Wandering Eyes

Guy Petit has been appointed as bloodstock director at AKTEM, the new auction house in France which is scheduled to hold its first sales in February next year. A bloodstock agent for more than 30 years, Petit has sourced top-class National Hunt performers such as Min, Royale Pagaille and Thousand Stars, as well as the Grand National winner Mon Mome. On the Flat, his high-profile purchases include the Group 1 winners Rougir and Tribhuvan. “I am delighted by this new challenge, which allows me to move to the other side of the fence,” said Petit. “Supporting a young and ambitious person like Sofiane Benaroussi – who is determined to implement new initiatives for the benefit of the industry – really appealed to me, and I am thrilled to invest myself alongside him.” He added, “My extensive address book of both buyers and vendors allows me to confidently embrace this new adventure and bring my expertise, particularly in the National Hunt sphere, by offering new opportunities to breeders and owners with a service that complements the existing market.” Mégane Martins has also joined the AKTEM team as head of communication and development. After a full-year internship with Arqana Racing Club, Martins gained hands-on experience at Écurie des Monceaux, before returning to the Deauville sales company within the communication and marketing department. In recent years, she has applied her expertise to the charity Au-Delà Des Pistes, among other roles. “I am honoured to join the AKTEM team and lead the communication department,” said Martins. “I return to an environment I know well and appreciate, and I am delighted to put my skills to work once again in this sector. We are committed to offering a new, high-quality service with a truly convivial, modern and professional atmosphere to conduct sales in the best possible conditions.” AKTEM president Sofiane Benaroussi added, “It is a real pleasure to welcome Guy Petit to the AKTEM team. His expertise and network, both in France and internationally, represent a major asset for a young auction house like ours. “Highly active in the National Hunt sector, he brings strong skills to this segment of the market and will provide clients with the best possible support in enhancing the value of their horses. “We are also delighted to welcome Mégane Martins to lead the agency's communication and support its growth. She brings extensive experience in this field, a broad range of skills acquired within the industry, and a young, innovative, dynamic profile.” The post Guy Petit Named Bloodstock Director at AKTEM appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The G2 Richmond Stakes winner and G1 Dewhurst Stakes runner-up Royal Scotsman will take up stallion duties at Michael Swinburn's Genesis Green Stud in 2026. He will stand for a fee of £6,000, in partnership with owners Jim and Fitri Hay. Bred by Rabbah Bloodstock, Royal Scotsman is out of the 100-rated Cheveley Park Stud-bred mare Enrol (Pivotal) and was consigned by Genesis Green Stud when fetching 125,000gns at Book 2 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale. He won the Richmond after finishing a close-up third behind Bradsell in the G2 Coventry Stakes. Having been beaten a head by Chaldean in the Dewhurst, the pair met again in the 2,000 Guineas, in which Royal Scotsman finished third. He also won last year's G3 Diomed Stakes at Epsom. Co-trainer Paul Cole said of the son of Gleneagles, “He was incredibly talented and it is very unfortunate that we did not always get to see him at his best with a variety of factors not going his way.” It had previously been reported that Royal Scotsman would stand at Haras du Taillis in France for the 2026 breeding season. Alex Cole, on behalf of the Hay family, said “Royal Scotsman has given us enormous pride on the racecourse and it was important to them [the Hay family] that his stallion career was here in Britain. Supporting British racing and the British breeding industry has always mattered to them, and we are delighted to partner with Genesis Green Stud and the Swinburns for his next chapter.” Michael Swinburn added, “Royal Scotsman was as good-looking and athletic a colt as I have ever sold. Naturally, we followed him closely on the track and had many conversations about how much we would love to breed to him when the time came. “We had never considered venturing into standing a stallion, but when this opportunity