Wandering Eyes

What Orange Gold Cup Day Where Towac Park Racecourse – 57 Canobolas Rd, Orange NSW 2800 When Friday, April 19, 2024 First Race 12:45pm AEST Visit Dabble Country racing heads to the Central West region of NSW on Friday afternoon, where the Orange Gold Cup (2110m) takes top billing on a competitive eight-race program at Towac Park Racecourse. The rail is out +3.5m the entire circuit, and with the forecast promising minimal rain to hit the course proper, participants should be racing on an even Good 4 surface. All the action is set to get underway at 12:45pm AEST. Orange Gold Cup: Vincenzo Vincenzo is searching for a hat-trick of wins since joining the Scott Singleton barn. His latest outing was a dominant 1.5-length victory at Tamworth on April 8, cruising past his rivals to suggest there was still more to come from this son of Real Impact. Mikayla Weir rode him to victory on both occasions this preparation, and although he must lug 61kg in the Orange Gold Cup, Vincenzo can take care of this lot. Orange Gold Cup Race 7 – #1 Vincenzo (6) 5yo Gelding | T: Scott Singleton | J: Mikayla Weir (61kg) +230 with Bet365 Best Bet at Orange: Joey D’or Despite a last start failure before being tipped out for a spell, Joey D’or looks primed for a first-up assault. The son of Pariah didn’t handle the 1400m journey at Warwick Farm on November 22, bombing out significantly in the concluding stages. Bjorn Baker has the three-year-old placed beautifully in this event after a soft barrier trial win at Rosehill on March 18, so watch for Joey D’or to bounce back sharply in this maiden contest. Best Bet Race 2 – #1 Joey D’or (3) 3yo Gelding | T: Bjorn Baker | J: Ashley Morgan (61kg) +125 with PlayUp Next Best at Orange: Piggyback Piggyback appears to have above-average ability based on her one start last preparation, going on to score by a length at Gosford on December 8. The margin doesn’t tell the full story of how dominant the win was, with the Ciaron Maher stable taking no chances, sending the progressive filly to the paddock. This Class 1 affair should be a relatively easy kill for Piggyback as she makes her way through the grades. Next Best Race 4 – #5 Piggyback (8) 3yo Filly | T: Ciaron Maher | J: Ashley Morgan (55.5kg) +140 with Picklebet Next Best Again at Orange: Up To Mischief Up To Mischief returned to dispatch her rivals at Mudgee on March 31 and continues to impress with every outing. The undefeated filly sustained a long run down the centre of the course to score by two lengths, suggesting she’s ready for tougher opposition. That’s exactly what she finds in this BM66 contest, but with a patient steer from Keagan Latham in stall two, watch for Up To Mischief to blouse her rivals. Next Best Again Race 8 – #7 Up To Mischief (2) 3yo Filly | T: Ciaron Maher | J: Keagan Latham (57kg) +150 with Neds Orange Gold Cup Day quaddie tips – Friday 19/4/2024 Orange quadrella selections Friday, April 19, 2024 4-5-7 1-6-7-10 1-4 1-2-7 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip Horse racing tips
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by Jessica Martini & Stefanie Grimm OCALA, FL – The action picked up noticeably during the second session of the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training and, with the auction's first seven-figure offering leading the way, figures concluded above 2023 levels Wednesday evening. “It was an excellent day,” OBS Director of Sales Tod Wojciechowski said at the close of business Wednesday. “As I said yesterday, there are plenty of good horses left to be sold and obviously that was borne out today. Quality horses sell well and we're fortunate to have a high-quality group of horses here. It was a good day and hopefully we can continue on the next two days.” During Wednesday's session, 171 horses sold for $25,841,500. The session average was $151,120 and the median was $75,000. Through two sessions, 324 horses have grossed $46,428,500. Halfway through the four-day auction, the average of $143,298 is up 9.6% from the same point a year ago and the median of $80,000 is up 14.3%. A filly by Tiz the Law brought the auction's top price so far when selling for $1.9 million to Donato Lanni, bidding on behalf of Michael Lund Petersen. The seven-figure purchase was part of a frenzied day of bidding for Lanni, who signed for six of Wednesday's top 10 purchases for various clients for a total of $5,675,000. The largely domestic buying bench at the top of the market was interrupted late in the day when Naohiro Sakaguchi went to $925,000 to acquire a colt by Into Mischief from the Scanlon Training & Sales consignment. “Mr. Sakaguchi is new–that's the first horse he's ever bought,” Wojciechowski said. “So it will be his first racehorse in Japan. We're excited to have them here.” Despite the lively bidding throughout the day, there was still some polarization in the market, according to consignor David Scanlon. “It's been a little difficult in spots,” Scanlon said. “You will sell one good and you'll start to feel a little good and then you'll come back and it will humble you a little bit. But we've done good. We bought a couple back, but we sold them after the sale. We sold quite a few just over the reserve, so you have to be pretty decent with the reserves, you can't get too aggressive. For the horses at the upper end, it's very good. At the other end, we still continue to struggle a bit in the lower and middle market. But we are still getting horses sold, so I am happy with it.” The OBS Spring sale continues through Friday with sessions beginning daily at 10:30 a.m. $1.9M Tiz the Law Filly to Petersen A filly from the first crop of GI Belmont S. winner Tiz the Law (hip 365) lived up to the pre-sale hype when bringing a final bid of $1.9 million from bloodstock agent Donato Lanni, who was acting on behalf of Michael Lund Petersen. She will be trained by Bob Baffert. “[Petersen] has had great luck with fillies and Bob loved her,” Lanni said. “We're delighted to have her.” Among his star fillies–all purchased at 2-year-olds in training sales–Petersen campaigned champion Gamine (Into Mischief), a $1.8-million purchase at the 2019 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic May sale; and Adare Manor (Uncle Mo), a $375,000 purchase at the 2021 OBS June Sale who captured Saturday's GI Apple Blossom H.; as well as Grade I winner Faiza (Girvin) ($725,000 '22 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic May) and multiple graded winner Kinza (Carpe Diem) ($350,000 at '23 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic May). The session topper capped a frenetic few minutes for Lanni, who warmed up for the seven-figure purchase with hip 342, a colt by Nyquist acquired for $675,000 for Frank Fletcher; and hip 351, a colt by Bolt d'Oro for $800,000 acquired for Three Amigos. He concluded his morning buying frenzy with a $925,000 colt by American Pharoah (hip 371) for Fletcher and came back a little later to acquire a colt by Vekoma (hip 411) for $800,000 for Zedan Racing Stable and a colt by Curln (hip 417) for $575,000 for Fletcher. The Tiz the Law session topper's work last week | Judit Seipert Hip 365 worked the co-fastest quarter-mile of the auction's under-tack show when she covered the distance in :20 1/5 last Wednesday. She is out of Moonlight Sky (Sky Mesa), a half-sister to champion Abel Tasman (Quality Road) and the dam of Grade I-placed Urban (Quality Road). Tom McCrocklin purchased the filly on behalf of Jim Tilton for $170,000 at last