Wandering Eyes

The first reported foal for Taylor Made's Idol (Curlin) is a New York-bred colt, according to the farm. Born on Wednesday, Jan. 3, the colt is out of Meteoric Matron (Mineshaft), a full-sister to MSW & GSP Mine Over Matter, and was bred by Bill Johnson's Stonegate Stables. “This is the best foal that this proven mare has ever produced,” said Johnson. “He has excellent size and bone. For a January 3rd baby, we have size, bone, and a very strong foal. We love the sire's pedigree. We specifically bred this mare to Idol to get to a son of Curlin and double up the A.P. Indy. The plan worked. We are pleased to have bred the first Idol. We will be returning.” Idol, who posted a 102 Beyer Speed Figure when winning the 2021 GI Santa Anita H. and who is a full-brother to Eclipse champion Nest, bred 128 mares in his first book in 2023. He will stand for $10,000 S&N as a Repole Stable/Taylor Made Stallions Venture in 2024. The post GISW Idol’s First Foal is a Colt appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

7th-Gulfstream, $72,000, Alw (NW1X)/Opt. Clm ($75,000), 1-5, 3yo, 1 1/16m, 1:44.55, ft, neck. CHANGE OF COMMAND (c, 3, Into Mischief–Moi, by Medaglia d'Oro) made steady improvement over a trio of maiden attempts during the NYRA meets starting in late August–the last coming with a runner-up result at Aqueduct Nov. 4. Heading to Gulfstream, the bay found his stride to graduate by 6 1/2 lengths Dec. 17. Trying two turns for the first time, the 1-1 choice paced himself into the first turn just off of Cardinale (Speightstown). Shadowing the leader, the 3-year-old was given his cue at the 3/8ths marker and took over the top spot. At the top of the lane though, Cardinale proved a stubborn foe and the pair locked in a stretch battle. However, it was Change of Command who gained the advantage in the shadow of the wire and won by a neck. “When that horse came back to him, he kind of went on from there,” Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey said. “As you saw around the turn, it looked like he was going to win by himself, and he did that the last time a little bit. He didn't want to finish as well as I'd like. I've got to do some work to figure things out. I hope this moves him forward. He had to kind of belly down and run, so that should help him. We'll take him back to Payson [Park] and find out.” Tied for the 12th highest price during the '22 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, the winner is his dam's first to the races. The colt does have a 2-year-old half-sister by Instilled Regard and a yearling half-brother by Instagrand. A $750,000 purchased by OXO Equine at the '16 Keeneland September Sale, Moi is a full-sister to Mrs McDougal (Medgalia d'Oro), the dam of GII Twilight Derby hero Seal Team (GB) (War Front). Sales History: $570,000 Wlg '21 FTKNOV; $1,050,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 5-2-1-1, $113,300. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. O-Courtlandt Farms (Donald Adam); B-OXO Equine LLC (KY); T-Claude R. McGaughey III. #3 CHANGE OF COMMAND ($4.20) holds off a fight from Cardinale to take Race 7 at @GulfstreamPark! This 3YO colt by Into Mischief (@spendthriftfarm) is trained by Shug McGaughey and was ridden by @jose93_ortiz. pic.twitter.com/BvIcBCIVdV — TVG (@TVG) January 5, 2024 The post Into Mischief Colt Takes Command Late Over Gulfstream Allowance Types appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Bob Baffert has won 12 runnings of the San Vicente Stakes (G2) and has two leading 3-year-olds in pursuit of a record-extending 13th when Muth and Pilot Commander face four other rivals in the $200,000, seven-furlong race at Santa Anita Park Jan. 6.View the full article

by Josh Pons Andrew MacNamara Pons, who managed his family's Country Life Farm in Maryland during the 1970s, died on Tuesday evening, Jan. 2, following complications from cardiac arrest five days earlier. He was 70 years old. Born in Baltimore on May 31, 1953, he was the oldest son of Joseph and Mary Jo Pons. He grew up working with horses at Country Life, the oldest Thoroughbred farm in the state, established in 1933 by Pons' grandfather, Adolphe. Fresh out of high school, Pons began work as an assistant for Hall of Fame horse trainer Henry S. Clark at Delaware Park. He interrupted his own career as a trainer when called back to guide Country Life through difficult times. His equine experience included a term in the stallion division of Spendthrift Farm in Lexington, Kentucky, where he met Marva Jones. The couple were married at Country Life in 1986. With the support of family in 1991, Pons enrolled in a 28-day, in-patient treatment course at Ashley Addiction Center in Havre de Grace, Md. Thereupon, he determined to finish college and persevered through 10 years of night school to graduate with a Master of Science Human Services Administration degree from the University of Baltimore in 2002. He would later quip: “I finished my sophomore year of college 27 years after my freshman year.” As the son of a recovering father in the Alcoholics Anonymous program, Pons faced the disease of alcoholism with wry humor: “If I'm carrying a gene for addiction, then I must also be carrying a gene for recovery.” He put that gene to good use, became a counselor at Ashley, then relocated to Chestertown to live on Marva's family farm, Belle Grove, on Langford Creek in Kent County. He was named clinical director of the A. F. Whitsett Center in Chestertown, a vital facility for those suffering from substance use disorder. An active, outdoors life he lived right to the end. He was playing pickleball with Chestertown pals at the Y when he collapsed. He was admitted to the Mr. and Mrs. Harry W. Lunger Cardiac Intensive Care Unit at the Christiana Care Hospital, adjacent to Delaware Park Racetrack. “How appropriate,” said younger brother Josh. “The Lungers owned Christiana Stable, based at Delaware Park. That's where Andrew worked for Mr. Clark, who was the first to truly recognize what a fine young horseman he was.” “I've known him since grade school,” said a Bel Air AA member. “He gave up a life with horses–something he loved–to spend his life helping other alcoholics. That's a powerful statement of who he was. That's what stands out about him as a man. That's what we'll remember. That he helped others.” Pons is survived by his wife of 38 years, Marva, his stepdaughter Karianna Johnson (Tom) Brace, granddaughters Ellie and Minna; his siblings Norah Pons, Josh (Ellen) Pons, Mike (Lisa) Pons, and Alice Pons; Marva's siblings BJ Jones, Keith (Nancy) Jones, Jonathan (Beverly) Jones and Steven (Caroline) Jones. Nieces and nephews: Tess Jones, Marva Kumpf, Ben Jones, Lindsay (Matt) Diehl, Charlotte Jones, Christopher Jones, Alexander Jones, Philip (Lindsay) Pons, Elizabeth (Garrett) Forsberg, Josh (Shelby) Pons, Dave (Maggie Clough) Pons, and August (Hayley) Pons. Remembrances of life are in the planning stages for late spring, one at Belle Grove and another at Country Life. Please consider a donation to a favorite cause of his: The Mann House, Inc., 14 Williams Street, Bel Air, Maryland 2014, a 501 (c) 3 non-profit recovery residence where he often attended AA meetings. A link to his obituary can be found here. Pons will forever be remembered for his impact on the lives of others. Recalled his youngest brother Mike: “If you asked Andy how he was doing, without fail, he would remind you, 'It's a good life, ain't it?'” The post Country Life’s Andrew Pons Passes Away appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

