Wandering Eyes

The New York Islanders, in partnership with Northwell, the New York Racing Association and USA Hockey, have announced the opening of The Park at UBS Arena, a 155,800 square foot season-long, outdoor experience that will introduce the first two public pond hockey rinks to the community. With UBS Arena located within the heart of historic Belmont Park, The Park aims to take advantage of this unique setting and create something special for hockey fans of all ages. The first rink, named the Northwell Pond, boasts a sheet of natural ice. It will host a series of 4v4 pond hockey tournaments following USA Hockey guidelines, catering to youth and adult divisions at various competitive levels. The second rink, named the Isles Pond, will host Learn to Skate, Learn to Play, and Try Hockey for Free programs. These community programs cater to a wide range of age groups and skill levels, aiming to grow the sport of hockey by making it accessible for everyone. “Community events and activities will play a central role at the new Belmont Park,” said David O'Rourke, NYRA President & CEO. “This partnership between NYRA and the New York Islanders will advance that mission by providing our neighbors with easy and affordable access to ice skating and hockey in the Belmont Park backyard. We're excited to help grow this new initiative and look forward to welcoming kids and families to The Park later this month.” The post Islanders Partner with NYRA to Create First Public Rinks and Outdoor Experience in Community appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

By Jonny Turner Though the trotters are long gone from Forbury Park, the locals can still claim victory in the revived Dunedin Trotters Cup at Wingatui on Friday. The dust has been wiped off the trophy for the feature event, which will be back up for grabs after a hiatus. Carrying Group 2 status in its prime, the return of the Dunedin Trotters Cup will carry a $20,000 stake and be run over 2200m under handicap conditions. With horse numbers in the Dunedin region having free-fallen in the months following the closure of the Forbury Park track, Waikouaiti trotter Aveross Majesty is about as much of a local as any horse in this year’s field. The seven-year-old brings an excellent form reference into the feature event with his dead-heat for second in the Methven Trotters Green Mile behind open class star Oscar Bonavena. With an outstanding record on grass tracks and a workable 10m handicap, Aveross Majesty looks perfectly placed on Friday. “He raced really well on the grass at Methven, and if he went as well again, he would have to be in with a show,” O’Connell said. “He has come through that last race pretty well.” “He hasn’t done a lot of work, we have just given him a bit of light jogging down the beach. “But that is all he needs going into this race on Friday.” O’Connell credits beach work at Waikouaiti Beach as the key to Aveross Majesty’s consistent recent form. The regime helps keep the horse both happy and healthy. “He is happy and well and eating up well, and we are hoping he can go another good race.” “He has been very consistent lately, and he hasn’t had a lot of luck – he has had to make his runs from back in the field.” “But he has been going very well.” Two more Otago trotters look like key winning chances in the Dunedin Trotters Cup on Friday. Trained just a little bit further up the road at Katiki Beach, Cody Banner has the talent to win the race. The often-wayward trotter was a big winner on New Zealand Cup Day, but his manners have let him down in two starts since then. Oamaru squaregaiter Jimmy Carter’s form is in a similar spot heading into Wingatui’s feature trot. The Phil Williamson trained eight-year-old was in excellent form before galloping in his last two starts. Despite that, the 30m backmarker goes into the Dunedin Trotters Cup as the class horse of the field. View the full article

By Michael Guerin Lady Of The Light has decided her own tactics for tonight’s $40,000 Caduceus Club Northern Breeders Stakes at Alexandra Park. Because trainer Jeremy Young says her form and work dictate she tries to lead and stay in front of the other favourites Aardie’s Express and Manhattan in the mare’s Group 3 over 2200m. The race may be the lead-up to next Friday’s Queen Of Hearts but Pukekohe trainer Young says that doesn’t mean Lady Of The Light should duck for cover and try and conserve her energy for the big fight next week. “The way she has been racing and working we have to take our chances if we can,” says Young. “She is so well and you can see that from the way she has been winning and she has been even better at home. “I couldn’t be happier with her and if she is quick enough to stay in front of those horses outside her at the start then we have to give her her chance to beat them because if she hands up to a horse like Aardie’s Express we will get outsprinted.” Lady Of The Light may have been beating rivals a step or two below open class lately but Young in confident she can pace 2:37 for 2200m tonight in the hands of driver Maurice McKendry, who jumps back on after junior driver Monika Ranger has rated the big mare perfectly lately. If she does lead and roll along she gives herself at least some chance against Aardie’s Express, who comes into the race off a last-start fifth in the NZ Free-For-All. Quite incredibly when you think Alexandra Park is considered the home track for the headquarters of Team Telfer, tonight’s race will be Aardie’s Express’s first start in Auckland. She lays claim to being the best mare in the country (Millwood Nike is still a filly) and she may simply be too good tonight but Young declaring his tactics might make punters think twice about taking really short odds about Aardie’s Express, who will also have a new driver tonight in Zachary Butcher. On a night without huge fields Alexandra Park should provide some good betting races as there are few standout favourites. View the full article

The National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame will play host to the second annual “Countdown to the Triple Crown” fundraising event on Saturday, Feb. 3 and is seeking auction donations, the repository said in a release Thursday. The winter fundraiser, scheduled exactly three months prior to the 150th Kentucky Derby, will feature dozens of silent auction items. An online version of unique items and experience packages to benefit the NMRHF will also take place. Guests can attend the event from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. ET or bid on special packages online. The early-bird part of the program will feature beer, wine, soda, light refreshments and entertainment with admission set at $15 for museum members and $30 for non-members. Many of the auction items will be displayed throughout the galleries during the event. Click here to purchase tickets or call (518) 584-0400. The NMRHF is asking for support from the Thoroughbred racing industry and businesses. Donations are encouraged, which could include an item, experience or gift card. Contributing businesses will be promoted leading up to the event through the museum's social media channels and through database distribution. Additionally, the NMRHF will provide a pair of complimentary tickets. All donations are tax-deductible, and the proceeds will fund new exhibits and educational programming. For more information about donating an item or experience, please contact Maureen Pasco at (518) 584-0400 ext. 109 or mpasco@racingmuseum.net. The post National Museum Of Racing And Hall Of Fame Seeks Auction Items appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Aga Khan Studs, Haras de Bonneval Vadeni (Fr) and Erevann (Fr) will be available to view during the Arqana Breeding Stock Sale from Thursday, December 7 to Monday, December 11, at 11am and 3pm. A shuttle service will depart from the sales complex at 10am and 2pm each day. To book your visit, see the Aga Khan Studs team in Yard P at Arqana or call Fanny Cyprès on +33 6 88 99 30 93. Haras de Beaumont Arc winner Ace Impact (Ire), along with Sealiway (Fr) and Intello (Ger), will be on show as Haras de Beaumont every day through the sale from 8.30 am to 10am. Appointments can be made thereafter. Sumbe stallions, Clairefontaine Sumbe's full line-up of stallions – Mishriff (Ire), Angel Bleu (Fr), Belbek (Fr), Golden Horde (Ire) and De Treville (GB) – will be at the 'cour du haut' at Clairefontaine racecourse close to Arqana on Thursday, December 8, from 10am to 4pm. The post Open House for Normandy Stallions appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

