Wandering Eyes

On the Nov. 17 episode of BloodHorse Monday: trainer Dale Romans discusses his run for senate, World Series champion Jayson Werth talks about his involvement with racing and Icon Racing.View the full article

Jim Bernhard, who along with his wife Dana, purchased the historic Pin Oak Stud in 2022, passed away unexpectedly Sunday, according to a statement on the website of his Bernhard Capital. He was 71. The Bernhards made their entry into Thoroughbred race with the purchase of Geaux Rocket Ride, whom Jim acquired as a birthday present for his wife at the 2021 Fasig-Tipton July sale. The colt would go on to win the GI Haskell Stakes and ran second in the GI Pacific Classic in 2023. The Bernhards also campaigned GI Saratoga Derby winner World Beater and GIII winners Parchment Party and Incredibolt. Bernhard's entrepreneurial enterprises began when he founded The Shaw Group in 1987, transforming it from a small fabrication and construction company into an international Fortune 500 company with more than 30,000 employees and $7 billion in annual revenue. Under his leadership, The Shaw Group became one of the most important industrial and infrastructure companies in the world. He led major acquisitions that transformed the industry, including IT Group, Stone & Webster, and Westinghouse Electric Corporation. Bernhard sold The Shaw Group in 2013 and the following year founded Bernhard Capital Partners with his longtime colleague, friend, and business partner Jeff Jenkins. BCP currently manages approximately $5.6 billion in assets, has invested in 23 active and realized companies, and has completed more than 80 transactions. Bernhard was a staunch supporter of LSU and a driving force behind opportunities for underprivileged children through his foundation, Every Kid a King. His contributions helped create well-known community assets at St. George Catholic School and Church in Baton Rouge, where he was a longtime parishioner. He was also a major supporter of The Dunham School, as well as countless local and national charities. Bernhard was a leader in Louisiana's political, as well as business, landscape. The state's governor, Jeff Landry, took to X Monday to honor the late entrepreneur. “Jim Bernhard was one of Louisiana's most dynamic and visionary business leaders,” Landry posted. “His hard work built companies that created jobs, strengthened our economy, and showcased the very best of Louisiana. Louisiana has lost a giant, but I know his legacy will endure for generations. Sharon and I extend our deepest prayers to Dana and the entire Bernhard family during this difficult time.” Congressman Troy Carter, via X, posted Monday, “I am deeply saddened by the passing of Jim Bernhard, a giant of Louisiana industry and a powerful force for progress in our state. Jim was more than a business leader. He was a visionary who built opportunity where others saw obstacles. From the Shaw Group to Bernhard Capital Partners, his work transformed lives, created thousands of jobs, and reshaped the economic landscape of Louisiana. His impact will be felt for generations. Jim was also a committed civic leader, a proud Democrat, and a man who invested in the people and communities of south Louisiana. His leadership extended far beyond boardrooms. He believed in service, in lifting others, and in giving back to the state he loved.” Bernhard is survived by wife Dana; his children, Patrick, Michael, Benjamin, Kathryn, and Tres; and his grandchildren. Information on services and a celebration of Jim's life will be released at a later date. The post Pin Oak’s Jim Bernhard Passes Away appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Twenty stakes races worth a total of nearly $4 million will highlight Turfway Park's winter/spring meet, anchored by the 55th running of the $777,000 Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) March 21.View the full article

With three sons joining Kentucky's stallion ranks in 2026, Gun Runner is set to have nine progeny at stud in the Bluegrass next season. Two members of the group, Cyberknife and Early Voting, will see their first juveniles debuting in the coming year, offering an early glimpse into Gun Runner's development as a sire of sires. At Gainesway Farm, Locked will launch his career as the operation's first son of Gun Runner. A 'TDN Rising Star presented by Hagyard,' Locked won the GI Breeders' Futurity at two and later added three more graded victories to his resume, including this year's GI Santa Anita Handicap. The other new Gun Runner stallions for 2026 are champion Sierra Leone, who will stand at Coolmore's Ashford Stud for $75,000, and MGSW Il Miracolo, who joins Crestwood Farm for a fee of $7,500. Gainesway's Ryan Norton said that Locked, whose introductory fee has been set at $35,000, claims distinction as one of only two stallions by Gun Runner who were Grade I winners at two. The other is Ashford Stud's Gunite, whose first foals have averaged over $166,000 from 34 sold this year. “We are very excited to have a son of Gun Runner,” Norton said. “Locked had early precocity and could carry his speed at a distance as he got older. I think he has a lot of Gun Runner's attributes in him.” Bred by Rosa Colasanti, Locked was a $425,000 Keeneland September yearling purchase for the partnership of Walmac Farm and Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners. The Todd Pletcher trainee earned the Rising Star nod when breaking his maiden at Saratoga by over seven lengths in his second career start. “He earned a 96 Beyer Speed Figure, which was the co-fastest Beyer ever for a colt breaking his maiden up there since 2015,” said Norton. “Then to be able to carry it over and win the Grade I at Keeneland really submitted him as one of the top stallion prospects of his crop.” After finishing a fast-closing third in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile behind Fierceness (City of Light) and Muth (Good Magic), Locked was forced to miss the Triple Crown trail due to a physical issue, but he reemerged at the end of his sophomore season and won the GII Cigar Mile Handicap. This year, he was one of the standouts of the older horse divisions when winning the GI Santa Anita Handicap by 8 ½ lengths and taking the GII Woodward Stakes. An untimely illness kept the 4-year-old from making a final career start in the Breeders' Cup, and he retired with earnings of $1.9 million. “This horse had tremendous ability and he showed it time and time again on the track, only finishing off the board in one of his eleven starts,” Norton explained. “When he was on his game, he was almost unbeatable.” Locked breaks his maiden by over seven lengths, becoming a TDN Rising Star | Sarah Andrew Locked is out of a winning daughter of Malibu Moon who is a half-sister to MGISW Gabby's Golden Gal (Medaglia d'Oro) and MGSW Always a Princess (Leroidesanimaux {BRZ}) Norton said that over the past two weeks, Locked has been busy showing for breeders during Gainesway's Stallion Open House. “Physically, he has a lot of the same attributes as his sire,” Norton explained. “He's a very sleek horse. He has a free-flowing walking, a nice, big shoulder and a pretty head.” In addition to their new recruit, Gainesway enters the coming breeding season with a deep roster of young stallions. The quartet of Muth ($30,000), Seize the Grey ($25,000), Charge It ($12,500) and Tapit Trice ($10,000) will see their first foals in 2026 while Olympiad ($20,000) and Drain The Clock ($10,000) will be represented by their first 2-year-olds. The post Locked: Gainesway’s New Son of Gun Runner appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Tuesday, Chantilly, France, post time: 12:35, PRIX THOMAS BRYON-G3, €73,200, 2yo, 9f (AWT) Field: Mirik (Fr) (Kameko), Space Waltz (American Pharoah), Al Zanati (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), Pacifica Pier (Ire) (Palace Pier {GB}), Bourbon Blues (GB) (Space Blues {Ire}), El Vegas (Ire) (Almanzor {Fr}). TDN Analysis: Charlie Appleby is double-handed in this contest, formerly staged over a mile at Saint-Cloud, with Al Zanati the clear first-string and Pacifica Pier the probable pacemaker. Runner-up in the G3 Autumn Stakes last month, the former will probably have too much for the Graffard runner Mirik whose Lyon-Parilly win was boosted by the runner-up going on to success at Group 3 level on Saturday. Andre Fabre's Niarchos homebred Space Waltz needs to improve on his second in the Listed Prix Isonomy over course and distance last month and Graffard knows what it takes having saddled the winner of that in Regal Resolve. [Tom Frary]. Click here for the complete field. The post Black-Type Analysis: Al Zanati Shoots for Group 3 Glory at Chantilly appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-bred horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Tuesday's Observations features an exciting newcomer at Newcastle. 5.45 Newcastle, Novice, 2yo, f 8f 5y (AWT) BRILLIANT STAR (GB) (Cracksman {GB}) is the second foal out of Anthony Oppenheimer's Irish Oaks, Prix Vermeille and British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes heroine Star Catcher (Sea The Stars), who started her career on the all-weather at Chelmsford in December 2018. Given that she was only sixth on debut and looked far from the outstanding middle-distance filly that she would become, the Gosdens will be thinking of the future as she takes on experienced peers over a trip sure to be short of her optimum. The post Star Catcher’s Daughter Brilliant Star Debuts at Newcastle appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

