Wandering Eyes

Eating grass outside Bill Mott's barn Aug. 24, Sovereignty appeared no worse for wear following his Travers Stakes (G1) victory. He now aims to wrap up a Horse of the Year campaign with a Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) win.View the full article

The top two where never in any doubt, and that's how they ran with Sweet Azteca (Sharp Azteca) coming out on top in the GIII Rancho Bernardo Stakes at Del Mar. Locking horns with Formula Rossa (Vekoma) right from the jump, the fillies rolled through fractions of :21.82 and a half in :43.81, and were still at each other's throats entering the lane. The grey eventually overpowered her determined rival to win by open lengths in 1:15.44. Chismosa (Clubhouse Ride) came on to be third. Sweet Azteca also won the 2024 running of this race. The victress was last seen July 5 winning the GII Great Lady M Stakes at Los Alamitos over MGISW Kopion (Omaha Beach). Sunday, Del Mar RANCHO BERNARDO H.-GIII, $98,000, Del Mar, 8-24, 3yo/up, f/m, 6 1/2f, 1:15.44, ft. 1–SWEET AZTECA, 126, m, 5, by Sharp Azteca 1st Dam: So Sweetitiz (MSW, $180,480), by Grand Slam 2nd Dam: Sweetitiz, by El Prado (Ire) 3rd Dam: Tizsweet, by Cee's Tizzy O/B-Pamela Cee Ziebarth (KY); T-Richard Baltas; J-Juan J. Hernandez. $60,000. Lifetime Record: 9-7-0-1, $667,200. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. 2–Formula Rossa, 117, f, 3, Vekoma–Fay Na Na, by Majestic Warrior. 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. ($130,000 Ylg '23 KEEJAN; $270,000 Ylg '23 FTKOCT). O-Muir Hut Stables LLC; B-Greathouse Equine, LLC & Glencrest Farm, LLC (KY); T-Mark Glatt. $20,000. 3–Chismosa, 119, m, 5, Clubhouse Ride–You Can Dream, by Cat Dreams. O/B-Jaime R. Renella (CA); T-Rafael DeLeon. $12,000. Margins: 3HF, 2 3/4, 6 1/4. Odds: 0.40, 1.70, 11.90. Also Ran: Donttellourwives. Scratched: Visually. Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. SWEET AZTECA ($2.80) and @JJHernandezS19 throw down in the $100,000 Rancho Bernardo Handicap (G3) at @DelMarRacing for trainer Richard Baltas and owner/breeder Pamela Ziebarth. Watch on-site coverage of Del Mar on @FanDuelTV. Bet with @FanDuel Racing.https://t.co/XK3TJD0A2X pic.twitter.com/mtgDkJs1rx — FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) August 24, 2025 The post Sweet Azteca Too Much for Rancho Bernardo Foes appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Should we call him The California Kid? It trips off the tongue, certainly. Like The Great Gambino. Or The Iceman. If Journalism's nickname needs more than just a nice phonetic ring to it, then The California Kid seems fitting for a horse who appears to embody the sun- bleached Pacific Coast ideal. The surfer dude, never happier than out on the waves or cracking a beer on the beach, unfazed by all of life's other meaningless clutter. Just ask the horse's tightknit coterie of coaches, fitness gurus, therapists and (unofficial) horse whisperers (more on this last one in a bit). “He's the kind of horse that walks into a stall, gets in, has a roll on his right side, makes a circular turn, finds himself a nice area, gives it a pat or two, then gets down, rolls on his left side,” says trainer Michael McCarthy, after morning training recently, choreographing the action with his hands, as though guiding water down the drain. The thing is, wherever he goes–Churchill Downs, Pimlico, Saratoga, Monmouth Park–Journalism bears no prejudice. He marches into his lodgings and repeats his routine. No hesitation. No qualms. “Like he's always lived there,” says McCarthy. “It's his way of telling me, 'You know, I'll be fine here. I'll figure it out,'” says McCarthy, explaining how otherwise, Journalism keeps his room spic-and-span, careful of the decor. “It's one of the signs that you see from these really good horses.” Then there was the time, just a few months ago, when the McCarthy stable was in the midst of its annual exodus from Santa Anita to Del Mar, the horses filing one-by-one from the barn out into the waiting 12-wheeled Arcs. All but one horse–Journalism, who would remain at Santa Anita to fly out for the Haskell. The solitary leftover wasn't fazed. No racing around his stall, getting all hot and bothered. No calling after his companions. “I come around, all the horses are coming out of their stalls, coming down the shedrow, loading up, hollering at each other,” says Deedee Anderson, the owner of a successful equine therapy business whose client-list has long included the McCarthy barn. “I check on Journalism, make sure he's okay,” Anderson recollects. “I get to his stall, this horse has already eaten his breakfast and is just standing in the middle, leg cocked, having a snooze–with all of that going on around.” But maybe the moniker doesn't fit the character as much as it does the moment, of a horse hailing from a circuit that has endured more than its fair share of (well publicized) setbacks over the years, trained by a Cali-native who still, despite the pressures and obstacles this new reality presents, wouldn't want to ply his trade anywhere else. “Our racetrack surfaces here in California are, on the whole, day in and day out, better than anywhere. Absolutely. All of America,” says McCarthy, then leans forward in his office chair to punctuate the point. “You'll make sure that gets in there?” This is borne out in the statistics. The Jockey Club's data shows both Del Mar and Santa Anita consistency among the very safest tracks in the country. Amazingly, there were no race-day fatalities at Del Mar throughout all of 2023. It's also borne out in the way, despite such marked numerical contraction in recent years out west, California runners continue to consistently go toe-to-toe with the best of them, emerging with reputations enhanced. “The talent pool may have shrunk a bit here. But the level of talent here is as good as it ever was,” says McCarthy. And Journalism is another timely reminder. “The quality certainly remains.” After a string of spring and summer East Coast raids that saw him bring back trophies for the Preakness and Haskell Stakes (alongside honorable mentions in bookended Triple Crown events), Journalism's next assignment will require panning for gold on home soils. The GI Pacific Classic, next Saturday at Del Mar. The race will mark his seventh in six months–a campaign considered quaint by bygone tastes, but almost swashbuckling by contemporary ones. A sharp five-furlong workout Saturday certainly didn't hurt his chances of appearing. A hard decision, apparently, will come Tuesday (or possibly sooner). If he does line up next Saturday, the race will mark his seventh in six months–a campaign considered quaint by bygone tastes, but almost swashbuckling by contemporary ones. The way his trainer explains it, Journalism's fortitude lies in just the right balance of attributes from his sire (Curlin) and damsire (Uncle Mo), matching chassis with engine. “When you look at him on the end of the shank, you see a lot of Curlin there. You see a wonderful neck, incredible shoulder. Balance. Plenty of condition. He's an incredibly well-boned