9th-TP, $70K, Msw, 2yo, 6f (AWT), 9:55 p.m. A Godolphin homebred, HOLD OUT (Street Boss) will carry the royal blue for the first time Friday night. The colt is a son of Wipe Out, already the dam of GISP Degree of Risk (Cairo Prince). She also produced the dam of the ill-fated GSW New York Thunder (Nyquist). Wipe Out is herself a half to GI Forego S. winner Emcee (Unbridled's Song), GSW/G1SP Surfer (Distorted Humor) along with the dam of GSW Marzo (Medaglia d'Oro). Notably, her half-sister Baffled (Distorted Humor) produced MGISW and sire Constitution (Tapit) before selling for $3.5m at the 2016 FTKNOV Sale. Don Alberto, one of two buyers to sign the ticket then, would buy out Bridlewood Farm for $1.8m when she last sold at the same sale in 2019. Hold Out blitzed four furlongs in :47 (1/95) Dec. 2 for Eoin Harty and will debut with Gerardo Corrales in the irons. TJCIS PPS The post Friday Insights: Godolphin Colt Leads Late-Night Action At Turfway appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Pleasant Acres Stallions welcomes to their roster 'TDN Rising Star' and GISW Doppelganger (Into Mischief) who will stand in 2024 for $10,000 LFSN, the Florida farm said in a release Thursday morning. “Doppleganger exudes class in every sense. He's an eye-catching individual with more natural power and strength than his namesake Authentic. Commercially, he gives breeders an excellent chance to get a proper ROI, especially with the precocious nature of the broodmare base in Florida,” said Tom Ryan. A $570,000 Fasig-Tipton Selected Showcase yearling, Doppelganger is out of the Quiet American mare Twice the Lady–a stakes winner and multiple stakes placed performer. His second dam, Catherine's Crown (Chief's Crown) is the dam of Michelle's Crown, who produced Louisiana Champions Day Turf S. and Louisiana Showcase Turf S. winner Snakebite Kit. Once at the races, the Bob Baffert trainee broke his maiden on debut as a juvenile with a performance that awarded him the coveted TDN title for his 3 1/2 length win at Los Alamitos. He became his sire's 29th 'Rising Star'. “When we saw him at the sale the whole team, Bob [Baffert], Tom [Ryan], and myself, agreed he was an absolute must have,” said Donato Lanni. “I am looking forward to seeing his babies hit the sales in a couple of years.” At three, Doppelganger finished as the runner-up in the GII San Felipe S. at Santa Anita, and as a 4-year-old he captured the GI Carter H. at Aqueduct as well as the Battery Park S. at Delaware Park. “A TDN Rising Star by Into Mischief has arrived in Florida for our breeders,” said Pleasant Acres Stallions Owner Joe Barbazon. “Bred on the same crossover Fappiano-line mares as Champion and MGISW Covfefe and GSW Maximus Mischief, we are confident he will make an impressive impact on future Florida crops.” Pleasant Acres's newest addition will join the likes of MGISP and G1SP Gunnevera (Dialed In) at the 220-acre farm located just northwest of Ocala. The post ‘TDN Rising Star’ Doppelganger Arrives At Pleasant Acres Stallions For Stud Duty appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

For only the second time in its history, Tattersalls has accrued annual turnover in excess of 350 million gns, while its season-ending December Sale had an aggregate of more than 100 million gns for the second year in a row. There is no denying the allure of the elite European breeding stock sales, and nowhere is the high drama of the sale-ring more captivating than at Park Paddocks. The sales business is not all high days and holidays, however, as most people trying to sell a foal at either of the quieter days last week, or indeed a filly or mare on Thursday, will verify. Polarisation, whether between the top and lower tiers of the market, or in stallion fashion – those two things of course having significant crossover – has rarely felt more pronounced than it has done over the last few weeks. Breeders will be finalising their matings for 2024 over the coming weeks and it is easy to envisage that the foal crop of next year, particularly in Britain, will be reduced in size. A number of smaller breeders are undoubtedly feeling the pinch and are no longer able to justify paying nomination fees that may well be higher than the final bid they receive for a resultant foal or yearling, never mind the keep fees. Readjustment is a constant factor in the breeding industry, and a contraction in foal numbers is not necessarily unwelcome while the BHA conducts its trial of 'Premierisation' over the next two years. It is an experiment that looks certain to drive more breeders, owners and trainers out of the game as the funding for those race meetings identified as 'core' fixtures is either stripped further or stagnates. Core is a good description, and it is worth considering one of the dictionary definitions of that word: 'the part of something that is central to its existence or character.' Chip away too much at the base of racing's pyramid while ignoring the importance it plays in levy yield, not to mention as a vital part of the sport's broad geographical appeal, and the apex will topple, eventually. In his closing address, Edmond Mahony, the chairman of Tattersalls, was mindful of all sectors of the marketplace, reflecting on the many high points of Tuesday evening's Sceptre Session in particular, while observing a final day which saw a clearance rate of just 50%. “We must also recognise that the appetite for the less commercial mares and fillies has dwindled dramatically,” he said. “The international bloodstock market is not immune from global economic pressures and certain sectors are facing a headwind, but we will continue, in association with our extensive network of overseas representatives, to explore every avenue to encourage as wide a participation as possible. In the meantime we extend our sincere thanks to each and every individual who has contributed to a year which has seen our annual turnover exceed 350 million gns for only the second time. “Figures of this magnitude are a tribute to all involved and to the consistent support from so many British, Irish and European breeders which all of us at Tattersalls are very proud to receive.” Figures for the closing day usually make for sober reading, but this year's Thursday session proved more challenging than ever. Sixty-eight of the 137 lots offered were sold for turnover of 413,600gns (-19%) at an average of 5,986gns (-8%) and median of 3,000gns (-29%). For the December Mares Sale as a whole, the aggregate stood at 67,752,000gns (-16%), with an average of 107,544gns (-8%) and median of 30,000gns (-6%). The clearance rate dropped to 75%. Concluding his view of the week's trade, Mahony said, “International demand is the feature of so many sales at Tattersalls, but few can match the global appeal of the Tattersalls December Mares Sale which annually draws buyers from every continent, united in a quest to acquire some of the finest bloodstock to be found anywhere in the world. “In only their second year the two showcase Sceptre Sessions again produced some spectacular theatre played out in front of a packed sale ring with the highlight being the outstanding Group 1-winning sale topper Teona who became the third-highest priced broodmare ever sold at the December Sale when selling for 4,500,000gns to Juddmonte Farms. The supporting cast of British-trained Group 1-winning fillies, Cachet, Lezoo, Poptronic, Prosperous Voyage and Via Sistina all also provided memorable sales for their connections averaging almost 2 million gns apiece and adding to a day which produced turnover exceeded only twice in Tattersalls history.” He continued, “Elite fillies and mares have been in high demand throughout the sale with an unprecedented six selling for more than two million gns and 29 breaking the 500,000gns mark, which is a number bettered only at last year's extraordinary record-breaking sale. American, Australian and Chinese buyers have all made a huge contribution at the top end of the market, as have the impressive number of Japanese buyers who continue to prioritise the Tattersalls December Mares Sale above all other European breeding stock sales. As ever, they have all faced strong competition from British, Irish and French breeders who form the backbone of the December Sale and there has been notable participation from throughout Europe as well as strong contingents of Indian and Turkish buyers who between them have bought more than 60 fillies and mares.” The post Tattersalls December Concludes: ‘Certain Sectors are Facing a Headwind’ appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

