Wandering Eyes

With a successful defence of his title in Saturday’s A$1 million The Illawarra Mercury Gong (1600m) at Kembla Grange, Kiwi-bred marvel Gringotts has now won five races worth $1 million or more within the space of barely a year. The Per Incanto gelding’s back-to-back victories in The Gong sit alongside his dual triumphs in the A$3 million The Big Dance (1600m) at Randwick, plus the most prestigious victory of his career in the A$1 million Gr.1 George Ryder Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill last March. The Ciaron Maher-trained Gringotts has now had 25 starts for 12 wins, nine placings and more than A$6.1 million in prize-money. Saturday’s second win in The Gong came courtesy of a daring ride from Nash Rawiller and a lion-hearted performance from Gringotts under 61kg. Persistent rain throughout the afternoon sent the Kembla Grange track down to a Heavy8, and the majority of the field in The Gong came wide around the home turn in search of better ground. But Rawiller saved ground and stayed closer to the inside, and Gringotts suddenly moved from midfield to be right in the firing line early in the run home. Most of the action was down the outside of the straight, headed by second favourite Estadio Mestalla under 56kg, but Gringotts refused to be denied. He kept finding, kept lifting, and clawed his way in front to win by just under half a length. “You’ve got to back your judgement,” Rawiller said. “But when they all went to the outside so quick, I thought, ‘Oh my god, I’ve done the wrong thing here.’ “But I was still confident that if I stayed patient, went through my gears and kept the horse building under me, that there’d be something there at the 100m. There really had to be. “He’s a warrior. He’s such a good horse. I really loved that win. It was very thrilling.” Gringotts was bred by Totara Park Stud and is by Little Avondale Stud’s outstanding sire Per Incanto out of the Savabeel mare Miss Bluebell. Herself unraced, Miss Bluebell is a daughter of Operavega, whose half-sister Vegas Showgirl was the dam of the legendary Winx. Miss Bluebell is the dam of two stakes performers from three foals to race. The other is Millefiori, who has won seven races for Te Akau Racing and placed in the Listed Great Easter Stakes, while the other full-sibling to Gringotts, Dan Vegas, was sold to Hong Kong. Gringotts was offered by Archer Park in Book 1 of Karaka 2021, where Kasa Bloodstock bought him for $100,000. He was re-offered at the Ready to Run Sale later that year, but failed to meet his $450,000 reserve. He was subsequently sold privately after winning a trial at Waipa for Simon and Katrina Alexander. View the full article

A bold move before the home turn carried Kiwi-bred gelding Regal Lion to victory in Saturday’s A$130,000 John Duff & Co The Lester (2025m) at Cranbourne. Previously a Listed Ipswich Cup (2150m) winner and Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) placegetter, Regal Lion headed into Saturday’s Benchmark 84 handicap after running sixth at Moonee Valley on October 3 and at Caulfield on October 15, winning the Mortlake Cup (2000m) on November 1 and finishing fourth in last Sunday’s Moe Cup (2050m). The seven-year-old was a $17 longshot for Saturday’s race, but upstaged his higher-rated rivals under a well-judged ride from Jamie Mott. Regal Lion initially settled in third-last, but began to stride forward from the 800m mark. He pounced before the home turn, taking a clear lead as he came into the straight. Despite beginning to tire in the closing stages, Regal Lion fought hard all the way down the straight and held on to win by half a length. “I was hoping to be a bit closer in the run, but I would have had to use him to do so,” Mott said. “The tempo was genuine and I was hoping midway that they would slacken more and make it easier for me to do it, but they didn’t really slacken that much. I waited until just before the bottom corner to get moving. “This horse was in good order for today and the team has done a great job with him. When I asked for an effort, he really responded well and for a good 700m too. It was a good effort. “He was very genuine. He kept kicking, and every stride I asked for a bit more and he kept giving and giving. He was out on his feet late, the last few strides, but it was a good solid tempo and I got going quite early. He did a tremendous job.” Local horseman Gavin Bedggood is the third different trainer of Regal Lion, who has now had a total of 46 starts for five wins, six placings and A$599,163 in stakes. “I thought I had been too soft on him in between Mortlake and Moe,” Bedggood said. “I watched him walk around the yard last week and he looked soft. I thought he should have run second and he blew out the last 100m. He’s a good-doing horse, so the back-up didn’t hold too many concerns. Richie, his strapper, rides him every day and had been happy with him all week. He had a little jump this morning, which we do quite often leading into a run. He was quiet coming in, had a good blood on Thursday and all the indicators were there for a good run. “I thought he might have been a pair closer in the running, but I told Jamie to ride him where he was going to travel. He won an Ipswich Cup in a similar fashion and he won a Mortlake Cup recently. He doesn’t have a great change up speed, but if you throw the cat amongst the pigeons and if you get run down late, that’s on me. I would rather you get going 100 yards too early than 100 yards too late and wait for other horses to get going.” Originally trained by Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman for owner-breeders Barbara and Carl McComb, Regal Lion was a maiden winner at Rotorua in November of his three-year-old season. Subsequently partially sold to OTI Racing, he stepped up when third behind Asterix and La Crique in the 2022 New Zealand Derby, while he was also runner-up in the Gr.2 Tulloch Stakes (1850m) before relocating to the Annabel Archibald stable and winning the Ipswich Cup in June of 2023. By ill-fated former Novara Park stallion Jakkalberry, Regal Lion is the first foal out of the Congrats mare Red Delight, who has subsequently produced four foals by Shocking including the three-race winner Liquid Fire. Unplaced on the track, Red Delight is a granddaughter of Group One winner Danglissa and closely related to big-race performers Unite And Conquer, Profiteer and Sweet Redemption View the full article

The stars are out to play at Sha Tin on Sunday, with a trio of Group Two races as we look ahead to December 14’s Longines Hong Kong International Races. Ka Ying Rising, Voyage Bubble, Romantic Warrior and My Wish are the feature horses on a day to savour for every racing fan. There are 10 races on the card and Owen Goulding is in the hot seat to provide an extended rundown of his selections. Race 1 – Class Four BOCHK Cross-Border Services Handicap (1,200m) All’s Well can be forgiven a poor run...View the full article

A lacklustre trial that caught the attention of stewards has failed to shake Hugh Bowman’s belief that Helios Express will improve significantly on Sunday, while the jockey also has high hopes for stablemate Red Lion after an encouraging return. While John Size’s horses are rarely fully tested or figure prominently in trials, Helios Express’ distant last – beaten a whopping 27 lengths – behind superstar Ka Ying Rising last week raised some eyebrows and prompted a probe by stewards. Bowman said...View the full article

