Wandering Eyes

Horse Racing on Wednesday, January 3 will feature five meetings in Australia. Our racing analysts here at horsebetting.com.au have found you the best bets and provided free quaddie tips for the meeting at Eagle Farm. Wednesday Horse Racing Tips – January 3, 2024 Eagle Farm Racing Tips Best Horse Racing Bets For January 3, 2024 Place these horse racing bets in a multi for $101.92 odds return: Wednesday, January 3, 2024 Eagle Farm – Race 1 #5 Leitzel Eagle Farm – Race 4 #3 Demon Darb Seymour – Race 6 #6 Tewkesbury Mount Gambier – Race 6 #3 Maddison Miss | Copy this bet straight to your betslip As always there a plenty of promotions available for Australian racing fans, check out all the top online bookmakers to see what daily promotions they have. If you are looking for a new bookmaker for the horse racing taking place on January 3, 2024 check out our guide to the best online racing betting sites. More horse racing tips View the full article

What Happy Valley Races Where Happy Valley Racecourse – Wong Nai Chung Rd, Happy Valley, Hong Kong When Thursday, January 4, 2024 First Race 7:10pm HKT (10:10pm AEDT) Visit Dabble For the first time in 2024, Hong Kong racing heads to the city circuit at Happy Valley Racecourse for a competitive eight-race program to be run under lights. The rail is in the A position for the meeting, and with pristine conditions expected in the lead-up, the track should be a genuine Good 4 prior to the opening event at 7:10pm local time. Best Bet at Happy Valley: Beauty Waves Beauty Waves is winless after three Hong Kong starts for the Douglas Whyte barn, however, the son of Starspangledbanner has been opposing some stiff competition. He was no match for Galaxy Patch at Sha Tin on December 10 last start, but still boxed on gamely to cling onto a third-place finish. He heads to Happy Valley for the first time on Thursday evening, and with barrier one all but assuring the four-year-old gains an economical run in transit, Beauty Waves should get his best opportunity to secure his first win of the season. Best Bet Race 7 – #7 Beauty Waves (1) 4yo Gelding | T: Douglas Whyte | J: Karis Teetan (56kg) Bet with Playup Next Best at Happy Valley: M Unicorn M Unicorn is searching for a hat-trick of wins as he makes his first attempt in Class 3 company. The gelding by Savabeel achieved his back-to-back wins at this course and distance, with the latest catching the eye on December 6 giving Ryan Moore points in the International Jockey Challenge. The five-year-old will need to continue his rise under the guidance of Harry Bentley, and with a significant drop in weight heading up in grade, M Unicorn will be hard to hold out. Next Best Race 6 – #11 M Unicorn (4) 5yo Gelding | T: Caspar Fownes | J: Harry Bentley (52.5kg) Bet with Neds Next Best Again at Happy Valley: Beauty Infinity Beauty Infinity made his debut at this track and trip on December 20 and wasn’t disgraced behind Easy Snip. The John Size-trained gelding raced wide without cover for a major portion of the 1200m journey but was still around when the whips were cracking, powering into a third-place finish. There has already been some depth to the form-line producing a subsequent winner since, and with a much softer run from barrier two, Beauty Infinity could add to that tally on Thursday. Next Best Again Race 1 – #5 Beauty Infinity (2) 4yo Gelding | T: John Size | J: Andrea Atzeni (57.5kg) Bet with Bet365 Happy Valley Thursday quaddie tips – 4/1/2024 Happy Valley quadrella selections Thursday, January 4, 2024 1-5-10-12 1-4-7-10-11 2-4-5-7 1-2-6-8-9 More horse racing tips View the full article

On Wednesday, January 3, various horse racing bookmakers have unveiled their racing promotions, featuring a range of enticing bonus back offers for horse racing enthusiasts. The top Australian racing promotions for January 3, 2024, include: Today’s best horse racing promotions Kembla Grange Races 1-4 2nd or 3rd Bonus Back up to $50 Back a runner in races 1-4 at Kembla Grange this Wednesday and if it runs 2nd or 3rd get up to $50 in Bonus Cash. Fixed Win bets only. Neds T&Cs apply. Login to Neds to Claim Promo Eagle Farm All Races – Same Race Multi 3+ Leg Bonus Back If 1 Leg Fails Up To $50 Place a 3+ leg Same Race Multi bet on any race at Eagle Farm this Wednesday and if 1 leg of your multi fails, get up to $50 back in Bonus Cash. Available from approximately 8:30am local track time on race day. Not available for Groups pot bets. Neds T&Cs apply. Login to Neds to Claim Promo BoomBet Daily Race Returns Use your daily Race Returns to back a runner in ANY RACE you want* and if your horse doesn’t win but finishes in the specified positions, you get your stake back as a bonus bet. 18+ Gamble responsibly. Can be used across any race and code unless specified in customer’s BoomBox. Fix odds, win bets only. Max bonus $50. Login to BoomBet to Claim Promo Bonus Back 2nd or 3rd on R 1-3 at Kembla Grange Finish 2nd or 3rd in Races 1-4 at Kembla Grange and get your stake back as a bonus bet. Min 6 runners. Fixed Odds only. Check Vault for eligibility. T&Cs apply. Login to UniBet to Claim Promo How does horsebetting.com.au source its racing bonus offers? HorseBetting.com.au has meticulously assessed the premier horse racing bookmakers in Australia, revealing exclusive bonus promotions and specials tailored for thoroughbred enthusiasts on Wednesday, January 3, 2024. These horse racing promotions are a regular feature, exemplifying the unwavering commitment of Australia’s leading horse racing bookmakers. If one bookmaker happens to lack a promotion on a given day, rest assured that another is stepping up with enticing offers within the realm of gallops. For your daily dose of the most lucrative horse racing bookmaker bonuses, HorseBetting.com.au stands as the ultimate destination. Maximise the value of your punting endeavours with bookie bonuses boasting the most competitive horse racing odds for every race. It’s crucial to emphasise that these thoroughbred racing promotions are exclusively designed for existing customers. To access these special promotions and claim the bookmaker’s offers, log in to each online bookmaker’s platform. For those seeking races and horses to leverage their horse betting bookmaker bonus bets, HorseBetting provides a valuable resource with its daily free racing tips. Stay well-informed, adopt strategic approaches, and enhance your overall horse racing experience by capitalising on these exclusive promotions. More horse racing promotions View the full article

Albaugh Family Stable—led by Dennis Albaugh and his son-in-law and racing manager Jason Loutsch—kicked off 2024 with a stakes victory from their newly turned 3-year-old Catching Freedom in the $300,000 Smarty Jones Stakes Jan. 1 at Oaklawn Park. View the full article

