Wandering Eyes

The Geelong Racing Club (GRC) has just announced a sponsorship deal, with one of Australia’s leading bookmakers, Ladbrokes which is set to bring a boost to the club’s flagship races. Starting this August, Ladbrokes will be prominently featured throughout the club, with investments planned for facilities. Luke Rayner, CEO of GRC, expressed his excitement about the partnership: “Our key feature days, The Ladbrokes Geelong Cup and Ladbrokes Coastal Classic on Super Saturday, will undoubtedly reach new heights under this partnership.” Rayner also recognised the club’s old partner while highlighting the importance of this new alliance. “Firstly, I would like to recognise the commitment and contribution of our current partner, bet365,” Rayner said. “This was not a decision that was made lightly, and we ran a robust process to ensure the best possible fit for the club moving forward. Ultimately, we want to be a progressive club, and we feel the partnership with Ladbrokes puts us in a strong position to deliver upon this into the future.” This partnership is anticipated to raise the profile of both the Geelong Cup and Coastal Classic races, drawing increased participation and enriching the racing experience for enthusiasts and punters. Ladbrokes is the sister company to Neds, which is known for being one of the most competitive bookmakers in horse racing. The collaboration is anticipated to bring in income, for the Geelong Racing Club. Horse racing news View the full article

Dual Group 1 winner Zoustar had a small amount of his shares sold for $1.3 million in an auction by Inglis Digital on Wednesday. Bangaloe Stud snagged the 1.6% stake after a bidding war with the share originally offered by Qatar Bloodstock. Zoustar, a stallion with a $275,000 stud fee, mated with 155 mares in 2023, solidifying his status as one of the most sought-after stallions in the breeding industry. The Inglis Digital advertisement highlighted why breeders and investors would be keen to invest in this stallion through auction for the first time. This sale marks a milestone in recognising Zoustar’s value, with horses like Sunlight, Zougotcha, and Zoutori branching from the 13-year-old stallion. Horse racing news View the full article

A federal court judgment totaling more than $486,000 in a labor law case filed against Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen remains under appeal.View the full article

The Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association will hold the 39th annual TOBA National Awards Dinner on Saturday, Sept. 7 at Fasig-Tipton in Lexington, Ky, the organization said in a release Wednesday. The National Awards Dinner honors owners and breeders from 21 states and Canada. Also recognized are the National Owner of the Year, National Breeder of the Year and a number of other honors will be handed out. “We are thrilled to showcase the TOBA National Awards Dinner at Fasig-Tipton again this year,” said Dan Metzger, president of TOBA. “Thoroughbred owners and breeders are the lifeblood of our sport, and it is our privilege to recognize their outstanding achievements from 2023. We are very appreciative of the support from Boyd Browning, Fasig-Tipton and all of our sponsors in making this evening possible.” Online tickets for the National Awards Dinner will go on sale in July. For sponsorship opportunities please call Barkley N. Porter at (859) 276-6793, or email at barkley@toba.org. The post TOBA To Host National Awards Dinner At Fasig-Tipton Sept. 7 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Is there any stallion out there who is better represented in the juvenile division than Mehmas (Ire)? He seems to be banging in a winner every other day in Britain and Ireland but it's his statistics with two-year-olds that are really off the charts. This year alone, with the season still in its infancy, Mehmas has sired 17 individual two-year-old winners in Europe and enjoyed 19 successes overall. For context, fellow Tally-Ho Stud resident Kodiac (GB) is on 12 individual juvenile winners while No Nay Never has eight, Soldier's Call (GB) seven and first-season sire Sergei Prokofiev, who many have been showering with praise, is on that same number. So Mehmas is off to a flyer. But is anyone surprised? This year's crop of juveniles were covered at a fee of €25,000, which was the July and Richmond Stakes winner's most expensive book of mares at the time. Not only was the quality up for that covering in 2021, but so, too, were the numbers. Following a record-breaking first crop, where he recorded 56 individual winners, breeders flocked to Mehmas, who covered 292 mares in 2021. That number was up from 118 on a €7,500 fee in 2020. From that first crop, Minzaal (Ire) went on to score at the highest level when landing the Sprint Cup at Haydock, as did Supremacy (Ire), who won the Middle Park. Both of those horses are now standing at stud in Ireland for €15,000 and €10,000 respectively. Given what he has achieved to date, producing stallion sons and 22 horses rated in excess of 100 from lesser books, one can only imagine that things are set to get even better for Mehmas. And who knows, next week could be the beginning of that next chapter at Royal Ascot where he is likely to have a number of big chances. Aesterius (Ire) could well be the most exciting of the juvenile runners. Bought by Blandford Bloodstock's Richard Brown for £380,000 at the Goffs UK Breeze-Up Sale from Willie Browne of Mocklershill, the colt made a impressive start to his career at Bath and has the option of the Norfolk or Windsor Castle. The Archie Watson-trained runner is the most expensive progeny of Mehmas ever sold at the breeze-up sales but Perfect Part (Ire) did her bit to illustrate what a punch her sire packs. Offered at the same sale by Church Farm and Horse Park Stud, Perfect Part was sold for just £10,000 after putting in a solid breeze without doing anything fancy. Perhaps it was that inauspicious price tag that allowed her to be sent off at odds of 125-1 for the Hilary Needler S. on debut at Beverley, but there was nothing ordinary about how she slalomed through the field to win going away at the line for trainer Brian Ellison. When you add The Man (Ire), an impressive debut winner for trainer Richard Spencer and owner Phil Cunningham, Kempton scorer Tales Of The Heart (Ire), Leicester winner