Wandering Eyes

Today 16th May in horse racing news history From the extensive Horse Betting news archives we present the all the thoroughbred racing action in Australian and overseas racing news in history. Delve in and enjoy our walk back in horse racing time. Horse Racing Tips 12 months ago Pakenham best bets & quaddie tips | Thursday, May 18 An eight-race program is scheduled for Pakenham Racecourse on Thursday night, and HorseBetting.com.au brings you best bets and free quaddie … Read More Horse Racing Tips 12 months ago The Follow Files: John O’Shea runner unlucky in Ortensia Stakes In this week’s Follow Files, we have found three horses that are worth following next start after good runs on … Read More Horse Racing Tips 12 months ago Hawkesbury racing preview & best bets | Thursday, May 18 NSW racing heads to Hawkesbury on Thursday afternoon for a competitive eight-race program. See HorseBetting’s top tips and quaddie picks … Read More Australia horse racing news 12 months ago Ulanova in Melbourne to target early age group sprints Leading filly Ulanova has temporarily relocated to Australia to prepare for the early part of her upcoming three-year-old season … Read More New Zealand horse racing news 12 months ago Smart 3YO leading the way for Harris Progressive three-year-old Urenui is proving a marquee player for New Plymouth trainer Debbie Harris following a smart win on Saturday … Read More Australia horse racing news 12 months ago Big Dance to get bigger and boost to Championships Racing NSW today announced that prizemoney will be increased for the Big Dance and both the Country Championships and Provincial-Midway … Read More New Zealand horse racing news 12 months ago Double strikes add momentum to Moodley’s career A pair of recent winning doubles have served to boost the profile of a newcomer to New Zealand racing, apprentice … Read More Horse Racing Tips 12 months ago Today’s horse racing tips & best bets | May 16, 2023 Two horse racing meetings are scheduled around Australia today. See the top tips and quaddie selections for free here at … Read More Australia horse racing news 2 years ago Zaaki headlines strong nominations for Doomben Cup Day A total of 187 horses have been nominated for this Saturday’s Doomben Cup meeting, with Zaaki once again the main … Read More Horse Racing Tips 2 years ago Moe racing preview, best bets & quaddie | Tuesday, May 17 Moe Racing Club is scheduled to host an eight-race card on Tuesday afternoon, and HorseBetting.com.au’s James Herbert has picked out … Read More Horse Racing Tips 2 years ago Kembla Grange racing tips, top odds & quaddie | May 17, 2022 HorseBetting’s New South Wales racing analyst presents his best bets and quaddie numbers for Tuesday’s six-race program at Kembla Grange … Read More Australia horse racing news, Horse Racing News 2 years ago Punt Drunk: Back to the day job for Dolan We are nursing a sporting hangover this Monday as we try to recover from a mammoth weekend of racing and … Read More Australia horse racing news 2 years ago Valenciano claims Denis Staunton Memorial Cup for Cooke Alice Springs trainer Barry Cooke had every right to be confident when he took Valenciano to Tennant Creek for Saturday’s … Read More Australia horse racing news 2 years ago Fawke takes out Tennant Creek Cup on Hagan Park debut Having made the decision to return to South Australia in August, Sairyn Fawke has celebrated by winning the biggest race … Read More Horse Racing Tips 2 years ago Today’s horse racing tips & best bets | May 16, 2022 Two horse racing meetings are scheduled around Australia today. See the top tips, best odds and quaddie selections for free … Read More Horse Racing Tips 2 years ago Ballarat racing preview & best bets | Monday, May 16 The synthetic track at Ballarat Turf Club is back in action as it hosts an eight-race on Monday afternoon and … Read More Horse Racing Tips 3 years ago Ballarat betting tips, best odds & quaddie picks | Monday, 17/05 Ballarat horse betting preview is brought to you by Horsebetting.com.au. See all the tipping selections, value bets, top odds available … Read More Horse Racing Tips 3 years ago Tamworth betting preview, tips & top odds | Monday, May 17 Horsebetting.com.au brings you the Tamworth racing betting preview for Monday, May 17. See all the tips , value bets, top … Read More Australia horse racing news 3 years ago Today’s horse racing tips & best bets | May 16, 2021 Horse racing around the country has eight meetings scheduled to help round out the weekend on the punt. Our racing … Read More Horse Racing Tips 3 years ago Gawler betting tips, top odds & quaddie | Sunday, 16/05/21 Horsebetting.com.au brings you the Gawler betting preview for Sunday racing in South Australia. See the top betting tips, best odds … Read More Horse Racing Tips 3 years ago Sunshine Coast betting preview, tips & odds | Sunday, May 16/21 Horsebetting.com.au brings the betting preview for the Sunshine Coast races on Sunday, May 16. See the top tips, value bets … Read More New Zealand horse racing news 3 years ago Daring ride secures royal result in Rotorua feature Consistent sprinter Pop Star Princess secured her first black type success when she took out the Group 3 Rydges Rotorua … Read More New Zealand horse racing news 3 years ago Sharrock duo quinella opening race at New Plymouth Trainer Allan Sharrock continued the red-hot run for his stable this season when he produced the quinella in the first … Read More Horse Racing Tips 3 years ago Bendigo betting preview, top tips & odds | Sunday, May 16/2021 Horsebetting.com.au brings you the betting preview for Bendigo races held on Sunday, May 16. See all the top tips, value … Read More New Zealand horse racing news 3 years ago The Good Fight scores knockout in Rotorua Cup Consistent stayer The Good Fight left his race rivals in his wake as he scooted clear in the home straight … Read More Australia horse racing news 4 years ago Super Titus impresses with Flemington win The addition of ear muffs has helped Super Titus to relax in his races with the Lindsay Park galloper landing … Read More Australia horse racing news 4 years ago Trekking beats Gytrash in Group 1 Goodwood John Allen has steered the James Cummings-trained Trekking to a narrow win over favourite Gytrash in the Group One Goodwood … Read More Australia horse racing news 4 years ago Dirty Work completes hat-trick in Ortensia Dirty Work has saved the day for his stable, making it three wins on end in the Listed Ortensia Stakes … Read More Australia horse racing news 4 years ago Lucy repays Squair with Silk Stocking win Love You Lucy has made amends for ending trainer Barry Squair’s days as a trackwork rider with her win in … Read More Australia horse racing news 4 years ago Baker’s stable gem Irithea wins Dark Jewel The Bjorn Baker-trained Irithea has won the Group Three Dark Jewel Classic at Scone to earn a trip to Queensland … Read More Australia horse racing news 4 years ago Hightail breaks Gold Coast duck in Guineas Sydney gelding Hightail has finally had some luck in a Gold Coast feature race, winning at Group Three level … Read More Australia horse racing news 4 years ago Promising filly Fituese wins Listed race The John Thompson-trained Fituese has made it five wins from seven starts with her first black-type success in the Listed … Read More Australia horse racing news 4 years ago Oceanex claims Cup berth in Andrew Ramsden Victory in The Andrew Ramsden at Flemington has given the Mick Price and Mick Kent Jr-trained Oceanex a ballot exemption … Read More Australia horse racing news 4 years ago Ranier claims Listed Luskin Star Stakes After making it two wins from as many starts this preparation, Godolphin sprinter Ranier will head to Brisbane where the … Read More Australia horse racing news 4 years ago Wisdom Of Water in brilliant Atkins trial Wisdom Of Water has turned in an outstanding trial for next month’s Group One JJ Atkins with his Gold Coast … Read More Australia horse racing news 4 years ago Prezado goes back-to-back at Flemington Jamie Kah has guided the Mathew Ellerton and Simon Zahra-trained Prezado to another victory over the straight 1000m course at … Read More Australia horse racing news 4 years ago Dawn Passage stamps his Stradbroke claims Dawn Passage has pressed his claims for a Stradbroke Handicap tilt after adding the Inglis 3YO Guineas at Rosehill to … Read More Australia horse racing news 4 years ago Macroura adds Listed win to perfect resume The Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained Macroura has maintained her unbeaten record with a brilliant win in the Woodlands Stakes … Read More Australia horse racing news 4 years ago Extra Time upsets boom colt in Group 3 National High-priced colt Kazuhiko has been beaten but not disgraced at his debut in finishing second in the Group Three National … Read More Australia horse racing news 4 years ago Straight experience pivotal in Divine win Lindsay Park-trained two-year-old Divine Caprice has broken through for her maiden city win taking out the Next Generation Sprint at … Read More Australia horse racing news 4 years ago Weight drop helps Romakash in Coast win Romakash has appreciated a 5kg drop in weight from his previous start to win at the Gold Coast … Read More Hong Kong horse racing news 4 years ago Uncle Steve’s ready, President’s Choice aims to keep on rising Uncle Steve (123lb) is aiming to put a season-slowing injury setback behind him when he steps up to 1800m for … Read More New Zealand horse racing news 4 years ago Venues reduced under draft racing calendar proposal The proposed calendar for the 2020-21 New Zealand racing season has been released today by RITA for consultation, as