Wandering Eyes

The New York Racing Association will move to penny breakage on its pari-mutuel payoffs beginning with the Sept. 1 card at Saratoga Race Course.View the full article

1st-Kentucky Downs, $162,080, Msw, 8-28, 2yo, f, 1mT, 1:35.90, fm, 4 lengths. AGGRESSIVE LIME (f, 2, Authentic–Cool Beans {MGSP, $262,650}, by Candy Ride {Arg}) broke from the middle of the gate as the 9-5 favorite and set a hotly-contested pace push every step by Riotous (Charlatan) through the opening half in :47.30. Those two traded the lead back and forth around the far turn but Aggressive Lime found the long Kentucky Downs straight to her liking and powered clear through the final furlong to graduate first out by four lengths. 16-1 longshot Temple Goddess (Temple City) was never in danger of catching the winner but came home a solid second. Cool Beans, herself placed in both the GII Mrs Revere and the GIII Pin Oak Valley View, produced GSP Moneyshot (Frosted) as her first foal in 2021. The dam's half-sister, Smart Win (Smart Strike), is also responsible for GSW/MGISP Clearly Unhinged (Into Mischief) while yet another half-sister foaled GI Arkansas Derby winner Magnum Moon (Malibu Moon). Aggressive Lime has a pair of half-brothers both by Life Is Good born in 2024 and 2025 respectively while Cool Beans went to Cody's Wish this season. Temple Goddess (Temple City) Sales History: $285,000 RNA Ylg'24 FTSAUG. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $102,000. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. O/B-Magic Cap Stables, LLC (KY); T-Brad H. Cox. Aggressive Lime takes the first race of the meet at @kydownsracing and is debut winner! @tyler_gaff was aboard for trainer @bradcoxracing! #TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/Fs4lWUySgE — TwinSpires Racing (@TwinSpires) August 28, 2025 The post Authentic Filly Aggressive Lime Takes Kentucky Downs Opener appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Tally-Ho Stud put in a dominant display at this year's Goffs UK Premier Yearling Sale by selling 24 yearlings for a combined £1,743,000, which included the £150,000 day two session-topping colt by Mehmas, who went the way of Jason Kelly on behalf of Bond Thoroughbreds just minutes before the final whistle was blown on Thursday. To illustrate how strong Tally-Ho's performance was this week, the Westmeath-based outfit finished the sale over £1 million clear of their nearest pursuer in the consigning ranks which was Baroda Stud, who sold 13 horses for £668,000. Before nipping off to catch the eight o'clock plane home to Ireland, Roger O'Callaghan reflected on what has been another memorable week in Doncaster and revealed that he was quietly confident the Mehmas colt [lot 410] would capture the imagination. “Lovely horse,” O'Callaghan simply said, before adding, “[He was] very popular and a great update. We saved the best until last.” The update O'Callaghan referred to was the fact that the Mehmas colt's half-sister Flowerhead (Starman) was second in the Queen Mary at Royal Ascot and was last seen finishing a lovely third in a Listed contest at Newbury. Kelly had left for the airport by the time the Mehmas made it to the ring and got his bidding done online. Commenting over the phone, the agent said, “He'll be in the Bond Thoroughbred colours with Geoff Oldroyd. Geoff's had a fantastic season and Charlie Bond was looking to find a nice, sharp two-year-old for him for next year. “Geoff and PJ McDonald have been on the ground this week and both saw the horse and were keen on him. It was a long wait for him, but he was the one they wanted. PJ has been a big part of the team this year. He's been in Geoff's yard riding plenty of work and has been a big part of the success this season.” Describing what he liked about the colt, he said, “He's a May foal but he's a very strong, powerful horse. Obviously the half-sister has looked sharp and precocious this year when running to a very high level, so hopefully he'll be able to do something similar. This mare looks like she's producing strong two-year-old types.” The Premier Yearling Sale catalogue was down 77 horses on last year, which obviously played a huge part in the turnover dropping by 5% to £14,297,000. However, the clearance rate remained stronger than ever with a 3% bump to 86%, while the average climbed by 9% to £43,194 and the median by 17% to £35,000. And while Tally-Ho clearly backed the Premier Yearling Sale, which saw 26 horses clear six figures, O'Callaghan said that more vendors need to get behind the Doncaster highlight, hinting that the overall standard of horse presented was not up to scratch. He said, “Great sale. Goffs deserves great credit for what it has put on here over the past two days. But the Irish and English vendors could do with backing Goffs a bit better. We target this sale because it has always been good to us. We do our bit and Goffs repays us. They could do with more support.” Richard Hughes Makes Hay Off The Back Of Best-Ever Season You've got to make hay while the sun shines and Richard Hughes, who is enjoying his best-ever season as a trainer, did exactly that. Through bloodstock agent Ted Durcan, Hughes spent £746,000 on nine yearlings and came away from Doncaster as the third-busiest buyer behind Anthony Bromley and Richard Spencer, who spent £830,000 on behalf of owner Phil Cunningham, and Ed Sackville, who spent £750,500 on behalf of Manor House Stables. Hughes and Durcan were responsible for one of the most expensive horses on day two, a Minzaal colt [lot 321] that was bought for £135,000 from WH Bloodstock on behalf of prominent owner Jaber Abdullah. Hughes said, “Very nice colt. [He's by] Minzaal and anything we saw by him we liked. A nice horse with nice balance and there's plenty about him. He comes from a great farm. He's for Jaber Abdullah who has an affinity with horses out of Tamayuz mares. I said that we'd look for one of the nicest colts here and we think he is.” Asked if he was upping his spend purely off the back of his best-ever season, which included breakthrough Group 1 success with No Half Measures in the July Cup, Hughes replied, “Obviously, yeah. We're spending more. We always buy five or six here and obviously you have to put your neck on the line a little bit more when you buy the expensive ones. We bought a filly here yesterday for £175,000 yesterday and four different people rang me looking to buy her. That never happened before. It gives you a bit of confidence to go and buy an expensive horse on spec.” That trade represented another shrewd piece of business for Mimi Wadham and Violet Hesketh of WH Bloodstock given the Minzaal was sourced for €55,000 at the November Foal Sale last year. However, another lady is deserving of plenty of credit, as Kelsey Lupo of Atlas Bloodstock stepped in for Hesketh who gave birth to her first child during the foal sales last year. Wadham commented, “Really thrilled. Coming here, we felt we had a six-figure horse but to get £135,000, it definitely exceeded expectations. We really liked the foals by Minzaal last year and they were really hard to buy. We had to push to get him and we were really lucky to get the big update.” The Minzaal colt was bred by Highpark and is out of Oriental Step, whose two-year-old by Ghaiyyath, named Zaafir, made a winning debut in Japan, where the colt earned just shy of £40,000 in prize-money. Wadham added, “Violet was in the foaling unit so Kelsey worked the foal sales with me! Fingers crossed, we have some more good yearlings to come this year. We had a good sale here a few years ago with