Comeback jockey Elen Nicholas took her career to its greatest heights yet with a masterful ride aboard Final Return (NZ) (Reliable Man) to take out the Gr.3 MyRacehorse Counties Cup (2100m) at Pukekohe on Saturday. A horror run of injuries has forced Nicholas to spend more time on the sidelines than in the saddle during her apprenticeship, but she has made a triumphant return this season to sit in eighth place on the national premiership with 21 wins. She ranks second among apprentices behind only Amber Riddell with 25. The last seven days have seen Nicholas make the most significant big-race impacts of her career so far. She guided Notabadspillane (NZ) (Time Test) into second in the Gr.3 New Zealand Cup (3200m) with a ground-saving ride at Riccarton last Saturday, then went one better at Pukekohe a week later with an outstanding mid-race move in the Counties Cup. Nicholas and trainer Janelle Millar intended for Final Return to go forward in the $170,000 feature, but that plan appeared to go out the window when the gelding got squeezed out the back soon after leaving the starting gates and was a clear last going past the finish line with a lap to go. But the speed dropped right out of the race down the back of the track, and Nicholas seized the initiative. She allowed Final Return to surge around the outside of the field, moving up alongside the front-running Khan Hunter (NZ) (Mongolian Khan) by the 1000m mark. Final Return had Khan Hunter covered soon after rounding the home turn, but he found himself under siege as Rosetown Princess (NZ) (Redwood) loomed on the inside while Blue Sky At Night (NZ) (Shamexpress), Sharp ‘N’ Smart (NZ) (Redwood), Gigi (NZ) (Ghibellines), Sassy Lass (NZ) (Staphanos), Aftermath (NZ) (Rock ‘N’ Pop) and What You Wish For (NZ) (Embellish) ran on out wide. But just when it looked like he might be swallowed up in the final 150m, Final Return lifted again and held them all out, showing tremendous fight to cling on and win by a neck. Rosetown Princess was second, with two noses back to Aftermath and Sharp ‘N’ Smart. In a blanket finish, less than a length covered the next four finishers – Gigi, What You Wish For, Blue Sky At Night and Sassy Lass. The Counties Cup was Nicholas’ first win in a Group or Listed race. “This is definitely at the top of the list of my biggest wins,” the delighted 29-year-old said. “I feel so lucky and I’m just grateful to be out here and doing this. “The original plan was to jump and be handy, but we got a bit of a squeeze out the back. He was happy enough there early on, but I thought the pace might go out of the race down the back, which often seems to happen in these staying races. We managed to go around them without him having to do too much work, and then we were able to take a bit of a breather after we got to the front as well, which was good. “He got headed early in the straight and I thought, ‘Oh well, maybe we’ll run a nice placing if he can carry on.’ But he suddenly grew another leg. I couldn’t believe it.” Final Return is by Westbury Stud stallion Reliable Man out of the Zabeel mare Kind Return, who won four races and finished second behind Bazelle in the Gr.1 Zabeel Classic (2000m) and behind Zarius in the Gr.2 City Of Auckland Cup (2400m). From 25 starts, Final Return has now had three wins, eight placings and $281,565 in stakes. He made his mark in top-flight staying contests last season with a second in the New Zealand St Leger (2500m), third in the Gr.3 Avondale Cup (2400m), fourth in the Gr.3 Queen Elizabeth II Cup (2400m), fourth in the Listed Hawke’s Bay Cup (2200m) and sixth in the Gr.2 Auckland Cup (3200m). “I’m speechless and very proud,” Millar said on Saturday. “This is something we’ve aimed for. We keep bringing the horse up north, because he likes going this way around. He tends to hit himself a little bit when he runs the Wellington way around, but he just goes so well up here and he’s a great traveller. “Elen gave him a perfect ride. I told her not to panic if she wasn’t able to go forward early, because he has a high cruising speed and can make up ground in the back straight. That’s exactly what she did. He has a turn of foot, but he’s better when he can race out in front. “We’ll probably aim for the Queen Elizabeth on New Year’s Day now.” View the full article

Perennial black-type bridesmaid Qali Al Farrasha (NZ) (Almanzor) shed that unwanted tag in outstanding fashion when she downed a quality line-up of mares in Saturday’s Gr.2 Dunstan Horsefeeds Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1400m) at Pukekohe. The five-year-old daughter of Almanzor has been desperately unlucky on several occasions at the highest level, having been stakes-placed six times in her 16-start career, with four of those coming in Group One features. The Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson-prepared galloper has always looked to be a stayer of real promise and just 12 months earlier had pushed Nereus (NZ) (Savabeel) hard when finishing runner-up in the Gr.3 Counties Cup (2100m). Instead of electing to try and go one better in the Counties Cup this year, her mentors freshened her after starting her current campaign with midfield finishes in the first two legs of the spring Triple Crown, the Gr.1 Proisir Plate (1400m) and Gr.1 Howden Insurance Mile (1600m). That tactic was rewarded handsomely as she delivered in spades under a cool ride from Wiremu Pinn, who had her positioned beautifully in midfield before angling into clear air at the 400m where she appeared to be doing pacework as her rivals struggled to find anything extra. Qali Al Farrasha duly streaked clear to defeat a game Provence, who chased hard all the way home, and the late-closing Jaarffi. Bergerson was delighted the mare had finally broken her stakes race hoodoo and explained why the stable had adopted the new approach with her. “That was fantastic to see her bounce back as she is a quadruple Group One placegetter,” Bergerson said. “We attacked the first two legs (of the triple crown) but we weren’t happy with her going into the third (Gr.1 Livamol Classic, 2040m) so we gave her a freshen up. “She has come back really well and while we thought 1400m might be a bit sharp for her today, she has sprinted really well and was very good to the line. Hopefully she is in for an exciting summer.” Bergerson was uncertain as to the immediate plans for the mare, although he was keen to see her take a similar path to another former top mare in the stable, Campionessa. “Initially the plan was to go to the Cal Isuzu (Gr.2, 1600m) at Te Rapa and then on to Ellerslie on Boxing Day (Gr.1 Zabeel Classic, 2000m) like Campionessa did,” he said. “Off this I guess you have to consider Wellington (Gr.1 Mufhasa Classic, 1600m), but I think the Cal Isuzu is the next logical one. After that, we hope we can go one better in one of those Group Ones.” Pinn was delighted his initial thoughts on the race had been incorrect. “I thought 1400m might be too short for her, but she proved me wrong,” Pinn said. “It was a very good training effort by Mark and Sam and I think she is in for a very good prep if she has done that over 1400m. “She has come back mentally tougher and the further she gets the better she will be, as she has put a good field away today.” Bred by Nearco Stud Ltd, Te Akau Racing principal David Ellis and Westonlea Bloodstock’s David and Matthew Peacocke from lightly raced Burgundy mare Nucleonic (NZ), Qali Al Farrasha is raced by Ellis and the Peacockes. She has now won three of her 17 starts and more than $586,000 in prizemoney. View the full article

