Wandering Eyes

Fiona's Magic (f, 3, St Patrick's Day–Mollie's Magic, by Factum), runner-up in the GIII Forward Gal S. Feb. 3, led them every step of the way at odds of 9-1 to upset Saturday's GII Davona Dale S. at Gulfstream Park. It was a half-length back to 'TDN Rising Star' Into Champagne (Into Mischief), who was turned back after reaching even terms in the stretch. Heavily favored 'TDN Rising Star' Leslie's Rose (Into Mischief) was a disappointing third. The final time for the one-turn mile was 1:37.16. Winning trainer Michael Yates also upset this race last year at 46-1 with Dorth Vader (Girvin). Fiona's Magic becomes the first stakes winner for St Patrick's Day, a full-brother to Triple Crown winner American Pharoah. Champion 2-year-old filly and Davona Dale 7-5 morning-line favorite Just F Y I (Justify) was scratched Saturday afternoon after developing a fever. “She was fine, but she spiked a fever and her temperature has just kept going up,” said Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott. Lifetime Record: 5-3-2-0. O/B-Stonehedge LLC (FL); T-Michael Yates. #4 FIONA'S MAGIC ($20.20) goes wire-to-wire in Gulfstream's $200,000 G2 Davona Dale Stakes presented by @FanDuelTV! The Florida-bred filly, who was second in the G3 Forward Gal S. last out, was ridden by @Tyler_Gaff for Michael Yates and Stonehedge LLC. pic.twitter.com/4kDThsh9Ty — TVG (@TVG) March 2, 2024 The post Fiona’s Magic Wires Davona Dale at 9-1; Champion Just F Y I Scratched with Fever appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Starting Over notched his first stakes win in 2023 when he took the 1 1/2-mile Colonial Cup Stakes at Colonial Downs, and March 2 at Gulfstream Park, he captured a more prestigious prize: the $200,000 Mac Diarmida Stakes (G2T) going 1 3/8 miles.View the full article

The winners of the His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Racing Excellence Awards, with Japanese superstar Equinox (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn}) named the Best Horse Award winner, were announced during the Super Saturday card at Meydan Racecourse on Saturday. The award winners are selected on criteria designated by the Dubai Racing Club (DRC), overseen by the Trustee's Committee. The public selects the People's Choice Award. The full list of winners are as follows: Best Horse: Equinox (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn}) Best Jockey: Ryan Moore Best Trainer: Aidan O'Brien Best Owner: Silk Racing People's Choice: Hamdan Sultan Al Sabusi Lifetime Achievement: Colonel Ali Khamis Al Jafleh & Sheikh Abdulla Al Qasemi Excellence Award: Saeed bin Suroor “We are honoured to receive a prestigious award such as this one,” said Masashi Yonemoto, representing Silk Racing. “Equinox's win here in Dubai was very special and we enjoyed watching the horses who finished behind him go on to win several big races around the world.” The post HH Sheikh Mohammed Racing Excellency Award Winners Revealed appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Eskendereya (Giant's Causeway–Aldebaran Light, by Seattle Slew), whose son Mitole was the leading freshman sire of 2023 by winners and progeny earnings, died of a heart attack Mar. 2 at Shizunai Stallion Station in Japan, where he had been standing since 2016. He was 17 years of age. Bred in Kentucky by Sanford Robertson, Eskendereya was purchased by Zayat Stables for $250,000 at the 2008 Keeneland September sale. Turned over to Todd Pletcher, the chestnut broke his maiden in a rained-off renewal of the 2009 Pilgrim S. and switched to the synthetic for that year's GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile, finishing ninth. He was perfect in three starts at three, including romping scores in the GII Fountain of Youth S. and GI Wood Memorial S., but he suffered a leg injury leading up to the 2010 GI Kentucky Derby and entered stud at Taylor Made Stallions the following year. He retired with a record of 4-1-0 from six starts for earnings of $725,700. From his six American-foaled crops, Eskendereya was responsible for 22 black-type winners, including GI Met Mile winner Mor Spirit as well as Mitole. America's champion sprinter of 2019, the Bill and Corinne Heiligbrodt runner amassed four Grade I wins that season, including the Met Mile and GI Breeders' Cup Sprint. Eskendereya entered stud at Shizunai Stallion Station on the island of Hokkaido and has sired for 109 individual winners from 167 starters. All totaled, Eskendereya has been represented by 365 winners which have earned nearly $42.1 million. Japanese breeders continue to have access to the family, as Eskendereya's half-brother Oxbow (Awesome Again) resides at Shadai Stallion Station. The post Eskendereya Passes Away In Japan appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Spendthrift Farm's Kingsbarns returned from an 8 1/2-month layoff to score in a second-level allowance optional claiming race March 2 at Gulfstream Park.View the full article

