Wandering Eyes

Bloodstock agent Kevin ‘Millie’ Walls was a force to be reckoned with on the buying bench of Book 1 of Karaka 2026, spending more than $3.6 million across Sunday and Monday. Walls secured one of the highest-priced lots on Sunday’s opening day of the sale with a $675,000 colt by Super Seth, and he followed that up on Monday with an $850,000 colt by Alabama Express from the draft of Elsdon Park. The colt went through the ring as Lot 383 and is the first foal out of the winning Tivaci mare Diva Carolina, a granddaughter of multiple black-type winner and Group One placegetter Ombre Rose. Lot 383, a colt by Alabama Express out of Diva Carolina sold to KPW Bloodstock for $850,000 Photo: Angelique Bridson Walls bought the colt on behalf of his clients and friends Ron and Judi Wanless. “We buy purely on type and we rated this colt as one of the best types in the sale,” Walls said. “He stood out. He’s a very nice horse. “Once he (Ron Wanless) starts, he tries hard. He loves racing. It’s his hobby, it’s his passion. Both Ron and Judi love their horses, love their racing and have been in the game for a long time.” Walls indicated that the colt is likely to do his racing in Melbourne. “He’s eligible for the Vobis Sires bonus, so no doubt he’ll be going to Melbourne,” he said. Walls also had a pair of $450,000 purchases – a So You Think colt out of Excel In The Sun and an Ardrossan colt out of Lucetta – and paid $320,000 for an Ardrossan colt out of Caramella, $300,000 for a Sword Of State colt out of Oceans Eight, $275,000 for a Proisir colt out of Galway, $220,000 for an Alabama Express colt out of Get Hitched, and $90,000 for a Noverre colt out of Serenalla. For Elsdon Park, the $850,000 Alabama Express colt was the headline act of a Book 1 draft that yielded $4.98 million from 25 yearlings sold. They also fetched $490,000 for a filly by Alabama Express out of Daniela’s Magic and $450,000 for a colt by Ardrossan out of Lucetta. View the full article

The dizzying rise of Cambridge Stud stallion Sword Of State continued at Karaka on Monday with a sale-topping $1.1 million yearling in his second crop. With his oldest progeny two-year-olds, the Group One-winning son of Snitzel has already been represented by Listed Debutant Stakes (1000m) winner and Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m) placegetter Torture, highly impressive two-start, two-win colt Warwoven and smart last-start winner State The Obvious. Sword Of State’s burgeoning reputation led to an average price of $260,250 across 20 yearlings sold through Sunday and Monday’s Book 1 session of Karaka 2026, off a $15,000 service fee. But the yearling on everyone’s list this week was Lot 513. From the draft of Cambridge Stud, the colt is out of the Shamardal mare Las Brisas and is a half-brother to the four-time Group One winner Ceolwulf. Will Bourne pictured alongside Sanxiong Gao, Jun Zhang, Hongwei Chen Photo: Angelique Bridson After beginning at $200,000, the colt received rapid-fire bids from all corners of the ring. As the other underbidders gradually folded, it developed into a two-way battle between top Australian trainer Ciaron Maher’s head of bloodstock Will Bourne and formidable rival David Ellis. The Te Akau Racing principal had a particular connection to this colt, having bought Sword Of State himself for A$600,000 from the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale six years ago. Ellis pushed himself to the limit in pursuit of the colt, summoning one last bid of $50,000 after the million-dollar mark had been reached, but Bourne came out on top with a winning bid of $1.1 million. “David Ellis is a hard guy to beat, especially here on his home deck,” a relieved Bourne said. “But this is a lovely horse. We got some great support from a new client, Mr (Sanxiong) Gao, and we’re thrilled to have him on board. “Ciaron Maher sent me the videos of this horse when we were working through a shortlist five days ago. He was one of Ciaron’s picks. I’ve just got off the phone with Ciaron now. He’s delighted and he wants me to sell the last shares, so I’m going to go and do that now.” Bourne sees the million-dollar colt as a more precocious type than Ceolwulf, who was a $170,000 purchase from the 2022 Ready to Run Sale and has come of age as a four and five-year-old with triumphs in the Gr.1 Epsom Handicap (1600m), Champions Mile (1600m) and two editions of the King Charles III Stakes (1600m). L-R: Zhiqiang Wang, Sir Brendan Lindsay, Sanxiong Gao and Jun Zhang Photo: Angelique Bridson “There’s a few similarities, although one was a cheaper purchase that developed into a really nice horse over time,” Bourne said. “This one has a lot of strength and is very much a yearling sales horse. There’s a lot of power there. I feel like he’s a different type of horse – he’s very imposing and a proper colt. We’ll get him home and try to turn him into something.” Bourne has been impressed with the start made by Sword Of State, who stood for a $20,000 service fee this season. “We’ve got one that we bought last year that’s showing really good ability at home, and obviously we’ve seen the horse that Bjorn Baker has (Warwoven),” Bourne said. “For a young stallion to start the way he has is a credit to Cambridge Stud. We’re happy to support them. They do such a good job and are so supportive of the industry here and the community. Sword Of State is a nice stallion on the up.” View the full article

