Wandering Eyes

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

By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk Spirit of Atlanta has the look of a readymade winner at Rangiora today (Thursday). The Lather Up three-year-old has placed three times in five starts and was an eye catching second to the highly-rated Transonic who gave Tim Williams his 100th winner on debut at Ashburton during Cup week. It certainly looked the run of a “next-upper” and she certainly hasn’t been missed by anyone, opening a red hot $1.60 favourite. “She is a tough wee thing,” Holmes says of Spirit Of Atlanta, “she just keeps coming.” The filly has drawn handily at two in the Property Brokers Rangiora “Toot for Tucker” Mobile Pace. “She’ll get off the gate ok so we will be going forward,” says Holmes. “Her form line is good so hopefully she is good to go.” Holmes will also drive two for Brent Weaver – Girlshavtime in Race 4 and Shadow Creek in Race 7. “Brent says Girlshavtime is a bit of work in progress and I quite like Shadow Creek. Three runs back it was a good run.” That was a second at Oamaru on Oamaru 19. He’s since had a seventh at Kaikoura and a fifth at Addington. The Property Brokers Rangiora “Pretty Gutsy” Mobile Pace looks a wide open race including the likes of Acento, Gimmesomelovin, Courage Reaction and Normie Stead. “I’d say we are an each way chance,” Holmes said of Shadow Creek. Holmes’ best horse at the moment is six-win trotter Dreams Pat though he is a bit of a frustration as well. He won well at Kaikoura, only to break out on contention twice when well supported at Addington during Cup week. “He just does not like being confined. If he’s in front or out the back he’s fine.” “He certainly has the motor but he’s got to keep his feet on the ground.” “He’s only four and he has it all of ahead of him.” Right now Dreams Pat is having some downtime before heading down south to the Christmas circuit at Omakau and Cromwell. Racing at Rangiora starts at 2.40pm. View the full article

After receiving approval by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario, the post times for live Thoroughbred racing at Woodbine have been moved for Friday Nov. 21 and Saturday, Nov. 22. The first race post time on Friday, Nov. 21 has been moved up from 4:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. ET, and the post time on Saturday, Nov. 22 has been moved up from 1:05 p.m. to 12 p.m. ET. These adjustments better accommodate extra races to be run following recent weather cancellations. This decision was made in consultation with the HBPA. Friday's 11-race card will be highlighted by the rescheduled Ashbridges Bay Stakes (Race 5) and Lake Ontario Stakes (Race 6). Saturday's 12-race card features the $150,000 Shady Well Stakes. The post Woodbine Adjusts Nov. 21-22 Post Times appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Northview Stallion Station has pensioned Great Notion (Elusive Quality) ahead of the 2026 breeding season. A top stallion in Maryland, Great Notion, who will turn 26-years-old Jan. 1, sired 55 stakes winners led by MGSW Future Is Now, MGSW Havelock and millionaire GSW Coastal Mission. On the track, the son of Elusive Quality broke his maiden on debut at Churchill Downs for Silverton Hill and trainer Darrin Miller. Silverton Hill, who purchased Great Notion as a yearling at Keeneland September in 2001 for $82,000, raced him across the country, winning the listed Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn and earning placings in both the GII Amsterdam Stakes and the GI King's Bishop Stakes at Saratoga in 2003. He retired to stud with a record of 12-3-4-0 and earnings over $194,000. “Great Notion has been nothing short of transformational for breeding in Maryland,” said David Wade, General Manager of Northview Stallion Station. “His ability to upgrade mares, his consistency year after year, and the sheer quality of his runners have elevated our entire regional program. Retiring him now is simply doing right by the horse. He's earned every comfort we can give him, and his impact will continue to be felt for generations. There may never be another one like him. He elevated the entire region–breeders, trainers, owners, and the reputation of Maryland racing itself. We're grateful for every foal he gave us.” Great Notion will remain at Northview Stallion Station for his retirement. The post Leading Maryland Stallion Great Notion Pensioned appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Five-time Eclipse Award winner Irad Ortiz Jr., with a total of 15 wins for the week, and journeyman jockey Glenn Corbett, with two stakes victories at Turf Paradise, tied for Jockey of the Week Nov. 10-16.View the full article

A trio of world-class races at Kenilworth Racecourse in South Africa will anchor a blockbuster qualifying day Jan. 10 for the 2026 Breeders' Cup World Championships via the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series: Win and You're In.View the full article

With more heavy rain in the forecast for Southern California, Del Mar has canceled their Friday race card according to a social media post from the track. Additionally, Del Mar has carded an extra race day to be held Monday, Nov. 24. Friday's cancellation marks the second day in as many weeks as the track also was forced to cancel the Nov. 15 card due to weather. SCHEDULE UPDATE: Racing is cancelled Friday, November 21 due to forecasted heavy rain. A raceday will be added Monday, November 24. — Del Mar Racetrack (@DelMarRacing) November 19, 2025 The post Rain Continues To Plague Del Mar; Friday Racing Canceled appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

