Wandering Eyes

Aidan O’Brien heads into Sunday’s Group One Qatar Prix du Jockey Club (2,000m) double-handed as he bids to win the race for just the second time in his career at Chantilly on Sunday. The master of Ballydoyle first landed the French Derby with St Mark’s Basilica and Camille Pissarro looks to have a brilliant chance of doubling his tally in the third French Classic of the season. The Wootton Bassett galloper won the Group One Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere (1,400m) at Longchamp in October and posted a...View the full article

Well-related Trelawney Stud filly Madiyya (NZ) (Super Seth) signed off her three-year-old season with a third straight win, this time over 1600m in the A$150,000 Rod Griffiths Handicap at Caulfield on Saturday. The Ben, Will and JD Hayes-trained Madiyya has made a big impression in a four-race campaign this autumn. She made her debut with a second placing over 1200m at Pakenham in late March, followed by wins in a 1400m maiden at Sale on April 20, a 1400m three-year-old handicap at Caulfield on May 10, and Saturday’s victory over 1600m. Madiyya drew the outside gate in Saturday’s 10-horse field, forcing Luke Currie to ride her further back than the midfield tactics that produced her previous wins. She was last until just before the home turn, when Currie swooped around the outside to make his bid. With a sustained run, Madiyya bounded home out wide and hit the lead with just over 100m to run. She may have felt the effects of those efforts in the final few strides, allowing a late-closing I Only Wish (Puissance De Lune) to reduce the margin to a neck, but Madiyya held on to complete her hat-trick of wins. “She was actually a bit better out of the gates today than she was last time,” Currie said. “The way she raced today, she would have landed a lot closer if she’d drawn better. It meant we had to loop the field off a soft tempo, so it was a good effort from where we were. “She was brilliant last time and was probably a bit more tradesmanlike today, but we had enough at the line to get the win without being too hard on her. She’s going to furnish with a bit more time. She’s certainly heading the right way.” Madiyya’s four starts have produced three wins, a second, and A$187,050 in stakes for owners Brent and Cherry Taylor. Madiyya is by outstanding young Waikato Stud stallion Super Seth and is a half-sister to dual Group One winner and sire Grunt (NZ), in addition to Group Two winning mare Zayydani (NZ). The latter played an important role for the Hayes brothers as they established their careers after the relocation of their father David to Hong Kong, with Zayydani both the first winner for the new-look Lindsay Park and first stakes winner. “I was just on the phone to Cherry Taylor, who’s very, very happy with this win,” Ben Hayes said. “This filly has done a great job to win three in a row, and today’s win was good. She produced a long, sustained run and has ticked off the mile. “This has been a fantastic family for us, with Zayydani a pin-up horse in the early days of our training partnership. Trelawney have been great supporters of the stable. Now we’d love to try to get some black type with this filly, potentially in her next preparation. “We know this family very well and she’s beautifully bred. You’d think, the way she won today – strong through the line and doing everything right – that she might get up over 2000m in her next prep. But she’s not a big horse and has a bit more growing to do. She’s done a fantastic job to go through the grades in this first preparation and win some good prize money. “She can go for a break now, and then we’ll have a never nice horse for the spring. Maybe we can try to target a race that Zayydani won.” Hayes may have been referring to either the Gr.2 Matriarch Stakes (2000m) at Flemington or the Listed Ballarat Cup (2000m). Zayydani scored back-to-back wins in those races in November of 2021. View the full article

A two-race North Island campaign has ended on a career-defining high for Ears Back (NZ) (Jakkalberry) and her Rangiora trainer John Blackadder, who scored their first black-type win in Saturday’s Listed AGC Training Stakes (1600m) at Wanganui. Bad luck has been a recurring theme throughout the career of the Jakkalberry mare, including a check in the straight when beaten by only 2.7 lengths in the Gr.3 TAB Mile (1600m) at Riccarton last November, along with a close fifth after a less-than-perfect run in the Listed Rangitikei Cup (1600m) at Trentham in her last start on May 17. But on Saturday, she made her own luck and became a stakes winner. Ridden by in-form jockey Mereana Hudson, Ears Back broke brilliantly from gate four and immediately took up a clear lead. Bradman (NZ) (Pins) pushed forward to join her and briefly moved ahead down the back straight, but Ears Back regained command before turning down the side of the track. Hudson began to up the ante from the 700m mark, and Ears Back kicked off the home turn with two lengths up her sleeve. The chasers gave their all to reel her back in through the final 300m, headed by defending champion Belardo Boy (NZ) (Belardo), but there would be no catching Ears Back. She kept going strongly all the way to the finish line, winning by a length and three-quarters from Belardo Boy. The third-placed Bradman finished another two lengths away. Ears Back has now had 37 starts for eight wins, six placings, and $285,660 in stakes. “That’s my first black-type win and I’m absolutely thrilled,” said Blackadder, who also shares in the ownership of the six-year-old. “It’s great for the horse, great for her owners and also great for Mereana Hudson, who gave her a perfect ride today. The plan came off. It’s so satisfying. “She was quite unlucky in that first run up north at Trentham a few weeks ago. She struck a really wet patch at the turn and lost a couple of lengths, but she still ended up being beaten by less than a length and a half. So to get the stakes win today, in the second of our northern targets, is a really big thrill.” Saturday’s weight-for-age feature was the 13th and final start of the season for Ears Back. That breakthrough campaign has produced two wins, three placings, more than $130,000 in stakes and valuable black type. “There’s not many other suitable races coming up for her now and she’s had a pretty fair season,” Blackadder said. “She can come home now and go out for a nice winter spell. Then we’ll bring her back into work and get her ready for some spring racing in Canterbury. She’s done a very good job this season and is heading out on a high.” View the full article

