Wandering Eyes

Danny Shum Chap-shing is bullish Romantic Warrior will once again showcase his champion qualities when he makes his long-awaited return from injury in Sunday’s Group Two BOCHK Jockey Club Cup (2,000m) at Sha Tin. The world’s highest-earning racehorse with a staggering HK$214.7 million in prize money, Romantic Warrior will race for the first time since his close second to Soul Rush in the Group One Dubai Turf (1,800m) at Meydan in March. The 10-time Group One hero had a screw inserted into an...View the full article

This weekend could prove to be an exciting one for Matamata trainer Daniel Miller. The 28-year-old horseman will be lining up Tardis (NZ) (Time Test) in the Listed Counties Challenge Stakes (1100m) at Pukekohe on Saturday for his parents, John and Maree, but he may not be trackside, with he and his partner Paige Weatherley expecting their first child. “My partner is due to have our first child any day now, so whether I actually make it to the races or not is yet to be decided,” he said. Miller is looking forward to the challenge of fatherhood and said he is already feeling the responsibility to generate a legacy for his child. “I am really looking forward to that next challenge,” he said. “It gives me something to really work hard for and try and build something to pass down. That is the main goal.” It could also be a milestone weekend for his parents, with their brand set to appear for the first time at the races courtesy of Tardis. By Time Test, Tardis is out of their Super Easy mare Payon Time (NZ), who Miller trained to three unplaced runs before she retired to the paddock where they are hoping she will become a prolific producer. Miller has a strong record preparing his parents’ horses for stakes races, having trained Sheezallmine (NZ) (Super Easy) to victory in the Gr.3 Stewards’ Stakes (1200m) and Listed Hazelett Stakes (1200m), and La Romanee to win the Listed Welcome Stakes (1000m). “I have won four stakes races and three of them have been for Mum and Dad,” Miller said. “Two of them were with Sheezallmine, who they paid $1,000 for, and the other one was La Romanee, a two-year-old that was a $20,000 purchase. “This one they have bred themselves and it is the first horse that will go around with their brand on, so that is pretty cool.” Miller has been pleased with the swift progression of Tardis, who was broken in in August and has gone on to place in two trials over 800m and is set to make his debut in his first preparation. “He came in August to be broken in and he has done all of this on one prep, so it is pretty amazing and a testament to the brain he has got,” Miller said. “He mentally said yes to everything I have asked of him and he has just kept stepping up every time. To think that we would get to even a trial on his first breaking-in preparation, let alone a stakes race is a testament to the horse. “He is sound, touch wood, so far and he just cops the work, and he has not left a single bit of feed since he arrived in August. He just loves it and I think what he is doing now is on raw ability.” While impressed with Tardis so early on in his career, Miller expects him to thrive with more time. “I think he is more of an autumn three-year-old horse that once he starts getting up over a bit of ground, that is when he is going to really find his straps,” he said. Miller has been pleased with his two trials, and subsequent progress, and is looking forward to seeing how he handles the pressure of raceday this weekend. “He is going the right way, he has come through his trial well,” he said. “It is obviously a stiff task first-up to the races, but it is two-year-old racing and most of them have only had one or two starts. “I feel like a Soft track will play into his hands and the extra distance from his trial is only going to help. I just think that will finish off his preparation really nicely and will set him up for a nice three-year-old career.” View the full article

Apprentice jockey Bailey Rogerson remains in the intensive care unit at Waikato Hospital but her condition has taken a significant turn for the better, having regained consciousness and is now breathing without assistance. The 24-year-old’s grandfather Graeme Rogerson reported early Thursday afternoon that an MRI scan on Wednesday was followed by a major overall improvement in her health. While still feeling the effects of her Rotorua race fall on Sunday, Rogerson has begun the long road to recovery. “She’s certainly turned the corner and although she has a long way to go, it’s a big relief for all of us that she’s a whole lot better than she was to begin with,” Rogerson said. “Her injuries include a fractured skull and brain bleed, a vertebrae fracture and facial injuries, but you’d have to say she’s a lucky girl, it could have been a whole lot worse.” After being attended to by on-course medical personnel immediately following the race six fall when her mount was checked by another runner, Rogerson was ambulanced to Rotorua Hospital. However, when her condition worsened she was flown by the Westpac Rescue helicopter to Waikato Hospital, where she is expected to remain for some time yet. “The medical people have been wonderful, all of them from the time it happened,” Rogerson said. “They couldn’t have done more for Bailey, the doctors, nurses and everyone else have been just marvellous.” Rogerson is also effusive in his praise for the racing community and their outpouring since his grand-daughter’s plight became public knowledge. “I can’t believe the racing community, the number of calls, messages, people from all around the world,” he said. “Mark Todd, who Bailey worked for in England during COVID, has been in touch, even the bloke who rode the Kentucky Derby winner. “All of Bailey’s mates from the girls’ (jockey) room have been lining up at the door to see her, but we have to be careful. Gary and Michelle (parents) have been at her bedside the whole time, and they have restricted her visitors to one at a time. “It’s times like these you realise just how caring people are, and that’s something that Gary and Michelle would like to acknowledge and say thanks.” For Rogerson and his training partner, wife Debbie, duty will call on Saturday with Sharp ’N’ Smart (NZ) (Redwood) and two other members of their stable are engaged at Pukekohe. Sharp ’N’ Smart has finished third at weight-for-age in his last two starts, the Gr. 1 Livamol Classic (2040m) and Gr. 3 Balmerino Stakes (2000m), and back to handicap conditions in Saturday’s Gr. 3 MyRacehorse Counties Cup (2100m), he will carry topweight of 59kg. “His last two starts have been good, but he is racing a bit more dour now,” Rogerson said. “We rode him handier last time and he stuck on well, his sectionals were very good. “He’s probably looking for more than 2100m, but he’ll still run a race and it will set him nicely for the Waikato Cup (Gr.3, 2400m).” Stablemate Solidify (NZ) (Redwood) is an acceptor in two races on Saturday, the Rating 75 2100m Dunstan Horsefeeds Qualifier, in which he has topweight of 61kg, and the Counties Cup, however he’s on the minimum and third emergency. “I’d love him to get a start in the Cup as he’s been going good races, if not he’ll have to run in the other race,” Rogerson said. “He’s got a good win in him, and the same goes for our other runner, Skymax, who’s in the Rating 65 1600m. “She ran some very good races against the best fillies last season, and by now she’s probably looking further than 1600, but I’d love her to draw an alley, then we’ll see her do something.” View the full article

