Wandering Eyes

This tour offers a unique opportunity to view almost 750 yearlings heading to Karaka 2024 on their farms. Taking place over six days, the tour is open to both industry participants and the general public. There is no fee to attend the tour and bus transport, kindly sponsored by New Zealand Bloodstock, is available, departing from and returning to Cambridge BP daily. A number of stud farms will also kindly sponsor refreshments (breakfast, lunch, dinner). The tour is open to everybody but registration is required, please contact Ed Stapleton on 027 2589114 (also Whatsapp) or email ed@esb.nz<mailto:ed@esb.nz> Find out more HERE https://esbloodstock.com/nzyearlingtour/ View the full article

Under-rated filly Still Bangon (NZ) (Satono Aladdin) stepped up to stakes class and prevailed in a nail-biting finish to the Gr.3 LawnMaster Eulogy Stakes (1600m) at Trentham on Saturday. Trained by Stephen Autridge for owner-breeders Paul and Maureen Guise, the daughter of Satono Aladdin came into Saturday’s black-type debut with a win, three placings and a fourth to her name from her seven previous career starts. That included a relegation to second after being first past the post in a maiden race at Taupo in September. The beneficiary of that Taupo relegation was Te Akau Racing’s promoted winner Superbly Written (Written Tycoon). When Still Bangon collected her black-type spoils in the Eulogy on Saturday, those familiar tangerine colours were right alongside her again – this time carried by the runner-up My Lips Are Sealed (NZ) (Ace High). On paper, there appeared to be many chances among a remarkably even line-up for this year’s Eulogy. That was exactly how the $100,000 feature played out on the track too, with more than half a dozen fillies lining up across most of the width of the Trentham home straight to lodge their claims in rain-affected ground. That number was eventually whittled down to three as My Lips Are Sealed, Still Bangon and Chica Mojito (NZ) (Zacinto) pulled ahead of the rest of the field in the final 150m. There was nothing between them in a head-bobbing battle to the line, but Still Bangon thrust her neck down at just the right time to snatch victory by a nose for jockey Tegan Newman. My Lips Are Sealed was second, a long head in front of Chica Mojito. “I’m thrilled to get that result,” Autridge said. “It was a very close finish and a very testing race, but she fought strongly and deserved the win. She’s been racing well all through the spring, so it’s pleasing to see her step up into black-type company and put in a performance like that. To win a Group Three race is absolutely massive for her owner-breeders and great for the filly. “I’m picking that her next target is going to be at Pukekohe, stepping up over a bit more ground for the Sir Patrick Hogan Stakes (Gr.2, 2050m) on New Year’s Day.” The eighth individual stakes winner among the southern hemisphere progeny of standout Rich Hill Stud shuttle stallion Satono Aladdin, Still Bangon is a daughter of the Guises’ homebred mare Shebang (NZ) (Le Bec Fin), who herself won five races and is a full-sister to the stakes-performed Elle Tresor (NZ). With Saturday’s Eulogy Stakes victory, Still Bangon earned 6 points in the New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year Series. That puts her in equal third spot alongside the Gr.3 Gold Trail Stakes (1200m) winner Quintessa (NZ) (Shamus Award). The table is headed by Impendabelle (Impending) on 15 points, courtesy of her win in the Gr.2 Soliloquy Stakes (1400m) and second placing in the Gr.1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m). Impressive 1000 Guineas winner Molly Bloom (NZ) (Ace High) is just behind her on 12 points. View the full article

Is It Me (Iffraaj) posted a dominant win at Caulfield on Saturday, backing up his impressive last-start victory and giving Celine Gaudray an early treble at Caulfield. Prepared by Daniel Bowman, the gelding, who has only finished out of the placings twice from nine starts, was subject to heavy market support prior to the 1200m Benchmark 70 and started a $2.70 favourite. Jumping from the middle alley, Gaudray positioned the four-year-old son of Iffraaj three wide with cover down the side of the course, stalking third-elect Pink Beau Ty (Brazen Beau) ($8), who gave a decent kick around the bend. But Is It Me quickly sidled up alongside and swept passed with ease, pulling away late to make it back-to-back wins. “That was perfect – Celine kept him in plenty of galloping room, let him track up behind on the back of one of the other chances in (Brian) McGrath’s, and he was too strong,” Bowman said. “He was a bit beaten for speed early back to the 1200, and just his ability midrace, when she asked him to get on the back of that horse, he did it easily, and then quickened again. “He’s got to keep learning and going through his grades, and hopefully in six months we can have some real fun.” The Warrnambool-based trainer said he would wait and see how Is It Me pulls up before deciding whether to push on this campaign or not. “We’ll just see how he comes through it,” he said. “He really knocks himself around in a race and loses a lot of weight – we just take it one run at a time when we’re this deep into the prep with him. “But it’s all fun, everyone’s happy winning races, so we’ll keep cracking if he’s up to it.” By former Haunui Farm shuttle stallion Iffraaj, Is It Me is out of the stakes-placed Peintre Celebre mare Gosh, with Bowman purchasing the smart galloper for $40,000 at the Melbourne Yearling Sale. The gelding has won four of his nine career starts, with a further three runner-up finishes. View the full article