Bloodstock agent Guy Mulcaster secured the $850,000 highest-priced lot on Sunday’s opening day of Karaka 2026, and he followed it up on Monday with something even bigger. Mulcaster Bloodstock and Chris Waller Racing went to $950,000 to secure Lot 471 – the highest-priced yearling ever sold by Landsdowne Park. The colt is by one of the world’s most in-demand stallions, Justify, out of the winning mare Heart To Heart. That daughter of Zoffany is a half-sister to the Gr.1 Prix du Jockey Club (2100m) and Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere (1400m) winner Camille Pissarro. “He’s a lovely colt – a real ‘get up and run’ sort of Justify,” Mulcaster said. “The dam is a half to a current stallion and champion two-year-old in France. Fingers crossed, he can be another Learning To Fly or Storm Boy. “We thought he was a beautiful horse. We stretched a little bit to get him. We’ve bought him for a lot of good clients, and fingers crossed it turns out to be a good one for us. “There’s a real international flavour to his pedigree. Justify is an international sensation. It’s only a matter of time before we get another Storm Boy or something like that. He looks like the type to get up and run for us. He’s going to be trained by a great trainer (Chris Waller) for a lovely group of owners.” The Justify colt was a landmark result for Landsdowne Park’s Dave Duley. “We’re over the moon, we’re just so happy,” he said. “Obviously it’s the highest-priced horse that we’ve sold. “He hasn’t put a foot wrong all week. As the week went on, we were thinking, ‘Jeez, he’s going to make more.’ He just got more and more popular. “I’m so proud of the horse, because he’s just such a wonderful specimen, and obviously his nature – he’s just kept getting better all week. And I’m proud of the team for everything they’re doing. This result just means a lot to everyone here. “All of our clients have been great. I started off 20 years ago with two horses. To now be selling this calibre of horse is amazing. It means a lot that people trust us, and it’s great. “Landsdowne Park will be having a couple of gins tonight. It’s going to be good fun and we’ll be enjoying it.” View the full article

Guy Lowry is no stranger to longshot success at the highest level and he went agonisingly close to another major upset at the weekend. The Hastings trainer produced Milan Park’s Adventador to win the 2016 edition of the Gr.1 Telegraph (1200m) at 80 to one and a decade later almost pulled off a bigger upset with the same colours in the Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m). Now operating in partnership with Leah Zydenbos, Lowry’s long-range plan with Magill was all but executed to perfection when the youngster finished a close second in the Ellerslie feature at a three-figure quote. Milan Park boss Tony Rider bred the son of Farnan and remained in the ownership with Lowry and brothers Mark and Paul Apatu after he was sold at Karaka last year for $230,000. “When we bought him he was always destined for the Karaka Million,” Lowry said. “He’s not overly big and we spent the first couple of starts trying to get the horse to settle, all he wanted to do was fight. “We gelded him and he went to the Woodville trials and ran second to Singletary and the form out of the trial was good.” Magill broke his maiden in a four-horse field at Tauherenikau earlier this month to lift spirits ahead of the Millions. “He was a very happy and sound horse and the rest is history, he jumped well from a good draw and he tried very hard for Wiremu (Pinn),” Lowry said. “I never worry about anyone else’s horses when we set a horse for a race, and we had him set a long way out and were lucky enough to get enough prizemoney to get in.” Magill will be given time to get over his Ellerslie performance with a return trip on the radar. “He’ll have a week or 10 days in the paddock at Milan Park and we’ll assess things from there,” Lowry said. “He’s an out and out two-year-old and we will look at the Sistema (Gr.1, 1200m).” Meanwhile, the stable will also have three runners at Waverley on Wednesday with Curtsy in the Egmont Tyres (1650m) and Sunshine Ale and Poukawa in the Bull Penn Powder (1400m). “Curtsy is getting a lot closer and will strip a lot fitter, they’re probably each-way chances without declaring anything,” Lowry said. View the full article

