Wandering Eyes

When local trainer Jo-Anne Dalton put a saddle on Sestina (NZ) (Lonhro) for Sunday’s Gladvale Farms Winton Cup (1400m) at Ascot Park, she expected the $35,000 race to be little more than a pipe-opener ahead of the Cromwell Cup (2030m) next weekend – but the Lonhro mare had other ideas. Sestina swept to victory in Sunday’s open handicap, recording her second 1400m success from only three starts so far in her six-year-old season. “It’s a big surprise, to be fair,” Dalton said. “Even Tina (Comignaghi, jockey) thought she’d be flat-footed today over 1400m. We normally need a wet track for this mare to be competitive over these shorter trips. But the little tart has pulled one out of the box today! “She’s been a handful around the stables all week and really needed to have a run here today ahead of Cromwell next week. “She should be a stayer, but this is her second win over 1400m this time in. We’ll take it!” Comignaghi settled Sestina in fourth place as Balzano and Sir Sterling duelled for the lead and dragged the field around the Ascot Park circuit at a strong pace. Those efforts began to take their toll on that pair as they straightened for home, and Comignaghi had Sestina poised to pounce. She presented her mount on the outside of the leaders at the turn and drove her over the top of them down the straight, going on to win by half a length over Tomasina and Ex Aye. Bred by Cambridge Stud’s Sir Brendan and Lady Jo Lindsay, Sestina has now had 31 starts for five wins, 11 placings and $155,555 in stakes. “I thought during the race that she seemed to be travelling well and was in a good spot,” Dalton said. “When she pulled out, I thought, ‘Here we go!’ “She has a few quirks – things have to be done her way and in her own time, when she feels like it. She’s a bit bossy. But she’s got ability. “We’ll head to the Cromwell Cup next Sunday. We’ll go up to 2000m, which we thought would suit her a lot better than today’s race!” The Winton Cup completed a winning double on Sunday’s Ascot Park card for Dalton, who earlier in the afternoon saddled Venetian (Castelvecchio) for a five-length runaway in the Advance Agriculture & Sinclair Transport Maiden (1400m). That lightly raced four-year-old mare is owned by the Harper and Kilkelly families, who also race Sestina as well as Sunday’s Travellers Rest Tavern & Mud & Daggs Rating 65 (1600m) runner-up Ominous. View the full article

Join Guy Heveldt, Emily Murphy and Aidan Rodley has the break down the action from a sunny Pukekohe Park for Counties Cup day. Weigh In, November 23 View the full article

Steven Ramsay and Julia Ritchie trained their 200th winner in the blue and white hooped colours of owner-breeder Sir Peter Vela when talented filly Passiflora (NZ) (Farnan) led all the way in Saturday’s Happy Hire 3YO (1200m) at Wanganui. The Ramsay-Ritchie partnership has now been credited with 200 wins from 1427 runners, with 14 black-type successes including Guiseppina in the Gr.1 Telegraph (1200m), Rasa Lila and Dolmabache in the Gr.2 Travis Stakes (2000m), and Group Three victories by Amaryllis, Pure Elegance, Rasa Lila and Island Life. “It’s a real buzz for us to train 200 winners for Sir Peter Vela,” Ramsay said on Saturday. “He and his late brother Philip have given us incredible support through our careers, and we’re just so happy to be involved in the team.” Passiflora has emerged this spring as one of the more promising young members of Ramsay and Ritchie’s Matamata stable. She was a front-running debut winner over 970m on the Cambridge synthetic track on September 10, then ran third behind War Princess and Lubeck in a strong three-year-old race at Tauranga on November 1. Saturday’s $40,000 age-group sprint was her third start, and she again controlled the race from the front before kicking hard at the home corner. Perfect Habit finished strongly and ate into her margin, but Passiflora refused to let that rival pass. She held on grimly to win by a neck, with two and a half lengths back to the third-placed Our Sniper. “I thought there would be a bit of speed on, but in the end I got an easy lead and stacked them up a little bit,” winning rider Leah Hemi said. “She kicked away nicely at the turn. She’s a tiny little thing, but she’s got a good attitude.” Passiflora’s