year's Keeneland September sale. “She's a special, special filly,” McCrocklin said. “She showed it in her breeze. We bought her off of her physical conformation. She is out of a half to Abel Tasman, so she has a lot of quality in her pedigree. When we bought her, I didn't know, like all of us. And when she got here, it was effortless. She's very sound with clean vet work. She was amazing in her breeze with a strong gallop-out and she attracted the attention of all the buyers.” Asked how the filly had changed since he purchased her for $170,000 last fall, McCrocklin said, “She didn't change a lot. She was a beautiful yearling and a beautiful 2-year-old. Just a little bigger and a little taller. But she really didn't change very much.” McCrocklin has been working with Tilton for several years now and the partnership started out with a bang. “We've done several horses together, but nothing like this,” McCrocklin said. “He actually owned a part of Ruby Nell (Bolt d'Oro) and that's when I was introduced to him. He owned a quarter of her when we sold her at Gulfstream for $1.2 million, so he got a little taste of blood and came back for more. He loves the action and loves the game. He races and now he pinhooks.” McCrocklin was typically non-plussed by the big sale Wednesday. Asked how his client had reacted, McCrocklin said with a straight face, “He's probably more stoic than me. So it was a standoff of who would smile first.” McCrocklin was also responsible for the $800,000 Bolt d'Oro colt, who was purchased for $160,000 on behalf of Michael Sucher's Champion Equine at last year's Fasig-Tipton July sale. @JessMartiniTDN Lanni A Busy Man Wednesday Agent Donato Lanni, working the pavilion on behalf of several top-end clients Wednesday, kicked things off early and kept the momentum rolling throughout the afternoon during the second session of OBS April. In addition to the $1.9-million session-topping Tiz the Law filly (hip 365) for Michael Lund Petersen, Lanni signed tickets on behalf of Frank Fletcher, Zedan Racing Stable and the Three Amigos. Donato Lanni | Photos by Z Fletcher got the action started shortly after the sale began, pairing up a $675,000 Nyquist colt (hip 342) with a colt by American Pharoah (hip 371) for $925,000 and a Curlin colt (hip 417) for $575,000. Hip 371, consigned by de Meric Sales, Agent XVIII, worked in :10 and was sold as a yearling at FTKOCT last year for $115,000. He is out of a half to the dam of GSW/GISP Merneith (American Pharoah). Breeder D.C. Goff purchased that dam, More Roses, carrying hip 371 in utero for $475,000 at KEENOV in 2021 Lanni, who secured all three colts for Fletcher, expressed his gratitude for the opportunity after signing for hip 371. “He's a cool horse, we're very happy,” said Lanni. “I'm just fortunate to buy good horses for good people.” Around the same time, the Three Amigos secured a Bolt d'Oro colt (hip 351), who breezed a quarter-mile in :20.3, for $800,000 from the Tom McCrocklin, Agent XV consignment with Lanni signing the ticket. Of that purchase, Lanni said: “He's beautiful and he looks like a racehorse. And the sire has done really well.” Responsible for two of the top three highest-priced colts during Tuesday's opening session, Nyquist continued to be in demand Wednesday when Fletcher went to $675,000 early for hip 342. The colt, a half to GSP Sonic Brees (Maclean's Music), was consigned by Wavertree Stables (Ciaran Dunne). Fletcher and Donato indicated that the trio of colts would wind up in training with Bill Mott. “He just looked good to us,” said Fletcher after signing the ticket for hip 342. “We like the sire and we're excited to get him. He'll go to Eddie [Woods] for a rest and then to Bill Mott.” Hip 342, who worked in :10, brought $300,000 as a yearling at Keeneland last September. “We're excited to get him at that price,” Fletcher continued. “We'll see him [with Mott] hopefully in Kentucky and in New York.” Later in the afternoon, Sequel Bloodstock, acting as agent for Chester and Mary Broman, sold the colt Rookie Racer (Vekoma) (hip 411) to Lanni (who signed on behalf of Zedan Racing Stable) for $800,000 after he worked in :9.4. Speaking from the back ring, Becky Thomas and Carlos Manresa joined Mr. Broman to celebrate the sale. “Through the winter, he was a farm favorite,” said Manresa of the colt. “We had a lot of trainers out to the farm and we had nothing but good remarks about him. He's always been a beautiful mover, loves the dirt and we got him in front of pretty much everyone. He's got a beautiful body, beautiful paces and we're really happy with the result. We've got a really good gut feeling about Vekoma.” @SGrimmTDN Into Mischief Colt Provides Late Bang at OBS A flashily bred colt by Into Mischief out of multiple Grade I winner Separationofpowers (Candy Ride {Arg}) (hip 603) caused late fireworks when selling for $925,000 to Naohiro Sakaguchi. Sakaguchi, making his first-ever racehorse purchase, did his bidding on the colt, the second-to-last horse through the ring Wednesday, alongside trainer Makoto Saito. Through an interpreter, he credited Saito with picking the juvenile out and Saito confirmed the horse will be heading to Japan. Separationofpowers in the 2018 Test | Sarah Andrew The bay, who worked a furlong during last week's under-tack show in :9 4/5, was consigned by Scanlon Training & Sales. He was purchased by that operation for $350,000 at last year's Fasig-Tipton Saratoga sale. “He's just been a real straightforward colt all winter,” David Scanlon said. “At the yearling sale, he was just a little immature, but he had a great hip and a great walk. He looked like a speedy horse, a real 2-year-old. We were really happy to get him.” Of the colt's progression since last August, Scanlon said, “He came to the farm and he did really well. We took our time with him and he really matured. He is a really level-headed colt who has done everything right. We pointed him to this sale rather than March just to give him a little more time. He breezed great. He's a real honest horse. He gets really low and tries really hard. And he has a super pedigree.” Saito trained 2014 G1 Japanese Oaks winner Nuovo Record (Jpn) (Hearts Cry {Jpn}) and saddled that filly to an 11th-place finish in the 2016 GI Breeders' Cup F/M Turf before winning the GIII Red Carpet H. a few weeks later. Oscar Performance Colt to Speedway Peter Fluor and K.C. Weiner's Speedway Stables added a colt by Oscar Performance to its roster when going to $725,000 to acquire hip 477 from the Wavertree Stables consignment Wednesday in Ocala. “[Bloodstock advisor] Marette [Farrell] did wonderful research on the pedigree and we liked everything on both sides,” said Weiner. “And the speed obviously was important.” Peter Fluor and K.C. Weiner | Photos by Z The bay colt, a $180,000 Keeneland September purchase, is out of Post Script (Quality Road) and is a full-brother to stakes winner Act a Fool. He is from the family of graded winners Coffee Clique and Admission Office and worked a furlong last week in :9 4/5. Hip 477 was the third purchase so far for Speedway at the OBS Spring sale. The operation also purchased a filly by Good Magic (hip 16) for $300,000 and a colt by Collected (hip 63) for $310,000. It was a homecoming for hip 63, who is out of Golden Orb (Orb) and was bred by Speedway. The chestnut sold for $12,000 at last year's Keeneland January sale and again to Tom McCrocklin for $42,000 at the Fasig-Tipton October sale. “He reminds us of Collected,” Weiner said of the