Wandering Eyes

Michael Blowen had no money, no farm, no horses and no backers. But he did have an idea. He wanted to open a farm that would be a sanctuary for some of the sport's biggest names who were either gelded or no longer being used as sires or broodmares. Somehow moving mountains, he pulled it off and his Old Friends Farm became home to hundreds of Thoroughbreds and a popular tourist attraction. But now he has decided to retire, 20 years after he opened Old Friends, and turn the reins over to John Nicholson. On this week's TDN Writers' Room podcast presented by Keeneland, Blowen discussed why he is retiring and some of his fondest memories from a job he instantly loved. “When you get a certain age and you can see the finish line, you know,” Blowen said. “It's like you're turning for home and you go, 'Oh, there's a finish line.' So you better figure out what's going to be happening or what you can do to make everything a little better. And so I started looking for somebody a couple of years ago to take over, and I could never find the right person. Then I ran into John Nicholson. And I would probably still be doing this if I hadn't run into John, because John was the perfect person. I thought, 'boy, oh boy, if he'll do this, it would be great'. People who know John know that he ran Kentucky Horse Park for a long time. He loves the horses.” His favorite horse? Silver Charm. “It's hard for me to explain it in one way, because it's hard to explain why you fall in love with somebody,” Blowen said. “No matter who or what you fall in love with your life is going to change. When Sandy Hatfield called me in November of 2015 and said, how would you like an old gray stallion at your farm, I freaked out. The only problem was I couldn't tell anybody. They're supposed to keep it a secret. And then I did keep it a secret, which is probably the only secret I ever kept in my life. But I kept that one. And when he got here on Dec. 1, 2015 that was the greatest day of my life. I didn't even know him, because the first time I ever laid eyes on him in person is when he got off the trailer on that day, but I know I was totally enthralled.' Though retiring, Blowen plans to spend plenty of time at Old Friends. “You'll have to drag me out of here,” he said. “I told my wife, when I die, the house where we live in, we have a great house here, and the back backyard is one of the two places where we have cemeteries. I told my wife, when I die, get me cremated, throw my ashes out the back. Just don't put my lifetime earnings on the side. This week's look at a Coolmore sire focused on Jack Christopher (Munnings). He won three Grade I races and was five-for-five around one turn. He was such a special specimen that Zoe Cadman never forgot her impressions of him when she saw him at Saratoga before he ever raced, noting that he was so perfectly put together that she knew he would be a star. Elsewhere on the podcast, which is also sponsored by Elite Power, WinStar Farm, the Pennsylvania Horse Breeders Association,https://www.kentuckybred.org/https://www.nyrabets.com/ 1/ST Racing, the KTA & KTOB, West Point Thoroughbreds and XBTV.com, the team of Randy Moss, Cadman and Bill Finley expressed their gratitude for having earned an Eclipse Award in the Multi-Media category. Our interview with Wade Jost was selected as the winner. Jost is the father of Carson Jost, who, like Cody Dorman, suffers from Wolf-Hirschhorn Syndrome. Jost, a classmate of Terry Finley at West Point, went in with his syndicate on Carson's Run–named in his son's honor. All agreed that it was Jost who made the podcast so memorable and the team decided it will gift the Eclipse Award trophy to the family. The team also touched on the big shakeup in Maryland, where a new entity, the Maryland Thoroughbred Operating Authority, which will be similar to NYRA, is set to take over the operation of Maryland tracks and, finally, will rebuild Pimlico. That will also mean that the GI Preakness S. will be run at Laurel in 2025, 2026 and 2027. The group also examined the 2024 economic indicators for racing, which included a 3.7% decline in total handle and a small decrease in purses. The post Michael Blowen Joins TDN Writers’ Room Podcast appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The landmark 150th Kentucky Derby (G1) on Saturday, May 4, will be the richest in history as the purse for America's greatest race has been elevated to a guaranteed $5 million.View the full article

The 150th GI Kentucky Derby scheduled for Saturday, May 4 will be the richest in history as the purse for America's greatest race has been elevated to a guaranteed $5 million, Churchill Downs Inc. (CDI) said in a release Wednesday. The $2 million increase to the race highlights a record-setting, 50-race stakes schedule cumulatively worth $25.6 million for Churchill Downs' 2024 Spring Meet, which will be run over 43 dates from April 27-June 30/ The Derby purse structure was the subject of a Chris McGrath TDN interview with John Sikura, where he questioned the $3 million purse. The cause was later taken up by Mike Repole. Prize money for the stakes schedule increased 25% or $5.1 million from last year's $20.5 million lineup which is due to historical horse racing. Prior to the debut of historical horse racing at CDI's Derby City Gaming in September 2018, that year's Spring Meet featured 32 stakes races worth $8.8 million. There are now 18 additional Spring Meet stakes, and prize money for horsemen in those events has grown 190% or by $16.8 million. “These record purse increases are a symbol of the health of horse racing in Kentucky,” said Bill Carstanjen, CEO of Churchill Downs Incorporated. “Churchill Downs Incorporated's over $1 billion investment into live and historical horse racing in Kentucky over the last five years has meaningfully strengthened the entire Kentucky Derby Week and year-round racing program. It's important to acknowledge the state legislature for its commitment to working closely with private enterprise in a truly collaborative partnership to support the continued growth of Kentucky's signature industry.” Thirty-eight of the 2024 Spring Meet stakes races received significant purse hikes, including $250,000 boosts to each of the following: the $1.5 million GI Kentucky Oaks; $1 million GI La Troienne S.; $1 million GI Churchill Downs S.; $1 million GI Derby City Distaff; and $750,000 GII Churchill Distaff Turf Mile. Each of the track's seven Grade I events, including the Old Forester Bourbon Turf Classic S. and Stephen Foster S., feature a minimum $1 million purse. With a record $5 million in prize money now guaranteed for the Kentucky Derby, the winner will receive the event's highly sought-after gold trophy, a $3.1 million payday and possibly millions more as a stallion after retirement from racing. Also, $1 million will be awarded to the runner-up, $500,000 to third, $250,000 to fourth and $150,000 to fifth. Previously, the Kentucky Derby purse had been worth $3 million since 2019, and was $2 million from 2005-18 and $1 million from 1996-2004. “It is truly gratifying to view the steady growth of the Churchill Downs racing product and the entire Kentucky horse racing and breeding industry, which bettors around the world have embraced,” said Churchill Downs Racetrack President Mike Anderson. “Through the purses generated by the racing association and the Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund, Kentucky horsemen and horsewomen are reaping the benefits of Churchill Downs Incorporated's historic investment as we celebrate this year's milestone 150th Kentucky Derby.” Pretty Mischievous | Horsephotos At $1.5 million, the 1 1/8-mile Kentucky Oaks–the Derby's sister race staged one day prior on Friday, May 3–remains the nation's most lucrative race for 3-year-old fillies. It had been worth $1.25 million since 2019, and was $1 million from 2011-18 and $500,000 from 1996-2010. All told, there will be a record 22 stakes races cumulatively worth $17.5 million staged over Kentucky Derby Week (April 27-May 7), including nine stakes totaling $10.8 million on Derby Day and seven totaling $5.3 million on Oaks Day. Four races on Kentucky Derby Week will offer horses an entry and travel incentive to run in some of Europe's most prestigious races. The winner of the Old Forester Turf Classic will receive a berth to either the one-mile G1 Queen Anne S. or the 1 1/4-mile G1 Prince of Wales's S. at Royal Ascot in mid-June. Earlier on the Kentucky Derby Day program, the winner of the GII Twin Spires Turf Sprint will receive an entry to the G1 King's Charles III S. (formerly known as the King's Stand), also staged at Royal Ascot. Three-year-old turf specialists in the GII American Turf and GII Edgewood S. can receive their entry to either the G1 Betfred Derby or G1 Betfred Oaks at Epsom Downs. The winner of the American Turf on Kentucky Derby Day will receive an entry and travel stipend to compete in the Betfred Derby while the winner of the Edgewood on Kentucky Oaks Day will receive the same benefits for the Betfred Oaks. The first condition book of scheduled races is being finalized by Vice President of Racing Ben Huffman and is expected to be published in late January. More than $57 million in total prize money is expected to be offered during this year's Spring Meet (pending Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund final approval). Purses for maiden races will be $120,000 while allowance races will range from $127,000 to $141,000. Spring Meet stall applications are due Friday, Mar. 1. Following its annual closure for wintertime renovations, the Churchill Downs stable area will reopen Tuesday, Mar. 19. The first day of training on the main dirt track will be Friday, Mar. 22. For the second consecutive year, Churchill Downs Incorporated's nearby Trackside Louisville, which accommodates more than 500 horses, has remained open year-round for wintertime stabling and training for racing at Turfway Park in northern Kentucky. The post Kentucky Derby Purse Raised By Churchill Downs To Record $5 Million, 50-Race Stakes Schedule Cumulatively Worth $25.6 Million appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The landmark 150th Kentucky Derby (G1) on Saturday, May 4, will be the richest in history as the purse for America's greatest race has been elevated to a guaranteed $5 million.View the full article