Kozzi Asano signed off his brief New Zealand homecoming with a winning treble at Pukekohe on Saturday, headed by black-type success aboard Ardalio (NZ) (Ardrossan) in the Gr.3 Haunui Farm Counties Bowl (1100m). Originally from Japan, Asano arrived in New Zealand in 2017 and became champion apprentice two years later. He racked up a total of 336 wins, 20 of them at stakes level, before departing during the 2023-24 season for a successful stint in South Korea. The 30-year-old returned to his Cambridge home earlier this season and rejoined Kiwi raceday riding ranks in October, but he will depart again for South Korea next week. He could hardly have wished for a better farewell, with his final day in the saddle producing victories on Solidify (NZ) (Redwood) in the Dunstan Horsefeeds Stayers’ Championship Qualifier (2100m), Moxie (Strasbourg) in the HR Fisken & Sons 1400, and Ardalio in the $150,000 Counties Bowl. “I’m flying out again on Tuesday,” Asano said. “It’s going to be winter over there, it’s minus-three degrees at the moment. “I really appreciate the opportunity to ride Ardalio. She’s such a nice horse. Mr Lib Petagna (owner) has supported me in the past, before I went to South Korea last time, and it was good to get the job done for him today.” The Stephen Marsh-trained Ardalio was a dual black-type winner as a three-year-old last season and kicked off her four-year-old campaign with a close fourth over 1200m at Te Rapa on September 27. Kept fresh for this feature sprint assignment 56 days later, Ardalio settled in fifth along the rail as Lhasa (Hellbent) and Shoes (NZ) (Derryn) led the field up to the home turn. Ardalio cruised up alongside Lhasa with 250m to run and kicked away to take a clear lead. The danger lay wider out on the track as Twain began to eat into the margin with big strides. Ardalio gave a scare to her jockey, connections and supporters when she drifted out into Twain’s line in the final 100m, but she pinned her ears back and kicked away again to beat him by a length and a half. “She was super,” Asano said. “She’s not the easiest to ride and has got a few tricks, but she has a real killer instinct. I felt something coming up beside us, and she ducked out a little bit, but she was too good in the end.” Bred and raced by Petagna’s JML Bloodstock, Ardalio has now had eight starts for four wins, a second and $417,100 in stakes. She won the Gr.3 Almanzor Trophy (1200m) and Gr.3 Cambridge Breeders’ Stakes (1200m) as a three-year-old, and ran a gallant seventh from a wide gate in the NZB Kiwi (1500m). According to Marsh’s stable representative Dylan Johnson, Group One sprint features are now on Ardalio’s agenda. “She’s putting together a great record and is just so tough,” Johnson said. “Kozzi gave her a beautiful trip, and then she just fights and grinds all the way to the finish. Those attributes made her a multiple Group winner as a three-year-old, and today was outstanding. “Stephen is keen to keep her to those sprint trips this season, and we’ll have a look at races like the Telegraph (Gr.1, 1200m) and Railway (Gr.1, 1200m).” View the full article

New Zealand-bred mare Grid Girl boasts a perfect two-from-two record so far as a five-year-old, having added Saturday’s A$150,000 Rosemont Stud Fillies & Mares Pendant (1400m) at Cranbourne to her first-up victory at Kyneton on November 5. Previously the winner of four of her 16 starts, the daughter of Time Test resumed as a $1.90 favourite at Kyneton and produced a performance worthy of those short odds as she romped to victory by eight lengths. Saturday’s second-up assignment was significantly tougher, facing a talented field of mares under set weights and penalties conditions. But again Grid Girl came out on top. Drawn gate six among a field of eight, jockey Michael Dee planned to go forward but faced an early setback when Grid Girl was slow to leave the gates. Dee still pressed forward out wide on the track, eventually taking the lead after 400m. Grid Girl dominated the race from that point on, kicking hard in the straight and going on to win by three-quarters of a length. “The plan was to lead or be outside the leader, but she was mucking around a little bit in the barriers and unfortunately bombed the start,” Dee said. “I didn’t want to just concede and go back. I tried to make it as easy as possible for her to get across. We ended up doing a bit of work to get there, but she’s very tough, very competitive and has that will to win. “I felt her kick when she sensed another horse coming. I was happy that when we were to get to the front we were able to come back a pair and somewhat relax and get into a nice rhythm and then kick off the corner.” The Ben, Will and JD Hayes-trained Grid Girl has now had 17 starts for five wins, five placings and A$221,496 in stakes. “Full credit to Mick, it was a beautiful ride,” Will Hayes said. “He wanted to be nice and positive from the barrier, because we knew we had a nice long run to the first turn. He just allowed her to build through her gears and get across to the lead, held a steady pace and she was too tough in the end. She’s shown really good improvement and that was a good win. “It has taken time for the penny to drop. She has been a whole lot kinder this time in. She was a mare that could get quite keen in her races, and just being able to overcome a sticky start and then not get charging through the bit to assume control of the race, it’s a really good feather in her cap and why she’s been able to build the picket fence now.” Grid Girl was bred by Guy Lowry and is out of the five-time-winning Savabeel mare Chic. Lowry initially trained Grid Girl for two starts from his Hastings stable in the spring of 2023, placing on both occasions before being purchased privately by clients of the Lindsay Park stable. View the full article

