Wandering Eyes

Talented staying mare Dreams Come True (NZ) (Staphanos) made it back-to-back victories at Sandown when coming from last in a small field to claim the Tile Importer Handicap (2400m) on Wednesday. The Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr-trained five-year-old was given a no-panic ride by Jamie Melham as she waited for the runs to come to stave off runner-up Jabbawockeez (NZ) (Redwood). The daughter of Staphanos had to survive a protest to claim her fourth victory from ten starts. “I thought it was a very good effort,” Kent Jnr said. “They were going trial speed down the back. “I don’t think Sandown really suits her, going up inside runners. I can’t wait till she gets a setup where she can come down the outside. “That’s a better pattern for her, but it was a very tough effort. “She’s a beautiful, big, strong horse, it was her first go at 2400m and I think she’s very progressive. “She’s a mare going places and she has got a great group of owners. Winning rider Jamie Melham said the imposing mare had a deceptively good turn of foot. “She’s quite deceiving out there because you drop your hands on her and she falls asleep. She’s a big, beautiful ride, and then the tempo quickens. “I gave her a little squeeze and then all of a sudden I was up bums trying to find a run because for a staying mare, she was actually very sharp when you ask her and it was quite tight for a few strides. “She gave me a feel like she had a lot left to give, and then when she hit the front, she just hovered a bit. I think she’s a good horse. You’ve just got ride her with cover and expose her late. “She’ll definitely win better races.” Dreams Come True is by Novara Park stallion Staphanos out of the Shocking mare Avant (NZ). She was a private purchase after winning at her second start at Te Rapa for trainer Kelly Van Dyk. View the full article

Group One winner Linebacker (NZ) (Super Seth) tuned up for forthcoming spring assignments with a trials victory over 1000m at Hawkesbury on Monday in the hands of Zac Lloyd. The imposing son of Super Seth was having his second trial and came from just behind Espionage (Zoustar) to glide past that rival over the concluding stages. It was the second trial for the John O’Shea and Tom Charlton-trained four-year-old who will resume in Saturday week’s Gr.2 Tramway Stakes (1400m) at Randwick. “It has been difficult getting them ready with the wet weather,” O’Shea said. “He is a bit big in condition but he trialed well on Monday and we will get him started in the Tramway. “Then he will have another run over seven furlongs in the Bill Ritchie (Gr.3, 1400m) and then go to The Epsom (Gr.1, 1600m) “He will either run in the King Charles (Gr.1, 1600m) or else we will wait and run in the Golden Eagle (A$10 million, 1500m). He is only four once so it will probably be our main goal. “It is a hard race, there is no doubting that, but the fact that it has moved to Randwick plays into his hands a little. “He is a much better horse at Randwick so we will be inclined to target that race and if we want to target a race in Melbourne we can go down after that.” Lineback defeated Broadsiding (Too Darn Hot) when winning the Gr.1 Randwick Guineas (1600m) last season before finishing a luckless eighth in the Gr.1 Doncaster Handicap (1600m). “He missed the kick and shouldn’t have been where he was,” O’Shea said. “We wanted to be either leading or box-seating so when he missed the kick, Zac was forced to ride him quiet, and he should have won in a hand-canter. “He ran fantastic but once he missed the start the race was over for us because they walked.” By Waikato Stud’s boom young sire Super Seth, Linebacker was bred by GSA Bloodstock. The bold chestnut was purchased out of Haunui Farm’s draft at New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sale for $160,000 by O’Shea and Suman Hedge Bloodstock. He is a son of the English-bred Oasis Dream mare Garden Of Swans, who is a half-sister to the Gr.1 Sandown Eclipse Stakes (2000m) winner and sire Mukhadram. View the full article

Mark Twain’s (NZ) (Shocking) Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) preparation looks to have hit a small snag, with forecast rain likely to lead to his withdrawal from Sunday’s Clotworthy Racing Open 1600 at Te Aroha. “With the weather forecast, he will have to be a doubtful starter, which is a shame because it is a crucial run in a build-up towards Melbourne,” said Roger James, who trains the gelding in partnership with Robert Wellwood. “The weather is looking bad, and it is a Heavy10 already, so it is probably unlikely (that he will start).” The son of Shocking was set to contest last year’s Melbourne Cup, having won the ballot exempt Listed Roy Higgins (2600m) at Flemington, but a tendon injury last spring curtailed those plans. He made his first raceday appearance in more than 16 months when he finished last over 1200m at Te Rapa earlier this month, and James was happy enough with the run and has been pleased with his subsequent progression. “It (first-up run) was better than expected,” James said. “He ran the third or fourth quickest last 200m of the race. “More pertinent was his work on Saturday in-between races at Te Rapa, which was sparkling. I thought it was as good as I have ever seen him work. “He is in tremendous order, he looks magnificent.” Sunday’s race was set to be Mark Twain’s last in New Zealand prior to heading to Australia, where he is likely to contest the Gr.3 Bart Cummings (2500m) in a bid to gain a berth into the Melbourne Cup. While nominated for the Gr.1 Howden Insurance Mile (1600m) and Gr.1 Livamol Classic (2040m) in New Zealand, James said they are just insurance policies if the OTI Racing gelding’s preparation is significantly hampered. “Melbourne is the main aim for him, so they (Howden Insurance Mile and Livamol Classic) are a back-up if something went drastically wrong,” he said. “If we got put back in our schedule we might have to use them, but it is very unlikely.” While Mark Twain is a doubtful starter this weekend, James is more upbeat about sending stablemate Steezy (NZ) (Russian Revolution) south to Wanganui on Saturday for the Listed HS Dyke Wanganui Guineas (1200m). Raced by Trelawney Stud, the daughter of Russian Revolution has placed in two of her three starts to date, and James is hoping to snare some black-type with her this weekend with a view towards her future broodmare career. “We are reasonably committed to send her,” James said. “We felt the fillies race up here might be even stronger. “It is no pushover down there, she is still a maiden, but a filly of her pedigree and quality, the big aim is to get some black-type with her. If she could do that, it sticks with you forever.” A day prior, the Cambridge trainers will line-up debutant Tikanto in the TCL Earthworks 1300 on their home synthetic track, and James thinks she will thrive on the surface. “Her work has been very good since she trialled at Te Rapa. I think she will be suited by the poly and looks well placed,” he said. Earlier this week, James was pleased with his quartet of triallers at Waipa on Tuesday, including Solid Gold (NZ) (Savabeel), who was eye-catching when closing late to win her 850m heat. “She is a big filly that is going to be better with every week and month we give her,” James said. “She has always shown well above average ability, and it was good to see her on a good surface where we could see what she had. “We will just wait for some good footing and work from there, but that won’t be for two or three weeks.” James was also impressed with the trial of regally-bred stablemate Dance The Night (NZ) (Almanzor), a three-year-old Almanzor filly out of Group One winner Stolen Dance. “It is the first one we have had for them (owner-breeder Gerald Shand),” James said. “She is a homebred filly that is very dear to them, and we are lucky to be chosen to train her. She will just get better with time. It was a good trial yesterday, she didn’t have a lot of room. Had she had a bit of room you would have seen her looking even better.” Meanwhile, James is looking forward to the imminent return of Group Three performer Zormella (NZ) (Almanzor). The Almanzor mare was a late replacement for stablemate Dealt With (NZ) (Ace High) in the inaugural $3.5 million NZB Kiwi (1500m) at Ellerslie in March, before finishing runner-up in the Gr.3 Championship Stakes (2100m) at the Auckland track a month later. She has had the one trial this preparation over 1100m at Taupo earlier this month and is set to kick-off her spring campaign at Ellerslie next week. “She will run at Ellerslie in 10 days’ time,” James said. “She is coming to hand very well, I thought her trial was excellent. “She is a stronger mare than she was last year, and I think she has got a big future.” Dealt With, who placed in both the Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m) and Listed Uncle Remus Stakes (1400m) before injury ruled him out of the NZB Kiwi, has made a welcome return to the stable. “He has just started work,” James said. “He had an injury which put him out of the Kiwi. It was a long time getting to the bottom of it, and I don’t know that we ever did, but he is sound now and he is currently on the water treadmill.” Stable star Orchestral is enjoying an extended break from racing and James said she will be targeted towards summer and autumn features. “We purposely have dodged the spring with her,” he said. “We looked back on her record and she has never had a good spring, so we dodged the spring and she is getting through a lot of good mileage work now, but we are concentrating on summer and autumn racing with her this season.” View the full article