horse. You know, there's no real flaws looking at him. His eye–he's got an incredibly intelligent eye,” says McCarthy. “It would be odd to see him walking around and his ears aren't like this,” McCarthy adds, wiggling his middle and forefingers of his right hand, like a Watership Down glove-puppet. “He just has this personality. This fortitude. This confidence. I guess that's when I think of Uncle Mo. He was probably the most genuine racehorse I'd ever been around,” he adds, a nod to his assistant days to Uncle Mo's trainer, Todd Pletcher. McCarthy set out his shingle as a trainer in his own right just over a decade ago. In the intervening years, he has built a reputation as a scrupulously disciplined trainer with an uncanny eye for priming the big horses for their biggest assignments. He coaxed four Grade I victories out of City of Light (Quality Road), culminating in a Breeders' Cup-Pegasus World Cup one-two punch of some clout. He carved an Eclipse Award winning career out of the redoubtable Ce Ce (Elusive Quality). With Rombauer's (Twirling Candy) 2021 Preakness Stakes win, he planted his flag, Lewis and Clark style, along the Triple Crown trail. It's one thing to have time to ready the athlete for the big occasion, slowly bring them to the boil. The Triple Crown requires of horse and trainer to draw on an altogether different set of qualities, like the ability to thrown down, even when the battery's sapped, and still spring back for more, like one of those reflexive punchbags. “I believe there's something about a good horse, just as with any good athlete, there's something at some stage that sets them apart,” says McCarthy. Journalism's is a rare appetite for hard graft. “He put on weight between the Preakness and the Belmont. From a figure standpoint, it looked like his fastest race had come in the last of the three legs of the Triple Crown,” he says, before remarking how, after returning home from Saratoga, the horse appeared disinterested by the idea of downtime. “We tried giving him an easy couple of weeks. It didn't seem like he was interested in really being backed off on.” As any trainer will attest, a masterful slight-of-hand performed by many a Thoroughbred is to show all the signs of a full tank during morning training, only to see that gas gauge fall faster than Newton's apple of an afternoon. Was there any moment where the trainer has questioned his approach? “You're always kind of questioning yourself a little bit,” McCarthy says. “But I guess I never really questioned myself about running back in two weeks from the Kentucky Derby to the Preakness until maybe about the half-mile pole in the Preakness, when it didn't seem like he was quite as engaged as he was two weeks earlier. “I thought maybe that the Kentucky Derby had taken more out of him then I thought,” he says. “Maybe he wasn't quite himself for the Preakness, even though he was doing everything he'd want a good horse to do.” The final result, of course, speaks for itself. The win speaks, too, of his versatility. “He hasn't needed it one way or the other,” says McCarthy, pinpointing Journalism's performance in the Haskell at Monmouth Park, swooping from off the pace to gobble up his old Preakness foe, Gosger, in the shadow of the wire–it was the first time he'd encountered an off-track. “He has not had to take his racetrack with him.” Given these new dimensions Journalism has brought to his career, has McCarthy gleaned any new lessons of his own? Some new little tricks to add to his already over-stuffed training manual? The trainer demurs. The horse, he argues, has given him little to really sweat about since first stepping foot into the barn, an $825,000 price tag dangling about his neck. There were the usual sort of growing pains, he says, during the summer of his two-year-old season, when a growth spurt stalled any plans to kick his year off at Del Mar. “He's a big horse, carries a lot of condition, incredible amount of bone,” says McCarthy. Launch day would come later that October, at Santa Anita, a corner-store stroll from his stall. “It gave us no choice but to back off then for a handful of weeks, kind of slowly start back, knowing anyway that he's probably a two-turn type of horse,” he says. Still, “I think when you have a top-flight type of horse, I think you have more time to step back and chart a course and wait, [because] you know the ability that is there,” McCarthy says. “He's been an easy read from day one.” Anderson hovers outside Journalism's stall, feeding him chunks of carrot from her pockets–a useful means of distraction, she says, if you want to chance a pat down his neck, unadulterated. There's a positive correlation, apparently, between proximity to a race and his overall testiness. As Journalism munches away, Anderson extols the work of exercise rider Marc Witkowski. “Marc knows this horse really, really well. He talks to his horses, really knows their nuances,” she says, with a hushed sort of reverence typically reserved for potentates and religious leaders. Witkowski downplays the compliment. “I'm not a horse whisperer. I just understand them,” he says. Witkowski attributes his horsemanship to his time as a young hand on a Tucson, Arizona, ranch next to his grandmother's house, overseen by a man who told him always to talk to the horses, “and to treat humans and horses the same.” “He [Ramon] always said, for people, if somebody was hungry or needed something, you give it to them. With horses, always be kind to them–don't be mean with them ever,” he says. There's an interesting criss-cross of paths between horse and exercise rider. After winning the GII Los Alamitos Futurity, Journalism was on the easy list for a few weeks with a minor sickness. It just so happened that the rider was also out for a few weeks with a broken bone in his ankle and a twisted knee, the result of landing wrong when dismounting. Witkowski's return to the saddle coincided with Journalism's return to full work. “I got back on him when he was just getting back into his routine. We were both so happy,” he says. “I was so scared when that happened, when I hurt myself, that I was going to miss out on everything,” he says. “The first thing that went through my head was that I was going to miss out. I don't know–I just always knew after the Futurity that he would be going to the Kentucky Derby.” McCarthy, in turn, points to the crucial (and so often unheralded) work put in by his assistant trainer, Felipe Rivera, and by groom Rolando Navas. Navas has been with the barn for something approaching a decade, caring for the likes of graded-stakes winning The Lieutenant (Street Sense) and hardened street-brawler Ohio (Elusive Quality). Of Journalism, says McCarthy, “there have been a lot of constants with him.” Journalism's five-furlong slingshot of a workout was still on the horizon when we spoke, and the Pacific Classic was still an uncertainty. “It seems like he's thrived on going to these different venues, different locales, and is a smart horse, you know—he's interested,” McCarthy says, playing coy about his plans. In other words, wherever you take him, trust the horse to throw his hat into the ring. At the same time, “he's very at home here,” says McCarthy. Sounds a lot like the trainer. The post With New Tests on Horizon, Team Talks Journalism: I’m Not a Horse Whisperer. I Just Understand Them” appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