Trainers Darryn and Briar Weatherley were rapt with Bulgari’s runner-up effort behind Belle Cheval in the Gr.3 Almanzor Trophy (1200m) at Ellerslie last Saturday, and they are now eyeing further stakes targets at the Auckland track. The Hello Youmzain colt showed plenty of promise when winning on debut over 1100m at Te Rapa as a juvenile but was unplaced in his subsequent five outings as a three-year-old, including a midfield performance in the Gr.2 Auckland Guineas (1400m) on Boxing Day. He was unwanted by punters in the Almanzor Trophy, jumping a $62.20 outsider, but he flew home late in the hands of Sam Weatherley to finish second by 1-1/4 lengths, and his trainers were left wondering how close he could have got if he got a break earlier up the straight. “It was a great run on the weekend,” Darryn Weatherley said. “He travelled well and he was even held up for a few strides in the straight and it would have been interesting to see how close he could have got to her (Belle Cheval) had that not happened. “We quite like him, he is not a very big horse, but he is a real racehorse.” Weatherley is now weighing up his options with his colt, with the Matamata horseman contemplating keeping him to shorter trips, but he said next month’s Gr.3 Eagle Technology Uncle Remus Stakes (1400m) at Ellerslie presents as his next logical option. “There is a nice 1400m race at Ellerslie in a month’s time, so whether we go there or look for another 1200m, it is just up in the air at the moment,” he said. Meanwhile, stable star Pier made a pleasing return to the trials at Matamata last week, finishing third in his 1100m Group and Listed heat. The Proisir six-year-old was outstanding in Australia last year, winning the Listed The Wayne Wilson (1600m) at Eagle Farm and placing in the Gr.1 King Charles III Stakes (1609m), Gr.2 Theo Marks Stakes (1300m) and Gr.3 BRC Sprint (1350m). Weatherley is now eyeing home targets with his gelding, circling next week’s Gr.1 BCD Group Sprint (1400m) at Te Rapa as his initial assignment. “He trialled very well, I am very happy with the way he has come up,” Weatherley said. “He will have an exhibition gallop at Te Rapa on Friday and look to go to the BCD Sprint the following Saturday at Te Rapa.” Meanwhile, Weatherley was active at New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sale on Sunday, purchasing lot 79, a Vanbrugh half-sister to Group Two winner Grinzinger Belle, out of Windsor Park Stud’s draft for $90,000. “She comes from a good family,” Weatherley said. “I bought her for my wife’s aunty and cousin, they wanted something to race and hopefully breed from later on. “I have got a Vanbrugh from Windsor Park to train ourselves and we quite like the filly. I am happy with the sire and she had a pretty good page.” View the full article

Greenwich Village (c, 3, Quality Road–Houtzen {Aus}, by I Am Invincible {Aus}) not only got his blinkers off and switched surfaces, but also completely changed tactics Sunday in Santa Anita's Baffle Stakes, eschewing his pace-setting and pace-pressing past while opting instead to drop back to last down the hillside turf course. While he caboosed the field, 25-1 Track Tiger (Sharp Azteca) and 5-2 Later Than Planned (Ire) (Cotai Glory {GB}) battled up front through :22.41 and :44.25 fractions. The first half-dozen runners stayed tightly packed as Greenwich Village continued to trail by multiple lengths. He unfurled a sharp turn of foot, thundered wide down the course, and reeled in favored Hey Nay Nay (Ire) (No Nay Never) in the final sixteenth to win by a neck. “After I broke a little slow, I said, 'Okay I'm going to stay here and make one move,'” said winning rider Juan Hernandez. “Crossing the dirt, he crossed like a professional and he was passing horses. I was like, okay let's win this race. It was a really big effort for him because he is a really big horse, heavy, but he has a really good turn of foot.” Greenwich Village, a $350,000 yearling buy signed for by SF Bloodstock/Starlight Racing/Madaket Stables at Keeneland September in 2024, debuted Dec. 6 at Los Alamitos with a front-running, 6 1/2-furlong score on the dirt, then tried the GII San Vicente Stakes Jan. 10 at Santa Anita, pressing the pace after a slow break and tiring late to finish last. Sunday's Baffle Stakes marked his first try on the lawn. The winner's dam, a multiple group winner in Australia and group placed in England, sold to Stonestreet for $1.5 million at the 2020 Keeneland November sale. The mare has a 