Wandering Eyes

Pride Of Jenni (Pride Of Dubai) will jump from barrier one in Saturday’s Gr.1 Doomben Cup (2000m), as the Trelawney Stud bred mare looks set to meet 12 rivals in the 2000-metre contest. The three-time Gr.1 winner will once again face Antino (NZ) (Redwood), who will again be ridden by jockey Blake Shinn after their thrilling last-start success in the Gr.2 Hollindale (1800m) as he steps out to 2000m for the first time while drawing outside in barrier 11. Pride Of Jenni bounced back to form at Caulfield earlier this month and according to her assistant trainer Jack Turnbull, is set to give her rivals something to beat in Brisbane, no matter the track condition. “We’ve discussed the possibility of a wet surface and when you look at her exposed form and natural racing pattern, she is going to do her normal thing, as everyone understands,” he explained. “If she is able to slide away and maintain her gallop, as we all know, it’s incredibly hard to make up ground on a track that is rain affected. So, if she is running to her best or near her peak, she’ll be very hard to chase down.” Over the past two years, Pride Of Jenni has only seen two wet tracks, but performed well both times. She was runner-up in the Gr.1 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on a Heavy 9 last spring behind Mr Brightside (NZ) (Bullbars) and was second again a run later on a Soft 5 in the Gr.1 King Charles III (1600m) behind Ceolwulf (NZ) (Tavistock) at Randwick. Pride Of Jenni’s win in the Listed Anniversary Vase (1600m) at Caulfield on May 3 came after her disastrous Australian Cup attempt, where Turnbull said it was proven the mare had failed to back-up two weeks after her first-up win in the Gr.2 Peter Young Stakes (1800m) at Caulfield. “Just as she’s getting older, she just requires that little bit of extra time when she is not fully wound up, but now she’s had that run and she’s getting ready for this 2000 (metre race), it works out really nice,” he said. The reigning Australian Horse Of The Year had her final gallop at Cranbourne on Monday morning before she flying to Brisbane on Tuesday, with Turnbull delighted with her morning’s exercise. “She’s ready to go after a little bit (of work) on the grass this morning,” he said. “She pulled up fine and galloped really strong and she’s right on the mark to go and run a big race. “She’s come through her last race fine. As we said, it was always our intention to give her that extra week, which has worked perfectly.” If things go to plan on Saturday and Pride Of Jenni wins her first Gr.1 since her unforgettable Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) victory at Randwick last autumn, she could yet face a new challenge in Brisbane this winter in the form of the $1.2 million Q22 (2200m) at Eagle Farm on June 14. “The Q22 has been mentioned over the 2200 metres and while we are very much one race at a time, given the program and the fact she will be there (Brisbane), you’d have to give it consideration,” he said. View the full article

Lhasa (Hellbent) has matched up in quality sprinting fields on the turf this campaign and he will pay for that success at Cambridge Synthetic on Wednesday as a clear topweight in the Ride For Jimmy 1300. The son of Hellbent announced himself a proper racehorse with four victories on the polytrack, and while bringing that form to the turf up in grade is not an easy task, Lhasa did just that at Trentham in March, defeating open-class gallopers down the chute. The gelding followed up that effort with a tidy placing behind former Champion Two-Year-Old Velocious at Te Aroha, and his trainer Mark Treweek felt the gelding deserved another opportunity after a tough effort for sixth last time out at Te Rapa. “He’s great, which is the reason why we’ve kept him going,” Treweek said. “We were going to turn him out after his last race, but he didn’t get the best run there and has done so well since, and he goes really well on the poly tracks, so we thought we’d give him one more run. “I’ve spaced his races a lot, he hasn’t been overtaxed.” The five-year-old is rated 15 points higher than his nearest rival on Wednesday and that is reflected in the weight scale, being assigned a 63kg impost, which has been slightly bettered by Rihaan Goyaram’s three-kilogram claim. “It’s a lot of weight, we’re claiming three with Rihaan who is riding really well, so that brings him back to 60,” Treweek said. “He’s still going to be giving most of the field a hell of a lot of weight, but he’s drawn well (2) and goes well on that track so hopefully his class carries him a long way.” While Lhasa may be heading for a spell at short notice, Treweek is keeping the synthetic innovation races in mind through August, with options in both the Central Districts and South Island. “The 1200m is still in Christchurch so it’s doubtful we’d go down there with him, but we would possibly consider it,” he said. “The 1400m is at Awapuni, so we’ll keep that in mind and tick him over, keeping him fresh.” His stablemate Seamsew (Brazen Beau) has also tasted success on the surface, with two wins and four placings from seven attempts across Cambridge and Awapuni. The son of Brazen Beau has mixed his form on the turf this preparation, but is rated among the favourites in the TAB 970 and Treweek is hopeful of a bold showing. “He’s a big, strong horse and can be a difficult ride, so we’ve gone for Vinnie (Colgan, jockey) and not a claimer,” he said. “The weight (60kg) is a little bit of a worry, but he’s won with close to that before and the shorter trip will help. He’s drawn out wide, so I’m hoping he can get away well and be competitive again. “He’s very well so I’m expecting a good run from him too.” View the full article

Emily Murphy brings you Winter Weigh In, your place for Thoroughbred racing news, reviews and insights throughout the colder months. This week Aidan Rodley joins the team to take a look back at local and international racing from around the globe. Winter Weigh In, May 19 View the full article

Trainer and champion jockey bid to add to haul of 15 winners from 41 runners when teaming up this season.View the full article