a Kuroshio and a Phoenix Of Spain selling well. We hadn't had a six-figure sale here for a while so it's nice to be back with a bang.” Hillen And Ryan Team Up For 'A Queen' Stephen Hillen and Kevin Ryan enjoyed a productive sale with eight horses bought for a combined £419,000, headed by a £120,000 Zoustar filly that the bloodstock agent was convinced represented value at that sum. The Zoustar filly was consigned by Tweenhills and is out of Group 3 Silver Flash Stakes runner-up Moravia (Siyouni). Hillen commented, “She's a gorgeous filly. Listen, I expected she'd make £100,000 or more and I'd say if she was in a different sale she might have made even more. I just find there is more of an international brigade that goes to Book 1 at Tattersalls and, if she were there, maybe there would have been more foreigners to latch onto her because Zoustar is obviously a big name in Australia but he's not as big here. That's the first Zoustar I have bought and he's for Peter Tingey and Angie Bailey, who have had good horses with Kevin Ryan before. When Book 2 comes around at Tattersalls, you always wish you had bought more here at Doncaster so we're delighted with the business.” Ryan, who has trained smart horses like Brando and Bogart on behalf of Bailey, added, “This filly is an absolute queen and showed herself very well both days I saw her. She's very relaxed and has a great mind. In the parade before she went into the ring, I thought she just stood out.” Aguiar And Amo Add Mehmas Colt To Their Arsenal Robson Aguiar revealed to TDN Europe on the eve of this sale that he was in the process of sitting the trainers' course in Ireland and that he hoped to join Adrian Murray on the licence by the end of this season. Amo Racing has supported him with two six-figure lots this week and, following on from the £110,000 Persian Force colt that was bought on day one, Alex Elliott landed a Tally-Ho Stud-drafted colt by Mehmas for £120,000. The latter is a brother to Shelton, who finished second in a Group 3 for Paddy Twomey. “This was one of Robson's picks,” Elliott said after signing for the Mehmas colt. “He'll go back to Robson and is one for him to have when he has his name on the licence next year. He's a man you have to row in with when he likes a horse. We've bought five or six horses this week and I think it's good that Kia [Joorabchian] came up here yesterday and saw a number of horses.” Elliott added, “He was very keen to come up and I think he said yesterday that, rather than just going to Book 1, you've got to try and be at all of the sales and try to buy some of the better horses at every sale. I think it's a good change to the policy and hopefully it continues.” Talking points It was at this sale in 2023 where Stephen Hillen and Kevin Ryan bought Ain't Nobody, one of the highest-rated runners by Ballyhane-based stallion Sands Of Mali, for just £30,000. Hillen and Ryan returned to the well on Thursday to snap up two colts by the stallion for a combined £105,000. Both horses were consigned by Joe Foley's Ballyhane outfit. Hillen commented, “Sands Of Mali only has 26 yearlings this year. We've been lucky with the stallion and the two we bought today were reasonably-priced. I think the stallion is pretty hot. We got Ain't Nobody here and he ran well [second] in the Nunthorpe. We think he is better in big fields and he might go to the Breeders' Cup for the Turf Sprint.” Mickley Stud's Ardad colt [254] carried a big reputation into the sale with Richard Kent labelling the grey as one of the nicest horses he has bred for some time. The Ardad colt out of Lady Caroline (Teofilo), a three-part-sister to popular young stallion Havana Grey, will race for Ian Jones, who has enjoyed some good recent success on the track with the 101-rated Paddy The Squire (Golden Horn), a three-time winner this season. He went the way to Micheál Orlandi and Ian Jardine for £90,000. Kent commented, “Havana Grey was the first foal out of the granddam and this is the first foal out of Lady Caroline. It's quite emotional selling him. We'd have loved to have kept him but we don't usually keep the colts – we need to sell them. We have the full-sister at home and we'll probably avoid the temptation of bringing her to a sale. We'll go and race her instead. The mare is in foal to Perfect Power.” Orlandi added, “We felt he was the pick of today, and we tried hard yesterday. It's a lovely pedigree and he's a good individual – as a type he could easily have been in Book 2. He's got a lovely action and he's by a proven stallion.” For the first time in its history, ownership group Pompey Ventures paid £100,000 on a horse at public auction, with lot 281, a full-brother to the 95-rated Fairy Oak meriting such a price tag. The A'Ali colt was consigned by Longview Stud and will go into training with Ollie Sangster, who has sent out a host of winners for the syndicate, including Tuco Salamanca and Profit Refused. Owen Haly, who heads the syndicate, said, “Obviously he's a full-brother to Fairy Oak, who was fifth in the Albany at Royal Ascot. She made a good amount of money [£225,000] at the Goffs London Sale. We've spent money on horses for the lower grades of race and did well at that so now we're trying to take things to the next level and hopefully we can do that. Dave [Byrne, partner in Pompey Ventures] was mad keen on him. He buys all of our unraced horses and he loved him. He came up here on Monday evening and said this is the one we need to go for. Alex Elliott was the underbidder so that tells you everything you need to know. He'll go to Ollie Sangster.” Owner Peter Trainor, who has horses in training with Michael Bell and Natalia Lupini, has dipped his toe into the breeze-up business this week and bought two colts – a Cotai Glory for £95,000 from Tally-Ho Stud and a son of A'Ali who cost £50,000 from Baroda Stud – in partnership with Sean Davis. While Davis signed as GS bloodstock, it is understood that he will be going out on his own for the upcoming breeze-up season, with long-time partner and fellow jockey Gary Halpin stepping away. Speaking after signing for the Cotai Glory colt, Trainor said, “It's going breezing and is for a new partnership. I plan on having a few breeze-up horses for next year to try something different. He'll go to Sean Davis. I have come in this year with Sean – a bit of fresh blood and we'll see how we go.” He added, “I have had a number of Cotai Glorys and Tally-Ho are well-renowned for being a good hotel so, for me, he was one of the standouts today. He was an expensive foal [€85,000] so they [the O'Callaghans] liked him as well. Delighted to get him. Hopefully we'll come back here for the breeze-up sale. Both horses we bought today could do that.” Anthony Stroud waited until deep into the second session to secure his first two horses of the entire sale, beginning with the Jenny Norris-consigned Havana Grey filly [389] from the family of Shouldvebeenaring. Bred by Con Marnane, the filly was sold to the leading bloodstock agent at £100,000. He commented, “She has been bought for Sharpoor Mistry, who won a Listed race the other day with a daughter of Havana Grey called Rosy Affair. He also owned Thundering Nights. This filly is very racy and Con bred her. She just looked particularly sharp. She looks like she can motor.” Stroud followed up by going to the same figure for a Sioux Nation filly [402] that was bred and consigned by James Cloney's Clara Stud. The post ‘We Saved The Best Until Last’ – Tally-Ho Dominates Goffs UK Premier Yearling Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