A New Bay filly (lot 644) caught the eye of Philipp Stauffenberg and he duly shelled out €650,000 to acquire the half-sister to Group 1 winner Dreamloper (Lope De Vega) during the third session of the Goffs November Foal Sale on Wednesday. Also a half-sister to G2 Park Hill Stakes heroine and G1 Prix de Royallieu second Santorini Star (Golden Horn), the April foal was bred by Y. Y. Fill. Ed Sackville was the underbidder. Said Stauffenberg, “If you look into it, there are very few foals of that quality that hit the market. 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 for me so hopefully the stallion will be doing something positive next year. He should be.” The trio are out of Listed Wild Flower Stakes heroine Livia's Dream (Teofilo). Second dam Brindisi (Dr Fong) won the Listed Dick Hern Fillies Stakes. Luke Lillingston, managing director for Mount Coote Stud, said, “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 Livia's Dream (Teofilo) for 45,000gns at Newmarket. “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.” The post Stauffenberg Buys New Bay Half-Sister To Dreamloper For €650k At Goffs November appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Kentucky-based artist Grayson Reynolds has designed both the official Mint Julep Glass and “Art of the Kentucky Derby” for the 152nd running of the GI Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve, Churchill Downs announced Wednesday. This year's glass features three horses racing at different strides surrounded by roses as a nod to the garland draped over all Derby winners. The names of every official Kentucky Derby champion–from Aristides in 1875 to Sovereignty in 2025–wraps around the back of the glass. Reynolds' official Derby 152 artwork showcases five Thoroughbreds charging from the starting gate beneath the Twin Spires, with red roses bursting from the track to demonstrate the emotion and anticipation of the Run for the Roses. “We are thrilled to showcase Grayson as the first Art of the Kentucky Derby artist to also dsign the official julep glass–two iconic traditions united by her artistry,” said Megan App, Director of Licensing at Churchill Downs Racetrack. “Her work captures the emotion and excitement of The Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports.” Reynolds's “Official Art of the Kentucky Derby” will be featured on the 2026 Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks official racing programs and a variety of merchandise. “I'm incredibly honored to be named the first-ever artist to design both the Kentucky Derby art and julep glass,” Reynolds said. “As a native Kentuckian, traditions of the Derby have been part of my story growing up, and I'm excited to share my work with the world.” Reynolds will be at Churchill Downs Friday, Nov. 28, to sign prints of her artwork. The artist signing will take place in the Churchill Downs Store, located just inside the Paddock Gate, between 2-4 p.m. The full artwork for the Kentucky Derby mint julep glasses and Art of the Derby prints are available for purchase here. The post Kentucky Derby 152 Mint Julep Glass And Artwork Revealed appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The Turf Publicists of America (TPA) will award the 2025 Big Sport of Turfdom award to social media influencer Griffin Johnson, the organization announced Wednesday. The annual award recognizes a person or group who enhances coverage of Thoroughbred racing through cooperation with media and racing publicists. Johnson entered horse racing in 2024 through America's Best Racing's “A Stake in Stardom” campaign as a partial owner of Grade I winner Sandman (Tapit) with West Point Thoroughbreds. Johnson is also a part-owner of Grade II winner Ewing (Knicks Go). As an ambassador of the sport, Johnson has used his social media platforms to promote horse racing and has reached more than 200 million people through videos and content, visiting racetracks and providing backstretch access that has generated more than 35 million views. “In using his platforms and influence, Griffin Johnson has helped grow horse racing by bringing our sport unprecedented exposure,” said TPA President Najja Thompson. “Our membership selected Johnson for this award in recognition of his role as a tremendous ambassador for horse racing and his consistent openness and availability to the media.” The Big Sport of Turfdom award will be presented in person to Johnson at the University of Arizona Race Track Industry Program's annual awards luncheon Dec. 9. The luncheon is part of the 2025 Symposium on Racing & Gaming at Loews Ventana Canyon Resort in Tucson, Ariz. “I'm incredibly honored to receive the 2025 Big Sport of Turfdom Award,” said Johnson. “Horse racing has given me a community, a purpose, and a platform to help grow the sport I love. I'm grateful to everyone who's welcomed me into this industry and inspired me to be a small part of its future.” The Big Sport of Turfdom has been presented annually since 1966. This is the first time Johnson has won the award. Previous winners include jockeys Mike Smith, Pat Day, Chris McCarron, Bill Shoemaker, Angel Cordero Jr., Eddie Arcaro and Gary Stevens; trainers Art Sherman, D. Wayne Lukas and Jack Van Berg; and other individuals who have made significant contributions to the sport, such as Secretariat's owner, Penny Chenery, a two-time winner; announcer Tom Durkin, author Laura Hillenbrand, broadcaster Jim McKay, Turf writer Joe Hirsch and actors Tim Conway and Jack Klugman. The post Griffin Johnson Honored With Big Sport Of Turfdom Award appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

A trio of world-class races at South Africa's Kenilworth Racecourse will anchor a qualifying day for the 2026 Breeders' Cup World Championships via the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series: Win and You're In. Held Jan. 10, the G1 Cape Flying Championship, a 1,000-meter (5/8 mile) weight for age race, will serve as an automatic qualifier for the GI Prevagen Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint. The race joins the G1 King's Plate, a one-mile race for 3-year-olds and up which provides a free berth to the GI FanDuel Breeders' Cup Mile, and the G1 Paddock Stakes, a 1/8-mile race for fillies and mares 3-year-olds & up that is an automatic qualifier for the GI Maker's Mark Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf. As part of the benefits of the Challenge Series, Breeders' Cup will pay the entry fees for the winners of the three South African races to start in the respective Breeders' Cup divisions. “Breeders' Cup Limited is pleased to continue the expansion of our international Breeders' Cup Challenge Series with the addition of the Cape Flying Championship,” said Dora Delgado, Executive Vice President and Chief Racing Officer of Breeders' Cup Limited. “We're grateful for the collaborative efforts that brought this partnership to fruition and look forward to welcoming top South African contenders to the World Championships.” The post Cape Flying Championship Joins Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Vincent Ho Chak-yiu and Jerry Chau Chun-lok continued their duel for the local riders’ spot at next month’s Longines International Jockeys’ Championship (IJC) at Happy Valley on Wednesday night, with Ho narrowly in front after the pair rode doubles. Ho entered the night one winner ahead of his nearest rival and after a brace for both riders, the status quo was maintained following a topsy-turvy evening. It was Chau who struck first on the night, teaming up with trainer David Eustace for a...View the full article

Keen to make “a solid contribution to Britain's bloodstock breeding industry”, Chloe Roddick and Philip Maloney have recruited Idaho (Galileo) from his previous base at Beeches Stud to stand at their new farm, Skuttells Barrough Stud, in Somerset. Having stood under the Coolmore banner from his retirement to stud in 2019, the G2 Hardwicke and G2 Great Voltigeur Stakes winner Idaho – a brother to Highland Reel – currently has first-crop five-year-olds to represent him. These include Idaho Sun, a three-time winner for Harry Fry who is current favourite for an introductory hurdle at Ascot on Friday. Idaho, now 12, will join Arrigo, a Shirocco half-brother to late German champion sire Adlerflug, at Skuttells Barrough. The latter has stood the last two seasons in England at Bulbrook Farm, the former home of Roddick and Maloney. “It is an honour to be able to stand Idaho alongside Arrigo,” Roddick said. “We are immensely grateful to Gerry Aherne of Coolmore Stud for arranging Idaho's transfer, as we are to the Futter family of Yorton Stud who helped us get off the ground by organising Arrigo's move. “Idaho was a tough and top-class racehorse who raced over four seasons, travelled the world and earned £1.2m on the racecourse, He gained victories at courses as diverse as Royal Ascot and Chester and was placed in the Epsom Derby, the Irish Derby and the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes. He raced against the best and his early crops of foals are producing winners under rules and in point-to-points.” Skuttles Barrough Stud is based near the village of Wedmore in England's National Hunt racing heartland. Roddick added, “We were keen to secure our family's future by purchasing our own property. We bought 35 acres of bare farm land and for the past year have been building a stud with all the facilities needed to cater for stallions, walk-in and boarding mares. “We welcome visits from mare owners and believe that with two handsome stallions in Idaho and Arrigo we can make a solid contribution to Britain's bloodstock breeding industry.” Idaho and Arrigo will each stand the 2026 season at a fee of £2,000. The post Idaho Joins UK-Based Skuttells Barrough Stud appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