Luis Yamil Marcano, who spent most of 2023 riding at Belterra Park, before returning to his native Puerto Rico in October to ride at Camarero, died Sunday night from injuries he sustained from a motorcycle accident. He was 19. The news was first reported on Camarero's Facebook page, which posted the following: “Camarero Racecourse regrets the sudden death of rider Luis Yamil Marcano. Luis graduated from the Agustín Mercado Reverón Equestrian Vocational School in 2022 staying active since then in races at Camarero Racecourse and several racecourses in the United States. Our deepest condolences to all his family and friends. May he rest in peace!” According to reports, Marcano was traveling on a white 2009 Honda CRF-450 motorcycle which was hit by a Ford F-150 vehicle. That driver of that vehicle fled the scene. Sources close to Marcano said he was planning to return to the U.S. to ride at Tampa Bay Downs. He made his debut Jan. 1, 2023 and won on his second career mount. He raced 382 times and rode 52 winners. He also was active at Thistledown, Horseshoe Indianapolis, Ellis Park, Churchill Downs, Keeneland, Mahoning Valley and Turfway Park. The post Apprentice Jockey Luis Marcano Dies In Motorcycle Accident In Puerto Rico appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The Kentucky Equine Education Project (KEEP) unanimously elected to their board Shannon Cobb to serve as chair and Rob Tribbett to serve as vice chair, the non-profit said in a release Wednesday. The pair will replace Case Clay and David Ingordo, who will both continue their service on the KEEP Board. Cobb, the Chief Operating and Financial Officer at Red Mile Racing and Gaming, and Tribbett, Vice President of the Consignors and Commercial Breeders Association in Lexington, Kentucky, and General Manager of Watercress Farm in Paris, Kentucky, bring a wealth of experience to KEEP's strategic direction. “It's an honor to be entrusted with the position of Chairman at KEEP,” said Cobb. “I am eager to collaborate with our Board of Directors and the entire equine community to drive further growth and prosperity for Kentucky's vibrant equine industry. I am committed to upholding KEEP's mission and ensuring its success.” Will Glasscock, KEEP's executive director said, “The appointments of Shannon Cobb as Chairman and Rob Tribbett to these roles reinforce KEEP's commitment to fostering industry expertise and leadership within our board. Their combined experience and dedication will undoubtedly steer us toward continued success in promoting and advancing Kentucky's thriving equine economy.” Click here for more information about KEEP. The post Cobb And Tribbett Elected To KEEP’s Board Of Directors appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

England's Jockey Club plans to provide greater transparency over its business performance as British racing's largest commercial operator revealed it will offer more than $76.2 million in purses across its 15 racecourses for the first time this year.View the full article

British Horseracing Authority chief executive Julie Harrington has urged British racing not to rush to "snap judgements" on Premier and Sunday evening racing after both initiatives were met with mixed reactions.View the full article