Consistent mare Bedtime Story (NZ) (Per Incanto) could be in line for a tilt at elite-level if she performs up to expectations in the Manawatu ITM 1340 at Wanganui on Saturday. The five-year-old daughter of Per Incanto has hardly put a foot wrong so far in her 17-start career, and while she has placed in the Listed ANZAC Mile (1600m) and Gr.3 Rotorua Stakes (1400m), a black-type victory remains elusive. She resumed this preparation in her customary fashion, running fourth in both of her starts this time in, including first-up in the Gr.3 Sweynesse Stakes (1215m). Trainers Guy Lowry and Leah Zydenbos have been pleased with her progression and are hoping for another solid performance this weekend before setting their sights towards Trentham next month where the Gr.1 TAB Mufhasa Classic (1600m) looms as her primary objective. “She is a pretty consistent horse and she is going well,” Zydenbos said. “She is having a nice tick over run to prepare her for the Wellington Carnival where there are a few different options for her, with the TAB Mufhasa Classic being the main one. “She has had plenty of black-type placings and it would be good to get a black-type win.” Bedtime Story looks to be a good chance in her 1340m assignment this weekend, for which she is a $2.60 favourite with TAB bookmakers. “She gets in well in the weights with Spencer being the top weight,” Zydenbos said. “We are claiming a couple of kilos with apprentice Liam Kauri, and she has got a nice draw (2), so she looks to be competitive.” The stable will also head to Wanganui with Waft, who will be seeking to recapture form in the Wanganui Insurance Brokers Maiden (1340m) where she will be ridden by in-form hoop Bruno Queiroz. “Waft has shown plenty of promise at home,” Zydenbos said. “She did run a nice second at Wanganui a couple of starts back, so it is good to get her back at the venue. She has also got a nice barrier to jump from (3).” Looking ahead to summer racing, Zydenbos is particularly excited about the prospects of three-year-old gelding Zorero (NZ) (Per Incanto) who was impressive when winning on debut by 2-1/2 lengths at Waipukurau last weekend. Zydenbos has plenty of time for the JML Bloodstock-bred and raced son of Per Incanto, who is being set towards the Gr.3 Cambridge Stud Almanzor Trophy (1200m) at Ellerslie on Karaka Millions night. “Zorero was pretty impressive at Waipukurau on Sunday. He has come through his run well and he is a horse to watch,” she said. “He will have a start in a three-year-old set weights and penalties race at Trentham in early December and then he is looking to be on a path towards the Almanzor.” View the full article

Expectations for Orchestral (NZ) (Savabeel) will be kept in check when the outstanding mare resumes at Pukekohe on Saturday. The two-time top-flight winner will resume in the Gr.2 Dunstan Horsefeeds Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1400m) with underfoot conditions a major question mark. Opposing her will be talented stablemate Arabian Songbird (NZ) (Pierro), who has come through the grades in grand style. “Orchestral will probably run and definitely wants a better track, but we really need to get going and get her prep on the road,” said Robert Wellwood, who trains in partnership with Roger James. “The other mare will handle some cut in it, both are certainly a lot better and proven on good tracks though.” Orchestral won the Listed Aotearoa Classic (1600m) and finished third in the Gr.1 Otaki-Maori WFA Classic (1600m) during her last preparation. “She has come back in very good order and looks as big and strong as we have ever seen her,” Wellwood said. “She had a nice gallop at Te Aroha the other day and George (Rooke, jockey) was very happy, she is just going to be a mare that will be better when she goes over a mile and 2000m on a firmer surface. “If it was a firm track, perhaps we would see a little more than we can now expect. If she hits the line strongly, we will be very pleased.” The stable has yet to firm up the direction the Savabeel mare will take through the summer. “There’s some nice options around Christmas and into the New Year, we would love to think we can get her to the Zabeel Classic (Gr.1, 2000m),” Wellwood said. “We’ve got a pretty open mind about her program going forward, certainly if she was to run nicely then we would give her a mile in December and then get to the Zabeel on Boxing Day.” Arabian Songbird has won half of her 10 starts and was unbeaten in two spring appearances. “She is putting together a pretty impressive record and 1400m is right up her alley and she’s been very effective at both Pukekohe and Ellerslie,” Wellwood said. “We are really excited to see her have a chance at stakes level.” The stable also has track concerns with their Listed Counties Challenge Stakes (1100m) contender Spellbound, who was runner-up on debut in trying conditions at Otaki. “He’s a horse that probably wants a firm surface and he was very impressive at the trials at Ellerslie and then on a very wet track he didn’t operate very well,” Wellwood said. “His work has been superb, and we do have a high opinion of the horse. “We may reconsider running if is on the worse side of side of heavy, but we can’t make that call yet until closer to Saturday.” Meanwhile, Della Ricci (NZ) (Ocean Park) is due to make her first appearance at New Plymouth on Friday in the Entain/NZB Pearl Series Maiden (1400m). “She’s been very good at the trials, very professional and a nice filly whose work has been good,” Wellwood said. “She’s a filly that we could see in some of the three-year-old staying races at Christmas, New Year and beyond.” View the full article

Mark Newnham couldn’t be happier with My Wish as the emerging star prepares to continue his march towards Group One glory when he tackles Sunday’s Group Two BOCHK Private Wealth Jockey Club Mile. Unbeaten from two starts this season, My Wish is the nominal favourite not only for the weekend’s HK$5.35 million contest but also for the Group One Hong Kong Mile at the Longines Hong Kong International Races (HKIR) next month. After an impressive four-year-old campaign headlined by victory in the...View the full article

Returning from a seventh-place finish in the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1), Nevada Beach towers over four foes in the $100,000 Native Diver Stakes (G3) at Del Mar Nov. 22.View the full article

Calandagan, winner of the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes and Champion Stakes, has been named Cartier Horse of the Year. He becomes the fourth horse bred by the Aga Khan Studs to be given that honour following Daylami (1999), Dalakhani (2003) and Zarkava (2008). By Gleneagles, who was himself the Cartier Two-Year-Old Colt of 2014, Calandagan is the first Cartier winner for the operation since the passing of His Highness Aga Khan IV in February. Trained by Francis-Henri Graffard, the four-year-old has won three consecutive Group 1 contests this season, including the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud, and is set to run in the Japan Cup a week on Sunday. Calandagan, who also received the Cartier Older Horse award, won the Cartier Horse of the Year award ahead of Prince Of Wales's Stakes and Juddmonte International winner Ombudsman and multiple Group 1-winning three-year-olds Delacroix and Minnie Hauk. New Coolmore stallion Delacroix was named Cartier Three-Year-Old Colt, having defeated Ombudsman in the Coral-Eclipse Stakes and captured the Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes. The Coolmore partnership and trainer Aidan O'Brien were also represented by Minnie Hauk, who is the Cartier Three-Year-Old Filly for 2025 following victories in the Oaks, Irish Oaks and Yorkshire Oaks. In his category, Delacroix was given the nod over Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner Daryz, Irish 2,000 Guineas and St James's Palace Stakes winner Field Of Gold and dual Derby winner Lambourn. Minnie Hauk's runners-up were the Prix de Diane and Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf heroine Gezora, Whirl and Desert Flower. In addition to taking the two three-year-old prizes, the Coolmore team and Aidan O'Brien also landed a clean sweep of the juvenile awards, as did the Coolmore stallion Starspangledbanner, the sire of Gstaad and Precise. The Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf winner Gstaad took the Cartier Two-Year-Old Colt title ahead of Gewan, Zavateri and Puerto Rico, while Moyglare Stud Stakes and Fillies' Mile winner Precise received the Cartier Two-Year-Old Filly award ahead of stable-mares True Love and Diamond Necklace, and Prix Morny winner Venetian Sun. During the ceremony at London's Dorchester Hotel Asfoora became the third Australian-bred horse to receive the Cartier Sprinter award following Black Caviar (2012) and Starspangledbanner (2010) thanks to her wins in the Nunthorpe Stakes and Prix de l'Abbaye. Trained by Henry Dwyer for her breeder Akram El-Fahkri's Noor Elaine Farm, she claimed the award over Lazzat, Arizona Blaze and Big Mojo. Godolphin's homebred Trawlerman dominated the staying scene in 2025 and the son of Golden Horn, who is trained by John and Thady Gosden, was duly awarded Cartier Stayer of 2025 over Scandinavia, Al Riffa and Sweet William. Brough Scott, the respected journalist and acclaimed author, was the recipient of the Cartier/The Daily Telegraph Award of Merit for 2025. The 82-year-old former jockey has been a well-known face on terrestrial TV for three decades as well as co-founding the Racing Post. Laurent Feniou, managing director of Cartier UK, said, “My congratulations go to all of the winners at this year's Cartier Racing Awards. It is very pleasing to see Calandagan take the Cartier Horse of the Year award after his outstanding season. We are honoured to present the Cartier/The Daily Telegraph Award of Merit to Brough Scott, someone who has tirelessly contributed across the industry for more than 60 years. Everyone at Cartier is delighted to be able to celebrate another brilliant year of racing and I would like to thank our media partners Racing Post, The Daily Telegraph and Sky Sports Racing for their continued support of the Cartier Racing Awards.” The post Calandagan Named Cartier Horse of the Year appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