By Michael Guerin Chase A Dream’s Queensland campaign is hanging by a thread. The rollercoaster four-year-old didn’t thrill co-owner and trainer Mark Purdon with one of his below performances in a three-horse trial at Pukekohe on Tuesday. Chase A Dream took on stablemates Rubira and comeback pacer Akuta in the 2050m mobile, with Purdon driving Chase A Dream and giving them a small start early to try and maximise the trial’s effectiveness. He then looped the field to lead but was run down by Rubira, leaving Purdon pleased with that runner but perplexed by Chase A Dream, as has been the case more often that not this year. “I wasn’t impressed,” was Purdon’s blunt assessment. “I will sleep on it tonight after having a chat with Chris [Ryder, co-owner] and see what he thinks. “If he was only going to Queensland for the Inter Dominion that trial wouldn’t be good enough to send him. “But he has an invite to the Rising Sun on July 5 and it might not be anywhere as strong. “So we will decide tomorrow.” It is extremely rare for a Purdon-trained runner to be as erratic as Chase A Dream has proven this season. On his best nights he has won the Waikato Flying Mile and finished second to Leap To Fame in the $1million Race by betcha but in stark contrast his other five starts this season have produced a 7th, 8th, two 9th placings and a 10th. “We have had him checked out for everything physical, we have done chiropractic work on him and we really can’t find anything else wrong. “So it is a very tricky one.” Purdon says Rubira will definitely still head to Brisbane via Sydney on Sunday to compete in the best three-year-old races at the winter carnival while stablemate Oscar Bonavena will be on the same flight to target the A$500,000 Inter Dominion Trotting Final on July 19. Purdon was pleased with Akuta’s first public appearance since December 2023 in Tuesday’s trial but the muscular son of Bettors Delight will now head to the paddock as part of a in-and-out rehabilitation from a tendon issue. “The vets seem to think that is the best way to handle those sort of issues these days, bring them up to near full speed then ease off them and do it again,” explains Purdon. “He seems good at this stage so he can have another break now and hopefully come back for the second half of the season.” View the full article

By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk Next Gen has just got some serious sporting star power. Successful breeders/owners Braeden and Caroline Whitelock purchased a filly at this year’s National Yearling Sales and have now roped in their four rugby playing sons into the ownership. George, Adam, Sam and Luke Whitelock will race the filly along with their Mum and Dad. “It’s the first time for the four boys ever,” says Braeden Whitelock. The syndicate will be known as “Team Whitelock”. “They’ve always had an interest in it but they’ve been so busy with their own families and sport and things.” Three of the four live in New Zealand while seven test All Black Luke is still involved in European rugby, playing for Pau in France. Dual World Cup winner Sam retired last year after playing 153 tests for the All Blacks while George played just the one test and Adam made the All Black Sevens in 2014. Together all four played more than 360 games for the Crusaders in Super Rugby. In keeping with the Next Gen theme all four now have young families of their own. George and wife Kayla have five children, including one set of twins, while Adam (and Tiffany) and Sam (and Hannah) have three and Luke and Claire two. “There are 13 grandkids 10 and under!,” says Braeden Whitelock. With four owners brand new to harness racing, their horse Queen Of Troy becomes Next Gen eligible, meaning she will potentially be up for big bonuses during her 2YO season. “We love to see some positivity in the industry and Next Gen is certainly that,” says Whitelock. To see more about Next Gen click here “This is an opportunity to get different new people involved and we thought from an industry perspective it’s a great initiative.” Bred by Studholme Bloodstock’s Brian West and Neville Tilsley, Queen Of Troy is by Captaintreacherous out of Under the Odds. She was bought on the Whitelocks’ behalf by Purdon Racing for $110,000 at the Christchurch sales, and is now with co-trainer Nathan at his Pukekohe base. “She was broken in by Stephen Boyd and is now back in work for the second time with Nathan,” says Whitelock, “although at this stage they don’t do a lot with them.” Based at Linton in the Manawatu, the Whitelocks have been breeding and/or racing horses for “40 years” and have had a long association with both West and the Purdons. “That was the trigger point for me,” says Whitelock, “Brian and I go way back and we’ve got the best guy in the business with Mark and Nathan so we will wait and see.” “The usual model is sell the colts and race the fillies and if we get too many fillies we sell the odd one.” Queen Lizzy (pictured above) is a case in point. By boom sire Captaintreacherous out of their brilliant mare Princess Tiffany, the filly was the sales topper at last year’s Karaka sales, selling to clients of Mark Jones for $270,000. She has since had three starts, with a win at Addington on April 5. Princess Tiffany is by far their best horse to date. She won 25 races and over $1m in lifetime stakes. Other notables include O’Baby, who’s just been named North Island Broodmare of the Year. She’s produced some quality progeny including multiple Group winners Mo’unga (11 wins) and Treacherous Baby (6 wins). Another good winner for the Whitelocks, Minnie Moose (8 wins) was a star in the breeding paddock too. Among her stock was Funatthebeach. He has won 44 races, mainly in North America, with stakes earnings just shy of $1.4m. Time will tell whether Queen Of Troy can live up some of the stars the Whitelocks have been associated with in the past. “She’s still only a yearling so it will be a while before we know if she has any ability,” says Braeden Whitelock, “and we hope it’s going to be a lot of fun.” “There’s been a bit of banter already.” View the full article

Antino and Pride Of Jenni Headline Tight Doomben Cup Betting Showdown The elite action of the Brisbane Winter Racing Carnival continues this Saturday with the Doomben Cup 2025, shaping up as a fascinating betting contest with Tony Gollan‘s in-form gelding Antino and Ciaron Maher‘s tenacious mare Pride Of Jenni locked in a tight battle for […] The post Antino Heads 2025 Doomben Cup Field & Odds appeared first on HorseRacing.com.au. View the full article

