Wandering Eyes

Dollars & Sense with Frank AngstView the full article

Nine-time winner Uncaptured Storm—who changed hands five times last year, winning at least once for whomever he ran—has been named the 2023 National Claiming Horse of the Year.View the full article

You may have noticed a change in the title of this column, from “Derby Top 12” to “Sophomore Top 12.” Churchill Downs, Inc., has barred trainer Bob Baffert from competing in the GI Kentucky Derby, and that left us in a quandary over how to assess the nation's best 3-year-old prospects. It didn't seem right to dismiss the accomplishments of elite-level sophomores, regardless of whether they were eligible for the Derby or not. Nor did it seem proper to ignore the benchmarks their performances provide to help establish the overall pecking order. So we're including Baffert's trainees in the Sophomore Top 12–along with horses from any other stable–so long as those horses are Triple Crown aspirants. Once all the major preps have been run in April, we'll still expand the Top 12 to the Top 20 like we do each year. And in the week leading up to each Triple Crown race, these rankings will again focus on race-specific, horse-by-horse analysis for the Derby, GI Preakness S., and GI Belmont S. 1) NYSOS (c, Nyquist–Zetta Z, by Bernardini) 'TDN Rising Star'. O-Baoma Corp; B-Susie Atkins (KY); T-Bob Baffert. Sales history: $130,000 Wlg '21 KEENOV; $150,000 Ylg '22 FTKOCT; $550,000 2yo '23 OBSAPR. Lifetime Record: MGSW, 3-3-0-0, $216,600. Last start: WON Feb. 3 GIII Robert F. Lewis S. The 3-for-3 'TDN Rising Star' Nysos has plenty of sophomore prowess in his pedigree. Sire Nyquist won the 2016 Kentucky Derby. Damsire Bernardini took the 2006 Preakness. Grand-damsire A.P. Indy won the 1992 Belmont, and his sire, Seattle Slew, swept the 1977 Triple Crown. All three female-side of those sires were crowned 3-year-old champions, and the latter two were also voted Horse of the Year at age three. Nysos won't be Derby-bound because of the ban imposed upon trainer Bob Baffert. But this colt will have other opportunities to tee it up against Grade I competition, with a possible Santa Anita Derby/Preakness combo looming on his calendar. That schedule is pure speculation, because Baffert generally does not disclose advance stakes engagements for his horses. In the long run it might be futile to try and guess the projected paths of Baffert's top-tier sophomores. But right now in the dead of winter it's an interesting exercise considering the legitimate hype surrounding Nysos. This nimble but powerful colt has now won at six, seven and eight furlongs by a combined 26 3/4 lengths while earning Beyer Speed Figures of 96, 97 and 105. Two other items stand out in Nysos's past performance block: 1) How did a colt this talented ever go off at 6-1 odds in his debut? 2) Given his apparent mental maturity, it's a bit of a surprise to see Nysos was a comparatively late May 8 foal. 2) MUTH (c, Good Magic–Hoppa, by Uncle Mo) 'TDN Rising Star'. O-Zedan Racing Stables Inc; B-Don Alberto Corporation (KY); T-Bob Baffert. Sales history: $190,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP; $2,000,000 2yo '23 OBSMAR. Lifetime Record: GSW, 5-3-2-0, $716,600. Last start: WON Jan. 6 GII San Vicente S. 'TDN Rising Star' Muth had been expected to start as the favorite in Saturday's GII Rebel S. at Oaklawn, but trainer Bob Baffert wasn't satisfied with how a Feb. 18 workout at Santa Anita unfolded and declined to enter him. Muth was clocked in :47.40 (10/128) while covering a half-mile “handily” to the inside of a workmate. But DRF.com's Steve Andersen reported that the move came during a time in morning training when another horse had been pulled up in the stretch with a fatal injury and the warning siren was blaring to alert other riders to pull up and get out of the way. “He's not going to Arkansas,” Baffert told DRF. “He didn't get a proper work.” Plan B was not disclosed. Muth has already shipped cross-country and been scratched on the morning of a race, when Baffert backed the Good Magic colt out of the GI Hopeful S. at Saratoga on Labor Day, citing a “salty” field and a desire to try two turns at a later date. That secondary option turned out to be the GI American Pharoah S. at Santa Anita Oct. 7, in which Muth manhandled an overmatched field at 2-5 odds. Muth then ran second in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile and started off his 3-year-old season with an assertive, 90-Beyer win in the GII San Vicente S. over seven furlongs. 3) SIERRA LEONE (c, Gun Runner–Heavenly Love, by Malibu Moon) 'TDN Rising Star'. O-Mrs John Magnier, Michael B Tabor, Derrick Smith Westerberg, Rocket Ship Racing LLC & Peter M Brant; B-Debby M Oxley (KY); T-Chad Brown. Sales history: $2,300,000 Ylg '22 FTSAUG. Lifetime Record: GSW, 3-2-1-0, $336,750. Last start: WON Feb. 17 GII Risen Star S. It can be hazardous to your bankroll to fall in love with deep closers in a 20-horse field and the list of Derby also-rans is littered with stout-hearted stayers who came up short because they either ran into traffic or ran out of real estate after circling wide to avoid trouble. Speed-centric horses racing either on the front end or just off it have won eight of the last 10 Derbies, with Rich Strike in 2022 and Mage in 2023 the off-the-pace exceptions. But it's difficult not to take a shine toward 'TDN Rising Star' Sierra Leone after seeing this locomotive-like Gun Runner colt overcome both a slow pace and a sloppy, sealed racetrack when inhaling No. 4-ranked Track Phantom (Quality Road) in the GII Risen Star S. at Fair Grounds. Equipped with blinkers and ridden by Tyler Gaffalione (both first-time changes), Sierra Leone got bet down to 5-2 favoritism off an 11-week break after running second in the GII Remsen S. at Aqueduct. He settled mid-pack, then uncorked a prolonged far-turn rally during which Gaffalione sat chilly before setting down his colt in the nine path for the drive. Sierra Leone had his work cut out for him while still four lengths behind the pacemaker at the eighth pole, but steadily eroded the gap between him and the hard-trying Track Phantom. The margin got sliced to two lengths inside the sixteenth marker, and even though Sierra Leone lugged in a bit–a habit carried over from his first two races–within a few strides it was evident that Gaffalione had timed his move perfectly, reeling in his target 50 yards from the wire while Sierra Leone extended his powerful finishing pop into the gallop-out. Next up is the Apr. 6 GI Toyota Blue Grass S. at Keeneland. 4) TRACK PHANTOM (c, Quality Road–Miss Sunset, by Into Mischief) O-L & N Racing LLC, Clark O Brewster, Jerry Caroom & Breeze Easy LLC; B-Breeze Easy LLC (KY); T-Steve Asmussen. Sales history: $500,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: GSW, 6-3-2-1, $365,000. Last start: 2nd in Feb. 17 GII Risen Star S. Track Phantom's Feb. 17 birthday didn't end with a party in the Fair Grounds winner's circle. But his runner-up effort behind Sierra Leone in the Risen Star S. didn't diminish his reputation as a straightforward speed horse who is capable of outrunning rivals for the lead, dictating the tempo, and then refusing to fold in the stretch. He was neither tiring nor quitting. He simply got collared by an A-list closer. “He ran a great race but ended up just being second best,” said jockey Joel Rosario. “He tries hard every time and keeps getting better.” This $500,000 KEESEP colt by Quality Road now has a foundation of six lifetime races, all at a mile or longer. In each of his last three two-turn starts, he has drawn either the outermost post (in fields of six and seven) or gate 11 of 12 (on Saturday). Yet Track Phantom has ably swatted back inside challengers by clearing them on the first turn. With wins over the New Orleans track in both the Gun Runner S. and the GIII Lecomte S., plus his second-place finish over nine furlongs in the Risen Star, it's no surprise trainer Steve Asmussen has circled the Mar. 23 GII Louisiana Derby at 1 3/16 miles for Track Phantom's next start. 5) FIERCENESS (c, City of Light–Nonna Bella, by Stay Thirsty) 'TDN Rising Star'. O/B-Repole Stable (KY); T-Todd Pletcher. Lifetime Record: Ch. 2yo, GISW, 4-2-0-1, $1,127,250. Last start: 3rd Feb. 3 GIII Holy Bull S. Since the advent of the Eclipse Awards, no 2-year-old champion colt has ever lost his first race back at age three and then won the Kentucky Derby. After running a punchless third at 1-5 odds in the GIII Holy Bull S., wearing a blanket of roses on the first Saturday in May might now seem too tall an order for juvenile champ Fierceness, especially considering trainer Todd Pletcher's plan all along was to have just one other pre-Derby start. But all is not lost in terms of Derby aspirations for this 'TDN Rising Star.' For starters, we're now firmly entrenched in the “less is more” era of prepping 3-year-olds to run 10 furlongs and Fierceness could easily cycle back to being a hot commodity with a big nine-furlong effort in the Mar. 30 GI Florida Derby. Fierceness, based on his five-race career arc, hasn't yet shown an ability to deliver back-to-back strong performances. Nor has he checked the “overcomes adversity” box. But his two victories in his Saratoga debut and in the Breeders' Cup have both been delivered with enough of a “Wow!” factor to signal that this Repole Stable homebred has what it takes to assert himself at the top of the crop if he ever gets into a groove. 