Consistent stayer Dionysus (NZ) (Ocean Park) provided Roger James and Robert Wellwood with a positive end to a tough week when scoring a fighting victory in the Gr.3 SkyCity Hamilton Waikato Cup (2400m) on Saturday at Te Rapa. The Cambridge training partners announced the retirement of superstar mare Prowess (NZ) (Proisir) earlier in the week, but were back at the fore on Friday at Tauranga with Hastobeawinner (NZ) (Vadamos) victorious over 1400m, and headed to Te Rapa with the Cup favourite on Saturday. With the scratching of well-fancied runner Aromatic (NZ) (Sacred Falls), Dionysus became the prominent public-elect for the Cup starting a warm $2.20 favourite, with punters backing Prise De Fer (NZ) (Savabeel) on the back-up closing at $5.30. Dionysus jumped away in his typically tardy fashion, with a prepared Warren Kennedy quickly finding cover and slotting him into a comfortable position third-last in the early stages. The tempo was steady up front with Margaret Jean (NZ) (Sacred Falls) heading the field, Kennedy stalking Prise De Fer’s every move and had Dionysus travelling beautifully widest on the home turn. Looming large on the outside, Dionysus moved up to challenge Prise De Fer, and the last 200m became a three-horse war as $27 hope Coruba Jak (NZ) (Jakkalberry) threatened an upset. Kingsclere’s charge proved too strong in the final bounds to score by a ½ length, with Prise De Fer gallant under the 59kg in second and Coruba Jak gaining a Group placing finishing seven lengths ahead of the remaining runners. Kennedy regained the ride aboard the son of Ocean Park after claiming the Gr.3 Queen Elizabeth II Cup (2400m) last season, followed by a third in the Gr.3 Wellington Cup (3200m). “He went absolutely fantastic,” Kennedy said. “He’s a lovely horse and I think Roger and Robert have really brought him on the right way. He’s super fit at the moment and enjoying his racing, he can be a handful but he did everything right today, bar jumping out of the gates which he never gets right. “The race didn’t map out as I thought it would, I looked up and saw El Nymph back where I was, so I wondered where the pace would come from, but they keep a reasonable gallop all the way round. I got on the back of Prise De Fer who I thought was probably the next best, he tracked me through and this horse settled beautifully in the run, he was breathing well. “I wanted to put the horse (Prise De Fer) with the biggest weight under pressure early, so I challenged him at the top of the straight and got a bit of a lead. This horse (Dionysus) was floating around quite a bit waiting for the challenge to come, and when Prise De Fer got within a neck of me, the horse realised he had to go again and kicked on.” James was complimentary of the Cambridge trainers’ team following the victory, which couldn’t have come at better notice. “There’s no ‘I’ in team, and we’re fortunate we have a champion team behind us. Days like this reward everybody,” Roger James said. “Warren had it in his mind that he didn’t want to be snookered on the fence, he’s a class rider and he’d thought of everything we’d thought of. He rode him a treat. Now a winner of six races and over $394,000 in stakes, James indicated Dionysus will now be set to defend his crown in the Queen Elizabeth II Cup on New Year’s Day at Pukekohe, whilst holding nominations for each of the Gr.3 NZ Campus For Sport and Innovation Wellington Cup (3200m), Gr.1 Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m), and the Gr.2 Barfoot and Thompson Auckland Cup (3200m). “That’s the plan at this stage (Queen Elizabeth II Cup), but as always we’ll take him home and make certain he’s okay before we move on.” Bred by Sir Patrick and Lady Justine Hogan, Dionysus was purchased for $45,000 by James and Wellwood out of Cambridge Stud’s Book 1 draft at the 2019 Karaka Yearling Sales, for prominent owners Ron and Fran Dixon. “Ron was my first ever owner, he loves his racing and he’s been fortunate enough to have a lot of good horses along the way. Hopefully this is not his last.” View the full article

Handy stayer Commander Harry (NZ) (Reliable Man) returned to the winner’s circle for the first time in more than 800 days when winning the Quayclean Handicap (2000m) at Caulfield under a perfect Jamie Mott ride. These days prepared by Ciaron Maher and David Eustace, the five-year-old gelding hadn’t won since breaking maiden ranks over 1450m at Kilmore in September 2021 when trained by Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young. The son of Reliable Man finished runner-up in the Gr.2 Moonee Valley Vase (2040m) won by Forgot You (NZ) (Savabeel) and campaigned against a number of likely types in his Classic season including placings behind the likes of Jungle Magnate (NZ) (Tarzino) and Detonator Jack (NZ) (Jakkalberry). Fast-forward two seasons, and the SCT Syndications-raced galloper relished the strong tempo set in Saturday’s contest to prevail by a length and a quarter. Stable representative Jack Turnbull said the variety of facilities at the disposal of the Ciaron Maher Racing team played a key role in the return to form, including the Fingal base on the Mornington peninsula. “It has been a long-time coming. It is well-documented he has been through nearly every set-up we have. He currently lives at Fingal and full-credit to the team down there,” Turnbull said. “He has been doing a lot of jumping and a lot of alternative work. He doesn’t actually gallop a lot these days. He does a lot of bowling and surging work out there and it seems to be working. “Typically, we would bring them in once or twice a week to speed-up on grass but horses like him are educated and they don’t need to be worked at speed. They do a lot of half-pace and three-quarter pace work at Fingal which is left-handed and right-handed and we have just recently set-up a few jumping and schooling arenas. “It is effective and we’re learning and we are seeing him put it into practice with Track Kat (Head of Ciaron Maher Racing’s Sports Science Katrina Anderson, or Track Kat, as she is more commonly known in racing circles) who likes to pioneer that.” Turnbull admitted Commander Harry was the beneficiary of the strong tempo set by free-going import Blue Cup (Kendargent). “The race was set-up for him today with Blue Cup running along but to the horse’s credit he kept galloping,” Turnbull said. “I think he will get a solid ten furlongs like he did today and maybe even a mile and a half now that he is a bit more seasoned and more mature. “A big thanks to the patient ownership group that is here today, including Stephen and Tash at SCT Syndications, it is a great result.” By Westbury Stud sire Reliable Man, Commander Harry is out of the Zabeel mare Our Josephina (NZ) was bred by Greg Perry’s Greenwich Stud. Raised at Michelle Norman and Dave Keenan’s Kilmore Farm in Matamata, Commander Harry was a $50,000 purchase at the 2020 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run Sale by Busuttin and Young. View the full article