colt. “It's a re-collect,” he added with a laugh. Racing in the Speedway colors, Collected won the 2017 GI Pacific Classic. “They do sell their yearlings,” Farrell said. “Peter and K.C. have a mandate that, to be open and honest, every yearling is sold. So it's fair for everyone.” Of the colt, she added, “He had an amazing breeze. We had lots of conflabs. Do we do this? But it's supporting Collected who is having an amazing run with his progeny and we love him.” @JessMartiniTDN The post $1.9M Tiz the Law Filly Stars as Action Picks Up at OBS Day Two appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The Kentucky judge overseeing the lawsuit initiated by Amr Zedan's incorporated racing stable against Churchill Downs, Inc. (CDI) to try and get Bob Baffert-trained horses un-barred from the GI Kentucky Derby told both parties Wednesday he now has a clearer understanding of a relatively new “meritless lawsuit” law to be able to issue a written opinion by the end of the week. That opinion is unlikely to decide the Apr. 3 civil lawsuit in full, but it is expected to address Zedan's motion for an injunction that could pave the way for his 'TDN Rising Star' Muth (Good Magic) to be able to race in the Derby. It could also address CDI's motion to dismiss. CDI has banished Baffert from its properties since just after the 2021 Derby, which the now-disqualified Zedan-owned and Baffert-trained Medina Spirit won while testing positive for betamethasone. The ban was initially just supposed to last for two Derbies. But in July 2023 CDI extended the penalty through 2024. Zedan is claiming that he spent millions in buying horses at auction prior to the extension of the ban because he understood that Baffert would be allowed to train those horses for the 150th Derby in 2024. Judge Mitchell Perry of Jefferson Circuit Court needed only a bit more than 20 minutes of testimony from all parties Apr. 17 to declare that he now had a better idea of how CDI's invocation of an “Anti-SLAPP” law (Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation)–which carries an automatic pause in some related legal proceedings–might affect his forthcoming written opinion. “Obviously, I deal with injunctions all the time in various [contexts],” Perry said. “So that part is obviously well known to the court. This new statute is not.” CDI on Apr. 8 moved to dismiss Zedan's lawsuit, citing, in part, that the complaint runs contrary to Kentucky's Anti-SLAPP law that provides protections in certain cases based on a person's exercise of speech. In April 2022, Kentucky became the second state to enact a version of the Uniform Public Expression Protection Act (UPEPA), a model anti-SLAPP law drafted by the Uniform Law Commission. In arguing against the application of that statute, Zedan had articulated concerns that CDI's legal invocation of UPEPA/Anti-SLAPP was “not only meritless, but perverse.” More importantly, in terms of timing, an Anti-SLAPP claim, if allowed to proceed by a judge, would take at least 30 days, if not several months, to legally unfold. At a previous hearing on Monday, no one seemed to know for sure if that law's invocation, if allowed by Perry, would mean a mandatory halting of all other legal proceedings, including Zedan's pending motion for the temporary injunction. Thus, Perry asked for representatives of the Kentucky State Attorney General to appear in court Apr. 17 with their interpretation. At Wednesday's hearing, Lindsey Keiser, a Kentucky assistant attorney general, told the judge that under a subsection of the state's law, “UPEPA does not cut off judicial decisions or judicial discretions with respect to motions seeking a temporary injunction.” Keiser continued: “Our interpretation is that under [a subsection of the law] you could proceed simultaneously [with deciding on CDI's motion invoking UPEPA and Zedan's injunction request]. Officially there's no stay with respect to a temporary injunction motion.” Derek Shaffer, an attorney for Zedan, urged the judge to use that explanation from the attorney general's office to go ahead and rule on the temporary injunction. Horses declared for the Derby need to be on the grounds at Churchill by Apr. 27. Regardless of larger questions concerning the UPEPA claim and the underlying lawsuit itself, “you ought to be resolving the temporary injunction motion on merits,” Shaffer said. Thomas Dupree, Jr., an attorney for CDI, wanted to make it clear that the injunction relief sought by Zedan wasn't being requested to preserve well-documented rules established by CDI regarding the Derby, but rather, to upend them. “I did want to underscore the nature of the temporary injunction they're seeking here is, of course, not a 'status quo' injunction,” Dupree said. “It is an injunction that would affirmatively disrupt the status quo substantially.” Although it was not spoken of during Wednesday's hearing, a ruling allowing Muth into the race would have myriad downstream implications. It is unknown if an injunction in favor of Zedan would allow other Baffert trainees owned by different entities to also participate in the Derby, or if any lifting of the ban would also permit Baffert's trainees to enter the GI Kentucky Oaks or any other Derby undercard stakes. The Kentucky news website WAVE3 reported on Tuesday that one of the partners who co-owns the Baffert-trained Imagination (Into Mischief) had filed an amicus brief with the court seeking similar eligibility-via-injunction for that colt, who on Apr. 6 ran second in the GI Santa Anita Derby. Also unclear is what such a ruling would mean for Derby aspirants owned by other connections, specifically already-qualified horses that might get knocked below the points cutoff limit that CDI has been using to determine Derby eligibility if Muth (and potentially other Baffert trainees) are suddenly ordered into the race by the injunction. CDI generally takes entries for 24 horses in the Derby, with 20 being allowed to start. Perry said there would be no press conference or media announcement pertaining to his ruling, which would be delivered in the form of an opinion posted electronically to the court's filing system. “And you'll know sometime before the end of the week,” Perry said. The post KY Judge Says He’ll Rule on Derby Lawsuit by End of Week appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Real Men Violin, Patriot Spirit, and Woodcourt—all off the board in Kentucky Derby (G1) points races this year—attempt to regroup against ungraded stakes competition in the $200,000 Illinois Derby April 21 at Hawthorne Race Course.View the full article

