Wandering Eyes

After notching his first United States victory Nov. 28, top Brazilian jockey Dylan Machado is embracing the challenge of riding in North America. He will join his brother Luan at Turfway Park for the upcoming meet.View the full article

Maiden Watch: Week of Nov. 24-30View the full article

New York's final marquee Saturday of racing for 2025 is coming up Dec. 6, with four graded stakes on the calendar at Aqueduct Racetrack topped by the Cigar Mile Handicap (G2) for older horses.View the full article

The New York Racing Association, Inc.'s annual Toys for Tots donation drive will be held at Aqueduct Racetrack from Thursday, Dec. 4 through Sunday, Dec. 7. Founded in 1947, Toys for Tots collects and distributes new, unwrapped toys to local children in need each holiday season. This year's donation drive marks the 35th year that NYRA has partnered with the Marine Corps Reserve. “The annual Toys for Tots Drive at Aqueduct has become more than a day of giving. It's a cherished tradition that unites the racing community in support of children and families in need,” said Robert Hines, NYRA Manager of Community Affairs. For the last 20 years, the partnership has been supported by New York-based trainers and owners as well as the New York Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association (NYTHA). Trainer involvement began with Gary Contessa, Rick Schosberg and Linda Rice supporting the partnership by donating a percentage of their earnings during Cigar Mile weekend. Owner Harold Lerner has also contributed annually to the event. The continued generosity has generated more than $500,000 for the Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Foundation in addition to thousands of toys collected annually. “I've been part of this effort for 20 years, and every season my wife, Helen, and I are reminded that a little generosity goes a long way in the lives of kids. That's who we do it for. Seeing owners, trainers, jockeys, and fans come together for local families is the highlight of my year,” Lerner said. The post Toys for Tots Donation Drive to be held at Aqueduct December 4-7 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The remarkable tribute paid to their mutual granddam by the first two in the Breeders' Cup Classic felt especially apt given that Fawn Leap Farm had lost Darling My Darling (Deputy Minister), at a venerable 28, since the same horses finished first and third the previous year. Debby and John Oxley know that these things take time. In 2014 they had sold one of her daughters, by Congrats, for $8,000 as a yearling. At that stage, Darling My Darling was proving a dud in her second career: her first foal ended up under a $5,000 tag, and she was on a streak of five unraced foals. But this filly, as Forever Darling, went on to win the GII Santa Ynez Stakes before being sold to Japan, eventually producing Forever Young (Jpn) (Real Steel {Jpn}). Fortunately the Oxleys had meanwhile retained her 2015 half-sister by Malibu Moon, Heavenly Love, who won the GI Alcibiades Stakes. And of course Heavenly Love's second foal not only topped the Saratoga Sale at $2.3 million but has, as Sierra Leone (Gun Runner), proved very well bought at that price. There was also a time when it looked as though an even more accomplished Oxley runner, Beautiful Pleasure (Maudlin), was not going to work out as a broodmare. Yet the Oxleys' recourse to the sire of Sierra Leone has now stimulated a parallel revival. Darling My Darling's performance at the 1999 Breeders' Cup, dropping tamely away as one of the favorites for the GI Juvenile Fillies, was much easier to shrug off because of what had just happened in the previous race. Beautiful Pleasure had herself disappointed in the Juvenile Fillies, two years previously, and yet here she was in the GI Distaff, setting off fast but showing all her toughness to seal an Eclipse Award as champion older female. With a royal maternal line-her fifth dam, via Bimlette, was the great matriarch Bloodroot-everything was in place. Now, I wouldn't presume to know how a program as successful as this might go about its matings. On the face of it, however, it wouldn't appear immune to sentiment. Darling My Darling's first three foals, for instance, were by Maria's Mon, who had just given the Oxleys a GI Kentucky Derby winner; then Monarchos himself; and then Sky Mesa, their GI Hopeful winner, now entering stud. And why not? So long as the physical compatibilities are there, why shouldn't people respond to the notorious unpredictability