Blinky (Ire) and then the Windsor Castle-bound Sir Yoshi (Ire), it becomes evident that few stallions will be better-represented in the juvenile division at the royal meeting. And that's not to mention those who haven't got off the mark as of yet. It's understood that those closest to California Dreamer (GB), last seen finishing an honourable third to Fairy Godmother (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) in a Group 3 contest at Naas, are confident that you will see a big performance from the Adrian Murray-trained filly at Ascot. With so much quality to look forward to this season, it might seem odd that Tally-Ho Stud decided to drop the covering fee for Mehmas this year to €50,000, down from €60,000 last year. However, this was in line with a number of other studs trimming their stallion fees in response to a tougher year for many breeders at the yearling sales. Stiff competition from Havana Grey (GB) and others is also understood to have been behind the idea at the time. However, if the O'Callaghan family at Tally-Ho Stud felt they had to sit on their hands somewhat until the 2021 crop came through the ranks, better can be expected from this year and beyond given that Mehmas has stood for €50,000, €60,000 and now €50,000 again since 2022. Indeed, plenty of shrewd breeders clearly backed Mehmas to make a splash this season, with one person close to the camp revealing that the stallion already has 170 mares in foal. Some will argue that, given the numbers that Mehmas has running for him, he should be achieving everything that he is. But nothing should be taken away from what Mehmas has recorded to date and is on track to achieve this season. Royal Ascot promises to be a big week for him. The post Winning Machine: Big Week Could Be In Store For Mehmas At Royal Ascot appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Juddmonte's hitherto unraced Zilfee (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}–Concentric {GB}, by Sadler's Wells), who is a half-sister to the operation's icon Enable (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}), made a winning start to her career with a gutsy effort going one yard shy of 11 furlongs in Tuesday's Unibet/EBF Maiden Fillies' S. at Kempton. 2nd-Kempton, £7,000, Mdn, 6-12, 3yo/up, f/m, 10f 219y (AWT), 2:19.59, st/sl. ZILFEE (GB) (f, 3, Sea The Stars {Ire}–Concentric {GB} {SW & GSP-Fr, $117,776}, by Sadler's Wells) recovered from an early stumble to race fourth passing the judge first time and improved one spot turning onto the backstraight in this debut. Shaken up to reduce arrears off the home turn, the 7-1 chance was ridden to gain a narrow edge approaching the final furlong and kept on in resolute fashion to deny Incensed (GB) (Ulysses {Ire}) by a short-head after a to-and-fro tussle. Zilfee is the 11th of 14 foals and eighth scorer from as many runners produced by stakes-winning G3 Prix de Flore runner-up Concentric (GB) (Sadler's Wells). The March-foaled homebred bay is a full-sister to Listed Steventon S. runner-up Derab (GB) and a half-sister to multiple Group 1-winning dual G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe heroine Enable (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}), G2 Prix de Pomone and G3 Prix Allez France third Contribution (GB) (Champs Elysees {GB}) and G3 Musidora S. second Entitle (GB) (Dansili {GB}). Contribution is the dam of G3 Prix Penelope victrix Agave (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}). Zilfee is also kin to the unraced 2-year-old colt Concert Tour (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) and a yearling colt and weanling filly by Dubawi (Ire). Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $4,816. O-Juddmonte; B-Juddmonte Farms Ltd (GB); T-John & Thady Gosden. Oh, hello there … Sea The Stars filly – a half-sister to Enable – shows a touch of class and a serious will to win on debut in the @unibet/@BritishEBF fillies' maiden @kemptonparkrace @KShoemark | @JuddmonteFarms pic.twitter.com/7N5rcqXWzs — Racing TV (@RacingTV) June 12, 2024 The post Half-Sister to Enable Displays Grit in Kempton Debut Win appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

For France, there's a Classic weekend to contend with before Royal Ascot commences but next week's action in England could well include the strongest French challenge ever assembled for the royal meeting. Next Friday's G1 Coronation S. is already being hotly anticipated for its potential clash of the English, Irish and French 1,000 Guineas winners Elmalka (GB), Fallen Angel (GB) and Rouhiya (Fr), but before that the G1 St James's Palace S. could provide an equally enthralling meeting of some of the best three-year-olds in Europe. Notable Speech (GB) and Rosallion (Ire) look set to renew their 2,000 Guineas rivalry, while Poule d'Essai des Poulains winner Metropolitan (Fr) will join the line-up. France will also be represented by the progressive Darlinghurst (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), who is one of three potential runners for Marseille-based trainer Jerome Reynier. The Yeomanstown Stud-bred colt is unbeaten in his last four starts, including the G3 Prix de Guiche, in which he beat subsequent G1 Prix du Jockey Club runner-up First Look (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}). “I'm really looking forward to seeing this race, it is going to be very interesting with all three of the Guineas winners. It will be interesting to see who is the number one three-year-old colt in Europe,” Reynier said. He and owner Jean-Etienne Dubois clearly have much confidence in Darlinghurst having recently retained him at €590,000 when offered for auction through an Arqana Online Sale. “Darlinghurst has beaten First Look who was runner-up in the French Derby, his form is very good and we're very happy with the horse. He is very easy to deal with and I know he will travel well and is in good shape,” he continued. “His main quality is his turn of foot and if he can follow a horse with his high cruising speed and Christophe [Soumillon] can show him a gap or bring him on the outside, then he can use his turn of foot in the closing stages and he will be finishing really well.” Reynier will also be returning to Ascot with last year's G1 Queen Elizabeth II S. runner-up Facteur Cheval (Ire) (Ribchester {Ire}), who will again tackle the straight