A breeding right to Havana Grey (GB) will highlight 113 lots catalogued for the Tattersalls Online December Sale, which takes place Dec. 13-14. The sale includes 66 horses in/out of training, 16 foals, 13 broodmares, nine breeding rights, five yearlings, a pair of Store horses, one point-to-pointer and a stallion. A breeding right to the son of Havana Gold (Ire) topped the Online November Sale at 280,000 guineas This season's leading second crop sire has sired 16 Group/listed winners and 31 group/listed performers in his first two crops, led by the dual Group 1 winning 2-year-old Vandeek. Additional breeding rights on offer: Territories (Ire), sire of this Year's Group 1 Haydock Sprint Cup winner Regional (GB), Aclaim (Ire), Alkumait (GB), Cloth of Stars (Ire), Inns of Court (Ire), Land Force (Ire), Le Brivido (Fr) and Time Test (GB). Among the other notable entries for the December sale, listed-placed Cloudbreaker (Sea The Stars) (lot 59), a half-sister to a pair of listed winners and broodmare Happy Hiker (Ire) (Dalakhani {Ire}) (lot 99), selling in foal to Classic winner Saxon Warrior (Jpn). Included among the foals is a filly by Group 1 winner Mohaather (GB) (lot 72). The half-sister to listed-placed Whim (GB) (Nayef) is out of Group 3 winner Whazzis (GB) (Desert Prince {Ire}). To view the complete catalogue, click here. The post Havana Grey Breeding Right Heads Tattersalls Online December Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Chatalas will get the chance to live up to the promise of her Chandelier Stakes (G2) victory at Santa Anita Park in the Dec. 9 Starlet Stakes (G2) at Los Alamitos Race Couse. View the full article

Hong Kong, Japan and Ireland all have good chances in four group 1 races on Dec. 10 in the Longienes Hong Kong International Races.View the full article

Breeding plans was the topic for the 10th and final panel of the 2023 OwnerView Virtual Thoroughbred Owner Conference, which was held Tuesday, Dec. 5, The Jockey Club said in a release Thursday. Panelists were Carrie Brogden, owner of Machmer Hall Farm; Alan Porter, founder of TrueNicks; and Mark Toothaker, director of stallions at Spendthrift Farm. The panel was hosted by OwnerView's project manager, Gary Falter. Topics for the breeding panel included matings, nicking, conformation traits, inbreeding, broodmare preferences and stallion selection. The first question to the panelists referred to the saying, “breed the best to the best and hope for the best.” “I can't afford beautiful and pedigree, so I'm always going to lean more on the pretty side on my mares, and they may be just a little bit lacking on pedigree,” said Toothaker. “Buy the prettiest mare that you can afford.” Brogden considers conformation to be extremely important when making breeding decisions. “It is the most important thing,” she said. “After years and years and years of being on the farm now, we started to see a trend where every single graded stakes winner off our farm, on the dirt, every single one was in the top 30 percent of physicals of our yearling crop.” The Thoroughbred Owner Conference virtual panels will continue in 2024 with a full schedule available early in the new year. Click here to watch the presentation and view videos from previous topics. The post Breeding Plans, Final Topic Of ’23 Thoroughbred Owner Conference Panel appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The obstacles were already considerable for three-time reigning Hong Kong Horse of the Year Golden Sixty (Aus) (Medaglia d'Oro) long before connections of the 44 runners for Sunday's Longines Hong Kong International Races meeting took their seats for Thursday's morning barrier draw in the Sha Tin parade ring. Already a nine-time Group 1 winner and victorious in 25 of his 29 career starts, the 8-year-old has not started since defeating Beauty Joy (Aus) (Sebring {Aus}) in the G1 Champions Mile in late April, a 224-day hiatus. Only twice in his career has he been dealt a double-digit gate, and his chances to register a third victory in the G1 Longines Hong Kong Mile took a serious blow when owner Stanley Chan selected gate 14 in a field of 14. “Of course, it's not an ideal draw and it makes things difficult for Vincent,” said trainer Frances Lui. “Midfield with cover, of course (would be best). If you look at the field, I think California Spangle (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) will lead and he will slow down the pace. Probably this race will be run at a slow pace. It's going to be difficult.” California Spangle, who prevented a Golden Sixty three-peat 12 months ago, fared far better, as he will break from stall three with Christophe Soumillon taking the ride. Whether he is loose up front is another question, as the Andre Fabre-trained Tribalist (GB) (Farhh {GB}) will have to roll forward from the 13. No horse as old as eight has won the mile, though Good Ba Ba (Lear Fan), whose record Golden Sixty is trying to equal, won the last of his three Miles aged seven. Beauty Flash (GB) (Footstepsinthesand {GB}) won the 2010 Mile from the 14, though he was an on-pace runner, while standout milers like Ambitious Dragon (NZ) (Pins {Aus}) and Maurice (Jpn) (Screen Hero {Jpn}) won from double-digit draws. Romantic Warrior (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) will be favoured to successfully defend his title in the richest of the afternoon's four events, the HK$36-million G1 Longines Hong Kong Cup over his pet distance of 2000 metres, and while he drew a decent middle gate in seven, he, too, has a few questions to answer. The 5-year-old makes his first local appearance this season, having finished fourth in the G1 Turnbull S. at Flemington Oct. 7 ahead of a hard-fought success in the G1 Cox Plate at Moonee Valley three weeks later. Since clearing quarantine, he's had a winning barrier trial, and connections remain bullish on his chances. “He's been good. In the morning, that kind of horse is always good,” trainer Danny Shum said of Romantic Warrior, who cost Mick Kinane and the Hong Kong Jockey Club team 300,000gns at Tattersalls October in 2019 before selling to owner Peter Lau for HK$4,800,000 (€517,894) at the Hong Kong International Sale in 2021. “But I think he's still improving. He's been great since Australia, no problem at all.” Aidan O'Brien is the only trainer with runners in each of Sunday's four races, selecting gate one for G1 Yorkshire Oaks and GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf runner-up Warm Heart (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Aesop's Fables (Ire) (No Nay Never) for the Vase and Sprint, respectively. Cairo (Ire) (Quality Road), who will be a longshot in the Mile, drew barrier nine, while Luxembourg (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) has a potentially tricky alley in 10 with a short run to the first corner in the Cup. The Ballydoyle maestro has started 29 horses at the HKIR for a record of 3-2-1, each of the victories coming in the Vase (Highland Reel, 2015 & 2016, Mogul, 2020). But he feels he's got the right horses to make an impact this year. “I think there is no doubt that it is,” O'Brien replied when asked if this was the best team he'd brought to Hong Kong. “It's very difficult to win races here and you don't come with second-raters.” Champion sprinter Lucky Sweynesse (NZ) (Sweynesse {Aus}) will jump favoured in the Sprint from gate five, while G1 Prix de l'Abbaye heroine Highfield Princess (Fr) (Night of Thunder {Ire}) will try to become the first European-based winner of the race from gate nine, with Japanese multiple group-winning speedball Jasper Krone (Frosted) leaving just to her inside. “It's very difficult to win races here and you don't come with second-raters.” AOB fields 4⃣ this year: Warm Heart (Vase), Aesop's Fables (Sprint), Cairo (Mile) and Luxembourg (Cup)… @LONGINES | #HKIR | #HKracing pic.twitter.com/5U50Qzhms2 — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) December 7, 2023 The post ‘It’s Going To Be Difficult’: Golden Sixty Draws Widest For Hong Kong Mile appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