The Racing Integrity Board Chair Neville Harris announced the appointment of Dr Eliot Forbes to the position of Chief Executive. Dr Forbes, a qualified veterinarian, is an accomplished racing executive with over 25 years of racing administration and wagering experience across Australia, Asia, and the Middle East. He previously served as the Veterinary Steward for the Emirates Racing Authority, overseeing the welfare and equine integrity arrangements for six Dubai World Cups. Returning to Australia in 2010, he was appointed as the Chief Operating Officer and then Chief Executive Officer of Tasracing, the principal racing authority in Tasmania. He moved on to the Chief Executive Officer role for Racing Queensland in 2016 and delivered signification financial turnarounds for both state racing authorities. Dr. Forbes has served on the Boards of Racing Australia (RA) and Greyhounds Australasia; and Chaired RA’s Retirement of Racehorses Committee. He was also a member of the national Veterinary and Analyst committees for each of the three codes of Australian racing and a member of Harness Racing Australia’s Standardbred Welfare Advisory Group. He has also successfully launched agricultural start-up AniMark Ltd, a standards company specialising in the formulation and monitoring of animal welfare standards and livestock traceability. More recently he has been Chief Executive of RACELAB Pty Ltd, which provides software and data products to wagering operators worldwide. Dr. Forbes has been a Steering Committee member of the International Forum for the Aftercare of Racehorses (IFAR) since 2016 and also chairs the IFAR Conference Committee. He has previously served on the Executive Council of the International Group of Specialist Racing Veterinarians and is a regular speaker on equine aftercare, traceability, and welfare around the world. He holds an honours degree in Veterinary Science from the University of Queensland, a Masters of Business Administration from La Trobe University and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. Dr. Forbes will commence with the Racing Integrity Board on 29 April 2024 and be based in Wellington. The post Chief Executive Appointment appeared first on RIB. View the full article

The cliche of the difficult second album is very real. You have just recorded your greatest hit so, in many ways, you could feel destined to fail in attempting to follow up on something so special. Roderic Kavanagh set the bar pretty high in consigning Vandeek (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}) at the Tattersalls Craven Breeze-Up Sale last year. The colt, bought by Anthony Stroud on behalf of KHK Racing, has turned out to be a dual Group 1-winning superstar who has yet to taste defeat. That's what you call a hit single. It was going to take more magic from Kavanagh to conjure up something as good and only a fool could think it possible for him to better such a result. However, the gifted young breeze-up handler showed he is far from a one-hit wonder when his Galileo (Ire) colt became the third-highest breeze-up horse sold at public auction in Europe at 1 million gns. Once again, it was Stroud who did the buying, this time on behalf of Godolphin with Kia Joorabchian of Amo Racing filling the role of underbidder. “I used to love you Stroudy….not anymore,” Joorabchian joked with the sale's leading buyer shortly after the hammer fell. But Amo's role in the tussle shouldn't be underestimated and nobody was more keenly aware of that than an emotional Kavanagh. “It just aligned, didn't it? For Amo to go that far, I wasn't expecting that,” he said. “We were concerned that Godolphin and KHK Racing wouldn't bid against each other but, the fact that they relaid, it shows what they thought it would take to buy him. It's beyond our dreams. But you do dream occasionally that something like that could happen when you have one of the last Galileos in your yard. He's just a natural athlete. The last month has been tense because we knew we had something special. It's incredible.” Asked if he felt much pressure to follow up on last year's achievements with Vandeek, Kavanagh responded, “We were quite disciplined all year and didn't lose the run of ourselves at all. Then that horse came up and you could feel there was a possibility to get something that was unique. But I didn't think that would happen. I have other horses who I really liked coming here and it didn't happen for them. Maybe that's just the attributes of this horse-he just doesn't disappoint, and hopefully he won't disappoint.” It is probably fair to describe lot 112 as not your typical breeze-up horse. Bought by Kavanagh's Glending Stables for 125,000gns from The Castlebridge Consignment at the Tattersalls December Yearling Sale, the colt from the last crop of his legendary stallion's two-year-olds repaid the young consignor's vision. Kavanagh continued, “I thought there was a chance that he would make half of what he did. But there are no blemishes with that horse and hopefully he's as good as the last fella!” He added, “We were really lucky to get him.You start looking around and wondering, 'what's missing here?' I'd say that's why we were able to buy him-people thought there might have been something missing in the puzzle but there wasn't. “When the vet came back and gave us the green light we said, 'wow, this is a unique opportunity.' It's a lot of money for us to give but you're thinking and dreaming of the bigger picture. If it hadn't been for Vandeek, maybe we wouldn't have gone out and spent that money on the Galileo. Vandeek has been a life-changing horse for us.” The Galileo was the highlight of what proved a strong evening's buying for Stroud on behalf of Godolphin and others. On the Galileo, he commented, “We all thought he is a very nice horse and is the last horse by Galileo to go through public auction. He came from the same hotel as Vandeek. The colt deserved to do well and he did well. When two people really want a horse then it can make any price. It is great for the breeze up sale.” “Selectivity To The Trade” Tattersalls Chairman Edmond Mahony acknowledged the extreme weather conditions that wreaked havoc during breeze day at this year's sale and pointed to the “selectivity to the trade” in his post-sale statement. Of the 166 lots offered, 126 were sold at a clearance rate of 72% [down 5% on last year]. The aggregate was down 5% to 14,584,500gns while the median stayed the same at 80,000gns and the average climbed 13% to 137,590gns. Mahony said, “Above all we would like to congratulate every single consignor and all associated with the way in which they coped with the extreme weather conditions which we encountered on the morning of the breeze. The professionalism, both human and equine, shone through the persistent wind and rain and it has been wonderful to see some memorable pinhooking triumphs despite the adversity. “The Craven Breeze-Up Sale has produced the best British two-year-olds of their generation in two of the last three years as well as two Guineas winners and the global participation this week reflects the sale's reputation as a prolific source of Group 1 performers. Domestic British and Irish buyers have been joined by a strong contingent from throughout the Gulf region, with Saudi connections particularly prominent, and American participation, which has been such a feature of Book 1 of the October Yearling Sale in recent years, has also been notable.” He added, “Obviously the outstanding Galileo colt selling for one million guineas, the second-highest price ever for a Craven Breeze-Up two-year-old and the third-highest in Europe, was the highlight of the sale and the second consecutive year that Roderic Kavanagh's Glending Stables has topped the sale which is a remarkable achievement. “As a 125,000 gns yearling purchase only five months ago the colt was a truly spectacular pinhooking achievement and there were numerous other notable successes which reflect the outstanding professionalism of the consignors. It should be noted, however, that while the key metrics of average and median compare well with last year's record-breaking sale, the clearance rate has fallen short and there has been a selectivity to the trade which should not be overlooked. “There has been no shortage of competition, both domestic and international, at the top of the market and a record number of lots selling for 500,000 gns