Promising New Zealand-bred stayer Campaldino (NZ) (Ghibellines) passed his biggest test with flying colours at Eagle Farm on Saturday, stepping up to stakes company and adding the A$200,000 Gr.3 Living Turf Queen Elizabeth II Cup (2400m) to his winning sequence. The lightly raced four-year-old gelding headed to Brisbane as the winner of his last two starts, having taken out the Orange Cup (2100m) on April 11 and a Benchmark 78 over 2400m on Randwick’s Kensington track two weeks later. Those performances made enough of an impression for Campaldino to start as a respected $7.50 chance against a much higher grade of opposition on Saturday, and he rose to the occasion in style. Ridden by Tim Clark for trainers Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, Campaldino drew gate 14 in a 16-horse field but was able to move across the front of the field and take up a position in second behind the front-running Dark Destroyer (NZ) (Proisir). Coming up to the home turn, Campaldino was clearly travelling as well as anyone in the deteriorating Heavy8 conditions, and he surged into the lead at the top of the straight. Etna Rosso (Decorated Knight) and Nikau Spur (NZ) (Proisir) emerged from the pack to try to run him down, but Campaldino had plenty in reserve and held them at bay by a length and three-quarters. “He made a really big leap there, coming from midweeks,” Clark said. “The horse has been going so well that we were confident he would take that step. “He’s just been a different horse since Gai and Adrian took the blinkers off him. He was wanting to overdo it. With the blinkers off, he relaxes really well. He conserves his energy and it was a really dominant performance there. He’s versatile and a lightly raced horse on the rise.” Waterhouse and Bott are now likely to give Campaldino a shot at the Gr.2 Brisbane Cup (3200m) on June 14. “I think we’ll have to,” Bott said. “I think he’s got the ability to stay further. We want to take advantage while he’s in this form. I think there is more upside, so why not look at it? “Nice effort from the horse today. He relished the conditions. He had good New Zealand form, particularly in those rain-affected conditions. “He’s been a progressive horse and he is starting to put it all together now. There’s more upside there and he is racing with a bit of confidence. “We came up here with a bit of confidence, the way he’d been working since his last run and the way he’s been all preparation. “He still had a sticky draw there, but when Tim was able to get him outside of the leader, he did relatively little work and we were able to control the race from that point. I was pretty confident through the run and he looked to travel pretty well.” From 13 starts, Campaldino has now recorded five wins and four placings. He has banked more than A$268,000 for a Darby Racing syndicate. Campaldino was bred by the Ricky & Anna Rhodes Partnership and is by White Robe Lodge stallion Ghibellines out of the Shocking mare Zuzana (NZ). Campaldino began his career in the Matamata stable of Cody Cole, for whom he had four starts last year. He finished seventh and eighth in his first two appearances, then put together back-to-back wins in a 1750m highweight at Taupo and a 2200m Rating 65 at Pukekohe. He caught the eye of Rob Waterhouse and was purchased privately. From nine starts in Australia, Campaldino has now recorded three wins, three seconds, a third, and two fifths. View the full article

Progressive three-year-old Whiskey ‘N Roses (NZ) (Belardo) bounced back to winning form with a courageous effort to take out the Captain Compost Landscape Supplies (1400m) at Te Rapa on Saturday. The son of former Haunui Stud-based stallion Belardo made a red-hot start to his racing career, winning two of his first three starts before finishing second to subsequent Group One winner Savaglee (NZ) (Savabeel) in the Gr.2 James & Annie Sarten Memorial (1400m) in October last year. He continued to race primarily against the best of his age group with mixed results but looked to be back to his best when finishing third in the Gr.3 Cambridge Breeders’ Stakes (1200m) at Te Rapa in late April. His supporters were prepared to overlook a last start failure at Ellerslie where he was blocked for a run at a crucial stage and sent him out a warm $3.70 second favourite with regular pilot Vinnie Colgan back on board. Colgan had the Joanne Surgenor-prepared runner nicely positioned in third throughout before angling out beyond the middle of the track early in the home run. A powerful burst carried Whiskey ‘N Roses to the front where he fought doggedly in the closing stages to hold out Lovaci (NZ) (Tivaci) and the unlucky Lux Libertas (NZ) (Almanzor), who copped a decent bump at the 250m mark when trying to angle into the clear. Surgenor was all smiles as she accepted congratulations on the victory. “He has been working excellently, didn’t really have a run last time and has improved,” Surgenor said. “He’s a happy horse and Vinnie was on, praise the lord! “Vinnie said he was going to say a little wider and not to be worried as the ground is better out there. He balanced him up and the horse just kept giving so what more can you ask for. “He is going to the paddock now and we will see how he spells, but hopefully we might be able to have a go at those early Group races next time in.” Bred by co-owners Peter and Sherin Walker, who race him in partnership with Haunui Farm, Whiskey ‘N Roses is out of the Fully Fledged mare Fullinbloom (NZ), a daughter of multiple stakes winner Rodrigo Rose (NZ) who was twice placed at Group One level. Included in his extended family are three-time Group Two winner Showoroses (NZ) and multiple Australian stakes winner Rosebrook. His third win from just twelve starts has seen him earn $118,235 in prizemoney for his connections. View the full article

Owner-trainer-breeder Kylie Little believes she might have a promising stayer on her hands with Eagle Rock (NZ) (El Roca), who left maiden ranks with an emphatic performance in Saturday’s Matt Edwards-Lime Group Mile (1600m) at Te Rapa. The $20,000 race was the third career start for the three-year-old gelding, who had finished second at Pukekohe and Wanganui in his two previous appearances on April 23 and May 11. Eagle Rock was given a perfect run on Saturday by jockey Bridget Grylls, who slotted him into fourth spot along the rail as Sybaris (NZ) (Magna Grecia) set a solid pace out in front. The three horses in front of Eagle Rock began to feel the pinch coming up to the home turn, but the $3.40 favourite was travelling with ease. He strode to the front at the home turn and quickly took command. Bradley (NZ) (Belardo) launched a big run from second-last and loomed as a threat down the outside of the straight, but Eagle Rock had plenty left up his sleeve and held on to win by three-quarters of a length. Eagle Rock is by El Roca out of the Don Eduardo mare Sea Eagle (NZ), who won six races up to 2500m and finished fourth in the Gr.3 Manawatu Breeders’ Stakes (2000m). Raced by Little in partnership with Gene Jacobson, Eagle Rock has now had three starts for a win, two seconds, and $18,885 in stakes. “That was pretty cool,” Little said on Saturday. “He deserved to pick up a maiden win after running so well for second in both of his first two starts. It’s good to see him improving, putting things together and getting more professional. “I definitely think he’s going to go a lot further than 1600m. He’s closely related to Aljay (NZ) (Rock ‘n’ Pop), who won a New Zealand Cup (Gr.3, 3200m). Even though this was only a maiden win today, I might be pretty tempted to put in a New Zealand Cup nomination with him when the spring rolls around. “We’ll see how he comes through this run today before deciding what we do next and how much further into the winter we go with him. Either way, I think he’ll have at least a week in the paddock for now.” View the full article

Punters were licking their lips after promising mare Ima Brazen One (NZ) (Brazen Beau) landed a huge betting plunge by fighting doggedly on the fence to take victory in the Dawn Eales-Baldwin Memorial Open (1200m) at Wanganui. The Mike Breslin-prepared four-year-old was punted in to start a $2.80 Fixed Odds favourite after opening at more than $10 earlier in the week, and with apprentice Toni Davies making good use of her 3kg claim to ride the mare at a featherweight 51kgs, the daughter of Brazen Beau looked a top prospect. Daves jumped the mare out well and she sped to the lead to set up proceedings in her favour. Her nearest challenger was fellow speedster Farravallo (NZ) (Belardo) and the pair rounded the home bend locked together with topweight Lazio (NZ) (Per Incanto) in hot pursuit. In a knock-em-down, drag-em-out struggle Ima Brazen One kicked best and held out the chasing pair by half a length to the joy of her many supporters. Breslin has always held a high opinion of his charge and believes she will be even better next season. “She is by no means a wet tracker but I thought with her residual fitness and only 51kgs on her back she was a winning chance, even if the track was a Heavy 8,” Breslin said. “Given her dislike of very wet ground she will be safely in a paddock come Tuesday next week. “She is still a work in progress as she can do a few things wrong and that is probably because she didn’t have that much racing as a three-year-old due to a freak occurrence. “She had a foreign body in her fetlock that couldn’t be identified but it put her off the track as she needed three months box rest and then another three months of slow recovery. “She has it all in front of her now and next time in she will be ready to contest some of the black type sprint races on offer.” Bred by Brendan and Jo Lindsay of Cambridge Stud, Ima Brazen One was purchased for $100,000 out of Cambridge Stud’s draft at the 2022 Karaka Yearling Sales and her four wins have earned $89,710 in thirteen starts for the In To Win Brazenly Syndicate, a growing syndication group operated by Tineke Balcombe. View the full article

