Wandering Eyes

Gyarmati told DRF that she "failed a Breathalyzer after she was awakened by NYRA security when found in her truck, which was parked by the Belmont Park training track following training hours."View the full article

A total of 15 juveniles shared the bullet :9 4/5 furlong work time during the second session of the under-tack show for the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's March 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale Thursday in Central Florida. Three of the bullet workers came from the Wavertree Stables consignment: a filly by Nyquist (hip 304) out of High Heeled Girl (Malibu Moon); a filly by American Freedom (hip 400) out of Limitless (Discreet Cat); and a colt by Shancelot (hip 421) out of Magnolias in Bloom (Flatter). Wavertree also had a McKinzie colt who shared the :9 4/5 bullet time during Wednesday's first session of the under-tack show. Eddie Woods sent out a pair of colts by WinStar Farm first-crop sires to share the bullet :9 4/5 time. First up for the consignment was a chestnut colt by Promises Fulfilled (hip 316). Out of Hot Fun (Latent Heat), the Maryland-bred was purchased by the Quarter Pole Enterprises pinhooking partnership for $110,000 at last year's Keeneland September sale. “I expected him to work well,” Woods said. “He is an amazingly good-looking colt by kind of an off-the-wall stallion, so to speak. I thought he would work really quick and he did. He's been like that from the first time we ever worked him. He just jumps right in there. He's a tall, leggy colt with great angles to him.” Also working in :9 4/5 Thursday for Woods was a colt from the first crop of champion Improbable (hip 395). The bay is out of Libby's Tail (Tiz Wonderful) and was purchased by Woods on behalf of Michael Rullo for $135,000 at Keeneland September. “The work was spectacular,” Woods said. “I can't always tell you a big horse like him is going to work in :9 4/5, but we expected a good work from him and he did that and then some. He galloped out great. He's a beautiful, big, long-striding horse. I think a lot of people are going to like him.” The colt was one of two sons of Improbable to work the furlong in :9 4/5 Thursday. Also sharing the bullet was hip 325, a colt by the WinStar stallion out of stakes-placed Inaugurate (Empire Maker) from the Majestic consignment. “As yearlings, I thought they were taller, leaner kind of horses,” Woods said of the progeny of Improbable he has seen. “But we had several in training here and they have come along really well. The one thing they do is move beautifully. They get across the ground really well. They are not huge, robust horses, but they are very athletic.” For the second day in a row, a filly by Munnings from the Niall Brennan Stables consignment worked her furlong in :9 4/5. Hip 229 is out of Firefoot (Tapizar), a half-sister to graded winner Bandbox (Tapit). The 2-year-old, a $125,000 Keeneland September purchase, is a half-sister to stakes-placed Freeburn (Mitole). A Bullet Bolt for Horseology Partners Sharing in the bevy of bullets Thursday at OBS, a colt by Bolt d'Oro (hip 422) worked the furlong in :9 4/5 for Katie Miranda's White Lilac consignment. The bay colt is out of Maisie (Stay Thirsty), a half-sister to multiple graded winner Lovely Bernadette (Wilburn). “The horse has always shown us positive things,” said Miranda. “He's had lovely breezes at the farm all year. I don't think we've ever had a bad breeze from him. And he prepped in :9 4/5 here [at OBS] last week.” Asked to describe the colt, Miranda said, “He's a tank. He is an absolute tank. He looks like a Quarter Horse and he has muscles popping out of every part of his body.” The colt was purchased for $150,000 at last year's Fasig-Tipton July sale by Brian DiDonato's Franklin Ave Equine on behalf of David and Jon Schlosser's Cliff Racing and Miranda and trainer Jena Antonucci's Horseology partnership. “He was one of our stretch purchases of the year,” Miranda said. “Obviously, partnering with Cliff and Brian allowed that to happen. We had very high thoughts of him from the jump and he's proven it day in and day out. He's just a class act.” Miranda and Antonucci have been working together for four years and this will be Horseology's second year of pinhooking partnerships. “We have a good mixture of owners,” Miranda said. “Our big goal is to get new people involved. We do smaller shares to give people the ability to start at just a smaller level because this is an expensive game. We bought 10 [yearlings] for this year. The Bolt d'Oro is one of them. And we've got a pretty big group of owners involved, a mix of owners we have worked with for years and some new ones.” Also earning the furlong bullet time Thursday: a filly by Caracaro (hip 225) consigned by Cesar Loya Training & Sales; a filly by Honest Mischief (hip 243) consigned by Jesse Hoppel's Coastal Equine; a filly by City of Light (hip 290) consigned by Top Line Sales; a colt by Violence (hip 301) consigned by New Hope AB; a colt by Twirling Candy (hip 398) consigned by GOP Racing Stable Corp.; a filly by Maximus Mischief (hip 418) consigned by Omar Ramirez Bloodstock; and a colt by Volatile (hip 420) consigned by Grade One Investments. A pair of juveniles shared Thursday's fastest quarter-mile time of :20 4/5: a filly by Uncle Mo (hip 252) consigned by Pick View and a colt by Cajun Breeze (hip 271) bred and consigned by Tom McCrocklin. While headwinds were a major factor later in Wednesday's first session of the under-tack show, conditions were more consistent throughout the second session Thursday, according to Miranda. “The headwind yesterday was terrible,” Miranda said. “We probably had a much more consistent track today. They said it was going to be overcast–which to me means you can't see the sun. And there was just one cloud in the sky. Which was annoying just because the track gets so hot and sticky so quick. But the track seemed to play fair all day.” Of wind conditions, Miranda said, “If anything we had a little bit of a tailwind at times, but definitely not the 12mph headwind people had to deal with yesterday.” The under-tack show continues through Saturday with sessions beginning daily at 8 a.m. The March sale will be held next Tuesday through Thursday. Bidding begins each day at 11 a.m. The post Bevy of Bullets at OBS Thursday appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Keeneland welcomes VisitLEX, the Lexington Convention and Visitors Bureau, as sponsor of the $350,000 Elkhorn Stakes (G2T) April 20. VisitLEX promotes Lexington and the Bluegrass region as a destination for leisure and convention travelers.View the full article