Quality sprinter Spencer (NZ) (Derryn) showed all his fighting qualities when he dug deep to earn his ninth career win in one of the feature events at Wanganui on Saturday, the Manawatu ITM 1340. The six-year-old son of Derryn was having his first run from the Matamata stable of Peter and Shaun McKay after doing his previous racing in the care of Erin Hocquard at Waverley. Unsighted since finishing midfield at Trentham last month, last season’s Gr.3 Spring Sprint (1400m) winner paraded in fine order before Saturday’s contest, with plenty of attitude on display as he made his way around to the starting gates. Apprentice Sienna Brown, who reduced her mount’s 62kg topweight down to a competitive 58kg with her 4kg apprentice claim, allowed Spencer to settle into a steady rhythm in midfield after jumping well before looping the field to dispute the pace with Blissful Belle at the 600m. Angled to the middle of the track, Spencer quickly hit the front after straightening and fought off all challengers to win by just on a length from race favourite Bedtime Story (NZ) (Per Incanto) and the late-closing Latrelle (NZ) (Redwood). Shaun McKay had a big smile on his face as he described the pre-race disposition of the horse. “He had a good strut on him and he looked a picture,” McKay said. “He won how he looked as well. “We haven’t learnt much from him just yet, but he is a pretty cruisy horse who has galloped really well at home. “He likes apprentices too and Sienna gets on well with him, so it was a very good win. “We will take it race by race, but there is a sprint down at Wellington at the start of December that we might aim him for.” The race McKay was alluding to is the Gr.3 Spring Sprint (1400m), which Spencer claimed in 2024 when held at Te Rapa. Bred and part-owned by Taranaki horseman Aidan Schumacher, Spencer has now won nine of his 27 starts and $309,430 in prizemoney. View the full article

A professional display from speedy Otaki visitor De Armas (NZ) (Ardrossan) paved the way for a decisive victory in the first stakes race on Saturday’s Pukekohe programme, the Listed Counties Challenge Stakes (1100m). Trainer Johno Benner trekked north with the daughter of Ardrossan, who went into the race off the back of an 850m trial victory at Foxton earlier in the month, following a winning debut on her home track in September. Benner had been content to give his charge plenty of time to get over that win on a testing Heavy10 surface and came into Saturday’s contest with the express purpose of gaining a guaranteed start in the rich TAB Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m) at Ellerslie on January 24. Rider Kelly Myers had De Armas away smartly from the starting gates and outside pacemaker With A Vengeance (Exceed And Excel) after just 150m, where the pair matched motors into the home straight. Myers pushed the go button at the 200m and the filly bounded clear and she held her two-length advantage comfortably to the winning post from the fast-finishing favourite Harvey Wallbanger (NZ) (Home Affairs), who charged home from last of the nine runners on the home bend. Benner, who shares in the ownership of the filly with some long-standing friends and stable clients, cut an emotional figure as he thanked those who have supported him after some trying times in recent months. “It’s special in a lot of ways as it’s been topsy turvy of late,” Benner said. “I’ve been to the top of this industry and there has been a lot (of water) go under the bridge, so to have those loyal owners help me get back here means a lot. “I needed some down time to process things, but the love of the horse never went anywhere.” Benner had made no secret of the fact he rated De Armas highly and went further in his opinion of her following the race. “I think she is the best horse I have put a saddle on,” he said. “I’ve said it to a few people, but I’ve tried to put a lid on it. “I think she is going to be a better three-year-old, but coming here today has given me the option not to have to come back up here again (until Karaka Millions night). “She is a beautiful cut of a filly and I don’t want to sound silly, but I said over breakfast I think she will win today and I can put her away with 11 weeks to Ellerslie and I won’t need to run her again.” TAB Bookmakers reacted swiftly, installing the filly as the $3.50 Fixed Odds favourite for the Karaka Millions 2YO. Myers backed up Benner’s assessment of De Armas when questioned in the birdcage after unsaddling her mount. “That’s a big statement as he has trained some good horses, but I just love this filly,” she said. “It was just her second start today and we had a sticky barrier, but she is just class. “She was able to put herself right there and I knew they wouldn’t catch her as the further she goes the faster she gets. “The scary thing is she looks like she will be a better three-year-old, so who knows what we have got.” Benner secured De Armas from the 2025 National Online Yearling Sale for $16,000 and she has now returned over $86,000 in prizemoney from her two starts to date. View the full article

In an ominous warning to his rivals, Zac Purton has declared Ka Ying Rising has improved from his overseas heroics in the Group One The Everest (1,200m) ahead of Sunday’s Group Two BOCHK Private Banking Jockey Club Sprint (1,200m) at Sha Tin. Bidding for a remarkable 15th consecutive win, the world’s best sprinter has thrived since returning from Australia where he cruised to victory in the A$20 million (HK$101 million) The Everest at Randwick last month. Purton noted Ka Ying Rising has never...View the full article

Coteau Grove Farms' Little Miss Curlin dueled on the front end and drew away late to win the $100,000 Donovan L. Ferguson Memorial Stakes Nov. 21 at Fair Grounds Race Course, giving freshman sire Charlatan his first black-type stakes winner.View the full article