Late-season black type is on the radar for Platinum Diamond (NZ) (Hello Youmzain) after an impressive upset victory in Saturday’s Full Circle Appearance Medicine 2YO (1200m) at Wanganui. Platinum Diamond was a late foal, born on the 4th of December in 2022, and has been patiently handled by her Awapuni trainer, Lisa Latta. The Hello Youmzain filly’s first and only trial produced a second placing over 1000m at Foxton on April 15, followed by a fourth at Hawera on her raceday debut three weeks later. Platinum Diamond was an overlooked $16 outsider for her second start on Saturday. The market was dominated by Gavin Sharrock’s last-start winners Spandeedo (NZ) (Ferrando) and Country Salon (NZ) (Darci Brahma). That pair seemed set to fight out the finish as they pulled well away from the field with 500m to run, but then Spandeedo veered to the outside around the home bend and carried Country Salon out with him. Suddenly, the $35,000 race was thrown wide open, and Platinum Diamond was able to seize the opportunity. Showing professionalism and a touch of class, she quickened through along the inside of the wayward Spandeedo. Jockey Bruno Queiroz drove Platinum Diamond to the front in the final 100m. She kicked away to win by three-quarters of a length from a luckless Country Salon. Spandeedo crossed the line another length away in third. Latta is now considering giving the fast-improving filly a shot at the Listed Castletown Stakes (1200m) on the Matariki Raceday at Otaki on June 20. “We’ve just taken this filly along quietly, being such a late foal,” Latta said. “She showed a fair bit at the trials, and then her debut run at Hawera was good. She was impressive today and we may look at the Castletown now, but we’ll just see how she pulls up.” Platinum Diamond was bred by Beaufort Downs and comes from Cambridge Stud shuttle stallion Hello Youmzain’s first southern hemisphere crop. The filly’s dam, the winning Thorn Park mare Spritz (NZ), descends from the family of Group One performers Corsage (NZ) and Seamist (NZ. Beaufort Downs offered Platinum Diamond in Book 2 of Karaka 2024, where Latta bought her for $90,000. Platinum Diamond became the fourth winner in New Zealand this season for Hello Youmzain, whose total progeny earnings in this country now stand at $217,385. His biggest earner is the Listed Champagne Stakes (1200m) winner Lucy In The Sky (NZ) with $77,250. Hello Youmzain sits in second place on the first-season sires’ premiership and is gaining ground on Lucky Vega – sire of Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m) runner-up Vega For Luck (NZ) – who has amassed $235,700. View the full article

Apprentice Liam Kauri has continued a winning association with the Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott stable by partnering their smart three-year-old Tristar (NZ) (Exceedance) to victory in the Ambient Group 3YO (1100m) at Te Rapa, his second victory aboard the filly from just two rides. Kauri, who enjoys a 3kg claim at present, first sat aboard the daughter of Exceedance when piloting her to victory three weeks ago over 1200m at Trentham and made the trip north from his Palmerston North base to link up with her for a second time. Kauri had the filly perfectly placed behind the pacemaking pair of Pleasing (NZ) (Russian Revolution) and Paravane (Merchant Navy) throughout and peeled her into the centre of the track in the run home to make his challenge. Despite having favourite Honey Badger (NZ) (El Roca) hot on her tail, Tristar booted clear and powered to the line for a comfortable two-length victory from Pleasing, who stuck well for second just ahead of Honey Badger. O’Sullivan was delighted with the filly and reserved special praise for her rider. “It was a good tough and strong win, aided by a very good ride,” O’Sullivan said. “Let’s give him (Kauri) plenty of credit and three kilograms off her back was a bid assist. “I said to Liam she looked like she would lob where she did at the start and it all panned out beautifully for her.” O’Sullivan hinted the filly may be asked to step up to stakes company against the older mares at her next assignment. “We will go home and discuss things but there is another three-year-old race coming up soon,” he said. “We may even have a roll of the dice and have a look at the fillies and mares race at Tauranga (Listed, 1400m on 21 June).” Kauri admitted the ride had gone perfectly to plan and was keen to share his thoughts on riding for former champion jockey O’Sullivan. “Everything unfolded perfectly and there wasn’t a lot of thinking that had to be done,” he said. “As soon as we jumped I was one-off and a great spot to be in and then she did the rest. “He (O’Sullivan) is a hero of mine and someone I looked up to as a kid, so to be riding for him and getting instructions is awesome.” Tristar was bred by the Little Avondale Trust and is by Exceedance out of the Pierro mare World Away. That makes her a half-sister to her stakes-winning stablemate Karman Line (NZ) (Myboycharlie). Little Avondale offered Tristar in Book 1 of Karaka 2023, where she was bought by Wexford Stables for $220,000. Her eight-start career has now produced four wins and $79,385 in stakes. View the full article

Weather Forces Early End to Eagle Farm Meeting After Race 5 Brisbane, May 31, 2025 — The Queensland winter racing carnival was dealt a significant blow on Saturday as the Eagle Farm meeting was abandoned after Race 5 due to unsafe track conditions brought on by persistent rainfall. The decision came as a major disappointment to racing fans […] The post 2025 Queensland Derby Day Abandoned: Eagle Farm Races Called Off After Race 5 Due to Weather Concerns appeared first on HorseRacing.com.au. View the full article