by Jonny Turner Sam Thornley is keeping his feet on the ground ahead of combining with a strong book of drives at Westport today. The junior reinsman will link up with two genuine hopes in both the feature pace and the feature trot at Patterson Park. Just Ask Paddy comes into the Kawatiri Cup after a spectacular win in his last start at Waterlea in which he fell after passing the post. Thornley is hoping to see a more polished version of the pacer when he returns to grass track racing today. And with manners, the pacer trained by Tony Thomas must rate a handy chance. “He must have shied at the winning post in that last start, but he’s won two of his three starts and run third in the other,” Thornley said. “It is great to get the drive for Tony, he stays with us at Ken Barron’s and he is a good fella.” “If the horse can do things right, he should be a pretty handy chance, but there are a couple of good ones in there like Mo’unga and Helium.” Thornley also links up with Muscle Bank for the first time since they won on both days of the January meeting at Waterlea. The mare trained by Tom Bamford looks a serious winning chance in race 7. “She went great at Marlborough and if she races like that she should be a good chance.” “Tom seems pretty happy with her, she has had two trials and she has gone pretty good.” “She has got a lot of high speed, so hopefully there is a bit of pace on and she can be finishing over top of them.” Barrier 8 in race 5 is far from ideal for the consistent Jaccka Opa, but his excellent recent form suggests he is an eachway threat for Thornley. “He has been going good, but he wasn’t as flash in his last start.” “But they ran home in fast time at Addington which probably wasn’t his go.” “If he can get a bit of luck from the draw he should go better.” Proven grass tracker Judgement Bay is another of Thornley’s drives who looks capable of featuring. “She hasn’t been as good in her last couple of starts, but on her best form she would be up with any of them in that field.” Rakero Lightning slots into barrier 2 in race 4 for Thornley which could help her boost her form. “I drove her at the trials and they ran home in fast time and she kept finding the line.” “She is definitely not the worst.” Miley Ace in race 11 looks the roughie among Thornley’s six drives at Westport. View the full article

Reeves Thoroughbred Racing, Rohan Crichton, Daniel Walters, and Dennis Smith's Real Macho, fourth in the Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2), will remain at Gulfstream Park for his next start in the $1 million Florida Derby (G1) March 30.View the full article

In this continuing series, we take a look ahead at US-bred and/or conceived runners entered for the upcoming weekend at the tracks on the Japan Racing Association circuit, with a focus on pedigree and/or performance in the sales ring. Here are the horses of interest for this weekend running at Chukyo and Hanshin Racecourses: Sunday, March 10, 2024 3rd-CKO, ¥10,400,000 ($71k), Maiden, 3yo, 1400mT KAFUJI NIHONIUM (c, 3, Kitten's Joy–Broken Dreams, by Broken Vow) represents six generations of Glen Hill Farm breeding and is out of a Grade III-winning dam who produced Caribou Club (City Zip), a graded winner in California, Maryland and Canada. A $190,000 Keeneland September yearling, the May-foaled chestnut counts GI Breeders' Cup Distaff upsetter One Dreamer (Relaunch) as his third dam. B-Glen Hill Farm (KY) 3rd-HSN, ¥10,480,000 ($71k), Maiden, 3yo, 1800m JUN FIRENZE (JPN) (c, 3, Ghostzapper–Street Cash, by Street Boss), whose dam cost $95,000 with this colt in utero at the 2020 Keeneland November sale, is out of a daughter of 2000 GI Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup winner Collect the Cash (Dynaformer), also the dam of 2010 GI Toyota Blue Grass S. winner Stately Victor (Ghostzapper) and the GSP duo of Hot Cash (Ghostzapper) and Bay Street Money (Street Sense). An April foal, the bay colt changed hands for ¥16.5 million ($120,495) at the 2022 Hokkaido Selection Yearling Sale. B-Yuki Dendo 11th-HSN, Fillies' Revue-G2, ¥99m ($688k), 3yo, f, 1400mT JUNE BLAIR (f, 3, American Pharoah–Lap of Luxury {Ire}) carried Yutaka Take to a half-length victory in a 1200-meter newcomers event at Nakayama Oct. 1 (see below, SC 1) and was not beaten far when seventh behind eventual champion Jantar Mantar (Jpn) (Palace Malice) in the G2 Daily Hai Nisai S. when tried over a mile at Kyoto Nov. 11. The $275,000 Keeneland September acquisition is out of a half-sister to Group 1-winning sire Dutch Art (GB) (Medicean {GB}) and a full-sister to GSW/G1SP Keeneland November topper Up (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), whose four winners from six to race include last year's GII Lake Placid S. winner Aspray (Quality Road), G1SP Monarch of Egypt (American Pharoah) and GSP Khartoum (Pioneerof the Nile). She makes her first start in sex-restricted company here. B-Diamond Creek Farm (KY) The post Glen Hill Farm Family On Display At Chukyo appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Halo, the world's first equine AI technology platform and Palantir, Inc., a leading provider of AI systems, have joined forces in a strategic partnership, Halo announced at the AIP Conference in Silicon Valley, California on Thursday. This collaboration will offer analytics services to all members of the horse industry, starting with insurance solutions for owners, tailored to the unique risk profiles of their equine athletes. The Halo app is expected to launch on the eve of Royal Ascot at Kensington Palace. The partnership will give horse owners, trainers, and equestrian enthusiasts with precision in predicting risks associated with their equine investments–before they happen. Owners who use the Halo app get a free 360 degree profile of their horses which provide recommendations on breeding, sales and racing decisions. The Halo app has an in-built AI assistant called Hailey, that owners can pose questions to like: “What is the most commercial stallion under $15,000 that I should breed my mare to?” Or “What are the top three listed races to target my horse at this year?”. Hailey is powered by over 100 years of global racing performance, sales results, jockey, trainer, racecourse, and horse welfare data. “Halo is proud to join forces with Palantir to redefine the landscape of equine insurance,” said Neil Sands, a silicon valley design exec, and CEO of Halo. “We see a whole spectrum of applications for this technology, from breeding and auction, through to race selection, performance mapping and beyond. Our first mission however, is to transform horse welfare, by offering predictive insurance coverage that adapts to the ever-changing dynamics of the equine world. The equine industry has extensive pools of rich data that have never been taken from paper to a smartphone app like this before. “We are already seeing this technology creating advantages in F1 racing, so why not in horse racing? Through this collaboration with Palantir, we are combining multiple data streams to deliver data-driven protection that predicts each horse's specific needs at any given moment. We believe that every horse should have the cover it needs, and are welcoming investors and partners to participate with us at the outset of our journey. In short, Halo is horse powered AI.” Palantir's AI engine enables Halo to analyse a host of factors like a horse's pedigree, health status, activity level, competitive and environmental conditions, in real time. There is also synergy between racing updates and the insurance arm of Halo, i.e. after a horse wins a race, Halo instantly offers the owner the opportunity to increase the insurance on that horse. In addition, there is also an in-app marketplace, set to begin later in 2024, which will enable owners to sell their horses on a secondary market on an international scale. For more information about Halo and this new partnership, please visit Halo's website. The post Halo And Palantir Join Forces In AI Partnership To Revolutionise Equine Analytics appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The stars will be out for Joe Pride March 9 when the Warwick Farm-based trainer sends both Think About It and Private Eye to Randwick in search of further feature-race glory in the Canterbury (G1) and Challenge (G2) stakes.View the full article

