Wandering Eyes

Dunkel powers away to win at The Valley. Photo: Scott Barbour (Racing Photos) Quality stayer Dunkel lumped 61kgs to an emphatic victory at Moonee Valley on Saturday, as the Patrick Payne-trained galloper notched the seventh victory of his career from just ten starts. Perfectly ridden by jockey Billy Egan, Dunkel tracked the leader Grand Promenade throughout and was able to take an inside run when that runner lugged out rounding the home bend to score by just over a length. Winner of the Group 1 South Australian Derby (2500m) last season, Dunkel is being readied for a return trip to the City of Churches with the Group 2 Adelaide Cup (3200m) at Morphettville on March 11. Payne has said that fitness is the key to the New Zealand-bred son of Dundeel, who was able to race his way into fitness and still win as a three-year-old but is lumping big imposts as an open class four-year-old. The gelding finished runner-up in a Kyneton jumpout a fortnight ago having finished second at Caulfield over 1800m when resuming last month when beaten by lightweight Let’srollthedice. “He’s getting ready for the Adelaide Cup so we didn’t need to be rushing back to the races, we just had to work on his fitness level a little bit,” Payne said. Jockey Billy Egan was aware the stayer had taken good improvement from the first-up run and jumpout. “It was a really good win today,” Egan said. “The race worked out quite nicely. We didn’t want to give them too much of a head start with the big weight and it was just a matter of getting the runs at the top of the straight. “He has certainly taken really good fitness (from the first-up run). The other day he came out and built into the race and just peaked on his run not long after entering the straight. He probably just maintained that gallop to the line. “Today, even though he had a very cruisy run in behind them, he sprinted quite well and he was very good through the line. He was getting away from them. “I certainly think an Adelaide Cup would be right up his alley.” Dunkel has finished outside the top two only once, when ninth in the Group 2 Alister Clark Stakes (2040m) at The Valley last March. He bounced back eight weeks later to win the South Australian Derby with Egan in the saddle. More horse racing news View the full article

In a race meant as a prep for next month's GI Pegasus World Cup, O'Connor (Chi) (Boboman) staked his claim for potential favoritism with a gusty win in the GIII Harlan's Holiday S. Favored in this same race a year ago, the Chilean import disappointed when fourth behind MGISP Skippylongstocking (Exaggerator) and was thus never a factor as Art Collector (Bernardini) cruised to the Pegasus win to kick off 2023. O'Connor has spent the rest of his 6-year-old season hitting the board in graded-stakes races around the East Coast and finally broke through for his first North American graded success last out when he defeated Il Miracolo (Gun Runner) by a head in the GI Hagyard Fayette S. at Keeneland Oct. 28. Caught three-wide into the firsts turn as the field fanned across the track, Tyler Gaffalione chose to take back and eased O'Connor into a stalking trip as NY Traffic (Cross Traffic) and Grand Aspen (Dialed In) battled it out up front into the backstretch. Positioned mid pack in fifth, the 7-2 shot had a clear view of the leaders through a :47.12 opening half and took aim with rail-skimming move midway around the far turn. The top three spun into the stretch with Grand Aspen appearing to have the better chance but NY Traffic and O'Connor battled back with the 6-year-old finishing nicely to just nail Grand Aspen on the line in a tight finish. “Last year, I didn't think he could get beat,” said winning trainer Saffie Joseph, Jr. “I've learned the least I know the better I do. Fast forward one year and we got the job done. We're proud of him, obviously. He's a horse that's won 2 in a row now and he's doing what we thought he could do.” Jockey @Tyler_Gaff pilots #6 O'CONNOR (CHI) ($9.20) up the rail for their victory in the GIII Harlan's Holiday at Gulfstream Park. Congratulations to the @SaffieJosephJr barn and all of the connections. pic.twitter.com/MvnXb3LJkT — TVG (@TVG) December 30, 2023 Pedigree Note: O'Connor, a winner at the highest level and Horse of the Year in his native Chile, is one of seven stakes winner for GI Hollywood Derby hero Boboman and out of a winning dam who has produced four other winners from five to race. From a deep South American family, O'Connor counts champion older mare in Chile Sacramentada (Chi) (Northair) as his third dam. She would also produce GISW and $3m KEENOV broodmare Hystericalady (Distorted Humor), the dam of GSW/GISP Lady Montdore (Medaglia d'Oro). O'Connor has only one younger sibbling–a 5-year-old unraced half-brother named Totoi (Chi) (Caesario {Ire}). Saturday, Gulfstream Park HARLAN'S HOLIDAY S.-GIII, $150,000, Gulfstream, 12-30, 3yo/up, 1 1/16m, 1:43.80, ft. 1–O'CONNOR (CHI), 126, h, 6, by Boboman 1st Dam: Torrente de Agua (Chi), by Touch Gold 2nd Dam: Torrey Pines, by Woodman 3rd Dam: Sacramentada (Chi), by Northair O-Michael & Julia C Iavarone & Fernando Vine Ode; B-Haras Carioca (CHI); T-Saffie A Joseph Jr; J-Tyler Gaffalione. $88,350. Lifetime Record: Horse of the Year, Ch. Older Horse & G1SW- Chi, 27-12-7-3, $749,319. Werk Nick Rating: B+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. 2–Grand Aspen, 121, c, 4, Dialed In–Lady Aspen, by Grand Reward. 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. O/B-PRO Thorughbred Enterprises (KY); T-Todd A Pletcher. $28,500. 3–Ny Traffic, 121, h, 6, Cross Traffic–Mamie Reilly, by Graeme Hall. ($27,000 RNA 2yo '19 EASMAY). O-John Fanelli, Cash is King LLC, LC Racing LLC, Paul Braverman & Team Hanley; B-Brian Culnan (NY); T-Saffie A Joseph Jr. $14,250. Margins: NK, 3/4, 1 1/4. Odds: 3.60, 10.40, 5.80. Also Ran: Steal Sunshine, Octane, Dubyuhnell, Blue Devil, Gasoline, Lure Him In, Miles D. Scratched: Signator. Click for the Equibase.com chart, PPs or the VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. The post O’Connor Preps For Pegasus With Harlan’s Holiday Win appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Healthy Happy is a two-time Group 3 winner in Hong Kong. Healthy Happy will chase redemption in the 2024 HK$4.2 million Group 3 Chinese Club Challenge Cup Handicap (1400m) for jockey Alexis Badel and trainer Frankie Lor. Victorious in 2022 and second to Lucky Sweynesse in 2023, the front-running Healthy Happy returns for his third tilt at plundering New Year’s Day’s lucrative feature race at Sha Tin on Monday, January 1. “The 1400 (metres) is good for him. This time he’ll carry a light weight and I hope he can run a good race,” Lor said. “The Hong Kong Mile (Group 1, 1600m) was quite strong, so I skipped that race to run him over 1400 metres.” The seven-year-old faces difficult opposition, headlined by the Group 1-winning California Spangle (135lb) as well as Beauty Joy (123lb), Red Lion (115lb), Fantastic Treasure (115lb), Rewarding Together (115lb), Atullibigeal (115lb) and Taj Dragon (115lb). “California Spangle usually leads, so I don’t mind if we sit second,” Lor said. “He’s (Healthy Happy) had nearly one and a half months off, which should be good, so he’s fresh – we gave him a trial and brought him back to Hong Kong (from Conghua).” Set to break from barrier eight, Healthy Happy has raced 27 times in Hong Kong for HK$20.80 million in earnings. He boasts five wins in the city, while his most recent scalp came first-up this season in the HK$4.2 million Group 3 Celebration Cup Handicap (1400m). Also trained by Lor and afforded a featherweight impost in Monday’s Group 3, the 94-rating Rewarding Together rises to 1400m for the first time across his 29-start career in Hong Kong. “It’s looked like the distance has been a bit short across his last few runs, so I’m trying 1400 metres to see any difference in him,” Lor said. Matthew Chadwick will ride Rewarding Together, who is a six-time winner in Hong Kong, from barrier five. Taj Dragon is no stranger to Sha Tin’s 1400m chute. The Mehmas gelding has a quartet of wins over the course and distance for trainer Pierre Ng, including last start when defeating two Chinese Club Challenge Cup rivals – Fantastic Treasure and Atullibigeal. “He pulled up well after his last race. To be honest, we didn’t expect California Spangle to be in this – we’re rated 40 points below him. We’re just looking for a good run,” Ng said. Taj Dragon has banked HK$8.08 million across 12 starts in Hong Kong. He pairs with jockey Andrea Atzeni in barrier seven on Monday. “He loves the distance and there will be good pace for him. I’m hoping he finishes strongly through the line with the light weight to hopefully get some prize money,” Ng said. Fantastic Treasure represents David Hayes and is third-up in the Chinese Club Challenge Cup. The six-year-old was fifth at Group 2 level two starts ago before his close-up sixth in early December. “I thought his last run was really good. I think he’s close to peak fitness, so he could easily run a good race,” Hayes said. Lyle Hewitson partners Fantastic Treasure from barrier two. Tony Cruz saddles California Spangle and Beauty Joy in the Chinese Club Challenge Cup. California Spangle weakened to 13th at Group 1 level last start behind Golden Sixty at December’s HK$118 million Hong Kong International Races. “Hugh Bowman’s riding California Spangle and I’m very happy with his condition,” Cruz said. A regular on-pacer, California Spangle has been assigned barrier one, while Beauty Joy has drawn gate four with James McDonald engaged. Meanwhile, Lor is planning to enter three runners in the 2024 HK$4.2 million Group 3 January Cup Handicap (1800m) at Happy Valley on January 10. The handler readies 2023 winner Money Catcher, Sword Point and Happy Together for the city circuit’s most-prized race. “Money Catcher looks ok. He’s not a superstar in the morning,” Lor said. “The short straight at Happy Valley is good for Happy Together – he keeps improving and I want to see if he can step up to another level or not.” More horse racing news View the full article