4th-Newbury, £12,000, Mdn, 8-28, 2yo, f, 6fT, 1:13.80, gd. IMPERIAL BALLET (GB) (f, 2, Blue Point {Ire}–Osipova {GB}, by Makfi {GB}), sent off at 5-1, travelled strongly towards the fore from the outset. Taking control passing two out, the homebred powered to the line for an impressive 3 1/2-length success from Khafar (Dubawi). The dam, whose first foal was the G3 Solario Stakes winner Positive (Dutch Art), is a half to that sire's G3 Sovereign Stakes scorer Zonderland who was placed three times at Group 2 level. A granddaughter of the four-times Group 1-winning champion and 1,000 Guineas heroine Russian Rhythm (Kingmambo), she is connected to a host of smart Pattern-race performers including the top-level scorers Makarova (Acclamation) and Good Guess (Kodiac). Her yearling filly by Ulysses was sold for 45,000gns to Blandford Bloodstock at the Tattersalls December Foal Sale and is being offered at the upcoming Tattersalls October Book 2, while she also has a filly foal by Lope De Vega. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $8,479. O/B-Cheveley Park Stud; T-Andrew Balding. Smart filly! Imperial Ballet dances to an easy success on the first time of asking at @NewburyRacing…@oismurphy | @AndrewBalding2 | @CPStudOfficial pic.twitter.com/mK7yu1Z8na — At The Races (@AtTheRaces) August 28, 2025 The post Blue Point’s Imperial Ballet Impresses On Debut appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The Wesley Ward-trained SHOULD'VE (f, 2, Not This Time–More'n Likely, by Blame), who drew in off the also-eligible list and started widest out, wired her Kentucky Downs debut Thursday under Joel Rosario. Away smartly to the front, she built up a sizeable enough gap heading into the long straightaway and managed to last on the front end as the 5-2 favorite over Petronella (Not This Time) to top an exacta for her sire. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0. O-Lael Stables; B-Mr. & Mrs. M. Roy Jackson; T-Wesley Ward. Should've draws in and scores in R2 at @kydownsracing for trainer Wesley Ward with @jrosariojockey aboard! #TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/QtgiNB1DwG — TwinSpires Racing (@TwinSpires) August 28, 2025 The post ‘Should’ve’ Bet Her As Not This Time Filly Wires Kentucky Downs Maiden appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. 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 Niigata Racecourses: Sunday, August 31, 2025 6th-NII, ¥14,250,000 ($97k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1800m MATENRO DA VINCI (c, 2, Uncle Mo–Spring Eclipse, by Unbridled's Song) was sold to trainer Mitsumasa Nakauchida for an even $1 million at last year's Keeneland September Sale and has the services of leading jockey Yuga Kawada for this first spin. The Mar. 29 foal is out of a stakes-placed mare whose four winners from five runners to date includes Bet She Wins (First Samurai), winner at two of the Arlington-Washington Lassie. Spring Eclipse is a daughter of the late Jim Tafel's SP Coragil (Metfield), the dam of the graded winners Softly (Binalong), Coragil Cat (Forest Wildcat) and the granddam of GSW Conquest Big E (Tapit). Under the third dam White Jasmine (Whitesburg) is GSW & MGISP Til Forbid (Temperence Hill), herself the dam of GSW Scoop (Gone West). The Not This Time yearling half-sister to Matenro Da Vinci made $775,000 to the bid of Live Oak Plantation at this month's Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Sale. O-Chiyono Terada; B-Camas Park Stud (KY); T-Mitsumasa Nakauchida 【２歳馬写真Check】 マテンロウダビンチ　牡（父Uncle Mo・母Spring Eclipse）ゼッケン378、米・Camas Park Stud生産＝鹿毛 #新馬戦 #中内田厩舎#２歳馬通信 pic.twitter.com/dh5PoIXvBr — 競馬エイト栗東班【２歳馬通信】 (@2saiba_keiba8) August 27, 2025 11th-CKO, Chukyo Nisai S.-G3, ¥58.6m ($399k), 2yo, 1400mT ENVY ME (f, 2, Munnings–Seattle Slang, by Tapit) belied debut odds of 23-1 to finish a promising third in a 1400-meter newcomers' event at Tokyo June 14 and got it right last time, taking out a 1200-meter Fukushima maiden by 2 1/2 lengths June 28 (video, SC 2). A $275,000 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga yearling, the April-foaled chestnut is out of a Grade III-placed daughter of GISW Seattle Smooth (Quiet American), whose five additional winners includes SP Gunfire (Tapit). O-Kodai Maeda; B-Phoenix Thoroughbreds (III) Ltd (KY); T-Hideyuki Mori The post Million-Dollar Uncle Mo Colt Makes First Start at Niigata appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