Military Law earned a spot in the Dubai World Cup (G1) on Super Saturday in Dubai as a full slate of features produced prospects not only for the biggest program on the local scene but also for Europe and American summer racing.View the full article

Last fall's Breeders' Futurity (G1) winner Locked and impressive maiden runner-up Victory Avenue were scratched from the $400,000 Fountain of Youth (G2) at Gulfstream Park March 2 the morning of the race.View the full article

Helios Express is a solid favorite for the Hong Kong Classic Cup March 3, the second leg of the Hong Kong Derby series, but jockey Hugh Bowman has a few concerns about the added distance of that heat.View the full article

Overwhelming 1-5 morning-line favorite Nysos has been scratched from the March 2 San Felipe Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita Park. View the full article

After prevailing in a case in which he was facing multiple federal charges related to distributing controlled substances, the Northern Kentucky-based Kendall Hansen said hopes to return to owning Thoroughbreds. View the full article

6th-Gulfstream, $73,420, Alw (C)/Opt. Clm ($62,500), 3-2, 4yo/up, 7f, 1:22.47, ft, 1/2 length. KINGSBARNS (c, 4, Uncle Mo–Lady Tapit {GSP}, by Tapit), last year's GII Louisiana Derby winner, made his return to the races Saturday off nearly a nine-month layoff. A player on the Road to the Kentucky Derby, the son of Uncle Mo wound up 14th behind Mage (Good Magic) under the TwinSpires and finished his 3-year-old season beaten just a neck as the heavy favorite in the Pegasus S. at Monmouth June 17. Confidently bet at 3-5 in his first trip back to Gulfstream since breaking his maiden in Jan. 2023, Kingsbarns was outrun by much of the field through the opening half mile in :44.52 as Vivir Con Alegria (Chi) (Flyer {Chi}) led. The pace began to catch up to the frontrunner and Kingsbarns swung off the turn three wide with a clear path to go by, doing so inside the final sixteenth to pick up the half-length win. Vivir Con Alegria held second at odds of 12-1. An $800,000 2-year-old buy for Spendthrift Farm, Kingsbarns is out of a half to GISW Gozzip Girl (Dynaformer). Lady Tapi's now 2-year-old Gun Runner colt sold as a yearling for $650,000 at Keeneland last September. She foaled a Munnings filly in 2023 and visited Not This Time for this year. Sales History: $250,000 Ylg '21 FTSAUG; $800,000 2yo '22 FTFMAR. Lifetime Record: GSW, 6-4-1-0, $731,100. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. O-Spendthrift Farm LLC; B-Parks Investment Group, LLC (KY); T-Todd A. Pletcher. Last year's GII Louisiana Derby winner #5 KINGSBARNS ($3.20) made his return to the races a winning one, getting up in the nick of time to win race 6 at Gulfstream Park. The son of @coolmoreamerica's Uncle Mo was ridden by Luis Suez for @PletcherRacing and @spendthriftfarm. pic.twitter.com/QD7h1JQno4 — TVG (@TVG) March 2, 2024 The post Louisiana Derby Winner Kingsbarns Triumphant In 4-Year-Old Debut appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Trainer John Size has won the Hong Kong Classic Cup, the second leg of the 4-year-old Triple Crown, no fewer than four times and he'll saddle two of the top fancies as he looks for his first victory in the race since Sun Jewellery (Aus) (Snitzel {Aus}) in 2011 Sunday afternoon at Sha Tin Racecourse. Helios Express (Aus) (Toronado {Ire}) is the lone member of the 14-strong field rated in triple figures (102), has won six of his eight lifetime starts and three of his last four. Drawn neatly in gate two Sunday, the bay was impressive in defeating Class 2 rivals over a mile Jan. 7 and backed up the performance with a 1 3/4-length defeat of Helene Feeling (Ire) (Sioux Nation) and a running-on Star Mac (Aus) (Heroic Valour {Aus}) in a slowly run renewal of the Hong Kong Classic Mile four weeks back. The 1800 metres of Sunday's test is as far as he's been, and he'll need to switch off better if he is to see it out, his connections admit. Size said: “We're trying to adapt to a distance and to a tempo, which always is an issue for the jockeys who manage the horse through the race, so it depends on the circumstances on the day and what sections they run during the race. So far, he's been okay.” Size's second entry, Ensued (Lemon Drop Kid), will look to become the first US-bred to take the Classic Cup since Zaidan (Street Cry {Ire}) back in 2012. Placed twice from three overseas runs for James Fanshawe, the bay gelding broke his maiden on local debut over 1800 metres last October and–equally unusually–already owns two victories over the BMW Hong Kong Derby trip of 2000 metres. A horse that grinds it out, he just missed in Class 2 over the metric 10 furlongs, but tries restricted company for the first time in Hong Kong. “He's been quite unusual the way he came into Hong Kong and won immediately at a distance, that doesn't happen too often so he's sort of stamped himself as one who has adapted to Hong Kong quite quickly,” Size said. “[Being] just a little bit one-paced is probably the chink in his armour, he just doesn't have enough acceleration. But, with that, as long as he's running in a forward position and running freely, that's okay.” Two other American-breds are rough chances, Chancheng Glory (Mor Spirit) and Unbelievable (Justify). Chill Chibi (NZ) (Wrote {Ire}) posted four straight wins over the course of last season and this season at Happy Valley before having the streak snapped by subsequent G3 January Cup H. hero Happy Together (Ire) (Dragon Pulse {Ire}) Dec. 20. Having missed the Classic Mile via a minor setback, he makes his Sha Tin debut Sunday. The post Size Runners Dominate Market For Hong Kong Classic Cup appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