required … Read More New Zealand horse racing news 4 years ago Collett back in action Expat New Zealand Jockey Alysha Collett is happy to be back in the saddle and will ride on Sunday at … Read More New Zealand horse racing news 4 years ago Duncan jumping pair to tackle Aussie features With COVID-19 curtailing the jumps season in New Zealand, Hunterville trainer Ken Duncan has elected to send two of his … Read More Australia horse racing news 5 years ago Tony McEvoy to build new Ballarat complex Trainer Tony McEvoy will build a new training complex at Ballarat to complement his established bases at Angaston and Flemington … Read More Australia horse racing news 5 years ago Boomsara ready to bounce back at Doomben Trainer Chris Munce believes drawing the outside barrier is not a total disaster for Boomsara in the BRC Sprint at … Read More Australia horse racing news 5 years ago Scarlet in dream Queensland Oaks trial Scarlet Dream has trialled well in the lead-up to her run in The Roses at Doomben which will determine whether … Read More Australia horse racing news 5 years ago McNeil hopes experience pays off with War Jye McNeil gets his second chance aboard Declares War when the three-year-old lines up in The Mahogany Challenge at Flemington … Read More Australia horse racing news 5 years ago Mark Currie gets fine, suspended sentence Toowoomba trainer Mark Currie has been fined $7500 and given a wholly suspended 12 month-sentence on race day treatment charges … Read More Australia horse racing news 5 years ago Mr Marathon Man now has speed in his legs Former French-trained Mr Marathon Man will run for the second time in Australia when he lines up over 1400 metres … Read More New Zealand horse racing news 5 years ago Raymond Connors shooting for repeat double Wanganui trainer Raymond Connors will bid to defend two feature race crowns when he lines up horses at Te Rapa … Read More Hong Kong horse racing news 5 years ago Teetan and Cruz combine Happy Valley’s French-themed night featured the Class 3 Le French May Trophy Handicap (1000m). The dash went to the Tony … Read More Hong Kong horse racing news 5 years ago Fighter strikes for Purton in France Galop Cup Zac Purton questioned Racing Fighter’s fortitude in the lead-up to the Class 3 France Galop Cup Handicap (1200m) at Happy … Read More Hong Kong horse racing news 5 years ago Japan’s Happy Grin targets the Group 1 Champions & Chater Cup Happy Grin is on track to contest the HK$10 million Group 1 Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup (2400m) at … Read More Australia horse racing news 5 years ago Trainer Ben Currie loses application A Supreme Court judge has refused an application to temporarily halt Racing Queensland’s decision to refuse Ben Currie’s nominations … Read More Australia horse racing news 5 years ago Veteran to line up again in another Cup Two horses at vastly different stages of their racing careers will bid to deliver trainer Joe Pride an inaugural win … Read More Australia horse racing news 5 years ago Dwayne Dunn after first Goodwood on Booker The Goodwood at Morphettville has eluded former Adelaide jockey Dwayne Dunn but he believes he has a good chance of … Read More Australia horse racing news 5 years ago Michael Walker to have Cup impact Jockey Michael Walker’s patience could be rewarded with back-to-back Doomben Cups when he rides Fierce Impact … Read More Australia horse racing news 5 years ago Glen Boss to return to Australia Glen Boss, the regular rider of three-time Melbourne Cup winner Makybe Diva, has announced he will return to Australia to … Read More Australia horse racing news 5 years ago Blake Shinn reunites with Toby Edmonds In-form jockey Blake Shinn is set to reunite with leading trainer Toby Edmonds on two key rides at Doomben … Read More New Zealand horse racing news 5 years ago Group 1 winning son of Snitzel to Mapperley Stud Mapperley Stud has added Snitzel’s Group 1 winning son, Summer Passage, to their five-strong stallion roster ahead of the 2019 … Read More New Zealand horse racing news 5 years ago History Beaudz Well for exciting juvenile Taranaki trainer John Wheeler believes he has another exciting juvenile by Grangewilliam Stud stallion Zed on his hands, with the … Read More New Zealand horse racing news 5 years ago The Babe inducted into Hall of Fame Legendary expat-Kiwi jockey Brent Thomson, affectionately known as The Babe, has been inducted into the Australian Racing Hall of Fame … Read More New Zealand horse racing news 5 years ago Group 1 three-year-old sold to Hong Kong Quality New Zealand three-year-old Arrogant is the latest Australasian galloper to join the exodus to Hong Kong following his recent … Read More United Kingdom Horse Racing News 5 years ago Enable return delayed to Royal Ascot Dual Arc winner Enable is set to make her eagerly anticipated return to action at Royal Ascot after being scratched … Read More Australia horse racing news 6 years ago Weir import measures up to city standard Fifty Stars has completed a winning hat-trick from his only three starts with an impressive victory over 1400m at Sandown … Read More USA horse racing news 6 years ago Can Justify complete the American Triple Crown? THE inevitable question following the Kentucky Derby every year is whether or not the winner of the race can go … Read More Australia horse racing news 6 years ago James McDonald back in winning groove James McDonald has returned from a disqualification with a double at Warwick Farm … Read More Horse Racing Tips 6 years ago Kembla Grange betting tips & full form for Thursday, May 17 KEMBLA Grange is racing this Thursday and there’s a strong eight race card for punters to invest upon. Not sure … Read More Australia horse racing news 6 years ago Queensland Derby hopes on show at Coast The Sunshine Coast midweek meeting has produced two promising three-year-old stayers headed to the Queensland Derby … Read More Australia horse racing news 6 years ago Chautauqua in training for spring return Chautauqua has commenced work again after having a barrier ban placed on him that put an end to his autumn … Read More Australia horse racing news 6 years ago Almighty Crown bound for Queensland Derby Almighty Crown has a Brisbane Group One on the radar after an impressive staying success at Warwick Farm for Sydney’s … Read More Australia horse racing news 6 years ago Oregon’s Day faces Doomben Cup challenge Oregon’s Day is set to defy the trend of mares struggling in the Group One Doomben Cup … Read More Australia horse racing news 6 years ago Riviera Sandown win all for Hawkes family Wayne Hawkes says his mother Jenny will be over the moon with the debut win of Riviera at Sandown … Read More Australia horse racing news 6 years ago McDonald makes winning return to racing Former Sydney premiership-wining jockey James McDonald has returned from an 18-month disqualification in style with a win at Warwick Farm … Read More Australia horse racing news 6 years ago Newnham expects boost from Star Sensation Mark Newnham is confident Star Sensation is on the rise after a slow start undermined her comeback to racing at … Read More Australia horse racing news 6 years ago Swacadelic lines up for fifth try at 3200m Trainer Aaron Purcell is hoping Swacadelic gets his opportunity to win at 3200m for the first time when he runs … Read More Australia horse racing news 6 years ago Ever So Natural has a tough act to follow Tracey Bartley will attempt to keep his successful season on an upward spiral when Ever So Natural runs at Rosehill … Read More Australia horse racing news 6 years ago Waller six to chase Group One Doomben Cup Chris Waller has trained the first six horses across the line in a stakes race and has another chance to … Read More New Zealand horse racing news 6 years ago El Bayardo master of his own destiny Progress on the flat in the coming months will determine if El Bayardo is to be tried in a new … Read More New Zealand horse racing news 6 years ago Smart 2YO doesn’t disappoint on debut Expectations around Wekaforce at Ruakaka weren’t misplaced with the filly untested to make a dream start to her career. Trainer … Read More New Zealand horse racing news 6 years ago Kiwi mare chasing further stakes success Ruud Not Too has settled in well in Queensland and will be given the opportunity to add Australian black type … Read More Market Movers 6 years ago Sandown betting moves for Wednesday, May 16 SANDOWN is Victoria’s primary mid-week meet and the punters have not been shy about wagering on the eight race card … Read More Market Movers 6 years ago Warwick Farm market movers for Wednesday, May 16 WARWICK Farm is racing this Wednesday and the punters haven’t been shy about launching into a number of these runners … Read More Australia horse racing news 6 years ago Waller runners dominate Doomben Cup field Six of the 13 acceptors for the Group One Doomben Cup will be saddled by premier Sydney trainer Chris Waller … Read More Australia horse racing news 6 years ago Prominent racing identity Don Storey dies Prominent Sydney racing owner, breeder and administrator Don Storey has died aged 86 … Read More Horse Racing News 7 years ago Bobby El-Issa outed on handling charge Jockey Bobby El-Issa has been suspended for four months for not giving a horse every chance to obtain the best … Read More Horse Racing News 7 years ago VRC CEO Simon Love resigns After almost two years as the chief executive of the Victoria Racing Club, Simon Love has handed in his resignation … Read More Horse Racing News 7 years ago Bayliss, Lindsay Park dominate at Geelong Jockey Regan Bayliss and the Lindsay Park training team have combined for five winners on the program at a provincial … Read