2-year-old colt by Charlatan, who sold to Paul Neatherlin for $25,000 at last year's Keeneland September sale, and a yearling colt by Not This Time. She was left open for 2026. GREENWICH VILLAGE ($11.00) fires from last to first winning the $100,000 Baffle Stakes at @SantaAnitaPark under @JJHernandezS19. This 3YO colt by @LanesEndFarms Quality Road is trained by @BobBaffert. @StarlightRacing @MadaketStables @StonestreetFarm pic.twitter.com/k5kVIAAANt — FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) January 25, 2026 BAFFLE S., $101,000, Santa Anita, 1-25, 3yo, 6 1/2fT, 1:12.63, fm. 1–GREENWICH VILLAGE, 120, c, 3, by Quality Road 1st Dam: Houtzen (Aus) (MGSW-Aus, GSP-Eng, $1,599,872), by I Am Invincible (Aus) 2nd Dam: Set To Unleash (Aus), by Reset (Aus) 3rd Dam: Leash (Aus), by Redoute's Choice (Aus) ($350,000 Ylg '24 KEESEP). 1ST BLACK TYPE WIN. O-SF Racing, LLC, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, LLC, Stonestreet Stables, LLC, Bashor Racing, LLC, Determined Stables, Golconda Stable, Waves Edge Capital, LLC and Catherine Donovan; B-Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings LLC (KY); T-Bob Baffert; J-Juan J. Hernandez. $60,000. Lifetime Record: 3-2-0-0, $91,000. 2–Hey Nay Nay (Ire), 124, c, 3, No Nay Never–Travel, by Street Cry (Ire). ($300,000 Ylg '24 KEESEP). O-Hronis Racing LLC and Iapetus Racing LLC; B-Lynch Bages, Camas Park & Summerhill B/S (IRE); T-John W. Sadler. $20,000. 3–Later Than Planned (Ire), 124, c, 3, Cotai Glory (GB)– Asking Price, by First Defence. (€8,000 RNA Ylg '24 TATIRY). O-Little Red Feather Racing, Sterling Stables, LLC and Marsha Naify; B-John P. Mangan & John S. Mangan (IRE); T-Philip D'Amato. $12,000. Margins: NK, 3/4, NK. Odds: 4.50, 1.00, 2.60. Also Ran: Track Tiger, Bust Out, Won for Lou, Cal's Goal. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. The post From Last to First, Quality Road’s Greenwich Village Takes the Baffle appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Usha became the first grade 1 winner bred by Kristen and Matt Esler of Thirty Year Farm, and also became a source of inspiration for Kristen as she recovered from spinal surgery.View the full article

Why would Jimmy Jerkens leave the sun and warmth of Saudi Arabia for the cold of the Big A? It wasn't about the weather. View the full article

Jarret Prussin is the Chief Strategy Officer at Ben Crump Law, a firm which is dedicated to ensuring justice for marginalized people in American society. He is also Co-Founder of DreamFi, a financial literacy platform to help people create generational wealth. Prussin fell in love with horses through his father, George, a partner with Richard Santulli in Jayeff `B' Stables. He and John Sikura bought into Thorpedo Anna together with Ben Crump, LL Cool J, and Marshawn Lynch. He is very involved in the Stable Recovery program, which helps recovering addicts find meaningful work in the Thoroughbred industry and beyond. THORPEDO ANNA, 5, Fast Anna–Sataves, by Uncle Mo. Will be bred to Gun Runner. Thorpedo Anna was the 2024 Horse of The Year and last week's winner of the 2025 Champion Older Dirt Female Eclipse Award. She won seven Grade I races and over $5,440,000. We think the red-hot sire Gun Runner is a perfect match for her. CLEARLY UNHINGED, 6, Into Mischief–Smart Win, by Smart Strike. Will be bred to Gun Runner. A winner of over $640,000, she is Grade I-placed and a graded stakes winner. She comes from a deep female family that includes Grade I winner Harmony Lodge and stakes winners Graeme Hall, Win McCool and WIn Crafty Lady. We love the cross between Into Mischief mares with Gun Runner. SWEET AS PIE, 7, Tapit–Treasuring, by Smart Strike. Will be bred to Gun Runner. She is a winner of over $141,000. She hails from family of the Broodmare Of The Year Better Than Honour, Belmont winners Rags to Riches and Jazil, and Arcangelo, the winner of the Belmont Stakes and the Travers. HAMPTON YARD, 5, Uncle Mo–Amagansett bt Tapit. Will be bred to Curlin. She is a half-sister to the Grade I winner Tenma, who sold for $3.2 million at the 2025 Fasig Tipton November sale. Also in her family are Grade I winners Fasliyev and Misty For Me. SHE CAN'T SING, 9, Bernardini–Distorted Music by Distorted Humor. Will be bred to Nyquist. She comes from a deep female family. She is a stakes winner of over $883,000 on the racetrack, is a half-sister to Grade I winner Sandman, and her 3-year-old half-brother Canaletto (Into Mischief), a $1-million FTSAUG yearling purchase, debuted with a 'TDN Rising Star presented by Hagyard'-worthy performance at Gulfstream Park Sunday. She is also from the family of the stakes winner of $430,000, Whiskey Decision. Her third dam is dam of Grade I winner Music Note, who is also the dam of Dubai World Cup winner Mystic Guide. SERENA'S LEGACY, 6, Curlin–Lady Serena, by Bernardini. Will be bred to Arabian Knight. She hails from the family of Serena's Song, producer Serena's Cat and multiple Grade I winner Honor Code. The post 2026 Mating Plans: Jarret Prussin appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

