Wandering Eyes

Proserve will kick-off his campaign towards next month’s $350,000 Southern Alps Challenge (1600m) at Ashburton on Wednesday. Photo: Race Images South The inaugural NZTR innovation races have been a massive hit this season and there is still one to come, with southern trainers getting their chance at racing for $350,000 in the Southern Alps Challenge (1600m) at Riccarton next month. The race is restricted to horses trained in the South Island as at December 31, 2023, and Riccarton trainers Michael and Matthew Pitman are keen to get a slice of the pie. They have already qualified Mystic Park for the rich feature after he took out the Southern Alps Golden Ticket (1400m) at his home track last month. It is one of three golden ticket races into the Southern Alps Challenge, with the first three eligible placegetters in the ODT Southern Mile Final (1600m) also gaining ballot-exempt entry into the southern innovation race. Michael Pitman is a big fan of the concept and said it gives owners added incentive to race a horse in the South Island. “It is a huge incentive for local owners and trainers, and for people to have horses here, it is great,” he said. “We are hoping to qualify at least a couple for the race.” Stakes performer Proserve is one of those hopefuls and he will kick off his campaign towards the race in Thursday’s Agraforum Comcat (1200m) at Ashburton. “He is kicking off without a trial,” Pitman said. “He showed a bit earlier on in his career. It (1200m) will probably be a bit short for him now, but it is a case of getting a couple of runs under his belt to qualify for the Southern Alps.” Stablemate Third Decree will also be fresh-up in the race, having won her last start over 1150m at Kumara in January. “She has drawn out a bit (10) which probably won’t help, and there is a bit of speed in the race, but Kylie (Williams, jockey) has won on her before so that should help. “She will probably go to Riccarton for an Open Sprint after this and then we will make a decision on whether we start her at 1400m or not.” Pitman will line-up seven other runners at the mid-week meeting and has highlighted debutant Inspiration as the stable’s best chance in the Team Ashburton Thank You (1200m). “He is a nice horse by War Decree who has had two trials and has won them both,” Pitman said. “I have also got him in at Dunedin (on Sunday), but he drew wide there so we will probably go to Ashburton.” Meanwhile, the stable will have strong representation at Wingatui this weekend, with Pitman highlighting Express Coup in the Lindsay Moyle Memorial & Green Island Grizzlies (1200m) and Wind In My Wings in the Helensbrook Properties (2200m) as their two best chances. “Express Coup was unlucky last start, she got in behind a couple that weren’t travelling and then when she went to make a run a horse pulled out in front of her,” he said. “Wind In My Wings has got a terrible record at Riccarton on the turf, but a good record on the all-weather. He went a great race the other day (for third on the Riccarton turf). He has only had two starts at Dunedin for a second and a third, so you would think that he should improve from Riccarton to Wingatui just on his previous record.” Horse racing news View the full article

Is That So will contest the Listed Lincoln Farms Lightning Handicap (1200m) at Trentham on Saturday. Photo: Peter Rubery (Race Images Palmerston North) Clinton Isdale will beat a familiar and successful path to Wellington this week with his under-rated sprinter Is That So. The Cambridge trainer has found Trentham a happy hunting ground with his sparingly raced seven-year-old and will bid to add the Listed Lightning Handicap (1200m) to his record. Is That So has made seven appearances on the track for a brace of wins and three top four finishes and had no luck in his last visit in January when out of the money in the Group 1 Telegraph (1200m). The son of Sufficient knuckled over at barrier rise and subsequently copped severe interference in the straight. “The riderless horse (Lincoln’s Kruz) knocked him over, so it wasn’t his fault,” Isdale said. “When you look at the replay, he was starting to come into it at the time.” Is That So has since finished runner-up to the in-form Pour The Wine and at Ellerslie last Saturday he was hemmed in and denied any chance in the straight when a close fifth behind the impressive Adam I Am. “He went to the line untested and was very unlucky,” Isdale said. “He came through the race really well and I’ve only ever backed him up once before and he ran second.” Is That So has been lightly raced for his age with five wins, including three on the bounce on the Cambridge all-weather track, and five placings from 20 appearances. “We’ve had to be pretty patient with him and looked after him and he’s kept rewarding us,” Isdale said. “He’s been a slow maturing horse and after his first start at Matamata as a five-year-old he went shin sore. I couldn’t believe it so we had to tip him out and he’s kept coming back better and better.” Is That So is raced by Isdale with fellow trainer Graham Falconer and breeders John and Sue Trumper, grandparents of Te Akau Racing Manager Reece Trumper. “I was talking to Reece one day at the races and he put me onto the horse and it’s worked out really well,” Isdale said. Is That So is the only foal to race out of the Electronic Zone mare Sheez Torkin, who was a two-time sprint winner. “The only time I’ve ever tried him any further than 1200m was last week and that didn’t go to plan, the only time he saw clear air was when he jumped out of the gates,” Isdale said. The gelding will be ridden on Saturday by Tina Comignaghi, who has won on him before and also guided stablemate Mahoe to success at Trentham last weekend. Is That So will be accompanied south by Natural Lighting And Ventilation Wellington Premier (2200m) hope Marcella, who ran a creditable fifth at Ellerslie before blowing her chances at the start on a return to northern headquarters. “Two starts ago, she was three deep the whole way and only got beaten a bit more than two lengths,” Isdale said. “The other day she was slow away and never got into it, it’s hard to come from behind on that track.” Horse racing news View the full article

Hi Yo Sass Bomb will contest the Group 3 Wentwood Grange Cuddle Stakes (1600m) at Trentham on Saturday. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images Palmerston North) Taranaki mare Hi Yo Sass Bomb scored black-type last start when runner-up in the Group 3 Taranaki Cup (1800m) on her home track and trainer Kim Reid is hoping she can go one better in the Group 3 Cuddle Stakes (1600m) at Trentham on Saturday. “I thought she would go well there,” Reid said. “The track conditions work in her favour if they are a bit off because she will run on anything, where some of the others won’t. “It was nice to get that (black-type), but it would be nice to go one better than that, and I am sure we will get there.” The five-year-old daughter of Complacent has been a consistent performer for Reid, who also co-bred and owns the mare, and she has been pleased with her career trajectory to date. “I think she is improving all of the time,” Reid said. “She is one of those neat, progressive horses, which I guess is what you like to see. She loves her work and her routine.” It has been more than a month between runs for Hi Yo Sass Bomb and the mare readied for her weekend assignment with a trial win over 1200m at Foxton last week. “She ran super last week. She was strong to the line and Gryllsy (Craig Grylls, jockey) was happy with her,” Reid said. Expat Irish jockey Joe Doyle will partner Hi Yo Sass Bomb for the first time this weekend where she has drawn the ace barrier. “There is a good incentive with the one draw to run a bit handier,” Reid said. “She does draw out and it has become her pattern to sit back and relax a bit, but we will look to go forward from that draw. I think she will run forward and I think she will tough it out at the end.” While confident of a good showing this weekend, Reid thinks her mare is better suited over more ground and is looking forward to stepping her back up over 2000m in next month’s Group 3 Manawatu Breeders’ Stakes (2100m) at Trentham. “I still think up over 2000m is her ideal distance,” she said. “We will use this race as a lead-in to go over 2000m in the Manawatu Breeders’. She is always consistent and is there or thereabouts and is always flying at the end.” If Hi Yo Sass Bomb performs well on Saturday, Reid hasn’t ruled out changing up those plans and heading to Ellerslie for the Group 1 New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m) a week prior. “We will see how she goes on Saturday,” she said. “It (NZ Thoroughbred Breeders’) is a really nice race and I think she is capable over a mile as well in the right conditions.” Horse racing news View the full article

