Wandering Eyes

Multiple Group One winner Jimmysstar (NZ) (Per Incanto) will have a light autumn in preparation for a spring campaign aimed at The Everest. The Ciaron Maher-trained galloper will kick off in Melbourne with the Gr.1 William Reid Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield before venturing north where he will contest the Gr.1 T J Smith (1200m) and the Gr.1 All-Aged Stakes (1400m), both at Randwick, in April. After that it will be off to the paddock to prepare for the Gr.1 The Everest (1200m) at Randwick in October, a race he finished third in behind Ka Ying Rising last year. Maher took advantage of taking Jimmysstar to Caulfield on Tuesday morning in preparation for the William Reid, which will this year be run at Caulfield on March 21. Jimmysstar has an excellent Caulfield record, winning the Gr.1 Oakleigh Plate (1100m) first-up last autumn while at his most recent racetrack appearance he took out the Gr.1 C F Orr Stakes (1400m) in November. “He spelled well and I’ve just been ticking him over,” Maher said. “He hasn’t done a lot, but I thought we could bring him away to a nice surface today and warm the cockles up a little bit. “He seems great. His condition is really good, his action, I’m happy with it. “I don’t want to give him too taxing an autumn with a view to having him pretty right for a shot at The Everest again.” Maher concedes Jimmysstar is more effective at 1400m than over the shorter sprint trips, but has a devastating turn of foot, especially fresh. After finishing third in The Everest, Jimmysstar went on to win the Russell Balding (1300m) at Randwick before making his way to Melbourne to take out the C F Orr. “He got better as he went along and as the distances slowly increased, winning the Russell Balding and then down here,” Maher said. “The 1400 metres is probably his pet distance, and we keep him fresher for the ones shorter. “He likes coming here to Caulfield, he’s got a good record here, and the William Reid, being run here, the conditions suit him and the track suits him. “So far, so good.” View the full article

A Tuesday morning trip across to Te Rapa has Cambridge trainer Andrew Forsman in a positive frame of mind with his quartet of feature race candidates at Waikato Thoroughbred Racing headquarters on Saturday. Heading the contingent is Hinekaha (NZ) (Savabeel), who had raceday rider Craig Grylls in the saddle for a solo hitout on the Te Rapa course proper as she prepared for her Group One debut in the $700,000 Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m). “The track was lovely after a bit of rain overnight and it was good to get across there for a nice hitout ahead of the weekend,” Forsman said. “Hinekaha worked over 1400m and picked up the tempo from the 800. She got home in around 36.5, which was great work, she did it very well. “Craig was very happy with her too, so she looks all set for Saturday.” The Savabeel mare completed a hat-trick when winning the Gr.2 Cal Isuzu Stakes over the same 2000m as Saturday’s weight-for-age feature at Te Rapa in December. In her only start since she closed late for a short-neck second to Tuxedo in the Gr.3 Aotearoa Classic (1600m) on the Karaka Millions card and will be more suited to the additional distance on Saturday. While having some reservations at the step up to Group One weight-for-age company, Forsman counters that by the physical improvement Hinekaha has made in her four-year-old season, combined with what is shaping as less challenging opposition than originally anticipated. “She’s a completely different proposition to this time last year, she’s so much bigger and stronger. There’s still a little way to go, but the way this track plays for her it really suits, and with the field not quite as strong as it looked originally, we’ve decided to run. “Put it this way, I think she’s going well enough to do it.” Forsman is also looking forward to testing some of the rising talent in his team, two of them against age-group opposition in the Gr.2 David &Karyn Ellis Fillies’ Classic (2100m), Gr.2 Legacy Lodge Waikato Guineas (2000m) and the other in the special conditions Sir Patrick Hogan Karapiro Classic (1600m). Single Red (NZ) (Vanbrugh), the winner of her last two starts, is entered for both three-year-old features, Chilling Out (NZ) (Savabeel), who finished fifth in the Listed Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m), is in the Ellis Classic, while Rambling On (NZ) (Almanzor), a winner at Te Rapa in December, prepared for the Karapiro Classic with a recent trial win at Pukekohe. “They’re all in good shape and worked well this morning,” Forsman said. “I’ve yet to make up my mind with Single Red as to which race she runs in, but it might get down to whether they ballot her in one of them. “Chilling Out is also a filly I really like but she’s a bit like Hinekaha a year ago, so we’ll take her one race at a time. “Rambling On is a four-year-old that I’ve been able to bring along quietly but he’s come to hand well lately and the ($350,000) stake on Saturday is definitely worth a crack at.” View the full article

Last week's news that juvenile champ and 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' Ted Noffey (Into Mischief) was off the GI Kentucky Derby trail because of bone bruising resulted in a No. 1 vacancy. I went right down to deadline trying to figure out which of the top three listed below should be the new kingpin. I felt I could have made a cogent case for any of them being No. 1. However, I also feel that from No. 4 on down right now it's a kaleidoscopic free-for-all to round out the Top 12. The Derby prep races yet to come will far outweigh the value of those we've already seen. There are points-awarding stakes this Friday (Aqueduct, Oaklawn) and Saturday (Tampa Bay Downs and Santa Anita) featuring six of the contenders ranked below. 1) DESERT GATE (c, Omaha Beach–Theogony, by Curlin). O-Michael E. Pegram, Karl Watson, and Paul Weitman; B-Twin Oaks Bloodstock (KY); T-Bob Baffert. Sales history: $125,000 Wlg '23 KEENOV; $100,000 Ylg '24 KEESEP; $260,000 2yo '25 OBSMAR. Lifetime Record: GSW, 4-2-2-0, $246,000. Last start: 2nd Oct. 4 GI American Pharoah Stakes. Among the races that never came to pass last year that I would have liked to bet on was the matchup of Desert Gate and Ted Noffey in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile. The undefeated Ted Noffey still would have been favored over fellow 'Rising Star' Brant (Gun Runner), just like he ended up being in that Oct. 31 stakes. But Desert Gate would have made for an intriguing third choice considering his final prep, the GI American Pharoah Stakes, was a lot better than the runner-up finish appeared on paper. That showdown never happened, because this son of Omaha Beach missed the Breeders' Cup with a hock infection. Ted Noffey won the Juvenile and subsequent Eclipse Award honors. Now that champ is sidelined and Desert Gate, last month's No 2-ranked contender, has been elevated to the top spot, edging out two other closely matched contenders. Desert Gate will be in action Saturday, having drawn the rail for the one-mile GIII Robert B. Lewis Stakes at Santa Anita. This colt (125,000 KEENOV; $100,000 KEESEP; $260,000 OBSMAR) broke his maiden at first asking June 13 sprinting five furlongs under strong handling (86 Beyer). Trainer Bob Baffert entered him next in the Aug. 9 GIII Best Pal Stakes over six furlongs, and pace-pressing Desert Gate delivered an 8 3/4-length blowout (79 Beyer). In the Sept. 7 GI Del Mar Futurity, Desert Gate was second, a length behind his $3-million stablemate Brant, executing several in-race moves to get better positioning, then kicking clear to finish 3 1/4 lengths ahead of the rest of the pack (88 Beyer). In the Oct. 4 American Pharoah, Desert Gate led as the 9-10 favorite and took pressure from the second fave. He put away that rival when headed, then repulsed a new stretch bid from a different foe. He got nailed at the wire by 'TDN Rising Star' presented by Hagyard Intrepido (Maximus Mischief), losing by only three-quarters of a length (86 Beyer). He fought off multiple challengers and came up just short of victory. Desert Gate has been let go at juicy odds of 59-1, 68-1 and 58-1 in the first three pools of the 2026 Kentucky Derby Future Wager (KDFW). 