or more, but the lower levels of the market have not matched the robust demand at the higher end. “Nevertheless, we are confident that this year's Craven Breeze Up Sale will prove to be an abundant source of high-class racehorses to follow in the illustrious footsteps of Cachet, Native Trail and Vandeek.” Poste Delivers A Dream Debut Performance Ex-jumps jockey Charlie Poste spoke to TDN Europe at the beginning of the year about the reasoning behind branching out from solely consigning point-to-point horses to dipping his toe into the waters of the breeze-up business. The international clientele on the Flat was put forward as one of the main lures for the man whose roots are entrenched in National Hunt racing. That bold move to diversify paid off in spades as Poste marked his dream debut with a Blue Point (Ire) colt and filly selling for close to 1 million gns. It was the Blue Point colt who stole the show at 800,000gns to Godolphin. Bought by Blandford Bloodstock's Tom Biggs and Poste's Station Yard at the Tattersalls Ireland September Yearling Sale, he brought in a multitude of that initial €78,000 outlay. Poste said, “It is far more of a kick than I ever got riding a winner! We have to thank the syndicate who backed us, especially as we have not got the pedigree for doing this. Tom Biggs helped buy him and mates such as Mark Grant helped us through the whole process. “I was nervous before they breezed as I did not want to be embarrassed. Francesca [Poste's wife] and I pride ourselves on doing these horses well, and the fact that he pitched up and he galloped as straight as a gun barrel and was seriously quick-he backed up what we had seen at home. “But the truth of the matter is that we are used to training point-to-pointers and, me thinking he is fast, might not mean a whole heap. It has been a long time since I was riding at Richard Fahey's as an apprentice! But he came and showed us that we were spot on.” Poste added, “We had been interested in breezing for a while but lacked the capital. We have loved the process and a change is as good as a rest. It has been seriously exciting for us. I didn't think in my wildest dreams it would end up like this at our first go.” Talking points If at first you don't succeed, try, try and try again. Eddie O'Leary might have been left cursing his luck when he failed to sell his Kingman (GB) colt out of proven broodmare Pure Excellence (GB) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}) at Book 1. Bought as a foal from Hazelwood Bloodstock for 230,000gns, he was led out unsold at 140,000gns last year, with O'Leary left with few options other than to breeze the colt. Well, it turned out to be for luck, with the brother to Group 3 and Listed winner Parent's Prayer (Ire) (Kingman {GB}) rocking into 800,000gns to Godolphin. “He was very, very popular-he's a very nice horse with a temperament that you could not fault,” O'Leary said afterwards. Asked how the transaction compared to having a Grade 1 win at Aintree last week with exciting novice hurdler Brighterdaysahead (Fr), he replied, “I hope he can run faster than her.” Katie Walsh won't be forgetting this week in a hurry. Less than 24 hours after selling her New Bay (GB) colt to Godolphin for 525,000gns, Walsh's Greenhills Farm secured the same sum from the same buyer for a Havana Grey (GB) filly [98]. Shortly after getting off the phone to her father Ted, she said, “I am emotional tonight-it is unbelievable. It has been a great couple of days and it has been really special. “I understand how hard it is. For the last couple of weeks I have been saying, 'Jesus, I can't have two of them!' It is so hard to get one, let alone two. I didn't really say it out loud, but quietly thought it at home, as we all did.” Walsh added, “I ride a lot of them at home but all the lads in the yard have prepared them so well and the pair of these seemed to have something special. Her sire is on fire and the whole thing worked.” The Havana Grey represented another fine pinhooking profit having been bought by Mags O'Toole and Norman Williamson for 80,000gns at the Somerville Yearling Sale. You've got to hand it to Anthony Stroud. He was the dominent buyer this week and accounted for the six top lots through either Godolphin or Stroud Coleman Bloodstock. It won't come as a surprise to many to see Blue Point and Havana Grey ending the Craven Sale high on the sires' podium. Obviously propped up by Station Yard's 800,000gns colt, but Blue Point had another big sale with nine lots selling for a combined 2,070,000gns. The Havana Grey train does not look like it will be slowing down any time soon, either, with eight lots making just shy of 1.5 million gns. Tally-Ho Stud ended the sale as the leading consignors with seven lots sold for 1,602,000gns, headed by a 600,000gns Persian King (Ire) bought by Anthony Stroud to go into training with Richard Fahey for KHK Racing. Roger O'Callaghan said afterwards, “We really like Persian King as a sire. We tried to buy him ourselves but they would not sell. This is a cracking horse.” The half-brother to Group 3-placed Ritournelle (Fr) (Camelot {GB}) was sourced by Tally-Ho at Arqana in December for €80,000. Michael O'Callaghan's commitment to the breeze-up sales continued with the Kildare-based trainer coming home from Newmarket with four new additions to the tune of 755,000gns. One of the more interesting names to pop up on the buyers sheet was Mike Repole. It was Jacob West, signing under his West Bloodstock, who bought Tally-Ho's Blue Point colt for 280,000gns on behalf of the leading American owner. Mick Donohoe explained on Tuesday how a lot of his business this week would be done on behalf of Saudi Arabian interests. The BBA Ireland agent went on to snap up an American Pharoah colt consigned by Longways Stables to fulfill that criteria at 285,000gns. The Golden Touch: Lot 112 Colt by Galileo out of Manderley (Ire) Consigned by Glending Stables Purchased by Godolphin It may be blindingly obvious but how can you give this award to any other horse other than the top lot? Okay, okay, 125,000gns is hardly a small sum of money to part with when snapping up breeze-up prospects at the yearling sales, but the Galileo colt made that initial outlay seem tiny when breaking the seven-figure marker. Hats off to everyone associated with the colt. A job well done. Thought for the day Much like last year, day two of the Tattersalls Craven Breeze-Up Sale proved to be much stronger than the opening session. Eight of the top 10 lots were sold on Wednesday. The post Another Craven Cracker For Kavanagh As Galileo Colt Makes A Million appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