presented itself, we simply couldn't let it pass by. To welcome him back now as a stallion is enormously exciting and we believe, when breeders come to see him, they will be every bit as impressed by him as we are.” The post Multiple Group Winner Royal Scotsman to Stand at Genesis Green Stud in 2026 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Prize-money at Ascot Racecourse will be a record £19.4 million in 2026, an increase of £1.65 million on this year. Figures exclude the industry-owned QIPCO British Champions Day. Across 25 racedays, 88 of Ascot's 169 races (52%) will have a higher total prize fund than in 2025, with all races on the Flat worth £25,000 or more. Royal Ascot will be worth £10.65 million, from £10.05 million. Increases have been made across the Royal Ascot programme, with all eight Group 1 races now worth a minimum of £700,000 (including two at £1 million), while all races at the royal meeting will be run for £120,000 or more, up from £110,000. In all, 26 of the 35 races across the week will be run for more than they were in 2025. In July, it was announced that the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes will become Britain's first £2 million race next year, up from £1.5 million. This year's running of the race saw the world's current top-rated horse, Calandagan, triumph in another top-class renewal of Europe's midsummer all-aged highlight. Total prize-money on the day will now be in excess of £2.5 million. Amongst other uplifts on the Flat, the G2 Summer Mile will be worth £165,000 (up from £140,000), while all Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup races will be run for at least £85,000 (up from £80,000), taking the total on the day to £525,000. Investment in Class 3 and 4 races on the Flat takes all races to a minimum of £25,000, with total prize-money increasing by £287,000 at those levels. Overall, Ascot's executive contribution to prize-money will go up from £9.97 million in 2025 to a budgeted £10.7 million next year. Felicity Barnard, chief executive officer at Ascot Racecourse, said, “We are delighted to be making these increases in prize-money for 2026, demonstrating our commitment to the sport and focus on rewarding participants. “We are of course conscious of the macro-economic factors currently at play which make taking a long-term view on prize-money investment even more important. We hope that these uplifts will play a part in encouraging investment in British racing. “In announcing this record figure, an increase of £1.65 million, whilst making an international statement with the King George, we have also focused on improvements across the programme. “Over half of our races across both codes have seen increases and through £25,000 minimum Flat values and a focus on the novice hurdle programme, we are aligning many of our increases with an agreed industry focus on developmental races.” Nick Smith, director of racing and public affairs at Ascot, added, “Prize-money is the most important investment tool that we have in attracting horses to run from home and abroad, at all levels of racing that we stage. “We've seen some world-class racing at Ascot in 2025, with runners travelling here from four continents. It is vital in an increasingly competitive international market that we keep Ascot at the forefront and the flagship £2 million King George is key to this alongside the royal meeting. “We will be promoting the King George alongside our large independent racecourses and Jockey Club colleagues, under the Midsummer Elite Races banner. The July Cup, Sussex Stakes, International and King George are Britain's historical, defining, all-aged summer races over their respective trips and we hope that promoting them together, with increased prize-money all round, will gain traction.” The post Prize-Money at Ascot to Reach Record £19.4m in 2026 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Globetrotting galloper Dubai Honour has been withdrawn from Sunday week’s Group One Hong Kong Vase (2,400m) at Sha Tin, reducing the field for the staying contest to 11. A five-time visitor to Hong Kong and runner-up to Giavellotto in last year’s Vase, the William Haggas-trained Dubai Honour was officially withdrawn on Monday after racing in the United Kingdom last Friday. The evergreen seven-year-old claimed his 10th career win with a typically tough performance in the Listed Midnite Churchill...View the full article