Since the publication of Patrick Cooper's letter suggesting that the Irish Derby should be shortened in distance we have had a predictably mixed response in correspondence on the subject. You can find Cooper's letter in full here. In essence, it highlights the fortunes of two Frankel colts, the Irish Derby and Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud winner and Arc runner-up Westover and the Dewhurst and 2,000 Guineas winner Chaldean, both of whom raced for Juddmonte. The latter is now a Juddmonte stallion at Banstead Manor Stud, while Westover is about to embark on his first season for the Yushun Stallion Company in Japan. It is worth pointing out that another son of Frankel, the Derby and King George winner Adayar, plus his fellow King George winner Hukum, have both also been exported to Japan. This lack of a Flat stud berth in Europe is not a problem solely affecting Irish Derby winners, though admittedly the last three winners prior to Auguste Rodin are all now at Coolmore's National Hunt division, along with another King George winner, Pyledriver. In the cases of Westover, Adayar and Hukum, however, there are also extenuating circumstances, up to a point. It is easy to understand that neither Darley nor Juddmonte want to retire two new sons of Frankel to their stallion units for the forthcoming season. Juddmonte, after all, has the goose who lays the golden eggs, Frankel himself, while Darley has Cracksman, who has recently been joined by Triple Time. Like Chaldean, the latter is a Group 1-winning miler and therefore, in the current climate, deemed to be an easier sell to breeders. It is a depressing fact, but I can see that it makes business sense. Hukum is of course a son of Sea The Stars and, had his full-brother Baaeed not retired to Shadwell's roster the year before him, then it is hard to imagine that homebred Hukum would have joined Adayar on the plane to Darley Japan, despite the retirement of Mostahdaf – yet another Frankel – this year. Cooper ended his letter with the plea: “Shorten the Irish Derby.” He is not alone in considering this the best option. John Hammond, trainer of one of the best Irish Derby winners of the modern era in Montjeu, agrees with him, and said, “I was always in favour of the Prix du Jockey Club being reduced to 2,100m, even though it wasn't unanimously popular at the time.” The difference then though was that the shortening of the Jockey Club coincided with the extending of the G1 Grand Prix de Paris, which is also only open to three-year-olds and has been run over 2,400m since 2005 (having also been run at up to 3,100m in its history, and at 2,000m from 1987 until the most recent change). Hammond added of the Prix du Jockey Club, “It was silly having two 2,400m Derbys so close to each other while the only 2,000m Group 1 for three-year-olds only was the Lupin which was effectively a Derby trial and frequently a weak race. The Jockey Club is a better race now and I would imagine the average field size has increased too. Everyone has a crack now, the milers, mile-and-a-quarter horses and mile-and-a-half horses. Last year a champion 2,400m horse won and a top miler was second.” Ireland has no such option to alternate between Group 1 races for three-year-olds. If the Irish Derby is shortened the only Group 1 race beyond 10 furlongs and available to three-year-old colts would be the Irish St Leger in September, which is also open to older horses. How can Ireland pride itself on being the cradle of the Thoroughbred if this becomes the case? Hammond is not the only supporter of Cooper's argument. Charlie Murless also got in touch to say, “I hate to say it because I grew up on the Curragh, and all my life Irish Derby Day was a very special day and a very special race. Sadly no longer, for a number of reasons (a large number!) in addition to Patrick's excellent breeding rationale. The distance must be changed.” We can count Hammond as Irish-assimilated despite being English-born and a long-term resident of France because he spent many of his formative years in Ireland. Cooper and Murless, too, have longstanding ties to the race and feel that it must be shortened. Is that the answer though? I do not believe so, but then I live on the other side of the Irish Sea. Another Brit, Gerard West, contacted us with a strongly-worded email. “This would be catastrophic for Irish and European racing,” he said. “The very foundations of our racing are based on our variety of race distances, something that has attracted breeders from all over the world. Breeders are no longer breeding to race, they're breeding for the yearling and foal sales ring. Stallion masters are recruiting colts for that purpose too. “For some years now come Derby time it's not a matter of who's going to win but more a matter of who's going to stay. We not only need staying types for the Flat but National Hunt too.” We all have a metaphorical hill on which we would die, and mine is that if it ever comes to pass that the Derby is shortened from a mile and a half I would find it hard to continue my association with racing, notwithstanding the fact that it was a mile race for its first four runnings. Of course Derby Day is now nothing like Frith's great painting of the 1850s depicting all manner of human life on the Epsom Downs. The painter described in his autobiography his first visit to Epsom in 1856: “My first Derby had no interest for me as a race, but as giving me the opportunity of studying life and character it is ever to be gratefully remembered. Gambling-tents and thimble-rigging, prick in the garter and the three-card trick, had not then been stopped by the police.” Whether or not we are to be grateful that the police are now more preoccupied with animal rights protesters is a moot point, but Derby Day was always a great occasion for all walks of society. It is less so now, but in England the day and the race still feel special. Is that the same in Ireland? I have been at the Curragh for the Irish Derby too infrequently to know, though Alamshar's downing of Dalakhani is a race that will stay with me for as long as I retain my memory. But that was two decades ago, and straight after some truly special years of the race being won by Montjeu, Sinndar, Galileo, and High Chaparral. If Irish Derby Day no longer feels special, surely it is the occasion that needs work as much as the race itself. The recent switching of days and times can't have helped it to retain its identity and importance for racegoers. Since Montjeu's time the resurgence of Ballydoyle in the Aidan O'Brien years has also occurred. The trainer won his first Irish Derby in 1997 with Desert King and has claimed another 14 victories since then. Has this domination aided the race's demise, or without the support of Coolmore would it have dwindled further? It is worth noting that between 1980 and 2000, the race was won by 14 non-Irish trained horses from 11 different stables. This century, that number has been reduced to four: Hurricane Run (trained in France), and Jack Hobbs, Hurricane Lane and Westover (from Britain). A reduction in overseas challengers is certainly an issue, but then there are not too many stables beyond Ballydoyle which regularly field a runner in the Derby at Epsom either. There are implications beyond Ireland for the race being shortened, including what effect it may have on the Eclipse, which last year was run six days after the Irish Derby. Admittedly, in 2023, both races were won by colts from Ballydoyle who would have been kept apart anyway. In Westover's year, he would surely have won the Irish Derby had it been over 10 furlongs, but would that have increased his commercial appeal enough to have pushed Chaldean aside? I don't believe so. We are venturing towards a situation of the tail wagging the dog. We need a balance in our breeding because we need sprinters, we need milers, we need middle-distance horses and we need stayers. That is the beauty and the allure of racing in Europe: the variety, underpinned by Classic bloodlines in order to achieve the pinnacle of producing that rare horse who has the class and turn of foot to race over a mile and a half at the top level. Don't think for a moment that that's a slow horse. It is a self-fulfilling prophesy that if we stop standing and using Derby winners and their like at stud, then sooner or later we won't be able to breed horses to run over that range of distances. In fact, it is easy to envisage the day when horses can barely stay the mile of the Guineas. Good luck then trying to sell our racing product overseas. Why would they want to buy the same horses they can breed at home? The two best horses in the world last year, Equinox (Jpn) and Ace Impact (Ire), both won major Group 1 races over 10 furlongs, but it hurt neither of their careers to win over a mile and a half. In fact, the Japan Cup and the Arc were respectively their crowning glories. Ireland has a long way to go to return its once-special race to its halcyon days but it should try, whether through a different approach to race programming for budding middle-distance colts, breeder incentives, or a significant bonus connected to the Irish Derby for horses who have won a Classic elsewhere. But whatever else happens, do not shorten the Irish Derby. The post Dear Patrick: With Respect, I Disagree appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The Animal Welfare and Horseracing Integrity Conference of the Association of Racing Commissioners International Inc. (ARCI), which brings together all the senior regulatory personnel in North America and the Caribbean, has opened registration for the annual event to be held in Columbus, Ohio Mar. 6-8, the organization said in a release Wednesday. The 2024 Conference is being held immediately prior to the annual meeting of the United States Trotting Association (USTA) and offers a unique opportunity to interact with the leaders of US Standardbred Racing on the final day where existing approaches to policymaking, anti-doping, and equine health will be reexamined. Regulatory Members of the ARCI will update Model Rules and Drug Classification documents and elect at-large members of the association's board of directors at the annual business meeting. Click here for more information on registration and here for the event itinerary. The post 2024 ARCI Annual Meeting and Conference Registration Open appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

By Michael Guerin Top driver Josh Dickie is loving being home and he hopes his successful return steps up a level at Cambridge tonight. Dickie returned to New Zealand officially two weeks ago and has driven four winners already for new bosses Stonewall Stud. He returns to his “first” home track of Cambridge tonight and picks up the drive on last-start Greenlane Cup winner Resolve in the $40,000 Dunstan Horsefeeds Cambridge Flying Stakes, a mobile 2200m in which she is one of only two genuine open class trotters. Resolve has moved from usual southern trainer Paul Nairn to Dickie’s father John so Josh gets the drive tonight from regular reinsman and good mate Bob Butt. Resolve defended her Greenlane Cup title at Alexandra Park on New Year’s Eve but only just over All Cashed Up, who is drawn inside her tonight. “All Cashed Up is very quick and I think he got a bit close last start whereas Resolve is more of a stayer,” says Dickie. “But I think Resolve didn’t really enjoy the track that night either. It was obviously very wet and she wears pads under her shoes so I think a dry track will suit her better.” The pair are clearly better performed than their rivals so their early luck could play a crucial role in the outcome, with the Nicky Chilcott-trained Sacred Mountain the other obvious chance as the mobile 2200m should suit. Dickie says he loves being back driving in New Zealand, which he says suits his style and is enjoying being on competitive horses regularly after a quieter time on the track when living in Victoria. “We have bought a couple of horses back with us too, one of them a really promising trotter who is already racing that we still have shares in so we are looking forward to getting some new owners into it,” he told HRNZ. “I am loving being back and being around family and my mates and things are very competitive.” Dickie says with the Stonewall Stud team overseen by Steve Telfer having a good start to 2024 he thinks that can continue tonight with Iron Brigade (R2, No.6). “He is a smart three-year-old and ready to go. He ran second at the workouts last week and I think he is in the right maiden race.” Tonight’s meeting is a mini gem on the northern harness calendar with not only the Group 3 Trot but the $25,000 Waikato Summer Handicap, featuring Bad Medicine and Montana D J, and a big, strong qualifier for the North Island Regional Trotters Champs that is likely to see backmarker Con Grazia Love start a warm favourite. View the full article

