Wandering Eyes

Zac Purton will be aiming to tick off another milestone on his way towards a landmark 2,000 Hong Kong winners when he pairs up with Horsepower in the Class Two Longines Cup (1,000m) at Happy Valley on Wednesday night. The 42-year-old has had little time to slow down since winning the Group One The Everest (1,200m) on Ka Ying Rising at Randwick last Saturday, as he returned to Sha Tin the next day to boot home a double and leave himself one win shy of 1,900 in Hong Kong. Things do not slow down...View the full article

Following his pleasing third placing in last Saturday’s A$5 million Gr.1 King Charles III Stakes (1609m) at Randwick, trainers Darryn and Briar Weatherley have decided to head south with Pier (NZ) (Proisir) to test his talent in Melbourne. The Group One winner has been a model of consistency since he landed in Australia in May, placing in the Gr.3 BRC Sprint (1350m) before winning the Listed The Wayne Wilson (1600m) in Brisbane. Following a spell he then ventured south to Sydney where he placed in the Gr.2 Theo Marks Stakes (1300m) first-up before running fifth in the Gr.1 Epsom Handicap (1600m), but Darryn Weatherley said he was too highly strung that day, which affected his performance. “His behaviour on the day in the Epsom, he was a little bit on the toe and he was quite agitated,” Weatherley said. The Matamata horseman said his gelding was the polar opposite heading into the King Charles. “With the two-week back-up into the King Charles, it just worked perfectly, he was a different horse altogether,” Weatherley said. “He was in a better frame of mind and he paraded like a Group One horse, whereas in the Epsom he was a little hot under the tail and he dislodged Ethan Brown when he got on him. He kind of had a run before the race, whereas the other day at Randwick, even though there was a 50,000-strong crowd and there was a lot of atmosphere, he was right in the zone and raced accordingly.” Pier proved himself more than capable in the star-studded line-up and beat some class animals to snare third place. “I was stoked, I couldn’t have been happier,” Weatherley said. “It was the best of the best with Pride of Jenni, Fangirl, Mr Brightside and Ceolwulf, who won it last year and this year. “He was up against it, but we are very proud to see that he wasn’t out of his league at all and he is well and truly up to it, so that was cool.” Weatherley said Pier has come through the race in fine fettle and they have now set their sights further south to Melbourne, where they are eyeing a couple of elite-level targets at Flemington on Champions Stakes Day. “He appears to have pulled up very well from the race on Saturday and he is booked to go on a float to Melbourne next Tuesday,” Weatherley said. He is weighing up between the Gr.1 Champions Mile (1600m) and Gr.1 Champions Stakes (2000m), with the latter’s extra distance proving more alluring to Weatherley. “We will probably nominate for both races and see what one looks more suitable,” he said. “At this stage, I am leaning toward the 2000m race. “The other day he was headed halfway up the straight by Pericles and we thought he was going to run fifth and then he fought back to run third. Ethan Brown got off and said he is screaming out for 2000m, and he can’t wait until he gets that far.” Meanwhile, Weatherley has arrived back in New Zealand to watch the stable’s promising three-year-old Bulgari (NZ) (Hello Youmzain) contest The George Abernethy & Associates 1150 at Te Aroha on Wednesday. The son of Hello Youmzain colt won on debut as a juvenile, but has failed to fire in his two starts this preparation, running sixth in both the Listed Sir Colin Meads Trophy (1200m) and Gr.2 Hawke’s Bay Guineas (1400m). “Bulgari was a bit of a headscratcher at Te Rapa, I thought he would go a better race,” Weatherley said. “He was ridden beautifully by Sam (Weatherley) in the Hawke’s Bay Guineas, the gap presented itself at the top of the straight and he went to poke his head through and never finished it off. “We were scratching our heads as to whether he is just a sprinter or perhaps the heavy track got to him. Tomorrow will be a wait and see. Looking at the Hello Youmzain’s, they might just be sprinters. I am hoping the 1150m tomorrow he will turn his form around. “I am really happy with the condition of the horse, he looks fantastic. I got back from Australia yesterday and I worked with him this morning. I was on Mali Ston and worked along beside him and he is very bright in himself, his coat looks fantastic, and I am looking forward to a bold showing.” View the full article

Leading trainer Mick Price says he would happily scratch Cox Plate hopeful Globe (NZ) (Charm Spirit) if he is not 100 per cent fit for Saturday’s weight-for-age championship. The Group One star is under an injury cloud heading into Saturday’s feature and Price declared he would be taking no risks with his Might And Power Stakes winner. “He had to do a sleip test. It’s a video of their action. RV contacted (Michael Kent) Junior late yesterday and said on half of the test, the horse wouldn’t pass. I’ve contacted the owners and let them know,” Price told Racing.com “He’s down the beach this morning. They’ll come Thursday, have a look at it. They usually … say ‘we might come Friday, we might leave it to Saturday morning’. “The horse does have an irritation in the off front fetlock. If that horse is not right, I’m not happy with him, I’m not going to run him. “We X-rayed it. It’s bone clean, but the joint capsule has an irritation where it attaches to the bone. It’s more a soft tissue thing. “On Saturday morning if the horse is not 100 per cent, he won’t run.” View the full article

Yulong’s become a behemoth in racing, but very rarely do they open their doors to the public. Michael’s in Victoria for a unique look at their work, to chat with some of the key players, and he gets a surprise from a couple of special foals. Plus, we look ahead to the Cox Plate. Guerin Report – S2 Ep.8 Ft. Yulong View the full article