What Pakenham Cup Night 2024 Where Pakenham Racecourse – 420 Nar Nar Goon–Longwarry Rd, Tynong VIC 3813 When Friday, March 15, 2024 First Race 5:45pm AEDT Visit Dabble The Listed Pakenham Cup (2500m) headlines a competitive nine-race meeting at Pakenham on Friday night with $300,000 on the line in the feature. Perfect conditions are forecast, with the track rated a Good 4 and the rail in its true position for the entirety. Pakenham Cup Night is set to kick off at 5:45pm AEDT. Pakenham Cup Tip: Ashrun Resuming at Caulfield on February 24 over 2000m, Ashrun hit the line with great intent in his first run since finishing fourth in the Melbourne Cup (3200m). As he steps up to the 2500m second-up, he gets the right conditions to break a winless stretch that dates back to 2020. He gets a 2kg weight advantage on Dunkel, who he lost to by 1.5 lengths first-up, and with some race fitness under his belt and the rise in distance, Ashrun should have no issue in turning the tables in the Pakenham Cup. Pakenham Cup Race 8 – #3 Ashrun (3) 8yo Gelding | T: Ciaron Maher | J: Mark Zahra (58kg) Bet with Bet365 Best Bet at Pakenham: Illative Illative caught the eye when flashing home for second at Flemington on March 2, and a repeat of that finishing burst should be enough to break maiden ranks at the fourth time of asking. The Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr-trained filly has always had a ‘boom’ about her, but she is yet to break through for that illusive victory. With even luck on Friday night, Illative will simply be winning. Best Bet Race 3 – #8 Illative (11) 3yo Filly | T: Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) | J: Damian Lane (56kg) Bet with Neds Next Best at Pakenham: United Kingdom United Kingdom was simply outclassed in Group 2 company at Caulfield on February 24, but his maiden win at Geelong on debut showed plenty of promise. He gave his rivals a massive start on that occasion but showed a strong turn of foot to salute. Barrier 13 on Friday is offset by his want to get back in the field, and if he can get a genuinely run mile, the 1600m at Pakenham will suit him perfectly. Next Best Race 9 – #6 United Kingdom (13) 3yo Colt | T: Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) | J: Damian Lane (59kg) Bet with Picklebet Best Value at Pakenham: Housay Shea Eden’s Housay looked in need of his first-up run at Bendigo, but that should have prepared him well for this task. The lightly raced sprinter maps to gain a beautiful run in transit behind the leaders under Jaylah Kennedy, who claims 3kg. Housay will have no issue in sprinting under the 58.5kg load, and if he is anywhere near his best, the son of Zebedee can dispose of his BM64 rivals at a nice price with horse racing betting sites. Best Value Race 2 – #1 Housay (2) 7yo Gelding | T: Shea Eden | J: Jaylah Kennedy (a3) (61.5kg) Bet with PlayUp Friday quaddie tips for Pakenham Pakenham quadrella selections Friday, March 15, 2024 1-2-4-9 3-5-7-8 1-3 1-6 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip Horse racing tips View the full article

Race 6 LINDAUER 2000m AMAZON GODDESS (U Holmquist) – Trainer Mr. K Moore advised Stewards, AMAZON GODDESS pulled up with swelling to the off-hind leg, which has now subsided. K Moore further advised the mare has now been sent for freshen up. The post Amberley Jockey Club at Riccarton Park, Thursday, 7 March 2024 appeared first on RIB. View the full article

The stage is set for another top edition of the All-Star Mile in 2024, with Mr Brightside looming large as the odds-on favourite to defend his title this weekend at Caulfield. Mr Brightside is short priced favourite to become the first two-time All-Star Mile champion this weekend at Caulfield. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos. Lindsay Park‘s superstar galloper dominated the race at The Valley last year and now enjoys an even greater advantage on his preferred track at Caulfield. He boasts an impressive record at the course (five wins from six starts) and comes into the race in peak form following consecutive victories in the C.F. Orr Stakes and Futurity Stakes. His dominance is reflected in the pre-race markets, with Mr Brightside priced at a commanding $1.90 for victory through Ladbrokes. The only horse seemingly capable of challenging Mr Brightside’s reign is the classy mare Pride Of Jenni. Despite having just one win at Caulfield in nine attempts, she cannot be underestimated. Fresh off a narrow defeat to Mr Brightside in the C.F. Orr Stakes, she appears primed for another battle this weekend. Declan Bates retains the reins on Pride Of Jenni, who is currently at $3.40 in the All-Star Mile betting. The evergreen Godolphin runner Cascadian represents the veteran presence in the field. This nine-year-old boasts a decorated career with winnings exceeding $8.5 million. While his recent form hasn’t been dominant, he has shown signs of improvement and should not be ruled out entirely. Cascadian is priced at $11 to cause an upset. Desert Lightning injects international flair into the race, as one of this year’s All-Star Mile runners representing New Zealand. This four-year-old earned his All-Star Mile berth with a surprise victory in the Aetaroa Classic. He will be making his first Australian appearance and is an interesting outsider at $15. Jamie Kah, fresh off her emotional Newmarket Handicap win at Flemington last weekend, will be looking to continue her hot streak aboard Ayrton. This Mick Price & Michael Kent Jr.-trained runner is another contender at $15, boasting recent Stakes victories and a fighting spirit. The All-Star Mile promises to be an exciting spectacle, with Mr Brightside the clear favourite but several other horses capable of causing an upset. The race will be held at Caulfield this Saturday as Race 8 at 4:15pm (AEDT), and all eyes will be on Mr Brightside as he attempts to become the first two-time All-Star Mile champion. 2024 All-Star Mile Field No Last 10 Horse Trainer Jockey Barrier Weight Probable Weight Penalty Hcp Rating 1 x111222x11 MR BRIGHTSIDE (NZ) Ben, Will & JD Hayes Craig Williams 11 59kg 118 2 x5213x7x94 CASCADIAN (GB) James Cummings Ben Melham 7 59kg 114 3 1141x412x8 ATTRACTABLE Sara Ryan Ms Linda Meech 2 59kg 104 4 x128x30176 MUNHAMEK (GB) Nick Ryan Mark Zahra 10 59kg 106 5 823x2319x4 DOM TO SHOOT Sean & Jake Casey Damian Lane 12 59kg 110 6 901410×333 BUFFALO RIVER (USA) Michael Moroney Ms Celine Gaudray (a) 9 59kg 106 7 113x21500x PINSTRIPED Enver Jusufovic Ben Allen 1 59kg 106 8 3182×13113 DESERT LIGHTNING (NZ) Peter & Dawn Williams Vinnie Colgan 8 59kg 110 9 78×1760153 AYRTON (NZ) Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) Ms Jamie Kah 5 59kg 104 10 097×291119 PUNTURA (NZ) Robbie Patterson Craig Grylls 4 59kg 108 11 Fx69215142 HOLYMANZ (NZ) Ciaron Maher Blake Shinn 3 59kg 98 12 98x62611x2 PRIDE OF JENNI Ciaron Maher Declan Bates 6 57kg 115 Table Credit: Racing Australia. This page and the written content within it were partially generated using AI or automated technology and edited and verified by our editorial team. THINK. IS THIS A BET YOU REALLY WANT TO PLACE? For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au. The post Mr Brightside Poised for Back-to-Back All-Star Mile Glory appeared first on HorseRacing.com.au. View the full article