By Mike Love West Melton trainers Cran and Chrissie Dalgety will be looking for Group race success at Sunday’s feature Ashburton meeting. The Dalgety team line up three runners at the meeting, consisting of The Queen’s Gambit in the Helen Pope 2YO Fillies Classic Group Three for $40,000, while Fragile and Freeze Frame line up in the $60,000 Group 2 Rakaia Seed Cleaning NZ Sapling Stakes. The Queen’s Gambit ($3.40FF) appeared to run slightly disappointingly in her first look back on South Island soil at Addington two weeks ago after a successful Auckland sojourn, but driver Carter Dalgety is happy the filly has come on since then. “She missed a bit of work, she blew out a bit the last 100m. But I’m very very happy with her. She’s been the biggest improver, she’s got a good draw and is fast off the gate, so if I can find the front I’d be a very happy man,” said Dalgety. Drawn three, the Captain Crunch filly will need to work slightly harder than race favourite Treacherous Me ($2.60FF) for trainer driver Nathan WIlliamson who has drawn the pole over the 1700m. “She’s (Treacherous Me) a nice filly and looks the one to beat, and the one of Jonny’s (Always By Night) trialled very good.” Other chances in the event include southerner Havtimetodream ($16.00FF) for trainer driver Peter Hunter who showed brilliant gate speed and stamina on debut at Winton and may be one to spice up trifectas and first fours, while fellow southerner Ideal Crown ($6.50FF) for trainer Chelsea Faithful is proving to be a handy type, but has the outside of the gate to deal with. The Group 3 event runs as race five on the card, at 1:06pm. Moving on to race nine the time honoured Group 2 Rakaia Seed Cleaning NZ Sapling Stakes for $60,000 over 1700m, and the field suggests a match race between the Dalgety trained Fugitive ($1.55FF) and the in-form Steve and Amanda Telfer representative Allamericanplayer ($3.40FF). Fugitive had been dominant until the Welcome Stakes at Addington when Allamericanplayer out-toughed the red hot favourite – however this time Fugitive looks set to likely lead, with Allamericanplayer needing to do the work this time. “I was very proud of him last start. I thought he went as good as he possibly could. The winner (Allamericanplayer) is a top animal. “He’s come through it super. He’s a great doing little bugger.” “We’ve probably mapped to get the front, I’d say it’ll probably be those two fighting it out again.” Freeze Frame ($12.00FF) will also represent the Dalgety barn in the event with driver Blair Orange in the cart. “He’s a beautiful horse that tries so hard. He’s not the most natural horse, he’s just been doing it all off ability. So he’s probably going for a break after Sunday and will come back really nice. Hopefully he will run in the money again.” The Sapling Stakes gets underway at 3:20pm. Dalgety will take the reins behind Partners In Wine ($5.50FF) in Race 7, the Graeme Sparks Memorial Junior Drivers Mobile pace over 1700m. “Last start in her first start out of maidens she hit the line really good. It’s the perfect draw for her. “If we can a trail behind the favourites, she should be running on as a good place chance.” Other features on the programme include Race 8, (2.50pm) the $30,000 Rural Business Accountants 3YO Championship Stakes over 1700m. A field of 10 will run to the judge in a very open race. Anything from barrier four down to the bottom of the book has claims as a genuine hope. Race one gets underway at 11.20am. To see the Ashburton fields click here View the full article

R. Larry Johnson died in February, but his legacy as an owner and breeder continues, with his homebred turf sprinter Future Is Now grabbing headlines.View the full article

Travelling nicely over the Santa Anita turf, Queen Bay (Charlatan–Queen Medb (Ire), by Kodiac {GB}) graduated in what was her initial asking and in the process handed her first-crop sire the second win of his young career. The 2-year-old filly went off as the 2-5 chalk and had a couple of targets to track up the backstretch. Around the far turn, Queen Bay made her move and looked like a pro as she won by more than two lengths over fellow firster Glassheart (Beau Liam). The final running time was :58.31. Charlatan's first winner came at Gulfstream Park when Copernium won May 2. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0. Sales History: $150,000 '23 KEENOV, $210,000 '24 KEESEP, $350,000 '25 OBSMAR. O-Marsha Naify; B-Stoneriggs Farm (KY); T-Simon Callaghan. The post Queen Bay Hands First-Crop Sire Charlatan His Second Winner At Santa Anita appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Four weeks removed from the running of the GI Kentucky Oaks and GI Kentucky Derby, Churchill Downs stages its second stacked weekend of the spring/summer meeting, with five Grade IIIs and one listed contest on 'Stephen Foster Preview' Day. The program serves as a steppingstone to Foster Day itself in a month's time. A field of 10 has been entered for the GIII Blame Stakes, the course-and-distance prep for the $1-million GI Stephen Foster Stakes, a 'Win and You're In' qualifier for the GI Breeders' Cup Classic. Gary and Mary West's Most Wanted (Candy Ride {Arg}) is the one they'll likely have to beat, having posted a career-best 105 Beyer when second to 'TDN Rising Star' Fierceness (City of Light) in the GII Alysheba Stakes on the Oaks undercard 29 days ago. Never out of the top two in his seven starts, the homebred went four-for-four last season, topped by a victory in the GIII Oklahoma Derby. Trainer Brad Cox is a two-time winner of this race, including Highland Falls (Curlin) last sprint. No Derby winner has subsequently won a race beneath the Twin Spires since Silver Charm in 1998, and Mystik Dan (Goldencents) will look to put an end to that streak here. Off form after finishing runner-up in last year's GI Preakness Stakes, the bay bounced back to something resembling his best form when just nosed out by the classy Saudi Crown (Always Dreaming) in the May 3 Lake Ouachita Stakes at Oaklawn last time. He heads to post on Saturday with the full confidence of his connections. “He couldn't be doing any better going into the race,”said trainer Ken McPeek, who won this in 2023 with Rattle N Roll (Connect). “I really like his chances by what he's shown us in the mornings coming back here at Churchill Downs.” Brian Hernandez, Jr., who also rode Rattle N Roll, concurred, saying: “It's a good field on Saturday. There are some classy and accomplished horses in the race, but Mystik Dan has trained great going into this race.” The connections of Post Time (Frosted) land here, bypassing a trip to Saratoga for the GI Met Mile, where he was a bang-up second last year. Subsequently third in the GI Whitney Stakes over this distance and second in the GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile, the gray thumped Laurel allowance foes by a baker's dozen on seasonal debut May 3. The Aristides Stakes carries Grade III status for this running and looks all over a two-horse race. Skelly (Practical Joke) is one of the fastest sprinters in training and since beating just one home in the GI Breeders' Cup Sprint, has a pair of eye-catching scores this season, a 5 1/4-length allowance romp (107 Beyer) at his beloved Oaklawn Apr. 11 and a towering 10 1/2-length tally in a sloppy renewal of the Lake Hamilton Stakes in Hot Springs May 2. 'TDN Rising Star' World Record (Gun Runner), all-the way winner of lst year's GII Amsterdam Stakes, is no slouch where it comes to speed and he most recently made all the running to take a third-level allowance in style on the 'Thurby' program May 1. It's an embarrassment of riches in the sophomore filly turf division for trainer Mark Casse, who keeps the very talented MGSW Nitrogen (Medaglia d'Oro) in the barn for Saturday's GIII Regret Stakes, but still saddles one of the leading lights in the form of Classic Q (Classic Empire), who thrashed local allowance rivals going a mile on Apr. 30. Lush Lips (GB) (Ten Sovereigns {Ire}) overraced early in the GII Edgewood Stakes May 2, but ran home nicely to claim second behind Nitrogen. Mechaya (Liam's Map) hasn't run a poor race in three tries on the turf and most recently passed 10 rivals in the late stages to finish third to the Royal Ascot-bound 'TDN Rising Star' Shisospicy (Mitole) in the GIII Mamzelle Stakes over 5 1/2 furlongs May 10. She has longshot claims if she handles Saturday's nine-furlong trip. Brilliant Berti (Oscar Performance) and Lagynos (Kantharos) renew acquaintances in Saturday's GIII Arlington Stakes after finishing 1-2 in the May 1 Opening Verse Stakes, and they are joined by the sneaky Herchee (Twirling Candy), who has been given his chance in this considerably tougher contest in lieu of a Thursday allowance. Gin Gin (Hightail) won the GIII Baird Doubledogdare Stakes in her first start for the Brendan Walsh barn Apr. 18, but will have to prove that effort is not an aberration while taking on GI Apple Blossom Handicap third Where's My Ring (Twirling Candy) in the GIII Shawnee Stakes. Stars Come Out To Play At Woodbine It doesn't take long for the action to heat up in Toronto on Saturday, where the GIII Jacques Cartier Stakes goes as the first of a 10-race program at Woodbine. That positioning on the card owes to a four-horse field headed by the outstanding Patches O'Houlihan (Reload). Canada's champion sprinter of 2023, the 5-year-old is 12-for-15 lifetime and 10-for-12 over the local synth, including a four-length success in the May 4 Thorncliffe Stakes. Siena Farm and WinStar Farm's Calitlinhergrtness (Omaha Beach) defeated her male counterparts in last year's King's Plate and makes her seasonal debut in the GIII Belle Mahone Stakes. LNJ Foxwoods' 'TDN Rising Star' Earhart (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) has won three of her four starts on synthetic surfaces and tries the turf for the first time in Saturday's GIII Royal North Stakes, but will face a good test in the form of Wertheimer homebred Toupie (Uncle Mo). The evergreen Get Smokin (Get Stormy), last seen leading throughout to take the GIII Valedictory Stakes through a driving snowstorm last December, will try to boss his rivals from the front while making his 8-year-old debut in the GII Eclipse Stakes. The afternoon's 10th and final graded event is the GIII Triple Bend Stakes, where 'TDN Rising Star' Nysos (Nyquist), who just missed when dead-heating for second behind 'Rising Star' Mindframe (Constitution) first off a 15-month layoff in the GI Churchill Downs Stakes on May 3, figures a strong favorite over Dr. Venkman (Ghostzapper), runner-up at odds-on in last year's running. Like Post Time, Nysos's connections opt for the path of lesser resistance versus a ship to Saratoga for the Met. The post Excited For Churchill On Saturday? Who Could ‘Blame’ You? appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Group 1 winner Tunnes topped Friday's BBAG Spring Sale when selling for €75,000 to LAM GmbH. Consigned by owner Holger Enz as lot 59, the half-brother to G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe hero Torquator Tasso was sold as a stallion prospect. He won the 2022 Grosser Preis von Bayern, as well as a pair of German Group 3s. Bred by P. H. Vandeberg, the chestnut was originally a €38,000 yearling out of the BBAG September Yearling Sale in 2020. The highest priced 2-year-old was Net Worth (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}), who sold for €30,000 to LT Racing. Lot 35, consigned by Renello Bloodstock Agency, was an €39,000 buy-back out of the Goffs November Foal Sale, before making €30,000 as a Goffs Orby Yearling. Put through the ring again this spring, he did not meet his reserve at £17,000 during the Goffs UK Breeze-Up Sale. The juvenile is a grandson of Canadian Champion 2-Year-Old Filly Spring In The Air (Spring At Last), a winner of the GI Alcibiades Stakes at Keeneland. At the end of trade, 22 lots had sold from 34 offered for a clearance rate of 65%. The gross was €242,500 and the average was €11,022. The median came in at €2,500. The post Tunnes Sells For €75k During BBAG Spring Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The New York Racing Association announced the sponsored stakes lineup for the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival at historic Saratoga Race Course which will take place June 4-8.View the full article