All this week, the TDN has been trying to nail down concrete details surrounding the studies performed for the Racing Medication & Testing Consortium's (RMTC) Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) into the way metformin behaves in Thoroughbreds. It turns out that the first of the three papers stemming from this study was published Wednesday in the online journal, Drug Testing and Analysis. In short, the study finds a “prolonged detection time” for the drug. This first study involved 12 Thoroughbreds aged between two and seven years of age. It was broken into two phases. In phase one, six of these horses were given an oral administration of 15 grams of metformin, while the other six were given an intravenous administration of 5 milligrams per kilogram of metformin. When metformin was no longer detectable in the blood and urine of these 12 horses, phase two began, which saw the horses given opposite treatments. It took 21 days for the metformin to fall below the limit of quantification (LOQ), set at 0.25?ng/mL for all 12 horses given both the intravenous and oral administrations. It took 11 days post-administration for the metformin concentrations to fall below the 0.25?ng/mL level in six of the 12 horses. The maximum concentration of metformin detected in this study was 941 nanograms per milliliter at around the 51 minute mark. The paper also points out that Metformin concentrations in urine “fluctuated significantly” between and within individual horses, “and there was not a consistent relationship between blood and urine samples across time points.” Interestingly, the study points out that following oral administration of the drug, “five horses showed mild signs of abdominal discomfort, such as pawing and rolling 4?[hours] after the drug was administered; these signs resolved on their own within 2?[hours].” Starting in June of last year, the RMTC performed an initial review of the existing scientific literature on the drug, then gathered together a team of researchers who performed a three-part study. The result was a recommended Minimum Reporting Level (MRL) of 4.0 nanograms per milliliter in blood. Because of metformin's erratic elimination behavior in urine, the researchers haven't recommend using it as a suitable testing matrix. Prior to that, federal regulators had used a much lower screening limit of 0.5 nanograms per milliliter in blood and 1 nanogram per milliliter in urine. And prior to that, they had used an approach allowing each individual lab's limit of detection which varied from facility to facility. Two more papers are being submitted for publication. And how much did this whole endeavour cost? That's currently unclear. When asked, a Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit (HIWU) spokesperson wrote the following: “The cost of the metformin studies was covered as part of the pre-established annual laboratory credit with UC Davis for science and research that is applied to California's assessment for HISA. This is determined by HISA, HIWU, UC Davis, and the CHRB. HISA and HIWU did not contribute additional funding beyond the established credit. “The credits enable Program laboratories–in this case, UC Davis–to perform timely and relevant research on behalf of the ADMC Program on an ongoing basis. These costs fall under the “Lab Testing” portion of HISA's budget, which covers all of the Program laboratories.” The post First Metformin Study Shows Drug Has “Prolonged Detection Time” appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Little Miss Curlin became the first black-type winner for freshman sire Charlatan (Speightstown) with a sharp performance in Friday's Donovan L. Ferguson Memorial S. at Fair Grounds. The 9-5 favorite battled through fractions of :21.69 and :46.09 and powered home to win by five lengths. The Coteau Grove Farms homebred previously won her debut, also versus fellow Louisiana-breds, by 4 1/4 lengths at Delta Downs Oct. 22. Little Miss Curlin's dam had a colt by Life Is Good in 2024 and a filly by Constitution this year. She was bred back to Wit. DONOVAN L. FERGUSON MEMORIAL S., $100,000, Fair Grounds, 11-21, (S), 2yo, f, 6f, 1:11.45, ft. 1–LITTLE MISS CURLIN, 122, f, 2, by Charlatan 1st Dam: Mylady Curlin (MGSW, $805,883), by Curlin 2nd Dam: Ladyledue, by Slewdledo 3rd Dam: Exploded's Girl, by Exploded 1ST BLACK TYPE WIN. O/B-Coteau Grove Farms, LLC (LA); T-Patrick Devereux, Jr.; J-Jareth Loveberry. $60,000. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $85,800. 2–Wickedwithbourbon, 122, f, 2, Bobby's Wicked One– Betterwithbourbon, by Yankee Gentleman. 1ST BLACK TYPE. O/B-Picard Thoroughbreds Racing Stable, LLC (LA); T-J. Keith Desormeaux. $20,000. 3–Liteupthenite, 122, f, 2, Aurelius Maximus–City Gone Wild, by City Zip. ($15,000 Ylg '24 TTAYRL). O-Norman Stables LLC; B-Channon Farm, LLC (LA); T-Jayde J. Gelner. $11,000. Margins: 5, HF, HF. Odds: 1.90, 3.70, 4.80. Also Ran: Allons Betta Lee, El Sunshine, On the Horizon, Summers With Sonya, Swampy, Fly Strong. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. #2 LITTLE MISS CURLIN ($5.80) won the $100,000 Donovan L. Ferguson Memorial Stakes at @fairgroundsnola in dominant fashion. @jareth16 was aboard the juvenile Charlatan filly for trainer Patrick Devereux, Jr. pic.twitter.com/G4THjVvLZi — FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) November 21, 2025 The post Little Miss Curlin Becomes First Stakes Winner for Charlatan appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Bonuses totaling $350,000 are up for grabs to breeders of horses competing on Stars of Tomorrow II Day at Churchill Downs on Saturday, Nov. 29, in conjunction with the Kentucky Thoroughbred Association and the Kentucky HBPA.View the full article

Clairita (Gun Runner) broke last but finished a respectable third beaten 2 1/2 lengths in her Keeneland debut going this distance on a fast main track Oct. 17. Meant for the turf Friday but rained onto the slop under the Twin Spires, the 6-5 favorite got off to a smoother beginning and found herself fourth in the leading pack around the clubhouse turn as Lady Iva (Uncle Mo), who drew in off the also-eligible list, set a tempo of :24.07 and :48.79. Making steady progress towards the front on the run past the half-mile pole, Clairita hit the front three furlongs from home, put away a mild challenge from Miss Pharoah (American Pharoah) and opened up with style into the stretch, pulling away in a romp to graduate by 12 lengths. A $375,000 Keeneland September yearling, Clairita is a half-sister to both Uncapped (First Samurai), GSP, $262,302 and Wicked Lick (Maclean's Music), GSP, $230,429. Yet another half-sister, Vindictive Ways (Broken Vow), produced SP Gram (Maclean's Music). First dam Here Music is herself a half to both GSW Noble Moon (Malibu Moon) and MGSP Mambo Fever (Stormin Fever). Now a producer of six winners from seven to race, Here Music has a winning 2-year-old of this year in Bert's Knoty Girl (Mitole) reported a filly by Essential Quality this year. She visited Early Voting for her 2026 cover. 8th-Churchill Downs, $117,975, Msw, 11-21, 3yo/up, f/m, 1 1/16m (off turf), 1:45.59, sy, 12 lengths. CLAIRITA (f, 3, Gun Runner–Here Music, by Dehere) Sales History: $375,000 Ylg '23 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 2-1-0-1, $80,025. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. O-Rigney Racing LLC; B-Lee P. Mauberret & Cheryl Mauberret (KY); T-Philip A. Bauer. Clairita is dominant in R8 at @churchilldowns for trainer Phil Bauer with @gabe__saez in the irons! #TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/O5cNcRHJ96 — TwinSpires Racing (@TwinSpires) November 21, 2025 The post Gun Runner’s Clairita Graduates Second Time Out In Slop Romp appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