A new minimum reporting level (MRL) for the banned substance metformin has been proposed by HISA's Anti-Doping and Medication Control (ADMC) Committee, according to a HISA release Monday. The proposed MRL is 4.0 nanograms per milliliter in blood and is based on recommendations received at HISA and HIWU's request from the Racing Medication & Testing Consortium's (RMTC) Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC). The modification will be circulated for public comment in the coming days. Following a series of positive test results for metformin and what Monday's HISA release called, “intelligence received by HIWU that trainers were intentionally administering metformin to Covered Horses to enhance performance,” HISA and HIWU called for an independent review of the available science relating to metformin by the RMTC's SAC in June 2024 to determine if it was appropriate to modify the regulation of this substance. During the review, HIWU stayed the prosecution of all unresolved and new cases involving potential positive tests for metformin, although there have been zero reported AAFs in 2025 while testing at 0.5 nanograms per milliliter in blood and 1 nanogram per milliliter in urine. After the review, which consisted of a study of existing scientific literature followed by a three-part study performed by Dr. Heather Knych with the K.L. Maddy Equine Analytical Chemistry Laboratory at the University of California (UC), Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, the SAC agreed that an MRL of 4.0 nanograms per milliliter in blood reflects exposure to metformin due to intentional administration and minimizes the possibility of a reported AAF due to inadvertent exposure. Dr. Knych's administration study determined that metformin demonstrates an erratic elimination behavior in urine and an inconsistent relationship between urine and blood concentrations. Therefore, the SAC recommended that laboratories perform confirmatory analysis in blood only. “We are thankful to UC Davis, Dr. Knych, and her team for performing ground-breaking research on metformin. HISA and HIWU's call for this review of metformin aligns with our mandate to utilize science when making regulatory decisions to prioritize safety, integrity, welfare, and fairness,” said HIWU Executive Director Ben Mosier. “Additionally, we appreciate our ongoing collaboration with the RMTC's SAC to facilitate these research projects and ultimately enhance the effectiveness of the ADMC Program.” There are currently nine unresolved (and therefore stayed) presence cases for metformin, which, according to the HISA release, will continue to be stayed pending the Federal Trade Commission's approval of the new MRL. If the new MRL is approved, it will not impact cases that were resolved prior June 2024 and involved violations of the rules and testing specifications in effect at the time. TDN reached out to HISA for clarification on how the unresolved cases would be impacted if the new MRL was adopted and whether those cases involved positives above or below the newly proposed threshold. HISA responded via email, “HIWU cannot disclose the reported levels of metformin for the currently stayed cases. If the FTC approves the proposed Minimum Reporting Level, cases below the new MRL will be withdrawn at that time and updated on the HIWU website. Stayed cases that are not affected by the proposed MRL will continue through the adjudication process upon the FTC's approval of the rules, and their status will be updated on the HIWU website once resolved.” The post HISA, HIWU Propose New Minimum Reporting Level for Metformin appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Arena Racing Company (ARC) have launched a new all-weather series called Friday Night Live. The initiative has been created in partnership with Invades, the company behind many student racedays, and comprises five Friday evening fixtures worth over £200,000 per meeting, with the aim of attracting 18 to 25-year-old racegoers. The 35 races will be broadcast live across both Sky Sports Racing and ITV Racing from January to March next year at Wolverhampton, Newcastle and Southwell – with the two first-named tracks hosting a pair of meetings each. ARC group director of commercial strategy, David Leyden Dunbar, said, “The Friday Night Live concept is unapologetically aimed at a new audience who may not have previously engaged with horseracing, and we plan to work with a roster of partners who share a common goal in reaching this audience. “Together with the likes of Guinness, Carlsberg and our broadcast partners, the aim is to bring some of our Friday Night Live event activations to life. These are brands who understand the importance of engaging with the next generation of horseracing fans and what it takes to achieve this.” The launch of the new series coincides with confirmation that ARC will no longer host Racing League fixtures, which are a Championship Horseracing initiative, at its racecourses. The post New Friday Night Racing Series Launched by ARC appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Starman's meteoric rise through the first-season sire rankings led to the Tally-Ho Stud resident dominating proceedings on a red-hot opening day of the November Foal Sale when, as well as accounting for the €125,000 top lot, the young stallion was responsible for four of the top 10 most expensive horses sold on Monday. The top lot [55], a colt consigned by Oghill House Stud, went the way of Brendan Holland, who also landed a Starman filly just three lots [52] previously from Summerhill Stables for €85,000. “He is a nicely-balanced colt, a good mover but still immature,” the Grove Stud boss said of the top lot. “He seems to have a good outlook, is correct, and will come back for sale as a yearling. It is the family of Havana Gold; he is out of that horse's third dam, the speedy Jessica's Dream, and I have been lucky with this family in the past.” Group 3 scorer and Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf third North Coast, along with Group 2 Mill Reef Stakes runner-up Into The Sky, are just a couple of high-class colts to have represented Starman in his breakout year. It was a brilliant day on the whole for Starman, whose fee has been set at €40,000 next year. Seven foals by the stallion sold for €535,000 and an average of €76,429, which was the most impressive figure posted by any stallion on Monday. As for the top lot, it represented yet another memorable day for Oghill House Stud at the foal sales at Goffs and Johnny Hyland said, “We thought we had him in on the right day but no way did we think he'd make €125,000. All the top judges were on him and he came out a great-walking horse. I'm delighted for the owner, David McGuinness. He's a good client of ours and a long-time supporter. He only has two mares; we foal them down, he takes them home, gets them back in foal and then the youngsters come to us for weaning and prepping. I'm absolutely thrilled for him because he's a local man, a neighbour to us, and this is a great result.” Hyland added, “He's a really nice foal and what more can you say about Starman that hasn't been said before? I haven't actually had much experience with his progeny, although I wish I had; God I wish I had! Whenever you walk through a sales complex and pick out a horse, nine times out of 10 it's a Starman. He stamps his stock, they get out and just do their work. They're brilliant horses.” Holland's business on the day did not extend beyond the colt and the filly foals by Starman. On the filly, who is out of an unraced Iffraaj mare from the family of Group 3 winner Mrs Danvers (Hellvelyn), he said, “It's a lovely, fast family she is by a super young stallion. You can add a proven cross into the mix [Venetian Sun, who is also out of an Iffraaj mare]. He is a very exciting sire. She is for resale. I had a good filly that I pre-trained with James Tate [Time To Take Off], so I have had experience with a few of his stock. I thought she would make that – it is the yearling median for the stallion.” At close of play on Monday, the clearance rate stood at 80%. The €4,492,500 turnover represented a 16% rise while the average was up by 7% to €24,025 and the median also climbed by 11% to €20,000. A super start. 'We Had To Have Him' – Lyons Pushes Boat Out For Ghaiyyath Colt When you know, you know. Shane Lyons didn't need to drool over lot 210, a Ghaiyyath colt he labelled as the pick of the entire foal selection at Goffs, for too long before realising he was one he simply couldn't leave behind. The Ghaiyyath colt is from a family Lyons knows well given his dam, Split Passion, won and reached a decent rating [82] for his brother and trainer, Ger. So convinced was Lyons on the second foal out of the daughter of Fascinating Rock, he resisted the temptation to keep going back to Knocktartan House Stud in Barn J to view him. That first show left a big enough impression on the buyer, who went to €92,000 to secure him. Lyons explained, “We spotted him on Saturday and he was the pick of the whole day [Monday]. We're after looking at Tuesday's and Wednesday's foals and he's still our pick. We didn't think we were going to get him. We don't normally pay that much for them but we had to get him. He had everything – he had the wow factor from the moment we first saw him. We didn't look at him too much for obvious reasons. You don't have to look at horses like him too many times because you don't want to show your hand.” He added, “Everyone was on him – a proper horse with a proper mind. He went around there with his ears pricked and Padhraic [Doran] does his horses brilliantly. Obviously, we trained the dam, but he has exceeded her [in looks] and hopefully he'll do it again [on the track]. We'll go home and take stock. We have both avenues available and there is a man in Meath who would be well able to train him for us!” Part-Time Breeder Bourke Receives Massive 'Boost' With Starman Filly An accountant by trade, David Bourke knows a thing or two about balancing the books. So, when his Baroda Stud-consigned Starman filly out of a mare he raced himself sold for €120,000 to Monday Ventures, it represented just the sort of touch every small breeder dreams of. Bourke, who keeps only five mares and sold his first six-figure lot here at Goffs a decade back, commented, “She's out of a mare, Evie Be Kool (Jeremy), that I raced myself. She was a bit unlucky with setbacks throughout her career so we've been waiting a while to enjoy a good day like this with her. My daughter, also Evie, was born around the same time as we bought the mare. The foal has always been very straightforward and easy to do. You need to land on sires like Starman because it gives you such a boost when you go to the sales. What he has done this year is incredible and I was just very lucky to have one by him. Thankfully, she was a very nice filly and went down very well with buyers.” He added, “I am an accountant by trade and only have four or five mares. That is my first good sale in about five years so it's brilliant. I actually sold a Dark Angel filly at Goffs about 10 years ago for €145,000. That was my first major sale and she actually went on and made 700,000gns as a yearling at Tattersalls. I have always sold my foals at Goffs and have had some great days there. The Dark Angel was a great day and this is another. It is important to have results like that as they help balance the books so we'll savour it.” Baroda Stud's Padraic Gahan revealed that the Starman filly received an “unprecedented” 234 shows and described footfall at Goffs to be particularly strong since showing started late last week. “It's very rare for any foal to have 234 shows and over 10 vets, particularly a Monday foal, and we are delighted for her breeder David Bourke,” Gahan said. “She is a very good-moving filly by a sire who has proved himself to be very effective. It's incredible the volume of people who look at foals. You will have everyone from first-time buyers to seasoned pinnhookers and you will always have so many more people looking at foals compared to yearlings and even breezers thereafter. Whether it is here or at Newmarket, we always expect to be extremely busy at the foal sales and today has been very strong.” Subplots The high-profile sale of Sands Of Mali has been one of the most fascinating talking points on the bloodstock circuit in recent weeks and the stallion's buyer Yeomanstown Stud continued the support of the emerging force by going to €85,000 to secure a colt by the stallion. The Sands Of Mali colt was consigned by Pa Doyle's Galbertstown Stables. “The appeal was obvious,” said Robert O'Callaghan of Yeomanstown Stud. “We wanted to go down and see all his stock. We are delighted with all we have seen. There are a couple of very nice ones here today, and more again tomorrow. There has been a great reaction to him and lots of people are coming up to congratulate us on getting him. It is really exciting and he is a great young sire. He is a proper proven horse and gets nice stock.” It was not just the Irish pinhookers who made their presence felt on the opening day of the sale as Charlie Vigors of Hillwood Stud signed for one of the more expensive lots on the day when paying €60,000 for a Sioux Nation colt that was consigned by Altenbach Bloodstock. “He'll