In this series, we will have a look predominantly at American-bred first-time juvenile starters (through the end of 2025) and debuting 3-year-olds in maiden races at Meydan Racecourse, with a specific focus on pedigree and/or performance in a sales ring. The flagship venue for racing in the United Arab Emirates is Meydan Racecourse, which will host racing on Fridays through the end of March, with the exception of Super Saturday on Feb. 28 and Dubai World Cup night Mar. 28, 2026. Here are the horses of note for this Friday's program at Meydan: 3rd-MEY, AED165k, Mdn, NH2yo/SH3yo, 1600m, 9:40 a.m. A pair of Godolphin-owned and Charlie Appleby-trained American-bred juveniles sourced at this year's Arqana May Breeze-Up Sale try the dirt for the first time here, with bigger and bolder targets to aim for if proving equal to the task. NATIONAL HISTORY (Maxfield) was knocked down to Oak Tree Farm for $70,000 at Keeneland September last fall, but was one of four to fetch seven figures at the French sale, hammering for an even €1 million. The Maryland-bred is out of the stakes-winning American Victory (Victory Gallop), herself a daughter of MGSW Who Did It And Run (Polish Numbers), also the dam of MSW & MGSP Giant Run (Giant's Causeway) and GSP Who's Cozy (Cozzene). National History improved for a debut fifth going seven furlongs at Kempton Aug. 6 to just miss when tried over a mile three weeks later. Richie Mullen rides. Devon Island (Practical Joke), a $62,000 Fasig-Tipton October yearling, was purchased by Godolphin for €650,000 at Arqana. The Apr. 25 foal is a full-brother to the Japanese MSP Dugat and finished runner-up to Juddmonte's promsing Item (GB) (Frankel {GB}) on seven-furlong unveiling at Kempton Sept. 3. The latter made it two-from-two in a Bath novice on the turf Sept. 30. James Doyle has the call. 2nd-MEY, AED165k, Mdn, NH2yo/SH3yo, f, 1400m, 9:05 a.m. TJAREED (Yaupon) changed hands for $90,000 at the 2024 Fasig-Tipton July Sale and breezed an eighth of a mile in :10 1/5 at this year's Fasig-Tipton Midlantic Sale before being knocked down to bloodstock agent Kim Valerio for $350,000. The grey filly, a half-sister to UAE SW & MGSP Cosmo Charlie (Stay Thirsty) and MSP Aliana (Majestic Warrior), made a favorable impression against the boys in a Nov. 12 trial (video). “She comes out of a good trial,” trainer Julio Olascoaga said. “She has shown good ability in the mornings, so she will be competitive.” Yuno (Rock This World) made $33,000 at KEESEP last fall and hammered to Harmash Racing for $230,000 after covering an eighth of a mile in :9 4/5 at OBS April. The post Desert Doings: Godolphin Duo Loom Large In Meydan Mile Maiden appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The New Jersey Racing Commission on Wednesday approved a 2026 Thoroughbred schedule of 50 spring/summer dates at Monmouth Park and nine for an all-turf autumn meet at the Meadowlands, mirroring the state's allotment of racing days in 2025. A one-day steeplechase license for Far Hills in '26 is expected to be okayed by the commission at a subsequent date upon completion of local approvals. The exact opening and closing dates for the meets were not discussed at the Nov. 18 meeting. In the post-pandemic era, New Jersey's Thoroughbred dates allotments (based on dates awarded by the commission and not actual racing days conducted) have looked like this: 2021: Monmouth 56 dates; Meadowlands seven. 2022: Monmouth 60 dates; Meadowlands 11. 2023: Monmouth 51 dates; Meadowlands 10. 2024: Monmouth 51 dates; Meadowlands 10. 2025: Monmouth 50 dates; Meadowlands nine. The post New Jersey Keeps Status Quo of 60 Dates for ’26 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Speaking before the CHRB during its Nov. 19 meeting in Sacramento, Calif., an executive from the California Thoroughbred Breeders Association spotlighted three incentives aimed at reversing years of contraction in the state's breeding industry.View the full article

While chatting with owner David Wilson earlier this summer, trainer Vladimir Cerin mentioned a potential claim on Del Mar's July 31 program. “I told him that someone asked me to claim a horse for $150,000, but I really didn't like the horse,” Cerin said. “And he said, 'Well, I like a different horse in that same race. Why don't we take him?'” A fantastic longshot second in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile at Del Mar Oct. 31, Mr. A. P. (American Pharoah) is him. Mr. A. P. was claimed by Cerin on behalf of David and Holly Wilson for $150,000 off BG Stables and Royalty Stable and trainer Hector Palma in his 5 1/2-furlong unveiling. This is nothing new for Cerin and the Wilsons. Both Early Pioneer (Rahy) and Designed for Luck (Rahy)–haltered by Cerin for $62,500 apiece–carried the couple's orange-and-white silks to Grade I victories. Early Pioneer won the 2000 GI Hollywood Gold Cup and Designed for Luck won the 2004 GI Shoemaker Breeders' Cup Mile S., respectively. “David Wilson picked the horse out, all I did is approve him,” Cerin said. “You could see all the videos online of his workouts and he looked good to me. But I didn't expect this good.” Mr. A. P. followed his debut second as the even-money favorite in a $150,000 maiden claimer with another runner-up finish, this time in a maiden special weight, at Del Mar Aug. 31. The ridgling successfully stretched to two turns with a narrow maiden victory going a mile at Santa Anita Oct. 13. He outran his 20-1 odds returning on short notice, finishing within a length of soon-to-be-crowned champion and 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' Ted Noffey (Into Mischief) in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile. Mr. A. P. earned a career-best 96 Beyer Speed Figure in the latter. Victory belongs to Ted Noffey in the prestigious $2 Million @FanDuel #BreedersCup Juvenile, presented by @TBAftercare. #BC25 pic.twitter.com/hQ6PBwggzQ — Breeders' Cup (@BreedersCup) October 31, 2025 Bred in Kentucky by Pollock Farms, Mr. A. P. RNA'd for $47,000 as a Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall yearling. His MSW & GSP dam Trenchtown Cat (Discreet Cat) brought $500,000 from Reverie Farm while in foal to McKinzie earlier this month at Fasig-Tipton November. “When Ted Noffey put (Bob) Baffert's horse (Brant) away, I think if we had gone even farther, I don't know if we would've caught him,” Cerin said. “But who's gonna complain about being second with a claiming horse?” Cerin continued, “He's very sensible. He's real easy for me. He has no bad habits. He loves training. I don't know that we did anything for him or to him. His stride looked like he could run when we galloped him the first few days after (his debut) race. Obviously, we didn't expect this. We're glad that it happened the way it did.” Mr. A. P. has remained in light training at Santa Anita, where he is expected to launch his sophomore campaign in 2026. The Southern California Road to the GI Kentucky Derby includes: the GII San Vicente S. (7f) Jan. 10; the GIII Robert B. Lewis S. (1m) Feb. 7; the GII San Felipe S. (1 1/16m) Mar. 7; and the GI Santa Anita Derby (1 1/8m) Apr. 4. “We're just training very very lightly–tack walking, jogging,” Cerin said. “There are many options, and, I'd like to leave him in Southern California. Just gonna let him dictate when he's ready to run.” Cerin concluded, “I'm 71, I'm not in a hurry to go anywhere.” The post Cerin ‘Not in a Hurry’ With Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Runner-Up Mr. A. P. appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

