Wandering Eyes

This fall, the lone name change on the upcoming Remington Park stakes schedule is the former Trapeze Stakes will now be called the Toby Keith Stakes, in honor of the late Oklahoma country singer/songwriter and horseman, the track said in a Thursday release. Keith, a horse owner and breeder who raced primarily under his stable name of Dream Walkin Farms, earned more than $18 million on the racetrack, according to Equibase statistics. The star passed away in February at the age of 62 after a battle with stomach cancer. The newly-christened $75,000 stakes race for 2-year-olds will be run on Springboard Mile Night Dec. 13. The post Late Horseman And Country Music Star Toby Keith Has Stakes Race At Remington appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

When Aidan O'Brien resurrected City Of Troy (Justify) to win the Derby, he was rightly hailed as a genius. Sadly, it didn't take long for that piece of brilliance to be overshadowed by an expose-style documentary carried out by Ireland's national broadcaster [RTE] which concentrated on horses being sent to slaughter. Admittedly, the documentary featured mostly non-thoroughbreds but the build-up and reaction to the programme has dominated the mainstream coverage of this sport in recent times. Not O'Brien's moment of magic that arguably should have been celebrated more than it was. Then we had the regrettable situation where National Hunt trainer John 'Shark' Hanlon blew up on social media for transporting an uncovered dead horse in the back of a trailer in broad daylight for which he has since apologised for. Not a good look for the sport at all. They say you never really appreciate what you have until it's gone, and hopefully O'Brien will be operating at Ballydoyle for many, many more years to come. But one can't help but feel his latest piece of magic has provided Irish racing with a much-needed shot in the arm. Seeing O'Brien do O'Brien things with Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), City Of Troy and now the Gold Cup winner Kyprios (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) serves to remind how Ireland punches above its weight as a nation time and time again. Thursday was a day to be proud of-not just as an Irish person but a lover of this sport-after what has been an unsavoury couple of weeks. Hopefully such exploits will get the coverage it so richly deserves. Moore Mows Down Dettori A Gold Cup day double aboard Kyprios and Port Fairy (Ire) (Australia {GB}) propelled Ryan Moore to being the most successful active rider at Royal Ascot. Moore only trails Lester Piggott [116 winners] in the all-time standings and, at the close of play on Thursday, had 83 wins at the royal meeting under his belt. Dettori, who is at Royal Ascot this year only as a spectator after calling time on his career in the saddle in Britain in order to continue in America, partnered 81 winners at the meeting. From Humble Beginnings When you delve into Port Fairy's pedigree, you might be surprised to learn that the daughter of Australia hails from the 35-rated Fabulae (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}). Yes, you read that correctly. 35! Fabulae amounted to pretty much nothing in six starts for Joseph O'Brien, with the best she managed being a ninth-placed effort at Dundalk. Connections rightly decided to draw stumps after that but Annemare and Aidan O'Brien's decision to hang onto the sister of two black-type performers proved a fruitful one. There can't be many horses out of mares rated lower than Fabulae that have made it through the gates at Ballydoyle. This one happens to be a Royal Ascot winner. Amazing. McCartan On The Money Again To be fair to Jim McCartan, he called it. It was McCartan, who operates under the banner of Gaybrook Lodge, who pinhooked Shareholder [a $62,000 yearling purchase] and, on the eve of selling Thursday's Norfolk Stakes winner Shareholder to Wathnan Racing at the Arqana Breeze-Up Sale, heaped praise on the colt's sire. “Not This Time is top of the pops-he's a sire on the up,” McCartan told TDN Europe. “I actually rang a couple of pals of mine in America and they told me that Not This Time is the horse who really is on the way up. The stock from his better mares are coming through now and his stud fee has gone up to $150,000. He's getting into that bracket of Into Mischief, Curlin and those sorts of horses.” McCartan has had his share of good horses through his hands, with California Spangle (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) being the most noteworthy. He doesn't go bandying around praise like it's confetti and his high opinion of Shareholder-who was knocked down to Wathnan Racing for €460,000 at Arqana-was vindicated in the ring and on the track. He's a horse with a big future. Washbourn Overcome With Emotion Clive Washbourn is infamous for how he celebrates his victories but the effervescent owner was even overcome by emotion even before the Gold Cup took place. Homebred Caius Chorister (Fr) (Golden Horn {GB}) could only manage sixth for Washbourn, who endeared himself to viewers by welling up and professing how much he loves the mare before the feature race. King's Gambit An Unlucky Loser Time might prove King's Gambit (Ire) (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}) to be the best horse to emerge from the Hampton Court. He endured a troubled passage when coming from the rear to finish a never-dangerous second to Jayarebe (Fr) (Zoffany {Ire}) but he remains a colt of considerable promise. Bethell's Bargain Buys Given the scores of Royal Ascot-bound horses who were sold for a premium in the build-up to this week, it's worth highlighting what trainer Ed Bethell has achieved with relatively inexpensive types. It has been well documented that Bethell's Group 1-winning sprinter Regional (GB) (Territories {Ire}), who ran a stormer when second in Tuesday's King Charles III Stakes, was bought for a song at just 3,500gns. Britannia winner Mickley (Ire) (Soldier's Call {GB}) was similarly cheap at 20,000gns at Tattersalls Book 3 while Kensington Palace Stakes sixth Elim (Ire) (Make Believe {Ire}) is worth a lot more than the €22,000 she fetched at the Goffs Sportsman's Sale in 2021. All three of those Ascot runners were bought alongside Tom Biggs of Blandford Bloodstock. Impressive stuff. The post Talking Points: O’Brien Provides Irish Racing With Morale-Booster At Ascot appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

ASCOT, UK — It takes a good one to overcome adversity, and there can be no argument brooked when it comes to the talent of Kyprios (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). It is writ large in form figures which predominantly feature the figure 1. But those bare statistics frame a year-long gap in which the horse was missing in action, with those around him fearing the worst as he battled to overcome an infection in a hind joint which nearly claimed his life. “I saw him all the way through it and I didn't think he wouldn't be here now,” said Fiona Craig, bloodstock adviser to Kyprios's breeder and co-owner Eva Maria Bucher-Haefner of Moyglare Stud. “That was down to Aidan [O'Brien] and the horse,” she added after collecting the Gold Cup from the King and Queen in company with the horse's co-owners in the Coolmore partnership. “The horse has a heart the size of a house and he battled to live. And Aidan never lost confidence. He said, 'Just give him time'.” There is a school of thought that a mare's early foals are often her better ones, but Kyprios is the tenth offspring of Moyglare's great matriarch Polished Gem (Ire) (Danehill), who earned her foal-share to Galileo by producing the likes of Free Eagle (Ire) (High Chaparral {Ire}), a brilliant winner of the Prince of Wales's Stakes here nine years ago under the late Pat Smullen, and the Qipco British Champion Fillies and Mares Stakes winner Sapphire (Ire) (Medicean {GB}). All told, Polished Gem's brood features eight black-type horses, including Kyprios's full-sister, the dual Irish St Leger winner Search For A Song (Ire). “It wasn't a genius [idea] to send the mare to Galileo all those years ago,” Craig said. “This is what's meant to happen, they are meant to end up doing this, but so many times they don't. Ever so rarely you get one who comes up with the goods.” On the track or off it, Kyprios has that quality that ranks highest of all: he's a battler. And it is easy to believe that his record, which reads 11 wins from 15 starts, still has chapters to be written. “He doesn't have that much mileage on the clock,” Craig added of the six-year-old. “He wasn't ridden until the beginning of July last year [after his injury] and then he ran [second] in the Irish St Leger, but he will always try. In October here last year the ground was horrible, and I think Trawlerman was just that bit fitter and he got the slip on him.” Places were reversed back at Ascot on proper summer ground, with the admirable Trawlerman (GB) (Golden Horn {GB}), the winner of last year's Qipco British Champions Long Distance Cup, eventually having to bow down to Kyprios as he reclaimed the most important stayers' prize of them all. Craig added, “There are lots of other people involved – all the guys on the farms and all the guys at the yard – and they actually deserve the most congratulations, particularly with Kyprios. They got him back.” She also divulged that the Moyglare paddocks have recently welcomed the next generation of the family. “The best thing of all is that 'Search' had a Baaeed filly this year – her first foal and it's a filly, so now we have a filly to go on with. Sapphire's gone now and obviously Polished Gem has gone, and there are bits and pieces in there, but it was great for her to have a filly.” She continued, “[Search For A Song] was a bit of a head case. I saw Baaeed here at Ascot in the paddock and, while he was beautiful, and the most beautiful mover, he also seemed to have a very equable temperament, and I thought that whatever we started her with we had to send her something to mellow her.” She added, “A filly out of 'Search' is a big deal, and now we go on, and we can dream about them in the future.” This was another major win in what is transpiring to be a glorious week for the partners at Coolmore and Ballydoyle. A Gold Cup to add to Wednesday's Prince of Wales's Stakes victory from Auguste Rodin (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), which had followed the emergence of a potential St Leger contender in the Queen's Vase. Illinois (Ire) could just be the one to tip his illustrious late sire Galileo into a century of individual Group 1 winners later in the year. Meanwhile new benchmarks continue to be set by this formidable team. With Auguste Rodin, Aidan O'Brien notched his 400th Group or Grade 1 winners on the Flat. Kyprios began the next century. Ryan Moore started the week on 79 Royal Ascot winners. The gutsy victory of Port Fairy (Ire) (Australia {GB}) in the Ribblesdale pushed him past the record of Frankie Dettori, and before long the counter clicked round to 83. Moore's story, too, is far from fully written, particularly when he can count on a horse with the heart of Kyprios. The post ‘He Battled to Live’: Craig Hails Gold Cup Hero Kyprios appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Kyprios became the third horse to win nonconsecutive editions of the Gold Cup (G1) when a game winner over the front-running Trawlerman June 20 at the Royal Ascot meeting.View the full article