7th-GP, $89K, MSW, 3yo, f, 7f, 3:09 p.m. Owned in partnership by Woodford Racing, West Point Thoroughbreds and Chris Larsen, SEDONA (Curlin) debuts Sunday at Gulfstream Park for trainer Shug McGaughey. The full-sister to MGSW/GISP and $1.5m FTSAUG yearling First Captain nearly topped 2022's Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Select Yearling Sale when selling for $2,000,000. Dam America, herself a graded stakes winner and dual Grade-I placed, last went through the auction ring late last year at FTKNOV but failed to meet her reserve at $1,200,000. She also RNA'd for $3.1m at FTKNOV back in 2019. The family has produced plenty of pricey horses including America's half-sister Paris Bikini (Bernardini) who brought $1.95m at FTKNOV in 2020 and that mare's daughter, GISW Paris Lights (Curlin), who went to Spendthrift Farm on a final bid of $3.1m at KEENOV in 2021. TJCIS PPS 5th-FG, $57K, MSW, 3yo, f, 5 1/2fT, 3:45 p.m. Spendthrift homebred Wine and Waves (Vino Rosso), running for Albert Stall, Jr., debuts on the grass Sunday in New Orleans. A daughter of MGSW/GISP Malibu Pier, she is a half to SW and GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf runner up Coasted (Tizway) who went the way of Katsumi Yoshida for $1.3m at FTKNOV in 2017 and produced Japanese GSW Danon Beluga (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}, runner up in last year's G1 DP World Dubai Turf. Malibu Pier is additionally responsible for MGSP Malibu Stacy (Tizway). Wine and Waves drilled four furlongs in a near-bullet :47 4/5 (2/54) Feb. 22 in preparation for her debut. TJCIS PPS The post Sunday Insight: $2M Full Sister To First Captain Debuts At Gulfstream appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Charlie Appleby, runaway leading trainer this season at Meydan by both earnings ($8,915,500) and percentage of wins (40%) amongst those conditioners with more than a handful of runners at the meet, got his third winner on the Super Saturday card with LEGEND OF TIME (GB) (c, 3, Sea The Stars {Ire}-Kissable {Ire}, by Danehill Dancer {Ire}) in the Listed Jumeirah Classic sponsored by Arabian Adventures. His earlier wins on the evening came with Bold Act (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}) in the G2 Dubai City of Gold and with Cinderella's Dream (GB) (Shamardal) in the Listed Jumeirah Guineas. All three of the winners are Godolphin homebreds. Perfect in his three starts at Meydan, Legend Of Time emerged from the early scrum in an eager third and had to be hard held by jockey William Buick. Quickly settling into a comfortable spot against the rail with cover just behind the leading duo of Athan (Arg) (Orpen) and Musical Act (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), Buick bided his time with a clearly loaded mount until the straight loomed. With little visible effort, Legend Of Time tipped out and around Athan as Musical Act floated wide. Legend Of Time already found the front before Buick encouraged him with hands and heels and was a facile winner despite Musical Act finding more and briefly looking for a battle until Legend Of Time kicked clear by 4 3/4 lengths. Like the winner, Musical Act is a Godolphin homebred trained by Appleby. Athan held for third as none of the others factored at the finish. The final time for the 1800 metres was 1:49.83. Legend Of Time has been steadily building his CV, having won his debut at Haydock last fall. Off the board when trying the G3 Tattersalls S. at Newmarket three weeks later, he was put away before reemerging in Dubai to win conditions events Jan. 5 and Feb. 2, going 1400 meters and 1600 meters, respectively. “He's won the series now and probably 1800 metres is more to his liking,” said Buick. “He's an exciting horse for the rest of the season. The American Turf Derby series over there might suit him.” Appleby's exacta in the Jumeirah Classic mirrored his success in the race in 2023, when he sent Naval Power (GB) (Teofilo {Ire}), One Nation (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), and Highbank (Ire) (Kingman {GB}) to fill out the trifecta. He only had the two entrants this year. Pedigree Notes: Legend Of Time is the 117th black-type winner worldwide for Gilltown Stud's all-conquering Sea The Stars (Ire). With the Jumeirah Classic winner, the remarkable sire of 70 group winners now has two stakes winners out of daughters of Danehill Dancer and an additional two out of daughters of that one's sire, Danehill. The late Danehill Dancer has 168 stakes winners as a broodmare sire. Kissable (Ire), dam of Legend Of Time and herself a listed American stakes winner who also placed in the G1 Moyglare Stud S., is the dam of G1 Qatar Prix de Royallieu winner Loving Dream (GB) (Gleneagles {Ire}) and additional American SW & GISP Amandine (GB) (Shamardal). Her 2022 Pinatubo (Ire) colt died as a yearling and she produced a Night Of Thunder (Ire) filly last year. Her granddam, English highweight Eva Luna (Alleged), produced highweight and MG1SW Brian Boru (GB) (Sadler's Wells), global MGSW & MG1SP Sea Moon (GB) (Beat Hollow {GB}), and the unraced Soviet Moon (Ire) (Sadler's Wells), dam of G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe/G1 Espom Derby winner Workforce (GB) (King's Best). The post Appleby Strikes Again in Jumeirah Classic with Legend Of Time appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