As 2023 draws to a close, the TDN is asking industry members to name their favorite moment of the year. Send yours to suefinley@thetdn.com “The Breeders' Cup. Going in, so many races looked ultra-competitive, and the results bore out with exciting stretch runs and thrilling finishes. When I'm on horseback, I don't get to see the stretch run, so all I have is Larry Collmus's race call, which, in so many of the races, had me guessing about who the winner would be until they literally hit the wire. In some cases, we didn't know until after they crossed the wire and the photo finish results were posted. Two of the best days of racing I've witnessed in a long time.” –Donna Brothers, NBC Sports The post What Was Your Favorite Moment Of 2023: Donna Brothers appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Applying the core principles of breeding to stallions who were top racehorses while enhancing their own core families, Dietrich and Annabel von Boetticher's Gestut Ammerland has forged a reputation as one of the best owner-breeder operations in Europe. The results of the Bavarian farm speak for themselves but let us offer a reminder here. At one stage Ammerland was home to around 50 mares, but generally the average number has been closer to 30: not quite boutique but also not behemoth. Over the last 30 years or so, 60 group race wins have come their way, including 17 at Group 1 level, and not just any old Group 1s either. First Hurricane Run (Ire) and then Waldgeist (GB) won the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. Hurricane Run had won the Irish Derby in his breeder's colours before being sold to Michael Tabor, who had also raced his sire and fellow Arc winner Montjeu (Ire). And though von Boetticher must have been smarting when Hurricane Run had been beaten a neck in the Prix du Jockey Club, his conqueror Shamardal would later do the breeder a huge favour as the sire of Ammerland's dual French Classic winner Lope De Vega (Ire), who is now one of the most important stallions in the world. Crispin de Moubray, who has been helping Ammerland as a consultant for the last 25 years, says of von Boetticher, “He's been passionate about winning big races. His passion has always been for top racehorses and his policy has been to use them as stallions, even if they're not particularly fashionable, and to set up a breeding operation where everything is carefully worked out using the same trainers, the same staff.” With the breeder now in his 80s, the decision has been taken to wind down the Thoroughbred breeding activities at Ammerland. It has been a gradual process over recent years and now comes the first part of the official dispersal at the Arqana Breeding Stock Sale, where 12 fillies and mares and one colt foal will be offered for sale on Saturday. He adds, “There have only been three stud managers in the 25 years since I've been involved. Daniela Nowara, Nicolas Schenke, who arrived when Bernried was bought, and then the last 10 years there's been Steffi Fuchs. “Steffi is staying until the end of August next year when we'll sell the eight yearlings in Arqana in August. There is one Almanzor [foal] in the sales because he's big and he's strong and we're selling the mare, and we just thought it made sense to sell them next to each other. The other eight foals are being raised at Ammerland and the plan is for them to be sold in the August sale next year.” Gestut Ammerland was founded in 1989 on Lake Starnberg, outside Munich, the year after von Boetticher won the Deutsches Derby with Luigi (Ger), the first racehorse he bought. He later purchased Gestut Bernreid on the other side of the lake, which for a time was home to the stallions Hurricane Run (after his return from Coolmore), his homebred G1 Coronation Cup winner Boreal (Ger), Ito (Ger), and most recently Iquitos (Ger), who subsequently moved to Gestut Graditz and has now been transferred to Rottgen ahead of the 2024 season. Iquitos has made an eye-catching start from his first crop of only five foals. Two of them are stakes winners, both out of Hurricane Run mares and both bred by Ammerland. His son Mr Hollywood (Ire) is a Group 3 winner who was second in the G1 Deutsches Derby and G1 Grosser Preis von Baden, while daughter Drawn To Dream (Ger), a Listed winner and Group 3 runner-up, will be sold in training as Lot 208. Her half-sister, the GI Beverly D S. winner Dalika (Ger) (Pastorius {Ger}), was recently sold in foal to Flightline at Keeneland for $1.65 million. “If you look at Ammerland over the last 25 years, they have averaged 20% black-type horses to foals,” says de Moubray. “If you take this year's three-year-old crop, for example, there were 18 and 16 of them have run, which is astonishing. Fourteen have won and four are stakes winners: Mr Hollywood, Drawn To Dream, Chesspiece and Sevenna's Knight. “If you don't breed for the market, but you breed for the racecourse, in my opinion, you have a much better chance of producing racehorses. They're raised in the same paddocks in Ammerland. It's great land, they have great staff, everything about it is carefully managed. They all go through the same regime. They didn't go to the sales as foals, yearlings. They have gone to be pre-trained and then they go to Peter Schiergen or John Gosden or Andre Fabre. They were never sold until recently. It's been a well-run small operation based around the idea of producing top horses.” From such good foundations, the mares and fillies offered this weekend should clearly be coveted by other breeders. It is hard to look past Lady Frankel (GB) as the potential star of the draft. The Group 3-winning daughter of Frankel (GB) is a half-sister to Lope De Vega and is offered as Lot 172 with an April 9 cover by New Bay (GB). Her second and third foals by Shamardal and Camelot (GB) have sold for €1.6 million and €850,000 respectively. Similarly, the five-year-old Wildfeder (GB) (Galileo {Ire}), the full-sister to Waldgeist (GB) and half-sibling to Group 3 winners Waldkonig (GB) (Kingman {GB}) and Waldlied (GB) (New Approach {Ire}), will be presented with a Siyouni (Fr) cover as Lot 202. Form an orderly queue. Borgia's Best (Ire), whose parents are both Ammerland-bred Classic winners, Lope De Vega and the Deutsches Derby-winning filly Borgia (Ger) (Acatenango {Ger}), is another to be sold in foal to New Bay (Lot 98). The eventual product of that mating will be a full-sibling to the dual winner and 94-rated three-year-old Liftoff (Fr). Despite these mares being sold and the prospect of a batch of yearlings appearing next August, the distinctive red-and-green silks will still be seen on racecourses for a while at least. “What's in the sale, apart from the eight foals, that's it,” says de Moubray. “We have put three yearlings into training with Andre Fabre because they were always going to be kept for various reasons, so we haven't changed our mind. There's still a couple of two-year-olds with Fabre and the three yearlings that have just arrived. “Dietrich is going to be 82 in March and Annabel does like racing, and they will carry on. They've got a dressage stable at Ammerland, which will also carry on.” He continues, “If we'd had this dispersal three years ago, it would've been really big. But it has been winding down for the last five years.” Of the rare purchases made by Ammerland, the most recent, Sea The Sky (Ger) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), a sister to Sea The Moon (Ger) from an outstanding family of multiple German Classic winners, is also catalogued for Arqana as Lot 171. Now four, the Listed winner and Group 3-placed filly topped the BBAG September Yearling Sale at €820,000. “Sevenna was a mare that I bought for €50,000 as a yearling in Baden-Baden, and now Dietrich has a whole lot of that S-line, which before he didn't have,” de Moubray says. “Then there's the Lope De Vega family and there's the Waldgeist family and the Borgia family. That is an advantage, if you're breeding and you know the grandmothers, you know what to look out for, so when you're doing your matings, you're thinking, 'This family tend to do this. So let's see if we can balance it out by doing that.' And also managing them to race, not to sell, makes such a difference.” De Moubray also signed for the Monsun (Ger) filly who would become known as Waldlerche (GB) when agreeing a private sale for her with breeder Newsells Park Stud as a yearling. The two operations formed a partnership which would result in the G3 Prix Penelope winner breeding Waldgeist among her six winners, along with his aforementioned sister. He says, “Waldlerche went through the August Sale and no-one liked her apart from me and she didn't sell. So I called Dietrich afterwards and said, 'You should buy her.' Andreas [Jacobs] took my phone and walked off and came back half an hour later and said, 'We've agreed that Dietrich pays €50,000 for half and we'll race her together'.” Another significant association for Ammerland was formed with Ballylinch Stud, which is now home to Lope De Vega and Waldgeist. “Ballylinch has been a great partner,” says de Moubray, “And Andre Fabre, obviously, over the years, as has Peter Schiergen, who won the Coronation Cup with Boreal. There are some headline horses really.” He continues, “It's one of those rare operations in the last 35 years that has been set up by someone new, and those Ammerland colours, they've won races in America, Hong Kong, England, Ireland, and particularly in France. Lope De Vega won the Guineas and the Derby and the following year, Golden Lilac won the Guineas and the Oaks in France. That was in successive years, they won those four Classic races. “Ammerland don't go for fashionable stallions and they don't go for typical German stallions. They're not really interested in precocious speed at all. Most of their horses, they breed to top racehorses, and a horse that doesn't stay a mile is basically of no interest whatsoever. It's a Classic breeding operation looking to produce Classic winners.” The post Classic Principles Underpin the Success of Ammerland appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Superstar Hong Kong galloper Golden Sixty (Medaglia d’Oro) will start from the outside stall in Sunday’s Gr.1 Hong Kong Mile. The now eight-year-old, who was purchased as a two-year-old at the New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run Sale, holds the record for the most Group One wins in Hong Kong (nine) and will attempt to join Good Ba Ba (Lear Fan) as the only three-time winner of the Hong Kong Mile. A winner of 25 of his 29 career starts, he first won the mile in 2020, before collecting his second in 2021. Golden Sixty was surprisingly upstaged by California Spangle (Starspangledbanner) in this race last year, though connections remain confident he can make it Group One win number 10 on Sunday. Unbeaten in six previous first up attempts, the stable elected to bypass last month’s Jockey Club Mile and will go into Sunday’s feature off a 224 day break. Installed as a warm favourite prior to the draw, he has now drifted to $2.60 which would be his biggest starting price since September 2019. Fellow Hong Kong superstar Lucky Sweynesse (NZ) (Sweynesse) fared much better on Thursday morning, drawing barrier five in the Hong Kong Sprint. Beaten at his first two starts to begin this preparation, Lucky Sweynesse returned to his winning ways last start when scoring narrowly in the Jockey Club Sprint. Much better suited under the set weights conditions on Sunday, he looks to get a charmed run for Zac Purton with notable speed horse Victor The Winner drawn directly to his inside. Lucky Sweynesse has been building nicely towards his Grand Final and a peak performance will see Purton collect his third Hong Kong Sprint, having won twice aboard Aerovelocity (NZ) (Pins) (2014 and 2016). View the full article