of this business by admitting emotional as well as financial investment? The mating of Beautiful Pleasure with Monarchos, similarly, brought together two horses that had given the Oxleys immense fulfilment on the track. The resulting filly was aptly named To Dream About. Unfortunately, the dream did not materialize, and she never made the gate. But it's like we said: these things take time. Four of To Dream About's first five foals, when she proceeded to the paddocks, were by Sky Mesa. The most competent of these was the first, Sky Dreamer, a close second in the GIII Arlington Oaks. To Dream About would owe her best foal, however, to Tapit: their daughter Dream Dancing got up to win the GI Del Mar Oaks by a nose, and has already produced the homebred Dreamaway (by another Oxley stallion, Flameaway) to win a juvenile sprint stakes on turf at Monmouth last year. But now it is Sky Dreamer who's threatening to become the principal conduit for Beautiful Pleasure's legacy. Her first foal, Kimbear (Temple City), enjoyed a lucrative career in Dubai, including a couple of Group wins over a mile on dirt. And now, following a spell of fairly uneven production, the 16-year-old mare finds herself giddily elevated by her 2022 date with Gun Runner. Perhaps that mating was emboldened by the way Heavenly Love's Gun Runner colt was shaping, heading towards the Saratoga Sale. One way or another, the result is GII Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes winner Further Ado. A $275,000 pinhook at Keeneland last year, he doubled his value to $550,000 when recruited by Spendthrift at OBS in April. It has, of course, been a phenomenal year for Spendthrift's racetrack division. But while star juvenile Ted Noffey (Into Mischief) has contributed to a seventh consecutive title for the farm's champion stallion, Further Ado is assisting his own sire's duel with Not This Time for the right eventually to break that monopoly. Two other sons, Brant and Paladin, give Gun Runner three of the first six named in the latest Derby future pool. In the case of this colt, however, it's also nice to acknowledge Sky Mesa as damsire, so soon after being pensioned at 25. Both he and his sire Pulpit extend particularly aristocratic maternal lines, often the bedrock for good broodmare sires, and smaller breeders know how consistently Sky Mesa punched above weight. The bottom line is that you can't look at this pedigree- Beautiful Pleasure as third dam, first and second dams by Sky Mesa and Monarchos-and not think immediately of that blue-and-yellow checkerboard. And, with that in mind, it's perfect that Sky Dreamer, pending this upgrade, had meanwhile been bred to Flameaway. Antonoe's Double Shows Lasting Virtue of Juddmonte The avidity for Juddmonte culls at Tattersalls this week will hardly have been diminished by a stunning Grade I double for its mare Antonoe (First Defence) at Del Mar over Thanksgiving weekend, her sophomore son Salamis (Speightstown) winning the Hollywood Derby on Saturday and then her 4-year-old daughter Segesta (Ghostzapper) adding the Matriarch Stakes. This pair extend into a sixth generation the impact of the $375,000 acquisition of Lost Virtue (Cloudy Dawn) at the 1986 Keeneland November Sale. Not, on the face of it, the most obvious foundation mare: rising 10, she was the unraced daughter of a mediocre sire. On the other hand she was out of a half-sister to Damascus, and had already produced Over The Ocean (Super Concorde) to win his second Group 3 prize at Deauville that summer. Lost Virtue was carrying a Topsider colt, but her first Juddmonte mating (to produce a foal) was with Riverman in 1988. The outcome was All At Sea, a Group 1 winner at a mile who also ran second in the GI Oaks over 12 furlongs. It would need a book to detail the stakes performers that have since proliferated under All At Sea, and not just for Juddmonte. She surfaced again, for instance, as fourth dam of one of the best horses in Europe this year: Ombudsman (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {GB}) is out of a 25,000gns Juddmonte cull at the 2017 equivalent of this week's auction. All At Sea's first foal, Imroz (Nureyev), became granddam of G1 Prix Jean Prat winner Mutual Trust (GB) (Cacique {Ire}). But a daughter of Imroz and Dynaformer, Ixora, never made the racetrack and was culled to South Africa as an 8-year-old in 2013. Fortunately for Juddmonte, however, Ixora had left behind a weanling filly by First Defence. Having started her career in France, where she won a Group 3 over a mile as a