Trainer Rusty Arnold has been suspended seven days and fined $1,000 after the two-year-old filly he trains, Figgy (Candy Ride {Arg}), tested positive for a metabolite of Tramadol. “I received notification and today am accepting the penalties for a horse in my care testing for a controlled substance under current HISA/HIWU regulations,” said Arnold in a letter circulated by the National Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association. “To be clear,” continues Arnold, “I have no issue that I have a positive post-race test. The problem is why it is a positive. We can't afford to just stand on the rail expressing outrage whenever one of our training colleagues gets ensnared in HISA and HIWU testing policies and penalties that defy common sense and ignore the realities of our environment. We need to speak not amongst ourselves but to speak up together to regulators–loudly–that the system in place is unfairly hurting livelihoods and reputations while doing nothing to make our horses and industry safer. I'm not anti-HISA (Horseracing Integrity & Safety Authority). But I'm very much against some of the policies they've put in place–and allowed its enforcement arm HIWU (Horseracing Integrity & Welfare Unit) to put into place–in determining drug and medication violations.” Arnold said the drug was detected in Figgy's post-race test after her win in a Dec. 27 maiden race at Turfway, at a level of three nanograms per millileter of urine. Tramadol is a narcotic use for moderate to moderately severe pain, according to the Mayo Clinic, which says it is also used to treat severe pain when opioids cannot be used or are not effective. It is often given post-surgery. “I am accepting my penalty and will move on. However, I do 100 percent deny giving or instructing anyone on my staff to administer Tramadol to Figgy,” Arnold wrote. “We interviewed every person who came in contact with Figgy and no one had a Tramadol prescription. Figgy is under 24/7 state-of-the-art video surveillance supplied by Keeneland. This was offered to HISA, but they never responded to the offer to make that video available. We do not believe Figgy received Tramadol in our care. “It is our belief that Figgy was contaminated with Tramadol either on the van ride to Turfway Park that day or in the receiving barn where she was in her assigned stall for approximately eight hours prior to her race. We have no control over those factors.” Arnold said that he felt that HISA was unrealistic in its views and penalties for environmental contamination. “Horses are grazing animals,” he wrote. “They eat dirt. They love to lick smelly wet spots in stalls. They eat manure. They lick the walls of ship-in stalls. It is unreasonable to think we can control this.” The TDN has reached out to HIWU for comment. The post Arnold Receives Seven-Day Suspension for Tramadol Positive; Raises Contamination Questions appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

By Michael Guerin Winning would be a bonus when Old Town Road resumes at Alexandra Park tonight. That is not to say trainer John Dickie doesn’t want his stable star to win the $40,000 Lincoln Farms Founders Cup and he is adamant he can. But first and foremost Dickie is just happy the race, in fact the whole Alexandra Park meeting, is being held at all. The meeting will consist of just seven races with a total of 47 starters. The fields are quite even with few standout favourites so there is still value to be found. One of the those races could even be the Founders Cup, which only has five starters but needed to be held after a similar race last week was canned. Cambridge are a month away from holding the $1million Race by Grins and horses based in the north have to be given racing opportunities to prepare for it otherwise they will get spanked like a rock-hard fit superstar like Leap To Fame. “That is why I am so glad the race got off the ground,” says Dickie. “These horses need and deserve some racing. We are pretty sure we are in The Race by Grins but we need racing to get ready for it.” That is especially true for Old Town Road as the natural speedster doesn’t have the recent racing under his belt that key rivals Self Assured and Mach Shard do for tonight’s sprint. “He has had three workouts but in one of them he didn’t go so well and we found out he had a bug bothering him so we eased up for a few days and started again,” explains Dickie. Old Town Road won his Pukekohe workout two weeks ago and was second to Mach Shard last weekend when driven cold. Their draws suggest different tactics tonight with Old Town Road drawn barrier 2 and with the gate speed to reach and then hold the lead. “There is no point giving away that advantage so if he can lead I’d like to see him stay there,” says Dickie. In a a five-horse field over just 1700m it is hard to envisage much pressure so early intent from the drivers could be crucial as if either Self Assured or Mach Shard rush forward early a fresh-up Old Town Road may adopt more conservative tactics. So even the small field provides some intrigue. Two juvenile races, full of largely unknown talents, add interest to the meeting while Northern Oaks second favourite All You Need Is Me makes her Alexandra Park debut in the last race. She is a daughter of champion mare Adore Me by speed stallion Captaintreacherous so one of the most valuable pacers racing in the country. View the full article

Selections for Auckland today. Head to www.tab.co.nz to place your bet! Race Trottech Form Analyst Race 1 6.35pm 4 Nelson’s Boy 2 Scout’s Honour 1 Skipper 5 Potter Race 2 7.05pm 5 It’s Electrifying 4 Lincoln Lou 2 Sadhaka 1 Justyouwait Race 3 7.34pm 3 Leo Lincoln 5 Precious Bet 2 Onyx Shard 4 Hadron Collider Race 4 7.59pm 6 Great White 4 Demon Blue 2 Sugar Ray Lincoln 5 Roy Kent Race 5 8.24pm 6 Shake A Leg 1 Dear God 9 Beta Prepare 3 Xcite Me Race 6 8.50pm 2 Old Town Road 5 Self Assured 4 Mach Shard 3 Kango Race 7 9.20pm 6 All You Need Is Me 5 Two Eye See 2 Throwyaarmsaroundme 1 My Copy View the full article

