Wandering Eyes

Looking for the first graded win of his career, Cugino (Twirling Candy–Adorable Miss, by Kitten's Joy) lived up to his odds and checked a higher-level score off his list in the GII Red Smith Stakes at the Big A on Sunday. As the even-money choice here, Cugino tracked Common Defense (Karakontie {Jpn}) from the start and remained as a tracker through the far turn. Shaken loose by the hot-riding Flavien Prat, the 4-year-old went to work down the lane and got up to get the money. Common Defense was the runner-up. The final running time was 2:17.13. Lifetime Record: 13-6-4-0. Sales History: $225,000 '22 KEESEP. O-West Point Thoroughbreds and Jimmy Kahig LLC; B-Gage Hill Stables, LLC & W. S. Farish (KY); T-Claude R. McGaughey III. Flavien Prat gets his SIXTH win on the card in the Grade 2 Red Smith Stakes with CUGINO for trainer Shug McGaughey. pic.twitter.com/1XxkfayCBH — NYRA () (@TheNYRA) November 2, 2025 Sunday, Belmont at the Big A RED SMITH S.-GII, $242,500, Belmont The Big A, 11-2, 3yo/up, 1 3/8mT, 2:17.13, fm. 1–CUGINO, 124, c, 4, by Twirling Candy 1st Dam: Adorable Miss (MSW, $162,590), by Kitten's Joy 2nd Dam: Money Huntress, by Mineshaft 3rd Dam: Favorite Funtime, by Seeking the Gold 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. ($225,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP). O-West Point Thoroughbreds and Jimmy Kahig LLC; B-Gage Hill Stables, LLC & W. S. Farish (KY); T-Claude R. McGaughey III; J-Flavien Prat. $137,500. Lifetime Record: 13-6-4-0, $761,410. *1/2 to Battle of Normandy (City of Light), GSW, $643,195; 1/2 to Veronica Greene (Tapit), SP, $195,500. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. 2–Common Defense, 122, c, 4, Karakontie (Jpn)–Allusion, by Street Cry (Ire). ($9,000 RNA Wlg '21 KEENOV). O-David A. Bernsen LLC, Tony Holmes, Michael Holmes, Leo Dooley, and Sarah Dooley; B-Tony Holmes, Norevale Farm & Union Dale (KY); T-Kenneth G. McPeek. $50,000. 3–Desvio, 126, g, 4, Yoshida (Jpn)–Fitzrovia, by Uncle Mo. ($60,000 Ylg '22 KEEJAN; $70,000 Ylg '22 FTKOCT). O-Bonnie Rye Stable and Stonelea Stable; B-Eliza St George & Lee Mauberret (KY); T-Madison F. Meyers. $30,000. Margins: NO, 2, 2HF. Odds: 1.18, 4.92, 10.37. Also Ran: Fleetfoot (Ire), Limited Liability. Scratched: Dancin in Da'nile. Click for the Equibase.com chart or the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. The post Twirling Candy’s Cugino Earns First Graded Win In Red Smith At Aqueduct appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Super Simple (Super Saver), the dam of GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies heroine Super Corredora (Gun Runner), has been supplemented to Book 1 of the Keeneland November sale and will go through the ring Tuesday as part of the opening day, the auction house announced Sunday afternoon. The dam is catalogued as HIP 225, and will be consigned by Denali Stud as agent for Woodford Thoroughbreds. She will be offered in foal to Gunite (Gun Runner). Super Simple is a half-sister to SW Simple Surprise (Cowboy Cal)–herself dam of the aforementioned Gunite and his full-brother GSW Spice Runner–as well as to GSP Counterspy (Gun Runner) and SP Simply Sovereign (American Pharoah). Super Simple produced a 2025 colt by Taiba this past spring. “We are incredibly excited to offer Super Simple as a supplement to the November Sale, providing the opportunity to purchase from the highly successful Woodford Thoroughbreds program,” Denali Stud vice president Conrad Bandoroff said. “Super Corredora is undefeated around two turns and was ultra-impressive when capturing the [GI] NetJets Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies. With a Breeders' Cup winner as the second foal of a 9-year-old mare, who is carrying a three-quarter sibling, the future is very bright for Super Simple.” “This is an exceptional opportunity for Keeneland's global buying bench,” said Keeneland's vice president of sales Tony Lacy. “Super Simple is very young and has already produced a Breeders' Cup winner. We're thrilled to offer her at Keeneland November on Tuesday, just days after Super Corredora's win on racing's biggest stage.” Super Simple's pedigree page will be available in the online catalogue Monday. The post Dam of Juvenile Fillies Victress Super Corredora Supplemented to Book 1 of Keeneland November appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

By Kit Gow/TTRAusNZ Swettenham Stud has announced that Frankel's exceptional Group 1-winning son Diego Velazquez will shuttle to their Nagambie operation, commencing in the 2026 breeding season. Winner of the 1600-metre G1 Prix Jacques Le Marois, just like sensational sires Dubawi and Kingman, Swettenham Stud are confident that Diego Velazquez will be a welcome addition to the Victorian stallion ranks, where he will provide breeders with unique access to the only Group 1-winning son of global super sire Frankel standing in Australia. Diego Velazquez will spend the first half of 2026 at the National Stud, where Swettenham Stud resident Toronado also began his career, before heading south to Swettenham Stud for the Southern Hemisphere breeding season. Swettenham Stud principal Adam Sangster said, “As an industry, we have all been waiting for a fast son of Frankel to stand in Australia. To purchase the most precocious son of his generation who won the stallion-making European mile was a stroke of genius from my brother Sam [Sangster]. “The [Group 1] victory certainly helped facilitate standing Diego Velazquez in Australia for Sam and his partners, as we at Swettenham are very selective in who we stand so that breeders can have the greatest chance of a return on investment. “There is a tremendous sense of family pride working together with Sam to stand Diego Velazquez. We have already discussed the mares they're supporting him with in the Northern Hemisphere and we are incredibly excited about getting behind him with some quality mares in the Southern Hemisphere.” A fee for Diego Velazquez will be announced in due course. The post Diego Velazquez to Shuttle to Swettenham Stud in 2026 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-bred horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Monday's Observations features a newcomer from the Charlie Appleby yard. 13.30 Kempton, £20,000, Mdn, 2yo, 8f (AWT) Godolphin's hitherto untested NATION'S HOPE (IRE) (Ghaiyyath {Ire}) is a half-brother to GI Saratoga Derby, G1 Grosser Dallmayr Preis, GI Canadian International and GI Arlington Million hero Nations Pride (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}). His one dozen rivals include gelded stablemate Naqada King (American Pharoah), who is a $200,000 Keeneland September half to GII Hall Of Fame victor Ready To Purrform (Kitten's Joy); and Denford Stud's homebred Leighton (GB) (Frankel {GB}), who is a son of G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud and G1 Prix Jean Romanet heroine Coronet (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), from the John and Thady Gosden stable. The post Half-Brother to Nations Pride On Deck for Kempton Debut appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Multiple graded winner and Woodbine track record-setter Arzak (Not This Time), who is retiring to New York for the 2026 breeding season, will be available for inspection at Mulholland Springs in Lexington during the Keeneland November sale, it was announced via press release. An open house will be held at the farm Tuesday, Nov. 6 from 11:30am to 1:30pm but the son of Not This Time will be available for inspection Nov. 3 to Nov. 12 by appointment with Amsterdam Two's Ken William or Michael Slezak. The address is 2245 Iron Works Pike in Lexington, KY. Arzak will stand the 2026 breeding season for a fee of $6,000, with special consideration to approved mares. To make an appointment to see Arzak, breeders should contact Williams (570-604-3657) or Slezak (917-455-0693). “Arzak is such a big, good-looking horse, and knowing how important physical is in today's market, we wanted to make sure we gave the opportunity to see him in person to breeders from Kentucky and the Midlantic region, as well as those who breed in New York but don't necessarily live there,” Williams said. “What better time and place than during Keeneland November?” “Not This Time's unprecedented hot streak throughout the fall, including Cy Fair's win in this year's GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint, has added luster to Arzak's already impressive record as a millionaire who recorded a whopping 17 Beyer speed figures of 90 or higher,” said Slezak. “But when folks see Arzak in the flesh, we really believe booking mares to him will be a no-brainer.” The post Arzak Available for Inspection During Keeneland November appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

