Wandering Eyes

The New York Racing Association (NYRA) announced Dec. 3 that America's Day at the Races, the acclaimed national telecast produced by NYRA in partnership with FOX Sports, will expand its coverage of the 2023-24 meet at Oaklawn Park.View the full article

Jockey James Graham reached the 3,000 career-win milestone Dec. 3, piloting Big Chief Racing and Rocker O Ranch's Vortex to victory for trainer Keith Desormeaux in the second race at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots. View the full article

Jockey James Graham landed the 3,000th win of his career Dec. 3.View the full article

Conglomerate, the most overlooked of trainer Mark Casse's three entries in the CA$150,000 Valedictory Stakes (G3) finished on top in Woodbine's final graded stakes of the season Dec. 3.View the full article

Online bookmakers have released their racing promotions for Monday, December 4, including several great bonus back offers. The top Australian racing promotions for December 4, 2023, include: Today’s best horse racing promotions Neds Toolbox Check your Neds Toolbox for daily Price Boosts, Bet Backs, Back Ups and much more. Neds T&C’s apply. Login to Neds to Claim Promo 10% Boosted Winnings for all races at Queanbeyan Get 10% Boosted Winnings paid in BONUS CASH up to $100 (including SRM). First Bet Only. T&Cs apply Login to PickleBet to Claim Promo Daily Racing Rewards Bonus Backs, Reboost, Multi Boosts & More. Check Vault for eligibility. Fixed odds win bets only. Limits may apply. Login to UniBet to Claim Promo BoomBet Daily Race Returns Use your daily Race Returns to back a runner in ANY RACE you want* and if your horse doesn’t win but finishes in the specified positions, you get your stake back as a bonus bet. 18+ Gamble responsibly. Can be used across any race and code unless specified in customer’s BoomBox. Fix odds, win bets only. Max bonus $50. Login to BoomBet to Claim Promo How does horsebetting.com.au source its racing bonus offers? HorseBetting has reviewed the top horse racing bookmakers in Australia and has unveiled exclusive thoroughbred bonus promotions and specials for Monday, December 4, 2023. These horse racing promotions persist almost daily, showcasing the commitment of Australia’s top horse racing bookmakers. If one bookmaker lacks a promotion, rest assured that another is presenting enticing promotional offers in the realm of gallops. HorseBetting.com.au is your go-to source for the most lucrative horse racing bookmaker bonuses every day. Gain the most value out of your punting endeavours with bookie bonuses with the most competitive horse racing odds available for each race. It’s imperative to note that these thoroughbred racing promotion offers cater exclusively to existing customers. Accessing these special promotions and claiming the bookmaker’s offers requires logging in to each online bookmaker’s platform. For those seeking races and horses to leverage their horse betting bookmaker bonus bets, HorseBetting offers a valuable resource with its daily free racing tips. Stay informed, stay strategic, and make the most of your horse racing experience with these exclusive promotions. More horse racing promotions View the full article

Highfield Princess is a high class sprinter. A top sprint rarely takes place without Highfield Princess and, in missing this year’s Breeders’ Cup, her trainer John Quinn hopes she can give Great Britain a first win in the Group 1 Hong Kong Sprint (1200m). It is a race local horses have dominated by winning all but six of the 23 runnings since 1999 and in that time the likes of Borderlescott, Sole Power, Society Rock and Bated Breath have tried and failed for Great Britain. The most recent British runner, Sir Dancealot, finished last in 2018. However, Highfield Princess is no ordinary sprinter. Having graduated from an initial handicap mark of 57 as a three-year-old, she has become one of the most versatile sprinters Great Britain has seen for many years, winning Group 1s from 1000m to 1300m. A golden spell last autumn saw her win flagship races in three different countries – the Group 1 Prix de Maurice de Gheest (1300m) in France, Group 1 Nunthorpe Stakes (1000m) in England and Group 1 Flying Five (1000m) in Ireland – in just 36 days. She ended her campaign with a respectable fourth in the Group 1 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (1100m) at Keeneland, and Quinn believes choosing not to travel to the United States of America this year will pay off on his first visit to the Hong Kong International Races. “It was a difficult decision but we purposely skipped it in the hope we could give her the best chance to get to Hong Kong in top form,” Quinn said of his star, who arrived at Sha Tin on Saturday evening. “She had a hard race last time but she had a very easy week afterwards and she’s a big mare, so she doesn’t need too much time to recover between races. “We were always thinking this year was going to be a lighter campaign. Her first run was in May and she turned up at every big gig all year and ran brilliantly.” Those performances included a second and third in the two top-level sprints, the Group 1 King’s Stand (1000m) and Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes (1200m), at Royal Ascot in June, while her first win of the season came in the Group 2 King George Stakes (1000m) at Glorious Goodwood in August. The same month, she came within a length of becoming a consecutive winner of the Nunthorpe, and while an awkward start put paid to her chance in the Flying Five at the Curragh in September, she still persevered to finish fifth. The resilient mare put that effort behind her with a brave success in the Group 1 Prix de l’Abbaye (1000m) three weeks later, which came on good to soft ground, but Quinn believes the conditions at Sha Tin will play more to her strengths. “If you look in the form book you’ll have to say her best form is on fast ground,” he said. “She ran two wonderful races at Royal Ascot four days apart on quick going, and the ground when she won the Prix Maurice de Gheest was much quicker than the official description. “I’ve been looking at racing from Sha Tin and it looks a beautifully manicured track.” The trainer is also confident Highfield Princess can adapt to however the race will be run, with Thursday’s official draw set to inform plans for jockey Jason Hart. “During the race we’ll let her go forward and find her feet,” Quinn said. “She’s shown she doesn’t have to make the running, she’s very amenable and she can be ridden anywhere. That’s a great thing in a racehorse because if you’re one-dimensional the opposition knows how to beat you.” While retaining belief in his mare, Quinn is respectful of the local opposition and their stranglehold on the race. He said: “I saw Lucky Sweynesse win the Jockey Club Sprint and despite being tardy away he won nicely enough. There might be more to come from him. Wellington ran well and so did Victor The Winner. “They’re very good horses but she’s an unbelievable mare. Everything’s got to go right but I’m not afraid and she’s not out of place. Horses like her don’t come along very often and she’s been phenomenal.” More horse racing news View the full article