Southern California-based trainer Milton Pineda has been banned for 15 years and ordered to pay a total of $195,000 in fines and legal fees after an arbitration panel found him guilty of seven rule violations under the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Unit (HIWU)'s Anti-Doping and Medication Control (AMDC) program, according to a final decision dated Mar. 12. Between June 2 and July 4 last year, seven different Pineda-trainees tested positive for Diisopropylamine—a banned substance under the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA)—after running at Santa Anita and Los Alamitos. During that period, the Pineda-trained Bella Renella (Clubhouse Ride) ran and won twice at Santa Anita. The ruling followed a full in-person evidentiary hearing at the JAMS Resolution Center in Irvine, California, on Feb. 27, presided over by arbitrator Nancy Holtz. “One of the arguments that I made but that I believe in is that the punishment should fit the violation or the crime. But in this case, there is no connection between the conduct or the alleged conduct of Mr. Pineda and the 15 years and the nearly $200,000 in fines,” said attorney Darrell Vienna, who represented Pineda. “This is just another example of the overreach and the unfairness of HISA and HIWU,” said Vienna, adding that he was unsure whether Pineda would appeal the decision. Holtz's ruling is by far the harshest penalty meted out since the federal ADMC program went into effect last May. HIWU classifies Diisopropylamine (DIPA) as a vasodilator, which is a substance that dilates the blood vessels to allow blood to flow more freely through them. Diisopropylamine is also found in several everyday items like tobacco and beauty products, and hand sanitizer. Indeed, according to the final ruling, Pineda argued that he had “never knowingly or intentionally administered DIPA to his horses,” and that the positive tests likely resulted from the use of certain feed supplements, or cross-contamination through the use of hand sanitizers by official testing barn personnel at Santa Anita Park or Los Alamitos. Among other claims, Pineda argued that the chain of custody of certain samples “was not done in a way to preserve the integrity of the samples,” and that the testing conducted on one of Bella Renella's B-Samples “was not properly conducted” either, according to the final ruling. Holtz dismissed these arguments. “Mr. Pineda has failed to establish no fault or negligence or no significant fault or negligence,” the ruling states, arguing that Pineda failed to prove that the “source was contamination of feed supplements,” and that “there is unrefuted evidence that the hand sanitizer at the test barn of Santa Anita Park and Los Alamitos was not used” by the official personnel. Holtz also found that Pineda's challenges to the proper chain of custody of the samples failed “at the first step, as he has not established any departure from the Laboratory Standards,” and that questions surrounding the validity of Bella Renella's B-Sample analysis is moot due to the positive findings of the other samples. A maximum first anti-doping rules violation under HISA for a Diisopropylamine positive is two years. Holtz determined that the seven separate rules violations came to 14 years to be served consecutively. On the back of his provisional suspension, Pineda transferred care of his horses to trainer Salvador Naranjo, who in turn hired Filberto Alvarado, a former employee and groom of Pineda. Holtz's rulings finds Pineda guilty of “program training” in breach of his provisional suspension, for which HIWU sought an additional one year ban and $5,000 fine for aggravating circumstances. “There is evidence that Mr. Pineda has flagrantly disregarded the ADMC Program by breaching his Provisional Suspension and prior Ineligibility, and also exhibited deceptive or obstructive conduct by refusing to allow HIWU investigators to search his phone,” the rulings states. “Throughout his Provisional Suspension (September 15, 20, 22, 26 and October 19), Mr. Pineda was seen on multiple occasions attending at Los Alamitos watching his Covered Horses train and meeting with both Mr. Naranjo and Mr. Alvarado,” the ruling states. According to the final ruling, Pineda admitted that he went to the track regularly, “but not to 'program train' (i.e. not to provide instructions to Mr. Naranjo or Alvarado on how to train his former horses), but rather only to pass the time.” Aside from Bella Renella, the other six Pineda trainees who tested positive for Diisopropylamine were Flatterwithjewels, Big Splash, Chollima, Catbernay, Keep Your Coil and Wegonahaveagoodtime. These trainees all won the respective races for which they subsequently tested positive, except Flatterwithjewels, who finished second at Santa Anita on June 9 last year. Holtz fined Pineda $180,000 and ordered him to pay $15,000 towards HIWU's share of the arbitration costs of the proceedings. His 15-year suspension began Mar. 12. Pineda has worked in the racing industry as a groom, exercise rider, pony rider, assistant trainer, and trainer for most of his life, the ruling states. According to Equibase, Pineda has been training since 2019, winning 49 races from 333 runners. The post Milton Pineda Banned 15 Years, Fined $195,000 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