mile in Tuesday's G1 Queen Anne S. The Team Valor-owned five-year-old was last seen on Dubai World Cup night, when he won the G1 Dubai Turf in the hands of Maxime Guyon. “He came back from the Dubai Turf in really good shape and I was really happy with him,” the trainer reported. “The form from Dubai is amazing. The second Namur ran a cracker when second in the Yasuda Kinen and the Godolphin horse who finished fourth [Measured Time] won a Grade I in America at the weekend. Even the horse who finished eighth [Calif] won the La Coupe in ParisLongchamp and it was a very strong race.” He added of Facteur Cheval, “Maybe we could see him over a mile and a quarter in the future, but right now we had the choice between the Prince of Wales's or the Queen Anne and we thought it would be good to stick to going one mile straight. You always need that little bit more stamina than just being a miler and I think it fits him well.” Completing Reynier's trio of contenders is the G2 Prix d'Harcourt winner Zarakem (Fr) (Zarak {Fr}), who is being aimed at the G1 Prince of Wales's S. He said, “He won five in a row last year as a three-year-old, including two Listed races, and his reappearance was really good in the Prix d'Harcourt in early April. We supplemented him for the Ganay but everything went wrong and he was too keen and he burnt too much petrol. Now, we will be riding him from the back [at Ascot] like we did in the Harcourt, waiting out the back for a place and you never know what can happen in this kind of race. If there is enough pace he will be able to come from behind.” Reynier, who has had a superb start to the season with 10 stakes winners already to his credit, is currently fifth in the French trainers' table. He added, “A first win in Britain during Royal Ascot would be unreal, so I just hope the horses travel safe ahead of D Day. “Ascot is something I have been watching on TV for many years, I was lucky enough to run Royal Julius in the Prince of Wales's six years ago. “That was a good trip, I was driving the horse box myself and taking care of the horse myself and it was a great memory. This year I will only be racing on the Tuesday and Wednesday and we are staying Monday until Thursday so we will be able to enjoy it. “When we came over for the Sussex Stakes, we flew over, the horse ran and then we were dashing to catch our flight so I wasn't really able to enjoy it and the same with the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes, I wasn't able to stay for the Champion Stakes as the flight was straight after the race. “This time we will make sure we will enjoy ourselves and I will be in the French tent in the car park having a good time.” The post Reynier Taking on Trio of Guineas Winners With Darlinghurst appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The top three finishers from the May 18 Vagrancy Stakes (G3) at Aqueduct Racetrack—Leave No Trace, Big Pond, and Hot Fudge—battle seven others in the $200,000 Bed o' Roses Stakes (G2) June 15 there.View the full article

Following Wednesday's confirmation stage, G1 2,000 Guineas winner Notable Speech (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) is one of 11 possible runners in the G1 St James's Palace S. on the opening day of Royal Ascot on Tuesday, June 18. Unbeaten in four starts for Charlie Appleby, Notable Speech will be tasked with trying to confirm his Newmarket superiority over runner-up Rosallion (Ire) (Blue Point {Ire}), who also has Ascot firmly in his sights having resumed winning ways with a determined victory in the G1 Irish 2,000 Guineas at the Curragh last time. Other notable entries include last year's G1 National S. winner Henry Longfellow (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire})–one of four colts still in contention for Aidan O'Brien–and the G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains hero Metropolitan (Fr) (Zarak {Fr}), who was supplemented at a cost of £46,000 on Wednesday. The G1 Queen Anne S. which kicks off the meeting could feature up to 16 runners, including the 2023 runner-up Inspiral (GB) (Frankel {GB}), a six-time winner at the top level and a key ride for Kieran Shoemark in his first season as the retained rider at John and Thady Gosden's Clarehaven Stables. Speaking to Boylesports, Shoemark said of Inspiral, “She had a fantastic year last year, capping it off at the Breeders' Cup. She returned in the Lockinge and needed the run [when finishing fourth], maybe more so than we anticipated. She has been in great order since.” The G1 Lockinge S. was won by Inspiral's stable-mate Audience (GB) (Iffraaj {GB}) and he too remains in contention for the Queen Anne, along with Charyn (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) and Big Rock (Fr) (Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire}), who finished second and sixth, respectively, in the Newbury feature. Last year's G1 Queen Elizabeth II S. winner Big Rock is set to be joined on the journey from France by Facteur Cheval (Ire) (Ribchester {Ire}), who was last seen gaining the first Group 1 success of his career in the Dubai Turf at Meydan in March. The other top-level race on the card is the King Charles III S. in which leading fancies Big Evs (Ire) (Blue Point {Ire}), Regional (GB) (Territories {Ire}), Asfoora (Aus) (Flying Artie {Aus}) and Kerdos (Ire) (Profitable {Ire}) have all stood their ground in a 19-strong entry. Added to the race at a cost of £46,000 was the George Scott-trained Seven Questions (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}), who won the G3 Palace House S. at Newmarket at the beginning of May before finishing third behind Kerdos in the G2 Temple S. at Haydock three weeks later. “Seven Questions seems to be improving all the time,” Scott said of the three-year-old. “We could not be more happy with him and we were delighted with his work this morning. He showed himself to be in great form. He is a horse who seems to be progressing with every start, so we have decided to push the button on the supplementary entry for the King Charles. “His form ties in quite nicely with a couple of the main players in the race, but at the same time, we've got to be realistic. You're not supplementing a 6-4 shot, he's probably going to be 14-1 or 16-1, but in an open race we feel it's worth taking a chance.” Elsewhere on the card, 31 two-year-olds have been