New Zealand racing is taking a major leap forward with the rollout of a new 4G real-time GPS-RTK (real-time kinematic positioning) timing and tracking system that is transforming how races are run, viewed, and enjoyed for Kiwi racing fans. In a partnership between Entain Australia and New Zealand (the operators of TAB, betcha and Trackside), the regulatory body TAB New Zealand, and technology provider tripleSdata, the next-generation 4G GPS-RTK system is being implemented across 30 racecourses nationwide, covering more than 90 percent of all race meetings across both thoroughbred and harness codes. While GPS technology is used in some international jurisdictions, it is typically limited to two or three key venues. Extending the technology across a large number of New Zealand tracks represents a major commitment to innovation, data quality, and fan engagement. The new system allows racing fans and Trackside viewers to see their horse’s exact position and speed in real time, with live race maps and on-screen graphics displayed on Trackside TV and TAB digital platforms. Trackside viewers enjoyed the enhanced graphics across Ellerslie, Kaikoura, Riccarton and Addington over recent weeks, meaning four of the 30 tracks are now operational with the enhanced technology, and more are coming online in the coming weeks. In addition to transforming live race coverage, the new GPS-RTK system will deliver comprehensive post-race sectional and timing data, offering racing lovers unprecedented insight into race performance. From precise speed and positioning information to detailed sectional breakdowns, punters and fans alike will be able to see exactly how each race unfolded and how every runner performed throughout. This advanced data will soon be available via trackside.co.nz, providing a powerful new tool for form analysis and enhancing the overall racing experience. TAB New Zealand CEO Nick Roberts said the technology brings world-class data and insight to the local industry. “It gives punters more confidence, trainers and owners more insight, and fans a completely new way to experience the thrill of racing,” Roberts said. “This is another example of the investment that can occur in the New Zealand racing industry through strong partnerships.” Entain’s Chief Media Officer Christopher Haigh said rolling out GPS technology on this scale is a significant technical achievement. “Real-time tracking and advanced data analytics are key parts of modernising New Zealand racing and taking the viewing experience to the next level for racing lovers,” Haigh said. “They can analyse races more deeply, understanding which horses are finishing strongly, how pace shapes affect results, and how runners perform under pressure. It takes form analysis in New Zealand to a new level.” tripleSdata CEO and Co-Founder Carlos Santo said tripleSdata is genuinely excited to partner with forward-thinking leaders across the racing industry who share its vision for innovation and the future of race intelligence. “This rollout represents a major technical undertaking, requiring extensive planning and robust infrastructure to deliver consistent performance across every venue. The outcome is a powerful, high-performance network providing true real-time accuracy — a breakthrough for racing and the first deployment of its kind at this scale.” View the full article

Tavi Time (NZ) (Tavistock) will be chasing his third feature race win in 12 months when he lines up in the Gong. Kris Lees will decide in the next 24 hours how many runners he will saddle up in the $1 million the Gong, but Tavi Time will be a definite starter despite a wide draw. The consistent performer has barrier 16 and stablemate Loch Eagle (Lonhro) 18, the latter having also been nominated for the Mooloolaba Cup (1600m) at the Sunshine Coast this weekend. Lees will assess both races before making a call on Loch Eagle but says Tavi Time heads to the Group 3 Gong (1600m) a live chance, provided he gets luck from the gate. “Awkward gates, but there is a forecast for a bit of rain, so you never know with Kembla,” Lees said. “It has always been the plan, the Big Dance into this race with Tavi Time. “He has come on well, and he didn’t have a great deal of luck in the Big Dance.” Tavi Time didn’t make the cut for the Gong last year, instead finishing third in the 1600m consolation, but he finds himself securely in the feature race field on Saturday having collected the Summer and Scone Cups in the past 12 months. He hasn’t been beaten far in any of his three campaign runs, including last time out in the Big Dance (1600m) when just over three lengths from Gong rival Gringotts (NZ) (Per Incanto) after enduring a chequered passage in the straight. Lees says a genuinely run race and an uninterrupted passage are key to Tavi’s Time chances at Kembla Grange. “I’d suggest tempo and a nice, smooth run,” he said. “Big fields, that doesn’t always happen, but if he can get the right set-up, he is always effective.” Lord Of Biscay (Lope de Vega) was also a Gong nomination but didn’t secure a berth and like Tavi Time last year, he will go around in the benchmark 88 consolation. He finished just ahead of his stablemate in the Big Dance and from barrier five, Lees anticipated a bold showing at Kembla. “He didn’t make the field for the Gong, but that race looks a nice option for him,” Lees said. “He’s got a nice gate, and he has been knocking on the door for a win.” View the full article

Surprise weight-for-age packet Aftermath (NZ) (Rock ‘n’ Pop) will be more in his comfort zone at Pukekohe Park this weekend. The Shaun and Emma Clotworthy-trained six-year-old will step out in Saturday’s Gr.3 Myracehorse Counties Cup (2100m) after coping admirably with a major rise in class in his two lead-up performances. The son of Rock ‘N’ Pop finished in behind the major players at Ellerslie in both the Gr.1 Livamol Classic (2040m) and the Gr.3 Balmerino Stakes (2000m). “At weight-for-age, he surprised me with those couple of fourths and back in a handicap he’s definitely a better chance,” Shaun Clotworthy said. “His owner Terry Lines likes to have some of his horses racing on the bigger days if he can, and it just worked out that he was ready for 2000m and there weren’t many other options. “He’d had a different preparation with races called off and the timing was right for him to get up to that distance, and he ran as well as you could expect.” Aftermath has trained on well since his Ellerslie exploits and is a previous course and distance winner. “He’s back on 53kg so he’s meeting some of those better performed horses much better off at the weights, so I think he’s a good chance and Joe Doyle stays with him,” Clotworthy said. “I’ve been thrilled with him, he’s taken a long time to mould into a racehorse and had all sorts of unusual habits. “He used to want to over-race and would get into trouble and was weak and not a great eater. He’s always showed quite a bit of ability, and he’s come solid this preparation.” The stable will also have a strong chance in the opening event on the card, the Stella Artois 1500 Championship Qualifier (1400m), with promising mare Sista Sugar (NZ) (Too Darn Hot). The four-year-old was a strong resuming second last time out at Ellerslie where she copped an interrupted run. “She was good fresh-up and has won over 1400m at Pukekohe, it’s great stake money and she’s drawn well (three) again so she should be pretty competitive,” Clotworthy said. “She’s not very big at all, but she’s got that will to win and is by a great sire in Too Darn Hot.” Sista Sugar will be ridden by Masa Hashizume, who will also partner Billy Blinx (NZ) (Shocking) from an awkward gate (18) in the Dunstan Feeds Stayers’ Championship Qualifier (1600m). “I would have liked a better draw, he’s been going well and is a promising horse. I like him and I think he will continue to develop,” Clotworthy said. View the full article