A race like the Spinaway Stakes (G1) can reveal a great deal about the future for a collection of 2-year-old fillies. View the full article

Full Serrano makes his first start since his Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1) victory last fall in the $300,000 Del Mar Mile Stakes (G2T) at Del Mar. View the full article

Thurles Racecourse, which had been due to close this month after owners the Molony family decided to retire from racing, will continue operating until at least March of 2026. There was a productive meeting between the Molony family and Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) on Thursday. The only privately owned racecourse in Ireland, Thurles had 11 scheduled fixtures for the 2025/2026 season. A joint-statement from HRI and the Molony family read, “Following a positive meeting this afternoon between Horse Racing Ireland and the Molony family, Thurles Race Company will facilitate the continuation of horse racing at Thurles Racecourse until March 2026, with operational responsibility of the racecourse passing to Horse Racing Ireland. “Today's agreement, made possible in conjunction with the Association of Irish Racecourses, the IHRB, and the support of the wider industry, will see Thurles Racecourse fulfil its 11 fixtures through to March 2026, resuming as scheduled on Thursday, October 9. “Keeping Thurles operational until March of next year affords all interested parties time to consider a longer-term plan for the racecourse.” The post Thurles To Continue Racing Until At Least Next March appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The state of New York will implement penny breakage, a horseplayer-friendly measure that will result in all wagers placed on NYRA races being paid to the penny instead of the tiered breakage model that was previously in effect under New York Law, NYRA announced Thursday. The new breakage will be in effect for Saratoga's closing day. Beginning Monday, September 1, New York will join Washington and Kentucky as the only racing jurisdictions in the country to eliminate breakage on races hosted within their state. “This is a common-sense reform that will put more money back in the pockets of the horseplayers, which is exactly why NYRA supported and advocated for this policy change,” said Andrew Offerman, NYRA SVP of Racing Operations. Historically, breakage has been most noticeable on wagers with smaller payoffs, such as win, place, and show bets. While a winning bet might have a calculated payout of, for example, $5.48, the bettor would only receive $5.40, with the $0.08 in breakage retained by the state or the track. Beginning September 1, the bettor will receive the calculated amount to the penny for bets placed on NYRA's races. The legislation authorizing penny breakage was signed into law by New York Governor Kathy Hochul as part of the FY 2026 New York State Budget, which included key provisions reflecting the importance of horse racing to New York's economy and culture. In addition to penny breakage, the FY 2026 budget directed funding for transformational equine safety research and simplified the racing and wagering tax code to position the sport for continued success. In addition to these legislative victories, the New York State Gaming Commission (NYSGC) adopted rule changes on August 25 to largely eliminate the practice of coupling entries for horses running under shared ownership. The new rules, which are expected to go into effect this fall, will benefit horseplayers by adding to the number of individual betting interests in more than 150 NYRA races annually. The post Penny Breakage To Take Effect In New York Sept. 1 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Kenny Alexander, the owner of the great hurdler Honeysuckle and former head of the parent company of Ladbrokes, is one of 11 people charged as part of an investigation into the provision of gambling services in Turkey. Alexander, the former chief executive of the then GVC Holdings, now known as Entain, was charged with conspiracy to defraud and conspiracy to bribe between 2011 and 2018, according to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS). His silks have been a familiar sight on the biggest stages in National Hunt racing, most notably with Honeysuckle, who won consecutive editions of the Champion Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in 2021 and 2022. Others charged include Lee Feldman, 57, of East Hampton, New York, the former chairman of the firm, who was also charged with conspiracy to defraud and conspiracy to bribe during the same period. Charged with the same offences are Richard Cooper, 64, from London, Robert Dowling 50, from Horsham, West Sussex, James Humberstone, 52, of Olney, Milton Keynes, Raymond Smart, 59 of Castel, Guernsey, and Richard Raubitschek-Smith, 49, of Harpenden, Hertfordshire. Scott Masterton, 57, of Tetney, Grimsby, is charged with conspiracy to defraud and conspiracy to bribe, fraudulent trading, cheating the public revenue and acting as a director of a company when undischarged bankrupt. Alexander MacAngus, 64, of Grouville, Jersey is accused of conspiracy to defraud, while Caroline Roe, 48, from Staincross, Barnsley is charged with conspiracy to defraud, conspiracy to bribe, fraudulent trading and fraudulent evasion of income tax. Robert Hoskin, 54, of Gibraltar, is charged with perverting the course of justice in February 2024. Richard Las, director of HMRC's fraud investigation service, said, “This has been a complex and international investigation. “These are serious charges that relate to conspiracy to defraud, bribery, cheating the public revenue, evasion of income tax and perverting the course of justice among others.” Entain said in a statement, “The company has not been charged and none of the individuals charged are currently employed by the company or its group.” The post Owner Kenny Alexander Among 11 Charged Over Gambling Services In Turkey appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