Sabrina Moore's GreenMount Farm will offer its final consignment during next week's Keeneland January Horses of All Ages Sale and, fittingly, the consignment's three offerings kick off with a short yearling from the first crop of the champion who put the Maryland farm on the map, Knicks Go. “It's a little bittersweet that this is going to be my last consignment,” Moore admitted. “But it will kind of come full circle, hopefully.” Moore and her mother Angie co-bred Knicks Go and sold the son of the late Paynter for $40,000 as a weanling at the 2016 Keeneland November sale. He sold to the Korea Racing Authority for $87,000 at the following year's Keeneland September sale. Knicks Go went on to win five Grade I races, including the 2021 GI Breeders' Cup Classic, GI Pegasus World Cup Invitational, and GI Whitney S., as well as the 2018 GI Claiborne Breeders' Futurity and the 2020 GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile. The gray was named Horse of the Year and champion older male in 2021 and retired to Taylor Made Farm the following year. Knicks Go had 18 weanlings sell last November for an average of $64,611 and a high of $220,000. With the turning of the year, the stallion's first yearlings sell at Keeneland next week and Moore's GreenMount will offer the first of the group as hip 69 during the auction's first session Monday. “He has this tenacious attitude,” Moore said when asked if she saw similarities between the yearling and his famous father. “He is a little hard-headed, but in the best way possible. He definitely has his own opinions and he is a very confident colt. I foaled him at my farm [in Maryland] and he came out brown and I thought, 'oh no!' I just had this dream in my head that I would get this little gray Knicks Go baby. But other than that, body style, they are pretty similar. He is a stout individual and he carries good body.” After foaling the colt in Maryland, Moore picked up roots and moved to Kentucky last fall. “We moved him down here and I can't believe how much he's progressed in the last two months,” Moore said. “He is really coming on. If a pinhooker picks him up, I think they will be thrilled with him in the next few months. He is really headed in the right direction.” Of her move to Kentucky, Moore admitted it was a transition that just made sense. “It had been on my radar the last few years,” Moore said. “I bred a really nice horse, but at the end of the day, that didn't get me far, at least financially. The Maryland circuit was really struggling and I had a lot of clients who were really struggling. It felt like it was going in a direction that I didn't think was going to benefit me long term. So I just had to try to think about my future and where I wanted to be. And owning a farm in a regional market was just not going to do it.” The decision to make the move to Kentucky was made easier when some Maryland clients, Steve and Denise Smith, encouraged her to join them as their farm manager. “They just bought a really nice farm,” Moore said. “It's the old Fort Blackburn Farm on Old Frankfurt Pike. They were looking for a manager and I was looking for a job. We've had this relationship for a long time, so I was really comfortable. I was scared to come down here and get lost in the mix, but it's been a really smooth transition. It's been great.” Now renamed Mesingw Farm, the operation is home to some 40 horses, as well as a racing stable of some 20 horses in training. Among the stable, the Smiths are co-owners of graded stakes winner Danse Macabre (Army Mule), who is trained by Kelsey Danner. “[Smith] is getting close to retiring and this is his passion and he's always had his eye on doing this,” Moore said. “They aim to keep the fillies and sell the colts. But if they bring them through the ring and it's not what he wants, then he will race them, too. He is aiming to try to build a really nice broodmare band.” As for Moore, she's settling into a more relaxed way of life. “I thought I wanted an office job for a while–I didn't realize how much I would miss working with horses,” Moore said. “I was so burned out. It was so hard to find help in Maryland. I had 50 horses for the last year and a half and it was me and one other girl and sometimes another part-time person. It was unrealistic and exhausting.” Of her final GreenMount consignment, Moore said, “I will miss it, but I am a little relieved to be done with it and to focus on my current job right now full force. And go on from there.” Moore retained one broodmare, a half-sister to Knicks Go, and she is looking forward to seeing what the champion's first offspring can do on the racetrack. “They are falling into the hands of a lot of really nice professionals,” she said of the stallion's first crop. “It will be really exciting to watch them develop and hopefully they go on and do big things.” The Keeneland January sale will be held next Monday through Thursday with sessions beginning each day at 10 a.m. The post Knicks Go Yearling Brings Moore Full Circle at Keeneland January appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Wednesday's Observations features a relative of GI Yellow Ribbon S. 17.30 Kempton, Nov, £7,000, 3yo/up, f/m, 8f (AWT) Sir Mark Prescott representative APOSTLE (GB) (Ulysses {Ire}), is the ninth foal out of dual G3 Dahlia S. victrix and G1 Matron S. runner-up and dual G1 Falmouth S. placegetter Heaven Sent (GB) (Pivotal {GB}), herself a full-sister to GI Yellow Ribbon S. and GI John C Mabee H. heroine Megahertz (GB). Cheveley Park Stud's homebred chestnut, who is a half-sister to the stakes-placed duo Seven Heavens (GB) (Frankel {GB}) and Firmament (GB) (Cape Cross {Ire}), encounters one dozen rivals in this debut. The post Relative Of Megahertz Set For Kempton Debut appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Albaugh Family Stable—led by Dennis Albaugh and his son-in-law and racing manager, Jason Loutsch—kicked off 2024 with a stakes victory from their newly turned 3-year-old Catching Freedom in the $300,000 Smarty Jones Stakes Jan. 1 at Oaklawn Park. View the full article

A winner of 245 races, 13 of them stakes, with more than $6 million in career purse earnings, O'Keefe passed away Dec. 22 after a courageous battle with bone cancer.View the full article

NSW apprentice Dylan Stanley, who is based in Wellington, returning to scale at Fannie Bay during his first riding stint in Darwin in 2021. Picture: Caroline Camilleri (Darwin Photography Professionals) Wellington-based apprentice Dylan Stanley returned to the Top End for the first time in over two years on Saturday, but his day lasted just two races. Stanley was dislodged from the Chris Pollard-trained Hey Little Sister during the Darwin Turf Club’s final meeting for 2023 when the five-year-old mare bucked soon after the start. Hey Little Sister had in fact jumped well from barrier two and looked like leading, but after 50 metres the NSW apprentice ended up on the Fannie Bay dirt. Thankfully, the 21-year-old avoided serious injury, but he struck his head on the ground and complained of neck soreness when attended by ambulance officers. He was taken to Royal Darwin Hospital for further observation and treatment before being allowed to leave late Saturday night. Stanley, who arrived in Alice Springs last week after agreeing to ride for local trainer Terry Gillett for three months, returned to the Red Centre on Sunday. Diagnosed with mild concussion, Stanley was stood down for 12 days and hopes to return to Darwin on January 13 and Alice Springs on January 14. Subsequently, he decided to return home to Wellington in central west NSW and boarded a Sydney-bound flight on Tuesday. After partnering Pollard’s Solid Rock earlier in the day, Stanley had a further three rides on Saturday before Hey Little Sister spoiled the occasion. “It wasn’t the most enjoyable return to Darwin,” Stanley said. “Came out of the barriers, the horse dropped its head, and I ended up going over the top and hitting the ground, which was hard. “My neck really hurt; the barrier attendants told me to just lay there. “I probably wouldn’t have been able to get up though, as I was pretty dizzy. “The ambulance officers just asked how I was before they put a neck brace on me – that was about it. “They took me straight to hospital; I stayed there for a while. “I had tests, but they also jabbed me with a whole lot of needles, and I took painkillers. “I got picked up by Chris Pollard, the trainer I was riding for, as I was staying at his place.” Stanley, who headed to Darwin on Friday with fellow Red Centre jockeys, said that he had suffered a few falls since kick-starting his career at Mudgee in October 2020. “It’s been a while since my last fall, I’ve been lucky as they haven’t been too bad — nothing too serious,” he said. “That one on Saturday probably hurt the most – I was stiff and sore on Sunday. “Fannie Bay is definitely harder than a grass track, that’s for sure. “I travelled back to Alice Springs on Sunday afternoon; all the other jockeys just asked me how I was, which was nice. “I will probably get a clearance next Wednesday, and then I should be right to go.” Stanley was advised officially by Thoroughbred Racing Northern Territory on Sunday that he couldn’t ride for 12 days, hence the reason why he headed home. “I’ve just gotten off the plane here in Sydney; my sister picked me up for the three-hour drive back to Wellington,” he said. “I’ll help my partner Brittany (Haddon) with the house when I get home. “Pack everything up and end up moving up to Alice Springs. “Nothing has been planned after the three months in Alice at this stage. “See how it pans out pretty much, but we’re definitely looking at moving up there long term. “I’ll head back before next weekend.” Currently apprenticed to Dubbo trainer Kody Nestor, Stanley rode in the NT for the first time in June and July of 2021, when Nyngan trainer Rodney Robb assembled a team for the Darwin Cup Carnival. He rode at the start of the Carnival in early July, but Stanley was then sidelined after suffering a knee injury during track work. Quite tall for a jockey, Stanley had two wins at both Darwin and Alice Springs, as well as nine minor placings from 48 starts; he also had the opportunity to ride on Adelaide River Cup Day. “I have plenty of good memories of the first time I rode in the NT; it was awesome; I loved it,” he said. “That’s the main reason I decided to go back, despite the fact that I’ll get more rides. “The weather is also appealing, and I don’t have to worry about my weight as much. “There were plenty of familiar faces at Darwin; everyone was very accommodating. “It’s a pity I won’t get to ride for Terry or his wife Leanne on Saturday; I’ll be watching the Alice Springs races on TV.” Stanley, with 18 wins from 318 career starts, is filling the void for the Gilletts after daughter and apprentice Dakota headed to Adelaide for a riding stint with leading trainers Richard and Chantelle Jolly. More horse racing news View the full article