DEL MAR, Calif — “I drank too much.” Ever the professional, even when feeling a little worse for wear, Yoshito Yahagi was at a 7.30 a.m. press call with his Breeders' Cup Classic winner Forever Young (Jpn). The latter was looking sparkier than his trainer, but then he hadn't been out late in a Mexican restaurant celebrating the LA Dodgers sealing back-to-back wins in the World Series. “I'm a bit hungover. The horse is in much better condition than me,” Yahagi admitted. An avowed fan of baseball, he unzipped his red Forever Young jacket to show his Dodgers t-shirt underneath, but the trainer's one regret was that the win of his team, which includes Japanese superstar Shohei Ohtani, took a little of the gloss off the landmark win of his own equine superstar in the Thoroughbred World Championships. “Of course, I'm really happy the Dodgers won the World Series. But on the other side, I'm sad that the Dodgers took all the news headlines, as that's like stealing from our achievement,” he said. In this bubble of the racing world, however, all the plaudits are for Susumu Fujita's tough-as-teak 4-year-old, who scrimmaged his way to third-place finishes in last year's Kentucky Derby and Breeders' Cup Classic before outgunning one of the world's best, Romantic Warrior (Ire), in February's Saudi Cup. That $20m contest is unsurprisingly on his agenda once more, with Yahagi advising that Forever Young will go straight to Riyadh without a prep run. “I think we will give him a little spell until the Saudi Cup,” he said. “Because we will try to have him in the best condition possible and he needs to recover physically. So we want to give him space to recover. “At the moment, we are already planning to go to the Saudi Cup and Dubai World Cup. We won't make any plans yet for after the Dubai World Cup. Of course, if he's fresh and he says yes, then we'll go forward after Dubai.” The trainer also dangled a tantalising carrot for race fans in Europe that Forever Young may yet be tried on grass. “If I select a turf race, I will try just one time,” he said. “So I have to select one race. Maybe the Arc, you never know.” Forever Young's old foes Sierra Leone, Fierceness and Mystik Dan are now all heading to the stallion yards of Ashford Stud and Airdrie Stud, and Yahagi said that connections would consider offers for his horse in time. As well as Forever Young's notable achievements on the track, he boasts a pedigree with broad international appeal. His sire Real Steel (Jpn), by Deep Impact (Jpn), is from the family of Miesque and is closely related to Study Of Man (Ire), who is carving out a successful stud career in Britain. Moreover, Forever Young is from the same family as his runner-up in the Classic, Sierra Leone (Gun Runner), with their respective dams Forever Darling (Congrats) and Heavenly Love (Malibu Moon) being half-sisters. “We are not ready yet,” he said of a stallion deal. “But we try to open the door for people from all over the world for the syndicate for Forever Young. So anyone interested, please knock on the door.” There is an extra sense of pride for Yahagi in having also trained the Dubai Turf winner Real Steel, who is a full-brother to his 2021 Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf winner Loves Only You (Jpn). That year he also sent out Marche Loraine (Jpn) (Orfrevre {Jpn}) to win the Distaff at Del Mar. “When I won here with Marche Loraine, I thought I had done something incredible,” Yahagi said. “But I was very sad that there wasn't much coverage in Japan. The difference between then and now is, with Forever Young winning the Classic, the whole of Japan, everyone is so happy. This is the difference between Marche Loraine's achievement and Forever Young's achievement. There is a big gap.” With career earnings in excess of $20m and Grade I wins in America and Saudi Arabia as well as his native Japan, Forever Young's popularity is spreading rapidly. He will surely now be a contender for Horse of the Year in America, even though he will leave the country on Monday. “His achievements, it's not for me as a trainer, it's for Forever Young. It's all him,” Yahagi said. “When I train the produce of horses I have trained, like Real Steel, Contrail, Mozu Ascot, and they win races it gives me the same special feeling as I have with Ryusei Sakai when he is riding winners. He's my stable jockey and now he has won the Breeders' Cup Classic. I have known him since he was a kid and when I look at how he has grown in confidence and his technique, that is what makes him a world-class jockey right now.” Yahagi attributes Forever Young's improved performance at this year's Breeders' Cup to the fact that Real Steel's offspring are “late-developing horses”. He said, “This year the biggest change in Forever Young is physical, and also his recovery. It's amazing how he has recovered in himself already. Physically, he's really built up and now we feel that he can compete with American horses.” Compete he did, on a dramatic afternoon which those of us watching won't forget in a hurry. The post ‘The Horse is in Much Better Condition Than Me’: Yoshito Yahagi on a Wild Night of Celebrations for Forever Young and the LA Dodgers appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Fully 10,000 miles from their birthplace at Tweenhills Farm and Stud, Qatar Racing homebreds Buckaroo, Middle Earth and Valiant King now face the most important two-mile test of their lives on Tuesday, with a place in history assured should one of them reach its end as a Melbourne Cup winner. From the lush paddocks of Tweenhills to the manicured turf of Flemington, it's been quite the journey, both literally and figuratively. Between them the trio amassed 27 starts in Europe – Buckaroo and Valiant King with Joseph O'Brien, Middle Earth with John and Thady Gosden – but now Australia is well and truly home, chasing the sort of bumper paydays that simply wouldn't have been available to them on home soil. Already Buckaroo has earned over A$3 million (around €1.7 million) from 19 starts in Australia. A Group 1 winner in last year's Underwood Stakes, the son of Fastnet Rock has finished placed at the top level on seven other occasions, including when flashing home to pass the post just a short head behind Via Sistina in the latest running of the A$6,000,000 Cox Plate, Australia's premier weight-for-age race. “He's been incredibly unlucky,” says David Redvers, Tweenhills owner and racing manager to Sheikh Fahad Al Thani. “He probably would have won three Group 1s with different rides, if not four. The rub of the green has gone slightly against him with poor draws and him having to come very wide and late. He's always getting there but on occasions not quite in time. “If I'm honest, I thought the 10-furlong option on the Saturday after the Melbourne Cup [the G1 Champions Stakes] was probably the more sensible option, but then he could have won a Melbourne Cup last year with a different draw and a bit of a clearer run.” Beaten less than four lengths in the 2024 edition, Buckaroo will be partnered this year by Craig Williams, who belatedly broke his Melbourne Cup duck in 2019, having been deprived of the opportunity to partner Sheikh Fahad's 2011 winner, Dunaden. “Craig should have ridden Dunaden to win the Melbourne Cup, but he got a late ban which is why Christophe Lemaire flew down,” Redvers remembers. “It would be just deserts if he could do it, but he's far from our only runner in the race – he's actually far from our best chance in the race, to be honest.” Step forward Valiant King who, like Buckaroo, joined the Chris Waller yard from O'Brien late in 2023, both of them now owned in partnership with Ozzie Kheir, among others. This time last year, Valiant King was a 90/1 shot when finishing 13th in the Melbourne Cup, most definitely not the immediate hit Down Under that was Buckaroo. Twelve months on, however, and the son of Roaring Lion appears to be peaking at just the right time, having followed his breakthrough Australian win in Flemington's G3 The Bart Cummings with a staying-on third in the G1 Caulfield Cup. “For me, he is the best handicapped horse in the race,” says a bullish Redvers. “When I saw him in July, I was frankly blown away by how he's done, physically. He actually looked the image of his father. He'd gone from being quite a shelly horse to suddenly looking very well-muscled and mature. Chris has been very, very patient with him and it's definitely paying off. “I wouldn't be worried about the ground softening up for him – in fact, it can do whatever it likes. Hopefully, he can repeat his Caulfield Cup run and get a bit of luck in running. Obviously, the favourite [Al Riffa] is a very, very good horse, but I would be optimistic that he can go two better than he did in the Caulfield.” Completing the trio of homebreds in which Sheikh Fahad retains a significant share is Buckaroo's year-younger sibling, Middle Earth, who ran easily his best race since joining Ciaron Maher when last seen finishing third in the G3 JRA Cup at Moonee Valley. “He's taken a bit of time to find his feet, but he seems to be finding them well now and the aim always was that he'd be a Melbourne Cup horse,” says Redvers. “Ciaron and his team have worked backwards from this race. “He ran in blinkers the other day [in the JRA Cup] to try and get him to cop on a little bit, because he's slightly been going through the motions, and they seemed to work the oracle. He's crying out for this extra distance, so we're very much looking forward to seeing him run. Hopefully, he can keep up the family tradition.” Certainly, it's quite the achievement for the Galileo mare Roheryn to have two runners in the Melbourne Cup, around 10 weeks after she also had two runners – Kihavah (Harbour Watch) and Siege Of Troy (Siyouni) – in Europe's richest Flat handicap, the Ebor. Just a few days before the Ebor, she also had her latest offspring, a colt by Siyouni, sell to Godolphin for €600,000 at the Arqana August Yearling Sale. “She's been phenomenal,” Redvers says of the mare he purchased for $400,000 at the 2012 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. “She won a Listed race for us with Ger Lyons and she's one of those rare things in that she's done it for us both on the track and in the breeding shed. “She has produced the goods time after time and was very worthy of being a broodmare of the year finalist [at the 2025 TBA Flat Breeders' Awards]. She didn't have a foal this year, but she's in foal to Justify and I think she'll go to Not This Time next year, so the story is very definitely still being written.” Sadly, for everyone concerned with Tweenhills and Qatar Racing, the story of Roaring Lion's stallion career was all too short, with the four-time Group 1 winner succumbing to colic after just one season at the Gloucestershire farm in 2019. From the resulting 107 foals, Middle Earth and Valiant King already feature among eight individual stakes