It's been a long time since anyone has seen the New Jersey-bred star Book'em Danno (Bucchero). He hasn't run since winning the GI Forego Stakes at Saratoga Aug. 23. There were rumblings that he would run in the GII Stoll Keenon Ogden Phoenix Stakes at Keeneland, but he sat that one out. He also did not run in the GI Cygames Breeders' Cup Sprint, where he likely would have been the favorite. Passing on an appearance at the World Championships is something that cost him some Eclipse Award votes. The 4-year-old is currently in Ocala and his connections want him to have a break of about two-and-a-half months before returning him to training. They do not yet have any definite plans yet for the 2026 season, but it appears that a trip to Dubai is the where he might kick off his campaign. “We have no definite plans as to where to go,” said Jay Briscione, who heads the Atlantic Six ownership group. “I have had conversations with the people in Saudi Arabia and we have nominated him for two races there, including the [G3] Riyadh Dirt Sprint. There's more of a chance that he will go in the [Mar. 28 running of the G1] Dubai Golden Shaheen.” Briscione added that if they choose the Golden Shaheen that Book'em Danno would begin the year in a prep for that race–the G3 Mahab Al Shimaal Stakes Feb. 28. Though Book'em Danno ran second in the 2024 G3 Saudi Derby, Briscione realizes there is nothing easy about going over to the Middle East. “There is a lot of money out there, but you are rolling the dice,” he said. He added that the 2026 Breeders' Cup Sprint is something that is definitely on their schedule. “It's not set in stone, but if he stays together and has the same kind of year we would go, working backwards, the Breeders' Cup, the Phoenix, one of those races at Saratoga and maybe that Keeneland race in the spring [the GIII Commonwealth Stakes]. A lot would depend on whether or not we got to Dubai. It won't be a 10-race campaign. He just runs too hard to do that.” Book'em Danno won the GI Woody Stephens Stakes at Saratoga as a 3-year-old in 2024 and two other stakes, but Briscione admits he wasn't expecting the horse to have the kind of year in 2025 that he had before. He started his year off by winning a restricted stakes at Colonial Downs and then finished fourth, beaten just a neck, against a loaded field in the GI Churchill Downs Stakes. He would not lose again this year. Book'em Danno was sensational at Saratoga, winning three straight graded stakes there: the GIII True North Stakes, the GII Alfred G. Vanderbilt Stakes and the Forego. “What he did at Saratoga, no one will ever do again because it was an unusual year up there with a different schedule, which allowed them to card three graded sprint stakes,” the owner said. “Saratoga is the meet of meets and he ran there for three consecutive months and won a Grade III, a Grade II and a Grade I, all of them pretty matter of factly.” After he tore apart the competition at Saratoga, most expected that his year-end goal would be the Breeders' Cup. Instead, he more or less disappeared, and neither the owners nor Ryan had much to say about why they took the direction they did. When asked to clarify why they passed the Breeders' Cup, Briscione was not hesitant to state his reasons. It all began with his race in the Vanderbilt. Briscione is an adherent of the Thoro-Graph sheets and was concerned that the horse had run too fast in the race. Book'em Danno takes the True North at the Spa | Sarah Andrew “He ran his career top in the Vanderbilt,” Briscione said. “He ran a negative 4 1/2 on Thoro-Graph in that race. That equated to what Cody's Wish was running. People were telling me you are going to see a regression.” Based on the numbers, there was a regression, ironically in the Forego, which is was his lone Grade I win on the year. This time he ran a minus 1 1/2. “We did see a regression in the Forego, but he wound up winning it anyway,” Briscione said. “He won a Grade I stakes at not his best. I started looking at these horses that had run huge races and how long it took for them to get back to their best. You look at these things and then you talk to your trainer. Of course you want to run in the Sprint. It's a $2 million race. For us, that is incredible. But they would have been catching him at a point where he most likely would have been tailing off. He did more than enough for us. Why push him?” Briscione also admitted that the connections had some concerns that Book'em Danno would not get past the veterinarians at the Breeders' Cup. “The veterinary process at the Breeders' Cup was something that came into play,” he said. “They were looking at these horses a couple of times a day for a couple of weeks beforehand. He's always been sound but he has that funny way of going, If a vet didn't know him and saw that I don't know what they would have done. I think we made the right decision.” The question now is whether or not Book'em Danno did enough to be named the Eclipse Award winning sprinter? It is between him and Sprint winner Bentornato (Valiant Minister). Book'em Danno voters will no doubt look at his overall body of work this year. Even though he only made two starts this year, Bentornato will be backed by people who will give him extra credit for winning the Breeders' Cup Sprint, a race Book 'em Danno sat out. “He [Bentornato] ran a great race in the Breeders' Cup,” Briscione said. “He's a horse I've followed for a long time. I think that if the award is for the best sprinter over the course of the year we will win. We were the best sprinter over the course of the year. If people want to say the Breeders' Cup is the definitive race, then I can understand that. He could have run against us in the Forego, but he ran instead in that race at Churchill [the Louisville Thoroughbred Society Stakes]. It's a philosophical question.” The post Team Book’Em Danno Mulling Plans For 2026, Dubai Golden Shaheen A Possibility appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

A $350,000 bonus will be awarded to breeders of record for horses competing during Stars of Tomorrow II Day at Churchill Downs on Saturday, Nov. 29, in conjunction with the Kentucky Thoroughbred Association and the Kentucky HBPA, the track said via a Friday release. Breeders will compete for nearly $30,000 in bonuses across each of the 12 races on Stars of Tomorrow II. The winner of each race is eligible for a possible $16,333 for registered Kentucky-bred horses. Payments will be based on a purse-style distribution: 56% to the winner, 20% to second, 10% to third, 5% to fourth and 3% to fifth. Sixth through last will receive 1.5%. The bonus is in addition to the traditional breeder's awards. Breeders can receive hospitality accommodations at Churchill Downs by calling the Churchill Downs Horsemen's Service Center at (502) 636-4830. Entries for Stars of Tomorrow II will taken Saturday, Nov. 22. The post Breeders Bonus $350k To Be Awarded During Churchill’s Stars Of Tomorrow II appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