Anyone who bets on racing will know too well the perils that come with predicting the outcome of a sporting event. But what if we take it a couple of steps further and, for a bit of fun, try and gaze into the crystal ball and see what could be in store for 2024? From Frankie Dettori returning to the saddle in Europe to Wathnan Racing continuing its march in Britain, here are 10 predictions-some fun and some serious-for the new year. Dettori's Groundhog Day To Continue Into 2024 We've all seen the movie Groundhog Day, haven't we? The one where Bill Murray gets caught in a time loop? Well, if you haven't, the same script could well be playing out for real through Frankie Dettori's retirement [or lack thereof]. For all the people who had convinced themselves that Dettori had achieved a dream send-off when guiding King Of Steel to victory in the Champion S. at Ascot, there were just as many people rolling their eyes at the idea that one of the world's greatest riders was ready to set off into the sunset. Of course, Dettori has committed to ride on in America for the winter but, what happens after that? What happens if a big-ticket ride becomes available for a Guineas or a Derby? Don't tell me that Dettori, who arguably rode as well last year as he has in years, is going to give up on that opportunity for the sake of staying true to his word? The farewell tour served its purpose and generated a subplot for almost every major meeting that Dettori rode at in 2023. However, the thought that we have seen the last of Frankie in Europe is not something I'd be taking short odds on this year. Classic Glory On The Cards For Blue Point? From a bloodstock perspective, Blue Point hogged just as many headlines as Frankie did throughout 2023. Tipped by many to scoop first-season sire honours, Blue Point delivered in no uncertain terms, coming up trumps with two genuine top-notchers in Big Evs and Rosallion. The latter has real claims of bagging Classic glory for his young sire sensation this year and is just 12-1 to land the 2,000 Guineas. Big Evs proved he is a classy sprinter to look forward to when bagging the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf and the likelihood of him landing a major sprint in Europe is strong. It's worth noting that Blue Point's most famous triumphs, his back-to-back Royal Ascot successes in the King's Stand S. and Diamond Jubilee S. back in 2019, came in his five-year-old campaign. The best may yet be to come from his progeny in 2024 and beyond and, if he is to bag a breakthrough Classic success, perhaps it may come through Rosallion in the Irish 2,000 Guineas provided City Of Troy stays away. Bank On Sangster To Have A Big Year Oliver Sangster | Keeneland Speaking of breakthrough successes at the highest level, there is a chance that up-and-coming trainer Ollie Sangster can bag a first Group 1 or even Classic victory with stable star Shuwari this season. Grandson of the late Robert Sangster, Ollie has done his bit to keep the family name in lights and enjoyed a stellar debut season as a trainer by sending out 13 winners from 81 runners, highlighted by the Fillies' Mile runner-up Shuwari. According to those who know Sangster best, there are few trainers who work as hard as the 27-year-old, who would be thoroughly deserving of a major day in the sun in 2024. Here's hoping Shuwari can provide Sangster just that and her 1,000 Guineas claims would be greatly aided by the word soft appearing in the going description. Tough Task For City Of Troy To Live Up To Lofty Reputation City Of Troy proved himself to be something out of the ordinary as a two-year-old by going unbeaten in three starts, culminating with a jaw-dropping performance in the Dewhurst. It was after the Dewhurst where Aidan O'Brien described City Of Troy as being the best two-year-old he has ever trained while Michael Tabor took it up a notch or two by comparing the horse to Frankel. City Of Troy has generated much debate since that brilliant Dewhurst display but perhaps it might be wisest to side with Mick Kinane, who, in acknowledging the awesome talent the Ballydoyle-trained colt clearly has, said that he still has a lot to prove in order to be compared with the likes of Sea The Stars and Frankel. Certainly at this juncture, City Of Troy would appear the most likely winner of the 2,000 Guineas, which his general even-money odds reflects. However, whether we will be speaking of him in the same ilk as Frankel come the end of the season, now that is a big ask. One thing that isn't up for debate is that Justify is quickly confirming himself as a very serious stallion, not only in America and Australia, but also in Europe. Not long after City Of Troy recorded his Dewhurst demolition, Justify's daughter Opera Singer did something similar in the Prix Marcel Boussac. Both horses sit at the head of the 2,000 and 1,000 Guineas betting respectively and it will be fascinating to see how their careers progress this term. Japan To Win The Derby Yoshito Yahagi | Emma Berry Now this would be a bit of fun; what if Japan were to win the Derby? Or, if I was to be more specific, what if trainer Yoshito Yahagi was to take out another major prize on the international circuit by sending out a brother to Sottsass to score at Epsom? You know, it's not impossible. Shin Emperor is clearly bred for the job. Bought by Yahagi, who has recorded major success at the Breeders' Cup, Dubai World Cup and Saudi Cup meetings in recent years, for €2.1 million at Arqana in 2021, Shin Emperor has always been held in high regard. A Group 3 winner already in Japan, he went down by less than a length in the G1 Hopeful S. at Nakayama over the festive period, doing his reputation no harm in the process. Yahagi is famous for travelling his horses all over the world and, in Shin Emperor, he has a colt who clearly fits the Derby profile being a brother to the Arc winner Sottsass. In betting terms, this is one of the more fanciful predictions for 2024, but what a story it would be. Pinatubo To Emulate Blue Point Sottsass, of course, is one of the first-season stallions that many enthusiasts are looking forward to this year. While his stock has gone down extremely well, highlighted by the sale of a €525,000 colt at Arqana last year, it seems as though everyone who is anyone is tipping Pinatubo to emulate Blue Point by coming up trumps for Darley yet again. Many of the top industry judges hitched their wagon to Blue Point's wheel last year and we all know how that ended. The same theme developed at the yearling and foal sales last year with Pinatubo and to a similar extent with fellow Darley stallions Earthlight and Ghaiyyath. One thing's for certain: Darley appears to hold all the aces with a view towards this year's first-season sires' championship and, while it is only January, few people will be betting against Pinatubo being a big success. It should also be noted how well Hello Youmzain performed with his stock at the sales in France. He could be well placed to clinch champion first-season honours in France. Breeze-Up Market To Stay Strong Despite Market Correction There were some tough moments in 2023 and it's fair to say that the yearling and breeding stock sales were a struggle for many. Market correction was a term we heard plenty of as many of the key figures at some of the major sales in Europe settled back into pre-Covid levels. With that in mind, there is understandably some apprehension heading into the new year and the first major metric into how well things are going in 2024 will come at the breeze-up sales. But just how much of a correction can we expect to see here? There seems to be a huge demand for the ready-to-run horses and the breeze-up sales have never been a more popular shopping outlet for international buyers than it is now. It should also be noted that unbeaten two-year-old and dual Group 1 winner Vandeek, who sold to Anthony Stroud for 625,000gns at the Craven Breeze-Up Sale at Tattersalls last year, did his bit to fly the flag for this sector of the market. In many ways, the breeze-up market could be viewed as something of an anomaly as, similar to the point-to-point sphere, there should, in theory, always be a demand for a good horse. The middle to upper tiers can be expected to be solid at the breeze-up sales come the spring but it will be interesting to see how the median and clearance rates hold up. Wathnan Racing To Continue Its March Richard Brown: buys on behalf of Wathnan Racing | Zuzanna Lupa One man who is sure to be out in force at the breeze-up sales is Blandford Bloodstock's Richard Brown but, perhaps most interesting of all, will be the bloodstock agent's buying on behalf of Wathnan Racing. Wathnan Racing embarked on ownership in Britain with a number of statement victories, none more so than when private purchase Courage Mon Ami won the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot on just his fourth career start. It's likely that Wathnan Racing, which is the ownership vehicle of the Emir Of Qatar, can go from strength to strength in 2024. Tough Times Ahead For Smaller Breeders Ed Harper of Whitsbury Manor Stud said something frightening in a recent TDN Q&A. When commenting on some of the smaller clients of his who enjoyed a touch when selling foals by the stud's superstar stallion Havana Grey, he revealed that for many, their big payday would be just enough to keep them going for just a few more years, such are the choppy waters the smaller breeders are navigating through right now. If you were to take an x-ray of the breeding game in its current form and peg it into the light, it wouldn't make for pretty reading, especially in Britain. That was there for everyone to see on the first and last days of the foal sales at Tattersalls in December where many key stakeholders voiced their concerns about the future of the smaller breeder in Britain. Of course, this is not a problem exclusive to Britain, but Brexit and the lack of small-time buyers and pinhookers getting into the game compared to Ireland clearly contributed to some of those frightening figures. It begs the question; for how long can this continue? Where there is a will there's a way, and in that same Q&A, Harper called on smaller breeders to take a look at themselves in the mirror when it comes to breeding horses for the sales ring. Some will take that advice and reinvest but, inevitably, more will slip away. It appears as though there could be some tough times ahead for the smaller breeders. No Sign Of Polarisation Slowing Down Over Jumps On a similarly depressing theme, there doesn't appear to be any pause to polarisation in the markets, particularly when it comes to the National Hunt game. There could be a different winner to ever race at the Cheltenham festival and, chances are, people will still be honing in on the same two stallions at the major store sales. King George hero Hewick once again reminded that a good horse can come from anywhere. Shark Hanlon's 800 quid wonder is by Virtual, a son of Pivotal and, without doing the horse a disservice, is what many would describe as a non descript stallion. But here he is, siring the winner of one of the most important jumps races of the year, and once again proving that the love is more readily shared than what some would lead you to believe over jumps. The post Racing’s Crystal Ball – 10 Predictions For 2024 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The Irish Thoroughbred Breeders' Association (ITBA) will stage a seminar to discuss the issues surrounding jump breeding in the country on Wednesday, January 17 at The Lord Bagenal in Leighlinbridge, Co Carlow. Entitled 'Jumping into the Future: The Challenges Facing Irish National Hunt Breeding', the debate will be led by trainer and breeder Lorna Fowler of Rahinston Farm and Stud. The panel consists of bloodstock agents Anthony Bromley and Bertrand Le Metayer, breeder and stud owner Peter Molony, vet and consignor Walter Connors, and Tattersalls Ireland director Richard Pugh. Doors will open at 6 p.m. and attendees are encouraged to arrive early to take advantage of a networking opportunity prior to the start of the seminar at 6:30 p.m. ITBA chair Cathy Grassick said, “I am excited at the prospect of hearing from our expert panel on all issues relevant to our industry. This is a crucial time for the market and an important event for everyone to voice their opinion.” William Flood, who chairs the ITBA National Hunt committee, added, “This is a very important time for the industry in light of recent results at the sales. Our National Hunt committee has gathered an expert panel to help talk through these important topics.” Those intending to attend the seminar must register via email on ddeveney@itba.ie or by calling the ITBA on 045 877 543. ITBA members and non-members are welcome to attend this free event, at which light refreshments will be provided. The post ITBA to Host Seminar on Challenges Facing Irish NH Breeding appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