Racing witnessed an unforgettable moment as Damien Oliver produced a miracle to win his final race in the saddle. View the full article

Jockey believes the John Size-trained youngster has what it takes to make it three wins from three starts on Sunday when he steps up to 1,200mView the full article

Rider Penalties L Allpress | Hawke’s Bay 13 December; careless riding; suspended 24-28 December inclusive. L Sutherland | Hawke’s Bay 13 December; careless riding; suspended 21-24 December inclusive. R Elliot | Hawke’s Bay 13 December; medical clearance required. W Kennedy | Tauranga 15 December; careless riding; suspended 25-30 December inclusive. J Kamaruddin | Manawatu 16 December; use of whip (2 charges); suspended 27 December – 6 January inclusive and fined $400. C Butler | Manawatu 16 December; use of whip; suspended 25-30 December inclusive. Horse Penalties ANELA | Waikato 16 December; hock injury; veterinary clearance required. STIPULATOR | Manawatu 16 December; very slow to jump; must complete trial. HENLEY | Southland 16 December; lame; veterinary clearance required. The post 11-17 December 2023 appeared first on RIB. View the full article

A commanding victory in Saturday’s Gr.2 Cal Isuzu Stakes (1600m) at Te Rapa completed a rare fillies and mares’ feature double for Campionessa (NZ) (Contributer). The Te Akau Racing mare became only the fourth horse to win the Gr.2 Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1400m) and the Cal Isuzu in the same season, joining Just Apollo (1995), Calveen (2004) and Ruud Van Slaats (2008). Campionessa was bought by David Ellis in Australia as a yearling in 2019, and her 26-start career has now produced nine wins, eight placings and more than $677,000 in stakes for the Te Akau Campionessa Syndicate. “She’s come back from a short freshen-up in fantastic form,” said Sam Bergerson, who trains the six-year-old in partnership with Mark Walker. “She’s back in the groove. “She was aided by a fantastic ride from Opie (Bosson), who got her into a lovely spot. She relaxed beautifully, was presented at the right time and was strong to the line.” Campionessa was runner-up in two Group One races last season, chasing home Sharp ‘N’ Smart (NZ) (Redwood) in the Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m) and Prowess (NZ) (Proisir) in the New Zealand Stakes (2050m). Now the Contributer mare’s connections are keen to try to go one better, with the Gr.1 Zabeel Classic (2050m) on Boxing Day firmly in their sights. “It’s all systems go for the Zabeel Classic now,” Bergerson said. “As long as she comes through today well, we’ll press on for that. Going up to 2000m will be ideal for her and she finished so strongly today, so all being well, she should be bang on.” Saturday’s Cal Isuzu was viewed as a two-horse race, with Campionessa facing off against the well-credentialled Pencarrow Stud homebred Pearl Of Alsace (NZ) (Tavistock). But from the moment the gates opened, it was all Campionessa. Wearing blinkers for the first time, Pearl Of Alsace was slow to leave the starting gates and settled near the tail of the field behind a pedestrian tempo. Her task was an uphill one from the outset, and it was close to insurmountable by the time she reached the home straight. In contrast, Campionessa landed in third behind Pride Of Aspen (Pride of Dubai) and Madame Le Fay (Smart Missile). Bosson settled the six-year-old into a smooth rhythm, and she cruised up to the turn breathing down the necks of the first pair and poised to pounce. Bosson released the brakes soon after straightening, and the race was all over within a few powerful bounds. Campionessa exploded away with a quality turn of foot, and by the time she reached the finish line, she was still two lengths clear of the strong-finishing Zaila (Street Boss) and Polygon (NZ) (Highly Recommended). “We got into a good spot and she travelled beautifully throughout the race,” Bosson said. “Mark and Sam have done a great job with this mare. She lost her mojo there for a little bit, but that win in the Auckland Breeders’ Stakes the other day gave her a lot of confidence. “Even in her trackwork, she’s been stepping up and really wanting to do it. Today she came out and showed how good she is. “This was a perfect trial for the Zabeel Classic. She’s on the way up, full of confidence and you can’t knock her on that win today.” Campionessa is now rated a $3 chance in the TAB’s fixed-odds market for the Zabeel Classic at Pukekohe, sharing favouritism with Aegon (NZ) (Sacred Falls). Aquacade (NZ) (Dundeel) is the third favourite at $6, followed by One Bold Cat (NZ) (The Bold One) ($8) and Desert Lightning (NZ) (Pride of Dubai) ($10). View the full article