SWEEP FEET (JPN) (Suave Richard {Jpn}–Bijou Tosho {Jpn}, by Deep Sky {Jpn}) proved fleetest in the G2 Tulip Sho at Hanshin on Saturday, a prep for the G1 Oka Sho on Apr. 7. It was the first stakes victory for the YGG Horse Club runner. Slowly into stride, she soon raced third last in the strung-out field behind the swift early pace set by Sekitoba East (Jpn) (Declaration Of War), who covered the first quarter in :23.30 and the half-mile in :46.00. In touch with the main body just after half-way, the filly swung wide on the turn and blew past all comers barring the frontrunner 200 metres from the line. Still traveling with a full head of steam, she forged past that rival to win by 1 1/4 lengths in late stretch. Hawaiian Tiare (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) was third, another half-length behind. A winner at Kyoto in October, Sweep Feet ran second in the Shiragiku Sho , but did not lift a hoof when seventh in the G1 Hanshin Juvenile Fillies. In her 3-year-old bow, she ran second in the Listed Elfin S. Pedigree Notes Sweep Feet is the third stakes winner and third group winner for 2023 Japanese Champion First-Season Sire Suave Richard. He has also been represented by his star filly, G1 Hopeful S. winner Regaleira (Jpn), and G2 Keio Hai Nisai S. victor Corazon Beat (Jpn). Her dam had fillies by Animal Kingdom in 2022 and 2023, before visiting Majestic Warrior last year. Granddam Sweep Tosho (End Sweep) was named Champion Older Mare in Japan, and she also claimed the G1 Takarazuka Kinen. Saturday, Hanshin, Japan TULIP SHO-G2, ¥100,620,000, Hanshin, 3-2, 3yo, f, 1600mT, 1:33.10, gd. 1–SWEEP FEET (JPN), 121, f, 3, by Suave Richard (Jpn) 1st Dam: Bijou Tosho (Jpn), by Deep Sky (Jpn) 2nd Dam: Sweep Tosho (Jpn), by End Sweep 3rd Dam: Tabatha Tosho (Jpn), by Dancing Brave 1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN. 1ST GROUP WIN. O-YGG Horse Club; B-Seishindai Farm (Jpn); T-Yasushi Shono; J-Yutaka Take; ¥53,134,000. Lifetime Record: 6-2-2-1, ¥72,864,000. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Werk Nick Rating: B. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. 2–Sekitoba East (Jpn), 121, f, 3, Declaration of War–Barefoot Lady (Ire), by Footstepsinthesand (GB). *1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (¥23,100,000 Ylg '22 HOKJUL). O-TN Racing; B-Taihei Farm (Jpn); ¥21,324,000. 3–Hawaiian Tiare (Jpn), 121, f, 3, Lord Kanaloa (Jpn)–Moani Ke'ala (Jpn), by Manhattan Café (Jpn). 1ST BLACK TYPE. 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. O-Nagoya Yuho Inc.; B-Shadai Farm (Jpn); ¥13,162,000. Margins: 1 1/4, HF, 1HF. Odds: 8.70, 35.30, 153.30. Also Ran: Tagano Elpida (Jpn), Epoch Venus (Jpn), Mirabilis Magic (Jpn), Lavanda (Jpn), Garza Blanca (Jpn), Erato (Jpn), Steelblue (Jpn), Learn The Ropes (Jpn), Blue Eyed Girl (Jpn), Wide Latour (Jpn), Shonan Manuela (Jpn), Itsumo Nikoniko (Jpn), Fleuraison (Jpn). Click for the JRA chart & video. The post Fleet Feet Delivers The Tulips At Hanshin appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