A perfect gift continues to keep on giving for expatriate Kiwi horsewoman Emma-Lee Browne who is now in the luxurious position of having a guaranteed Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) runner with a homebred. Pakenham-based Browne and husband and training partner David produced Basilinna (NZ) (Staphanos) to triumph in the Listed Andrew Ramsden (2800m) at Flemington to earn a golden ticket into the spring staying feature. Basilinna is a daughter of the late Shinko King mare So Royal, who was purchased by David as a present for his wife. “It was just after we had lost our good jumper Monarch Chimes and David saw the mare on a gavelhouse auction and bought her for $500 to make me feel better,” Emma-Lee Browne said. Also by Shinko King, Monarch Chimes won three on the flat for the couple and four over the smaller fences, including the Hawke’s Bay Hurdle (3100m) and was fourth in the Great Northern (4190m). He was also successful over the big fences in Australia and placed in the Grand National Steeples (4500m), Crisp Steeples (3900m) and Brierly Steeples (3450m). “It was a lovely gesture by David to buy the mare and we put her to Staphanos, and Wentwood Grange foaled her down,” Browne said. “The mother was a big, strong mare and she (Basilinna) was also a big girl as a yearling and we thought about sending her to the sales, but she was still growing so we kept her when we moved over here. “At that stage, we had no owners for her and we had an open day and nearly all our existing owners came in with us and they’ve had a fantastic ride.” As a spring three-year-old, Basilinna finished third in the Gr.1 VRC Oaks (2500m) after also running third in the Gr.3 Ethereal Stakes (2000m) and was subsequently runner-up in the Gr.2 Kewney Stakes (1600m). “She really put us out there and we had a few little issues with her as a spring four-year-old,” Browne said. Following a break, she was a first-up winner at The Valley and ran second in both the Country Oaks (2100m) and Listed Port Adelaide Cup (2500m) before claiming top honours in the Andrew Ramsden. “We’ve got the luxury now of knowing she’s in the Cup and we can make a plan to get her there in the best possible order, we’re obviously really looking forward to that,” Browne said. They are also closely following the career of Basilinna’s younger sister Shangri La Impact (NZ) (Staphanos), who was sold through Westbury Stud’s draft for A$60,000 at the 2023 Magic Millions National Yearling Sale. Trained by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, she placed in her first two starts before successfully stepping up at a middle distance at Hawkesbury last week. View the full article

Race 1 MILNES TRANSPORT & TELEPOWER & WREYS BUSH FARM MAIDEN 1600m MOUTIS (T Moseley) – Trainer Ms. J Dalton advised Stewards, the gelding has now been retired. Race 7 WOOLS OF NZ & SOUTHLAND GRAIN & CRAIG STALKER VETS 1400m ZIRCON (R Mudhoo) – Trainer Ms. S McKay reported to Stewards, the mare will be given a short spell, after which S McKay will reassess ZIRON’s racing future. The post Wairio Jockey Club @ Ascot Park Invercargill, Sunday 11 May 2025 appeared first on RIB. View the full article

Race 7 RIVERTON FRESH CHOICE / BARNES OYSTERS / RIVERSIDE RENTALS HANDICAP 1200m QUARTZ QUEEN (F Moerman) – Trainer Ms. K Shearing reported to Stewards, QUARTZ QUEEN, underwent acupuncture and chiropractic treatment on Tuesday 13 May for general soreness. K Shearing advised that she intends to continue on with the mare’s current preparation, however, potential gear adjustments may be considered prior to racing next. The post Riverton Racing Club @ Riverton, Friday 9 May 2025 appeared first on RIB. View the full article

Race 3 RICCARTON PARK FUNCTION CENTRE 1600m PONZI PONY (L Hemi) – Trainer Ms A McLeod reported to Stewards, the gelding will have a short break, during which A McLeod intends to reassess his racing future in the coming weeks. The post Canterbury Jockey Club at Riccarton Park, Thursday 1 May 2025 appeared first on RIB. View the full article

On the May 19 episode of BloodHorse Monday, Louie Rabaut and Sean Collins recap Journalism's Preakness Stakes (G1) victory and hear from winning connections Aron Wellman, Michael McCarthy, and Umberto Rispoli.View the full article

Jockey Luis Angel Batista reached an important career milestone May 17, winning his 1,000th career race in the United States aboard Lemonsondesurprise in the opening race at Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races.View the full article

Trainer Michael McCarthy said that the colt continues to show all of the positive markers he looks for. Even as they move further away from the Preakness, the indicators McCarthy needs to see remain the same.View the full article

Journalism provided a memorable farewell to the old facility at Pimlico Race Course when he pushed through a very slim opening and made up five lengths to prevail in the Preakness Stakes (G1).View the full article