The star of his two-horse stable, a 5-year-old Pennsylvania-bred mare named Shoshanah, has been cross-entered in two upcoming turf sprints.View the full article

If Tuesday's St James's Palace Stakes was a blockbuster, Friday's G1 Coronation Stakes offers just as much intrigue with the 1,000 Guineas winner Elmalka (GB) (Kingman {GB}) joined by the G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches heroine Rouhiya (Fr) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) and one who just might have won either had the fates not intervened. Following her scintillating display in the G1 Prix Marcel Boussac on Arc day, Ballydoyle's Opera Singer (Justify) looked the one to beat in the Newmarket Classic but a training setback meant that she missed the date and by all accounts was not ready to shine when third in the Curragh version. Aidan O'Brien is looking forward to making up for lost time with Opera Singer. “She was only in work four weeks before the Curragh and really if she had finished mid-div we would have been happy,” he said. “We knew if we were thinking of coming to Ascot she would have to have a run and I was surprised with how well she ran really. She could do anything and she could get much further than a mile. Ryan will probably be a little bit more confident in her fitness this time and she is a big, straightforward filly.” More to Come from the Guineas Winners While Opera Singer is fully expected to come forward significantly from her comeback effort, Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum's Guineas heroine Elmalka is also open to improvement as a lightly-raced daughter of Nahrain (GB) (Selkirk) who herself needed more time to get to this level. She did a lot wrong at Newmarket and still managed to surge by Porta Fortuna (Ire) (Caravaggio) and Ramatuelle (Justify), both of whom had shown prowess in some of the big sprints of 2023. “We weren't tempted to go to Ireland, as she'd had two fairly quick runs and she's training lovely,” Roger Varian said. “She looks great and she seems to be getting stronger. She's not a flashy worker, but I don't mind that. She was a bit green at Newbury and arguably at Newmarket too, but she's looking a bit more complete now and there's no reason to think Ascot's round mile won't suit.” The Aga Khan's Rouhiya is in the same boat as Elmalka, in that she was an unexpected and unexposed winner of the one of the big three mile Classics and is big on tactical speed and determination which will take her far here. Ballydoyle's Content (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Scuderia Sagam's Folgaria (Ire) (Due Diligence) were behind her at ParisLongchamp, as was a certain Sparkling Plenty, so it would be churlish to write off the form as below the standard of the 1,000 Guineas just yet. Murphy's Musings Alongside Rouhiya, TDN Rising Star Ramatuelle is here to attempt to prize one of these for France and while she raced over sprint trips at two and seemed to run out of steam late in the Guineas, Oisin Murphy believes that there is hope she can turn things around. “The Coronation is a climbing mile the whole way, but there is a bend,” he said. “Alcohol Free was a very fast filly, like Ramatuelle, and she won the race on slow ground. It's very competitive, but Ramatuelle was very good at two and she's had a great preparation since the Guineas.” On To Inisherin Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum's Inisherin (GB) (Shamardal) was an exciting colt even before he made the transition from promising type to gold-standard sprinter in Haydock's G2 Sandy Lane Stakes last month. Chanced in the 2,000 Guineas after a sensational effort on the clock in a Newcastle novice, he was one of those that forced a generous pace, was marginally in front two out at Newmarket and refused to cave in even when it was getting tough in the closing stages. Out three weeks later to turn the Sandy Lane into a procession, the grandson of the incredible Reem Three (GB) (Mark Of Esteem {Ire}) lines up for Friday's G1 Commonwealth Cup one of the most exciting 3-year-olds in his category since Caravaggio in 2017. Trainer Kevin Ryan has a rare commodity on his hands. “We were confident he'd run a big race in the Sandy Lane and he was very, very impressive. That was on soft ground and it will be different at Ascot by the looks of things, but he's a great-moving horse and I was more concerned about it being soft at Haydock. There's only one way to find out, but a lot of these good horses can handle both.” Doubts About The Elite Karl Burke has proven time and again–including this week-that he is capable to turning out big names season-by-season and in Elite Status (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}) he had a prime candidate for this, but he revealed on Thursday that the Listed Carnarvon Stakes winner would probably miss the race having suffered a familiar setback. “Elite Status is an unlikely runner unfortunately,” he said. “I'm just waiting to see him when he gets off the lorry, he's on his way down now. He's just given that joint a little bang again. He keeps knocking it and we've got to get to the bottom of it. I'll have a look at it when he gets here this evening, but I'd say he's unlikely.” Another Coup For Cox? It always feels that a big sprint winner for the Clive Cox stable is never far away and it could easily come here with Al Mohamediya Racing's Jasour (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}). Impressive in the course-and-distance G3 Commonwealth Cup Trial Stakes in April, he has the faster surface on which he excelled at two when capturing the G2 July S. “We're very pleased with Jasour, he did really well in the Pavilion and then missed the Sandy Lane because of the very soft ground but we've been very happy with his training at home and we're looking forward to it,” his trainer said. “His form is pretty solid and he's proven on the track, which is nice, plus he'll be very much at home on the drying surface.” Calling on the Fairy Godmother Ballydoyle is flying this week, but their juveniles have not made the expected impact so far and the baton is passed to the G3 Coolmore Stud Irish EBF Fillies Sprint Stakes winner Fairy Godmother (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) on Friday. Having recorded notably impressive sectionals at Naas, she is likely to challenge for favouritism for the G3 Albany Stakes which is fast becoming a key early Guineas pointer and is as deep as ever. Her stablemate Heavens Gate (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}) beat another from the yard in January (Ire) (Kingman {GB}) in convincing fashion at The Curragh last month and that runner-up has since boosted the form. Godolphin's TDN Rising Star Mountain Breeze (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), a half-sister to Pinatubo (Ire) who first sprung to prominence in the Chesham here, is put to the test by Charlie Appleby while Sheikh Hamed Dalmook Al Maktoum's Twafeeg (Ire) (Far Above {Ire}) joined the TDN Rising Star ranks with her dazzling debut at Doncaster at the start of the month. Charlie Appleby said of Mountain Breeze, “She's a half-sister to Pinatubo and was more impressive I felt on her second start when she stepped up to six furlongs and she goes there as a live player. It's billed to be a competitive race, as it always is, but she's a filly that we've been very pleased with since the spring and she's not disappointed us to date.” The Moore the Merrier Ryan Moore has got it spot-on each time Aidan O'Brien has run a few this week and with the trainer again exercising his usual numerical dominance in the G2 King Edward VII Stakes, it is TDN Rising Star Diego Velazquez (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) that gets the nod from the premier jockey. He sets the standard on his G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains fourth, but fellow TDN Rising Star Agenda (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) was second to the stricken Hidden Law (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) in the G3 Chester Vase and is a fresh horse with abundant promise. Even Wayne Lordan's pick Chief Little Rock (Ire) looks very smart, having given a Galileo special from the front in The Curragh's G3 Gallinule Stakes. “Chief Little Rock was very good from the front over a mile and a quarter at the Curragh last time and he steps up in trip along with my mount Diego Velazquez, who was possibly a bit below-par in the French Derby last time after finishing an excellent fourth in their Guineas,” Moore said as he reflected on another tough choice. “Things didn't go his way there and hopefully he can show his true worth here. It's obviously a very open race and Agenda put up a big performance at Chester last time, so I wouldn't ignore his claims.” Outside of the Ballydoyle contingent, The Aga Khan's G3 Prix Noailles and G3 Prix Hocquart winner Calandagan (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}) is fascinating on fast ground for the first time. He won by 10 lengths on Chantilly's Polytrack in October and is probably one of those who is as versatile as he is obviously classy. Fellow French raider Mondo Man (GB) (Mondialiste {Ire}) was in front of Diego Velazquez when fifth in the G1 Prix du Jockey Club and was by far the fastest of all runners over the last three furlongs, so he is no back-number here. Spencer Picks Mitbaahy Over Khaadem in the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Saturday's G1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot will see a field of 14 sprinters line up in an open-looking renewal which includes last year's surprise winner Khaadem (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}). Jamie Spencer, who partnered that Charles Hills-trained 80-1 shot 12 months ago, will instead be on Fitri Hay's other runner Mitbaahy (Ire) (Profitable {Ire}) from the same stable following his success in The Curragh's G2 Greenlands Stakes last month. Peter Harris's G2 1895 Duke of York Stakes winner Mill Stream (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}) represents the Jane Chapple-Hyam stable, while Marc Chan's 2022 G1 Prix de la Foret and G1 British Champions Sprint Stakes-winning TDN Rising Star Kinross (GB) (Kingman {GB}) is back at Ascot with Ralph Beckett handing Rossa Ryan the ride in the absence of Frankie Dettori. Wathnan Racing's acquisition Shartash (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) drops back from seven furlongs for the Archie Watson stable, while Highclere Thoroughbred Racing's filly Believing (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) is backed up by George Boughey having finished fourth in Tuesday's G1 King Charles III Stakes. In the G2 Hardwicke Stakes, Ballydoyle's St Leger hero Continuous (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}) begins his 4-year-old campaign taking on Qatar Bloodstock and Ciaron Maher's Doncaster Classic also-ran and subsequent G3 Aston Park Stakes winner Middle Earth (GB) (Roaring Lion) from Clarehaven and The King and The Queen's William Haggas-trained Leger third Desert Hero (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}). Aidan O'Brien saddles another big gun in the 20-runner G3 Jersey Stakes in the G2 Coventry S.-winning TDN Rising Star River Tiber (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), who was third in the Irish 2,000 Guineas last time. He renews rivalry with that Curragh Classic's runner-up Haatem (Ire) (Phoenix Of Spain {Ire}), who is another of Wathnan Racing's recent purchases and who bids to add to Richard Hannon's big week. Others to note in the seven-furlong contest are Clipper Logistics' Karl Burke-trained TDN Rising Star Night Raider (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), who is back in trip having failed to stay the mile of the 2,000 Guineas, and another TDN Rising Star who trailed in the Newmarket Classic in Juddmonte's Ralph Beckett-trained Task Force (GB) (Frankel {GB}). The Listed Chesham Stakes sees the Rosegreen stable represented by this month's Leopardstown maiden-winning TDN Rising Star Bedtime Story (Ire) (Frankel {GB}). She encounters 17 juveniles, including Godolphin's impressive Yarmouth novice scorer Age Of Gold (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) from the Charlie Appleby stable. The post ‘She Could Do Anything’: O’Brien Eager For Opera Singer’s Coronation Ceremony appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Iraj Parvizi's Listed Dee Stakes third Jayarebe (Fr) (Zoffany {Ire}–Alakhana {Fr}, by Dalakhani {Ire}), who made an impressive black-type breakthrough in April's Listed Feilden Stakes, bounced back in style to secure a career high in Thursday's G3 Hampton Court Stakes at Royal Ascot. Jayarebe broke smartly from the outside gate, but was trapped wide in a prominent position before accepting a tow in a share of third. Looming large when taking closer order off the home turn, the 7-1 chance hit the front passing the quarter-mile marker and was driven out in the closing stages to withstand the late thrust of King's Gambit (Ire) (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}) by 3/4-of-a-length in game fashion. Pedigree Notes Jayarebe is the fourth of six foals and one of three scorers from as many runners produced by Listed Prix Joubert victrix and G3 Grand Prix des Provinces third Alakhana (Fr) (Dalakhani {Ire}), herself the leading performer out of Listed Henkel Trial third Dubai (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). Dubai, in turn, is a half-sister to G2 Preis des Bankhaus Salem Oppenheim winner Denaro (Ger) (Dashing Blade {GB}), G3 Dr Busch-Memorial victor Davidoff (Ger) (Montjeu {Ire}) and multiple Group-placed Listed Mulheim Derby Trial winner Duellant (Ger) (Dashing Blade {GB}). The April-foaled bay is kin to an unnamed 2-year-old colt by Persian King (Ire) and a yearling colt by Victor Ludorum (GB). Impressive performance! Jayarbe, son of Zoffany, is an emphatic winner of the Listed @bet365 Feilden Stakes for @brianmeehanltd A double on the card at @NewmarketRace for Sean Levey! pic.twitter.com/6pH8yIXdHT — Racing TV (@RacingTV) April 17, 2024 The post Zoffany’s Jayarebe Digs Deep for Hampton Court Triumph appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Gerald A. Souto, a multiple stakes-winning trainer on the old New England circuit for five decades, died June 9. He was 83.View the full article