Hollie Doyle is hoping to keep building momentum on the way to the International Jockeys’ Championship with a solid book of six rides at Happy Valley on Wednesday night. The British rider has enjoyed a strong start to her Hong Kong stint, riding three winners and really hitting the ground running in terms of support. From seven meetings so far, Doyle’s leanest night has been five rides and she has already ridden in three Group races, such has been the support she has received in such a short...View the full article

November is always an important month in Hong Kong racing and this year was no exception, with the city’s two best gallopers Romantic Warrior and Ka Ying Rising making big statements ahead of the Longines Hong Kong International Races (HKIR). The Post analyses the jockeys and trainers who had a month to remember or one to forget, as well as the most outstanding victory and winning ride. Who’s in form? Zac Purton continued his winning ways, matching his October haul with 16 wins at an incredible...View the full article

California-bred Unrivaled Time proved his class in the Cecil B. DeMille Stakes (G3T) Nov. 30 at Del Mar, winning the one-mile race by 3/4 lengths, and surviving a stewards inquiry.View the full article

With the Kentucky Derby still 22 weeks away, the pari-mutuel field of “All Other Foals from the 2023 Foal Crop” closed as the 2-1 favorite in Pool 2 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager (KDFW) and Spendthrift Farm's unbeaten GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner Ted Noffey (Into Mischief) from the barn of two-time Derby winner Todd Pletcher was the 7-1 second choice. Saturday's GII Kentucky Jockey Club winner Further Ado (Gun Runner) also attracted some interest from bettors at 13-1. TOP 10 BETTING CHOICE (with trainer, sire, Pool 2 odds and $2 Win Will Pays) #40 All Other Foals from the 2023 Foal Crop (2-1, $6.08) #37 Ted Noffey (Todd Pletcher, Into Mischief, 7-1, $16.84) #14 Further Ado (Brad Cox, Gun Runner, 13-1, $28.86) #28 Napoleon Solo (Chad Summers, Liam's Map, 21-1, $44.84) #2 Boyd (Bob Baffert, Violence, 22-1, $46.16) #29 Paladin (Chad Brown, Gun Runner, 22-1, $46.90) #3 Brant (Bob Baffert, Gun Runner, 25-1, $52) #17 Incredibolt (Riley Mott, Bolt d'Oro, 28-1, $59.94) #26 Mr. A. P. (Vladimir Cerin, American Pharoah, 29-1, $60.60) #12 Englishman (Cherie DeVaux, Maxfield, 30-1, $62.78) Total handle for the Nov. 27-30 KDFW pool– the second of six scheduled wagering pools in advance of the 152nd running of the Kentucky Derby–was $261,076 ($208,341 in the Win pool and $52,735 in Exactas). This year's early Derby betting menu also included the Kentucky Derby Sire Future Wager, which, for the 11th consecutive year, provided bettors with an opportunity to wager on select sires and their entire crop of juveniles with the hope of winning next year's Kentucky Derby. Into Mischief at 9-2 and Gun Runner at 5-1, the sires of Ted Noffey and Further Ado, respectively, attracted the most attention from bettors as did Not This Time at 7-1. Total betting on the Kentucky Derby Sire Future Wager was $56,359 ($44,496 in the Win pool and $11,863 in the Exactas). The KDFW Pool 2 and Sire Future Wager combined to handle $317,435. Pool 1, which covered Oct. 29-31, had record early November total betting of $184,492 ($143,448 in the Win pool and $41,044 in Exactas), which brings the early Future Wager total betting to $501,927. For complete Kentucky Derby Rules and Future Wager Odds Sheets, click here. The post ‘All Others’ Favored at 2-1 in Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 2 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Del Mar rounded out its 12th Bing Crosby Fall Meet on Sunday with a 9.4% gain in total handle, despite running one fewer day than in 2024 due to a weather-related cancellation. Total wagering for the recently concluded 13-day fall meet rose to $183.4 million compared to $167.6 million for the 14-day 2024 fall season. Average daily handle for the 13 race days was $14.1 million an increase of 17.8% from last year. Field size for the fall season remained steady at 7.77 runners per race versus 7.72 in 2024. For the second year in a row, the highlight of the fall session was the Breeders' Cup World Championships held on Oct. 31 and Nov. 1. (The 2025 handle and field size figures exclude races conducted over the two Breeders' Cup cards.) The 2025 Breeders' Cup–Del Mar's fourth time hosting the World Championships in the past nine years–highlighted domestic and international runners with the handle topping $180 million for only the third time in the history of the event. The nation's premier fall season turf racing was conducted over Del Mar's Jimmy Durante Turf Course and featured the FanDuel Racing Turf Festival–six graded stakes races over the final weekend. “The recent strong business results at Santa Anita, along with those from our own summer and fall meets, show that the public is embracing the single-circuit model to the benefit of California racing stakeholders,” said Del Mar President Josh Rubinstein. “We're grateful for the continued support from owners, trainers, and horseplayers across the country, and we remain focused on finding additional ways to strengthen the economics of racing in California.” Leading jockey honors came down to the final day of the meet, with Umberto Rispoli securing the title with 17 wins. In the race for leading trainer, George Papaprodromou finished atop the standings with 11 victories. The leading owner for the fall season was Juddmonte, concluding the meet with four wins. “The results from Del Mar's fall meet reaffirm that California racing is moving in the right direction,” said Thoroughbred Owners of California Chairman Gary Fenton. “Handle growth, competitive fields, and the success of the Breeders' Cup showcase the value of a unified, single-circuit approach. TOC will continue working with our partners to build on this momentum and deliver a healthier, more sustainable future for our owners and the entire racing ecosystem.” Del Mar will resume racing at its 2026 summer season, scheduled from July 17 through Sept. 7. The post Del Mar Fall Meet Concludes With Increase in Handle appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