Neil Pessin, who trained the late Bob Lothenbach's Bell's the One (Majesticperfection) to a victory in the GI Derby City Distaff in its COVID-delayed renewal in 2020, is leaving the training ranks effective immediately. The affable conditioner's final starter was Finn McSorley (English Channel), who finished eighth in a Keeneland maiden special weight on the grass Apr. 25. “I'd like to keep training, but financially it's very tough and I was down to two maiden turf horses, one maiden claimer, and it's just not financially feasible to keep going,” Pessin said. “I didn't want to quit, but I really have no choice but to do so. I've had excess help the whole time as well. There were promises of horses coming in that never materialized, and I had two horses and five staff, so I was losing money every day and it was just time to pull the plug.” Pessin took out his license and saddled his first runner Apr. 12, 1985, when the Nelson Bunker Hunt-bred Mock finished ninth in a $13,700 maiden allowance in Lexington. The same horse gave him his first winner when graduating in a $12,5000 maiden claimer at Atlantic City Racecourse later that summer. A consummate professional who never maintained a large stable, Pessin won with 14 of his 40 starters in 1991, including an 8-for-14 mark at Churchill Downs, and Elmer Miller's Coaxing Matt (Coax Me Chad) provided him with the first of his nine career graded wins in the 1993 GII Elkhorn Stakes at the Lexington oval. Coaxing Matt was sixth to Star of Cozzene in that year's GI Arlington Million. But strike rate was among the lowest priorities for Pessin. “I never worried about percentages, I just focused on developing a horse and getting the most out of them,” he said. “I wouldn't drop horses just to win a race. I've always asked people 'would you rather have a horse run second for $30,000 [claiming] or win for $5,000. And that's the difference between me and a lot of other guys. My owners didn't want to do that and neither did I, so we ran for the $30 and if we won, great and if we didn't and ran well, we were happy.” It would be a gap of 13 years before he won his next graded event, the 2006 GIII Transylvania Stakes with 68-1 Chin High (Smart Strike), and a similar length of time before Bell's the One put him 'on the map' in the 2019 GII Lexus Raven Run Stakes. A long-standing friendship with Chicago-based trainer Chris Block–Pessin himself stabled at Arlington during the summer months–led to a professional relationship, but more importantly to Pessin a close personal friendship with Lothenbach. And with it, he gained an opportunity to play the game at a level he'd never been able to theretofore. Horsephotos “Without Bob, I couldn't have had horses like Bell's and [GIII Louisiana Stakes winner] Happy American (Runhappy),” Pessin said. “I had 22 horses at one time and 19 were for Bob. We'd buy 15-20 yearlings every year, we'd have 40-some yearlings to split up between four of us. This year we had zero.” Lothenbach passed away unexpectedly in November 2023. “And we were spending money,” he continued. “Paid $155,000 for Bell, we were able to spend two, three, four-hundred on a horse and that gives you a better shot than if you spend $10-$15,000. I think before Bob the most I ever spent on a horse was $50,000. Bob gave us that chance and we were making our broodmare band better along with it.” Third in the 2020 GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint at Keeneland, Bell's the One had earned herself a shot at that contest in 2021. But COVID dictated a very strict shipping protocol that Pessin wasn't remotely comfortable with. “I pride myself on the job I did with Bell's the One,” he said. “The decision to pass the Breeders' Cup was a tough one and Bob was on board with it. I thought it was best for her because of her mindset and I was afraid of the way we'd have to ship. As it turned out, we won the [Dream Supreme Stakes] at Churchill–we would have to have won the Breeders' Cup in order to make money–and she was already a Grade I winner, which took some of the pressure off. And Coaxing Matt I did a good job with, too. He was by nothing out of nothing, in fact most of my horses didn't have a lot of pedigrees.” Among those Pessin pays his thanks to along the way are John Sikura, the late Brereton and Bret Jones, David, Pat, Ryan and Chris Block and Crown's Way Farm's Ron DiCicilia. Pessin isn't entirely certain of what comes next. “If I had to pick one thing in particular, it would be a bloodstock agent, but then again you need the clients for that,” he lamented. “I think I can do a really good job at it. If not, I'll hopefully find something within the industry to do, something horse-related. “I've done all aspects of it. We had a breeding farm, I've run a racetrack before, my dad (Dr. A.G. Pessin) built Kentucky Downs (then the Dueling Grounds) and I ran the race meet there for three years. I've trained, we've had stallions, done literally every facet except being a jockey. I tried but they wouldn't license me,” he said in his customary deadpan fashion. In taking down the 'NLP' shingle off the barn, Pessin is comfortable with what he's achieved and how he's achieved it, always plying his trade beneath the radar. “I'm proud of the job I did all the way around,” he said. “I always put the horse first and the owner second–a close second, but the horse always came first. I'm afraid a lot of that is going out the window these days.” The post Pessin Calls Time On Training Career appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