More Horse Racing News 7 years ago Matt Cumani suspended and fined Trainer Matt Cumani has been suspended and fined over his failure to tell stewards of a strangles infection … Read More Horse Racing News 7 years ago Shoreham is right back home at Flemington After interstate stints with Gerald Ryan and Les Kelly, Shoreham has returned home to the stables of Saab Hasan at … Read More Horse Racing News 7 years ago Hay Now set for Rosehill debut Canberra-based mare Hay Now will strive to preserve an impressive record when she makes her Sydney debut at Rosehill … Read More Horse Racing News 7 years ago Crusher looking to maintain an unblemished record for Ben Currie TRAINER Ben Currie knows he has a potential star on his hands in the form of Crusher, which will make … Read More Horse Racing News 7 years ago Karacatis earns third shot at G1 Goodwood Victory in the D C McKay Stakes has given eight-year-old Karacatis a third shot at the Group One Goodwood at … Read More Horse Racing Tips 7 years ago Quaddie tips & free bets for Thursday, May 18 races at Pakenham OUR weekly Thursday quaddie returns to the outskirts of Melbourne as Pakenham Racecourse hosts an interesting eight-race card. We’re looking … Read More Horse Racing News 7 years ago Jake to stake Qld Derby claims His performance in a race in rural New Zealand will determine whether Jake The Muss makes the trip to Australia … Read More Horse Racing News 7 years ago Dubois seeks another French connection NSW-based French trainer Jean Dubois will scour his homeland looking for fresh talent to boost his stable … Read More Horse Racing News 7 years ago Maher rejects Azkadellia ownership allegations TRAINER Ciaron Maher is maintaining his innocence despite being formally charged by Racing Victoria (RV) over the ownership of five … Read More Horse Racing News 7 years ago Weir horses booked for Brisbane travel Trainer Darren Weir has his Brisbane-bound horses booked on three early morning flights but there are no guarantees they can … Read More Horse Racing News 7 years ago Cumani pleads guilty to two charges The Racing Appeals and Disciplinary Board is considering penalty for Matt Cumani over his failure to tell stewards of a … Read More Horse Racing News 7 years ago NSW trainer outed for cobalt offence A NSW trainer has been disqualified for 15 months for a cobalt offence while two Victorian trainers face charges relating … Read More Horse Racing News 7 years ago Capacity field to line up in Goodwood Favourite Black Heart Bart has drawn barrier two in a field of 20 plus three emergencies as he chases back-to-back … Read More Horse Racing News 7 years ago Snitzel poised to take 2yo record Victory by Madonnica at Wyong will give her sire Snitzel a record number of individual two-year-old winners for the season … Read More Horse Racing News 8 years ago Ghisoni trials well ahead of Qld campaign Group-winning filly Ghisoni has pleased her connections in an easy barrier trial in Sydney ahead of a Brisbane winter campaign … Read More Horse Racing News 8 years ago Sebring Sun to shine in the winter Trainer Gary Portelli is looking to build Sebring Sun’s confidence in the winter before he decided on any spring targets … Read More Horse Racing News 8 years ago Lindsay Park out to end Goodwood drought David Hayes and Tom Dabernig are set to have five runners in The Goodwood as the partnership looks to win … Read More Horse Racing News 8 years ago Lindsay Park out to end Goodwood drought David Hayes and Tom Dabernig are set to have five runners in The Goodwood as the partnership looks to win … Read More Horse Racing News 8 years ago Feek expects Barwon to relish 3200m Co-trainer David Feek will give progressive stayer Barwon his chance over 3200metres in the Andrew Ramsden Stakes at Flemiington … Read More Horse Racing News 8 years ago Roger James aiming at Qld Classic New Zealand trainer Roger James is striving to get Romantic Maid to the Queensland Oaks but is more hopeful The … Read More Horse Racing News 8 years ago Dylan Dunn to make G1 debut against father Apprentice Dylan Dunn is excited to get the opportunity to ride in a Group One race for the first time … Read More Horse Racing News 8 years ago Derby shake-up as The Gurkha wins G1 The Aidan O’Brien-trained The Gurkha is the market leader for the Epsom Derby following his win in the French 2000 … Read More Horse Racing News 8 years ago Skye Bogenhuber appeals two-month ban Queensland jockey Skye Bogenhuber will front the appeals board iin her appeal against a two-month suspension on a handling charge … Read More Horse Racing News 8 years ago Bondi Beach wins Vintage Crop Stakes Bondi Beach has won the Group Three Vintage Crop Stakes at Navan on his way to the Ascot Gold Cup … Read More View the full article

TIMONIUM, MD – Randy Hartley and Dean DeRenzo sent out two horses to work during the first under-tack show session for the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic May 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale Tuesday and came away with the bullet workers at a furlong and a quarter-mile, with a colt by Authentic (hip 59) covering his quarter-mile in :21 1/5 and a filly by Volatile (hip 12) going a furlong in :10 flat. The first of three sessions of the Midlantic May under-tack show began at 8 a.m. Tuesday under cloudy skies and with temperatures at the Maryland State Fairgrounds hovering around 60 degrees. The session was just minutes old when hip 59 turned in the fastest quarter-mile work of the day. From the first crop of GI Kentucky Derby winner Authentic, the bay colt is out of Grade I winner Gomo (Uncle Mo). “He keeps himself fit as a fiddle,” Randy Hartley said of the colt. “I knew he could do that. He worked really nice. He's a two-turn looking horse, tall and leggy.” Hartley/DeRenzo purchased the colt for $300,000 at the Keeneland September sale last fall. He RNA'd for $385,000 after working a furlong in :10 flat at the OBS March sale. “I had him in March and he worked in :10 flat, but I had so many colts down there that everybody fell on the same four,” Hartley said. “[Bob] Baffert looked at him two or three times, but he wasn't quite there yet. He's looking so much better up here.” Hip 12 turned in her :10 flat breeze during the fourth of seven sets Tuesday. The filly, out of multiple stakes-placed Exchange Cat (Exchange Rate) and a half to graded-placed Grit and Curiosity (Macho Uno), was purchased by Hartley/DeRenzo for $230,000 at Keeneland September. “We were trying to find the best Volatile that we could buy because we loved him as a racehorse,” Hartley said. “We felt like, with his speed, his babies would probably work good. These babies by freshman sires who come to the sale and work good, that's what it takes to get people interested in them. And all of the Volatiles looked like they could run.” The filly was originally slated to sell at the OBS April sale last month. “I had her in the April sale and she broke out in ringworm horrible–all over her face and her legs,” Hartley said. “She drew hip 1204–she was five horses from the end–and with the way the times were at that sale, I just felt like she was going to have to go in :9 3/5 or :9 4/5. I prepped her down there and she prepped good, but through the rest of the week she was miserable. I don't think she was crazy about the synthetic track and I didn't even work her there.” Hartley continued, “I haven't done a lot with her since April because she was already ready. I just took her home and we didn't ride her that much because she had all the stuff on her face. We jogged her, but she didn't breeze again. I prepped her a little bit here that was it.” Of his expectations for the filly's breeze Tuesday, Hartley said, “Here on the dirt, I was hoping for a :10 2/5 or faster. I can sell a :10 2/5 here. But I knew she was going to breeze good just by the way she was pulling me to the pole. Usually, she is real quiet. But she was so strong this morning, I thought she was going to run off with both me and the rider.” Hip 12 | Fasig-Tipton The chestnut filly marks a first pinhooking partnership between Hartley/DeRenzo and the McKinney family's Reliance Ranch, which is a major player in Quarter Horse racing. “I own her in partnership with some new clients of mine from Texas,” Hartley said. “They are sort of transitioning over to the Thoroughbreds now. We are so excited for them because we had her in the April sale and I had to call them and tell them it wasn't going to happen. They said, 'Whatever you need to do.' We only did the one pinhook this year with them and she's a lovely filly, very smart and very classy.” A headwind kicked up during the later sets of Tuesday's session, which concluded by 2 p.m. just as rain settled into a steady patter that was expected to continue through the night and well into Wednesday's second session of the under-tack show. The under-tack show continues with sessions Wednesday and Thursday beginning at 8 a.m. The Midlantic May sale will be held next Monday and Tuesday with bidding commencing each day at 11 a.m. The post Volatile Filly, Authentic Colt Earn Tuesday Bullets in Timonium appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Angel of Empire, winner of the 2023 Arkansas Derby (G1), bolstered his resume when named 2023 Pennsylvania-bred Horse of the Year and champion 3-year-old male at the May 10 Pennsylvania Horse Breeders Association's 45th annual Iroquois Awards. View the full article

There was relatively little movement in the 2024 National Thoroughbred Racing Association Top 3-Year-Old Thoroughbred Poll and the Top Thoroughbred Poll after a relatively quiet week of racing that followed a slew of graded races early this month.View the full article