Explore a multitude of captivating racing promotions offered by horse racing bookmakers on Sunday, December 31. Immerse yourself in the thrill with generous bonus back offers, elevating your betting experience. Delve into these complimentary promotions from top-tier online bookmakers to maximize your betting opportunities. The top Australian racing promotions for December 31, 2023, include: Today’s best horse racing promotions Sunshine Coast Race 1 – Run 2nd or 3rd score up to $100 in Bonus Cash Enter the Bonus Code BONUS100 on the Bonus Bets/Offers page, place a fixed win bet on Sunshine Coast race 1 and if your selection runs 2nd or 3rd get up to $100 in Bonus Cash. One Bonus per week. 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 R1-3 at Warrnambool Back a horse in Races 1-3 at Warrnambool and if it finishes 2nd or 3rd get your stake back as a bonus bet. Check Vault for eligibility. Min 6 runners. Limits may apply. T&Cs apply. Login to UniBet to Claim Promo JMAC RIDES AT SHA TIN Guaranteed best odds on all James McDonald Ridden Hong Kong Runners. Eligible clients only. General T&Cs apply. Login to PlayUp to Claim Promo How does horsebetting.com.au source its racing bonus offers? HorseBetting.com.au meticulously assesses leading Australian horse racing bookmakers, revealing exclusive thoroughbred bonus promotions for December 31, 2023. These ongoing offers underscore the dedication of top horse racing bookmakers. In the realm of horse racing betting, when one bookmaker isn’t featuring a promotion, another is stepping up. Count on HorseBetting.com.au as your go-to source for daily rewarding horse racing bookmaker bonuses. Enhance your value with competitive odds and exclusive promotions tailored for existing customers. Easily access these offers by logging in to each online bookmaker’s platform. For valuable insights into races and horses to optimize your bonus bets, trust HorseBetting’s daily free racing tips. More horse racing promotions View the full article

Horse Racing on Sunday, December 31 will feature seven meetings in Australia. Our racing analysts here at horsebetting.com.au have found you the top bets and the quaddie numbers for the meetings at Gosford & Warrnambool. Sunday Racing Tips – December 31, 2023 Gosford Racing Tips Warrnambool Racing Tips 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 December 31, 2023 check out our guide to the best online racing betting sites. More horse racing tips View the full article

Continuing her excellence over the Gulfstream Park main track, Maryquitecontrary rallied past runner-up Imonra and third-place Unifying to capture the $150,000 Rampart Stakes Dec. 30.View the full article

Brittany Russell—set to become the first woman to finish the year as Maryland's leading trainer—showed off her training skill for a Florida crowd Dec. 30 when Full Count Felicia took the $150,000 Suwannee River Stakes (G3T) at Gulfstream Park.View the full article

Front-running Angel Nadeshiko found a little give in the turf to her liking as she led every step of the $100,500 Robert J. Frankel Stakes (G3T) to secure the first graded stakes win of her career Dec. 30 at Santa Anita Park.View the full article

As 2023 draws to a close, the TDN is asking industry members to name their favorite moment of the year. Send yours to suefinley@thetdn.com The month of October was pretty special. We started out by welcoming our little girl to the world and we closed it out by giving the barn its first graded-stakes victory at Keeneland with Runaway Storm (Midnight Storm) in the Bryan Station.–Ethan West The post What Was Your Favorite Moment Of 2023: Ethan West appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

A multiple graded winner on dirt, Forbidden Kingdom in only his second turf start beat a large field of turf sprinters to win the Joe Hernandez Stakes (G2T) at Santa Anita Park for trainer Richard Mandella and jockey Flavien Prat.View the full article