entered in the G2 Coventry S. over six furlongs. They include four for Ballydoyle– headed by the G3 Marble Hill S. runner-up Camille Pissarro (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB})–and Cowardofthecounty (Ire) (Kodi Bear {Ire}), trained by Aidan O'Brien's son Joseph and an impressive winner on his debut at the Curragh. “Cowardofthecounty has had a good preparation since his debut,” said the trainer. “The plan has always been to come here since then. He made a really good debut and the form of the race has worked out well.” The post Notable Speech And Inspiral Among Star Entries For Day One Of Royal Ascot appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Space Legend the Latest Addition to Wathnan Racing Team Wathnan Racing's exciting team of horses for Royal Ascot has been bolstered further by the acquisition of the smart three-year-old prospect Space Legend (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) from Hong Kong-based owner Bon Ho. Blandford Bloodstock's Richard Brown, who has been charged with assembling some enticing prospects for the Emir of Qatar's burgeoning racing operation, confirmed the purchase on Wednesday. He said, “Space Legend is a lovely, progressive type, typical of the best by his sire. We're really looking forward to seeing how he develops in the months and seasons ahead.” The colt, who was the facile winner of a Leicester maiden in April before being narrowly touched off when second in the Listed Cocked Hat S. at Goodwood on May 25, is being aimed at the G2 King Edward VII S. by his trainer William Haggas. Bred by the Tsui family's Sunderland Holdings, Space Legend was bought as a yearling for Bon Ho for 150,000gns at Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale by Mark McStay of Avenue Bloodstock. The post Space Legend the Latest Addition to Wathnan Racing Team appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority announced June 12 the release of its 2024 First Quarter Metrics Report that saw a 38% decrease in racing-related fatalities compared with the first quarter of 2023.View the full article

As California attempts to navigate a world without Golden Gate Fields, the strength of the California-bred program will play a crucial role in racing's survival.View the full article

Jockey Luis Saez returns to the Churchill Downs riding colony June 12 following his historic victory aboard Dornoch in Saturday's Belmont Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Race Course, his second victory in the past four runnings of the race.View the full article

Former champion jockey Oisin Murphy will ride G1 QIPCO 1000 Guineas runner-up Ramatuelle (Justify) in the G1 Coronation S. at Royal Ascot on June 21. Murphy replaces Aurelien Lemaitre. The filly, who earned a 'TDN Rising Star' badge on debut, was third to the re-opposing Elmalka (GB) (Kingman {GB}) and Porta Fortuna (Ire) (Caravaggio) at Newmarket. The G3 Prix du Bois and G2 Prix Robert Papin heroine was second to dual Group 1 winner Vandeek (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}) in the G1 Prix Morny at two. In her 3-year-old bow, she found only Romantic Style (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) too good in the G3 Prix Imprudence at Deauville, missing by just a half-length in April. The Irishman said of the Christopher Head trainee, “I thought she ran very well in the Guineas and it looks to be one of the most competitive races of the week. “There are a lot of stars in there and there is a whole host of them who can win, but she was very good at two and has done nothing wrong this year. [Qatar Racing]'s Sheikh Fahad is part of her ownership along with the former NBA star Tony Parker and a few others.” Already successful aboard 11 Royal Ascot winners to date, Murphy will also be in action aboard Aussie raider and G1 King Charles III S. entrant Asfoora (Aus) (Flying Artie {Aus}) for Henry Dwyer, as well as Kitty Rose (GB) (Invincible Army {Ire}), who is bound for the Sandringham S. for Aussie co-trainers Mick Price and Michael Kent, Jr. Asfoora, a multiple group winner in Australia, was a good fourth in the G2 Temple S. at Haydock on May 25. “Asfoora would have needed her run at Haydock on tiring ground but felt very good when I rode her yesterday morning,” Murphy added. “I rode her just over four furlongs on the grass in Newmarket and she is fit and ready to go. Hopefully she can put up a bold show.” He said of the former Natalia Lupini trainee, “Kitty Rose was trained in Ireland and has been with her Australian connections only a short time. But she's a big, powerful filly who has good form. “She is going to carry a lot of weight in the Sandringham, but it often takes a group filly to win the race and she has already proven that she is that–she's a very good ride to pick up.” Murphy Reunites With Tamfana In Diane Prior to the start of Royal Ascot, Chantilly will host the G1 Prix de Diane Longines on Sunday, June 16, and Murphy will ride 1000 Guineas fourth Tamfana (Ger) (Soldier Hollow {GB}) for trainer David Menuisier. Notably unlucky in that Newmarket showpiece, the bay was third one race before the Guineas in the Prix Imprudence. “I thought that when we would take her over a longer trip she would be better and I thought we would use the Guineas as a stepping stone for the Prix de Diane, but at the same time I did say to the owners we were running at Newmarket to win–it was not just a prep race it was a proper target,” said Menuisier. “She was travelling alongside Ryan Moore on Ylang Ylang (GB) (Frankel {GB}) and when I saw Ryan struggling and our filly still travelling I thought if she gets the gap, she surely can't get beat. Sadly she didn't get the gap.” The Frenchman, who operates out of Sussex, added on the jockey switch, “Jamie [Spencer] did absolutely nothing wrong, I said it at the time and I say it again. “Oisin has always been number one and has come down a few times this year and last year to work the filly and I always made it clear to Jamie's agent whenever Oisin is available he would ride the horse. It is nothing to do with the ride in the Guineas. “I'm not sure what else he could do he does not have wings, he could not fly over the wall of horses in front of him. I think to the day I die I won't have any regrets–first of all about the jockey booking and secondly how he rode the race. We have to move on and Oisin Murphy rides and it has always been the plan.” The post Oisin Murphy Will Ride Ramatuelle In Coronation Stakes appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The Henry Cecil Open Weekend committee announced on Wednesday that the 2024 event will support the newly-formed Newmarket Housing Trust as the main charity beneficiary. Racing Welfare, a long-standing charity partner, will continue to be supported by the Open Weekend which takes place this year on September 21-22. The event has adopted a revised format for 2024, with all Newmarket trainers now set to open their doors on a bi-annual basis, having been split into two groups. 