With no standout member of the line-up, Thursday's G3 Craven S. at Newmarket may offer more clues as to the 2000 Guineas prospects of those in absentia who share the stables of the main contenders. Ballydoyle are perhaps scouting the local opposition to City Of Troy with Cambridge (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), while Godolphin saddle Native Approach (GB) (Too Darn Hot {GB}) possibly with a view to weighing up where their Notable Speech (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) sits. Andre Fabre is here again with Baron Edouard De Rothschild's TDN Rising Star Alcantor (Fr) (New Bay {GB}), but he was found slightly wanting at the highest level last term as was Prince Faisal Bin Khaled & Najd Stud's fellow TDN Rising Star Eben Shaddad (Calyx {GB}) representing the Gosdens. Eben Shaddad currently occupies favouritism and will provide more evidence as to the merit of City Of Troy who galloped him and others into the ground in the G1 Dewhurst S. here in October. Cautious Approach… Charlie Appleby galloped his two main Guineas contenders at the track on Wednesday, but that is not to say that the Kempton winner Native Approach could not join them on the first Saturday in May. “He looks great at home, but he's got to go and switch it on on the turf now,” he said. “I'm always one who would rather just sit before I get too bolshy over what they have achieved or what they could achieve–like Notable Speech, he's doing it at a different level at the moment. At the end of the day, from the outside looking in, the only way you can beat City Of Troy is by an unexposed three-year-old, because what he beat last year, I don't see anything reversing the form myself.” Is There More From Alcantor? Fabre looked to have a serious Classic contender on his hands in Alcantor last term, but despite winning Saint-Cloud's G3 Prix Thomas Bryon he was unable to impose himself on the G1 Criterium International which has taken a few knocks already this season. Whatever the outcome on Thursday, his trainer has no intention of returning next month. “He has no plan to come for the English Guineas, the French is a possible option,” he revealed. Of the remainder, Jane Chapple-Hyam has two intriguing runners in the dual all-weather winner Champagne Prince (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) and Hugo Morriss and Kirsten Rausing's Sons And Lovers (GB) (Study Of Man {Ire}) who overcame greenness to win on his sole start over seven furlongs in October. The post Colts Gather For Craven Puzzle appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Keith Asmussen set a goal to ride one race as a jockey. He has done far more than that, ranking as one of the leading riders at Oaklawn Park. Now comes the mount on Just Steel in the May 4 Kentucky Derby (G1) at Churchill Downs.View the full article

Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races and the city of Charles Town, W.Va. announced the dedication of a commemorative panel of images and milestones honoring Sylvia Rideoutt Bishop, the nation's first Black female horse trainer.View the full article

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Thursday's Observations features a 'TDN Rising Star'. 16.45 Newmarket, Novice, £20,000, 3yo, 10fT ENDLESS VICTORY (GB) (Teofilo {Ire}) earned TDN Rising Star status at Wolverhampton in February and is the Charlie Appleby first string in a race he likes to target with his potential Classic prospects. A full-brother to the operation's G1 Melbourne Cup hero Cross Counter (GB), he is joined by Kalidasa (GB) (Frankel {GB}), the 2.8milliongns Tattersalls Book 1 topper and son of the well-connected G3 Musidora S. winner and G1 Prix de l'Opera third So Mi Dar (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) and they encounter Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum's Newcastle debut winner Meydaan (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), a Simon and Ed Crisford-trained son of the G1 Pretty Polly S. heroine Nezwaah (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}). 14.25 Newmarket, Debutantes, £20,000, 3yo, 8fT LEAD ARTIST (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) is one of the eyecatching members of this time-honoured “Wood Ditton” maiden for unraced 3-year-olds which retains the potential to throw up something special once in a while. Juddmonte's John and Thady Gosden-trained colt is the first foal out of the G2 Prix de Sandringham winner and G1 Prix Rothschild third Obligate (GB) (Frankel {GB}), a granddaughter of the operation's great broodmare Hasili (Ire) (Kahyasi {Ire}). Therefore linked to two top-level Dubawi performers in the full-brothers Ironclad (GB) and Forge (GB), he lines up against Godolphin's gelding First Conquest (GB) (Teofilo {Ire}), a Charlie Appleby-trained half-brother to the G1 Jebel Hatta winner Blair House (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}). The post Endless Victory Takes The Next Step At Newmarket appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The Whitney Viewing Stand at Saratoga's Oklahoma Training Track will open to the public beginning Thursday, Apr. 25, the New York Racing Association said in a release Wednesday afternoon. Prior to the start of the summer meet, the site will be open free of charge from Thursday through Sunday from 8 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. ET. The Oklahoma Training Track is accessible to pedestrians through Gate 21 on East Avenue. Parking is not currently available within the Oklahoma grounds. The opening of the Whitney Viewing Stand also coincides with the on-sale for dining reservations for Saratoga's Clubhouse restaurants: The Turf Terrace, Club Terrace and The Porch. Click here for information concerning all of the available dining options and how to purchase tickets. The post Whitney Viewing Stand At The Spa Opens To The Public Apr. 25 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Lot 154, a son of Persian King (Ire) and the Paco Boy (Ire) mare Robanne (GB), hammered at 600,000gns to Stroud Coleman Bloodstock from the draft of Tally-Ho Stud during the second session of the Tattersalls Craven Breeze-Up Sale. The dam was third in a brace of Group 3s, and is already responsible for Listed Prix Herod winner and G3 Prix Imprudence runner-up Ritournelle (Fr) (Camelot {GB}). Bred by Haras d'Etreham and Riviera Equine, the colt caught the eye of Tally-Ho at €80,000 out of the 2022 Arqana December Breeding Stock Sale. The post Stroud Coleman Bloodstock In Action For 600k Persian King Colt appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Just past the halfway mark during Wednesday's session, lot 147, a son of Blue Point (Ire), was knocked down to Anthony Stroud for 800,000gns at Park Paddocks. Consigned by Station Yard, the bay colt is out of Platinum Coast (Speightstown), herself a half-sister to multiple graded winner Istanford (Istan) and will race for Godolphin. Bred by Mr. and Mrs. Reddy Coffey, the colt made €78,000 on the bid of Blandford Bloodtstock/Station Yard during the 2023 Tattersalls Ireland September Yearling Sale. Three lots later, a bay son of Kingman (GB) and the stakes-winning Pure Excellence (GB) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}) (lot 150) made the same price, once again to Stroud for Godolphin from the consignment of Lynn Lodge Stud. Already a full-brother to Parent's Prayer (Ire), who won the G3 Princess Elizabeth S,, the March colt was bred by Sun Kingdom, Pty., Ltd. He was originally a 230,000gns Tattersalls December foal, who was a 140,000gns buy-back during Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale. The post Pair Of 800k Colts Bought By Godolphin As Tattersalls Craven Continues appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

According to a Wednesday press release, the 2024 Wanamaker's April Sale catalogue is now available, which includes yearlings, horses of racing age, open broodmares, and broodmares in-foal. Bidding will open at 9:00 a.m. ET on Thursday, Apr. 25, with the first listing set to close at 2:00 p.m. Subsequent listings will close in three-minute increments. Highlights of the catalogue include: Nyquist filly, Deck of Cards, who has won her last three starts at Keeneland and Turfway Park and has earnings of over $125,000. Ligeia, a Florida-bred filly with two wins and eight placings by the late stallion, Speighster, whose progeny have accumulated over $21 million on the track. GSW Designer Legs (Graeme Hall) who earned over $211,000, is being sold open and ready for mating. Click here for more information. The post Catalogue For 2024 Wanamaker’s April Sale Now Available appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