Alexis Badel celebrates the win of Ping Hai Galaxy. Chasing breakthrough Hong Kong International Races (HKIR) success on Sunday, Alexis Badel laid down a positive marker for the showpiece meeting when the Frenchman posted a confidence-boosting double at Sha Tin. Booked to ride defending champion Wellington in the Group 1 Hong Kong Sprint (1200m), Champion Dragon in the Group 1 Hong Kong Cup (2000m) and Five G Patch in the Group 1 Hong Kong Vase (2400m), Badel scored with Ping Hai Galaxy in Class 2 The Peninsula Golden Jubilee Challenge Cup Handicap (1200m, dirt) for John Size and aboard David Hall’s Summit Cheers in the Class 3 Mody Handicap (1000m). “It feels great,” Badel said. “I knew I had some good rides recently, so my momentum was good and I am glad that I was able to deliver today. Ping Hai Galaxy made my life very easy, the other one (Summit Cheers) is a bit more difficult because you need the right timing on him. “Everything next week is set up pretty well for me.” With 10 wins for the season, Badel notched his second double of the campaign as he seeks HKIR glory at the weekend but he is yet register a win from six HKIR rides. Badel attributed Ping Hai Galaxy’s victory to the grey’s exceptional speed. “It was brilliant, the horse made it look so easy because he’s got that fabulous gate speed and obviously there’s not many horses that can get these horses off the bridle and he’s one of them – he won pretty comfortably, actually. He’s a lovely horse and he made my life so much easier,” Badel said. Badel’s brace was matched by six-time Hong Kong champion jockey Zac Purton, who partnered impressive David Hayes-trained newcomer Ka Ying Rising and Size’s Pins Prince in the Class 3 Salisbury Handicap (1400m). With 34 victories this season, Purton leads the 2023/24 championship by 12 from Karis Teetan (22). Lyle Hewitson employed dashing tactics on Yellowfin, who cruised to a three-and-a-quarter length margin in the Class 3 Humphreys Handicap (1650m, dirt) for Francis Lui – who also clinched a double. “It’s going to look like now he’s an out and out dirt horse but he won like this in Class 4,” Hewitson said. “He’s just got that smooth, perfect trip where if he can go through each gear with less pressure in his own time when he can breathe, then he’s capable of a performance like this. “He enjoyed the dirt but it was more about the way he raced and when they came and matched him at the 600 (metres) and got to his girth, it just sort of put the light switch back on and I opened my hands and he just got stronger. It was a win full of merit and the team did a good job between runs for him to bounce back like this.” Lui slotted his brace when Holy Lake landed the Class 4 Nathan Handicap (1400m) as his former protégé Pierre Ng continued an extraordinary start to the season when Starship Eighty became the second-season trainer’s 21st individual winner of the campaign. Winless in 18 previous starts, Starship Eighty provided Ng with his 28th victory of the season with success in the Class 5 Ashley Handicap (1650, dirt) under Karis Teetan. Hayes unveiled talented sprinter Ka Ying Rising with in an impressive debut in the Class 4 Hankow Handicap (1200m) under Purton. “He’s done everything right at the trials and he seems to have a good brain, which he showed again today mid-race when he took a nice sit and then did what he had to do,” Purton said. Hayes said: “It’s a relief to see him do what I thought he could do. I thought he was good, and you have to hold your tongue a bit until they do it in a race. “I think he’ll be able to compete in Class 3, for sure. I would rather him run in Class 3 with a light weight because he’s only three. His weakness is that he’s still a bit immature with his eating. I’ll get him eating well over the next two weeks, and then I’ll look for a race in probably a month.” Judy’s Great, a three-year-old by War Decree, snared the Class 4 Middle Handicap (1200m dirt) for James McDonald and Danny Shum as the jockey and trainer covet successive wins in the Hong Kong Cup with Romantic Warrior on 10 December. “He’s a nice horse and he’s still only young,” Shum said. “Today, there was no bias on the dirt, so he was able to do a good job and win. I’ll take my time with him.” Strive For Glory, who finished fourth at Happy Valley on Wednesday night, emerged victorious on the four-day turnaround for Chris So in the Class 5 Cameron Handicap (1200m, dirt) under Keagan De Melo. Former British galloper All Are Mine – a maiden winner at Windsor for Brian Meehan in October, 2022 – broke through for his first Hong Kong triumph for Tony Cruz and Angus Chung with success in the Class 4 Carnarvon Handicap (1800m, dirt). More horse racing news View the full article