juvenile, Antonoe was switched to Chad Brown as a 4-year-old and won the GI Just A Game Stakes. Now she finds herself among the most precious even in the Juddmonte broodmare band. First Defence himself was sold to Saudi Arabia in 2016. His fee had dwindled to $7,500, his book to 35 mares. But he has since proved himself to have been grievously underrated. The very next year emerged a sophomore named Close Hatches, whose racetrack championship has since been supplemented by her Tapit trio: Scylla, Tacitus and Batten Down. First Defence's final Kentucky crop, meanwhile, included Irish Classic winner Siskin, now standing in Japan. These stallions can only be as good as the opportunity a market gives them. Speaking of which, those who peddle the self-fulfilling prejudice against ageing sires should note that Antonoe owed her freakish weekend to one stallion, Ghostzapper, who was 20 at the time of their assignation; and another, Speightstown, who was 23. Priceless Broodmare Prospects Hard to Price Having started with the Oxleys, we end with a Tapit filly acquired by that laudable program for $825,000 at the 2015 Keeneland September Sale. Named Pretty City Dancer, she dead-heated for the Spinaway Stakes-giving Tapit, also sire of Sweet Loretta, two Grade I winners in one race-and a disappointing sophomore campaign did not discourage Sheikh Mohammed from adding her to the Godolphin broodmare band for $3.5 million at the 2018 Fasig-Tipton November Sale. Somehow that has already proved money well spent. Pretty City Dancer's second foal, Pretty Mischievous (Into Mischief), won the GI Kentucky Oaks; and now her latest starter, Bella Ballerina (Street Sense) has earned 10 gate points for next year's edition in the GII Golden Rod Stakes. Besides a corresponding physique, Pretty City Dancer's page always assured residual value whatever she achieved on the track: her half-sister Lear's Princess (Lear Fan) emerged too late for the Oaks in 2007 but confirmed herself among the best of the crop when beating Rags to Riches (A.P. Indy) in the GI Gazelle Stakes. The death was reported last week of that same champion. Let's hope one of her last foals-maybe her doubly poignant yearling by Uncle Mo-can redeem a rather “riches-to-rags” second career. For her royal genes to have functioned to historic effect on the track, but not since, just confirms how this whole business will ever remain a puzzle. The post Breeding Digest: Much Ado About a Beautiful Legacy appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

For the fifth straight year, Horseshoe Indianapolis set a new record for all-time highest handle wagered on live racing. The 123-day meet, ending on Nov. 13, concluded with total handle surpassed $287 million in 2025. “We couldn't be prouder of our team and our season for the results we saw this year,” said Vice President and General Manager of Racing Eric Halstrom. “We were going up against some pretty big numbers from 2024. Despite running 49 less races this year, we were still able to top last year's figures. Our team continues to find ways to elevate our racing program, and we could not achieve this success without the partnerships with our horsemen's organizations. They play a big part in supporting our mission and goals in creating a quality product.” Horseshoe Indianapolis also saw a reduction in turf races due to adverse weather in 2025. A total of 198 turf races were held compared to 237 in 2024. “We really struggled with weather issues this year,” added Halstrom. “Our turf course has become known as one of the best and that can be attributed directly to our track maintenance crew led by Tony Martinez. Because of them we only lost 39 turf races during the season. If they had not worked hard to keep the course going, we might have lost even more races over the turf.” Overall, Horseshoe Indianapolis brought in $287,801,273 in total handle compared to $282,131,209 in 2024, showing an increase of 2.01%. That figure is expected to surge over the $300-million mark once all international outlets are accounted for and added in by the end of the year. Total handle per race was up with a 6.39% increase of $252,886 compared to $236,886 last season. On track handle saw a slight jump to $4,818,434 compared to $4,724,140, a two percent increase year over year. Horseshoe Indianapolis also recorded a new record for a single day handle as more than $9.163 million was wagered July 5 during the 31st running of the GIII Indiana Derby. The previous record was set during the 2024 Indiana Derby at $8.147 