Cambridge trainer Chris Wood has had a high opinion of That’s Gold (Lucky Vega) for some time, and he is hoping he can realise that potential when he attempts to break through for his maiden win in Wednesday’s Donaghys Moxipor (1150m) at Te Aroha. The son of Lucky Vega had seven starts for Wood as a juvenile, running fourth in the Listed Counties Challenge Stakes (1100m), and Wood is hoping he has more luck with the gelding as a three-year-old. “He showed me a lot last time in, things just didn’t go his way,” Wood said. “He has got plenty of ability, he is a good mover, so hopefully things fall into place.” That’s Gold trialled earlier this month where he was runner-up in his 850m heat at Te Awamutu, and Wood believes his charge is on song to perform first-up. “He is nice and bright, and he has trialled up well,” Wood said. “He has had a bit of practice and knows what he is there for. It is quite a nice little maiden field, but I expect him to run a race.” All going to plan, Wood has some lofty ambitions with That’s Gold this season. “We will set him for the big three-year-old races if he is going good enough,” he said. “That will be my aim.” Wood will also head to Te Aroha with Emmy Dazzler (NZ) (Embellish) and What A Yarn (NZ) (What’s The Story), who will contest the Donaghys Tasman TIM (1600m) and Donaghys Butch Coombe Memorial Cup (1400m) respectively. “Emmy Dazzler has been running well consistently,” Wood said. “She has got Sienna Brown (stable apprentice jockey) on and gets four kilos off, so I expect her to be very competitive. “Her last couple of starts have been on the poly, but she has raced well at Te Aroha previously. I think she will be a nice each way bet. “What A Yarn trialled up nice and has worked well since. I expect a bold race fresh-up.” Meanwhile, Wood is looking forward to heading to Te Rapa on Monday with Canheroc (NZ) (El Roca), who will have his final hit-out over 2400m before heading to Christchurch next month to contest the Gr.3 Martin Collins 162nd New Zealand Cup (3200m). “He went a good race last-start at Rotorua (when fourth in the Staphanos Classic, 1950m),” Wood said. “It was a bit of a slowly run race and we had to go a little bit earlier than what we wanted. He worked as good this morning as he has worked this time in and I think he will be very competitive there. “From there it is on to the New Zealand Cup. I don’t think we will run both days, he just needs the one run into the Cup. He is booked on the second flight going out of Auckland, so everything going right he will just be down there for the Cup.” View the full article

it good at the top, but there was a lot of activity from $20,000 on up.” During the session, 266 yearlings sold for $16,864,500. The session average was $63,400 and the median was $30,000. At the opening session of the 2024 October sale, 265 horses sold for $13,198,000. The average was $49,804 and the median was $20,000. The 2024 auction closed with a record average of $52,206, while the cumulative median of $20,000 was the fourth highest in sales history. Kristian Villante of Legion Bloodstock made the highest bid of the session–and third highest ever at an October sale–when going to $900,000 for a colt by Curlin from the Mill Ridge Sales consignment. The session-topping colt was one of 20 to bring $200,000 or more on the day, up from 14 a year ago. Denali Stud was responsible for two colts to sell for $400,000 during the session. And, while Denali's Conrad Bandoroff saw plenty of activity, he also admitted there was continued polarization in the market. “I think as the week continues, if you have a horse that people deem as quality, you are going to get rewarded for it,” Bandoroff said. “The target is small, but when you hit the center target, you are going to get well rewarded. You have to be realistic. It's a little bit of feast or famine, but when they land on your horse, it's fun. If you miss by an inch, you may as well miss by a mile. It's hyper-selective, but when it's good, it's really good.” The Fasig-Tipton October sale continues through Thursday with sessions beginning daily at 10 a.m. Curlin Colt Lights Up Board at Fasig-Tipton Kristian Villante of Legion Bloodstock made the third-highest bid ever at a Fasig-Tipton October sale when going to $900,000 to secure a colt by Curlin (hip 268) on behalf of a partnership led by Andrew Hudson of Hoolie Racing. “I've been looking for a couple of nice colts for him throughout the year and this one fit the bill,” Villante said. “He's by a proven sire, champion female family. He's a beautiful colt. We looked at him for three days and we fell in love with him.” Legion Bloodstock purchased a colt by Good Magic (hip 36) for $1.6 million on behalf of Hoolie Racing at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga sale and bought the operation another son of Curlin (hip 686) for $500,000 at the Keeneland September sale. The session-topping yearling, bred by Alpha Delta Stables and consigned by Mill Ridge Sales, is the first foal out of Canadian champion Munnyfor Ro (Munnings). Jon Clay's Alpha Delta purchased the mare, with the colt in utero, for $900,000 at the 2023 Fasig-Tipton November sale. The colt will head to Travis Durr's training center and will likely be trained by Whit Beckman, according to Villante. Of the $900,000 price tag, Villante said, “He stood out. We knew we would have to be strong on him. That was probably at the end of where we wanted to be on him. He was a beautiful horse. He deserved to bring that kind of money.” Denali Colts Bring Matching $400k Bids A pair of colts from the Denali Stud consignment led early proceedings during the first session of the Fasig-Tipton October sale Monday when bringing matching $400,000 bids. Bloodstock agent Pedro Lanz has been shopping on behalf of KAS Stables all season and the Saudi operation had one last wish on its list as the final yearling sale of the year got underway Monday in Lexington. “They wanted a Flightline,” Lanz said. “We had tried to bid on some before.” Lanz delivered when bidding $400,000 to acquire a colt by the champion (hip 198), the first of two expected to go through the ring at the October sale this week. “They asked if there were [yearling] sales after this and I said no, baby sales and broodmare sales,” Lanz said. “So we could buy this colt.” Out of stakes winner and graded-placed Message (Warrior's Reward), the yearling was bred by Woodford Thoroughbreds and, after he RNA'd for $475,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Sale in August, was selling Monday without reserve as part of the complete dispersal of John Sykes's operation. “I saw him in Saratoga and he has grown a lot since then,” Lanz said. Woodford purchased Message, in foal to Charlatan, for $675,000 at the 2022 Keeneland November sale. Her Charlatan colt sold for $275,000 at last year's Keeneland September sale before reselling for $375,000 at this year's OBS April sale. Hip 198 was consigned by Denali Stud. “Obviously, he didn't get done in Saratoga,” Denali's Conrad Bandoroff said. “He's a big two-turn horse and he has done nothing but improve since then. From August until now, he's just really come on and improved really nicely. He's been a big fish in a smaller pond here. He's a beautiful strapping colt and he went over really well. There was a ton of activity on him. He got vetted a lot by really good people. This was the result we were looking for in Saratoga. All's well that ends well.” Shortly before Lanz made his $400,000 bid, Gerard Butler spent the same amount while bidding on behalf of co-breeder Brookdale Racing to buy out partner Three Chimneys Farm on a colt by Gun Runner (hip 48). “To get a Gun Runner at that level at that price, I thought it was a good day's work,” said Butler. “We had to protect him at some stage. Obviously, he ticked all our boxes.” The yearling is out of multiple graded stakes winner Lady Apple (Curlin). Butler signed the ticket at $1.2 million to acquire the mare at the 2020 Fasig-Tipton November sale. Her 2-year-old colt Malus (Into Mischief) was a maiden winner in the Brookdale Racing colors at Saratoga in July. “That was a good result,” said Bandoroff. “That mare's foals are always kind of late bloomers, so we pointed to this sale all along. It was a plan that really came to fruition. The horse really did well in the last 30-45 days.” NOTHING BUT NET 'On a Lot of Lists': Mystic Guide Colt Rewards Partners A group of pinhookers were rewarded for their efforts Monday in Lexington when selling a colt from the first crop of G1 Dubai World Cup winner Mystic Guide (hip 160) for $150,000 to the bid of Faris Breeding. The group had purchased him under the name Nearco for $22,000 at the 2024 Keeneland November sale. “He was an absolutely lovely colt with a huge walk,” said Matt Bowling, whose Vinery Sales consigned the yearling. “Good bone, big hip. I think he just really matured into a really nice horse and they were rewarded for it.” Of the group, a pinhooking partnership that he manages, Bowling said, “They do a good job. They buy good physicals. And the horse just really blossomed at the right time. He showed himself really well and found himself on a lot of lists.” Thank you to our buyers and consignors for supporting the Kentucky October Yearlings sale. Session 1 results are now online at https://t.co/cD0JL4RBaU. The sale continues Tuesday at 10 AM. #FasigKY pic.twitter.com/FmpRqiUJIF — Fasig-Tipton (@FasigTiptonCo) October 21, 2025 The post ‘Great Start’: Fasig-Tipton October Sale Opens With a Bang appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Team Ka Ying Rising is already plotting its Group One The Everest (1,200m) defence and after the scenes of Saturday afternoon, why wouldn’t they be? Ka Ying Rising fever took Sydney by storm, with a modern-day record 50,167 people flocking to Randwick, and the presence of the world’s best sprinter in the world’s richest turf race caught the imagination of the punters, with more than HK$83 million bet with the World Pool to set another high-water mark. That benefited both the Jockey Club and the...View the full article