Having become the most improved galloper in the north this season, the Tony Pike-trained Agera (NZ) (Complacent) may be given his chance at racing’s elite level in the TAB Mufhasa Classic (1600m). The Trentham weight-for-age feature on December 6 has been penciled in by connections and any continuation of the wet weather may well confirm the mission. After winning just two of his 18 starts up to the end of last season, Agera has been a revelation over the past four months, beginning with a Cambridge Polytrack double in August. He followed that with an open 1600m win at Te Rapa in September, then his first stakes win in the Listed Matamata Cup (1600m) in October. Two weeks later he added the Feilding Cup (2050m) at Tauherenikau and hit a career-high in last Saturday’s Gr. 2 Tauranga Stakes (1530m). In a windfall that could not have been predicted at the start of the season, those six wins from eight starts have netted the Complacent six-year-old’s Hong Kong owners just under $260,000 to add to his previous $80,000 in earnings. “It’s quite incredible how much he’s improved this campaign, from being a handy horse to one that’s now stringing them together all the way up to weight-for-age,” Pike said. “His wins in the Matamata and Feilding Cups have put him at the top of the qualifying order for the Taupo Cup (2000m), which has a stake of $100,000 as well as the $50,000 Prezzy Card bonus, so that’s an obvious target in late December. “Looking at how to get him there, the TAB Mile at Trentham three weeks before would work well time-wise, so it’s a possibility but very much weather-dependent.” The pre-nominations market for the TAB Mile has La Crique, Legarto and Waitak equal $4.50 favourites, while Agera is on the fifth line of betting at $14. In the meantime, Pike’s focus this weekend will be on the Counties Cup meeting at Pukekohe Park, where he has five runners headed by recent Ellerslie two-year-old debut winner Harvey Wallbanger in the Listed Counties Challenge (1100m). “His trial win was really good and he was very good at Ellerslie the way he went about it, he was very professional,” Pike said of the son of former leading Australian two and three-year-old performer Home Affairs. “He’s shown natural improvement since, his work on Saturday morning was very good, and from the draw (4) I expect him to be hard to beat.” Pike’s day at Pukekohe starts in the Franklin Long Roofing 2100 with Maldini and High Country in the line-up. “It’s the consolation race for the Rating 75 stayers and both of ours are good chances,” Pike said. “Maldini was unlucky (when fourth at Ellerslie) last time and she’s due a winning turn. High Country is hitting form and third-up he should be ready to step up.” Last-start winner Thooza has a wide draw to contend with in the HR Fiskens & Sons 1400, which will be considered ahead of deciding on a start. “She’s a mare I like and she’s come back much stronger as a four-year-old,” Pike said. “The wide gate is a possible issue and track conditions will also decide whether she runs.” Pike’s team is rounded off by Pax Mundi in the Show By SkyCity 1600, in which she returns to the scene of her win in Rating 65 grade a fortnight ago. “She was very dominant winning at Counties last time and even though she’s stepping up to a reasonably strong Rating 75, that was second-up and she’s got more improvement in her,” Pike said. View the full article

Group Three winner Spencer (NZ) (Derryn) will have a new trainer next to his name in the racebook when he heads to Wanganui on Saturday to contest the Manawatu ITM 1340. Previously trained by Erin Hocquard in Waverley, Spencer has recently joined the Matamata barn of Peter and Shaun McKay, for whom he will have his first start this weekend. The six-year-old son of Derryn was a standout for Hocquard, having won eight and placed in five of his 26 starts for the South Taranaki horsewoman, including victory in last year’s Gr.3 Spring Sprint (1400m) and second placing in the Listed Opunake Cup (1400m). He resumed with a winning performance over 1200m at Trentham in September before returning to the Upper Hutt track last month where he finished sixth over the same distance. Shortly after that run he transferred to the care of the McKays, who are delighted to have a horse of his quality join their barn. “He arrived to us about three weeks ago in good condition and he is looking good,” Peter McKay said. “He seems a pretty happy and easy horse to have around. “It is going to be pretty hard to try to improve on what he has done, he has been a pretty good horse.” McKay said he is still getting a feel for the talented gelding but he is looking forward to stepping him out for the first time this weekend before he heads to Trentham in a fortnight to try and defend his crown in the Spring Sprint. “We are going to learn a bit about him on Saturday,” McKay said. “We are just feeling out things with him at the moment. “This race is a lead-up to the Group Three race at Wellington that he won at Te Rapa last year. “At this stage, that is one of his main aims and we will work things out from there. He is high up in the ratings (100) but there are plenty of races around that he could have a go at.” McKay will also head to Wanganui with promising three-year-old Faultless, who was runner-up last start to subsequent Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) runner-up Affirmative Action. The son of Tivaci is being set for the Listed Trevor & Corallie Eagle Memorial 3YO (1500m) at Ellerslie on Saturday week, and McKay said he is giving him a run in the Happy Hire 3YO 1200 to keep him up to the mark for next week’s stakes test. “It was either go to this race or trial him on Tuesday at Taupo,” McKay said. “His main aim is at Ellerslie next Saturday and we have found that if you space his races too much he just gets a bit above himself. “He hasn’t done too much between runs. He had a gallop yesterday (Tuesday) and he is ticking over really nicely.” Evergreen galloper Sagunto will also represent the stable in the G Bristol & Sons 2040, while Manorbier will contest the Wanganui Insurance Brokers Maiden 1340. “Sagunto has slowly dropped himself down in the ratings but there is nothing to push him down in weight,” McKay said. We will take a three-kilo claim off him (to bring his weight down to 57kg). He is slowly coming to hand, he has taken a while to get his condition off him. He is not the easiest horse to get the weight off him. “Manorbier is looking for that bit of cut in the ground. If there is a bit of sting out of the ground, he should be all good.” Meanwhile, McKay said Wolfgang has returned to Matamata in fine fettle following his unplaced run in the Gr.3 New Zealand Cup (3200m) at Riccarton last Saturday, where he failed to handle the adverse conditions. “He is home safe and happy,” he said. “I am wishing I didn’t start. I had thought about scratching him on the day, but we were down there and with the cost of getting there I thought we better run. In hindsight I probably shouldn’t have run him on that sort of track, it was not to his liking at all.” Further Cups targets are now in the offing, with McKay contemplating a tilt at next month’s Gr.3 SkyCity Hamilton Waikato Cup (2400m) and January’s Gr.3 NZ Campus Of Innovation & Sport Wellington Cup (3200m), a race he won at Trentham earlier this year. “We have pencilled in the Waikato Cup, otherwise there are some races down in Wellington. We will just see how he comes through it and how he is feeling,” McKay said. “The big worry now is that any of the Cups races he is going to be carrying 59kg. “We have nominated for the Wellington Cup and it is still on the cards, we have just got to decide what we are going to do. There are a couple of set weights and penalty races down there which suits him along the way, and if he doesn’t go to the Wellington Cup, we might go to the St Leger, which is set weights and penalties.” View the full article