The first foal for champion 2-year-old and GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner Corniche (Quality Road) arrived at Denali Stud on Monday when Faith And Honor (Honor Code) produced a filly, Coolmore America said in a release Wednesday. “Our Corniche out of Faith and Honor started off our foaling season at Denali in good order,” said Conrad Bandoroff. “The filly has plenty of quality about her with good leg and bone. Very pleased with our start!” A $1.5 million sale topper after breezing a furlong in :10 flat at OBS April, Corniche earned 'TDN Rising Star' status off a debut win going 5 1/2 furlongs at Del Mar. Stepping straight into Grade I company for the two-turn American Pharoah S., he posted another front-end success. Drawn widest of all in post 11 for the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile, the son of Quality Road sped through fractions of :23.03 and :46.15 before keeping on strongly down the lane to score with plenty in hand. Corniche was a runaway winner at the Eclipse Awards with 214 votes compared with 12 for his nearest rival. The 5-year-old stands for $24,000 LFSN at Ashford Stud. As for Faith and Honor, who was bred by Sun Valley Farm, this is her third produce of record. She is responsible for a 2-year-old filly named Indy's Map (Liam's Map) and a February yearling filly by Runhappy. The post First Foal Arrives For Coolmore America’s Champion Corniche appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The Keeneland January sale got its third seven-figure horse when Hill 'n' Dale at Xalapa's John Sikura and Determined Stud's Matt Dorman partnered up to purchase Star Act (Street Cry {Ire}) (hip 144) for $1.2 million. The 13-year-old mare, dam of GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies winner Just F Y I (Justify), was originally led out unsold at $950,000 during the auction's first session Monday. “She is a class mare,” Dorman said Wednesday. “She's a Grade I producer. She has a phenomenal horse who is three-for-three and primed for next year. John Sikura has always been a great business partner. It just worked out as a good opportunity.” Dorman said the mare, who is in foal to Life is Good and was consigned by Hill 'n' Dale on behalf of George Krikorian, was on his radar Monday, but after Prank (Into Mischief) sold for $1.6 million earlier in the session, he assumed Star Act would be out of his price range. “When I saw the horse go for $1.6 million, I thought she would be too much,” Dorman said. “I work with David Ingordo now. So Dave and I had a long conversation about the broodmare band and what we are doing. And after [Star Act] RNA'd, we decided that the horse made sense at this number. So we reached out to John and Donato [Lanni]. And we called back and forth and it evolved into John and I buying the horse. Donato and the owner have a long-standing relationship with John and respect John, so it worked out well.” @JessMartiniTDN The post Sikura, Dorman Team Up for Star Act appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The TDN's popular annual series 'Mating Plans, presented by Spendthrift,' continues today in a conversation with Hinkle Farms co-owner Tom Hinkle. “In determining the matings for our mares, it is a total team effort by my brother Henry, my daughter Anne Archer and me,” said Hinkle. “We work hard to arrive at the best possible mating, at least in our opinions.” SEEKING GABRIELLE (17, Forestry – Seeking Regina, by Seeking the Gold) to be bred to Gun Runner Seeking Gabrielle is the dam of Nyquist. She is a very special mare for us. She produces really attractive foals and they have sold well as yearlings. She just turned 17 and is in great condition, but with her advancing age we really want fillies. She has a newly turned two-year-old filly by Uncle Mo, making her a full-sister to Nyquist. We retained her to race and as a futurebroodmare. Her newly turned yearling is a filly by Curlin and we are considering keeping her too. Seeking Gabrielle is currently pregnant to Constitution and is believed to be carrying a filly. In 2024 we will breed her to Gun Runner. Obviously he is one of the premier sires in the world. If we are fortunate enough to get a filly, we would hope to keep her. If she produces a colt, then we could have a sensational yearling sale prospect. INDIAN BAY (13, Indian Charlie – Buy the Barrel, by E Dubai) to be bred to First Samurai Indian Bay is a filly we bred–having bred and raced her dam Buy the Barrel. Due to an injury as a weanling, we were unable to sell or race Indian Bay. However, she has been a wonderful producer for us, being the dam of Shivaji, a graded stakes winner in Japan, and Tarabi, a stakes winner who is Grade I placed. Both are by First Samurai. She is currently pregnant to Life Is Good. Indian Bay produces lovely foals. We have decided to breed her to First Samurai in 2024. While First Samurai is not viewed as a top-tier commercial stallion, he is a very solid stallion who gets runners and the cross has obviously worked well with Indian Bay. We hope to get a filly and keep her, but if we get a colt we believe he will be an attractive sales prospect because of the affinity Indian Bay has shown for First Samurai. More Than Looks as a yearling at 2021 Keeneland September Sale | Joe DiOrio LADIES' PRIVILEGE (10, Harlan's Holiday – Vanquished, by Empire Maker) to be bred to Flightline We purchased Ladies' Privilege in November of 2019 carrying her first foal by More Than Ready. That foal is More Than Looks, a Grade III winner who ran third in the GII Hall of Fame S. last year. He ran an excellent race in the Breeders' Cup Mile, beaten only two lengths by Master of the Seas (IRE) (Dubawi {Ire}). He is trained by Cherie DeVaux and his connections are really excited about his prospects for 2024. Her newly turned 3-year-old is a colt by Uncle Mo and her just-turned 2-year-old is a $525,000 American Pharoah filly. Her 2023 yearling is a colt by Gun Runner and she is pregnant to Upstart. She will be bred to Flightline in 2024. We think it is a great cross and based on the foals Ladies' Privilege has produced, we are hopeful that the resulting foal will be an excellent physical. STAVE (9, Ghostzapper – Buy the Barrel, by E Dubai) to be bred to Forte We bred and raced Stave. She was the last filly produced from Buy the Barrel, who we also bred and raced. Stave was a stakes placed winner of $285,000. Her first foal is Spirit's Mischief, a $350,000 colt by Into Mischief. He is with Wesley Ward and won as a 2-year-old last fall. He is a fast colt. Stave had no foal in 2022, but she has a 2023 colt by Constitution who we will sell atKeeneland in September. She is currently pregnant to Not This Time and is booked to Forte for 2024. Having previously been bred to three very well-established and proven stallions, we felt like this would be a good time to breed Stave to a younger stallion. Forte is super attractive, was a seriously good racehorse, and his offspring will be sought after when they hit the sales ring. REMEMBERED (14, Sky Mesa – Sister Girl, by Conquistador Cielo) to be bred to Not This Time Remembered is the dam of Bowies Hero (Artie Schiller), a multiple Grade I stakes winner. She is also the dam of Radio Days, a multiple graded stakes placed, winning filly by Gun Runner. Remembered is pregnant to Jackie's Warrior and is booked to Not This Time for 2024. Not This Time has certainly proven himself to be a top-level sire and being a Grade I stakes producer, Remembered deserves to be bred to a top stallion. We believe the cross is excellent and provides a real opportunity to produce a good racehorse who is physically attractive. WIN THE WAR (9, War Front – City Sister, by Carson City) to be bred to Good Magic Win the War's $700,000 Into Mischief colt | EquiSport Photo Win the War is a beautiful mare and is a stakes winner. We purchased her in 2020 when she was pregnant to Curlin. Unfortunately that filly, now named Jane Addams, did not race but will be bred to Practical Joke in 2024. Win the War's second foal was a $700,000 Into Mischief colt sold in September last year. Her 2023 foal is a colt by Quality Road and she is pregnant to Flightline for 2024. Win the War will be bred to Good Magic in 2024. Good Magic has certainly proved himself capable of siring top-level racehorses. We think this is a great physical mating and believe he will add stamina to a speedy pedigree. WEXX (7, Declaration of War – My Rachel, by Horse Chestnut {SAF}) to be bred to Elite Power We bred and raced Wexx and she is the last daughter of My Rachel, who was a wonderful producer for us. My Rachel is now retired. Wexx was a stakes-placed winner. Her first foal, a colt, was a $400,000 Keeneland September yearling last year. She has a gorgeous 2023 Liam's Map filly and is pregnant to Justify for 2024. In 2024 she will be bred to Elite Power. Elite Power was exceptionally talented and is a beautiful physical. We are delighted to have the opportunity to breed to him. ORBOLUTION (9, Orb – My Rachel, by Horse Chestnut {SAF}) to be bred to Omaha Beach Orbolution is a filly we bred and sold as a yearling to StarLadies Racing. She was a 2-year-old stakes winner at Saratoga. Upon retirement, we purchased her from Starlight. Her first foal is a colt by Curlin who sold for $1.1 million at Keeneland in 2022. He has not yet started. She produced a Nyquist colt in 2022 and an Into Mischief filly in 2023. She is currently pregnant to City of Light. She will be bred to Omaha Beach, who certainly got off to a great start with his 2-year-olds in 2023. The female family has a real affinity with War Front and we are very excited to breed her to a War Front son. NEW BOSS (6, Street Boss – Denali Dreamscape, by Corinthian) to be bred to Constitution New Boss is a stakes-winning filly we bred and sold to Barry and Carol Conrad. Her dam, Denali Dreamscape, had gotten off to a great start as a broodmare for us, having produced two stakes horses from her first three foals to race. Unfortunately, Denali Dreamscape died in 2022. Upon New Boss's retirement, we were fortunate enough to be able to buy her from Mr. and Mrs. Conrad. New Boss will be bred to Constitution in 2024. He is certainly a well-established and proven stallion. His 2-year-old crop of 2023 had an exceptional year. Breeding New Boss to a stallion the quality of Constitution gives her a real opportunity to jump start her broodmare career. WHOA NESSIE (9, Square Eddie – Electric Daze, by Gilded Time) to be bred to Nyquist Whoa Nessie is an interesting mare who we purchased in November of 2022 in foal to Union Rags. Her sire Square Eddie, by Smart Strike, has proven to be an extremely useful stallion in California. Electric Daze is also the dam of Edwina E (Square Eddie), making Whoa Nessie a full sister to Edwina E. Edwina E has produced two stakes winners–Slow Down Andy, a Grade I winner of $1,276,600–and Team Merchants. Both are by Nyquist. We purchased Whoa Nessie specifically to breed to Nyquist and she is currently pregnant to him. She is being bred back to Nyquist in 2024. Nyquist had a great 2024 and has proven himself as a quality stallion capable of siring top-level performers. The cross is a proven one and we are excited about the prospects. MADAME DU LAC (19, Lemon Drop Kid – Geisha Girl {GB},by Nashwan) to be bred to Oscar Performance Madame Du Lac is an older mare but she has been a wonderful mare for us, being the dam of multiple Grade I stakes winner Divisidero, who is by Kitten's Joy. Divisidero's first crop of 2-year-olds raced in 2023 and, despite only having limited numbers, they performed well. We are breeding Madame Du Lac to Oscar Performance in 2024. Oscar Performance's first crop has just turned four and he has proven himself to be a very capable stallion, having produced stakes winners on both dirt and turf. The cross has worked well in the past and we hope the mating will result in a filly as we will be very tempted to keep and race her, but if we get a colt he should be a nice sales prospect. The post Mating Plans, presented by Spendthrift: Hinkle Farms appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