'TDN Rising Star' First Mission (Street Sense) worked a five-furlong bullet in 1:00.20 (1/48) Friday morning at the Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots in New Orleans in preparation for the $3-million GI Pegasus World Cup Invitational at Gulfstream Park Jan. 27. The GIII Stonestreet Lexington S. winner and GII Clark S. runner-up worked shortly before 6 a.m. with exercise rider Kelvin Perez aboard. “It was a really, really good breeze,” trainer Brad Cox said. “I know that's typical trainer talk but he's a good work horse. He was by himself. There actually was a set in front of him. I don't remember exactly whose barn it was, but he slipped up the inside on them nearing the wire and galloped out very, very well.” Cox continued, “He's doing great. We've got a couple more works. But that's the first five-eighths he's had down here. I love what I saw from him.” The Godolphin homebred had a trio of half-mile works at the Fair Grounds heading into Friday's exercise. “I sharpened him up a little bit,” Cox said. “We want to make sure we go to Florida with a fit, happy horse. We took a big step forward today with trying to get him down there in good order.” The post First Mission Fires Pegasus Bullet appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Ma Yetal, an impressive 3-year-old colt by Flameaway, stole the thunder from older runners on the Jan. 5 World Cup Carnival card with a victory in the UAE Two Thousand Guineas Trial, promising more to come.View the full article

Pons grew up on his family's Country Life Farm. After graduating from The John Carroll School in 1971, he began work as an assistant for Hall of Fame horse trainer Henry S. Clark, and then managed Country Life Farm through the late 1970s.View the full article

Despite a 6.6% growth in December wagering during a spike in average field size, betting on Thoroughbred racing in the United States declined 3.7% in 2023 to finish just below $11.66 billion. Last year, wagering totaled nearly $12.11 billion.View the full article

Eclipse Award-winning jockey Joel Rosario begins his first winter stay at Santa Anita Park since 2020-21 with three rides Jan. 5.View the full article

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by Jonny Turner The stars look to be aligning for Got You Covered ahead of the Cromwell Cup on Saturday. The pacer gets back on his favoured grass surface while attempting to add another grass track feature to his impressive record when he starts from a 10m handicap in the summer feature. Got You Covered will link up with the Invercargill Cup-winning reinswoman Sarah O’Reilly, with regular driver Samantha Ottley teaming up with race rival Deny Everything. The combination of O’Reilly and trainer Brent and Tim White took out the recent Group One Invercargill Cup, and they are hopeful they can grab more cup success at Cromwell. “He does look like a good chance; we’ve gone for a powerful combination – with chucking Sarah on this week,” Tim White said. “So yeah, the confidence is there with him and hopefully we can go a good race.” Deny Everything disappointed in his last start in the Gore Cup when fading before the home turn. Trainer Mark Jones is hopeful the pacer can turn in an improved performance at Cromwell, after having more time to settle into his temporary base in Central Otago. “He would want to be better than his last start, but he probably had an excuse,” Jones said. “He has settled into Cromwell and had a hopple run since, and I have been a lot happier with him.” “He is a class horse on his day but he has got a lot of issues.” “It can depend on how you get him on that day.” Phil Williamson has a three-pronged attack on the Cromwell Trotters Cup on Saturday with Missile, Our Pinocchio, and Jimmy Carter. Williamson has opted for reliability when suggesting Our Pinocchio will be the safest option for the punters who want to follow his team. “Our Pinocchio has the manners, but Jimmy Carter off the back mark is probably the better horse.” “But he has got to bring his A-game,” Williamson said. Jimmy Carter comes into the Cromwell feature after an excellent second at Omakau on Tuesday. “He went a great race, probably one of the best of his career against that sort of opposition,” Williamson said. “It won’t be easy this race from the back mark, but if he brought his manners, he would be right in it.” Our Pinocchio won at Omakau on Tuesday but he steps up to race a higher class of opposition on Saturday. “He went really well at Omakau; it is a different step up to these horses but with the right run, he could be a danger.” Missile ran a solid fourth at Omakau after working in the running following a brilliant win on Invercargill Cup Day. “He has been racing really well, and if he bought his A-game, he would be a first-four chance, for sure.” Andy Hall looks the big threat to the Williamson trio following his tough victory in the Gore Trotters Cup late last month. View the full article

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LSU Stables' ARI'S MAGIC (c, 3, Good Magic–Ari the Adventurer, by Pioneerof the Nile) looked to be spinning his wheels for the better part of the opening half-mile of his Friday unveiling at Tampa Bay Downs, but surged to the front under a massive head of steam with a furlong to race and widened from there to earn 'TDN Rising Star' honors. Samy Camacho was named to ride, but it was Oisin Murphy at the controls aboard the 9-10 pick, who bounced alertly from gate seven, but was almost immediately under a ride, with just two of his eight rivals behind him through the opening exchanges. Busily ridden into the turn, the $150,000 Keeneland September yearling turned $725,000 OBS March breezer continued to chart a wide course on the bend, but was making some forward progress. Still with plenty of work to do when five or perhaps six paths off the inside running rail in upper stretch, Ari's Magic found his best stride, inhaled pacesetting Snowname (The Big Beast) just inside the eighth pole and skipped away to graduate by four lengths before going farther clear on the gallop out. The debuting Vino Santo (Bucchero) sat an inside trip and boxed on well for second while no menace to the winner. Ari's Magic is a third 'Rising Star' for his Hill 'n' Dale-based stallion. Sales history: $150,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP; $725,000 2yo '23 OBSMAR. O-LSU Stables; B-Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings LLC (KY); T-Christophe Clement. The post Good Magic Colt Turns In Towering Tampa Debut, Becomes a ‘Rising Star’ appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Now we're really entering nosebleed altitudes for most breeders, between $30,000 and $50,000: a zone where you should feel that you're improving the odds of coming up with an elite horse. It tells you a lot about our business that the majority of the two dozen stallions operating at this level can only do so because they have yet to send a single runner into the starting gate. A quarter of these we immediately set to one side, as absolute beginners, because