When a horse has never been outside of the lead at first call in any of his 11 prior races, chances are good that he'll be a contender right from the jump. In this case, despite not having raced over the turf since contesting a five-furlong sprint as a juvenile in Oct. 2021, Forbidden Kingdom (American Pharoah) continued to put that trademark early speed to use and took the field coast-to-coast in the GII Joe Hernandez S. It's been a slow 2023 for the Richard Mandella trainee with only a pair of starts to his name and none since a weakening fourth in the GII Triple Bend S. May 27. In fact, the chestnut hasn't graced the winner's circle after a race since his victory on the Triple Crown trail in 2022's rendition of the GII San Felipe S. The wagering public seemed to have their doubts as well, sending Forbidden Kingdom off at 4-1 facing a full field of 12 though notably only one runner who had contested this race in 2022. Started from the chute in a race that was meant to come down the hill, Forbidden Kingdom showed that early turn of foot from the middle of the gate and set right out to control the tempo with pressure to his outside by longshot Dancing Buck (War Dancer). The chestnut was under a tight hold through moderate fractions of :23.99 and :48.19 and, as the top pair swung off the turn together, it appeared for a moment as though Dancing Buck would outsprint his rival home. But Forbidden Kingdom turned back that challenge with a game run along the fence and refused to be headed again, opening up a minor advantage on the line. “I always thought that he would like the grass but when I ran him as a two year old on it, he didn't do that good,” admitted Mandella. “He didn't know what he was doing back then. We've also been on kind of a losing streak with him a while, so my confidence level was not great. He's always trained like a really good horse and he is a really good horse. He fought an intestinal problem a year ago and it took I'm a while to get over it. I think now we are back in the game.” #4 FORBIDDEN KINGDOM ($10.60) is victorious in his return, taking the $200,000 Joe Hernandez Stakes (G2) for trainer Richard Mandella and jockey Flavien Prat. The 4YO son of American Pharoah (@coolmoreamerica) picks up his third graded victory. pic.twitter.com/l20mXdA0LQ — TVG (@TVG) December 30, 2023 Pedigree Note: A $300,000 Fasig-Tipton Selected Yearling, Forbidden Kingdom is one of four winners for his graded-stakes winning dam and one of 41 stakes winners for Triple Crown hero American Pharoah. Just Louise, who last passed through the auction ring in 2013's FTKNOV sale in foal to Malibu Moon for just $150,000, is a half to MGSW and $550,000 2-year-old purchase Sara Louise (Malibu Moon), herself the dam of GSW Sara Street (Street Sense) and recent 'TDN Rising Star' Nash (Medaglia d'Oro). Juse Louise has an unraced 2-year-old filly by Not This Time and reported a full-sister to Forbidden Kingdom before returning to Not This Time for 2024. Saturday, Santa Anita Park JOE HERNANDEZ S.-GII, $203,500, Santa Anita, 12-30, 3yo/up, 6 1/2fT, 1:14.92, gd. 1–FORBIDDEN KINGDOM, 121, c, 4, by American Pharoah 1st Dam: Just Louise (GSW), by Five Star Day 2nd Dam: Kings Lynn, by Mt. Livermore 3rd Dam: Til Forbid, by Temperence Hill ($300,000 Ylg '20 FTKSEL). O-MyRacehorse and Spendthrift Farm LLC; B-Springhouse Farm (KY); T-Richard E. Mandella; J-Flavien Prat. $120,000. Lifetime Record: GISP, 12-4-3-2, $679,500. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. 2–Dancing Buck, 121, g, 5, War Dancer–Frivolous Buck, by Catienus. O-J and N Stables and Diamond M Stable; B-J & N Stables LLC (NY); T-Richard E. Dutrow, Jr.. $40,000. 3–Turn On The Jets (Ire), 121, g, 4, Mehmas (Ire)–Chiclet (Ire), by Dandy Man (Ire). 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. O-Benowitz Family Trust, CYBT, Michael Nentwig and Ray Pagano; B-Mr. D. Byrne (IRE); T-Philip D'Amato. $24,000. Margins: HF, 1 3/4, NK. Odds: 4.30, 13.50, 6.60. Also Ran: Daniel's Magic, I'm A Gambler (Ire), Balnikhov (Ire), Lucky Score, Tahoe Sunrise, Johnny Podres, Front Run the Fed, Olympic Runner, Peaceful Waters. Scratched: Lovesick Blues. Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. The post Forbidden Kingdom Uncatchable In Joe Hernandez appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

In this series, the TDN takes a look at notable successes of European-based sires in North America. This week's column is highlighted by the victory of Marksman Queen at Gulfstream Park. Dubawi's Marksman Queen Triumphs At Gulfstream Clayton Park Stud homebred Marksman Queen (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) won on her American debut at Gulfstream on Saturday (video). The Graham Motion trainee had won a pair of novices in the UK between 2022 and 2023 before switching jurisdictions. Out of GII Lake Place S. and GIII Herecomesthebride S. heroine Sharp Susan (Touch Gold), the 3-year-old filly is a half-sister to three black-type horses led by South African Horse of the Year Oh Susanna (Aus) (Street Cry {Ire}), who won four times at Grade 1 level there, as well as G3 Star Kingdom S. winner Signore Fox (Aus) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}), who was third in the G1 Stradbroke H. and G1 Kingsford-Smith Cup. Her latest half-siblings are a 2-year-old filly named Susan The Gentle (GB) (Frankel {GB}) and a yearling colt by Kingman (GB) already christened King Of Narnia (GB). Sharp Susan is a half-sister to GI Donn H. hero and sire Spring At Last (Silver Deputy) and GI Las Virgenes S. victress Sharp Lisa (Dixieland Band). The latter has a pair of stakes winner to her name led by G1 The Metropolitan H. winner Foundry (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). The 40th winner from 78 runners (51%) for her Darley sire in the U.S., Marksman Queen is one of three runners from her crop to compete in America. Her sire has 21 American stakes winners led by 10 Grade I winners, among them In Italian (GB). Ride along with @JockeyCam and @Tyler_Gaff aboard #7 Hola Gata as they get nipped at the wire in Gulfstream Race 4 by @ljlmvel and #5 MARKSMAN QUEEN. @PDJFund Tune in to @FanDuelTV for exclusive racing coverage. pic.twitter.com/2FFqkx9Skg — TVG (@TVG) December 30, 2023 Repeat Winners Already a Grade I winner of the Del Mar Oaks, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners' Anisette (GB) (Awtaad {Ire}) doubled her tally at that level in the American Oaks on Boxing Day at Santa Anita (video) for trainer Leonard Powell. Madaket Stables' Easter (Fr) (Exosphere {Aus}) was in a festive mood and duly added the GII San Gabriel S. to his resume near the end of the month for trainer Phil D'Amato (video). Romagna Mia (GB) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}), a winner of the GIII Dowager S. at Keeneland in the autumn, won the Via Borghese S. at Gulfstream Park on Dec. 26 (video). The Team Valor runner is trained by Graham Motion. Just A Care (Ire) (Australia {GB}), who races for Ashbrook Farm, Matthew O'Connor, Upland Flats Racing, and Amy Dunne, won for the second time in her career, taking a Gulfstream Park affair in mid-December (video). From the family of GIII Hollywood Juvenile Championship S. winner Necessary Evil (Harlan's Holiday), the filly won at Gulfstream in February. ANISETTE (GB) wins the American Oaks, her second Grade 1 victory in America. She was purchased privately by @AvenueBstock from @kpfracing having previously been bought for just 26,000gns from Manor Farm in Wiltshire at @Tattersalls1766 Somerville Sale.pic.twitter.com/EFuF7Fgoq3 — GBRI (@GBRI_UK) December 27, 2023 The post Making Waves: Dubawi Filly Sharp In Florida appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Lady T, who rallied to win the Las Flores Stakes (G3) last winter at Santa Anita Park, seeks a repeat victory in the $100,000 six-furlong race contested on New Year's Day.View the full article

Continuing her excellence over the Gulfstream Park main track, Maryquitecontrary rallied past runner-up Imonra and third-place Unifying to capture the $150,000 Rampart Stakes Dec. 30.View the full article