2) PALADIN (c, Gun Runner–Secret Sigh, by Tapit). O-Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Peter M. Brant, Brook T. Smith, and Summer Wind Equine, LLC; B-Summer Wind Equine LLC (KY); T-Chad C. Brown. Sales history: $1,900,000 Ylg '24 FTSAUG. Lifetime Record: GSW, 2-2-0-0, $184,250. Last start: WON Dec. 6 GII Remsen Stakes. Paladin, at 2-for-2, is the only Top 12 contender to have won at nine furlongs. He'll go that distance again as the likely favorite in the Feb. 14 GII Risen Star Stakes at Fair Grounds. This $1.9 million FTSAUG son of Gun Runner took down Aqueduct's GII Remsen Stakes by two lengths (85 Beyer) Dec. 6. Paladin has recovered from getting roughed up a bit in that win (hind-leg cut, lost right front shoe). Trainer Chad Brown has been breezing him at Payson Park in Florida, where Paladin has recorded five half-mile works since Dec. 28. Brown doesn't ship many horses to New Orleans. Over the past five years, the majority of them (10/16) have been turf starters. On the main track there during that time frame, Brown has saddled four colts in the Fair Grounds series of 3-year-old Derby preps. Sierra Leone (2024 Risen Star) was the only winner. Brown's three other sophomore starters on the Fair Grounds dirt since 2021 have been third (Zandon in the 2022 Risen Star and Tuscan Gold in the 2024 GII Louisiana Derby) and sixth (Septarian in the 2025 Risen Star). Favored at 1.13-1 first time out, Paladin broke his maiden via disqualification in an Aqueduct one-turn mile Oct. 17 (87 Beyer), finishing just a head behind the horse who fouled him, the No. 9-ranked Renegade (Into Mischief). Again well-backed at 1.88-1 odds in the Remsen, Paladin broke running from post two and settled in third along the inside behind dueling longshots. He worked his way closer starting at the half-mile marker, required some far-turn urging from Flavien Prat, but responded well and swept out to the five path for the drive. Paladin finished focused, this time opening up from Renegade. 3) NEARLY (c, Not This Time–Ib Prospecting, by Mineshaft). O-Centennial Farms; B-Wind Hill Farm (FL); T-Todd A. Pletcher. Sales history: $350,000 Ylg '24 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: GSW, 4-3-0-0, $249,900. Last start: WON Jan. 31 GIII Holy Bull Stakes. If we were ranking Derby prospects exclusively among those who have made a start at age three, Nearly (Not This Time) would be the division's clear leader. In this past Saturday's GIII Holy Bull Stakes, this $350,0000 KEESEP colt from Todd Pletcher's stable forced an overheated pace and drilled the favorite into defeat. Nearly had plenty left to swat back an off-the-turn closer before opening up to win by 5 3/4 lengths over a short-stretch configuration. Nearly has now won three straight at Gulfstream by a combined 20 lengths. He clearly relishes the surface there, and it plays well to his speed-centric style. Nearly's winning Beyer figure of 98 for the 1 1/16-miles Holy Bull and the 97 he earned winning a Jan. 2 seven-furlong allowance/optional claimer at Gulfstream both rate as the top two Beyers for any 3-year-old so far in 2026. Visually, Nearly looked good under pressure. He went blitzingly fast yet finished with aplomb. But the pace profile of the 1:44.52 Holy Bull was so exaggeratedly fast early/slow late (quarter-mile splits of :22.82, :23.14, :24.36 and :27.10, final sixteenth in :7.10) that it's hard to get a handle on how well Nearly might fare at longer distances against better competition. It's also reasonable to wonder just how much of a home-court advantage he gains from Gulfstream. His only previous race on a different surface was a last-place run in his Aqueduct debut that left his connections baffled. The Mar. 28 GI Curlin Florida Derby at Gulfstream is next. Nearly | Lauren King 4) COMMANDMENT (c, Into Mischief–Sippican Harbor, by Orb). O-Wathnan Racing; B-Lee Pokoik (KY); T-Brad H. Cox. Sales history: $485,000 RNA Wlg '23 FTKNOV; $475,000 RNA Ylg '24 FTSAUG; $500,000 Ylg '24 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: SW, 3-2-0-0, $165,459. Last start: WON Jan. 3 Mucho Macho Man Stakes. Commandment, who dominated the one-turn mile Mucho Macho Man Stakes at Gulfstream by 6 3/4 lengths with a 91 Beyer Jan. 3, will target the GII Fountain of Youth Stakes there Feb. 28 for his two-turn debut. This son of Into Mischief ($485,000 RNA FTKNOV; $475,000 RNA FTSAUG; $500,000 KEESEP) has been slightly slow from the gate in his first three races, but not alarmingly so at this point in his development. Commandment makes up the difference by settling into a comfortable rhythm, even when covered up in traffic, and has shown he can split horses without hesitation when asked to. Prior to winning the Mucho Macho Man under confident handling, Commandment rallied from 11th to get fourth going six furlongs in his 82-Beyer Keeneland debut Oct. 4. Stretched to seven furlongs at Churchill, this Brad Cox trainee won going away by 5 1/2 lengths. Six horses have since run back out of Commandment's Nov. 1 maiden victory, but none managed better than fourth in their next starts. However, Commandment's Oct. 4 race has yielded some key performers: Runner-up Rockies Balboa (Girvin) lost his next start but then won back-to-back races at Gulfstream by a combined 10 3/4 lengths. Third-place finisher Gallivant (Into Mischief) won Keeneland's Bowman Mill Stakes by six lengths Oct. 25 while still a maiden. Sixth-place finisher Mesquite (Union Rags) broke his maiden at 4-5 odds at Churchill, then was second, beaten only three-quarters of a length, in the Jan. 17 GIII Lecomte Stakes at Fair Grounds. 5) BUETANE (c, Tiz the Law–Taboo, by Forestry). 