Stay Hot rebounded from a 10th-place effort in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf with a late-flying victory in the GIII Cecil B. DeMille S. at Del Mar Sunday. The bay ridgling taken in hand and angled over from his outside post to be three wide into the first turn and was near the back of the field through an opening quarter in :22.00. The field bunched up approaching the far turn as the half went up in :46.30 and Stay Hot was last on the bend before darting into contention and coming some eight wide into the stretch. He uncorked a powerful late kick to just get in front in the final strides. “I thought he'd be a little more forwardly placed,” admitted winning trainer Peter Eurton. “As it turned out that nine hole was a little bit of a detriment, but it also helped him get outside, which is probably more comfortable.” Of his charge's wide rally into the stretch, Eurton said, “That was hard to take, but he seemed like he had something left and it was a fight to the wire. I'm exhausted.” Stay Hot opened his career with two six-furlong efforts over the main track at Del Mar, finishing third Aug. 5 and sixth Sept. 2. He moved to the lawn for a stylish maiden win over one mile at Santa Anita Oct. 7 and was thrown into the deep end when beaten 5 1/2 lengths a month ago on Breeders' Cup weekend in Arcadia. Pedigree Notes: Stay Hot is the fifth graded winner for Airdrie stallion Summer Front (War Front). His half-sister Prerequisite (Upstart) won this year's GII Wonder Again S. and was second in the GI Fasig-Tipton Belmont Oaks Invitational. Etsu has a yearling colt by Complexity who sold to Greg Foley for $95,000 at this year's Fasig-Tipton October sale. The mare produced a colt by Upstart this year and was not bred back. The winner's third dam, Fly North, produced champion Farda Amiga (Broad Brush). From the back of the pack. Stay Hot charges down the turf course to claim the Grade III Cecil B DeMille Stakes under @Antonio1Fresu. pic.twitter.com/jAyQOZY7Zo — Del Mar Racetrack (@DelMarRacing) December 3, 2023 Sunday, Del Mar CECIL B. DEMILLE S.-GIII, $102,000, Del Mar, 12-3, 2yo, 1mT, 1:35.89, fm. 1–STAY HOT, 120, r, 2, by Summer Front 1st Dam: Etsu, by Smart Strike 2nd Dam: Forever Beautiful, by Giant's Causeway 3rd Dam: Fly North, by Pleasant Colony 1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. ($130,000 Ylg '22 FTKJUL). O-Burns Racing LLC, Exline-Border Racing LLC, SAF Racing, The Estate of Brereton C. Jones and William Dan Hudock; B-Brereton C. Jones (KY); T-Peter Eurton; J-Antonio Fresu. $60,000. Lifetime Record: 5-2-0-1, $116,940. *1/2 to Prerequisite (Upstart), GSW & GISP, $271,000. Werk Nick Rating: A+++. *Triple Plus* Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. 2–Rothschild, 120, c, 2, Uncle Mo–Still There, by Union Rags. 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. ($700,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP). O-SF Racing LLC, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables LLC, Dianne Bashor, Robert E. Masterson, Waves Edge Capital LLC, Catherine Donovan and Tom Ryan; B-PTK, LLC (KY); T-Tim Yakteen. $20,000. 3–Miracle Mark, 120, c, 2, Constitution–Melody's Spirit, by Scat Daddy. 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. O-Old Bones Racing Stable, LLC and Slam Dunk Racing; B-Nick Cosato (KY); T-Philip D'Amato. $12,000. Margins: NK, HD, 1HF. Odds: 2.30, 23.30, 6.40. Also Ran: Lord Bullingdon, Charge for Gold, Deadpan, Always On Cay, Invincible, Just a Guess. Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. The post Stay Hot Rebounds Off Breeders’ Cup Loss To Take Cecil B. DeMille appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

James Graham earned his 3,000th career win when he piloted Vortex to victory in the second race at Fair Grounds Sunday. “It's quite emotional actually,” Graham said. “I came here in 2002 and all I ever wanted was a shot. I wish my mom was still alive to see this. Thank you to everybody who has ever put me on a winner throughout my whole career. This is all because of you guys. Thank you to my wife. If it wasn't for her, I wouldn't be where I am. Fair Grounds has been good to me over the years. I've made a lot of friends and lost a lot of friends. Racing is a life and we are all a big family. Thank you to everybody.” Graham recorded one win in his native Ireland before launching his career in the U.S. where his first victory came at River Downs on July 1, 2003 aboard B.J. Star for trainer Allan Shapoff in just his 12th mount. Later that year, his first Fair Grounds victory came aboard High Octave for trainer Ronny Werner. With 1,340 wins, Graham is the third winningest rider at Fair Grounds since 1986, behind Ronald Ardoin and Robby Albarado. “This is special for me doing it [at Fair Grounds],” Graham said. “My career took off here. When I first got here in 2003 and started riding, this is the meet that got the ball rolling for me. Look at the guys I started riding with here. Gerard [Melancon], Robby [Albarado], Shane Sellars, E.J. Perrodin–I got educated here. I've got a couple more goals at this track that I want to accomplish, so I'm banging on the door and I'm young, fit and healthy.” The 44-year-old has won over 47 graded stakes, including Fair Grounds victories aboard 135-1 shot Ive Struck a Nerve in the 2013 GII Risen Star S., 28-1 shot Call Me Midnight in the 2022 GIII Lecomte S., and 7-1 shot Ron the Greek in the 2010 Lecomte. The post Graham Scores 3,000th Win at Fair Grounds appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