So You Think (NZ) (High Chaparral), one of New Zealand’s greatest thoroughbred exports, has passed away, aged 19. Bred by Mike Moran and Piper Farm, So You Think was by former Windsor Park Stud stallion High Chaparral and out of Group Two-winning mare Triassic. He was offered through Windsor Park Stud’s 2008 New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Yearling Sale draft and was purchased by bloodstock manager Duncan Ramage on behalf of owner Dato Tan Chin Nam for $110,000. He entered the care of legendary trainer Bart Cummings, for whom he made an instant impact as a juvenile, winning on debut over 1400m at Rosehill. He returned as a three-year-old where he truly left his mark, winning the Gr.3 Gloaming Stakes (1800m) before taking out the Gr.1 Cox Plate (2040m) at just his fifth start. The striking colt, with his distinct long forelock, would become a fan favourite and go on to win another four Group One races in Australia carrying Dato Tan Chin Nam’s famous silks, including defending his crown in the Cox Plate. It was fitting that his Australian swansong was the Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m), a race his trainer had made his own, and he ran on gallantly to finish third behind Americain. He was described by Bart Cummings as “perfection on four legs, you don’t get any better than him, he is the finest, most genuine horse I have ever trained”. So You Think was subsequently sold to Coolmore and continued his racing career in the Northern Hemisphere for Irish trainer Aidan O’Brien, for whom he won a further five Group One races before retiring to stud at Coolmore. He proved to be a prolific producer, siring 66 individual stakes winners and 12 individual Group One winners to date, including three-time Group One winner Think It Over. Coolmore announced on Monday that So You Think had passed away after succumbing to a short illness while receiving care at Scone Equine Hospital. Coolmore’s Tom Magnier said So You Think was very popular with farm visitors and will be a massive loss to the industry. “When people visit Coolmore, more often than not the stallion most of them really want to see is So You Think,” he said. “He was an absolute gentleman, an incredibly kind and intelligent horse and this is a sad day for all the staff that have looked after him so well at Coolmore since he retired in 2012. “We are so lucky to have had him and watch him develop into one of the country’s truly elite sires. He provided me with so many great memories on racetracks throughout the world as both a racehorse and a stallion. “I will never forget the day he sired three Group One winners in a day at Randwick in 2022, but equally the day he provided Joseph O’Brien with his first Royal Ascot winner as a jockey in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes in 2012.” View the full article