those received separate consideration in the opening instalment of this series. Of the remaining 18, another eight belong to those preceding intakes that remain untested by runners. Some of these have been taking the precautionary clips often necessary to keep young sires in the game, as commercial breeders maintain as safe a distance as possible from the dangers that accompany racetrack exposure. You can see that template magnified in one of the two sires who are closest to the moment of truth. AUTHENTIC started out in 2021 as the most expensive in his intake, at $75,000. This year he takes his third consecutive cut, down to $50,000 (from $60,000 and previously $70,000). Yet has he become any less likely to sire racehorses, if you send him a mare this spring, relative to when he retired as Horse of the Year? Far from it, if the market reception is any guide: he duly looked after investors by processing 91 yearlings (120 offered) at a median $235,000 (average $286,076), clear at the top of the class. Authentic | Sarah Andrew We all know how the system works. But if you genuinely thought Authentic good value at $75,000, well, you'd better get right back to him now that his fee is down by one-third. After all, a true commercial opportunist should be anticipating a rising tide from all the juvenile winners that will surely be emerging from a debut book of 229 mares, just a couple short of making him the busiest stallion in North America that year! Of course, Spendthrift operates the model so dexterously that Authentic has meanwhile maintained demand, at his more lenient fees, with books of 202 and 198 mares. With 165 live foals to go to war, he surely gives the farm every chance of a third consecutive champion freshman. MCKINZIE has bucked the trend by retaining his initial fee of $30,000 for a fourth year. He starred at the sales, sending no fewer than 144 into the ring-a staggering percentage of his 174 live foals. That's expressive of the commercial package he had offered in combining knockout looks with 11 triple-digit Beyers, plus Grade Is at two, three and four. He duly sold 110 at a median $90,000, reaching an average of $149,157 after blowing the doors off with a $1.2 million colt at the September Sale. (Both indices beaten only by Authentic in the class.) We've all seen market discoveries sink without trace, over the years, but McKinzie has certainly raised expectations and duly maintained numbers in the meantime, with books of 171 and 168. The next intake is also represented by two sires, now preparing their first yearlings for auction. One of their peers, Essential Quality, actually remains beyond even this level and duly topped the weanling averages, but CHARLATAN filled second place in selling 19 of 22 at a median $175,000 and average $206,052. That was what he had to do, having similarly starting out behind only Essential Quality in terms of fee, and he's another whose original investors have been spared a depreciation: he remains $50,000 for 2024. Charlatan emerged from the same crop and barn as Authentic to emulate the GI Arkansas Derby-GI Malibu S. double of Omaha Beach the previous year, and was only narrowly outstayed when stretching his speed again in the G1 Saudi Cup. Unfortunately he then suffered another setback, but nobody forgot his talent and he started with books of 222 and 223. Breeders evidently recalled that he had himself been a $700,000 yearling out of a genuine Grade I mare. Maxfield | Sarah Andrew MAXFIELD takes a mild trim, to $35,000 from $40,000, despite selling 11 of a dozen weanlings at a median $110,000/average $165,181. His farm tends to be more conservative with its books, so 165 mares for his first year looked like a full subscription, with another 134 in his second. Maxfield was beaten by just four horses across 11 starts, won a Grade I as a juvenile by five and a half lengths, and above all is out of a Bernardini half-sister to the admirable stallion Sky Mesa (very fine family overall). Four youngsters who covered their first mares last spring assembled books that appeared, after the mare cap debacle, to be making a point of some kind-albeit one that may be lost on anyone who ends up with only an average specimen to bring to saturated catalogues. With 262 partners, EPICENTER was behind only his frenzied studmate Golden Pal among American sires, his championship campaign having featured a standout GI Travers (112 Beyer). His sire has gone beyond reach, for most, and I love the sturdy European influences sowing his deeper family-though I can't imagine that those names were front and central for many others! His neighbor JACK CHRISTOPHER was nearly as hectic with 247 mares. He must have been an easy sell, even his solitary defeat in the GI Haskell counting in his favor as confirming him to be all speed. He'd have had plenty of support had he retired on the spot after a daylight debut success at Saratoga, and beat a good one when returning for what proved his final start a year later. Both he and Epicenter take the customary trim, from $45,000 to $40,000, to help keep the door revolving. Jack Christopher | Sara Gordon Jack Christopher represents Munnings, of course, and it's good to see some of Speightstown's later sons contesting the legacy. Just like Charlatan, OLYMPIAD was a $700,000 yearling. His debut book of 228, making him the busiest stallion outside Ashford, shows that plenty of other farms are prepared to go all out for numbers, given the chance. He matured through the grades with eight triple-figure Beyers, but the clincher is Chic Shirine as third dam. By this stage of the series, you probably won't be surprised that proven stallions populate the Value Podium, but this guy looks a profoundly wholesome prospect in retaining a fee of $35,0000. Though JACKIE'S WARRIOR had to settle for “just” 182 mares, he could comfort himself that they included Beholder! He's another to take a clip, to $45,000 from $50,000, but still finds himself standing for more than his own sire. Even so, he will remain in demand as a Grade I winner at Saratoga three years running, an unprecedented achievement gilded by a 28-year-old stakes record in the Hopeful. Right, now let's get onto some sires that have actually demonstrated some competence to replicate the genetic prowess we should be looking for at this kind of fee. Of these, the one who has barely started is OMAHA BEACH. He's just completed his freshman season with fourth place in a table dominated by Spendthrift sires, on the face of it hardly measuring up to his status as the most expensive of the quartet. But I'm not alone in retaining high hopes, judged from the fact that his fee has moved back up to $40,000 for 2024, having been allowed to slide from an opening $45,000 to $30,000. Because while he has only had a couple of stakes winners, he has a class-high 11 black-type performers from 64 starters–a much smaller footprint than his three studmates (Vino Rosso, late bloomer though he was, has fielded 92!)