This past weekend, Barry and Shari Eisaman of Eico Ventures, the breeding arm of their Central Florida operation, saw Dr B draw away in the Go for Wand Stakes (G3) Dec. 2, giving the 5-year-old Liam's Map mare a repeat victory on the Aqueduct oval. View the full article

America's Day at the Races, the national telecast produced by New York Racing Association in partnership with FOX Sports, will expand its coverage of racing from Oaklawn Park when the Arkansas track opens for its 2023-24 meet Friday. As part of a multi-year agreement, America's Day at the Races will feature daily analysis and handicapping of Oaklawn Park racing as well on-site coverage from NYRA television personalities throughout opening weekend, Smarty Jones weekend, Rebel weekend, Arkansas Derby weekend, Apple Blossom weekend and Oaklawn H. weekend. Live racing returns to Oaklawn Park Friday and continues through May 4. The meet is highlighted by the $1.5-million GI Arkansas Derby Mar. 30. Additionally, NYRA and Oaklawn Park will offer a new Cross Country Pick 5 wager each day when both Aqueduct Racetrack and Oaklawn Park conduct racing. The special wager will first be offered Dec. 8. The Cross Country Pick 5 requires bettors to pick the winner of five select races from Aqueduct and Oaklawn. The minimum bet for the multi-track, multi-race wager is 50 cents. Wagering on the Cross Country Pick 5 is available on ADW platforms and at simulcast facilities across the country with each day featuring a mandatory payout of the net pool. For the complete broadcast schedule, visit https://www.nyra.com/aqueduct/racing/tv-schedule. The post America’s Day at the Races Expands Oaklawn Coverage appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Trainer Joe Sharp scored a natural double winning the two richest races on the Claiming Crown card—the $150,000 Emerald with Runway Magic and the $200,000 Jewel with Money Supply.View the full article

With the foal sales at Goffs and Tattersalls confined to the rear view mirror, perhaps now is the time to get a good gauge on the young sires coming through. Bragging rights belong to St Mark's Basilica (Fr), who topped the December Foal Sale at Tattersalls when a filly by the multiple Group 1-winning stallion out of Oaks winner Talent (GB) sold for 575,000gns. The St Mark's Basilica sale-topper was consigned by Ashbrittle Stud and bought by agent Jill Lamb on behalf of Newsells Park Stud, with the former labelling the filly as the nicest foal that she had seen by the stallion. Add that result to a 180,000gns colt to Camas Park Stud, a filly to Ronald Rauscher for 175,000gns and a colt to Yeomanstown Stud for 130,000gns, it's fair to say St Mark's Basilica stamped his authority as a force to be reckoned with. Space Blue (Ire) was the other big name whose first foals were eagerly anticipated at Goffs and Tattersalls. A colt by the Kildangan-based stallion caught the attention of Baroda Stud at €140,000 at Goffs while the triple Group 1 winner enjoyed solid trade at Tattersalls with a filly making 95,000gns and two colts selling for 80,000gns apiece. 'Yeomanstown Don't Come Up With A Bad One Too Often' Peter Kelly summed Supremacy (Ire) up at Goffs when, after selling his half-brother by the stallion to Group 3-winning juvenile Caught U Looking for €180,000, he said, 'Yeomanstown don't come up with a bad horse too often.' The early signs are that the O'Callaghans could be on to a decent one with Supremacy with 31 foals selling at Goffs for an average of €30,952. The Six-Figure Lots For Starman Three foals–two colts and a filly–by Starman (GB) have cleared six figures between Goffs and Tattersalls. Two of those were snapped up by Tally-Ho Stud, where the Group 1-winning sprinter will stand at €10,000 for 2024. Jimmy Murphy of Redpender Stud was another notable supporter of the stallion when signing for a Starman colt for €120,000 at Goffs. 'Flash' Conroy, Timmy Hyde of Camas Park Stud and the Gleeson brothers were other notable buyers. Vega Looking Lucky One of the stories to emerge from Goffs was the positivity at which the market met Lucky Vega (Ire). The Group 1-winning juvenile, who stands at the Irish National Stud, achieved sales of €75,000, €72,000 and €65,000. The support continued at Tattersalls last week with Tinnakill House Stud selling a half-sister to Prix de l'Abbaye runner-up Good Vibe (Ire) (Dream Ahead) for 82,000gns. Nando The Surprise Package Fellow Irish National Stud-based stallion Nando Parrado (GB) could be viewed as something of a surprise package. Standing for just €6,000, he achieved a rock-solid average of €17,800 for 20 foals sold at Goffs with three foals clearing €30,000. A 20,500gns average for six foals sold at Tattersalls represented another good innings for the son of Kodiac (GB) who makes plenty of appeal to breeders operating on a budget. Alkumait Packing A Punch Similar comment could apply to Alkumait (GB), the Showcasing (GB) half-brother to 2,000 Guineas winner Chaldean (GB) (Frankel {GB}), who stands for €5,000. Two foals by Alkumait sold for €32,000 and €30,000 at Goffs, with top judges Shane and Alex Power of Tradewinds signing for the latter. Lope Y Looking Good A 100,000gns colt capped a memorable debut performance for the foals by Lope Y Fernandez (Ire). Standing at the National Stud for £8,500, Lope Y Fernandez is averaging more than double that fee on 50 foals sold in Britain and Ireland. He has earned the plaudits of some top judges and, along with a 100,000gns colt sold at Tattersalls, Kelly Equine also signed for a colt by the stallion for 78,000gns. Top Judges Row In Behind Pinatubo Of the stallions with their first runners next year, it seems as though Pinatubo (Ire) is the one that the majority are rowing in behind. It was a fair achievement for Pinatubo to finish third in the sires table at Tattersalls in terms of aggregate. Granted, Pinatubo was well-represented with 14 foals selling throughout the week, but perhaps the metric to concentrate on here is that his average of 115,500gns and aggregate of 1,617,000gns is greater than what the brilliant first-season sire Blue Point (Ire) achieved through the very same representation. For Blue Point's 14 foals, he cleared an average of 109,929gns and an average of 1,539,000gns. Could Pinatubo chart a similar path next season? Strong Support For Ghaiyyath The strength behind Ghaiyyath (Ire) continued last week, with 10 foals selling for an average of 97,500gns, but most interesting was the support from within. Godolphin signed for just four foals last week, two of which were by Ghaiyyath–a colt and a filly respectively to the tune of 540,000gns. That followed on from a bumper performance from Ghaiyyath at Goffs where 23 foals sold for just shy of a €50,000 average and an aggregate of €1,127,500 which made him the second-highest performing stallion at the Irish sale. The figures held up at Tattersalls last week with 10 foals selling for an average of 97,500gns. It's probably an understatement to describe the Darley operation to be in good health with a view towards next season. Rare has there been a more exciting time for the outfit. Earthlight Adds To The Excitement At Darley Earthlight (Ire) adds to that excitement at Darley. There were just six foals by the stallion at Tattersalls and they averaged 63,800gns. But the real story was how punters couldn't get enough of foals by Earthlight at Goffs with Yeomanstown Stud, Camas Park, Ballyphilip and Manister House Stud all featuring on the list of buyers where 13 sold for an average of €56,770. Good Vibes Behind Mohaather Of the other stallions with runners next year, Mohaather (GB) is one who continues to earn the respect in the ring. Not only does Shadwell have eight horses by the Group 1-winning miler to look forward to next season, but plenty of shrewd buyers snapped up yearlings by Mohaather this year. The foals were equally well-received with Mark Dwyer, Eddie O'Leary, 'Flash' Conroy and Shadwell themselves signing for foals by the big-walking stallion at Tattersalls. The post Young Sires: Who’s Backing Who To Be A Success In 2024? appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Joe R. Peacock Jr.'s multiple graded stakes winner Senor Buscador will be pointed to the $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes (G1) Jan. 27 at Gulfstream Park following his runner-up finish in the Dec. 2 Cigar Mile Handicap (G2).View the full article