winners for their late sire, but a Melbourne Cup victory for either of them would be something else altogether. “We've also got Saint George running on the card [in the Listed Kirin Ichiban Plate],” Redvers points out. “He is another Roaring Lion out there and the most beautiful horse, almost completely white now. He has been plagued with foot problems, but Ciaron Maher's superb farrier has now fixed them. He ran an absolute blinder at Seymour last time, in a Listed race over a mile. He's a definitely a mile-and-six-furlong horse, so we're excited to see how he progresses as he steps up in distance. We're looking for a big Roaring Lion double. “The bit that I'm personally extremely proud of is that we've got four stunning-looking runners for Melbourne Cup day and they were all bred by Qatar Racing at Tweenhills, in our little corner of Gloucestershire.” But why send these four stunning-looking horses to Australia, when they could still have been running in – and more than likely competitive in – plenty of good races back home in Europe? “With horses that obviously aren't going to become stallions, Sheikh Fahad has very much been chasing prize-money,” Redvers explains. “I suppose it all started off with Selino. We had him here with James Fanshawe and he was running third in Group 3s at Doncaster and the like and picking up 15 grand. We then sent him over to Australia where he won a Sydney Cup and, suddenly, you've got over a million coming into the bank account. The prize-money for these horses in Australia is obviously way beyond anything they could earn in a career's worth of competition here, let alone one race. “Sheikh Fahad took the view that he would sell large chunks of these horses to Australian owners to race down there. Ozzie Kheir, through Matt Houldsworth and Matt Becker, has been buying into our nice horses, as have other people. And Sheikh Fahad is very happy to keep 50% to race in Australia because of the vast prize-money – it's a policy which has paid off extremely well.” If Sheikh Fahad has a deep love affair with Australian racing, then much of that is owed to the globetrotting superstar that was Dunaden, the first flagship horse for the owner's Pearl Bloodstock, the forerunner to Qatar Racing. His Melbourne Cup victory was the middle leg of a hat-trick which also took in the G3 Geelong Cup and G1 Hong Kong Vase in 2011, before he returned to Australia to win the Caulfield Cup the following year. “He was a remarkable horse,” Redvers sums up. “It [the Melbourne Cup] was one of the most agonising photo-finish results I've ever been through, but also one of the most rewarding. I'm trying to pull together the same team that was there when Dunaden won for when we turn up on Tuesday.” He continues, “I don't think it's been touted enough just how much Dunaden did for and British and French racing–and probably Australian racing as well. It wasn't just his victories in the Geelong, Caulfield and Melbourne Cups, it was the fact that he ignited a flame in the Qataris and made them realise that they could take on the Sheikh Mohammeds and the like. “He ensured that Pearl Bloodstock turned into Qatar Racing and that a lot of investment came in through Sheikh Fahad and his brothers. For that, we should be pretty grateful to him.” The strength of one Qatari investor, in particular, was again in evidence at the recent Tattersalls Autumn Horses-in-Training Sale. Here, the shoe was on the other foot for Sheikh Fahad as he sold his G3 Darley Stakes runner-up, Gladius, to Blandford Bloodstock's Richard Brown for 950,000gns. The son of Night Of Thunder was bought on behalf of Wathnan Racing, the increasingly influential enterprise of Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the Emir of Qatar and a cousin of Sheikh Fahad. “It was bittersweet, obviously,” Redvers says of last week's sale, which also saw the operation's homebred Grade I winner New Century change hands for 390,000gns. “You hate selling good horses and seeing them go on in somebody else's colours. But we have to run Qatar Racing as a business and, as a self-funding operation, we have to generate funds through sales and moving horses to other jurisdictions to chase the prize-money. “Gladius was part of a colts' partnership that involved David Howden and China Horse Club and he was always going to be sold at the end of his three-year-old career. We would have loved to stay in him to go to Australia, but Richard Brown had picked the best horse in the sale and Wathnan wielded a big cheque. It was great to see him go to a good home. We will all be following his new career, and that of New Century, with great interest.” Whilst able to reflect on a successful sale from a business standpoint, Redvers admits to becoming “more concerned on a daily basis” when it comes to the general health of British racing, dreading to think what the European sales would have looked like without the international buyers propping them up. He says, “The cracks are being plastered over by the fact that the international market has been giving the impression that the bloodstock sales have been really strong. So many of these horses are being bought for export – you only had to look at the trade at the horses-in-training sale last week. The export of our best horses abroad, whilst great in the short term, is very damaging in the long term. “We are really struggling here and we're going to struggle as the economy continues to tank thanks to some rather dubious economic policies of the current Government. I think we're going to find domestic racehorse owners in shorter supply and the knock-on effect from that is less horses being bred for sale and to race. The whole thing has a snowball effect on field sizes. “We're racing to the bottom quite quickly, until something is done to redistribute funds from the racing product more equitably and we can put more money into prize-money.” Despite those concerns, Redvers can always find contentment in his “little corner of Gloucestershire” at Tweenhills which, among other things, is home to a stallion who has made a very promising start in the 2,000 Guineas hero Kameko. “He's looking really solid,” Redvers says of the sire whose first crop yielded the aforementioned New Century, in addition to the consistent Pattern performer Wimbledon Hawkeye. “He's making it very obvious that he can get a very good horse and what is exciting about him is the fact that, with Zoustar staying Down Under, he got the best book of mares he'd ever had last year. His foals this year were the best foals he's had to date and then the mares he covered this year was the biggest and best book he's had since his retirement to stud–the future is looking pretty rosy for him.” Kameko also delivered Tweenhills a notable result in the sales ring last year, with a full-brother to New Century being knocked down to Godolphin for 1,000,000gns at Book 2 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale. That price was a new record for a colt at Book 2, headlining the first Tweenhills consignment at any yearling sale since 2012. This year, the operation offered another 25 yearlings across Books 1, 2 and 3 at Park Paddocks, including a Kameko half-brother to the G1 Coronation Cup winner Defoe (Dalakhani), who was bought by Will Douglass Bloodstock for 250,000gns at Book 1. “It's been very rewarding for my team,” Redvers says of the return to consigning yearlings, a happy consequence of Sheikh Fahad's rationalisation of his racing interests. “Ivo Thomas and Scott Marshall, who manage Tweenhills, have been doing an amazing job. I think it's important for them and their team that they have the exposure and the interest of taking yearlings to the sales. “[This year] I think we managed to sell everything we took to the sales bar one and it was very successful. We didn't have the real bellringer that we had last year, but we had some very solid results. They were a lovely bunch across the board and they were all raised in the same paddocks as the horses that are going to be trying to win Melbourne Cups and what have you. “You never stop learning, but Tweenhills seems to be running extremely well at the moment. We farm the land very lightly and very traditionally, we've got lots of cattle and a huge amount of acres per horse – and I think it shows.” The post The Little Corner of Gloucestershire Firing Three Darts at the Race That Stops A Nation appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk Australian representative Gary Hall Junior will take a 15 point lead into the second day of the World Driving Championship at Kaikoura on Monday. On Sunday the multiple Group 1 winning driver from Perth had almost the perfect start to WDC 2025 with two wins and a second from the opening three heats. He has 44 points, with Italian Giampaolo Minnucci second on 29, and former world champion Pierre Vercruysse third on 21. New Zealand’s representative Blair Orange is sixth equal on 17 points. His best performance was a third with Ohoka Cobra in the day’s third heat. Hall was installed the outright favourite for the WDC after the fields were released for the opening day at Kaikoura and he didn’t disappoint. “Everyone told me if you are not leading after the first day they’ll be something wrong with you – so I’m pretty happy,” Hall said post race. He won the first heat comfortably when the in-form Tom Bagrie-trained Hoof It Hagrid held on from a game Rachmaninov and Granny Rose while hotpot Midnight Diamond was drawn one the second row in Heat 2 but found space early on and cruised by her rivals to win easily. It was the Ross Houghton-trained mare’s fourth win in a row. In the day’s third and final heat Hall was leading with Spirit Downunder only to be run down by Scrunch (Giampaolo Minnucci), trained by Robert and Jenna Dunn. The two wins and a second capped off a big few days for Hall after he couldn’t find his passport and was in danger of missing his flight, only to get a replacement at the very last minute. “It was the most stressful day of my life I reckon,” he says. Monday will see two more heats, Race 3, the Donegal House Heat 4 (1.20pm) and the Kaikoura ITM-sponsored Race 5 at 2.16pm The day will also feature the 100th running of the Alabar NZ Kaikoura Cup at 4.40pm. After Kaikoura’s two day meeting the WDC heads to Cambridge on Wednesday where there will be another five heats. Then it’s on to Addington on Friday (Nov 7) and Winton (Nov 9) before the grand finale on IRT New Zealand Trotting Cup day at Addington on Tuesday, November 11. Points (after 3 heats at Kaikoura) : Gary Hall Junior (Australia) 44 Giampaolo Minnucci (Italy) 29 Pierre Vercruysse ( France) 21 Santtu Raitala (Finland) 18 Brett Beckwith (USA) 18 James MacDonald (Canada) 17 Blair Orange (New Zealand) 17 Mats Djuse (Sweden) 9 Michael Nimczyk (Germany) 7 Jaap van Rijn (Netherlands) 5 Both Vercruysse (2013) and MacDonald (2017) are both previous winners of the WDC. View the full article