As another year draws to a close, the team at Horsebetting.com.au has compiled their top 10 horse racing moments for the calendar year of 2023. With fond farewells, emotional Group 1 victories, and unfortunate tragedies, it has been one of the more talked-about years amongst horse racing fans. From all of us here at HorseBetting, we wish you and your family a safe and Happy New Year. #10 Pride Of Jenni claims Group 1 double during Melbourne Cup week Records are made to be broken, and the Ciaron Maher & David Eustace-trained Pride Of Jenni made history when becoming the first horse to complete the Empire Rose Stakes / VRC Champions’ Mile double during Melbourne Cup week. Both results were a carbon copy of one another, as Declan Bates took the mare to the front of the field and opened up a massive lead mid-race with her rivals unable to mow her down. Watch Pride of Jenni win the 2023 VRC Champions Mile It brought up an emotional double for prevalent owner Tony Ottobre, as there was added meaning behind the result for the Ottobre family. Their horses always carry the Jenni name, in honour of their daughter Jennifer, who died from a brain tumour in 2015. The Monday prior to the Melbourne Cup Carnival was to be Jennifer’s birthday, and the day following Pride Of Jenni’s win in the Champions Mile, November 12 is the anniversary of her passing. #9 Think About It conquers The Everest The Everest is quickly becoming one of Australia’s must-watch races, and despite this year’s edition perhaps lacking the superstar power of years past, the Joe Pride-trained Think About It etched his name into Everest folklore. The betting market with the best horse racing bookmakers, had it down to a race in three; Think About, I Wish I Win and Private Eye. The three would fill the trifecta, with less than a length seperating the Group 1 winners, but it was the up-and-coming Think About It who would reign supreme. Watch Think About It win The Everest With 11-career wins and almost $10 million in prizemoney accumulated for Think About It, the young sprinter is continuing his rise as one of Australia’s best, and will no doubt feature in lists like this for many years to come. #8 Craig Williams winning Giga Kick Stakes Safe to say that it was an eventful spring for Craig Williams and those among the Giga Kick camp. The 2022 Everest champ had his colour lowered in the McEwen Stakes behind Imperatriz, but connections were quick to blame Craig Williams for the below-par performance of their star sprinter. Prior to the news of his injury, connections gave Craig Williams the boot following one poor ride, despite the Hall of Fame-bound Williams taking them to the greatest heights connections can go to in racing. Williams was to be replaced by James McDonald for the Everest ride on Giga Kick, but injury would curtail those plans. Watch Bella Nipotina win the 2023 Giga Kick Stakes Williams was as professional as ever following the decision, but perhaps the ultimate ‘karma’ found Williams in the weeks following the 2023 Everest. Williams would partner the Ciaron Maher & David Eustace-trained Bella Nipotina to a jaw-dropping victory in the Giga Kick Stakes. It’s ironic how the racing gods work, isn’t it? #7 Mr Brightside goes back-to-back in Doncaster Mile Having claimed Doncaster Mile success, Australia’s best miler over the last 12 months, Mr Brightside became the first runner since Sacred Falls in 2013-2014 to claim consecutive Doncaster Mile’s. Watch Mr Brightside win the 2023 Doncaster Mile Mr Brightside confirmed his status as Australia’s best miler. Having completed the All Star Mile/Doncaster Mile double in consecutive starts, the Ben, Will & JD Hayes-trained superstar would return in the spring and taste success in the Memsie Stakes and Makybe Diva Stakes before being cruelly denied a Cox Plate victory by the barest of margin’s to Hong Kong superstar Romantic Warrior. #6 Dean Holland’s Newmarket Handicap success The passing of Dean Holland was without a doubt the saddest moment of 2023. Our thoughts and prayers are still firmly with the Holland family. However, the late jockey got one more crack at a Group 1 winner in the Newmarket Handicap aboard Godolphin’s In Secret. Holland was a late replacement for Jamie Kah, who suffered a nasty fall earlier on the Flemington card, and with not many lightweight riders around at Flemington, James Cummings were quick to snap up the services of Dean Holland. The rest as they say, is history. Watch Dean Holland guide In Secret to Newmarket Handicap success Dean Holland would follow instructions perfectly and had In Secret in splendid isolation with 100m to go, where he was able to soak in the roar of the Flemington crowd. Sadly, Holland would pass following a tragic race fall at Donald on April 24, with the racing world rallying together behind his family and loved ones. One of Dean’s final bookings was to be aboard the Brent Stanley-trained Seranaur on the Wednesday at Ballarat. Connections of Serenaur had announced prior to the event that all prizemoney would be donated to Holland’s family. Seranaur would go on to win in emphatic fashion, the scenes that followed at Ballarat were ones that will remain in the memory bank for some time. Watch Sernaur’s win at Ballarat in honour of Dean Holland #5 Waller wins first Golden Slipper Master trainer Chris Waller was long thought of a trainer who couldn’t train a two-year-old winner until June, but Shinzo quickly put those thoughts to bed when claiming the 2023 Golden Slipper. 2023 Golden Slipper Replay Shinzo had taken out the Group 3 Pago Pago Stakes (1200m) seven days prior to his win in the Slipper, with James McDonald on board. However, a week later, McDonald had already secured his ride in the Slipper, thus allowing Coolmore’s gun UK-based jockey Ryan Moore to take the steer on the valuable colt. Shinzo would go on to win by just over a length and etch his name into Golden Slipper folklore. Shinzo has now been retired following a disappointing spring, having not won another race after his success in the richest juvenile race in the country. #4 Imperatriz’s perfect spring Is Imperatriz the best sprinter in Australia? Her spring campaign certainly suggested she is, and we are not buying the “what did she beat?” campaign against the superstar Kiwi. The Mark Walker-trained mare would resume her Australian career in the McEwen Stakes when smashing the likes of Giga Kick and Rothfire in track record time at the Moonee Valley 1000m. Imperatriz would go on toe become just the second horse to complete the Moir Stakes/Manikato Stakes double and make it a clean sweep of the Moonee Valley Group 1 sprints having claimed the William Reid Stakes in the autumn. However, it was the VRC Champions Sprint win that was Imperatriz’s crowning achievement. Watch Imperatriz win the 2023 VRC Champions Sprint Imperatriz was sent around as a hot favourite against In Secret who won the Newmarket Handicap in the autumn, and was coming off an eye-catching run in the Everest. However, Opie Bosson gave the Kiwi superstar a gun ride and favourite punters were never in any real danger as Imperatriz would go on to claim a third straight Group 1 win and in doing so, suggest she is the one to beat throughout 2024. #3 Romantic Warrior wins Cox Plate There’s little arguing the fact that Hong Kong’s Romantic Warrior is one of the best horses in the world. Despite having his colours lowered by Gold Trip on his Australian debut in the Turnbull Stakes, Romantic Warrior was always going to be a different beast in the Cox Plate. With the run under his belt, the Danny Shum-trained Romantic Warrior entered the 2023 Cox Plate as a hot favourite, and with James McDonald on board, history was on the verge of their fingertips. Watch Romantic Warrior claim Cox Plate glory Having been the beneficiary of an economical run in transit, the Moonee Valley crowd roared as the race went on at the 200m mark as Romantic Warrior down the outside and Mr Brightside on the rails made their runs at the same time. On first glance it looked like that Mr Brightside may have nosed out the international star, but it was Romantic Warrior who got his nose down in time to win the Cox Plate and handed Hong Kong their maiden win in Australasia’s weight-for-age championship. #2 Without A Fight completes Caulfield Cup/Melbourne Cup It had not been done since 2001, but Without A Fight etched his name alongside the likes of Ethereal as horses to have completed the Caulfield Cup/Melbourne Cup double. Having taken out the Q22 during the Brisbane Winter Carnival, Without A Fight was destined to contend in the Spring majors, having competed in the 2022 Melbourne Cup. Anthony & Sam Freedman had the former European cherry ripe for the Caulfield Cup with just one run under his belt, but it proved to me more than enough. Without A Fight would wear down West Wind Blows in a dramatic finish to the Caulfield Cup, to signal his Melbourne Cup credentials. Watch Without A Fight’s Melbourne Cup win His win in the Melbourne Cup however, was different gravy. Having been given an inch-perfect steer from Mark Zahra, Without A Fight made his run upon entering the home straight in the Melbourne Cup, and once clear, the race was over within a couple of strides. The official winning margin was a touch over two lengths, but Without A Fight had the 2023 Melbourne Cup won a long way out. Who knows, perhaps he can do it again in 2024? #1 Damien Oliver ends career in style We had to wait until December 16 for the best moment in horse racing for 2023, but it was the way Damien Oliver’s career came to an end. The 126-time Group 1 winning jockey announced at the start of the Spring Carnival that his illustrious career in the pig skin would come to a close following The Gold Rush at Ascot Racecourse. Script writers are often talked about in sports, and the script writers got it perfectly right for the G.O.A.T. Oliver would finish his career with the straight winners, but it was his ride aboard Munhamek in the Damien Oliver Gold Rush that takes the cake. Watch Munhamek’s breathtaking win in the Gold Rush Having settled towards the rear of the field on the rail, Ollie looked destined to finish his career on a sour note. However, as the gaps appeared in front of him, Munhamek quickly put himself into the race with 150m to go, and with a dynamic turn of foot managed to savage the line late and grab Ripcord in the shadows of the winnings. Cue pandemonium at Ascot. Not many jockey’s get the fairytale ending, but Damien Oliver got the one he deserved. Let us know in the comments below your top racing moments of 2023. More horse racing news View the full article