He was one of the supremely well-bred colts set to debut in this contest, and Canaletto (Into Mischief) ran them off their feet, sailing home to 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' honors in a dazzling effort. Breaking well as the 7-5 favorite, he went to the front with 8-5 second choice Spartacus (Curlin) never far behind him, and had cleared the front group by the time they entered the far turn. Cruising comfortably after an opening quarter in 23.88 and four furlongs in :46.60, he was well clear of the rest as they swung into the lane, and from there the question was how much he wanted to win by. It was eighth lengths back to Lost Money (Street Sense) when all was said and done. The newest 'Rising Star' for Into Mischief, Canaletto was sold for $650,000 as a short yearling at the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky February sale in 2024, and returned to the auction ring that August to bring a cool $1-million at the Saratoga sale. The victor is a half-brother to Sandman (Tapit), GISW, $1,528,881 and She Can't Sing (Bernardini), GSW, $883,558 as well as to Blameitonthemusic (Blame), the dam of SW Curahee (War of Will). He is the most recent to the races for the mare, who has not produced any offspring since him after aborting her 2024 pregnancy. Distorted Music, herself a half-sister to Zinzay (Smart Strike)–dam of SW & GISP Moon Over Miami (Malibu Moon), is due to Practical Joke in 2026. This is the immediate female family of MGISW Music Note (A.P. Indy), twice placed in the GI Breeders' Cup Ladies Classic (later renamed to the Distaff), and her most famous son, G1 Dubai World Cup hero Mystic Guide (Ghostzapper). Music Note's half-siblings also tally multiple Group/Grade I winner Musical Chimes (In Excess {Ire}), who was also placed at the elite level on several occasions during her career in France and North America. 7th-Gulfstream, $68,000, Msw, 1-25, 3yo, 1m, 1:36.28, ft, 8 lengths. CANALETTO, c, 3, by Into Mischief 1st Dam: Distorted Music, by Distorted Humor 2nd Dam: Music Room, by Unbridled's Song 3rd Dam: Note Musicale (GB), by Sadler's Wells Sales history: $650,000 Ylg '24 FTKFEB; $1,000,000 Ylg '24 FTSAUG. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $40,800. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. O-Mrs. John Magnier, Michael B. Tabor, Derrick Smith, Peter M. Brant, and Brook T. Smith; B-Lothenbach Stables Inc (KY); T-Chad C. Brown. *1/2 to Sandman (Tapit), GISW, $1,528,881; 1/2 to She Can't Sing (Bernardini), GSW, $883,558. CANALETTO ($4.80) the half brother to SANDMAN wins on debut at Gulfstream with Flavien Prat in the saddle. This son of @SpendthriftFarm stallion Into Mischief is trained by Chad Brown and owned by Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Peter Brant and Brook Smith. pic.twitter.com/bcRRV5UQgN — FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) January 25, 2026 The post Into Mischief’s Canaletto Dazzles on Debut, Earns ‘Rising Star’ Rosette appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

More Than Looks (More Than Ready–Ladies' Privilege, by Harlan's Holiday), winner of the 2024 GI Breeders' Cup Mile, was represented by his first three foals Saturday, when a colt and a filly arrived in Kentucky and a second colt was born in Florida. Multiple stakes-winning and multiple graded stakes-placed Eden Prairie (Mizzen Mast) produced a colt, bred by Sampson Racing Stables, at Chesapeake Farm in Kentucky. “We couldn't be more pleased with this colt. He's a strong, good-looking individual,” said Chesapeake Farm's Collier Mathes. “The dam's success with More Than Ready made the decision to breed to More Than Looks an obvious choice after his Breeders' Cup win. We have big expectations for his future.” Eden Prairie is the dam of multiple stakes winner and graded-placed Minnesota Ready (More Than Ready). Also in Kentucky, Clear Voice (Kantharos) produced her first foal, a filly bred by Machmer Hall. “We are thrilled to bits with this darling, leggy filly by Breeders' Cup Mile Winner More Than Looks,” said Carrie Brogden of Machmer Hall. “She has a beautiful expression and is the epitome of class for a newborn.” A colt bred by Tag Stables, and out of the Stormy Atlantic mare Spirited Storm, was born at Lambholm South in Florida. Spirited Storm is the dam of the graded-placed Uncaptured Spirit (Uncaptured) and stakes winner Spirited Boss (Street Boss). “He is a huge colt with lots of personality, but smart,” said Shelly Fournier of Lambholm South. In addition to his Breeders' Cup victory, More Than Looks won the 2023 GIII Manila Stakes and was second in the 2024 GI Coolmore Turf Mile and GI Fourstardave Handicap. More Than Looks stands at Lane's End for $10,000. The post First Foals Reported for Breeders’ Cup Mile Winner More Than Looks appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