This year's G1 Prix de la Foret winner Maranoa Charlie has been retired from racing and will stand at Tally-Ho Stud in 2026. Trained by Christopher Head, Maranoa Charlie was beaten just once in four starts as a two-year-old, notably winning the G3 Prix Thomas Bryon at Saint-Cloud by eight lengths. “I don't think I've ever trained a horse like Maranoa Charlie, one with his desire to run and who can take the others on like that,” said Head in the aftermath of that impressive victory. “He gets better with every run and I don't know what his limits are.” The son of Wootton Bassett registered two further Group 3 successes in the first half of this year, winning the Prix Djebel at Deauville and Prix Paul de Moussac at ParisLongchamp, before ending his career with three consecutive starts at the top level. After finishing second in the Prix Jean Prat at Deauville and third in the City Of York Stakes on the Knavesmire, he then signed off with a deserved Group 1 breakthrough in the Prix de la Foret at ParisLongchamp, making virtually all to beat Zarigana (Siyouni) by a length and a quarter. Bond Thoroughbred Limited will remain as part of the ownership of Maranoa Charlie, having purchased the colt from Peter Maher, Carl Fitzgerald and John Baxter prior to his narrow defeat in the Prix Jean Prat. “Tally-Ho are one of the best studs out there and we're thrilled to be teaming up with them,” said Charlie Bond on behalf of the owners. “The eight-metre stride pattern that Maranoa Charlie has is up there with the very best and will prove the key to his progeny. “Christopher Head said from day one that he is the best he has ever trained and the data technology that Christopher uses showed that Maranoa Charlie what does at home was transferred on to the track. “He goes out at the top winning the G1 Prix de la Foret in such good fashion. By Wootton Bassett out of a Galileo mare, he's from one of the fastest lines out there that also produced champion two-year-old Tiggy Wiggy. He is a very exciting horse for the future for many breeders.” Maranoa Charlie is out of the winning Galileo mare Koubalibre, a half-sister to the G1 Cheveley Park Stakes heroine Tiggy Wiggy (Kodiac). Koubalibre, in turn, is out of a winning half-sister to the G3 Norfolk Stakes scorer Masta Plasta (Mujadil). “We are delighted to welcome such a talented horse as Maranoa Charlie to Tally-Ho,” said the Mullingar operation's Roger O'Callaghan. “With his two-year-old form and G1 record at three, he will be an excellent complement to our roster, especially being by Wootton Bassett, whose early sons to stud supplied this year's G1 winners Woodshauna and Gezora. We look forward to supporting him strongly with our broodmare band.” The post Prix de la Foret Hero Maranoa Charlie Retired to Tally-Ho Stud for 2026 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Vincent Ho Chak-yiu started his Sunday by taking part in the torch relay for the upcoming National Games and ended it with a Happy Valley winner after saluting aboard Brave Star at the city circuit. Ho was one of nine torch-bearers from the Jockey Club, with chairman Martin Liao Cheung-kong and chief executive Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges also among the contingent, and the rider carried the flame through Tsim Sha Tsui. It was Ho’s first time taking part in the relay and an experience he will...View the full article