by Jessica Martini & Christina Bossinakis The Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's March 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale opened Tuesday with a solid session, and while the 2-year-old sales are usually all about speed, the day was topped by a colt by Tapit who galloped during last week's under-tack show. From the Lothenbach dispersal, the youngster sold for $1.2 million to the partnership of West Point Thoroughbreds and D. J. Stables. He was consigned by Tom McCrocklin. “I think it points to the fact that the under-tack show is one metric,” said OBS Director of Sales Tod Wojciechowski. “There are a lot of different metrics that people use to buy horses. The under-tack shows get talked about a lot, but it's not the only thing. There were obviously people here who felt like they could get a good read on the horse and liked what they saw at the barn and what they saw on the racetrack in the way he moved. Everybody focuses on the time because it's an easy touch point, but there are a lot of other variables and intangibles that go into that decision-making process.” During the session, 152 horses sold for $20,844,000 for an average of $137,132 and a median of $73,500. The average was down 11% from a year ago and the median dipped 18.3%. The buy-back rate for Tuesday's session was 26.9%. It was 32.1% a year ago. “It's hard to compare day to days after the first day, but I thought it was pretty on line with last year overall,” Wojciechowski said. Showing the breadth of the buying bench, the top 10-priced lots were purchased by 10 different buyers. “The buying bench was pretty varied,” Wojciechowski said. “There were a lot of different people buying horses. I felt like we have good horses spread out through the entire catalogue. We obviously had some highlights today and I think we will continue to have highlights over the next two days.” Of the top 10 sellers Tuesday, two were from the first crop of Gainesway stallion McKinzie, with Bill Childs going to $750,000 for a colt from the Wavertree Stables consignment and Belmar Racing, R.A. Hill and Gargan going to $450,000 for a colt from the King's Equine consignment. Both colts shared bullet furlong work times of :9 4/5. The OBS March sale continues through Thursday with sessions beginning daily at 11 a.m. West Point, DJ Stable Unite for Tapit Colt Proving that value rarely goes unnoticed among the savvy juvenile market buyers, Hip 173, a colt by leading sire Tapit, realized $1.2 million on the OBS March Sale's opening day. With the tempo picking up noticeably as the session progressed, West Point Thoroughbreds and D J Stable teamed up to land the opening session's sole seven-figure offering. Consigned by Tom McCrocklin, the Feb. 27 foal was a member of the Lothenbach Stables Dispersal. Jonathan Green & Terry Finley | Photos by Z “He's the kind that we look for. We figured he'd bring a lot of money, but I think he's got plenty of upside,” said West Point's Terry Finley. “The Tapits can be across the board in terms of their mental disposition, but he has a very cool mind and acted the right way. With these expensive horses, we tend to say the same things and just keep our fingers crossed. You just hope they live up to that expectation.” Out of Distorted Music, herself a $190,000 Keeneland September purchase in 2011, the gray is a half-brother to Grade III winner She Can't Sing (Bernardini). The colt represents the family of GI CCA Oaks heroine Music Note, dam of G1 Dubai World Cup winner Mystic Guide, in addition to French Classic scorer Musical Chimes. “Obviously, we have a soft spot for Tapit,” explained Finley. “We love the fact that this [colt] is big and raw.” The dispersal came up after Bob Lothenbach died suddenly at the age of 64 last fall. All of the Lothenbach horses galloped during last week's breeze sessions. “I didn't know [Lothenbach] but I know he had a beautiful breeding program and ran a great operation,” said Finley. “We knew we were buying something from a very effective program.” D J Stable's Jon Green was equally enthused with Tuesday's purchase. “You look at these dispersals, and it seems like every year one jumps out of that program. We hope it works out that way. But we really thought he was the best of that group. The fact that he was galloping and not breezing, for a big horse like that, it only added to his appeal because we felt it would be more beneficial to his development. The world is his oyster.” Partnering on a handful of horses in the past, including Grade III winner Turned Aside (American Pharoah), longtime friends Len and Jon Green and Finley thought it seemed like the right time to take the relationship to the next level. “We have had a couple of horses with the Greens in the past, but this is by far the best we've ever got our hands on together, so we're excited to go forward,” said Finley. Green echoed the sentiment. “The important thing about this horse are the people behind it. Terry and I have been talking and we were just waiting for the right horse and we felt this was absolutely the right athlete to go after. He looks like he has two-turn ability and we're going to take our time with him. This was just the right opportunity.” —@CBossTDN Not This Time Colt Heads to Japan A colt by Not This Time (hip 183) will be heading to Japan after selling for $850,000 to the bid of bloodstock agent Shingo Hashimoto, acting on behalf of Katsumi Yoshida. The dark bay colt was consigned by Hartley/DeRenzo Thoroughbreds on behalf of trainer Tom Durant. He worked a furlong last week in :10 flat. “His workout was really good and his appearance was really nice,” Hashimoto said. “We really liked the colt and we are very excited about him. We will bring him back to Japan and see how he goes.” The colt is out of Dos Vinos (Twirling Candy), a half-sister to stakes winner China Grove (City Zip) purchased by Durant for $230,000 at the 2017 Keeneland September sale. Hashimoto, who purchased a $1.05-million son of Arrogate on behalf of Yoshida at last year's March sale, was making his second purchase of the 2024 auction with hip 183. He went to $310,000 for a filly by Take Charge Indy (hip 110) earlier in the session. Of the March sale's appeal, Hashimoto said, “It's good to know how the horses change from what we saw at the yearling sale and how they train. I think the level of training that they do in the U.S. is very high.” @JessMartiniTDN Colts Group Adds an Uncle Mo Juvenile The BSW/Crow Colts Group and Spendthrift Farm partnership, which has been active at the yearling sales the last few years, supplemented its 2024 roster heading to the barn of trainer Brad Cox with the purchase of an Uncle Mo colt (hip 106) for $750,000 during Tuesday's first session of the OBS March sale. The bay colt, consigned by Pick View, is out of Canteen (Candy Ride {Arg}). Hip 106 | Photos by Z “Everybody on the team liked him,” Liz Crow said after signing the ticket on the juvenile. “Katelyn Jackson, Ned Toffey and his son Daniel and Seth [Semkin] and then Brad Cox, everybody on the whole team felt like he fit what we were looking for.” The partners had success buying at OBS last year, purchasing Jimmy Winkfield S. winner Bergen (Liam's Map) for $375,000 at the OBS April sale. “It was hard to buy yearlings last year,” Crow said. “We have a small number, we only have 10, and so this will be our 11th horse for the group.” Stock Thoroughbreds purchased the colt for $270,000 at last year's Fasig-Tipton Saratoga sale. He worked a furlong during last week's under-tack show in :10 2/5. @JessMartiniTDN Childs Jumps into the Fray Early at OBS Bill Childs sat chilly until the closing moments of last year's OBS March Sale to land a Justify colt for $700,000. This year, the Texas businessman reversed course and extended to $750,000 for Hip 89, a son of freshman sire McKinzie, early in the sale. The bay recorded a :9.4 move for Wavertree Stables during last Wednesday's breeze session. “I really liked everything about him,” said Childs. “I liked the way he worked–that was an obvious reason. But I also liked him because I thought he'd want to go two turns.” Out of Breech Inlet (Holy Bull), the Ontario-bred is a half-brother to Canadian multiple stakes winner and graded placed Merveilleux (Paynter). The colt's 14-year-old dam, a granddaughter of GISW By Land By Sea, is a half-sister to GSW Bauble Queen (Arch). In foal to Olympiad, she brought $50,000 at Keeneland November last season. “He doesn't look like a horse that should work that fast going that short,” added Childs. “But when they do, they'll often turn out to be good.” According to Ciaran Dunne, the colt has flourished since his arrival in September. “He's a beautiful horse and worked really well,” he said. “He is one of those rare things, he was well sold and well bought. I think it hurt him a little bit being so early in the sale. People might have been expecting him to bring a little bit more or they weren't quite ready. But I think it was a fair price for him.” According to Childs, the colt will go to trainer Bob Baffert, who also trained the youngster's sire, McKinzie. “It's his first crop, so we don't know how that'll go,” he added. “But based on the way they worked here, it looks like they will be good.” Offered at last year's Keeneland September sale, the Feb. 26 foal was secured by Ron Fein's Superfine Farm for $205,000. Asked about the feel of the market halfway through Tuesday's session, Childs said, “It was actually a little softer than I thought. I saw a few that I thought would have brought a little more money. However, I do think it will probably get stronger as the sale goes along.”–@CBossTDN Mischief Returns to OBS Rarely absent from the leaderboard at any sale in the country, Into Mischief was represented by Hip 202, a colt that realized a $700,000 final bid from Muir Hut Stables. Out of GSW Electric Forest (Curlin), the bay colt is a grandson of MGSW and MGISP Forest Music (Unbridled's Song), herself responsible for graded winner Uncle chuck (Uncle Mo). Spendthrift Farm was among the underbidders on the colt. “Muir Hut Stables has put a lot into the game,” said Southern California-based trainer Mark Glatt, stationed alongside the Muir Hutt team during the bidding. “I have been trying to get them to buy an Into Mischief for some time now. We were able to get this one, so we're excited.” The Mar. 19 foal breezed an eighth in :10.1 during the initial breeze session last week. “We are high on the sire, of course, but also on [broodmare sire] Curlin. This colt is a very athletic horse and seems to have talent. We hope he stays sound so we can get him to the races.” Bred by Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings, the bay was consigned by Old South Farm on behalf of Bow River Ranch. “I bought him for a new group of guys. That's their first pinhooking venture,” confirmed consignor Hoby Kight, who signed for the colt after the Oregon-based group paid $250,000 at last September's Keeneland sale. When asked what drew him to the colt, Kight explained, “Everyone knows what I like–I like a horse with angles. I like a stretchy, big and fast horse with just enough pedigree. That's what it takes. If they can run, you're good. That's what I like to buy and this colt fit the bill.” According to Kight, the fledgling partnership also sold Hip 19, a colt by Munnings, for $250,000, in addition to a Gun Runner colt (Hip 155) for $100,000. “For me, the sale has been very fair so far,” Kight added. “The Munnings could have been anywhere from $250,000 to $400,000, depending on the breeze. He worked with a headwind [10.1], so that might have affected things a bit, but I thought it was fair overall.”–@CBossTDN Munnings Filly Jump Starts March Sale With the March sale less than half-an-hour old, a filly by Munnings (hip 26) kick started the action in Ocala Tuesday when selling for $700,000 to the bid of trainer Will Walden, acting on behalf of John Sykes's Woodford Thoroughbreds. The bay filly, consigned by Niall Brennan Stables, shared the :9 4/5 bullet on the first day of last week's under-tack show. “I thought she had all of the parts,” Walden said. “She is a little bit on the smaller side, but with plenty of muscle. She had a great walk and temperament at the barn. I thought the breeze was outstanding. It was the best gallop out of the day and it was on the toughest day. She did it into a 10 mph headwind.” The filly is the first foal out of the unraced Ansaam (Bernardini), a half-sister to Grade I winner Denman's Call (Northern Afleet) and from the family of multiple Grade I winner Evening Jewel. She was a $95,000 Keeneland September purchase by Ryston Stables. “She's probably a filly who is going to be early,” Walden said. “We will get her back to Turfway and then Keeneland and start looking for starts around Churchill. We are really excited to have her.” Walden has been buying horses for Sykes across the globe over the last several months. “He has been a great supporter of ours,” Walden said of Sykes. “He supported us when we went overseas when we bought some out of Tattersalls. We are just trying to buy runners and get in the winner's circle. He has a breeding operation, so with this filly's pedigree and hopefully with what she does on the track, she will hold some residual value as a broodmare.” Walden agreed, with the juvenile sales season just minutes old, it could be difficult to anticipate prices. “I had her between $600,000 and $800,000,” he said. “I would have liked to pay six instead of seven, but she is a quality filly and we are happy we got her. But you have to trust your gut. If you like the horse, the horse speaks to you and, on numbers and on paper it works out, you have to take a swing.” @JessMartiniTDN All Dreams Equine Absent from OBS Juan Centeno's All Dreams Equine consignment, which was pulled into controversy when a filly it sold at last year's OBS June sale broke down at Finger Lakes in November and subsequently tested positive for Clenbuterol, had six horses catalogued to the OBS March sale, but the entire group was scratched from the auction. “There was some publicity about me and my consignment and I just felt like it wasn't going to be a fair judgement on the horses,” Centeno said of the decision to withdraw his horses from the auction. “I could feel the energy wasn't all there. So the best thing for the horses and for everybody else was to scratch them for now.” Two of the horses from Centeno's March consignment were involved in incidents during last week's under-tack show, with a filly collapsing on the track following her breeze and a colt getting loose before breezing and galloping around the infield. OBS sales officials confirmed that Centeno had voluntarily scratched his horses from that sale and that the All Dreams horses were all tested before the under-tack show, but that results of those tests were not yet available. “Yes and he welcomed it,” OBS President Tom Ventura said when asked about testing the horses in the consignment. “We did hair samples and additional blood samples. We don't have the results to share back at this point, but whatever he had here, he welcomed any additional scrutiny that might show that they had nothing in their systems.” Of the additional testing, Centeno said, “All of my horses were tested, I don't know the results because they have them. But I have nothing to hide. I have always been honest and I have a good record. My tests have always been clean. And anybody who has questions or wants to test the horses, they are available to be tested or inspected. Not a problem.” He continued, “I was happy to be tested. I have nothing to hide. I treat my horses with the highest standards. I am very dedicated to my horses. I am attached to my horses. And I am very proud of what we do together.” Trainer Jeffrey Englehart was facing a two-year suspension after the Classic Empire colt he purchased from the All Dreams consignment last summer tested positive for Clenbuterol after breaking down in November. The case against him was dropped when segmented test of the colt's hair sample revealed that the drug had been administered before Englehart had become the horse's trainer. “I was surprised when I was accused about that,” Centeno said of speculation that he had given the colt the drug. “I never gave anything to my horses. I wanted to prove that. And for that reason, the horses are available to be tested, to show the buyers I am honest and I play by the rules.” Of the filly that collapsed after breezing during last week's under-tack show, “The horse was fine and we asked him to keep it here so that everybody, including us, could go and inspect the horse,” Ventura said. “And we talked to the vet and we aren't sure exactly what caused it, but she came out of it fine.” The horse that got loose on the track was also uninjured in the mishap. “If he had gotten loose on Wednesday, he would have had the opportunity to come back and breeze on Saturday, but given that he got loose on the last day at the under-tack show, there was no opportunity for him to come back,” said OBS Director of Sales Tod Wojciechowski. @JessMartiniTDN The post $1.2-Million Tapit Colt Paces OBS March Opener appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Horse Racing on Wednesday, March 13 will feature five meetings in Australia. Our racing analysts here at horsebetting.com.au have found you the best bets and provided free quaddie tips for the meetings at Caulfield, Randwick-Kensington & Happy Valley (HK). Wednesday Horse Racing Tips – March 13, 2024 Caulfield Racing Tips Randwick-Kensington Racing Tips Happy Valley Racing Tips Best Horse Racing Bets For March 13, 2024 Place these horse racing bets in a multi for $34.55 odds return: Wednesday, March 13, 2024 Caulfield – Race 6 #1 Outback Miss Caulfield – Race 7 #7 Flying On A Limb Randwick-Kensington – Race 3 #9 Little Jeanie Randwick-Kensington – Race 4 #1 Cigar Flick | Copy this bet straight to your betslip As always there a plenty of promotions available for Australian racing fans, check out all the top online bookmakers to see what daily promotions they have. If you are looking for a new bookmaker for the horse racing taking place on March 6, 2024 check out our guide to the best online racing betting sites. More horse racing tips View the full article