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard'. O-Zedan Racing Stables, Inc.; B-Merriebelle Stable, LLC (KY); T-Bob Baffert. Sales history: $150,000 Ylg '24 FTSAUG; $1,150,000 2yo '25 OBSAPR. Lifetime Record: 3-1-2-0, $148,000. Last start: 2nd Jan. 10 GII San Vicente Stakes. Buetane was second best as the 1-2 beaten favorite in the Jan. 10 GI San Vicente Stakes. But considering he hadn't raced since finishing second behind Ted Noffey in the Sept. 1 GI Hopeful Stakes-and considering he was not hammered on for run by Juan Hernandez in the late stages of the San Vicente when it was evident he wouldn't catch the leader-that two-length defeat sprinting seven furlongs shouldn't be held against him. We'll get a better read on Buetane ($150,000 FTSAUG; $1.15 million OBSAPR) in Friday's 1 1/16-miles GIII Southwest Stakes, his two-turn debut. Trainer Bob Baffert had cross-entered this son of Tiz the Law in both the Southwest and last Saturday's Holy Bull Stakes, but scratched out of the Gulfstream race. Leaving the gate in the San Vicente, Buetane broke in and bumped the eventual winner, So Happy (Runhappy). He was last in the field of five down the backstretch and got second run at the lead in deep stretch after So Happy collared a tiring pacemaker at the eighth pole. Buetane finished up ridden out but by no means fully extended in an effort that upped his last-race Beyer by 10 points to 92. Joel Rosario, who is based at Oaklawn, gets the call in a jockey change. He's ridden only sparingly for Baffert over the past four years, with just 10 mounts since the start of 2022. But the most recent one was a winner, with Baffert and Rosario teaming for victory with Goal Oriented in the Grade I Malibu Stakes at Santa Anita on opening day of the 2025-26 meet. 6) LITMUS TEST (c, Nyquist–Study Hard, by Malibu Moon). O-SF Racing LLC, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables LLC, Stonestreet Stables LLC, Bashor, Dianne, Determined Stables, Golconda Stable, Waves Edge Capital LLC and Donovan, Catherine; B-Machmer Hall (KY); T-Bob Baffert. Sales history: $875,000 Ylg '24 FTSAUG. Lifetime Record: GSW, 5-2-0-1, $350,188. Last start: WON Dec. 13 GII Los Alamitos Futurity. Litmus Test, an $875,000 FTSAUG colt by 2016 Derby winner Nyquist, is the 5-2 morning-line favorite for Friday's Southwest Stakes. The 1 1/16-mile prep got rescheduled from this past Saturday, when winter weather wiped out a weekend's worth of racing at Oaklawn. With five lifetime races at age two, including three at two turns and two in Grade I stakes, this Bob Baffert trainee has a broader foundational base than many of his Top 12 counterparts. Litmus Test has enough speed to be a pace-pressing threat, but being right up on the lead isn't a requirement for this colt to fire his best shot. Although he was third, then fourth, behind the now-sidelined Ted Noffey in both the GI Breeders' Futurity Stakes and Breeders' Cup Juvenile, Litmus Test really wasn't in the same league as that eventual divisional champion back in October. But his 1 1/4-length clawback score over five rivals in the GII Los Alamitos Futurity Dec. 13 did put Litmus Test the same Beyer ballpark (96) as the division's fastest horses so far in 2025-26. Litmus Test | Benoit photo 7) SCHOOLYARDSUPERMAN (c, Practical Joke–Tizlegal by Tiznow). O-Hit The Bid Racing Stable and CMNWLTH; B-Woods Edge Farm, LLC; T-Chad C. Brown. Sales history: $150,000 Ylg '24 KEESEP; $295,000 RNA 2yo OBSMAR. Lifetime record: 3-1-1-0, $63,750. Last start WON Dec. 6 AQU Maiden Special Weight This big, strapping gray from Chad Brown's stable will attempt to win Friday's nine-furlong Withers Stakes at Aqueduct coming off an 86-Beyer, 5 3/4-length wiring of a one-turn-mile maiden special weight field there Dec. 6. Brown has won the Withers twice, with Risk Taking in 2021 and Early Voting in 2022. Both of those colts then had two-month layoffs until the GII Wood Memorial Stakes and then started in the GI Preakness Stakes. Risk Taking (who is still in training as an allowance-level steeplechaser) was seventh in the Wood and eighth in the Preakness. Early Voting ran second in the Wood and won the Preakness. This son of Practical Joke (150,000 Ylg '24 KEESEP; $295,000 RNA OBSMAR) clipped heels and fell in his favored Sept. 13 debut over 6 1/2 furlongs, then returned Oct. 26 to finish a pressing second at the same distance as the 4-5 favorite. The stretch to a mile benefitted Schoolyardsuperman, who was allowed to drift up to 3.61-1 odds for career start number three. He handled pace pressure down on the inside and drew off under strong urging. 8) LIBERTY NATIONAL (c, Maxfield–Virtuoso, by Awesome Again). 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard'. O-Brookdale Racing, Inc. & Fern Circle Stables; B-Rock Ridge Thoroughbreds, LLC (KY); T-Kenneth G. McPeek. Sales history: $525,000 Ylg '24 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 3-1-1-0, $90,675. Last start: 2nd Dec. 20 Gun Runner Stakes. At first glance, Liberty National's 80-Beyer, runner-up try as the beaten 13-10 favorite in the Dec. 20 Gun Runner Stakes doesn't resonate as a productive effort. This closer from Kenny McPeek's barn was afforded a fairly quick early tempo, yet the field chased home a caving pacemaker in a tepid fourth quarter of :26.30 and a dawdling last sixteenth in :7.48, with that latter fraction representing the slowest final half-furlong of any points-awarding 1 1/16-miles Derby prep in at least the past 3 1/2 seasons. But look beyond the abbreviated chart comment of “rallied inside, short,” and you'll see that this $525,000 KEESEP colt got sideswiped leaving the gate by the eventual winner, then gained good ground up the fence and ended up galloping out several lengths in front of the field after the wire. Considering that McPeek has described Liberty National as a large-framed colt with an “aircraft carrier body type,” plus a pedigree that suggests longer distances could be more to his liking, his under-the-lights experience when facing winners for the first time might not be as poor a stepping stone as it seems on paper. Liberty National is entered in Friday's rescheduled Southwest Stakes with a 10-1 morning line and a gate seven draw in a field of 14. 9) RENEGADE (c, Into Mischief–Spice Is Nice, by Curlin). O-Robert Low, Lawana L. Low, and Repole Stable; B-Robert Low & Lawana Low (KY); T-Todd A. Pletcher. Sales history: $975,000 Ylg '24 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 3-0-2-1, $79,000. Last start: 2nd Dec. 6 GII Remsen Stakes. Although still a maiden, this $975,000 KEESEP colt has kept good company in New York. Renegade was third behind a 17 3/4-length winner at Saratoga in his Aug. 16 debut. He finished a head better than No. 2-ranked Paladin, but was disqualified for stretch interference, in a one-turn-mile maiden special weight win Oct. 16. He then was second, beaten two lengths by Paladin in the Dec. 6 Remsen Stakes. This son of Into Mischief from Todd Pletcher's stable is expected to be entered Wednesday for this coming Saturday's Sam F. Davis Stakes going 1 1/16 miles. Pletcher told DRF.com last week that a possible path to Louisville for Renegade might include the GI Arkansas Derby Mar. 28 if he runs well at Tampa. 10) IRON HONOR (c, Nyquist–Orenica, by Blame). O-St. Elias Stable, William H. Lawrence and Cathi Glassman; B-Mike Freeny and Pat Freeny; T-Chad C. Brown. Sales history: $230,000 Ylg '24 KEEJAN; $475,000 Ylg KEESEP. Lifetime Record 1-1-0-0, $46,750. Last start: WON Dec. 13 Aqueduct Maiden Special Weight. Iron Honor, a May 1 foal by Nyquist, has been breezing at Payson Park since a 95-Beyer debut win at Aqueduct Dec. 13. The second- and third-place finishers out of that six-furlong sprint both came back to win their next starts. In that win, Iron Honor ($230,000 KEEJAN; $475,000 KEESEP) tracked, engaged the favorite, then edged away to a 1 1/2-length score. Brown said in January that, “He's a horse that mentally needed time to come around, but now I'm seeing the best of him.” 11) GOLDEN TEMPO (Curlin–Carrumba, by Bernardini). 