6) DORNOCH (c, Good Magic–Puca, by Big Brown) O-West Paces Racing LLC, R A Hill Stable, Belmar Racing and Breeding LLC, Two Eight Racing LLC & Pine Racing Stables; B-Grandview Equine (KY); T-Danny Gargan. Sales history: $325,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: GSW, 4-2-2-0, $257,400. Last start: WON Dec. 2 GII Remsen S. Dornoch hammered for $325,000 at KEESEP in 2022, a price that now looks like a bargain considering his older brother, Mage, at the time was an unknown colt four months away from winning his career debut and nine months away from soaring home first at 15-1 in the Kentucky Derby. By way of comparison, four months after Mage's career-defining Derby victory, the next foal out of the mare Puca, a colt by McKinzie, sold for $1.2 million at the 2023 edition of KEESEP. Trainer Danny Gargan has spent the better part of his winter at Palm Meadows trying to get Dornoch to maintain focus. Gargan doesn't want a repeat of the antics that Dornoch displayed when winning the Remsen S. In that nine-furlong stakes, Dornoch outgunned five rivals for the lead, took mid-race pace pressure, repulsed fresh challengers on the far bend, then got to “goofing off” in the stretch according to Gargan, brushing the inside rail before re-surging to snatch back the lead from No. 3-ranked Sierra Leone. Although Dornoch has raced on or near the front in all four of his races, Gargan said after the Remsen that a change in tactics might be a worthwhile experiment. He believes that by coming from a bit farther off the pace, Dornoch will see other horses and remain more mentally locked in on his task. We'll find out in the GII Fountain of Youth S. at Gulfstream Mar. 2. 7) MAYMUN (c, Frosted–Handwoven, by Indian Charlie) 'TDN Rising Star'. O-Zedan Racing Stables, Inc.; B-Vision Racing & Sales LLC (KY); T-Bob Baffert. Sales history: $50,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP; $900,000 2yo '23 OBSAPR. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $79,200. Last start: WON Feb. 11 Santa Anita AOC. Maymun's one-mile allowance victory at 3-10 odds at Santa Anita didn't vault him any higher in these rankings. But the effort did maintain his perfect record while posing an open question about what this colt might do when tasked with tougher competition after being unveiled with a flourish in a 'TDN Rising Star' sprint romp back on Jan. 20. Breaking from the rail in his second lifetime start Feb. 11, this son of Frosted brushed a foe at the break, then sideswiped stablemate and second-favorite Imagination (Into Mischief) when bearing out into the first turn. Flavien Prat settled Maymun into a slower second-quarter split down the backstretch. The real running started three-eighths out when Imagination engaged Maymun from the outside and the pace ratcheted up into a more spirited cadence while the two Bob Baffert trainees peeled off from the pack. Imagination (previous Beyers 70, 78, 78) clearly attained the lead on three distinct occasions from the quarter to the sixteenth poles while never quite putting away Maymun for good. But Maymun clawed back a half-length deficit inside the final 100 yards, winning by a neck through a final eighth in :12.83 while 10 1/2 lengths clear of the three remaining stragglers. Maymun's winning time of 1:36.65 equated to an 89 Beyer, a four-point haircut off his 93-Beyer debut. 8) CONQUEST WARRIOR (c, City of Light–Tea Time, by Pulpit) 'TDN Rising Star'. O-Courtlandt Farms (Donald Adam); B-Betz/B&K Canetti/J.Betz/CoCo Equine/D.J. Stables (KY); T-Claude R. McGaughey III. Sales history: $1,000,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 2-1-0-1, $52,200. Last start: WON Jan. 13 Gulfstream MSW. Conquest Warrior, dubbed a 'TDN Rising Star' off an adversity-overcoming maiden win going a mile through traffic in his second lifetime race Jan. 13 at Gulfstream, will make his next start there for trainer Shug McGaughey in either an allowance/optional claimer at 1 1/8 miles Feb. 29 or in the Fountain of Youth S. at 1 1/16 miles two days later. “Ideally, the allowance race goes and we get that next little step into him without quite going into the deep end,” Ernie Retamoza, the manager for owner Courtlandt Farms, told TDN's Steve Sherack last week. “But with the way that he ran and the way he's trained since, I think Shug feels like if the allowance doesn't go, we're sure not gonna sit around and wait on another one. We're gonna go ahead and get him going and see if he can take us there.” The stout-framed $1-million KEESEP colt has breezed four times since his last start, including two “bullet” clockings at four and five furlongs at Payson Park. “He's trained really well and came out of that race in great order,” Retamoza said. “He's had some [fast] workouts, really atypical of Shug's horses. Shug doesn't fire bullets all the time, but that colt kind of does. Hopefully, that's a good indicator of what kind of horse he is and where we're headed. Those good horses work fast, that's just the way it is.” 9) TIMBERLAKE (c, Into Mischief–Pin Up (Ire), by Lookin At Lucky) 'TDN Rising Star'. O-Siena Farm LLC and WinStar Farm LLC; B-St. Elias Stables, LLC (KY); T-Brad H. Cox. Sales history: $350,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: GISW, 5-2-1-0, $475,600. Last start: 4th Nov. 3 GI FanDuel Breeders' Cup Juvenile S. This son of Into Mischief started his career in three sprints, and while his best races have been at seven furlongs and a one-turn mile, it's noteworthy that his dam's only two wins in Great Britain came over 1 1/2 miles and 1 3/4 miles. This 'TDN Rising Star' was installed as the 6-5 morning line favorite for Saturday's Rebel S. at Oaklawn, and trainer Brad Cox is hoping the 1 1/16-miles distance will be a launch pad for Timberlake to earn Derby qualifying points in his sophomore debut. Timberlake's fourth-place try as the 3-1 third choice in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile was essentially over before the first turn when he resisted efforts to settle and never fired when called upon for run. But go two starts back in his past performances, and that emphatic sloppy-track pasting of a GI Champagne S. field that included eventual champ Fierceness could be the race that is the more useful benchmark for prognosticating Timberlake's future. Florent Geroux won't be aboard on Saturday for the first time in Timberlake's five-race career. He's booked to ride Saudi Crown (Always Dreaming) for Cox in the $20-million G1 Saudi Cup. Christian Torres will pick up the mount. 10) LOCKED (c, Gun Runner–Luna Rosa, by Malibu Moon) 'TDN Rising Star'. O-Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners & Walmac Farm; B-Rosa Colasanti (KY); T-Todd Pletcher. Sales history: $425,000 yrl '22 KEESEP). Lifetime Record: GISW, 4-2-0-2, $608,400. Last start: 3rd Nov. 3 GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile. 'TDN Rising Star' Locked was the beaten favorite when third in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile, and his sophomore season was delayed when he had to miss the Feb. 10 GIII Davis S. at Tampa after spiking a fever. But bettors haven't forgotten that this $425,000 KEESEP colt put up mid-90s Beyer numbers three times at age two, and his win in the Oct. 7 GI Breeders' Futurity S. at Keeneland was punctuated by Locked twice re-seizing the lead inside the eighth pole. As such, he was installed as a 16-1 choice in the Kentucky Derby Future Wager pool that closed Sunday, the same price as 2-year-old champ and stablemate Fierceness. Trainer Todd Pletcher plans to start Locked in the Fountain of Youth S., which could end up luring three Top 12 contenders. 11) MYSTIK DAN (c, Goldencents–Ma'am, by Colonel John) O/B-Lance Gasaway, Daniel Hamby & 4G Racing, LLC (KY); T-Kenneth G. McPeek. Lifetime Record: GSW, 5-2-1-0, $510,110. Last start: WON Feb. 3 GIII Southwest S. Last fall, trainer Kenny McPeek started this Goldencents colt's career by running twice in sprints and three times within a 33-day span. He now believes Mystik Dan's future will be in longer races with more time between starts. After Mystik Dan's eight-length, 101-Beyer GIII Southwest S. score, McPeek told the TDN Writers' Room podcast that, “This horse is really fast. He has been from the beginning. Initially, I ran him twice in sprint races and after I did that, I kind of regretted it a little bit because we had to retool him a little bit. He's so quick that you had to kind of re-teach him and he needed to learn how to go longer.” McPeek explained that this homebred for Lance Gasaway, Daniel Hamby, and 4G Racing made that learning process straightforward because of Mystik Dan's capacity to absorb and repeat what he has been schooled to do. “This is the kind of mind that you need for these high-level races,” McPeek said. After running up the score on a sealed, muddy track that he clearly relished, it remains to be seen whether Mystik Dan can repeat his gaudy Southwest performance on a dry surface going longer against a deeper field, with the Mar. 30 GI Arkansas Derby as his target. 12) SPEAK EASY (c, Constitution–Fun, by Harlan's Holiday) O-Siena Farm LLC & WinStar Farm LLC; B-WinStar Farm LLC (KY); T-Todd Pletcher. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $42,000. Last Start: WON Jan. 27 Gulfstream MSW. In the last five years, trainer Todd Pletcher has started 185 firsters at odds of 8-1 or higher. Of the 11 who won, according to DRF's Formulator, Speak Easy, who earned a 100 Beyer, is the only one to have run a figure greater than 90. That means this Constitution colt gets serious consideration for this list, even if it is getting a touch too deep into the season to have Derby aspirations for sophomores who've only started once. This WinStar Farm homebred who races in partnership with Siena Farm broke from the one post in his Jan. 27 Gulfstream debut, sluiced through a four-way early duel to latch on to the 3-2 favorite, then relentlessly ran down that rival in a seven-furlong clocking that was :01.08 seconds faster than older fillies and mares ran in a Grade II stakes later that afternoon. “We had him going pretty well last summer and was getting close to a race when he had a minor setback, so we gave him some time,” Pletcher said after that win. “The fact that he had a pretty good foundation last summer I think helped in preparing him for his debut. He'd always trained really well, but I think that performance even exceeded our expectations. “If we get the opportunity to run in an allowance race, that could be an option,” Pletcher continued. “I guess running as fast as he did, if he had to go into a stakes, I suppose you could make an argument for that as well.” The post TDN Sophomore Top 12: ‘Rising Stars’ Anchor Top Three Spots appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Ten-year-old City Zip gelding C Z Rocket, who was claimed for $40,000 and became one of America's top sprinters, has been retired.View the full article