Homebred Ceolwulf’s (NZ) (Tavistock) successful defence of his Gr.1 King Charles III Stakes (1600m) title ensured Cambridge Stud celebrated a top day at Randwick. Their colours were carried by James McDonald into fifth aboard Joliestar in Saturday’s Gr.1 The Everest (1200m) before the Joe Pride-trained farm graduate bounced back to his best in the weight-for-age feature. “We would have loved to have won The Everest with Joliestar, but it wasn’t to be, and then the day finished on a real high with Ceolwulf,” Cambridge Stud’s Scott Calder said. “I’d be lying if I said I hadn’t lost a bit of confidence along the way, he won the race 12 months ago and Joe Pride has been so positive about him, but his form had been indifferent. “In the end, it was a masterstroke for him to have the blinkers up his sleeve, and it was awesome to see him back to that level again.” Ceolwulf was sold on behalf of the stud by Riversley Park at New Zealand Bloodstock’s Ready to Run Sale where Pride secured him with Leighton Fowl for $170,000. He is out of the Shamardal mare Las Brisas, whose Almanzor filly Lupa Capitolina was also bought at Karaka by Pride for $260,000 and has twice finished in behind the major players from three appearances. A half-brother will be part of Cambridge Stud’s draft to the 2026 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale. “That’s the real upside with a Sword Of State heading to Karaka, it’s exciting on both fronts with the stallion having his first stakes winner (Torture) and then Ceolwulf adding his third Group One to the page,” Calder said. “No doubt, he will be one of the most highly anticipated horses in our draft and he’s already got a profile as the horse the Guerin Report has been following since birth. “He’s a really nice colt and a different sort to Ceolwulf, who was in that lighter framed Tavistock mould and a later developing, middle distance type of horse. “The Sword Of State colt is very much in keeping with the stock the stallion throws, a medium-size, very mature and strong horse with a good hind quarter.” The unraced Las Brisas foaled a daughter this season to stud newcomer Chaldean. “She has left a beautiful filly this year and whether she goes to public auction is probably pretty unlikely,” Calder said. “For the sake of Chaldean, it’s fantastic to have such a really nice foal out of one of our best mares. “All going to plan, the mare will be covered by I Am Invincible this year and obviously is a mare befitting of going to a stallion of that calibre.” Las Brisas purchased for 50,000gns at the 2018 Tattersalls December Mare Sale. “As everyone knows with breeding, you have to have long range plans and investment and it can really pay dividends,” Calder said. “Even prior to owning Cambridge Stud, Brendan and Jo (Lindsay) invested in European bloodstock sales and those rewards are coming to bear now,” Calder said. “Las Brisas is an example of that, a well-related daughter of Shamardal and Brendan was at the sale that year with (bloodstock agent) John Foote and (stud CEO) Henry Plumptre and now she’s produced one of the best middle-distance horses in Australasia.” View the full article

A colt by Curlin (hip 268) lit up the board at the first session of the Fasig-Tipton October sale when bringing a final bid of $900,000 from Legion Bloodstock's Kristian Villante. Villante was bidding on behalf of a partnership of Legion clients led by the Hudson family's Hoolie Racing. Bred by Alpha Delta Stables and consigned by Mill Ridge Sales, the yearling is the first foal out of Canadian champion Munnyfor Ro (Munnings). Alpha Delta purchased the mare, with the colt in utero, for $900,000 at the 2023 Fasig-Tipton November sale. The post Curlin Colt to Legion Bloodstock for $900k at Fasig-Tipton October appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

On the Oct. 20 episode of BloodHorse Monday: Kate Hunter previews the Japanese Breeders' Cup runners, trainer Will Walden talks Rhetorical, and Jes Sikura highlights Hill 'n' Dale's Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale consignment.View the full article

Marvin Rafael Fernandez, a 35-year-old apprentice jockey at Delaware Park who rode a 228-1 shot to a third-place finish while beaten only half a length last Thursday, had his license rescinded the next day by that track's stewards, who determined that over the course of three probationary races Oct. 15 and 16 in which Fernandez twice finished in the money, his “performance was not satisfactory to the standards required to hold the license.” Fernandez, who has five lifetime mounts in 2024-25 and had been riding last week under “temporary” licensure at the 10-pound apprentice level, will be allowed to retain his exercise riding license, according to the Oct. 17 ruling signed by Delaware stewards Joelyn Rigione, Robert Colton and William Troilo. Although Fernandez had no other rulings issued against him during his probationary period and there were no mentions of adverse incidents in either the official charts or the daily stewards' reports for the two dates he rode last week, the stewards did order him to appear at the next-day film reviews after each of his rides on Oct. 15 and 16 for “crop” reasons, according to footnotes in the daily reports. In the third race Oct. 15 (video), Fernandez's 19-1 mount was near the back for most of a nine-horse claiming route and ended up beating only one other eased entrant. In the fourth race Oct. 16 (video), Fernandez's 6-1 mount led from the rail for most of a four-horse claiming sprint before being overtaken by a 3-10 favorite in deep stretch while holding on for second. In the sixth race Oct. 16 (video), Fernandez, aboard the 228-1 Midnight Getaway (Midnight Storm), “bumped with an inner foe at the start, rated in the four path, swung out to the seven path turning into the lane, and rallied for show,” according to the Equibase chart. The Delaware meet ended the next racing date, Saturday, Oct. 18. Attempts to reach both Fernandez and the Delaware Park stewards' office on Monday were unsuccessful. The post Delaware Apprentic Rides 228-1 Shot To Third-Place Finish, Has License Rescinded The Next Day appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

So You Think, a 10-time group 1 winner turned successful Coolmore sire, has died after succumbing to a short illness while receiving treatment at Scone Equine Hospital in New South Wales. He was 19. View the full article