million, showing more than a $1 million increase. The sixth annual Indiana Champions Day Saturday, Oct. 25 also set a record of more than $2.8 million wagered, which was also a new record for that event featuring both Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing. Of the 123 racing days, six were dedicated to Quarter Horse racing, which also produced a record. More than $1.273 million was wagered on the May 31 Quarter Horse card, marking a new record for a single day card for the sprinters. The second Quarter Horse day also produced a total handle of more than $1 million Saturday, June 29 with more than $1.142 wagered on the day. The 24th season of live Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse returns Tuesday, Apr. 7. For more information on racing at Horseshoe Indianapolis, visit www.caesars.com/horseshoe-indianapolis/racing. The post Horseshoe Indianapolis Concludes Record 2025 Season appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. 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. Wednesday's Observations features a half-brother to Big Evs. 18.40 Kempton, £11,000, Nov, 2yo, 6f (AWT) Jaber Abdullah's MILLION GOLD (GB) (Earthlight {Ire}) is a half-brother to GI Breeders Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint hero Big Evs (Ire) (Blue Point {Ire}) and represents the same Michael Appleby yard here. The April-foaled bay is one of five newcomers in a field of 12. The post Half-Brother To Big Evs On Deck For Kempton Debut appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Multiple Group 1 winner Hawk Wing has died from colic in Korea. The brilliant winner of the G1 Lockinge Stakes was 26. The son of Woodman claimed the G1 National Stakes at two for Aidan O'Brien and Susan Magnier. At three, he found only stablemates Rock Of Gibraltar and High Chaparral too good in the G1 2000 Guineas and the G1 Derby, respectively. Back in the winner's circle in the G1 Eclipse Stakes, he ran second in both the G1 Irish Champion Stakes and G1 Champion Stakes. At four, he delivered his career-defining victory, running out an 11-length winner of the G1 Lockinge Stakes at Newbury. An injury in the G1 Queen Anne Stakes resulted in retirement to Coolmore Stud. He stood there from 2004-2008. From 2009 onward, Hawk Wing was based at KRA Jeju Stud Farm in Korea. A total of 15 of his progeny were stakes winners led by eight group winners. GI American Oaks heroin Cambina and G1 Sydney Cup victor Stand To Gain were his best runners. Hawk Wing was bred by Hill 'N' Dale Farm, and sold for $225,000 during the 1999 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale. Sent back through the ring during the 2000 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Select Sale, he brought $300,000 from Par Four Racing Stable. The post Sensational Miler Hawk Wing Succumbs To Colic At 26 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Sam Agars CHARITY GAIN - R8 (7) Was impressive first up this season and can deliver the goods here Jay Rooney SILVER SPURS - R5 (2) Racing in top form and should get an easy time in front here Owen Goulding WONDERSTAR - R7 (3) Can use his blistering pace to lead them all the way from a low barrier Phillip Woo ETERNAL FORTUNE - R7 (2) Can salute from a better draw after returning with an eye-catching second Shannon (Vincent Wong) REWARDING BUDDY - R5 (9) Performed well in a recent trial...View the full article

On the Dec. 1 episode of BloodHorse Monday: Louie Rabaut and Frank Angst react to a strong weekend of racing and how it impacts 2026; Abu Dhabi Turf Club racecourse director Dayle Brown discusses The President Cup on Dec. 6.View the full article

Last-start winners are few and far between at Happy Valley on Wednesday night, however Douglas Whyte is confident Celestial Hero can lay down a marker for bigger and better things to come in the Class Three Plover Cove Handicap (1,000m). Not seen on the racetrack since a breakthrough Hong Kong victory at start three in July, Celestial Hero underwent knee surgery to remove a bone fragment soon after that success and has been building back to fitness since. Solid enough when running sixth in a...View the full article

While Maxime Guyon would quite obviously love to taste success as early as possible during his short-term Hong Kong stint, the star French jockey understandably already has one eye on next weekend’s Group One Longines Hong Kong Vase (2,400m). In a race he has already won twice thanks to victories aboard Flintshire (2014) and Junko (2023), Guyon partners the impressive Sosie for Andre Fabre in the longest of the four Hong Kong International Races features. “I think I have a chance. Sosie has run...View the full article