Sometimes the best things are unexpected and that was definitely the case for trainer David Hayes as super-sub Storm Rider took out the Class Two Guangzhou Handicap (1,200m) at Happy Valley on Sunday. First reserve for the race, Storm Rider snuck into the contest at 10am on Saturday morning after Packing Bole was withdrawn, just after Hayes had already galloped his five-year-old at Sha Tin. That was no barrier to success, however, as Storm Rider was gifted the inside gate and after being smashed...View the full article

Zac Purton continued his winning ways with a treble on Sunday as Hugh Bowman, Danny Shum Chap-shing and Douglas Whyte fired in doubles at Happy Valley’s only day meeting of the season. Purton extended his lead in the jockeys’ championship to 17 wins over nearest rival Luke Ferraris when he booted home Ragnarr, Hakka Radiance and Harmony N Blessed at the city circuit. The eight-time champion Hong Kong rider produced his best ride in the opener, the Class Five Dongguan Handicap (1,200m), when he...View the full article

Local trainer Kelvin Tyler had a day out on his home track of Riverton on Sunday, training five winners including the two features with Master Marko and Prince Alby. To make the result even more impressive, Tyler and his wife Vanessa either own and part-own all five gallopers, and bred a pair of them as well. “It was a great day and I’m very appreciative of everyone involved,” Tyler said. “It’s always good to have a day like this especially at your local meeting.” After settling for second in the opener with Fourofus, he was on the board in the second event with promising mare Sight To See (NZ) (Time Test) showing her class to take out the Ricki Egerton Dagging Handicap (1400m). First up since her runner-up placing behind Loose Sally in the Listed Warstep Stakes (2000m) back in April, Sight To See was prominent through the running and strong through the line to score by 1 – ¼ lengths under apprentice Donovan Cooper. “She’s a really genuine horse, fresh-up is always a question mark but she’s quite lightly-framed and doesn’t take a lot of work,” Tyler said. “I thought she could go a good race today in the heavy track. “She tries hard which takes you a long way. We raced her in the Guineas races last year and they went a bit quick for her on the better tracks, but once we were on a heavy track in the Warstep over 2000m, that was what she was looking for and went a great race. “I think she’s a staying mare going forward so it was great to get this win out of the road.” Tyler backed that up in the following race with It’s Marlin (NZ) (Ghibellines), a nine-race maiden who led from start to finish under Floor Moerman, beating his better-backed stablemate Indie Ardie who was third. “I thought Indie Ardie would win the race to be honest, but she did a lot of work from a wide gate while Marlin was in the best place on the fence,” Tyler said. “It panned out quite well for him, he’s going to be a staying horse too I believe and just sticks on.” The first of Tyler’s topliners, Master Marko (NZ) (Contributer), started second-favourite behind Sir Sterling in the Phil Bevin Spraying Handicap (1600m) after running bravely into fifth last Saturday in the Listed Sothy’s Spring Classic (2000m) at Riccarton. The son of Contributer was keen early in the trail of Sir Sterling but eventually settled for Moerman, drawing level with the favourite in the straight and holding out the late challenge of Par Tee to win by three-quarters of a length. It was Master Marko’s ninth win in 65 starts, four of those coming whilst he was trained in Australia, as well as several top performances in stakes grade. “I couldn’t believe what he was paying, only 12 months ago he was fifth in a Group One (Livamol Classic, 2040m) and has been running in very good races,” Tyler said. “They have been a little bit too sharp for him on the Good 2-type tracks, he’s still in the TAB Mile (Gr.3, 1600m) but my gut feeling is that they might just be a bit too sharp for him at that distance. I may run him on the middle day at Riccarton over 2000m, I’ll just keep an eye on the forecast. “If it’s a genuine (Good) 4 or 5, that would be enough to go for the TAB Mile.” Stable favourite Prince Alby (NZ) (Sacred Falls) brought up the 10th win of his career in the Sparrow Logging Handicap (2147m), bouncing back from uncharacteristic runs on firmer surfaces in Canterbury this time in. Back on the heavy ground, Prince Alby was tardily away from the barriers but soon recovered under apprentice Kendra Bakker, who allowed him to stride forward though the mid-stages and sit outside the leader – his stablemate Vamos. Just as they did a couple of starts back at Gore, the pair went head-to-head a long way out, but Prince Alby turned the tables on Vamos this time, skipping clear and cruising home to win by 5 – ¼ lengths. “It was actually our plan, everyone was digging them out of the gates today but I said to Kendra to just let them go and when you get to the back straight, hook out and make your way up when the pace slackens off and sit outside the leader,” Tyler said. “It worked out perfectly, which quite often doesn’t happen. At the weights, I thought how are they going to beat him, he’s a good horse. He just hasn’t been letting down on those firm tracks so it’s great to see him bounce back into form. “Vamos was great, I can’t speak highly enough of him. He had a bit of weight to carry which is always tough, but he stuck on well and is just getting better and better. He looks amazing.” Tyler’s near-perfect day was topped off in the last event, with More Sass (NZ) (Mongolian Falcon) justifying her favouritism to win the Grant Horrell Contracting Handicap (1200m) in the hands of Krishna Mudhoo. A half-sister to talented mare Lady Sass, More Sass has come into her own in recent times, winning two of her last three starts. “She’s not an easy horse, she’s pretty busy but has a lot of ability, so sometimes you’ve just got to trust her on the day,” he said. “They went really hard early and Krishna did a good job, he stayed on the fence which was as I say, was the best place to be. “She dug deep and went through that gap, it was a big improvement. Hopefully she can carry on with it.” His Riverton haul took Tyler to 14 wins for the season from just 79 starters, a run he hopes to continue at Wingatui’s Melbourne Cup day meeting on Tuesday. He had nominated a number of his Riverton contenders, but none will be starting, leaving Flash Roca, Snow Brainer and Martell. Martell (NZ) (El Roca) has been in a rich vein of form since joining Tyler’s barn in the late winter, winning three on the bounce with Moerman on board. While he can’t fault his form, Tyler is wary of an improved surface when he takes on the Grand Casino Open Handicap (1400m). “None of the horses today will back up, they’ll all be scratched as it was more of a back-up plan with the weather we’ve been having,” he said. “It is always a beautiful track at Wingatui but it will be on the firmer side this time, so we are mindful of that with Martell. Hopefully he can get away with it, but it’s certainly a different scenario this time.” View the full article