GRAND PRAIRIE, TX – The annual single session Texas Yearling Sale put on by the Texas Thoroughbred Association (TTA) and hosted by Dallas-area Lone Star Park is set for 10 a.m. CT on Tuesday, Aug. 26. The TTA catalogue has blossomed from 207 head in 2024 to 261 this year. The offerings include 63 from Texas, 115 from Louisiana, 30 from Arkansas and 11 from Oklahoma. An additional 22 horses have been entered for the mixed session for a total of 283. By the numbers, the 2024 edition, which showcased one of the smaller catalogues in sale history, reported 175 sold for $3,240,000. The average was $18,542 and the median was $11,000, while 77 went unsold. With over 60 on offer, the largest consignment goes to Highlander Training Center, whose sales prep for this year's sale is led for the first time by Colin Brennan. “We are looking forward to a very positive Texas sale this year,” said Chairman & CEO of Highlander Training Center Jeff Hooper. “We had tremendous interest from owners this year not only from Texas, but from Kentucky to Louisiana, to Arkansas to California for us to prep and sell their yearlings.” Hooper said that the auction has proven to be a marketplace where pinhookers can buy quality prospects, but it also serves those who are looking to race. “We have worked to tailor our consignment to provide what both types of buyers are looking for,” he said. “Colin is an exceptional horseman and well-connected throughout the industry.” The TTA catalogue includes a range of sires, plus first-crop stallions like Corniche, Early Voting, Mo Donegal, Mandaloun and Cyberknife. Click here to access the TTA website and here for the online catalogue. The post Annual Texas Yearling Sale Hosted By Lone Star Park Set For Tuesday Aug. 26 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Quisisana could be the surprise invite to European racing's biggest party after earning a free supplementary entry for the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (G1) with a win in the Prix Jean Romanet (G1) Aug. 23. View the full article

Randy Howg's homebred Take Charge Tom overcame a stumble at the start to get his first graded stakes victory in the CA$200,000 Canadian Derby (G3) by 5 3/4 lengths Aug. 23 for trainer Robertino Diodoro at Century Mile Racetrack and Casino.View the full article

Precise gave trainer Aidan O'Brien his first win in the seven-furlong Prestige Fillies' Stakes (G3) at Goodwood Racecourse Aug. 24, and earned herself an automatic starting position in the $1 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf View the full article

On the day before the win in the GI Forego Stakes by Book 'em Danno (Bucchero), trainer Derek Ryan had already made up his mind about the GI Breeders' Cup Sprint. He had no plans to go. “I'm really not that interested in the Breeders' Cup,” Ryan said. “I have no desire to go there. I'm sure I'll be pressured into it, but the Breeders' Cup is not on my radar. I'm not keen to run him on a track that I don't think will suit him. The stretch is too short and the track is speed-favoring. I don't know why they keep running the Breeders' Cup in California. We have some very good tracks here in the East.” Book 'em Danno is a 4-year-old and a gelding and Ryan wants to keep him around for several more years. “He's run four monster races in a row, starting with the race at Churchill,” he said. “They've been tough races. It has taken a little bit out of him. We want him to last. I need him around for a few more years. I'll get together with the partners and we will discuss it. Of course, the $2 million purse means something but I want the horse around for a few years. We'd like to extend his career for as long as possible and that's why I'm not convinced that going to the Breeders' Cup is the right thing to do.” In the Forego, Book 'em Danno, the New Jersey-bred, won by a length in what may have been his hardest race to date. But it also firmly established him as the top sprinter in the country. If the Breeders' Cup were run next week, he'd likely be the favorite. He's won three graded stakes in a row, all of them at Saratoga. The list also includes the GIII True North S. and the GII Alfred G. Vanderbilt S. The Forego, Book 'em Danno's first Grade I victory, might have been a game-changer. After what he showed on Saturday at Saratoga how can you not run him in the Breeders' Cup? By Sunday Ryan had softened his stance a little bit. “We'll talk about it down the road,” he said. “I am sure I will have a meeting with the partners. I'm a bit set in my ways. It's not a no and it's not a yes. It's a maybe.” Book 'em Danno is owned By Atlantic Six Racing, a group of six friends, all of them from the Jersey Shore. Jay Briscione is the managing partner. His thoughts on the Breeders' Cup? “It's the trainers' job is to do what he is doing,” Briscione said. “By any metric you look at, this is probably the most consistent horse in training. He deserves all the credit and Derek has done a great job, We have a good relationship with Derek and we always kick these things around and try to figure out the best spots for him. He is a gelding, We have a stewardship of him now because we want to keep him going and racing because he's developed such a following. Having said that, none of us has ever had a horse for the Breeders' Cup and it's an unbelievably exciting thing. I know it's a cliche. But we want to first see how he reacts and how he comes out of this race. Then we'll make our decision.” “The negatives are that he'll have to face some very good, fresh horses like Straight No Chaser and Bentornado. They'll be fresh and we've gone through a tough campaign. We'd have to ship all the way across the country. It's a speed favoring track with a short stretch. Those are the negatives. The positive is the $2 million purse. We're keeping an open mind.” No Triple Crown for Sovereignty While nothing is certain in racing it sure looks like Sovereignty (Into Mischief) would have won the Triple Crown had his connections decided to run him in the Preakness. He's simply the best 3-year-old around and even a super horse like Journalism (Curlin) can't beat him. Why would the Preakness have been any different? But this is what happens when the Triple Crown sticks to a schedule that calls for horses to run three times in five week and with only two week's rest between the GI Kentucky Derby and the GI Preakness. Trainer Bill Mott and the Godolphin team thought that was too much to ask of their horses and skipped the Preakness. Since, he's won the GI Belmont, the GII Jim Dandy and Saturday's Grade I Travers Stakes You can't blame Mott or the owner. They genuinely believed that running in the Preakness was not the right thing to do for the horse. But what if the Preakness were run on the first Saturday