It's no surprise that Italian-born jockeys are doing well at the current meet at Del Mar. They have been making their mark in Southern California for some time now. Antonio Fresu is second in the standings and Umberto Rispoli is third. But who is the leading rider? The answer might surprise you. The 46-year-old veteran Mirco Demuro, who left Japan earlier this year to try the Southern California circuit, went into the weekend at Del Mar on top of the jockey standings with 10 winners. He has had just 22 mounts, good for a 45 percent winning clip. While Demuro has had considerable success riding in Italy and Japan, no one could have expected that he would do this well at the Bing Crosby meet. At the recently concluded Santa Anita meet, he finished in eighth place in the standings with just seven winners. “Yes, of course, I was discouraged,” he said. “It's not easy. You move and go to a new country and you're already 46 and people look at you like he's not young, we don't have anything for him to ride. But I had the support of Richard Mandella. People saw that he was using me using me and, thank God, we got some winners. That made it easier for me to grab rides for some more trainers. Still, nothing is easy. You say, 'Now, okay, I'm winning and the wind is at my back.' This is a hard job. You have to prove yourself. You have to prove to people that you will try hard and that you are good.” Demuro started riding in 1994 in Italy and was the leading rider there from 1997 through 2000. He wanted to try something different and was torn between coming to the U.S. or Japan. He chose Japan and went there in 1999. In 2003, he won the Japanese Derby with Neo Universe (Jpn) (Sunday Silence), becoming the first non-Japanese jockey to win the race. He said his career really started to take off in 2011 when he won the G1 Dubai World Cup aboard Victoire Pisa (Jpn) (Neo Universe {Jpn}). “That win definitely changed my career,” he said. “I was leading jockey in Italy and then I went to Japan. Japan is a small island and nobody knows you. Everybody watches the Dubai World Cup. It's like the Arc de Triomphe or the King George. When you win a race like that everybody starts to say, 'Oh, who is that guy?' It was a big step for my life.” But he said his business started to decline over the last five years in Japan. The reason why? They thought he was too old. “They weren't using me as much,” Demuro said. “The excuse was they said I was getting old. But I didn't feel that way. It's good to have young jockeys and they will get their opportunities. I got my opportunities when I was young. But I don't see myself as an old type of jockey. I think I can still compare with these guys.” He had always wanted to try to make it in the U.S. and with his business slumping in Japan he figured the time was now. He made his U.S. debut on July 18, 2025. One of the reasons he thought he could make it in California was because he had a good relationship with Hall of Famer Richard Mandella, who has put him on two winners at the meet. For Mandella, he also won his first graded stakes in the U.S., guiding Brave Deb (Authentic) to a win in the GIII Surfer Girl Stakes at Santa Anita. “I have a long relationship with Richard Mandella,” Demuro said. “I was here when I was 17 years old and that was my first experience abroad. We've known each other for a long time. When I left Japan I came to California because this is always one of the places I wanted to ride. Richard was the first person who gave me a chance. I'm so grateful that he gave me that chance. And I am so happy to work with him.” He has also ridden winners at the meet for Chief Stipe O'Neill, Paula Capestro, Leonard Powell and Genaro Vallejo. “I am riding for the good stables now,” he said. “That's the key. I am getting good horses to ride and that is making everything easy.” He has had the most success with Powell, winning three races at the meet for him. “The thing that is very refreshing is that for a jockey with all his experience and all the recall he is very open-minded,” Powell said. “This was like a fresh start for him. As soon as he got here he knew that he had to adapt his style of riding to U.S. racing and he made the adjustments pretty fast. He's smart enough to know what he knows and what he doesn't know about U.S. racing. He's already had a lot of success in Japan, which is a very strong colony. I think he has all the tools to succeed here.” Meanwhile, his Italian compatriots have proven to be his toughest foes at this meet. “I've known Umberto for a long time,” he said. “When he started to ride I was already the leading jockey in Italy. We rode together in Italy, France and Hong Kong. I didn't know much about Antonio because when he started to ride I had already gone abroad, so I hadn't ridden with him before. My sister was his first agent in Italy. They are both very nice persons. They have different personalities. Umberto likes to talk a lot. Antonio is more quiet because he is from Sardinia. They are both very good riders.” Now that he has momentum, Demuro is allowing himself to dream big. While he is delighted to be on top of the Del Mar standings, he wants to rise to the top of his profession and ride in Grade I races like the Triple Crown and the Breeders' Cup races. “My dream is to become one of the best jockeys in the world,” he said. “To complete my dream I have to win group races in the United States. I've only ridden in the Breeders' Cup on Brave Deb and I have never ridden in the Kentucky Derby. That's always been one of my biggest dreams. I went to Japan when I was young because, as everyone knows, racing over there is very important and they have a lot of nice horses and big owners. I had the chance to go to Japan or to come to the U.S. and I chose to go to Japan and I was successful there. My last five years there I wasn't doing as well as I expected. I am 46 years old and I said to myself this is the time I have to go to the United States if I want to fulfill my dreams.” The post Mirco Demuro Rises to the Top of the Del Mar Standings appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Preakness Stakes (G1)-winning jockey Jaime Torres is the latest to join the Oaklawn Park jockey colony this winter, adding his name to the list of new faces for one of racing's most lucrative meets.View the full article