When there are conversations in horse racing that mention one for the ages, the one is surely trainer D. Wayne Lukas. View the full article

Some familiar 3-year-olds from this spring's Kentucky Derby (G1) preps, who fell short of qualifying for the Run for the Roses, reappear in the $100,000 Sir Barton Stakes May 18 at Pimlico Race Course.View the full article

The Alibi Breakfast, held Thursday at Pimlico Race Course, will honor WBAL-Radio and photographer John Voorhees for their coverage of the 2023 GI Preakness S. WBAL-Radio will receive the David F. Woods Award while Voorhees, working on behalf of Eclipse Sportswire, will be recognized for his photo of last year's Preakness winner National Treasure (Quality Road) and jockey John Velazquez. Tickets for the Alibi Breakfast can be purchased here. The post WBAL-Radio, Voorhees To Be Recognized At Alibi Breakfast appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Arguably the most impressive Oaks trial winner so far this month when dominating the Listed Pretty Polly S., George Strawbridge's Friendly Soul (GB) (Kingman {GB}) makes a 10-day turnaround in Wednesday's G3 Tattersalls Musidora S. at York. Upsetting the already-proven Kalpana (GB) (Study Of Man {Ire}) at Newmarket, where the third was 12 lengths further behind, the John and Thady Gosden-trained filly is slightly ahead of the curve as far as pedigree is concerned, so far showing more precocity than her three Group 1-winning half-siblings. Despite being by Kingman, she has plenty of stamina in her pedigree and with connections weighing up whether to head to Chantilly or Epsom next, this should help make up their minds. Ralph Beckett won the two recognised Oaks trials last week and saddles a duo to make it three here in the daughters of Lope De Vega (Ire), Classical Song (Ire) and La Pasionaria (GB). The former, who races for Doreen Tabor, was fourth in the G1 Fillies' Mile when last seen in October and that is strong form. Jockey Rossa Ryan is optimistic. “Her work at home has been lovely. She's wintered really well and, judging by her two-year-old career, it looks like the step up in trip will suit her well so I would have no fear on that front,” he said. Ballydoyle's Mayfair (Ire) (Justify) is still a maiden after three starts with much to find on form, but that hasn't stopped many of the stable's runners down the years and she is up to a trip that will suit on pedigree. “We always felt that stepping her up in trip will make a big difference to her, so we are expecting a good bit of improvement,” Aidan O'Brien said. Also at York is the G2 1895 Duke Of York Clipper S., where the sprinters re-engage ahead of Royal Ascot including Azure Blue (Ire) (El Kabeir) who beat the sadly-departed Highfield Princess (Fr) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) in this 12 months ago. Seen only once subsequently when sixth in Newmarket's G1 July Cup, she has to defy the lay-off in a race that is competitive in terms of numbers but which lacks a Highfield Princess. Another filly in the line-up with solid claims is Sheikh Juma Dalmook Al Maktoum's Swingalong (Ire) (Showcasing {GB}), whose two visits to this venue resulted in wins in the G2 Lowther S. and G3 Summer S. “Swingalong has been working really nicely, she's been on the go a long time and has been ready to go for a while,” commented Karl Burke, who also saddles last year's G3 Prix de Ris-Orangis winner and G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest and G1 British Champions Sprint S.-placed Spycatcher (Ire) (Vadamos {Fr}) and last year's Group 3 winners Cold Case (GB) (Showcasing {GB}) and Marshman (GB) (Harry Angel {Ire}). “She loves York and we hope she will run a big race–she has never run a bad race at York. Spycatcher will need every drop of rain and if the ground is deemed to be firm then there would be a doubt about him going. We've got four nice horses and it is a shame they all have to run against each other. Swingalong seems to be at the head of them, although on soft ground I would be leaning with Spycatcher.” The post Friendly Soul Steps Up In The Musidora appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

In this series, the TDN takes a look at notable successes of European-based sires in North America. This column is highlighted by the victory of Pipsy during the Belmont at the Big A meeting in New York. Pipsy Soars In New York Pipsy (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}), who races for Woodford Throughbreds, LLC, earned the first graded win of her career in the GIII Soaring Softly S. during Belmont's spring meeting at Aqueduct on Sunday (video). Trained by Will Walden, the filly is now three-for-four. The Noel Finegan-bred was a €60,000 Goffs November foal, who was a 45,000gns buy-back during the Tattersalls October Sales and won a pair of races, including the Listed Legacy S. for Ger Lyons and former owner Patrick Cosgrove. Offered during the Tattersalls December Mares Sale, Pipsy changed hands for 700,000gns to these connections and was making her first U.S. start. Her juvenile half-brother Breckenbrough (Ire) (Earthlight {Ire}) has yet to race, while her yearling half-brother is by Ghaiyyath (Ire). Her dam, Experte (Fr) (High Chaparral {Ire}), is a half-sister to G2 Grand Prix de Deauville winner Ziyad (GB) (Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire}), who was placed in a trio of top-level races. Tally-Ho stallion Kodiac has 50% winners to runners in the U.S., and there are 41 winners among his 82 runners in that locale. Pipsy joins seven other stakes winners, giving the son of Danehill a strike rate of 10%. From last to first, PIPSY, gets the win in the Grade 3 Soaring Softly under Flavien Prat for Trainer William Walden in her US debut! pic.twitter.com/vzFnryKktH — NYRA () (@TheNYRA) May 12, 2024 Musical Earns Santa Barbara Score By A Nose Michael House's Musical Rhapsody (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) captured the Santa Barbara S. at Santa Anita by a nose this past weekend (video). Trained by Phil D'Amato, the 5-year-old mare also ran second in the GIII Red Carpet S. and is out of Colour Rhapsody (Ire) (Rip Van Winkle {Ire}). The €14,000 Tattersalls Ireland yearling buy-back is part of the Helen Keaveney breeding programme, and raced for trainer Gavin Cromwell and Mark and Helen Keaveney to three handicap wins before being purchased privately and sent to America. This is the same family as G3 Lacken S. heroine Only Mine (Ire) (Pour Moi {Ire}). Coolmore's Holy Roman Emperor has 26 winners from 50 runners (52%) in the U.S. His best are GI Sword Dancer S. hero Glorious Empire (Ire), GI Joe Hirsch Turf Classic S. winner Rockemperor (Ire) and Rich Tapestry (Ire), who won the GI Santa Anita Sprint Championship among his seven stakes winners (14%). Favorite Musical Rhapsody Prevails By A Nose In Saturday's $100,000 Santa Barbara Stakes pic.twitter.com/zLmkxTidj2 — Santa Anita Park (@santaanitapark) May 12, 2024 Former Oaks Filly Wins At Monmouth Amo Racing's Maman Joon (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) took her second race in a row with a tally at Monmouth Park on Saturday (video). Trained by Chad Brown, the Barnane Stud-bred filly was a 400,000gns Tattersalls October Book 1 yearling. Thrown into the G1 Oaks on only her second start for former trainer Richard Hannon, she ran with great credit to take fourth, and eventually was transferred to America where she won a Tampa Bay maiden in her sixth lifetime start this April. The half-sister to the stakes winner and three-time group-placed Candleford (Ire) (Kingman {GB}) is out of the Listed Pretty Polly S. heroine Dorcas Lane (GB) (Norse Dancer {Ire}), who earned black type with top three finishes in the G2 Ribblesdale S., G2 Lancashire Oaks, and the G3 Prix de Psyche. Maman Joon's full-sister has yet to race. Under the third dam is G1 1000 Guineas heroine Harayir (Gulch). The Aga Khan Studs' Sea The Stars has 19 winners from 40 runners (47%) in America, with his seven stakes winners there (17%) led by GII Fort Marcy S. hero Ottoman Fleet (GB). Invincible Army Filly Claws Out California Win Keith Johnston's Invincible Molly (GB) (Invincible Army {Ire}) won at Santa Anita recently for trainer Jeff Mullins (video). Bred by Giggenstown House Stud, the filly changed hands for 7,000gns as a Tattersalls December foal, before becoming an 18,000gns Tattersalls December yearling a year later. Alex Elliott picked up Invincible Molly for 55,000gns out of the Tattersalls Guineas Breeze-Up Sale. A handicap winner for Ralph Beckett and owner G Myddelton from four starts in the UK, the bay was an 85,000gns Tattersalls Autumn juvenile when bought by Johnston last autumn. The fourth foal of the unraced Mollymawk (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}), the filly is followed by juvenile colt Red Wine (GB) (Expert Eye {GB}). American-based sire and dual Grade II winner Amira's Prince (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}), who was third in the GI Gulfstream Park Turf H., is a half-brother to the stakes winner Hen Night (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}), third in the G3 Derrinstown Stud 1000 Guineas Trial and the second dam of Invincible Molly. Yeomanstown Stud's Invincible Army now has one winner (50%) from two runners in the States. Overall, the young stallion has sired 24 winners from 78 runners worldwide, with his best, the listed winner and multiple group-placed Kitty Rose (GB). Un espectacular triunfo obtuvo ayer el jinete @HIBerrios en @santaanitapark, en la 3a carrera de atropellada y en el último salto ganó junto a la ejemplar #1 Invincible Molly (GB) (Invincible Army), en