in June, which would have meant five weeks between the Derby and Preakness, the same gap that is now between the Derby and the Belmont? Unless they expand the time between the race, this could be a continuing problem. I have never understood why trainers are so afraid to run their horses back on short rest, but they are. Sovereignty won't be the last Kentucky Derby winner to pass the Preakness. And every time that happens, the sport will miss out on a possible Triple Crown winner. An intransigent NYRA won't hear of moving the date of the Belmont, even though their premier race has much to lose if they don't change their minds. First Saturday in May. First Saturday in June. First Saturday in July. That's the answer. Belterra Stewards Got It Right Congratulations to the stewards at Belterra Park, who did a lot more than slap leading rider Albin Jimenez on the wrist. Instead, they brought the hammer down after watching the replay of a ride in Thursday's second race at Belterra that was, to say the least, suspect. It was trainer Tom Drury, who saddled Jimenez's mount, the 3-5 shot Afleet Vintage (Afleet Alex), who asked the stewards to review the race. Afleet Vintage broke sharply and actually took the lead going into the first turn. But from there, it appeared that Jimenez had a tight lock on the horse and wasn't going to be happy until he wound up last. At the same time a horse named Permit to Carry (Goldencents), swooped to the lead on the far turn and looked unbeatable at that point. Jimemez finally started asking his horse and closed for a non-threatening second. The winner was ridden by Summer Pauly. We don't know what Jimenez said to the stewards, but they obviously weren't impressed, handing him a one-year suspension. The suspension will be reduced to six months if he does not file an appeal. Too many other stewards would have suspended him for 15, maybe 30 days. The Belterra stewards gave him the type of penalty that was appropriate for a ride like that. Good for them. The post Book ‘Em Danno Connections Wrestling with Breeders’ Cup Decision appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Karl Burke has trained some brilliant fillies in the last decade, but Venetian Sun is well on the way to becoming the most talented of the whole pile after winning the Prix Morny. View the full article

Connections of Journalism confirmed his entry into the Aug. 30 Pacific Classic (G1) at Del Mar, while Fierceness is confirmed to run as long as Mindframe stays on track for the Aug. 31 Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) at Saratoga Race Course.View the full article

Legion Racing, MHM Stables, Ed Stefanski and William Conlin's Carmel Coast (Omaha Beach), a 5 1/2-length debut winner at the Spa Aug. 10, will point to the GI Frizette Stakes on Oct. 4 at Belmont at the Big A, according to trainer Whit Beckman Sunday. The one-turn mile Frizette offers a “Win and You're In” berth to the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies at Del Mar. The connections opted to bypass the upcoming GI Spinaway on closing weekend. “We're going to wait for the Frizette,” Beckman confirmed. “We knew she was nice but when they do that in the afternoon it gives you a little more to work with. She ran fast but Kendrick [Carmouche] always said more distance for this filly, so we'll give her the time. We always thought moving along that she'll stretch out, but we'll take it step by step with her.” A $120,000 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Select Yearling Sale purchase, the filly is out of the Carmel Beauty (Arch), a full-sister to dual GISW Arravale, who was named Canada's Horse of the Year and Champion Grass Mare in 2006. The post Recent Maiden Winner Carmel Coast to Target Frizette appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Head coaches from two Capital Region sports programs will be available for photo and autograph opportunities at Saratoga as part of Fan Appreciation Week festivities (Aug. 27 – Sept. 1), according to a New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) release Sunday. Siena Men's Basketball head coach Gerry McNamara and Siena Women's Basketball head coach Terry Primm will visit Saratoga on Wednesday, Aug. 27, while newly appointed Adirondack Thunder head coach Sylvain Cloutier will make an appearance on Friday, Aug. 29. Both meet-and-greets will take place from 2 p.m. until 3 p.m. at the Jockey Silks Porch. McNamara and Primm will present a trophy in the Winner's Circle following Wednesday's fifth race entitled, Siena Saints MarchOn!, while Cloutier will follow suit during Friday's fifth race, Adirondack Thunder Skate into Saratoga! The coaches' appearances coincide with Fan Appreciation Week festivities at Saratoga which will include the season's final premium giveaway, a Saratoga quarter zip sweatshirt, free with paid admission while supplies last, on Sunday, Aug. 31. To purchase tickets for Fan Appreciation week, click here. For more information, visit www.nyra.com. The post Saratoga’s Fan Appreciation Week Led By Local Hoops, Hockey Head Coaches Signing appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Former Group 1-winning jockey Bruce Raymond has died. Raymond, more recently a racing manager for some of the biggest owners of the sport, was 82. Rainstorm (Premonition)'s win in the 1962 win in the Newbury Autumn Cup was his first big win, while Raymond was also successful in the July Cup, Nunthorpe Stakes, and Ayr Gold Cup. A three-time winner of the Haydock Sprint Cup, Raymond never won a Classic race, but did finish second with Blue Judge (Rainbow Quest) in the 1993 G1 Derby. Closely associated with trainer Michael Jarvis, Raymond also prevailed in the 1985 Prince Of Wales's Stakes with Bob Back (Roberto). Upon his retirement from the saddle, he became assistant to Joe Mercer as racing manager for Sheikh Maktoum Al Maktoum and his associates, and the racing manager of Rabbah Bloodstock upon Mercer's retirement. Some of his leading owners he represented included Saeed Suhail, Jaber Abdullah and Saeed Manana. Former jockey Philip Robinson became assistant to his great friend and colleague in 2018 and said, “He's going to leave a big, big hole in my heart and also in the heart of plenty of people in racing. He was racing's Mr Nice Guy and I don't know anyone with a bad word to say about him. “He's sort of been like a second father to me ever since my father died. He was close to my father and has been a very close friend of mine and a great work colleague. “He was someone who could find something funny in even the worst things and he could cheer up the day no matter what the circumstances, he was a joy to work with. “He was a people person and a joy to be around. He could make you smile, even on the saddest of occasions.” Raymond twice visited the Epsom winner's enclosure with a Derby winner as racing manager to Suhail, first with Kris Kin (Kris S.) in 2003 and later on the star-crossed Desert Crown (Nathaniel) in 2022. Suhail's colours were also carried to Group 1 glory a day before Raymond's death when the Andrew Balding-trained Never