8th-SAR, $100K, Msw, 2yo, f, 1 1/16mT, 4:28 p.m. ET. From the same Cherie DeVaux shedrow as her older half-sister MGISW She Feels Pretty (Karakontie {Jpn}), SHE FEELS STUNNING (American Pharoah) is unveiled for Lael who owns both fillies. The first-time starter was acquired by the stables for $650,000 during Keeneland September. Dam Summer Sweet (More Than Ready) is herself out of French stakes winner Summer Solstice (Ire) (Caerleon), who is also responsible for SW Adirondack Summer (Thunder Gulch), SW Summer Breezing (Langfuhr) and GISP Summer Solo (Arch)–the dam of SW Maedean (Tapit) and Canadian MGSW Solo Album (Curlin). TJCIS PPS 3rd-DMR, $80K, Msw, 3yo/up, f&m, 5fT, 7:02 p.m. ET. By the seaside, Spendthrift homebred Magnificat (Omaha Beach) is set for her first start under trainer Richard Mandella. Her dam is Canadian champion 3-year-old filly Holy Helena (Ghostzapper), who the farm bought for $1.5-million at the 2020 Keeneland November Sale while her first foal–a colt by Quality Road–was in-utero. Holy Helena's half-brother is GII Amsterdam Stakes victor Holy Boss (Street Boss). TJCIS PPS The post Friday’s Racing Insights: She Feels Pretty’s Younger Half-Sister A Go For DeVaux On A Spa Day appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Group 1 winner Tamfana (Soldier Hollow) is pleasing her connections in training and has been penciled in for the G1 Prix de l'Opera on Arc Day, Oct. 5. The winner of the G1 Sun Chariot Stakes in 2024 and third in the G1 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes last autumn is trained by David Menuisier for Quantum Leap Racing. Second in Sandown's G2 Mile in April, the 4-year-old turned in a seventh-placed finish in the G1 Lockinge Stakes in May and has not graced a racecourse since. “She's very well, we've given her a bit of a rest since her last run,” said Eamonn O'Connor, founder and chairman of owners Quantum Leap Racing. “It [Lockinge] didn't go very well for her, she got knocked about a bit but she is fine. “We've been planning an autumn campaign for her and she's on track now for the Prix de l'Opera, it's all systems go and we're really looking forward to it.” The post Tamfana On Course For Prix De L’Opera appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Trainer Miguel Clement sends out a trio of European imports, including favored La Mehana, in the $500,000 Flower Bowl Stakes (G2T) Aug. 30 at Saratoga Race Course. View the full article

Melbourne Cup (G1)-winning syndicators Australian Bloodstock have purchased dual group 1 winner Al Riffa.View the full article

Amid a conflict between jockeys in Oklahoma and the Thoroughbred Racing Association of Oklahoma over minimum mount fees for riders, no riders are named aboard horses in the entries for the Sept. 4 card at Remington Park.View the full article

Antiquarian, a major player in the Aug. 31 Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) at Saratoga Race Course, represents generational talent for both his breeder and owner.View the full article

Some of the most highly anticipated races during the summer season are the 'baby' races during the boutique meetings at Saratoga and Del Mar and at Ellis Park, which attract its fair share of high-priced juveniles from a variety of top national outfits. Summer Breezes, sponsored by OBS Sales, highlights debuting and stakes-entered 2-year-olds at those meetings that have been sourced at the breeze-up sales earlier in the year, including links to their under-tack previews. Here are the horses entered for Friday at Saratoga. Friday, August 29, 2025 Saratoga 5, $90k, 2yo, (S), 6f, 2:47 p.m. Horse (Sire), Sale, Price ($), Breeze Power Speed (Yaupon), FTMMAY, 700,000, :22 C-Grassroots Training & Sales, agent; B-Mahmud Mouni Sir Walta (Redesdale), OBSAPR, 80,000, :10 1/5 C-RiceHorse Stable (Brandon & Ali Rice), agt; B-Clear Stars/Mitre Box Saratoga 7, $100k, 2yo, 5 1/2fT, 3:53 p.m. Grunge (Beau Liam)-MTO, 260,000, OBSAPR, :10 C-Julie Davies LLC, agent; B-J Migliore, agt S Rocco & West Point Mo Spice (Yaupon), 70,000, OBSMAR, :10 C-Two Oaks Equine; B-Jenny Carpenter, agt Buttonwood Farm Saratoga 8, $100k, 2yo, f, 1 1/16mT, 4:28 p.m. Princess Andi (Cairo Prince), OBSMAR, 80,000, :10 1/5 C-Champions of the Future, agent; B-Sleeper Thoroughbreds LLC The post Summer Breezes Sponsored By OBS: Friday, August 29, 2025 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Three-year-old Journalism will face champion Fierceness and the nearly undefeated Nysos in Del Mar's $1 million Pacific Classic.View the full article