Jockeys' Guild President & CEO Terry Meyocks issued a statement Monday saying that NYRA and the Guild had made progress regarding the dispute that led to the jockeys walking out after the first race Sunday at Aqueduct. “NYRA and the Jockeys' Guild had a lengthy and productive meeting (Monday) to address the issues that led to the cancellation of live racing at Aqueduct Racetrack on Sunday,” Meyocks said in a statement. “This was an unfortunate event that impacted the owners, trainers and bettors who support NYRA throughout the year. Today's meeting was an opportunity to turn the page, and we thank (NYRA Chief Executive Officer & President) David O'Rourke and his management team for their willingness to listen to the concerns of our membership and their commitment to a renewed level of communication with the riders. We look forward to the resumption of racing at Aqueduct on Thursday.” Thursday marks the next day of scheduled racing at the Big A. “NYRA was pleased to participate in today's meeting, and we look forward to a strong weekend of racing at Aqueduct,” NYRA spokesman Pat McKenna said in a text. Citing a number of differences the New York riding colony had had with NYRA management over the last year, the jockeys refused to ride after Sunday's first race. One of the issues was NYRA's decision to ban the riders' wives, girlfriends and children from the jockeys' room. The families were still allowed to congregate in a kitchen area just off the jockeys' quarters. “I have never seen such disrespect to a jockey colony and the people who work in the jocks' room,” Carmouche told the TDN after Sunday's walkout. But what apparently was a “final straw” occurred Sunday when NYRA Assistant Clerk of Scales Brian Pochman was asked to go home for the day after he declined to take on additional duties. NYRA had asked him to manually record the weights as a backup plan in the case that a computer system used to do that task malfunctioned, and Pochman balked when told he needed to take on those additional duties. Pochman was not fired. Carmouche, who is the New York representative for the Guild at this time of year, defended Pochman, said he had been doing a good job and that he believed NYRA had piled so many responsibilities on him that it was hindering his ability to properly do his job. The post Jockeys’ Guild’s Meyocks Expresses Optimism About Racing Resuming Thursday at Aqueduct 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 and the Jockeys' Guild have reached an agreement that will allow racing to resume as scheduled Dec. 4 at Aqueduct Racetrack, following a dispute that led to jockeys refusing to ride in the final eight races Nov. 30View the full article

Ace Stud put in a dominant performance, spending over 2.5 million gns, with that spend headed by the daughter of Le Havre By Brian Sheerin and Adam Houghton Less than 48 hours on from Calandagan's record-breaking victory in the G1 Japan Cup at Tokyo, it was his year-older half-sister, Caliyza, who enjoyed her turn in the spotlight when knocked down to Ace Stud for 850,000gns during the first of the two Sceptre Sessions at the Tattersalls December Mares Sale. At the close of play on Monday, Ace Stud had signed for three of the day's five top lots, with the dual winner Caliyza being joined by the four-year-old filly Amazonian (Sea The Stars) at 650,000gns and this year's Listed Scurry Stakes scorer Town And Country (Earthlight) at 600,000gns. Town And Country has already been pencilled in for a visit to Ace Stud's promising young sire Shaquille in the new year, but plans remain fluid for Caliyza. This year, the daughter of Le Havre was covered by Gleneagles, the sire of the horse who underlined his status as the world's best on Sunday when becoming the first European-trained winner of the Japan Cup for 20 years. “What can you say? There's a three-part [sibling to Calandagan] in the belly and it makes a lot of sense after the weekend,” said Ace Stud's Paul Curran. “It's a phenomenal, phenomenal pedigree and, commercially, you've got a very good horse to come out of the belly, no matter what it is. We were delighted to get her.” He added, “There are no immediate plans. We'll sit down with everyone, especially the boss, and have a talk through them all.” The five-year-old Caliyza was consigned by Overbury Stud, having been bought by Blandford Bloodstock on behalf of the operation