un Allowance Optional Claiming para hembras de 3 años por U$55.000 1.200 mts…. pic.twitter.com/Aw8QWNHKZt — 100% hípica (@100xCientoHip) May 12, 2024 Repeat Winners Chad Brown has been dominating graded stakes with his European imports, but he has enjoyed an exceptional couple of weeks even by his high standards. Program Trading (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), already featured in Making Waves, got his head down on the line for Klaravich Stables in the GI Turf Classic S. at Churchill Downs on Derby Day (video). E Five Racing's Carl Spackler (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), a dual graded winner last year, was back in the winner's circle for his 2024 debut (video). Now a winner of three stakes following his Opening Verse S. win, the Chad Brown trainee is just shy of $600,000 in earnings. Fellow Brown trainee Royalty Interest (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}) secured a career high in the GIII Sheepshead Bay S. during the Belmont at the Big A meeting (video). It was the first stakes victory for the Klaravich Stables runner. In Kentucky, Dynamic Pricing (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) also earned her first stakes victory for Brown and Klarman's Klaravich Stables, in the GII Edgewood S. at Churchill Downs (video). Saturday's GII Churchill Distaff Turf Mile S. heroine Chili Flag (Fr) (Cityscape {GB}) has been a star for Madaket Stables, Michael Dubb and Michael Kisbert (video). The 5-year-old is trained by Chad Brown and struck in last year's Forever Together S. at Aqueduct last spring. Gold Phoenix (Ire) (Belardo {Ire}), who won the GI Frank E. Kilroe Mile S. last year, added another graded win to his resume in the GII Charles Whittingham S. (video). Trained by Phil D'Amato, he races for Little Red Feather Racing, Sterling Stables, and Marsha Naify. Godolphin's Silver Knott (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), who won the GII Elkhorn S. at Keeneland this spring, added another graded laurel with a win in the GII Man O'War S. during the Belmont at the Big A meeting (video) for trainer Charlie Appleby. The gelding will summer in Saratoga. PHOTO FINISH! Program Trading wins the G1 Old Forester Bourbon Turf Classic in a thriller. Flavien Prat was aboard the Chad Brown trainee for owner Klaravich Stables. pic.twitter.com/HX2Pt2O6ih — Churchill Downs (@ChurchillDowns) May 4, 2024 The post Making Waves: Kodiac Filly Stands Out In New York appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Last year's GI Arkansas Derby winner Angel of Empire (Classic Empire) was honored as the 2023 PA-Bred Horse of the Year and Champion 3-year-old Male at the Pennsylvania Horse Breeders Association's 45th annual Iroquois Awards held May 10. Racing in 2023 for Albaugh Family Stables LLC and trained by Brad Cox, Angel of Empire won two of six starts during his 3-year-old season. He was Pennsylvania's richest state-bred of the year, with earnings of $1,446,375. The complete list of divisional champions is below: 2-year-old Female: Carmelina (Maximus Mischief) 2-year-old Male: Drum Roll Please (Hard Spun) 3-year-old Female: Neecie Marie (Cross Traffic) Older Female, Turf Female, and Female Sprinter: Caravel (Mizzen Mast) Older Male: Nimitz Class (Munnings) Male Sprinter: Twisted Ride (Great Notion) Turf male: Our Shot (Kantharos) PA-Preferred Female: Aoife's Magic (Smarty Jones) PA-Preferred Male: Gordian Knot (Social Inclusion) Broodmare of the Year: Zeezee Zoomzoom Additionally, the PHBA recognized State Representatives Mary Jo Daley (Montgomery County), Danilo Burgos (Philadelphia County), and Kristine C. Howard (Chester County) with Legislator Awards while Ryerss Farm for Aged Equine was presented the PHBA Award of Merit. The post 2023 PA-Bred Awards Topped By Angel Of Empire appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Charismatic hurdler Harchibald (Fr) (Perugino) has died at the age of 25 according to published reports. Best known for his close second in the 2005 Champion Hurdle to Hardy Eustace (Ire) (Archway {Ire})), the five-time Grade 1 winner was enjoying his retirement in Ireland. All told, his record stands at 14 wins from 48 starts, with wins in the Fighting Fifths (2004/2007), a pair of Christmas Hurdles (2004/2008) and the John James McManus Memorial Hurdle in Ireland (2005) among his victories. Bred by Ecurie Bouchard Jean-Lo, the bay was trained for the majority of his career by trainer Noel Meade in the colours of DP Sharkey. He was retired in 2009 at the age of 10. “Hail the King, our King is dead,” Noel Mead Racing posted on X. “Harchi was my favourite horse of all time. I know on occasions he annoyed people and for sure he annoyed me but we had great days together, Paul Carberry, Harchi & myself. Never to be forgotten and I'd like to thank Johnny and Danielle Hurley for looking after him so well in his retirement. He became part of the family with them. R.I.P. old friend.” The post Charismatic Hurdler Harchibald Dies At 25 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

GI Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan (Goldencents) continued his preparation ahead of Saturday's GI Preakness S. with a leg-stretching trip around the Pimlico surface Tuesday morning under Robby Albarado. The pair jogged seven furlongs before Albarado let the colt gallop through 1 1/2 miles. “I let him clip along today, and he's not even blowing,” Albarado told Pimlico media following the work. “I thought every day would be a better day for him. He's getting comfortable with his surroundings. He knows where he's at now. I couldn't be more pleased with the way he trained today. Every day I let him do what he feels like doing. I don't let him overdo it. I try not to make him do anything. He's all within himself.” GI @KentuckyDerby winner MYSTIK DAN (Goldencents) out for a gallop on the main track at @PimlicoRC this morning. Next up, the @PreaknessStakes! pic.twitter.com/9yhrOziuQk — TDN (@theTDN) May 14, 2024 Assistant trainer Ray Bryner, who joined Mystik Dan in Baltimore ahead of trainer Kenny McPeek's expected arrival later Tuesday, oversaw training. “He's a consummate pro,” said Bryner. “Likes to train. Can't make him do anything wrong; he's a natural. He's laid back. But when the time comes, he can switch it on and off, like a key in the ignition, which is ideal.” Mystik Dan drew post position five in a nine-horse field and, while rain threatens to persist throughout the week and into the weekend, Bryner remained optimistic. “I think we have a huge chance. At the draw [Monday] night, I was tickled to death to get the 5 post, right in the middle of nine horses. We've got the favorite [Muth] inside us, so Brian can keep an eye on him. [Rain] won't affect him in any way, shape or form…. If it is a sloppy track, no muss, no fuss. He handles the kickback just like it's a dry racetrack. I'm not saying we'll have an edge if it's sloppy, but it's not going to hurt us.” Wayne Lukas sent his Preakness pair to the track Tuesday with Just Steel (Justify) and Seize the Grey (Arrogate) both galloping Tuesday after arriving at Pimlico Monday. “They came in in great shape,” said Lukas. “In fact, they had great energy today. I was really surprised, mostly because they're looking around and it's all new, but they had good energy. That's all you want when you get off that truck. That was 12 hours for them, and you just want their energy to be where it should be.” The Bob Baffert-trained pair of 'TDN Rising Star' and morning-line favorite Muth (Good Magic) and Imagination (Into Mischief) left California Tuesday morning and were also expected to arrive in Maryland late in the afternoon. GI @PreaknessStakes contender CATCHING FREEDOM (Constitution), fourth in the @KentuckyDerby last time out, was feeling good this morning as he returned to the barn! @PimlicoRC pic.twitter.com/OpXX604CGB — TDN (@theTDN) May 14, 2024 Also shipping in Tuesday were Catching Freedom (Constitution), who jogged a lap of the track after arriving around 2 a.m for Brad Cox., Tuscan Gold (Medaglia d'Oro) for Chad Brown, Uncle Heavy (Social Inclusion) and Mugatu (Blofeld). The post Preakness 149: Mystik Dan, Lukas Pair Gallop Tuesday appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

If there's any sign of fatigue in Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Mystik Dan, Robby Albarado is not seeing it. View the full article

Back outside the top stakes level, Emmanuel looms an imposing presence in the May 18 Dinner Party Stakes (G3T) at Pimlico Race Course. He leads a field of 12 entered in the $500,000 race at 1 1/8 miles on turf.View the full article