Tuesday, Curragh, post time: 15:17, STAFFORDSTOWN STUD STAKES-G3, €36,000, 2yo, f, 8fT Field: Cameo (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), Caught U Sleeping (Ire) (Cotai Glory {GB}), Ice Dancer (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), Ifweonlyhavelove (Fr) (Recoletos {Fr}), La Fogata (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}), Stars Will Shine (Ire) (Starman {GB}), Sugar Island (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), Thundering On (GB) (Frankel {GB}). TDN Analysis: Without the customary Ballydoyle standout, this is wide-open and could go to one of the unexposed maiden winners. Stars Will Shine impressed at Down Royal and may have more upside than stablemate Caught U Sleeping despite that runner having been third to Diamond Necklace in the Listed Ingabelle Stakes last month. Thundering On is of intrigue, bypassing the many maidens on offer at the moment which shows what Joseph O'Brien thinks of Shapoor Mistry's homebred daughter of his star mare Thundering Nights. [Tom Frary]. Click here for the complete fields. The post Black-Type Analysis: Open Staffordstown Stud Stakes appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Grade I winner Mullikin (Violence–Tulira's Star, by Congrats), slated to make his final career start in this year's GI Breeders' Cup Sprint at Del Mar, will stand the 2026 breeding season at WinStar Farm, the operation announced Tuesday. A stud fee will be announced after the Breeders' Cup. Mullikin will participate in WinStar's Dream Big Program, which offers breeders the opportunity to earn a lifetime breeding right. “Mullikin has competed at the highest level for the last two years and is a gorgeous looking horse from a world-class sire line [Sadlers Wells],” said Elliott Walden, president, CEO, and racing manager of WinStar Farm. “Our best stallions over the years all had speed. He fits the mold of what we want to place in the market, looks, speed, and pedigree.” Owned by WinStar Farm and trained by Rodolphe Brisset, Mullikin won last year's GI Forego Stakes at Saratoga by 5 3/4 lengths over GISW Gun Pilot (Gun Pilot) while earning a 105 Beyer. During a four-race win streak in 2024, Mullikin also captured the GII John A. Nerud Stakes in his graded stakes debut, running seven furlongs in 1:20.54, just 0.50 off the track record set by Artax in 1999. Mullikin has run four triple-digit Beyers thus far, including a career-high 106 when finishing second to multiple Grade I winner Book 'em Danno (Bucchero) in this year's GI Alfred G. Vanderbilt Stakes at Saratoga. Additionally, Mullikin was beaten just a little more than a length by a pair of TDN Rising Stars, presented by Hagyard–GI Breeders' Cup Classic contender Mindframe (Constitution) and GI Breeders' Cup Mile-bound Nysos (Nyquist)–in a blanket finish in the GI Churchill Downs Stakes in May. Mullikin was third to Straight No Chaser (Speightster) in last year's GI Breeders' Cup Sprint at Del Mar, where he was ridden by Flavien Prat who returns to ride this year's renewal of the Sprint. On the board in 12-of-15 lifetime starts, with earnings of $1,144,992, Mullikin was a $500,000 Keeneland September yearling purchase. Bred in Kentucky by Fred W. Hertrich III and John D. Fielding, Mullikin is out of the graded stakes-placed Congrats mare Tulira's Star, third in the GIII Schuylerville Stakes at Saratoga at two. For more information on Mullikin, contact Liam O'Rourke, Olivia Desch, or Ben Hanley at 859-873-1717, or visit www.WinStarFarm.com. The post Breeders’ Cup Sprint Contender Mullikin to Stand at WinStar in 2026 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Trainer Dale Romans discusses Bobrovsky's training plans, which will not include any breezes, ahead of the Oct. 31 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G1T).View the full article