Six-year-old gelding Piaggio (NZ) (Vespa) landed a breakthrough metropolitan victory for trainer Greg Eurell when successful at Caulfield on Saturday in the Millennium Services Group Handicap (1600m). Ridden by Celine Gaudray, Piaggio sat outside eventual runner-up Montather (Dubawi) for the majority of the contest, before pulling away from his rivals inside the final furlong to score by half a length. A son of Vespa, Piaggio commenced his career with trainers Johno Benner and Hollie Wynyard in New Zealand, where he placed in the Gr.3 Taranaki Classic (1200m) as a two-year-old before being sold to Hong Kong. After five unsuccessful performances in Hong Kong where he raced as Good Health, Piaggio was sent to Eurell, where he has returned to form, winning three of his nine starts for the Cranbourne conditioner, with a further three placings. “It was a bonus what he did (when finishing second) first-up this time in over 1400m. He was up for the fight and probably indicated from that run that he was heading in the right direction to have a good prep,” Eurell said. “There is not a lot of him. He is only a little horse, but he has got a big heart. “I think a mile is probably the optimum trip at this stage but a bit deeper into the prep he might get over a little bit further but we will sit around the 1600m for now. “It’s his second preparation with us and the horse is absolutely enjoying life and we are happy to keep racing him. Being in Hong Kong didn’t really suit him and he is happy to be here.” Piaggio is out of the two-win Scaredee Cat mare Sand’ior (NZ) and was bred by South Canterbury breeders Sue and Stuart McGiffert, who sold the now gelding as a yearling for $8,000 at the 2019 Karaka Book 3 Sale. View the full article

Move To Strike (I Am Invincible) provided jockey Opie Bosson with a memorable result on Saturday when winning at Te Rapa. The Te Akau Racing-trained two-year-old provided Bosson with his 2000th domestic win and in doing so became the eighth to achieve the feat and joined, in order of most wins, Chris Johnson, David Walsh, Lance O’Sullivan, Noel Harris, Bill Skelton, Michael Coleman, and David Peake. Beautifully drawn in barrier one, Move To Strike was positioned fifth by Bosson before angling clear in the straight and produced a huge finish to win as he liked by four and three-quarter lengths. “I knew he was the horse I could get it on today and to do it in these colours for David (Ellis) and the whole Te Akau team is an extra bonus,” said Bosson, who earlier this year was inducted into the New Zealand Racing Hall of Fame and became an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit (ONZM) in the King’s Birthday Honours List. “To hit any milestone in a career is good and to join an elite club of 2000 wins in New Zealand, so I’m quite honoured.” Bosson won his first race in 1995, first Group One aboard Jezabeel (NZ) (Zabeel) on 1 January 1998 in the Auckland Cup (3200m) at Ellerslie, who subsequently won the 1998 Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m). Top jockey Opie Bosson with his family. Photo: Trish Dunell The six-time Champion Jockey rode his 1000th winner in 2010, surpassed Hall of Fame legend Lance O’Sullivan (62 Group One wins) in 2019, now has 94 Group One wins to his credit, and won three premierships. “I’ve won Caulfield Cups, Derbies, but Imperatriz, what she’s done lately is up there with my highest achievements,” Bosson added. “It seems everything has happened at the same time, and to be honoured for my achievements in the saddle is really quite humbling.” Co-trainer Mark Walker was thrilled to be a part of Bosson’s 2000th domestic win and recalled the jockey’s early days in the saddle. “This will give Opie a good thrill and he’s just had such an amazing career, for someone that’s struggled with his weight,” said co-trainer Mark Walker. “I remember he won his first race when he was 16 years old and he had a postage stamp for a saddle, and full credit to him still to be in the saddle after all these years. And of late, Emily (Bosson) has to take a lot of credit as well. “It was good to do it on such an exciting horse, as well. Opie has thought a lot of this horse for quite some time. Walker suggested Move To Strike may next contest the Gr.2 Eclipse Stakes (1200m) on 1 January at Pukekohe, while also on the radar is the A$2m Gr.1 Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) on Saturday 24 February at Caulfield, Melbourne. View the full article