By Adam Hamilton Star Kiwi-owned trotting mare Queen Elida can bounce-back from a shock opening round Brisbane Inter Dominion defeat in Tuesday’s second round of heats. Trainer Brent Lilley suspects his stable star “probably tied-up a bit” when she was surprisingly run down by emerging Victorian trotter Plymouth Chubb in the second of last Friday night’s trotting heats. Queen Elida looked all over a winning rounding the final bend when she sailed away from her rivals, but stand-in driver Cam Hart got Plymouth Chubb into clear air and he blasted past the leader to win easily. It was the biggest shock of opening night with Queen Elida sent out a $1.08 favourite. “She’s fine this morning. She at up everything,” Lilley said. “She might have just tied-up a little … the run will do her the world of good.” It’s the second time in as many runs Queen Elida has been rundown when leading, but the first was by superstar Just Believe at Bendigo. All eyes will now be on Queen Elida to bounce back on Tuesday where, importantly, she has drawn well again over 2138m in barrier three. While many thought there wasn’t much between Queen Elida and Just Believe going into the series, the gap appeared to widen considerably after their night one deeds. Defending champion Just Believe was barely out of first gear when he cruised home to win the third heat, making it two dominant wins from as many starts since returning from hid mid-year Swedish campaign. “He’s in the zone,” co-trainer and driver Greg Sugars smiled. “He did that easily tonight. It was an ideal start to the series.” Life gets a bit more interesting for Just Believe from a very awkward inside back row draw (gate eight) in Tuesday’s second round heats. Adding to the mix is first night revelation Plymouth Chubb has gate two and the early speed to try and take the lead. Master horsemen Chris Lang and Anthony Butt were both in awe of Just Believe on opening night. “I said before the series he reminded me of Sundons Gift after I took him to Sweden (in 2009),” Lang said. “He came back much better and was almost unbeatable for the next 18 months, it could be history repeating itself with Just Believe.” Butt looked further back to when former Kiwi stars Pride Of Petite and Chiola Cola went to Sweden. “They both came back and raced better than they ever had back home … it’s not just one horse to do it,” he said. “He (Just Believe) has just done it so easily in those two runs back. It’s hard to see how they can beat him.” Lang’s hopes to qualify his emerging five-year-old Ollivici and Bullion Harry for the final. “It was great to kick the series off with a win for Ollivici, especially now he’s drawn wide (gate seven) in the second round of heats,” he said. “He should just keep building, but he’ll struggle to beat Just Believe the way he’s racing. I’m hoping this series will help make Ollivici.” View the full article