24 yards will be open to the public this year, including John and Thady Gosden's Clarehaven Stables which had not previously opened during the weekend. The likes of Sir Mark Prescott, Simon and Ed Crisford, Michael Bell and Charlie Fellowes will also welcome visitors in 2024. Several other sites across the town will be open for the public to explore, including the National Stud, Injured Jockeys Fund Peter O'Sullevan House, British Racing School, Jockey Club Rooms, National Horseracing Museum, Tattersalls Bloodstock Auctioneers and Rossdales Equine Hospital. Charlie Fellowes, chairman of the Henry Cecil Open Weekend, said, “I am incredibly proud to chair the Henry Cecil Open Weekend and to see first-hand the contribution the event has made to Newmarket. As an industry we must showcase all the elements of our sport and the event is a unique opportunity to welcome new visitors and give them exclusive behind the scenes access. “My thanks must go to all the sponsors, partners, trainers and equine sites who support the event and a special thanks to both Juddmonte and the Niarchos family for their continued support [as sponsors], all without whom the event would not be possible.” Tickets are available to purchase from Monday, July 1. Tickets are £15 when purchased in advance and £20 on the day, while children aged under 16 go for free. Further information can be found here. The post New Format And Charity Partner Announced For The Henry Cecil Open Weekend appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Legendary handler lands three-timer at city circuit with consistent five-year-old successful in Class Two featureView the full article

Every week, the TDN posts a roundup of the relevant Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA) related rulings from around the country. Among this week's rulings, trainer Adolfo Macias has been suspended 18-months and fined $12,500 for the possession of levothyroxine, a banned substance under HISA. Levothyroxine is a synthetic thyroid hormone used to treat ailments like hypothyroidism. Due to its metabolic properties, levothyroxine is believed to aid recovery in performance horses and help weight loss. There is also a possible link between levothyroxine and equine sudden cardiac death. There is currently no detailed explanation of Macias's ruling on the Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit (HIWU) website. His suspension began on Nov. 2, 2023. Chris Hartman has also been suspended 15-days and fined $1,000 after his trainee, Necker Island, tested positive for acepromazine after winning the Mighty Beau S. at Ellis Park nearly a year ago. Acepromazine is a sedative ubiquitously used across U.S. backstretches. His suspension began on June 6. NEW HISA/HIWU STEWARDS RULINGS The following rulings were reported on HISA's “rulings” portal and through the HIWU “pending” and “resolved” cases portals. Resolved ADMC Violations Date: 06/05/2024 Licensee: Chris Allen Hartman, trainer Penalty: 15-day period of Ineligibility for Covered Person, beginning on June 6, 2024; Disqualification of Covered Horse's Race results, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); a fine of $1,000; imposition of 2 Penalty Points. Final decision by internal adjudication panel. Explainer: For the presence of Acepromazine–Controlled Medication (Class B)–in a sample taken from Necker Island who won the Mighty Beau S. at Ellis Park on 6/18/23. Date: 06/05/2024 Licensee: Eric Foster, trainer Penalty: Disqualification of Covered Horse's Race results, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); a fine of $500; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points. Admission. Explainer: For the presence of Cetirizine–Controlled Medication (Class C)–in a sample taken from In Color who was third at Churchill Downs on 5/2/23. Date: 06/06/2024 Licensee: Juan Carlos Perez, trainer Penalty: 7-day period of Ineligibility for Covered Person, beginning on June 7, 2024; Disqualification of Covered Horse's Race results, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); a fine of $1,000; imposition of 2 Penalty Points. Admission. Explainer: For the presence of Caffeine–Controlled Medication (Class B)–in a sample taken from Ramblin Chrome who won at Mahoning Valley on 1/18/23. Date: 06/10/2024 Licensee: Adolfo Macias, trainer Penalty: 18-month period of Ineligibility for Covered Person, beginning on November 2, 2023; a fine of $12,500. Admission. Explainer: For the possession of Levothyroxine–a banned substance–from an event dated 9/20/23. There is currently no detailed explanation of the ruling on the HIWU website. Pending ADMC Violations 06/07/2024, Gabriel Hilardo Rivera, trainer: Provisional suspension for the possession of Pitcher Plant Extract, Buta-Fenil and Dexalan–banned substances–from an event dated 3/27/24. 06/10/2024, Hugo Rodriguez, trainer: Pending vets' list medication violation for the presence of Phenylbutazone–Controlled Medication (Class C)–in a sample taken from Code Runner, who finished fifth at Tampa Bay Downs on 5/14/24. 