After a slew of outside barrier draws in big races, John O’Shea is celebrating a welcome change of fortune for his trio of runners in the A$3 million The Ingham. Kirwin’s Lane (NZ) (Charm Spirit), Lion’s Roar (NZ) (Contributer) and recent acquisition Dark Destroyer (NZ) (Proisir) have come up with gates two, five and 10 respectively after all drawing double-figure alleys at their most recent starts. Lion’s Roar jumped from barrier 20 when second to Spangler (Starspangledbanner) in the Little Dance (1600m), Kirwin’s Lane from gate 12 of 13 when fourth to Unspoken (Territories) in the Filante Handicap (1600m), while former Kiwi Dark Destroyer came from 12 of 13 when midfield in The Hunter (1300m). “We can’t believe it,” O’Shea said. “That’s why they were so late getting the barriers out (on Wednesday) because they were trying to work out how to get us a little bit closer.” Jokes aside, O’Shea is confident all three are capable of bobbing up. Two of them, Kirwin’s Lane and Lion’s Roar, finished one-two in the corresponding race last year and the latter has been an early firmer from $13 into $8.50. A Group 1 winner of the Randwick Guineas at three, Lion’s Roar carried 56kg in The Ingham (1600m) 12 months ago after being unplaced in two lead-up runs. He drops to 53.5kg on Saturday and arrives off a slashing Melbourne Cup Day second. “I think (his form) is significantly better and he is weighted significantly better,” O’Shea said when comparing Lion’s Roar’s credentials. “I thought to myself, maybe it’s a harder race, but they beat home Atishu last year, so the race last year had more merit to it than I first thought. “He looks to map beautifully in a fast-run race, and we couldn’t be happier with him.” In contrast, Kirwin’s Lane was in a rich vein of form last spring, winning the Ladies’ Day Cup at Hawkesbury and finishing third in the Festival Stakes prior to taking out Sydney’s summer carnival centrepiece. This time around, his efforts have been sound without placing, and he is six weeks between runs after being scratched from The Gong due to a wide gate. However, the gelding has been kept up to the mark with two barrier trials and O’Shea is adamant Saturday’s low draw is key. “He’s a horse that needs soft draws and he gets that Saturday,” O’Shea said. “He gets to follow Attractable, which will be a really good horse to follow, and he’s in good form. “His run the other day, it was a pretty leaderish track, and I thought he ran very well. He came to the centre, which doesn’t suit him, whereas this week he gets to drop down on the rail and get a suck up into the race, which is a much better scenario for him.” Dark Destroyer will be having just his second start for O’Shea and looks a handy pick-up for the stable having shown his quality as a winter three-year-old when taking out the 2022 Rough Habit Plate at Eagle Farm and finishing fourth in that year’s Queensland Derby. He trained on to claim a Group 1 in New Zealand last spring and O’Shea said he had come on in leaps and bounds since The Hunter. “He was good first-up in an unsuitable race and he has made a massive step forward this week,” O’Shea said. “Albeit his best form is on rain-affected ground, I still think that he’s a quality animal that is going to get a good run in the race and we couldn’t be happier with him at home.” A full field of 20 will contest The Ingham, including first emergency Williamsburg (Snitzel) who enters the fray following the scratching of Excellent Proposal (Exceed and Excel) on Thursday. View the full article