By Jonny Turner Alabar’s gift that keeps giving delivered again when Franco Indie took out the Akaroa Cup at Motukarara on Saturday. The All Stars pacer justified his hot favouritism when adding his first victory on grass to his impressive résumé. Franco Indie has breeding giants Alabar and Nevele R Stud among its big group of owners. The two studs stand the pacer’s sire Always B Miki, and they backed the stallion by purchasing Franco Indie as a yearling. A standout two and three-year-old, the pacer now looks ready to step back into the open class big leagues after producing back-to-back wins. “He is a lovely horse; it is good to have him back,” Alabar NZ general manager Graeme Henley said. “Obviously, he was a pretty special horse as a two-year-old and then he was a favourite for some of the biggest races as a three-year-old.” “He has had a few problems, to the point that at one stage having a six-month spell was the best option.” “It has taken a while, but it is wonderful to have him back.” As he has done throughout his career, Franco Indie added to a solid season’s tally for Always B Miki with his Akaroa Cup win. The sire is sitting second on the two-year-old pacing sires premiership in New Zealand, while in sixth place in the overall standings. “Miki is having a really good year this year; it is good to see him leaving some really nice two and three-year-olds, while Aardies Express and Franco Indie are flying the flag among the older horses,” Henley said. “One thing about Miki is he has shown he can leave a top horse.” Always B Miki is second only to Art Major in New Zealand’s two-year-old pacing sires rankings. At the ripe age of 24, Art Major is producing some of his best form. “We hope he lives forever; he deserves to; he is just an amazing horse,” Henley said. “You could argue his current crop of three-year-olds, with horses like Merlin, are as good as any crop he has left.” “To do that at his age is incredible.” “And he has left some really nice two-year-olds like Cold Chisel and Our Shangri Lana.” “He has been a phenomenal horse to us, and as I say, we hope he can go on forever.” Art Major’s book in Australia is full and closed, and while he is effectively closed in New Zealand, breeders won’t be turned away at this later stage of the stud season. Henley said the reason for keeping a lid on the sire’s numbers was purely to look after Art Major in the twilight of his time in the breeding barn. View the full article

Jockey Geovanni Franco notched the 1,000th win of his career when his mount Miss Commander, who was second under the wire, was promoted to the victory in the second race at Del Mar Saturday. Asked if getting the milestone victory via DQ tarnished the achievement, Franco said with a smile, “It doesn't. I've won plenty of races by DQ and I'll take a winner any way they come.” Franco has been riding at Del Mar since 2017, with a year off in 2022 when he moved his tack back to the Midwest. He returned to Del Mar this summer and had 12 wins. He has added five more at the oceanside oval this fall. “It's truly humbling to have this 1,000th win at Del Mar,” Franco said. “To have been riding here the last five years makes it even better. I'll be happy to get many more.” Franco rode his first winner at Mexico City's Hipodromo de las Americas in 2009. He went to Canada later that year and rode at Hastings Park in Vancouver, British Columbia. In March of 2010 he came to Santa Anita and rode the rest of the winter meet before heading up to Golden Gate Fields. He rode in Northern California through much of 2011 before finishing the year at Turf Paradise where he was the leading rider in 2012 and 2013. He began branching out to other tracks in 2014, riding at Sunland Park, Santa Anita again, even Finger Lakes in New York and Presque Isle Downs in Erie, Pennsylvania. He settled in the Midwest in 2015, riding at Fair Grounds in New Orleans, Remington Park in Oklahoma and Canterbury Park in Minnesota. Runner-up aboard Lieutenant Dan in the 2021 GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint, Franco has recorded top-level victories aboard Fault in the 2018 GI Santa Margarita S. and with Secret Spice in the 2019 GI Beholder Mile. The post Franco Notches Career Win 1,000 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Joe R. Peacock Jr.'s multiple graded stakes-winner Senor Buscador will be pointed to the Jan. 27 $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) at Gulfstream Park following his runner-up finish in Saturday's Cigar Mile Handicap (G2).View the full article