Jaber Abdullah's Marhaba Ya Sanafi (Ire) (Muhaarar {GB}–Danega {GB}, by Galileo {Ire}) was scoreless in four starts since annexing May's G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains and regained the winning thread in this seasonal return. Last term's G1 Prix du Jockey Club placegetter settled third along the fence through halfway, but slipped one spot rounding the home turn. Coming under pressure approaching the quarter-mile marker, he went second entering the final furlong and was ridden out to deny long-time leader Topgear (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) by 1 1/4 lengths nearing the line. “I am happy, very happy,” said winning trainer Andreas Schutz. “I am happy for the horse, happy for the owner and happy for the jockey. It looks like a mile is his best trip and it was the owner who suggested bringing him back to a mile, so it was a good decision. I was very happy with his run in the Jockey Club, but it looked like the distance was too much for him. He's entered in the [Apr. 1 G3] Prix Edmond Blanc [over this course and distance] and then we'll have to see. I would like to see him back in Group 1 company at some stage this season, but there's no fixed plan yet.” Marhaba Ya Sanafi, half to a yearling colt by Hello Youmzain (Fr), is the fourth of six foals and one of two scorers produced by an unraced half-sister to G2 Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial and G3 Ballysax S. placegetter Fergus McIver (Ire) (Sadler's Wells). The March-foaled bay's G3 Noblesse S.-winning second dam Danelissima (Ire) (Danehill) is out of the dual stakes-winning Zavaleta (Ire) (Kahyasi {Ire}), herself a daughter of stakes-winning matriarch La Meilleure (Ire) (Lord Gayle). Descendants of Zavaleta include G1 Dewhurst S.-winning sire Intense Focus (Giant's Causeway) and G1 Moyglare Stud S. heroine Skitter Scatter (Scat Daddy). Thursday, Saint-Cloud, France PRIX ALTIPAN-Listed, €52,000, Saint-Cloud, 3-7, 4yo/up, 8fT, 1:49.68, vhy. 1–MARHABA YA SANAFI (IRE), 126, c, 4, Muhaarar (GB)–Danega (GB), by Galileo (Ire). O-Jaber Abdullah; B-Rabbah Bloodstock Ltd (IRE); T-Andreas Schutz; J-Mickael Barzalona. €26,000. Lifetime Record: G1SW-Fr, 10-4-1-1, €624,160. 2–Topgear (Fr), 126, h, 5, Wootton Bassett (GB)–Miss Lech, by Giant's Causeway. (€200,000 Ylg '20 ARQSEP). O-Hisaaki Saito; B-Snig Elevage (FR); T-Christopher Head. €10,400. 3–American Flag (Fr), 126, c, 4, Wootton Bassett (GB)–Tres Americanqueen (Fr), by American Post (GB). (€102,000 Ylg '21 ARQAUG). O-Malcolm Parrish; B-Chevotel de la Hauquerie (FR); T-Yann Barberot. €7,800. Margins: 1 1/4, 2, SHD. Odds: 2.80, 1.70, 2.40. Also Ran: Half Half (Fr), Russipant Fal (Mor), Arcandi (Ger), Breizh Eagle (Fr). Scratched: Anthorus (Fr). Video, sponsored by FanDuel TV. The post Muhaarar’s Marhaba Ya Sanafi Makes Winning Return at Saint-Cloud appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Fasig-Tipton has catalogued 105 entries for its March Digital Sale, which may be viewed at digital.fasigtipton.com. Bidding is now open and will close Tuesday, Mar. 12, beginning at 2 p.m. ET. The catalogue offers horses of racing age, breeding stock, 2-year-olds, and yearlings. Daddysruby (Frac Daddy) (Hip 1), winner of the GI La Brea S. at Santa Anita Dec. 26, headlines the sale's catalogue. Her La Brea win capped an outstanding 3-year-old season in which she won five of six starts on her way to career earnings of $364,014. Now four, she is consigned as a racing/broodmare prospect by Bluewater Sales, agent. “Consignors have supported our March Digital Sale with another strong group of entries,” said Leif Aaron, Fasig-Tipton's Director of Digital Sales. “We are particularly excited to offer our first current Grade I winner on the platform in Daddysruby. At just four years old, she has a lot of racing opportunities still ahead of her.” Other horses of racing age entries of interest include two in-form graded stakes level older horses, as well as recently graded stakes placed racing/broodmare prospects. Breeding stock offerings include mares in foal to Mitole, Violence, and Yaupon, as well as eight mares offered along with their 2024 foals at foot. Sires of yearlings represented include Curlin, Flatter, and Tapit. Fasig-Tipton February Digital sale topper Pounce (Lookin At Lucky) won the GIII Herecomesthebride S. at Gulfstream Park. The 3-year-old filly was purchased on Fasig-Tipton Digital by Resolute Racing just 11 days prior to her graded stakes win. “Pounce's impressive victory this past weekend demonstrates the level of quality that can be found on our digital platform,” Aaron said. “Her buyer was rewarded with a quick return on investment, while the filly never had to leave her stall or miss a day of training to be sold.” The post Led by GISW Daddysruby, Bidding Now Open for Fasig-Tipton March Digital Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Making his first start after being walked off in the Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes (G1), Skippylongstocking will try to repeat as the victor of the $100,000 Challenger Stakes (G3) March 9 at Tampa Bay Downs. View the full article

Unbeaten jumper Credrojava (Ire) (Presenting {GB}) topped Thursday's Tattersalls Online Sale when selling to Tobar Farm for 48,000gns. Sold out of training by Harry Fry, Credrojava hails from a strong National Hunt family that includes Our Vic (Ire), Seigemaster (Ire) and more. After winning a Ballinaboola point-to-point for Sean Doyle, Credrojava was knocked down to bloodstock agent Kevin Ross for £80,000 at the Tattersalls Cheltenham February Sale in 2022. She proved an able performer for Fry, winning a bumper and twice over hurdles, with the latest of those successes coming in a Listed novice at Taunton. One of the more interesting lots offered on Thursday was the former Gordon Elliott-trained Escaria Ten (Fr) (Maresca Sorrento {Fr}), who was sold with an entry to the cross-country chase at Cheltenham. Escaria Ten had been based with French-based handler Patrice Quiton this season and was knocked down to agent Gerry Hogan on behalf of trainer Martin Keighley for 30,000gns. Meanwhile, the Ralph Beckett-trained Not Afraid (GB) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) sold to Federico Barberini for the same amount. All told, there were 29 lots sold for a combined 240,700gns at an average of 8,300gns. The post Unbeaten Presenting Mare Credrojava Tops Tattersalls Online Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Downhill turf course specialist Lane Way takes on eight other veteran campaigners in the $100,000 San Simeon Stakes (G3T) March 9 at Santa Anita Park.View the full article