The Kentucky Derby Museum has launched a $1-million upgrade to its 'Riders Up!' exhibit. Construction began this month and the new exhibit is expected to debut Apr. 12. The museum originally built the 'Riders Up!' exhibit in 2000 as a way to immerse visitors in the Derby and race day experience from the viewpoint of a jockey and Thoroughbred racehorse. The game was last updated in 2010 during a previous museum expansion project. With significant changes in virtual and augmented reality since then, the new version will look to captivate visitors with state-of-the-art technology designed to bring the thrill of horse racing into the 21st century. “This exhibit has been a fan favorite for guests of all ages ever since the original debuted in 2000,” said Chris Goodlett, Kentucky Derby Museum Senior Director of Curatorial and Educational Affairs. “With 'Riders Up!,' we're not just entertaining; we're bringing the Derby's rich history to life. This exhibit drives home our mission of engaging everyone with the excitement of Derby every single day.” Involved in the exhibit upgrade are Catalyst, an Australian-based production studio dedicated to virtual and augmented reality, and The Laboratory Creative, a design company based in Southern Indiana. “We're not just upgrading a game; we're revolutionizing the way you experience the magic of the Derby,” said Patrick Armstrong, Kentucky Derby Museum President and CEO. “Every day, we're committed to sharing the exhilaration and history of Derby with all our guests. Bigger and bolder with cutting-edge technology, the new 'Riders Up!' is the epitome of that commitment.” The post Kentucky Derby Museum Launches Exhibit Upgrade appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The final deadline to nominate foals born in 2023 to the Breeders' Cup program for a one-time fee of $1,500 is Feb. 28 at 11:59 p.m. ET. The $1,500 nomination fee entitles each foal to lifetime eligibility to the Breeders' Cup World Championships and the Breeders' Cup racing programs. All foals sired by a fully nominated North American Breeders' Cup stallion are eligible for nomination to the Breeders' Cup program in their year of birth and up to Feb. 28 of their yearling year. Breeders' Cup foal nominators will earn $10,000 for every victory in the Breeders' Cup Win and You're In Challenge Series, and every horse that starts in a Breeders' Cup World Championship race will earn a nominator award. The individual nominating the foal receives these nominator awards even though the horse may change hands throughout its racing career. For more information and to nominate online, visit members.breederscup.com. The post Breeders’ Cup Late Foal Nomination Deadline Feb. 28 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Nine-time winner Uncaptured Storm (Uncaptured)–who changed hands five times last year, winning at least once for each owner–has been selected the 2023 National Claiming Horse of the Year by the National Horsemen's Benevolent & Protective Association. The NHBPA presents the award annually to shine the spotlight on horses that are exceptional at their level of competition, with claiming horses comprising the largest segment of racing across America. Uncaptured Storm and his connections will be honored at the NHBPA annual conference to be held at Iowa's Prairie Meadows in July. Uncaptured Storm, now four, is currently owned by Rick Burnsworth and Bush Racing Stable and trained by the Mid-Atlantic-based Anthony Farrior. “He just brings his race with him wherever he goes,” Farrior said. “This award is terrific. It's hard to get stakes horses. But if you can claim a horse and still get a little publicity over it, that's great.” Burnsworth, the president of Douglas Explosives, said, “He loves to win. Heart of gold. Temperament is incredible. Beautiful animal. I've played a lot of sports in my life, and he's what we call a winner.” Uncaptured Storm won nine of 18 starts last year, with four seconds and a third while racing predominantly against older horses at Laurel Park, Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races and Timonium Race Track. All his wins and $208,726 of his $220,476 came in 2023. The nine victories tied for second-most in North America, as the gelding raced from $12,500 maiden-claiming up to $40,000 claiming to an entry-level allowance, back to $10,000 claiming and back up to $40,000. Uncaptured Storm was claimed five times: for maiden-claiming $12,500 on Jan. 8, $10,000 on July 29, $20,000 on Sept. 8, $16,000 on Nov. 5 and $20,000 on Nov. 12. Each time he won at least once before being claimed again. Farrior has had the gelding more than anyone, claiming Uncaptured Storm three times, including for himself at the beginning of the year. Farrior lost the horse via claim to trainer Mario Serey, Jr. and owner John Chamatsos twice, claiming him back both times for Burnsworth, who at the end of the year sold part-interest to Bush Racing Stable. Burnsworth has dozens of horses in training, plus more on a farm he and Farrior bought near Charles Town in the lower Shenandoah Valley. He tied for seventh in victories in last year's North American owner standings with 80 wins out of 301 starts for purses exceeding $1.35 million, according to Equibase statistics. Burnsworth won another 18 races in 2023 in partnerships, including with fiancee Kristina Buyea. Claiming accounts for about 70 % of his horse business, he said, but he does buy some young horses and he is also acquiring broodmares. Burnsworth owned horses for several years when his toddler daughter, Kelsey, was diagnosed with leukemia. He got almost completely out of racing to concentrate on Kelsey's health, a battle the animal lover and aspiring photographer lost at age 18 in 2011 after twice seemingly beating the blood cancer. Burnsworth said that he and Buyea, along with his former wife Jessica Burnsworth, began teaming with North Mar Church in Warren, Ohio, on an initiative called Kelsey's Angels, which assists families staying around the clock at hospitals to be with their critically ill children–an underserved need he saw first-hand. A chance encounter with Farrior at Charles Town led to Burnsworth plunging back into racing in a big way in 2022. “… Since Anthony and I hooked up two years ago, it's been a blast,” he said. He added, “Kristina and I got blue silks with a white cross. These are God's creatures. He's just letting me borrow them, and I've got to treat it that way.” The post Uncaptured Storm Named NHBPA Claiming Horse of the Year appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The Jockey Club has released its 2024 Industry Impact Report. The report, which has traditionally been released at The Jockey Club's annual Round Table Conference in August, details how at least $7 million will be used in the coming year to support initiatives ranging from equine safety and aftercare to industry promotion and national and international collaboration, according to a Tuesday press release from the organization. “The initiatives supported by The Jockey Club, together with others or wholly backed by The Jockey Club, have increased substantially in the last decade and a half,” said James Gagliano, president and COO, The Jockey Club. “They reflect the commitment by the board of stewards to invest our profits into a wide array of projects and activities that may serve as catalysts for growth of the sport and for ensuring the safety and welfare of its participants.” The Jockey Club, a non-profit organization, has created a group of for-profit subsidiaries and partnerships, including the The Jockey Club Information Systems (TJCIS), InCompass Solutions, Equibase Company, and The Jockey Club Technology Services (TJCTS). These companies provide the industry with technology services and products and the profits they create are dispersed to The Jockey Club for investment back into the sport. The Jockey Club supports two charities: the Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation and the The Jockey Club Safety Net Foundation. Other Jockey Club initiatives include the multi-media fan development platform, American's Best Racing, while its aftercare efforts include support of the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance, as well as the Jockey Club Thoroughbred Incentive Program. According to the impact report, The Jockey Club's 2024 investments in racing include over $3.5 million in industry growth initiatives and over $1.5 million in aftercare initiatives. The post The Jockey Club Releases Industry Initiatives Impact Report appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