By Michael Guerin Driver Bob Butt says Bet N Win is ready to confirm what so many have thought about him for a while at Addington tonight. “I am sure he is an open class horse in the making,” says Butt, who will partner the four-year-old in the Future Wealth Sires’ Stakes Aged Trot. “And I think he is ready to show it fresh up.” Bet N Win has the stride of a good horse for trainers David and Stacey White but hasn’t raced since a huge Alexandra Park win on New Year’s Eve. He has obviously been aimed at tonight’s race and its juicy $40,000 stake and suggested he is ready to win it with a slick trial at Rangiora last week. “I drove him and he was really good in a fast time so I think he is ready,” says Butt. “And most importantly his manners were really good.” Those could be crucial tonight as Bet N Win is draw unruly on the front line but if he can behave himself he could maintain his advantage over in-form rivals like Eurostyle and El Conqueror (20m) and Galway Gal and Mighty Logan off their 10m marks. Even a few slow strides at the start could put him back in the pack where manners matter and that won’t feel quite so comfortable for favourite punters but if Bet N Win stays in front of the backmarkers and can roll on to the lead he will take enormous catching. Butt also has his own emerging pacer Xlendi in tonight’s pacing feature in which he gives away up to 18 rating points in a small but select mobile 1980m. “It is a good field but I have no doubt his motor is up to most of these,” says Butt. “He is just a bit of a big dumb bugger but he can run and he will only keep getting better.” Who’s Better and the sometimes hard to read Franco Indie rate as the hardest horses to beat in what has been a very competitive grade at Addington in the last few months. Earlier in the night Butt also has Sophia’s Dream (R4, No.2) racing in the O’Meara colours and she should be ready to use her good draw after three recent trials. “She is a handy mare who will do a good job this campaign,” he told HRNZ. View the full article

Glen Bromagen II and Michael Dahir's Neon Icon (Arrogate) was given a 5-1 chance for an operation not typically known for its firsters, however, that price seemed like an overlay after the sophomore rattled across the wire an uncontested 4 1/4-length winner at Keeneland Wednesday, earning TDN Rising Star distinction in the process. Breaking from the inside stall, the $220,000 Keeneland September grad settled in a ground-saving fourth as a pair of 4-year-olds–Kara and Colleen (Bolt d'Oro) and Dynamism (Uncle Mo)–led through a :23.55 opening quarter. Finding herself behind a wall of horses and searching for a slip of daylight to open straightening for home, the grey cut her way through rivals in the lane, popped to the front midstretch and drew off under a hand ride to post the impressive win. Fellow 3-year-old Foreseen (Uncle Mo) was up for second, while Dynamism rounded out the trifecta. Final time for the 1 1/16-mile test was 1:47.08. Neon Icon is the fourth foal out of Mademoiselle Coco, who is a half-sister to Horse of the Year and Ch. Older Mare Havre de Grace, who realized $10-million at the Fasig-Tipton Fall Mixed sale in 2010. The 11-year-old mare is also responsible for Mademoisellejackie (American Pharoah), a $200,000 KEESEP yearling purchase who went on to become a minor winner. Last term, she produced a colt by Essential Quality and was bred back to that Darley sire. This also represents the family of MGISW Risaverse and Classic winner Tonalist. 3rd-Keeneland, $100,000, Msw, 4-17, 3yo/up, f/m, 1 1/16m, 1:47.08, ft, 4 1/4 lengths. NEON ICON, f, 3, by Arrogate 1st Dam: Mademoiselle Coco, by Medaglia d'Oro 2nd Dam: Easter Bunnette, by Carson City 3rd Dam: Toll Fee, by Topsider Sales history: $220,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $61,227. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. O-Glen S. Bromagen, II and Michael Dahir; B-Nancy S. Dillman (KY); T-George R. Arnold, II. The post Arrogate’s Neon Icon Rolls to TDN Rising Stardom at Keeneland appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

When it comes to getting horses to the GI Kentucky Derby few have done more with less. Dennis Albaugh's Albaugh Family Stable doesn't have nearly the numbers of a Mike Repole or the partnership of SF Racing, Starlight Racing, and Madaket Stables, but he keeps coming up with Derby starters. This year he has Catching Freedom (Constitution), the winner of the GII Louisiana Derby, who will be his tenth starter under the Twin Spires over the last seven years. The goal this time around is not to simply make into the field but to win the race. Albaugh joined the TDN Writers' Room podcast Presented by Keeneland to talk about Catching Freedom, his super sire Not This Time (Giant's Causeway), his case of Derby Fever and more. Albaugh was this week's Green Group Guest of the Week. Finding Derby horses at the sales takes a top team of advisers for Albaugh, who focuses on colts who have the right stuff when it comes to making it to America's greatest horse race. “We've got a team of guys that helped me pick out horses,” he said. “Every year I go over to the Keeneland September Sale and there are thousands of horses for sale. I say every year, we're going to pick at least one that is going to go to the Derby. I take my hat off to the team. We've done it and this year in Catching Freedom we have a really good contender.” The Derby is still more than two weeks away, but Albaugh is already having restless nights. “I don't sleep a lot at night,” he said. “I think about the Derby all the time. This horse has got a lot of speed, but in his races he just seems to slow down right off the bat. With 19 other horses out there, it's hard to get through that field. Our horse last year, Angel of Empire, proved that. So we kind of want an outside post. Not clear outside. Ideally, I'd like to draw somewhere between a six and 15. That way he won't get trapped in behind a whole bunch of horses and have to go completely wide around them.” Albaugh owned Not This Time, the promising colt who never ran again after finishing second in the 2016 GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile for trainer Dale Romans. With such a small sample size to go on as far as his racing career went, Not This Time was hardly a sure thing as a stallion. But Albaugh stayed in and owns the majority share in the horse who has gone on to be one of the sport's top sires. “I wish I had kept all of him,” he said. “Sometimes you just have to take some money off the table. I really didn't want to sell him. But when you go to the auctions now you see that it is very expensive to buy Thoroughbreds. There's a lot of teaming up going on, and I mainly buy by myself. With Not This Time we decided that it was time to recoup some of the money that I'd spent through the years. So that's why we put just half of him up for sale.” In our breeding spotlight section, we examined the WinStar stallion Two Phil's. Podcast team member Randy Moss insists he was the best 3-year-old to race in 2023. We also spotlighted the Coolmore stallion Corniche. Elsewhere on the