Platinum Diamond (NZ) (Hello Youmzain) will put her undefeated Heavy track record on the line when she heads to Wanganui on Saturday to contest the Listed HS Dyke Wanganui Guineas (1200m). After finishing fourth on a Soft5 track at Hawera on debut in May, the daughter of Hello Youmzain won her next three starts, including the Listed Castletown Stakes (1200m) and Listed Ryder Stakes (1200m) at Otaki on Heavy10 tracks. While Platinum Diamond’s form is on Heavy surfaces, Latta was looking forward to testing her filly on better footing, however, with the Wanganui track rated a Heavy8 on Wednesday morning and rain forecast ahead of the weekend, it is likely to remain in the Heavy range. “We were looking forward to trying to get her back onto a bit better track to see how she will go (on a better surface), but it is what it is and you can’t change it,” she said. Platinum Diamond has been freshened since her Ryder Stakes victory last month and Latta is pleased with the way her filly his tracking ahead of her three-year-old debut on Saturday. “She had a couple of weeks in the paddock after the Ryder and she freshened up nicely,” Latta said. “She had her final gallop this (Wednesday) morning and worked really nice.” Latta is also looking forward to testing her filly’s talent against a few new northern raiders. “It is definitely a stronger field than what she has been up against,” she said. On the undercard, four-year-old gelding Amazing Son will be looking to break through for his maiden victory after finishing runner-up in his first two starts, including at Hawera last Saturday. Latta has been pleased with the way he has come through the run and will apply blinkers this weekend when he contests either the Wanganui Insurance Brokers Maiden (1200m) or Dave Hoskin Carriers Maiden (1340m). “Being by Belardo he will be looking for that looser, wetter track,” she said. “We have added the blinkers. He was very green last Saturday but he has pulled up well and hopefully those blinkers will help rectify him hanging out a bit.” Stable stalwart Old Town Road will also head to Wanganui where the eight-win gelding will line-up in the Cloudsoft Accounting Systems Open 1200. “He hates the sticky tracks and we have had a lot of those this season,” Latta said. “He is either looking for a touch better or a loose track. Hopefully we may get a loose track on Saturday.” Latta’s team will be rounded out with a two-pronged attack in the Take It Easy Tours (1600m), courtesy of Perfect Test and Deadly Pony. “Both are looking for wet tracks,” Latta said. “Perfect Test races well at Wanganui and Deadly Pony is knocking right on the door and could be looking to step up to 2000m after this run.” View the full article

Midnight Delight (NZ) (Captain Rio) didn’t reach the heights expected of her by Waverley horseman Bill Thurlow on the track, but she’s proving her worth as a broodmare for the family. The daughter of Captain Rio is the dam of Mister Fletcher, a son of Almanzor who has won two of his six starts, and his half-brother Landman (NZ) (Hello Youmzain) will get an early crack at a black type when he runs in Saturday’s Listed HS Dyke Wanganui Guineas (1200m). Midnight Delight was offered as a weanling at Karaka by Ancroft Stud and sold to agent Phill Cataldo on behalf of Thurlow, who prepared her to place in her first two appearances. “I sent her to Chris Waller and she won a race at Newcastle and a placing or two in the city, but she lost her way a bit over there, which can happen,” he said. “We thought she was going to be pretty good and it didn’t work out, so we brought her home and put her to stud. “She’s doing a good job and it’s turned out to be a pretty good family.” Midnight Delight is a half-sister to the Gr.2 Foxbridge Plate (1200m) winner and Gr.1 Tarzino Trophy (1400m) placegetter Underthemoonlight, whose daughter Romancing The Stone triumphed in the Gr.1 Levin Classic (1600m). By Hello Youmzain, Landman impressed at the trials before he overcame heavy going at Woodville earlier this month to make a winning debut. “He’s a really nice horse and was very good the other day, he has improved off that and hopefully we get a better track,” said Thurlow, who trains in partnership with Sam O’Malley. “We’ve just had to keep him up to the mark and he’s a happy horse, so we’ll get more of a line of him. Jonathan (Riddell) will ride him again.” Landline’s long-term aim is the Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m), but his pathway to Riccarton hasn’t been made easy with a lack of suitable age group events in the Central Districts. “We’ll take it race by race after the weekend, we probably won’t go up (to Te Rapa) for the Hawke’s Bay Guineas (Gr.2, 1400m),” Thurlow said. “We’re looking at Christchurch with him, and to be honest we haven’t mapped out anything after Saturday. “It’s very difficult unless we do a lot of travelling, which we have to be very careful about with a young horse.” The stable is also keen on the chances of Crunchie Boy (Wanganui Chronicle Handicap, 1340m) and Our Lady Brooke (Tribute To Mr Racing Ian Boyland Handicap, 2040m). “Both of them are in good form with good riders and they’ve worked well since their last starts,” Thurlow said. To be partnered by Masa Hashizume, Crunchie Boy was a bold second when resuming at Woodville following an eight-month break. Michael McNab has been booked for Our Lady Brooke, who was successful at Hawera last month and has finished runner-up in two subsequent appearances. View the full article