Promising mare Zecora (NZ) (Power) made a welcome return to the winner’s enclosure at Te Rapa when she stormed home out wide to secure a thrilling victory in the Gr.3 J Swap Sprint (1400m). The six-year-old mare looked to have any amount of ability when winning three of her first nine starts before a fractured cannon bone intervened and saw her spend over a year away from the track for trainers, breeders and part-owners Russell and Robyn Rogers. A quiet run for second in a 1000m trial at Taupo last month preceded her return to racing at Te Rapa earlier in the month, where she battled on nicely to finish midfield over 1100m. That fitted her nicely for her stakes mission and she didn’t disappoint in the hands of Lynsey Satherley who was content to sit back off a hot speed in the early stages of the contest. Satherley began to wind her up at the 600m and she produced an irresistible late burst to snatch victory from runner-up Tevere (NZ) (Contributer) by a nose at the line with race favourite Romancing The Moon (NZ) (El Roca) fighting strongly for third just a neck from the first two. Robyn Rogers sported a smile a mile wide as she spoke about the winning effort as well as the injury that kept the mare away from racing. “I thought she ran second and we were stoked with that as it was a huge run, so when they said she had won it was just so exciting,” Rogers said. “She is a beautifully bred mare and her form was outstanding but she had her last bit of work at this time last year when we were preparing for a stakes race on Boxing Day and she pulled up sore. “We had her x-rayed and she had fractured a canon bone, so that was the end of that and we thought it might be the end of her career. “She had three rods and plates put in it, but she was an awesome patient and coped with the rehab. “This was very much a roll of the dice as we were thinking if we could get some black-type it would be huge for her and with the race being just down the road we gave it a crack and it is just amazing.” Rogers wasn’t sure where the mare would go next as they had been concentrating exclusively on her immediate mission. “She is just so tough and Lynsey is a huge part of it as she rides her in all her trackwork,” she said. “She is not the easiest but she gives 120 percent. “I don’t know where she will go next and we hadn’t even looked anywhere else so we will have to go home and have a rethink.” Bred by the Rogers under their Kendayla Park banner, Zecora is out of the two-race winner C’est la Vie (NZ) (Anabaa), a sister to Gr.1 Railway Handicap (1200m) Imananabaa and has now won four of her 10 starts and over $166,000 in prizemoney. View the full article

In-form jockey rides Patch Of Theta in a 1,000m sprint on Sunday when the most expensive lot at this year’s local auction makes his competitive bowView the full article

In her first start in more than nine months Midnight Memories asked for just a bit more patience from her connections ahead of her winning move in the $100,000 Bayakoa Stakes (G3) Dec. 15 at Los Alamitos Race Course.View the full article

Jockey looks to build on his 11 wins this season with seven rides at the New Territories track on SundayView the full article

The sixth WTBOA (Washington Thoroughbred Breeders and Owners Association) Stallion Season Auction is now open for bidding through Friday, Dec. 22 at 11 p.m. ET. No fewer than 83 different stallions and sires representing Kentucky, California, Florida, Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania, Texas, Oregon and Washington are in this year's mix. Click here to see the complete list of stallion seasons offered. The post WTBOA Stallion Season Auction Now Live appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Sarah O’Reilly carries New Zealand’s hopes going into the final heat of the 1Equine Australasian Young Drivers’ Championship (AYDC) at Albion Park in Brisbane tonight. The leading Kiwi junior is third equal after nine heats on 64 points with Joshua Gallgher, but within striking distance of the two leaders Angus Garrard (80 points) and Emily Suvaljko (73). O’Reilly had two fourths in heats eight and nine at Redcliffe last night. Tonight’s final heat is part of Inter Dominion Grand Final night at Albion Park and is due to go at 7.49pm. O’Reilly will drive Luxury Lad, who’s currently at $26 on the fixed odds. The points table (after nine of 10 heats) : Angus Garrard 80 Emily Suvaljko 73 Joshua Gallagher 64 Sarah O’Reilly (NZ) 64 James Herbertson (63) Corey Johnson (58) Mitch Ford (58) Leonard Cain (45) Zev Meredith (NZ) 44 Crystal Hackett (NZ) 40 View the full article

The single day Tattersalls Cheltenham December Sale came to a close with 15 lots selling for over £100,000, two lots over £300,000 and a top price of £335,000 for lot 8, Tumuch (Fr) (Buck's Boum {Fr}). After an impressive showing in his debut maiden at Lingstown where he posted an authoritative victory, Tumuch proved a hot commodity as bidding sailed through the ranks with Robbie Power, Tom Malone, Gordon Elliott, and Mouse O'Ryan putting up a spirited battle for the 4-year-old with the last coming out successful. “He is a lovely horse, he is a well-made horse, who won well. He was very eye-catching. We had seen him in January, and we were waiting for him to run,” said O'Ryan. “We are building up a big team of young horses and they are starting to come to fruition. We have bought a Gold Cup horse out of the point-to-point field–we have only had one, but we'd like another!” Out of the Maille Pistol dual-winning mare Pistol Girl, a half-sister to the dam of the Grade 2 winner and Grade 1-placed Sir Valentino (Fr) (Early March {GB}), Tumuch was sold by the 2021 Tattersalls Cheltenham December top consignor Ballycrystal Stables. Wildcard entry Port Joulain (Fr) (Cokoriko {Fr}), consigned by Denis Murphy of Ballyboy Stables as Lot 20, was the second highest price on the evening, bringing £300,000 from Harold Kirk. He hails from the family of 11-time Grade 1 winner Apple's Jade (Fr). The purchaser said: “He is going to Willie's; he was my pick of the sale. I love the sire, he gets the most winners in France. Apple's Jade is in the pedigree, and I love this horse as an individual. I think he has got loads of class.” Third highest price on the sale was Belliano (GB) (Black Sam Bellamy {Ire}), lot 18 out of G3 Prix de Flore victress Miliana (Ire), who was bought by Tom Malone and Paul Nicholls for £255,000. This is also the family of G1 Galway Hurdle-placed Mirpour (Ire). Sustained demand saw the flagship sale produce an aggregate of £3,448,000, a best-ever average of £104,485-up 15 per cent and the first time it has achieved a six-figure sum–and a record median of £85,000, up 26 per cent from last season. The seven Tattersalls Jockey Club Sales held in 2023 achieved a new record for annual aggregate with a turnover of £20,965,500. The post Tattersalls Cheltenham December Concludes Record-Breaking Year appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Hastings Racecourse staged four Friday Nights Under the Lights race cards in 2023 with each of them attracting enthusiastic crowds and noticeable increased wagering both on and off track.View the full article