The 54th Annual Eclipse Awards, honoring Thoroughbred racing's human and equine champions of 2024, will return to the Breakers Palm Beach in Florida on Jan. 23, 2025 according to an announcement Thursday by the National Thoroughbred Racing Association, the Daily Racing Form and the National Turf Writers and Broadcasters. The Awards will be held two days before Gulfstream Park hosts the GI Pegasus World Cup. “We are thrilled to be returning to the Breakers Palm Beach for our third year in a row,” said NTRA President and CEO Tom Rooney. “Celebrating the success of racing's human and equine champions is the highlight of the year, and the Breakers is the perfect venue to bring the industry together to do just that.” Tickets for the event will go on sale Nov. 18 and more information can be found here. The post Eclipse Awards Returning To Palm Beach In January 2025 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Adelphi Racing Club has announced that Joe Migliore will assume the role of Head of Racing and Partnership Operations for their growing racing syndicate. Migliore was a sales associate for West Point Thoroughbreds for six years before launching his own bloodstock agency in 2021 and then adding on the title of jockey agent soon after. Migliore has had a hand in sourcing horses for Adelphi in recent years and he will continue to operate his own agency after he starts this new role. He will also stay on as jockey agent for New York circuit-based rider Katie Davis. “Joe will continue to be our bloodstock agent, but will now also take on new responsibilities related to our day-to-day operations on the equine and partner side of things,” said Adelphi Racing Club's founder Matt Cutair. “Joe has always shared our vision of being a modern racing partnership that delivers a top-class partner experience, transparent communication and success on the racetrack at the highest levels of the sport while maintaining a fiscally responsible approach to acquiring horses.” The Adelphi Racing Club has expanded its racing roster significantly since it was first founded, growing from just three horses in 2020 to 30 active horses today. Top performers include stakes winners Funny How (Overanalyze), who was runner-up in last year's GIII Distaff Handicap, and Pandagate (Arrogate), who was third in his most recent start in the G2 UAE Derby and is owned in partnership with Madaket Stables, Corms Racing Stable and On The Rise Again Stable. “I am thrilled to be joining the Adelphi Racing Club in a more involved role,” said Migliore. “In my time spent as their bloodstock agent I have seen firsthand what an exciting new group they have become and how close knit their partners are. I hope to help continue the outstanding experience they provide and expand their reach within the industry. The partnership landscape within the industry is ever changing and Adelphi has thrust themselves forward in a short amount of time as one of the most personal and exciting experiences owners can find.” The post Joe Migliore to Join Adelphi Racing Club appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