Another Wil Leads Memsie Stakes Market as Fangirl Makes Caulfield Debut Star mare Fangirl will finally begin her spring campaign, making a delayed return in this weekend’s Group 1 $750,000 Memsie Stakes at Caulfield. The $10 million earner was a late scratching from last weekend’s Winx Stakes at Randwick due to the heavy track, a […] The post Memsie Stakes Field & Betting Update: Fangirl vs. Another Wil appeared first on HorseRacing.com.au. View the full article

GRAND PRAIRIE, TX – With a winning virtual bid of $95,000 a Louisiana-bred colt by Red River Farms sire Aurelius Maximus topped the Texas Thoroughbred Association's (TTA) single-session Summer Yearling Sale at Lone Star Park's Mary Ruyle Thoroughbred Pavilion on Tuesday, Aug. 26. During the sale, which included Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Louisiana-bred yearlings, 181 grossed $2,892,600 for an average of $15,981, a median of $7,500 and 53 were listed as not sold. With a larger catalogue this year, the gross increased from a year ago when 143 yearlings sold for $2,686,000. Those figures also represented a decrease from 2023 when 175 head sold for $3,240,000. “We want to thank our consignors who really showed up in force, and the crowd we had on Monday was equally strong as the one today,” said Foster Bridewell, director of horse sales for the TTA. “We had some new faces here this year, which was very gratifying to see. I thought our quality offerings came through well, and the sales topper certainly drew attention all week.” Mallory Consigns Texas Topper Bred by Jim Montgomery, Natalie Montgomery & Jay Adcock, the colt that led the TTA Sale (hip 130) initially went to PRP Bloodstock for $50,000 during the 2025 OBS Winter Sale before he RNA'd for $70,000 at the Fasig-Tipton July Sale. Out of SP Too Much to Bear (Too Much Bling), the bay is one of six foals, four of who have raced and his dam has a pair of winners, plus she handed this topper a full-brother in the spring. Too Much to Bear is a half-sister to MSW I'm a Bear (Touch Tone). Scott Mallory, agent, consigned the colt, which was purchased online by Charles Allen. “They tried this colt in July, but that's kinda a tough sale especially because this is an Aurelius Maximus,” said Mallory. “Not a ton of people know who that is. He's a Louisiana stallion with a $2,000 stud fee, but he throws some beautiful babies. I had two of them in the sale. But that colt had a big walk on him and everybody that saw him, liked him. It's the walk.” The second highest price at the auction was a filly by Yaupon (hip 188), consigned by Colin Brennan Bloodstock at Highlander Training Center, agent. The Arkansas-bred was purchased at the sale for $87,000 by OCL (Abdul-Keer Okab). After the yearling sale a mixed session capped the day. Click here for complete sales results. The post Aurelius Maximus Colt Leads Texas Yearling Sale As Topper appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Recent Bolton Landing Stakes winner and two-for-three 2-year-old filly Snow Face Princess (Midshipman) topped Fasig-Tipton's August Digital Sale Tuesday when selling for $775,000 to Winchell Thoroughbreds. The sale closed with 154 horses sold for $4,886,500, averaging $31,730 with a clearance rate of 81%. Sold as hip 39, Snow Face Princess was offered as a racing/broodmare prospect and was consigned by Claiborne Farm, agent. Another highlight of the August Digital Sale was the Turning Point Bloodstock-consigned Ascot Walk (Daaher). Selling for $550,000 to Erdenheim Farm Thoroughbreds and offered as hip 1, Ascot Walk is in foal to Cody's Wish. All three of her foals to race are stakes performers, including SW Drexel Hill (Bolt d'Oro), runner-up in this year's GI Kentucky Oaks. “We are very grateful to the buyers for supporting the sale and the sellers for entrusting us with their horses,” said Fasig-Tipton's Director of Digital Sales Leif Aaron. “The sale today was fantastic and a great way for us to end the summer digital sales season. The outlook for the fall digital sales is already very strong and we are gearing up for a big October and December. Demand this week was strong from the top of the market all the way down. What a great day for Bill Johnson and his team capitalizing on multiple big updates with their super mare Ascot Walk. Also thankful to Claiborne for consigning the very exciting Snow Face Princess to the sale.” The August Digital Sale offered horses of racing age, racing/broodmare prospects, breeding stock, yearlings, and a stallion prospect. Click here to see full results. Fasig-Tipton's next digital sale will be the October Digital Sale, to be held Oct. 2-7. Entries will close Sept. 22. The post Saratoga 2YO SW Snow Face Princess Tops Fasig-Tipton’s August Digital Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

With eight entered for the 35th renewal of Saturday's GI Pacific Classic at Del Mar, a stellar matchup is anticipated with GI Preakness Stakes and GI Haskell Stakes winner Journalism (Curlin) set to take on his elders for the first time. Among those he'll face are 'TDN Rising Star' Nysos (Nyquist), who exited a win in the July 26 GII San Diego Handicap with a five-for-six record, and 'TDN Rising Star' Fierceness (City of Light), the 2023 Eclipse champion 2-year-old colt and a triple Grade I winner. The 10-furlong Pacific Classic is a 'Win & You're In' race for the Nov. 1 GI Breeders' Cup Classic, which will also be held at Del Mar. Del Mar's morning-line maker John Lies installed Nysos as the slight favorite at 8-5 with Journalism just a tick behind him at 9-5. He put East Coast shipper Fierceness at 3-1. The eight-horse field, with riders and morning-line odds follow: 1). Fierceness, John Velazquez, 3-1 2). Midnight Mammoth (Midnight Lute), Armando Ayuso, 12-1 3). Ultimate Gamble (Medaglia d'Oro), Kazushi Kimura, 20-1 4). Nysos, Flavien Prat, 8-5 5). Indispensable (Constitution), Paco Lopez, 15-1 6). Journalism, Umberto Rispoli, 9-5 7). Lure Him In (Khozan), Edwin Gonzalez, 20-1 8). Tarantino (Pioneerof the Nile), Edwin Madonado, 20-1 The post position draw for the Pacific Classic was held Tuesday evening at The Brigantine Restaurant near the seaside oval. The Pacific Classic will be run as race 10 Saturday on an 11-race card that also features another four graded races with first post at 1:30 p.m. PT. The post Journalism Gets Post Six for Pacific Classic, Nysos Slightly Favored in Post Four appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