TIMONIUM, MD – After a week of rainy days, it was a picture perfect morning and the buyers were out in force at the Maryland State Fairgrounds Monday, a day ahead of the reshuffled Fasig-Tipton Midlantic May 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale. The auction had originally been scheduled over two sessions, but has been condensed into one day after several postponements to the under-tack preview. “Today I am really positive about the action,” consignor David Scanlon said from his barn Monday morning. “I do think people will be in a little bit of a hurry to get their work done, but the activity has been really good. We started showing about a quarter to eight this morning and it's been very steady all day. If it continues for the day, I will be pretty positive about the sale.” The under-tack preview for the auction, which started a day later than scheduled due to the heavy rain last week, was conducted over sloppy conditions Wednesday and half of Thursday, when additional rain caused a halt to action. When the preview resumed Sunday, it was billed as a gallop show without traditional timed workouts. “Most of our horses went down there and they basically breezed, but it was more of a racehorse breeze, no whipping and driving,” said consignor Clovis Crane. “It was a controlled breeze, which is a breath of fresh air. I think the buyers are appreciative of it. And I also think the buyers are going to be rewarded two ways. They are going to be rewarded with a sounder horse after the sale and I think they are going to get a discounted price. Buyers should come in droves for something like this because it's not very often they have the pendulum swing in their favor. And the pendulum has definitely swung to the buyer's favor this time.” Scanlon said after some anxious moments at the thought of not breezing horses, there were some positive things to take from the gallops Sunday. “I think people were hesitant and some of the consignors were thinking they wanted to jump off a bridge,” Scanlon said. “But then after it all went down and everyone witnessed the visuals of it, there have been a lot of positive comments. As it went on, people got a little emboldened and breezed a little faster, but they all did it in hand. People weren't really driving the horses. So the horses looked like they did it within themselves. I think that is something we can really take forward from there. People said, 'I really saw the horse's natural stride and they weren't rushed off their feet and they weren't scrambling, it's nice.' So I actually think there are some things we can take away from this that are really positive.” Tom McCrocklin | Fasig-Tipton One consignor who did stick to the gallop-only plan Sunday was Tom McCrocklin. “Saturday we were told there was damage to the base of the track on the inside,” McCrocklin said. “So at that point, Saturday afternoon [Fasig-Tipton president] Boyd [Browning] told us we would not be breezing on Sunday and that we would gallop. I interpreted that–and I probably should have asked for more information–was that we were going to gallop. So I galloped my horses. As the day went on, everybody was going faster and faster. And then at that point, it was a free for all. I was told by Boyd it was a gallop show, so I galloped. Other people chose to breeze. I don't have an issue with the people who wanted to breeze. It's their horse, it's their decision. But we galloped ours and we are going to see how it goes.” Summing up the entirety of the preview, McCrocklin said, “So basically, you've got 40% of the catalogue that breezed in the slop and then you have 60% of the catalogue that went on a fast track yesterday. Some galloped, some two-minute licked and some breezed.” From a catalogue of 586 lots, the number of withdrawn horses as of Monday afternoon was remaining steady at 138 despite all the changes to the sale's format. “One thing that Fasig-Tipton did, they said if you went in Sunday's under-tack show, they will not charge you an RNA commission if you buy your horse back,” McCrocklin said. “So I don't think you're going to see all the scratches you normally would see on the horses who went yesterday. And you might even see some really odd looking RNA's because they are playing with house money. There is no commission to buy my horse back for $400,000. Normally it would cost me $20,000. Now it's a free roll.” Representatives of prominent owner Mike Repole, who has been vocal in his concerns about the demand for speed at the 2-year-old under-tack shows, were on the sales grounds in Timonium Monday. Asked if Sunday's gallops could increase participation from buyers with similar concerns, McCrocklin said, “I don't know if it will attract new buyers, but I think maybe a few more skeptics will participate now, or a few more critics will participate now. But at the same time, I feel for people who have significant financial investment in a horse for months thinking they are going to breeze and they galloped. So it cuts both ways.” David McKathan of Grassroots Training and Sales does not expect to see increased participation from that sector of the market. “They like to tell you that,” McKathan of critics of the breeze shows. “But those guys that pretend they only want to see a horse gallop probably won't buy anything. I am sure Repole will buy one. He's got a point to make. He might even buy two. But I don't know who is going to buy all the rest of them. We will see.” Dave Scanlon | Fasig-Tipton Consignors do agree that the lack of official breeze and gallop-out times will force buyers to do more homework. “I think you're really going to have to look at the horse, see how he is walking,” Scanlon said. “It's going to become a little bit of a shank contest and a judgement and then you've got to add in how you thought the horse moved. It's a little bit more homework for buyers. Which is OK. We buy them off a 10-foot walk [at the yearling sales]. They get to see them gallop.” McCrocklin said, “I kind of have a bit of a smile on my face because now buyers are going to be forced to do what I do at yearling sales. You are going to have to dig a little deeper in your tool box to find the horse you want. You are not going to have all the metrics there in black and white.” While the 2-year-old sales have become polarized with strong demand for the few horses at the very top and less demand for the rest of the offerings, the lack of black-and-white metrics may help to spread out the buyers, McCrocklin observed. “Everybody always talks about how top heavy the 2-year-old sales are,” McCrocklin said. “Well, everyone has the same metrics, stride lengths, gallop-out times, breeze times. Guess what? That takes you to the same top horses. Without that, we will see what happens.” McKathan concluded, “There are a lot of good horseman here. A lot of the guys here can read between the lines. They don't have to see the :10 1/2 and :10 flats to buy horses.” The post ‘We Will See’: Non-Traditional Fasig-Tipton Midlantic May Sale Tuesday appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The 22nd Annual All-Thoroughbred Charity Horse Show hosted by New Vocations Racehorse Adoption Program is set for May 30-June 1 at Highfields Event Center in Aiken, SC, the organization announced via press release. The largest annual fundraiser for New Vocations, the event promotes the versatility and adaptability of retired racehorses. Many industry organizations like the various HBPA chapters and individual stables or farms are returning as supporters and sponsors for the event. There will be a variety of classes for Thoroughbreds, including hunter, jumper, combined test, pleasure, in-hand, dressage and western and in-hand. A highlight of the show is the Specialty Thoroughbred Awards, which celebrate the OTTBs' achievements during their racing careers. More than 180 Thoroughbreds from across the Southeastern U.S. are expected to compete. All sponsorships, exhibitor fees and funds go directly towards New Vocations' mission of rehabilitation, retraining, and rehoming retired racehorses. For additional information, entry questions and media-related inquiries, please go here. “We are excited to welcome Thoroughbreds and their exhibitors back to compete and connect with others who share the same love and passion for the breed,” said Anna Ford, program director at New Vocations. “The support we have received for this year's show has been simply amazing. So many Thoroughbred owners, breeders, trainers, industry partners and fans have become show sponsors.” The post New Vocations Hosts 22nd Annual All-Thoroughbred Charity Horse Show in Aiken appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Lakefield Farm's Doctor Dino filly topped Monday's Goffs Doncaster Spring Store Sale when going the way of the father and son team of Aiden and Olly Murphy for £120,000. One of 17 lots to make £50,000 or more, she is out of a half-sister to the Grade 1-winning chaser Le Patron. “She's gone to a fantastic trainer,” said Lakefield Farm's John Bleahen, who has sold top-notchers Copperhead, L'Astroboy and The Last Samuri as stores at Goffs Doncaster in the past. “Olly's had so many winners last season. He's on his way up and Aiden is a fantastic guy, too. They're a great team–I love them.” Reflecting on sourcing the filly, he added, “She was an easy buy. The lady I bought her off is a tough customer, and she cost quite a bit of money, but she was one you just had to have. She's from a beautiful line–she's just a queen.” The Goffs Doncaster Spring Sales continue this week with the HIT/PTP Sale on Wednesday and Thursday, with a day of inspections on Tuesday. The post Doctor Dino Filly Tops the Goffs Doncaster Spring Store Sale at £120,000 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Trainer Michael McCarthy said that colt continues to show all of the positive markers he looks for. Even as they move further away from the Preakness, the indicators McCarthy needs to see remain the same.View the full article