three-start career has produced two wins, a third and $36,960 in stakes. “She was really good on the synthetic first-up, where she jumped and ran and put them away,” Ramsay said. “I think it was quite a tidy field that she came up against at Tauranga the other day, and she boxed on well that day. “Leah gave her a good ride today and the filly really dug in too. She’s not overly big, but she’s got a bit of class.” Passiflora comes from the first crop by Gr.1 Golden Slipper (1200m) winner Farnan and is his first New Zealand winner. He has sired a total of 23 winners from 70 runners, including North England, King Of Pop and Recuperato at stakes level. The dam of Passiflora is Sir Peter Vela’s homebred Charm Spirit mare Lilikoi, who won three races including the Gr.3 Eulogy Stakes (1600m). She also placed in the Gr.2 Royal Stakes (2000m). Sir Peter Vela’s Pencarrow Stud will offer a Super Seth half-brother to Passiflora as Lot 522 during Book 1 of Karaka 2026 on January 25 and 26. View the full article

Royal Flower’s (NZ) (Proisir) victory in the G Bristol & Sons 2040 at Wanganui on Saturday has earned her a black-type assignment over the same course and distance next weekend. The seven-year-old Proisir mare produced an impressive performance in the $50,000 open handicap, dragging the field up to the tearaway leader Sagunto and hitting the front before the home turn. Royal Flower gave her rider Mereana Hudson everything she asked for down the straight, and she went on to win by a length and a quarter from runner-up Comedy. Foxton owner-trainer-breeder Gail Temperton was delighted with Saturday’s performance and now plans to take Royal Flower back to Wanganui seven days later for the $80,000 Listed Steelform Roofing Group Wanganui Cup (2040m). “It’s a big thrill any time you win a race, but that was a very good win by the horse and an amazingly good ride,” Temperton said. “Mereana was sitting down and pushing her along from quite early in the piece, and she really controlled the race from there. I was delighted with the ride and it was great to get the win. “She’ll go to the Wanganui Cup next week, and then we’ll give her a longer gap between runs after that. It’s not my habit to back horses up as quickly as that, but she can do it. She hadn’t raced for a month until now, which makes it easier, so it’s not like we’re making her do these quick back-ups every time.” A black-type win is the missing piece in Royal Flower’s CV. The Taikorea Thoroughbreds homebred has had 36 starts for eight wins, eight placings and $174,815 in stakes, including third placings in the last two editions of the Gr.3 Manawatu Breeders’ Stakes (2000m). She was beaten by three and a half lengths by Apostrophe in the 2024 Breeders’ Stakes, then returned in April of this year to be beaten by a neck and a half-head by Val Di Zoldo and Nigella Lane. “She’s had those couple of black-type placings, doubling up and running third in the same race two years in a row,” Temperton said. “We’d really love to see her go a couple of placings better in a stakes race. That’s the aim.” Rich Hill Stud offered Royal Flower during Book 2 of Karaka 2020, where she failed to meet her $15,000 reserve. She has now earned more than 11 times that amount for her owner-trainer-breeder. View the full article

Nevada Beach was an overwhelming favorite against just three foes in the $98,000 Native Diver Stakes (G3) Nov. 22 at Del Mar. He got the job done by a half-length, but it wasn't remotely as easy as his 1-10 odds indicated.View the full article

On Nov. 22 at Churchill Downs, Giocoso became a millionaire in rallying to defeat Chapman's Peak by a head in the $299,800 Commonwealth Turf Stakes (G3T). View the full article