8th-CD, $120k, Msw, 2yo, f, 6 1/2f, post time: 4:25 p.m. ET Juddmonte's MARJORAM (Quality Road) is the second foal to race from Cardamon (Pioneerof the Nile), a debut winner over this surface back in 2019 and already responsible for this year's GIII Mahony Stakes hero and similarly cleverly named Spiced Up, also a son of this Lane's End stallion. Cardamon is one of six winners out of Soothing Touch (Touch Gold), also the dam of MGISW Emollient (Empire Maker); SW & GISP Hofburg (Tapit); and SW & GSP Courtier (Pioneerof the Nile). The mare is also responsible for Calm Water (Empire Maker), herself the dam of G1 Dubai World Cup romper Laurel River (Into Mischief) and of Castlewarden (Into Mischief), third in Friday's Listed Dubai Creek Mile at Meydan. Among her rivals are Aunt Sheryl (Authentic), a daughter of 'TDN Rising Star' presented by Hagyard Taylor S (Medaglia d'Oro), whose GSW dam Miss Macy Sue (Trippi) also produced sires Liam's Map (Unbridled's Song) and Not This Time (Giant's Causeway); and Never Say No (Gun Runner), a half-sister to GSW & MGISP Spielberg (Union Rags). TJCIS PPs 5th-LRL, $47k, Msw, 2yo, f, 1mT, 1:55 p.m. ET BRAT PACK (Gun Runner) is the second to make the races from her dam Ultra Brat (Uncle Mo), whose four wins from nine appearances on the grass included a 10 1/4-length romp in a soft-turf renewal of the GIII Gallorette Stakes at Pimlico followed by a razor-thin defeat at the hooves of future Eclipse Award winner Sistercharlie (Ire) (Myboycharlie {Ire}) in the GI Diana Stakes at Saratoga. Ultra Brat is a half-sister to Alex G. Campbell homebred It's Tea Time (Dynaformer), winner of the rained-off GIII Lake Placid Stakes in the slop and runner-up in the GI Central Bank Ashland Stakes on synthetic in 2010 and subsequently a stakes producer. TJCIS PPs 6th-AQU, $85k, Msw, 2yo, 6 1/2f, 2:10 p.m. MARBLE HALL (Charlatan), a $425,000 Keeneland September purchase, is a half-brother to five to salute out of Forest Gamble (Forest Wildcat), an open-lengths winner on her only career appearance and later the dam of SWs Blueblood (City Zip) and Gamble's Candy (Twirling Candy). A daughter of SW Gambling Girl (Secret Claim), Forest Gamble is a half-sister to former 'TDN Rising Star' presented by Hagyard Gamble's Ghost (Ghostzapper), a five-time scorer at the graded level at Woodbine. TJCIS PPs 9th-DMR, $60k, Msw, 2yo, 6 1/2f, 7:32 p.m. AUTHENTIC PATRIOT (Authentic), purchased for $350,000 at last year's Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Sale, is a product of the Mike Rutherford program, as the homebred dam Front Range (Giant's Causeway) was placed in the GII Summertime Oaks and is a daughter of his four-time Grade I winner Lakeway (Seattle Slew), herself the dam of SW Sluice (Seeking the Gold) and granddam of GISW Mushka (Empire Maker). Essos (Liam's Map) cost $210,000 at KEESEP last fall and matured into a $475,000 OBS April breezer (video). The gray hails from the family of Mission Impazible and Forest Camp. Wathnan Racing's Blacksmith (Liam's Map) is the one they'll have to beat after registering a field-best 91 Beyer when runner-up to Acknowledgemeplz (Bucchero) while doing some things wrong on Santa Anita debut Oct. 25. TJCIS PPs The post Juddmonte Homebred A Real ‘Spice’ Girl appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Bobby Cline's R.C. Cline Thoroughbred Farm in Ohio where he now stands three stallions, boards a broodmare band and maintains his role as an active trainer, has acquired Higher Power (by Medaglia d'Oro) from Darby Dan Farm in Kentucky, according to a press release from the Ohio operation on Friday. While standing at Darby Dan, Higher Power has four crops and 211 foals. Out of a 160 foals of racing age and 35 lifetime winners, the stallion claims 67 current 2-year-olds. As far as Higher Power's racing career is concerned, he captured the GI TVG Pacific Classic and finished third in the GI Longines Breeders' Cup Classic in 2019. Owned by Hronis Racing and trained by John Sadler, the bay will be the only top-level winner standing in Ohio. “He brings a whole lot of credentials to the state and should help the accredited program a lot,” said Cline, who has operated the farm in Orient, Ohio for 35 years. “He looks like a Medaglia d'Oro colt the way he's built–nice and stocky. “What I really like about him is that he seems to have a really good mind, good temperament,” he said. “I've got a couple of babies of his that I train, they're pretty sensible and I believe he passes that on.” Medaglia d'Oro's most successful offspring include the likes of Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra and dual champion filly Songbird. The recently-retired Darley sire also has on his resume Good Cheer, Nitrogen, Bolt d'Oro, Plum Pretty and Violence, just to name a few. The female family of the newly-minted Ohio-based sire was a product of Kentucky's Pin Oak breeding program. Higher Power's dam Alternate (Seattle Slew), who passed away in 2022, produced MGSW Alternation (by Distorted Humor)–the sire of GI Kentucky Oaks heroine Serengeti Empress and MSW Interrupted. Alternate is a half-sister to Canadian Horse of the Year and leading Canadian sire, Peaks and Valleys (by Mt. Livermore). Higher Power's extended dam-side includes champion grass mare Forever Together (Belong to Me), and MGSW sires Mucho Gusto (by Mucho Macho Man) and Broken Vow (by Unbridled). Cline's new stallion will stand for $2,000 LFSN and inquiries can be made by calling, (614) 877-2236. The post Cline Acquires Higher Power From Darby Dan To Stand In Ohio appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Stonebase's Lyudmila (Gun Runner), a $1-million Keeneland September yearling purchase, won for fun in her Laurel Park unveiling Friday. The 5-2 chance raced in fourth through an opening quarter in :22.33, began to launch while three wide at the top of the stretch and kicked on in the lane to graduate by six lengths over favored Juniper's Jubilee (Honor A. P.). Hailing from a deep Edward Seltzer family, the winner's dam Lucrezia (Into Mischief) is also represented by a yearling colt by Flightline ($575,000 KEENOV purchase by Classic Equine) and a Curlin colt ($320,000 KEENOV purchase by Repole Stable) of this year. She was bred back to City of Light. 6th-Laurel, $49,410, Msw, 11-21, 2yo, f, 6f, 1:12.36, gd, 6 lengths. LYUDMILA (f, 2, Gun Runner–Lucrezia {MSW & GSP, $219,640}, by Into Mischief) Sales history: $1,000,000 Ylg '24 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $28,200. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. O-Stonebase LLC; B-Edward & Beverly Seltzer (KY); T-Justin J. Nixon. Lyudmila ($7), a $1 million dollar yearling by Gun Runner (@Three_Chimneys), rallied from off to pace to win her debut by 6 in the sixth @LaurelPark for @jjnixonian. 9-11-6-1 pic.twitter.com/HTfppkK0uZ — Dan Illman (@DanIllman_MJC) November 21, 2025 The post $1-Million Keeneland September Graduate Lyudmila Rolls on Debut at Laurel appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Gordon Elliott has entered nine horses in the ThoroughBid November Sale, which takes place on Wednesday, November 26. Pour Les Filles (Pour Moi) (lot 16) anchors the Cullentra consignment, and he was last seen finishing seventh in a Class 2 novice hurdle at Cheltenham. Also entered is 15-length bumper winner Carsons Dreamboat (My Dream Boat) (lot 20). She won a Clonmel bumper in May. Outside of the Cullentra consignment is Ledecka (Scorpion) (lot 19), runner-up in a recent bumper, as well as National Hunt stores by Blue Bresil and Kew Gardens. The sale takes place from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. next week. For the catalogue, please visit the ThoroughBid website. The post Pour Les Filles Leads Elliott Consignment At ThoroughBid appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