At no time has the issue of welfare within the horseracing industry been more of an important topic, and that includes what happens to horses beyond their racing careers. Encouragingly, there is much work being done around the world to ensure that retired racehorses are homed and utilised in a range of ways, from being companion horses through to competing at the highest level in other disciplines. With a leaning towards the latter option, the Japan Racing Association (JRA) hosted a clinic with leading event rider Boyd Martin in the week before Christmas. Based in America since 2007, the Australian-born Martin recently collected his seventh Rider of the Year Award from the United States Eventing Association. Along with competing all over the world, he has been a regular visitor to Japan, where the three-day clinic included tuition and advice in cross-country, showjumping and dressage. Held in conjunction with Godolphin's Lifetime Care programme, the programme also featured guest appearances from top jockeys Christophe Lemaire and Hiroshi Kitamura to discuss the versatility of the Thoroughbred. “It's been absolutely brilliant,” Martin told TDN as the clinic wrapped up. “This is the fourth time we've done this clinic and it's awesome coming out to Japan, working with all the Japanese riders with a lot of retired racehorses. There were 36 horses here at the clinic and we were lucky enough to use the venue where the Tokyo Olympics were held, right in the centre of the city.” The work did not all take place in the saddle, however, with classroom sessions supplementing the ridden phases in the arena. A number of the riders in attendance were repeat visitors from previous clinics, and one former attendee now works for Martin as the head rider at his stable in Pennsylvania. “We had an awesome group of riders. They were all passionate about restarting Thoroughbreds in their second career once they've finished racing,” he said. “There was an assortment of off-the-track Thoroughbreds: some that had not finished racing long ago, and then a few that have been converted into sport horses for a couple of seasons. We had six or seven groups, some Thoroughbreds looking to change career into eventing, a number into showjumping, and then a couple of groups of dressage.” Martin is a fervent believer in the power of the Thoroughbred in other disciplines, especially his own field of three-day eventing. He speaks from experience, too, having campaigned the American-bred former racehorse Blackfoot Mystery, a gelding by Out Of Touch whom he took all the way to the Olympics. He said, “In the sport of eventing, our most influential phase is the cross-country, where we need an animal that's got stamina and endurance and athleticism to take us around the courses. And the off-the-track Thoroughbred is the ultimate breed. The horses are born and bred to gallop and run, and their spirit and nature is just a horse that gives its all. And if we can find ones that are good at the dressage and showjumping, there's no better horse in the world.” Martin continued, “I rode an off-the-track Thoroughbred around the Rio Olympics in 2016. And through my success there, I had to give a speech at the Preakness on how unbelievable this horse was. Blackfoot Mystery came through a retired racehorse programme. “At the same time, the folks from Godolphin and the JRA and the National Riding Club Association of Japan were really looking to change the culture a bit in Japan and to make sure that the horses had a second chance of a new career once they finished racing here, and that's how I ended up getting involved. “With the racing in Japan, there's a lot of longer-distance racing. The Thoroughbreds here are bigger, stronger animals. And they're just beautifully suited to a second career as a sport horse because they are big-boned and they're tall and rangy, and the majority of them have just wonderful movements.” Blackfoot Mystery went from being unsold when offered as a yearling to making three underwhelming starts on the track in California before eventually finding his metier at five-star level in eventing, the equivalent of being a Group 1 winner. The fact that, with Martin, he represented America at the Olympics at the age of 12 is also testament to the great durability of Thoroughbreds, wherever their second walk of life may take them. “It's something I'm very passionate about, and I'm very honoured and privileged that they'd have me out here to do this,” said Martin. “This is the fourth year we've done it. And each year the quality of training and the quality of riding is getting better and better.” The post JRA Calls on Top Eventer Boyd Martin for Ex-Racehorse Clinic appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Applications are now being accepted for the 2024 Thoroughbred Makeover and National Symposium, presented by Thoroughbred Charities of America, according to a Tuesday release from the Retired Racehorse Project. The application can be accessed at theRRP.org and must be completed by 5 p.m. EST Jan. 19. Accepted trainers will be announced no later than Feb. 15. Entering its 10th year at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, the Thoroughbred Makeover features competition in 10 disciplines for recently retired Thoroughbreds in their first year of retraining for a career after racing. A competition division is also open to recently retired broodmares exiting the bloodstock industry. Horses and their trainers may compete in one or two disciplines of their choice, including Barrel Racing, Competitive Trail, Dressage, Eventing, Field Hunter, Polo, Ranch Work, Show Hunter, Show Jumper and Freestyle (a freeform discipline showcasing skills of the trainer's choosing). Horses and trainers will compete for more than $110,000 in total prize money, plus the title of Thoroughbred Makeover Champion, at the Kentucky Horse Park Oct. 9-12. The post Applications Open for 2024 Thoroughbred Makeover appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Godolphin repeated as 2023's leading owner by earnings, and Irad Ortiz Jr. again established a single-season earnings record as the leading jockey. Brad Cox ended the year on top as the leading trainer by earnings.View the full article