'TDN Rising Star' presented by Hagyard Fierceness (City of Light–Nonna Bella, by Stay Thirsty), the Eclipse Award-winning 2-year-old male of 2023 and a four-time Grade I winner, will begin his stud career at Coolmore's Kentucky base at Ashford Stud following his final start in the GI Breeders' Cup Classic at Del Mar on Nov. 1. An imperious 11 1/4-length debut winner at Saratoga in August 2023, earning no-brainer 'Rising Star' in a similar fashion to owner Mike Repole's fellow champion and late Ashford stallion Uncle Mo, Fierceness romped by 6 1/4 lengths in that year's GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile. “That was a pretty awesome performance–he's a special talent,” trainer Todd Pletcher said of his championship-clinching victory in the Juvenile. The 13 1/2-length winner of the GI Curlin Florida Derby, Fierceness defeated fellow 'Rising Star presented by Hagyard' Sierra Leone (Gun Runner) by a length in the GII Jim Dandy Stakes and took down the colors of future Horse of the Year and 'Rising Star presented by Hagyard' Thorpedo Anna (Fast Anna) in the GI DraftKings Travers Stakes. Sierra Leone was third on that occasion, while GI Belmont Stakes hero Dornoch (Good Magic) was back in fourth. He concluded the season with a gallant runner-up effort in the Classic behind Sierra Leone, sitting up on a torrid pace and yielding only in the final stages to finish 1 1/2 lengths in arrears. Fierceness has been one of the leading lights of this year's handicap division, with a powerful first-up victory in the GII Alysheba Stakes at Churchill Downs and a latest 3 1/4-length defeat of this year's GI Preakness Stakes hero Journalism (Curlin) in the GI Pacific Classic back on Aug. 30. He'll return to the same track and distance for his career finale in just under two weeks' time. To date, Fierceness has amassed a record of 7-2-1 from 13 starts for earnings of $5,155,320. “Fierceness isn't just a racehorse–he's family,” said Repole. “He represents everything we've built and believe in at Repole Stable. From the day he was born, we knew he was special. “He's a Grade I winner at two, three and four, a Breeders' Cup Champion, an Eclipse Award winner and a horse who showed heart, grit, and freakish talent.” Added Coolmore's Dermot Ryan: “Fierceness hails from a young and hugely exciting family of his owner/breeder, Mike Repole. His track record speaks for itself. A Breeders' Cup Juvenile-winning champion 2-year-old who further enhanced his profile with Grade I victories at three and years (of age), consistently posting massive Beyers in the process. “He is an outstanding physical from a hugely successful sireline and out of a sister to GI Wood Memorial Stakes winner, Outwork. We got together with Mike Repole with an outstanding Saratoga MSW, Eclipse Award and Breeders' Cup Juvenile-winner before, and we all know how good Uncle Mo turned out to be. With his credentials, there's no reason to believe that Fierceness won't be every bit as good.” The post ‘His Track Record Speaks For Itself’: Champion Fierceness Retires To Ashford Stud Following Breeders’ Cup Classic appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Arthur's Ride (Tapit–Points of Grace, by Point Given), winner of the 2024 GI Whitney in Saratoga, will stand the 2026 breeding season at Taylor Made Stallions, the farm announced today. His stud fee will be $12,500 S&N. “Arthur's Ride is a horse we were very high on after his impressive back-to-back victories at Saratoga, including his win in the GI Whitney, earning a 110 Beyer,” said Travis White, vice-president of Taylor Made Stallions. “The race prior to the Whitney, he ran a 111 Beyer and won by 12 3/4 lengths.” The striking grey banked $819,355 for owner Glassman Racing–Karl and Cathi Glassman–and he was trained by Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott. A $250,000 Keeneland September Sale purchase by agent Donato Lanni in 2021, the 5-year-old is out of Canadian champion turf mare Points of Grace, who is also responsible for Canadian champion 2-Year-Old filly Victory to Victory (Exchange Rate), who captured the 2016 GI Natalma Stakes at Woodbine. “He has an outstanding physical and was purchased by Donato Lanni, so we believe commercial breeders will love him. He's got the type of pedigree we look for,” said White. “He is by a top sire, out of a champion, and is a half-brother to a champion 2-year-old filly.” In Arthur's Ride's front-running performance in last year's Whitney, he defeated subsequent Eclipse Award Older Dirt Male Champion National Treasure in addition to seven other graded stakes winners. Prior to winning the Whitney, Arthur's Ride romped by 12 3/4 lengths in an allowance/optional claiming victory over 1 1/4 miles at Saratoga and earned a 101 Beyer in a 7 ½-length allowance/optional claiming score at one mile at Gulfstream Park earlier in the season. For more information on Arthur's Ride, contact Travis White at (859) 396-3508, or Brock Martin at (270) 498-3722, or visit www.taylormadestallions.com. The post GISW Arthur’s Ride to Stand at Taylor Made Stallions in 2026 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

by TTR AusNZ The Herald Sun has reported that Racing Victoria's most senior veterinary officer, Dr Grace Forbes, has lodged a formal “Application for an order to stop bullying” with the Fair Work Commission, alleging she was “pressured and coerced” into clearing international horses considered at “high risk of catastrophic injury” to race. According to the Herald Sun, Dr Forbes, Racing Victoria's general manager of veterinary services since 2014 – alleges that senior executives, including chief executive Aaron Morrison and integrity boss Jamie Stier, urged her to be “flexible” in her application of the state's veterinary safety protocols. In her submission, seen by the publication, she claims the repeated requests to be “flexible” amounted to a demand that she act unethically and at odds with her commitment to equine welfare. “The repeated request of me to be flexible suggests that I should be unethical, which is at odds with my commitment to advocate for the horse,” Dr Forbes was quoted as saying. It reports that Dr Forbes raised concerns that permitting high-risk horses to race could lead to serious or fatal injuries and that her stance caused tension with senior management. She alleges she was later removed from her role overseeing international veterinary assessments and took personal leave citing “psychological and emotional exhaustion.” Dr Forbes also reportedly accused prominent international figures, including Irish trainer Aidan O'Brien and Melbourne Cup-winning owner Nick Williams, of applying direct pressure to Racing Victoria leadership to “soften” veterinary standards to allow more leniency for overseas runners. “I have no doubt that Mr Aidan O'Brien applied direct pressure to Racing Victoria leadership to soften the standards… to make the Veterinary Safety Protocols 'flexible', even if that meant risking catastrophic injury to horses,” Dr Forbes stated in her submission, according to the Herald Sun. It reports that Racing Victoria “strongly refutes” the allegations, describing them as inaccurate and disparaging. A spokesperson for the governing body told the publication: “Equine welfare is of the highest priority to Racing Victoria, which is why we've spent A$45 million on equine welfare programs, initiatives and resources since 2017… The protocols continue to set a global standard and we will not compromise these.” The veterinary protocols were introduced in 2021 following the death of Anthony Van Dyck in the 2020 Melbourne Cup – the seventh fatality in eight years, six of which involved European-trained horses. The new measures include compulsory pre-travel and pre-race CT or PET scans for all international entrants. Since those protocols came into effect, no fatalities have occurred during the Melbourne Cup Carnival. The recent removal of Cox Plate and Melbourne Cup favourite Sir Delius – after scans indicated a “heightened risk of injury” – indicate that the rules continue to be applied without regard to a horse's profile or connections. A Fair Work Commission hearing on Dr Forbes's application is expected to be held later this year. The post Racing Victoria’s Chief Vet Alleges Pressure To Clear High-Risk Horses appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Group 1 winner No Half Measures (Cable Bay) has been retired according to trainer Richard Hughes. The R. P. Gallagher runner's biggest claim to fame was her victory in the G1 July Cup Stakes. She also won the G3 Trophy Stakes and Listed Prix Moonlight Cloud in 2024. Bred by Bumble Bloodstock and Mrs. S. Nicholls, she retires the winner of seven of her 16 starts with $735,634 in earnings. “We were thrilled with the run, we might have been a little bit unfortunate that it didn't come up soft like other years because she will go on soft ground,” said Hughes. “She still ran very well and proved that it was no fluke at Newmarket, it justified her. “We were really pleased with the run, that's her last run and she'll go off to the breeding sheds now so she's gone out on a high. She's a filly we'll never forget, that's for sure.” Bought for a mere snip at £34,000 by Richard Hughes from Marwell Park at the Goffs UK Premier & Silver Yearling Sale in 2022, No Half Measures is the second foal and winner out of the placed mare Fascinator (Helmet). This is the same family as G3 Molecomb Stakes hero and dual Group 1-placed Kachy (Kyllachy), as well as multiple group winner Beat The Bank (Paco Boy) and G3 Chipchase Stakes heroine Chil Chil (Exceed And Excel), third in the G1 Sprint Cup. The post July Cup Heroine No Half Measures Retired appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