06/11/2024, Francisco Ramos, trainer: Provisional suspension for an out-of-competition medication violation for the presence of Clenbuterol–a banned substance–in a sample taken from Jim's River Runner on 5/8/24. Violations of Crop Rule One important note: HISA's whip use limit is restricted to six strikes during a race. Hawthorne Emmanuel Giles – violation date June 8; $250 fine and one-day suspension Emmanuel Giles – violation date June 8; $250 fine and one-day suspension Horseshoe Indianapolis Gregory Romero – violation date June 6; $250 fine and one-day suspension Santa Anita Jose Verenzuela – violation date June 8; $250 fine and one-day suspension, one strike over limit Diego Herrera – violation date June 9; $250 fine and one-day suspension, one strike over limit The TDN also publishes a roundup of key official rulings from the primary tracks within the four major racing jurisdictions of California, New York, Florida and Kentucky. Here's a primer on how each of these jurisdictions adjudicates different offenses, what they make public (or not) and where. New York Aqueduct Javier Castellano – violation date June 9; three-day suspension for careless riding (stayed on appeal) The post Stewards and Commissions Rulings, June 5-11 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Nurlan Bizakov's Sumbe bought the two-for-two listed winner Hot Darling (Ire) (Too Darn Hot {GB}) for a record 460,000gns during the Tattersalls Online Pop-Up Sale on Wednesday. The daughter of Boater (Ire) (Helmet {Aus}) won her debut at Chantilly in April before taking the Listed Prix des Reves d'Or at Vichy on May 15. She was consigned by trainer Amy Murphy and is from the same family as 2024 G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains hero Metropolitan (Fr) (Zarak {Fr}). The bay carried an entry in Sunday's G3 Prix du Bois at Chantilly with the sale, but her new connections are opting for either the G2 Queen Mary S. or G3 Albany S. at Royal Ascot next week. Sumbe general manager Tony Fry said, “We are going to go to Royal Ascot with her, either for the Queen Mary or the Albany but most likely the Queen Mary. We now sponsor the [G1] Prix Morny and we would hope that she may get there eventually but, for now, we will take it one race at a time. She has an active pedigree, her sire Too Darn Hot is doing fantastically and looking to the future the plan would be for her to come back for our broodmare band. We have a selection of our own stallions that would suit her, and she would be a lovely cross for them. “Today was very easy. The boss [Nurlan Bizakov] is in Kazakhstan at the moment, so it was very easy for him to bid from there and he was keeping me up to date throughout. When it is the right horse, it is a very good job.” Bred by Rabbah Bloodstock, Ltd, Hot Darling cost 25,000gns during the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale Book 3 when purchased by Rodrigo Goncalves from Baroda Stud, agent. She raced for Daniel Macauliffe, Lemos de Souza and Anoj Don for her first two starts. Tattersalls Online sales executive Katherine Sheridan said, “We are thrilled with today's result for Hot Darling as the highest priced lot to have sold on the Tattersalls Online platform since its inception. The auction attracted worldwide attention and is a ringing endorsement of the platform and the opportunities it presents for those seeking to trade. “Our most sincere thanks extends to Amy Murphy Racing and the owners for entrusting us with the sale of this elite filly and to Mr. Bizakov of Sumbe for his support of the sale today. We look forward to following Hot Darling as she aims for the Royal Meeting next week and wish all connections the very best of luck for the future.” The post Hot Darling Snapped Up By Sumbe For Record 460K During Tattersalls Online Pop-Up Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Racing Welfare, the only charity that supports all of racing's people, including stud, stable and racecourse staff, is seeking someone with experience of the thoroughbred stud and breeding industry to lead a community engagement programme for the sector. The post of Community Engagement Officer at Racing Welfare will see the successful candidate working closely with the thoroughbred stud and breeding community to raise awareness of, and promote, Racing Welfare's wellbeing support services to the sector. More information about the role–which is a full-time position for a two-year fixed term–and details of how to apply can be found here. The closing date for applications is Monday, June 17. The post Racing Welfare Looking To Hire A Community Engagement Officer appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

On the heels of a clean Triple Crown season, the first quarter of 2024 (Jan. 1-Mar. 31) witnessed an approximate 38% decrease in racing-related fatalities year-over-year, according to a new Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA) metrics report, which the organization released on Wednesday. The reduction by over a third took place at racetracks operating under HISA's rules. During this year's first quarter, tracks reported 0.84 racing-related equine fatalities per 1,000 starts, compared to 1.35 racing-related equine fatalities per 1,000 starts in the first quarter of 2023. Excluding Rillito Park in Arizona, which is closed for racing this year, the same tracks conducted racing during the first quarters of both 2023 and 2024. “Reducing equine fatalities is the central focus of HISA's work,” said HISA CEO Lisa Lazarus. “While even one fatality is too many, we are pleased to see the progress we are making. I am incredibly proud of HISA's hard work and dedication in cooperation with our industry partners to prioritize horse welfare above all else. We continue to actively seek feedback from the horse racing community on improving our rules and making Thoroughbred racing safer and fairer, and the achievement of a Triple Crown with no equine fatalities is a testament to our collective efforts. The industry can and should celebrate its commitment to evolve and prioritize the safety and welfare of its athletes–human and equine–above all else.” This is the first time in U.S. Thoroughbred racing history that fatality metrics have been published on a quarterly basis–a reporting cadence that HISA will maintain going forward, in recognition of the seasonal variabilities in racing conditions and numbers of equine fatalities, as well as the importance of ongoing transparency regarding safety concerns. Highlights of HISA's Quarterly Metrics Report include: Equine Fatalities: Racetracks operating under HISA's rules that were open for racing reported 0.84 racing-related equine fatalities per 1,000 starts during the first quarter of 2024 as compared to 1.35 racing-related equine fatalities per 1,000 starts during the first quarter of 2023, a decrease of approximately 38% year over year. The report also sets forth the racing-related fatalities by individual racetrack. Beginning with HISA's 2024 Annual Metrics Report, to be