After tumbling from Simply Brilliant and breaking his wrist five years ago, the Frenchman again teams up with Frankie Lor for a far more traditional victory in Happy Valley’s biggest raceView the full article

Don Valpredo is to Cal-breds what tungsten is to steel. “I absolutely love the training industry and the breeding industry here,” said Vapredo, 85, over the phone from Bakersfield. “In fact, I'm sitting here today with the Stallion Register on my lap, trying to find the right mix for my broodmares.” When Valpredo hasn't been producing Cal-breds–along with John Harris, he's responsible for 1994 California Horse of the Year, Soviet Problem–he's sought to popularize them through multiple warmed seats on multiple industry boards over multiple decades. They even named a race after Valpredo, on the day he helped build to eulogize those sturdy Cal-breds he's so fond of–the Don Valpredo California Cup Sprint S., scheduled to go off again this Saturday, Cal Cup Day. The winner of his race last year was a swanky chestnut rocket with hints of a Sequoia redwood in his coat by the name of The Chosen Vron (Vronsky). You might have heard of him. Lots have, thanks to a roundhouse of a campaign last year. “Eric Kruljac has done a magnificent job with The Chosen Vron–he's one tough hombre,” said the scion of a family of growers, about trainer and horse, respectively. “The training methods and the attention he's got in Kruljac's barn all add to the horse's tremendous success,” Valpredo added, before focusing his tribute. “He's an Arizona cowboy horseman, and they know how to take their time.” Eric Kruljac | Benoit The patient cowboy is pretty sweet on his runner, too. “He's smart and he's competitive and he's got some talent,” said Kruljac, laying down the gauntlet early for understatement of the year–though in fairness, the trainer appeared to be merely warming to the task. “He's got a lot of heart,” Kruljac added. “Just been a blessing for me to go into the barn and see him of a morning. He's just so cool to be around. He's all class.” Much better. Indeed, it was this race–the California Cup Sprint S.–which launched The Chosen Vron's 2023 campaign, showcasing just how classy a sprinter he was becoming, along with his increasing flair for the dramatic. A show-boater with a lust for the camera. In last year's race, The Chosen Vron just held off by a whisker a fast-finishing Big City Lights (Mr. Big). Next up was a Sunday stroll in the Tiznow S. Then it was back to slugging it out against Kings River Knight (Acclamation) in the Sensational Star S, before showing his rivals another clean set of hooves in the Thor's Echo S. Making it seven wins in a row, the Thor's Echo recalibrated The Chosen Vron's horizons, for he was then pointed towards his highest summit yet in the G1 Bing Crosby S. at Del Mar–a race he claimed his own after a dogfight involving runner-up Anarchist (Distorted Humor) and Dr. Schivel (Violence), himself a two-time G1 winner. Kruljac, unsurprisingly, recalls the race in terms that all but mention cherries and icing. “Well, he had to check hard along the rail and he gave up two, three lengths. And for him to dig in and come back and win the way he did was just awesome–and in grade one company no less,” said Kruljac, recalling how The Chosen Vron was on the losing end of a mid-pack skirmish heading into the turn. “Just watching him rally that last eighth of a mile and just will his way into the winner's circle,” Kruljac added, “it was the most exciting race of my career, for sure.” Next up was the GI Breeders' Cup Sprint at Santa Anita. And though the race ended the horse's win-streak–he finished a never threatening fifth–there were excuses. “I think I was too soft on him going into it and he just lacked a little sharpness. I think I backed off him too much after the Bing Crosby,” said Kruljac. After the Breeders' Cup, however, so full of vim and vigor was The Chosen Vron, the trainer sent him back down the salt-mines just two weeks later, in the Cary Grant S. at Del Mar. He turned out the kind of effortlessly cool performance deserving of the race's namesake. “I looked and saw the Cary Grant. I said, 'what the heck?' And he fired a huge race,” said Kruljac. Previously, Kruljac had said about his stable star that he needed time between his races to flourish. Six weeks or more. Does the Cary Grant indicate an athlete still on the improve, one hardening into an even tougher husked antagonist? “I think he's probably at a peak, but you never know. He's not a big horse, but extremely athletic and what's the word I'm looking for? He's just got great hinges on him. When he reaches out, he just covers so much ground so easily,” said Kruljac. Jockey Hector Berrios aboard The Chosen Vron | Benoit “Once he figured it out, he's just pretty much been pushbutton–just a great horse to be around in the morning in the barn and just all class,” Kruljac added. “He's a gelding, so that might make him a little easier, but it certainly hasn't cost him anything in his racing.” Given the tumult that California racing finds itself–the impending closure of Golden Gate Fields and the shellacking that will surely have on the state breeding industry–it's probably fair to say that for fans of the good ol' honest Cal-bred, The Chosen Vron has become something of a white knight. Or perhaps more accurately, a Saint Jude-type, inspiring perseverance in difficult times. At the very least, The Chosen Vron–who Kruljac co-owns with Sondereker Racing, Robert S. Fetkin and Richard Thornburg–has tinged this 70-year-old's career with the sanguine glow of a glorious Indian Summer. Kruljac has six horses in training, five of them at Los Alamitos, with The Chosen Vron stabled at Santa Anita, under the charge of Herlindo Garcia, Kruljac's foreman. Before The Chosen Vron began his ascent through the ranks, Kruljac was down on horses–so much so, he considered retirement, perhaps to help his son, Ian, with his training operation. “I was thinking, 'this might be the last year,' so that I could be semi-retired in some form. But once he started running like he did, of course I had to stay in until he goes to pasture somewhere,” said Kruljac. But is the future of Kruljac's training career really as inextricably linked with The Chosen Vron's? Might be smart to hold your bets for now. One of the other five horses he has in training is the 3-year-old Clubhouse Bride (Clubhouse Ride), who made it two-for-two at Santa Anita on New Year's Day. “We came back off of only three weeks from her debut,” said Kruljac, about a filly he calls “really well-made, balanced, beautiful and classy.” “I was concerned when I saw the track, how deep they're keeping it,” he said, of Santa Anita. “Sure enough, she got pretty tired. But once that horse came to her, she dug in and finished the job. We're really excited about her.” He also has four or five 2-year-olds coming in, including a “beautiful Clubhouse Ride” half-sister to The Chosen Vron. “She's not named yet,” he said. “I don't really press on them hard early. I'd look at the earliest she would be ready to run by Del Mar or maybe in the fall. I think as a breeder, you just learn to be more patient and just enjoy the process.” Ah yes, patience–far easier to execute on paper than in practice. Into his fourth decade with a license, however, Kruljac appears to have found a rich trade-route in this noble quality. “The very first time or two that we breezed him after we gelded him, I knew if the horse stayed sound that he was going to be more than a maiden claimer for sure,” said Kruljac. “Though I'm not going to say I would know what he was going to win.” The Chosen Vron | Benoit But towards the end of his 3-year-old season–and with four stake wins already under his belt, including two GIIIs–The Chosen Vron's year was cut short with a niggling problem behind. “We had to back off, and so we did. He had some OCD [Osteochondrosis] in a stifle, and we sent him to the right doctor up in Alamo Pintado [Equine Medical Center],” said Kruljac, singling out the work of surgeon, Carter Judy. “We owe him big time.” The Chosen Vron returned to action the August of his 4-year-old season. Since then, his resume has been a blueprint of carefully calibrated restraint. Which means that now, heading into this Saturday's race, The Chosen Vron “is very sharp in his gallops and workouts, so I'm very confident he's going to run a big race,” said Kruljac. “He's burning fire and ready to roll.” As for the broader agenda for this year–provided all goes to plan this Saturday and beyond–probably a similar run of races to last year, said Kruljac, including another Del Mar waltz with Bing. What about a potential return to the Breeders' Cup? “Oh, absolutely. And the fact that it would be at Del Mar is another plus,” he said. “So yes, we're hopeful he comes back firing like he did last year, and with a better outcome.” One notable absentee from Santa Anita this weekend will be the man whose race bears his name–he'll be watching at home confined to a cast, nursing a broken patellar. Turns out his hinges aren't quite as sturdy as The Chosen Vron's. “I can outlive it, it's just that I've got to give it time,” said Valpredo, whose convalescence appears driven by the promise of a return to the track. “I'm so looking forward to it–you have no idea.” Valpredo has a personal interest–though several times removed–in the Kruljac runner. His “dear old friend” Elwood “Buddy” Johnson initially stood The Chosen Vron's sire, Vronsky, at his Old English Rancho farm, near Sanger, Central California. “He was an underrated stallion,” said Valpredo, about Vronsky, who passed away in 2021. “But I've got a couple fillies by him, and I'm anxious to see them run also.” The post The Chosen Vron Back For More This Weekend appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