be for resale next year, though I am not sure where,” Vigors said. “He is out of a black-type mare, and by a proven sire who is going well, and it's nice to get one by him. He is a good individual, a good walker and loose-moving. I hope it's a fair price for him – we will know that next year. Sioux Nation has been lucky for us before.” Top producers Middlelane Farm enjoyed an excellent result when a Sioux Nation colt out of a mare they purchased only last November at Goffs for €44,000 was knocked down to Eoghan Grogan of Killorney Mor Farm for €88,000. “We are absolutely delighted with the price he fetched,” Middlelane's Jennifer Cullen said. “He was never in the box since we started showing on Saturday morning. We bought the mare from Goffs November last year, carrying this guy, for €44,000 and to get double our investment back is brilliant. Newtown Stud had the foresight to put the mare in foal to Sioux Nation so we are just taking the credit. Thankfully we had a nice foal by the right sire so we got paid.” She added, “He's been bought by a judge and to be fair we had a lot of shrewd judges rate him which is hugely rewarding for us. When you raise a nice horse and have it recognised, it is a great feeling. We are very grateful to Eoghan for buying him.” Thought for the day Online bidding is a relatively new aspect to this whole sales business and it sparked debate at Goffs on Monday involving one of the pricier lots. People often bid online to preserve their identity but the modus operandi at Goffs in recent times has been to read out whoever strikes the winning bid, unlike some other sales houses. There are cases to be made for and against such buyers having the right to withhold their anonymity, but it is interesting that sales houses adopt a different philosophy to the online bidding process. It's hard to know who is right and who is wrong. The post Strong Start At Goffs November Foal Sale As Buyers Continue To Row In Behind Starman appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The horses, of course, remain just as reticent about discussing their health as 150 years ago. But their beauty and courage are also unchanged, which has always kept veterinarians willing to persevere in a one-sided consultation. Until recently, anyway. People do change, however-and the fact is that an increasingly urbanized society is no longer producing as many young people with a natural affinity for horses. That's a problem for our whole industry, but a quietly developing crisis for its veterinary sector. And, having lasted as long as it has, the oldest practice in the Bluegrass has resolved to do something about that. In 1875 Dr. E.T. Hagyard traveled from Ontario to Kentucky to treat a shorthorn bull named “Eighth Duke of Geneva.” Doctor and clients evidently found the experience mutually satisfactory, because Hagyard returned to Lexington the following year to open a large animal practice. It has evolved in many ways since, in size and ownership, but there are continuities too: not least the presence among the Hagyard Equine Medical Institute partners of Dr. Luke Hagyard Fallon, DVM, extending the involvement of the founder's family into a fifth generation. Transylvania University and the Valley View Ferry are among the very few continuous institutions that locally exceed that longevity, both duly dignified with a stakes race at Keeneland. But it feels safe to say that neither has changed as much in the course of their entire history as does veterinary science from one generation to the next. And how to enthuse that next generation is the challenge now animating the Hagyard leadership, who aim to mark the 150th anniversary of their firm's foundation next year by raising $1.5 million to fund a perpetual scholarship. “Each year, just one percent of the graduating class from North American vet schools matriculate into equine practice,” Fallon explains. “And, of those, upwards of 50 percent will have left equine practice within five years. So we want to utilize our 150th anniversary as an opportunity to raise awareness-not just of the practice's legacy of mentorship and training, but also of the deficit of young folks coming into equine practice. In Lexington, we have an embarrassment of riches: a concentration of horses, farms, owners, an incredible tradition, great land. But if we are to care for that patient load, our ability to recruit and train veterinarians is critical.” There is an element of chicken-and-egg to the alarming statistics, a poor retention rate likely a factor in keeping equine specialization so low in the first place. Fallon says that its anecdotal reputation among educators, and therefore students, magnifies perceived challenges in work-life balance. “The narrative put forth in the schools is to find a place in the profession that satisfies the demands that life may throw at you,” he says. “You may have chosen the career because you love animals, and want to go wherever they take you. But a lot of students nowadays are getting out of school with upwards of $300,000 in debt. And equine practitioners traditionally start out at the lowest end of the earning spectrum. Oftentimes they will wind up at the higher end, but it takes at least a decade to get there. So if you throw in the danger of burnout, you will get disillusionment.” And, as already noted, there is also that growing disconnect between young people and livestock. Certainly it is a very different professional environment from the one into which Fallon's father, Ed, graduated in 1956. Back then, small animal practice was barely nascent: you might treat the farm dog while making a visit to deal with cattle. Ed and Luke Fallon | Courtesy Hagyard “Hagyard survived two world wars and the Great Depression,” Fallon reflects. “But among all those other global challenges, we have had to deal with the replacement of the horse by the automobile. People are no longer as in touch with the land, with horses, and that creates a barrier to entry. But these are incredible animals, and it's a multi-millennial bond we have with them. I mean, we are part of a tradition that goes back 5,000 years. You look at the acupuncture charts that the Chinese developed, the points the warriors would touch to relieve pain in a certain area or where the saddle was sitting. We have lost that broader societal connection.” The firm has a proud tradition of bringing through young professionals, not least in welcoming as many as 150 externs every year, dozens of interns, plus fellows and residents at the clinic. Already three years ago Hagyard began a modest scholarship, lodging an annual $5,000 award with the AAEP for a third-year student. Now the intention is to turbo-charge that incentive, to $25,000 annually for three students. Fallon admits that even such munificence may not suffice, unless accompanied by a shift in perceptions. “With our size and scope, our presence within the industry, we are able to recruit,” he observes. “But how do we retain? By we're trying to get more creative, to offer a more flexible work environment. What does that mean? It used to be that the veterinarian was expected to show up seven days a week. But now we have racetrack practitioners that are doing a five-day week and making it work. We're seeing those people coming back fresher, which means they'll do better for their clientele and also extend their own longevity. And if we can figure it out on the backstretch, with its daily grind, then we can do the same in multiple facets of equine practice.” Fallon acknowledges that such a culture change has to be led by those senior practitioners, such as himself, who may have been raised on different expectations. “During foaling season I was trained to show up seven days a week, five months in a row, without a day off,” he reflects. “It was just what you did. And they knew that Doc was fairly tired by mid-April! But you were just kind of suffering along with your clients. And, actually, if you have to endure the lows that way, you also get to really enjoy the big highs. But I accept that there has to be another way, if we're going to involve young people in this profession. “We have to say that it's okay if I don't show up every day, the world's not going to come to an end. These younger doctors that I've helped to mentor, helped to train, they have my full endorsement. Your horse is in expert care. In fact, sometimes they will be more current than I am. So let's allow them to flourish.” Doing so might alleviate the kind of negativity that pervades vet schools, where the kids are evidently told that the easiest way to clear their debts is with small animals: signing-on bonus, higher starting salary, regular hours. “And your patients come to you,” Fallon concedes. “You're not out there at 2 a.m., trying to pull a foal out, and you turn your phone off when you leave work. That's appealing to a lot of people. Will we ever get to that point in equine practice? I don't think so. But I think we can change the narrative, so that young people know there are options for more flexible work, and a better work-life balance.” That said, if your work is also your passion, then it doesn't always feel like work at all. Here, after all, we are talking to a man who exudes passion for his vocation; who considers it a daily privilege to be so intimately involved with these glorious animals. But we are also talking to a realist. What would Fallon tell a young student, toying with equine practice? Photo courtesy Hagyard “I would be honest with them,” he replies. “It truly is more a lifestyle than just a profession. You have to love it for what it is, with all its challenges. There are so many wonderful people that you meet. And you get to work on these incredible athletes. “My son's applying to vet school now, and my niece just started at UCD, and I tell them: 'The horse will take you anywhere in the world you want to go. When I was a student, it took me to Newmarket, Dubai, Ireland, all over the U.S. I had seen how hard my father worked. I started riding with him when I was five or six, and I'm sure I was more a hindrance than a help, but it was just a great adventure. Dad loved his profession, and clients loved him, and if he brought his work home it was always in such a positive way. I'm not saying every day was roses. This is a profession that doesn't always have a start and stop. In a way, that can be a nice demand to have placed upon you. But we do need young people to see that there are ways they can turn it off.” Obviously there are few walks of veterinary life where your patients are quite so valuable. On the other hand, who can put a price on a cherished dog? “Our clients here in Central Kentucky expect the highest level of service,” Fallon acknowledges. “And the stakes involved can be demanding on the practitioner. But I think even those high-level players increasingly understand and appreciate our profession. When they're coming to see us at the clinic, it's their worst day-and we understand that. But I think they appreciate the resources that are there, the technicians and the clinics.” We're talking on a recent sales day at Keeneland, and Fallon hails a passing client. “We've been working with that farm for over 100 years,” he marvels. “I think they were given the land for service in the French and Indian War. And I'd be the third generation tending their horses. From the time I rode with my father, as a boy, I loved the people he worked with-and loved following their horses. We lived vicariously through them. And it's the same today. When I see a horse excel that I foaled out, or treated, I'm so excited for my clients. It just makes the hair on the back of your neck stand up. And that's why sometimes there's no question of saying: 'Oh, it's Sunday, I don't want to go out.'” And, if a young veterinarian does happen to share that love for the game, he or she will nowadays serve as its front line: making sure that our community can face Main Street with a clear conscience in everything we ask of these animals. A Hagyard colleague, sitting with us, overrules Fallon's modesty to relate how the trainer of a Grade I winner at Saratoga this summer declared that his horse was only still in business thanks to his care. “For a young person coming in, it's got to be exciting to see the technology and the multiple aspects of medicine available even in a hyper-focused area like this,” Fallon says. “I remember making one of those naive teen statements to my dad one time. I said, 'Well, Pops, you've kind of lived the golden age.' Because he was a pioneer in many things: reproduction, vaccine research, herd health. And he said, 'Every time you push back the frontiers of science, you feel like you're falling over the edge. You really don't know where you're going with it.' “We, as a profession, are evolving. And, as a clinic, we're trying to do what we can to mentor and collaborate and continue to grow the art and science of veterinary medicine. There are so many exciting things happening, and we want a new generation of vets to enjoy them as well.” The post Hagyard Heirs Celebrate Past by Investing in Future appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Tickets are on sale for the 55th Resolute Racing Eclipse Awards, which will be Thursday, Jan. 22 at The Breakers Palm Beach. View the full article