podcast, which is also sponsored by the Pennsylvania Horse Breeders' Association, Coolmore, West Point Thoroughbreds, WinStar, Pleasant Acres Farm and XBTV.com, the team of Moss, Bill Finley and Zoe Cadman discussed the latest battle between Churchill Downs and Amr Zedan, who is hoping that a court will grant a temporary injunction that would force the track to allow Muth (Good Magic) to race in the Derby. The trio also talked about HIWU's case against George Weaver. The trainer is dealing with a positive for Metformin, which is used in humans to combat Type II diabetes. To watch the Writers' Room, click here. To view the show as a podcast, click here. The post Dennis Albaugh Joins TDN Writers’ Room Podcast appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Fergal O'Brien and Colin Tizzard were among those to pay tribute to Paddy Brennan, the Cheltenham Gold Cup-winning rider who retired at the age of 43 after partnering Manothepeople to victory at Prestbury Park on Wednesday. Brennan recorded over 1,500 winners in a career as a National Hunt jockey spanning more than two decades, notably landing the 2010 Gold Cup on Imperial Commander. His other high-profile victories at the Cheltenham Festival included the 2007 World Hurdle on Inglis Drever, while he'll also be remembred for his association with the popular Cue Card on whom he won six races, including the 2015 King George VI Chase at Kempton. After returning aboard Manothepeople to a rapturous reception, Brennan told Racing TV, “It's been a rollercoaster, so many ups, so many downs, but I feel like I've got to the end of the ocean and walked onto the beach. “It's been on my mind a few weeks, I've been asking opinions, but I went for a coffee with my wife this morning and I felt certain. It's time for the next generation of jockeys. I've worked with the best in the game, there are young lads in the weighing room now, but I've worked with them all. It's a tough gig, it's constant. “I've left my mark in the weighing room. I've been a strict kind of lad, done plenty of shouting, but I love them all. Being a jockey is 95 per cent disappointment. I've had some enjoyment, but I'm ready for the next chapter.” Reflecting on his most memorable days in the saddle, Brennan added, “Imperial Commander has to be the highlight, winning a Gold Cup, but I'll never forget Cue Card winning the King George, beating Ruby Walsh on Vautour. You're taking on the best and getting him up that day was something I was really proud of.” Tizzard, who entrusted Brennan with the ride on Cue Card, said, “I'm not great at texting, but I've just texted Paddy to say it was an absolute pleasure working with him and Cue Card. I'm sure Paddy remembers the Gold Cup [fall when in contention in 2016] more than anything, but that's racing and he was fantastic on him for the time he rode him. He was a brilliant horse and Paddy was brilliant on him. “I remember watching the King George and I was stood on the lawn there at Kempton in a crowd of people and they were all taller than me! I couldn't see whether he got up or not, but as soon as I walked round, everyone was patting me on the back. We had some brilliant times and Paddy is a good man.” Long-time ally O'Brien was similarly effusive in his praise, adding, “We loaded today up for this reason and it was important that Paddy got that winner. He's been a phenomenal ally for me. I remember listening to Philip Hobbs when Richard Johnson retired and he said they'd never had a cross word–the same can't be said for me and Paddy! “It's always been done in the best of interests though and he'll be a huge loss, but I'm pretty sure it won't be the end of Fergal O'Brien and Paddy Brennan. I'm very proud to call him a friend. We've had so many highlights, so many great days, from things like Accidental Legend winning at Uttoxeter, which was a 0-100, to some great days here, like Bonttay and The Govaness. “I'm so grateful that he was on our team–he's been a great servant to us.” The post ‘I’ve Left My Mark In The Weighing Room’ – Paddy Brennan Retires appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Dubai Sheema Classic (G1T) winner Rebel's Romance is to join an expanding satellite yard of around a dozen Charlie Appleby-trained horses who are to campaign through the summer season in the United States this year.View the full article

The third juvenile to make 525,000gns or more at the Tattersalls Craven Breeze-Up Sale was a colt by the late, great Galileo (Ire) (lot 112), who changed hands for 1 million gns on the bid of Anthony Stroud for Godolphin. Part of the Glending Stables draft, the Coolmore-bred bay–and only representative of his sire in the sale–is out of the stakes-placed Manderley (Ire) (Clodovil {Ire}), who ran fourth in the G1 1000 Guineas. She is also a full-sister to multiple group winner and multiple Group 1-placed sire Gregorian (Ire). Glending Stables shelled out 125,000gns for the colt during the Tattersalls December Yearling Sale in 2023. Glending also consigned multiple Group 1 winner Vandeek (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}), who topped the 2023 edition of the Craven Breeze-Up Sale. The post Godolphin Pays One Million Guineas For Galileo Colt At Tattersalls appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Less than 10 lots into the second session of the Tattersalls Craven Breeze-Up Sale, lot 98 quickly equaled Tuesday's top price of 525,000gns, going, once again, to Anthony Stroud on behalf of Godolphin. Consigned, just like Tuesday's New Bay (GB) colt topper, by Katie Walsh's Greenhills Farm, the Havana Grey (GB) filly is a full-sister to four-time winner Secret Guest (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}) from the family of G1 Prix de l'Abbaye winner Gilt Edge Girl (GB) (Monsieur Bond {Ire}). She was picked up for 80,000gns out of the Tattersalls Somerville Yearling Sale by Mags O'Toole and Oak Tree Farm last year. The post Havana Grey Filly Snapped Up For 525k By Godolphin At Tattersalls appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Cathal Beale, the current CEO of the Irish National Stud (INS), will serve in the role for another three years, the Board of the INS announced on Wednesday. “The Board of the Irish National Stud is pleased to announce that our chief executive, Cathal Beale, has accepted an offer of a contract extension for a further final three-year period, following consultation with the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Marine and the Minister of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform,” the INS said in a statement. Beale became the INS CEO in July of 2017. He is a graduate of both the INS Stud Management Programme and Godolphin Flying Start. Dan Flinter, chairman of the INS added, “We are delighted that Cathal has committed himself to lead the delivery of our strategic plan for a further term.” The post Cathal Beale To Continue As INS CEO For Another Three-Year Term appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

A filly by Tiz the Law (hip 365) brought a final bid of $1.9 million from bloodstock agent Donato Lanni acting on behalf of Michael Lund Petersen. Consigned by Tom McCrocklin, the filly had worked a quarter-mile last week in :20 1/5. She is out of Moonlight Sky (Sky Mesa), a half-sister to champion Abel Tasman. McCrocklin purchased the bay for $170,000 at last year's Keeneland September sale. The post Tiz the Law Filly Brings $1.9M at OBS appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article