A colt by Extreme Choice (Aus) (lot 349), nicknamed “Jack” in honour of the late Jack de Bromhead, brought A$1.6 million on the bid of James Harron Bloodstock Colt Partnership during the second day of the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. Jack de Bromhead was a son of leading Irish NH trainer Henry de Bromhead who died in a pony racing accident at the age of 13 in 2022. The colt, bred by Kia Ora Stud racing manager Luke Wilkinson who also was involved in the purchase of his sire and dam, is out of Wanted Lady (Aus) (Wanted {Aus}). “We met young Jack de Bromhead at Jessica Harrington's place and spent a week with him,” breeder Luke Wilkinson told The Thoroughbred Report AusNZ of his 'life-changing' yearling and the reason behind his nickname. “I said to my wife that this kid was an absolute star and no matter what he did in life he was going to be good at it. “That's why this horse got the name Jack. He's been a special horse to me and every time I think of this horse I think of young Jack de Bromhead. He was a great kid.” “I purchased Extreme Choice and then got a lifetime breeding right, so he changed my career,” added Wilkinson. “I've always supported him and when he was subfertile I sent extra mares to help him, which nearly killed me financially. “This mare was injured when I bought her off some stable clients when I worked for Mick Price, I think I paid around $9,000 for her. As soon as this horse was born Peter Orton said to me straight away within 10 minutes that this was a cracking colt, then everyone from Vinery seemed to ring me to say the same thing. “This is life changing. I've got a young daughter who wants to go further in her equestrian career and now I'll be able to put a deposit on a farm and help her. It means a lot.” The post Seven-Figure Extreme Choice Colt ‘Life-Changing’ For Luke Wilkinson, As He Honours Jack De Bromhead appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Interlinked (NZ) will have to concede weight to his fellow three-year-olds over 2000m at Flemington on Saturday as the unbeaten son of Savabeel aims to make it three wins from three starts. Trained by Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young who purchased him out of Ohukia Lodge’s 2022 Ready To Run draft, the OTI racing gelding is certainly bred to stay and proved too strong when beating the older horses at Caulfield in a benchmark 64 over 1600m at just his second outing. “Got to carry a bit of weight, there’s not too many horses that go from a maiden and win a 64 against older horses, it’s always hard to do, he did that, narrowly but impressively,” co-trainer Trent Busuttin said. The stable has opted to keep recently graduated senior jockey Thomas Stockdale aboard rather than claim, meaning Interlinked will concede between 2.5 and 5.5 kilograms to his rivals in Saturday’s benchmark 70. “He probably looks the one to beat on Saturday but he’s got to carry 60 kilos, he’s got the penalty for having two wins so he’s got to give the others in the race a bit of weight so if he can win with 60 kilos I’d say he’s a decent horse,” Busuttin said. A win on Saturday could potentially inspire the stable to aim up at a Derby, with both the ATC and SA varieties in the Autumn to look forward to, but the stable are happy just taking things one run at a time with a horse they believed always had staying promise. “We liked him but you never know until you get to the races, he’s shown enough at home, always thought he’s a nice staying horse but until they do it, you’ve got to prove it… we’ve always liked him.” Interlinked opened second favourite for Saturday’s contest at $3.60 after drawing barrier three behind the Andrew Bobbin trained Girls Girls Girls (Fiorente) at $2.80. View the full article

With the Gr.1 Trackside New Zealand Derby (2400m) in their sights, Te Akau Racing were thrilled to see a classy staying performance by Ascend The Throne (NZ) (Savabeel) to break maidens at Matamata on Wednesday. Ascend The Throne indicated a step-up in distance would be well-suited after two creditable performances to date, first in his debut over 1300m, and last start when coming from last to finish fifth over 1600m at Te Rapa. Stepping up to the 2000m on his home track, the son of Savabeel was given a patient trip midfield under Opie Bosson, the experienced hoop only placing pressure on the three-year-old nearing the home turn when Holy Orange made a break on the remainder of the field. Once asked for an extra effort at the 300m, Ascend The Throne wore down the leader effortlessly and stormed through the line to score by a length-and-a-half, rewarding the red-hot $1.60 TAB tote favouritism. Mark Walker, who trains the gelding in partnership with Sam Bergerson, had hoped to see a performance justifying a campaign towards the Derby, which will now continue with the Gr.2 Legacy Lodge Waikato Guineas (2000m) on January 31. “It was a really nice staying performance at his first time over ground, and he’ll now prepare for the Waikato Guineas,” he said. “He’s taken a little time to mature, but there’s further improvement to come and he’s going to make into a really nice staying horse as a four and five-year-old. But, we still think he’s a realistic chance of making the New Zealand Derby this year.” TAB Bookmakers were swift in reacting to the gelding’s victory, shortening him to $16 on the Futures market for the Derby, which will be held at Ellerslie on March 2. Ascend The Throne was a $575,000 purchase out of Milan Park’s Book 1 draft at the 2022 National Yearling Sales at Karaka by David Ellis, who had rated the gelding highly as a yearling. “We rated him one of the best Savabeel colts of the sale. We loved him,” Ellis said. View the full article