Given he was such an important horse for the Gosdens, it was fitting that the stable would provide Kingman's Dalham Hall resident Palace Pier with his first winner at Haydock on Friday evening. Godolphin's homebred colt Morris Dancer, who had been seventh in a hot Newbury maiden a fortnight earlier, was sent off the 7-4 favourite for the card's seven-furlong novice and after being patiently ridden by Robert Havlin was produced to overhaul Havana Gold's Gold Dawn approaching the final furlong and score by 1 1/4 lengths. Morris Dancer (Palace Pier) opens his account at @haydockraces pic.twitter.com/7XTMstWJJm — Racing TV (@RacingTV) May 30, 2025 The third of three currently known foals out of dam, Morris Dancer is a grandson of Sadler's Wells' Listed Swettenham Stud Fillies' Trial Stakes scorer Measured Tempo whose dam Allez Les Trois is a half to none other than Urban Sea and King's Best. 3rd-Haydock, £11,000, Novice, 5-30, 2yo, 7f 37yT, 1:33.02, gd. MORRIS DANCER (IRE) (c, 2, Palace Pier {GB}–Menuetto {GB}, by Dubawi {Ire}) Lifetime Record: 2-1-0-0, $8,015. O/B-Godolphin; T-John & Thady Gosden. The post Morris Dancer Gives Palace Pier His First Winner At Haydock appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