In this series, the TDN takes a look at notable successes of European-based sires in North America. This column is highlighted by the victory of Antifona at Santa Anita Park. Recoletos Filly Lands Sweet Life Stakes The runners by G1 Prix du Moulin/G1 Prix d'Ispahan winner and French-based stallion Recoletos (Fr) in the U.S. are extremely rare, and it was his 3-year-old filly Antifona (Fr) who became his first stakes winner there with a score in the Sweet Life S. at Santa Anita for Hronis Racing, LLC and trainer John Sadler (video). Bred by SARL Darpat France, the filly was an €18,000 Arqana October Yearling Sale buy-back and won her debut at Le Mans for her breeder and trainer Carlos Laffon-Parias. Also fifth to Ramatuelle (Justify) in the G3 Prix du Bois at Chantilly, she ended her French career with a win at Le Lion d'Angers that September several starts later. Purchased by these connections, the filly was making her third start in the U.S. The fifth foal out of the stakes-placed Survived (GB) (Kyllachy {GB}), Antifona's latest sibling is a full-brother born in 2023. Third dam Dazzle (GB) (Gone West), a winner of the G2 Cherry Hinton S., was third in the G1 1000 Guineas. Recoletos stands at Haras du Petit Tellier. Of his three American starters, Antifona is his first winner, but his Revalita (Fr) was second in the GII Edgewood S. and third in the GII Wonder Again S. French-Bred Antifona (FR) Prevails By Two Lengths In $100,000 Sweet Life Stakes pic.twitter.com/r1A6QvHaU1 — Santa Anita Park (@santaanitapark) February 11, 2024 Kingman Colt Graduates At Tampa Klaravich Stables' Going Concern (GB) (Kingman {GB}) rallied to a debut victory at Tampa Bay Downs on Valentine's Day for Chad Brown (video). The grey gelding was bred by Monceaux/Lordship/Mc Alpin/Langlais and brought €120,000 as an Arqana October yearling. His dam, the winning Newton's Night (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), is a full-sister to GIII Orchid S. winner Dress Rehearsal (Ire) and a half to stakes winner Fairy Of the Night (Ire) (Danehill). Both of those mares are multiple stakes producers, with dual Group 2 winner Muthmir (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) and G3 Weld Park S. heroine My Titania (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) out of the latter. Progeny of Juddmonte's son of Invincible Spirit (Ire) thrive under American turf conditions, and Kingman has 37 winners from 62 runners (59%) so far. Eight of that cohort (13%) have won stakes, anchored by GI Manhattan S., GI Turf Classic S., and GI Hollywood Derby winner Domestic Spending (GB). #4 GOING CONCERN (GB) ($4.60) and @jockeygallardo overcome a tough first start and get the victory in Race 7 at Tampa Bay Downs for the Chad Brown barn and owner Klaravich Stables. pic.twitter.com/PmmLrLDzUP — TVG (@TVG) February 14, 2024 Repeat Winner Spirit And Glory (Ire) (Cotai Glory {GB}), who won the Listed Miss Liberty S. at Monmouth last May, added the Listed Albert M. Stall Memorial S. at the Fair Grounds on Saturday (video). She races in the colours of Michael Nentwig, Michael Dubb, Beast Mode Racing, LLC, John Rochfort and part-owner/trainer Robert Falcone, Jr. The post Making Waves: California Dreamin’ For Antifona appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

With an increasing number of international stamps in his passport, the multiple Group winner Brave Emperor (Ire) (Sioux Nation) is fast becoming one of the most admirable horses in training. Only twice in his 16 starts has the Archie Watson-trained four-year-old ever been out of the first three, but more impressive is that 10 of those runs have ended in victory – in five different countries, and counting. On Saturday, his 2024 debut resulted in a win in the Irish Thoroughbred Marketing Cup in Qatar, a local Group 2 staged during the HH The Amir Sword meeting. Brave Emperor, owned by the members of the Middleham Park Racing LX syndicate, held off the globally famous colours of Coolmore's Derrick Smith, carried by runner-up Cairo (Quality Road), with an equally renowned set of colours on the third horse, Godolphin's Real World (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}). “I've run out of superlatives,” says Middleham Park Racing's Tom Palin of the horse who is a syndicator's dream. “I've described him in every which way I possibly can. Hero, legend, dude. I don't think we've ever quite had a horse like him, and I don't think many trainers or owners could ever dream of having a horse like him. He can go on good to firm or heavy, and he has won over five, six, seven, eight, and nine furlongs.” This time last year, Brave Emperor recorded his first stakes success on his first foray outside the British Isles when winning the Listed Prix de la Californie at Cagnes-sur-Mer. He then set about clocking up points on the European Road to the Kentucky Derby, winning a qualifying conditions race at Kempton before finishing second in the final leg of the series at Chelmsford in the Cardinal S. The Run for the Roses was probably sensibly ruled out, but Brave Emperor and Archie Watson's travelling team continued the globetrotting a little closer to home, with victory in the G3 Grosser Preis der Wohnstatte Krefeld next on the horse's agenda, followed by third in the G3 Stockholms Stora Pris. Royal Ascot and his run out the back in the G3 Hampton Court S. was really the only blip in an otherwise exemplary season, and he recovered from that to win four of his five subsequent starts, including the G2 Premio Vittorio di Capua, G3 Prix Daphnis and G3 Grosser Preis der Landeshauptstadt Dusseldorf. Luke Morris has been Brave Emperor's regular partner in all bar three of this starts, and the pair could be off to Hong Kong next for the G1 FWD Champions Mile and a pop at superstar Golden Sixty (Aus). “He's been invited out there at the end of April and that looks the route that we'll travel with him,” Palin confirms. ” It's a $2.5 million race. I think we probably have to finish about sixth or better to get our declaration fee back. And look, he's very versatile. We know Hong Kong can throw up varying ground states, so you wouldn't be going there terribly worried about whatever the underfoot conditions are. But obviously, it's a race Golden Sixty's made his own.” He added, “That was a career best there on Saturday, so it feels a sensible race to be going for at this point. And we know he takes traveling very well. Obviously, it'd be a bit different because he's got the quarantine procedures to go through there for five days before and five days allowed on the track, so it'd be a bit longer than what he's used to, but if there's ever a horse you're just going to go, 'Look, he'll travel fine', it's him, isn't it?” With Brave Emperor set to arrive back in the UK on Wednesday followed by a brief spell at Hillwood Stud, Palin outlines some of the key mile contests in Europe as possible targets after his potential Hong Kong voyage. The Prix d'Ispahan, Lockinge and Queen Anne S. are all under consideration during the first half of the European season. It's a bold call, but this is a horse who clearly thrives on his racing, as his 11 runs from January to November last year showed. “I think he's just growing up with racing as well,” says Palin. “He's figuring out what the game's about. Obviously, Luke's been on board him for the vast majority of his career now and he feels he's getting faster, he's getting smarter about his racing, which is why I think even the [Prix de la] Foret, back a furlong at some point wouldn't be a bad thing with him. “Louis Wicks looks after him every day, he knows him inside out, and he says the horse is just so easy to do at home. That has to help with his consistency. He doesn't over-exert himself on a day-to-day basis.” Palin insists that Brave Emperor's earnings, which have now exceeded £500,000, pale in comparison to the experience he's providing his loyal band of owners who have enjoyed some exciting foreign trips of their own. It also makes his yearling price tag of £19,000, when bought at Goffs UK by Rodrigo Goncalves and Robson Aguiar, look incredibly reasonable. “We had 14 people over there in Doha on Saturday and they couldn't have looked after us any better,” he says. “Everybody had a fantastic time, and that's what it's all about, dinners and drinks with not just fellow owners, we've become friends, and all thanks to the wonderful Brave Emperor. That's the great thing about this game, you formulate great friendships. We have a couple of two-year-olds now with Archie and, sure enough, the money Brave Emperor's earned his owners has now paid for their shares in the others. They're rolling the dice again into them.” Palin adds, “I can't take any credit really for any of the placement, it's all been Archie. He's placed him to a tee, superb. And obviously the team who travels him around – Louis has been great.” Brave Emperor is a member of the first crop of Sioux Nation, Coolmore's son of Scat Daddy who has perhaps been a little overshadowed when it comes to recognition. He was of course in the same graduating year as Havana Grey (GB) and was behind him in both the first- and second-season sires' championships of the last two years. It's nip and tuck between the pair when it comes to comparing stakes performers, however. In 2023, Havana Grey's offspring were headed by the dual Group 1 winner Vandeek (GB), one of his 16 black-type winners overall, compared to 13 for Sioux Nation. But it is Sioux Nation who is ahead when it comes to Group winners, with nine on the board to Havana Grey's seven. Thanks to the exploits of Brave Emperor, Sioux Nation currently heads the list of European third-crop sires by worldwide earnings at this early point in the year, and he has Matilda Picotte (Ire) flying the flag for him and Ireland in Saturday's G2 1351 Turf Sprint at the Saudi Cup meeting. She is also a Group 2 winner, in the Challenge S. at Newmarket, where she also won the Listed Bosra Sham S. and was third in the 1,000 Guineas. Her stakes wins are completed by the G3 Sceptre S. at Doncaster. Last year's G3 Acomb S. winner Indian Run (Ire) is a potential Classic challenger for this season, while in the TDN on Monday Kieran Lalor outlined plans to send Group 3 winner Ocean Jewel (Ire) to race in America for Al Shira'aa Farms. Of course, Sioux Nation's achievements have not exactly gone under the radar, and his fee in 2024 of €27,500 is more than double his starting point at stud, but it will be interesting to follow his progress, especially if he can come up with horses as tough as Brave Emperor. The sire can't take sole credit for the 10-time winner, however. A first foal, Brave Emperor's 55-rated dam Roman Gal (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) was nothing to write home about as a racehorse but she is a half-sister to the G1 Coronation Cup and G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagaradere runner-up Salouen (Ire) (Canford Cliffs {Ire}), and her granddam Asterita (GB) (Rainbow Quest) won the Lingfield Oaks Trial. Further back again the family includes some prolific black-type earners in champion miler Keltos (Fr) and his half-siblings Krataios (Fr), Loxias (Fr), Iridanos (GB) and Kavafi (Ire). Together the quintet notched 38 wins between them from 97 starts. That hardiness, with more than a dash of talent, is echoing down the line. The post ‘Hero, Legend, Dude’: Brave Emperor has the World at his Feet appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Wednesday's top tips from the Post's racing teamView the full article