–and these include four at graded stakes level. Omaha Beach presumably received rather more Classic/two-turn mares than his peers, and it's reasonable to expect consolidation from here. It's a rare horse nowadays that can win Grade Is at both six and nine furlongs, and his family overflows with quality. Obviously, he has volume behind him, standing where he does, but that was partly a function of what seemed pretty lenient pricing throughout. His second crop of yearlings held up very well, at a median $105,000/average $156,508 for 95 sold (116 offered). That keeps Omaha Beach miles clear of his intake, some of whom have been quickly embarrassed by their opening fees. Those who kept the faith in the meantime (185 mares in his fourth book last spring) are entitled remain optimistic, the only caveat being the overall underperformance of this particular class of freshmen, judged by graded stakes winners. It's now over to Omaha Beach to convert his promise into a headliner or two. City of Light | Lane's End A similar remark might have been made, this time last year, about CITY OF LIGHT–and, heading into the Breeders' Cup, he had still not justified an against-the-tide hike from $40,000 to $60,000 in 2022. That was the reward for a sensational debut (average $337,698/median $260,000) at the yearling sales. With his book down to 85 last spring, from 132, he was slashed to $35,000 for 2024. But then along came Fierceness, and suddenly everything is looking much more cheerful. City Of Light may have a few later developers, but 18 black-type performers from no more than 127 to have made the starting gate is a very fair ratio. His fee cut was among several such gestures by his farm after polarisation at the sales (where his third crop were down to a median $75,000/average $126,269 for 63 sold of 75) made it feel as though fees generally remain too high. In his (very competitive) intake, one who has only elevated his reputation is GIRVIN, who started in Florida at $7,500 and is up to $30,000 (from $20,000) after consolidating the breakout that earned him a ticket to Kentucky. From limited materials, he is so far operating at 6 percent stakes winners (including Grade I scorer Faiza) to named foals, narrowly bettered only by Good Magic and Army Mule in his class. Girvin's tragic sibling Midnight Bourbon showed what their unraced dam Catch the Moon must be contributing to the equation, and this year Catch the Moon's sister produced Brightwork to lend further Grade I luster to the page. Everyone should duly be fully reconciled by now to Girvin's unfashionable (but superbly-bred) sire. Those who bred to Girvin in his second year in Ocala, at $6,000, certainly can't complain about a yearling average of $92,411 (stretched by a $475,000 colt, but a $41,000 median itself very respectable) for 17 sold from 21 offered. Girvin is firmly on his way, through the roof by the restrained standards of his farm with 181 mares (up from 86) last spring, and only an even more upwardly mobile studmate has kept him off the Value Podium. Violence | Sarah Andrew Before we get to that, we have three horses that have by now had ample opportunity to show where they fit in the marketplace: Liam's Map, Maclean's Music and VIOLENCE. Not that the latter has remotely settled, in terms of pricing! Initially elevated to $60,000 for 2024, he has meanwhile slipped back into this bracket at $40,000. The reasons have been cogently explained, and leave him looking big value as the sire of two new stallions in Kentucky this year, not to mention one with an obvious shot at the freshman title in Volatile. Violence is actually cheaper than his champion son Forte, a rookie whose supporters would surely be delighted if he can produce as many fast horses by the time he reaches the equivalent point of his career. Violence's book will be managed appropriately to his circumstances, but purely in terms of value he looks of imperative interest to eligible mares. For this is a proven achiever at this level–both on the track and in the ring, where he moved his yearling yield up to a median of $80,000 (from $60,000) and average $121,642 (from $97,614). That's impressive for a stallion with seven crops in play. Violence was No. 13 on the general sires' list and the caveats sound very manageable. His studmate MACLEAN'S MUSIC also looks a fair price at $40,000, after a couple of years at $50,000, considering that he has four sons at stud in the Bluegrass. We've already noted one of them, Jackie's Warrior, getting plenty of trade at a higher fee, while Drain The Clock served no fewer than 199 mares in his debut season. Maclean's Music himself had to settle for 144 last spring, but covered 421 over the previous two seasons after dwindling to 57 in 2020, so the good old “pipeline” is well and truly loaded. In fact, no fewer than 183 live foals in 2022 give him the single biggest battalion of juveniles for the forthcoming campaign. So this looks a pretty shrewd time to stay aboard with a horse who processed as many as 104 of 131 yearlings at an average $118,739 ($70,000 median sound enough, against a $25,000 conception fee). LIAM'S MAP also maintained his sales performance, selling 80 of 102 offered at a $100,000 median/$124,024 average–conceived at $30,000–albeit down somewhat on the previous crop, who had knocked it out of the park ($130,000/$166,724). Standing at $40,000 for a third year running, he once again proved a reliable source of stakes action this year, chiefly with maturing stock. His next task is to emulate the Hill 'n' Dale pair, who have been in the game rather longer, as a sire of sires. VALUE PODIUM Bronze: HARD SPUN Danzig–Turkish Tryst (Turkoman) Darley $35,000 So I guess he's not going to change the world, at this stage–but I really don't see much better value to prove your mare, or just to get yourself a racehorse. I know that's not everyone's priority, but the fact is that the last big son of Danzig has now turned 20 and that leaves us diminishing access to the great patriarch. Hard Spun | Darley Hard Spun missed a return to the top 10 sires only by cents, relatively speaking, and it was a measure of what he can do for a mare that a horse with as plain a page as Two Phil's could break into the elite of his crop, and now become Hard Spun's fourth son at stud in Kentucky. It's incredible that a horse with a dozen domestic Grade I winners has never gone higher than $45,000 in the decade since he made the sojourn in Japan that (in hindsight) cost him vital momentum. In that time, he has finished as high as fourth in the general sires' list, but he doesn't get precocious horses and has settled at a median $67,500 (strong six-figure average) with his last couple of yearling crops. Hard Spun nonetheless produced another 26 black-type performers in 2023, and cumulatively stands at No. 7 among active sires with several ratios (for instance, graded stakes winners/performers at 2.7/5.7 percent of named foals) uncannily in step with his old buddy Street Sense, who maintains a fee of $60,000. It's gratifying to see that he remains fully subscribed, 151 mares last year showing that there are still plenty of breeders out there who recognise the importance not just of getting a winner under their mare, but a high-class winner. Hard Spun's stock goes on all surfaces, at all distances, and with those storied Darby Dan bloodlines behind him, it's no surprise that he should meanwhile be emerging as a broodmare influence. His daughters have lately produced a top-class miler in Europe in Alcohol Free (Ire) (No Nay Never), and no less an animal than Good Magic. Somehow the world has spun against this horse, but it's very hard