Twelve sires will be on show in Doncaster during the Goffs UK January Sale on Tuesday, January 23 for the TBA National Hunt Stallion Showcase. The stallions will be available for viewing between 9am and 3pm. Ascot Gold Cup winner Subjectivist (GB) is new to Alne Park Stud this year and he will be joined at Doncaster by his stud-mates Dink (Fr), Ocovango (GB) and Midnights Legacy (GB). Also in attendance will be Ito (Ger), who is about to undertake his second season at Yorton Farm, and his fellow recent recruit Postponed (Ire). Capri (Ire) is new to Britain and Willow Wood Farm for this season, and he is one of three St Leger winners who will be returning to Doncaster, along with Logician (GB) and Kingston Hill (GB). Completing the line-up are Telescope (Ire) and Dragon Dancer (GB). “We look forward to welcoming breeding and bloodstock enthusiasts to this ever-popular event in the TBA hospitality space,” said TBA National Hunt Committee chairman Simon Cox. “We are thankful to Goffs and the participating stallion studs for their ongoing support of this important event for National Hunt breeders.” Grace Skelton of Alne Park Stud added, “Getting a new stallion like Subjectivist in front of breeders is vitally important and this event provides a well-timed opportunity to do this.” A nomination to each of the stallions which have been submitted to the 2024 Elite NH Mares' Scheme and those on show at the sale have been donated by their owners for an online silent auction between January 19 and 25. Funds raised will support the TBA's National Hunt activities in 2024. The TBA will also be holding its annual Flat stallion parade at Tattersalls on February 1. The post Line-Up Confirmed for TBA NH Stallion Showcase appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Breeder, agent and syndicate manager Luke Lillingston of Mount Coote Stud is next in line to face the questions. What are your goals for 2024? Trying to figure out opportunities that will arise from the downturn in the bloodstock market, while trying to keep our heads above water. Give us a horse to follow… Dragon Leader (Ire) (El Kabeir) did us proud in 2023 winning over £300,000 as a two-year-old and should give his Kennet Valley owners plenty more fun. And a young person in the industry to keep an eye on… Charlie Dee works with me in Lillingston Bloodstock and is steadily building a good reputation both at home and around the world which will stand him in good stead for a bright future. Who do you think will be champion first-season sire in 2024? Hello Youmzain (Fr). And the best value stallion in Ireland, England, and France? Naval Crown (GB), Mosthadaf (Ire) and Vadeni (Fr). Your best buy/sale of 2023? I was excited to buy True Scarlet (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}) at the Tattersalls December sales as her half-sister Shuwari (Ire) (New Bay {GB}) was second in the G1 Fillies' Mile and could be a contender for the 1,000 Guineas. On the yearling front I couldn't pick one but I think the group of five yearlings we bought for Kennett Valley are the most exciting ever. The best yearling/weanling you saw at the 2023 sales (that someone else bought)? The St Mark's Basilica (Fr) filly out of Talent (GB), bought by Jill Lamb, was a deserving sale-topper at Tattersalls, and I believe still good value at 575,000gns. Who is or was the perfect Thoroughbred? We have been and are all very lucky to witness the almighty Frankel (GB). Biggest professional regret? Not taking the opportunity to buy and bring back Sir Prancealot (Ire) from America to Ireland. He would have been an excellent sire for small breeders looking to afford a proven stallion. If you could be someone else in the industry for a day who would it be, and why? Nick Luck, but I might need four days to get through what he regularly achieves in one. His work rate is quite extraordinary. The post In the Hot Seat: Luke Lillingston appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Sarah Lynam has been forced to press pause on her training career after a number of serious falls and concussions has left her with no other option but to take time out from the profession in order to recuperate fully. Daughter of Eddie Lynam, who earned the nickname of 'Fast Eddie' through his handling of superstar sprinters Sole Power (GB), Slade Power (Ire) and more, Sarah took out her licence in 2017 and sent out 12 winners from the same Dunshaughlin base as her father. Winning a valuable Curragh handicap with Additional (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}), owned by her uncle John Lynam, was put forward as a career highlight by Sarah, whose handling of Tyrconnell (Ire) (Bated Breath {GB}) and Juyush (GB) (Frankel {GB}) also earned plenty of plaudits. Lynam said, “I don't really want to stop. I've had a good few concussions over the years and in 2023 alone I had three. I haven't been able to take time off to let the brain heal and, basically, I can't heal properly unless I take time out. A smaller operation like mine, I have to work all day every day in order to keep the whole thing going. I don't mind doing it but the neurologist told me that perhaps I should think about taking some time out. “I am lucky that I have the facilities here and Horse Racing Ireland have told me that the licence can lie dormant for up to three years should I decide to take it back out. I would have liked to have achieved more, and I hope I will still, but it's just been difficult recently.” Additional bagged a €25,000 handicap at the Curragh on just his second start for Lynam while Juyush racked up a three-timer at Dundalk in the winter of 2020 and climbed 24lbs in the process. Stable stalwart Tyrconnell also flourished under the Lynam banner by winning six times at Dundalk and Laytown respectively. Nevertheless, Lynam says she feels as though she still has unfinished business as a trainer and is not ruling out a return to the game in time. She said, “I'm proud of what I did but nothing I did captured the imagination. Horses like Additional and Juyush, I got them from other yards and managed to sweeten them up a bit. Juyush won three-in-a-row and Additional won a premier handicap on his second start for me. It's a pity they didn't get a bit more attention at the time and I was hoping they might bring more people into the yard. “I was always hoping to entice more young people to come and work for me because I had worked in so many other yards and had an idea of the kind of boss I wanted to be and the kind of atmosphere I wanted to create but it has been very hard to attract staff. It's understandable, a lot of the stable staff want to work in the bigger yards.” She added, “Most of the time I have had the licence, I have been working by myself and that couldn't continue after I had the concussions. I suppose it's just taken its toll. I feel like I am still well able to do the job and it's still a huge passion of mine. It's going to be hard to see the horses on Dad's side of the yard but I will be keeping a close eye on them all and my owners have been very understanding about it.” The post ‘It’s Taken Its Toll’ – Sarah Lynam Forced To Press Pause On Training Career appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Event rider Monica Spencer has always been a big fan of Thoroughbreds due to their speed, stamina and willingness which makes them great sport horse prospects. Her current stable star Artist has these traits in spades and the Taupo-based horsewoman has been named on the long list to represent New Zealand in the 2024 Paris Olympics Eventing Team with the 12-year-old Thoroughbred gelding. By Guillotine, ‘Max’ was bred by Windsor Park Stud and is out of the Group Two placed Volksraad mare Maxamore. He first caught Monica’s eye when making his competition debut and she approached his then owner Polly Schewerdt to find out more about the striking bay who made an instant impression. “I spotted Max at his first show when he was a four-year-old,” Spencer explained. “Polly had purchased him from EventStars as a three-year-old and his conformation and movement really stood out to me. “I approached Polly and she let me have a ride on him and it was love at first sight. I bought him soon after.” Spencer and Max were quick to strike up a successful partnership and they moved their way through the grades. Max was awarded the NZTBA Ready Teddy Trophy for best performed Thoroughbred at the Matamata Horse Trials in 2022 and the duo went on that year to make their debut for the New Zealand team at the FEI Eventing World Championships in Pratoni del Vivaro, Italy. “He’s always been a bit of a quiet achiever,” Spencer said. “He has been winning at every level on the way up the grades and he’s been an absolute pleasure to produce. “He isn’t naturally brave and it melts my heart the things this horse will do with complete trust in me.” While most Kiwi eventers follow the well-paved path to England to further their careers, Spencer opted to head to America last year as she felt it offered a better opportunity to develop her brand with the opportunities available. It was no easy feat to get to the United States with Spencer and Max first flying to Australia before boarding a cargo plane and spending 37 hours in transit before touching down in Chicago. They then trucked for 15 hours to Pennsylvania. After acclimatising at some low-key dressage and showjumping events they stepped up and contested the Plantation Field International CCI4*-S, finishing fourth after battling the elements while Tropical Storm Ophelia raged on. Of the 39 entries only six completed the event, a testament to the duo’s determination and skill. They then headed to the Maryland 5 Star in October when they finished seventh after a dazzling display on the cross-country course gaining them a firm fan base. Spencer then flew home to New Zealand to compete her Taupo-based team of horses at the early Summer events while Max was left to enjoy some down time while spelling in Virginia. Spencer will return this month and join Max in Florida and continue to work their way towards selection for the Olympic team. She will have an additional three horses travel from New Zealand to join her in February. “Paris has been in our sights for the last two years and we have been working towards selection since the world championships in Pratoni,” Spencer said. “I hope to put in some good performances early this year and keep training hard so we can be at the top of our game and ready for selection. Spencer has a strong affinity with Thoroughbreds having produced them throughout her career and believes horses like Max will drive demand for thoroughbreds as sport horses both in both New Zealand and abroad. “I have had lots of good Thoroughbreds over the years and I’m a huge fan of the breed,” she said. “I love their speed, their stamina and how trainable they are. Thoroughbreds that move well and are good jumpers really are the ultimate event horse. They are a pleasure to produce and it’s incredible how they take to a completely new career. “I think it’s awesome for the racing industry to have Thoroughbreds at the top of the sport. The fact that they can do eventing among other disciplines as a second career shows how versatile Thoroughbreds are. “I’ve had so many people overseas admire Max and question me with great interest about New Zealand Thoroughbreds and how to source them.” The Paris team is named in late June and Spencer has the silver fern firmly in her sights. Till then she and Max will keep doing what they do best and hope further solid performances gain them a spot on the Olympic squad. View the full article