The debate will continue to rage on. Should a horse run back in the GI Preakness, just two weeks after the GI Kentucky Derby, or should they skip the Preakness and wait for the GI Belmont? What's best for the horse? What's best for the sport? This year it was Sovereignty (Into Mischief). He was a comfortable 1 1/2 length winner over Journalism (Curlin) in the Derby. But instead of running back in two weeks, his connections announced that his next start will be in the June 7 Belmont. He is owned by one of the most successful stables in the world and trainer Bill Mott is among the very best in his business. They believe that giving Sovereignty five weeks off coming into the Belmont is the right move, better than coming back in two weeks. These people didn't get to be where they are today by making mistakes. But they are going by instinct. In racing, there is no science to guide them towards what is truly the best answer for the horse and for their stables. I'm no mathematician or scientist, but I like to think that I do pretty well when it comes to having common sense. Suppose that running back in two weeks is something that is beyond the capabilities of the modern horse , then shouldn't the Preakness be dominated by the “fresh horse?” It's not. A look at the last ten runnings of the Preakness (I didn't factor the 2020 Covid Preakness into the equation) gives validity to the argument that running back in two weeks is no big deal. (*) Since 2015, six horses that ran on Derby day won the Preakness. One of those winners is 2024 Seize The Grey (Arrogate), who didn't run in the Derby but did start on Derby Day in the GII Pat Day Mile. The top three finishers in that race all were coming back on two weeks of rest. (*) There have been 75 Preakness starters that last ran in the Derby. All things being equal, those horses had a 12.5% chance of winning. (*) Since 2016 there have been 85 starters who had more than two weeks' rest entering the Derby. They won four times. That's good for a winning percentage of just 4.7%. Still, they persist. One of the worst Preaknesses in modern times occurred in 2023. Derby winner Mage (Good Magic) was the only Derby starter to run back in the Preakness, and he finished third. (*) Only 3 three Derby starters ran back in this year's Preakness and they finished 1-3, with Sandman (Tapit) running third. The first time by the grandstand in the Kentucky Derby | Coady Media You have to give credit to trainer Michael McCarthy and to the many owners who have a piece of the horse. After the Derby, they didn't go back to California and instead stayed at Churchill. They took their time and went over every inch of the horse. Horsemen like to say “We'll let the horse tell us what to do.” McCarthy saw a healthy horse that didn't seem to be ill-affected by the Derby and found no reason not to run him. Journalism was telling him to run in the Preakness. The end result is that they have well-bred, two-time Grade I winner and has already earned $2,680,000 this year alone. Sometimes people care about nothing other than a horse's stud value. Not only did the owners get their share of a $2 million horse, they increased his value as a stud considerably. So many horses passing Triple Crown races is bad for the game and bad for the Triple Crown. I fear the time will come, and come fast, where a Derby winner almost never runs in the Preakness. The Triple Crown has been weakened by this trend and we can't allow it to get any worse. In 2024, the Stronach Group threw out a trial balloon saying it wanted to move the Preakness back a couple of weeks. It never went anywhere because NYRA had no intention of moving the date of the Belmont. It seems they haven't taken account how the current Triple Crown format can hurt the Belmont Stakes With so many horses passing the Preakness, they always get a good field and good crowd. But it's a lot different when a Triple Crown is on the line. What they should want more than anything else is to have a horse going for the Triple Crown in the Belmont. When that happens the place goes wild. When the Triple Crown was on the line for Justify (Scat Daddy) in 2018, the attendance was 90,327. In the six Belmont since, the largest attendance was 56,217. If the Derby winner doesn't run in the Preakness (which is the case this year) NYRA can't have a Triple Crown winner. I am on the “Change the Triple Crown bandwagon.” There needs to be at least four weeks between the races. In the past, it would have been unheard of for a horse who ran well in the Derby not going in the Preakness. In 1948, Citation won the Derby and the Preakness. In that year there were four weeks between the Preakness and Belmont. Trainer Jimmy Jones was apparently worried that there was too much time between races. So, in between the Preakness and the Belmont, he ran Citation in the Jersey Derby at Garden State as a prep for the Belmont. How things have changed. Credit: Jeff Snyder/MJC For His Ride on Goal Oriented, Prat Deserves Days Maybe it was because Goal Oriented (Not This Time) finished fourth or maybe its because many stewards seem afraid to take a horse down in a Triple Crown race. But Flavien Prat's ride on Goal Oriented deserves a suspension, and maybe a lengthy one. In upper stretch Journalism started to make his run along the rail. He had Goal Oriented on the outside of him and Clever Again (American Pharoah) to his inside. Prat was trying to be aggressive with a horse who was probably out of gas and steered his mount straight into Journalism. He bumped him so hard that jockey Umberto Rispoli couldn't avoid crashing into Clever Again, who was eased. It's amazing that Rispoli didn't go down. After the bumping incident, it appeared that Journalism was too far behind to catch Gosger (Nyquist), but he flew home inside the final 40 yards and caught him. Things went so badly for Clever Again that he was eased. The stewards did post an inquiry, but the lights blinked for, what, two minutes? They couldn't have possibly taken a thorough look at the incident in such a short period of time. The post Week In Review: According to the Numbers, Running in the Preakness is the Right Way to Go appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Barry Bowditch, managing director at Magic Millions, has urged international buyers to take a peek at the riches on offer at the upcoming Gold Coast National Broodmare Sale and capitalise on what he says is outstanding value on offer. Not only is Bowditch referring to the favourable exchange rate to anyone rocking up to Magic Millions with US dollars, euros or pounds, but he also acknowledged that for whatever reason, broodmares Down Under fail to fetch a premium compared to other jurisdictions. Therein lies the value for international players. The broodmare sale takes place on May 27 and 28 and features a host of Group 1-winning mares with pedigrees to die for. Asked to nominate just one as a potential sale-topper within the stellar cast, Bowditch put forward Zougotcha, a multiple Group 1-winning daughter of Zoustar, who is one of many Chris Waller-trained graduates that are expected to light up the sales ring. He said, “Zougotcha is a complete and utter standout. She's an outstandingly-bred Zoustar mare who has won three Group 1s. It is a pedigree that is extremely commercial and this mare has all of the performances under her belt to make her a hot commodity. She has just retired recently having been trained by Chris Waller and, if you were to rank all of the mares who have gone to market in this part of the world this year, in our opinion she is the number one seed.” Bowditch added, “Quality mares this side of the world are incredibly cheap compared to when you walk into a sales ring in Tattersalls, Keeneland or anywhere else in the world really. And that's before you even consider the exchange rate. The international player has a serious advantage and, when you take into account how the industry is performing down here, it's an extraordinarily buoyant industry so these mares are extremely cheap in comparison to other jurisdictions. Whether that be Zougotcha or even Imperatriz, who was a ten-time Group 1 winner and sold for A$6.6 last year, these mares are certainly cheap and all international buyers should be paying attention to our sale.” The Gold Coast National Broodmare Sale is not just a concentration of Australian pedigrees, either. A host of international superstars have progeny on show and Bowdwitch is confident that the catalogue will appeal to buyers from all over the world. He said, “It is an important sale in this part of the world and, when you look at the broodmare catalogue, we've a dozen or so Group 1 winners and then there are 160 stakes-performing horses within the catalogue on the whole. It shows that you can come to our sale with confidence and know that there is plenty of variety on offer and plenty of opportunity as well.” He added, “We also have mares in foal to some of the best sires in the world – I Am Invincible, Zoustar, Extreme Choice and Too Darn Hot – so it is a sale for everyone. There are a couple of other big names worth noting, including supplementary entry Lady Laguna. Again, she is a Group 1 winner and is still racing – actually ran in a Group 1 on Saturday. She is a young mare with great bloodlines being out of an Encosta De Lago mare. These are outstanding bloodlines and she is a mare who will be well sought after. Then you have Atishu, who is a star mare. A three-time Group 1 winner, she is a winner of 11 races in total and is by Savabeel. Again, this is another mare to retire from the Chris Waller stable and she will have huge appeal.” On some of the faces that might show up to the sale this week, he concluded, “We are engaging globally with a number of international clients who are known to us as well as clientele that are known to the market more generally. We're hopeful of having good international participation. Whether that's from America, Europe, Japan or possibly the Middle East, we hope to have engaged with a great cross section of buyers not just on the big mares, but on the middle market as well. And that's the beautiful thing about our sale – as much as we have plenty of stock at the elite level, there is something there at every price point.” The post Bowditch Urges International Buyers To Capitalise On Value On Offer At Magic Millions appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