for 155,000gns at this sale 12 months ago. “That was terrifying!” said Overbury's Simon Sweeting. “I am very lucky that I am on a wonderful farm, that was laid down to grass a long time ago – everything is as it should be. I have a fabulous team and they will do anything for the horses. I'm hugely fortunate. “We have got the right horses coming in and we have had some luck this summer. She came here a year ago as a wildcard and we bought her then. There are few of us involved with her and it is a good team effort.” He continued, “When we were talking about her cover, we had no intention of selling her originally. Richard just said, 'Let's try and breed a racehorse.' Still, until the King George, we were not going to sell her, but things then stepped up and changed. And, of course, Sunday morning brought in a different group of people.” The most determined members of that group proved to be the team at Ace Stud, sitting high in the seats to the left of the auctioneer's rostrum. From there, Castledillon Stud's Town And Country and Amazonian, a member of the Highclere Stud draft, were also added to the Ace Stud fold for a total of 1,250,000gns, having gone through the ring as successive lots. “It's a family we know very well,” Curran said of the once-raced winner Amazonian, a full-sister to River Of Stars whose efforts included a runner-up finish in the G1 Caulfield Cup after being bought for 1,650,000gns at this sale last year. “She [River Of Stars] has done well this year and ran very well in the Melbourne Cup [when finishing fourth]. We like to buy into these families again and we're looking for immediate relations. We think a lot of her [River Of Stars] in Australia and she could be something for next year's campaign again.” He added, “Town And Country was bought for Shaquille and the Fastnet Rock mare [32,000gns purchase Cockeyed Optimist] earlier on was the same. We want to buy some nice broodmare sires for him and we've picked up a few nice mares to row into him with.” Among the more surprising Ace Stud acquisitions on Monday was the Grade 2 bumper winner Seo Linn, a daughter of Order Of St George who was last seen winning a Killarney maiden on the Flat by eight and a half lengths. Consigned by trainer Paddy Twomey's Athassel House Stud, Seo Linn was one of the most expensive lots outside of the Sceptre Session when changing hands for 260,000gns. She could now follow in the footsteps of the champion racemare Via Sistina, among others, by continuing her racing career in Australia after being picked up at this sale. “We've seen what the likes of [GI Breeders' Cup Turf winner] Ethical Diamond have done this year,” Curran said of the thinking behind the purchase. “She's a very versatile filly in the sense that she stayed and won a Grade 2 over two-miles-and-one [furlong] and, then, she came back and won over a-mile-and-three [furlongs] this year. “We're going to explore the option of sending her to Australia. She looks a very nice filly to target some of the staying races down there. She's a really, really nice-looking filly and I think she'd fit the bill for Australia very well. We've bought well out of here before to go down there and it makes a whole lot of sense.” Despite Ace Stud's dominant display, the stats took a slight dip on the whole on Monday. Compared to this day 12 months ago, the 21,451,000gns turnover was down by 7%. The median fell by 6% to 47,000gns and the average by 7% to 96,193gns. The clearance rate was the exact same at 85%. Kavanagh Hits The High Notes With Rage Of Bamby To Northern Farm At 750k Shingo Hashimoto: purchased Rage Of Bamby on behalf of Northern Farm | Tattersalls Kildaragh Stud's Peter Kavanagh was responsible for one of the most expensive lots sold on the day when selling Rage Of Bamby, a filly he raced in partnership with Hot To Trot Racing, to Katsumi Yoshida of Northern Farm for 750,000gns. Rage Of Bamby landed the G3 Hackwood Stakes at Newbury for Eve Johnson Houghton earlier in the year. She also landed a Listed contest at York and, having reached a career-high rating of 109, is one of the highest-rated daughters of Saxon Warrior. However, Monday's bounty wouldn't have been possible for Kildaragh without Kavanagh's intuition, given he sourced the filly remotely from a yearling sale in Italy on the strength of just a video. Kavanagh said, “We bought her as a yearling in Italy. I bought her off a video – I just loved her head and outlook. You can even see how well she showed there today – she's a bit of a queen and has always shown great