The long-running battle to decide whether or not Justify (Scat Daddy) should have been disqualified from his win in the 2018 GI Santa Anita Derby seems to have come to a conclusion last week when the team representing Mick Ruis, the owner and trainer of runner-up Bolt d'Oro (Medaglia d'Oro), obtained an order from Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Mitchell L. Beckloff, directing the California Horse Racing Board Stewards to set aside their Dec. 9, 2020 decision and issue a new ruling disqualifying Justify from the 2018 Santa Anita Derby. With the ruling, Bolt d'Oro has been declared the winner. At issue was a report in the New York Times that revealed that Justify had tested positive for the substance scopolamine in the Santa Anita Derby. At the time, scopolamine was on a list of substances that, when found in a horses's system, required that the horse be disqualified. According to reports and Ruis's lawyer, the CHRB acted on recommendations from then-executive director Rick Baedeker and equine medical director Dr. Rick Arthur. It was their call that Justify should not be disqualified because the positive test was the result of contamination linked to jimson weed. Had the New York Times not broken the story some 17 months after the Santa Anita Derby, probably, no one would have ever known that the horse had tested positive. Once the story was brought to light, Ruis went to work and hired attorney Darrell Vienna. Ruis stood to make $400,000, the difference between first and second-place money in the $1-million Santa Anita Derby. There are, however, a few remaining questions: 1) Is this the final word or may there be still more appeals and fights in the courts? “There is the potential for appeal,” Vienna said. “My understanding of the judge's order is that the stewards must now issue an order to disqualify Justify. There's the potential that the stewards' ruling can't be appealed. That's kind of confusing because they're under the order of the court. Now, is there going to be an appeal to the judgment of the Superior Court judge. They could appeal to the stewards, the court, one or the other or both. Hopefully, there will be no more appeals and we can just move on.” 2) All of the qualifying points for the Kentucky Derby that Justify picked up came from the Santa Anita Derby. Had the California stewards disqualified him from that race and did so in a timely manner, he would not have been eligible to run in the Kentucky Derby and obviously wouldn't have won the Triple Crown. Do the owners of the horses who finished behind Justify in the Triple Crown races have a case and could, say, Good Magic (Curlin) eventually be declared the winner of the 2018 Derby? “I don't think so,” Vienna said. “I am aware of a case in California in which there was the appeal of a winner of a race who had subsequently been disqualified from a qualifying race that got him into the race he won. In that case, the California courts held that the horse's eligibility was determined at time of nomination and participation. Under those circumstances, I don't believe there will be any change in the order of the Kentucky Derby or the other Triple Crown races.” A spokesperson for Churchill Downs told Horseracing Nation that the track has no plans to alter the result of the 2018 Derby. 3) How did this ever become the mess that it did? And why didn't the CHRB follow its own rules? Vienna maintains that if the California Horse Racing Board followed it own rules the case would have been cut and dried and dealt with promptly. He maintains that the rules were simple and not open to interpretation. He says that any horse that tested positive for a prohibited substance had to be disqualified. “It's all very simple,” he said. “All they had to do was follow their own rules. There was never any real determination of what happened after the closed session. The closed session lacked finality and lacked all the indices of true decision making. There was no notice to the involved parties. There were no witnesses. All you had was Dr. Rick Arthur making the argument that scopolamine was the result of contamination. The problem is the rules in California at the time called for the disqualification of a horse who was positive for a prohibited substance that was in classes 2 through 3, which scopolamine was. They could have correctly absolved Mr. Baffert or any one else of any responsibility and still under law be required to disqualify the horse. That was the gist of our case. That's all we ever asked for. Our case was based solely on the fact that there was prohibited medication in that horse's system and, as a result of that, the rules called for the horse to be disqualified. I don't think it was very confusing at all.” 4) The process dragged on for some 4 1/2 years and if not for the New York Times report, it may never have been known that Justify tested plosive for the substance. Was the CHRB trying to sweep this under the rug? “I think that is the case,” Vienna said. “In one executive session, they were provided with one side of the story and they wanted it to go away. There is a process in California law that provides for dismissal of a complaint, but if you look at the history of the statute in California it really applies to charges against a trainer and not the dismissal of a disqualification. That would conflict with another statute in California that says that no horse can benefit if they are carrying a degree of a substance in his system. “Mick, like all of us is worn out, but he is pleased. This happened in 2018 and no one knew anything about it until 2019. That's a tremendously long journey for something. It could have been settled right away if horse racing board simply decided to follow their owns rules.” Can Full-Brothers Win the Derby Back to Back? With his win in the GII Remsen S., Dornoch (Good Magic) is on his way to the GI Kentucky Derby, where will try to pull off something that has never been done. He is a full-bother to GI 2023 Kentucky Derby winner Mage and siblings, either full-brothers or half-brothers, have never teamed up to win the Derby. To show just how difficult that feat is, take Secretariat. His dam, Somethingroyal, produced four foals who made it to the races after Secretariat. They combined to win three races with total earnings of $38,241. There have been a couple of dams who produced more than one win in a Triple Crown races. Thanks to research done by Randy Moss of NBC Sports, we know that the dam Leisure produced two Preakness winners in Royal Tourist (1908) and Holiday (1914). Better Than Honour was the dam of 2006 GI Belmont S. winner Jazil (Seeking the Gold) and 2007 winner Rags to Riches (A.P. Indy). As for Dornoch, a lot will have to go right for him to win the 2024 Derby, but at this point in the game, he's far ahead of where Mage was at the same point. The Remsen was Dornoch's fourth career start and with the Remsen, he has added a graded stakes win to his record. Mage didn't start until Jan. 28 of this 3-year-old year and had not won a stakes race coming into the Kentucky Derby. Noble Indy Makes It Home Remember the story of Noble Indy (Take Charge Indy), the winner of the 2018 GII Louisiana Derby? He never ran back to that race and wound up being sent to Puerto Rico, where racing can often lead to the worst possible outcomes. Well, Fred Hart, who owned the dam of Noble Indy, Noble Maz (Storm Boot) was determined to bring him back home. Working together with Caribbean Thoroughbred Aftercare Inc., he has made that happen and Noble Indy landed at Old Friends last week. It's worth noting that Mike Repole and WinStar Farms, who were two of his owners during his prime racing days, foot the costs required to transport the horse back to the U.S. It's good to see owners accept the responsibilities that come with providing a good life for their horses after their careers are over. The post The Week in Review: Takeaways from Justify-Scopolamine Verdict, and Other Thoughts appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Dornoch (Good Magic)'s determined victory in the GII Remsen S. Saturday at Aqueduct has Danny Gargan mapping out possible paths to next year's GI Kentucky Derby, but the trainer admitted his charge has plenty of growing up to do if he is to make it to Churchill Downs on the First Saturday of next May. Dornoch, who set swift fractions in the nine-furlong race Saturday, appeared defeated with a furlong to run when he bumped the rail and allowed Sierra Leone (Gun Runner) to surge past him. But Dornoch battled back along the inside and stuck his nose back in front in the final stride. “It's crazy. Usually when a horse hits the rail at the eighth pole like he did, they just stop running altogether,” said Gargan. “I can't believe he re-rallied after that. He did see the other horse and get running back at him, but hitting the rail knocked him off stride and then it took him a few jumps to get back going. I think if he doesn't hit the rail, he stays in front. I've never seen a horse get passed a length and then come back and win. It was a really good race.” Dornoch, a full-brother to this year's Derby winner Mage, will head south to winter at Palm Meadows with possible early 2024 targets including the GIII Withers S. at Aqueduct or the GII Fountain of Youth S. at Gulfstream Park, according to Gargan. “He'll tack walk for two or three weeks and then we'll figure it out from there,” said Gargan. “We'll probably see him around the Fountain of Youth. The Withers is always something you could win real easy if you wanted to win a race, it just depends who's where.” Of what he would like to see from the colt over the winter, Gargan said, “We need him to focus running. He kind of looks around playing a little bit, and that's why he hit the rail. He's got to grow up a lot, and he's still out there goofing off. He did dig in in this race in the end, but he kind of put himself in that situation running green early. I think if another horse is around him, he won't lose focus. What we'll probably do next time is bring him off the pace which he can do. He'll finish in the lane so he'll get a little more out of the race and mature a little bit from it.” The post Remsen Win Has Gargan Thinking Derby for Dornoch appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