to see why. Silver: AMERICAN PHAROAH Pioneerof The Nile–Littleprincessemma (Yankee Gentleman) Ashford Stud $50,000 Well, you can't win them all–even if you're Coolmore. Who could have said, for certain, which of their two Triple Crown winners would best replicate the talent that had confirmed the series to remain within the competence of a modern Thoroughbred? It was actually this one, having ended a generation of doubt, that started at the higher fee: he opened at $200,000 in 2016, and Justify at $150,000 three years later. The latter had been trimmed to $100,000 by the time he launched his first runners, in 2022; and American Pharoah had taken a proportionately deeper cut at the equivalent stage, to $110,000 for 2019. Their paths since, however, have forked radically. Justify is now out of sight, listed as private; and Pharoah enters 2024 suffering the indignity of yet another cut, this time down to $50,000 from $60,000. American Pharoah | Sarah Andrew Now there's no way that you can say he's any kind of dud, en route to oblivion. He finished 2023 at No. 6 in the general sires' list, with a seventh Grade I winner supplemented by no fewer than six others placed at the elite level–and that's taking no account of his success in Australia, including a G1 Victoria Derby winner. Yes, like most stallions on this farm, the volume behind him proves a double-edged sword when it comes to his ratios. His 11 stakes winners arrived at 3.7 percent, pretty unexciting given the quality he must have been working with. But he continues to get his superior/graded action at a superior rate to ever-fashionable studmate Munnings, for instance, who commands a 50 percent higher fee. The exotic seeding of American Pharoah's family was always liable to make the owners of top-class mares a little nervous, but his dam has proved a consistent producer so something has come together in dynamic fashion. Further action was plainly required after he assembled no more than 129 mares with last year's reduction, but if able to maintain his current sales performance–yearling median $150,000 with both his last two crops, averaging $210,164 in 2023–then you'll be looking at a very fair yield at his current price. Both American Pharoah and Justify have proved effective sires on turf. If this fee proves a last roll of the dice, then I might impudently suggest once again that American Pharoah could be worth a spin in Co. Tipperary. But he's now within reach of a different type of American breeder, and that may well grant him a new lease of life. Gold: UPSTART Flatter–Party Silks (Touch Gold) Airdrie Stud $30,000 So what is it, really, that we can hope to find at this level? I mean, we're obviously excluding “fantasy” breeding to untested stallions. But is there perhaps a horse out there hinting that he's pressing against the ceiling, and might soon be inaccessible? The other pair on the podium, admirable as they are, hardly fit that category. To me, however, Upstart is the dude in this tier who has the chance of elevating himself to a higher level yet. Upstart | EquiSport Maybe you were disappointed that he didn't follow through the 2022 deeds of Zandon and Kathleen O (among 63 named foals conceived at $10,000) with his next crop of sophomores? Well, that's because his third crop comprised just 27 live foals. Even so they included Prerequisite, a $47,000-to-$350,000 pinhook who won the GII Wonder Again S. on her first start outside maiden company, and then missed a Grade I by three parts of a length next time. Meanwhile, as we knew to expect from his own template (multiple Grade I-placed in three consecutive seasons), his mature stock kept him in the game with wins in races as resonant as the GII Clark and GII Woodward S. He has punched conspicuously above weight at the sales, averaging $90,900 in 2022, but traded at just $39,434 from a modest book last year. But he's now ready to open a new cycle. His incoming yearlings emerge from a book of 151, saturation point for a farm that resists the opportunity of exposing their clients by inundating catalogues. Hiked to $30,000 last spring, he entertained another 153. When you consider what he has been doing with mediocre materials, this is a stallion on the point of a big move. Despite a dual Grade I runner-up among his first juveniles, Upstart somehow remained bumping along at $10,000. Even so, his 13 stakes winners at 5.2 percent of named foals and 26 black-type performers at 10.4 percent compares with 5/12.2 percent for the lavishly supported Nyquist (standing at $85,000) in his own class; 4/9 percent for Practical Joke ($45,000) and 5.2/8.5 percent for Arrogate in the following intake; 5.9/9.4 percent for Justify and 4/11.1 percent for Bolt d'Oro ($60,000) in the one after that. This is a horse that gets stock onto the track, and into the winner's circle: 53 percent winners to lifetime starters, compared with 46 percent for the soaraway hero of his intake, Not This Time; 41 percent for Nyquist; 43 percent even for the stellar Gun Runner, the same for Practical Joke, just 39 percent for Arrogate. Upstart was cleverly named and, it now seems, aptly too. There are some curiosities sowing his family, but it's demonstrably all working. Perhaps the farm that gave us the sires of Uncle Mo and Into Mischief has again tapped into an unexpected seam of gold. With an incoming spike in quality and quantity, catch him while you can. The post Value Sires For 2024 Part 6: Reaching The Snowline appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The first reported foal for dual Group 1-winning 2-year-old Blackbeard (Ire) (No Nay Never) arrived on Tuesday, Coolmore Stud announced. A bay, she is out of the Frank Hutchinson-owned Arabic Charm (Ire) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}), who won two races. “She's a very good first foal with plenty of strength and lots of quality,” said Coolmore's Eddie Fitzpatrick. “A great start for both the mare and the sire.” The winner of the G1 Prix Morny, G1 Middle Park S., G2 Prix Robert Papin and G3 Marble Hill S., Blackbeard was also named Cartier Champion 2-Year-Old. He stands for €20,000 at Coolmore Stud in Ireland this year. The post Blackbeard’s First Foal Is A Filly appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Spendthrift Farm's Kopion, a stylish winner at first asking for trainer Richard Mandella, makes her stakes debut against a compact field of five in the Jan. 7 $100,000 Santa Ynez Stakes (G3) at Santa Anita Park.View the full article