While copper has its origins in his moniker, Ballydoyle's star stayer Kyprios (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}–Polished Gem {Ire}, by Danehill) was all gold after adding to his 2022 triumph in a thrilling renewal of Thursday's G1 Gold Cup at Royal Ascot, becoming the first to regain his crown in the 2 1/2-mile contest since Kayf Tara (GB) (Sadler's Wells) did so at the turn of the century. His one-length victory provided Aidan O'Brien with a record-extending ninth edition, while Ryan Moore, now on four, remains some way shy of Lester Piggott's haul of 11. Kyprios stalked familiar foe Trawlerman (Ire) (Golden Horn {GB}) through the early fractions, but slipped back one spot to third before halfway. Regaining second on the home turn, the 11-10 favourite eyeballed the long-time leader approaching the final furlong and dug deep to deny that tenacious rival in game fashion nearing the line. The front two had it all to themselves inside the final quarter-mile, with Trawlerman's John and Thady Gosden stablemate Sweet William (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) finishing five lengths back in third. Kyprios went unbeaten through a six-race 2022 campaign, reeling off four straight Group 1s after opening that year with wins in the Listed Vintage Crop Stakes and G3 Saval Beg Levmoss Stakes. On an enforced sabbatical for almost one year after an extravagant score in the G1 Prix du Cadran, he ran second in September's G1 Irish St Leger and again, to a resurgent Trawlerman, in October's G2 British Champions Long Distance Cup. Kyprios followed a familiar route this year and notched repeat victories in the Vintage Crop and Saval Beg Levmoss in preparation for this date with destiny. Pedigree Notes Kyprios is the latest of 10 foals, all winners, produced by dual Broodmare of the Year Polished Gem (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), herself out of G1 Irish 1000 Guineas heroine Trusted Partner (Affirmed). Trusted Partner is the third dam of Wednesday's G2 Queen Mary victrix Leovanni (Ire) (Kodi Bear {Ire}). Kyprios is kin to seven black-type winners headed by dual G1 Irish St Leger heroine Search For A Song (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), G1 Prince of Wales's Stakes-winning sire Free Eagle (Ire) (High Chaparral {Ire}) and G2 British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes victrix Sapphire (Ire) (Medicean {GB}). Descendants of Polished Gem, a full-sister to GI Matriarch Stakes heroine Dress To Thrill (Ire), also include G1 Vincent O'Brien National Stakes hero Thunder Moon (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}). Kyprios's third dam, the GI Matron Stakes and GI Spinaway Stakes-winning US champion Talking Picture (Speak John), is the ancestress of G1 Grand Prix de Paris and G1 Sydney Cup hero Gallante (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}). Kyprios regains his Gold Cup crown! @Ascot #RoyalAscot pic.twitter.com/j5R3iEbW0x — At The Races (@AtTheRaces) June 20, 2024 The post Galileo’s Kyprios is All Gold at Royal Ascot appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

BH Interview: Janie BussView the full article

Securing the outright record of Royal Ascot winners, Ryan Moore was at his determined best to win a war of attrition on Ballydoyle's Port Fairy (Ire) (Australia {GB}–Fabulae {Ire}, by Fastnet Rock {Aus}) in the G2 Ribblesdale Stakes. Not seen since finishing runner-up in the Listed Cheshire Oaks last month, the product of the Whisperview breeding operation was the pick of Moore of the stable pair and was prominently-placed from the outset. Temporarily swamped two out by the smooth-travelling Lava Stream (Ire) (Too Darn Hot {GB}), the 12-1 shot stayed in the fight against the rail and despite being a neck down soon after battled gamely to wrest the advantage from her inside the final furlong. As if driven by her rider's quest for that landmark 82nd Royal Ascot winner, the visored chestnut who is Irish Oaks-bound dug deep to prevail by a neck and take Moore past Dettori for the first time. There was a 1 3/4-length margin back to the 9-4 favourite Kalpana (GB) (Study Of Man {Ire}) in third. 12/1 shot #8 Port Fairy finishes with plenty to prove best in the Group 2 Ribbersdale for jockey Ryan Moore (82 #RoyalAscot wins) and trainer Aidan O'Brien. pic.twitter.com/44QgpXrBuL — TwinSpires Racing (@TwinSpires) June 20, 2024 The post Australia’s Ribblesdale Winner Port Fairy Gives Moore Royal Ascot Record appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