'TDN Rising Star' and GI Breeders' Futurity winner Locked (Gun Runner) has scratched from Saturday's GII Coolmore Fountain of Youth S. along with Victory Avenue (Arrogate) according to social media posts from each horses' respective connections along with a release from Gulfstream Park Saturday morning. Locked was 5-2 on the morning line while Victory Avenue was 4-1. Locked will scratch from today's Fountain of Youth @GulfstreamPark. The Grade 1-winner and @BreedersCup placed son of Gun Runner still has his eye on the prize. We'll regroup and come up with a game plan. #BelieveBig pic.twitter.com/hkvB1zrsCg — Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners (@EclipseTBP) March 2, 2024 Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners noted on X that, “Locked will scratch from today's Fountain of Youth…but still has his eye on the prize. We'll regroup and come up with a game plan.” “He's [Victory Avenue] a high energy horse and he didn't eat his food and is mouse quiet today,” Ramiro Restrepo told Gulfstream media. “That's totally uncharacteristic.” This AM we had to scratch Victory Avenue from today's FOY. VA is normally a high energy, feel good colt. He does not have a fever & externally is fine, But he didn't eat his feed last night/this AM and is a bit quiet. Horse comes first, we'll monitor him & proceed accordingly. pic.twitter.com/zXAn9d3Jk9 — Gustavo Delgado S (@GDS_Racing) March 2, 2024 The post Locked, Victory Avenue Scratch From Fountain Of Youth appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Kentucky's Thoroughbred retirement home Old Friends welcomed the recently-retired MGSW/MGISP C Z Rocket (City Zip). The 10-year-old gelding arrived Feb. 29 to the farm and was welcomed by founder Michael Blowen and current Old Friends CEO John Nicholson. “CZ Rocket has captured the affections of countless race fans throughout his many years on the track,” said Nicholson. “After such a successful career, this special gelding has earned the right to enjoy being pampered and celebrated here at Old Friends. We are grateful to his connections for seeking such a well-deserved happy retirement for him.” “”We are very grateful to Peter Miller and Tom Kagele for donating C Z Rocket to Old Friends,” added Blowen. C Z Rocket last raced at Oaklawn Park Feb. 19, finishing sixth against a starter allowance field. “Tom [Kagele] and I talked to each other after the race and we both agreed,” Miller told the Paulick Report after the race. “We said, 'It's time, he's done enough. He's sound, healthy, and happy. Let's not push the envelope.'” The gelding retired with a record of 46-13-9-7 and earnings of over $2.1m. “CZ was a special horse that took us to two great finishes in the Breeders' Cup and became one of the best claims of all times,” continued Miller, who also donated Stormy Liberal (Stormy Atlantic) to Old Friends in 2019. “He was a pleasure to be around and train. We chose Old Friends for his retirement because of the care and love these horses receive and the chance for the public to visit and enjoy this magnificent animal as much as we did.” The post C Z Rocket Retired To Old Friends appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Maxis Stable, Foster Family Racing and Chris Vitale's 23-1 longshot Maxisuperfly was hustled out of the gate and never looked back, taking the field gate-to-wire in the $150,000 Cincinnati Trophy Stakes March 1 at Turfway Park.View the full article