For most farms it is enough just to be introducing one new stallion to the market in a season. For Nurlan Bizakov's Sumbe, that task is multiplied by three as the Normandy-based operation launches homebred Belbek (Fr) and Angel Bleu (Fr) at the same time as relaunching Mishriff (Ire) after a false start. It is unlikely that anyone has forgotten Mishriff but the stallion business is a fickle game. A misplaced kick to the wall of his stable at Haras de Montfort & Préaux at the beginning of the year left the multiple Group 1 winner with a foot injury which meant he was unable to start his new job in February. Instead, his covering debut will take place in February 2024. Last week in Deauville, he was on show with all five Sumbe stallions at Clairefontaine racecourse, enabling breeders to call in while at nearby Arqana. They won't have been disappointed by what they saw. Mishriff, always a fine-looking horse in his days in training, has developed into a truly imposing specimen during his year of leisure. To this beholder, he comes very close to being a textbook example of a Thoroughbred. “Mishriff, as everybody knows, had a setback last year,” says Sumbe manager Tony Fry. “It seems such a long time ago now that he won the Prix du Jockey Club. He won on turf, dirt. There was a few races that he was unlucky in, but he was a true world champion.” Fry notes that Mishriff is 1.66 metres tall – that's 16.3hh in old money – and it is easy to believe that breeders are renewing their initial interest in the horse, especially with his fee now reduced a little to €17,500 from what would have been his opening mark of €20,000. Mishriff remains the sole Group 1 winner for his sire Make Believe (GB). On his top line he traces back through Makfi (GB) to Dubawi (Ire), the horse who became such an effective conduit for the blood of Mr. Prospector on this side of the Atlantic, ensuring that his ill-fated sire Dubai Millennium (GB) could at least be remembered in stallion terms as a one-crop wonder. Underneath, Mishriff's family holds equally lofty claims to greatness. Bred by his owner Prince A A Faisal, he is a member of the family which has stood Nawara Stud in ample stead over the years. His dam Contradict (GB), by the increasingly useful broodmare sire Raven's Pass, fell just short of gaining black type herself but she has bred three black-type earners, with Mishriff, her third foal, way out in front. Contradict is out of the Group 3 winner Acts Of Grace (Bahri), making her a granddaughter of the G1 Prix de Diane winner Rafha (GB) (Kris {GB}). The latter's success at stud has by now far outstripped her Classic credentials on the track, and through her sons Invincible Spirit (Ire) and Kodiac (GB) especially, her imprint can be found in reams of modern-day racehorses. Mishriff makes his debut alongside a horse who has a special place in he heart of his owner: Belbek, a son of Showcasing (GB). His dam, the Makfi (GB) mare Bee Queen (GB), was purchased from Juddmonte and, as a granddaughter of Banks Hill (GB), represents one of that operation's key families. “He's a Sumbe homebred, so that gives him the pride of place,” says Mathieu Le Forestier, the former trainer who joined Sumbe last year. “It's very meaningful that the first stallion that we bred here in France in our first year here joins the roster as an exciting prospect. “He's been a champion two-year-old. And what's very interesting about him is that he started off in April, he was the first runner from André Fabre's yard. And even before the summer, he won the Prix du Bois. He clicked off fractions in the upper level of what's been seen in the last decade in France in this specific race. He went all through the year and picked up the crown in the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardère, which is obviously an important race in the stallion business.” He continues, “He's been around all year at three and he eventually bowed out with a nice Group 3 win, beating horses of Group 1, Group 2 level, older horses. So it's a good starting point for a future stallion. He comes from one of the deepest families in Europe and is the close relative of 12 other Group 1 winners.” Tony Fry adds, “Belbek is a Juddmonte-bred through and through. Showcasing was Juddmonte and Bee Queen was Juddmonte. So, thank you to Juddmonte. “You can't make somebody use your stallion. All you can do is show them and say, 'Here they are. What do you think?' And people can stand in front of you for ten minutes and pick out faults and positives and whatever. But he's an exceptionally good-looking horse, a nice-moving horse with a great disposition. He took his racing well, he took everything well. And the mare is a very kind mare as well. She's just one of those sweetheart mares. And again, she'll always be special to us for providing Nurlan with his first Group 1 winner. So we're very hopeful. We'll send a good selection of mares to him, as we have with all our stallions. You can't ask people to use them unless you believe in them and follow it through yourselves.” Sumbe has somewhat cornered the market in winners of the G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagradère as joining Belbek is the previous year's victor Angel Bleu, who should be a valuable addition to the French stallion ranks. Though he went off to be trained in England by Ralph Beckett, the son of Dark Angel (Ire) was bred in France by Pan Sutong at Ecurie des Monceaux, and he recorded his two most significant wins there in the Jean-Luc Lagardère followed by the G1 Criterium International. His other five wins included the G2 Vintage S. and, at four, the G2 Celebration Mile and Listed Spring Trophy for Marc Chan and Andrew Rosen. Though they both won France's major two-year-old contest for colts, Belbek and Angel Bleu are very different types, with the latter a smaller and more compact individual than the tall Belbek. “He's 1.61 metres, a deep horse with a strong neck and very strong shoulder,” says Le Forestier of the dapple grey Angel Bleu. “He really looks to be the early-maturing, strong, sturdy type that may be very appealing to breeders.” Adding a bit of oomph to a decent race record is the fact that Angel Bleu's dam, Cercle De La Vie (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), is a full-sister to the Group 1-winning stallions Highland Reel (Ire) and Idaho (Ire) from the family of the top Australian broodmare Circles Of Gold (Aus) (Marscay {Aus}), who in turn produced the stallions Haradasun (Aus) and Elvstroem (Aus). While the first books for the trio are being drawn up, there is also the anticipation next season of the first runners for Sumbe's G1 Commonwealth Cup-winning stallion Golden Horde (Ire), who, as a son of the G1 July Cup winner Lethal Force (Ire), also represents the Dark Angel sire-line. Then there's De Treville (GB), who doesn't have quite the same lofty race record but has the distinction of being the first foal of the great Dar Re Mi (GB) (Singspiel {Ire}). A dual winner, he managed Group 3 placings on three occasions, and the stallion's family has been given a major boost by his high-flying half-brother Too Darn Hot (GB), both on the track and through the exploits of his first crop of runners in 2023. “We try our best to address every segment of the market,” says Le Forestier. “We have De Treville at entry level and then up to Mishriff at the top end. We have sprinters, we have middle-distance horses.” Tony Fry, who started his association with Nurlan Bizakov in England as manager of Hesmonds Stud, has seen plenty of change during his tenure. He says, “It's been 13 years now. When we started, it was six mares that we bought in December back in 2010. And now we're up to 55 mares, new stallions and two farms in France and still a farm in England. We have Haras de Montfort & Préaux and Haras du Mézeray in France, and Hesmonds in England. Montfort is the stallion station and we board mares here. Mézeray is more Nurlan's private farm, and we take in boarders there as well. They're only six kilometres apart.” He continues, “I remember we were we were driving out of Hesmonds one day and he said, 'One day I'd like to to buy a farm in France.' And I said, 'I hope you do. If you do, it means you enjoying the industry. It means you're having success. It means you want to expand.' So that was 12 years ago and it did happen. He still enjoys it. As we all know, with horses, there's plenty of downsides. It's normally more bad news than good news. But he's taken the bad news. We move on and he still wants to succeed and breed Group 1 winners, be in Group 1 races, be in the best races. So the ambition is still there.” Bizakov's ambition is plain to see, not least in naming Sumbe after his birthplace in Kazakhstan. The operation took on its first major sponsorship earlier this year when backing the G1 Prix Morny and the entire undercard on one of Deauville's major summer Sundays. “The long-term plan is to establish it as a top-tier brand,” says Le Forestier. “First of all, the boss sees himself as a breeder, and every venture he makes into the business is breeding-orientated. He has a very long-term view about things and it impacts everything in the company, be it horses in training or stallions. For instance, when we take in a new stallion prospect, the first client, the first user of the stallion would be Mr Bizakov himself. We're trying our best to make people understand that the brand is a multi-dimensional operation and that we stand behind our customers in the stallion business because we are our primary customers.” The post ‘We Stand Behind Our Customers’: Sumbe Launches Three New Stallions appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