Sunday at Longchamp was a day for firsts. A Classic victory for Rouhiya (Fr) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) in the Poule d'Essai des Poulains was an important milestone in the partnership between trainer Francis Graffard and the Aga Khan's powerful racing and breeding operation. Then came a first Classic in his adopted home country for 34-year-old Mario Barrati when Metropolitan (Fr) (Zarak {Fr}) landed the Poulains, a year after the Italian trainer had won the German 2,000 Guineas with Angers (Fr) (Seabhac). But perhaps most notable of all, especially as a breakthrough success, was the victory of Birthe (Fr) (Study Of Man {Ire}) in the G2 Prix Saint-Alary for Laura Vanksa. As a native of Finland, Vanska is a rarity in the Thoroughbred world. Her equine background may not be rooted in racing but she is a classically-trained rider whose skills have clearly stood her in good stead when it comes to aiming for the Classics with her stable star. The Prix de Diane is likely to be the next stop in the progressive career of Birthe. “She just keeps exceeding all my expectations and more. She is really special,” says Vanska of Birthe, who cost €12,000 at Arqana's July Sale last year and raced initially in the colours of Christine Guilbert, who has dual French and Danish citizenship. Over the winter, after her initial victory at Chantilly, Alain Jathiere bought a 50 per cent share in the filly. “She impressed me when I saw her at the sales as a two-year-old. I was already interested in her pedigree but when I saw her breezing and saw her physically I knew straight away that I wanted to buy her,” the trainer continues. “She was on my list and I couldn't stay there for the sale. Then there was a bit of a mishap and they had forgotten to vaccinate her so she was pulled out just before she went into the ring. Tina Rau went to see what was going on and was the bold one to push for a low price and we got her.” Having run third on her seasonal debut at Chantilly in March, Birthe then won the Listed Prix Caravelle in Toulouse having swerved a more traditional Classic trial while the ground remained testing in northern France through the spring. “The last two successes that she had were important because, as a small trainer, I needed some proof that she was good enough to step up to Group 1 class, but now we have absolutely no hesitation and we shouldn't feel ashamed to present her for the Diane,” Vanska says. “On Sunday, I thought we had lost all our chance when the thunder came and they had 22mm of rain in 30 minutes at Longchamp. We lost all hope but she proved us wrong. She has progressed so much and has gained so much muscle. She just keeps getting stronger and stronger.” Based at Lamorlaye with the full range of the Chantilly gallops at her disposal, Vanska has come a long way from her early years as a showjumper in her homeland, where there is no longer Thoroughbred racing, and later in Holland. She says, “We have trotting in Finland. We used to have galloping in the 60s but they stopped it. I have always been into showjumping and my mum is a dressage rider, so it's a classic background. I was very lucky to be able to ride good horses in the Netherlands for my bosses, who were competing at the highest level in the World Cups. I was their young-horse rider at the time and I have been lucky to have always been surrounded by good horses. “I must say the thing I enjoy the most is building the horses from the yearling stage. Then you know them from the very beginning and at least you know as soon as you can if something is going wrong.” It was her family friends Amelie and Robert Ehnrooth, owners of Haras de Bourgeauville in Normandy, who introduced Vanska to the delights of the racing world, and they independently have close links to Kirsten Rausing, who stands Birthe's up-and-coming sire Study Of Man at her Lanwades Stud. “It is because of Kirsten Rausing that Amelie and Robert are in racing. She offered them a nomination to one of her stallions as a wedding gift, so they bought a mare and that's how it all started,” Vanska explains. “Amelie and Robert always wintered a few of their horses in Finland who were racing in Sweden in the summer and I was always admiring those horses but I didn't know anything about racing. I got the stallion brochures and videos and it was my dream to one day ride a racehorse, and they organised for me to go to Deauville to ride out for Stephane Wattel. I was riding in the morning and prepping the yearlings in the afternoon during my summer holidays.” Having been urged by her parents to complete a business studies course, it wasn't long before horses dominated her life again, however. The Enhrooths had a horse in training in Chantilly with John Hammond named Sarah Lynx (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}) who was several times sent home for a spell having ditched her riders on the Chantilly gallops. Vanska suggested a different approach to help the young filly. “I rode her with the cows in the field in the afternoon and, long story short, she eventually became a Group 2 winner in France and won the Canadian International. At the weekend her filly by Justify sold for €800,000 at Arqana,” she says. “I was invited to ride her in Chantilly as well and I followed her to Japan and Hong Kong. I had never led up a horse at the races and the first time ever was when I led her for the Japan Cup. I thought it was pretty cool and I ended up staying in France afterwards because John Hammond offered me a full-time job.” From Hammond's stable she worked for a time with Francis Graffard, who met his wife Lisa-Jane when they were both students on the first Darley Flying Start programme (now known as Godolphin Flying Start) along with the aforementioned bloodstock agent Tina Rau. Ten years after they graduated, Vanska would follow that same path. She says, “I worked with Francis and he knew that when I was in Japan with Sarah Lynx I had applied for the Flying Start but I needed to do a language test which I couldn't do while I was in Japan. I applied for a second time and Francis and Lisa-Jane helped me to get in with a letter of recommendation. “It really is an amazing programme and, for me, I didn't have many contacts or know much about racing around the world but now I know much better and I don't really have the urge to travel any more. I would love to travel with the horses to those races but it is nice to be able to settle here and concentrate on a career in France.” There is of course hope that a filly of Birthe's calibre will help to advertise Vanska's talents to a wider audience, though she is not keen to become too big too soon. “This has really boosted everyone's morale,” she says. “We only have a small team of horses. I work closely with some breeders but it is really important to the team to have a horse of the quality of Birthe. Hopefully it can help us to upgrade the quality of the stable a little bit. I'm not in too much of a rush to grow – I am very happy to work with the people who have supported me already and now they are sending some more. I already know that I have horses arriving so we have to get ready. I met a few people at the breeding stock sales last year and there are some two-year-olds arriving soon.” She adds, “It's great for the owners. Monsieur Jathiere has invested a lot of money and Christine Guilbert is a small owner, so for her to have a possible Classic filly like this is really amazing. “I feel quite optimistic. Birthe has her routine and we will just stick to that. She goes to the paddock every day after she has been ridden out and we won't be changing anything.” The post Laura Vanska: The Classically-Trained Classic Trainer appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Twenty-nine wildcards have been added to the catalogue for the Tattersalls Ireland Breeze-Up Sale, scheduled for Thursday, May 23 and Friday, May 24. Now featuring 281 lots, the sale kicks off at 10am on May 24, with the breezes beginning the day prior at 8.30am at Fairyhouse Racecourse. The wildcard entries include lot 263, a Mehmas (Ire) half-brother to the G2 German 2,000 Guineas winner Fox Champion (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}), and lot 269, an Oasis Dream (GB) colt whose full-brother Maxi Boy (GB) finished third in the G2 Superlative S. at Newmarket. Lot 275, a colt by Twirling Candy out of the GI Ashland S. heroine Rosalind (Broken Vow), is also likely to attract plenty of interest, along with lot 257, a Pinatubo (Ire) colt out of the Listed winner Aqlaam Vision (GB) (Aqlaam {GB}). The full catalogue for the 2024 Tattersalls Ireland Breeze-Up Sale can be viewed here. The post Twenty-Nine Lots Added To Catalogue For Tattersalls Ireland Breeze-Up Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Having long served as Champion Bore regarding the schism between gene pools either side of the Atlantic, I always find it curious that Europeans so readily shed their inhibitions about American stallions once a 2-year-old is introduced to their domestic market by a compatriot pinhooker. That's presumably because they are nowadays so enslaved by the clock–whatever their contrary claims–that pedigree has almost been neutralized at 2-year-old sales. Functionality is all. Admittedly an elite sire will put a premium on a bullet time. But just as unfashionable local stallions have achieved some startling dividends in recent years, so end-users in Europe have proved increasingly receptive to animals they wouldn't have dreamt of importing from Lexington or Saratoga a few months previously. Candidly, I know one or two agents with the budget to compete at Arqana last week who couldn't have told you the first thing about McKinzie before a member of his first crop became the fifth most expensive lot in the sale. To be fair, it's impossible for any of us to keep on top of every single theater of racing's global racing. But the mutual aversion between perceived “dirt” and “turf” bloodlines over the past generation (one conspicuously not shared, incidentally, in Japan) feels especially culpable because everybody knows the past regenerations achieved, for instance, by importing Nasrullah to Kentucky or sons of Northern Dancer to Europe. But now, thank goodness, we appear to have found a bridge-builder. For the emergence last year of a champion juvenile from his second crop has given Justify traction with even the most parochial of Europeans–so much so, that he accounted for the first, second and joint-third prices paid in Deauville last week, from six offerings. And that's despite City Of Troy running a shocker when odds-on for the G1 2,000 Guineas only days previously. For his efficacy on grass has been matched by the likes of Opera