5th-OP, $115K, Msw, 2yo, 1 1/16m, 3:22 p.m. ET. A $700,000 Keeneland September purchase by Willis Horton Racing and trained by Eddie Milligan Jr., WILL TAKE IT (Tapit) is the first to the post out of unraced Lady Take Charge (War Front). The latter was the top-priced foal at the 2015 Keeneland November Sale when she was hammered down to Whisper Hill Farm for $3.2 million. Eclipse Award winner Take Charge Brandi (Giant's Causeway), a daughter of Lady Take Charge's half-sister Charming (Seeking the Gold), was the overall topper when sold to John Sikura and Hill 'n' Dale Equine for $6 million. Last year, Lady Take Charge produced a full-sister to Will Take It, who went to Sinandigan Stable at the Keeneland September Sale for $1.3 million. The extended female family runs through influential second dam MGISW Take Charge Lady (Dehere), who is responsible for GI Florida Derby champ Take Charge Indy (A.P. Indy), Horton's champion 3-year-old colt Will Take Charge (Unbridled's Song), GI Beholder Mile winner As Time Goes By (American Pharoah), and Take Charge Brandi's half-brother and top-five first-crop sire Omaha Beach (War Front). TJCIS PPS 5th-AQU, $85K, Msw, 2yo, 1m, 2:14 p.m. ET Trained by Todd Pletcher, Don Alberto and Bridlewood Farm homebred Carolo Rapido (Curlin) is out of GI Kentucky Oaks heroine Cathryn Sophia (Street Boss). She was a Blandford Bloodstock buy last year during Fasig-Tipton's Fall Mixed Sale for $1.2 million while in-foal to Gun Runner. TJCIS PPS 6th-OP, $115K, Msw, 2yo, 6f, 3:50 p.m. ET. SF Bloodstock bred Guarani (Speightstown), who will be making his first start for Three Chimneys Farm after they purchased him for $425,000 at Keeneland September. The Steve Asmussen trainee is out of MGSP Czechers (Indian Charlie), who also produced his full-brother, G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen S. hero Switzerland. TJCIS PPS The post Well-Bred Son Of Tapit And Lady Take Charge Debuts At Oaklawn appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