The post In-Flight Meal appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

A trip to Caulfield for a pre-Oakleigh Plate gallop was precisely what the Te Akau Racing team wanted to see from Skew Wiff (NZ) (Savabeel). The Mark Walker-trained mare will run first-up in the Gr.1 Oakleigh Plate (1100m) at Caulfield on Saturday and was taken to the course for a confidence boosting gallop on Tuesday morning. Ben Gleeson, Walker’s assistant-trainer overseeing the stables at Cranbourne, said the work Skew Wiff produced over 1000 metres, was pleasing. “She worked with one of Ciaron Maher’s over 1000 metres, they quickened up from the 600 metres,” Gleeson said. “She sat back of it and went past it for a bit of confidence. “She wanted a good hit-out. She thrives off the work and did everything we’d hoped she would do.” Skew Wiff has raced twice at Caulfield previously, finishing out of the money on each occasion, but Gleeson said Tuesday’s gallop was a good opportunity for the mare to see the track again. He said there was the added benefit of working on a beautiful surface, adding the campaign to date had been a smooth one ahead of a Group One sprint. “She’s a very good trackworker, so it doesn’t matter where you work her,” Gleeson said. “She won her jump-out last week at Cranbourne, and it has been smooth as it could possibly go. “She’s in a really good headspace which is important for her. She can get a little bit boisterous, but she’s as happy as any horse we have in our barn, and I think that will transpire this prep.” Gleeson is unconcerned about Skew Wiff being first-up over 1100m, a trip she has raced only once, finishing second at her second start at Ruakaka. “Mark is big on the fact that she’s a fresh horse,” Gleeson said. “If she draws a gate and gets a good trail in behind them, she’s got a withering turn of foot on her.” Craig Williams has been booked for the ride on Saturday. Stablemate Imperatriz (I Am Invincible), who won the Gr.1 Black Caviar Lightning (1000m) at Flemington last Saturday, has recovered well from the outing. Gleeson said Walker would fly in from New Zealand later in the week where plans would be discussed as to the mare’s next start. “She’s licked the bin clean, and I could be happier, and we’ll soldier on, but we won’t decide on where we go until we see her gallop next Tuesday,” Gleeson said. “Mark flies in on Friday and we’ll watch her work together and as a team with Dave and Karen (Ellis) work out as to where she goes to next.” View the full article

Danny Shum leads the series with Chill Chibi. Danny Shum will bid for a fourth victory in the DBS x Manulife Million Challenge at Happy Valley on Wednesday night when six horses could potentially claim the series. While Shum leads the series with Chill Chibi (49 points) from Pierre Ng’s Humble Star (46) – who are not running tomorrow night – five other horses remain in contention to clinch the series: Shum’s Copartner Ambition (45), Douglas Whyte’s Majestic Knight (42), Benno Yung’s Son Pak Fu (39) and Tourbillon Prince (37) and David Hayes’ Tomodachi Kokoroe (36). The DBS x Manulife Million Challenge is for horses competing in Class 3 and above with the overall champion decided on a format where 15 points are awarded for first, six for second, four for third and three for fourth placings in races at Happy Valley between September and February. The overall winner of the series will earn HK$1 million, with HK$350,000 for second and HK$150,000 for third. Of the leading contenders on Wednesday night, Majestic Knight, Son Pak Fu and Tomodachi Kokoroe clash in the Class 1 Singapore Pools Handicap (1200m), Tourbillon Prince runs in the Class 3 Village Handicap (1650m) and Copartner Ambition contests the Class 3 Sing Woo Handicap (1200m). With four wins – including three in Class 3 – at the city circuit this season, Copartner Ambition is best-placed to overtake stablemate Chill Chibi as Shum bids to match his previous series wins with Speedy Longwah (2015/16), Charity Glory (2017/18) and Grateful Heart (2020/21). If successful, Shum would match the feat of Caspar Fownes, who has scored with Socrates – who tied with Easy in 2006/07 – Ocean Wide (2008/09), Twin Delight (2014/15) and Nearly Fine (2022/23). Andrea Atzeni takes the ride on Copartner Ambition and the pair will start from barrier three. “It’s nice to get back on him, I’ve won on him before earlier in the season and I was actually unlucky on him one day,” Atzeni said. “He’s an improving horse and he’s obviously got a great draw (gate three), which helps, and he seems in good form. “He likes the track, which is obviously a big plus, he’s going up in grade but he’s doing everything right.” Jerry Chau hopes to add to his Sunday double when he reunites with Son Pak Fu after his fourth to Victor The Winner in the Group 1 Centenary Sprint Cup (1200m) at Sha Tin. “I think Happy Valley suits him more because of the fast pace and he likes to chase,” Chau said. “After the last day, I feel like he’s improved again. I’m looking forward to him running a good race again.’ Lucky Sweynesse finished second on Tuesday morning in a 1200m trial on Sha Tin’s dirt as the champion sprinter readies for the HK$13 million Group 1 Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup (1400m) on March 10. Ridden by Matthew Poon, the world’s top-rated sprinter cruised to the line under a firm hold to finish half a length behind Michael Chang’s Solar Up in a time of 1:10.83s. Manfred Man has engaged James McDonald to ride the four-time Group 1 winner in the Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup as a replacement for Zac Purton, who has been aboard in 11 of the gelding’s 15 wins. Horse racing news View the full article

Former Kiwi galloper Pendragon (NZ) (U S Navy Flag) got his Australian campaign off to the best possible start at Werribee on Monday, comfortably winning his 1100m jumpout for trainer Michael Moroney. Purchased by Paul Moroney Bloodstock and Ballymore Stables out of Valachi Downs’ 2022 New Zealand Bloodstock Book 2 Yearling Sale draft for $110,000, Pendragon was initially trained in New Zealand by Moroney, alongside his Matamata training partner Pam Gerard, for whom he won three and placed in one of his seven starts. The son of U S Navy Flag was victorious in the Gr.2 Auckland Guineas (1400m) at Pukekohe on Boxing Day before finishing runner-up behind Orchestral in the $1.5 million TAB Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m) at Ellerslie a month later. Moroney has been pleased with the way Pendragon has settled in at his Flemington barn and is looking forward to testing him in the Gr.1 Australian Guineas (1600m) at his new home track next month. “I am really happy with him, he arrived here in great order,” Moroney told Racing.com. “He is a little on the fresh side, but I am sure with that jumpout and a bit of extra work, hopefully he will be at his best for this mile race (Australian Guineas). “I am lucky that I have got Run Harry Run, who blew out on Saturday, and he is going to take a bit of work too. They will be nice mates for each other (working towards the Guineas).” Moroney believes his New Zealand form will stand-up to an Australian autumn prep, and he is looking forward to testing that out in the Guineas. “I think the filly (Orchestral) that beat Pendragon (in the Karaka Millions) would easily line-up here,” he said. “She went on and won the (Avondale) Guineas (Gr.2, 2100m) by four (lengths). She looks very good and his run was really good against her. “I am thinking that the form in New Zealand is quite strong, but he is going to be the telltale because he has been around it all season.” View the full article