There is a sense of déjà vu for Pam Gerard as she navigates a muddled path to this year’s Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m), but she is keeping her eye on the prize. The Matamata horsewoman prepared star three-year-old Savaglee to win last year’s 2000 Guineas, which he won off an interrupted preparation with the rescheduling of both the Gr.2 Hawke’s Bay Guineas (1400m) and Gr.2 James and Annie Sarten Memorial (1400m). A year down the track, Gerard is chasing a repeat crown with Affirmative Action and Romanoff, the former kicking off his preparation in style winning the Listed Sir Colin Meads Trophy (1200m) at Ellerslie before scratching from heavy ground in the Hawke’s Bay Guineas. Affirmative Action (Yes Yes Yes) was set to run in the Sarten at Te Rapa on Labour Day, and after the meeting was abandoned following the first two races, Gerard opted to bypass take two at Tauranga on Saturday, instead accepting in the Show By SkyCity (1400m) on Melbourne Cup Day at Ellerslie. In Gerard’s view, Ellerslie was a better fit for the big-striding son of Yes Yes Yes. “We’ve had to do what we had to, he’s a horse at goes well at Auckland and we know we’re going to get an even surface there,” she said. “Tauranga could’ve gone either way, we could’ve got more rain and then sometimes after it’s been wet all winter, they can come out there, go absolutely mad and be quite roughly-run races as we saw yesterday. “He’s a big leggy fella and he didn’t need to be getting tangled up around there. “We took the option of Ellerslie, it’s a shame it’s not a stakes race but at the end of the day, the Sarten has always been run 11 days before the Guineas and that’s how it’s worked out.” Meanwhile, Romanoff (NZ) (Belardo) pressed on to the Sarten and announced himself as key hope for the Guineas when third behind the Marsh-trained pair of Swiss Prince and To Cap It All. “I was really proud of him, he was just beaten by a draw and we knew that when we saw the draws come out,” Gerard said. “It was always going to be tough in that sort of a race, it can be very draw-orientated. “I think he’s run absolutely super considering he’s drawn out there (12 of 12), I couldn’t be happier with him.” The performance rewarded Gerard’s faith in Romanoff, with the lightly-tried gelding now locked in for the $700,000 contest on November 15. “He’s a very underestimated galloper, he’s always shown a lot of potential and he probably gets under the guard a wee bit,” she said. “He was always heading down there, that was our target. “He’s a naturally fit type of horse, he’ll just tick away quietly and fly down next week. Hopefully we’ve got Affirmative Action joining him as well, we’ll wait and see after Tuesday.” Originally from Canterbury, Gerard enjoys heading home for the carnival each year, but would’ve preferred to race on a left-handed track in preparation for the big Riccarton circuit. “It’s home down there which makes it a little bit more special,” she said. “Getting your three-year-olds up and ready is a real challenge as it’s shown this year and last year, especially with race cancellations and weather. We’re missing Hawke’s Bay, we get good weather down there and get to race left-handed. “We’re going into Group One races at Riccarton with no left-hand racing which isn’t ideal, but the weather is changing and it is what it is. It’s just a case of managing them to get there as best you can.” View the full article

Join Guy Heveldt, Emily Murphy and Jayne Ivil as they dissect the racing from Tauranga and Tauherenikau on Saturday. Then Aidan Rodley beams in from Melbourne to reflect on Derby day with a look ahead to Melbourne Cup. Weigh In, November 2 View the full article

Local trainers Brian and Shane Anderton will have strength in numbers at their home track’s Melbourne Cup day meeting on Tuesday. The Wingatui-based father and son partnership have accepted 17 runners across the nine-race card, including three in the headlining Grand Casino Open Handicap (1400m) in Capo Dell Impero (NZ) (Ghibellines), Inflamed (NZ) (Ghibellines) and Mayor Of Norwood (NZ) (Ghibellines). All progeny of the Anderton’s White Robe Lodge sire Ghibellines, the trio have accumulated 18 wins between them, with full-brothers Capo Dell Impero and Mayor Of Norwood particularly effective over middle-to-staying distances. Brian Anderton is expecting his two well-performed geldings to find the trip a touch sharp first-up this preparation, but hopes to see a strong resuming effort. “Capo Dell Impero is coming up alright, he’s probably going to find this a bit short but he’ll run alright,” he said. “The other old boy, Mayor Of Norwood, he’s really done well this time in. Once again it’ll probably be a bit short for him but he’s going well.” Inflamed has featured prominently in strong sprint races, including finishing 7th in last year’s Listed Steward’s Stakes (1200m) during New Zealand Cup Week, but is searching for that form this time in. “We felt Inflamed hadn’t been putting her best into her racing but she’ll get better ground on Tuesday and we’ve put blinkers on her to try and wake her up a bit,” Anderton said. “It’ll be interesting to see how she goes.” Exciting galloper No Party (NZ) (Proisir) will step up in grade in the Property Brokers – Ray Kean R75 (1200m), having dominated his rivals first-up from a spell last month at the course. “He’s always showed a bit of ability and has improved off his first-up run,” Anderton said. “In saying that, he’s going up another grade now so that makes it a bit harder for him. “But, he’s got a good draw and should run well.” The four-year-old son of Proisir has won two of his four starts and is likely to start near-favourite for the sprint contest ahead of stablemate Move On (NZ) (Ghibellines). The latter performed solidly through the winter and early spring, only just missing last start behind Tomasina. “She (Move On) is a mare that has got to get back but she runs on well,” Anderton said. “She’s thrived since her race and I’m really happy with her. Our Approval (NZ) (Ghibellines) finished midfield in the race won by Tomasina first-up, with a step up to the mile in the KB Contractors R75 (1600m) likely to suit the son of Ghibellines. “We hold him in pretty high regard, the other day the 1200 was just too short for him and the mile will be right up his alley,” Anderton said. Among their remaining chances are six maideners, all looking to improve off their resuming runs last month. “Some of those maiden horses we hope can put their best foot forward, they’ll improve with the race they had the other day and getting that experience under their belt,” Anderton said. View the full article