Trainer Dale Romans, who announced his candidacy for the U.S. Senate earlier this week, has already raised over $750,000 according to his campaign office. In a press release Tuesday night, Romans, who is running as an Independent Democrat, said he has seen “an incredible surge of support for [a] first-time candidate.” “I'm so grateful for this wave of enthusiastic support for our campaign, and our movement grows stronger and wider every day,” Romans said. “People want a senator who has lived the struggles that Kentucky's working families face, and who will only do what's right for Kentucky. As an independent Democrat, I won't be beholden to the national party, and I won't be a puppet of the president. This is the leadership we need to actually get things done in Washington, fix the challenges before us, and improve people's lives in every corner of our great state.” The post Dale Romans Raises $750,000 In Opening Week Of Senate Candidacy appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The Louisiana Racing Commission unanimously approved changes to its proposed void claiming rules at its Nov. 17 meeting, re-inserting some protections that would void a claim if the horse dies or returns to the saddling area lame.View the full article

5. RUNNING WITH CHAOS, DMR, 11-14, 6 1/2f (VIDEO) Beyer Speed Figure: 81 (2nd) (g, 3, by Khozan–House Money, by Wildcat Heir) O-Eduardo Bernal, Larry Buckendorf and Jeffrey Lambert. B-Woodford Thoroughbreds (Fl). T-Bob Hess Jr. J-Edwin Maldonado. He went to post at 28-1, but there was nothing fluky about his improved runner-up finish to Simple Song (see below). Running With Chaos mixed it up from the start in fast fractions, yet still claimed second by outfinishing odds-on favorite Latitude, who had beaten him by eight lengths in his debut. 4. JOKER ON FIRE, AQU, 11-13, 6fT (VIDEO) Beyer Speed Figure: 81 (g, 3, by Practical Joke–Fire Assay, by Medaglia d'Oro) O-Blue Water Stables. B-AJ Suited (NY). T-Bruce Levine. J-Javier Castellano. Switched to turf, Joker On Fire looked like a completely different horse. He missed the break, rallied from midpack and drew away to a convincing four-length win. Nothing on paper suggested a turf renaissance, but he was an eight-race maiden who had always lost ground in the stretch and was beaten in his last four starts by a combined 67 lengths. Dirt clearly wasn't working, so why not try? And now grass looks like his jam. 3. LUCIUS VERUS, IND, 11-10, 6f Beyer Speed Figure: 84 (g, 3, by Violence–Grandacious, by Grand Slam) O-Nirvana Farm and Bow River Ranch. B-Equus Farm (Ky). T-Aaron West. J-Axel Concepcion. In his debut Oct. 3 at Keeneland, he finished ninth of 11 at 46-1 odds. To be fair, he did get squeezed, shuffled back and steadied after the start, and was quickly last and 10 lengths behind. In Indiana Monday, he closed at 5-2 in an infinitely easier five-horse field (the runner-up is a 23-race maiden), went straight to the lead on a sloppy strip and cruised home by 9 1/2 lengths in 1:09.83. 2. A BOURBON FOR TOBY, AQU, 11-13, 1 1/16mT (VIDEO) Beyer Speed Figure: 86 (c, 3, by Bernardini–Kitten's Girl, by Kitten's Joy) O/B-Titletown Racing Stables (Ky). T-Tom Morley. J-John Velazquez. Way back in June, A Bourbon for Toby made the grade for Five Fastest Maidens, and subsequently finished second and third in maiden turf routes at Saratoga. After a detour against graded stakes company in the Jockey Club Derby, he impressively earned his overdue graduation diploma last Thursday, charging away from his competition through the lane. 1. SIMPLE SONG, DMR, 11-14, 6 1/2f (VIDEO) Beyer Speed Figure: 86 (g, 3, by Munnings–Serene Melody, by Street Cry {Ire}) O-Muir Hut Stables. B-Lewis Thoroughbred Breeding (Ky). T-Mark Glatt. J-Kazushi Kimura. This Friday maiden sprint pitted 3-5 favorite Latitude against stablemates Simple Song and Cheever in a battle between three previous Five Fastest Maidens. Latitude and Simple Song went at it from the start along with Running With Chaos (see above) in :21.60 and :43.58 on a lightning-fast surface, and Simple Song kept going, while Latitude backed away. Simple Song's dam, Serene Melody, is out of Hall of Famer Serena's Song. The post Five Fastest Maidens, Presented by Taylor Made: Nov. 10-16 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