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard'. O/B-Phipps Stable & St. Elias Stables, LLC (KY); T-Cherie DeVaux. Lifetime Record: GSW, 2-2-0-0, $183,000. Last start: WON Jan. 17 GIII Lecomte Stakes. Golden Tempo, a Phipps Stable and St. Elias Stables homebred son of Curlin out of a Bernardini mare, won the Lecomte Stakes in last-to-first fashion, letting loose with a three-furlong run while weaving through the pack prior to diving down to the inner rail to prevail by three-quarters of a length (81 Beyer). Trainer Cherie DeVaux ended up running one-two in the Lecomte, as stablemate Mesquite (Union Rags) came flying six wide to complete an exacta of the race's two favorites. DeVaux said the plan will be to keep Golden Tempo and Mesquite separated on the Derby trail from here on out. “I don't feel either one of them is even close to their top yet,” DeVaux told TDN the day after the Lecomte. “We have time. Going into a race like the Derby, you want them peaking at that time. Also, in these races, you always want to win, but if they run a big number then they are probably going to regress the next time they run. Showing improvement each time and getting there and winning is the best-case scenario.” Golden Tempo winning the Lecomte | Hodges Photography 12) MY WORLD (Essential Quality–Quebec, by Into Mischief). O-Robert V. LaPenta & Madaket Stables LLC; B-Cove Springs, LLC (KY); T-Brad H. Cox. Sales history: $350,000 Ylg '24 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: MSW, 4-3-0-0, $217,750. Last start: WON Jan. 3 Jerome Stakes. My World (Essential Quality), a hard-trying gray who has won two straight one-turn-mile listed stakes at Aqueduct, is being sent overseas in search of yet another one-turn-mile engagement. This one's far more ambitious than either the five-horse Nashua Stakes or the four-horse Jerome Stakes: The G3 Saudi Derby Feb. 14 carries a $1.5-million purse and 30 Kentucky Derby qualifying points (15-9-6-3). This $350,000 KEESEP colt has punched above his weight, so to speak, like when bullishly bouncing a rival off the inside rail to make a winning move in the Nashua, or when becoming emboldened after brushing with the heavily favored runner-up in deep stretch of his Jerome score. But My World also has caused some of his own in-race adversity by lugging in and not being fully focused. His connections have stated that although the colt has grown up a bit, there is still room for improvement. So after having recently shipped from New York to Florida, My World will now have to fly to Riyadh and then back, presumably in time for another points-earning prep if he is to stay on the Derby trail. That's a big ask for a lighter-framed horse who needs to be a bit more mentally dialed in. But My World's tenacity has been appealing enough to keep him on the Derby radar for now. The post TDN Derby Top 12: February Kicks Off With Four Stakes, Six Ranked Contenders appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Dame Cat Williams’ story is utterly inspiring. A world-class equestrian rider, her world was tipped upside down when she had an accident and become a tetraplegic in 2002. The founder of the Catwalk Trust shares her journey, lessons, and love of racing in a truly special episode. Guerin Report – S2 Ep. 22 – Dame Catriona Williams View the full article

Six-win mare Gemma Flitz (NZ) (Telperion) will resume at Riccarton on Wednesday where she will be seeking to take out the C S Stevens Memorial Banks Peninsula Cup (1100m) for local trainer Ross Beckett. She was a model of consistency last year, winning three and placing in three of her six starts, highlighted by her victory in the $100,000 Polytrack Championship (1200m) on the Riccarton Synthetic in August. Beckett is looking forward to kicking off her preparation this week, but is wary of the wet weather forecast ahead of the midweek meeting. “She has done a great job, she is very honest,” Beckett said. “She has come back from a spell and hopefully we don’t get too much rain, she needs a firm track.” While hopeful of a bold showing first-up, Beckett is hoping she has bigger fish to fry, with the Yaldhurst horseman eyeing black-type with the seven-year-old mare. “We will just get through this race and then try to find a nice race for her,” he said. “Getting black-type is something I would love to do with her, it would help her out as a broodmare.” Beckett is also upbeat about the prospects of stablemate Pogacar (NZ) (Eminent) if he can bring his manners ahead of the TAB Southern Alps Golden Ticket Race (1400m). The four-year-old son of Eminent has shown a fair amount of ability, winning two and runner-up in two of his six starts to date, but Beckett said he lets himself down with his manners behind the starting gate. “He has been scratched two or three times (because he’s refused to load), so we have got a fair bit of headgear on him, which is just to give him a bit of confidence going into those gates,” Beckett said. “He will be a better horse without the headgear but we need to get him going into those gates and doing things properly. “The boys around at the start are getting to know him now and what we have to do to get him in, so we will take another step I hope.” Meanwhile, stablemates Wanderin Spelle (NZ) (Wyndspelle) and Grouse (NZ) (Darci Brahma) will be first-up in the GM Accounting and Consulting (1200m) and Stuart Racing Maiden (1200m) respectively, while Pearl Opulence (NZ) (Unusual Suspect) will make her stable debut in the Tim Dyer – Bayleys Real Estate (2000m). “Wanderin Spelle’s wide draw (14) won’t help,” Beckett said. “I wanted to give him a run, he will be better over 1400m or a mile. I don’t mind the horse. “Grouse wouldn’t be out of it, she won a trial the other day. Her work is on the improve every week and she will still be better with the run under her belt. “It will be the first start I have given her (Pearl Opulence), she has come from Lance (Robinson). She has done a lot of work so we will sit back and see how she goes.” Beckett’s team will be rounded out by Canterbury Flight (NZ) (Verdi), who will be seeking to improve on her last-start runner-up result, but will have to overcome her wide draw in the Join Canterbury Westland Owners Association Now Maiden (1600m). “She went really well last start,” Beckett said. “She has drawn 15, so we will most likely get back again and will just have to ride her for a bit of luck.” View the full article

Racing has a legacy to rectify before it can look to the future. The “Racing in 2036” series struck me for its lack of perspective from the aftercare segment of the industry. Post-racetrack life for our equine athletes was mentioned a few times, but only in a cursory manner. And certainly without any accountability. Thoroughbred aftercare is chronically underfunded despite the creation of the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (TAA) in 2012. Aftercare organizations founded before the TAA was created have been underfunded for decades. Programs that predominantly follow the sanctuary model continue to care for horses born long before the industry attempted to establish a funding and accrediting body. These horses raced before the retrain/rehome model became widely available and, with fewer post-race options, they were often pushed too far and became unfit for other athletic careers. These horses are at a higher risk of landing in dangerous, often fatal situations. They are The Legacy Herd. Private sanctuary-model organizations cannot continue to carry the load of their care without broad support from the racing industry. There is often debate about who is responsible for these horses years after they ran their last race. For The Legacy Herd, the answer is all of us. Shaming and blaming are not long-term solutions. We were not aware enough, educated enough, responsible enough 25 years ago when we bred, sold and raced these horses. Now is the time to right that wrong. Establishing a sustainable source of adequate funding can be done. Currently, consignors to all sales at the three major auction