While the GI Breeders' Cup Classic may have turned out to be a jump too high for him, Nevada Beach (Omaha Beach) bounced back from that effort with a workman-like victory in the GIII Native Diver Stakes at Del Mar. Despite only starting his career in mid-April this year, the son of Omaha Beach has cobbled together a respectable 2025 campaign with wins in the Los Alamitos Derby in late June and the 'WAYI' GI Goodwood Stakes two back Sept. 27 at Santa Anita. The lattermost effort guaranteed him a spot in the World Championships earlier this month, and he was 18-1 in that contest as Forever Young (Jpn) (Real Steel {Jpn}) made history for Japan. Nevada Beach was never a factor in seventh. On the strength of his running lines, and despite facing older horses once again here, the betting public hammered the Bob Baffert-trainee into favoritism to the tune of 1-9 odds by the time the gates opened. He watched it all unfold from third as Westwood (Authentic) stepped out to set the tempo with British Isles (Justify) never far away from him. That pair rolled through six furlongs in 1:11.25 and got a mile in 1:35.92 as Nevada Beach inched closer to them along the far bend. Challenging for the lead as Westwood threw out a white flag, British Isles was less willing to call it quits and the duo locked horns into the final furlong before the eventual winner finally got the best of his challenger. Nevada Beach came home a measured half-length victor over British Isles and it was 2 1/4 back to longtime leader Westwood. Indispensable (Constitution) trailed for the duration in fourth. “He went easy today, but [compared to] his last race, it's almost like two different horses,” said winning rider Juan Hernandez. “He broke a step slow. I had to help him get into the rhythm. Around the three-eighths pole, I had to start working on him, because he was getting a little lazy on me. But Bob [Baffert] knows that this horse has talent. I trust Bob, so I started working on [Nevada Beach] and it worked out.” “He is a big horse, he is a train. He got the job done though. I want to give my thanks to the owners for giving me the confidence. He may want to run a little more distance, he galloped out of the race well.” It was a battle down the stretch! NEVADA BEACH ($2.20) took home the $100,000 Native Diver Stakes (G3) with @JJHernandezS19 in the irons. Bob Baffert trains the son of @spendthriftfarm Omaha Beach. pic.twitter.com/3hzUS1X1On — FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) November 23, 2025 Pedigree Notes: Nevada Beach is the lone black-type winner, and Grade I horse, for his dam–herself a multiple stakes winner who is a half-sister to an elite level runner. Morrow Cove (Yes It's True) claims a perfect strike rate with her offspring, however, as all five to make it to the races have gotten their picture taken, and four of them on several occasions, including Nevada Beach. Her last registered is a juvenile filly named Queen of Cairo (American Pharoah). The aforementioned half-sibling to the dam is GI American Oaks victress Decked Out (Street Boss), who also ran second in the GI Del Mar Oaks in her time on the track. This is the immediate female family of GSW Katonah (Klimt) and GSW Odysseus (Malibu Moon). Saturday, Del Mar NATIVE DIVER S.-GIII, $98,000, Del Mar, 11-22, 3yo/up, 1 1/8m, 1:48.35, ft. 1–NEVADA BEACH, 122, c, 3, by Omaha Beach 1st Dam: Morrow Cove (MSW, $182,610), by Yes It's True 2nd Dam: Once Around, by You and I 3rd Dam: Persimmon Hill, by Conquistador Cielo ($260,000 Ylg '23 KEESEP). O-Pegram, Michael E., Watson, Karl & Weitman, Paul; B-Paul Tackett Revocable Trust, Phil Tackett Estate & Christy Tackett (KY); T-Bob Baffert; J-Juan J. Hernandez. $60,000. Lifetime Record: GISW, 6-4-1-0, $426,500. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. 2–British Isles, 121, g, 4, Justify–Purely Hot, by Pure Prize. 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. O-Slam Dunk Racing, Baltas, Richard & McClanahan, Jerry; B-Orpendale/Chelston/Wynatt (KY); T-Richard Baltas. $20,000. 3–Westwood, 118, g, 3, Authentic–Indian Bay, by Indian Charlie. ($700,000 Ylg '23 KEESEP). O-C R K Stable LLC; B-Hinkle Farms (KY); T-John A. Shirreffs. $12,000. Margins: HF, 2 1/4, 5 3/4. Odds: 0.10, 16.50, 8.60. Also Ran: Indispensable. Scratched: Clouseau. Click for the Equibase.com chart or the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. The post Nevada Beach Back to Winning Ways with Workman-like Effort in Native Diver appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Uncorking a ferocious rally in the lane, Giocoso (Not This Time) became racing's newest millionaire after claiming the GIII Commonwealth Turf Stakes at Churchill Downs. Coming into the race with a win at the graded level under his belt–three back in the Aug. 9 GII Secretariat Stakes at Colonial Downs–and