An additional six wildcards have been added to the Arqana Summer Sale in Deauville on July 1-4. On the Flat, Nardaran (Fr) (Waldgeist {GB}) (lot 478) will sell after a debut third at Saint-Cloud. He is out of multiple group winner Narniyn (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}). Another Flat-bred horse is Fang Mich (Ger) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) (lot 503), who has a win and a placing from two starts. The half-sister to G1 Deutsches Derby hero Fantastic Moon (Ger) (Sea The Moon Ger}) is joined by jumps horses Policasta (GB) (National Defense {GB}) (lot 513) a Grade 2 winner; scorer Catch On Me (Fr) (Martinborough {Jpn}) (lot 514), the listed-placed Magic Flight (Fr) (Kapgarde {Fr}) (lot 534), and Mambonumberfive (Fr) (Born To Sea {Ire}) (lot 526), who has placed twice over obstacles. The post Another Sextet Of Wildcards Added To Arqana Summer Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Woodbine Entertainment and Helmets to Hardhats Canada (H2H), a group that supports Canadian veterans, reservists, senior cadets, military family members and Afghan interpreters in finding second careers through the construction industry, will partner for the 2024 running of the King's Plate held Aug. 17. The partnership will see H2H recognized as the Official Building Trades Unions Veteran's Liaison and a Canadian veteran will be included in the opening ceremony for the race. “Woodbine is proud to support Helmets to Hardhats and its valuable objectives,” said Woodbine Entertainment CEO Michael Copeland. “We can think of no better way to show our appreciation for our service people than to see them succeed in life after their years of hard work and sacrifice.” “We are thrilled to partner with Woodbine Entertainment to champion our mission of empowering Veterans with meaningful career opportunities in Canada's Building Trades Unions,” added James Hogarth, Executive Director of Helmets to Hardhats Canada. “Through this partnership, we aim to raise awareness about our organization and our services to the military community while showcasing the abundant career possibilities available within the unionized construction industry. Together, we will pave the way for a brighter future in the construction industry with the value added by a Veteran.” The post Woodbine And Helmets To Hardhats To Partner For 2024 King’s Plate appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Wathnan Racing's Shareholder (Not This Time–Cloudy Dancer {GB}, by Invincible Spirit {Ire}) had only announced himself a G2 Norfolk Stakes candidate 12 days ago when winning Beverley's Two Year Old Trophy Conditions Stakes and made light of the quick turnaround to capture the Royal Ascot prize. Held on to by James Doyle early among the group racing up the centre, the Karl Burke-trained 12-1 shot was in front passing the two-furlong pole and asserted to score by a length from Tropical Storm (GB) (Eqtidaar {Ire}), with a head back to Arizona Blaze (GB) (Sergei Prokofiev) who narrowly denied the red-hot 10-11 favourite Whistlejacket (Ire) (No Nay Never) a placing. “He's still learning, his debut was a bit messy at Beverley which is a hard place to teach a horse,” Doyle said of the colt, who recorded the third-fastest time in the race's history at Ascot and was just two ticks off Valiant Force's time of 12 months earlier. “I tried to keep a lid on him for as long as possible, as I just wanted to give him time to get organised. He took time to get balanced up but, once he did, he always felt as though he had enough in the tank to keep going. He's got a big engine. Karl was very confident and when he is that confident, you respect his opinion.” Burke is thinking predominantly of sprinting with the winner. “Shareholder did a lot wrong first time, but I knew he'd step forward from that, even physically and although he was two or three kilos lighter coming here today he looked bigger and stronger,” he explained. “I think this is a very good horse and he'll stay six furlongs as well–I would say he's speed and I'm sure he'll be a Commonwealth Cup horse. I don't think he'll be a Guineas horse, he hasn't shown us that, although he relaxed very well today so I suppose he has a chance.” For Wathnan Racing's bloodstock advisor Richard Brown, this was validation of his judgment at the Breeze-Up. “It is very hard, as you are up against breeding operations which have been going for 30 or 40 years and that really is the way to get the Derby-type horses, so we said if we could get some sharp juveniles it would give us some action coming through,” he said. “With Olly Tait, we put together a proposal to buy some breeze-up horses with a view to maybe having a couple that could get to Ascot. What has happened in the past two days, you couldn't even dream it would go like this.” “All credit to Karl Burke and his team. It is important to mention Richard Morgan-Evans and his team in Newmarket. Every horse we buy goes to Richard and they have a tailor-made, individual programme which involves immediate turnout in paddocks and giving them that recovery time,” he added. “Richard is a very important part of the process. It is usually said that it's too tight a turnaround to get a horse from the Arqana Sale to Royal Ascot, but we like a challenge and I thought this was the horse to do it.” Andrew Balding said of Tropical Storm, “He can mix it at a high level. He's done very little wrong. He is still a maiden, which is a bit frustrating, but his time will come, I'm sure.” Oisin Murphy added, “I have a lot of belief in Tropical Storm. I said before the race that he's probably the best maiden in the country and that was a super run. He has size and a big future.” Arizona Blaze's trainer Adrian Murray said, “He's a gorgeous horse, a beautiful horse. He would be very much on a par with [last year's winner] Valiant Force, but this fellow is probably more mature–built like a three-year-old. He has a lot of strength about him.” Wathnan strike again! Shareholder wins the Norfolk Stakes at Royal @Ascot! pic.twitter.com/iKPXaB5eL3 — At The Races (@AtTheRaces) June 20, 2024 Pedigree Notes Shareholder, a €460,000 Arqana May Breeze Up graduate, is out of the unraced Cloudy Dancer who is a daughter of the listed winner Ronaldsay (GB) (Kirkwall {GB}) and half to the sire Gale Force Ten (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) who took the G3 Jersey S. at this meeting a year after placing in this and was placed in the G1 Irish 2,000 Guineas and G1 Middle Park S. She is also a half to the listed scorer and group 3-placed Rousay (Ire) (Muhaarar {GB}), while the family also includes the G1 Moyglare Stud Stakes winner Bianca Nera (GB) (Salse), the G1 Fillies' Mile and G1 Falmouth Stakes heroine Simply Perfect (GB) (Danehill), her G1 Criterium International-winning son Proud And Regal (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and the triple graded-stakes winner Missed The Cut (Quality Road), another Royal Ascot winner who is G2 Hardwicke Stakes-bound on Saturday. She has been bred to Street Sense for 2024. Thursday, Royal Ascot, Britain NORFOLK S.-G2, £150,000, Ascot, 6-20, 2yo, 5fT, :59.77, g/f. 1–SHAREHOLDER, 129, c, 2, by Not This Time 1st Dam: Cloudy Dancer (GB), by Invincible Spirit (Ire) 2nd Dam: Ronaldsay (GB), by Kirkwall (GB) 3rd Dam: Crackling (GB), by Electric (GB) 1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GROUP WIN. ($62,000 Ylg '23 KEESEP; €460,000 2yo '24 ARQBRU). O-Wathnan Racing; B-Skyfall Thoroughbreds, LLC (KY); T-Karl Burke; J-James Doyle. £85,065. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $140,980. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. 2–Tropical Storm (GB), 129, c, 2, Eqtidaar (Ire)–Avon Breeze (GB), by Avonbridge (GB). 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (22,000gns Wlg '22 TADEWE; 50,000gns Ylg '23 TATSOM). O-Teme Valley; B-Hellwood Stud Farm & R C Dollar (GB); T-Andrew Balding. £32,250. 3–Arizona Blaze (GB), 129, c, 2, Sergei Prokofiev–Liberisque (GB), by Equiano (Fr). (36,000gns Wlg '22 TADEWE; £82,000 Ylg '23 GOFFUK). O-AMO Racing Limited & Giselle De Aguiar; B-Andrew Bengough & Partners (GB); T-Adrian Murray. £16,140. Margins: 1, HD, SHD. Odds: 12.00, 11.00, 14.00. Also Ran: Whistlejacket (Ire), Aesterius (Ire), Binadham (Ire), Loom (Ire), Moving Force (Ire), Blinky (Ire), Saturday Flirt, Milford (GB), The Man (Ire), Rock Hunter (GB). Scratched: Evening Saigon (Ire). The post Not This Time’s Shareholder Best In The Norfolk appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