houses are required to pay 1/20 of 1% of the final sale price, which is donated to the TAA. Buyers at those sales have the option to contribute the same. From self-reported statistics, these three auction houses handled over $1.4 BILLION dollars in sales in 2025. Assuming all buyers opted in to the contribution, only $1.4 million was donated to be shared among the 87 organizations accredited by the TAA. Imagine if we changed that to 1/2 of 1%–those 87 organizations would be splitting over $14 million dollars, a portion of which could be earmarked for The Legacy Herd. The vision of “Racing in 2036” that I share below is possible. But only if the major players in the industry commit to the thousands of horses who make up OUR Legacy Herd via a properly funded aftercare system that values all retired racehorses regardless of their ability to sustain another athletic career. Those of us in the trenches will never solve this alone. If you walk away from this letter with one impression, let it be this: the Thoroughbred industry is only as sustainable as its aftercare policies. Here's my vision for 2036: In 2036, waitlists at aftercare organizations have been eliminated. The majority of Thoroughbreds who don't retire to the breeding shed are responsibly retired to a retrain/rehome facility. These horses are sound enough to participate in a second or third athletic career because they were retired when it became apparent they didn't have a dignified future as a racehorse, not because they were injured. When these horses age out of athletic careers, they move on to sanctuary facilities, where they participate in Equine Assisted Services that utilize the unique qualities of the Thoroughbred to create pathways for healing and growth while living their lives in peace and safety. The minority of retiring Thoroughbreds who aren't used for breeding and aren't sound enough to continue in an athletic vein go directly to the sanctuary facilities and begin what may be the most important work of their lives as teachers and healers. All of this is automatically funded by The Racing Industry, so the burden doesn't fall too heavily on the shoulders of one sector and a sustainable source of support is guaranteed for these horses. Aftercare is no longer seen as charity, but as simply part of a racehorse's life cycle. This is the legacy to which we should aspire. Don't let this letter sit on the shelf alongside so many of its predecessors. If you are an innovative leader call me at (518) 226-0028 or email me at maggie@trfinc.org. We have work to do. Maggie Sweet is the Executive Director of the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation, the county's oldest and largest aftercare organization which provides lifetime care for retired racehorses at a network of farms in partnership with correctional facilities. The post Letter to the Editor: What Will Our Legacy Be appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

On the Feb. 2 episode of BloodHorse Monday: Centennial Farms' Donald Little Jr. discusses Nearly's win in the Holy Bull Stakes (G3), Oaklawn Park track announcer Matt Dinerman previews the Southwest Stakes (G3) and talks racing in Hot Springs, Ark.View the full article

Multiple group 1-placed, group 2 winner Maljoom is a highly rated entry at 118 but he has not raced since last April, when third in the Dubai Turf Stakes (G1). Quddwah has already won at Meydan Racecourse this year in the Jan. 2 Zabeel Mile (G2). View the full article

Andrew Balding has issued a positive bulletin on Jonquil (Lope De Vega) as the Juddmonte homebred prepares to line up in the inaugural $1-million Abu Dhabi Gold Cup, powered by ADNOC. Scheduled to take place at the Abu Dhabi Turf Club Racecourse on Saturday, the 1,600-metre contest has attracted entries from Europe, Japan and the GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council), with few more talented than the four-year-old Jonquil. The son of Lope De Vega showed high-class form in 2025 when winning the G2 Celebration Mile at Goodwood and G3 Greenham Stakes at Newbury, as well as finishing second behind Henri Matisse in the Poule d'Essai des Poulains. “We've been very happy with him,” Balding said of Jonquil, who was last seen finishing ninth in the GI Breeders' Cup Mile at Del Mar. “He obviously had quite a busy season last year, culminating in a trip to California for the Breeders' Cup. He's had a short break after that, and we started preparations at Christmas time looking to get him ready for this race. We feel that his fitness levels are good, we're very happy with the way he seems at home, and I hope he travels well and can take his best form to Abu Dhabi.” Jonquil is set to be joined on the journey from Europe by the likes of Comanche Brave (Wootton Bassett), from the Donnacha O'Brien stable, and Witness Stand (Expert Eye), the winner of last year's G2 Lennox Stakes for Dr Richard Newland and Jamie Insole. Perhaps the strongest hand belongs to owner Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum, who could be double-handed with Maljoom (Caravaggio) and Quddwah (Kingman). Maljoom, who will be his having his first start for Dubai-based trainer Michael Costa, has been off the track since finishing third in last year's G1 Dubai Turf for William Haggas, while the Simon and Ed Crisford-trained Quddwah faces a rematch with the horse who followed him home in last month's G2 Zabeel Mile, Aomori City (Oasis Dream). “We've been very happy with him since his win in the Zabeel Mile at Meydan in early-January,” Ed Crisford said of Quddwah. “He's been training super well into this Abu Dhabi race. I think it's really great to be part of this new race with such great prize-money. It will be a high-quality field, but I think he deserves to be in the race, and he'll go in with every chance.” The final field for the Abu Dhabi Gold Cup, the most valuable race ever held in Abu Dhabi, will be confirmed later in the week, with the Japanese raider Strauss (Maurice) and Dark Trooper (Dark Angel), trained in Qatar by Alban De Mieulle, featuring among the other potential runners at this stage. The winner on Saturday will also be guaranteed a place in the $1-million GI Old Forester Bourbon Turf Classic, which takes place on the Kentucky Derby undercard at Churchill Downs on Saturday, May 2. His Excellency Ali Al Shaiba, Director General of the Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club, Abu Dhabi Turf Club and President of the Organising Committee, said, “The Abu Dhabi Gold Cup powered by ADNOC is a testament to the emirate's evolution as a world-class sporting destination. By introducing a million-dollar Listed Thoroughbred race to our historic program, we are creating a global platform that merges our deep-rooted equestrian traditions with international excellence. “This event offers an unparalleled experience where elite sport meets premium lifestyle, and we are proud to welcome the world to witness this new chapter in Abu Dhabi's racing legacy.” The post Jonquil Among Contenders for the Inaugural Abu Dhabi Gold Cup appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Edited Press Release The catalog for the 2026 Inglis Digital USA February Sale is now online, featuring 45 entries and numerous opportunities to make last-minute additions to broodmare bands before the start of the breeding season. Bidding is currently open for the February sale, and it will run through Friday, Feb. 6, with the first lot closing at 2 p.m. ET and each successive offering hammering in