The 2025 International Conference for the Health, Safety, and Welfare of Jockeys Dec. 11-12 in Hong Kong is themed Performance Medicine in Racing—Developing and Protecting the Jockey. View the full article

The 55th Resolute Racing Eclipse Awards will be held Thursday, Jan. 22 at The Breakers Palm Beach and tickets are now on sale for the black-tie event. The link to purchase is found here. The event is scheduled to begin at 6:00p.m. EDT with the cocktail party and red carpet show, followed by the dinner and awards ceremony at 7:00p.m. EDT. The after-party will follow at the conclusion of the Eclipse Awards at 10:45p.m. EDT. All evening events will be held in the Ponce de Leon Foyer and Ballroom. Britney Eurton and Lindsay Czarniak return as co-hosts while Caton Bredar reprises her role as ceremony announcer. A charity golf tournament to benefit the PDJF at The Breakers Ocean Course will kick off at 10:00a.m. the same day and registration for that is also open. “We are very excited to have Britney Eurton, Lindsay Czarniak, and Caton Bredar back at the Eclipse Awards,” said NTRA president and CEO Tom Rooney. “These three women are incredible representatives of our magnificent sport, and we look forward to them once again headlining an event where we honor the human and equine stars from 2025.” The post Tickets for Eclipse Awards Now on Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