Go Racing’s Albert Bosma is resigned to the fact that Skyman (Mukhadram) is out of the chase for the lion’s share of the $650,000 summer series bonus, but he is hoping they can get their hands on some of the minor bonus cash up for grabs. Entain Australia and New Zealand joined forces with New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing to introduce the New Zealand Summer Series Bonus, targeted at New Zealand’s middle-distance events over the warmer months. The series is running across four races between January and March, rewarding $500,000 to the series winner, $100,000 to the runner-up and $50,000 for the third placegetter, with the associated trainers taking home 10 percent of the bonus payments. To become eligible for the bonus, a horse needed to have contested either of the first two legs of the series – the Gr.1 Thorndon Mile (1600m) at Trentham on January 20 or $1 million Aotearoa Classic (1600m) at Ellerslie on January 27. Skyman picked up two series points when fifth in the Thorndon Mile, qualifying him for the bonus, and gave trainer Stephen Marsh the confidence to press on to the third leg of the series with his gelding, the Gr.1 Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m) at Te Rapa on February 10. He finished 10th in the $600,000 feature but picked up three series points. Bosma believes their British-bred raider was a victim of circumstance in the Herbie Dyke Stakes and is confident of a better showing in the fourth and final leg of the series – the Gr.1 Bonecrusher New Zealand Stakes (2000m) at Ellerslie on March 9. “His run in the Thorndon was very good on an unsettled track,” Bosma said. “In the Herbie Dyke, he got in the wrong spot and got shuffled back to last on the turn and the race was over. It was unfortunate, he should have finished a lot closer if we had a little bit of luck in the running. “He will go to the Bonecrusher on the 9th at Ellerslie. Most of his form in Australia he was better right-handed than left, so we are looking forward to getting him right-handed at Ellerslie. I am confident you are going to see him run a lot better, it was more circumstance in the Herbie Dyke than anything else.” The series points table currently stands with Legarto (NZ) (Proisir) the clear leader with 20.5 points, followed by Campionessa (NZ) (Contributer) (12.5), One Bold Cat (NZ) (The Bold One) (10.5), Puntura (NZ) (Vespa) and Desert Lightning (NZ) (Pride of Dubai) (9), Lady Telena (NZ) (Vespa) (8), El Vencedor (NZ) (Shocking) (7), and Sharp ‘N’ Smart (NZ) (Redwood), Arby (NZ) (Proisir), Skyman and Rudyard (NZ) (Charm Spirit) (5). With 13.5 series points on offer to the victor of the New Zealand Stakes, 10.5 points to the runner-up, 7.5 points for third, and 4.5 points for fourth, Skyman is still in the hunt for the minor bonus prizemoney on offer. “Legarto is going to win the bonus, but it is certainly a good carrot with the second and third bonus prizemoney,” Bosma said. “It will be interesting to see what the field looks like.” Meanwhile, Go Racing are looking forward to the next outing of their Group One winner Atishu (NZ) (Savabeel), who is on a path towards next month’s Gr.1 Australian Cup (2000m) at Flemington. The daughter of Savabeel was eighth first-up in the Gr.1 CF Orr Stakes (1400m) behind fellow New Zealand-bred Mr Brightside (NZ) (Bullbars), and Bosma expects to see the six-year-old mare take plenty of improvement from that run. “Caulfield just didn’t suit her,” he said. “It is a bit of a tight-turning track, it is a lot different to Flemington. We always knew the 1400m was too short and she was going to get back from her draw and run on. We were just thinking if she could run into fifth or sixth, we would be happy. As the race panned out, she was a long way off them. Her last sectional was good. She certainly wasn’t completely wound up for that race and she has come through it well. “Get her back onto a bigger track, I think you are going to see very quick improvement. “The Australian Cup on 30th March is definitely her goal, but whether we run next week in Sydney or Melbourne, we are just working that out this week.” Her performance in the Australian Cup will also help her syndicate decide on her future, with a distinct possibility of selling the valuable broodmare prospect at the end of this preparation. “It will all depend on how she performs in her next few starts,” Bosma said. “Logic says, she is a six-year-old mare now, so selling her at the end of this preparation is the most likely thing. “If she comes out and wins another Group One this preparation, we will have to have a good chat with the owners about whether they want to push on for another season or sell her. It is still up in the air, but it is probably more likely than not that she will be sold.” Bosma purchased Atishu out of Waikato Stud’s 2019 New Zealand Bloodstock Book 1 Yearling Sale draft for $260,000 and he is pleased to have his yearling purchases from this year nearly fully subscribed. “We have bought 12 yearlings to date, 10 at Karaka and two at Magic Millions, and just shy of 85 percent of them are sold,” he said. “We brought over a guy we have worked a lot with in the UK called Stuart Boman, who does a lot of biometrics on the horses. We work with him in selecting the yearlings and it has been great. It is something new, but it is something that works and we think that we have bought horses that we have done more analysis on than ever before. We are pretty confident with the horses that we have bought.” One of the yearlings who is fully sold is lot 43 from Karaka, the Ole Kirk half-brother to Pericles (NZ) (Rubick), who took out the Listed Uncle Remus Stakes (1200m) at Ellerslie last Saturday. “That was very timely Pericles winning the Uncle Remus, he has now won three of his last four,” Bosma said. “He is the first foal out of the mare (Empyrean), so the mare can’t have done any more than she has, and he looks like a very good horse. That Ole Kirk colt is completely sold out, which is not surprising. There were a couple of shares left, but after Pericles won, they all went. He is a lovely colt.” Bosma is particularly excited about another of their Karaka purchases, lot 553, the Written Tycoon half-brother to Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) winner Rocket Spade (Fastnet Rock). Bosma went to $250,000 to secure the colt out of Woburn Farm’s draft and he said shares are still available in the youngster. “He has gone ahead in leaps and bounds in the couple of weeks since we have bought him,” Bosma said. “He has got a stallion’s pedigree and Written Tycoon is absolutely flying as a stallion, and he looks magnificent. He is a horse I have a huge amount of time for.” View the full article

Voyage Bubble wins his first race under Zac Purton in 2022. Zac Purton will bid for a fourth Group 1 Hong Kong Gold Cup (2000m) win when the six-time Hong Kong champion jockey reunites with Voyage Bubble in the HK$13 million feature at Sha Tin on Sunday. Previously successful in the race aboard Military Attack (2013), Time Warp (2018) and Exultant (2019), Purton takes his first ride on 2023 Hong Kong Derby (2000m) winner Voyage Bubble since 2022, when the future Group 1 Stewards’ Cup (1600m) victor finished second in a Class 3 race behind Buzzinga over 1200m. Having piloted Voyage Bubble to the first of his six Hong Kong wins two years ago, Purton is looking forward to reacquainting himself with Ricky Yiu’s star this weekend against a field headed by middle distance champion Romantic Warrior. “He (Voyage Bubble) is an exciting horse. He’s been our best four-year-old going into the five-year-olds. He hasn’t had many runs this season and he gets back to 2000 metres, where he won the Derby,” Purton said. “He’s got a big task to tackle the great Romantic Warrior but he’s on the way up and he’s certainly worth riding and hopefully he can draw a nice gate and get a nice run.” Five-time Group 1 winner Romantic Warrior headlines the entry for Sunday’s feature, which also includes Beauty Joy, Champion Dragon, Encountered, Five G Patch, Nimble Nimbus, Money Catcher, Senor Toba, Straight Arron and Sword Point. A winner from 1200m to 2000m, Voyage Bubble has the unusual distinction of winning his six races under six different jockeys – Purton, Matthew Chadwick, Derek Leung, Jamie Kah, Alexis Badel and James McDonald. Sydney-based McDonald, who returns to Hong Kong at the weekend for another Group 1 assignment, is committed to Romantic Warrior as the New Zealander searches for his fifth Group 1 victory on Danny Shum’s flagbearer, having previously scored twice in the Group 1 Hong Kong Cup (2000m), Group 1 QEII Cup (2000m) and the Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m). Karis Teetan, who won the 2022 BMW Hong Kong Derby on the Hong Kong International Sale graduate, was aboard the Acclamation gelding when he claimed the 2022 FWD QEII Cup. Chasing his first Hong Kong Gold Cup victory, Yiu has also entered Nimble Nimbus, last-start winner of the G3 Centenary Vase Handicap (1800m) at Sha Tin on 4 February, when the consistent gelding downed seven of Sunday’s entrants – Five G Patch (second), Straight Arron (third), Champion Dragon (fifth), Encountered (eighth), Sword Point (tenth), Senor Toba (13th) and Money Catcher (14th). View the full article

Feature racing took place at Flemington and Randwick last Saturday, with several Group races across both programs. From those two meetings, we have found three runners that are worth putting in your blackbook so you can follow them into upcoming races during the autumn carnival. Flemington Track rating: Good 3 Rail position: True entire circuit Race 8: Group 1 Black Caviar Lightning (1000m) | Time: 0:57.54 Horse to follow: Espiona (3rd) Chris Waller chose to kick off Espiona’s autumn campaign over 1000m for the first time as the five-year-old mare competed in the Group 1 Black Caviar Lightning at Flemington. Although the race distance was well short of her best, this daughter of Extreme Choice produced one of the better runs in defeat on the day. After settling at the rear of the field in a slowly run race, Espiona let down with a strong finish and recorded the fastest 600m (32.29s), 400m (21.47s), and 200m (10.97s) sections of the entire meeting. When to bet: Waller and his team have nominated Espiona in both the TJ Smith Stakes (1200m) and Queen Of The Turf Stakes (1600m), but considering how well she finished off over 1000m, it wouldn’t surprise anyone if the TJ Smith was her next race. Randwick Track rating: Soft 5 Rail position: +4m entire circuit Race 7: Group 2 Apollo Stakes (1400m) | Time: 1:21.63 Horse to follow: Militarize (2nd) It may have been easy for most punters to miss the run of Militarize in the Apollo Stakes, considering the majority would have been watching Fangirl blitz her rivals over 1400m. However, the three-year-old colt ran through the line as strongly as any of his older rivals, bar the dominant winner. This son of Dundeel hit a flat spot at the top of the home straight, but once his stablemate went past him, he knuckled down nicely and finished over the top of the leaders late. When to bet: With most of his key rivals choosing to target the Group 1 Australian Guineas in Victoria, it appears as though Militarize is a clear top seed for the Group 1 Randwick Guineas if Chris Waller chooses to drop him back to three-year-old company next start. Race 8: Group 2 Light Fingers Stakes (1200m) | Time: 1:09.35 Horse to follow: Learning To Fly (2nd) The Annabel Neasham-trained Learning To Fly made her highly anticipated return in the Light Fingers Stakes, where the three-year-old filly went to the line in a driving go with Kimochi, who just got the better of her in a photo finish. After losing the jockey and sustaining an injury in last year’s Golden Slipper, the daughter of Justify was first-up after an 11-month spell. Even though she was fresh and was going up against some of the best three-year-olds in Australia, the run of Learning To Fly was huge, and she will only improve on that performance. When to bet: The traditional route for three-year-old fillies next would be the Group 1 Surround Stakes over 1400m. Neasham and her team have nominated this girl for a plethora of races, but it is expected that they will race Learning To Fly over 1400m for the first time next start. Top horse racing sites for blackbook features Horse racing tips View the full article