By this stage, we can really talk about living in “the Into Mischief era.” Not just because the Spendthrift phenomenon ends 2023 by sealing a fifth consecutive general sires' title, but also because he has become the definitive stallion of our times. In some respects, New Year's Day is a more literal turning point for our sport than other walks of life. For bureaucratic purposes, the weanlings of today become the short yearlings of tomorrow; and Into Mischief himself takes one step closer to veteran status, as he enters his 19th year. On the other hand, our cycles demand too much patience for anyone simply to wipe the slate clean every year. Every program, on or off the track, enters 2024 with a pretty clear trajectory. That may depend on how many (or few) mares your stallion has covered over the past two or three years; or perhaps on the caliber of those randomly selected by fate for the injuries annually inevitable in the paddocks or in training. And, actually, it is precisely those two variables that have combined to create the age of Into Mischief, and the industrial system on which he has built his hegemony. Quality still sells, as he has shown, but nowadays it's commercially imperative to have a foundation of quantity. Into Mischief has not quite matched the new mark he set last year, when his stock exceeded $28.5 million in earnings. At $25,893,748 million this time round, however, he has eclipsed the record he had established the previous year, when narrowly becoming the first sire ever to tip $25 million. (He had already been the first to break $20 million, back in 2020.) His latest haul is the work of 209 winners overall, 26 at stakes and 14 at graded level, six of those in the top tier–figures unmatched in each category other than by Justify, whose half-dozen elite winners either side of the water appear to identify a young stallion with global potential. Into Mischief's overall 54 black-type performers, 31 graded stakes horses, and 13 Grade I placers similarly represent the highest in those indices, as well. (All these figures updated to December 30.) So, guess what: you breed to Into Mischief at $250,000, or buy one of his 15 seven-figure yearlings in 2023 (another record, overtaking Storm Cat's 13 in 2005), and he will almost certainly get you a racehorse; and very possibly a champion. But we know how the model works, on these high-volume farms, even for much less competent stallions–and the fact remains that Into Mischief also has the highest number of starters, at a staggering 462. That's more than the two on the other steps of the general sires' podium for 2024, Curlin (238 starters) and Gun Runner (201), combined! Curlin-Hill-n-Dale-09-18-2023-SA6_5728-PRINT-Sarah-Andrew-1-1024x745.jpg" alt="" width="567" height="412" /> Curlin | Sarah Andrew In terms of ratios, therefore, both those horses have this year beaten Into Mischief across the board. The simplest measure of all is earnings per starter: Into Mischief is on $56,047, which puts him 10th overall. Gun Runner, with only a third crop of juveniles to add to his first 4-year-olds and sophomores, this year has an average yield per starter of $87,027; and Curlin, $78,126. Gun Runner's 16 stakes winners in 2024 represent eight percent of starters, against 5.6 percent for Into Mischief; his dozen graded stakes scorers equated to six percent, doubling the champion's clip; and his trio of Grade I winners are among 11 elite performers overall, a remarkable 5.5 percent of starters, again doubling the rate of Into Mischief. Now it is true that Into Mischief's sophomores this year were his first foals conceived at $150,000; and his juveniles at $175,000. His incoming 2-year-olds, including all those seven-figure yearlings, were conceived at $225,000, and the next lot are the first at his current fee of $250,000. So his current racetrack stock is only just reflecting his emergence as an eligible partner for the very best mares around, their attention having been stimulated by the likes of Practical Joke (foaled 2014) and Audible (2015). Breeders who were finally won over only by Authentic (2017) or Life Is Good (2018) have not yet put their stretchy, Classic stock into play, and it's reasonable to expect Into Mischief to complete his rise from famously humble origins with stronger percentages. Remember both Curlin and Gun Runner were Horses of the Year that started out at $75,000/$70,000. Nonetheless he must divide the plaudits with both his pursuers. Curlin's haul of $18,594,100 consolidates his claims as one of the best never to have his status formally gilded by a sires' championship. He was runner-up as long ago as 2016, to Tapit, and again in Into Mischief's first year, 2019; and he finished third in 2021 and 2022, in which years he was the only sire to produce five and six Grade I winners respectively. He has mustered another five this year, including the pair who repeated their Breeders' Cup success, besides a landmark 100th stakes winner. Overall, he's going to get you a horse placed at Grade I level from every 25 named foals, essentially the same as Tapit and bettered only by War Front among active sires. And he's priced accordingly nowadays, too–having last year earned a hike from $175,000 to $225,000, he joins Into Mischief at $250,000 in 2024. As for Gun Runner, up to third place on $17,492,408 after reaching No. 6 with only his second crop last year, he has now confirmed that some of his maturing stock (though having shown unexpected precocity overall) will thrive as he did himself. Interestingly, his third crop of juveniles has made a better start than did his second, and he obviously has time on his side: he turns 11, as Curlin hits 20. The question now is whether his growing resources might close the gap on Into Mischief, or whether the champion will extend his dominion for two more years, so matching the storied seven-year streak of Bold Ruler himself. It's a whole different world from the one dominated by Bold Ruler, of course. True, the top three have now reached such inaccessible fees that even Into Mischief's book dwindled to “only” 177 mares last spring, from 202 the previous year; while Gun Runner covered 166 mares, having been busiest of all with 256 in 2022. But the commercial frenzy otherwise remains unabated. Two farms, in particular, appeared to be pointedly unfettered last spring after thwarting an attempt to limit books to 140 mares. Everyone will have their own views on a rookie turf sprinter covering 293 mares, but the bottom line is that Ashford and Spendthrift between them will be accounting for an astounding percentage of the 2024 foal crop. Their stallions collectively entertained well over 5,000 mares, and the foal crop is projected at 18,000. Don't get me wrong, many other farms would have no qualms about emulating them, as we see from the numbers they accommodate whenever possible. All I'm saying is that this kind of production line brings with it a lot of responsibility, in terms of what the modern Thoroughbred can or should be. Regardless, few will be quibbling with the way Into Mischief has made the numbers game work. He's obviously become a remarkable influence, serving as both prototype and paragon for an era we can now brand with his name. In his early struggles, remember, he was one of the original prompts for the late B. Wayne Hughes to shake things up with his 'Share The Upside' scheme. That was the “bold” bit, and now Into Mischief is threatening to prove a “ruler” of unprecedented longevity. Mitole | Sarah Andrew Freshmen Sires The same farm that has supervised Into Mischief's ground-breaking career dominated the 2023 first-crop sires' table throughout, in the process vindicating a conspicuous evolution in strategy to upgrade its roster. Again, the four Spendthrift sires who confined the freshman title race to their own barn were all able to benefit from much volume. Vino Rosso had 155 live foals in his debut crop, for instance, and Mitole 147. It actually remains tight enough at the top that the last couple of days could conceivably make a difference, but as things stand it is Mitole who claims the laurels, whether by prizemoney ($2,356,418 against $2,189,482 for Maximus Mischief, with Vino Rosso breathing down their necks on $2,146,186) or individual winners (33, two more than “Max”). Mitole's eligibility for the crown is underlined by his status as the only one of the top four to have managed a graded stakes winner, joining just Flameaway and Solomini in what has proved a historically underachieving