A number of highlights were witnessed on a mixed day of trade at NZB’s 2024 National Weanling Sale, where nine lots sold for $100,000 or more alongside healthy increases in the average and median. Quality horses were well sought after with strong competition at the top end of the market between pinhookers, international investors and domestic end users at the Karaka Sales Centre and online. The top lot came early in the day when Lot 25, a filly by Satono Aladdin from Henley Road was secured by Gary Harding for $170,000 from Brighthill Farm’s draft. Lot 3, a colt by emerging sire Super Seth out of Drama Series, was the second highest-priced weanling of the day, selling for $140,000 to GTS Bloodstock. While Lot 36, a colt by the champion sire Proisir out of La Donna E Mobile was also purchased for $140,000 to the bid of Riversley Park. Both lots were offered by leading vendor Curraghmore, where principal Gordon Cunningham reflected on the day. Lot 3, a colt by Super Seth was the second highest-priced weanling of the day, selling for $140,000 from Curraghmore’s draft. “We’ve enjoyed a good Sale as vendors and have been rewarded for bringing good stock here.” “It’s been a good week here at Karaka, there was good competition on them right through. I’m confident those that have bought from us will be pleased and enjoy good success with them.” Raptors Thoroughbreds were leading buyers at the close of selling, highlighted by their biggest purchases in Lot 125, a colt from the first season sire Noverre out of Alagant Satin for $100,000 from Curraghmore and Lot 146, a filly by Proisir out of Christmas Day for $130,000 from Seaton Park. “We’re very happy with the five horses that we bought today,” commented Raptors Thoroughbreds Jessica Yang. “Those were the weanlings that we came here wanting to buy, so we got everything that we had on our list.” NZB’s Managing Director Andrew Seabrook commented on the weanling session at Karaka. “As reflected by the figures, it was a sale of two halves. The good horses sold extremely well with the average increasing from $23,000 to $32,000 and the median increasing from $12,000 to $18,000.” “On the flipside, the clearance rate falling to 58% suggests the lower end of the market is tough. “The fact that nine horses made more than $100,000, opposed to five last year, on a smaller catalogue confirms that the top end of the market is alive and well. “It was also encouraging to see how the market embraced the first season sires, particularly Noverre and Sword of State. “We were hoping that more end users would participate in the middle to lower end of the market but that didn’t eventuate.” All weanlings purchased are eligible to be nominated for NZB’s lucrative Karaka Millions Series. Graduates can compete in the $1m TAB Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m), followed by the $1.5m TAB Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m), as well as the new $1m Mega Maiden Series comprising of 40 non-Saturday maiden races located throughout New Zealand. To nominate your weanling, contact finance@nzb.co.nz or call +64 9 298 0055. Entries close Monday 15 July 2024. To make enquiries about Passed Lots contact Patrick Cunningham on +64 21 181 5898 or email Patrick.Cunningham@nzb.co.nz. View final results here. View the highlights, lot-by-lot ring footage and interviews here. Next on the sales calendar is NZB’s Ready to Run Sale of Two-Year-Olds, held at Karaka on 20 & 21 November 2024. Meanwhile, entries for NZB’s Karaka 2025 National Yearling Sales Series are now open via the NZB Portal, with the Sale set to take place at Karaka from 26 – 30 January. 2024 National Weanling Sale Statistics (at end of selling) 2024 NATIONAL WEANLING SALE 2023 NATIONAL WEANLING & BROODMARE SALE – WEANLING SESSION 2022 NATIONAL WEANLING SALE (INCL. VALACHI DOWNS DISPERSAL SALE) 2021 NATIONAL WEANLING SALE Aggregate $2,485,000 $2,609,100 $3,486,000 $1,820,000 Average $32,273 $23,089 $33,200 $22,195 Median $18,000 $12,000 $16,000 $11,000 Clearance 58% 70% 88% 82% Catalogued 150 183 132 120 Sold 77 113 105 82 Top Lot Lot 25 B.F Satono Aladdin – Henley Road $170,000 Lot 144 B.C Per Incanto – She’s Apples $150,000 Lot 1005 Br.C Savabeel – Bohemian Lily $360,000 Lot 78 B.C Almanzor – Girl of My Dreams $145,000 2024 National Weanling Sale Top Lots LOT SIRE DAM SEX VENDOR PURCHASER PRICE 25 Satono Aladdin Henley Road Filly Brighthill Farm Mr GE Harding $ 170,000 3 Super Seth Drama Series Colt Curraghmore GTS Bloodstock $ 140,000 36 Proisir La Donna E Mobile Colt Curraghmore Riversley Park $ 140,000 146 Proisir Christmas Day Filly Seaton Park Ltd Raptors Thoroughbreds Ltd $ 130,000 140 Maurice Butter Chicken Colt Haunui Farm Landsdowne Park $ 115,000 79 Proisir Respect Colt Haunui Farm Kilgravin Holdings Ltd / Bevan Smith Bloodstock $ 110,000 49 Proisir Mail Order Filly Highline Thoroughbreds Lyndhurst Farm $ 105,000 125 Noverre Alagant Satin Colt Curraghmore Raptors Thoroughbreds Ltd $ 100,000 126 Almanzor Amonmarie Colt Haunui Farm Merrick Staunton $ 100,000 73 Contributer Pipsqueak Rose Colt Curraghmore Devcich Bloodstock Ltd $ 95,000 2024 National Weanling Sale Leading Purchasers by Aggregate PURCHASER BOUGHT AGGREGATE TOP PRICE TOP LOT Raptors Thoroughbreds Ltd 5 $ 390,000 $ 130,000 0146 Riversley Park 3 $ 265,000 $ 140,000 0036 GTS Bloodstock 2 $ 184,000 $ 140,000 0003 Mr GE Harding 1 $ 170,000 $ 170,000 0025 Lyndhurst Farm 2 $ 152,500 $ 105,000 0049 Devcich Bloodstock Ltd 2 $ 130,000 $ 95,000 0073 Landsdowne Park 1 $ 115,000 $ 115,000 0140 Kilgravin Holdings Ltd / Bevan Smith Bloodstock 1 $ 110,000 $ 110,000 0079 Merrick Staunton 1 $ 100,000 $ 100,000 0126 Hallmark Stud Ltd / M Kirwan 1 $ 72,500 $ 72,500 0139 2024 National Weanling Sale Leading Vendors by Aggregate VENDOR ENTRIES SOLD AGGREGATE AVERAGE TOP PRICE TOP LOT Curraghmore 10 8 $ 731,500 $ 91,438 $ 140,000 36 Haunui Farm 18 10 $ 474,000 $ 47,400 $ 115,000 140 Brighthill Farm 13 8 $ 280,000 $ 35,000 $ 170,000 25 Seaton Park Ltd 8 6 $ 265,500 $ 44,250 $ 130,000 146 Highline Thoroughbreds 11 6 $ 222,000 $ 37,000 $ 105,000 49 HGT Bloodstock Ltd 6 5 $ 114,500 $ 22,900 $ 40,000 121 Hallmark Stud 8 3 $ 109,000 $ 36,333 $ 55,000 108 Little Avondale Stud 12 4 $ 59,500 $ 14,875 $ 35,000 69 Beckam Equine 2 2 $ 37,000 $ 18,500 $ 31,000 82 Rich Hill Stud 6 4 $ 33,500 $ 8,375 $ 26,000 32 2024 National Weanling Sale Leading Vendors by Average (three or more sold) VENDOR OFFERED SOLD AVERAGE AGGREGATE TOP PRICE TOP LOT Curraghmore 10 8 $ 91,438 $ 731,500 $ 140,000 36 Haunui Farm 18 10 $ 47,400 $ 474,000 $ 115,000 140 Seaton Park Ltd 8 6 $ 44,250 $ 265,500 $ 130,000 146 Highline Thoroughbreds 11 6 $ 37,000 $ 222,000 $ 105,000 49 Hallmark Stud 8 3 $ 36,333 $ 109,000 $ 55,000 108 Brighthill Farm 13 8 $ 35,000 $ 280,000 $ 170,000 25 HGT Bloodstock Ltd 6 5 $ 22,900 $ 114,500 $ 40,000 121 Little Avondale Stud 12 4 $ 14,875 $ 59,500 $ 35,000 69 Rich Hill Stud 6 4 $ 8,375 $ 33,500 $ 26,000 32 Cambria Park 4 3 $ 8,000 $ 24,000 $ 18,000 41 2024 National Weanling Sale Leading Sires by Average (three or more sold) SIRE OFFERED SOLD AVERAGE AGGREGATE TOP PRICE TOP LOT Proisir 9 7 $ 90,286 $ 632,000 $ 140,000 36 Satono Aladdin 8 4 $ 66,250 $ 265,000 $ 170,000 25 Noverre* 4 3 $ 53,667 $ 161,000 $ 100,000 125 Sword of State* 12 9 $ 38,556 $ 347,000 $ 75,000 134 Tarzino 7 4 $ 9,000 $ 36,000 $ 18,000 41 Darci Brahma 3 3 $ 8,833 $ 26,500 $ 12,000 75 Time Test 10 4 $ 8,375 $ 33,500 $ 20,000 145 Ribchester 3 3 $ 6,833 $ 20,500 $ 10,000 132 Redwood 3 3 $ 6,000 $ 18,000 $ 7,000 66 Vadamos 6 4 $ 5,000 $ 20,000 $ 10,000 9 *First season sire View the full article

Te Akau Racing might have just welcomed four Group One winners back into recent work at its Matamata stable, but trainers Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson aren’t getting distracted from the immediate task at hand: chasing stakes spoils at Tauranga on Saturday. Skew Wiff, Quintessa, Campionessa and Move To Strike have all returned to the stable to prepare for racing in the new season, but for now they’ve had to relinquish the spotlight to talented mares Aris Aris and Fashion Shoot, who give Te Akau a strong hand in the Listed Team Wealleans Tauranga Classic, a 1400m weight-for-age fillies and mares feature. Six-year-old Savabeel mare Fashion Shoot returns to domestic racing after a fruitless Australian campaign, while Contributor five-year-old Aris Aris has been a consistent performer in recent starts, winning over 1300m at Te Rapa last month before an unplaced last-start run at Te Aroha. “Both are in really good order. They worked together on the course proper here which is obviously pretty rain-affected and both worked really well. It was really strong work,” Bergerson said after Wednesday morning trackwork. “Aris Aris probably got through the ground a little bit better. I’m really hoping it dries out a little bit though that’s probably unlikely. But I can’t fault either of them. They seem to be going into Saturday in good order.” Raced by Gordon Cunningham and Greg Tomlinson, Aris Aris has yet to win at 1400m, but she has pleased the stable with her buildup to her target race. “Aris Aris was really good two starts ago. She struck a really loose track at Te Aroha. She travelled into it nicely but sort of fell out of the bridle a bit. Unfortunately, it’s probably going to be wet at Tauranga, albeit they are forecasting a fine rest of the week. How much drying there is still remains to be seen. But she’s in really good form.” A winner of seven of her 35 starts, Fashion Shoot was a winner of the G3 Canterbury Breeders’ Stakes at Riccarton earlier in the season and finished a brave fourth in the G1 New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes at Ellerslie before her three-race campaign in Victoria and South Australia. “Fashion Shoot has returned from Australia in really good order. She ran a really good Group 1 placing before leaving in the Breeders,” Bergerson said. “While she was a shade disappointing over there, she drops back to New Zealand company and hopefully she can show her best because I’m sure if she does, she could be in it. Her soft ground form is really good. Her heavy ground form remains to be seen but we’ve done all we can with her, and it’d be really nice to pick up some black type for some great supporters of the stable. “She has had a big season. It’d be lovely to sign it off on a winning note or to see her put in a really good performance because she’s a really gutsy, tough man. She’s done a fantastic job for the stable.” Bergerson suggested retirement was beckoning Fashion Shoot. “We’ll reassess after Saturday. Obviously, this will be her last start for the season but whether that’s it for her racing career, we’ll just see. If it is, she’s done an amazing job. She has been a fantastic mare.” Bergerson was excited to have the stable’s domestic Group One quartet from last season back in training ahead of the new season. G1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes winner Move To Strike credited Bergerson with his fourth Group One win in his rookie training season and he was looking forward to the I Am Invincible colt’s three-year-old spring campaign. “It’s extremely exciting to have him back. He’s a lovely animal to do anything with. You’d almost forget he was a colt – he’s that laidback,” Bergerson said. “He’s done really well in his break. He’s put on plenty of weight so he’s on a bit of a diet as we aim to get him fit and target the 2000 Guineas at Riccarton. We’re just stoked to have him back. Hopefully he’s in for a really good three-year-old season.” Bergerson said the trio of Skew Wiff, Campionessa and Quintessa were also building up well with the possible early-season target of the G1 Tarzino Trophy at Hastings on September 7. View the full article