A total of 20 stakes worth $3.977-million will highlight Turfway's Winter/Spring meeting and is anchored by the 55th running of the GIII Jeff Ruby Stakes–with Kentucky Derby points on the line–Saturday, Mar. 21, the track announced Monday morning. Racing at the Northern Kentucky institution will be kicked off by the Holiday Meet Dec. 3-27 and will feature seven stakes led by Synthetic Championships Night Saturday, Dec. 13–which offers $1-million across four of those black-type contests. All stakes purses at both meets include contributions from the Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund. Combined, the Holiday and Winter/Spring meets will offer $5.352-million in stakes purses. Including the aforementioned race in the Championship Series on the Road to the Kentucky Derby, Jeff Ruby Steaks Day Mar. 21 will showcase six stakes contests, including the GIII TwinSpires Kentucky Cup Classic and the Listed Bourbonette Oaks, a Championship Series race on the Road to the Kentucky Oaks. The undercard action includes the Listed Latonia, Animal Kingdom and Rushaway Stakes. The Winter/Spring Meet will also run the Listed John Battaglia Memorial Saturday, Feb. 21–a prep season race on the Road to the Kentucky Derby–and the Cincinnati Trophy, one night earlier, on the Road to the Kentucky Oaks. Daily first post times, aside from Jeff Ruby Steaks Day, will be 5:55 p.m. EDT. Jeff Ruby Steaks Day will get underway at 12:45 p.m. EDT. A list with the full stakes schedule may be found here. The post Jeff Ruby Anchors Stakes Schedule for Winter/Spring Meet at Turfway Park appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