The New York Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association announced Jan. 2 that Andy Belfiore will return as the organization's executive director, effective Jan. 7.View the full article

Andy Belfiore will be returning as the New York Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association's executive director, effective Jan. 7, the organization announced Tuesday. “Andy has a wealth of experience in all facets of the racing industry,” said newly elected NYTHA President Tina Bond. “In addition to her knowledge base, Andy's devotion to equine welfare and aftercare are especially crucial in this period of our sport. We are very pleased that she will be rejoining the NYTHA team.” Belfiore started her career in racing on the backstretch at Belmont Park, working as a hotwalker, groom and exercise rider, before joining the Rick Violette stable as assistant trainer. After six years as Violette's assistant, she moved to the frontside at the track, and spent five years in the communications and marketing departments at the New York Racing Association. Belfiore left NYRA in 1993 to take the post as editor in chief at the Thoroughbred Daily News. During her tenure, the TDN grew from a four-page publication with just a few hundred subscribers to a leader in the Thoroughbred industry. Named Director of Communications for NYTHA in December, 2011, and Executive Director in September, 2015, she was instrumental in the creation of the TAKE2 and TAKE THE LEAD Programs. She returns to New York after serving as Executive Director of the Florida Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association for two years. “This is an exciting time to be a part of the racing industry in New York,” said Belfiore. “I thank the NYTHA Board and President Tina Bond for the opportunity, and I am looking forward to working with such a great team.” The post Belfiore Returns as NYTHA Executive Director appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The Maryland Horse Foundation will kick off the new year with a clothing drive to collect warm winter clothing and riding attire that will be distributed to young equestrians in need this winter season. The clothing drive will run from Jan. 2 until the end of March. Recommended items are new or gently used hats, gloves, scarves, pants, sweatshirts, long-sleeve shirts, tights, socks, breeches, jodhpurs, and boots. All sizes are accepted. Items will be donated to Baltimore-county based programs that offer riding instruction to low-income students. Unwrapped items may be dropped off inside the Maryland Horse Library & Education Center located at 321 Main Street in Reisterstown, Maryland. The Library & Education Center is open from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Inquiries about donations or clothing distribution can be directed to Jeanne Schnell via email at jeanne@marylandthoroughbred.com or (410) 252-2100 extension 113. The post Maryland Horse Foundation Launches Winter Clothing Drive appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Today we reach quite a crossroads in the market, between $20,000 and $29,999. It takes a degree of affluence to roll the dice at this level, but you'd do so hoping to reach blood of genuine elite potential. As usual, we've sieved out the new sires, having given them a separate treatment at the outset. Instructively, however, it's a tier dominated by stallions still in the early stages of their careers. And there is an auspicious flux here. One or two, if building on a promising start on the track, could conceivably prove to be on their way to stardom. Inevitably, there are also plenty of sires only trading at this kind of fee because they have not yet been exposed on the track. The reality is that few of these will ultimately hold out. And while we've cheerfully highlighted value about a couple of sires at a similarly untested stage, earlier in this series, that's harder to do at this money. But what these horses do generally have behind them, having started with the sort of profile that merits a strong opening fee, is numbers. Handsome as he is, for instance, and fast as he ran, it seemed staggering that YAUPON should have covered as many as 242 mares for his debut in 2022, behind only Gun Runner. But next time round, we saw another farm go to a dizzier level yet, allowing rookie turf sprinter GOLDEN PAL to entertain no fewer than 293. Yauppon | Sarah Andrew Now we all understand how this model works and breeders embrace it with open eyes. Some will hit a home run, but they're going to have to stand out from a crowd. You all know what the stakes are, and whether it can work in your program, and you don't need me preaching one way or the other. For the record, Yaupon duly processed 36 of 40 weanlings at an average $130,888/median $100,000. He had to settle for 202 mares last time, some of his 2022 supporters having doubtless flitted straight to Golden Pal; but others yet will have switched to his new studmate CYBERKNIFE, who mustered 223. Gun Runner has risen so fast that more affordable sons are finding themselves quickly in the game, and this was one of his breakout stars who beat a 37-year track record in the GI Haskell S. The sophomore frustrations of CORNICHE cannot have helped his cause, so a book of 180 pays tribute to the brilliance of his championship campaign. As much as the way he dominated the crop as a juvenile, the pinhookers will be dwelling on his $1.5-million breeze as a 2-year-old (and 98 Beyer on debut). Some arcane names seed his family, but the genes were all functioning in his dam, six-time graded stakes scorer Wasted Tears (Najran). Standing on a couple of farms that know how to keep a young stallion in the game, Golden Pal, Yaupon, Cyberknife and Corniche all take a trim in 2024 from $30,000 to $25,000. The industrial approach is long familiar at Spendthrift and Ashford, but Juddmonte also played a candidly commercial game with MANDALOUN, who opened with as many as 211 partners. So he has certainly been given every chance of riding the luck he enjoyed when promoted from second for both his Grade Is. He actually paid somewhat for that rather freakish fortune, in that it distracted people from his inherent merit. Meanwhile he's another taking a clip, in his case from $25,000 to $20,000. These horses are slipstreaming a handful on the brink of launching their first runners. One who excelled at the sales was WAR OF WILL, whose $117,202 average (for 61 of 77 sold) placed him third in the debutants' table (sales up to $650,000, $85,000 median). He duly retains his opening fee at $25,000. War Of Will appeals as a stallion for our times, as a Grade I scorer on both dirt and turf, but the clincher is a Niarchos family saturated with quality. A full subscription of 143 mares in his debut book has predictably tapered a little since (112 and 84), but the enthusiasm of the market is a huge plus for a horse who must contend with its crass reservations about anything–even a Preakness winner!–bearing a taint of turf. Two others from his intake not only started out with very similar books (157 and 159), but achieved an identical median of $53,500 with their first yearlings. That was better news for GAME WINNER than TIZ THE LAW, in that they opened at $30,000 and $40,000, respectively. Their averages were very similar too: the former sold 66 of 84 at $95,772, just behind the latter with 64 sold of 70 at $99,835. They remain in step now, both down to $20,000 for 2024. It was Tiz The Law who rallied in his second book, to 218 mares against 131 for Game Winner, and maintained an advantage of 131 against 96 last spring. He collected a series of stallion-making Grade Is–Champagne/Florida Derby/Belmont/ Travers–and might well have added the Derby if only it had been run at the normal date in 2020. That makes him look a lot of horse at this money. As for Game Winner, he obviously offers commercial precocity as an unbeaten champion juvenile, and very few of the crop managed to close the gap on him at three. Maximus Mischief | Louise Reinagel How those behind this trio would love to see them emulate MAXIMUS MISCHIEF, VINO ROSSO and FLAMEAWAY, who have all just completed their freshman season in a way that has earned an elevation in fee for 2024. Spendthrift buddies Maximus Mischief and Vino Rosso contested second in the first-season sires' table all the way to the wire. The former–repeatedly advised as a commercial no-brainer at $7,500–is hiked to $25,000 and Vino Rosso, having been kept in the game in familiar fashion by halving to $15,000 from an opening $30,000, now inches back up to $20,000. Inevitably their farm has succeeded in maintaining volume behind both horses. In their fourth books, Vino Rosso covered 171 mares and Maximus Mischief 159. Pretty impressive, given how many of their original supporters must have been the type that annually jumps from one new sire to the next. Vino Rosso, having himself thrived with maturity, has surprised people with the precocity of some stock, but then you're going to get many different flavors with no fewer than 155 named foals in your debut crop! His 23 winners actually represent an unremarkable percentage, then, but where Vino Rosso does deserve credit is in mustering four to make the frame at Grade I level. Overall this has been an unproductive class, in graded stakes terms, but at least Vino Rosso has been coming up with the right caliber. Maximus Mischief has mustered a solitary graded stakes placing, though of course he was dealing with relatively modest materials when starting at a quarter of Vino Rosso's opening fee. This is a big moment for him, in that he needs to capitalize on his platform of 31 winners with an upgrade in mares at his new fee. (Predictably enough, he has already launched the highest percentage of named foals among all the freshman sires, at just about two-in-three). His yearling average held up well, with 57 of 67 sold at a $38,000 median (average $47,312) compared with $40,000 (average $57,019, as much as anyone could have asked off a $7,500 conception) for 77 sold last year. Vino Rosso's 75 sales from 98 yearlings offered from his second crop achieved a $45,000 median ($55,558 average), down from $61,000 ($94,287 average) for 112 sold on debut. But his own template (and that of his own sire Curlin) is encouraging for his stock to keep progressing now, and interestingly both Vino Rosso and Maximus Mischief moved their weanling prices back up compared with 2022. Hats off to Flameaway, meanwhile, for getting closest to breaking up the Spendthrift freshman monopoly. None of the quartet above him can match his four stakes winners, while he joins only champion Mitole and Solimini in relieving the overall embarrassment of the class in at least managing one graded stakes scorer. It must be said that he had decent numbers behind him, with 109 named foals, but by the same token the pipeline will be maintained by three-figure books annually since. Like Maximus Mischief, he needs to seize the moment after making precisely the same leap in fee, to $25,000 from $7,500. His second crop of yearlings didn't really reflect the fine start made by their predecessors, 41 of 54 changing hands at an unchanged median of $30,000 (average $44,950, down from $49,340). But there should be plenty of action to come from such a versatile horse, who won at various trips on three different surfaces. Auspiciously, his flagship Dreamfyre divided her two graded stakes wins between six furlongs of dirt and a mile of turf. Flameaway's third dam is a true matriarch in Europe and he offers all the flexibility we should be seeking in a changing landscape. VALUE PODIUM Bronze: BLAME (Arch–Liable, by Seeking the Gold) Claiborne, $25,000 How many of the aspiring youngsters who dominate this tier will end up achieving anything like as much as Blame? Entering his 13th season at stud, he has settled into the middle of this bracket as by far its most established operator. In fact, he's become a rather unique horse at this level. Everyone else is passing through, in one direction or the other. Blame is the only one trading at this kind of money where you know definitively where you stand. Others could yet turn out to have flattered to deceive, whereas he has found a fairly uncontested place among proven sires, between the