The first mares covered by the National Stud's Mutasaabq (GB) have been scanned in foal. The triple Group 2-winning son of Invincible Spirit (Ire) boasts a stellar pedigree and the first mare scanned in foal to him is two-time winner Krona (GB) Sea The Moon (Ger). “We are delighted with the quality of mares that Mutasaabeq is covering, his physique, sireline and depth of pedigree really underline the value he provides for breeders,” said The National Stud's head of bloodstock, Joe Bradley. “His book includes stakes winners such as Chain of Daisies (GB) (Rail Link {GB}) and sisters to stakes winners as well as proven mares, so he will have every chance to make an impact with his first crop of foals.” Mutasaabeq's performances on the track peaked at a Timeform rating of 122. His tenacity and front-running style was at its most eye-catching at Newmarket, where he won three Group 2s over a mile. The post First Mares Scanned In Foal To The National Stud’s Mutasaabeq appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Australian Turf Club (ATC) Head Of Racing and Wagering James Ross will shortly take up a leading role with the Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC) after eight years at the ATC. He announced his resignation on Thursday and will finish his tenure with the ATC after this year's Autumn carnival. “James has been instrumental in ATC remaining at the forefront of racing in Australia,” CEO Matt Galanos told Racing NSW. “He has ensured ATC has continued to forge a reputation as an industry leader through the delivery of a world-class racing product and development of both racing and training surfaces. James has led a team which has also greatly improved the ownership experience, industry and wagering initiatives along with significant growth in international participation across Autumn and Spring carnivals. We thank James for his outstanding service and it is measure of not only his talent but also the standing of Sydney racing that the Hong Kong Jockey Club has offered him such a role.” The post James Ross To Join HKJC appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Sometime in the next few days there will likely be footage of a convoy of vast wagons carrying Gordon Elliott's army of horses from Co Meath to Cheltenham. Ten minutes down the road from Elliott's stable, a single two-box will pull out of the drive at Rahinston to make that same journey. On board will be Colonel Mustard (Fr), an outsider for the Champion Hurdle but very much the star of Lorna Fowler's string of 15 jumpers. Of all the Festival races, the Champion Hurdle has been hogging the headlines of the last week as we awaited news of the likely defection of odds-on favourite Constitution Hill (GB). He's now out, his stable-mate Iberico Lord (Fr) is in, State Man (Fr) is the new favourite and the brilliant young mare Lossiemouth (Fr) may or may not stand her ground against her own sex this year. We'll see. What is certain, however, is that, with fair winds and following seas, Colonel Mustard will be belatedly fulfilling what now looks to have been a cunning plan. Nine years ago it was probably more just a pipe dream for two old school friends to buy a backward-looking Flat horse at the foal sales and try to turn him into a top-class jumper. One of that duo is Fowler's husband, Harry, the Goffs UK bloodstock manager who still part-owns Colonel Mustard with the man now best known for rejuvenating the Tote, Alex Frost. They were joined in the partnership in the early days of the horse's racing career by Pete Davies. “I was joking with Frosty and said, 'Let's find a horse to run in the 2022 Champion Hurdle' when we were traipsing around the foal sale in 2015,” says Harry, casting his mind back to the first time he saw the son of Makfi (GB). “It was a bit of a fantasy really, but Matt Coleman came across this horse and we all agreed. No one wanted him in the sales ring – big, backward foal, German staying pedigree, wasn't what the market was looking for. He was a bit out of place in the December sales. “And lo and behold, we broke him in, and I rode him as a two-year-old and straight away he'd lob around the sand with the greatest of ease. I thought, 'Oh, we've got one here. He could be all right.' He told us straight away. And then he took a long time to mature, with a few niggles and growing pains, and he didn't run until he was five.” Coleman, Frost and Fowler weren't far off, though. Colonel Mustard won a Punchestown bumper at five and was second to Echoes In Rain (Fr) in the G1 Champion Novice Hurdle at 40/1 to close his debut season. Subsequent placings in smart company at Ascot and Leopardstown, behind Jonbon (Fr) and Sir Gerhard (Ire), saw him make it to the Cheltenham Festival in 2022, but for the County Hurdle rather than the Champion. The form of that race now reads very well indeed, as he was third, just three lengths behind State Man, the subsequent winner of eight Grade 1 races whom he will meet again on Tuesday. You have to make him feel like he's the king and that he's the most important person in the world. Colonel Mustard's progression has been the old-fashioned route of a trainer bringing a horse through the ranks without shopping at the boutique ready-made jumper sales. At such auctions, the price tags are usually at least 10 times the 20,000gns it took to buy the backward Makfi (GB) foal. It is a way that both Lorna and Harry Fowler would have witnessed first hand in their formative years as the children respectively of National Hunt training and riding stalwarts Sue and Johnny Bradburne and John and Lady Jennifer 'Chich' Fowler. Lorna grew up in Scotland and is unique in being the only person to have ridden a winner at the Cheltenham Festival for Sir Henry Cecil thanks to landing the St Patrick's Day Derby – a charity race for amateurs – aboard the Niarchos family's Plato (Jpn). Her brother is the former jump jockey Mark Bradburne. Having a runner in her own name in one of the championship races takes it to another level, however. “It means a huge amount,” she says. “In a funny way, I perhaps don't appreciate it as much as I should because I'm always thinking about the next plan with him and what to do, so you're not looking from the outside in. But the amount of people that know Colonel Mustard – he's the horse the children talk about all the time. “And I think where he's been so special is he's brought us to the big stage so many times, which is a huge deal for a yard this size. You need to do the very best for him, and you need to do as well as you can with him. He's an exceptional horse in this yard, but in a big yard he'd be one of many. In a way it gives you a lot more scope to think outside the box because you want to make him stand out.” The 'Ginger Ninja', as he is known at home, does indeed stand out as he bowls around Fowler's expansive sand oval at Rahinston under Diego Rodrigues. It's not just because he is the sole chestnut out at exercise, and he's not even the most physically imposing in the yard, but Colonel Mustard does just have a look of feeling rather pleased with himself. Lorna Fowler on the Rahinston gallops | Emma Berry “You have to make him feel like he's the king and that he's the most important person in the world,” says his trainer. “And that's pretty easy around here, because he is pretty important. But that for him is important. He's a very bright horse. And when you have very intelligent horses, it can work two ways. If you get them on side, they'll