There are no rules, no guidelines, nothing of the kind, when it comes to Eclipse Award voting. You can vote for whomever you want for whatever reason you want. But I always was of the belief that there was an unwritten rule, or at least an understanding, that the Eclipse Awards were all about recognizing year-round excellence, that champions were the ones who most excelled throughout the year. Maybe that's because I became a racing fan and later a racing journalist when horses really did race more than four or five times a year, ran throughout much of the calendar and no one had ever heard of the Breeders' Cup, which is now recognized as a year-end championship event. So maybe I'm just a curmudgeon and I just haven't caught up with the times. If so, guilty as charged. But I still believe the Eclipse Awards have lost their way and veered far away from their original purpose. That was evident again this year when Forever Young (Jpn) (Real Steel {Jpn}) was named the Eclipse Award winner in the older dirt male category. He even got 17 votes for Horse of the Year, a category in which Sovereignty (Into Mischief) should have been a unanimous choice. It's not that Forever Young isn't a spectacular horse. He won the GI Breeders' Cup Classic and the G1 Saudi Cup, along with a stakes race on his home turf in Japan. You can make a solid argument that he had one of the very best campaigns of any horse in the world, but this was never supposed to be an honor bestowed on horses because of what they did outside of North America or in Saudi Arabia, Dubai, Japan or Europe. With my votes, I take into account only what a horse accomplished in the U.S. and Canada. So, I boiled down Forever Young's Eclipse-worthy accomplishment to just one race, the Breeders' Cup Classic. And, circling back to my prior point, a one-race campaign does not, and should not, be considered enough to earn a horse an Eclipse Award. To be fair to Forever Young and his supporters, he probably wouldn't have won the Eclipse if it weren't for the fact that his competition in the Older Dirt Male category was so weak. Sierra Leone (Gun Runner), who was second in the voting, won only one race the entire year and finished second behind Forever Young in the Classic. Nysos (Nyquist), who was third in the voting, did win three races during the year, but one was a sprint and his lone Grade I win came in the GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile. I was one of nine people who voted for Mindframe (Constitution) in this category. He didn't exactly light up the racetrack in 2025 either, but he at least won two Grade I races on U.S. soil, something no other horse in the category accomplished. That Forever Young was named the Older Dirt Male champion was hardly a surprise. With his victory, he joined a long list of horses who won Eclipse Awards in a year in which they ran only once in North America. According to stats provided by Equibase, 24 horses have won Eclipse Awards despite only making one start during their award-winning year in the U.S. or Canada. The list starts with Pebbles (GB) in 1985. All 24 were Breeders' Cup winners. The list also includes some spectacular horses like Miesque and Goldikova (Ire). Even I probably voted for them. I'd have to look back. But Miesque won her titles 1987 and 1988, and Goldikova was a champion in 2009 and 2010. That's a long time ago. Since then, I have changed and have instituted my own rule. In my one-man, probably hopeless, campaign to return some sanity to the Eclipse Awards, I no longer vote for any horse that has not had at least two starts in North America. That's why I had no problem voting for Notable Speech (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) for Champion Male Turf Horse. Based in the U.K. with Charlie Appleby, the Godolphin star not only won the GI Breeders' Cup Mile, but also the GI Woodbine Mile at Woodbine. With these one-and-done winners, the situation is getting out of hand, and it's time for whoever decides these things to institute a rule that requires a minimum number of starts in North America in order to be eligible. I say it should be two. In Canada, they are even stricter. In order to be eligible for a Sovereign Award, which is their version of the Eclipse Awards, a horse has to have made three starts in Canada. That's why Notable Speech, who won