the first of three fillies to win the Run for the Roses, prompting the Louisville Courier-Journal to report: ” … never shall we forget her gorgeous appearance on that memorable afternoon in May at Churchill Downs as she was led around the paddock before the race and later, when, with colors up, she stepped out on the course looking every inch a queen … receiving an ovation of which even royalty might well have been proud. Peerless Regret she was hailed and peerless she undoubtedly was, and from this day, she must be thought of with this descriptive adjective affixed.” The Harry Payne Whitney-owned Broomspun (1921), Bostonian (1927), and Victorian (1928) each won the Preakness during the 1920s, and those victories are recognized in a singular Woodlawn Vase trophy honoring the three horses. Regret's 1914 Saratoga Special trophy | courtesy of the NMRHOF Other highlights include Ashland Stakes trophies won by You All (1971) and Sun and Snow (1975); Blue Grass Stakes trophies won by Mr. Trouble (1950) and Tompion (1960); Futurity Stakes trophies won by Top Flight (1931) and First Flight (1946); Jockey Club Gold Cup trophies won by Phalanx (1947) and Counterpoint (1951); Kentucky Oaks trophies won by Bug Brush (1958), Bag of Tunes (1973), Sun and Snow (1975), and Bird Town (2003); Santa Anita Derby trophies won by Silver Spoon (1959) and Tompion (1960); Santa Margarita Stakes trophies won by Monsoon (1947), Bug Brush (1959), and Silver Spoon (1960); Saratoga Special trophies won by Regret (1914), Goshawk (1922), Whichone (1929), Red Rain (1935), and Banquet Table (1976); Travers Stakes trophies won by Fisherman (1954), Tompion (1960), Chompion (1968), and Birdstone (2004). The donation also includes the Metropolitan, Brooklyn, and Suburban handicap trophies won by Whisk Broom II in 1913, when he became the first horse to sweep the New York Handicap Triple Crown. After completing the sweep of the series under 139 pounds in the Suburban, the Thoroughbred Record said of Whisk Broom II: “It was a test of speed, courage, and stamina, and he answered each of the questions. … He was a master of his company.” Selections from the Whitney trophy collection will be on display in the Museum's McBean Gallery through Dec. 28. A formal exhibition of the collection will be presented in 2027, coinciding with the 100th running of the GI Whitney Stakes at Saratoga Race Course. Whitney family trophy collection selected highlights: Kentucky Derby–1915, 1927 Preakness Stakes–1921, 1927, 1928 (single trophy) Belmont Stakes–1899, 1906, 1947, 1951, 2004 Ashland Stakes–1971, 1975 Blue Grass Stakes–1950, 1960 Futurity Stakes–1931, 1946 Jockey Club Gold Cup–1947, 1951 Kentucky Oaks–1958, 1973, 1975, 2003 Santa Anita Derby–1959, 1960 Santa Margarita Stakes–1947, 1959, 1960 Saratoga Special Stakes–1914, 1922, 1929, 1935, 1976 Travers Stakes–1954, 1960, 1968, 2004 The post Whitney Trophies Gifted To National Museum Of Racing And Hall of Fame appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

A share in Siyouni headlines the catalogue for the Tattersalls Online December Sale, which takes place on December 10-11. A total of 126 lots will be offered, including 55 horses in and out of training, 20 foals, 19 broodmares, 18 yearlings, six breeding rights, four stores, two point-to-pointers and two stallion shares. Aga Khan Studs homebred Siyouni is the sire of 46 Group winners to date, including the multiple top-level scorers Laurens, Paddington, Sottsass and St Mark's Basilica. The Haras de Bonneval resident will stand at a fee of €150,000 in 2026. The shareholder will receive one nomination to the stallion in 2026, two nominations in 2027 and in every other year thereafter. Also on offer is a breeding right to Darley's exciting young stallion Palace Pier, the sire of this year's G2 Lowther Stakes heroine Royal Fixation from his first crop of two-year-olds. Other stallion investment opportunities include breeding rights to A'Ali, El Caballo, Lope Y Fernandez, Sergei Prokofiev and Space Blues, as well as a share in Yeomanstown Stud's Supremacy. Elsewhere, the unraced Arctic Circle, a two-year-old son of Frankel and the G1 Coronation Stakes winner Alpine Star, will be offered by Ecurie Sogorb as a horse in training, while a highlight of the broodmare section will be the Silfield Bloodstock-consigned Pivotal mare Upstanding, who is being offered in foal to Shaquille. The dam of three winners to date, she is also a full-sister to the G1 Lockinge Stakes scorer Virtual. The 18 yearlings in the sale include youngsters by Invincible Spirit, No Nay Never and Palace Pier, while the 20 foals catalogued include progeny by the likes of Caturra, Mostahdaf and Sergei Prokofiev. The online auction will get underway at 11am on Wednesday, December 10, with bidding on the first lot scheduled to close from 11am the following day. The full catalogue is available to view here. The post Share in Siyouni Available in Tattersalls Online December Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) had added one day of live racing on Wednesday, Dec. 10 as part of the fall meet at Aqueduct Racetrack, the organization said via a Wednesday release. Following the cancellation of live racing after the completion of the first race on Sunday, Nov. 30, NYRA, the New York Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association (NYTHA) and New York Thoroughbred Breeders, Inc. (NYTB) requested and have received formal approval from the New York State Gaming Commission to conduct live racing Dec. 10. Entries for the card will be taken on Thursday, Dec. 4. The post NYRA Adds Dec. 10 Card To Aqueduct Fall Meet Schedule appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article