Winless since taking out Round 1 of the G2 Al Maktoum Challenge going this track's 1600 metres way back in January 2021 and second in this race the year prior, MILITARY LAW (IRE) (g, 9, Dubawi {Ire}–Marine Bleue {Ire}, by Desert Prince {Ire}) led home a 1-2 finish for his legendary sire in Saturday's G2 Al Maktoum Classic, besting a valiant Walk of Stars (Ire) by a length on the wire. Content on taking a chasing role as Aldous Huxley (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) was hard-ridden to set fast early sections in advance of Quip (Distorted Humor), Military Law settled in a forward position in the run down the back of the track. Aldous Huxley had run his race with the better part of 800 metres left to travel, and Military Law was first to strike to lead them into the straight. He pinched a bit of a break and though Walk of Stars kept battling to the death, he couldn't quite reel in Military Law. Clapton, drawn three and a horse that prefers to race in clear air, was trapped inside and midfield early before improving into the first four nearing the turn. Pulled out three wide to deliver his challenge, he appeared to have every chance, but just failed to finish off his race and settled for third. Sales history: 900,000gns RNA Ylg '16 TATOCT; 110,000gns HRA '19 TATJUL. Lifetime Record: 20-6-4-0. O-Naser Askar; B-Qatar Bloodstock Ltd; T-Musabbeh Al Mheiri. #7 MILITARY LAW (GB) gained the lead on the final turn and held off #13 Walk of Stars to win Meydan's G2 Al Maktoum Classic. The 9-year-old son of @DarleyEurope's Dubawi (Ire) was ridden by Oscar Chavez for trainer Musabbeh Al Mheiri and Naser Askar. pic.twitter.com/r5QZVfOiMW — TVG (@TVG) March 2, 2024 The post Dubawi’s Military Law Turns Back Time In Al Maktoum Classic appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Sunday's top tips from the Post's racing teamView the full article

Rabbah Bloodstock's FROST AT DAWN (Frosted-Hawana, by War Front) has had the misfortune of squaring off with two of the best fillies in this jurisdiction multiple times–the undefeated pair of G3 UAE Oaks heroine Manama Gold (Star Guitar) on dirt, and Saturday's listed winner Cinderella's Dream (GB) (Shamardal). However, she finally got her chance in the spotlight trying the 1000-metre AED1,200,000 Nad Al Sheba Turf Sprint Sponsored By Emirates Skywards, and the William Knight trainee walked away with a Group 3 win over Godolphin's Star Of Mystery (GB) (Kodiac {GB}) by 2 1/2 lengths. One of the early pacesetters in this straight-course test, Frost At Dawn avoided the majority of the field while glued to the far rail. Shrugging off all challengers, she scampered home a good-looking winner, with fellow filly Star Of Mystery emerging from the field to take second. Logo Hunter (Ire) (Brazen Beau {Aus}), who was toting 12 more pounds than his sophomore challengers, was another 1 3/4 lengths back in third. Frost At Dawn is now the 26th stakes winner and ninth group/graded winner for her Darley sire. She broke her maiden at second asking in England last November, but then has failed to win versus Manama Gold in December and January, or Cinderella's Dream in February. Tried in the Dubai Trophy, a conditions race over 1200 metres on grass on Feb. 9, the grey found only Great Truth (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) too good when a head back in second. Pedigree Notes One of two winners for her dam, who has a juvenile colt by Bernardini and a yearling filly by Nyquist to come, Frost At Dawn is related to Ocean Atlantique (American Pharoah), a stakes winner in both France and the US, who was third in the GI Turf Classic S., while noted Blushing Groom (GB)-line sire and American turf champion Leroidesanimaux (Brz) (Candy Stripes) is under the third dam. Hawana was bred to Maxfield last spring. Click for the ERA chart and video. Upset! Star Of Mystery was all the rage for the Nad Al Sheba Turf Sprint Sponsored By @emirates Skywards But impressively cut loose on the rail to land Group Three honours for @WKnightRacing and Mickael Barzalona #SuperSaturday | #DubaiCarnival pic.twitter.com/SRpFxb3YCC — Dubai Racing Club (@RacingDubai) March 2, 2024 The post Frosted Filly Skates Home A Winner In Nad Al Sheba Turf Sprint appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Juddmonte Farms' LAUREL RIVER (h, 6, Into Mischief–Calm Water, by Empire Maker), favored for the 2022 GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile before being ruled out on the eve of the race, flashed some of the form that saw him win the 2022 GII Pat O'Brien S. with a towering, front-running victory in Saturday's G3 Burj Nahaar at Meydan Racecourse, the course-and-distance prep for the G2 Godolphin Mile Mar. 30. The result represented a complete turnaround from his local debut Jan. 26 when he was an early factor in the G3 Al Shindagha Sprint over 1200 metres, but faded tamely from 2 1/2 furlongs out. Drawn wide for this contest over the mile, the homebred was well into stride and was restrained a bit through the opening exchanges before being allowed to stride into the lead by Tadhg O'Shea after the first 400 metres. Full of run at every stage of the race thereafter, Laurel River had amassed an imposing advantage turning them in and kept on very nicely to take it by eight lengths in a good time of 1:36.90. Previously trained by Bob Baffert, the bay won four of his seven starts in the U.S., capped by his 3 3/4-length success in the seven-furlong Pat O'Brien at Del Mar in August 2022. Trainer Bhupat Seemar served as a Baffert assistant for some time. O/B-Juddmonte Farms (KY); T-Bhupat Seemar. Wow! Laurel River turns the Burj Nahaar Sponsored By @emirates SkyCargo into an absolute procession for @BhupatSeemar, @OsheaTadhg and @JuddmonteFarms #SuperSaturday | #DubaiCarnival pic.twitter.com/rneJwci27D — Dubai Racing Club (@RacingDubai) March 2, 2024 The post Juddmonte’s Laurel River Thrashes Foes In Godolphin Mile Prep appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