According to data released Friday by Equibase, handle in 2023 fell by $447,759,362 for a decline of 3.7 percent. Had handle not rebounded in December, which saw a 6.62% increase, the figures would have looked much worse. Outside of the COVID year of 2020, this was the steepest decline based on percentage of handle since 2011. A total of $11,658,624,859 was wagered in 2023. “I think we got quite a blip coming out of the pandemic when we were the only game in town,” said Marshall Gramm, an economics professor, horseplayer and the managing partner of Ten Strike Stable. “Now, I think we are feeling the real competition from sports betting. It's proliferated everywhere and at such a cheaper price point. Then we have small field sizes and the quality of the product is deteriorating. A lot of things have come together. The game is getting ever tougher for the real hardcore weekend warriors who would handle a couple hundred thousand to a million a year. They're finding this market to be a lot tougher. It's shark eats shark out there.” In a surprising development, U.S. purses fell from $1,309,888,791 to $1,305,772,102, for a decline of .31 percent. With so much money being funneled into purses accounts from alternative forms of gambling, purses rose by 35.8% in 2021, the year after COVID. They were up 10.9 percent in 2022. With the casino market pretty saturated in this country, massive year-over-year increases in purses may be a thing of the past. There was a reduction of 5.48% in the category of U.S. Race Days and a dip of 3.34 percent in U.S. starts. In a somewhat encouraging development, the average field size actually showed a slight increase from 7.3 to 7.43. The post Handle Drops by 3.7% in 2023 as Purses Also Take a Slight Dip appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The National Thoroughbred Racing Association, Daily Racing Form, and the National Turf Writers and Broadcasters have announced the winners of the 2023 Media Eclipse Awards in six categories. The 2023 Media Eclipse Award winners are as follows: Multimedia – TDN Writers' Room Podcast – “Wade and Carson Yost,” September 20, 2023; Thoroughbred Daily News Gulf War veteran Wade Yost and his son, Carson, joined TDN Writers' Room podcast hosts Bill Finley, Randy Moss, and Zoe Cadman on Sept. 23 for an in-depth and emotional discussion of Carson, a 31-year-old stricken with Wolf-Hirschorn Syndrome and a Grade I-winning 2-year-old, Carson's Run, named in his honor. “I was watching the NYRA show the day that Carson's Run made his first start at Saratoga, and Maggie Wolfendale interviewed Terry Finley in the winner's circle after he won, and they talked about the story behind the naming of the horse,” said Susan Finley, Thoroughbred Daily News Publisher. “Bill Finley contacted Terry and wrote a story for that day's TDN, and when Carson's Run won the GI Summer S., Bill decided to invite Wade Jost onto the Writers' Room. We were all very moved by his openness and honesty, and his willingness to discuss Carson's situation and struggles, and what Terry's friendship and the naming of the horse has meant to him.” “All the credit to Wade Jost, and the incredible team that combines to produce the TDN Writers' Room every week; our hosts Bill Finley, Randy Moss, and Zoe Cadman, to our producers, the TDN's Katie Petrunyak and Anthony LaRocca, and our editors Alia LaRocca and Nathan Wilkinson from the PW Media Group.” Writing – Feature/Commentary – Tim Layden, NBCSports.com – “Maple Leaf Mel and the long arc of a horse racing tragedy,” Nov. 1, 2023 Writing- News/Enterprise – Sean Clancy, The Saratoga Special – “The Worst Test,” Aug. 6, 2023 Live Television Programming – NBC Sports – “The Breeders' Cup World Championships,” Nov. 3-4, 2023; Lindsay Schanzer, Senior Producer Feature Television Programming – Woodbine Entertainment: “SECRETARIAT The Last Race,” – Oct. 8, 2023. Airing on TSN (The Sports Network) in Canada. Tammy Gillanders, Producer Photography – Carolyn Simancik – “Trading Horse Paint,” (Cody's Wish/National Treasure battle in Big Ass Fans Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile) The Press Box, Nov. 4, 2023 Media Eclipse Award winners will be presented their trophies at the 53rd Annual Eclipse Awards Ceremony and Dinner at The Breakers Palm Beach in Florida on Thursday, Jan. 25. The post 2023 Media Eclipse Awards Winners Include 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

8th-Meydan, AED300,000, Cond., 1-5, NH & SH 3yo, 1400m, 1:25.08, ft. MA YETAL (c, 3, Flameaway–Delightful Melody, by Tapit), already a 13 3/4-length winner of his debut at Jebel Ali on Dec. 16, continued to progress with an easier-than-it-looked three-quarters-of-a-length victory at Meydan on Friday. Stirred up once the gates flew, the blaze-faced bay raced in between horses as Million Doro (Bolt d'Oro) cut out fractions. The four-for-six Quartier (Uru) (Matterhorn) blew the break and raced several lengths behind the main body of the field. In a good rhythm under Ben Coen throughout the early stages, Ma Yetal gave every indication he was keen to go on, but soon encountered traffic trouble leaving the far turn. Boxed in between Rasas (World Of Trouble) and the rail directly behind the leader 400 metres from the wire, Ma Yetal withstood several brushes by that foe, but did not find racing room until Rasas was unable to keep pace with Million d'Oro, who set sail for the line just over 300 metres out. As soon as Ma Yetal saw daylight, his response was electric, as he bulled his way through, put Million Doro to the sword in a matter of strides and floated home to win easily. The luckless Quartier made eye-catching progress late on and also turned in a strong rally, but had to settle for second, although he was giving the winner nine pounds. The winner is a half-brother to GII Woodford S. and GIII Jacques Cartier S. hero Arzak (Not This Time). Delightful Melody's latest is a yearling full-brother to the winner, and she was covered by Girvin last spring. Ma Yetal's second dam is the three-time Grade II winner Bending Strings (American Chance), who was placed thrice at Grade I level in the States. Sales history: $150,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, AED223,200. Click for the ERA chart & video. O-Sheikh Amed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. B-John C. Oxley (KY). T-Michael Costa. That was very, very good and @BenCoen2 turn on the style in the UAE 2000 Guineas Trial @mcosta_racing's Flameaway colt is going places in a huge hurry #DubaiCarnival pic.twitter.com/mEoqEaRk5i — Dubai Racing Club (@RacingDubai) January 5, 2024 The post Flameaway Colt Remains Perfect In UAE 2000 Guineas Trial appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Edited Press Release The Stronach Group, the Maryland Jockey Club, and the Maryland Thoroughbred Racetrack Operating Authority (“MTROA”) today announced they have reached the framework of an agreement in principle to preserve and enhance the Thoroughbred racing industry in Maryland. The understanding, subject to the negotiation of definitive agreements, legislative authorization, and all required governmental approvals, will enable the MTROA to design and build an iconic racing venue at Pimlico and take over day-to-day racing and training in Maryland. “The Authority's report represents an important next step for the industry, and I look forward to working with the General Assembly and the Maryland Thoroughbred Racetrack Operating Authority to finalize an agreement that ensures this important industry continues to create jobs and drive economic growth for years to come,” said Governor Wes Moore, whose office issued the release. The Stronach Group and the Maryland Jockey Club, as the owners of the real property assets located at Laurel Park and Pimlico Race Course and the intellectual property assets comprising the GI Preakness S., the GII Black-Eyed Susan S. and related festivals, will be working with the MTROA to implement terms for the use of these assets in the short and long term. “The Stronach Group and the Maryland Jockey Club remain deeply committed to reinvigorating Thoroughbred racing in Maryland, and this framework agreement represents an important first step in that process,” said Belinda Stronach, Chairwoman, Chief Executive Officer and President, The Stronach Group. The agreement will allow a fluid transition from The Stronach Group and the Maryland Jockey Club as operators to the MTROA in 2025, as well as allow the time needed to develop a new training facility and modernize Pimlico Race Course. The Stronach Group and the Maryland Jockey Club will retain ownership of the intellectual property associated with the Preakness S. under a license to MTROA. “On behalf of the MTROA, I'm delighted that we were able to chart a course forward for Maryland racing that will ensure the industry continues to thrive for decades to come,” said Greg Cross, Chairman of the Maryland Thoroughbred Racetrack Operating Authority. Click here to access the MTROA report. The post Framework in Place to Enable MTROA to Rebuild Pimlico, Conduct Maryland Racing appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