Paul Preusker has always had a big opinion of Captain Envious (NZ) (Savabeel), which was why he ran him in the 2022 Queen Elizabeth Stakes behind Soulcombe (Frankel) at Flemington at only his sixth start. However, early this year when Captain Envious returned to racing over autumn, Preusker felt he didn’t race to his early potential. This spring Preusker has gone about things differently with Captain Envious, with a focus country Cups while not pushing him out in distance. And the trainer believes Saturday’s Listed Ballarat Cup provides a perfect opportunity for his galloper. “It’s the right race for him at the right time,” Preusker said. “He’s probably not that well off on the handicaps, but he is if he had won his last start which he probably should have,” he said. Preusker was referring to Captain Envious’ last-start third in the A$500,000 Country Cup Final (2000m) behind Claidheamh Mor (Dundeel) at Caulfield when he suffered interference early in the race and gave away a big start. Preusker said this preparation had been about working Captain Envious out and not pushing him out over a staying trip. “I’ve just felt him out where he was, so he didn’t get lost. The first preparation sapped him a little and he’s starting to come together now.” “In terms of his future, we’ll keep it open. We’re trying to plot our path to better things and a Ballarat Cup would be nice.” “We’ve just let him tick over and earn a dollar.” Captain Envious, who will be ridden by Michael Dee, has drawn barrier two and is $8 with Sportsbet to win the Ballarat Cup. View the full article

Despite leaving this year’s International Jockeys’ Championship empty-handed, racing’s glamour couple could one day swap Hungerford for Happy ValleyView the full article

Shadai Stallion Station has set the introductory fee for Equinox (Jpn) at ¥20 million (€124,000), which is equal to his own sire Kitasan Black (Jpn), whose price has been doubled for 2024. Father and son are the two most expensive stallions on Shadai's 33-strong roster. The Shadai website already has a 'Book full' note posted alongside the name of Equinox, who retires to stud as the top-rated horse in the world in 2023. The four-year-old has won eight of his ten starts and signed off with a facile victory in the Japan Cup over the Fillies' Triple Crown winner Liberty Island (Jpn) ((Duramente {Jpn}). This season's leading first-season sire in Japan, Suave Richard (Jpn), has also had his fee increased for next year to ¥15 million (€93,000). The same fee will be commanded in 2024 by his stud-mates Epiphaneia (Jpn) and the Triple Crown winner Contrail (Jpn). The latter is another who is already fully booked for next season. The post Equinox Already Full at Opening Fee of ¥20 Million (€124,000) appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Owner Peter Lau draws same numbered Hong Kong Cup gate as the one from which James McDonald rode the Danny Shum-trained star to his two greatest winsView the full article

NT trainer Tom Logan has copped a $5000 fine over abnormal blood samples taken from Blueant before a race on September 2. Darwin trainer Tom Logan has been fined $5000 after his horse Blueant returned an abnormal blood sample following a race at Fannie Bay in September. Thoroughbred Racing Northern Territory stewards imposed the fine following an inquiry late last month. The hearing followed analysis of blood samples collected from Blueant prior to a race at Fannie Bay during the Darwin Turf Club’s meeting on September 2 where he finished fifth. The certificates of analysis for the pre-race blood sample detected the presence of fluticasone propionate. Evidence was considered from Logan, ARFL general manager John Keledjian, Racing & Wagering Western Australia industry veterinarian Dr Judith Meed, and Jamin Farebrother from the Howard Springs Veterinary Clinic at the Darwin Turf Club on November 23. Fluticasone propionate is a prohibited substance within Part 2 (Division 1) on List B in the Australian Rules of Racing. Fluticasone propionate is an anti-inflammatory agent with topical and inhaled applications commonly used in the treatment of asthma in steroid-dependent individuals. The drug is used in racehorses to treat Inflammatory Airway Disease. Subsequently, Blueant, a seven-year-old gelding, was disqualified from the race on September 2 and the result was amended accordingly with commensurate implications to stake money and TROBIS bonuses. In determining a $4000 penalty for Logan, stewards took into account the following: The seriousness of the offence The nature of the prohibited List B substance being a therapeutic and that the product containing the substance was prescribed by a veterinarian The low detected level and veterinary evidence indicating that in all likelihood an administration had occurred within the prescribed withholding period recommended The administrations of this product were not recorded in the stable treatment records Logan’s guilty plea, co-operation and personal circumstances His disciplinary record over three years while licensed as a trainer His previous penalty precedents relating to prohibited List B substances Logan also pleaded guilty for failing to record that a prescription medication was administered by way of metered dose inhaler to Blueant in the lead-up to the race on September 2. For this breach, he was fined an additional $1000. More horse racing news View the full article

Nine-time Group One winner’s momentous international day task becomes even more complicatedView the full article