hovering just beneath the seven-figure mark in earnings, the son of red hot Not This Time had spent his last three races on the board. He was game as they come Sept. 6 at Kentucky Downs when he begrudgingly yielded late in the Gun Runner Stakes to finish second, and last out Oct. 25 employed his wicked kick to get up for third in Keeneland's GIII Bryan Station Stakes behind GISW Troubleshooting (Not This Time). The latter returned here as the 5-2 favorite. Setting up well off the pace in eighth for most of the race, Giocoso went into the four path along the first turn and was able to avoid some of the traffic problems that ultimately eliminated Troubleshooting early on, and King's Plate winner Mansetti (Collected) later, from contention. Still well off the fence after six panels in 1:11.67, Jose Ortiz had a wall of horses in front of him around the final bend and had to come six wide for racing room in the lane. Sights locked on Chapman's Peak (Quality Road) and Outrunner (American Pharoah), as that pair had been at each other's throats since the gates opened, Giocoso relentlessly closed the distance to nail the former in the shadow of the wire by a head. Outrunner was a length back in third. Troubleshooting faded to ninth after being checked repeatedly early on, and tiring in the stretch. “It was a little anxious moment down the stretch but the good horses know how to get the job done,” trainer Keith Desormeaux said. “Jose was able to get him to relax down the backside and I was blessed to have a jockey that used his skills to do that and we got the job done.” “He's a horse that comes to run every time and always gives you his best,” said Ortiz. “I couldn't have gotten the job done today without Keith and his team back at the barn to get him ready to run. He broke well and I got him to settle going into the first turn. I asked him to go little by little and at the quarter pole when I tipped out, I could tell I had a ton of horse left. GIOCOSO ($9.48) soars home in the $300,000 Commonwealth Turf Stakes (G3) with @jose93_ortiz in the irons. The son of @TMStallions Not This Time is trained by Keith Desormeaux. pic.twitter.com/YJkH2DkQaJ — FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) November 22, 2025 Pedigree Notes: Giocoso is the most successful of his dam's offspring and her only black-type runner thus far. He is one of three winners with two of those siblings entering the winner's enclosure in Japan and Argentina while an unplaced half-sister named Ecoro Diana (More Than Ready) also campaigned in the Land of the Rising Sun. Nutcracker Suite (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}), herself a half-sister to multiple group producer GSW-Ire Beauty Bright (Ire) (Danehill), had a stillborn 2024 McKinzie foal. She did produce a 2025 Up to the Mark filly since then and was bred to Cogburn for 2026. Another of the dam's half-siblings, MSW-Aus & G1SP-Eng Aloft (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), was a five-time winner in his career but was the only one to be elite-placed for second dam Dietrich (Storm Cat). A second sister named Marquesa (Kingmambo) produced a fleet of stakes performers in Japan. Saturday, Churchill Downs COMMONWEALTH TURF S.-GIII, $299,800, Churchill Downs, 11-22, 3yo, 1 1/16mT, 1:41.47, fm. 1–GIOCOSO, 123, c, 3, by Not This Time 1st Dam: Nutcracker Suite (Ire), by Fastnet Rock (Aus) 2nd Dam: Dietrich, by Storm Cat 3rd Dam: Piquetnol, by Private Account ($75,000 Ylg '23 KEESEP). O-Rocker O Ranch LLC; B-Breed First LLC (KY); T-J. Keith Desormeaux; J-Jose L. Ortiz. $177,250. Lifetime Record: 13-4-2-2, $1,119,971. Werk Nick Rating: B. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. 2–Chapman's Peak, 118, g, 3, Quality Road–Dickinson, by Medaglia d'Oro. 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. O/B-Godolphin (KY); T-Brad H. Cox. $57,500. 3–Outrunner, 118, c, 3, American Pharoah–Gale Force, by Giant's Causeway. ($150,000 Ylg '23 KEESEP). O-Colts Neck Stables LLC; B-Dixiana Farms LLC (KY); T-Jorge Duarte, Jr. $28,750. Margins: HD, 1, HF. Odds: 3.74, 4.53, 49.50 Also Ran: Anegada, Montador, California Burrito, Plensa, Mansetti, Troubleshooting, Flying Mohawk. Scratched: Simulate. Click for the Equibase.com chart or the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. The post Not This Time’s Giocoso Runs’em All Down to Claim Commonwealth Turf appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