blue-collar strivers and the unaffordable elite. He's actually had a modest year by his standards, with only three stakes winners, albeit these did include a sixth Grade I scorer in Wet Paint. But his lifetime rations are extremely solid: 6.5% stakes winners from named foals, 3% at graded stakes level. His ratios are a match for the likes of Munnings, Street Sense and Twirling Candy, to name just three sires too good to be embarrassed by the comparison. And the big news with him over the past couple of years is his precocious emergence as a broodmare sire. His breakout moment in this role was the GI Breeders' Futurity S. at Keeneland in 2022, aptly sponsored by Claiborne, when the pair that dueled clear of a strong field–champion Forte (Violence) and the luckless Loggins (Ghostzapper)–were both out of Blame mares. This is hardly a surprising development in a stallion whose third dam is none other than Special (Forli {Arg}). So for many programs–one that would like to keep a filly, for instance, or just to prove a young mare–Blame will offer better value than most horses in higher tiers. For the record, the niche he has carved out for himself could be measured in 2023 by a book of 129 mares, plus a yearling average of $94,442 (up from $82,075)–both really solid for a horse at this level of the market, at this stage of his career. Oscar Performance | Sarah Andrew Silver: OSCAR PERFORMANCE (Kitten's Joy–Devine Actress, by Theatrical {Ire}) Mill Ridge, $25,000 Cometh the hour, cometh the man. Here's a horse that faced only one problem when retiring to stud, but one as significant as it was tiresome: the notorious myopia of the domestic market regarding even high-class grass stallions. We all know how brutally difficult it is to stand a turf horse in the Bluegrass. Even English Channel and Kitten's Joy never quite cracked ringside prejudice sufficiently to obtain adequate reward for their outstanding records. But the consecutive loss of both those horses, even as he started out, nonetheless represented a big opportunity for Oscar Performance. And while it's still early days, he's making a strong case to step up as heir to his sire. Oscar Performance covered 160 mares last spring, much his biggest book in his fifth season at stud. He had covered just 63 the previous year, but started out with a couple of three-figure books, so there will be plenty of talent coming through–especially when you recall how he kept thriving as a runner–to keep his name in lights, pending the arrival of the better stock he should be producing now. And here's something else he did this year, that would be no less exceptional in a commercial dirt stallion. Offering his third crop of yearlings, he achieved an average of $79,959 (23 sold from 30; admittedly a $35,000 median was more in line with the $15,000 conception fee) up from $57,474 ($32,500) for his second; and $43,149 ($26,000) for his first. In other words, he's reversing the usual trend: his stock is gaining in value by the year. Why is this happening? Well, as we said, it's still early in the piece. None of his stock is yet at the same age as Oscar Performance when he won his fourth Grade I in the Woodbine Mile. But he's now had two crops to borrow the precocity he also required to win the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf, and they have together produced eight graded stakes horses at a ratio (5% of named foals) exceeded, in what looks a very strong intake, only by Justify; and matched only by Bolt d'Oro. Interestingly his principal earner to date is Red Carpet Ready, whose two graded stake wins actually came on the main track–on which surface he's also had Tumbaruma win the Ellis Park Derby and Deer District win a Churchill allowance by 10 lengths before placing in the GII Amsterdam S. So second and third dams by Mr. Prospector and Slew o' Gold are obviously having a say while, purely in terms of quality, his own mother has additionally produced two additional graded stakes-winning siblings. His second crop has produced dual graded stakes scorer Endlessly, who looks aptly named for how far his sire may advance from here. After returning to his opening fee of $20,000 last year, back up from $12,500, Oscar Performance has now edged up to $25,000. If he can keep building from here, he may reach a much higher level as breeders belatedly service an expanding turf program. Gold: ARMY MULE (Friesan Fire–Crafty Toast, by Crafty Prospector) Hill 'n' Dale, $25,000 This was a racetrack meteor–brief but bright–and now we're immediately seeing persuasive evidence that he may be replicating the freakish talent that we only glimpsed. It's not the most conventional profile, nor pedigree, but the functionality cannot be in question. If Army Mule carries on the way he has started, enough people are going to accept that reality for him to break into the elite. If so, doubling his fee from $12,500 last year is only going to be a start. Remember he had to muscle his way into an exceptionally strong class of freshmen. Justify is soaring to stardom, either side of the water, and Good Magic came up with a Derby winner at the first attempt. In his first two crops, sired at $10,000 and $7,500, Army Mule produced only 138 named foals. Of the five above him in the cumulative earnings table, Mendelssohn has 323; Justify 309; Bolt d'Oro 238; Good Magic 226; City of Light 191. So guess what, some (but only some) of those have more stakes winners. But in what ratios? Start with his individual winners: 68 from 108 starters, 49% of named foals. Justify is getting his at 28%; Good Magic 38%; Bolt d'Oro 39%; Mendelssohn 36%; City of Light 30%. Of these, 10 have won at black-type level: 7.3% of named foals. Justify is operating at 6.5%; Good Magic matches Army Mule at 7.5%; Bolt d'Oro is on 4.2%; and Mendelssohn 1.9%; City of Light 3.7%. In terms of stakes performers overall, Army Mule's 11.6% is only matched in the class by Bolt d'Oro. Understandably, given the relative caliber of mares they will have received, Army Mule can't quite see that performance through at graded stakes level. He only has two such winners, among five placed. Moreover his farm was not even able to promote his Grade I breakout with One In Vermillion, the Allen Jerkens S. having fallen into his lap in ghastly circumstances. But someone needs to say that One In Vermillion has proved a legitimate graded stakes performer as a $26,000 yearling from the Arizona TBA Fall Mixed Sale. Army Mule also has Danse Macabre, an $11,000 short yearling, close to millionaire status after winning five of her first 10. (Incidentally, another nod to our bronze medalist here: she's out of a Blame mare.) His debut crop had already done enough by last spring for Army Mule to entertain 199 mares in his fifth season at stud, up from 115 in 2022 and 83 the previous year. His 2024 sophomores emerge from a crop of just 37 live foals, so he may have to tread water briefly. But surely Army Mule is one of those rare stallions who do enough, early enough, to lock in the medium-term momentum required. Sure enough, he sold 28 (from 38) of his latest crop of yearlings for a median $67,500 and average $96,650, up from $51,000 and $69,272: stellar returns for those who kept the faith for a $7,500 conception. As a rule, I prefer a horse that has left no doubt as to his resilience and Army Mule's entire career comprised barely four minutes. But the talent that made him a six-length Grade I winner (114 Beyer) in that time was already luminous when he turned himself from $35,000 yearling to $825,000 2-year-old. This farm has a great record with these flashbulb talents, and there's a rapidly rising tide to catch with Army Mule. The breeders have their say… We asked breeders to weigh in on who their top picks were. Carrie Brogden of Machmer Hall GOLD: Army Mule Gold would have to be Army Mule. He has had so much success from such modest mares that you have to pay attention. If he can simply maintain what he has done so far until the big gun crops come down the pipeline, he has the potential to be a breakout stallion. For example, we sold the dam of Grade I winner One In a Vermillion carrying him in utero for a paltry $4,500, bred on our share that I am probably going to completely regret selling earlier this year. He seems to offer speed, soundness, heart and his good looks. Vino Rosso | Sarah Andrew SILVER: Vino Rosso (Curlin–Mythical Bride, by Street Cry {Ire}) Spendthrift Farm, $20,000 Silver for me would have to be Vino Rosso. We have booked three mares to him based on what he did with his first crop of 2-year-olds. Considering his own race record and breeding, I would expect that they will excel with added distance. He seems to throw a particular type and I know that he is booked full for 2024, so clearly I am not the only one who sees his future potential. When I was at the Keeneland September sale this year, we had a nice colt out of Queenie's Pride (Special Rate) and the positive feedback I got from trainers and 2-year-old consignors was surprising to me since it was so early in the year for a son of Curlin that won the GI Breeders' Cup Classic as a 4-year-old. Speaking of Curlin, what an emerging superstar sire of sires he is! That coupled with Spendthrift's eye-popping accomplishment of a stallion farm leading home all top four freshman sires for 2023 in North America, the future looks very bright! BRONZE: TIZ THE LAW (Constitution–Tizfiz, by Tiznow) Coolmore, $20,000 GAME WINNER (Candy Ride {Arg}–Indyan Giving, by A.P. Indy) Lane's End Farm, $20,000 Bronze would be a tie between Tiz the Law and Game Winner. Talk about racehorses! Tiz the Law won FOUR Grade Is as a 2-year-old and 3-year-old! He is by a rising top-tier stallion in Constitution and the reception and physical attributes of his babies reminded me of the early crops of Constitution. Game Winner, a 2-year-old champion, won THREE Grade Is as a 2-year-old and is by the incredible sire of sires Candy Ride. With the ones we had at Machmer Hall and that I saw at the sales, I personally felt that there was a lot of Candy Ride in them. I was the underbidder on two really nice weanlings by him and am still having non-buyer's remorse there. No crystal balls of course, as I am constantly reminded of playing Geoffery Russell's freshman sire contest every year, but both of these young stallions have the race record and stock to step into the very big shoes of both of their father's. John Greathouse of Glencrest Farm GOLD: Blame Blame was a gutsy racehorse and I think that's what he gets you. He's sired 6 Grade I winners and has been consistent year after year at the sales and at the races. He produces solid individuals that are sound and can go two turns. Blame is also starting to prove to be an excellent broodmare sire. Forte and Wet Paint are prime examples of that. If you are looking to start a young mare, there aren't many horses you can pick from that stand for less than 30k and are as proven as Blame. Blame | Claiborne Farm SILVER: Vino Rosso Vino Rosso is great value at 20k. He's third on the first-crop sire list, but I think he's far ahead of where most people expected him to be at this point. He was a horse that was better going two turns and I expected his progeny would be the same. His offspring are smooth and athletic. He comes from a serious family of runners. If his progeny improve going longer, we could be talking about him like we were talking about Good Magic in 2023. There is real upside at 20k. BRONZE: Maximus Mischief (Into Mischief–Reina Maria, by Songandaprayer) Spendthrift Farm, $25,000 Maximus Mischief was one of the fastest 2-year-old sons of Into Mischief, which is no easy feat. That precocity is showing up with his 2-year-olds. He's off to a terrific start with 30 winners and sits second on the first-crop sire rankings. He has bred a big book of mares every year, so I don't expect him to slow down anytime soon. I like that he gets a big, strong horse with plenty of bone which suits smaller mares. We have bred to him in the past and will continue to support him this year. The post Value Sires for 2024, Part 5: The 20-Somethings appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The colt by Constitution is the first to win qualifying points as a 3-year-old on the 2024 Road to the Kentucky Derby.View the full article