GI Kentucky Derby third Baeza (McKinzie) arrived at Saratoga Race Course Thursday evening to prepare for his upcoming start in next weekend's GI Belmont Stakes. Trained by John Shirreffs, the half-brother to both Dornoch (Good Magic) and Mage (Good Magic) arrived at 8:45 p.m. from California along with the Chief Stipe O'Neill-trained Raging Torrent (Maximus Mischief), who will likely enter the GI Hill 'n' Dale Metropolitan Handicap. “He looks pretty bright coming off the van,” said Shirreffs on Thursday evening. Of the colt's Derby effort, Shirreffs added: “I thought he ran really well. If you were to run it another time and with a little bit better luck… if he gets an opening a little sooner and gets to make his move a little earlier, it could have been a whole different story.” Shirreffs said the Belmont Stakes should be an enticing spectacle for racing fans with potentially the top three finishes from the Derby set to run. “I've watched Journalism all winter and we raced against him in the Santa Anita Derby–he's a very nice horse,” he said. “I hadn't seen Sovereignty until I saw him in the paddock, and he was a very impressive physical presence there. So, I think that's three really nice horses.” BAEZA has arrived in Saratoga! The half-brother to @KentuckyDerby winner MAGE and 2024 Belmont Stakes winner DORNOCH is here ahead of this year's Belmont Stakes, presented by @NYRABets! pic.twitter.com/3pYLFTR4a3 — Belmont Stakes (@BelmontStakes) May 30, 2025 Shirreffs indicated that following a walk day Friday, Baeza would return to regular training and also visit the paddock to get better acquainted with the Spa. “We'll give him a chance to see everything, get a feeling for where he is and find his way to the track to develop a little security for him for him to know where he is at,” Shirreffs said. Already on the work tab in New York Friday was MGISW 'TDN Rising Star' Fierceness (City of Light) who turned in his final breeze ahead of the GI Hill 'n' Dale Metropolitan Handicap when working in company with Tuscan Sky (Vino Rosso), going a half-mile in :49.74 before galloping out in 1:02 3/5 (10/45). Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher said the work was what he was hoping to see from the 2023 Champion 2-Year-Old Colt. “I thought it was great,” he said. He's a very impressive horse to watch breeze and it seems like he does everything so effortless. He shipped in, and everything has gone according to plan. We got in three breezes and we're just trying to keep him in as good of shape as he was going into the Alysheba.” One horse Fierceness is doubtful to face in the Met Mile is his stablemate Mindframe (Constitution), who joined his stablemate on track Friday but is most likely heading to the GI Stephen Foster on June 28 at Churchill for owners St. Elias Stable and Repole Stable. “I thought it was very good also,” Pletcher said of Mindframe's work. “I'll get with Mike [Repole] and St. Elias and we'll make a final decision, but we're probably leaning towards the Stephen Foster. He's a really fun horse to train.” Pletcher also added that Bobby Flay and James Ventura's Sir Barton-winner Crudo (Justify) is “not completely ruled out” of the GI Belmont Stakes pending a Saturday work. The Chad Brown barn sent out both Raging Sea (Curlin) and Randomized (Nyquist) for a half-mile breeze Friday over the Oklahoma dirt training track to prepare for next Friday's GI Ogden Phipps. The pair worked in company, with Randomized to the inside of Raging Sea, covering the half-mile in :49.66 (7/45). “They went great in their work and are on schedule,” said Brown. “They are doing super. They've been training good and looked good.” The post Baeza Ships In, Fierceness Works Ahead Of Belmont Stakes Weekend appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Saturday, Baden-Baden, Germany, post time: 15:50, JAPAN RACING ASSOCIATION DERBY-TRIAL-G3, €55,000, 3yo, 10fT Field: Aquaman (Ger) (Cracksman {GB}), Eagle Emblem (Ire) (Sea The Moon {Ger}), Juwelier (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), Next Mine (Ger) (Dabirsim {Fr}), Path Of Soldier (Ger) (Soldier Hollow {GB}), Zafirelli (Hun) (Study Of Man {Ire}). TDN Verdict: Path Of Soldier had Aquaman resume rivalry, having been first and third in Munich's G3 Bavarian Classic at the start of the month. Juwelier was fifth in Chantilly's Listed Prix de Suresnes last time and that could represent the strongest form. [Tom Frary]. Saturday, York, post time: 15:15, WILLIAM HILL BRONTE CUP FILLIES' STAKES-G3, £100,000, 4yo/up, f/m, 13f 188yT Field: Divina Grace (Ire) (Golden Horn {GB}), Allonsy (GB) (Study Of Man {Ire}), Crystal Flyer (GB) (Magna Grecia {Ire}), Jane Temple (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}), Scenic (Fr) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), Sueno (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), Term Of Endearment (GB) (Sea The Moon {Ger}). TDN Verdict: Last year's winner Term Of Endearment meets a pair of unexposed fillies from Clarehaven in Sueno and Jane Temple, with Ryan Moore an eye-catching booking for the former. Up in trip after an unlucky fourth behind the stable's Shaha and the re-opposing Scenic in Goodwood's Listed Daisy Warwick Fillies' Stakes earlier this month, she has the edge over her stablemate, the Kempton novice winner who carries the Oppenheimer silks successful in this with Precious Ramotswe in its inaugural running in 2018. [Tom Frary]. Saturday, Haydock, post time: 14:58, BETFRED NIFTY 50 LESTER PIGGOTT FILLIES' STAKES-G3, £85,000, 4yo/up, f/m, 11f 175yT Field: Sioux Life (Ity) (Sioux Nation), Beautiful Love (Ire) (Siyouni {Fr}), Bay Of Sanibel (Ger) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), Chorus (GB) (Kingman {GB}), Estrange (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}), Invisible Friend (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), Our Golden One (Ire) (Golden Horn {GB}), Shaha (Ire) (Cracksman {GB}). TDN Verdict: Shaha, who beat the G3 Bronte Cup protagonists Scenic and Sueno in Goodwood's Listed Daisy Warwick Fillies' Stakes earlier this month, faces another unexposed filly in Estrange who was last seen winning Doncaster's Listed Gillies Fillies' Stakes in November. They may have more upside than Beautiful Love, so readily outclassed by See The Fire in York's G2 Middleton Stakes last time. [Tom Frary]. Saturday, Haydock, post time: 15:33, BETFRED JOHN OF GAUNT STAKES-G3, £85,000, 4yo/up, 7f 37yT Field: Kinross (GB) (Kingman {GB}), Alyanaabi (Ire) (Too Darn Hot {GB}), Audience (GB) (Iffraaj {GB}), Grey's Monument (GB) (Territories {Ire}), Kikkuli (GB) (Kingman {GB}), Mount Athos (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire}), Quinault (Ger) (Oasis Dream {GB}), Room Service (Ire) (Kodi Bear {Ire}), Spycatcher (Ire) (Vadamos {Fr}), Ten Bob Tony (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}), Volterra (Ire) (Farhh {GB}), TIger Bay (GB) (Harry Angel {Ire}). TDN Verdict: Kinross is back once again, but as he needed his first start last term he will almost definitely shape fitter for this. Audience reinvented himself last term when taking the G1 Lockinge Stakes and G2 Lennox Stakes, but is uncertain to like this turning test already mastered by Shadwell's Alyanaabi. Newly gelded before his comeback win in the course-and-distance Listed Spring Trophy, he boasts a similar profile to that of Kinross when he first signalled his rise to the top in this four years ago. [Tom Frary]. Sunday, Chantilly, France, post time: 16:05, QATAR PRIX DU JOCKEY CLUB-G1, €1,500,000, 3yo, c/f, 10 1/2fT Field: Azimpour (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), RIdari (Fr) (Churchill {Ire}), King Of Cities (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), Al Aali (Fr) (City Light {Fr}), Leffard (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}), Cualificar (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), Detain (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), Heybetli (Ire) (Showcasing {GB}), Bowmark (GB) (Kingman {GB}), Curragh Camp (Fr) (Romanised {Ire}), Luther (GB) (Frankel {GB}), Trinity College (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), Parachutiste (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), Tipinso (Fr) (Pinatubo {Ire}), Camille Pissarro (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), Nitoi (Siyouni {Fr}), Sinileo (Ire) (Siyouni {Fr}), Frankly Good Cen (Fr) (Frankel {GB}). Sunday, Tokyo, Japan, post time: 15:40, TOKYO YUSHUN (JAPANESE DERBY)-G1, ¥570,000,000, 3yo, 2400mT Field: Lila Emblem (Jpn) (Kizuna {Jpn}), Shohei (Jpn) (Saturnalia {Jpn}), Eri King (Jpn) (Kizuna {Jpn}), Dragon Boost (Jpn) (Screen Hero {Jpn}), Readiness (Jpn) (Suave Richard {Jpn}), Fandom (Jpn) (Saturnalia {Jpn}), Museum Mile (Jpn) (Leontes {Jpn}), M's (Jpn) (Duramente {Jpn}), GIovanni (Jpn) (Epiphaneia {Jpn}), Toppi Born (Jpn) (Real Steel {Jpn}), Nishino Agent (Jpn) (Isla Bonita {Jpn}), Kalamatianos (Jpn) (Rey De Oro {Jpn}), Croix Du Nord (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn}), Ho O Atman (Jpn) (Duramente {Jpn}), Faust Rasen (Jpn) (Mozu Ascot), Feiern Kranz (Jpn) (Duramente {Jpn}), Masquerade Ball (Jpn) (Duramente {Jpn}), Satono Shining (Jpn) (Kizuna {Jpn}). Monday, Rome, Italy, post time: 17:00, PREMIO 142 DERBY ITALIANO-G2, €640,000, 3yo, c/f, 2200mT Field: Became Good (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}), Cleone Jet (Ire) (Kodi Bear {Ire}), Crazy Spirit (Ire) (Phoenix Of Spain {Ire}), Decorated Royal (Ire) (Decorated Knight {GB}), Hanting (GB) (Harry Angel {Ire}), Heldtoransom (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}), Klaynn (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}), Lao Tzu (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}), Loki (Ger) (Best Solution {Ire}), Molveno (GB) (Almanzor {Fr}), Our 'Enery (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), Red Maximus (Ire) (Circus Maximus {Ire}), Starnberg (Fr) (Lawman {Fr}), Tamburo (Ire) (Harzan {Ire}), Tutto Torna (GB) (Cable Bay {Ire}), Zagnuc (Ire) (Arcano {Ire}), Zauberkonig (Ger) (Teofilo {Ire}), Zibibbo (Ire) (Fascinating Rock {Ire}). Click here for the complete fields. The post Black-Type Analysis: John Of Gaunt Puzzle For Kinross appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. 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The first five finishers from the Satsuki Sho (Japanese Two Thousand Guineas, G1) return to contest the June 1 Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby, G1).View the full article