Singer, Ramatuelle and Satuette in Europe, Learning To Fly and Storm Boy in Australia, and of course Hard To Justify in the U.S. This was not something anyone could have confidently anticipated of a stallion as blatantly built for dirt as Justify, whose Quarter Horse brawn would only alarm European traditionalists. But the fact is that many of the latter have been complicit in the conflation, in their local commercial market, of speed with mere precocity. And it's precisely the relentless, devouring stride of a top-class dirt runner that can help make stamina in a European Classic horse something more than dourness. As we saw in Justify's Belmont, a two-turn dirt champion typically sets off fast–and keeps going fast. Unsurprisingly, Justify as an international outcross owes much to John Magnier, whose whole empire was founded on the transferability of another Kentucky Derby winner's genetic prowess. Justify's sire-line reads like a sampler of his genius, Magnier having participated in its development via Scat Daddy (whose resulting familiarity doubtless aids Justify's cause in Europe) all the way back to Storm Cat's sire Storm Bird, himself of course a son of Northern Dancer. City Of Troy exemplifies Justify's vitalizing role for a Coolmore broodmare band dominated by Galileo (Ire). And the big money paid for his stock in Deauville emulates that model, all his big three being out of mares with Coolmore/Ballydoyle resonance. The record-breaking €2.3 million colt is out of a sister to Ballydoyle's Group 1-placed Johann Strauss (GB), that pair being by the stable's Epsom winner High Chaparral (Ire). The €1 million colt is out of a sister to conspicuous Galileo achievers in dual Classic winner Churchill (Ire) and outlying Group 1 sprinter Clemmie (Ire). And the €800,000 filly is out of GI Canadian International winner Sarah Lynx (Ire), whose sire Montjeu (Ire) paralleled Galileo as a source of class and stamina at Coolmore. New top price! Lot 1⃣1⃣0⃣, a colt by Justify?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Justify @coolmorestud from the maternal line of Gr.1 placed JOHANN STRAUSS, is knocked down for €2,300,000 to @godolphin. He was consigned by Oak Tree Farm @NormanW74303774 at the #2024BreezeUp. pic.twitter.com/WUK0TcYgu9 — ARQANA (@InfoArqana) May 11, 2024 Quite apart from their masterful preparation of these horses, those who pinhooked them from Keeneland last September take credit for recognizing that these maternal families might cause them to fall between the cracks. Because this is a two-way street: Americans have been eschewing perceived turf blood no less than Europeans have renounced the kind of lines sowing Justify's family (first two dams carrying the brands of Deputy Minister and Seattle Slew). Norman Williamson, who bought the sale-topper for $150,000 from the peerless Nursery Place consignment, said that he looked like a turf horse with much High Chaparral about him. By the way, Williamson does a lot of work with Mags O'Toole, who signed for both the Lynn Lodge duo for $135,000 and $110,000 respectively. In contrast to Williamson, Eddie O'Leary thought his colt was “a double of his dad.” Contrasting messages, then, that could perhaps be best reconciled in the surest way to top the sale next September: for O'Toole simply to auction her catalogue notes. Preservationist | Sarah Andrew Preserving A Chic Legacy One of many things I have admired from the outset about Preservationist is that his sire (Arch) and dam respectively combine lines of King Ranch royalty, with Courtly Dee and Too Chic facing each other in his fourth generation. Colleague Jill Williams rightly features the Airdrie stallion in her Saturday Sires series, now that a first crop already punching way above weight–remember he's standing at just $5,000–includes a legitimate GI Belmont S. contender. But Saturday also produced parallel evidence of the continued fertility of the dynasty tracing to Too Chic through her daughter Chic Shirine (Mr Prospector). For Preservationist's third dam also surfaces as the fifth dam of Joey Freshwater (Jimmy Creed), winner of the GIII Runhappy S. Emory Hamilton cultivated Joey Freshwater's family right through to his dam Lake Turkana (More Than Ready), culled from her program for $47,000 at the 2016 Keeneland November Sale after needing nine attempts to break her maiden. Her mother, an unraced daughter of Empire Maker, had not really rewarded some purposeful matings, though a son of Candy Ride (Arg) did make $410,000 as a yearling and proceeded to win a Grade III on synthetic. But the next dam is GI Go For Wand scorer Serra Lake, by Seattle Slew out of Chic Shirine's graded stakes-winning daughter Tara Roma (Lyphard). With those genes behind her, albeit tapering away, Lake Turkana was claimed for $25,000 on her final start at Belterra Park by Dr. Naoya Yoshida, who co-bred Joey Freshwater with Dr. Aaron Sones and Dr. Eric Crawford. Having gone through the ring as a weanling ($6,000 RNA), yearling ($45,000) and juvenile ($35,000), the colt has come a long way since being recruited for $50,000 out of a Churchill maiden claimer on his second start. His dam has meanwhile been given some good covers (got to Gun Runner early, while her latest colt is by the rock-solid Hard Spun) and is still only 11. But if her son is now bringing her up in the world, really they're only going back to their roots. Cross Traffic | Sarah Andrew Green Light For Stop-Go Sire No surprise that Cross Traffic's latest graded stakes scorer should have been another 4-year-old. Neecie Marie, winner of the GIII Beaugay S., joins GI Ashland S. winner Defining Purpose and the tragic Maple Leaf Mel, denied her own elite success in harrowing fashion, as graduates of the bumper book of 188 mares at $25,000 (up from 60 at $7,500) secured by Cross Traffic after Breeders' Cup champion Jaywalk led his first crop to freshman laurels the previous year. As juveniles, these 2020 foals put Cross Traffic second in the all-comers' 2-year-old table. Yet he had drawn such opportunist commercial support that his next book plunged by two-thirds, yielding only 28 live foals. So he must ride out a couple of quiet years before getting back onto a rising curve, having rallied to 84 mares last year. At least the way Neecie Marie is thriving with maturity appears typical of his stock, which can help keep his name in lights meanwhile. Remember how Ny Traffic, though somehow missing a graded score, spread his millionaire career across five campaigns, while Cross Traffic himself didn't even race until he was four. Cross Traffic is a real victim of the fleeting attention span of commercial breeders. Mind you, he's had more help from the dam of Pennsylvania-bred Neecie Marie than might be surmised: Lode Lady (Posse) is a half-sister to none other than Rich Strike (Keen Ice)–who had recorded his 17-length maiden claimer romp shortly before Milam Racing Stable gave $25,000 for this filly at Fasig-Tipton's Timonium Yearling Sale in 2021. Doubtless his purchasers were disappointed when Rich Strike was beaten on his first start for his new barn five days later. But, boy, has he meanwhile given Neecie Marie some residual value even before her own breakthrough as a black type operator in her own right. The post Breeding Digest: Justify Straddling The Seas appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

In addition to three graded events May 17 on Black-Eyed Susan Day at Pimlico Race Course, three ungraded stakes worth $100,000 apiece complement the stakes action.View the full article

'Saturday afternoon horses' are every breeder's goal. We continue our new weekly series with a young sire who got his first graded win in a high-profile race this past weekend. At this time last year, an unheralded colt parlayed a sole maiden win into victory in the GIII Peter Pan S., which led to Classic success in the GI Belmont S. This year Antiquarian (Preservationist) is following the same blueprint put in place by Arcangelo (Arrogate): maiden win early in his sophomore campaign before bursting onto the national scene via a Peter Pan win in May with the Belmont as the next target. If Antiquarian is giving shades of Arcangelo, it's not a stretch see some similarities between their respective sires, Preservationist and Arrogate. Neither started at two and both improved with age. No one expected any of their stock to make any impact in the baby races at Keeneland or even to be ready for 2-year-old maiden events at Saratoga. What breeders did expect was quality horses who might need a little more time to grow up and start showing their best. “I think anyone familiar with Preservationist's career would expect these horses to get better with age,” said Bret Jones, president of Airdrie Stud, where Preservationist stands. “He's not built like a 2-year-old. He's built like a horse that can get you the Classic distance. I would say he's on the up, on the come.” Preservationist, an Emory Hamilton-bred from her family's exceptional Too Chic (Blushing Groom {Fr}) line, was a $485,000 yearling at the 2014 Keeneland September sale, making him the top-selling yearling by Arch that year. Limited to one start at three and one at four, Preservationist finally broke through at five with a first visit to the winner's circle in his third career start. After all that time, one may have expected his initial win to come in a route, but it was in a six-furlong sprint at Aqueduct in a sharp 1:09.35. Owner Centennial Farms and trainer Jimmy Jerkens remained patient and were rewarded with three more wins before infiltrating the big leagues when the horse was six. Preservationist took home the hardware in both the GI Woodword S. and the GII Suburban S. Retired