Owner Peter Brant has campaigned champion horses and has captured many of the world's biggest horse races but in the closing Breeders' Cup race of 2025 he checked another box with Gezora.View the full article

Globe-trotting superstar Forever Young defeated an ultra-competitive field to capture the $7 million Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) Nov. 1 at Del Mar.View the full article

Notable Speech unleashed a devastating turn of foot in the stretch to win the Breeders' Cup Mile (G1T) at Del Mar for Godolphin and trainer Charlie Appleby. The Dubawi colt finished third in the event last year.View the full article

Nysos finally paid off on all the hype and anticipation that has surrounded his career, winning his first grade 1 with a gutsy victory over champion stablemate Citizen Bull in the $1 million Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1) at Del Mar Nov. 1.View the full article

Owner Peter Brant has campaigned champion horses and has captured many of the world's biggest horse races but in the closing Breeders' Cup race of 2025 he checked another box with Gezora.View the full article

All-sources handle for the two-day Breeders' Cup World Championships at Del Mar was $180,036,799, the third-highest wagering in the history of the event and an increase over the 2024 figure $179,218,631.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 Breeders' Cup meeting. Ethical Diamond Hands Mullins The Turf Training maestro Willie Mullins landed the biggest Flat victory of his career with Ethical Diamond (Awtaad) in the GI Breeders' Cup Turf on Saturday (video). A winner of a brace of valuable handicaps across the pond, the five-year-old gelding has also run seven of his lifetime starts over hurdles. Bred by W. Kennedy, Ethical Diamond is owned by the H O S Syndicate after selling for 320,000gns at the 2023 Tattersalls July Sale. Out of the winning Areion mare Pearl Diamond, the gelding is her only winner. She foaled a full-brother to Ethical Diamond this year. Derrinstown Stud's Awtaad has an enviable 100% strike rate in America, and, with the Turf victory of Ethical Diamond, his record there is six winners from six runners. Notably, the Turf winner is his second Grade I winner after Anisette, who put her stamp on the American Oaks, Gamely Stakes, and Del Mar Oaks at the highest level. From French Oaks To BC F&M Turf In the Breeders' Cup nightcap, the GI Filly & Mare Turf, Peter Brant's Gezora (Almanzor) delivered a stirring performance for Francis-Henri Graffard (video). Bred and initially raced by Haras d'Etreham and trained by Nicolas Le Roch, the daughter of Group 1 winner Germance (Silver Hawk) won a Group 3 at two before being purchased by Brant's White Birch Farm. She doubled her wins at that level for her new connections before she captured the G1 Prix de Diane (French Oaks). The last known foal out of her dam, Gezora is kin to the Group 1 winners and sires Mekhtaal and White Muzzle. Now based at Cambridge Stud in New Zealand, Almanzor has sired eight winners from nine runners there (89%). His other stakes winner in that jurisdiction is the Listed Woodhaven Stakes winner Unanimous Consent. O'Briens Collect BC Juvenile Turf Brace Halloween marked the first day of the Breeders' Cup meeting, and Aidan O'Brien became the winningmost trainer in Breeders' Cup history with the victory of Gstaad (Starspangledbanner) in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf for the Coolmore partners (video). The half-brother to G1 Middle Park Stakes/G1 Prix Morny-winning stallion Vandeek was bred by Maywood Stud. Knocked down to Coolmore's MV Magnier for 450,000gns at the 2023 Tattersalls December Foal Sale, the G2 Coventry Stakes winner was second in three consecutive starts at the highest level–the Prix Morny, the National Stakes and the Dewhurst Stakes in France, Ireland and England, respectively. Friday's triumph was his first at the top table. The seventh foal out of Mosa Mine (Exceed And Excel), Gstaad is one of five winners for his dam. The high class G1 July Cup winner and sire Anabaa is under the third dam, as is G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches heroine Always Loyal (Zilzal). Coolmore's Starspangledbanner is having a strong year with his Northern Hemisphere juveniles. Of the 70 to race worldwide so far, 32 have won (46%) and his seven stakes winners are anchored by G1 Fillies' Mile/G1 Moyglare Stud Stakes heroine Precise, who scratched out of the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf on Friday morning. Gstaad is the 10th Group/Grade 1 winner for the 19-year-old son of Choisir and his third in the U.S. Overall, the Coolmore sire has 22 winners from 36 runners there (61%). Earlier on Del Mar's Breeders' Cup Friday card, Aidan's son Donnacha celebrated his first Breeders' Cup win in the Juvenile Fillies Turf with Balantina (Ten Sovereigns) (video). Racing for Medallion Racing, Parkland Thoroughbreds, Reeves Thoroughbred Racing and Lissa Ann McNulty, the daughter of Balankiyla (Montjeu) was winning her first black-type race after a pair of placings at Group 3 level in England and France. She caught the eye of Avenue Bloodstock, Parkland and Bawnmore for €100,000 out of the 2024 Arqana August Yearling Sale. Balantina is a half-sister to G3 Prix de Royaumont heroine Baiykara (Zarak), while her dam is a half-sister to GI Secretariat Stakes hero Bayrir (Medicean). Balankiyla's last known foal is a yearling colt by Churchill. New to the Turkish stallion ranks this year, Ten Sovereigns now has a trio of top-flight winners to his name, incidentally Zulu Kingdom (GI American Turf Stakes) and Lush Lips (GI Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup) both also won American Grade Is. His record in the U.S. is 10 winners from 15 runners (66%) after the Juvenile Fillies Turf. Night Of Thunder Filly Wins At Keeneland Stonestreet Stables' Amberglen (Night Of Thunder) won on debut at Keeneland on October 23 (video). Part of the Sunderland Holdings breeding programme, the juvenile filly is trained by Brad Cox. A 320,000gns graduate of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale Book 2, the chestnut is the first foal out of Sea Empress (Sea The Stars) and is followed by a yearling filly by Saxon Warrior, who sold for €55,000 to Highflyer/Joseph O'Brien during this year's Goffs Orby Book 1 Sale, and a weanling colt by Space Blues. G2 Coventry Stakes hero and multiple Group 1-placed sire Buratino is under the third dam. Darley's Night Of Thunder has 15 winners from 24 runners (63%). His five U.S. stakes winners include Grade I scorers Dynamic Pricing and Choisya. Bessie The Best In Canada Bessie Abott steamed home a winner for Gary Barber, Team Valor International and Mark Casse in a Woodbine contest on October 23 (video). The GIII Wonder Again Stakes third was bred by Dr Noel Cogan and Patrick Williams. The daughter of Kuroshio did not meet her reserve at €14,000 at the Goffs February Sale and wound up trained by Michael Mulvany for the Woodleigh Syndicate. The three-year-old filly won on debut at Galway in August of 2024 before transferring to the U.S. A half-sister to multiple stakes winner and three-time graded-placed Spirit And Glory (Cotai Glory), as well as the stakes-placed Italodisco (Cotai Glory), she is out of Supreme Spirit (Invincible Spirit). Bessie Abott is Haras d'Annebault's Kuroshio's sole winner from one runner in Canada. Worldwide, he has five stakes winners led by G1 Goodwood Handicap scorer Savatoxl. Debut Win For Saxon Warrior Filly John P. Ryan's Aethelflaed (Saxon Warrior) motored straight to the head of affairs and never looked back to record a 1 1/2-length debut win at Woodbine on October 26 (video). Bred by the Love & Bubbles Partnership, the chestnut filly is trained by Tony Gattellaro. Her dam, the Loup Savage mare Love And Bubbles, won the G3 Prix Chloe and was second in the G3 Prix Cleopatre. She's delivered 15 foals, good for 14 runners and 11 winners, with her best the G1 Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) winner and sire Deep Brillante to the cover of Saxon Warrior's sire Deep Impact. A full-sister to the Derby winner is Hubble Bubble, who was second in the G3 Flower Cup. Love And Bubbles's latest produce is a yearling colt by State Of Rest. Coolmore's Grade I sire Saxon Warrior is the sire of 18 stakes winners worldwide, with GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf hero Victoria Road his best. Aethelflaed is his fourth winner from 10 runners (40%) in the U.S. Pinatubo Filly Dusts Gulfstream Rivals eFive Racing Thoroughbreds' Sod Siren (Pinatubo) scampered home a 3 3/4-length winner in her third start at Gulfstream Park on Halloween (video). Hailing from the Saffie Joseph, Jr. barn, she is out of One Last Night (Elusive Quality). The Salabi Racing, Pearl Champs Elysees and Etienne Drion-bred cost €250,000 as an Arqana August yearling when selected by Louis Dubois. A dual winner in France, One Last Night has a yearling full-sister to Sod Siren as her last reported foal who sold as an Arqana October yearling for €20,000 to Moez Miladi earlier this month. One Last Night's stakes-winning full-sister Devotee was third in the GI Alcibiades Stakes, while farther back, GI Coaching Club American Oaks third Folk (Quiet American) and GI Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes winner Atone (Into Mischief) are also in the family. Her fourth dam is American champion juvenile filly and four-time Grade I winner Family Style (State Dinner). Darley's Pinatubo counts four worldwide stakes winners so far with his eldest foals just three. Sod Siren is his fifth winner from eight to race (63%) in North America. His Cavallo Bay was third in the GIII With Anticipation Stakes at Saratoga. D'Amato Trainee Strikes At Del Mar The third time was the charm for Iriseach (Ubettabelieveit), who won at the seaside for trainer Phil D'Amato on October 30 (video). Bred by Hyde Park Stud, the son of Max's Dandy (Dandy Man) races for the Benowitz Family Trust, CYBT, McLean Racing Stables, Strand Beach and Michael Nentwig. Sean Davis Racing and GS Bloodstock picked up the bay for 15,000gns out of the Tattersalls Online June Sale, and Iriseach promptly ran fourth at Navan in the colours of Ms. Sinead O'Scanaill before being purchased privately and sent Stateside. He is the second runner and second winner for his winning dam, who has colts by Ardad and Aclaim born in 2024 and 2025, respectively. Under the third dam is GII Del Mar Mile Handicap and GII American Handicap winner Whatsthescript (Royal Applause). Kodiac's Ubettabelieveit has now sired 11 winners from 37 runners worldwide (30%). Iriseach is his sole representative in North America to date. Repeat Winners Third in the GI Breeders' Cup Mile in 2024, Godolphin homebred Notable Speech (Dubawi) flashed home a stylish winner of the 2025 edition for Charlie Appleby (video). A winner of the G1 2000 Guineas in the U.K., he also won the GI Woodbine Mile. Team Valor International and Steven Rocco's Special Wan (Belardo) was back in the winner's circle on Breeders' Cup Saturday with a tally in the GIII Goldikova Stakes at Del Mar for Brendan Walsh (video). The consistent five-year-old won the GIII Ladies Turf Stakes and the GIII Honey Fox Stakes earlier this year. The post Making Waves: Breeders’ Cup Bonanza For Team Europe appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