One day after her half brother, Salamis, won the Hollywood Derby (G1T), Segesta became a grade 1 winner herself when taking the $302,000 Matriarch Stakes (G1T) at Del Mar Nov. 29.View the full article

Jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. has quickly made a mark on the Kentucky horse racing circuit since shifting his tack from New York. The 33-year-old native of Puerto Rico secured his first Churchill Downs leading rider title with 46 wins through the Fall Meet.View the full article

At the end of wagering in the Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 2, Spendthrift Farm's Ted Noffey and Further Ado closed as the top two individual betting choices.View the full article

Shifting his tack to Churchill Downs for the 26-day Fall Meet, Irad Ortiz Jr. rounded out the session with 46 wins, including two landed on Sunday's closing day. The mark represented the most wins at the meeting since Julien Leparoux won 63 races “It's been very successful since moving to Kentucky,” Ortiz Jr. said. “It's been great to be able to ride for so many new owners and trainers. I'm very thankful for everyone who's helped us get to where we are.” Represented by Steve Rushing, Ortiz' most notable wins at the Fall Meet included Further Ado in the $400,000 GII Kentucky Jockey Club; Alpine Princess in the $400,000 GIII Falls City; On Time Girl in the $225,000 Fern Creek; and Life of Joy in the $200,000 Rags to Riches. Ortiz won five races twice during the Fall Meet: Nov. 12 and Saturday's Stars of Tomorrow II card. Ortiz' brother, Jose Ortiz, was second in the standings with 37 wins. He was followed by Luis Saez (28), Tyler Gaffalione (28) and Axel Concepcion (11). Cox Secures 10th Leading Trainer Title Brad Cox notched his 10th Churchill Downs title with 21 wins after Sunday's closing day program. It marked his first Fall Meet training title since 2017. Cox, a 45-year-old Louisville native, enjoyed a banner day on Saturday with five wins from eight starters. He joined Steve Asmussen as the only two horsemen to achieve that feat since Churchill Downs records have been documented since 1991. Asmussen won with five of seven starters on Thanksgiving Day in 2021. Cox's starters on Saturday: Sticker Shock ($8.48), Kentucky Belle ($4.68), Swift Blade (9th at 8.88-1), On Time Girl ($8.22), Kilo Tango (3rd at 4.16-1), Further Ado ($3.42), Life of Joy (4th at 2.93-1) and Cannoneer ($5.54). Cox also became the eighth all-time leading trainer at Churchill Downs when Further Ado gave him win No. 500 and, one race later, Cannoneer delivered win No. 501. Cox teamed with Irad Ortiz Jr. to win 18, including four stakes: the Kentucky Jockey Club; the Falls City; the Fern Creek; and the $200,000 Rags to Riches. Brendan Walsh finished second with 14 wins, while Joe Sharp rounded out the top three with 13 victories. Godolphin Earns Owner Title The race for the Fall Meet leading owner at Churchill Downs came down to the final day Sunday, however, Godolphin held the advantage with seven