On Wednesday, March 13, various horse racing bookmakers have unveiled their racing promotions, featuring a range of enticing bonus back offers for horse racing enthusiasts. The top Australian racing promotions for March 13, 2024, include: Today’s best horse racing promotions Randwick Races 1 – 4 Run 2nd or 3rd Bonus Back up to $50 Back a runner in races 1-4 at Randwick this Wednesday and if it runs 2nd or 3rd get up to $50 in Bonus Cash. Fixed Win bets only. Neds T&Cs apply. Login to Neds to Claim Promo Caulfield All Races – Same Race Multi 3+ Leg Bonus Back If 1 Leg Fails Up To $50 Place a 3+ leg Same Race Multi bet on any race at Caulfield this Wednesday and if 1 leg of your multi fails, get up to $50 back in Bonus Cash. Available from approximately 8:30am local track time on race day. Neds T&Cs apply. First fixed win bet only. Login to Neds to Claim Promo Caulfield Races 1-4 Bonus Back 2nd or 3rd Get your stake back in bonus bets. Limits apply. Playup T&Cs apply. Login to PlayUp to Claim Promo Odds Drift Protector If the price at the jump is bigger than the price that you took, we will pay you out at the bigger odds Eligible customers. T&C’s apply. Login to Bet365 to Claim Promo Caulfield – 25% Boosted Winnings Paid in Bonus Cash. First Fixed Win Cash Bet. Max Bonus $250. T&Cs Apply. Picklebet T&Cs apply. Login to PickleBet to Claim Promo Place a 4+ leg multi, if one leg fails Bonus Back up to $50 Applies to your first eligible 4+ leg multi each day. Paid in Bonus Cash. Picklebet T&Cs apply. Login to PickleBet to Claim Promo BoomBet Daily Race Returns Use your daily Race Returns to back a runner in ANY RACE you want* and if your horse doesn’t win but finishes in the specified positions, you get your stake back as a bonus bet. 18+ Gamble responsibly. Can be used across any race and code unless specified in customer’s BoomBox. Fix odds, win bets only. Max bonus $50. Login to BoomBet to Claim Promo Wednesday Bonus Back 2nd or 3rd R1-3 at Randwick & Caulfield Auto-applied in bet slip. Fixed odds only. Min 6 runners. Promotional limits apply. T&Cs apply. Login to UniBet to Claim Promo How does horsebetting.com.au source its racing bonus offers? HorseBetting.com.au has meticulously assessed the premier horse racing bookmakers in Australia, revealing exclusive bonus promotions and specials tailored for thoroughbred enthusiasts on Wednesday, March 13, 2024. These horse racing promotions are a regular feature, exemplifying the unwavering commitment of Australia’s leading horse racing bookmakers. If one bookmaker happens to lack a promotion on a given day, rest assured that another is stepping up with enticing offers within the realm of gallops. For your daily dose of the most lucrative horse racing bookmaker bonuses, HorseBetting.com.au stands as the ultimate destination. Maximise the value of your punting endeavours with bookie bonuses boasting the most competitive horse racing odds for every race. It’s crucial to emphasise that these thoroughbred racing promotions are exclusively designed for existing customers. To access these special promotions and claim the bookmaker’s offers, log in to each online bookmaker’s platform. For those seeking races and horses to leverage their horse betting bookmaker bonus bets, HorseBetting provides a valuable resource with its daily free racing tips. Stay well-informed, adopt strategic approaches, and enhance your overall horse racing experience by capitalising on these exclusive promotions. Horse racing promotions View the full article