What Pakenham Races Where Southside Racing Pakenham – 420 Nar Nar Goon – Longwarry Rd, Tynong VIC 3810 When Friday, August 29, 2025 First Race 4:45pm AEST Visit Dabble The synthetic surface at Pakenham is the destination for a competitive eight-race program on Friday evening. A stack of rain is forecast for the south-east on race day, meaning being up on speed could be beneficial to avoid kickback throughout the journey. The first event is set to jump at 4:45pm AEST. Best Bet at Pakenham: Leaving Las Vegas Leaving Las Vegas keeps knocking and gets another very winnable maiden. The Pierro gelding has rattled off a stack of seconds this prep (Geelong 1230m, Sandown 1300m, Bendigo 1600m) and now drops back to 1200m on a track that should reward his on-speed pattern. Visors went on in mid-prep and he’s been marching the right way since; from barrier six, Lachlan Neindorf can camp handily behind the leaders and control the race. If he reproduces his recent closing splits, this looks like the right setup to shed the maiden tag. Best Bet Race 3 – #4 Leaving Las Vegas (6) 4yo Gelding | T: Phillip Stokes | J: Lachlan Neindorf (59.5kg) Best Value at Pakenham: Saveadateforme Saveadateforme is a proper synthetic stayer who looks too good for his rivals in the closer. The Savabeel gelding boasts a superb record at Pakenham over this trip (7:2-4-1), including a dominant BM58 win in June and a narrow second in a BM64 on July 14. Forgive the Sandown run last time (turf), and focus on the all-weather figures: he settles midfield, rolls into the race from the 600m, and keeps finding. From gate three Ben Allen gets every chance to hold a spot and launch late. Best Value Race 8 – #2 Saveadateforme (3) 6yo Gelding | T: Charlotte Littlefield | J: Ben Allen (57.5kg) Best Value at Pakenham: Super Solar Super Solar is absolutely airborne on this surface and maps for another sweet run at the mile. The veteran was a BM64 winner here two starts back before boxing on for third on August 18 behind Zeshadow and stablemate Austrata, and he now draws to stalk the speed from gate five. Jamie Mott knows the horse inside out, and the 10-time winner’s track/distance body of work screams “trust” on the Pakenham poly. With genuine tempo from Nic’s Choice and Both Sides Now, expect Super Solar to peel, build, and prove too strong late over his pet trip. Best Value Race 6 – #1 Super Solar (5) 8yo Gelding | T: Reece Goodwin | J: Jamie Mott (63kg) Friday quaddie tips for Pakenham Synthetic Pakenham Synthetic quadrella selections Friday, August 29, 2025 1-4-5-8 1-2-3-5 3-9-8-11-14 1-2-3 Horse racing tips View the full article

The big guns are coming. Nominations for the IRT New Zealand Trotting Cup and the Renwick Farms Dominion Trot closed at 3pm (NZT) today. There are a total of 34 nominations for the New Zealand Cup and 41 for the Dominion – both Group 1s will be held at Addington Raceway on Tuesday, November 11. Headlining the nominations for the Cup are the two gun Australians, Leap To Fame and two-time champion Swayzee while another feature of the final nominations are the four Lee-trained runners from Victoria including trotting superstar Keayang Zahara. The Grant Dixon-trained and driven Leap To Fame is Australasian harness racing’s undoubted star with 56 career victories and over $4.6m in stakes earnings. The New Zealand Cup is about the only big race he hasn’t won. His one and only previous appearance in this country was a record-breaking victory in the $1m The Race by betcha at Cambridge in April. He is a commanding $1.60 favourite. His half brother Swayzee ($4.60) meanwhile is vying for a slice of Cup history. If successful he will be just the fourth horse ever to win three New Zealand Cups in a row, emulating Indianapolis, False Step and Terror To Love. Both are guaranteed a start in the Cup – Swayzee as defending champion and Leap To Fame after his Inter Dominion triumph this year. Two ex-Kiwis, (Gee) Heza Sport and Minstrel who are trained by Greg and Skye Bond in Western Australia, have also been nominated. The top Kiwis in the mix include Merlin, Republican Party and Mo’unga as well as Don’t Stop Dreaming and Akuta, who have finished second to Swayzee in the past two years. Mo’unga sealed a start in the Cup by winning last week’s Maurice Holmes Vase at Addington. Joining the impressive Keayang Zahara in the Dominion will be stablemates Keayang Chucky (20 wins from 53 starts) and Jilliby Ballerini, who’s won seven from 19. 2025 TAB Trot winner at Cambridge, Arcee Phoenix is also nominated. He is a $3.60 second favourite behind big Kiwi hope Bet N Win ($3.50). Both are guaranteed a start in the Dominion if nominated – Arcee Phoenix for his Inter Dominion win and Bet N Win after taking out the Rowe Cup. He leads a strong Kiwi contingent that includes Oscar Bonavena, Muscle Mountain and last year’s Dominion runner-up Mighty Logan. The nominations for both the Cup and the Dominion opened on August 11. The initial rankings for both will be made available on Thursday, September 4 and updated weekly. IRT New Zealand Trotting Cup Nominations Renwick Farms Dominion Trot Nominations Akuta Arcee Phoenix* Alta Meteor Belle Neige American Me Bet N Win Aroda* Cody Banner Better Knuckle Up Confessional Boudica Courmayeur Chase A Dream Eurostyle Cold Chisel Father Time Da Vinci Fiery Bandito Dalton Shard Gold Bullion Don’t Stop Dreaming Gus* Franco Marek Halberg (Gee) Heza Sport* Hidden Talent Here’s Herbie Highgrove Jeremiah I Dream Of Jeannie Jolimont Jilliby Ballerini* Keayang Tokyo* Jimmy Carter Lakelsa Julie Jaccka Leap To Fame* Kawhi Little Spike Keayang Chucky* Merlin Keayang Zahara* Minstrel* Love N The Port Mo’unga Mad Jack Pinseeker Maui Rakero Rocket Melsadele Renegade Midnight Dash Republican Party Mighty Logan Sooner The Bettor Mr Love Swayzee* Muscle Mountain The Surfer Mystic Max Vessem Nellie Doyle Wag Star One Over All We Walk By Faith Oscar Bonavena Who’s Delight Paris Prince Parisian Artiste* Roydon Muscle Rush Tectonic Tu Tangata Tyron Eros Zoltan Boscik * Denotes Australian trained horse Click here to download the press release View the full article