DEAUVILLE, France — In TDN Europe we have banned the use of the word fireworks in relation to action in the sales ring but as it is almost officially fireworks season let's just say that it would be no surprise to see a few whizz-bangers in Deauville on Tuesday. The Arqana October Sale gets underway at 10am, with the first two days devoted to Part 1, graded each day, and the 810-lot sale continuing through to Saturday. Some enticing lots on paper include lot 103, Haras de l'Aumonerie's Kameko half-brother to last year's Prix de Jockey Club winner Look De Vega (Lope De Vega), who is now happily ensconced at Ballylinch Stud, and nine lots later (112) from the same draft there comes another half-sibling to a French Classic winner in the Wootton Bassett brother to Coeursamba (The Wow Signal). Haras de Saint Pair's select draft includes the Frankel first foal – a filly – out of Andreas Putsch's homebred Group 1 winner Pearls Galore (Invincible Spirit) as lot 137, while late in Tuesday's session is Haras de Magouet's The Grey Gatsby colt (lot 211) whose half-brother Woodshauna (Wooded) is both an October graduate himself, having been sold at €70,000 two years ago, and one of the stars of the season as the winner of the G1 Prix Jean Prat. Potential buyers who start their viewing rounds in the far corner of Yard A at Arqana will alight first at the draft of Benoit Jeffroy's Haras de Castillon which has been in the news in the last week with the announcement that the Normandy farm will be standing six stallions from 2026. They include the newcomers Tribalist (Farhh) and Classic winner Marhaba Ya Sanafi (Muhaarar). Jeffroy, whose family has a long history of breeding cattle and horses in Brittany, has previously worked for Darley in Newmarket and ran Al Shaqab's Haras de Bouquetot on his return to France, during which time he and his wife Annabelle Aime bought Castillon. “My grandfather started the family farm in Brittany in the 70s and then we took over in 2009 with my brother,” he says. “Castillon was bought with my wife in 2015. She's a vet and so we were really trying to find a place for us and a place near the clinic where she works. So we bought Castillon, which was 30 hectares, and now we're pretty much up to 250 hectares.” He continues, “At the beginning with Castillon it was really just for us and for the horses that came from Brittany for the season, and then it grew with people asking to board mares. We started to consign at the sales but we really only consign for people who are boarding with us all year long, or for partners we have horses with.” The stud's new departure into stallions includes the young sires Thunder Moon, Romanised, and the Jeffroy family homebred Texas, who was second to Modern Games in the Poule d'Essai des Poulains, beating Godolphin's Tribalist into third. “I've always been interested in stallions since I was very little,” Jeffroy says. “When I was a teenager, I was trading nominations of my dad's shares, and then I worked for Darley for five years in nominations and then setting up the operation at [Haras de] Bouquetot for Al Shaqab. We know how it works and I think now it's time to do it for ourselves. It's great to have partners like Godolphin, Jaber Abdullah and all the other partners who are following us with Thunder Moon, and Robert Ng with Romanised. It's great support to start out with. “Since the news came out a lot of French people have come to me to say that they are so happy that Tribalist is standing in France. I think he will be popular. He won seven Group races and he's very well known. And the same for Marhaba: he's tough, he won the French Guineas, so he's well known as well. Both new stallions, I'd say, will be well received judging by the first impressions we have had from people.” Both Tribalist and Marhaba Ya Sanafi will be available for breeders to view at Clairefontaine racecourse during Arqana's Breeding Stock Sale in December, but this week the focus is still on yearlings and Haras de Castillon has a draft of 31 spread throughout the week. “In August we sold well. It was very selective. You have to be able to place your horses right,” Jeffroy says. “We've had a lot of shows in the last two days here. A lot of people, a lot of action, so I hope now the action will be in the sales ring. “Every year we sell 25, 30 horses in October and I think we have a good draft all week through.” And just to prove that it is worth sticking around until the final session of a long sale, last year's Castillon draft included Czajkowski (Flintshire), who was sold on the Saturday for €16,000 to his trainer Alicja Karkosa and earlier this month took second in the G3 Prix de Conde at Saint-Cloud. Following Tuesday's early-bird start of 10am local time, the following three sessions will begin at 2pm, while Saturday's action gets underway at 11am. The post From Sales Drafts to Stallions: Haras de Castillon Expands appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The Aga Khan Studs' Calandagan, fresh off a victory in the G1 Champion Stakes, has been ranked 133 by Timeform, second only to Hong Kong Horse of the Year and recent G1 The Everest winner Ka Ying Rising (Shamexpress), who is at 135. The ranking is the highest for a European horse this year. The Hong Kong invader received a mark of 128 for his Australian heroics. The son of Gleneagles surpassed the mark of 131 given to Daryz (Sea The Stars), who also races in the iconic green with red epaulettes, in the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe two weeks ago. In the Ascot contest, Calandagan defeated the 130-ranked Ombudsman (Night Of Thunder), who ran second. A trio of horses sit at 129–Romantic Warrior (Acclamation), Delacroix (Dubawi), fourth in the Champion Stakes, and Sovereignty (Into