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.@EllisParkRacing closed its 25-day summer season Aug. 24 on a high note, generating $77 million in all-sources handle, a 6% increase over last year's record.View the full article

Team Valor International and Steven Rocco's Special Wan, most recently third in the Just a Game Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Race Course, should be among the favorites in the $2 million Ladies Turf Stakes (G3T) Aug. 30 at Kentucky Downs.View the full article

5 (tie). INTREPIDO, DMR, 8/23, 1 mile R1 Beyer Speed Figure- 84 (VIDEO) (r, 2, by Maximus Mischief–Overly Indulgent, by Pleasantly Perfect) O-Dutch Girl Holdings and Irving Ventures. B-Sierra Fria Farm. T-Jeff Mullins. J-Hector Berrios. En route to a 3 1/4-length win in his second start, he jointly set the pace then decisively rebuffed a quarter-pole bid from Spendthrift's odds-on Baffert first timer Provenance (Into Mischief-Monomoy Girl). He may be an overachiever: his three siblings to race have started 42 times with a top Beyer figure of 74. 5 (tie). BIG DOM, SAR, 8/23, 6 furlongs R6 Beyer Speed Figure- 84 (VIDEO) (c, 2, by McKinzie–Half A.P., by Pulpit) O-Greenwell Thoroughbreds. B-Merriebelle Stable. T-Tom Amoss. J-Jose Ortiz. Owner Greg Tramontin (No Parole, Quickick) purchased the former Siena Farm and has renamed his stable to honor his biological father. His association with Amoss continues, and this colt was ready to roll at Saratoga at first asking. Last week Amoss made this list with another 2-year-old colt, It's Our Time, a flashy Saratoga debut winner for Double Down Horse Racing. 4. LADY IVA, ELP, 8/23, 5 1/2 furlongs (turf) R9 Beyer Speed Figure- 85 (2nd) (f, 3, by Uncle Mo–Iva, by Scat Daddy) O-Clarmont Racing and Hidden Brook Farm. B-Bonne Chance Farm. T-Bret Calhoun. J-Edgar Morales. She may have been a touch unlucky in her debut against Break Even (below). She was pinched back at the break then took an outside route into the stretch as the winner got a rail run. On the other hand, she had every chance to go past in the final 3/16ths and couldn't. But whichever is the truest perspective, Lady Iva's career is definitely off to an encouraging start. 3. DEBT FREE, ELP, 8/23, 5 1/2 furlongs (turf) R9 Beyer Speed Figure-86 (f, 3, by Not This Time–Break Even, by Country Day) O/B-Klein Racing (Ky). T-Cherie DeVaux. J-Axel Concepcion. Break Even was a star for the Klein family stable, winning four stakes including a romp in the Grade II Eight Belles with Beyers along the way of 99, 95, 95 and 94. Her first foal, Debt Free, took a few races to come to hand but her stalking maiden victory at Ellis continues her pattern of steady improvement. 2. WESTWOOD, DMR, 8/24, 1 mile R1 Beyer Speed Figure- 88 (VIDEO) (g, 3, by Authentic–Indian Bay, by Indian Charlie) O-CRK Stable. B-Hinkle Farms (Ky). T-John Shirreffs. J-Hector Berrios. Recall that maiden Westwood was the “other” Searing/ Shirreffs runner in the Santa Anita Derby, outrunning Citizen Bull to the lead as scripted and winding up a well-beaten third behind Journalism and stablemate Baeza. After that, he was fourth in the Affirmed Stakes, and clearly appreciated class relief Sunday at Del Mar, leading all the way for a 3 1/4-length score over favored Penalty Box. 1.TRUTH AND BEAUTY, SAR, 8/21, 5 1/2 furlongs (turf) R7 Beyer Speed Figure- 90 (VIDEO) (f, 4, by Bolt d'Oro–Del Mar May, by Jimmy Creed) O-November Hill. B-Joel R Politi (Ky). T-Raymond Handal. J-Flavien Prat. The “truth” here was hardly self-evident. Truth and Beauty had made one previous start at the end of her 3-year-old season and was badly beaten as the 9/5 chalk. Now she returns after 8 1/2 months with a trainer change from Bill Mott to Handal, switches to grass with two recent slow turf breezes, adds blinkers, adds Lasix, adds Prat….and voila…a 4 1/2 length romp in a stakes-caliber figure. The post Five Fastest Maidens, Presented by Taylor Made – Aug. 18 – 24 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

New research suggests that, among foals studied in the United Kingdom, those given extensive turnout in pastures during their first six months of life and those weaned later are more likely to go on to race, compete more frequently, and earn more.View the full article