What San Domenico Stakes Day 2025 Where Rosehill Gardens Racecourse – James Ruse Dr, Rosehill NSW 2142 When Saturday, August 30, 2025 First Race 11:45am AEST Visit Dabble Feature racing returns to Rosehill this Saturday, with the Group 3 San Domenico Stakes (1100m) and Group 3 Up And Coming Stakes (1300m) sharing top billing on a bumper 10-race program. The rail moves out +3m for the entire circuit, and with the forecast ensuring a reprieve from the heavy rainfall that has drenched Sydney in recent weeks, the surface should be upgraded into the Good 4 range come race-day morning. The action for 2025 San Domenico Stakes Day is set to get underway at 11:45am AEST. San Domenico Stakes Tip: Wodeton Although Wodeton failed to claim Group 1 success in his two-year-old season, the Chris Waller-trained colt appears primed to make amends at some stage this preparation. The 2025 San Domenico Stakes is the perfect stepping stone for the son of Wootton Bassett, and he looks set to fire first-up on the back of three eye-catching barrier trials. James McDonald will attempt to slot into the one-one from barrier two, and while Raging Force has a fitness edge, Wodeton has the class to topple the favourite with horse racing bookmakers. San Domenico Stakes Race 8 – #5 Wodeton (2) 3yo Colt | T: Chris Waller | J: James McDonald (55kg) Up And Coming Stakes Tip: Providence There is a lot to like about Providence as he returns from a short spell. The Wootton Bassett colt was far from disgraced in the Group 1 J.J. Atkins at Eagle Farm on June 14 last time out, finishing fourth of 16 and making good late inroads despite a checkered passage. He should still have strong residual fitness after a tick-over trial at Canterbury, and with ‘J-Mac’ set to have Providence in the ideal stalking position from stall five, this guy should get every chance to claim the 2025 Up And Coming Stakes. Up And Coming Stakes Race 6 – #2 Providence (5) 3yo Colt | T: Chris Waller | J: James McDonald (56.5kg) Best Bet at Rosehill: Tazima Tazima could not have been more impressive in his win at Randwick’s Kensington circuit on August 13, settling last in the run before exploding to the top with 150m left to travel. Stretching out to 2000m for the first time since arriving to Australia should be no issue for the European import, and with Tommy Berry set to smoke the pipe somewhere mid-field with cover, watch for Tazima to burst clear when asked for the ultimate effort. Best Bet Race 5 – #11 Tazima (2) 4yo Gelding | T: Chris Waller | J: Tommy Berry (57kg) Next Best at Rosehill: Nkosi The Bjorn Baker-trained Nkosi was a dominant four-length winner at Wyong on Australian debut and looks well placed rising into BM78 company. He drops 5.5kg for that front-running effort and appears to get similar favours in this small field of 10, with the Shamus Award gelding likely to roll to the lead without much feuding in the early stages. It should allow Dylan Gibbons to tick-over a soft sectional prior to the run home, and provided there are no mid-race moves, watch for Nkosi to give a strong kick at the top of the straight. Next Best Race 4 – #9 Nkosi (2) 4yo Gelding | T: Bjorn Baker | J: Dylan Gibbons (55.5kg) Best Value at Rosehill: Mchale Although Mchale has spent 329 days off the scene, his recent form reads exceptionally well for this BM100. The son of Shooting To Win boasts a terrific first-up record of four starts for three wins, with one of those an outstanding victory in the Group 3 Bill Ritchie Stakes (1400m) to kick off his last campaign. He may be slightly underdone coming into this off one barrier trial; however, with an element of class amongst a field stacked with staying types, Mchale looks a big price at $12 with PlayUp. Best Value Race 9 – #7 Mchale (7) 5yo Gelding | T: Chris Waller | J: James McDonald (59.5kg) Saturday quaddie tips for Rosehill Rosehill quadrella selections Saturday, August 30, 2025 3-6-10 2-5 1-3-4-5-7-9-13-15 2-3-6-7-10-15-16 Horse racing tips View the full article

Six-year-old mare Niance (NZ) (Swiss Ace) will kick off a new campaign when she lines up in the Gr.1 Moir Stakes (1000m) at The Valley on Saturday week. The Grahame Begg-trained daughter of Swiss Ace has had two jump outs to prepare for the early spring target, winning an 800m hitout at Cranbourne on Monday. The Kiwi import has only raced once over the short course of 1000m, when winning a Pakenham 0-64 at her first start for Begg. Initially trained by Shaun and Emma Clotworthy in New Zealand, Niance has won six of her seven starts since crossing the Tasman and sports the Ace Bloodstock colours. “She is a very good mare that is going particularly well,” Begg said. “She is in fantastic condition. We actually gave her another jump out here at Cranbourne last Monday just to top her off going into the Moir because it’s not easy going into a Group One first up. “I always believe it is a pretty tall order but its only 1000m. We thought to give her that extra bit of hardness going into the race we would give her that jump out which she went really well in and we are now looking forward to Saturday week.” Niance made a cameo appearance in late May when winning the Listed Bel Esprit Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield after a lengthy layoff due to a paddock accident in which she suffered a fractured skull. “The problem was we didn’t know how she injured herself,” Begg said. “They found her and she had swelling to the skull but there was no sign of any head trauma, so we were a bit miffed as to what happened to her. “It (injury) got infected and the bone was getting rejected from the body and we had to do surgery to remove the fragments. “She has a great will to win this mare. She is just a very good, rounded horse. “I think her preference is for good ground with just the edge off but she can handle all sorts of ground. “She always puts her hand up.” Niance is a $5 joint favourite for the Moir along with Baraqiel (Snitzel) and Alabama Lass (Alabama Express). “It is shaping up as a pretty good race,” Begg said. “They were all originally saying it was a weak race but now there are horses coming from Sydney, Brisbane and it is going to be a strong enough race and there is even going to be Alabama Lass from New Zealand.” View the full article