work it out and they'll do anything for you.” Reflecting on Colonel Mustard's first Festival appearance she adds, “He ran a huge race and he loved it. He loves the big stage. There are some horses that come alive on it. “In a way he has campaigned himself. You have big plans at the beginning of the season and nothing goes exactly according to plan. But every year, for some reason by the time I get into the new year, the pieces fall into place. “You always let the horses tell you. You also have to be very respectful of what the owners want. It's very important, and quite rightly. They want days out, they want to enjoy the horse, and I think he's done very well on that score so far.” Few could argue with that assertion. To Cheltenham, Aintree, Punchestown, Leopardstown, Ascot, Ayr and Newbury, Colonel Mustard has taken his happy band of followers to some of the best jumps courses in Britain and Ireland, most recently finishing second in Wincanton's G2 Kingwell Hurdle, a traditional Champion Hurdle trial. Though his nine runner-up finishes may have left them thinking 'if only' at times, one can but admire his consistency. In 19 starts he has finished in the first three on 15 occasions. Rahinston's training yard and stud was set up by John Fowler, the brother of Jessica Harrington, on the 700-acre estate which has been home to generations of the family for two centuries. Following his death in 2008, his wife Chich took on the role of trainer until her passing in 2013. Their son and daughter-in-law have continued the business, bringing about significant rejuvenation to the racing and breeding operations which are run in tandem. Alex Frost, who owns Ladyswood Stud in England, has been a staunch backer of their plans. “He's been phenomenal,” admits Harry. “He wanted to get involved in racehorses more and I remember saying to him shortly after my mother died, 'We can do the equine stuff here if you want to get involved.' And he said, 'Yeah, let's give it a go.' “He was already involved in a horse in training here when Dad was alive. And then obviously he got further stuck in after that. He said, 'Anything you fancy, I'll come in with you.' We bought a few horses along the way. A few didn't work out, but we bought the dam of Don Poli (Fr) before he was a big name, and that sort of launched us really.” Lorna adds of Frost, “You'll never meet anybody who has such a genuinely enthusiastic passion for the sport. It's also important to note that he's bringing that to the Tote. It's such a massive undertaking but he's doing this for the good of racing. And for somebody to be doing that right now in this industry is massive. I think that in itself is pretty amazing.” The Fowlers are a formidable couple in their breadth of experience, with Lorna's eloquence in talking about her role offering a reminder of her former job as a presenter on Racing UK. It is an oft-heard lament that the big yards are getting bigger while smaller trainers struggle to pick up business. Perhaps nowhere is this more apparent than in the Irish National Hunt scene, which is dominated by the super stables of Gordon Elliott and Willie Mullins in particular. Lorna takes a pragmatic view of the situation. It's not just about how good a trainer you are. You have to go out, you have to get the owners, you have to get the right people involved. “I think that National Hunt has become more professional and I think everybody has to take that into account and to up their game,” she says. “I'm a small trainer and I'm a very small fish in a big pond. And I think those that have made it have done so because, not only are they excellent trainers, but they're excellent business people, excellent at surrounding themselves with the right people. “And I think what you have to do is say, 'Right, do I want that or not?' And you have to make the effort to get it. It's not just about how good a trainer you are. You have to go out, you have to get the owners, you have to get the right people involved, but the small trainers have to work out what they want. “Having said that, yes, it's very difficult because you are pushing against battalions. But at the same time that small trainer needs to say 'What else do I need to do to try and achieve that?' I've got to try harder if I want that.” She continues, “The one disappointing thing is that there's a lot of people that have licenses, but they're perceived as pre-trainers to feed into the bigger yards. And I think that's a shame. Now, some people are really happy to do that because they get great income from it, but I personally don't find that a very healthy angle for the sport, this concept of pre-training and then there being just a handful of big trainers.” It is not hard to envisage the Fowler operation growing in stature in years to come. For a start, Rahinston is a magical place. A step back in time in many ways, but for the family members running it now, all eyes are firmly on its future, including those of the Fowlers' young children, Rosie and Johnny. “The children enjoy everything about this place and they're very much part of it,” says Lorna during a break between her first and second lots, with Harry having just returned from his feeding round of the mares and young horses about the place. “My focus is the training because that's what I enjoy, but I also know the business. I've got to keep that separate, but our business has to survive and we have to make everything work. Pete Davis has some fabulous broodmares here now and some young stock coming through that are very exciting for him. “Harry has Goffs, so that gives him his sanity away from his wife and here. But I think you just have to make it work. What do they say? 'If you want to get something done, ask a busy person.' That's how it works. “Here, like anything in life, it's still a work in progress. It's a big place and we need to maximise its scope and potential from every point of view.” Despite both her own late parents and in-laws having run their own training businesses, Lorna insists that this wasn't necessarily Plan A for her, even though she is plainly a natural. “I always said I wouldn't train. I remember after Harry's mother died and I was talking to our head man Dermot Fagan and I said, 'We'll be down to just a couple of horses and we'll rent out the land for tillage and whatever.' And he said, 'Yeah, yeah.' And anyway, here we are,” she says. “My mother never said 'Don't do it.' For Mark and I growing up, we were very lucky as a family, the same with Harry, that we had that shared interest with our parents. That's something I'm hugely appreciative of, because it was just really special. It was incredible. And I think that my parents, if they knew we were having a runner in the Champion Hurdle, oh my God, they would just be beside themselves.” Her husband, with not quite the same level of eloquence, agrees and says of his own parents, “They'd love it. I could imagine them saying, 'What the f*** are you going to the Champion Hurdle for, you mad bastards?'” The post He’s Mustard: The Champion Hurdle Contender Carrying Big Dreams for the Fowlers’ Small Stable appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Kentucky Downs' King of the Turf Handicapping Challenge returns Sept. 7 with a new one-day format and is highlighted by six graded stakes each worth at least $1 million. The $2,500 per-entry buy-in includes $1,500 for the player's bankroll and $1,000 toward the prize pool. Based on 100 entries, the prize pool would be $100,000. The first-place King of the Turf finisher will receive an entry to the 2025 National Horseplayers Championships (NHC) and an entry into the 2024 Breeders' Cup Betting Challenge (BCBC), worth $10,000. In addition, the winner gets the designation as National Turf Handicapper of the Year and receives the Global Tote King of the Turf Championship belt. At least five NHC packages and two BCBC berths are guaranteed to be awarded to the King of the Turf's top finishers. Additional prizes will be awarded based on the total number of entries. The tournament host takes no money out of the entry fees, with 100% going to the prize pool and players' bankrolls. The 2024 meet will also feature two Play-In tournaments on Aug. 29 and Sept. 1. These competitions will have a $300 and $400 entry fee, respectively. Each event will feature two 2025 NHC entries plus entries to the $2,500 King of the Turf finals. Additional prizes will be awarded based on the number of entries. Online qualifiers for the King of the Turf finals and the Play-In tournaments will be announced later. “We reconfigured the King of the Turf Handicapping Challenge into a single-day extravaganza that will offer more prize money and more prizes,” said Ted Nicholson, Kentucky Downs' vice president for racing. “We think the format will be attractive to big bettors and contest players while also providing play-in tournaments with much smaller entry fees. With inexpensive and sometimes free online qualifiers to both the play-in and championship, everyone has a chance to try to be King of the Turf and get the Global Tote belt.” Phil Lam, the 2023 King of the Turf winner, will be presented his personalized Global Tote belt at the NHC at Horseshoe Las Vegas (formerly Bally's) March 15-17. Players must bet a minimum of $300 per race for at least five races on the 12-race card, utilizing win, place, show, exacta and daily double wagering. The contest is conducted via online wagering through FanDuel/TVG, Xpressbet, NJBets and HPI Canada. Online qualifiers for entries into the play-in tournaments and the 2024 King of the Turf Championship will be announced later. For more information, click here. The post King of the Turf Handicapping Challenge Returns to Kentucky Downs appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The 25th National Thoroughbred Racing Association National Horseplayers Championship presented by Caesars Entertainment, Horseshoe Las Vegas, and Racetrack Television Network kicks off Friday, Mar. 15, running through Sunday, Mar. 17, at the Horseshoe Las Vegas. The field of an estimated 750 entries will yield one ultimate winner, who will go home with $800,000 and an Eclipse Award as the Horseplayer of the Year. The NHC features more than 600 top horseplayers (including approximately 150 individuals with two entries), awarding nearly $4.5 million in cash and prizes. All qualifiers will receive a complimentary four-night stay at the Horseshoe Las Vegas and travel reimbursements which total more than $1 million. The complete field and total prize breakdown will be finalized following the Last Chance/First Chance Contest, held Thursday, Mar. 14 on the eve of the NHC. New to the 25th NHC will be a Final Table livestream, co-hosted by Steve Byk and Rick Hammerle, that will be streamed on NTRA's X, YouTube, and Website for the final seven races of the Championship. Interested spectators will have the ability to watch and listen to the action unfurling all weekend long at the NHC. Rachel McLaughlin, Racing Analyst at Horseshoe Indianapolis, will be providing coverage throughout the weekend on all NTRA social media platforms. Additionally, At the Races with Steve Byk will broadcast live on SiriusXM satellite radio (Sirius 219; XM 201) from the Horseshoe Las Vegas and online at www.stevebyk.com daily, from 9a.m.-12 p.m. ET/6-9 a.m. PT on Friday and Monday, with bonus NHC coverage at www.SteveByk.com/listen-live-SiriusXM slated for 2-8 p.m. ET/11 a.m.-5 p.m. PT) next Friday-Sunday. America's Best Racing and Hawthorne Racecourse will also be streaming live from the event. Also new to the program will be the Silver Sunday Contest, available to all individuals competing in the tournament with no entry fee. Every individual will receive a maximum of one entry and will have to place mythical Win/Place bets throughout Mar. 17 on 10 optional and seven mandatory races (the seven mandatory races will coincide with the NHC Final Table). The top 25 highest bankrolls, including ties, will receive a share of $100,000 in prize money. The top five highest finishers will win an entry into the 2025 NHC and the top 10% will receive on track 2024 NHC Tour points. A “First Five” free-to-play online contest will be available to non-NHC participants and will offer five berths to the 2025 NHC. Information on the 25th NHC can be found at www.ntra.com including the 2024 full schedule of events and the 2024 Official Rules. The post 2024 National Horseplayers Championship Begins Mar. 15 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The enormity of winning the world's richest horse race was still sinking in for owner Joey Peacock Jr. March 4. Ten days earlier, Senor Buscador, the last horse he bred with his late father, Joe Sr., won the $20 million Saudi Cup (G1). View the full article

New York-based trainer Leah Gyarmati voluntarily surrendered her license Mar. 1 and subsequently had her stalls at Belmont revoked by NYRA following separate incidents, according to a story first reported by DRF. Stewards scratched horses she had entered last weekend at Aqueduct and the 12 horses under her care were transferred to her former assistant trainer Marcelo Arenas, who took out his own license in 2021. Gyarmati told the DRF's David Grening that she failed a breathalyzer after she was awakened by NYRA security when found sleeping in her truck, which was parked by Belmont's training track following training hours. She told Grening she had eaten a sandwich and drank two beers and was napping. Gyarmati, who was ordered by state officials to meet with a substance-abuse counselor by a specific date, indicated she was unable to schedule an appointment by that date and has since met with a counselor and was awaiting the counselor's report. The DRF said that In a separate incident, a horse trained by Gyarmati reportedly recently exited the track lame and was returned to the barn by Gyarmati's exercise rider and stable employee. According to Gyarmati, she remained at the track with her other horses and later returned to her barn. NYRA contradicted her account to the