wins. This is Godolphin's fifth leading owner title. Their wins at the meet included Bella Ballerina in the $400,000 GII Golden Rod and six allowance victories. The post Godolphin, Irad Ortiz and Brad Cox Top Churchill Downs Fall Meet appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Hope Road (Quality Road–Marley's Freedom, by Blame) turned the GIII Bayakoa Stakes at Del Mar on Sunday into her own personal workout as she cruised home a winner. Following the lead of Simply Joking (Practical Joke), the heavy favorite was waiting to pounce from the bell through the end of the backstretch. The Cicero homebred who was firing on all cylinders went by her opponent before the top of the lane and never looked back. The final running time was 1:36.38. No doubt about this one. Hope Road dominates the Grade III Bayakoa Stakes. pic.twitter.com/NYuCP176sZ — Del Mar Racetrack (@DelMarRacing) December 1, 2025 Sunday, Del Mar BAYAKOA S.-GIII, $101,500, Del Mar, 11-30, 3yo/up, f/m, 1m, 1:36.38, ft. 1–HOPE ROAD, 121, f, 4, by Quality Road 1st Dam: Marley's Freedom (GISW, $1,233,935), by Blame 2nd Dam: Relaxing Green, by Formal Gold 3rd Dam: Charlotte Augusta, by Chief's Crown ($575,000 RNA Ylg '22 FTSAUG). O-Cicero Farms LLC; B-Cicero Farms LLC (KY); T-Bob Baffert; J-Juan J. Hernandez. $60,000. Lifetime Record: 14-6-4-2, $1,016,620. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree or free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. 2–Simply Joking, 118, f, 3, Practical Joke–Imply, by E Dubai. ($65,000 Ylg '23 KEESEP). O-Berkels0813 LLC, CMNWLTH LLC, Grantley Acres and Conner, Ryan; B-Barlar, LLC (PA); T-Michael W. McCarthy. $20,000. 3–Mahina, 121, m, 5, Bolt d'Oro–Malibu Pier, by Malibu Moon. ($100,000 Ylg '21 KEESEP). O-U.S. Equine, Burke, Walter, Sones, Aaron and Wilson, Harry; B-Spendthrift Farm LLC (KY); T-Patrick Gallagher. $12,000. Margins: 6HF, 2 3/4, NO. Odds: 0.40, 4.80, 28.40. Also Ran: Jane Austen, Home Game, Lemon Muffin, Warming, Precise Timing. Scratched: Deep Blue. Click for the Equibase.com chart or the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. The post Quality Road’s Hope Road Blazes Home In Bayakoa Stakes At Del Mar appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Continuing the powerful display during Del Mar's closing weekend of racing, trainer Chad Brown once again held the winning card in the day's feature, taking Sunday's GI Matriarch Stakes with Juddmonte's Segesta (Ghostzapper), a half-sister to Saturday's GI Hollywood Derby winner, Salamis (Speightstown). Settled behind a respectable opening pace carved out by In Our Time (Not This Time), the 4-year-old swept to the from in early stretch and drew clear to collect her first Grade I victory by three lengths over the pacesetter. Final time for the eight-furlong test was 1:35.60. Lifetime Record: 11-4-4-0, $1,190,275. O/B-Juddmonte (KY). T-Chad Brown. The post Segesta Caps Del Mar’s Closing Weekend with Matriarch Score appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article