three-minute increments. The auction offers horses and one stallion season available for inspection in eight different states, giving potential buyers a local option practically anywhere in the U.S. The latest catalog features offerings based in Arizona, Florida, Idaho, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York and Virginia. Included among the catalog is a strong trio of broodmare prospects from the consignment of Last Laugh Stables. Those horses are available for inspection at Clearbrook Farm in Paris, KY. Jeanie's Faith (Algorithms) is a half-sister to the unbeaten 3-year-old So Happy (Runhappy), who turned heads in the GII San Vicente Stakes on Jan. 10 at Santa Anita Park, and is being pointed toward the Southern California leg of the Road to the Kentucky Derby. Hailing from a strong branch of the Leverett Miller breeding program, Jeanie's Faith is out of a daughter of Blame, who has emerged as a top broodmare sire, and her extended family features the Grade I winner Silver Wagon. Also consigned by Last Laugh Stables is broodmare prospect Six O Three (Runhappy), a half-sister to Five G (Vekoma), winner of last year's GII Gulfstream Park Oaks and Cash Run Stakes. Tracing back through the breeding program of prominent stable Courtlandt Farms, Six O Three is out of the winning Quality Road mare Triumphant from the family of Grade I winners Golden Treat and Bet Twice. Ginas Serenade is a stakes-winning daughter of Maclean's Music being offered as a racing or broodmare prospect. Her page is rich with black type, including Grade I winner Honey Ryder, Grade II winner Dominus, and Grade III winner Epic Ride. Pregnant mares in the catalog offer in-utero foals by Goldencents, sire of GI Kentuky Derby winner Mystik Dan, leading California sire Grazen, New York's King for a Day and popular young stallion Pappacap. “We're thrilled to begin our second full year in operation,” said Inglis Digital USA CEO Kyle Wilson. “I encourage all of our customers to take a look at this catalog, as there are some exciting opportunities on offer.” Interested parties must register for an account on the Inglis Digital USA website and request a bidding limit in order to place bids. The post Inglis Digital USA February Catalog Goes Live appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The recent Listed winner Believer (Make Believe) (lot 345) is one of two wildcards added to the catalogue for the two-day Arqana February Sale, which gets underway on Tuesday, February 17. Trained by Gianluca Bietolini, Believer previously changed hands at the 2024 Arqana Arc Sale when bought by owner Omar Esmil Sh Ghrghar for €150,000. Last seen winning the Listed GP Riviera Cote d'Azur at Cagnes-sur-Mer on January 24, the five-year-old will be offered as the winner of five of his 16 career starts. The full catalogue is available to view here and features a second wildcard in the five-year-old Siyouking (Siyouni), who recently won the Prix de Giverny at Deauville for trainer François Rohaut. He will go under the hammer as lot 350. The post Listed Winner Believer Added to the Arqana February Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Trainer William "Jinks" Fires will be honored as an HBPA Living Legend March 5 at the National HBPA's annual conference March 3-7 at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Ark.View the full article

A bay colt out of Rio's Cliffs (Canford Cliffs), the dam of the G3 Premio Ambrosiano third Rex Of Thunder (Night Of Thunder), is among the first reported foals on the ground for Newsells Park Stud's Isaac Shelby. “We've been out of the breeding game for a while, so it was a very special moment to have this lovely foal born by Isaac Shelby,” read a statement attributed to the colt's breeders, Mark and Pippa Hackett of Moat House Farm, Ireland. “He's a great size, with plenty of scope and bone. He's one of the nicest foals we've had born here, so we are thrilled. The dam, Rio's Cliffs, has bred three winners from four runners, and her first foal was the Group 3-placed Rex Of Thunder, so we're excited to see what lies ahead for this lovely colt.” Elsewhere, Robbie and Kirsty Mills of RMM Bloodstock have welcomed a bay colt out of the American Pharoah mare Asamosa who, in turn, is out of the GII Santa Ynez Stakes winner Renee's Titan (Bernstein). “We're delighted with this foal,” read a statement from the owners. “He's a fine stamp with lots of strength, bone and presence. We're big fans of Isaac Shelby, who is a stunning-looking horse, and we were always keen to support him. We sent him three mares and, on the strength of this foal, we'll be sending him more again this year.” The multiple Group winner Isaac Shelby, who also filled the runner-up spot in the Poule d'Essai des Poulains, covered 96 mares in his first season at Newsells Park Stud in 2025, according to the Return of Mares, published by Weatherbys. The son of Night Of Thunder will stand the upcoming season at the unchanged fee of £7,000, with Newsells Park offering 'No Risk Terms' as outlined here. “Three [reported] foals so far and three very positive reviews, so we're very encouraged and looking forward to seeing the rest of his babies this spring and summer,” Newsells Park general manager Julian Dollard said of the new arrivals. “No doubt helped by our recently announced 'No Risk Terms', Isaac Shelby is proving very popular once again and his book is filling well. Upbeat foal reports like this will all help to ensure that he covers a second successive strong book.” Isaac Shelby will be parading later this week as part of the Tattersalls British EBF Stallion Parade, which gets underway at Park Paddocks at 11am on Thursday, February 5. The post First Foals by Isaac Shelby Subject to “Very Positive Reviews” appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

To a degree, 2025 was the year of the gelding. Those who won at least one Group or Grade 1 race included Calandagan, Ka Ying Rising, Romantic Warrior, Goliath, Cicero's Gift, Lazzat, American Affair, Half Yours, Caballo De Mar, Candelari, Ethical Diamond, Never So Brave, Rebel's Romance, and Trawlerman. Indeed, three of those were among the top-ten-rated horses in the world. There is no doubting the popularity and resonance of some of those names above but to what extent should we prioritise promoting the sport over protecting the breed, or vice versa? Since 1904 no gelding has been allowed to run in the Derby, and that ban extends to the 2,000 Guineas, St Leger and Commonwealth Cup in Britain, the Irish 2,000 Guineas, Irish Derby, Poule d'Essai des Poulains, Prix du Jockey Club, Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, Deutsches Derby, German 2,000 Guineas, Derby Italiano, and Premio Parioli (Italian 2,000 Guineas). It is naturally a topic which divides opinion, and that has long been so. One hundred years ago, Mr J Reid Walker submitted a letter to the Bloodstock Breeders' Review on the subject. He wrote, “I cannot help thinking that racing would be even more interesting than it is if more horses were added to the list than at present. Geldings retain their temper, soundness and form much longer and are more useful for leading work, whereas the entire in many cases loses his temper altogether, and requiring as he does, more work, there is a greater strain on his legs…Even if retained as a stallion and sent to stud, he is, unless a high-class horse, generally a drug in the market, and frequently sold for an old song.” A century on, we have asked some knowledgeable members of