By Jonny Turner One heated battle went unnoticed during the excitement of New Zealand Cup Week. A crucial move in the National Junior Drivers’ Premiership has made it all the more important that Carter Dalgety hits the road again and heads to Ascot Park on Wednesday. Dalgety now sits eight wins behind leader Wilson House after the latter racked up six wins during Cup Week. House reined home a winner on both New Zealand Cup Day and Show Day while also taking out four races at Manawatū. Dalgety won just the one race last week but it was a good one – the Group 1 Sires Stakes Fillies Championship with All Of Me. Dalgety has been a regular visitor to Southland throughout the season and the region is set to play a pivotal role in his quest to chase down House’s lead. “I have been loving the trips down to Southland, the people are great and the racing is competitive.” “I have been getting a lot of good support down there which I am obviously very grateful for.” “I have built up a few associations and a few drives, so I just keep coming back.” Dalgety takes six drives on the nine-race twilight card at Ascot Park on Wednesday. Xerion opened the short-priced favourite in Race 8, the Speeding Spur – The Trotting Titan Handicap Trot (7.39pm) on the back of his fresh-up second in a heat of last week’s World Driving Championship. “He went great last week and he probably won’t have to go a lot better to be a great chance.” “He’s off the 10m over 2200m but there are only two horses off the front so hopefully it won’t be too much of a worry.” Dalgety also links up with a short-priced prospect in Okiwi Bay in Race 4, the Bettors Delight – The King Junior Drivers Mobile Pace (5.20pm). “She’s run third to one of ours (Justyouwait) at Ashburton which looks very good form for a race like this.” “You’d think she would have to be a nice chance.” Dalgety also links up with Itsallaboutthemoney, who he has won with before at Ascot Park, in Race 9, The Woodlands Stud Thanks Southland Breeders Mobile Pace (8.09pm). “Probably forget her last start, her runs before that were solid enough and she gets into the right kind of grade on Wednesday to be a top-4 hope.” Outback Man has the game to compete well for Dalgety but he is only second-up and taking on hardened horses. The junior driver also drives Tillaberi who has the motor to match it with her rivals. However, the mare comes off the unruly and must negotiate the often tricky barrier one spot in her standing-start assignment. View the full article