Canada's most prestigious grass race, isn't even on the ballot for a Sovereign Award. I suppose I am fighting a losing battle and I know that many will disagree with my take. But the voters and this industry have defied what I believe is the spirit of the Eclipse Awards. Champions aren't supposed to be made in one race. Instituting a rule is the only way to reel things in. In California, Follow the Money Good for Santa Anita and The Stronach Group for their efforts to bring in a much-needed source of alternative revenue in the form of Racing on Demand machines. But no one should be surprised that they lasted all of two days before they were hauled out of the track by Department of Justice law enforcement officers. Their removal was directed by the state's Attorney General Rob Bonta. The fight is between Santa Anita and the state's Indian tribes, which have tremendous political clout, much of it because the tribes have been contributing millions to the state's politicians for years. They have always had what amounts to a lock on casino gaming in the state. And they've taken good care of Bonta. According to CalMatters, a non-profit, non-partisan news organization, since 2021 Native American tribes have donated at least $220,000 to Bonta. According to Politico, right before he issued an opinion that paid daily fantasy sports constitute illegal, unlicensed gambling, he received a $101,000 donation from the Indian tribes. In a development unrelated to racing, Bonta showed his true colors. According to SFist.com, Bonta took a $16,000 donation from a card club, the Bicycle Hotel and Casino. This occurred at the same time his office was investigating the Bicycle club for money laundering. The money laundering charges were dropped. Wonder why? I could not find any record of Santa Anita, the Los Angeles Turf Club, The Stronach Group or 1/ST Racing making any donations to Bonta. Maybe that has been a mistake, but outspending the Indian tribes when it comes to political contributions is a daunting task. The fight to legalize the machines and have them permanently installed at Santa Anita has just begun. But in the state's Attorney General, California racing is clearly facing a roadblock. Six Speed Takes Step Toward Kentucky Derby It looks like Jake Ballis and his partners uncovered a serious prospect with the purchase of Six Speed (Not This Time). Making his first start for his new, American-based, connections he romped by five lengths in Friday's G3 UAE Two Thousand Guineas at Meydan. The G2 UAE Derby will be next, and a win there will punch his ticket for the GI Kentucky Derby. Horses coming out of the UAE Derby haven't shown much in the Kentucky Derby, but this one has the talent and the breeding to break through. Keep an eye on him. The post The Week in Review: Time for Eclipse Awards to Institute Some Much-Needed Rules appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Selections for Taupo’s meeting today . Head to www.tab.co.nz to place your bet! Race Time Trottech Form Analyst Race 1 11.30am 1 Buynowpaylater 7 Aldebaran What 5 Bella Muchacha 4 Valentina Shevchenko Race 2 11.55am 1 Lincoln Maree 7 Desistella 8 Commander Lincoln 10 Dream On Lou Race 3 12.22pm 8 Trifolium 9 Brother Johnson 6 Happy Hill 2 Senior Constable Liz Race 4 12.55pm 5 Rasmussin Effect 7 Get Set Party 2 Valerei 1 True Colours Race 5 1.22pm 10 McKendrick 6 Melton Mogul 5 Jahi 3 Maria Kirilenko Race 6 1.47pm 7 Kenny Hill 8 Conrad H 5 Eagle Hanover 1 Barsukov Race 7 2.15pm 1 Lincoln Lover 7 Loveable Rogue 6 Abman 2 Colonel Race 8 2.40pm 7 Very Majestic 3 Jasinova 8 Keep It Klassy 10 Two Francs Race 9 3.05pm 10 Johnny Who 8 Paramount Kiwi 7 Castana 1 Halberg Race 10 3.40pm 1 Skys Legacy 6 Always B Sweet 7 Katies Princess 5 Kawactus Race 11 4.17pm 10 The Surfer 6 Louezyana 11 American Me 8 Hooray Henry Race 12 4.55pm 8 Waltzing With Miki 5 Million Dollar Chic 6 Rushkinoff 2 Jaccka Opa Race 13 5.25pm 9 Muchacho 2 Social Distancing 7 Ragnar Lothbrok 4 Barbarossa View the full article

Trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. was more than happy Jan. 25 to report that Skippylongstocking and White Abarrio had exited the Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) at Gulfstream Park in good order.View the full article