What Pakenham Races Where Pakenham Racecourse – 420 Nar Nar Goon–Longwarry Rd, Tynong VIC 3813 When Thursday, February 22, 2024 First Race 5:45pm AEDT Visit Dabble Pakenham Racecourse is set for an exciting eight-race card this Thursday night, with the highlight being the final heat of the Pakenham Future Stars series. The weather forecast predicts clear skies, so the track should remain in Good 4 condition for the entire evening. The rail will be in its true position, and the racing action is slated to kick off at 5:45 pm local time. Best Bet at Pakenham: Master Montaro Master Montaro has been nothing short of impressive since returning from Hong Kong, and the seven-year-old gelding’s recent win at Sandown suggests he can go on with the job. That win came over 1300m when stalking the speed throughout, hitting the front inside the final furlong, and putting the race away with relative ease. A firm deck and the step up to 1400m fourth-up looks to be a recipe for further success. If Jye McNeil can slot Master Montaro in the one-one upon settling, he will prove too hard to hold out once again. Best Bet Race 7 – #6 Master Montaro (8) 7yo Gelding | T: Ben, Will & JD Hayes | J: Jye McNeil (58.5kg) Bet with Neds Next Best at Pakenham: Barbaric Lad Barbaric Lad put in an eye-catching debut run at Sandown on February 7, finishing a length back in third. The two-year-old colt gave his rivals a massive start over 1200m and rattled off some nice closing sectionals. He clashes with Druid, who beat him home on debut by a narrow margin, but with the length of the Pakenham straight set to benefit Barbaric Lad over his key market rival, it is easy to see why the Freedman galloper has had early backing. A repeat of his debut effort should be enough for Barbaric Lad to score at Pakenham. Next Best Race 3 – #2 Barbaric Lad (8) 2yo Colt | T: Anthony & Sam Freedman | J: Luke Currie (58kg) Bet with Picklebet Best Value at Pakenham: Greenidge Greenidge was a touch unlucky when finishing third in her second career start, and she looks to have found the right maiden to break through. The Lonhro filly was in a bit of traffic at a crucial moment in the home straight over 1000m before hitting the line strongly to suggest the rise to 1200m will be ideal. Jye McNeil will have her in a plumb spot from barrier five throughout. With a nice cart into the race, and with even luck this time around, Greenidge has shown plenty to suggest she will be winning on Thursday night. Best Value Race 2 – #6 Greenidge (5) 3yo Filly | T: John Sadler | J: Jye McNeil (57kg) Bet with Playup Thursday quaddie tips for Pakenham Pakenham quadrella selections Thursday, February 22, 2024 1-4-6-9 2-3-9-11 2-6 3-4-5-7-11 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip Horse racing tips View the full article

Coleman has opened as the race favourite for the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes at Caulfield on Saturday. (Photo: Pat Scala/Racing Photos) The Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes will headline a massive day of racing at Caulfield this Saturday afternoon, with 16 runners and two emergencies accepting for the $2 million race. After Tuesday’s barrier draw, online bookmakers have six runners marked under double figures, confirming that this year’s edition of the race could be one of the best we have seen in some time. The undefeated colts Coleman (+360) and Bodyguard (+400) sit atop the market after they drew middle barriers next to one another. The Coleman has been nothing short of impressive in his two starts to date, with his most recent win coming in the Group 3 Chairman’s Stakes over 1000m. Given the Matt Laurie-trained galloper didn’t run in either the Blue Diamond Preview or Blue Diamond Prelude at Caulfield, he is one of the unknown commodities when compared to most of the field. Bodyguard has been just as impressive in his two starts and was a strong winner of the Group 3 Blue Diamond Prelude (C&G) over 1100m last time out, defeating Stay Focused by half a length. The lone representative from the in-form Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott stable will be Lady Of Camelot (+500), who was a dominant winner of the Group 3 Widden Stakes at Rosehill last start and will make the trip across the border for her maiden Victorian run. After getting no luck late as the favourite in the Blue Diamond Prelude (C&G), High Octane (+600) will push onto the Blue Diamond Stakes, where he is expected to appreciate the wide barrier (10) and rise in distance to 1200m. The Peter Moody & Katherine Coleman-trained filly Eneeza (+850) will round out the runners in single figures, with the two-time Group 3 placegetter racing over 1200m for the first time. 2024 Blue Diamond Stakes field 1. Rue De Royale (17) T: Tony & Calvin McEvoy J: Chad Schofield W: 57kg F: 2×24 Age: 2YO Color: Brown Sex: Colt Sire: Per Incanto (USA) Dam: Urban Royal +5000 +1250 2. Spywire (18) T: Ciaron Maher J: John Allen W: 57kg F: 3121 Age: 2YO Color: Brown Sex: Colt Sire: Trapeze Artist Dam: Secret Trail +2500 +625 3. Bodyguard (6) T: Peter & Paul Snowden J: Mark Zahra W: 57kg F: 1×1 Age: 2YO Color: Bay Sex: Colt Sire: I Am Invincible Dam: Tumooh +400 +100 4. Coleman (7) T: Matt Laurie J: Ben Melham W: 57kg F: 1×1 Age: 2YO Color: Bay Sex: Colt Sire: Pierata Dam: Sboog +360 -111.11 5. Stay Focused (15) T: Phillip Stokes J: Daniel Stackhouse W: 57kg F: 21 Age: 2YO Color: Bay Sex: Colt Sire: Cosmic Force Dam: Coral Reef +1400 +350 6. Dublin Down (3) T: Tony & Calvin McEvoy J: Harry Coffey W: 57kg F: x124 Age: 2YO Color: Bay Sex: Colt Sire: Exceedance Dam: Dublin Lass +5000 +1250 7. Traffic Warden (14) T: James Cummings J: Craig Williams W: 57kg F: 312 Age: 2YO Color: Bay Sex: Colt Sire: Street Boss (USA) Dam: Efficiently +3300 +825 8. High Octane (10) T: Peter & Paul Snowden J: Blake Shinn W: 57kg F: 51 Age: 2YO Color: Bay Sex: Colt Sire: Deep Field Dam: Granny Red Shoes +600 +150 9. Zestiman (8) T: Ben, Will & JD Hayes J: Declan Bates W: 57kg F: 51 Age: 2YO Color: Bay Sex: Colt Sire: Zoustar Dam: Estijmaam +8000 +2000 10. Fearless (16) T: Peter & Paul Snowden J: Michael Dee W: 57kg F: 2×4 Age: 2YO Color: Bay Sex: Colt Sire: Pierata Dam: Matildare +2000 +500 11. Hayasugi (11) T: Clinton McDonald J: Jamie Kah W: 55kg F: 11×52 Age: 2YO Color: Bay Sex: Filly Sire: Royal Meeting (IRE) Dam: China Road +1800 +450 12. Eneeza (5) T: Peter Moody & Katherine Coleman J: Damian Lane W: 55kg F: 2×12 Age: 2YO Color: Bay Sex: Filly Sire: Exceed And Excel Dam: Sweet Sherry +850 +210 13. Lady Of Camelot (4) T: Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott J: Adam Hyeronimus W: 55kg F: 1×4 Age: 2YO Color: Bay Sex: Filly Sire: Written Tycoon Dam: Miss Debutante +500 +125 14. Kuroyangi (2) T: Will Clarken & Niki O’Shea J: Brenton Avdulla W: 55kg F: 21 Age: 2YO Color: Chestnut Sex: Filly Sire: Written Tycoon Dam: Tetsuko +1800 +450 15. Matisse (1) T: Anthony & Sam Freedman J: Luke Currie W: 55kg F: 33 Age: 2YO Color: Bay Sex: Filly Sire: Microphone Dam: Sanadaat +1800 +450 16. Flyer (13) T: Jason Warren J: Jye McNeil W: 55kg F: 1 Age: 2YO Color: Bay Sex: Filly Sire: Exceedance Dam: Miss Toorak Flyer +12500 +3100 17 (1E). In Her Eyes (9) T: Leon & Troy Corstens J: Blaike McDougall W: 55kg F: 72 Age: 2YO Color: Bay Sex: Filly Sire: Star Witness Dam: Love Spy +15000 +3750 18 (2E). Altermatum (12) T: Tony & Calvin McEvoy J: TBC W: 55kg F: 5×3 Age: 2YO Color: Bay Sex: Filly Sire: Star Witness Dam: Alter Call +15000 +3750 Horse racing news View the full article