the bloodstock community one simple question: should geldings be allowed to run in Group 1 races? Here are their thoughts on the matter. John Hammond, racing manager and former dual Arc-winning trainer “I don't think that you should ban them from all Group 1 races because some of the mythical horses over the years, Australian, American and so on, have been geldings. “Make no mistake, it does improve horses. I think it's an advantage because they'll be a bit lighter so they tend to need less work and it's easier to keep them sound. It also makes them more willing compared with the colts, who, when they get to four or five, tend to put on the handbrake a bit. “It's a bit difficult to give constructive arguments because none of us really know the consequences of it. It's a bit like moving the Derby from the Wednesday to the Saturday. The thinking was that so many people can't go to the races on the Wednesday so it should be on the Saturday, then anybody can go to the Derby. And actually, it's been an absolute disaster, but the original idea behind moving it has a certain logic to it. “Personally, I think they should probably let them run in the Arc and in all Group 1s apart from the Classics.” Kirsten Rausing, breeder and stallion owner, Lanwades “My view on this is well known. I know the counter-argument is that if colts were not gelded, then they would perhaps not run in so many races but, of course, the counter-counter-argument is that if we were all running in the same ballpark, i.e. if these races were only, as they used to be, open for full, entire colts, then horses who had temperament problems and so on would be sorted out. “We are well aware of the scarcity of stallions already at stud in, for example, Britain and Ireland. Their number is dwindling further and we are now below 100 active thoroughbred stallions in Britain. Most of these 100 would cover only a very limited number of mares each. All of this makes for a further concentration of thoroughbred mares being bred to perhaps two dozen stallions, at most, with the very significant implication for the thoroughbred herd inbreeding coefficient this carries. “We are in definite need of more stallions at stud – and thus more stallion candidates winning good races.” Anna Kerr, chief executive, The National Stud “I think the answer is that there are plenty of Group 1 races for all to run in, and conditions are in place for a reason. Sourcing stallions to stand at stud is not an easy business, and the Classics in particular provide that gauge of each generation's ability and ranking which then feeds into where they fit in that year's roster of stallions going to stud. “It is always important to question if things should remain or change, however I would be wary of unintended consequences.” Patrick Cooper, bloodstock agent and racing manager “Yes, because we have got to look after the sport and the sport requires the best to meet the best. And anything that diminishes that takes away from the spectacle of horse racing. It's that simple. “The guy who goes to Ascot to see the two best horses running against each other doesn't give a monkey's whether it's a mare, a colt or a gelding. He just wants to see Calandagan against City Of Troy, or whoever it happens to be. “I'm quite happy to have the outliers like the Derby and the Arc as a sop to the purists, if you like. But to be honest, it's the same argument I have with the Irish Derby. We have got to force the horses to race against each other, and Cheltenham has been wrecked because they've allowed them to avoid each other. “The other question is that if the colts can't beat the geldings, are they deserving of a place at stud? I'm sure you've heard the great quote of Alfred Vanderbilt, who owned Native Dancer. He had hundreds and hundreds of horses and as he was quoted as saying 'If I had gelded every single colt I ever owned, I would have made one mistake.' “You'll always get stallions like Havana Grey, for example. The breed will look after itself but we've got to look after the sport. We need Liverpool against Manchester United.” Jim McGrath, broadcaster and breeder “The last gelding to be placed in the Derby was in 1895, and they were banned in 1904, but why were they banned? I can't find a good reason. “In top races in America, i.e. the Kentucky Derby, they can run. They were banned for a little while, but reinstated. Winners of the Kentucky Derby have included geldings, and that hasn't damaged the race. “I remember asking a vet about what gelding actually does, apart from the bleeding obvious. And of course, when you castrate a horse, you're taking away his capacity to produce testosterone, but it's not just that. Testosterone is present in males and females, but in the male particularly it's very important, and when you take it out of a male, you are creating an imbalance. You're interfering with chemicals naturally in the body. “So there are consequences for interfering, and in horses, in particular, it affects the epiphysis – the end of the bone splints, basically. We've heard the phrase, 'I cut him, threw him in the field and gave him time.' Why? Because they grow bigger. “Now, why did they stop doing it to humans? To preserve choirboys, in Italy in particular, before the Middle Ages, they had them castrated. And they stopped the practice because a lot of them got rickets – they grew tall and stooped a bit. “The physical alterations that happen when you castrate a horse include that they are lighter and, of course, they are easier to train from a temperament perspective. “So you've got to ask yourself, is that a good enough reason for them not to run? Because in some cases, they might be at an advantage. But, to me, the Kentucky Derby argument counteracts that. “Most times, geldings enhance races because they're representative of the crop. If you're trying to make a stallion and you want breeders to use a horse, how is he completely proven if in some of your most important races, your benchmark of excellence, [geldings] are taken out of the equation? “At heart, I am a traditionalist, but because I worked at Timeform, and we're all boring nerds that work there, through Phil Bull, Reg Griffin, Geoff Greetham, Dave Newton – the senior men that we all have learned from down the years – they demanded of us to present some reasoning. But I can't really see a reason [for geldings not to run], and the idea that it's protecting the breed is a bit highfalutin. In essence, really, it's poppycock.” Stuart Williams, trainer and breeder “I'm a bit of a traditionalist, I'm afraid. The reason we had parades and such for the Group 1 races was to test the stock to see if they had the temperament to be good stallions. “By the trainer's admission, horses like Calandagan almost certainly wouldn't have been Group 1 horses without the advantage of being geldings. “I understand the argument for the best horses competing being good for racing and creating interest, etc. In my opinion, a handful of races restricted to colts and fillies or mares doesn't impinge too much on the excitement of the overall programme.” Felix Lepeudry, breeder, Elevage de Tourgeville “The geldings are wonderful as they go on through time. Cirrus Des Aigles ran against several generations of stallions and it allowed us to compare them. Some horses run in the Arc with a 100/1 chance because they weren't gelded, meanwhile some well-rated geldings aren't considered and end up running abroad. It would make a lot of big owner-breeders think again before selling. “In