Sponsored by Pedigrees 360 Into Mischief and a Bernardini mare: on the face of it, “the Sovereign remedy” for a sophomore round Churchill Downs in 2025. It produced the GI Kentucky Derby winner, and has now given us a filly moving rapidly through the ranks in Shred the Gnar, winner of the GIII Chilukki Stakes after a six-month layoff. If anything, however, it feels overdue for the dominant stallion of our times to come up with one or two stars from daughters of such an outstanding broodmare sire. Interestingly, the combination had previously clicked best with the ill-fated Owendale, winner of three graded stakes in 2019. And Shred the Gnar just happens to be his full sister. Those of us who distrust anything as conveniently formulaic as “nicks” must be as flexible as we expect others to be. We must acknowledge, for instance, that Into Mischief does seem to have something going with Distorted Humor mares. But his profile with Bernardini reminds us that horses deal more often in exceptions than rules, and permit few short cuts in observation or imagination. One of few “rules” to which I would personally never make an “exception” is that the first filter for a potential cover is always the physical match. But however far that consideration may have animated the exemplary breeders of Owendale and Shred the Gnar, and indeed Sovereignty, our brief here is to consider bloodlines. And Into Mischief has certainly stoked up some interesting genetic embers in this particular Bernardini mare. Aspen Light's family reached America with Sunstep, imported from Britain in the 1920s to become a Claiborne foundation mare, albeit her dynasty's principal distinction concerned a colt making the reverse journey: Never Say Die, foaled at Jonabell before a historic success in the 1954 Epsom Derby. Sunstep's daughter by Omar Khayyam (GB) (who conversely made history as first imported winner of the Kentucky Derby) had meanwhile found her way into the Brookmeade Stable then being pioneered by Isabel Dodge Sloan. The automobile heiress seeded the line impeccably, having this mare covered by Sir Gallahad (Fr); her daughter, by War Admiral; and her granddaughter, by Mahmoud (Fr). The result of this last mating, Indian Nurse, eventually became granddam of dual GI Beldame S. winner Love Sign and European Classic winner Melodist, and additionally unites their pedigrees with those of Star of Cozzene and Matty G., among others. But in the meantime Indian Nurse was among 38 Brookmeade broodmares sold to John W. Galbreath, following her breeder's death, and had again changed hands by the time she had the 17th of her 18 named foals in 1976. Brilliant Touch (Gleaming) showed nothing in her only start but was subsequently given a chance by various breeders, crucially including Keswick Farm, not far from her dam's native pastures in Virginia. It was evidently to support the launch of a Keswick-bred stallion, Northern Fashion, that Peggy Augustus briefly enlisted Brilliant Touch for her broodmare band. And it would turn out that Brilliant Touch's contribution to his debut book, a filly named Sequins, would prove much the most significant legacy of this otherwise forgotten son of Northern Dancer (whose dam Natalma, incidentally, had been co-bred by Augustus' mother Elizabeth). For Sequins had three daughters that have since required attention. Her first foal, of all things named Im Out First (Allen's Prospect), won four black-type prizes; and her daughters include the stakes-winning dam of dual Grade I winner Mor Spirit (Eskendereya), plus the mother of Speed King (Volatile), winner of the GIII Southwest Stakes earlier this year. The final foal out of Sequins, with equal aptness, and rather more poetry, named Evening Star (Malibu Moon), flares still more luminously from the page. For this is the dam of champion Stellar Wind (Curlin)–co-bred by Keswick Stables and Stonestreet; cheapest yearling in the Saratoga sale, at $40,000; but eventually sold to Coolmore for $6 million with six Grade Is. (That investment has not yet paid off, but Stellar Wind's juvenile son by Into Mischief came within a length of breaking his maiden in a Grade I last month, when third in the American Pharoah Stakes.) In between, Sequins had a filly by Roy named Zenith. Though she had won a stakes, and had barely started her second career, Zenith couldn't raise more than $30,000 at the 2006 Keeneland January Sale–exactly the sum that had sufficed for her yearling by Aptitude in the same ring the previous September. Within months, however, that colt had won the GI Breeders' Futurity as Great Hunter. His dam, meanwhile dignified with a cover by Bernardini, duly returned to Keeneland for the November Sale the following year to be cashed out to Stonestreet for $750,000. Stonestreet welcomed Zenith's Bernardini filly the following March, naming her Aspen Light, but she never made the track and had bred only minor winners when culled to Korea for just $25,000 at the 2017 Keeneland November Sale. Once again, however, timing was everything. At the preceding September Sale, her son by the emerging Into Mischief had been sold for $200,000. He turned out to be Owendale, and Aspen Light's Korean purchasers alertly returned her to Kentucky, had her covered by Quality Road, and sold her back at Keeneland for $360,000 to Eaton Sales, agent. The colt she was carrying that day, registered as co-bred by two of the shrewdest brands around, brought $550,000 as a yearling, and then Camas Park Stud and Lynch Bages sent Aspen Light back to Owendale's sire. Into Mischief cost rather more by this stage, but the resulting filly achieved an ample yield when sold to Boardshorts Stables, again through Eaton Sales, for $610,000. And this, of course, is Shred the Gnar. If you want to reduce her talent to Into Mischief over Bernardini, good luck. But a lot of extremely patient, thoughtful breeders have contributed to her page over the past century. Some have been luckier with their timing than others, but that just confirms how this is a long game with few easy answers. Fionn Sweetens Candy's Vintage Year If you took a similarly archaeological approach to one of the year's top sprinters, you would eventually reach the same foundation mare, Sunstep. But the Grade I breakthrough of Ag Bullet has proved of more immediate significance for her sire Twirling Candy–another of whose flourishing daughters, Fionn, last weekend resumed her progress in the GIII Jockey Club Oaks. As ever, Fionn also owes much to her family. It has been wonderfully seeded, for one thing: first five dams by Giant's Causeway, Unbridled's Song, Dehere, Mr. Prospector and Nijinsky. The second and third and fifth of those, moreover, won graded stakes, while the granddam is additionally half-sister to Beau Liam, who's now recycling his speed so effectively at stud. Fionn | Susie Raisher But we really must celebrate a remarkable year for Twirling Candy, with his three elite scorers Ag Bullet, Kilwin and Fionn herself (won the GI Belmont Oaks in the summer) elevating him to fourth in the general sires' table. He has earned only a mild increment to $75,000 for 2026, from $60,000, and you'll pay at least three times as much to reach the superheroes above him in the table. That doubtless reflects his strong orientation to chlorophyll this year, standing behind only Not This Time in turf earnings. But just as we keep rebuking the top European programs for failing to try that horse, Twirling Candy similarly awaits meaningful opportunity over the water. Besides, the last time I checked, the Test Stakes won by Kilwin was, as usual, run on dirt. Among Twirling Candy's numerous other stars on the main track, by the way, note that Pinehurst was bred on the same cross as Fionn. A Grade I-winning juvenile and a turf stayer: another highly “flexible” nick, then! All That Glisters… The fact that the single older resident at Old Friends was Silver Charm would seem to confirm the resilience of the gang whose deeds were evoked by the loss last week, aged 31, of Touch Gold. Others plying their trade around the same time included Skip Away, Swain (Ire), Awesome Again, Real Quiet and Victory Gallop, names that will warm many a heart. Yet almost all proved disappointing stallions, with Ghostzapper earning exemption only for Awesome Again among that lot. Perhaps the most influential horse of that time turned out to be Arch, a relatively peripheral talent, albeit he beat Touch Gold in the GIII Fayette Stakes. Arch is guaranteed an enduring legacy as sire of Blame and damsire of Uncle Mo. Given that he was by Deputy Minister, it's unsurprising that Touch Gold will have made his principal mark through one of his daughters, Party Silks, the dam of Upstart. Already an excellent stallion, Upstart's upgrading mares will soon be cycling through. (Touch Gold, by the way, was key to the ingenious naming of this son of Flatter). But given that Touch Gold came up with two Grade I winners in his very first crop, an overall record of 29 stakes scorers from 16 crops must be counted disappointing. Touch Gold's paddock at Old Friends adjoined that of Silver Charm and, if they could read newspapers, one wonders what memories they might have shared over the fence. Most obviously, the day Touch Gold cost Silver Charm a Triple Crown–but they might also ask why they and their peers, having manifested constitution as well as class, have generally proved so meek in their second careers. The post Breeding Digest: Shred Sheds Light on Role of Mares appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The Goffs November Foal Sale is considered by many to be the jewel in the crown for Goffs – certainly from an Irish perspective – and Tuesday's trade, which followed on from a strong curtain-raiser on Monday, went some way to confirming that opinion. Despite some of the best foals not being due into the ring until Wednesday, trade at the Kildare venue this week has been robust at every level. It's not exactly a secret at this stage that the foal sales at Goffs are popular among buyers but, when some of the leading pinhookers compared the auditorium at Kildare Paddocks to the coliseum in Rome, it went some way in illustrating just how competitive trade was throughout the opening two days this week. At €220,000, a Palace Pier half-sister to recent Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies' Turf runner-up Pacific Mission, rightly stood out when selling to Paul McCartan online. The filly represented an astute piece of business from the Irish National Stud who, at the Tattersalls December Mares Sale last year, purchased the dam Big Break (Dansili) while she was carrying what would become the Tuesday sale-topper at Goffs for just 30,000gns. “It was a great bit of luck really,” Irish National Stud boss Cathal Beale said in an effort to deflect any praise for sourcing the filly who hails from a deep Juddmonte family for what is now proving to be a snip. “Ninety nine times out of 100 you buy these mares and nothing bounces your way, but on this occasion, everything that could've gone right, went right. We're extraordinarily lucky that Palace Pier has had such a good season.” He added, “The mare herself always had lots of residual value – she's a lovely Dansili mare, but the two-year-old and the three-year-old have turned out to be very good. The Frankel horse [the 96-rated Gran Descans] has been good all season and then the two-year-old, by Lope De Vega, is Pacific Mission, and she's got her black-type and was unlucky at the Breeders' Cup. There's a helluva lot of luck attached to it, more than anything else though. “It's a family we know well with Famous Name and it's a deep Juddmonte pedigree. And when you buy out of the Juddmonte draft, you always have a chance. We knew we had a Frankel, a Lope De Vega and a Kingman yearling coming through, so it didn't take a lot of imagination from that point of view. Plus, she's a nice mare by Dansili, who's a very good broodmare sire. We were delighted to get her on the day and she's been very lucky since. She was covered by Shouldvebeenaring earlier this year.” McCartan, the master of Ballyphilip Stud, has been active all week under that guise, but signed for the Palace Pier filly under the banner of CBS Bloodstock. He said, “She has a beautiful Juddmonte pedigree, and the update with Pacific Mission was a big factor. We will hopefully get more black-type there. A beautifully-balanced filly, all quality, and we all liked her. These are the ones that you need to be buying.” He added, “As I said about a filly I bought last year, if the pinhook didn't work out, I'd be very, very happy to keep her and race her. Palace Pier has made a great start and that was a big factor, too. He is a very admired stallion now – and sought after. The whole package was great. The dam's full-brother Famous Name was as tough a horse as you could imagine.” 'It's Easy To Sell A Horse Like Him – He Will Fill Most People's Eye' One of the more interesting purchases on the day came when brothers Shane and Alex Power of Tradewinds Stud went to €100,000 to secure a Make Believe colt from Highpark. The Make Believe is out of a Montjeu mare who has produced two black-type performers in Pivoine (Redoute's Choice) and Soldanelle (Siyouni). “Physically, you don't see too many like him,” Alex Power commented after the purchase. “Sometimes you have to forget about fashion and go with what's in front of you and he fitted that bill. He was too expensive but we'll enjoy feeding him every day over the next year or so. I'd say he's a horse you could bring to Book 1 or 2 at Newmarket or possibly back here for the Orby. We'd be fairly open that way. Hopefully the two-year-old [Havana Flower (Havana Grey] can give us an update. She looks potentially quite nice.” Speaking on the market, he added, “It's hard and, at the end of the day, he cost more than you'd like to be giving for horses by the unfashionable stallions. However, it is easy to sell a horse like him – I think you could pull him out to anyone and he will fill most people's eye. Whether they want to buy a Make Believe or not is up to them but he will be one of the better-looking horses they look at.” Let's not forget that plenty of people were happy to buy the progeny of the Ballylinch Stud-based resident at the recent horses-in-training sales at Tattersalls. In fact, one gelding by the sire, Fantasy World, who reached a rating of 103 after landing the Listed Noel Murless Stakes at Ascot, sold for 600,000gns. “Exactly, and I think there is plenty of potential left in that horse still,” said Power of Fantasy World. “There are a couple of horses in Australia by Make Believe that are quite smart and, you'd never know, our fella might capture someone's imagination Down Under next year.” He continued, “We've gone back to what we did before, which is concentrating on buying the nice horse with a good pedigree rather than chasing the horses by the right sires. If we made a mistake this year, that could have been it. And look, it was a very hard year for pinhookers. This year's yearlings were bought off the back of roaring trade last year so maybe it was a combination of things that led to pinhookers not having it straightforward this year. But this sale has been very good again with great crowds around the place. The Irish breeder is very good at what they do and there are plenty of nice horses around the place. We've bought five so far and we're where we expect to be.” Tradewinds spent €251,000 on those five foals. That spend included a €75,000 Awtaad filly from Stanley Lodge. Subplots Figures: Of the 246 lots offered on Tuesday, 203 were sold at clearance rate of 83% [down 1% on last year]. The €8,720,500 turnover climbed by 4% while the €42,959 average was up by 4% and the €35,000 median up by 6%. Havana Grey: It's never a grey day when the progeny of Havana Grey go under the hammer and a filly, bred by Amo Racing, proved to be one of the most expensive lots on the day when selling to Abacus Investments for €190,000. She is out of Irish Steps, a Giant's Causeway mare that Amo Racing bought in foal to the Whitsbury Manor stallion at the Tattersalls December Mares Sale for 180,000gns. It was Alex Elliott who signed for the filly who, according to the agent, is most likely to be reoffered as a yearling. Oakleigh Bloodstock: Brigitte Murphy and Basil Brindley have enjoyed a good start at Goffs with their debut consignment. Operating under Oakleigh Bloodstock, the couple has sold nine foals for a combined sum of €337,000. That haul included a €115,000 Mehmas colt to Camas Park Stud on Tuesday. Bayside Boy: Lot 375, the Ballinacurra Stud-consigned Bayside Boy half-sister to Ten Bob Tony (Night Of Thunder), found a suitable home at €140,000 given it was Ed Sackville who purchased the filly by the young stallion. Sackville manages the interests of TBT Racing, whose white, orange and blue silks it is that Ten Bob Tony races in and, while the agent did not confirm whose colours the filly will sport in the future, he did reveal that she was purchased with view towards being a race filly. He said, “She's had a good pedigree update this year with Ten Bob Tony and she's been bought to race. Being by Bayside Boy, another Dubawi line stallion, makes her closely related to Ten Bob Tony. I've bought a few yearlings by the sire this year too.” Jamie Railton: A buying team of Jamie Railton, Peter Moloney and more went to €135,000 for a Dark Angel colt from Ballinacurra Stud. Railton confirmed the colt would be offered for resale next year. He said, “He is a very smart-looking colt by Dark Angel. A three-parts brother to a Group 2 winner [Albehayeb], he's out of a full-sister to a good horse in Humidor (Camacho).” More Magic From Mehmas Leaves Tally-Ho Stud In Clover Anything you can do, I can do better. Certainly, that was the theme from the Tally-Ho Stud roster when, 24 hours on from Starman lighting up Monday's session, Mehmas took over the mantle with six individual six-figure lots through the ring on the day. All told, 11 foals by Mehmas sold for an average of €103,750. The most expensive of which was a €150,000 colt consigned by Clare Manning's Boherguy Stud that went the way of Peter and Ross Doyle on behalf of Pier House Stud. Brendan Morrin of Pier House Stud commented, “I thought he was one of the best by Mehmas in the sale. He is out of a Pivotal mare, and I don't have to tell you about Pivotal mares. We have had success with them. He was a great mover, and to be honest it was more than I wanted to give for him, but that's the way the market is. He is a nice horse and came recommended from Clare [Manning]. I can't really say much more, but I am happy to get him.” He added, “We have been very lucky with Mehmas. He is a top sire, and I actually think he will have a big year next year. He is a very, very good sire. We have had a lot of Acclamations, and [the Mehmas horses] are like Acclamation's. They try – when you see them in races their head is right down and they give their best.” This week's sale has already confirmed what many breeders were fully aware of; Tally-Ho Stud is in a pretty enviable position to play home to two of the most exciting stallions in Ireland. Not only has Mehmas already made it, but some of the best judges in the business are backing the progeny of Starman – who we all know has made an outstanding start with his juveniles – training on next year and going to an even higher level judging by the price tags that some of his foals have made. Factor that into the fact there has been plenty of love for young guns Good Guess and Persian Force along with the Daddy of them all, Kodiac, proving he still has a lot to offer when one of his foals – the last lot into the ring – made €100,000 to Michael Fitzpatrick, things are looking pretty rosey in the garden in County Westmeath. Thought for the Day One of the sharpest pinhookers in the business made some interesting observations about the psyche behind the art of his craft and compared it to being a National Hunt jockey. In his own words, he took a few falls this year at the yearling sales and, while he wears the scars of one or two of the more punishing tumbles, he was back on the horse at Goffs this week. Turns out the National Hunt jockey and the pinhooker have more in common than you would think. Two of the bravest animals in the game. The post Powerful Trade At Goffs Headlined By Irish National Stud’s 220k Palace Pier Filly appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article