There appears to be something for everyone–pari-mutelly speaking–in Saturday's GIII Commonwealth Turf Stakes, the final age-restricted contest on the grass on the Kentucky circuit for 2025. Donamire Farm's GI Franklin-Simpson Stakes hero Troubleshooting led home a top-four sweep for the outstanding Not This Time when last seen in the GIII Bryan Station Stakes at Keeneland back on Oct. 25, and he looms the one they'll have to beat at or around his 7-2 morning line. Placed once from three tries on the dirt to begin his career, he has conversely missed the trifecta just a single time in seven starts on the turf. The homebred took out the July 4 Dade Park Dash at Ellis and was just touched off in allowance company in Henderson Aug. 4 ahead of his heroics at Kentucky Downs. Giocoso (Not This Time) saw off Simulate (Blame) in the GII Secretariat Stakes at Colonial in August and led the field into the final furlong of the Sept. 6 Gun Runner Stakes at Kentucky Downs before settling for second behind Plensa (Caravaggio). The dark bay exits a troubled third in the Bryan Station. Montadore (Nyquist) would otherwise be three for four on the grass but for a disqualification in his turf bow in Virginia July 24 and he annexed his lone appearance over the Matt Winn, taking a nine-furlong allowance by two lengths just shy of three weeks ago. Mansetti (Collected) upset the Aug. 16 King's Plate and just missed in the Sept. 9 Prince of Wales Stakes before finishing runner-up in the GIII Ontario Derby Oct. 18. There is enough turf in his female family to give this a shot, but the flow of the race may not suit. If seeking out a longer-priced alternative or two, Three Diamonds Farm Anegada (Midshipman) endured a checkered passage when fourth, two lengths adrift in the Secretariat and there were clear issues in the Gun Runner. The gelding bounced back in no uncertain terms in the Oct. 5 Hawthorne Derby, benefitting from a truly run race to score by a half-length. Outrunner (American Pharoah) hasn't really run a bad race in five starts on the turf, including a runner-up effort in the Tale of the Cat Stakes in June, and was most recently third to Grade I winner World Beater (Oscar Performance) in the GIII Old Dominion Derby at Colonial Sept. 6. A distant seventh in the GI Breeders' Cup Classic, Pegram, Watson and Weitman's Nevada Beach (Omaha Beach) looks to have four other rivals over a barrel in Saturday's GIII Native Diver Stakes at Del Mar. The open-lengths winner of the Los Alamitos Derby in June and of the GI Goodwood Stakes Sept. 27, the dark bay is the 3-5 morning-line choice ahead of Indispensable (Constitution), fourth in the GI Pacific Classic here in August and a latest third in the GIII Ack Ack Stakes going Churchill's one-turn mile Sept. 27. The final of the weekend's three graded events is Sunday's rescheduled GIII Pebbles Stakes at Aqueduct. Fast Market (Volatile) required no fewer than nine starts to win her maiden, doing so with some authority when reporting home a 2 1/4-length winner going a mile here Sept. 21. Stepped up in class for the GII Sands Point Stakes Oct. 18, the $350,000 OBS June graduate nearly got the job done and she has the benefit of the rail and Flavien Prat this time around. Twirling Candy was represented by GIII Jockey Club Oaks heroine Fionn just last weekend and has a good chance for a new graded winner in the form of Sweet Treasure. Fifth when first-up for nearly 11 months in Churchill allowance company Sept. 27, she stripped fitter when kicking away to score by two lengths beneath the Twin Spires on Halloween. Florent Geroux will need to work out a trip from an outside draw. The post Logical Favorites, Playable Longshots Face Off In Commonwealth Turf appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Appearing six months after connections went to €300,000 for her at the Arqana May Breeze-Up, Amo Racing's Domina Ignis (Pinatubo) looked well worth the wait as she sparkled on debut at Southwell on Friday. Sent off the 7-2 second favourite for the six-furlong novice, the Kevin Philippart De Foy-trained bay from the family of Johnny Barnes travelled smoothly and once committed by David Egan two out quickly had the race in safe keeping. At the line, there was a five-length margin back to the Doncaster maiden runner-up Angel Gabriel (Mehmas). That's a lovely winning debut from Pinatubo filly Domina Ignis at @Southwell_Races for @kpfracing, @DavidEgan99 and @amoracingltd… pic.twitter.com/N6Wcq14m91 — At The Races (@AtTheRaces) November 21, 2025 The dam, whose yearling colt Lisan Al Gaib (Zelzal) was a €65,000 purchase by Ludovic Gadbin at Arqana Deauville October, is a full-sister to the Listed scorer and multiple Group-placed Chartreuse. She is a granddaughter of Danehill's Mahalia, who captured the Prix Imprudence when it carried Listed status before producing Acclamation's aforementioned sire Johnny Barnes and the fellow Group 3 winner Albisola (Montjeu). This is also the family of the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf heroine Meditate (No Nay Never) and the sire half-siblings Ectot and Most Improved, with the latter like the dam by Lawman. 4th-Southwell, £6,300, Novice, 11-21, 2yo, 6f 17y (AWT), 1:14.28, st. DOMINA IGNIS (FR) (f, 2, Pinatubo {Ire}–Your Ladyship {Ire}, by Lawman {Fr}) Sales history: €70,000 Wlg '23 ARQDEN; 50,000gns RNA Ylg '24 TATOCT; €300,000 2yo '25 ARQBRU. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $4,447. O-Amo Racing Limited; B-S.A.S. Langlais Bloodstock & Mme Fabienne Fiquet; T-Kevin Philippart De Foy. The post Arqana Breeze-Up Sensation Domina Ignis Impresses On Debut appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Returning to racing action in Dubai months after finishing fifth in the Preakness Stakes (G1) and sixth in the Belmont Stakes (G1), Heart of Honor romps in the one-mile Nakheel Stakes at Meydan.View the full article