Richard Knight and Salhia Stud paid 100,000gns to secure a breeding right in group stallion Palace Pier (lot 185) during the Tattersalls Online November Sale on Wednesday. Already the sire of eight black-type horses, his best progeny so far are G2 Lowther Stakes heroine Royal Fixation and G3 Solario Stakes winner A Bit Of Spirit. Knight commented following the sale, “We are delighted to secure the breeding right to Palace Pier. He is a stallion that appears to be on the up and we very much had him in mind for a couple of our mares for this coming season. He will also suit a number of our mares going forward so it made a lot of sense for us to invest in the breeding right. We are retiring our first broodmares for this season and so this is the next part of that journey.” The inaugural Online Yearling Session was a success, with a new record price of 86,000gns paid for a filly by Australian Champion Sire Zoustar (lot 10). James Tate Racing bought the yearling daughter of Group 3 winner Farmah (Speightstown). David Redvers of Tweenhills Stud where the son of Northern Meteor formerly shuttled, said, “We were very happy with the price of our Zoustar filly selling online for 86,000 guineas today, though not surprised as we had plenty of interest in her from when the sale went live. The whole process was very straightforward and we would have no hesitations about selling a quality horse in an online sale again.” Tops of the horses-in-training portion of the sale was Velardo (Belardo) (lot 138), who sold to Michael Gates Comfort Park Stud for 62,000gns. The half-brother to the stakes-placed duo Saisissante (Pedro The Great) and Cajun (Stormy River) was consigned by Charles Weld Racing and is from the family of Group 1 winner Lord Glitters. A total of 92 lots sold of 186 offered (49%). The gross was 758,800gns, the average was 8,248gns and the median was 4,300gns. The post Palace Pier Breeding Right Secured For 100k Gns At Tattersalls Online appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Every week, the TDN posts a roundup of the relevant Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA) related rulings from around the country. The following rulings were reported on HISA's “rulings” portal and through the Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit's (HIWU) “pending” and “resolved” cases portals. Among this week's rulings, Antonio Meraz has been banned two years and fined $5,000 after his trainee, First Kitten, tested positive for banned Cobalt Salts after winning at Mahoning Valley on February 12. His suspension began on Nov. 12. Cobalt is a substance that's naturally present in a horse, generally in very low amounts, as well as in a horse's natural environment, like soil or water. It is also listed as an ingredient in many horse feeds and supplements. According to the final decision by the arbitral body, on March 12 a HIWU investigator searched Meraz's barn at Hawthorne and found a one-gallon container of the supplement Furlong Gold in his feed and tack room which listed cobalt as an ingredient. Meraz later testified that he gave all his horses the same feed and supplements every day, which included two other products that contained cobalt: Race Ready (a feed product) and Platinum Performance (a supplement). He also said that, although he read HISA's prohibited substance list at the end of 2023, he was unaware cobalt was a threshold substance on this list. Experts forwarded by HIWU argued that, even accounting for the three cobalt-containing supplements and feed given the horses, the cobalt concentration detected in First Kitten's sample was more consistent with the administration of a cobalt injection. Meraz countered that by arguing the intentional injection of Cobalt would have resulted in significantly higher levels of Cobalt in the horse's blood. The detected level was 30.5 nanograms per milliliter. HISA's threshold is 25 nanograms per milliliter. Meraz denied injecting any of his horses with cobalt. Meraz also questioned the accuracy of the testing performed, arguing that HIWU's case is “based on inaccurate and unreliable test results,” according to the final decision. Though the arbitral body stated there was no evidence Meraz had injected First Kitten with cobalt, the trainer nevertheless “failed to meet his burden of establishing, by a balance of probabilities, that the source of the AAF in excess of the 25 ng/mL Threshold was the three Cobalt-containing feeds and supplements he identified and provided to First Kitten,” according to the final decision. “He did not provide any evidence that any of these feeds or supplements contained a higher amount of Cobalt than the amount or quantity of its labeled or listed ingredients. Nor did he submit any evidence that First Kitten has a unique digestive system that metabolizes or excretes Cobalt in feed or supplements in a manner or has an otherwise outlier physiology for a horse, which likely caused the Cobalt concentration of its blood plasma to exceed 25 ng/mL when its blood sample was collected on February 12, 2025,” the arbitral body added. Resolved ADMC Violations Dates: 11/19/2025 Licensee: Lisa Lugovich, trainer Penalty: Disqualification of Covered Horse's Race results, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); a fine of $500; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points. Admission. Explainer: Medication violation for the presence of Phenylbutazone—a class C controlled substance—in a sample taken from Gregorian Solo, who won at Delaware Park on 10/15/25. Dates: 11/19/2025 Licensee: Marvin Richards, trainer Penalty: A fine of $500; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points. Final decision of HIWU. Explainer: Vets' list medication violation for the presence of Phenylbutazone—a class C controlled substance—in a sample taken from Awesome Prince on 10/10/25. Dates: 11/13/2025 and 11/14/2025 Licensee: Gary Sciacca and Chris Englehart, trainers Penalty: A written reprimand Admission. Explainer: Violations for the breach of rule 3510(d), “Refusal or failure without compelling justification to comply with any other provision of the Protocol (where such refusal or failure does not constitute an Anti-Doping Rule Violation)” for an event dated 3/7/24. The case resolutions state that the trainers “failed to respond to a Demand for Business Records (“DBR”) personally and properly served by HIWU.” According to a HIWU spokesperson, these records involve “the care, treatment, training or racing of Covered Horses.” Dates: 11/13/2025 Licensee: Sarah Davidson, trainer Penalty: A fine of $500; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points. Final decision of HIWU. Explainer: Vets' list medication violation for the presence of Phenylbutazone—a class C controlled substance—in a sample taken from Midnight Lady on 9/30/25. Dates: 11/13/2025 Licensee: William Robert Bailes, trainer Penalty: 7-day period of Ineligibility for Covered Person, beginning on November 14, 2025; Disqualification of Covered Horse's Race results, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); a fine of $1,000; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points. Admission. Explainer: Medication violation for the presence of Methylprednisolone—a class C controlled substance—in a sample taken from Goodluckchuck, who won at Timonium on 8/29/25. Dates: 11/12/2025 Licensee: Gustavo Rodriguez, trainer Penalty: A written reprimand. Final decision of HIWU. Explainer: Vets' list medication violation for the presence of Omeprazole (Gastrogard)—a class C controlled substance—in a sample taken from Pistol Liz Ablazen on 9/26/25. Dates: 11/12/2025 Licensee: Antonio Meraz, trainer Penalty: 2-year period of Ineligibility for Covered Person, beginning on November 12, 2025; 6-month period of Ineligibility for Covered Horse, beginning on February 12, 2025; Disqualification of Covered Horse's Race results, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); a fine of $5,000. Final decision of arbitral body. Explainer: Medication violation for the presence of Cobalt Salts—a banned substance—in a sample taken from First Kitten, who won at Mahoning Valley on 2/12/25. Pending ADMC Violations 11/18/2025, Bill McLean, trainer: Pending vets' list medication violation for the presence of Acepromazine—a class B controlled substance—in a sample taken from Mo Town Gal on 10/20/25. 11/18/2025, Jane Cibelli, trainer: Pending vets' list medication violation for the presence of Acepromazine—a class B controlled substance—in a sample taken from Mandalorian on 10/17/25. 11/17/2025, Kelsie Calvo, trainer: Pending medication violation for the presence of Tramadol—a class B controlled substance—in a sample taken from Chica Chula, who finished sixth at Mahoning Valley on 10/22/25. 11/14/2025, Fenneka Tracey Bentley, trainer: Pending medication violation for the presence of Betamethasone—a class C controlled substance—in a sample taken from Tiger Paw, who finished seventh at Laurel Park on 10/12/25. 11/14/2025, Robert Cline, trainer: Pending medication violation for the presence of Dimethyl Sulfoxide (DMSO)—a class C controlled substance—in a sample taken from Pittsburgh, who won at Thistledown on 10/8/25. 11/13/2025, Jamie Ness, trainer: Pending medication violation for the presence of Mepivacaine—a class C controlled substance—in a sample taken from Uncle Irish, who finished second at Laurel Park on 9/13/25. 11/13/2025, Marcelino Salas, trainer: Pending medication violation for the presence of Phenylbutazone—a class C controlled substance—in a sample taken from Just an Opinion, who finished sixth at Keeneland on 10/5/25. Violations of Crop Rule Churchill Downs Gavin Ashton – violation date November 14; $1,000 fine, two-day suspension Tyler Gaffalione – violation date November 13; $500 fine, two-day suspension The post National Rulings for Nov. 13 -19 Led by Two-year-ban for Meraz appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-bred horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Wednesday's Observations features a half-brother to group winner I Can Fly (Fastnet Rock). 12.45 Lingfield, Mdn, 2yo, 7f (AWT) BAYAANN (GB) (Too Darn Hot {GB}) debuts for Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum and the William Haggas stable, over a year after fetching 410,000gns at Tattersalls October Book 1. He is a half-brother to Ballydoyle's Group 2 winner and multiple Group 1-placed I Can Fly (Fastnet Rock), dam of another who only narrowly missed out at the top level on more than one occasion in January (Kingman). The post I Can Fly’s Half-Brother Bayaann Introduced At Lingfield appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