Maiden Watch: Week of Aug. 18-Aug. 24View the full article

Thoroughbreds are the very fiber and backbone of the industry and there is no racing or breeding program without them. Horse racing in the United States had a $36.4-billion impact on the national economy in 2023 and supported nearly 500,000 jobs. Racing and breeding alone contributed an estimated $16 billion in direct value to the economy. Thoroughbreds are bred deliberately, intentionally, and with careful planning. They are “created” with the goal of winning, with the goal of earning, with the goal of making money. Why are so many Thoroughbreds ending up at feedlots across the country with a price tag and a deadline hanging over their heads? There have been weanlings, 2-year-olds, Thoroughbreds who just raced, injured Thoroughbreds coming off the track, those who have had second careers after racing and others who have been discarded in their teens or older. Many Thoroughbreds at feedlots are senior broodmares, having carried multiple foals over their post-racing lives and producing new life for the industry; some have even been in foal at the time they landed at a feedlot. No specific age group or subset is excluded. At what point in the life of a Thoroughbred does it earn a safe retirement? Thoroughbreds end up in feedlots for many reasons. Sometimes, there are whole dispersals into feedlots when an owner passes and the family has no plan, no interest or doesn't know what to do. Sometimes, those in the industry are to blame and sometimes others are responsible. The industry's response reflects indifference despite the hundreds of Thoroughbreds whose lives are at stake. When asked for assistance, reactions from those in the industry have included: “We won't pay the ransom. We will not be blackmailed or support extortion from these horse dealers/killer buyers.” Or frequently, “The horses don't really ship. The dealers/killer buyers are using emotional blackmail and we're not paying it.” If ever a horse needed help it is when they are in this predicament. By no means do we advocate for dealers and kill buyers, yet this is their business: buying and selling horses of all breeds, not just Thoroughbreds. The “who” of responsibility makes those who were ever involved in the lives of these broken souls seek to escape accountability, finger point and deflect, as if somehow they can absolve themselves from guilt. It makes those of us who spend a large portion of our days finding, drawing attention to, networking, raising funds, finding appropriate homes, bailing and caring for these rescued horses (which none of us had the pleasure of breeding, raising, selling, training, racing or retiring) indignant. Yes, there are some folks in the industry who do love their horses and do right by them. There are some very good connections who do care and even others who have no obligation to help a horse in trouble yet help anyway. Unfortunately, they are the minority and not the majority. Thoroughbreds deteriorate quickly in the auction/slaughter pipeline, suffering dehydration, injury, bites and kicks, starvation and exposure to diseases with each stop on the brutal auction circuit contributing to their inevitable demise. Footage of the cruelty and abuse at lower-end auctions has been well-documented. Recently, the 6-year-old gelding Tyler's Sensation lay down in the cool Texas grass and took his last breath just 40 hours after being pulled from a Texas kill pen, sick and emaciated from chronic neglect. Subsequently, multiple stakes winner Magic Vow ended up at a kill pen, emaciated and lame. Both horses went through cheap auctions and then ended up at a feedlot. How about Boston Belle, a beautiful, uninjured, young mare who ended up in a feedlot five days after her last race? The racing industry did not save them or protect them. This is just three examples of the thousands of Thoroughbreds who end up in these situations every year. One would think that mandatory industry funding and mandated reporting of a Thoroughbred's whereabouts after retirement and rescue would have been set in place by now. Shouldn't this be a priority for the industry that benefits from their sweat and efforts? The Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (TAA) was formed in 2013 as an aftercare and accreditation program. Many folks are under the assumption that TAA is the cure-all for Thoroughbreds after racing and yes, many horses have retired via TAA-accredited organizations. However, there are only a handful of TAA-accredited organizations that will help Thoroughbreds in the slaughter pipeline. As an entity, TAA does not endorse assisting Thoroughbreds in the slaughter pipeline and has provided no real aid in helping Thoroughbreds in this situation. Shouldn't all Thoroughbreds, especially the most vulnerable and at-risk, be helped as well? Moreover, the distribution of TAA grants based on their public 990 tax returns clearly shows the bigger organizations are getting the biggest slices of the pie and the smaller organizations are receiving the smallest with no opportunity to grow or expand. Funding for many smaller organizations is grossly insufficient to support the horses they do have. There aren't enough good organizations to take Thoroughbreds, especially organizations that are willing to take horses who may not be suitable for a second sporting or show career. There simply isn't enough funding for this type of aftercare and no funds for rescue, and by no means are there enough sanctuaries. As long as the industry ignores the topic of Thoroughbreds who continue to suffer and die in the auction/slaughter pipeline and refuses to step up for the forgotten, the aged or those deemed “useless” this matter will continue to be a black eye on the industry and bruise its image. As it stands, the general public represents those who do care, those who want change and those who continually step up for the horses truly in need when the industry doesn't. The horses cannot wait for legislation to save them. The lives of horses in the pipeline need immediate assistance. Positive changes could be made but commitment and participation from the industry must be forthcoming. Thoroughbred aftercare should be for all Thoroughbreds, regardless of where they are, regardless of who they are, regardless of how they are. If sanctuary is needed, let them be in sanctuary. If retraining is in their future, let them have another career. If humane euthanasia is needed, let them pass in peace and with dignity. And most importantly, when they are in trouble and their lives are on the line, for heaven's sake help them! Thoroughbred Rescue Alliance: Candice Ensign Founder, Journey with Equus Marlene Murray Co-Founder and President, R.A.C.E. Fund, Inc. Cindy Morgan-Datrio, Ph.D. Founder and Director, Thoroughbred Retirement Network of Louisiana Margaret Ransom Founder and Executive Director, The Bridge Sanctuary Christina Sawelsky-Morse Thoroughbred Rescue Advocate, The Far Turn–Farm & Sanctuary Alison Price-Becker Rescue Advocate Leah Titerance Rescue Advocate The post Open Letter to the Industry: When Does a Thoroughbred Earn a Safe Retirement? appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

An overflow field of 12 is ready to contest six furlongs over the Kentucky Downs turf course in the $2 million Kentucky Turf Sprint (G2T) Aug. 30. Unlike last year when Cogburn ran like the clear favorite, this year's edition looks wide open.View the full article

After winning the first grade 1 in Kentucky Downs history with Howard Wolowitz last season, trainer Jose D'Angelo is back looking for more success in the lucrative seven-day meet that begins Aug. 28.View the full article