published during the first quarter of 2025, HISA will provide training-related fatalities for the full year and each quarter of 2024 on an aggregate and per-track basis. Racetrack Accreditation: As of Mar. 31, HISA has completed accreditation visits at 24 tracks, three of which occurred during the first quarter of this year: Turfway Park in Kentucky, Laurel Park in Maryland and Sunland Park in New Mexico. Racing Participant Registration: As of Mar. 31, approximately 33,000 Covered Persons, 58,000 Covered Horses and 1,000 veterinarians were registered with HISA. Use of Riding Crop Violations: During the first quarter of 2024, HISA reported 4.74 crop rule violations per 1,000 starts, compared to 4.46 crop rule violations per 1,000 starts in the first quarter of 2023. Veterinary Treatment Records: On average, HISA received approximately 5,900 veterinary treatment records each day during the first quarter of 2024, and, as of Mar. 31, approximately 2.5 million veterinary treatment records had been uploaded to the HISA Portal since the inception of the Racetrack Safety Program on July 1, 2022. The Horseracing Integrity & Welfare Unit will also release a separate quarterly report detailing metrics from the Anti-Doping and Medication Control Program. The post Year-Over Racing Fatalities Down By Over A Third According To HISA’s Q1 Report appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

A total of 55 five and six-year students from Brisley CofE Primary Academy and Rudham CofE Primary Academy both visited the Royal Studs last week, the charity Racing to School announced on Wednesday. The visit included a lecture by the Royal Studs' stud manager David Somers and his team covering the history of the stud, the thoroughbred breeding season, and the daily routines to provide the best possible care for each horse. A visit with the Royal Studs' veterinarian Camilla Scott, the farrier Dermot Barry and many of the equine residents also took place. Students were also able to visit the statue of G1 Gold Cup winner Estimate (Ire) (Monsun {Ger}) on the Sandringham Estate. John Blake, chief executive of Racing to School said, “We are extremely grateful to the management and team at the prestigious Royal Studs for once again welcoming some very lucky beneficiaries to see the workings of such an historic and special place. We know that this experience will stay with them for a long time and hopefully spark an interest in the fascinating world of breeding and in racing itself.” The post Students Visit The Royal Studs Through Racing To School appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Lindsay Park has turned back the clock in their bid to win a feature handicap during the Brisbane Winter Carnival by joining forces with Regan Bayliss. Bayliss will ride the Ben, Will and J D Hayes-trained Here To Shock (NZ) (Shocking) in the Gr.1 Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday. Lindsay Park and Bayliss teamed for three Group one victories in 2017 and 2018 with Redkirk Warrior winning two Newmarket Handicaps and a Lightning Stakes down the straight at Flemington. Shortly after, Bayliss headed to Hong Kong for a stint and after returning to Melbourne when his sojourn finished, he moved to Sydney where he is currently based. Bayliss has ridden a further three Group One victories in Sydney. A quarter of Bayliss’ 528 victories to date were for Lindsay Park when David and Ben Hayes and Tom Dabernig were at the helm. In the years since moving to Sydney and with the Hayes brothers taking over the reins at Lindsay Park, Bayliss has only had two rides in Sydney for them, finishing out of the money on both occasions, the most recent being at Scone last month. But Here To Shock enters the Stradbroke Handicap in top form, winning two of his four starts for the campaign. A winner of nine of his 29 starts, Here To Shock won the Group 3 Victoria Handicap (1400m) at Caulfield on April 6 while at his most recent outing he captured the Group 3 BRC Sprint (1350m) at Doomben on May 25. Ben Hayes said the gelding has trained on brilliantly since that victory. “We’re very happy with him. He’s been training well. He’s done everything right,” Hayes said. “He’s well-weighted and he’s drawn a good gate. “He’s three weeks into the race and it has been a long-range plan for us to get him there. “He’s a horse in form and he’ll run well.” Here To Shock drew gate one in the barrier draw that was conducted on Tuesday evening and is currently a $19 chance in betting. View the full article

Top End jockey Vanessa Arnott returns to scale aboard the Jason Manning-trained Noir De Rue after winning the Chief Ministers Cup (1600m) at Fannie Bay last July during the 2023 Darwin Cup Carnival. Picture: Caroline Camilleri (FotoFinish Racepix) Jason Manning’s iron horse, the highly-credentialed nine-year-old gelding Noir De Rue, returns on Saturday as he eyes a fourth Darwin Cup Carnival campaign. The son of Blackfriars faces decent opposition in an eight-horse field over 1200m at Fannie Bay. “We never say it’s the last campaign, the old horse is going great,” Manning said. “He’s done plenty of work, he’s been back three months and to be honest he’s like a three or four-year-old. “He’s sound, he’s as honest as the day is long, and as bright as a button. “Had a nice gallop Wednesday morning – he’ll have a couple of days in the pool leading into Saturday’s event.” After forging a wonderful WA career where he had eight wins and 15 minor placings from 52 starts, Noir De Rue debuted in Darwin prior to the 2021 Carnival. Victorious first up in an open 1200m handicap in June, he then finished fourth in the Chief Ministers Cup (1600m) and third in the Darwin Cup (2050m). That was followed by seven SA starts, where he managed three seconds at Morphettville before returning to Darwin for a third in the ROANT Gold Cup (1300m) prior to the 2022 Carnival. He finished third in the Chief Ministers Cup and fourth in the Darwin Cup that year and before returning for last year’s Carnival he managed two wins in November and a second in March. Noir De Rue’s victory first up in the ROANT Gold Cup a year ago was something out of the box, especially with a 62.5kg impost, before winning the Chief Ministers Cup and finding 62kg a burden when ninth in the Darwin Cup. The gelding races infrequently as he incurs the big weights due to a 99 rating. In his