5th-Meydan, AED300,000, Cond., 1-5, NH & SH 3yo, 1400mT, 1:23.14, gd. LEGEND OF TIME (GB) (c, 3, Sea The Stars {Ire}–Kissable {Ire} {G1SP-Ire, SW & GSP-US, $225,919}, by Danehill Dancer {Ire}) won a 7 1/2-furlong race at Haydock when unveiled in September, and plugged on to be fifth after a hampered passage in the G3 Tattersalls S. at Newmarket on Sept. 28. One of the leading fancies despite a horror draw in gate 14 of 16 in the full field for the Jumeirah Guineas Trial, he punched the breeze out wide as Athan (Arg) (Orpen) showed the way. Already only three deep as the field hit the turn, he maintained position in fourth approaching the lane. Given his cue by Buick, he soon let down past Saeed bin Suroor's Movie Maker (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), Athan, and the rallying Shamrock Glitter (Fr) (Shalaa {Ire}), who raced against the rail. The last name made a race of it inside the final 100 metres, but Legend Of Time, despite covering all of that extra real estate, was going best of the pair to win by a length and give Buick his third win on the card and trainer Charlie Appleby his second. Athan was another 1 3/4 lengths back, two lengths in front of Movie Maker. Best known for finishing third in the G1 Moyglare Stud S., the stakes-winning Kissable has already thrown stakes winner and GI American Oaks third Amandine (GB) (Shamardal) and Loving Dream (GB) (Gleneagles {Ire}), who has both the G1 Prix de Royallieu and G2 Ribblesdale S. to her name. Since foaling Legend Of Time, Kissable has a 2-year-old colt by first-season sire Pinatubo (Ire) and a yearling filly by Night Of Thunder (Ire). Second dam Kitty O'Shea (GB) (Sadler's Wells) was one of four stakes winners oftlinefoaled by G3 Park Hill S. heroine Eva Luna (Alleged), whose best was G1 St Leger and G1 Racing Post Trophy victor-turned-sire Brian Boru (GB) (Sadler's Wells). Derby winner Workforce (GB) (King's Best), as well as Kodiac (GB) full-brothers Best Solution (Ire) and El Bodegon (Ire) are all Group 1 winners from this line, while Work Force's half-brother Emissary (GB) (Kingman {GB}) ran second in the G1 Melbourne Cup. Sales history: 150,000gns Ylg '22 TATOCT. Lifetime Record: 3-2-0-0, AED212,820. Click for the ERA chart and video. O-Godolphin. B-Lordship Stud & Sunderland Holding, Inc. (GB). T-Charlie Appleby. Serious performance Despite a wide berth, Legend Of Time (Sea The Stars) flies home in the Jumeirah Guineas Trial A sparkling treble on the card for William Buick …@godolphin | #DubaiCarnival pic.twitter.com/2BuhYEJhZn — Dubai Racing Club (@RacingDubai) January 5, 2024 The post Sea The Stars Colt Overcomes Wide Draw In Jumeirah Guineas Trial appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The stars of the future might just be on show in the Fegentri Junior championship, a series supported by top rider Christophe Soumillon, and one that features races in Italy, Sweden, France, Italy and Hungary. Developed by Cécile Madamet and Elie Hennau following the worldwide growth of pony races, each nation in the Fegentri Junior will be represented by a team of pony riders from 12 to 16 years of age who will travel in the member countries to ride on prestigious European racetracks. The Soumillon International Pony Academy, created by decorated rider Christophe Soumillon, starts collaborating on the project of the Fegentri Junior in 2024. Created by Christophe Soumillon, the SIPA is an association that offers training courses in pony racing, courses led by Soumillon himself and assisted by professional jockeys. From 2024, the academy, as well as a pony stable, will be officially installed in Normandy, near Deauville, and will offer continuous training for young people from 8 to 16 years old in race riding but also in the professions around horse racing. Involved for a long time in the pony racing discipline, Soumillon is proud to be associated with the international dimension of the Fegentri Junior and will offer masterclasses as well as the availability of his own ponies during the events of the circuit. The first race of the Fegentri Junior series takes place at Florence racetrack on April 25. The post Soumillon Gets Behind Fegentri Junior Series appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

What Warrnambool Races Where Warrnambool Racing Club – 2-64 Grafton Rd, Warrnambool VIC 3280 When Sunday, January 7, 2024 First Race 1:30pm AEDT Visit Dabble For a second consecutive Sunday, racing heads to Warrnambool Racecourse where quite a competitive eight-race meeting is scheduled. Clear skies is the theme of the day, with perfect conditions racing forecast, with the track rated a Good 4. The rail comes out 3m from the 800m-300m which shouldn’t impact proceedings too much, with action getting underway at 1:30pm AEDT. Best Bet at Warrnambool: Active Duty The Lindsey Smith-trained Active Duty produced an eye-catching second on debut at Warrnambool on December 31, and on the quick seven-day back up he looks hard to beat. The three-year-old gelding settled towards the rear of the field on his debut run, and unleashes to go down by less then half-a-length. That was over 1400m on that day, so the step up to the 1700m seems a logical turning point for connections. Fred Kersley will need a touch of luck from barrier one, but if he can land a one-off position around midfield, then Active Duty should have too much in reserve for his rivals. Best Bet Race 4 – #6 Active Duty (1) 3yo Gelding | T: Lindsey Smith | J: Fred Kersley (58kg) +120 with Picklebet Next Best at Warrnambool: Loved Up Lawyer Loved Up lawyer return with a runner-up performance at Bendigo on December 12, and based on what he has shown so far in his career, he looks to have found a winnable race on the weekend. Having been forced wide on the home turn, the son of Menari produced a strong finish to go down by a half-length in a field no harder than what he faces on Sunday. Dean Yendall will have him settled in a perfect spot from barrier three, and considering he finished just 1.5 lengths off Brave Mead as a juvenile, Loved Up Lawyer brings the right form lines. Next Best Race 8 – #11 Loved Up Lawyer (3) 3yo Gelding | T: Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) | J: Dean Yendall (57.5kg) +220 with Dabble Next Best Again at Warrnambool: Crackle ‘N’ Burn Crackle ‘N’ Burn seemingly found the Terang 1200m a touch too sharp for his liking on debut, with the son of Crackerjack King slowly away before hitting the line with great intent. Another 100m, he arguably wins the race, so the step up to the 1400m on Sunday should suit Tom Dabernig’s runner perfectly. He showed a terrific turn of foot once in full flight, and with the long straight of Warrnambool and a genuine tempo expected, the race seemingly sets up perfectly for Crackle ‘N’ Burn to break maiden ranks at his second start. Next Best Again Race 3 – #5 Crackle ‘N’ Burn (5) 3yo Gelding | T: Tom Dabernig | J: Billy Egan (58kg) +220 with Neds Sunday quaddie tips for Warrnambool races Warrnambool quadrella selections Sunday, January 7, 2023 1-3-4-5-6 1-2-5 1-2-6-7 1-11 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip More horse racing tips View the full article