1st-AQU, $85K, Msw, 2yo, f, 7f, 12:10 p.m. ET. POMERANCE (Curlin) brought $700,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Select Yearling sale. Bred & owned by partners Jeff Drown and Don Rachel, the filly is out of MGSW Pomeroys Pistol (Pomeroy), who produced current sire Thousand Words (by Pioneerof the Nile) and Sweet Pistol (Smart Strike)–the dam of 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' & GISW Faiza (Girvin). The first-timer was sent to trainer Chad Brown. TJCIS PPS 10th-CD, $120K, Msw, 2yo, 1m, 5:24 p.m. ET. An $800,000 buy during the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Yearling sale, Refined Design (Twirling Candy) takes on the one-turn mile for N Theory Racing and trainer Ken McPeek. The colt's dam is $800,000 Keeneland November sale grad for Determined Stud, Style and Grace (Curlin), who counts as half-siblings GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile hero Furthest Land (Smart Strike), SW Luck Money (Lookin At Lucky) and the dam of GSW Ready For Rye (City Zip). Godolphin homebred Phila Street (Street Sense) makes his first start for trainer Brad Cox. The dark bay is out of GSW & GISP Champagne Problems (Ghostzapper), and is part of an extended female family which includes MGISW Southern Image (Halo's Image) and GISW Turbo Compressor (Halo's Image). TJCIS PPS The post Thursday Insights: Half-Sister To Thousand Words Steps To The Rostrum At Aqueduct appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

With heavy rain in the forecast, Del Mar announced they will cancel the Nov. 21 card and add a race day Nov. 24.View the full article