only appearance since Cup Day last August, he saluted by the narrowest of margins on Australia Day against a top field over 1300m on a wet and muddy day lumping 65kg. Noir De Rue has won from 1200-2200m, so with 64kg, he must be respected this weekend. Manning’s partner, Vanessa Arnott, a long-time NT jockey, once again partners the gelding. “He normally has a couple of runs over the wet season,” Manning said. “He loves carrying the weight and loves a 1300m race, we’re sticking to a similar workload leading up to Carnival in July. “Previously, we’ve just kicked him off in the ROANT Cup, but this year we’re kicking him off in the 1200m – it’s a nice starting point. “Vanessa knows him as well as anybody, he’s drawn a middle barrier, he’ll bounce out and do his thing, and if he’s hitting the line like he does, then that’s all you can ask for. “Sometimes he just sprouts wings and runs over the top of them, he always puts in and normally performs for us. “The main thing is that he ticks off this weekend with a good run. “Hopefully, he’ll drop a couple of kilos going into the ROANT Cup in two weeks, then it’s the weight-for-age Chief Ministers and then that first Monday in August (Darwin Cup).” Horse racing news View the full article

Zoustar continued his march Down Under by breaking the record for the most expensive stallion share ever sold at public auction in Australia when topping the Inglis Digital June (Early) Online Sale at $1.3m. Interest in the Qatar Bloodstock offering was global and led to some extraordinary participation, with 15 bids for the 1/60th share placed above $1m alone. It was Bangaloe Stud who struck the winning bid with Qatar's David Redvers describing the result as “fabulous”. “I was fascinated by the whole process,” he said. “It's a very new thing for us, selling something like this online but the Inglis Digital platform is an excellent and dynamic way in which to trade.” He added, “I've been watching it from afar for quite a while now and it's clearly a proven platform. I mean this sale alone had more than 400 lots in it so it's a proven and well used platform and if we were going to put something as significant as some equity in Zoustar online, Inglis Digital was the obvious platform to use. “We were expertly guided through the whole process by [Inglis Bloodstock CEO] Sebastian [Hutch]. You are always slightly nervous putting something so valuable to public auction in case it falls below expectation but in this instance, the process and the result matched and exceeded expectations and I was delighted to do that bit of business with Inglis. “What this result does is it demonstrates quite clearly the esteem in which Zoustar is held and it's great that the market's view of the stallion matches our thoughts on how good he is and how valuable he is.” Bangaloe Stud's Julia Ritchie said the $1.3m invested in the stallion share for Zoustar was 'worth every penny.' She explained, “I was always prepared to go close to that price and in the end he's worth it, every penny of it. That said, that was my absolute upper limit, I didn't really have another bid in me but I think it's worthwhile to be able to become involved in a superstar stallion like Zoustar. “I've been supporting Zoustar previously as a breeder and to now be able to have a share in a young stallion who is kicking it out of the park, as a breeder that's what you like to do, to support these next generation of great stallions.” The post Records Broken As Share In Zoustar Fetches $1.3m At Inglis Digital Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Riccarton trainer Michael Pitman is hoping Zoulander has done enough to qualify for a lucrative polytrack target during Riccarton’s Grand National Festival of Racing in August following his win at the synthetic track on Wednesday. Following the abandonment of racing at Phar Lap Raceway on Sunday, a six-race meeting was scheduled for Riccarton’s synthetic track on Wednesday, much to the delight of Pitman, who trains in partnership with his son Matthew. They were pleased to give their now seven-win gelding another test on the polytrack and he didn’t disappoint, taking out the Racecourse Hotel & Motor Lodge Open Handicap (1200m) by a neck over Caravella. “He won nicely and he is not a front-runner. It was an outstanding ride by Kylie (Williams), she just used her initiative, there was no pace on, and went to the front,” Michael Pitman said. “We are trying to get him ready for the $100,000 1200m polytrack race on the middle day of the Grand National Carnival. “With transferring of the race today, it just gave another opportunity to qualify, which I am appreciative of. He has probably done enough to gain a start now.” Initially in the care of Hamilton trainers Graeme and Debbie Rogerson, Pitman said he has been a delight to train since joining his barn two years ago. “He is just a genuine racehorse,” he said. “From the first day we had him I have said to a lot of people that he reminds us so much of El Chico. He has now won seven races, he is very honest and has done a good job. “When I bought him, Graeme Rogerson stayed in for a share, and he was of the opinion that if we could get him right, he would win races.” A race prior, the stable picked up a placing courtesy of Ceddy Smith in the Book A Suite Mid-Winter Xmas 22 June Rating 60 (1400m). “Ceddy Smith went well,” Pitman said. “He is not an easy horse to ride, and he (Abdul Najib) rode him well. He will keep on improving and will win one shortly.” Pitman will return to the synthetic track on Thursday to line-up a handful of runners, including Motiontime and Blanche in the Riccarton Park Function Centre Three-Year-Old (1400m). “We can win the first (race),” he said. “There are only five in it and both of our fillies, Motiontime and Blanche, are in-form. “Blanche will possibly end up in front and Motiontime can hopefully get a nice trail. Motiontime is a better horse ridden quietly, the other day she ended up in front and it wasn’t ideal.” Meanwhile, Pitman is looking forward to a rare weekend off and is excited to watch his grandson play rugby league on Saturday. “I am looking forward to seeing my grandson Benji play on Saturday,” he said. “Last year Matthew got coach of the year for the Hornby Panthers in his first year of coaching. I am pleased for Matthew, he is enjoying it with his son.” View the full article