8th-Churchill Downs, $117,975, Msw, 11-22, 2yo, f, 6 1/2f, 1:19.17, sy, 3/4 length. MARJORAM (f, 2, Quality Road–Cardamon, by Pioneerof the Nile), a Juddmonte homebred and full-sibling to this summer's GIII Mahony Stakes winner Spiced Up, debuted Saturday at 3-1 under Louisville's twin spires. The bay juvenile was a joint and distant last through the :22.68 first quarter, rushed up to fourth going into the far turn, continued to advance as the clock stopped in :46.25 for the half, and swung wide to take command down the lane. Frontrunner Kayla's Komet (Mitole) was loathe to surrender, but Marjoram continued to drive to the wire and edged clear late for a three-quarter length triumph. Marjoram's winning dam is a half to MGISW Emollient (Empire Maker), to SW & MGISP Hofburg (Tapit), and to the dam of 2024 G1 Dubai World Cup victor Laurel River (Into Mischief). Her yearling filly is by Into Mischief, her weanling colt is by Flightline, and she returned to the latter for 2026. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $69,300. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. O/B-Juddmonte (KY); T-Michael W. McCarthy. Marjoram is a debut winner in R8 at @churchilldowns under @luissaezpty for trainer Michael McCarthy! #TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/cTji4Jk9wi — TwinSpires Racing (@TwinSpires) November 22, 2025 The post Quality Road’s Marjoram Strikes at First Asking for Juddmonte at Churchill appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Nope. Just can't figure it out. Why on earth, at the end of another grueling sales cycle, would so many Americans scrape together the last of their resources, in energy and funds, and get on a plane for one final auction in France? Setting aside, that is, the langoustines and truffles; the calvados and cider; the designer boutiques; the Christmas lights that transform an elegant summer resort into a filmset apt for a French remake of It's A Wonderful Life; the medieval villages huddled, in the early dusk of midwinter, under idle plumes of chimney smoke; and a final chance for festivity among professional peers before dispersing for holidays at home, and a well-earned break. Unless, perhaps, it has something to do with the horses. Looking at recent editions of the Arqana Vente d'Elevage, it does seem actually seem quite conceivable that the catalogue itself may be animating the dozens of Americans who have again booked a trip to Deauville for December 6-9. Last year, indeed, four of the top five lots at the principal session were intended to continue their track careers in the United States, ahead of a potential endgame in introducing some genetic diversity to the Bluegrass. Not all those plans appear to have worked out quite as intended, but then these investments can always provide a moving target. Take Excellent Truth (Ire) (Cotai Glory {GB}), purchased at Arqana for €1.6 million as a Group 3 winner. Switched to Chad Brown, she earned just under $500,000 in three starts for Resolute Racing, notably winning the GI Diana Stakes, before being sold to Katsumi Yoshida for $2.5 million at the Fasig-Tipton November Sale. An unconventional pinhook, no doubt. But her career path-bred and sold in Ireland; raced and sold in France; raced and sold in America; and now evidently destined to begin her breeding career in Japan-shows just how flexibly these international “commodities” can nowadays be adapted to different strategies. And, of course, all those ancillary delights do count for something. Chad Schumer, unquestionably one of the hardest working agents on the international circuit, will naturally work this catalogue as diligently as he does any other. But he does acknowledge that business, at Deauville in December, can always be blended with a little pleasure. “Festive,” Schumer says. “That's definitely the word I would use to describe not only the beautifully decorated town, but the atmosphere surrounding the last sale of the season. You'd rarely encounter so many pleasant facial expressions, despite results in the ring! “Personally, we've had good luck at this sale and hope to again. If