It’s been a winter to remember for Shaun and Hazel Fannin, and they are hoping their golden run continues at Te Aroha on Sunday. Stable representative Jesko (NZ) (Atlante) has been the rising star among the country’s steeplechasers, winning the Manawatu Steeplechase (4000m), Wellington Steeplechase (4900m), Koral Steeplechase (4250m) and was runner-up in the Grand National Steeplechase (5600m). The eight-year-old gelding, who carries the gold silks of micro-share syndicator The Frac Club, will be among the leading chances in next month’s Ben And Ryan Foote Great NZ Steeplechase (6200m) at Te Aroha, where he could be joined by stable and ownership-mate Fourty Eight (NZ) (Ekraar). The seven-year-old gelding’s jumping season didn’t get off to the best of starts, battling with a foot issue, but he was able to show his talent over fences later in the season to give his large ownership group some memorable moments. He won his maiden steeplechase, the Cody Singer Memorial (4000m), at Woodville last month, and returned to the venue a fortnight ago to finish runner-up in an open steeplechase. “He had a few foot issues at the beginning of the season,” Shaun Fannin said. “He had to get over that and then he won his maiden steeplechase at Woodville. “Looking at the programme, nothing fitted the next five weeks, so he was maybe found wanting the last little bit there at Woodville (last start). It seems to have cleaned him up nicely.” The son of Ekraar subsequently had a jumping trial at Te Aroha last week to familiarise himself with the course, finishing runner-up to English Gambler in their heat. Fannin was pleased with the way he has come through his trial and he is hoping it will aid his chances at the track in Sunday’s Howden Insurance Pakuranga Hunt Cup (4300m), for which he is currently a $3.20 favourite. “He seems to be in good condition,” said Fannin, who will also be in the saddle on Sunday. “He went up to Te Aroha last Friday for a trial and have a look around the live fences there and he went really well. We were pretty happy with him.” Fannin is looking forward to testing his charge against some seasoned veterans, and if can perform up to expectations, a tilt at the Great New Zealand Steeplechase is in the offing. “This will be his biggest test to date and all the good jumpers are there, so we are looking forward to seeing how he goes against that line-up,” he said. “If he went well on Sunday that (Great New Zealand Steeplechase) would definitely be his next start.” He will likely be joined by Jesko, who Fannin has been pleased with since his Grand National run. “He seems in good enough nick,” Fannin said. “As long as things continue to go well, he will look at the Great New Zealand Chase in three weeks’ time.” Fannin said he and Hazel are rapt with their stable’s performance over winter, and they are excited to have two exciting jumpers on their hands. “It’s great for us,” he said. “We have done everything with them, going through the grades and being successful is pleasing for us both.” View the full article

Awapuni filly War Princess (NZ) (U S Navy Flag) will head up State Highway Three on Saturday to Wanganui in search of all-important black-type in the Listed HS Dyke Wanganui Guineas (1200m). The daughter of U S Navy Flag won two of her three starts as a juvenile, and was unplaced in the Gr.1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) in March, and trainer Peter Didham is pleased with the way she has returned as a three-year-old. She won a 1000m trial at Awapuni earlier this month, which piqued the interest of TAB bookmakers, who have opened her as a $4.80 equal favourite for Saturday’s three-year-old feature with dual stakes winner Platinum Diamond (NZ) (Hello Youmzain). While he has a high opinion of his filly, Didham admitted to being a bit surprised when he saw his filly at the top of the market. “She trialled really nicely,” Didham said. “She is very quick, so probably deserves to have a go around Wanganui and be in the field, but I am very surprised that she is favourite because it is a really strong field.” Didham would have liked another couple of weeks up his sleeve before contesting the Guineas, but he is hoping his filly’s brilliance will have her featuring in the finish. “It has come around a week or two earlier than I would have liked, her coat is just starting to move,” he said. “Her two trials and two races that she has won, she jumped and ran and maintained a nice speed. We probably won’t change too much with that unless there is a tonne of speed and we can sit second or third like we did at the trial the other day.” Looking ahead to the rest of spring, Didham said he will likely keep his filly to shorter trips. “At this stage, she will probably be kept to sprinting, but who knows, she might get a little bit further,” he said. Fellow three-year-old filly Shameless Star (NZ) (Shamexpress) will kick-off her preparation on the undercard when she contests the Wanganui Insurance Brokers Maiden 1200. The daughter of Shamexpress also pleased Didham with her 850m trial win at Foxton earlier this month and he is confident of a bold showing first-up. “She had a really good trial last week,” he said. “She has a good draw (2), a good rider (Masa Hashizume), and I expect her to race well.” Didham will also be represented by Danjuro (NZ) (Saxon Warrior) in the Take It Easy Tours 1600, with the five-year-old gelding having also won his lead-in 1200m trial at Awapuni earlier this month. “It (trial win) was a bit unexpected,” Didham said. “He had only had a few gallops, and we are starting to get him ready for the staying races. “He is a quirky horse, but he has always had ability. The mile should be too short for him, but we have got to kick-off, like the rest of these horses. It is exciting with most of the winter out of the way to get them racing.” Didham’s team will be rounded out by Gum Basher (NZ) (Vespa) in the Whanganui Chronicle 1340. “Gummy has been a bit unlucky this year,” Didham said. “Two or three races she should have won. “She just might have lost a little bit of early speed at the moment, so I am hoping to see her hit the line really well. She always tries hard, she is a nice horse.” View the full article