GI Preakness Stakes winner Journalism (Curlin) departed the Pimlico backstretch Monday morning on a van bound for Saratoga, where he will train towards a possible appearance in the third and final leg of the Triple Crown, the GI Belmont Stakes over a mile and a quarter on Saturday, June 7. Trainer Michael McCarthy revealed the news when a guest on At The Races With Steve Byk on satellite radio Monday morning. One day after winning the Preakness in breathtaking style, part-owner Aron Wellman of Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and McCarthy indicated that no decision had been made on the Belmont and that the son of Mopotism (Uncle Mo) could make the trip up to Saratoga or return to Churchill Downs in the interim. “It seems a little counterproductive to go 12 hours by van back to Kentucky to head back to New York, whether it be by plane or van,” McCarthy told the Pimlico notes team on Sunday. In the Belmont, Journalism could face a rematch with his GI Kentucky Derby conqueror Sovereignty (Into Mischief) and third-place getter Baeza (McKinzie), each of whom returned to the worktab over the past weekend after taking a pass on a trip to Old Hilltop. The post Journalism Heads To Saratoga, Belmont Decision Still Pending appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Chapel Stud's Bangkok was the latest first-crop sire off the mark on Monday as his son Rising Empire captured Windsor's six-furlong maiden. Michael Blencowe and Dahlbury Racing's 4-6 favourite, who had been fourth at Leicester on debut last month, raced behind the leader Dapper Charm throughout the early stages before easing out of his pocket to overhaul that rival in the final 100 yards. At the line, the Andrew Balding-trained 17,000gns Tattersalls Somerville Yearling Sale graduate had half a length to spare over that son of Dandy Man. A first winner for Bangkok as a sire! Rising Empire battles to victory at @WindsorRaces for @AndrewBalding2 and it's a quick double for @oismurphy… pic.twitter.com/vh1DdCYlpR — At The Races (@AtTheRaces) May 19, 2025 The post First Winner For Bangkok As Rising Empire Strikes appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Knowing when a horse is ready to take a step up and when it's time to take a step back–it's one of the fundamentals of training. Get it right and you get rewarded. Get it wrong and, well, you'll likely know pretty quickly. Some trainers just seem to have a feel for where that line is, a sense of when to ask for more and when the horse might need a little more time and preparation. Cherie DeVaux is learning to hone that intuition. “It is a balance to be patient or know when it's okay to push,” DeVaux acknowledged. “I'm not immune to losing sight of that. Sometimes we'll take a chance thinking the horse can do it, but then in hindsight I'll say, 'Did I think the horse could do it or was I wanting the horse to do it?' I've learned over the many years of doing this myself and doing it as an assistant that if you're not patient and you don't put the horse first, you're not going to get rewarded.” This spring, DeVaux had a promising filly on the Kentucky Oaks trail in Ahavah (City of Light), the half-sister to Grade I winner Vahva (Gun Runner). After a sharp debut and a runner-up effort behind Good Cheer (Medaglia d'Oro) in the GII Fair Grounds Oaks, the filly incurred a setback. Maybe she could have still made it to the Oaks, but DeVaux decided it was too much to ask of the 3-year-old in her third start and chose to take a step back with her. Four years ago, DeVaux had another filly in a similar position–talented and lightly raced–who took a different route. Tarabi (First Samurai) scored in her 2-year-old debut and then finished second in the GI Spinaway Stakes. After recovering from a minor infection that set her back several weeks, the Breeders' Cup was still on the table. DeVaux called her mentor, trainer Chuck Simon, who leaned toward taking the conservative option. She spoke with another trainer and advisor, John Sadler, who thought Tarabi's numbers would make her competitive. With differing opinions in hand, DeVaux went with her gut. Her instincts proved correct when Tarabi finished third behind Echo Zulu (Gun Runner) in the 2021 GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies, putting in a fine showing for DeVaux's World Championship debut. The race marked a milestone moment for DeVaux, who launched her stable in 2018, but the experience left her determined to return to the Breeders' Cup and do things differently the next time around. DeVaux and Jose Ortiz celebrate their Breeders' Cup victory with More Than Looks | Breeders' Cup Eclipse Sportswire “When you go there, you're bright-eyed and bushy tailed and there's so much action and so much going on,” she recalled. “I was a lot more nervous and had a lot more pressure going in. After that year, I promised myself that if I was fortunate enough to go again, I would focus more on enjoying it than just being nervous and worried, because that's not going to change anything.” DeVaux returned to the Breeders' Cup in 2023 and again in 2024, where she