For the fourth time in its 33-year existence Gestut Karlshof has been named champion breeder in Germany for 2023. The first title came in 2000, the year Samum (Ger) (Monsun {Ger}) won the G1 Deutsches Derby and set the ball rolling for what has become the stud's signature family. Samum's dam Sacarina (GB) (Old Vic {GB}) went on to produce, from repeat matings to Monsun, the G1 Preis der Diana winner Salve Regina (Ger), whose Classic success for Manfred and Edith Hellwig of Gestut Hony-Hof gave the Faust family of Karlshof the champion breeder title for a second time in 2002, and later another Deutsches Derby winner in Schiaparelli (Ger). “We've been champion breeder in 2000, 2002, and 2008, then there was a gap of 15 years but we have the fourth one,” says Holger Faust, whose parents Bruno and Michaela founded Gestut Karlshof. “It was established in 199o, so it's not that old.” He continues, “My parents are both are from Frankfurt and, back in the day, the racetrack in Frankfurt, which is closed now, was quite popular with 20 to 30 meetings a year. That was how my father became involved with racing, and my mother was already from a family of breeders.” The Classic lineage extends back through Michaela Faust's parents, who owned the 1980 Deutsches Derby winner Navarino (Ger), as well as his Deutsches St Leger-winning sire Madruzzo (Ger). Navarino also won the G2 Union-Rennen, the major Derby trial which was claimed last season by the Karlshof homebred Straight (Ger) (Zarak {Fr}). Later a close third behind Zagrey (Fr) (Zarak {Fr}) in the G1 Grosser Preis von Baden, Straight remains in training for his four-year-old season. He is a fourth-generation descendant of the aforementioned Sacarina through another of her Monsun daughters, Sahel (Ger). Yet another, Sanwa (Ger), is the dam of Sea The Moon (Ger). “Straight is an exciting horse,” says Faust, who manages not just his family's horses in training but also those of Darius Racing. “He's getting ready for next year's campaign and I think he can be a very interesting horse for the grand prix races, not only in Germany.” He continues, “I think that we have a pretty good team for next year. From the younger horses, I would mention the unbeaten Maigret, who is now three. He has done nothing wrong so far. He won his listed race like a walk in the park and I think he can improve. He's now heading to the German Guineas first and then we will see how the story continues.” Maigret (Ger) is an important Classic contender for the stud as he is by the farm's reverse shuttle stallion Counterattack (Aus), a son of Redoute's Choice (Aus). Furthermore, his dam is by its former resident Dabirsim (Fr) and she has already produced the stakes-winning mare Mylady (Ger) (The Grey Gatsby {Ire}), who won a Group 3 in her native country before being transferred to Chad Brown in America and landing the GIII Very One S. at Gulfstream Park in the Karlshof colours. “We had two horses in training in America last year,” Faust notes. “There was Mylady, who just ran one time and after that, unfortunately, she got a lung infection. That's why she needed to be retired in the summer. We also had [Italian Group 3 winner] Atomic Blonde (Ger) who was placed three times in graded races and was then sold.” Mylady is now back among the 33-strong broodmare band at the farm just south of Frankfurt, alongside her dam Minoris (Fr) and also several members of Sacarina's extended family. “Sacarina got everything started for Karlshof,” Faust acknowledges. “And I think you can also say, looking back over the last 25 years or so, that this was one of the top three families when you consider Samun, Schiaparelli, Salve Regina, Sea the Moon, and so many black-type horses all over the world. Last year's Italian Derby winner, Goldenas, is also from the family. Right now we have four mares from that family and I would say that the most interesting of those mares is called Seductive (Ger) (Henrythenavigator). With her second foal, she already produced last year's Group 2 winner and German Derby favourite, Straight, so I think there's more to come from her.” When wearing his other hat as manager to Darius Racing, Faust has been involved with two more Derby winners in his home country: Isfahan (Ger) and his son Sisfahan (Fr). Darius's principal Stefan Oschmann, who has been champion owner twice in Germany, also raced the five-time group winner Rubaiyat (Fr) (Areion {Ger}), who, like Isfahan, now stands at Gestut Ohlerweiherhof. “Besides the stud, there are two things I am really passionate about. One is being Darius Racing's manager. I've done that now for more than 10 years. And I'm very proud that we have had two German Derby winners, and two stallions. “The second thing is I'm also running HFTB Agency and I love doing that. I'm focused on exporting German racehorses and, if they are successful, it's always nice to follow the horses and to see them run at bigger tracks in front of more people.” While the Karlshof team campaign plenty of their own horses, Faust also points to the stud's record at the sales. In the last eight years, Kalrshof has sold 14 black-type winners, which equates to 13% of the horses sold. These include A Raving Beauty (Ger) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}), who won the GI First Lady S and GI Just A Game S. for Chad Brown, and Group 3 winner Isfahani (Ger) (Isfahan {Ger}), who was runner-up in the G1 Preis der Diana. Faust nominates the latter's full-sister Isfand (Ger), trained by Henk Grewe, as a horse to follow in Germany in the coming season. He says, “She hasn't run yet but I do believe that she is a filly that could be entered for the German Oaks with a big chance.” Karlshof's fellow champions in Germany for 2023 were Peter Schiergen, who won the trainers' title for the eighth time, while Andrash Starke was champion jockey. Liberty Racing, which campaigned Derby winner Fantastic Moon (Ger), took the owners' title. This represented the first time in just over two centuries of racing in Germany that the champion owner was a syndicate. The post Karlshof Straight to the Top with Fourth German Champion Breeder Title appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Two veteran lawmakers are trying, for the third legislative session in a row, to legalize fixed-odds betting on Thoroughbred racing and to permit sports wagering self-service betting kiosks to be installed at tracks, stadiums, and other facilities.View the full article