class overall. Last year's intake accumulated 15 such scorers, and the preceding years managed 13, 11 and 12. The last group to underperform by this measure, in 2018, has duly turned out to contain no real stars, with only four still in the Bluegrass and none standing for more than $15,000. So the pressure is on this latest group. If you get volume, it's over to you. You have an opportunity denied to other perfectly feasible prospects, and must respond with results. In this day and age, when we know that most stallions will have their biggest and best books in their debut season, the whole commercial prejudice in favor of new sires makes no sense unless they capitalize on all those mares by producing a Grade I winner or two. That could very easily still happen, of course, once this lot are represented by their first sophomores: Vino Rosso had four horses placed at the elite level this year, and his own template suggests that his stock will keep thriving; while Omaha Beach, who will have received the classiest mares, has so far launched barely half his named foals, compared with two-thirds already out for Maximus Mischief. Even as it is, Omaha Beach's nine stakes performers are a joint high for the class at 15 percent of starters. Credit, regardless, to Flameaway for doing best of those trying to break up the Spendthrift monopoly. He admittedly had pretty good numbers behind him, as well, but stands alone with four stakes winners to date. Only Maximus Mischief and Solomini have three. And Solomini has 69 named foals in New York. How many of these high-volume sires have genuinely proved themselves to be better conduits of genetic prowess than Solomini or, say, Divisidero? Among the main protagonists, champion elect Mitole has the highest percentage of winners-to-starters at 42 percent. Divisidero has four winners from 10 starters including a Grade II-placed stakes winner (from three starts). But having been so recklessly uncommercial as to win graded stakes five seasons running, he has no more than 23 live foals in his debut crop. Congratulations, all the same, to those that have worked the system. Every year there are new sires that don't convert opportunity into commensurate results, but three of the Spendthrift four (the exception, curiously, being the champion) and Flameaway have all earned fee increases for 2024. Justify -at-Coolmore-Ashford-05-10-2023-SA5_5566-PRINT-Sarah-Andrew-1024x745.jpg" alt="" width="521" height="379" /> Justify | Sarah Andrew Second-crop Sires etc. The freshman class of 2023 will do well to emulate their predecessors, who have had an exceptional campaign. Good Magic got the Derby winner at the first attempt, while Justify has the world at his feet after producing six elite scorers either side of the Atlantic. The emergence of an outstanding champion juvenile in Europe seals the impression that Justify could become the crossover stallion urgently required to reconcile disastrously segregated gene pools. He too had the inevitable quantity behind him as well, but he's maintained a wholesome tangent between the two with 10 graded/group winners in 2023 representing a class-high 5.7 percent of starters. It was hard work, even so, to hold off Good Magic for the second-crop laurels at $9,886,177 to $9,433,728, with Bolt d'Oro third on $7,274,729. Good Magic got his dozen stakes winners this year at 8 percent of starters, measuring up to Justify's 15 at 8.5 percent, and he's actually top by earnings-per-starter at $63,314, though Justify ($56,171) has doubtless paid in that respect for having such good horses contesting internationally uncompetitive purses over the water! Justify has only started 62 percent of his named foals, perhaps partly because he may have a few later developers like himself. Be that as it may, the 70 of his 140 named juveniles to have made the starting gate sufficed to make him the leading sire of 2-year-olds by a handsome margin, banking $4,870,920, miles clear of Constitution on $2,798,468. Justify had six graded/group scorers among his 2-year-olds, with only Gun Runner getting close on four. Otherwise only Good Magic, Nyquist, Malibu Moon and Ghostzapper had two; Into Mischief was among those with one, but he made it count in the GI Champagne S. Even so, given the frantic demand for precocity, you will find some very expensive sires looking rather tepid in this table. TDN stats incorporate worldwide earnings but that rather distorts the turf title, where Medaglia d'Oro owed around 70 percent of his $7,987,931 earnings to Hong Kong moneyspinner Golden Sixty! Otherwise, another championship could be posthumously awarded to English Channel on $6,859,169. Let's call him the domestic champion, at any rate, in a division for now dominated by veteran (War Front next on $6,600,220) or departed sires. Much the youngest player here is American Pharoah, who confirms his aptitude for the discipline in finishing just cents off fifth-placed… Into Mischief! A lot of perceived dirt sires would prove barely less effective on turf, judging from the results achieved by lesser stock that will typically only even try it because they're not working out on the main track. Insular European stables take note! The post Quality And Quantity Together Secure Mischief Fifth Title appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Verifying (Justify–Diva Delite, by Repent), winner of the GIII Indiana Derby and a half-brother to Eclipse winner Midnight Bisou (Midnight Lute), will stand at Pleasant Acres Stallions in Florida for an introductory fee of $10,000 in 2024. Trained by Brad Cox, Verifying began his career at two with a win in his first asking at Saratoga before placing in the GI Champagne S. at Belmont at the Big A in his second start. In addition to winning the Indiana Derby, he placed second in both the GI Toyota Blue Grass S. and the GI H. Allen Jerkens Memorial S. along with the GIII Matt Winn S. He retired with earnings of nearly $853,000. “We are always looking for stallions we know will raise the bar in Florida,” said Pleasant Acres Stallions Owner Joe Barbazon. “We've had our eye on Verifying since he ran in the GI Champagne S. at Belmont. Not only has he shown athleticism and talent during his career, he has also lived up to his impeccable pedigree.” Verifying joins stallions Bodexpress (Bodemeister), Chess Chief (Into Mischief), Curlin's Honor (Curlin), Doppelganger (Into Mischief), Gone Astray (Dixie Union), Gunnevera (Dialed In), Leinster (Majestic Warrior), Magic on Tap (Tapit), Neolithic (Harlan's Holiday), No Never No More (Scat Daddy), Simplification (Not This Time) and Sweetontheladies (Twirling Candy), at the farm located just northwest of Ocala. The post GSW Verifying To Stand At Florida’s Pleasant Acres Stallions appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Born Noble (c, 2, Constitution–Zapperkat, by Ghostzapper) was as green as the St. Elias Stable silks he was carrying, but overcame his inexperience with a powerful 'TDN Rising Star' performance for Todd Pletcher at first asking in the opener on Pegasus Preview day at Gulfstream Park. The 6-5 favorite jumped well from his outside draw and secured a perfect spot in second behind second-time starter and 6-5 second-choice Bonus Move (Twirling Candy). Born Noble cruised up alongside the pacesetter at the five-sixteenths marker and took over with authority at the top of the stretch. Hanging on his left lead as they straightened for home, Born Noble ducked in sharply while well clear following a pair of left-handers from jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr. He leveled off nicely while racing under a snug hold after finally switching over and crossed the wire six lengths to the good. Big City (City of Light) tagged Bonus Move for second. The final time for seven furlongs was 1:24.27. The winner's dam Zapperkat, third as the favorite in the 2016 GI Chandelier S., was disqualified from first and placed second for interference in the following year's GIII Torrey Pines S. Purchased by WinStar Farm for $485,000 as a broodmare prospect at the 2017 Fasig-Tipton November Sale, Zapperkat is also responsible for a Constitution yearling filly ($170,000 KEESEP purchase by Shaker Stable). She was bred to Life Is Good for 2024. Sales history: $725,000 yrl '22 KEESEP. O-St. Elias Stable & West Point Thoroughbreds; B-WinStar Farm, LLC (KY); T-Todd A. Pletcher. The post Constitution Colt Kicks Off Gulfstream Card with ‘Rising Star’ Performance appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