Charles Allen will not take up his role as chair of the British Horseracing Authority from the start of next month, British racing's governing body confirmed May 30.View the full article

Despite losing his unbeaten tag to Museum Mile (Leontes) in the G1 Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas), Croix Du Nord still carries the burden of favouritism in Sunday's G1 Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby). Never tested at the 2400-metre trip, the son of Kitasan Black and the Cape Cross mare Rising Cross went three-for three in his juvenile season and put an exclamation point on his career thus far in the G1 Hopeful Stakes, defeating Giovanni (Epiphaneia). The Japanese Champion 2-Year-Old Colt will leave from stall 13 in the 18-horse field under Yuichi Kitamura. Trainer Takashi Saito said of the Sunday Racing silks-bearer, “He ran into interference in the Satsuki Sho, but picked up the pace and made up for it. He's definitely ready and looks better and more filled out than he did for the Satsuki Sho. This has been our goal from his debut and I've given him a rotation that works with this distance. Tokyo is no problem and with Kitasan Black as his sire, I think he can handle it.” Second in the G1 Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes last year, fellow Sunday Racing colourbearer Museum Mile ran fourth in the G2 Hochi Hay Yayoi Sho in March prior to his Classic victory. Unlike Croix Du Nord, he enjoyed a clean passage in the Japanese 2000 Guineas, but he should still be a tough nut to crack in this step up to 2400 metres. Damian Lane is slated to ride, and the duo are close to the middle of the field in stall seven. Trainer Daisuke Takayanagi said, “After the Satsuki Sho, he was tired but otherwise there didn't seem to be any need for concern. It's been a long time since he has raced to the left [handed] and I am a bit concerned about the venue and the distance. However, he has gotten a lot of experience so there's probably no reason to worry. He handled the Satsuki Sho well, which I think reflects how well he has matured mentally.” Testing the Group 1 waters for the first time is the three-for-three Fandom (Saturnalia), who won the G3 Mainichi Hai in March when last seen. Representing Carrot Farm, the colt has yet to try a race beyond 1800 metres, but he has plenty of dash, as he set a new race record of 1:32.80 going 1600 metres at Nakayama last September. “After the Mainichi Hai, he went to the farm for rest and recuperation,” said trainer Tetsuhide Tsuji. “Last week in track work, his time was good and he extended well to the very end, but I could see he still had a lot left over. So, considering that, I think he may actually be stronger physically. “As far as which direction the race is run, the jockey says right or left makes no difference. Looking at this horse in the Mainichi Hai, I could see that he wouldn't be an embarrassment if he ran in the Derby. The line-up will be tough, but I'm hoping he'll give it his best.” Rounding out the top four picks in the ante-post market is the G3 Kyodo News Hai hero Masquerade Ball (Duramente). A winner of the Listed Ivy Stakes from three starts at two, he snagged his group win over 1800 metres in February before improving markedly to run third behind Museum Mile and Croix Du Nord in the Japanese 2000 Guineas. The Shadai Race Horse flagbearer is benched widest of all barring one–G3 Kisaragi Sho victor Satono Shining (Kizuna) in 18–in the gate on Sunday. Trainer Takahisa Tezuka was realistic on his charge's chances and said, “He has talent but he doesn't bring it out on his own. He has a huge stride and isn't good taking the bends, so we've been working on that in work too. He's suited to a wide-open, spacious course, so Tokyo is the better course for him.” The post Derby Redemption For Croix Du Nord? appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