not, I'll come away as usual with some wonderful nights at any of the many fantastic restaurants-not to mention the lively conversations to be had, among many other stops, at the bar at the Normandy Hotel.” But first and foremost, of course, Schumer views the trip as a professional imperative. “For American buyers, there are so many options both in terms of breeding stock and racing opportunities,” he says. “In our country, grass racing seems to become more and more popular and, perhaps no less importantly, plentiful in options. The French fillies have done very well in the U.S. and usually there are plenty on offer that could go on and race over here. Siyouni-©Zuzanna-Lupa.jpg" alt="The sire Siyouni at Haras de Bonneval" width="1155" height="840" /> Siyouni | Zuzanna Lupa “In terms of breeding stock, the annual reduction by the Aga Khan Studs would have to be the first place to start. So many of those culls have gone on the be the cornerstones of other breeding programs. Americans would be remiss not to have a deep dive into the options, which include mares in foal to Siyouni (Fr) and Zarak (Fr), as well as the Studs' exciting young sires Vadeni (Fr) and Erevann (Fr). Godolphin, too, offers a reduction with many of those ready to carry on racing.” As we noted in recently browsing the upcoming December Sale at Tattersalls, American prospectors generally target such opportunities because they want to introduce something different to their broodmare bands. While few commercial programs in the U.S. are truly walking the walk, when it comes to turf bloodlines, nobody can deny the increasingly lucrative horizons opening on grass (and synthetics). But a sale like this does offer another, residual opportunity: mares with American backgrounds, which would not perplex or frighten off commercial shoppers if “repatriated” to a catalogue page in America. It might seem perverse to go all the way to France to import the kind of horses that saturate the domestic market, especially given the extra costs nowadays. But the fact is that such horses might well fall between the cracks: between, that is, the notoriously insular European shoppers and the Americans in town precisely because they want to diversify. There are, for instance, five daughters of Justify in the catalogue. These include the 3-year-old Just Before[217], who won a couple of small races in Ireland before being retired with a cover by St Mark's Basilica. She's a daughter of Gagnoa (Ire) (Sadler's Wells), the dual Classic-placed sibling to G1 Derby winner Pour Moi (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}). Gagnoa is now advancing in years but has produced a few accomplished types, notably Ancient Rome (War Front), who missed a Group 1 by a head as a juvenile. Ancient Rome's sister Etoile herself won a Group sprint as a youngster and is since the dam of No Nay Mets (Ire) (No Nay Never), triple stakes-winning juvenile sprinter in the US a couple of years ago. Another 3-year-old, Misty Quality [130] (Quality Road) has an internationally resonant page. She is a minor winner in France, having been exported from Book I of the Keeneland September Sale as a yearling, and offers a conduit to an outstanding Coolmore family: she's out of triple Group 1 winner Roly Poly (War Front), herself a sister to the top-class sprinter U S Navy Flag out of the aristocratic Classic winner Misty For Me (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). American Pharoah | Sarah Andrew Perhaps still more resonant is the family behind the unraced 6-year-old Pretty Milanova [163], an American Pharoah half-sister to the four-time Group 1 winner Peeping Fawn (Danehill), who has produced a couple of very talented runners. Their mother Maryinsky (Ire) (Sadler's Wells) was a Group 1-placed half-sister to none other than blue hen Better Than Honour (Deputy Minister). Pretty Milanova arrives with a cover of corresponding glamor in Lope De Vega (Ire), so that puts her next owner €200,000 ahead of the game just in terms of a covering fee. Another tremendous Coolmore family is accessible through the 4-year-old Mo Tambourine, who showed little in a light career but is by Uncle Mo out of a full-sister to a series of elite performers including the Classic winners Minding (Ire) and