Gotham Stakes (G3) winner Deterministic is currently stabled at Payson Park in Florida where trainer Christophe Clement will work him this weekend before finalizing plans for the Kentucky Derby (G1). View the full article

The Fasig-Tipton March Digital Sale closed Tuesday evening with 66 horses sold for $2,011,200. The catalogue featured horses of racing age, breeding stock, and yearlings. Law Professor (Constitution), a 6-year-old horse of racing age, sold for $230,000 to JTH Racing to top the sale. Offered as Hip 4 by Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent, he was a winner in his last two starts, earning a career-high Beyer Speed Figure last out Feb. 23. Law Professor is a four-time stakes winner, including the GII Santa Anita Mathis Mile S., and was runner up to Life Is Good in the GI Woodward S. To date, Law Professor has eight wins, two seconds, and three thirds from 22 career starts and has earned $1,004,565. Other top sellers included: Queens Command (Ire) (War Command) (Hip 11), a 5-year-old racing/broodmare prospect sold for $200,000 to Shannon Potter, agent for Town and Country Racing and George Saufley, from the consignment of Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent. A winner in Ireland and the United States, Queens Command was runner up in the GIII Santa Ana S. in her most recent start Feb. 24. Cairo Sugar (Cairo Prince) (Hip 27), a stakes winner, sold for $200,000 to SF Bloodstock LLC from the consignment of Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent. Offered as a broodmare prospect, Cairo Sugar is a daughter of MGISW Spun Sugar and is a half-sister to the dams of graded stakes winner Best Actor and stakes winner Arham. Bless America (Into Mischief) (Hip 25), a 4-year-old horse of racing sale sold for $145,000 to MV from the consignment of Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent. Bless America has won or placed in all three of his career starts, breaking his maiden in maiden special weight company in his most recent start Feb. 24. “It was a very solid sale,” said Leif Aaron, Fasig-Tipton's Director of Digital Sales. “It was a workmanlike sale. Six horses brought six figures or more and the market was very fair.” Overall, 66 horses sold for $2,011,200, good for an average of $30,472. Full results are available online. The next Fasig-Tipton Digital sale will be the April Digital Sale, which opens for bidding on Thursday, Apr. 4 and closes on Tuesday, Apr. 9. The post Law Professor Tops Fasig-Tipton March Digital Sale at $230,000 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Baoma Corp.'s undefeated superstar, Nysos, will be out of training for at least one month, knocking him out of contention for the April 6 Santa Anita Derby (G1) and putting his Preakness Stakes (G1) hopes into question.View the full article