After claiming three winners during the marquee Breeders' Cup event at Del Mar, Irad Ortiz Jr. has won the 23rd Bill Shoemaker Award as outstanding jockey for the sixth time. The Shoemaker Award goes to the jockey who rides the most winners in the 14-race Championship series with the tiebreaker being a 10-3-1 point system for second-through-fourth-place finishes. Ortiz opened his weekend on Cy Fair (Not This Time) in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint, and returned to the winner's enclosure Saturday with yet another filly beating the boys when Shisospicy (Mitole) ran her rivals off their feet in the GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint. One race later, he partnered with Bentornato (Valiant Minister) to claim redemption in the GI Breeders' Cup Sprint. Ortiz took home the trophy four straight years between 2018 and 2021, and in the last eight years, only Flavien Prat and Ryan Moore were able to interrupt his streak of success at the World Championships–in 2024 and 2022, respectively. The only other rider with multiple Breeders' Cup victories this year was last year's Shoemaker Award winner Flavien Prat. Prat had two, both coming Saturday, with Splendora (Audible) in the GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint and Nysos (Nyquist) in the GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile. “It's a great trophy and it's a great honor,” Ortiz Jr. said. “You have to have a good day because it's by points. So you have to at least win some and the rest of the horses, they have to run good to keep getting points. So, that means you have a good day.” “I love this week. It's one of my favorite weekends in the whole year, so it feels good to have a trophy because you have a good week on the best races in the in the year.” When asked about inching closer to Mike Smith's win record at the Breeders' Cup, Ortiz said, “That'd be great. Yeah, I mean, I have so much respect for Mike. He's got, I think, 27 [wins]…it's really hard to get to that number, but we're going to keep working on it. Try to do our best out there and you know, it's not easy. You have to have a good horse honestly. I'm just very fortunate. We've been having a good ride and we're gonna keep positive. Stay positive and keep working on it.” The post Irad Ortiz Jr. Wins Sixth Bill Shoemaker Award appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Total all-sources handle for the two-day Breeders' Cup World Championships at Del Mar, held Oct. 31-Nov. 1, reached $180,036,799, the third-highest amount in the event's 42-year history. It marked an increase over the 2024 amount of $179,218,631, but ranked behind the $189,060,373 at Keeneland in 2022 and $182,908,409 at Del Mar in 2021. On-track attendance at Del Mar Saturday was 35,173, with the two days combining for 65,232. On-track handle for the two days was $18,079,169. Total common-pool handle on Saturday's full card was $118,028,444 and Friday's card was $62,008,354. The 43rd edition of the Breeders' Cup will be held at Keeneland next year from on Oct. 30-31. The post Breeders’ Cup Handle Ranks as Third Highest appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article