So Brave (No Nay Never) struck in the City of York Stakes. “I was sad in a way because I knew he would have been so happy had he been OK to watch Never So Brave, it would have been massive for him,” said Robinson. “I was sad driving home from York thinking Bruce had probably missed this and I know exactly what he would have been like had he been watching. “He had many great days in the job and I know how much enjoyment he got when Desert Crown won the Derby, that was a massive great lift for him.” The post Noted Jockey Bruce Raymond Dies At 82 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Jenny Norris, one of the leading consignors in Britain, runs through her draft of 'Donny rockets' The Goffs Premier Yearling Sale is riding the crest of a wave but so too is one of the leading British-based consignors, Jenny Norris, who will offer what she says is arguably one of her strongest-ever drafts at this year's sale. That is saying something as Norris is already responsible for six individual two-year-old winners this season from just over 40 yearlings that passed through her consignment last year. Among them features Windsor Castle Stakes winner Havana Hurricane (Havana Gold), along with the third from that race, Azizam (Havana Grey), while Norris also sold Group 2 July Stakes hero Jasour (Havana Grey) at the Premier Yearling Sale in 2022. Havana Hurricane was sold at the Tattersalls Somerville Sale for just 9,000 gns. He won on debut at Goodwood for Eve Johnson Houghton before providing connections with that day they will never forget at the Royal meeting. Such stories prove that, without parting with massive sums of money, you can go and take on the big boys and Norris says that she is hopeful that her track record of producing top-notchers can fuel return business at Doncaster this week. “You have to keep pinching yourself,” Norris commented. “I consigned three horses at the yearling sales last year that ended up running at Royal Ascot, with Havana Hurricane obviously winning the Windsor Castle Stakes. Azizam, who I sold here last year [for £46,000], won very nicely on debut before finishing third in the Windsor Castle behind Havana Hurricane so that was amazing. Sadly, the third horse, Harry's Girl, was fatally injured in the Queen Mary. We sold her here [for £36,000] and she won first time up for Richard Hannon at Newmarket before finishing second in the Listed Marygate Stakes so she was looking very promising so that was extremely sad.” Norris added, “As a British and a female consignor, it is a great buzz to get these horses to sell and it ensures that you keep getting nice horses from clients to sell on their behalf year after year.” While Norris was not active at Arqana last week, she observed with interest record-breaking trade at the top during one of the most memorable August Yearling Sales that has ever been held at Deauville. While the median and the average was down during the V2 session, the strongest clearance rate [86%] was posted for over a decade and many Irish buyers reported that it was the first time in history that they made the trip to France and didn't come home with a horse. In summary, the nicer horses are proving harder and harder to buy which is good news for Norris, because her nine-strong draft is packed full of potentially smart prospects. She said, “You'd have to be fairly upbeat about how Arqana went. I wasn't there but the figures were up and there seemed to be a very strong demand for horses across all levels. I think the main takeout so far this season is there has been a really good spread of winners. Even at Royal Ascot, smaller trainers, syndicates and a wide variety of different owners have enjoyed success so I think that helps. It's not just the bigger connections that are winning and, when connections who have bought more reasonably-priced horses are getting amazing results, it just provides everyone with a bit of hope. People can actually go out and buy a horse for not a lot of money and have a huge amount of fun so I think that message has carried through this season on the racecourse.” Norris added, “I have nine yearlings to sell this week and, when you look at their pages and see them in the flesh, they all scream Donny rocket. They are horses that should suit this sale and the one thing that is really exciting about our draft is that we have sire-power as well. We have yearlings by Mehmas, Sioux Nation, Blue Point and our Havana Grey filly is from the family of Shouldvebeenaring so you can't get much better than that, can you?” Norris was famously involved in the pinhooking of dual Group 1 winner Shalaa and, despite offering just a select number of yearlings every year, has twice topped Book 1 of the October Yearling Sale at Tattersalls. But her role as a consignor at the foal sales means that she doesn't buy as many to resell as she used to and the majority of yearlings offered this week will be on behalf of her growing client base. She explained, “I own two-and-a-half of the horses selling this week and it's just really nice to have been asked to consign some of the horses that we are consigning. They've all settled in well and we're very happy with what we have for this sale. Hopefully we'll still be happy on Wednesday and Thursday!” Norris concluded, “There is something for everyone and, as I said, we have a really good spread of stallions. I always feel like everyone is always in great form at Donny because it's the start of the yearling sale season in Britain and hopefully the only way is up from here. The winters can be long and, if you don't go to the breeze-ups and, if you are like me and you didn't go to France, it will be your first time seeing people on the sales ground for a while. It's always great fun catching up with people here and people are usually raring to go. There's always a good atmosphere here and, when you bring the right model – which we think we have -, you can do well.” The post ‘There’s Always A Great Atmosphere At The Goffs Premier Yearling Sale’ appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Amo Racing's Tattersalls October Book 1 millionaire Ancient Egypt (Frankel) registered a half-length debut win tackling an extended seven furlongs at Beverley last month and delivered a TDN Rising Star performance, racing under a seven-pound penalty, upped to one mile in Sunday's British Stallion Studs EBF Novice Stakes at Goodwood. “It was a messy, stop-start race, but the benefit was that he had something to aim at,” said Charlie Johnston. “He was still a little bit gawky when he did hit the front and it looked to me that there was plenty in the tank and that's what [rider] Rowan [Scott] says so it was very promising for the future. Today was about more education for the horse–he's a big playboy with a big personality to go with the ability and that's why I was keen to go for another novice before going up in grade.” Looking ahead, the trainer added, “I'd like to think he'll only get better with experience and you don't mind a bit of fire when you've got one with this much ability. He's in the [G2] Royal Lodge and that was in