Mischief), who has won the GI Kentucky Derby, GI Belmont Stakes, and the GI Travers Stakes this year. Timeform handicapper Rory King said, “The Champion Stakes looked the race of the season on paper, Ombudsman and Delacroix – both having a victory over the other this summer – joined by King George winner Calandagan in a heavyweight clash, the like of which is rarely seen in Europe. “In many ways Calandagan's the perfect middle-distance horse. He had the speed to put himself in a winning position through the first half of the straight and the mile-and-a-half stamina to fend off Ombudsman once that one had got within half a length, the mettle he showed in pulling clear putting to bed any remaining doubts over his attitude that crept in following defeat to Jan Brueghel in the Coronation Cup.” The post Calandagan Ranked Second Only To Ka Ying Rising By Timeform appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Il Miracolo (Gun Runner –Tapit's World by Tapit) will join Pope McLean's Crestwood Farm roster for the 2026 breeding season, according to a farm release Monday. Il Miracolo will stand for $7,500 Live Foal (Payable Stands and Nurse). An earner of over $1 million on the track, the Il Miracolo broke his maiden in gate-to-wire fashion going one mile at the age of two, dominating a maiden special weight field at Gulfstream Park. At three, he won the GIII Smarty Jones at Parx, in addition to hitting the board in three other graded starts, including the GI Pennsylvania Derby. The following year, he won the GIII Ghostzapper, was runner-up in Monmouth's GIII Philip Iselin and finished third in the Gulfstream Park Mile and GII Alysheba Stakes. He was fifth in this season's G1 Dubai World Cup at Meydan. “We are excited to announce Il Miracolo at Crestwood Farm,” said Pope McLean Sr. “Having a son of Gun Runner who was a precocious maiden winner at the age of two, and went on to win graded stakes at the age of three and four, shows the durability and the quality racehorse Il Miracolo was throughout his career. Il Miracolo displayed ability against some of the best of his generation, and he possesses a strong physical presence with size, substance and presence that we believe will impress breeders.” Bred by Willow Oaks Stable, LLC, the chestnut was campaigned by Alexandres Investments, LLC and trained by Antonio Sano. “Il Miracolo was a multiple graded stakes winner and an exceptional athlete who proudly represented us on the world stage in Dubai,” said Sano. “He was a remarkable horse in every way–talented, determined, and completely sound. Training him was a true privilege. He will always hold a special place in my career.” Call Crestwood Farm at 859-252-3770 to schedule an inspection appointment. The post Gun Runner’s Il Miracolo to Stand at Crestwood in 2026 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Benvenuto Cellini (Frankel) is one of nine Aidan O'Brien-trained colts to stand his ground for the G1 William Hill Futurity Trophy Stakes at Doncaster on Saturday. The impressive Killarney winner went on to take the G2 Champions Juvenile Stakes. Other entrants hailing from Ballydoyle include G3 Zetland Stakes hero Pierre Bonnard (Camelot), the group-placed Action (Frankel), the stakes-placed Frescobaldi (No Nay Never), G2 Beresford Stakes winner Hawk Mountain (Wootton Bassett), New Zealand (Frankel), G3 Killavullan Stakes victor Dorset (Wootton Bassett), Piazza San Marco (St Mark's Basilica), and G3 Eyrefield Stakes third Port Of Spain (St Mark's Basilica). The last-named trio all ran on Saturday. Andrew Balding's unbeaten Juddmonte runner Item (Frankel) looks to have the greatest chance of upsetting the O'Brien brigade. His connections are keeping a close eye on underfoot conditions, as if it was too heavy on Saturday, he would be withdrawn. “Once he broke his maiden Andrew had this race in mind but he needed to get some more experience and the natural way to do that wasn't clear, so we said we'd go for another novice on the grass and the race at Bath presented itself,” said Barry Mahon, European racing manager for owners Juddmonte. “I know the Clive Cox horse that was second [Blue Courvoisier] is well regarded but he did it well. “Ground is obviously going to be a concern. We feel like he skipped off the all-weather pretty good and Bath was nice ground the last day, so if there was to be a lot of rain and it went testing he probably won't run. “There's rain early in the week so it's a watching brief. He's a horse we like but he's probably not a horse who would want a slog. Good to soft or anything like that would be fine. “His dam [Capla Temptress] won a Grade I in America and she liked it quick, so have her other progeny.” Ralph Beckett's group-placed Cape Orator (Mohaather), John and Thady Gosden's G2 Champagne Stakes second Oxagon (Frankel) and Adrian Keatley's Rochfortbridge (Mehmas) are the others not trained at Ballydoyle still engaged. The post Baker’s Dozen Confirmed For Futurity Trophy appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The £1-million All-Weather Bonus scheme, which runs from October 21 to Good Friday, April 3 has returned, Arena Racing Company (ARC) announced on Monday. Runners at ARC's four all-weather tracks – Lingfield Park, Newcastle, Southwell and Wolverhampton – will compete for a range of bonus prizes, including five 'Horse of the Month' competitions and the overall £100,000 'Horse of the Year' title. The number of bonus money on offer has increased by £150,000 for 2025/26 – along with a change to the points system for the Horse of the Month and Horse of the Year competitions. For more information on the scheme, please visit the ARC website. The post ARC All-Weather Bonus Returns appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article