CINDERELLA'S DREAM (GB) (f, 3, Shamardal–Espadrille {GB}, by Dubawi {Ire}) ran out a 5 1/2-length winner of the 1600-metre AED800,000 Listed Jumeirah Guineas Sponsored By Emirates SkyCargo, despite having her saddle slip approaching the far turn. Jockey William Buick kicked free of his irons and rode the rest of the race in what he described as a “bit of a rodeo show”, with the duo keeping straight and true to the line, despite being at least four wide off the fence. Godolphin claimed this contest last year when it was only a conditions race with subsequent G1 1000 Guineas heroine Mawj (Ire) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}). Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners' Geologist (GB) (Territories {Ire}) was second, 1 1/2 lengths ahead of Yamamah (Ire) (Masar {Ire}). The final time for the race over good turf was 1:37.62. Did that just happen? William Buick lost his irons a long way from home aboard ' But somehow the fairytale continues for @godolphin's unbeaten filly in the Jumeirah 1000 Guineas Sponsored By @Emirates SkyCargo #SuperSaturday pic.twitter.com/MkJd45sg7U — Dubai Racing Club (@RacingDubai) March 2, 2024 The post Godolphin’s Cinderella’s Dream Unphased By Tack Drama In Listed Jumeirah Guineas appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Multiple Group One winning mare Atishu has claimed a berth in the A$4 million All-Star Mile (1600m) with a strong victory in the Gr.2 Blamey Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on Saturday. The Chris Waller-trained daughter of Savabeel was ridden more forward than usual under Blake Shinn, who was aboard the six-year-old for the first time, defeating Holymanz by three-quarters of a length, with Ayrton close-up in third after being held-up for a run. “We know she is a filly that has had her share of issues in the barriers and as a result we have always been riding her a little bit conservatively and she has been finishing off so well in that position,” Waller’s Assistant Trainer Charlie Duckworth said. “I was a little bit concerned when he was so assertive out of the gates. It is all well and good when you win, but if you don’t there are questions to be asked. “But she looked to get into a lovely rhythm and travelled tractably in that position. Blake was very soft on her up until the concluding stages when he had to ask an effort for her to lift. She is a genuine Group One performer and she absolutely loves it here at Flemington. “So looking back it is a fantastic ride from Blake and we are delighted to get the win. She is obviously a valuable horse and the main thing is she is racing in a rich vein of form which is great to see after what on face-value looked like a slightly disappointing first-up performance for her.” Duckworth believed it was the race pattern and the Caulfield circuit that brought about the undoing of Atishu when eighth behind Mr Brightside in the Gr.1 Memsie Stakes (1400m) fresh-up. “She was chasing a long way out that day, whereas today she was able to travel and that was the difference,” Duckworth said. “If you can get her to travel and switch off and do everything right, then she has got a wicked turn of foot and we have seen that time and time again at Flemington and hopefully it can continue for a good while more.” The A$3 million Gr.1 Australian Cup (2000m) back at Flemington on March 30 is the chief target for the campaign, with Duckworth unsure whether the mare would contest the All-Star Mile which is to be contested at Caulfield on March 16. “$4 million is a lot of money and I will leave it to Chris and the owners to work out whether we go there (to the All-Star Mile) or head straight to the Australian Cup,” Duckworth said. Atishu won the Gr.1 Champions Stakes (2000m) at Flemington last spring, while she also won the Gr.1 Queen Of The Turf Stakes (1600m) in Sydney last autumn. Atishu sports the colours of Albert Bosma’s Go Racing, with the Kiwi mare having transferred to Waller as a multiple stakes winner for trainer Stephen Marsh in New Zealand as a three-year-old. Bred by Waikato Stud, Atishu is by their champion sire Savabeel out of the No Excuse Needed mare Posy, who won two races and is a sister to the former Champion Three-Year-Old and multiple Group One winner Daffodil. Go Racing went to $260,000 to secure Atishu as a yearling from Waikato Stud’s 2019 Karaka Book 1 draft. Atishu is a sister to the Waikato Stud-raced Mazzolino, who won the Gr.3 Desert Gold Stakes (1600m) for trainer Stephen Marsh last year and placed a further five times at stakes level before her recent retirement to the broodmare paddock, in-foal to Super Seth. View the full article