In this continuing series, we take a look ahead at US-bred and/or conceived runners entered for the upcoming weekend at the tracks on the Japan Racing Association circuit, with a focus on pedigree and/or performance in the sales ring. Here are the horses of interest for this Saturday running at Chukyo Racecourse. The weekend feature comes up on Sunday at Hanshin with the running of the G1 Asahi Hai Futurity, where the US-conceived and Japanese-foaled Jantar Mantar (Jpn) (Palace Malice) tries to run his record to three wins from three starts. Read our preview here: Saturday, December 16, 2023 5th-CKO, ¥13,720,000 ($97k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1800m WET SEASON (c, 2, Mendelssohn–Season Maker, by Pioneerof the Nile) is out of a daughter of Seasons Greetings (Ire) (Ezzoud {Ire}), a stakes winner and placed three times at group level in France, but better known as the dam of Grace Hall (Empire Maker), winner of the GI Spinaway S. and runner-up in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies in 2011; as well as G1 Prix Ganay runner-up Wren's Day (Medaglia d'Oro). This colt's half-brother Hardwired (Hard Spun) won two of his first three starts, including his debut, and was most recently unplaced in Group 3 competition. B-Godolphin (KY) INDICATOR (JPN) (c, 2, Liam's Map–Ice Cream Silence, by Street Sense) is the first Japanese-foaled starter for his dam, upset winner of the 2013 GIII Doubledogdare S. at Keeneland for G. Watts Humphrey and Rusty Arnold and later sold to J S Company for $70,000 with this colt in utero at the 2020 Keeneland November sale. Having been foaled Feb. 21, 2021, Indicator took his spot in the ring for the JRHA Select Sale about five months later and was hammered down for ¥19 million ($172,173). B-Okada Stud The post Mendelssohn Colt Favored At First Asking at Chukyo appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Caravel, winner of the 2022 Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (G1T) at Keeneland, has been retired from racing and will be bred next year to Justify, according to the racing manager for one of her owners.View the full article