In fairness, an authentic Triple Crown was never available to Sovereignty even if his connections had deigned to seek one. We must still wait and see, then, whether Into Mischief can someday crown his evolution into a Classic influence with the winner of a 12-furlong Belmont Stakes. As and when that happens, it will feel much as when Justify-representing another Storm Cat speed brand, Scat Daddy-set off fast and just kept going. That ability to carry speed is the dirt grail and perhaps we can give some credit for the 2018 Belmont to Justify's damsire Ghostzapper, who stretched his own speed so memorably at the Breeders' Cup. It was that same hallmark, historically, that made dirt stallions so influential in the European theater, where Justify has lately added to his laurels (admittedly assisted by the inevitable Galileo {Ire} mare) with a Group 1 winner over fully two miles round Goodwood. At 25, Ghostzapper is moving from the evening of his career to its sunset. His transfer from Kentucky last winter was accompanied by an expectation that a managed book, back with Adena Springs at their Ontario base, might be his last before being pensioned. If that proves to be the case, then he's certainly still attending dynamically to his legacy. Besides Justify, his distaff influence also extends to Up to the Mark; while he now has a couple of highly eligible sons in the early stages of their stud careers, in Mystic Guide and Loggins. That's particularly gratifying after McCraken hit the rocks with his fertility and with Ghostzapper's more recent headliners having been either females, notably Moira and Goodnight Olive, or geldings. Book 'em Danno | Sarah Andrew Both dimensions to his portfolio featured in a remarkable afternoon for the veteran stallion last Saturday, when two gelded sons won graded stakes and Book'em Danno (Bucchero) extended his Grade I impact as a damsire. In the GII Pat O'Brien Stakes at Del Mar, Ghostzapper accounted for both the first two, Dr. Venkman and Stronghold. Actually Dr. Venkman somewhat echoes the pedigree of Book'em Danno's dam Adorabella, who's out of an Arch mare. (Presumably nobody needs reminding who sired Dr. Venkman's damsire, Archarcharch…) Stronghold is still an entire, incidentally, and this excellent return from a seven-month lay-off augurs well, given Ghostzapper's propensity to eke improvement from his maturing stock. A case in point is the 5-year-old Banishing, who could scarcely have made a more dispiriting start for his new owners after his $80,000 purchase from Godolphin at Fasig-Tipton's HRA July Sale last year, vanned off the track at Saratoga. Having resurfaced to win a claimer at Keeneland's fall meet, he has been thriving wildly since and last weekend won his second graded stakes–having meanwhile run Mindframe (Constitution) to a neck at Grade I level–in the GII Charles Town Classic. Banishing carries a healthy dose of Deputy Minister, responsible for his grandsire Awesome Again and also for his third dam, GII Demoiselle Stakes winner Minister Wife. The latter entered the Godolphin broodmare band in 2000, for $525,000 at the Keeneland November Sale, in time to join what tragically proved the only book of Dubai Millennium (GB). The resulting filly, Thousand Islands (GB), won a listed race in a light career with Andre Fabre and produced a couple of minor graded stakes performers. Minister Wife subsequently came up with Marietta (Machiavellian), who broke the track record in the GIII Arlington Oaks. Unfortunately, Marietta didn't really reward some classy covers, and was culled for $30,000 in 2020; and only this January at Keeneland she was followed out of the Godolphin program by her daughter by A.P. Indy. Dowager had shown fair ability, indeed breaking her maiden at Aqueduct by a dozen lengths; was in foal to Speaker's Corner; and her most recent representative on the track-her fifth foal-had only a few days previously beaten that hard-knocking stakes operator Tejano Twist (Practical Joke) in an Oaklawn allowance. Nonetheless, Sean Perl was able to get her for just $9,000. Barely two weeks after the auction Banishing followed up by seven and a half lengths in a stakes, initiating some relentless upgrades for his Speaker's Corner half-brother at the forthcoming September Sale. Bravo to Perl, who last year bought a young Curlin mare of very similar profile from Godolphin for $20,000 at the February Sale. Back in the same ring in November, she brought $325,000—her half-sister having in the interim emerged as champion Immersive (Nyquist). Ghostzapper was not handled very temperately when he started out, launched at $200,000 and slashed from $125,000 to $30,000 after his first juveniles blew out. Though a colt from that debut crop won a Grade I the following spring, he was cut again to $20,000. It was a long way back but his 105 stakes winners (16 at Grade I level) represent eight percent of named foals, essentially a match for the great Curlin. So while we wish him long and comfortable leisure in the years ahead, how heartening that his legacy only continues to grow. A Well Dressed Stud Prospect You can't have it both ways. Apparently Sovereignty “would” have won the Triple Crown. But the fact is that he wasn't deemed equal to the schedule–even in a year when the Belmont, as already noted, wouldn't have asked anything like the same question as usual. If Sovereignty is only imposing his brilliance so effectively because he was spared the Preakness, then his claims to greatness has been skillfully protected. If, on the other hand, he would have dominated the crop regardless, then he has been denied his due place in the pantheon by the meekness not of the modern Thoroughbred, but of modern horsemen. Everyone in this debate claims to be representing the “interests” of the horse, and therefore the sport. But if we're serious about equine welfare then we should be trying to identify those genes that best channel toughness and resilience. That's the purpose of the schedule we've inherited and trainers trying to bully the sport into abandoning it–and good luck, by the way, maintaining Main Street's attention once you make the series not only easier but much longer–appear complicit with the promotion of “commercial” brilliance that cannot reliably stand up to the demands of training. Be all that as it may, Sovereignty and Patch Adams last weekend elevated their phenomenal sire past $21.5 million in his regal progress to a seventh consecutive championship, matching Bold Ruler's 1963-69 streak. Bold Ruler added an eighth title in 1973 but Into Mischief–with his libido, fertility and books all holding up–is plainly menacing that modern record, too. His 2025 earnings currently stand 76% higher than those of his closest pursuer, Gun Runner (albeit 390 starters represent a nearly proportionate advantage over the latter's 241). Patch Adams | Sarah Andrew Obviously, even Into Mischief must share the credit for his best horses and, Sovereignty's maternal background having been thoroughly explored, we should acknowledge the depth of family behind Patch Adams. Its development will give WinStar huge satisfaction, as and when he returns to his native farm for a stud career. His third dam, Well Dressed (Notebook), was recruited for $150,000 at Keeneland in November 2001, as a stakes winner with a maiden cover by Awesome Again. The resulting filly has since become granddam of Cyberknife (Gun Runner); while the black type meanwhile proliferating beneath Well Dressed includes G1 Dubai World Cup winner Well Armed (Tiznow); the dam of GI La Troienne Stakes winner Played Hard (Into Mischief); and the granddam of millionaire Mr. Money (Goldencents). A sister to Well Armed, Life Well Lived, contributed only a maiden success to the dynasty but then produced four black-type operators, headed by Grade I turf scorer American Patriot (War Front). The only filly among these was Well Humored (Distorted Humor), winner of three races in just five starts, including a stakes at Tampa Bay. Patch Adams is her first foal. Well Dressed, herself out of a sister to the dam of Japanese giant Symboli Kris S (Kris S), traces to the export to Elmendorf Farm in 1899 of a mare named Berriedale (GB), heavily inbred to titanic Classic influences of the Victorian Turf. The Elmendorf connection lingered until 1945, when Well Dressed's fifth dam was foaled there. She shared a granddam with Whirlaway, the only Triple Crown winner to precede Sovereignty on the GI Travers roll of honor. In all Whirlaway won 32 races-from the Saratoga Special, over six furlongs, to the Jockey Club Gold Cup, then over two miles… A Triumph of Hope We all know notorious instances of top racemares proving abject producers, and that may be just as well when the most pragmatic compromise, in your mare budget, favors physical form over proven function. But then you get a race like the GI Ballerina Stakes, where replication of elite ability proves to be almost literal, with Hope Road (Quality Road) emulating the 2018 success of her dam Marley's Freedom (Blame). Just to underline the point, she was chased home by Scylla (Tapit), whose mother Close Hatches (First Defence) was herself a Grade I winner over the same track in 2014. Cicero Farms bought Marley's Freedom as a yearling for just $35,000, at the 2015 September Sale. Obviously, they could never have known that her young sire would become such a precocious distaff influence, but it must be tremendously fulfilling-having resisted lucrative opportunity to cash her out-to see her first cover now pay off in this way. The post Breeding Digest: No Banishing This Vital Ghost appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