A record 30 World Pool Moment of the Day prizes were awarded in 2025, with the stable staff of the winning horse receiving a cheque for HK$40,000, but now only four finalists remain in the running to be crowned the World Pool Moment of the Year. This year's shortlist for the World Pool Moment of the Year competition features winners from Japan and Australia. Voting is now open here and will close on Monday, December 1. The winner will be announced during LONGINES Hong Kong International Races (HKIR) week (December 8-14). The four finalists are: Yasuhiro Shibuta, groom of Forever Young, winner of the G1 Saudi Cup on February 22, 2025 at King Abdulaziz, Saudi Arabia Chenelle Ellis, groom of Asfoora, winner of the G1 Nunthorpe Stakes on August 22, 2025 at York, United Kingdom Kevin Daffy, trainer and groom of Oh Too Good, winner of the G3 Catanach's Jewellers (Ladies Day) Vase on October 11, 2025 at Caulfield, Australia Candice Persijn, groom of Via Sistina, winner of the G1 Cox Plate on October 25, 2025 at Moonee Valley, Australia The winning stable team will receive four premium economy return flights, a five-night stay at a 4-star hotel and exclusive hospitality at the Happy Valley and Sha Tin race meetings during either Hong Kong's Champions Day or Hong Kong International Races. World Pool, the globe's largest commingled horse racing pools created and powered by the Hong Kong Jockey Club, have awarded HK$1.2 million to grooms and stable staff in 2025. The post World Pool Moment of the Year Finalists Announced appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Twenty stakes races worth a total of nearly $4 million will highlight Turfway Park's winter/spring meet, anchored by the 55th running of the $777,000 Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) Saturday, March 21.View the full article

Grade I winner Eight Rings (Empire Maker) has relocated from Harris Farms to Rancho San Miguel and will stand at the new farm for a 2026 fee of $6,000 with a live foal guarantee, it was announced by press release. The son of Empire Maker claimed his elite-level win in the GI American Pharoah Stakes for Hall of Famer Bob Baffert as a juvenile and went on to be placed in four other graded contests–namely the GI Bing Crosby (second); GIII Native Diver (third); GII San Antonio Stakes (second); and the GII San Pasqual Stakes (third) in Southern California. He wrapped his career as the earner of $474,451 in his career. As a sire, Eight Rings' first foals are now yearlings, and have been well-received in 2025. The stallion claims the highest median sales results among all active California stallions this year. During the 2025 Fasig-Tipton California Fall Yearlings sale, four of his offspring sold for gross receipts of $140,000, yielding an average price of $35,000 and median of $37,500 while led by a $60,000 colt. He previously stood at Harris Farms, which has dispersed its stallion roster following the death of owner John Harris last July. “Eight Rings is truly the Adonis of stallions–a remarkable physical specimen without a single conformation flaw,” said Adrian Gonzalez, president of Checkmate Thoroughbreds LLC and managing partner of the Eight Rings Partnership. “His exceptional quality is now clearly reflected in his offspring, and we were handsomely rewarded in the sales ring with his first yearlings. I've been thoroughly impressed with his foals, and all of our California-based mares will be booked to him in 2026.” Produced by Purely Hot, a graded stakes-winning daughter of Pure Prize, the 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' represents the same Empire Maker/Storm Cat pedigree cross as fellow 'Rising Stars' 2015 Triple Crown winner American Pharoah and 2016 champion 2-year-old colt Classic Empire. Eight Rings is a half-brother to MSP British Isles (Justify) as well as four other winners. “We are honored and excited to have such an outstanding stallion prospect,” said Rancho San Miguel Owner Tom Clark. “We believe he has huge potential to be a leading sire in California.” The post Eight Rings Relocates to Rancho San Miguel from Harris Farms appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The 2025 International Conference for the Health, Safety and Welfare of Jockeys (ICHSWJ) will get underway in Hong Kong on Thursday, December 11. Themed Performance Medicine in Racing – Developing and Protecting the Jockey, the two-day conference will offer a variety of presentations and panel discussions involving leading experts in the field. The conference will feature 13 sessions altogether, as well as addresses from Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges, chair of the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA); Andrew Harding, executive director of the IFHA; and Darragh O'Loughlin, chief executive officer of the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board (IHRB) and chair of the IFHA Jockey Health and Wellbeing Committee. Scheduled participants across the two days include: William Audland, Michael Caulfield, Andrew Coonan, Gavin Egan, Jeff Gomez, Danny Hague, Peta Hitchens, Suzannah Hoult, Rosy Hyman, Chris Kamper, Michaela Keener, Phil Kinsella, Kylie Legg, Karen Lo, Ciara Losty, Daloni Lucas, Dan Martin, Tarryn Mason, James Murray, Siobhan O'Connor, Gillian O'Loughlin, John O'Reilly, Jennifer Pugh, Richard Pugh, Bill Riddiford, Megan Roberts, Tom Scudamore, Lisa Stevens, Matt Stewart, Paul Struthers and Giles Warrington. The conference is open to all those who work with jockeys and are interested in further enhancing their health, safety and welfare. Media are also welcome to attend. For all the latest information and to register for the ICHSWJ, please visit the ICHSWJ website. Registration will close at the end of November. The post Registrations Open for the International Jockeys Conference in Hong Kong appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD NEWSLETTER View the full article