Town Cryer (NZ) (Tavistock) may be the form horse in Saturday’s Gr.3 Dixon & Dunlop Anniversary Handicap (1600m) at Trentham, but the mare’s stablemate Sindacato (NZ) (Per Incanto) may pose as her biggest challenge. Prepared by Awapuni trainer Roydon Bergerson, Town Cryer claimed a career-best victory in the Gr.3 Taranaki Breeders’ Stakes (1400m) in October, and has maintained solid form through her campaign, including a seventh in the Gr.1 TAB Classic (1600m), though she was scorched out of the gates in the false start. A daring front-running ride aboard the daughter of Tavistock last-start in the Taupo Cup (2000m) was almost executed to perfection by Opie Bosson, the mare only being caught in the final bounds by Mehzebeen- (NZ) (Almanzor), who carried six kilograms less. “I’m very happy with her season so far, the Wellington race (TAB Classic) was a bit of a debacle, but she got over that,” Bergerson said. “She ran super in the Taupo Cup, Opie gave her every chance, she fought hard and I think the weight just told in the last 50m. I’m really pleased with how she came through the race, and she worked really well on Tuesday. “She’s not giving the field as much as she was at Taupo, she gave the winner six kilograms there, so I’m pleased with 57.5kg on Saturday.” Bergerson had originally planned to set Town Cryer for the Listed Wairarapa Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m) on February 6, however, the mare indicated she preferred otherwise at their Awapuni base. “We were planning to go straight towards the Wairarapa Breeders’ but she bucked off Bruce Herd, her trackwork rider, the other morning so he said she’s ready to go back to the races now,” he said. “She loves Wellington and she races well there, the speed in the race won’t help her much but she doesn’t have to lead so she’ll end up in a good position with a great jockey on.” Town Cryer will once again be in the capable hands of Bosson out of barrier 11, while stablemate Sindacato will jump from the ace draw under Lisa Allpress. Only lightly-raced for his eight years, Sindacato has been in fine form this campaign, and was game in carrying the 59.5kg topweight to third behind Snazzytavi (NZ) (Tavistock) in the Stella Artois Championship Final (1500m) at Pukekohe on Boxing Day. “Opie said after the race that if he’d drawn an alley, he didn’t think they would’ve beaten him,” Bergerson said. “He hit the line strong with a big weight, and he’s trained on very well. His condition is amazing, and his trackwork has gone up a level since he’s come back from Auckland, hence why we’re trying this race. I couldn’t be happier with him.” Though Town Cryer is the likely-favoured runner of Bergerson’s pair, he insisted the son of Per Incanto would be anything but playing second fiddle to his stablemate on Saturday. “He’ll push the mare, there’s not much between them in the way they’re working,” he said. “In an ideal world, Town Cryer would’ve drawn one and he would’ve drawn 11, but he should be up in the first half-dozen on the fence. I’m not sure if she’ll (Town Cryer) lead, Sergio likes to go forward and a few others so I’ll leave that up to Opie. She likes to be in her own rhythm and quicken up when she can, but Sindicato won’t be giving her too many lengths of a head start.” The punters have been in agreeance with Bergerson’s confidence early, with Sindacato shortening from $9 to $7.50 on the TAB Fixed Odds, while Town Cryer currently shares the top of an even market at $6 with Sumi (NZ) (Altante). Though Sindacato holds a nomination for next Saturday’s Gr.1 Harcourts Thorndon Mile (1600m), Bergerson indicated the Anniversary would be a likely final lead-in to the Gr.3 Taranaki Cup (1800m) on February 3 at New Plymouth. Before chasing the spoils at Trentham, Bergerson will have a sole representative at Wanganui on Thursday when a fast improving La Bella Grande (NZ) (Per Incanto) contests the Whanganui Chronicle Maiden F&M 1340. The daughter of Per Incanto showed her promise last start with a game runner-up finish behind Waitui Rose at Trentham under Allpress, who retains the ride. “She should run really well tomorrow. We planned to run her at Hastings but had a bit of a sore stomach on Friday, so we took her out but she’s back on track now,” Bergerson said. “Lisa gave her a quiet gallop on Tuesday morning and said she felt 100 percent, so we’ll push on.” As her name suggests, La Bella Grande has a notably large stature, and Bergerson has allowed the five-year-old to mature slowly with just the four raceday appearances to date. “She’s 17 hands and hasn’t quite filled into her frame yet,” he said. “We’ve taken our time and Sam (Williams, breeder and part-owner) and the syndicate have been very patient with her, which has been a blessing. She’s still yet to hit her straps, the autumn will be her best time I think.” View the full article

Zabmanzor (NZ) (Almanzor) made a bold statement in his last journey down to the Central Districts, and Roger James is hoping for a repeat performance when the colt contests Saturday’s Gr.1 Cambridge Stud Levin Classic (1600m). The son of Almanzor built to an eye-catching entrance to the winner’s circle at Tauranga in November and followed suit in his maiden black-type test with a four-length demolition in the Gr.3 Wellington Stakes (1600m) at Otaki. James, who trains in partnership with Robert Wellwood, elected to step Zabmanzor back in distance by design in the Gr.2 Auckland Guineas (1400m), where he finished sixth in a competitive contest claimed by Pendragon (NZ) (U S Navy Flag). “He has progressed well since he raced last time,” James told TAB NZ. “A lot of people may have thought he looked a bit ordinary last start, but we did do a funny thing in bringing him back to 1400m to use as a preparatory race for the Levin Classic. “He’ll be spot on for Saturday. He ran a nice 1400m this morning (Tuesday), he looked good doing it and pulled up well afterwards.” The time-honoured Trentham feature will run for the first occasion on its reallocated January date, a move that could see a highly decorated trainer in James collect his elusive Levin Classic crown. As expected, a classy line-up of three-year-olds has assembled with visitors from North and South joining the CD hopefuls, something James is wary of when considering the form of Zabmanzor’s Otaki victory. “We’d always liked him, and it was nice to see him do that (at Otaki). The strength of the field there may not have been wonderful, but when they win like he did, it usually indicates they’re above average,” he said. “It’s probably a case of how the competition will measure up, because it will be a lot hotter. But, I’m not embarrassed to be putting him on a float and taking him down, I think he can be competitive.” Kingsclere Stables have nominated Zabmanzor for several majors this season, including the Gr.1 Trackside New Zealand Derby (2400m), and a potential challenge against older company in the Gr.1 Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m), though neither are a certainty at this stage. “He’s never really impressed me as a Derby-type horse, but at this stage of the season with a three-year-old, you keep your options open,” he said. In a market favouring his female counterparts, Zabmanzor currently lies a $5.50 third-favourite on the TAB Fixed Odds, behind Northern-based fillies Mary Shan (NZ) (Almanzor) ($4.00) and Quintessa (NZ) (Shamus Award) ($4.50). View the full article