Drakaina’s commanding victory in Saturday’s Listed NZB Airfreight Stakes (1400m) at Wingatui completed a remarkable rise to prominence for a filly that was bought for just $3,000. The daughter of Ace High caught the eye of her trainer and part-owner Ebony Turner on Gavelhouse last year. She was unplaced on debut at Ascot Park in November, then won at $50 odds at Gore on December 24 before finishing fourth in the Listed Gore Guineas (1335m) and second in last month’s Listed Dunedin Guineas (1400m). Drakaina stepped out as a $5.50 second favourite for Saturday’s NZB Airfreight Stakes, and she continued her rapid rise with a runaway win. Jockey Jasmine Fawcett drove Drakaina forward from a wide gate and took an early lead, but then was happy to settle in second when The Real Treasure made a big mid-race move to take over in the back straight. Drakaina cruised back up on the outside of that rival coming towards the home turn, but she was being accompanied every step of the way by the riderless Amiinit, who had parted company with jockey Lee Callaway when the gates opened. The riderless horse drifted across towards the rail just in front of Drakaina at the top of the home straight, but she was unfazed and produced a brilliant turn of foot to dash clear of the rest of the field. Drakaina got further and further in front through the final 200m, dashing to victory by six and a half lengths over Sense Of Timing and Epee Beel. The NZB Airfreight Stakes was the first stakes success for the Riverton-based Turner, who is in only her second season of training. Fawcett, who had her first ride on Drakaina in Saturday’s $80,000 feature, was delighted to play her part. “I hadn’t ridden her before, but my agent (Jacob Edens) had a good opinion of her previous form and was keen for me to ride her,” she said. “I was really glad I ended up on the right horse. “This filly gave me a fantastic feel and it was a great performance. It was a good-quality field today and she proved she was definitely up to stakes standard. I thought the loose horse made it an even more impressive performance – that didn’t make it easy for her at all, but she handled everything really well and then put them away very convincingly in the straight.” Drakaina has now had five starts for two wins, a placing and $79,235 in stakes – more than 26 times her purchase price. The NZB Airfreight Stakes was the second leg of the New Zealand Bloodstock Southern Filly of the Year Series, and Drakaina earned 7 points and now shares top spot on the table with the Listed Canterbury Belle Stakes (1200m) winner Viva Vienna. The two remaining legs of the series are the Listed NZB Insurance Stakes (1600m) at Riccarton on April 13 and the Listed New Zealand Bloodstock Warstep Stakes (2000m) at the same venue a week later. “I have no doubt that she’ll go a bit further than this,” Fawcett said. “I’m sure she’d be very competitive in those other three-year-old fillies’ races that are coming up at Riccarton, if that’s the way she goes. I’m not sure what her plans are from here. I’ll leave that up to Ebony, who’s done a great job with this horse so far. I’ll just do as I’m told, and I’ll definitely be keen to ride her again.” View the full article