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Part four of BloodHorse's 2023 year-end survey. View the full article

The stallion business, just like many other aspects of life in the racing world, is a cyclical one. Riding the high waves is easy, but arguably of most importance is to keep paddling away below the water line when things are a little flat. Keen observers of the French scene will detect a swell on the horizon. Following the untimely demise of Le Havre (Ire) and the sale to Coolmore of Wootton Bassett (GB), Siyouni (Fr) has been almost a lone head bobbing along in the elite waters, but the pool of talent is swiftly being refilled. A strong intake of stallions in France this year has an obvious leading player in the unbeaten Prix du Jockey Club and Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner Ace Impact (Ire), whose light shone brightly, if a little too briefly for some, during the summer of 2023. The son of Cracksman (GB) has joined Haras de Beaumont, which, in less than two years of existence, is already home to the busiest French stallion of the year in Sealiway (Fr). That dual Group 1 winner will now have to make room for Ace Impact as he embarks on his new career as the most expensive first-season sire in the country for 2024 at a fee of €40,000. Mathieu Alex runs Haras de Beaumont for Kamel Chehboub, who bought a 50% share in Ace Impact from Serge Stempniak midway through the season, and whose daughter Pauline is also heavily involved with the stud and the family's horses in training, who compete under the name of Gousserie Racing. “Serge Stempniak, who previously owned 100%, made it very clear when we approached him that he would like the horse to stand in France,” Alex explains. “Obviously Kamel and his family were very ambitious from day one. With Haras de Beaumont the idea was to try to have the best possible stallion prospects.” Plenty of breeders have already had the chance to inspect Ace Impact during the week of the Breeding Stock Sale at Arqana, just 10 minutes down the road from Beaumont, which sits on part of the estate of the storied Haras du Quesnay. It is a safe bet that the stud will also be inundated with visitors during La Route des Etalons on the weekend of January 20 and 21. “Haras de Beaumont was created last year, summer 2022, really. And when we had our first discussion with Kamel about this project, it was always very clear for him that standing stallions was an important part of the movement,” says Alex. “Obviously it started with Sealiway. He and his family were the owners of Sealiway, a top-class performer, so it was a nice introduction, you know, to be able to stand a horse like Sealiway. But we never could have thought that a year or two in we'd be standing on a horse like Ace Impact. It's great for the team. It's great for me. It's great for France.” He continues, “I think his acceleration is probably what everyone is talking about. And the fact that he's unbeaten is a big deal. His trainer did a wonderful job in the way he spaced time between the races and targeted the best races he could. He was extremely impressive in the French Derby because he was so far back, yet very relaxed. And when you think that he was probably ten lengths behind Big Rock at the end of the straight and won by two and a half lengths beating that Group 1 winner, it's extraordinary.” It is easy to forget that Ace Impact was still unraced at this time last year. Between the end of January and the beginning of October, he ran six times in a faultless progression from maiden to champion. Shortly after the horse's retirement, his trainer Jean-Claude Rouget told TDN why he had chosen to start the horse off at Cagnes-sur-Mer in January. “I prefer to give [my horses] experience and, to me, Cagnes-sur-Mer is a very good track,” he said. “I used to send 30 or 40 horses every winter. I did the same with Raabihah. She should have won the Diane for me. She was a close fourth, and after [Cagnes] she won [a Listed race] in Longchamp. I consider running in January to be the same as running in November. I don't push my horses to start. First time out I want there to be no risk.” With Frankel's son Onesto (Ire) retiring to Haras d'Etreham for the coming season, Ace Impact extends that line again to the next generation and also increases the amount of Galileo blood available at Beaumont. Alongside Galileo's grandson Sealiway, there is also the dependable Intello (Ger), a son of Galileo whose season has been lifted by his dual Group 1-winning son Junko (GB). Ace Impact's dam Absolutly Me (Fr) is a daughter of another Prix du Jockey Club winner in Anabaa Blue (GB), which brings in some inbreeding to the influential mare Allegretta (GB), whose daughters Urban Sea and Allez les Trois appear on opposite sides of Ace Impact's pedigree as the dams of Galileo and Anabaa Blue respectively. “Ace Impact is obviously from the Frankel line and his dam has produced five runners, five winners, and three black-type horses, including a champion. She's a good mare. And it's a nice combination between speed–Cracksman's dam is by Pivotal–and obviously stamina,” says Alex. “Because he never raced outside France, we've had a lot of people coming to see him–Americans, Japanese, obviously [breeders from] Europe, England, Ireland, Germany, France. You know, it's very exciting. They all come with the excitement of coming to see a champion, and to see him physically is very important. He's going down very well.” As Pauline Chehboub greeted those breeders through early December, she was able to bring them into the stud office for refreshments alongside the imposing trophy presented for the horse's final race, which is a replica of the Arc de Triomphe itself. She casts her mind back to that day at Lonchamp in October. “The preparation was so good. Jean-Claude Rouget was so happy with him, so there was no pressure until the week of the race,” she says. “It was crazy to have the Arc favourite, an unbeaten three-year-old. So it was a memorable day, maybe [the most memorable] in our life.” Chehboub continues, “It's special that we're just a new stud, a new project; and to have a champion like that, just one year after the beginning is incredible. And we are very happy with Sealiway, too, because he was the most popular stallion in France this season, for his first season.” But this year, it's the Cartier champion three-year-old colt that people are flocking to see. She adds of Ace Impact, “Everybody wants to see him, to touch him. He's not a legend, but he will be, I hope so. He's special and it means a lot to us.” The post Beaumont has Ace in the Hole in a Stellar French Intake appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Progressive mare Miss Tarzy has been in outstanding form this campaign and the daughter of Tarzino continued her rich run of form at The Valley on Saturday when running out a ready winner of the Blake Albones Memorial Handicap (2040m) under jockey Rhys McLeod. The Anthony and Sam Freedman-trained four-year-old has now won three races in succession, with wins at Seymour and The Valley preceding Saturday’s triumph. From barrier 1, Miss Tarzy sat just behind the leaders throughout and was nursed through a flat-spot by the in-form McLeod before extending impressively for a length and three-quarters victory. “She is three from three this prep,” stable representative Steve Adams said. “She was going OK last time in but this preparation she has found another gear and hopefully she can keep putting them together “It was always going to be tricky from barrier 1 and earlier in the day they were getting off the fence and I thought it might work out for her, but she came off the bit and was in a little bit of trouble there for a while but he made his way off and it was a great ride in the end.” McLeod, who with 37 wins from 209 rides this season has an impressive 17.7 percent winning strike-rate, was back aboard the mare after winning on her fresh-up at Seymour before Ben Allen was successful on the mare earlier in the month at The Valley. “She was right on-song today,” McLeod said. “Obviously three wins in a row now. First-up it was a good effort and then she backed it up last-start and again today. The stable have got her flying. “She was a little bit tardy to begin and I didn’t want to rub her too much, so I ended up in the box seat and I was a little bit wary of that but we ended up pushing our way out and having a nice run. It was a good win.” Bred and raced in a syndicate by Rosemont Stud, Miss Tarzy is a daughter of Westbury Stud stallion Tarzino and the French-bred mare Grise Leigh. The dam is a half-sister to the Gr.1 Criterium de Saint Cloud (2000m) winner Morandi with Gr.1 Queen Anne Stakes (1600m) winner Lord Glitters also a decorated family member. View the full article

Four-year-old gelding Grebeni notched his seventh career victory when narrowly prevailing in the Drinkwise Maroubra Mile (1600m) at Randwick in front of a throng of enthusiastic owners. The Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou-trained son of Ocean Park had scored a similarly resolute victory at Randwick a fortnight ago and after preforming consistently well across ten starts in 2023, heads to the paddock for a deserved break. “He’s good, isn’t he,” Ryan said. “He just wins, he just tries and I thought when the horse with the lighter weight (Riyazan) kicked at the top of the straight he might have his work cut out. He doesn’t win by big margins, but he wins. “I think Kerrin (McEvoy, jockey) had in the back of his mind that he got to the front too soon on him the other day. “He was just foxing with him a little bit to have the last crack at them. When he went past me, 25 metres out, I thought he was going to win by a head but he has pulled away and won by a neck. “He is a good honest horse that deserves a spell now.” With more than 50 owners, Grebeni has a vocal fan base every time he races. “They love it. They enjoy it,” Ryan said. “Tim Boland, when he was breaking him in after we had just bought him at the sales after he was passed in, he said he’d take a share in him and put a couple of mates in. Well I think he has got 50 mates in him. “Tim can look after him for the next four weeks now.” Jockey Kerrin McEvoy has now ridden Grebeni on six occasions for five wins. “He is a nice big horse that is lovely to ride,” McEvoy said. “He has got a good attitude and Gerald and Sterling had been happy with him. “The start was key today, making sure we moved him out and we were in a dominant spot then and he was able to travel nicely and have the drop on them. He did the rest. “He is just building a nice little record this horse. He has gone through the grades beautifully and he is going to have a break and come back and get ready for some nice races into the next couple of preparations.” Ryan and Alexiou celebrated their 250th winner together with Grebeni after four years in training partnership. The duo are looking forward to the next two campaigns with Grebeni, who can run for some mega-prizes, particularly as a five-year-old. “He gets the confidence of a couple of wins now, and we can miss most of the autumn and target a couple of good money races leading into Brisbane,” Ryan said. “You can run in The Coast (A$500,000, 1600m) and the Scone Cup (A$200,000, 1600m) and maybe have one in Brisbane before coming back for the Epsom (Gr.1, A$1.5 million, 1600m), the Big Dance (A$3 million, 1600m) and the Five Diamonds (A$2 million, 1800m). “There is such a good program of races for five-year-olds in the spring now. His year is already mapped out.” Grebeni has now won seven of his 15 starts, with a further four placings and A$535,475 in prizemoney. By high-class Waikato Stud stallion Ocean Park, Grebeni is out of the three-win Medaglia d’Oro mare Dubrovnik and was a $100,000 Gold Coast yearling purchase. View the full article

Owner Mike Repole may be considered a coupled entry with Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher, but there's another Hall of Famer waiting in the wings for 2024.View the full article