to Airdrie for the 2020 season and introduced at $10,000, Preservationist was visited by 102 mares in his initial season. Those numbers dropped in the following years, as they do for the majority of young stallions, but that first crop is suddenly starting to make some noise. The din began at Oaklawn with Martha Washington S. winner Band of Gold, who switched to the grass for the GII Edgewood S. for trainer Kenny McPeek on Kentucky Oaks day and perhaps didn't appreciate the yielding turf; then continued to grow with recent smart Keeneland debut winner Save the Trees, who “could be anything,” according to Jones, and sold at Keeneland's Apr. 26 sale for $335,000; and increased with Gulfstream's English Channel S. runner-up In a Jam on Derby day. Antiquarian | Chelsea Durand All that buildup led to Antiquarian carrying the flag May 11 as the first graded winner for Preservationist. The Todd Pletcher trainee's win in the Peter Pan, a $200,000 race, helped the now-11-year-old sire break into the top 10 of the current second-crop sire list. “It was great,” said Jones. “It was just a such a feel-good win Saturday with Centennial having raced Preservationist and the great relationship that we have with Donald Little [Jr.] and Dr. [Stephen] Carr. I know they've been high on this horse for a long time.” While Centennial raced the father and races the son, Airdrie stands the sire and bred the son. “It's all Pops [the late Kentucky Governor Brereton C. Jones],” said Jones. “We're just trying to continue what he believed in.” He continued: “But Centennial really made a commitment to the horse.” Centennial bought Antiquarian at the 2021 Keeneland September sale for $250,000, where he was the third highest-priced yearling in Preservationist's first crop. Preservationist is one of the last top horses by the late Arch to go to stud. Arch's benchmark sire son is Blame, whose 10 crops to race include a liberal sprinkling of six Grade I winners among his 21 graded winners and 47 black-type winners. The majority of Blame's top runners have been better at three and beyond, just as Preservationist's are expected to be. Obviously, it's still early days for a young stallion whose progeny have every right to improve with time and distance, but a Peter Pan win and a jump into the Classic picture with a first-crop runner like Antiquarian can't hurt. “I think breeders always need to see it with their own eyes,” said Jones. “I think anyone paying attention right now sees a stallion showing he can get these Saturday horses, horses that should only get better as they go along. “I think the next several months will be very, very important to his future. We're very bullish on him.” The post Saturday Sires: Preservationist appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The catalogue for the 2024 KZN Yearling Sale is now online, Bloodstock South Africa (BSA) announced on Tuesday. Previous graduates of the KZN Yearling Sale include the three-year-old Purple Pitcher (SAf) (New Predator {Aus}), who has won both the G1 TAB SA Classic and G1 TAB SA Derby in recent months having been bought for R170,000 (around €8,529) in 2022. Fellow star three-year-old Frances Ethel (SAf) (Rafeef {Aus}), who was last seen winning the G2 Wilgerbosdrift Bridget Oppenheimer SA Oaks, also sold at the 2022 edition of the sale for R160,000 (€8,028). Of the 203 lots catalogued, potential standouts include lot 61, a filly by The United States (Ire) from the family of GI Breeders' Cup Mile winners Karakontie (Jpn), Miesque and Six Perfections (Fr), and lot 124, a Vercingetorix (SAf) filly out of a Group 3-winning half-sister to the multiple Group 1 heroine Mythical Flight (SAf). The 2024 KZN Yearling Sale will take place at Suncoast Casino on Thursday, July 4, with the auction set to get underway at 10am local time. The full catalogue can be viewed here. The post Catalogue Released For The 2024 KZN Yearling Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Wednesday's top tips from the Post's racing teamView the full article

MGSW Officiating (Blame) has been named on the stallion roster at the Australian-based Aquis and will stand his introductory season for a fee of AUS$12,500, the farm announced Tuesday. The first son of Blame to stand in Australia, Officiating did his racing in the United States with wins in the GIII Tom Fool H., the GIII Mr. Prospector S., and the GIII Cornhusker S. “We went looking for a new stallion, particularly one that would suit the Queensland pool of broodmares,” said Aquis Director of Sales Jonathan Davies. “Officiating met all our requirements, and through discussions with a number of different pedigree analysts, he was the ideal horse and type for us. He's a smashing type and the first stallion by Blame to stand in Australia, so we're very happy to secure him.” The post MGSW Officiating To Stand In Australia appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The late Maple Leaf Mel (Cross Traffic), who won last year's GIII Victory Ride S. and GIII Miss Preakness S. before tragically falling en route to victory in the GI Test S., was named New York-bred Horse of the Year along with champion 3-year-old filly and champion female sprinter honors during the New York Thoroughbred Breeders Inc.'s Annual Awards Ceremony Monday night. Bred by Joe Fafone and campaigned by Bill Parcells' August Dawn Farm, Maple Leaf Mel was trained by Melanie Giddings–for whom she was named–and Jeremiah Englehart. The complete list of New York-bred winners is as follows and can also be viewed in its entirety here: New York-Bred Horse of the Year, Champion 3-Year-Old Filly, Champion Female Sprinter: Maple Leaf Mel Champion 2-Year-Old Male: The Wine Steward (Vino Rosso) Champion 2-Year-Old Filly: Cara's Time (Not This Time) Champion 3-Year-Old Male: Hejazi (Bernardini) Champion Older Dirt Male: Dr Ardito (Liam's Map) Champion Older Dirt Female: Classy Edition (Classic Empire) Champion Turf Male: Red Knight (Pure Prize) Champion Turf Female: Silver Skillet (Liam's Map) Champion Male Sprinter: Bold Journey (Hard Spun) Steeplechaser Kiyomori (First Samurai) Broodmare of the Year: City Gift (City Place) New York-Bred Trainer of the Year: Linda Rice New York-Bred Jockey of the Year: Manuel Franco New York Breeder of the Year: Stonewall Farm Thank you to all who came to Sacred Saratoga for the 2023 #NYbred Divisional Championship Awards! The deeply missed, deeply brilliant Maple Leaf Mel, bred by Joe Fafone & born at @WaldorfFarm, led the way as HOTY. Details, inc. winners & official program: https://t.co/ov48zZV4ps pic.twitter.com/Z3i2VmJrlO — NYTB (@nytbreeders) May 14, 2024 The post Maple Leaf Mel Named 2023 New York-Bred Horse Of The Year appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Charlie Appleby is hoping to see suitable ease in the ground at York for Ancient Wisdom (Fr) (Dubawi {Ire}), who is set to make his return to action in the G2 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Dante S. on Thursday. The Futurity Trophy winner heads seven colts declared for the invariably-informative Derby trial, but that Group 1 success came on heavy ground and his G3 Autumn S. win at Newmarket before that was on soft. Appleby told Godolphin.com, “Ancient Wisdom has enjoyed a good preparation and stepping up to an extended mile and a quarter is going to suit. The ground will be a question mark and we will want the rain to come. “We know that he is a better horse with ease in the ground, so we will be on weather watch slightly. If it's on the easy side of good, then we will look forward to seeing him run. He has wintered well and we are very happy with him.” Ancient Wisdom's six rivals if taking his chance on the Knavesmire are headed by Al Musmak (GB) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}), who was last seen filling the runner-up spot in the G2 Royal Lodge S. at Newmarket in September, and Karl Burke's Caviar Heights (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), a recent Listed winner at the same course. The post Appleby On Weather Watch For Dante Contender Ancient Wisdom appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Much was made of I Wish I Win (NZ) (Savabeel) drawing barrier one in The Everest last year and the star sprinter will need to overcome the same potential issue in Saturday’s Gr.1 Doomben 10,000 (1200m). The five-year-old gelding has only been seen once since then, beaten a neck in the Gr.1 T J Smith Stakes (1200m) to stablemate Chain Of Lightning (Fighting Sun), but Katherine Coleman, who trains in partnership with Peter Moody, says the horse hits this fresh and ready to fire. “He travelled up last Wednesday. He settled in really well, we’re really happy with him. Couldn’t be happier heading into Doomben,” Coleman said. “We were just taking it run by run, but it was always a plan to head to Queensland for something. There are a few options but we’ll just get through this run and go from there.” The difficult decision was made to keep James Mcdonald aboard after he rode the horse first up rather than switch back to regular rider Luke Nolen, but like the horse’s program, Coleman says the stable are flexible when it comes to jockeys. “Obviously James rode the horse first up, he’s got a good connection with Mark Chittick at Waikato Stud so they were keen to keep him on the horse (but) again, it’s run by run, James has a lot of other commitments to other stable so nothing’s set in stone.” Regardless of who’s aboard, I Wish I Win is comfortably the highest rated horse in the field, and barrier notwithstanding, Coleman is very confident heading into the A$1.5 million feature. “I think it’s going to take a very, very good horse to beat him.” View the full article