New Zealand is renowned as a nursery of world-beating thoroughbred talent, and the catalogues for Karaka 2024 are filled to the brim with those outstanding Kiwi bloodlines. Even by its own high standards, Book 1 is exceptionally strong in 2024. There are 114 siblings to stakes winners, along with 109 progeny of stakes-performed mares. There are enough highlights to fill a catalogue all by themselves, but here is just a small selection of some of the highest-profile lots. Book 1, Day One (Sunday January 28) Lot 15 is by freshman Cambridge Stud stallion Hello Youmzain and from the stakes-placed Distinctive Lass (Orientate). This Curraghmore yearling is a half-sister to the Group One winner Kahma Lass (NZ) (Darci Brahma), and stakes performers Kuro (NZ) (Denman), Southern Lad (Ocean Park), Distinctive Darci (NZ) (Darci Brahma) and Wairau Cove (NZ) (Darci Brahma). Hallmark Stud’s filly catalogued as Lot 21 is by Proisir out of Donna Marie (NZ) (Don Eduardo). That makes her a full-sister to the top-class Prowess (NZ) (Proisir), who won five races in a row last season including the $1m Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m), the Group One Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) and the Group One New Zealand Stakes (2000m). Waikato Stud’s Super Seth has made a statement with his two-year-olds this spring, and he is the sire of Lot 131. This colt is a half-brother to the Group One winner and NZB Filly of the Year Amarelinha (NZ) (Savabeel), and closely related to Group performers Sweet Ride (Deep Field), Japanese Emperor (NZ) (Satono Aladdin), Metal Bender (NZ) (Danasinga), North Pacific (Brazen Beau) and Missybeel (NZ) (Savabeel). Lot 138 is a Trelawney Stud colt by super-sire Snitzel out of the three-time Listed winner Indecision (NZ) (Per Incanto). The winner of six races, Indecision is also a half-sister to the multiple Group One winner Viadana (NZ) (Towkay). The colt by U S Navy Flag catalogued as Lot 139 is a half-brother to triple Group One winner and successful sire Turn Me Loose (NZ) (Iffraaj). Pencarrow Stud will offer a Super Seth colt from one of their most exciting families as Lot 146. The colt is out of the Group Two-placed mare Irion (NZ) (Danroad), whose three foals to race are all winners and include the Group winners Zourion (NZ) (Zoustar) and Pearl Of Alsace (NZ) (Tavistock). Lot 181 on account of Ainsley Downs Stud is a colt by Darci Brahma (NZ), a half-brother to Affaire A Suivre (NZ) (Astern) who won last season’s Group One Australasian Oaks (2000m) and Listed Port Adelaide Guineas (1800m), plus Laure Me In (Ad Valorem) who has won eight races and more than A$750,000, headed by the Listed Scone Cup (1600m). A notable member of the Wentwood Grange draft is Lot 187, a colt by champion sire Proisir. The dam of this colt is Leigh Valley (NZ) (Bianconi), who won at Group Three level and has been represented by four winners including Group One winner Valley Girl (NZ) (Mastercraftsman). Lot 210 is the only yearling in the Karaka 2024 catalogue by champion racehorse and superb Juddmonte stallion Kingman. This colt is out of a Camelot mare whose half-sister Many Colours (Green Desert) is the dam of three stakes winners including Group One 1000 Guineas (1600m) heroine Mother Earth (Zoffany). Highline Thoroughbreds offer Lot 224, an I Am Invincible colt who is a half-brother to the Group One winner Seabrook (NZ) (Hinchinbrook). Prima Park will offer Lot 229, a Contributer filly who is a full-sister to the Group One Randwick Guineas (1600m) winner Lion’s Roar (NZ). Lot 238 is a colt by the Blue Diamond-winning freshman sire Tagaloa. This colt is the first foal out of Group One New Zealand Oaks (2400m) winner Miss Sentimental (NZ) (Reliable Man). Group One Robert Sangster Stakes winner Ruthless Dame (NZ) Book 1, Day Two (Monday January 29) Early on Day Two, Curraghmore’s Lot 247 is a filly by Ocean Park (NZ) and is a half-sister to the Group One New Zealand Derby (2400m) winner Asterix (NZ) (Tavistock). Lot 261 comes from the draft of Blandford Lodge and is by all-conquering racehorse and top sire So You Think (NZ). This colt is a half-brother to dual Group One winner Danzdanzdance (Mastercraftsman) and Listed winner Le Gai Soleil (NZ) (Tavistock). Inglewood Stud’s Lot 295 is a filly by Dundeel (NZ) out of the Snitzel mare Parmalove, making her a half-sister to New Zealand’s leading two-year-old Velocious (NZ) (Written Tycoon). From two starts, Velocious has recorded two highly impressive wins including last month’s Listed Counties Challenge Stakes (1100m). The Snitzel colt catalogued as Lot 360 from Haunui Farm is the first foal out of Rondinella (NZ) (Ocean Park). Herself a Group One placegetter on both sides of the Tasman, Rondinella is also a three-quarter-sister to Group Three winner Celebrity Dream (NZ) (Thorn Park) and a half-sister to multiple Group winners Vavasour (NZ) (Redoute’s Choice) and Vilanova (NZ) (Commands). Curraghmore’s colt by Ocean Park (NZ), going through the ring as Lot 366, is a half-brother to last season’s Group One Robert Sangster Stakes (1200m) winner and Group One Surround Stakes (1400m) runner-up Ruthless Dame (NZ) (Tavistock). Lot 399 is a colt from the first crop of multiple Group One-winning Galileo stallion Circus Maximus. This colt is being offered by Wentwood Grange and is a half-brother to Group One winner (She’s) Licketysplit (NZ) (Turn Me Loose). Lot 401 is a colt by Savabeel out of Shez Sinsational (NZ) (Ekraar), who won 12 races including four at Group One level. Shez Sinsational has followed up those racetrack heroics with three winners from her four foals to race so far, including the Group Two winner and Group One-placed Sinarahma (NZ) (Darci Brahma), along with the Group Three winner and Group One-placed House Of Cartier (Alamosa). Blandford Lodge will offer a colt by quality sire Almanzor as Lot 437. The colt is a half-brother to the triple Group One winner Lucia Valentina (NZ) (Savabeel), who in turn is the dam of the Group One-placed Luella Cristina (Snitzel). The Proisir filly catalogued as Lot 480 is a half-sister to four black-type performers, headed by last season’s Group One Sistema Stakes (1200m) winner Ulanova (NZ) (Santos) and the Listed winner Steal My Kisses (I Am Invincible). Ardsley Stud present Lot 637, a full sister to dual Group One winner Sierra Sue (NZ) Book 1, Day Three (Tuesday January 30) The quality yearlings continue to come in quick succession on Book 1’s final day, including an early highlight with Lot 483. The colt will be offered by Ardsley Stud and is a half-brother to their Group One Australian Oaks (2400m) and New Zealand Oaks (2400m) heroine Pennyweka (NZ) (Satono Aladdin). Lot 501 is a colt by Ocean Park (NZ) out of the Group Two-winning Underthemoonlight (NZ) (El Hermano), whose only foal to race so far is last season’s Group One Levin Classic (1600m) winner Romancing The Moon (NZ) (El Roca). Waikato Stud offers a Savabeel filly as Lot 549, with a pedigree page soaked in high-quality black type. Close relatives include Group One winners Espiona (Extreme Choice), Glamour Puss (NZ) (Tale Of The Cat), Vision And Power (NZ) (Carnegie) and Steps In Time (Danehill Dancer). Woburn Farm’s draft features Lot 553, one of only three yearlings in the catalogue by Written Tycoon. This colt is a half-brother to the Group One New Zealand Derby (2400m) winner Rocket Spade (Fastnet Rock). Lot 599 will be offered by Phoenix Park and is by Circus Maximus out of Bak Da Chief (NZ) (Chief Bearhart). That makes the colt a half-brother to the super-talented dual Group One winner Te Akau Shark (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle). From the draft of Ardsley Stud, Lot 637 is a full-sister to the dual Group One winner Sierra Sue (NZ) (Darci Brahma). Wentwood Grange’s filly catalogued as Lot 654 is a full-sister to the Group One Victoria Derby (2500m) winner Manzoice (Almanzor). Lot 668 is a Savabeel colt from the draft of Hallmark Stud. He is a full-brother to the Group One Sistema Stakes (1200m) and $1m Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m) winner Cool Aza Beel (NZ) (Savabeel). The Hello Youmzain filly catalogued as Lot 679 is a half-sister to the dual Group One winner Mustang Valley (NZ) (Vanbrugh) from Windsor Park Stud. Book 2 The enormously high standard of yearlings available during Karaka 2024 continues into the Book 2 session, which features siblings to 26 black-type winners and the progeny of 37 stakes-performed mares. Book 2 will commence Wednesday 31 January and Friday 2 February from 11am Lot 683 is a half-sister to the Group One Australian Oaks (2400m) placegetter Perfect Rhyme (Poet’s Voice). The Derryn colt catalogued as Lot 761 is a full-brother to last season’s Group One New Zealand Oaks (2400m) runner-up Mischief Managed (NZ). Lot 765 is a Turn Me Loose half-brother to the multiple Listed winner and Group One Tarzino Trophy (1400m) placegetter Helena Baby (NZ) (Guillotine). Lot 805 is a Derryn half-brother to the three-time Listed winner and Group One Thorndon Mile (1600m) placegetter Lightning Jack (NZ) (Per Incanto). A colt by Puccini (NZ) going through the ring as Lot 830 is a full-brother to the Group One Queensland Oaks (2200m) placegetter Le Villi (NZ). A filly from the Cambria Park draft, catalogued as Lot 888, is a half-sister to Group Two winner Daqiansweet Junior (NZ) (Sweet Orange), who also finished fifth and sixth in the last two runnings of the Melbourne Cup (3200m). Lot 949 is a half-sister to the Group One Australian Oaks (2400m) placegetter Premise (NZ) (Contributer) by Eminent. American bloodlines are available through Lot 979, offered by Ainsley Downs Stud. The Dirty Work colt is out of the Listed-winning mare Spirited Away (Awesome Again), who is the dam of seven winners including two at stakes level in the US. Lot 1018 is a Redwood half-brother to the Group One-placed Trojan Warrior (NZ) (Postponed). Haunui Farm’s Lot 1019 is by Belardo out of Group One-placed Tsarina Belle (NZ) (Stravinsky), the dam of Listed winner La Flora Belle (NZ) (Iffraaj). Tsarina Belle is also a half-sister to Meleka Belle (NZ) (Iffraaj), who is the dam of the incredible Group One-winning machine Melody Belle (NZ) (Commands), along with the multiple black-type winner Tutukaka (NZ) (Tavistock). Lot 1051 is a half-brother to stakes performer Xpression (NZ) (Showcasing), the dam of the Listed winner Rhetorical (NZ) (Snitzel). Book 2 also features the progeny of the siblings to more than 30 Group One winners, including the likes of Lizzie L’Amour (NZ) (Zabeel), Bonham (Per Incanto), Lion Tamer (NZ) (Storming Home), Explosive Jack (NZ) (Jakkalberry), Champagne (NZ) (Zabeel) and Te Akau Shark (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle). New Zealand Bloodstock’s 98th National Yearling Sale Series will take place from Sunday 28 January through to Friday 2 February at the Karaka Sales Centre. Continuing NZB’s traditional sale format, Book 1 runs from Sunday 28 January until Tuesday 30 January from 10am (NZT) each day, followed by Book 2 between Wednesday 31 January and Friday 2 February from 11am (NZT) each day. The stage is set for a week-long thoroughbred extravaganza in Auckland, kicking off with an extraordinary TAB Karaka Millions race day at the new and improved Ellerslie Racecourse on Saturday 27 January. The six-race card now carries total stakes of $4.45m, headed by the $1m TAB Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m), the $1.5m TAB Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m) and the all-new $1m Elsdon Park Aotearoa Classic (1600m) for four-year-olds. All yearlings purchased at Karaka 2024 are eligible for the Karaka Millions Series. View the full article