Fearless pinhooker Philipp Stauffenberg broke his own record for the most money he has ever spent on a foal when going to €650,000 to secure a New Bay half-sister to Group 1 heroine Dreamloper (Lope De Vega) and Group 2 scorer Santorini Star (Golden Horn) at yet another memorable renewal of the Goffs November Foal Sale. The sale-topping filly was consigned by Luke Lillingston of Mount Coote Stud and headlined trade that saw a 91% clearance rate. The €18,359,000 turnover was roughly the same as last year while the average was down by 5% and the median was down by 2.5%. The added context to those figures is that last year's trade was just about the hottest it ever was so Goffs have done a serious job to follow on from that. Stauffenberg did not pull any punches in the build-up to this week's sale when admitting to being 'badly punished' for 'not being disciplined enough' at the foal sales last year. As a result, he endured one of the most difficult years he has since he started pinhooking. Not one to climb back into his shell off the back of a sub-par yearling sale season, Stauffenberg held off bloodstock agent Ed Sackville on the sublimely-bred filly at that record sum on a day he spent €960,000 on two yearlings – the second being a Lope De Vega filly from Stanley Lodge. He said, “If you look into it, there are very few foals of that quality. It's a high-end page. Obviously it is a lot of money but, on the other hand, when you look at what these pedigrees are making, I think it's fine. We will see. It's the first New Bay I have bought so hopefully the stallion will be doing something positive next year. He should be.” Asked if he has ever bought a more expensive foal to pinhook, Stauffenberg said, “No. I would say the big pinhooks last year got punished quite a lot so it is a big risk. But she is a nice filly, she's a racey filly and even if we were to fail to sell her as a yearling, I think we'd be happy to race her. That could even increase her value more. It's a family that has done well, especially with fillies, so there is a risk. If it were a colt, I would not have done that but, with a filly, it's easier to take the risk.” That wonderful filly's family that Stauffenberg referenced has been cultivated by Lillingston on behalf of owner Olivia Hoare, who raced the dual Group 1 scorer Dreamloper with Ed Walker. And what a journey connections have been on with the family. Just this year, Santorini Star popped up to win her Group 2 before finishing second to Consent in the Prix de Royallieu at ParisLongchamp. Put simply, not many foals from families as happening as this one are sent to the public auction. Lillingston commented, “The story goes back to when my father was still alive. We were selling the dam and, at the same time, Olivia Hoare was getting into the horse business. She inspected all of our yearlings and he told her that the mare was the pick of all of our yearlings. I had no idea that she was going to bid on her but she bought what turned out to be Dreamloper's dam Livia's Dream (Teofilo) for 45,000gns at Newmarket.” He added, “A decision was made to sell this filly earlier in the year. There were only two dams in this sale that had produced a Group 1 winner and a Group 2 winner so she was always going to be really exciting. There was great interest in her from all over that world which was lovely. She has a lot of guts – she had 83 shows yesterday. You've got to admire Philipp Stauffenberg. He's the bravest of the brave because he's going to try and pinhook her. But I guess he has a nice feeling because, if it didn't come off, he still has a lovely filly from a very nice family that he could race. It's all there on the page already but it's only going to go from strength to strength.” Beale Enjoys 'Best-Ever' Day At Irish National Stud The Irish National Stud has produced one of the performances of the week and leads the consignor's table heading into Thursday having sold 16 foals for just shy of €2 million. Included in that tally is two of the top five most expensive foals – a Night Of Thunder filly to Ed Sackville and a Wootton Bassett filly to MV Magnier – sold all week, leading the Irish National Stud boss to describe this sale as one of his proudest moments in the bloodstock business. What is most impressive about the achievement is that Oceanie (Dansili), the dam of the €500,000 Night Of Thunder filly, was sourced for just €75,000 at Arqana in 2023. Meanwhile, the Wootton Bassett's dam Loyale (Turtle Bowl) was bought at the same sale for €80,000. When you factor that into the fact Big Break (Dansili), whose Palace Pier filly led Tuesday's trade at €220,000, was sourced for 30,000gns, it goes some way in explaining the achievements. Beale said, “I think this has to be one of my best days in the game. I am at this 20 for years but I have been in the National Stud for eight years and it's definitely the best-ever day we've had at a sale in my time anyway. It's a fantastic day for the team – I've always said we've a great team and great land but we didn't have the pedigrees to match up to that. Over time, we have been able to buy in a few nicer mares and get to better stallions. I knew that if I gave these lads working at the stud quality stock that they would do it. Today, they proved that they can do it.” Beale added, “This sale is the showcase for Irish breeders. It is amazing, really. The level of footfall and trade is off the charts. There has been a serious buzz in the ring all week and it's still humming there with only a few lots left to go in. It's been off the charts since showing started. We haven't stopped, which is the best complaint you could have. It's been relentless.” Doyle Delighted To Land Brother To Breeders' Cup Hero Ethical Diamond It is not often when a man puffs out his cheeks after spending €380,000 on a foal and says, 'that was value,' but Ross Doyle cut the image of a man who felt even at that sum, he bagged himself a bargain with Stanley Lodge's full-brother to Breeder's Cup hero Ethical Diamond (Awtaad). Doyle purchased lot 678 on behalf of long-standing Scandinavian clients Stall Perlen, who he admitted might struggle to resist the temptation of racing the colt when the time comes. He said, “I know the update is unbelievable but the foal itself was an outstanding individual. A big, deep, good-moving dark bay with an unbelievable temperament. The full-brother is obviously an extremely good horse who is trained by a genius. Stanley Lodge are extremely good breeders. You go down there and you see the foals come out of their stables, they are just gorgeous-looking and well-reared foals from good families. The option is there to bring him back as a yearling but it might be hard not to race a horse like him. When you go to all of these yearling sales next year and try to buy a horse like him, it's hard work.” Ethical Diamond put in one of the performances of the year on the level when storming to an unlikely 28-1 triumph in the Breeders' Cup Turf for champion jumps trainer Willie Mullins and champion Flat jockey Dylan Browne-McMonogle. In doing so, he put Awtaad front and centre in breeders' minds, with Doyle going as far as saying the Derrinstown Stud stallion was in many ways still underappreciated. Doyle added, “He has been bought on behalf of Stall Perlen, who have been great supporters for a very long time and they enjoy buying at Goffs as well. They have horses in Ireland, England, France and Scandinavia as well. Awtaad gets very good-looking horses and his stats are fantastic. He probably hasn't got the credit he deserves but, when a horse like this lad's brother comes along, it might just propel him to the next level.” Stanley Lodge enjoyed another massive sale when a homebred Lope De Vega filly sold to Stauffenberg at €310,000. All told, Stanley Lodge sold 12 foals for €1,254,000. The stud's owner William Kennedy commented, “Absolutely fabulous day. We sold a mare before for 1.7 million – that was huge, but considering all the work put in on the farm, to see horses that we've raised ourselves, sell like this here, is fabulous. “All credit to the staff – Nick [Cope] and the team have done a fantastic job. We were very lucky. Firstly, Ethical Diamond himself is a fabulous horse. Once he's got his ground and conditions, he has just excelled. For us, when we had him at home and raced him, we knew what a nice horse he was. It was easy for me to go back [to Awtaad], because I knew we'd get another nice horse. Obviously, I didn't know we'd get a Breeders' Cup winner, but I knew we'd get a nice horse and this foal has been superb.” Lyons Lights Touchpaper For Unforgettable Day's Trade One of the first feel-good stories on what turned out to be an action-packed day came when Joann Lyons of Summerhill Stables sold her homebred Gleneagles half-brother to Group 2 Gimcrack Stakes winner Lifeplan (Kodi Bear) for €285,000 to Yeomanstown Stud. Lifeplan sold initially at this sale in 2023 for €85,000. He has gone on to be a star for Declan Carroll, who Lyons revealed made the trip to Goffs this week to try and land a winning bid. Alas, Yeomanstown was too strong. “That was class,” Lyons beamed afterwards. “To be fair to the foal, he did all of the work. We did the work at home and he did all of the work here. We'd bring him out for a show and he would stretch the two hind legs out behind him and then he'd say, 'okay, now I'm ready.' He never missed a beat – his last show was as good as his first. He did over 100 shows a day and had 60 shows this morning and over 20 vets. He never got cross or waspy.” She added, “I texted Declan Carroll the other day and said, 'here's a picture of Lifeplan's not-so-little little brother.' He said he'd see me the following morning. But, sure, I went to York so the least they could do was come to Kildare! For him to be the first foal and do what he has done on the track is amazing. All-year-long, he kept telling us that Lifeplan was a right one and he was right. Not only do we have the mare but we still have his aunty and his grandmother at home. The mare is in foal to Big Evs and, if she can produce a foal half as nice as this Gleneagles or even Lifeplan, it would be amazing.” Another Brilliant Result At Goffs For The Ballinacurra Boys