the back of my mind, but that said it's all about next year. He's going to be a serious three-year-old and anything we do this year will be with that in mind. He looks ready for ten furlongs even now, so you wouldn't think that twelve wouldn't be beyond the realms of possibility next year.” The 11-4 chance allowed the leader some measure of comfort and raced in second after an alert getaway. Taking closer order soon after halfway, he bounded to the fore approaching the quarter-mile marker and kept on powerfully under late urging to prevail by 1 1/4 lengths from Alfaraz (Nathaniel) in impressive fashion. Hmmm …. – a 1.1million guineas Frankel colt, remains unbeaten in the @BritishEBF Novice Stakes @Goodwood_Races With entries in the Royal Lodge and Dewhurst @NewmarketRace, this is a horse of huge potential for @amoracingltd and @Johnston_Racing pic.twitter.com/FYJ4cQvwMh — Racing TV (@RacingTV) August 24, 2025 Ancient Egypt is fifth of six foals and one of three scorers out of a winning full-sister to multiple Group 1-winning distaffer Midday (Oasis Dream). His dam Atone (Oasis Dream) is also kin to Group 3-winning G1 Nassau Stakes third Hot Snap (Pivotal), Group 3-winning G1 British Champions Fillies & Mares third Sun Maiden (Frankel) and the dual Group 3-placed Listed Gosford Gold Cup victor Midsummer Sun (Monsun). Midday's quartet of black-type performers is headed by the dual Group 3 winner Midterm (Galileo). The March-foaled bay is a half-brother to G3 Park Express Stakes runner-up Redressed (Le Havre) and a yearling colt by Lucky Vega. 5th-Goodwood, £30,000, Nov, 8-24, 2yo, 8fT, 1:38.68, g/f. ANCIENT EGYPT (IRE), c, 3, by Frankel (GB) 1st Dam: Atone (GB), by Oasis Dream (GB) 2nd Dam: Midsummer (GB), by Kingmambo 3rd Dam: Modena, by Roberto Sales history: 1,100,000gns Ylg '24 TATOCT. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $27,305. *1/2 to Redressed (GB) (Le Havre {Ire}), GSP-Ire. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. O-Amo Racing Ltd; B-Yulong Investments (Australia) Pty; T-Charlie Johnston; J-Rowan Scott. The post Frankel’s Book 1 Millionaire Ancient Egypt Powers to TDN Rising Stardom at Goodwood appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Aron Wellman, the managing partner for Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, has confirmed that GI Preakness and GI Haskell Stakes winner Journalism (Curlin) will make his next start in Saturday's Pacific Classic at Del Mar. The decision came after Journalism worked five furlongs in 1:00 Saturday at Del Mar. The $1 million race to be run on Aug. 30 will mark his first appearance against older horse. The field is also expected to included Nysos (Nyquist) and, possibly Fierceness (City of Light). This story will be updated The post Journalism to Go In Pacific Classic appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Monday, Ripon, post time: 15:15, THE BRITISH STALLION STUDS EBF RIPON CHAMPION TWO YRS OLD TROPHY-Listed, £40,000, 2yo, 6fT Field: Al Shaham (Ire) (Blue Point {Ire}), Amorim (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}), Anaisa (GB) (Ardad {Ire}), Awraad (Ire) (Awtaad {Ire}), Lam Yai (Ire) (Lucky Vega {Ire}), Saucy Jane (GB) (Lope Y Fernandez {Ire}), Temple Of Athena (GB) (Magna Grecia {Ire}). TDN Verdict: Seemingly trained specifically for this by the Crisfords, who have won three of the last five runnings, the £200,000 Goffs UK Breeze-Up purchase Al Shaham will be a warm order after two course-and-distance novice wins by a cumulative margin of 6 3/4 lengths. Amorim may have been well-beaten by the Prix Morny-bound Wise Approach when third in Newbury's Listed Rose Bowl Stakes, but that form looks a lot better after the runner-up Rock On Thunder went so close in the Gimcrack on Friday. [Tom Frary]. Click here for the complete field. The post Black-Type Analysis: Al Shaham Favoured At Ripon appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Lightly-campaigned for a five-year-old, Haras de la Perelle's homebred Quisisana put yet another feather in the cap of the Stud and her high-achieving late sire Le Havre when taking Sunday's G1 Sumbe Prix Jean Romanet at Deauville. Coming into the 10-furlong contest off a clear-cut win in Chantilly's Listed Prix de la Pepiniere, the Francis-Henri Graffard-trained 7-1 shot travelled smoothly for Christophe Soumillon and when given the command seized the advantage approaching the furlong marker. At the line, she had 1 3/4 lengths to spare over Survie (Churchill {Ire}), who was a nose in front of Grand Stars (Sea The Stars) for a French one-two-three. Godolphin's 11-10 favourite Cinderella's Dream (Shamardal) ran flat in fourth, just ahead of Ballydoyle's unlucky Bedtime Story (Frankel). “I have always adored this mare and was sure to win this race with her last year, but unfortunately she had another problem,” Graffard explained. “I have spent a lot of time on the phone giving bad news to her owner Mr Winter, but he has always supported me and kept faith in my judgement when I asked him to keep her in training. This a great reward and I'm delighted for him and the Stud.” “She has a lot of class, will appreciate soft ground and will stay a mile and a half, but the worry with her is keeping her sound,” he added. “I just learned that this race is part of the Arc Series program–she is not entered, but with this win she is eligible to run if we accept the free entry within two weeks so we will discuss that. She is also in the Opera. My good geldings can't run in the Arc, so she could be the one to represent the stable.” Quisisana wins the Group One Prix Jean Romanet in ready fashion at Deauville! pic.twitter.com/mZ8hAL2q3b — At The Races (@AtTheRaces) August 24, 2025 Sunday, Deauville, France SUMBE PRIX JEAN ROMANET-G1, €400,000, Deauville, 8-24, 3yo/up, f/m, 10fT, 2:05.73, gd. 1–QUISISANA (FR), 130, m, 5, by Le Havre (Ire) 1st Dam: Quamoclit (GB), by Sea The Stars (Ire) 2nd Dam: Quezon Sun (Ger), by Monsun (Ger) 3rd Dam: Quezon City (Ger), by Law Society 1ST GROUP WIN; 1ST GROUP 1 WIN. O/B-Haras de la Perelle; T-Francis-Henri Graffard; J-Christophe Soumillon. €228,560. Lifetime Record: 8-6-0-1, €332,210. *1/2 to Qitura (Fr) (Muhtathir {GB}), SP-Fr. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. 2–Survie (Ire), 130, f, 4, Churchill (Ire)–Sotteville (Fr), by Le Havre (Ire). O-China Horse Club International & Gerard Augustin-Normand; B-Franklin Finance SA; T-Nicolas Clement & Flo Hermans. €91,440. 3–Grand Stars (Ire), 130, f, 4, Sea The Stars (Ire)–Queen Guenevere (Ire), by Camelot (GB). 1ST GROUP 1 BLACK TYPE. (€260,000 Ylg '22 ARQAUG; €800,000 3yo '24 ARQDEC). O-Newsells Park Stud; B-Ballylinch Stud & Ecurie des Charmes; T-Gerald Mosse. €45,720. Margins: 1 3/4, NO, HF. Odds: 7.10, 11.00, 30.00. Also Ran: Cinderella's Dream (GB), Bedtime Story (Ire), Start Of Day (GB), Cankoura (Fr), Royal Dress (Ire). The post Arc Musings As Le Havre’s Quisisana Wins The Jean Romanet For Perelle appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