Derek Leung Ka-chun is optimistic Lucky Sweynesse will bounce back from his Group One Sprinters Stakes (1,200m) defeat when he takes on superstar sprinter Ka Ying Rising in Sunday’s Group Two BOCHK Private Banking Jockey Club Sprint (1,200m) at Sha Tin. A strong second to Ka Ying Rising in the Class One HKSAR Chief Executive’s Cup (1,200m) at the start of the season, Lucky Sweynesse travelled to Japan for his first overseas mission but could only manage 11th behind Win Carnelian in the Sprinters...View the full article

Top northern driver Crystal Hackett will be back to defend her title when the New Zealand Junior Driver Championships are held later this month. The three legs of the Championship will be held over four days at Cambridge, Addington and Methven. Last year Hackett won the Championship at her third attempt, edging out Kerryn Tomlinson and Olivia Thornley. She’ll be joined this year by other young guns like Wilson House, Carter Dalgety and Sam Thornley and three newcomers in Harrison Orange, Hayden Douglas and Mia Holbrough. The 12 drivers are (in alphabetical order) : Ellie Barron Carter Dalgety Hayden Douglas Crystal Hackett Seth Hill Mia Holbrough Wilson House Emily Johnson Harrison Orange Monika Ranger Gemma Thornley Sam Thornley In this year’s Junior Premiership House leads on 79 wins, eight clear on Dalgety while Orange is third on 50. The qualifying period for this year’s Championship was from January 1 – November 2, 2025 with drivers accruing points throughout the season. They ranged from seven for first down to one for fifth. The 12 drivers consist of the top four points-scorers in Canterbury, the top two in the North Island, the top two in the Southern region (south of the Waitaki), the next two highest points scorers overall and a wild card, selected by HRNZ Chief Executive Brad Steele. He chose Monika Ranger. It’s planned to have six heats in total starting at Cambridge on Thursday November 27 and then moving to Addington the next day before the third and final round of heats at Methven on Sunday, November 30. View the full article

Lyle Hewitson is hoping to turn some “frustrating” seconds into victories when he partners Samarkand, Oriental Surprise and Exceed The Wish at Happy Valley on Wednesday night. The South African has enjoyed a strong start to the campaign, saluting on nine occasions, but there is an element of ‘what could have been’, with 12 seconds and a further 11 thirds on the report card. He rides three of those near misses at the city circuit on Wednesday and Hewitson is hoping to get back on the winning...View the full article

The 100th National Yearling Sale in New Zealand will feature a refreshed format to celebrate the milestone. Off the back of another record-breaking Ready to Run Sale, New Zealand Bloodstock has catalogued 1009 yearlings to be offered at Karaka from January 25-29. Book 1 will be conducted across two days, composed of 567 horses with Book 2 to follow with a further 281 yearlings, while a third session has also been re-introduced with 161 yearlings catalogued to sell on the Thursday for the new Karaka Summer Sale. “Coming off the back off what was an incredible week for the Ready to Run Sale, there is sense of momentum building ahead of Karaka 2026,” NZB’s Managing Director Andrew Seabrook said. “The support and interest from people eager to attend in January, including those that have not been here in a few years is very encouraging, and a sign of how incredible the milestone of 100 National Yearling Sales is. “Auction houses are renowned for claiming they have assembled their best yearling catalogue, but I’m confident that rings true this year given the increased vendor support, the smaller numbers catalogued and tough selection decisions, which naturally has increased the quality across the board. “We’re also incredibly proud of the New Zealand-bred and Karaka graduates over the last twelve months, as they just continue to get results and prove themselves wherever they race.” Blockbuster performances by Kiwi-bred horses on major stages across Australasia and Asia in recent times have given ample reasons for buyers from around the world to converge on Karaka in January. Karaka 2026 will kick off at Ellerslie on Saturday, January 24 with the TAB Karaka Millions race day, now offering more than $5 million in prizemoney and headlined by the $1m TAB Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m) and $1.5m TAB Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m) for graduates. Book 1 will then run from Sunday, January 25 to Monday, January 26 with selling starting at 10am and Book 2 will also start at 10am on Tuesday, January 27 while the Karaka Summer Sale will take place from 11am on Thursday, January 29. “The new Karaka Summer Sale is a fresh addition to the week, we’ve committed a variety of resources for it, and it has been supported by a number of top vendors,” Seabrook said. “We look forward to seeing everyone back at Karaka to celebrate the 100th National Yearling Sale, and of course to view an incredible line up of yearlings. If there was ever a year to ensure you’re at Karaka, this is it.” All yearlings purchased at Karaka 2026 are eligible for the Karaka Millions Series, including the new NZB Mega Maiden Series which offers an additional $1m in bonuses across 40 maiden races each season in New Zealand. The Karaka Summer Sale is further boosted by a new $200,000 Karaka Summer Sale bonus for yearlings purchased this year. For the first Karaka Summer Sale graduate home in both the 2027 $1m TAB Karaka Millions 2YO and 2028 $1.5m TAB Karaka Millions 3YO, $100,000 will be split evenly between the vendor and purchaser. Catalogues for Karaka 2026 can be viewed online at www.nzb.co.nz, or downloaded on the Equineline app for tablets or Thoroughworks app for mobile, with physical copies set to arrive in mailboxes soon. Online bidding is available for all prospective purchasers via bidonline.nzb.co.n z, plus an extensive online catalogue via www.nzb.co.nz that will host pedigrees, parade videos and photos, updates, and important information to assist buying decisions. All prospective buyers are welcome to attend on-farm parades, with the schedule to be announced soon. NZB and NZ-based agents are also available for inspections and evaluations. International buyers attending Karaka 2026 can enquire about accommodation options and travel assistance by emailing travel@nzb.co.nz. To request a catalogue or for general sale information, contact info@nzb.co.nz or call +64 9 298 0055. For bloodstock enquiries, contact NZB Bloodstock Sales Manager Kane Jones on kane.jones@nzb.co.nz or call +64 27 274 4985. View the full article