Ballinacurra Stud's Mullins brothers, George and David, along with their cousin Dinny McCarthy, have a strong affinity with Goffs and enjoyed another major day there on Wednesday when selling the only Modern Games colt in the sale for €225,000 to Matisse Bloodstock. George commented, “He is probably the best foal we have ever bred. We've had a lot of good foals over the years but he's probably the best. We bought the mother in the February Sale and sent her straight to Modern Games. It was a cover we thought would suit her. We thought there would only be around 10 of them by the sire in the sale but, as it turned out, he was the only Modern Games here, which was sweet. Dubawi as a sire of sires is just off the charts and Modern Games is one of the best sons of Dubawi who has gone to stud.” Mullins added, “Darley has been very good to us and we have been very lucky using their stallions. We got €200,000 for a Blue Point foal here a couple of years ago and we also got €140,000 for a Ghaiyyath so we have been very lucky. And fair play to Goffs as well. Everyone is saying that the sale is very strong and I suppose we are just very lucky that we came here with a good collection of foals and we reaped the rewards. That doesn't happen very often in this game so you need to savour the big days like today. You won't be long about being brought back down to earth as a breeder so we will really enjoy this. We're thrilled. I have to say we had great help all week with Pa Farrell, Clara Hartigan and Bobby Ring as well.” Ace Stud Swoops For Night Of Thunder Colt Ace Stud has a potential stallion prospect in its arsenal in the shape of Group 1 Dewhurst Stakes winner and leading 2,000 Guineas candidate Gewan and the powerful owners swooped for a foal by the same stallion, Night Of Thunder, for €410,000 online. The colt was bred and consigned by Moyglare Stud and hails from Group 2 Ribblesdale Stakes winner Princess Highway (Street Cry). Ace Stud's Paul Curran commented, “Obviously a very good colt by Night Of Thunder, who is a sire we love after this year. They are hot commodities at all of the major sales in Europe so we thought we got good value there. It's a very good page and it's important that it was a colt as well. The plan will be to race him in the green and white silks. Very happy to have secured him and we thought we got him for a very good price.” Also bidding online, Ace Stud bought a brother to their own stallion Lucky Vega for €260,000 from Baroda Stud. The outfit also bought a filly by Shaquille, who stands at Ace Stud, off AM Thoroughbreds at €25,000. Compensation For TBT Racing TBT Racing, who filled the role as underbidder on the top lot by New Bay, found compensation through agent Ed Sackville with the €500,000 Night Of Thunder filly consigned by the Irish National Stud. Sackville said, “She is for TBT Racing. She has been bought to race and will be trained by Ed Walker. Delighted to get her as we underbid the New Bay. TBT's flagship horse is Ten Bob Tony, who is by Night Of Thunder, so it made a lot of sense for us. “Hopefully, if she's successful on the racecourse, she could develop into a nice broodmare in the future. It's been a great year with Ten Bob Tony, Qilin Queen, Noble Champion, Do Or Do Not, and we're trying to build on that success.” Golden touch The Irish National Stud have knocked it out of the park all week with its homebreds but Abbeyleix Stud deserves the gauntlet for this prize given €3,000 mare purchase All On Red produced one of the stories of the entire sale when her Starman colt sold to Tally-Ho Stud for €225,000. All On Red, a daughter of Red Clubs, won twice and reached a career-high rating of 88 for George Baker. Her two-year-old, Anthelia (Supremacy), provided the pedigree with a timely update when scoring in the Dick Poole Stakes at Salisbury earlier this year. Everything came right for that Golden Touch on Wednesday. The post “Bravest Of The Brave” Stauffenberg Leads The Way At Rip-Roaring Goffs Foal Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Snap Decision (Hard Spun), champion steeplechase horse of 2024 and the second-leading earner in United States steeplechase history, has been retired by owner Bruton Street-US and trainer Jack Fisher. Bred in Kentucky by Phipps Stable, the 11-year-old gelding won 17 of 32 starts over hurdles, finished second eight times and was third twice while racing from 2019-2025. Snap Decision earned $1,258,150 over jumps, second only to Hall of Famer McDynamo's $1,310,104 in North American history. The gelding won an Eclipse Award as champion steeplechaser of 2024 and was a finalist for the 2023, 2022, 2021 and 2020 awards. He won five Grade 1 stakes, captured 15 stakes overall and led the National Steeplechase Association annual earnings table in 2024 and 2022. The retirement decision came this week after a 2025 campaign that included four starts, a win in the G2 Temple Gwathmey Handicap in April and a second in the G1 Iroquois Steeplechase in May. In his final start, he finished fourth in the G1 American Grand National at Far Hills, N.J. Oct. 18. Snap Decision's 17 North American wins match Lonesome Glory and exceed the totals put up by McDynamo, Good Night Shirt and the others on the top 10 earnings chart. Prior to becoming a steeplechaser, Snap Decision made 18 starts on the flat for Phipps and trainer Shug McGaughey–winning twice and placing in a Grade III turf stakes. A grandson of champion Personal Ensign, Snap Decision is out of Salute, who also produced Grade I winner Mr Speaker and Grade III winner Vigilantes Way. His 2024 championship ended a string of nine consecutive Eclipse Awards earned by horses bred in Britain, Ireland or France. The Kentucky Thoroughbred Association honored him as its Kentucky-bred steeplechase champion five times. Snap Decision heads to a potential career as a foxhunter with Fenwick not far from Fisher's base in Maryland. “The hope is he will just become part of the community of horses we have on the farm,” said co-owner Charlie Fenwick, a former trainer and amateur steeplechase jockey. “He will get ridden regularly and will see the hounds before the end of this hunting season. That's the goal, let him see the hounds, let him see what he thinks and how he wants to behave and hopefully that's a new life for him. If that's not something he wants to do, he'll hack around the farm.” The post Champion Steeplechaser Snap Decision Retired appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Wednesday's session of the Arqana Autumn Sale consisted of 117 lots of National Hunt-bred yearlings. Of the 106 offered, 69 (65%) sold for a gross of €2,192,500. The average was up slightly to €31,775 (+1%) from €31,493. The median rose 10% to €22,000. A total of 208 National Hunt yearlings went under the hammer during the Autumn Sale this year, with 22 more lots than in 2024. The clearance rate increased five points at 68%. The average, at nearly €30,000, was slightly down by four points. The turnover increased by 10%, finishing at €4,265,500. Topping the third and final day of the sale were a pair of colts by Doctor Dino (lot 613) and Saint Des Saints (lot 636), who each sold for €135,000. The former, offered by Haras des Sablonnets, sold to Ecurie Madame Patrick Papot's Xavier Papot. He is a half-brother to Network's duo of Thrilling, a listed winner and placed twice at Grade 1 level, and Placenet, who won a brace of listed races over obstacles. “He's a magnificent horse, and in addition, he is very well bred,” said Papot. “We're delighted that he'll join our stable and are looking forward to seeing what the future holds.” The second lot to reach €135,000 was offered by Windermere Stud. Dan Astbury signed for the son of the winner Nee Pour Vaincre (Poliglote). The extended family features multiple graded winner Saint Macaire (Saint Des Saints) and Grade 3 winner and Grade 1-placed Sleeping Mat (Sleeping Car). “He's a superb horse, and we can see that he's made to race,” said Astbury. “He was the one we wanted today, and we're very happy. He'll come back to England and be broken first, and then we'll give him a bit of time following that.” A filly by Goliath Du Berlais was the day's third and final six-figure lot when selling to SAS Seror Racing Management for €125,000. Already named Miss Moonie, the daughter of multiple listed winner Madame Moonie (Sea The Moon) who ran third in the G3 Prix Andre Michel is related to G1 Oaks d'Italia heroine Meridiana (Lomitas). “She's a lovely filly,” said Ruben Seror. “We know her dam well, and she was a good racemare.” The post Colts By Doctor Dino And Saint Des Saints Lead The Way In Deauville appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The Goffs UK Coral Gold Cup Sale will be staged immediately after the racing at Newbury ends on its flagship National Hunt meeting, the Coral Gold Cup, on Saturday, November 29. This year marks the third consecutive year of the sale. It will be held in the winner's enclosure at Newbury and is a select point-to-point sale. The 2023 edition featured the £320,000 sale of Kindly Prince (Mr Dinos). In 2024, 14 of the 16 horses offered sold for £1,510,500. An average price of £107,893 and median price of £85,000 were achieved last term. Tim Kent, Goffs UK managing director, said “The Goffs Coral Gold Cup Sale has produced some fantastic results in its first two years and has built a reputation as a trusted outlet for top-class UK and Irish point-to-pointers. We are starting to see the first graduates hit the track, with Real Quartz winning his debut only days ago, so the coming season will be an exciting one for the sale and we are looking forward to offering another high-class, boutique catalogue of pointers, after racing on Coral Gold Cup Day.” The post Goffs Boutique P2P Sale Returns To Newbury appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Snap Decision, the champion steeplechase horse of 2024 and the second-leading earner in United States steeplechase history, has been retired by owner Bruton Street-US and trainer Jack Fisher.View the full article

To better accommodate extra races to be run following recent weather cancellations, Woodbine has moved up the first post time for their Nov. 21-22 cards.View the full article