Saturday's G1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot will see a field of 14 sprinters line up in an open-looking renewal which includes last year's surprise winner Khaadem (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}). Jamie Spencer, who partnered that Charles Hills-trained 80-1 shot 12 months ago, will instead be on Fitri Hay's other runner Mitbaahy (Ire) (Profitable {Ire}) from the same stable following his success in The Curragh's G2 Greenlands Stakes last month. Peter Harris's G2 1895 Duke of York Stakes winner Mill Stream (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}) represents the Jane Chapple-Hyam stable, while Marc Chan's 2022 G1 Prix de la Foret and G1 British Champions Sprint Stakes-winning TDN Rising Star Kinross (GB) (Kingman {GB}) is back at Ascot with Ralph Beckett handing Rossa Ryan the ride in the absence of Frankie Dettori. Wathnan Racing's acquisition Shartash (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) drops back from seven furlongs for the Archie Watson stable, while Highclere Thoroughbred Racing's filly Believing (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) is backed up by George Boughey having finished fourth in Tuesday's G1 King Charles III Stakes. In the G2 Hardwicke Stakes, Ballydoyle's St Leger hero Continuous (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}) begins his 4-year-old campaign taking on Qatar Bloodstock and Ciaron Maher's Doncaster Classic also-ran and subsequent G3 Aston Park Stakes winner Middle Earth (GB) (Roaring Lion) from Clarehaven and The King and The Queen's William Haggas-trained Leger third Desert Hero (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}). Aidan O'Brien saddles another big gun in the 20-runner G3 Jersey Stakes in the G2 Coventry S.-winning TDN Rising Star River Tiber (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), who was third in the Irish 2,000 Guineas last time. He renews rivalry with that Curragh Classic's runner-up Haatem (Ire) (Phoenix Of Spain {Ire}), who is another of Wathnan Racing's recent purchases and who bids to add to Richard Hannon's big week. Others to note in the seven-furlong contest are Clipper Logistics' Karl Burke-trained TDN Rising Star Night Raider (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), who is back in trip having failed to stay the mile of the 2,000 Guineas, and another TDN Rising Star who trailed in the Newmarket Classic in Juddmonte's Ralph Beckett-trained Task Force (GB) (Frankel {GB}). The Listed Chesham Stakes sees the Rosegreen stable represented by this month's Leopardstown maiden-winning TDN Rising Star Bedtime Story (Ire) (Frankel {GB}). She encounters 17 juveniles, including Godolphin's impressive Yarmouth novice scorer Age Of Gold (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) from the Charlie Appleby stable. The post Spencer Picks Mitbaahy Over Khaadem in the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The emergence of syndicators and traders Raptors Thoroughbred continued at Karaka on Thursday with the title of leading buyers at the 2024 New Zealand Bloodstock National Weanling Sale. Raptors Thoroughbred has had a growing presence on the buyers’ bench since debuting at the 2022 National Yearling Sale, and their handful of yearling purchases in that short space of time have included the winners Raptylight, Incredible and Dajieda. Raptylight also finished fourth in the Listed NZB Airfreight Stakes (1400m) at Wingatui in March. Thursday marked a big increase in Raptors Thoroughbreds’ sale-ring impact. They bought five weanlings for a total of $390,000, averaging $78,000. Raptors Thoroughbred saved the biggest of those purchases for last, paying $130,000 for a filly by star Rich Hill Stud stallion Proisir. The Seaton Park filly was catalogued as Lot 146 and is a half-sister to the Australian black-type winner Pudding. Raptors Thoroughbred also paid $100,000 for a colt by first-season Waikato Stud stallion Noverre out of Group Two winner Alagant Satin, plus $75,000 and $50,000 for a pair of colts by Cambridge Stud newcomer Sword Of State, and $35,000 for a son of Per Incanto. “We’re very happy with the five horses that we bought today,” Raptors Thoroughbred’s Jessica Yang commented. “Those were the weanlings that we came here wanting to buy, so we got everything that we had on our list. “We haven’t decided yet which ones we will pinhook and take to the two-year-old sale, and which ones we might keep to race ourselves. “We bought a very nice filly by Proisir for $130,000 just before the end of the sale, and we were also happy to go up to $100,000 to buy a son of Noverre. That horse was highly recommended by our bloodstock team, so we had no problem with taking that risk on a first-season sire.” View the full article

New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Weanling Sale got off to an exciting start at Karaka on Thursday morning with three weanlings fetching $140,000 or more within the first hour, headed by prominent owner Gary Harding’s $170,000 purchase of a sale-topping Satono Aladdin filly. Offered by Brighthill Farm and catalogued as Lot 25, the attractive bay filly surpassed the $150,000 price paid for last year’s sale-topping colt by Per Incanto. She also set a new record weanling price for Rich Hill Stud’s high-flying shuttle stallion Satono Aladdin, beating the A$145,000 price tag for a filly in Melbourne just last week. Thursday’s headline-grabbing filly is the second foal out of the Rip Van Winkle mare Henley Road, who placed on the racetrack and is a half-sister to the multiple Group One-winning Karaka weanling graduate Callsign Mav. Bloodstock agent John Cameron withstood a spirited bidding battle to secure the filly, who will be retained by Harding to race in his familiar white and orange colours. “There were a few things that drew me to her today, just not so much the price,” Harding said. “She’s a very nice filly. We also bought a weanling filly in Australia the previous week, so I thought we should pick out a mate for her from this sale as well. “We had a good look at quite a few of the weanlings in this catalogue, and she’s the one that ticked the boxes for us. She’s the one that we wanted. “She’s a lovely filly with a good walk and a bit of presence about her, and she’s by a stallion that’s doing a good job, so she has a bit going for her. “We’ll be keeping her and taking her through to race. Hopefully she’ll come up well. Buying weanlings is a higher-risk venture than yearlings, so we’ll just have to wait and see. But she was the one we particularly wanted today and I’m pleased that we’ve got her.” Brighthill Farm sold the sale-topping filly on behalf of Laura Day, who bought Henley Road for just $1850 on Gavelhouse.com. A total of nine weanlings sold for $100,000 or more at Karaka on Thursday. The first of them came only a few minutes after the 11am start time, with Lot 3 bought by GTS Bloodstock for $140,000. Offered by Curraghmore, the colt is by this season’s outstanding first-season sire Super Seth and is out of well-related Pierro mare Drama Series. Herself the dam of talented three-year-old filly Raptylight, who finished fourth in stakes company this season, Drama Series is out of a half-sister to the Group One winner First Seal. That $140,000 price was later matched by Lot 36, a Proisir colt from the Curraghmore draft. Renowned pinhookers Riversley Park secured the colt, whose unraced dam descends from a top-class European family featuring Group One stars Hellenic, Islington, Greek Dance, Mountain High and Fiorente. That was the first of four six-figure yearlings for Proisir, who later had fillies sell for $130,000 and $105,000 and a colt for $110,000. View the full article