DRF, citing that officials had to request radiographs of the horse and that she didn't return to the barn until the next morning when the vet returned for a follow-up examination. “I showed up as soon as the last horse I was training finished training,” Gyarmati told DRF. “I came back to the barn, and the vet was X-raying the horse.” Gyarmati confirmed to DRF that the horse underwent surgery to have one screw inserted to repair a fractured cannon bone and is convalescing on a farm. “Following a thorough review of recent incidents, NYRA revoked all stalls previously granted to trainer Leah Gyarmati,” read a statement issued by NYRA spokesman Pat McKenna. “Subsequent to this action, Gyarmati voluntarily surrendered her New York State-issued owner, trainer, and exercise rider licenses and is not currently able to participate in Thoroughbred racing activities. NYRA retains the exclusive right to grant or revoke stall space at its properties at any time.” Gyarmati, who has been training for 25 years, has never been cited for any violations in New York. The post Gyarmati Surrenders License, Stalls Revoked by NYRA appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The 2024 Thoroughbred Owner Conference hosted its first panel Mar. 5, with a discussion about how Thoroughbred owners can avoid, prepare for and survive an audit. The panel was sponsored by Mersant International. Gary Falter, project manager for OwnerView, moderated the panel with guests Len Green, founder and chairman of The Green Group, and Frank Palino, Tax Controversy & Divorce Mediation, The Green Group. The panel delved into the intricacies of how the Internal Revenue Service views horse and farm owners and how those owners can best prepare for tax season. Other topics covered the importance of a business plan and an LLC, red flags for being audited, showing profit, and hobby and passive losses. For the replay of Tuesday's Thoroughbred Owner Conference panel, click here. Nine additional Thoroughbred Owner Conference virtual panels are scheduled for 2024. The next session, “Information Resources for Owners,” will be held Apr. 9 at 2 p.m. ET. For the full schedule, click here. There is no registration fee for the 2024 virtual conference series, but registration is required. For more information about the owner conference series, including the schedule of panels and registration, visit www.ownerview.com/event/conference or contact Gary Falter at 859.224.2803 or gfalter@jockeyclub.com. The post OwnerView Thoroughbred Owner Conference Virtual Series Begins with Panel on Audits appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Juddmonte Farms' recent G3 Burj Nahaar romper Laurel River (Into Mischief) will bypass the Mar. 30 G2 Godolphin Mile and will instead stretch out to 10 furlongs for the first time in the G1 Dubai World Cup, Garett O'Rourke, the manager of Juddmonte's American operation, told the TDN Thursday morning. “It's worth a try. There's $12 million reasons to do it,” he said. The homebred winner of the seven-furlong GII Pat O'Brien S. when under the care of Bob Baffert in 2022, Laurel River was favored in many circles for that year's GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile before being withdrawn on the eve of the race. He joined the barn of leading trainer Bhupat Seemar in the second half of 2023 and made his local debut in the G3 Al Shindagha Sprint over 1200 meters Jan. 26, but weakened out to finish a disappointing seventh after racing handy. Laurel River was given another positive ride by Tadhg O'Shea in the G3 Burj Nahaar on Super Saturday Mar. 2, but this time continued to find and ran up the score to the tune of 6 3/4 lengths. “When you have a horse of that age and they've been off a long time–and he had excuses in his first race-you do start to wonder, 'well, was it excuses or was it age catching up with him,'” said O'Rourke. “But Bhupat was pretty confident that the second start of the layoff would be the improvement and it was huge improvement. He's got a little bit of age on him, but he's a relatively fresh horse for that age. It looks like he's still got all of his ability and his enthusiasm for the game and Into Mischiefs, as they usually do, stay sound and have good longevity, so hopefully there's a couple of more years in him.” While the Burj Nahaar is the course-and-distance lead-up to the G2 Godolphin Mile, connections put their heads together and opted for the less-conventional option in the World Cup. “The plan all along was to go to the Godolphin Mile, but when Bhupat looked at who was going and saw that Saudi Crown (Always Dreaming) and Isolate (Mark Valeski)–who won it last year and is a confirmed front-runner as well–were both in there, he didn't want to get stuck in a speed duel,” O'Rourke explained. For obvious reasons, there are plenty of obstacles to overcome. “I feel like the 10 furlongs is a stretch for him, but that is a speed-favoring track and he might be the lone speed in there,” said O'Rourke. “Bhupat didn't really mind either way whichever way the family wanted to go, but he decided he wanted to get that easy lead. Looking at the field, it'll be the two Japanese horses [Ushba Tesoro {Orfevre} and Derma Sotogake {Mind Your Biscuits) and Senor Buscador (Mineshaft) and it doesn't seem to go very deep after that. If you're going to take a shot, even if there's a doubt about the 10 furlongs, it seems like the year to try it and we're keen to do it. He can have a long rest afterwards.” On pedigree, Laurel River is a horse who could appreciate the World Cup trip. He is bred on the exact same cross as Juddmonte's GI Kentucky Derby winner and 'TDN Rising Star' Mandaloun and his first two dams are by the operation's Empire Maker and fellow GI Belmont S. winner Touch Gold. Laurel River's dam Calm Water is a full-sister to Emollient, whose big-race victories include the GI Juddmonte Spinster S. at nine furlongs on synthetic and a the GI American Oaks and GI Rodeo Drive S. going a mile and a quarter on the grass. “It would suggest he is capable of doing it, but on pedigree, Elite Power (Curlin) should have gotten a mile and a half,” O'Rourke said with a laugh. “It's an indicator of what the genes should be, but it can't guarantee what the dominant genes are. “He looks like a miler, he's a very strong, muscular horse. But some of those horses–on dirt anyways–if they're front-runners, they get stronger and they can get further as they get older. I think the key to him is being able to use that speed and get cruising out there in front and I would say, ideally eight to nine furlongs is his best distance. But older, stronger, front-runner–all those things can align and horses can get 10 furlongs with conditions in their favor.” Win, lose or draw, O'Rourke indicated that Laurel River will train on next season, with an eye on the G1 Saudi Cup. There are no plans to return to the United States, he added. The post Laurel River To Test 10-Furlong Waters In Dubai World Cup appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article