So impressive in the Greenham this spring, Juddmonte's Jonquil (Lope De Vega) has had to wait to add to his tally but proved as game as he is talented on Sunday to land Goodwood's G2 Celebration Mile. Sent off the 3-1 second favourite, the Andrew Balding-trained homebred relative of Frankel who had been runner-up in the Poule d'Essai des Poulains before two unplaced efforts over shorter stayed on under Colin Keane to reel in the Group 3-winning three-year-old filly Saqqara Sands (Oasis Dream) late on and record a neck success. Back. In. Business … pulls out all the stops to take Group Two honours in a belting renewal of the @VirginBet Celebration Mile @Goodwood_Races @AndrewBalding2 | @ctkjockey | @JuddmonteFarms pic.twitter.com/Tc4hdmbKVa — Racing TV (@RacingTV) August 24, 2025 The post Jonquil Back To Winning Ways In The Celebration Mile appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Capping a golden hour that Tony Bloom and Ian McAleavy will never forget, Sky Majesty (Blue Point) followed the exploits of Venetian Sun with her own power play in Sunday's G3 Tally-Ho Stud Irish EBF Ballyogan Stakes at Naas. Last year's Criterium de Maisons-Laffitte and Firth Of Clyde winner had warmed up for this with a course-and-distance win in last month's Listed Yeomanstown Stud Irish EBF Stakes and the William Haggas-trained even-money favourite showed how much she had improved in the interim when surging to an authoritative 1 3/4-length success from Vespertilio (Night Of Thunder). Brighton, at time of print, are losing 2-0 at Everton … But their chairman, Tony Bloom, has still had quite the afternoon. Venetian Sun won the Prix Morny, and now Sky Majesty rules in the @tallyhostud @IrishEBF_ Ballyogan Stakes @TomMarquand | @WilliamHaggas pic.twitter.com/sKYkkscQ0Q — Racing TV (@RacingTV) August 24, 2025 The post Blue Point’s Sky Majesty Brings Up Dream Double For Bloom and McAleavy In The Ballyogan appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Lining up in a stellar renewal of Deauville's G1 Sumbe Prix Morny as the sole filly, Tony Bloom and Ian McAleavy's Venetian Sun (Starman) did what she has been doing so well in 2025 and got the job done despite the opposition. Tracking the strong pace travelling kindly under Clifford Lee, the 29-10 second favourite edged ahead passing the furlong pole and after outstaying Wise Approach (Mehmas) found the line a short neck ahead of the 11-10 favourite Gstaad (Starspangledbanner). “She does everything so relaxed and has a temperament to die for–she was asleep when I saddled her and only pricked her ears going into the main paddock, which gave me some hope she was waking up,” trainer Karl Burke said of the winner, who now has the complete Group 1/2/3 set having captured the Albany and Duchess of Cambridge. “I've been saying for a little while that she's a special filly and she's proven that today. She has so much ability, but I was very worried about the ground, it's as quick as I've seen it at Deauville and I've been coming here for a few years,” he added. “She'll be better on easier ground and over an extra furlong, so all being well the Moyglare will be next. I've had some good fillies like Laurens and Fallen Angel, but at this stage she's way ahead of them.” VENETIAN SUN WINS THE GROUP ONE PRIX MORNY! pic.twitter.com/uiKPXC4Y3Q — At The Races (@AtTheRaces) August 24, 2025 Sunday, Deauville, France SUMBE PRIX MORNY-G1, €350,000, Deauville, 8-24, 2yo, c/f, 6fT, 1:08.39, gd. 1–VENETIAN SUN (IRE), 122, f, 2, by Starman (GB) 1st Dam: Johara (Ire) (MSP-Fr), by Iffraaj (GB) 2nd Dam: Hurricane Irene (Ire), by Green Desert 3rd Dam: Summertime Legacy (GB), by Darshaan (GB) 1ST GROUP 1 WIN. (240,000gns Ylg '24 TATOCT). O-Tony Bloom & Ian McAleavy; B-Tally-Ho Stud; T-Karl Burke; J-Clifford Lee. €199,990. Lifetime Record: MGSW-Eng, 4-4-0-0, €379,925. *1/2 to Sir Yoshi (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}), SP-Eng. Werk Nick Rating: C+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. 2–Gstaad (GB), 126, c, 2, Starspangledbanner (Aus)–Mosa Mine (GB), by Exceed And Excel (Aus). 1ST GROUP 1 BLACK TYPE. (450,000gns Wlg '23 TADEWE). O-Derrick Smith, Mrs John Magnier & Michael Tabor; B-Maywood Stud; T-Aidan O'Brien. €80,010. 3–Wise Approach (Ire), 126, c, 2, Mehmas (Ire)–Sagely (Ire), by Frozen Power (Ire). 1ST GROUP 1 BLACK TYPE. (1,000,000gns Ylg '24 TATOCT). O-Godolphin; B-Tally-Ho Stud; T-Charlie Appleby. €40,005. Margins: SNK, HF, 2. Odds: 2.90, 2.10, 6.80. Also Ran: Outfielder, Coppull (GB), Imperial Me Cen (Ire). The post Burke’s ‘Special Filly’ Venetian Sun Is Starman’s First G1 Winner In The Morny appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Goodwood's G3 Prestige Fillies' Stakes looked a strong contest on paper and that ultimately played out as the cream rose to the top with Ballydoyle's Precise (Starspangledbanner) enjoying the bragging rights. Sent off the 5-2 second favourite for Sunday's seven-furlong race which forms part of the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series: Win and You're In, the Cork maiden winner tracked the pace under Wayne Lordan before accelerating impressively to get to the front a furlong out. Pressed by Cheveley Park Stud's previously unbeaten 13-8 market-leader Moon Target (Cracksman) to the line, she held on to score by 3/4 of a length as Al Shaqab and Amo Racing's exciting Aylin (St Mark's Basilica) finished 1 3/4 lengths away in third. The winner gets an automatic berth in the $1 million John Deere Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf. Another day, another Group-race success for @Ballydoyle This time it's , who holds a raft of sexy entries, in the @VirginBet Prestige Fillies' Stakes @Goodwood_Races The manner in which he lengthened under pressure must have given @waynemlordan a real kick pic.twitter.com/QkEFdObvju — Racing TV (@RacingTV) August 24, 2025 The post Ballydoyle’s Precise Wins The Prestige, Qualifies For The Juvenile Fillies Turf appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Godolphin and Andre Fabre have a new star on their hands if the evidence of Sunday's G2 Sumbe Prix du Calvados at Deauville is anything to go by. Lining up with confidence behind her, the 11-10 favourite My Highness (Ghaiyyath) who had won a brace of conditions events went through the seven-furlong juvenile staging post with a degree of comfort despite the strong pace set by the Princess Margaret winner Fitzella (Too Darn Hot). Swamping that British challenger at the furlong pole, the homebred drew away under Cristian Demuro to score by 1 1/4 lengths and clear of the rest. Godolphin representative Louise Benard revealed the team's regard for the winner afterwards. “This was a test to confirm what we think about her–you can be confident beforehand, but the only judge is the finish line and she showed her class,” she said. “She is adaptable and has improved with every race and has never had a hard time. Hopefully we can expect more and if necessary she could have one more run before the Prix Marcel Boussac, but Mr Fabre will decide that.” My Highness looks a filly to be reckoned with as she impresses in the Group Two Prix du Calvados! She reels in Fitzella on the run for home and kicks clear to win in good style… pic.twitter.com/uuWldtndDe — At The Races (@AtTheRaces) August 24, 2025 Sunday, Deauville, France SUMBE PRIX DU CALVADOS-G2, €119,000, Deauville, 8-24, 2yo, f, 7fT, 1:20.73, gd. 1–MY HIGHNESS (IRE), 123, f, 2, by Ghaiyyath (Ire) 1st Dam: Majestic Queen (Ire) (GSW-Eng & Ire, $235,278), by Kheleyf 2nd Dam: Night Fairy (Ire), by Danehill 3rd Dam: Sassenach (Ire), by Night Shift 1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. O/B-Godolphin; T-Andre Fabre; J-Cristian Demuro. €67,830. Lifetime Record: 4-3-1-0, €104,080. *1/2 to Maria Amalia (Dubawi), SW-Ger. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. 2–Fitzella (GB), 123, f, 2, Too Darn Hot (GB)–Shamandar (Fr), by Exceed And Excel (Aus). (60,000gns Wlg '23 TADEWE; £170,000 Ylg '24 GOFFUK). O-D R Passant & Hefin Williams; B-Parks Farm Stud; T-Hugo Palmer. €26,180. 3–Nandita (Ire), 123, f, 2, Blue Point (Ire)–Roseau City (GB), by Cityscape (GB). 1ST BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (165,000gns Wlg '23 TADEWE; 725,000gns Ylg '24 TATOCT). O-Lady Bamford; B-McCracken Farms Ltd; T-John & Thady Gosden. €12,495. Margins: 1 1/4, 3, 1HF. Odds: 1.10, 1.90, 28.00. Also Ran: Ceramic (Ire), True Test (GB), Arkansas (Fr), Polly Shelby (Fr). The post Ghaiyyath’s My Highness Oozes Class In The Calvados, Marcel Boussac The Plan appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

What Pakenham Races Where Southside Racing Pakenham – 420 Nar Nar Goon – Longwarry Rd, Tynong VIC 3810 When Monday, August 25, 2025 First Race 2pm AEST Visit Dabble Pakenham’s all‑weather track hosts a quickfire six‑race program on Monday, August 25, 2025. The first event jumps at 2:00pm AEST, while the last is set for 4:30pm AEST. Clear skies are forecast for the meeting, meaning there should be minimal kickback, with every runner getting their chance if good enough. Best Bet at Pakenham: Zambardo Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr look to have found the right kill with Zambardo in the 1600m maiden. He’s been ultra-consistent so far in his career, and the step to the mile on the Synthetic should see him settle midfield with cover from gate five before building through his gears from the 500m. Ethan Brown sticks at 59.5kg, and the stable’s strike-rate on the poly is a nice bonus. With a solid tempo likely courtesy of on-pace runners drawn inside, Zambardo’s last-400m profile suggests he can round them up and put the race to bed late. Best Bet Race 3 – #8 Zambardo (5) 4yo Gelding | T: Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) | J: Ethan Brown (59.5kg) Next Best at Pakenham: Austrata Rock-hard fit and beautifully drawn, Austrata gets a made-to-order setup in the BM58 mile. The Reece Goodwin-trained gelding has been racking up runner-up finishes and now finds barrier one with Daniel Stackhouse to ride a map advantage—leaders/back of leaders on this circuit is perfect. Up to 63kg isn’t ideal, but his rating edge at this grade and the inside marble offset plenty. Expect him to hold the rail, control, and kick as they straighten. Next Best Race 4 – #1 Austrata (1) 7yo Gelding | T: Reece Goodwin | J: Daniel Stackhouse (63kg) Best Value at Pakenham: A Pinch Of Luck At a huge price with horse racing bookmakers, A Pinch Of Luck appeals each-way in a wide-open BM58 (1400m). He has prior ratings to win at this level and draws perfectly in barrier three to stalk a genuine clip. The mare’s first-up run looked a pipe-opener, and second-up on the poly should suit her pattern perfectly. With Dakotah Keane claiming 1.5kg, she gets in nicely against several that either map awkwardly or are kicking off their preps. If they’re making ground two-to-four off the fence early in the meeting, she’s poised to run a big race at odds. Best Value Race 5 – #9 A Pinch Of Luck (3) 6yo Mare | T: Mitchell Leek | J: Dakotah Keane (a1.5) (59kg) Monday quaddie tips for Pakenham Synthetic Pakenham Synthetic quadrella selections Monday, August 25, 2025 8 1-6 1-3-6-9 3-8-9-11 Horse racing tips View the full article

Palmerston North trainers Kevin and Stephen Gray had a near perfect weekend, with four of their five runners collecting winner’s cheques. Ready Response (Better Than Ready) was their sole representative at Hawera on Saturday. He ran third on debut at the track a fortnight ago and the father-and-son duo were confident he could go two better in the Canter 4 Cancer Maiden 1400, and he duly delivered, running out a one length victor over Amazing Son. “He went well first-up and we just sent him back to where he ran well,” Stephen Gray said. “We knew he would improve, and he did. It was a very good ride by Bruno (Queiroz) to get him up.” A day later, the Grays continued their perfect weekend run at Awapuni’s synthetic meeting where their highly fancied gelding Toronto (Vancouver) also broke through for his maiden win in the Sean Coleman Painting 1200. Like Ready Response, Toronto ran third on debut, but at Awapuni, and the Grays elected to head back to the course with the five-year-old on Sunday and were rewarded. The son of Vancouver had been in Stephen Grays care while he was training in Singapore, and he was delighted to get a winning result for his loyal owners, who elected to send the horse to New Zealand with Gray when racing ceased in the racing jurisdiction. “He is a very nice horse. He won a trial impressively in Singapore and not long after that he hurt his tendon,” Gray said. “He is owned by Mr Lim (Siah) and Paul Hickman, who were our two best clients during our time in Singapore. “Paul Hickman was St George Stable and I think we trained 98 winners for him. Mr Lim’s stable was champion owner for many years. We trained many winners for him and actually took a horse to Royal Ascot for him called Lim’s Cruiser. “When he (Toronto) hurt himself, we were going home and he said take him home and if he stands up in time race him and if not find a home for him. “He is a lovely horse, and he can really gallop.” In the following race, Our Akashinga (Exceedance) kept the stable’s winning run going when taking out the HR Jones & Co Ltd 1200, however, Queiroz had to call on all his skill to weave a passage along the rail to pip leader Knowledge Is Power at the post to score by a head. “She was in a bad position, but she is a very promising mare, and I think she will get a mile and 2000m eventually. She has got a massive future,” Gray said. Exaggeration (NZ) (Embellish) completed the stable hat-trick at the meeting when running over the top of his rivals to score his third win from four career starts in the Evans Henderson Woodbridge Barristers & Solicitors 1400. “He is really impressive,” Gray said. “He is a beautiful horse that Mum and Dad bred. He has got a great future and he will get further.” The Grays have utilised Awapuni’s synthetic track over winter and said it is a great tool to use over the wetter months. “For Dad and I, we decided to run them on the all-weather instead of running them on the heavy tracks, which has allowed us to keep them in work, and they will go into spring for some nice grass racing,” Gray said. View the full article