Pendragon winning the Group 2 Auckland Guineas (1400m). Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images) Former Kiwi galloper Pendragon got his Australian campaign off to the best possible start at Werribee on Monday, comfortably winning his 1100m jumpout for trainer Michael Moroney. Purchased by Paul Moroney Bloodstock and Ballymore Stables out of Valachi Downs’ 2022 New Zealand Bloodstock Book 2 Yearling Sale draft for $110,000, Pendragon was initially trained in New Zealand by Moroney, alongside his Matamata training partner Pam Gerard, for whom he won three and placed in one of his seven starts. The son of U S Navy Flag was victorious in the Group 2 Auckland Guineas (1400m) at Pukekohe on Boxing Day before finishing runner-up behind Orchestral in the $1.5 million Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m) at Ellerslie a month later. Moroney has been pleased with the way Pendragon has settled in at his Flemington barn and is looking forward to testing him in the Group 1 Australian Guineas (1600m) at his new home track next month. “I am really happy with him, he arrived here in great order,” Moroney told Racing.com. “He is a little on the fresh side, but I am sure with that jumpout and a bit of extra work, hopefully he will be at his best for this mile race (Australian Guineas). “I am lucky that I have got Run Harry Run, who blew out on Saturday, and he is going to take a bit of work too. They will be nice mates for each other (working towards the Guineas).” Moroney believes his New Zealand form will stand-up to an Australian autumn prep, and he is looking forward to testing that out in the Guineas. “I think the filly (Orchestral) that beat Pendragon (in the Karaka Millions) would easily line-up here,” he said. “She went on and won the (Avondale) Guineas (Group 2, 2100m) by four (lengths). She looks very good and his run was really good against her. “I am thinking that the form in New Zealand is quite strong, but he is going to be the telltale because he has been around it all season.” Horse racing news View the full article

In-form galloper well placed to surpass absent stablemate in final meeting of HK$1.5 million seriesView the full article

The Blue Diamond Stakes 2024 is primed for an explosive showdown at Caulfield this Saturday. Team Snowden’s unbeaten Prelude winner Bodyguard is one of the favourites to take out the Blue Diamond Stakes 2024 this Saturday. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos. A capacity field of 16 precocious two-year-olds will thunder down the 1200-meter track, all vying for the coveted $2 million prize and a chance to write their names in racing history. But this year’s Blue Diamond carries an extra layer of intrigue, with three contenders aiming for legendary feats. Leading the charge are the undefeated colts, Bodyguard and Coleman. From the stables of Peter & Paul Snowden, Bodyguard carries the hopes of a dynasty. The I Am Invincible colt seeks to add his name to the illustrious list of Blue Diamond winners trained by the Snowdens, which already includes Sepoy, Earthquake, and Pride Of Dubai. Coleman meanwhile also chases win number three with Matt Laurie‘s Group 3 Chairman’s Stakes winning Pierata colt heading the latest Blue Diamond Stakes markets at $4.20 through Ladbrokes after drawing a treat in gate seven. But the true history-maker may be the filly Hayasugi. Trained by Clinton McDonald, she carries the weight of an entire sex on her shoulders. Having conquered both the Preview and Prelude races for fillies, Hayasugi is on the cusp of achieving a rare treble, becoming only the second filly in history to win all three races in the Blue Diamond series. With Jamie Kah onboard, the talented Royal Meeting daughter will have her supporters roaring her name every step of the way. However, the road to glory won’t be easy. Rue De Royale, the impressive runner-up in both the Golden Gift and Inglis Millennium, comes south with plenty of talent and jockey Chad Schofield aiming for a tactical masterclass. The barrier draw adds another layer of drama. While the likes of Bodyguard and Hayasugi have drawn reasonably well, others like Spywire and Rue De Royale face daunting starts from the outside gates. However, in sprint races like the Blue Diamond, anything can happen, and a well-timed surge from the back of the pack could rewrite the script entirely. With undefeated contenders, a history-chasing filly, and a field brimming with talent, the Blue Diamond Stakes 2024 promises to be a spectacle you won’t want to miss in Melbourne this Saturday. 2024 Blue Diamond Stakes Field No Last 10 Horse Trainer Jockey Barrier Weight Probable Weight Penalty Hcp Rating 1 42×2 RUE DE ROYALE (NZ) Tony & Calvin McEvoy Chad Schofield 17 57kg 77 2 1213 SPYWIRE Ciaron Maher John Allen 18 57kg 75 3 1×1 BODYGUARD Peter & Paul Snowden Mark Zahra 6 57kg 83 4 1×1 COLEMAN Matt Laurie Ben Melham 7 57kg 83 5 12 STAY FOCUSED Phillip Stokes Daniel Stackhouse 15 57kg 77 6 421x DUBLIN DOWN Tony & Calvin McEvoy Harry Coffey 3 57kg 74 7 213 TRAFFIC WARDEN James Cummings Craig Williams 14 57kg 74 8 15 HIGH OCTANE Peter & Paul Snowden Blake Shinn 10 57kg 72 9 15 ZESTIMAN Ben, Will & JD Hayes Declan Bates 8 57kg 70 10 4×2 FEARLESS Peter & Paul Snowden Michael Dee 16 57kg 11 25×11 HAYASUGI Clinton McDonald Ms Jamie Kah 11 55kg 83 12 21×2 ENEEZA Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman Damian Lane 5 55kg 76 13 4×1 LADY OF CAMELOT Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott Adam Hyeronimus 4 55kg 80 14 12 KUROYANAGI Will Clarken & Niki O’Shea Brenton Avdulla 2 55kg 72 15 33 MATISSE Anthony & Sam Freedman Luke Currie 1 55kg 71 16 1 FLYER Jason Warren Jye McNeil 13 55kg 64 17e 27 IN HER EYES Leon & Troy Corstens Blaike McDougall 9 55kg 63 18e 3×5 ALTERMATUM Tony & Calvin McEvoy 12 55kg 63 Table Credit: Racing Australia. This page and the written content within it were partially generated using AI or automated technology and edited and verified by our editorial team. THINK. IS THIS A BET YOU REALLY WANT TO PLACE? For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au. The post Blue Diamond Stakes 2024 Final Field & Barriers: Undefeated Colts Clash, Filly Chases History appeared first on HorseRacing.com.au. View the full article

Group 2 Auckland Cup (3200m) aspirant Sailor Jack winning at Ellerslie last Saturday. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images) Sailor Jack changed stables with a view to a jumping career, but now looms as a first black-type runner for a tyro training partnership. The son of Jakkalberry provided the Awapuni combination of Shaun Fannin and Hazel Schofer with their first winner at Ellerslie on Saturday with a strong performance to boost his chances of a return trip north. Sailor Jack outstayed his rivals and connections now face a nervous wait to see if he can gain a berth in the Group 2 Auckland Cup (3200m) on March 9. “He is the first horse we have taken north and to get a result like that was wonderful,” Fannin said. “It made the trip worthwhile, it’s a long way to go and we backed our judgment. We thought he was pretty close to the mark and it was nice to see it pay off. “It was a wonderful ride by Craig (Grylls), he’s a real staying horse and we said to him keep him up on the speed the whole way and he won’t stop and he ran accordingly.” Fannin also had the added bonus of sharing in the ownership of Sailor Jack with the gelding’s former trainer Gerald Innes, father of Group One-winning jockey Leith. “Gerald gave me half after he approached me at the races at Otaki the end of last July and said I’ve got a jumper for you,” he said. “I did a bit with him and then said to Gerald that I don’t think he’s a wet tracker. We’ve kept him ticking over and he’s a bit better than a jumper.” Sailor Jack is currently a $26 chance in the Auckland Cup market and Fannin is hopeful of a return north for the Ellerslie feature. “That would be the plan if he could get in, there might need a few to pull out, but if it does happen then he’s only got 52kg and he does stay well,” he said. “He would deserve his chance and I definitely think he’ll get the two miles. On top of the ground, he’ll go all day. “We’ve only had him for five starts and the only time he hasn’t run first or second was on a really heavy track.” Sailor Jack was a first-up winner over a middle distance at Hawera in September before he was unplaced on a rain-affected track at New Plymouth. He then finished runner-up during the Hawke’s Bay carnival before a break and returned to run second at Tauherenikau ahead of his latest success. A champion jumps jockey, Fannin is in his fourth season of training and was joined this term by fiancée Schofer, who rode 123 winners with three at Group or Listed level during a career marred by weight issues. Horse racing news View the full article

Trainer David Hayes will recommend connections send the stubborn galloper back to Australia after the five-year-old refused to jump again on the weekendView the full article