by Mike Love Eyrewell Forest trainer Trevor Grant had a very happy start to the new year when he owned, trained and drove George Eliot took out the maiden trot at Rangiora on new years day. “We had a great day all around really,” said Grant. George Eliot settled 4 back the fence for Grant, before popping out at the 1200m to sit parked. George Eliot then outmuscled her rivals, drawing away to win impressively by 4 lengths from One El. “One I got around to sit parked, which she likes doing, she loved it, and we pulled away at the end. I didn’t pull the plugs. She’ll go on with it now. She is a very tough horse. She has more growing to do.” George Eliot is a 4 year old mare by Royal Aspirations out of pacing bred mare Starwood In Aspen. Starwood In Aspen is an In The Pocket mare, and the decision to breed her to trotting stallions was not a difficult one after she had won 4 races as a trotter. “Starwood In Aspen showed a lot of trotting ability at home and obviously on the track, winnning more trotting than she did pacing. She had a big heart.” Starwood In Aspen left 6 foals, 3 of which were trotters namely Young Stranger (9 wins), Rachmaninov (7 wins so far) and now George Eliot. “She (George Eliot) used to go 4 or 5 seconds under qualifying time but would always make a mistake at the start. It’s been a long term project with her. Everyone got to know her pretty well, including the stipes. But we know now we have something to go on with.” As for what’s next in George Eliot’s programme, Grant is happy to kick around at home for the time being. “We will probably stay around here for Ashburton or Banks Peninsula.” Later in the day Grant trained and drove Rachmaninov into second placing. “Him running second was just about as big a thrill as George Eliot winning. It was nice to be the leading trainer and driver of the season for 30 minutes!” Grant trains a team of 3 from his Eyrewell Forest base. View the full article