Promising jumper Auld Jock (Adelaide) could earn a place in his first prestige jumping assignment with a strong showing on Sunday at Te Aroha. Auld Jock is trained at Matamata by Peter and Jessica Brosnan, who reaped the rewards of an educational season last year when the gelding went back-to-back over fences at Hawera and Woodville in May. The Adelaide six-year-old has accepted into both the Piako Rural Services Steeplechase (3500m) and The Bottle-O Te Aroha Hurdles (3100m) on Sunday, with the decision of which to run in still up in the air for the Brosnans. A number of recent injuries and retirements have led to a lack of licensed jumps jockeys this season so far, although another English rider will join the Kiwi ranks on Sunday in Jay Kozaczek. “We’re not sure which race we’ll run Auld Jock in yet due to the lack of riders available, but I think he’ll be competitive whatever race he ends up running in,” Brosnan said. “Hopefully the jockey situation can be helped by getting the riding fee up as well, but we’ll make the call later in the week for Jock’s race.” With a strong showing in either event, a trip to Hastings for next Saturday’s AHD Hawke’s Bay Steeplechase (4800m) is on the cards. “Our idea was to potentially back-up next Saturday with him, so if he can keep stepping up, then we’ll go onto the steeplechase there,” Brosnan said. “We put him in a race down there last year and he jumped some fair, then some good, so he’s had a look around the jumps course. “When he won the steeplechase at Woodville the fences weren’t live and that’s pretty much horses for courses, similar to Hastings.” Jakama Krystal (NZ) (Jakkalberry) is another in consideration for the Hawke’s Bay features, dependent upon her performance in the open hurdle after finishing a distant sixth in the Awapuni Hurdle (3000m) last month. “She just needs that bit of moisture in the track which she didn’t get down at Woodville,” Brosnan said. “We’ve freshened her up a little bit and she pulled Peter’s arms off this morning so she’s feeling well. “We would like to have a couple at Hastings, so hopefully she can go alright to possibly follow on to the Hawke’s Bay Hurdles. We’ll make our minds up after the weekend.” Ima Wonder (NZ) (Eighth Wonder) picked up her maiden steeplechasing success at the course last-start and will step into open grade against the likes of returning Great Northern Steeplechase (6200m) winner Te Kahu. “I’ve just taken her up for a farm ride and she’s come through the run really well,” Brosnan said. “Those top couple of horses such as Te Kahu do like the track so he should be hard to beat, same with Jo Rathbone’s horse (Des De Jeu) going back to the live fences. “It’s hard to win two in a row, so we’ll see how it plays out on Sunday and then make a plan for her. She’s really a day-by-day kind of horse.” Maideners Civil Unrest (NZ) (Civics) and Rocem (NZ) (El Roca) will contest the Agrisea NZ Steeplechase (3500m) and TAJC Hospitality Function Centre Hurdles (3100m) respectively, with the latter having her third start over fences under Portia Matthews. “She’s not a bad horse Rocem, if she can just get over those last couple of fences she should be right in the finish on Sunday,” Brosnan said. “It’s not an overly strong field and she’s working well.” Molly’s Gold (NZ) (Puccini) will continue her preparation on the flat for an impending jumping career in the Duck N Cover Maiden (2200m), following in the footsteps of her talented dam Southern Countess (NZ) (Star South). The Stark South mare won seven races for the stable and five of these were in her favoured jumping role, including the 2011 Great Northern Hurdles (4190m) at Ellerslie. “She (Molly’s Gold) has had a couple of jumping trials now and that will be her go,” Brosnan said. “We’re just getting a bit more race fitness into her now on the flat so she can really learn how to be a racehorse. It’s hard to put these older horses straight into jumping races when they haven’t been around on the flat. “If she can be half as good as her mother, we’ll be rapt.” View the full article

Ortega (NZ) (Reliable Man) has earned a late season shot at black type following her midweek success at Pukekohe. The juvenile daughter of Reliable Man produced a tenacious performance at her second appearance to break her maiden over 1200m on Wednesday for trainer Stephen Marsh and rider Masa Hashizume. “She did a good job, she was very gutsy after racing wide and worked pretty hard, so it was a really good effort,” Marsh said. The Cambridge horseman will keep Ortega ticking over and head to the Central Districts next month for the final two-year-old feature of 2023/24. “She seems to have come through the race well and at the end of July is the Ryder Stakes (Listed, 1200m),” Marsh said. “She handles wet ground so we’ll have a go at that for some black type and if she could win then she’s a valuable filly. “That’s what we’ll be doing and with the gap between races we can nurse her along and she could have a jump-out or a trial somewhere before that next run.” While Ortega has proven adept in winter conditions, Marsh doesn’t believe she is a one trick pony. “She’s one of those fillies that is tough and very genuine, she is getting through the wet tracks because she’s so gutsy,” he said. “She has a great attitude and will to win and I certainly don’t think she’s just a wet tracker.” Ortega set up a winning double for the stable at Pukekohe with Penurious (NZ) (Sacred Falls) later accounting for her Benchmark 65 rivals over 2200m under rider Tegan Newman. “She won very well and she’s a nice stayer on the rise,” Marsh said. By the late Sacred Falls, Penurious has won twice during a relatively brief career with both victories posted over middle distances. Meanwhile, Marsh will only have two runners at Saturday’s feature meeting with Dubai Diva (Pride of Dubai) and Hasstobefast (NZ) (Per Incanto) in the Listed Team Wealleans Tauranga Classic (1400m). “It’s a throw at the stumps, Dubai Diva was great first-up and has a good second-up record and she’s got a bit of black type and I would love to see her add to it,” he said. Runner-up behind the champion mare Imperatriz (I Am Invincible) in the Gr.3 Soliloquy Stakes (1400m) as a three-year-old, Dubai Diva ran second after a chequered run when resuming at Pukekohe last month. Hasstobefast has finished fifth in both of her runs at Pukekohe and on the synthetic track at Cambridge this preparation. “She was a bit plain second-up the other day, but she has trained on well since,” Marsh said. He will also have runners at the Amberley meeting at Riccarton on Saturday. “I quite like Miss Nico Belle and Thee Auld Minx, both are racing well are drawn to be right in it,” Marsh said. Miss Nico Belle (Nicconi) runs in the Daphne Bannan Memorial Open Handicap (1200m) off the back of a win and a third on the all-weather track at Riccarton. Thee Auld Minx (NZ) (Charm Spirit) will shoot for two on the bounce in the Cup Week Hospitality On Sale 26 June Handicap (1000m) after effortlessly breaking her maiden last time out at Timaru. View the full article

Chilli Con Khan (NZ) (Mongolian Khan) could have been described as leftovers at one point in her life but was given a chance by Murray Garrett and the Pukekohe trainer was rewarded with an impressive maiden win at his home track on Wednesday. Chilli Co Khan was part of Inner Mongolia Rider Horse Industry’s dispersal sale a couple of years ago, but was unwanted, with Garrett only taking her on after purchasing a Mongolian Falcon filly in the auction. “When they had their dispersal sale, I bought a Mongolian Falcon filly out of Middlebrook and she (Chilli Con Khan) was one of the ones that was leftover,” Garrett said. “I liked the look of her and thought we would give her ago.” She has rewarded Garrett for taking a chance on her, placing second-up at Te Aroha earlier this month before posting an impressive four length victory in the TAB NZ 1600 on Wednesday. “I broke her in myself and she has been a sweetheart the whole way,” Garrett said. “Her first time in, in her trial she ran third and then she was put out with shin soreness and came back in this time and has done everything right. “She had been showing a bit in previous starts, so it was good to get the win. She has shown that she can handle the sticky ground. “I think she can go on with it too, she is out of a Zabeel mare.” Earlier on the card, Garrett almost caused an upset with juvenile Beau Luca (NZ) in the First Weanlings By Sword Of State 1200, with the son of Embellish just getting pipped at the post by Ortega (NZ) (Reliable Man) following a brave front-running effort. “When he shot out a couple of lengths on them at the start I thought he would stop halfway down the straight, but to his credit he kept going,” Garrett said. “I think he will want the give in the track, I don’t think he will like the hard tracks, so we will just see how he comes through this and then have a look at what is around.” Garrett bred and owns the gelding and said it was a sentimental win for the family. “The mare was given to me by my uncle,” he said. “I have got a full-sister to him at home as well.” Meanwhile, Garret will head to Tauranga on Saturday with just the one contender. “Impaired Vision will be lining up at Tauranga on Saturday,” Garrett said. “He needs to do something, but he has gone a couple of reasonable races in his last couple of starts.” View the full article

Tony Cruz hopes for a good track for his superstar, who bids to become the first top weight to win the late-season feature in seven yearsView the full article