By Michael Guerin Kyle Austin is heading back to The Coast to try and win the Westport Cup his best ever pacer couldn’t. Austin trained Live On Legend to win the feature pace, the Betavet Mobile Pace, at Addington on Friday night, the four-year-old leading throughout in the hands of Blair Orange to beat a brave Fernetti. “Blair’s drive was a big help, he drove him perfectly,” says Austin of the 26.4 second last 400m quarter that secured him the win. It was Live On Legend’s fourth win and a good training performance from Austin as he hadn’t raced since mid-September. Now the Canterbury trainer, who only works three before his day job as a sign writer, says Living On Legend will head to Westport on Boxing Day. “I have had a couple of goes at winning it and finished second with Buster Brady,” he remembers when his future open class horse went down by a nose to Bronze Over in 2016. Buster Brady went on to win the second day and Austin says Live On Legend will get his shot at both days but then skip Reefton and chase another Cup at Nelson. As good as Live On Legend was his effort was challenged for performance of the night by Eurostyle in the main trot. The Derek and Adele Jones-trained Eurostyle sat parked for much of the 1980m to record her fourth career win in the hands of Kimberly Butt and she has the scope and speed to make an open class mare with another year of strengthening. View the full article

By Michael Guerin Jeremy Young never stopped believing in Lady Of The Light. Not when she went nine starts without winning a race last year. Not when she was beaten by Aardie’s Express in the Breeders Stakes a week ago. Not even when she drew the outside of the front line in the $110,000 Woodlands Stud Queen Of Hearts last Monday. And as it turns out, Young was right. His big, beautiful stable star turned a bad draw into good by using it as the surprise factor in the Alexandra Park Group 1 on Friday night, driver Maurice McKendry launching the mare to cross polemarker Manhattan. McKendry kept the speed on just enough on the Lady Of The Light before she rolled home her last 800m in 55.7 seconds to beat the late surging Lifes A Beach, with Manhattan third after trailing and not pacing cleanly on the last bend. The shock of the race was Aardie’s Express fading to finish eighth after having the one-one, a run well below her best. While that was a surprise to punters, Lady Of The Light’s win wasn’t to her Pukekohe trainer Young. “She is a very good mare and we decided at lunch time today to have a crack early,” says Young. “She is so genuine and loves being in front because she is a great stayer.” Young says while this rates alongside Best Western’s win for him in the Great Northern Oaks, it was even more emotional because of the large group of owners. “They are a great bunch,” said Young as the owners serenaded him with a There-Is-Only-One-Jeremy-Young chant. It was a scene rarely seen in the Alexandra Park stabling area and Young summed it up well. “This is what racing is all about, we could do with more of this at Alexandra Park.” Young says while he thinks Lady Of The Light can eventually become a New Zealand Cup horse his main aim for now will be the big Addington mares’ races, including the Group 1 NZ Breeders Stakes she finished second in earlier this year. Her win was matched for merit earlier in the night by trotter Dream Of You, who returned with a super win in the $50,000 Thames Members Handicap Trot. In his first start since July 28 he blasted past Dominion placegetter Resolve, trotting his last 800m in 57.1 seconds in a huge effort considering trainer Derek Balle thought he might need a run. Dream Of You has matured into a near foolproof trotter and as only a four-year-old he could be around in the top grade for a few seasons. The other highlight of the night was Miki Shan winning the Thames Goldfields Summer Cup, leading throughout to win the standing start contest for trainer Maurice McKendry, giving him the feature pacing race double. View the full article

Trainer Bob Baffert won seven consecutive editions of the GII Los Alamitos Futurity until that streak ended two years ago. The Hall of Famer will have half the field when Wynstock (Solomini), Coach Prime (Quality Road) and GSP Wine Me Up (Vino Rosso) line up for his barn on Saturday. Coach Prime was a $1.7 million Keeneland September yearling, and began to pay back owner Zedan last out with a 7 1/4-length win at Del Mar Nov. 10, earning him the status of 'TDN Rising Star'. As for his stablemates, Wynstock broke his maiden by roughly the same margin as Coach Prime in what was his third attempt Oct. 15 at Santa Anita. While Wine Me Up returns after finishing second in the GI American Pharoah S. and then running eighth in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile, both at Santa Anita. Last year, trainer Tim Yakteen won the Futurity with Practical Move (Practical Joke) and he is back again, this time with debut winner Moonlit Sonata (Malibu Moon). The bay colt came from off the pace to win by 2 1/2 lengths at Del Mar Nov. 25. Rounding out the field is Doug O'Neill trainee Ace of Clubs (Mor Spirit) and Stronghold (Ghostzapper). The latter is a homebred trained by Phil D'Amato who was a well-beaten runner-up to 'TDN Rising Star' Nysos (Nyquist) in the GIII Bob Hope S. at the seaside oval Nov. 19. The post ‘TDN Rising Star’ Coach Prime High Steps Into Los Alamitos Futurity appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article