heart. I liked her a lot when we broke her in at home and I said to Eve she could be a stakes filly. We leased her to Hot To Trot Racing and they have been great partners. I went and bought the dam, and then I bought the half-sister to Rage Of Bamby the following year in Italy as well, so we have an allegiance to the family and it has been very lucky to us.” He added, “It is difficult to trade her on but, on the other hand, you need to take advantage of these good days when they come along. It will allow us to do a little more on the farm and maybe replenish our broodmare band. The dam is in foal to Auguste Rodin, so we are doing the same thing again with that Deep Impact cross. It's amazing how much respect the Japanese buyers have for that sire line and it is great that they were there. Alex Elliott underbid her I think. Wonderful when it comes together.” Wonderful indeed. And, perhaps even more special given Kavanagh was resigned to keeping Rage Of Bamby as a broodmare prospect of his own due to the lack of vet action in the build-up to the sale. “All day we were just wondering what was going on because we didn't have a lot of vets,” he explained. “We were choosing stallions for her at one point! We were thinking, 'Sure, isn't that what the game is about, having a mare like her at home?' We just had no action. In the cold light of day, we knew she was too valuable to keep on the farm because we know what can happen with these good girls. They're like sand through your fingers. Very happy it all came together. We're going to enjoy it.” It was Shingo Hashimoto, a regular visitor to the December Mares Sale at Tattersalls, who signed the docket on behalf of Northern Farm. He commented, “She looked very athletic and she's a very nice mover. Her pedigree is also very strong. The mare line comes from the Miesque line, which is doing pretty well in Japan. We're very excited to take her home. We don't decide [mating plans] until the mare is in season and we know which stallion is available. She'll obviously go to one of the better ones at our stud, so we're pretty excited about that.” He added, “She could match with a top-class stallion that has very good speed or she might match with a 10-furlong, 12-furlong stallion. She was one of the main ones [for them to try and buy on Monday]. We also tried on some other ones that we didn't end up buying, but that's part of the game. It's not always that you can buy any horse you want. “I would say it [the market] is pretty fair. The good ones are trading at a very high value. You never know how it goes and tomorrow is always another day. It's very important to try and diversify the bloodlines that we have, so that's the reason why I come each year to Tattersalls. It's a very important time of the year for me.” Statement Of Intent From Sangster With 1.2 Million Gns Spend Talk about a statement of intent. Sam Sangster continued his recruitment drive for high-quality mares to support the National Stud's new stallion Diego Velazquez, with a 1.2 million gns spend on day one of the Sceptre Sessions headed by 750,000gns purchase Miss Justice from Barton Sales. A Listed-winning daughter of Justify, Miss Justice was last seen finishing a narrow second behind Karmology in a Group 3 at Newmarket for John and Thady Gosden. She will now join trainer Brian Meehan, before visiting Diego Velazquez in the new year. Sangster explained, “She is for Diego Velazquez. She was bought by the partners and the plan is for her to stay in training, so she will go Brian Meehan. We are going to carry on with her and probably cover her in training. She's a gorgeous filly and is lightly-raced. It's a lovely pedigree so there is a lot to look forward to. We wanted to show the kind of quality we want to buy for Diego.” Asked if he had any targets in mind for his new acquisition, Sangster added, “Not really. We'll regroup with Brian but I know there are a couple of Listed races in December that she could be aimed at. We could look a little further than that and see if there is anything in Dubai for her. But, as I said, when Diego gets going, hopefully he'll fancy her!” Sangster's attack on the Sceptre Sessions was completed by 450,000gns purchase Galilei (Lemon Drop Kid), who was sold by the Castlebridge Consignment in foal to Too Darn Hot. Subplots Town And Country was one of the first fillies to raise the temperature to the Sceptre Sessions when selling online to Ace Stud for 600,000gns. One of the fastest fillies either side of the Irish Sea, the daughter of Earthlight won