Adam I Am made quite the impression with his two eye-catching wins over spring and trainer Glenn Old said he has returned a more furnished animal ahead of summer racing. The four-year-old gelding broke through for his maiden win in emphatic style at Matamata in May when winning by five-lengths, and doubled his win tally a month later at Hastings. He has since had a freshen-up and Old is looking forward to tackling the big prizemoney on offer this summer with the son of Almanzor. “He had a bit of a break after Hastings and he has matured up yet again, he looks great,” Old said. “He is going to be a really big horse. He is bordering 16.3 (hands) now and has put on 20kg since Hastings.” Old, who purchased Adam I Am as a yearling at Karaka for $100,000, has taken a patient approach with the gelding, and he is hoping to reap those rewards in the coming months. “We are going a bit like the old ways, letting him mature up before we put the pressure on,” he said. Adam I Am will have his first summer outing in the Stella Artois 1500 Championship Qualifier (1200m) at Pukekohe on Saturday, with his summer programme hinging on the result. “He is in good order. He is a naturally fit horse and doesn’t take a lot. We will just take it one race at a time and analyse each race,” Old said. “The only concern (about the Stella Artois 1500 Championship Final) would be the back-up of 16 days, but he needs to do things really well on Saturday to do that. “There is a lot of money around this summer. There are a couple of those $350,000 races deep in the summer we can look at.” The $1 million Elsdon Park Aotearoa Classic (1600m) at Ellerslie January 27 is another big carrot Old is contemplating, but he said he may bypass the rich feature In favour of some softer targets a month later. I have kept an open mind about that (Aotearoa Classic). If Legarto and Prowess go there, I think I will avoid them. There is no rush at this stage,” he said. Old could also be chasing a berth in the $350,000 Sir Patrick Hogan Karapiro Classic (1600m) with last start victor Choose ‘Em Big. “Choose ‘Em Big looks quite promising. He is a big horse as well,” Old said. “He is going to Te Rapa on December 23. If he won that he will qualify for that MAAT mile in February worth $350,000.” View the full article