came in with a strong hand of four starters. More Than Looks (More Than Ready) was the one that got the job done, giving DeVaux her first Breeders' Cup victory and, once again, underscoring the value of trusting her intuition. A late-rallying sixth in the 2023 GI Breeders' Cup Mile, More Than Looks hit one roadblock after another as he attempted to launch his 4-year-old campaign last year. Injury and weather-related setbacks kept him on the sidelines until August, but DeVaux mapped out a plan that would get the Victory Racing Partners-owned colt back to the Breeders' Cup as his third start off a nine-month break. “Throughout the process there were a lot of conversations with [Victory Racing managing partner] Anthony Bartolo about different paths to go,” explained DeVaux. “I told him that we were just going to stick to the plan. The plan was to win the Breeders' Cup. So walking out to the paddock that day, it's the time when I'm nervous and everyone is around, and all I could think was, 'God, I hope the plan works out.'” When More Than Looks swept past rivals around the final turn at Del Mar and crossed the wire in front, DeVaux's thoughts immediately turned to her old friend Chuck Simon, who had passed away just two months earlier. Simon had played a pivotal role in launching her career. While studying pre-med in college, DeVaux got a job hot walking for Simon, who had once worked for her father at the harness track. Simon took her under his wing, first as an exercise rider and then as his assistant trainer. DeVaux and She Feels Pretty at Keeneland | Katie Petrunyak “He always joked with me and said, 'I wish I had money and then I can retire and you could train all my horses,'” DeVaux recalled. “He would say that I was better than he was. I don't know if he meant it or if he was just being nice, but that's really where I got my start.” After six years working for Simon and eight with Chad Brown, DeVaux launched her stable. From the outside, her rise to through the training ranks has seemed relatively swift over the past seven years, but the early stretch of her career was anything but an instant success. “It took me almost a full year to win my first race and that was a really hard pill to swallow,” she admitted. “If you want to know about your fortitude and your tenacity, going from a juggernaut of where I was working and then going on my own was definitely testing. I had faith it would all work out, maybe blindly, but in the moment it was quite hard to fathom that we would be where we're at now as a stable.” After working with Breeders' Cup champions like Good Magic (Curlin), Rushing Fall (More Than Ready) and Lady Eli (Divine Park) during her time with Brown, DeVaux now considers her first Breeders' Cup win an important benchmark in her career. “I'm going to be honest and say that I didn't really think it would happen so quickly,” she admitted. “It's something that I can say I lost sight of when I worked for Chad, just because we had won a lot. Then you get humbled quickly when you go on your own and any race is hard to win, much less a stakes race and much less a championship race.” Before saddling her first Breeders' Cup runner in 2021 with Tarabi, DeVaux had only attended the event once before with Lady Eli. While working for Brown, DeVaux was responsible for heading up Brown's New York division during Breeders' Cup week, so most years she would watch the action from Belmont Park. “If I could go back and have coffee with that person that was sitting watching it from a TV, I would say to just really enjoy it when it happens because it's not that easy,” DeVaux reflected. “I definitely feel like I took a lot of experiences for granted and it's a goal now being on my own to not do that. I don't think it can be underestimated the number of disappointments, the highs, the lows and the preparation it takes to get there.” DeVaux has her sights set on a return to the Breeders' Cup this fall. Vahva (Gun Runner) could be in the mix for the Filly and Mare Sprint if she can return to her winning ways, turf star She Feels Pretty (Karakontie {Jpn}) has looked nearly unstoppable in her last three starts, and of course there are plenty of other talented trainees waiting in the wings. Success has brought validation, but DeVaux remains focused on trusting her instincts as she builds on her stable's momentum and navigates its next phase of growth. “One of my core beliefs as a trainer is to treat each horse as an individual,” she said. “Part of when you're growing your stable and you win races is you get more interest from clients, so it's a balance of how big is too big and where are you comfortable with the growth of your stable. That's really what my focus is every day–how we can continue doing what we've done to make us successful and make it better. Obviously I want to win many Breeders' Cups. I want our team to enjoy many highs. My goal is to continue what we're doing, but keep it at the highest quality we can.” The post Breeders’ Cup Breakthrough: DeVaux’s Rise Fueled by Patience and Purpose appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article