Maiden Watch: Week of March 4-March 10View the full article

The Louisiana Thoroughbred Breeders Association will have a nearly $6,000,000 stakes schedule this year the LTBA announced Tuesday. Offered over 67 stakes races, of which 33 will offer a purse of over $100,000, the purses are part of a continuing program to support accredited Louisiana-breds along with incentives for breeders and stallion owners. “We are proud to offer a dynamic stakes program that provides a year-round schedule for Accredited Louisiana breds,” said Roger Heitzmann III, secretary-treasurer of the LTBA. “Our owners and trainers have found this to be a tremendous benefit, and we are thankful to have four tracks that do great job of supporting Louisiana breds” The post LA-Breds To Race For Nearly $6m In Stakes Purses This Year appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The William Cooper Faith and Community in Action award was bestowed upon Stable Recovery Tuesday according to a release from the organization. Honored at the Annual Governor's Prayer Breakfast, Stable Recovery was celebrated for their support of individuals and families affected by substance abuse. “We are humble and grateful to receive the Faith and Community in Action Award,” said CEO of Stable Recovery Christian Countzler. “We wake up every day and try to make a difference. Our mission is challenging but worthwhile, and it is heartening to be recognized by the governor and the state for all the hard work we do.” More information about Stable Recovery and their mission can be found at their website. The post Stable Recovery Honored With William Cooper Faith And Community In Action Award appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Breeders' Cup announced March 12 individual $1 million purse increases for two of its marquee races: the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) and the Breeders' Cup Turf (G1T).View the full article

Parx-based trainer Monte Gelrod has been notified by the Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit (HIWU) that a horse he trains named Ratified (Constitution) tested positive for Cobalt after racing Feb. 19 at Parx. His suspension has been put on hold while HIWU awaits the results of a B sample test. If the B sample also shows the presence of Cobalt, Gelrod faces a suspension of up to two years. Gelrod's positive was the second recorded at Parx in a short period of time. On Feb. 6, the Patricia Farro-trained Deplane (He's Had Enough) tested positive for the banned substance after winning a $7,500 claimer. As is the case with Gelrod, Farro has continued to train while HIWU awaits the results of the B sample. Since HIWU took over the role of drug testing and issuing punishments against offending trainers, there have been three positives for Cobalt. The third trainer involved is Mario A. Dominguez, who had a horse test positive following a May 24 race, one that also took place at Parx. Dominguez's case has been resolved and he has received a two-year suspension. Cobalt has been proven to stimulate the production of EPO and red blood cells in mammals which explains why some have turned to it as a potential performance-enhancer in horses. With greater blood cell production comes better endurance and decreased muscle fatigue. Gelrod is a relative newcomer when it comes to Thoroughbred racing. Gelrod was a close associate of top Standardbred trainer Bill Robinson, who was banned at Woodbine Entertainment Group's tracks for more than 11 years for repeated drug violations. Gelrod trained Standardbreds on his own from 1991 to 2015 and won 676 races. According to a 2003 story in the Daily Racing Form, he received a five-year suspension in New Jersey after a fourth positive for milkshaking. He began training Thoroughbreds in 2023 and has amassed a career record of 4-for-20. The case of Farro includes an unusual twist. The horse was claimed out of the race in which he tested positive by trainer Harold Wyner for owner John Fanelli and Longball Stables. HISA rules allow two business days for new owners to consider returning claimed horses to the previous connections after an alleged drug violation. Fanelli and Longball decided to keep the horse even though the horse itself is under a 60-day suspension, the result of the Cobalt finding. The new owners ran him back Feb. 14, before the Cobalt positive was made public. He finished third in that race and the owners had to return the $4,928 they picked up in purse earnings because the horse should have been declared ineligible to run in the race. Farro did not return a call from the TDN seeking comment. The post Monte Gelrod Latest Parx Trainer to Have Cobalt Positive appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The GI Longines Breeders' Cup Classic and the GI Longines Breeders' Cup Turf will both receive individual $1-million purse increases, Breeders' Cup Limited announced Tuesday. Beginning with this year's 41st World Championships at Del Mar, the purse of the 1 1/4-mile Longines Breeders' Cup Classic will increase from $6 million to $7 million, while the purse of the 1 1/2-mile Longines Breeders' Cup Turf will increase from $4 million to $5 million. This raises total purses and awards for the Breeders' Cup World Championships, Thoroughbred racing's most prestigious two-day event, to more than $33 million. The increases were approved at the March meeting of Breeders' Cup Limited's Board of Directors. “These purse increases reflect a key mission of the Breeders' Cup World Championships: to attract the best-of-the-best from around the world to compete in a spectacular international showcase,” said Drew Fleming, President and CEO of Breeders' Cup Limited. “We are proud that the Longines Breeders' Cup Classic and Longines Breeders' Cup Turf continually rank among the top races in the world and these purse increases demonstrate our Board of Directors' commitment to further enhancing the international stature of the World Championships.” The 2024 Breeders' Cup World Championships, featuring 14 Grade I Championship races, will be held Nov. 1-2 at Del Mar. The post Breeders’ Cup Classic and Turf Both Receive $1-Million Purse Increases appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