DONCASTER, ENGLAND – The training ranks in Ireland could be set for a massive shake-up with Robson Aguiar, widely regarded as one of the sharpest minds in bloodstock, confirming that he hopes to join Adrian Murray on the licence later this year. The Brazilian native is due to sit the trainers' course in September and, in anticipation of being granted the licence by the authorities [IHRB], he has been busy searching for the next big-name star in Doncaster ahead of the Goffs Premier Yearling Sale. It is at this sale where Adrian Murray's recent Group 1 Phoenix Stakes winner Power Blue was sourced. In his current role as assistant trainer to Murray, Aguiar has almost single-handedly been responsible for the upsurge of fortune of that outfit, from which big-race successes have also been achieved with Bucanero Fuerte, Arizona Blaze, Valiant Force and more. “I am doing the trainers' course at the moment and, if that goes well, the plan will be to train on a joint-licence [with Adrian Murray] later this year,” Aguiar commented. “This sale has been lucky for us. We bought Queen Jo Jo, Brave Emperor, The Lir Jet, Arizona Blaze and Power Blue here. I have seen a lot of horses here this week and I like a few. There are a few racy horses here and, if they come my way, I will try to buy them. If they don't, that's okay.” Power Blue was bought by Aisling Noone and Simon Kavanagh of Drumloose Stables for just £44,000 here last year. After winning the first maiden of the year at the Curragh, a race that Murray landed the previous two seasons with Arizona Blaze and Bucanero Fuerte respectively, Power Blue went on to chase home Albert Einstein in the Group 3 Marble Hill Stakes before being sold to Amo Racing. It was Amo's familiar purple silks that Power Blue carried when making all to win the Phoenix Stakes at the Curragh earlier this month and Aguiar has big ambitions for the Space Blues colt. He said, “I had an idea that Power Blue was a Group 1 horse early in the season because I had been working him with Valiant Force, Arizona Blaze and Bucanero Fuerte. He matched them so I always knew he was a good horse. I think there is a lot more to come from him. If I had my way, I would put him away for this season because he had a hard race in the Phoenix Stakes and has already raced six times this year. I think he could be a Guineas horse for next year and he could even stay further when he fills into his frame. If you keep doing more now, you could empty him for next year.” Aguiar added, “Power Blue cost £44,000 and I gave £82,000 for Arizona Blaze. Not everybody jumps on first-season sires because they don't know what is going to happen so that's why we didn't have to give a lot of money for either of those. When I see a horse at the sale, I want to race them so I look for athletic types and I don't look much at the paper [pedigree]. The paper helps but it doesn't make them go faster. If you have paper and a nice horse, better still but you cannot run with only pedigree. I prefer to have the horse over the pedigree.” Aguiar has been busy inspecting horses at Goffs since Sunday. Few people have a better track record at unearthing hidden gems at bargain prices than he does and at times it seems as though he can see things that others can't given his roll of honour. Speaking about his approach to the sales, he commented, “I work hard [inspecting horses]. I look for racy, athletic horses with good action and they need to be strong enough as well. A little bit of size and scope is good too. Attitude doesn't bother me so much because some horses show a bad attitude here [whilst showing] because they are too tired to show or maybe they are too fresh. Attitude is nothing because, if a horse has a little bit of a bad attitude, you can work on them or maybe even give them more work and then they will put their head down for you.” He added, “I don't come to the sales to spend £200,000 or £500,000. I come here to buy a nice, racy horse for what they should be worth. I don't like overpaying for horses. If you like a horse but it goes over your price, let it go and move onto the next horse or even the next sale.” Aguiar may have cut his teeth at the breeze-up sales but his focus is almost entirely focussed on being involved in the training of horses for the track now. And while Kia Joorabchian remains one of the biggest clients on the books at his Mullingar-based operation in County Westmeath, he admitted that he would be open to outside owners joining the stable ahead of next year. He said, “If you invest a million in breeze-up horses you can maybe make two million but when you enter a horse for a breeze-up sale, the horse needs to be fast, sound and you need to tick all of the right boxes to get paid. It's not easy. When you race, if your horse is not ready, okay, no problem. You can run in another two weeks. You need to be ready for one day for the breeze-ups. Take Power Blue for example, he is a good horse but is not fast enough for the breeze-ups so maybe he would have only made £50,000 or £60,000 if he went there. Who are buying breeze-ups now? Wathnan Racing, Godolphin and Kia [Joorabchian, Amo Racing] buy the ones at the top. But if you don't hit the clock, you lose. I prefer to try and win a maiden on the racecourse and sell. And if you have a filly you can always try to get black-type and sell in December either.” Aguiar concluded, “I bought two – by Wooded and Hello Youmzain – for myself in France already this year and I usually try to buy two or three at every sale. Then I bring them home and maybe try to get some partnerships together. Because I am going training next year, I need a few two-year-olds so I will try to buy a few this week and maybe bring in some owners, sell some shares or something like that.” The two-day premier yearling sale, from which this year's Group 1 July Cup heroine No Half Measures is also a graduate from, kicks off on Wednesday at 10am. The post Soon-To-Be Trainer Robson Aguiar On The Hunt For Next Group 1 Star At Goffs appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The NTRA Top Thoroughbred Poll largely remains unchanged following last week's racing action, with Godolphin's Sovereignty maintaining his first-place position following his 10-length romp in the Aug. 23 Travers Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Race Course.View the full article