The 20 metre handicap was no trouble for the Village Rebel in the Connie Stewart NZSIR Wairarapa Cup at Tauherenikau today. “I was absolutely thrilled for his owners Alan and Lyn Messenger, they have been big supporters of mine for years” says trainer Nicky Chilcott. “I didn’t think today would be his day with the race being only 2000 metres” says Chilcott “The Otaki Cup over 3000 metres on Thursday was our main target as he is a good stayer.” Patiently driven by Sailesh Abernethy, Village Rebel stepped away smoothly before settling second last for the journey. With 700m left to travel, Abernethy made his move taking the gelding three wide and making easy work to round up the field and win by five lengths. “Sailesh drove him exactly as I’d asked and didn’t take anything extra out of him” says Chilcott. Village Rebel next starts in the Otaki Cup on Thursday with a 40 metre handicap. The win was the second of a double for Abernethy who also won Race 2, the Hilton Delegat Painting & Decorating Mobile Pace, with the Doug Gale trained Cote D’Azur. The gelding enjoyed an economical trip sitting three back on the fence behind leader Sharkntatties, and the trailing Carbon. Upon straightening the gaps opened up allowing Cote D’Azur an inside run up the fence to win by one and three quarter lengths. Junior Driver Wilson House, who has enjoyed plenty of success in recent months, achieved his 50th winner driving Amelia Rose today. Trained by his father Michael House, it was the mare’s first start for the stable. “It was great to get the milestone and even better that I got it before Dad” said House “We both started the day on 49 winners but Dad only managed a 2nd in the Amateur Race at Omakau today!” Grass track racing in the North continues on Thursday with the Kapiti Coast Cup Meeting at Otaki Racecourse. View the full article

Summer racing might have seemed like the off season in the past but between the two and three-year-olds, the time is coming for new and emerging talent to raise their profiles. One of those three-year-olds is Carbonados (NZ) (Belardo) who Ben Hayes is very keen to see perform well in over 1100-metres in a A$175,000 for horses of that age at Geelong on Saturday. Purchased by Lindsay Park last year after winning impressively as a short-priced favourite on debut at New Plymouth for trainer Allan Sharrock over 1200-metres in May, the team whisked the gelding across the Tasman towards a berth in the Gr.1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m) in October. That wasn’t to be as the son of former Haunui Farm shuttle stallion Belardo suffered a quarter crack in one hoof which took that time to recover. “He has trialled up well and trialled very easily the other day,” Ben Hayes said of the jump out over 800-metres at Flemington on December 22 that Carbonados won. “I think he is a miler but I think can show something here. “We had to back off him in the springtime with the quarter crack which wasn’t significant but enough that we thought we would look after him.” Together with Lindsay Park’s investment, other prominent names in the ownership include Werrett Bloodstock, however the gelding will carry the famous lightning bolt colours of Rupert Legh. View the full article

While chief executive Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges confirms ‘it’s an exemption, not a rule’, the Jockey Club should continue exhibiting flexibility around ‘special events’.View the full article

British rider makes his comeback from two-month suspension with a strong book of six rides: ‘I’m super fit, feeling great and raring to go’View the full article

Skyman pleased in his first New Zealand public outing at Tauranga on Tuesday. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images) Well-performed former Sydney galloper Skyman stepped out for his first New Zealand outing at Tauranga on Tuesday with new trainer Stephen Marsh and his owners, the Go Racing Elton Syndicate, keen for him to display the same competitive spirit that he showcased during his numerous Australian campaigns. The eight-year-old European import won eight of his 37 starts from the Chris Waller stable, including four at Listed level, before Go Racing boss Albert Bosma made the decision to bring him to New Zealand to continue his career. Marsh has had the son of Mukhadram for just over a month and was delighted to see him charge to the line in an 1100m open trial to finish a long neck away from dual Group One winner Legarto and Group 1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) runner-up Talisker. Marsh will now press ahead to a Group One target at Trentham with renewed confidence. “He (Skyman) came to us in great order from Chris, but the big question was did he still want to be a racehorse?” Marsh said. “He certainly had settled in well and appeared to be enjoying his new environment, so this was his first test and he passed with flying colours. “We really just wanted to see him hitting the line and wow did he do that, as he didn’t get a lot of room early in the straight but when he got clear he finished off beautifully at a distance well below his best. “As long as he pulls up well and he is a very sound horse, then we will head to Trentham later this month for the Thorndon Mile (Group 1, 1600m).” Marsh believes that Skyman is well suited to the Group One Trentham feature on January 20 and will also be well placed to tackle the Group 1 Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m) at Te Rapa a month later. “He was a very good horse in Sydney and if he recaptures that form, he looks ideally placed with the set weights and penalties conditions of the Thorndon Mile,” he said. “His main mission is definitely the Herbie Dyke at Te Rapa where he would also be in it up to his ears. “Albert and several of his owners were at Tauranga to see him trial and I’m sure that has got the juices flowing for what lies ahead.” Marsh was quick to strike at the Tauranga meeting with stylish Almanzor filly Almaceta showing plenty of fight in the home straight to break her maiden status over 1200m in the first race on the day. More horse racing news View the full article