Tuesday (Ire): they're all by Galileo (Ire) out of the G1 Coronation Stakes winner Lillie Langtry (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}). Minding is the dam of the classy Henry Longfellow (Ire) (Dubawi {GB}), so the quality is repeating. Mo Tambourine arrives with a first cover by Metropolitan (Fr). A somewhat older mare who may nonetheless have some extra mileage is the 11-year-old Spooky Woods [237], a daughter of Justify's damsire Ghostzapper with a couple of black-type placings to her credit. That's because her half-sister by Astrology is now the dam of GI Pacific Classic winner and young Hill 'n' Dale stallion Arabian Knight; while her daughter by Speightstown included a couple of stakes wins when going on a streak of four last winter. She's in foal to Big Rock (Fr). Good Business [443} might also warrant consideration, at the age of 10: in foal to Onesto (Ire), she's a Speightstown half-sister to a multiple graded stakes performer in Compelled (War Front)-and their dam was a Dynaformer half-sister to none other than Malibu Moon (A.P. Indy). Other stallions to have come out of this family, either side of the water, include Temple City. This page could well find extra traction in Kentucky. Freddy Powell, director-general at Arqana, acknowledges that the catalogue's emphasis is turf. “But that doesn't just mean performers that can go on and race on the grass circuits in America, but also proper turf bloodlines: the best damsires in Europe, and mares in-foal to the best European stallions,” he says. “We have quite a few high-profile fillies to race on, with 40 rated 90 or more.” By way of example, Powell mentioned the juvenile Half Sovereign (Fr) (Ten Sovereigns {Ire}) [195], recent winner of the G3 Prix Miesque; the multiple stakes-placed Ginalyah [205] (Chachnak {Fr}); German Classic-placed Nyra (Ger) (Isfahan {Ger}) [187]; and the Aga Khan Studs sophomore Ashikidah (Fr) (Belardo {Ire}) [11], lately beaten just a head in a field of 18 for a Listed prize at Longchamp. Powell also noted that the dams of Gewan (GB) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}), Zavateri (Ire) (Without Parole {GB}) and Balantina (Ire) (Ten Sovereigns {Ire})-all 2-year-olds Group 1 winners in 2025-each passed through this auction. (In fact, Gewan's dam is a half-sister to Ginalyah.) “The Deauville Breeding Stock Sale is unique,” Powell declares, in summary. “Sort of, 'Find your next Grade I winner in an atmosphere of compulsory fun!' A combination of great bloodstock and a wonderful lifestyle experience.” The post Deauville ‘De Rigueur’ in December for American Enthusiasts appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

After winning a maiden route at Keeneland Oct. 10 by 20 lengths, Spendthrift Farm's Further Ado makes a highly anticipated stakes debut Nov. 29 against six juvenile rivals in the $400,000 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (G2) at Churchill Downs.View the full article

Doc Sullivan romps by 5 1/2 lengths in the $121,250 Thunder Rumble division of the New York Stallion Stakes Series Nov. 22 at Aqueduct Racetrack, before Khali Magic surprises in the Staten Island division a few races later.View the full article

Sunday, Kyoto, Japan, 15:40, MILE CHAMPIONSHIP-G1, ¥347,520,000, 3yo/up, 1600mT Field: 1-Toshin Macau (Jpn) (Big Arthur {Jpn}), 2-Champagne Color (Jpn) (Duramente {Jpn}), 3-Water Licht (Jpn) (Drefong), 4-Magic Sands (Jpn) (Kizuna {Jpn}), 5-Ascoli Piceno (Jpn) (Daiwa Major {Jpn}), 6-Gaia Force (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn}), 7-Cervinia (Jpn) (Harbinger {GB}), 80Kangchenjunga (Jpn) (Big Arthur {Jpn}), 9-Elton Barows (Jpn) (Deep Brillante {Jpn}), 10-Lavanda (Jpn) (Silver State {Jpn}), 11-Off Trail (GB) (Farhh {GB}), 12-Win Marvel (Jpn) (I'll Have Another), 13-Long Run (Jpn) (Victoire Pisa {Jpn}), 14-Lebensstil (Jpn) (Real Steel {Jpn}), 15-Jantar Mantar (Jpn) (Palace Malice {Jpn}), 16-Docklands (GB) (Massaat {Ire}), 17-Soul Rush (Jpn) (Rulership {Jpn}), 18-Wide Latour (Jpn) (California Chrome). Click here for the complete field. The post Black-Type Analysis: Jantar Mantar Faces Docklands In Mile Championship appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Darley stallion Space Blues sired his second stakes winner on Saturday, with