the Listed Scurry Stakes at Sandown earlier this season for trainer Henry de Bromhead. Rated 99, Town And Country is a half-sister to Group 3 scorer Romantic Style (Night Of Thunder) and Listed winner Are We Dreaming (Kendargent). She was sold by Castledillon Stud on behalf of her owners Mark Roden and Ray Nolan, who have enjoyed the thrill of a lifetime following her career. “We are delighted,” said Roden. “We are thrilled – we had mixed feelings whether to let her go or not and Henry has done a marvellous job bringing her on over the last couple of years. I suppose winning the Scurry was a huge highlight, but we just felt now was the right time to let someone else have a bit of luck and breed from her.” He added, “It has been great excitement. Ray is well used to a lot of excitement in business but this is a different buzz. We really would have been happy to take her back, but she has gone for fair value. We have only a couple in training and she was the only Flat runner, but we have 10 mares at home at Windgates Stud.” Speaking on the eve of the sale, Brian Slattery of Meadowview Stables said a good price for Listed winner Easy would put the cherry on top of what has been a memorable season for everyone connected with his brother and trainer, Andy. The Country Tipperary handler has knocked it out of the park this year and, selling the daughter of Kodiac – who was offered in foal to Mehmas – to Lake Villa Farm for 450,000gns surely quantifies as a good result. Before rushing off for his flight home, Slattery said, “Delighted with that. We thought she'd make around that figure but it's great to see her bought by Lake Villa Farm. I hope she's as lucky for them as she was for us. She won her maiden for Rachel Halley and then sold privately to Team Valor. She left us for a while and came back to win a Listed race at Cork for us. Some great stories have come out of the mares' sales and it's important to show you can add value to your horses and reward the owners. She was good to us, and hopefully she does the same for her new owners.” Highland Fling (Galileo), a full-sister to the dam of genuine 1,000 Guineas contender Precise (Starspangledbanner), sold to French agent Laurent Benoit, on behalf of Haras du Mont dit Mont, for 350,000gns. She was sold in foal to Little Big Bear and was offered by Baroda Stud. When you start off the season off a mark of 58, the prospects of ending the season with Listed success before selling for 240,000gns would seem fanciful at best, but that's exactly what the Johnny Murtagh-trained Onemoredance (King Of Change) managed to achieve. Part-owned by the Irish Gaelic football star Ciaran Kilkenny, Onemoredance carried the Dublin colours to five wins, culminating with that Listed victory at Naas in October. She was sold to David Redvers, who was bidding online. Joe Murphy has enjoyed a brilliant year with his fillies, highlighted by a breakthrough Group 1 success enjoyed with Cercene. The good run continued on Monday when Group 3-placed Alpheratz (Phoenix Of Spain) and Shiota (Tamayuz) – who cost 15,000gns and €40,000 as yearlings – sold for a combined 280,000gns. That was another piece of good business to take place outside of the Sceptre Sessions. Thought for the day A few notable buyers have been absent from the breeding stock sales thus far. Amo Racing, for example, spent 4,675,000gns on four foals – including 2.5 million gns on a brother to Chaldean – last year, while the operation's 8,375,000gns spend on mares was highlighted by the 4.8 million gns Irish Oaks winner You Got To Me. That equates to over 13 million gns from a buyer that has so far yet to play the market at Tattersalls this week. It's also worth noting that John Stewart, whose Resolute Racing bought five mares for 6,265,000gns here 12 months ago, also drew a blank on Monday. Buy of the day It feels like Tally-Ho Stud have received this accolade more times than Roger Federer has won Wimbledon but, when you buy a Classic-placed filly for just 250,000gns, it's hard not to hand over the prize once again to the Westmeath men. Few would have balked had Purple Lily made twice, three times, or even more than the quarter-of-a-million that Tally-Ho paid for the Paddy Twomey-trained daughter of Calyx. The dual winner has placed in Group 2 and 3 company as well as finishing third behind You Got To Me in last year's Irish Oaks. A maiden mare, she looks a perfect fit for Maranoa Charlie, who is new to Tally-Ho Stud for 2026. Extremely well-bought. 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