What drives someone to leave everything behind to follow a dream? And what happens when the dream is within reach, but one last obstacle stands in the way? Tomislav Mitrovski was watching from home when Color Comin' In (Rock Your World), the first horse he ever bred, overcame a troubled start and stormed home to a three-length victory in her debut at Churchill Downs. Over the moon with the result, Mitrovski immediately called his wife to celebrate a win that felt like the start of something bigger. When Mitrovski packed up his life and moved his family from their home in North Macedonia, a small country in the Balkans, to Lexington, Kentucky, he hoped to accomplish two things: become a Thoroughbred breeder and get a job in horse racing. After just three years, Mitrovski has already checked off that first goal by breeding a filly who looks like the real deal. The second goal, however, has proven more elusive. The morning after becoming the breeder of a 'TDN Rising Star,' Mitrovski was clocking in at Dillard's, where he works as a sales associate in the women's shoe department. After years of effort and countless applications, Mitrovski has had no luck finding a job in the Thoroughbred business. But Mitrovski did not uproot his life and move across the world to stop now. “I was over 50 when I came here,” he said. “It wasn't easy to cut all your ties and just move, but if it was easy, everybody would do it. I'm not giving up. I think I will make it sooner or later. The big thing for me is that I have a great start as a breeder. That was a really crazy result and I hope better things are ahead.” An engineer by trade, Mitrovski fell in love with horse racing in the 1980s, following greats like Spend a Buck, Ferdinand, Snow Chief and Sunday Silence. There was no Thoroughbred racing in his home country, so he followed the sport's biggest events around the world– from Europe and the U.S. to Japan and South America. To immerse himself further, he wrote about racing for various Yugoslavian magazines for almost 20 years, but there was such little local interest in the sport that the column had little success. In 2022, Mitrovski, his wife and their two adult children were granted green cards and they moved to Kentucky. A few months later, Mitrovski teamed up with bloodstock agent Chad Schumer to launch his breeding program. At the Keeneland November Sale, Schumer landed on Sleepless Dixie (Dixie Union), a 14-year-old stakes-placed mare who had produced several winners. None were standouts, but she was in foal to Rock Your World. Mitrovski was working a shift at Dillard's when he got the message that he was officially a horse owner. “We bought her for $7,500, so that was a fantastic deal,” Mitrovski recalled. “I remember Chad texted me and said, 'You got very lucky today.' It was a strange feeling. It was something you dream about all your life and then it finally happens.” Mitrovski sent his new mare to a small boarding operation in Paris. When Color Comin' In was foaled the following February, she was a little crooked up front, but Mitrovski described her as “the sweetest creature ever.” He initially sent the filly to the Keeneland November Sale, but she RNA'd there for $9,000. Color Comin' In improved dramatically as a yearling, but when he sent her down to the OBS October Sale, he encountered another obstacle. The sale took place between two catastrophic hurricanes in Florida and out-of-town buyers were scarce. She sold for just $11,000. Color Comin' In breaks her maiden at Churchill Downs | Coady Media Mitrovski tracked the filly as she was pinhooked for $100,000, selling to Justin Casse at the OBS March Sale after breezing in 9.4, and started putting in works at Churchill Downs this spring. Then he watched as the Norm Casse trainee was entered in a competitive maiden for her debut. The field included a $1.2 million full-sister to MGSW First Captain (Curlin) and a $410,000 OBS March graduate. “I guess I was much more hopeful that I was confident,” Mitrovski admitted. “It was a really good bunch of fillies in that race, but she ran like a rocket. It was an impressive win and a really emotional result. I hope that this is just the beginning of something better. When the first horse you ever bred is a winner at Churchill Downs, it's really nice.” Casse has reported that Color Comin' In, who is campaigned by CKDS Racing Stable, is pointing for the listed Debutante Stakes at Churchill Downs on June 29. With a Churchill Downs winner to his credit, Mitrovski is already off to a fast start as a breeder. But breaking into the industry remains a tougher race to win. When Mitrovski and his family arrived in Lexington back in 2022, they spent several weeks living in a hotel while he searched for a job. He hoped to find something quickly so they could settle near wherever he ended up working. After sending his resume to 20-some operations with no positive responses, Mitrovski was confused, disheartened, and knew he had to start looking elsewhere. “Maybe the problem is that I don't have any hands-on experience, but I was applying for administrative jobs,” explained Mitrovski. “Maybe I just don't have the recommendations. I guess that's the reason, but I don't know.” His wife Donna, who was an economist back in North Macedonia, had already found a job at the Fayette Mall. Mitrovski joined her there. Mitrovski and his wife Donna at Keeneland | Sara Gordon In the Dillard's women's shoe department, Mitrovski has waited on some of the sport's most prominent owners and breeders. He recognizes them from the many racing articles he has read over the years and chats with them about their horses in between fetching them a different shoe size or helping adjust a heel strap. Mitrovski said he is grateful to the team at Dillard's for giving him a chance, but sometimes he can't help thinking about how far he is from where he wants to be. “I still hope that I will find something in the industry,” he said. “If I need to learn something, if it's about horses I will learn. No doubt about it. Maybe my expectations are too high, but it's something I've wanted to do all my life. I never gave up on my dreams and when I came here, I found hope again. It's good to have hope. Like with Color Comin' In, you have a good feeling with yourself, a satisfaction that you've done something right.” Color Comin' In was the only foal Mitrovski bred out of Sleepless Dixie. Last year the mare lost her foal a few months before her due date. He bred her back, then sold her at an online auction last spring. This past fall, he took the money he made from selling Color Comin' In and Sleepless Dixie to find a new mare. With the help of Chad Schumer, he bought Waverly Place (Awesome Again), a great-granddaughter of champion Winning Colors, for $17,000. This spring, the mare produced a colt by freshman sire Yaupon. “He is a very promising young stallion and the foal is very correct and very strong, so we have high hopes for him,” said Mitrovski. “The dream is still alive.” In the months leading up to their move to Kentucky, friends and neighbors would approach the Mitrovskis and ask them if they were really ready to trade secure, professional careers for a fresh start in an unfamiliar world that few in their community even knew existed. Mitrovski said he believed he owed it to his family to take the leap. “I'm telling my kids all the time that if you want something, don't waste your time with something else,” he said. “I don't think I would be in this situation without my wife and my family having my back. This is a family business at the end of the day. I'm doing this for myself, but I'm doing this for my kids also.” “I'm here to stay,” he continued. “I don't think I will go back to anything else. This is where I want to be. We will continue to breed horses and hope we will have other success after this. Coming here to Kentucky was always the dream, so don't give up your dreams.” The post From the Balkans to the Bluegrass, Breeder Tomislav Mitrovski Chasing a Dream appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Lord Charles Allen, who was announced as the new chair of the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) in November, will not start in his new role on June 2 as originally planned. A statement from the BHA on Friday confirmed that Lord Allen will delay taking over at the helm as he wished to continue to meet all stakeholders to “better inform his vision”. The statement read, “Since Lord Allen was named as the new chair of the BHA last November he has engaged in an extensive round of meetings with stakeholders to develop a deeper and more comprehensive understanding of the issues facing the sport. “The BHA can today confirm that Lord Allen will not now start on June 2 as he wishes to continue meeting stakeholders to better inform his vision for the sport and he looks forward to starting his new role once these have concluded.” Lord Allen, a former chief executive at ITV who was also on the organising committee of the London 2012 Olympics, is set to succeed the late Joe Saumarez Smith, who died in February. The post New BHA Chair Delays Start Date appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Items from the estate of the late Virginia Kraft Payson, proprietor of Payson Stud in Lexington and Payson Park Training Center in Florida, will be offered over the course of five auctions via Bluegrass Auction, Appraisal & Realty in June. Showcasing Payson's extensive collections of fine jewelry, rare antiques, and numerous paintings and prints–some numbered and from limited runs–over 1,200 items will be put on offer June 15-22. Said works are by renown sporting artists like Henry Stull, Jenness Cortez, Fred Stone, and Peter Howell, and include topics such as her 1985 Travers Stakes winner Carr de Naskra and homebred St. Jovite, who would be crowned the European Horse of the Year in 1992. Other artwork includes numbered prints and paintings of horses such as Ruffian, A.P. Indy, John Henry, and Alysheba, to name a few. All five catalogues, and online bidding, are available here along with more information on the condition of the pieces. The post Items from the Estate of Virginia Kraft Payson on Offer via Bluegrass Auction in June appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article