Cambridge trainer Paul Mirabelli is now eyeing the Gr.1 Trackside New Zealand Derby (2400m) with Shoma following his pleasing placing in last Saturday’s Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton. The son of Contributer wasn’t wanted by punters in the three-year-old feature, drifting out to a $104 outsider, but that didn’t quash Mirabelli’s hopes. “We have had belief in him the whole way through,” he said. “He has always shown that he has got really good ability. “I guess the punters were put off him from last time because he was a bit questionable (when seventh) in the War Decree Stakes (Gr.3, 1600m). But there was quite a big headwind, and he was outside the leader and he just did it tough the whole race because he was just going that little bit keen.” Jockey Sam Collett adopted different tactics with the gelding on Saturday, riding him quietly off the pace, and it paid off, with Shoma running home strong late to finish third behind the Pam Gerard-trained pair of Romanoff and Affirmative Action. “Once you get cover with him, he absolutely drops the bridle, and that is the key with him going forward,” Mirabelli said. “When he gets clear air in front of him, he thinks he has to go, but once he has got cover, it is a completely different story with him.” Mirabelli was rapt with the placing and said he got animated a long way out. “I started yelling a long way out and it was exciting,” he said. “For a moment, halfway down I thought he was going to go past them, but Pam’s horses had also had good runs and they fought right to the line, but he was closing on them, so it was quite exciting. “It was excellent. He has been pretty consistent all year, so it was really good.” With the result, Mirabelli was also able to better his previous best placing in a Group One, which was recorded by Shoma’s dam Big Dreamer, who was fifth in the 2016 edition of the Gr.1 Captain Cook Stakes (1600m) at Trentham. “We trained the mother and she was previously my most successful horse in a Group One race, she was fifth in a Captain Cook Stakes, and her son is now my best placing. It has been a good family for me,” Mirabelli said. Following her retirement from racing, Big Dreamer joined Mapperley Stud’s broodmare band, where she has been a solid producer, having also left Group Three winner He’s Lucid. When Shoma was offered through Mapperley’s 2024 New Zealand Bloodstock Book 2 Yearling Sale draft, he immediately caught Mirabelli’s attention and he was able to secure him with a final bid of $20,000. “He appealed to me because he was out of the mare I raced, and she had really good ability, and you can’t go wrong with Contributer, you couldn’t even pay for his service fee for what I paid him for,” he said. Shoma has gone on to more than recoup Mirabelli’s initial outlay, having earned more than $80,000 in his 10 starts to date. Shoma will now head to the spelling paddock with some big autumn targets in-mind, including the New Zealand Derby on Champions Day at Ellerslie in March. “He will go to the paddock for a freshen-up when he arrives back tomorrow (Tuesday),” Mirabelli said. “Sam Collett (jockey) said straight after the race that she will ride him in the Derby, so I will hold her to that, and that is the way he will head. “It took a long time for her to pull him up on Saturday, he went right around to the far steeplechase fences, so running 2400m is going to be no problem for him. “We won’t have too many races beforehand. He is pretty naturally fit, he doesn’t blow in his work, his heart rate is always incredibly low. Even after Saturday, we gave him a hose and his heart rate had come back to 18 beats per 15 seconds already. “The mother had an incredibly low heart rate too and I think horses with low heart rates, once they get over longer distances, they have got an extreme advantage.” While purchased out of Karaka, Shoma isn’t eligible for the Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m) in January, but Mirabelli is hopeful his stablemate Taylor Square can make the field. “I never nominated him for the Karaka Millions,” Mirabelli said. “I nominated another one called Taylor Square, who is reasonably high up in the three-year-old. If he doesn’t head down for the Gore Guineas (Listed, 1335m) he will head towards the Karaka Millions.” Meanwhile, Mirabelli is looking forward to heading to Pukekohe on Saturday where his in-form gelding Prometheus will contest the Gr.3 Myracehorse Counties Cup (2100m). A $7,100 purchase off gavelhouse.com, Prometheus has been a standout for the stable in recent months, winning one and placing in five of his last six starts, and Mirabelli believes he is up to the challenge of stepping up to stakes company. “He is fantastic,” Mirabelli said. “His work has been out of this world and he is galloping very confidently. “We bought him off gavelhouse for not a lot of money and he has been a money-spinner so far.” While he has been in a purple patch of form of late, it hasn’t been all plain sailing with the Ace High gelding, who previously battled soundness issues. “We have had a few problems with him,” Mirabelli said. “He slipped over one day at the races and pulled a muscle behind and it just hindered us for such a long time. “We were battling his muscles for at least eight months. All of a sudden he just came right and he has put it behind him and hasn’t had a problem. “Touch wood, he is completely sound, and he is just working the house down. “I know he is going to be a lowly rated horse in that particular race, but they will certainly know he is there.” View the full article

Gringotts (NZ) (Per Incanto) is likely to be Ciaron Maher’s sole representative in the Gr.3 The Gong (1600m) as Saturday racing next weekend again heads outside of the Sydney area to Kembla Grange. Maher has created plenty of history of his own through his training career but there would not be many ‘double-doubles’ among them. That is what Gringotts could achieve should he salute in the 1600m A$1 million Group Three event. Victory in the Listed The Big Dance (1600m) last year followed by The Gong have the signs there again after the six-year-old was able to snag The Big Dance for a second time on Melbourne Cup Day a fortnight ago. “He’s come out of The Big Dance super,” Maher said. “He’s probably in career best form.” Maher added that Gringott’s main aim over the spring was the Gr.1 King Charles III Stakes (1600m) but the setbacks with blood readings turned attention back to The Big Dance. Gringotts is rated the $2.50 favourite for The Gong while other stablemates nominated including Vivy Air (Hellbent) who heads to Perth and 2024 Caulfield Cup winner Duke De Sessa (Lope de Vega) will be sent for a break. View the full article