CHELTENHAM, UK — The biggest cheer all day at Cheltenham came from the Ascot crowd. Sir Francis Brooke, first Her Majesty's and now His Majesty's Representative at Ascot was engulfed by back-slappers and well-wishers as the horse he owns with Richard Pilkington, Chianti Classico (Ire) (Shantou {Ire}), ground his way through the extended three miles of the Ultima Handicap Chase to provide the sole strike for Britain on a day dominated – predictably – by Willie Mullins. Chianti Classico's trainer Kim Bailey has had his share of Cheltenham glory but those high days were almost 30 years ago when, in 1995, Alderbrook (GB) took the Champion Hurdle followed two days later by the victory of Master Oats (GB) in the Cheltenham Gold Cup, the maestro Norman Williamson in the saddle for both. That was in the days when it seemed that the spoils were more evenly spread, and Bailey claiming two of the championship races in the same year was big news. Now, Mullins does that with regularity and the winner's enclosure on the opening day of the Cheltenham Festival was again frequently occupied by his horses. There seemed little doubt, barring the vagaries of luck in running, that State Man (Fr) (Doctor Dino {Fr}) would carry off the G1 Unibet Champion Hurdle once Constitution Hill (GB) (Blue Bresil {Fr}) had been ruled out last week. The latter is the only horse who has been able to tame State Man in his last 12 races, when, on this day last year, Constitution Hill handed him a nine-length drubbing in this same race. “You've got to turn up to win a Champion Hurdle. We turned up,” said Mullins, unable to resist a a gentle sideswipe at those constantly comparing his fifth Champion Hurdle winner to the rather more flamboyant absentee. “There's no wow factor with State Man,” he said of the seven-year-old. “And you don't go 'wow' when you look at him either, but he does what it says on the tin. He's that type of horse. It's very hard to be wow in that ground, but he's a good solid, sound horse and he just gives his running every time.” There is a rather bigger wow attached to the lovely five-year-old mare Lossiemouth (Fr) (Great Pretender {Ire}), who prowled round the parade ring, cruised around racecourse, making light work of the heavy turf, then returned to claim her second prize on Cheltenham's main stage. She has only been beaten once in her life and we will surely see her in the Champion Hurdle in years to come but, having taken last year's G1 JCB Triumph Hurdle it was plainly the right decision to keep her among her own sex in the G1 Close Brothers Mares' Hurdle. The sheer depth of that race in recent years is testament to the fact that it is doing exactly what is was introduced to do, and that is to encourage owners to buy and race mares. “You can say anything you want to in hindsight,” said Lossiemouth's owner Rich Ricci. “We had a plan and we stuck to it. Hopefully we'll be able to do it next year. We've won the Mares' [Hurdle], it's a Grade 1 and I'm delighted.” It was in fact double delight for Ricci and his wife Susannah, whose colours had already been borne to victory by Gaelic Warrior (Ger) (Maxios {GB}), who had started the ball rolling for Mullins with victory in the G1 Arkle Novices' Chase. This provided a rare top-level winner over fences for the breeding operation of the Niarchos family. He'd been sold by them for only €9,000 as a yearling in Germany and thus became the first of two BBAG September Yearling Sale graduates to strike at Cheltenham on Tuesday. He is one of the standout performers, along with former Triumph Hurdle winner Quilixios (GB), for his sire Maxios, and his breeding is Niarchos through and through, with his first two dams and damsire Hernando (Fr) having also been bred by the family. Incidentally, lovers of racing trivia may recall that Maxios's half-brother, the Arc winner Bago (Fr), was responsible for the only horse ever to have carried the Niarchos colours on a Henry Cecil runner at Cheltenham when his son Plato (Jpn) won the 2011 St Patrick's Day Derby under Lorna Fowler, whose first runner as a trainer in the Champion Hurdle this year, Colonel Mustard (Ger) ran an honourable fifth. It is now the norm for Irish-trained horses to have the upper hand at Cheltenham, and Henry de Bromhead, Joseph O'Brien and Emmet Mullins also wrote their names on the first-day scoresheet. First blood went the way of de Bromhead and Rachael Blackmore in the G1 Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle when Slade Steel (Ire) outbattled Mystical Power (Ire) up the hill. The latter has the bloodlines to excel on the Flat or over jumps, as he is by Galileo (Ire) out of the brilliant Champion Hurdler Annie Power (Ire), but it was Galileo's son Telescope (Ire) who provided the winner. Though born in Ireland at Ballincurrig House Stud, Slade Steel was bred by British breeder Dena Merson, who joins an elite group to have bred a winner at both the Cheltenham Festival and Royal Ascot. The two horses are related, too, as the 2008 Ascot Stakes winner Missoula (Ire) (Kalanisi {Ire}) is a half-sister to Slade Steel's dam Mariet (GB) (Dr Fong). The cousins Joseph O'Brien and JJ Slevin combined for their second joint-Festival win with Lark In The Mornin (Ger) in the Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle. The son of Soldier Hollow (GB) may not be one of the main poster boys for the breeze-up sales but he adds an extra level of versatility to the list of graduates from that division, having been bought at BBAG by Tom Whitehead for €28,000 and resold through his Powerstown Stud for 130,000gns at the Tattersalls Guineas Sale. Also the winner of Listowel mile maiden on debut at two, Lark In The Mornin was bred by Gestut Hof Ittlingen out of Loyalty Ger), a mare by their G1 Japan Cup winner Lando (Ger). Emmet Mullins, who runs his Grand National winner Noble Yeats (Ire) (Yeats {Ire}) in Thursday's G1 Paddy Power Stayers' Hurdle, claimed Tuesday's finale, named in honour of his grandmother, who died last month. The Maureen Mullins National Hunt Challenge Cup saw the widest-margin winner of the day when JP McManus's Corbetts Cross (Ire) (Gamut {Ire}) shot clear by 17 lengths in the hands of Derek O'Connor. “It was a great honour and a privilege for The Jockey Club to name the race after Mrs Mullins, granny, and it's extra special to win it,” said Mullins. But the day really belonged to Emmet's Uncle Willie, who, with Lossiemouth, recorded a 97th Festival win. Don't bet against him getting a hundred up before the week is out, and there would perhaps be no more appropriate way to do so than in the hundredth running of the Cheltenham Gold Cup on Friday. Conveniently, and totally unsurprisingly, Willie Mullins has the favourite for that race, too. The post A Mullins Treble Puts Cheltenham Century in Reach appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Maiden Watch: Week of March 4-March 10View the full article

Pool 5 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager opens March 15 at noon. Risen Star (G2) winner Sierra Leone named the 5-1 morning line favorite. Rachel Alexandra (G2) winner Tarifa named 8-1 favorite in lone Kentucky Oaks Future Wager.View the full article

West Point Thoroughbreds and the Green family's D J Stable went to $1.2 million to acquire a colt by Tapit from the Lothenbach dispersal Tuesday at OBS. Bred by the late Bob Lothenbach, the gray colt is out of Distorted Music (Distorted Humor) and is a half-brother to graded winner She Can't Sing (Bernardini). He was consigned by Tom McCrocklin. The result was the third million-dollar sale from the dispersal. She Can't Sing sold for $1.1 million at the Fasig-Tipton Winter Mixed Sale where Bell's the One sold for $1.3 million. The post West Point, D J Stable Strike for $1.2M Tapit Colt from Lothenbach Dispersal appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The post Here Lies Vinny appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Nysos (Nyquist), the top-ranked horse in the NTRA's poll of top three-year-olds, will miss one month of training after a `minor' setback, said the colt's trainer, Bob Baffert, by text Tuesday afternoon. “(Nysos) will be out of training,” Baffert texted. “Tack-walking for 30 days. No plans.” Asked exactly what the setback was, Baffert replied, “minor.” Nysos is a perfect three-for-three, breaking his maiden at Santa Anita in October, winning the GIII Bob Hope S. in November, and then winning the GIII Robert B. Lewis S. in February. HIs combined margin of victory is 26 3/4 lengths. The colt has not worked since Feb. 25, raising questions about his condition. The post Nysos to Miss One Month of Training After `Minor’ Setback appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article