Stablemates Skippylongstocking (Exaggerator) and White Abarrio (Race Day) exited their one-two finish in Saturday's GI Pegasus World Cup Invitational in good shape and connections are still contemplating next moves for the 7-year-olds, according to trainer Saffie Joseph, Jr. “Nothing's signed yet. Just talking it over briefly, something like the GII Oaklawn Handicap comes into play for one of them,” Joseph said. “And also the G1 Dubai World Cup. But nothing's really been decided yet. We're going to sleep on it and then decide.” The Oaklawn Handicap will be run at Oaklawn Park Apr. 18. The Dubai World Cup is scheduled for Mar. 28 at Meydan Racecourse. Skippylongstocking was a 10-time graded stakes winner before earning his first Grade I victory at Gulfstream Saturday. “He ran fast enough at times to win one, but he never did it. People were always knocking, knocking him, saying he's not a Grade I winner, not a Grade I winner, and look, he showed up,” Joseph said. “He did it in a race that a lot of great horses have won.” Skippylongstocking rated well off the early pace under Tyler Gaffalione before rallying to catch defending champion White Abarrio in deep stretch in what was the later's first start since being controversially scratched by attending veterinarians at Del Mar just minutes before the start of the Nov. 1 GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile. “Obviously, there was a lot of pressure running Abarrio after being scratched from the Breeders' Cup. You're overthinking everything–that's not the way you want to train a horse. You have to train with confidence, but we couldn't be confident because of the lack of preparation,” Joseph said. “I didn't know how he would run. Going into the race, there was no confidence. To do what he did [Saturday] was special.” Test Score (Lookin at Lucky) and One Stripe (SAf) (One World {SAf}), another pair of stablemates who finished one-two Saturday at Gulfstream, this time in the G1 Pegasus Turf World Cup Invitational, were reported in fine shape by trainer Graham Motion Sunday. “Everybody looks really good,” Motion said. “One Stripe's a little irritated about being beaten, I think, but they both seem really good.” Amerman Racing's 4-year-old homebred Test Score, second by less than a length after a troubled trip in the Nov. 29 GI Hollywood Derby, and jockey Manny Franco split horses in the stretch and held off One Stripe's dramatic late run to earn his second career Grade I victory and push his bankroll over $2 million. “I've rewatched it a lot,” Motion said. “It was hard to watch at the time. I kind of focused on One Stripe at the top of the stretch and I didn't realize that the horse he was going to nail if he got there was Test Score. It was a little bit surreal.” Hollywood Racing and Rikesh Sewgoolam's 5-year-old One Stripe, a two-time Group 1 winner at home under regular South African rider Gavin Lerena, found himself well out in the center of the turf course when they uncorked a furious late surge. “Around the three-eighths pole Gavin said [One Stripe] got a little tight and got a little intimidated there and it took him a little while to get going. Once he straightened away, it took him a while to kind of switch leads and run on, which I think is why he ended up so far out on the track. But what a brave race he ran,” Motion said. “Both jocks were great. I think the difference was the trip Manny had. It was just a perfect trip,” Motion added. “Test Score is just so resilient. He always just tries so hard. He's such a tough horse. He's a kind, kind horse in the morning but he's such a competitor.” Motion said Test Score will get some time off after racing nine times at seven different tracks in 11 months and could point for the May 2 GI Turf Classic on the Kentucky Derby undercard. “I'm definitely going to freshen him up. A race like the [Turf Classic] on Derby Day would probably make sense,” Motion said. “It's the right distance for him, it's a big purse and the timing would be good.” One Stripe was making his second start of the Championship Meet Saturday, having earned his first North American victory in a one-mile optional claiming allowance Dec. 26 and may be pointed long-term at the GI Arlington Million at Colonial Downs in August. “I really think a mile and a quarter is going to be in his scope. I think that's the kind of race I'd like to point for this summer, but I haven't really thought about his next start,” Motion said. “I really didn't think beyond the day for either one of them, but I'm not going to be in a hurry to run them back. One Stripe has had two pretty strong runs down here, so I'm not going to be looking to run him back real quick. “I've had an extraordinary amount of people reach out. I guess being on national television makes a difference, but it's very rewarding,” he added. “I'm so pleased for the South African crew. They had faith in this horse and it kind of showed to be justified that he's this kind of horse. And I couldn't be prouder of Test Score. We've been really lucky with this horse and Trikari. I'm so fortunate to have some of these nice horses for Mr. Amerman.” The post Skippylongstocking, White Abarrio Exit Pegasus in Good Order appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article