trotting, the best horses stay on the track for five or six years and the public gets attached to them a lot more – and they cover in the meantime but that's another topic!” Kate Sigsworth, breeder and deputy chair of the TBA “In the UK and Europe generally we are struggling to supply enough runners of the right calibre to populate these races. The inclusion of geldings make the races more competitive and, therefore, more appealing to a wider audience, something the sport is struggling with at the moment. “All geldings represent a stallion, a mare and her wider family, so to have them winning and competing in these races does help 'the breed'. “I know how hard it can be for trainers to persuade an owner to geld a horse who desperately needs gelding, even when they can still compete in Group 1 races. A horse should be gelded and not used to be bred from if they are unsound either in wind or limb, have temperamental issues, are not well conformed, etc., but they should not be prevented from attaining the best possible racing career they are able to achieve. “Geldings often have a better quality of life while in training than a colt – if there is available turnout it's easier to turn a gelding out, they can be kept in a mixed barn, they can go out with any string, either at the front or the back, and they are easier to give a holiday and rest, etc. “As a breeder I want colts to be tested against the best horses in the country and/or world, not just against the best colts. By doing this I have a better idea of his racing ability and that I am using the best possible stallion for my mare. If we have a champion gelding I would be looking at his sire/sireline to use on my mare. “The BHA has set up a working group to look at ways of stemming the exodus of quality horses to other racing countries – if we don't allow geldings to compete in Group 1 races then British racing is sending a mixed messages.” The post The Great Gelding Debate: Poppycock or Protectionism? appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The President of Unified Door and Hardware Group, L C Racing's Glenn Bennett has grown from a regional, Pennsylvania-based breeding program to a band of 20 which now includes the dam of an Eclipse winner. Bennett, who lives close to Parx and still brings his family to the track for days like the Pennsylvania Derby card and Owner Appreciate Day, often partners with Chuck Zacney's Cash Is King Racing (best known for campaigning MGISW Afleet Alex) along with now-retired trainer Mark Reid who Bennett credits with the genius behind these mating plans. Together, Bennett and Zacney co-own successful young Spendthrift stallion Maximus Mischief who is heavily-supported in Bennett's 2026 blueprint. ADORABELLA, 10, Ghostzapper–Alydorable, by Arch. Due to Forte. Will be bred to Not This Time. L C Racing purchased her for $550,000 from the Fasig-November Sale in 2023 and the dam of newly-crowned Champion Sprinter Book 'em Danno (Bucchero) goes to one of the top stallions in the game in Not This Time. You can't go wrong with him. She nicks really well with him. Her first two foals were MSW Girl Trouble (Fast Anna) and Book'em Danno. Mark Reid, who helps put these breedings together, really liked Not This Time for Adorabella. We're swinging for the fences. BINSKY, 6, Curlin–Retraceable, by Medaglia d'Oro. Due to Mandaloun. Will be bred to Omaha Beach. We acquired her at the Fasig-Tipton June Digital Sale last year for $100,000. Mark [Reid] loved this mare and wanted to get her. She's out of a stakes-winning mare and a half to MSW and GII Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Spring third Another Miracle (American Pharoah). Another one of her half-sisters, Le Moine, is the dam of GSW Alpine Princess (Classic Empire). Her first foal is now a 2-year-old Uncle Mo colt. She's in foal to Mandaloun and then she'll go to Omaha Beach. BLACK MAGIC WOMAN, 9, Uncle Mo–Dazzling Song, by Unbridled's Song. Due to Vekoma. Will be bred to Vekoma. She's the newest one we just bought (for $450,000 at Keeneland January). She's a half to GI Arkansas Derby winner Magnum Moon (Malibu Moon). She has a Guntie yearling and Mark loves her match with Vekoma so she's likely to go back to him. BOUQUET OF GOLD, 11, Medaglia d'Oro–Bouquet Booth, by Flower Alley. Will be bred to Maximus Mischief. The first of four mares that I'm sending to Maximus this year. She wasn't bred this year just because it got so late last year. She's already produced a two-time stakes winner by him in Mailata along with another stakes filly in Jeanne Marie (Speightster). Mailata's going to the Gotham to try and get on the Derby trail. Plenty of back class in the family with MGISW Riskaverse (Dynaformer), Horse of the Year Havre de Grace (Saint Liam) and MGISW and sire Tonalist (Tapit) under her third dam. DR B, 8, Liam's Map–Boleyn, by Proud Citizen. Due to Constitution. Will be bred to Life Is Good. Chuck and I raced this mare and she's a nice one, won the GIII Go For Wand Stakes twice and was also placed in the GII Honorable Miss Handicap twice and the GIII Vagrancy Stakes once. Her dam placed in the GII Demoiselle Stakes and she has two stakes-winning half-siblings. She produced her first foal in 2025, a Flightline colt, and now she's due to Constitution. She'll go to Life Is Good. Maximus Mischief | Spendthrift Farm EXPECT WONDERFUL, 12, Tiz Wonderful–Holiday Peace, by Harlan's Holiday. Due to Maximus Mischief. Will be bred to Maximus Mischief. She's another one that I'm partnered up with Mark on and she's a big-time nick to Maximus. She's already produced GIII Withers Stakes winner Uncle Heavy (Social Inclusion) who also ran fourth in the GI Pennsylvania Derby and MSP Beyondexpectations (Peace and Justice). She has a yearling by Omaha Beach and she's due to Maximus this year too. FOOLERY, 8, Distorted Humor–Firefly, by Tapit. Due to Medaglia d'Oro. Will be bred to Maximus Mischief. She's in foal now to Medaglia d'Oro after producing a Maximus Mischief filly in 2025. And she's going back to Maximus. Her dam is a half to the mother of several Group 1 winners (G1 Darley Yorkshire Oaks winner Seventh Heaven {Ire} {Galileo [Ire]) and G1 Emaar Middle Park Stakes winner Crusade {Mr. Greeley). MAINSTAY, 7, Astern (Aus)–Vero Amore, by Mineshaft. Due to City of Light. Will be bred to City of Light. The half-sister to champion 2-year-old filly and $3.4 million FTKNOV broodmare buy Vequist (Nyquist). She placed in the GIII Schuylerville Stakes and her first foal, a Candy Ride (Arg) colt is now 3-years-old. She also has a Golden Pal 2-year-old and an American Pharoah yearling. She's due to City of Light and she'll go back to him. NIKKI M P, 6, Into Mischief–Allegheny Angel, by Medaglia d'Oro. Due to Munnings. Will be bred to Epicenter. This is a mare I partnered with Mark on. She had her first foal last year (a colt by Corniche) and she went to Munnings this year. Her half-sister (Whoa Nellie {Orb}) is a multiple stakes winner and twice placed in graded company and her second dam is a Grade I winner (Awesome Humor). QUIET VIRTUE, 14, Quiet American–Stage Dream, by Theatrical (Ire). Due to Maximus Mischief. Will be bred to Maximus Mischief. This was one of Mark's horses that I bought off of him. She already has stakes runner by Maximus in Maximus Meridius who has won over $600,000. And Flyin Hawaiian (Maximus Mischief), who ran in last year's GI Hopeful Stakes, was also from her. So she's another that's going back to Maximus. 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