A total of 215 yearlings are catalogued for this year's CTHS Canadian Premier Yearling Sale, which takes place Wednesday, Aug. 27 at the Woodbine sales pavilion. The single-session auction begins at 11 a.m. ET. “Historically, [the Canadian sale] has been one of the best value-buying sales in North America,” said David Anderson, the president of both the national and Ontario branches of the Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Society (CTHS) that conducts the Canadian Premier sale. “The return on investment on these yearlings out of this sale is as good or better than any sale in North America.” This year's catalogue is down from 244 yearlings in 2025, however, Bernard McCormack of Cara Bloodstock–which is due to sell some 20 yearlings this year–said fewer available horses gives buyers a competitive advantage. In recent years, the Canadian sale has been trending upward. Last year, 244 yearlings were catalogued with 143 sold for a gross of $3,727,700 and an average of $26,297 that was up 10.6 % from the 2023 average of $23,778. The 2024 median of $19,000 was up 27% from the 2023 median of $15,000. “It's Canada's sale,” McCormack said. “Given everything with the dollar [exchange rate], given everything with the border, given everything with how much money these horses can earn out of this sale, it's a no-brainer in terms of giving it a hard look. I think the buyers, as we've seen in the sales so far this year down south, there's fewer horses around, and these are the horses that are going to win the money. So, the best thing to do is get out and find them and grab them.” Pointing toward the record-setting trade at Fasig-Tipton's recent Saratoga Yearling Sale, Glenn Sikura of Hill 'n' Dale Farms said, “I think that [the Canadian] sale has been remarkable, year in, year out. We've sold six horses that went on to win a million plus dollars. So, that gives you a pretty good indication. I'm sure Hill 'n' Dale Kentucky has done the same, but they've got the best of the best down there that they're selling. So, I think this is a remarkable place to buy a horse.” Hill 'n' Dale is due to sell nearly 30 yearlings this year at the Canadian sale. “You have, as a buyer, far less competition than if you were trying to buy something in Kentucky,” Sikura added. “And you know the good news about this sale is you're buying in Canadian dollars… those horses in Saratoga were really nice horses, but, wow, you saw their average, it was through the roof.” To view the complete catalog, click here. The post CTHS Canadian Premier Yearling Sale To Be Held at Woodbine Aug. 27 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 week's column is highlighted by the victory of Fille d'Oro at Saratoga. Wootton Bassett Filly Paints The Spa Gold Gregory Hoffman's Fille d'Oro (Wootton Bassett) dashed home a debut winner at Saratoga on August 23 (video). Bred by Ecurie des Charmes and Haras d'Etreham, the filly was picked up for €330,000 at the Arqana August Yearling Sale by Clay Scherer and is trained by Brad Cox. The third foal out of D'oro Diva (Medaglia d'Oro), Fille d'Oro is the two-time winner's first runner and winner. Her yearling filly is by Lope De Vega and she has a weanling filly by Pinatubo still to come. Granddam Daring Diva (Dansili) won the Listed Criterium de Vitesse and is the dam of multiple group winner Brooch (Empire Maker), herself the dam of GI Kentucky Derby and GI Haskell Stakes winner Mandaloun; as well as stakes winner Caponata (Selkirk), who placed four times at group level prior to foaling G3 Oh So Sharp heroine Merrily to the cover of No Nay Never. Daring Diva, in turn, is a full-sister to G1 Matron Stakes heroine Emulous, the dam of the 2024 G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe heroine Bluestocking (Camelot) and the shock G1 Sussex Stakes hero Qirat (Showcasing). Coolmore's Wootton Bassett has sired 25 winners from 47 runners in the U.S. His eight stakes winners include Grade I winners Audarya, Unquestionable and Henri Matisse, who have all won Breeders' Cup races. Repeat Winners Mark Dodson's Lupa won for the second time in three starts at Woodbine on Saturday (video). The daughter of Lope De Vega was bred by Rabbah Bloodstock. Alimara races for First Row Partners and Chad Brown. By The Grey Gatsby, she added a second win to her ledger at Saratoga on Sunday, August 24 (video). The post Making Waves: Wootton Bassett Filly The Toast Of Saratoga appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Lake Forest, the 2024 winner of the lucrative Golden Eagle at Rosehill in Australia, will return Down Under in the coming months, according to co-owner Tony Bloom's racing manager Sean Graham. In October is the A$20-million G1 The Everest, and then the No Nay Never colt will defend his Golden Eagle title in November. Trained by William Haggas for Bloom and Ian McAleavy, the chestnut was second in the G2 Lennox Stakes at Goodwood in July and in the August 23 G1 City Of York Stakes last weekend. Sean Graham, racing manager to co-owner Tony Bloom, said, “We know he wants seven and a half furlongs in a strongly-run race with plenty in it on quick ground, so there are a couple of races for him in Australia in October and November and that will be the long-term plan. “There's one in Sydney and then there's one on the final day of the Melbourne Carnival, both are quite valuable. He's proven he can travel, he's proven he's tough as teak and when the ground starts to soften there won't be much for him here anyway.” Haggas also trains Sky Majesty for the same owners, with the 3-year-old Blue Point filly taking the G3 Ballyogan Stakes at Naas on August 24. “Tom Marquand said the ground was beautiful at Naas, with a good bit of cut in it,” said Graham. “I think her main target for the end of the season will be the [G1] Champions Sprint on Champions Day at Ascot, hopefully the ground will come up soft then. “We'll wait to see how she is before making any decisions, but that would be what we're thinking.” The post Australia Beckons Again For Lake Forest appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

In advance of its 2025 Fall Meet, Keeneland launched its search of employees to fill positions in Concessions, Culinary, Dining, Guest Services, Parking, Retail, Security and other areas. More information can be found at www.Keeneland.com/jobs. The majority of positions offered during the Fall Meet are entry level and do not require any formal training other than the paid training that is provided by Keeneland. Employees for the entire Fall Meet typically work 40 paid hours each week. A number of available jobs are with Keeneland Hospitality, which provides food and beverage service for the entire Keeneland campus. People with all levels of culinary and wait staff experience are urged to apply. They will receive the opportunity to gain valuable food and beverage experience while training directly under professional chefs. The Hiring Center, which is located on the second floor of the race track Grandstand, will be open every Tuesday and Thursday through September from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. ET. The post Keeneland Hiring Center Begins Employee Recruitment for 2025 Fall Meet appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article