the victory of Drago Blues in the Listed Premio Campobello-Memorial Paolo Ferrario in Milan. Space Blues already has G1 Phoenix Stakes hero Power Blue, as well as the group-placed Do Or Do Not and Bourbon Blues, and listed-placed Polly Shelby from his first crop. In midfield from the bell, the 67-25 chance inched toward the head of affairs on the turn. Wanda (Cracksman) had cut the corner into the homestretch, and it took the Giovanni Vittorio Vitale-owned colt the length of the lane to get past and win by a neck. Bred by Plantation Stud, the colt cost 50,000gns as a weanling at Tattersalls, and passed through that same ring when sold for 45,000gns out of the October Yearling Sale Book 2. Offered for sale once more, he was purchased by Marco Bozzi Bloodstock for €12,000 out of the Arqana May Breeze-Up Sale. The first foal out of the stakes-placed Simplicity (Casamento), the colt was previously third in the G3 Premio Guido E Alessandro Berardelli. His dam has a yearling filly by Showcasing that was sold to Manor House Stables and SackvilleDonald for 70,000gns out of the October Yearling Sale Book 1. The post New Stakes Winner For Space Blues In Italy appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Chevotel Racing's Orion Queen handled the heavy Milan turf and ran away with the G3 Premio St Leger Italiano in Italy on Saturday. The daughter of Sea The Moon was trying the 3000-metre distance for the first time. Setting off in a tracking second several paths off the fence, the 11-1 shot kept a close eye on last year's winner Taany (Teofilo) for the majority of the race. The field stayed well off the fence when rounding the bend into the home straight, and, despite covering more real estate than the pacesetter, the chestnut had dead aim on that foe leaving the bend. Taking over in early straight, the homebred ground her rivals into submission and crossed the line 3 1/4 lengths to the good of Ismahane (Isfahan) in second. It was another eight lengths back to Moon Wolf (Intello) in third, with Taany staying on for fourth by a length. The homebred won on debut at Nimes in February and added another win to her ledger four starts later at Hyeres over 2500 metres in June. After a second-place run at Divonne in August, she rebounded back at Lyon Parilly in a Class 3 handicap in September and warmed up for this with a second-place effort at Saint-Cloud in another handicap on October 26. Pedigree Notes Orion Queen is the 37th stakes winner for her sire, who stands at Lanwades Stud. She is also his 21st group winner and second from a Declaration Of War mare after GIII Honeymoon Stakes heroine Selenaia. Oriental Queen won thrice in a three-year career and also has the three-year-old filly Oriental Princess (Galiway), who has yet to place. Her granddam claimed the Listed Prix Urban Sea and is a half-sister to stakes winner Orion Star (Sternkoenig), who placed in both the G1 Grand Prix de Paris and in the G1 Prix du Cadran. Saturday, Milan, Italy PREMIO ST LEGER ITALIANO-G3, €70,400, Milan, 11-20, 3yo/up, 3000mT, 3:35.70, hy. 1–ORION QUEEN (FR), 123, f, 4, by Sea The Moon (Ger) 1st Dam: Oriental Queen (Fr), by Declaration Of War 2nd Dam: Orion Girl (Ger), by Law Society 3rd Dam: Okocha (Ger), by Platini (Ger) 1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN. 1ST GROUP WIN. O-Chevotel Racing. B-Chevotel de la Hauquerie (Fr). T-Manon Scandella Lacaille. J-Antonio Orani. €27,200. Lifetime Record: 9-4-2-1, €61,724. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. 2–Ismahane (Ger), 117, f, 3, Isfahan (Ger)–Identity (Ger), by Manduro (Ger). 1ST BLACK TYPE. 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (€90,000 Ylg '23 BBAGSEP). O-Darius Racing. B-Gestut Karlshof (Ger). T-Henk Grewe. €11,968. 3–Moon Wolf (Fr), 127, h, 7, Intello (Ger)–Diyakalanie (Fr), by Ashkalani (Ire). (€45,000 Ylg '19 ARQAUG). O-Stephane Wattel, JP Menville, Ecurie Ascot & Ecurie de Spa. B-Haras de Sainte Gauburge (Fr). T-Stephane Wattel. €6,528. Margins: 3 1/4, 8, 1. Odds: 11.30, 8.40, 8.25. Also Ran: Taany (Ire), Jolly Jumper (Ire), Almenkonig (Ger), Thine Be The Glory (Ire), Oberer (GB), Nonna Vanda (Ire), Maestro Del Mar (Fr). The post Orion Queen Rules In The St Leger Italiano appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article