At the conclusion of his racing career stakes-winning sprinter and Coolmore Stud Stakes (G1)-placed stallion prospect I Am Unstoppable (AUS) will stand at Widden Stud, which recently reached a deal to purchase the talented 3-year-old.View the full article

Lemon Pop popped right out of the gate, led the way, and easily won the Champions Cup (G1) at Chukyo Racecourse.View the full article

Multiple graded stakes winner Sun King (Charismatic–Clever But Costly, by Clever Trick), a retiree at Old Friends since 2017, was euthanized Saturday at Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital due to inoperable cancer, the Georgetown retirement facility reported Sunday. He was 21. Campaigned by Tracy Farmer and trained by Nick Zito, Sun King won the GII Pennsylvania Derby, GIII Tampa Bay Derby and GIII Leonard Richards S. in 2005 and added the GII Commonwealth Breeders' Cup S. in 2006. He hit the board in eight Grade I events, including third-place finishes in the 2004 GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile and GI Champagne S. and runner-up efforts in the 2005 GI Haskell S., 2006 GI Whitney S. and GI Metropolitan H., as well as the 2007 GI Woodward S. On the board in 18 of 28 starts, Sun King won six races and earned $2,240,008. Sun King began his stud career at Darby Dan Farm in Kentucky in 2008, and moved to Elite Thoroughbreds in Louisiana in 2013. He was pensioned in 2016 due to declining fertility and, in 2017, Farmer donated Sun King to Old Friends. He arrived at the farm on Feb. 25, 2017. “Sun King was one of our best retirees,” said Michael Blowen, President and founder of Old Friends. “A great son of Charismatic, he attracted many fans, including Nick and Kim Zito who came by often to see him. All of our retirees are missed when they die, but no one will be missed more than the King.” The post Sun King Dies at 21 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Rider Penalties M McNab | Te Aroha 29 November; medical clearance required. T Newman | Te Aroha 29 November; medical clearance required (subsequently received on 2 December). S O’Malley | Levin 30 November; careless riding; suspended 10-16 December inclusive. J Parkes | Levin 30 November; use of whip; fined $250. J Fawcett | Central Otago 1 December; careless riding; suspended 10-21 December inclusive. S Wynne | Waikato 2 December; use of whip; suspended 4-8 December inclusive and fined $500. K Myers | Waikato 2 December; misconduct; fined $450. J Riddell | Wanganui 2 December; careless riding; suspended 10-16 December inclusive. A Balloo | Otago 3 December; careless riding; suspended 4-15 December inclusive. B Murray | Otago 3 December; use of whip; suspended 4-15 December inclusive. Trainer Penalties T Pike | Te Aroha 29 November; incorrect saddlecloth; fined $50. P Harris | Central Otago 1 December; incorrect gear; fined $50. N Bishara | Waikato 2 December; late to present runner into birdcage; fined $50. M & M Pitman | Otago 3 December; incorrect gear; fined $50. L Stewart | Otago 3 December; late rider declaration; fined $50. Horse Penalties CRYSTAL FALLS | Te Aroha 29 November; laceration to right hind leg; veterinary clearance required. CHAOURCE | Te Aroha 29 November; late scratching after failing to load; must complete trial. THE YES GIRL | Te Aroha 29 November; stood in barrier; must complete trial. GAME DUKE | Te Aroha 29 November; lame; veterinary clearance required. I’MUNSTOPPABLE | Te Aroha 29 November; distressed; veterinary clearance required. MERLOTTI | Te Aroha 29 November; ducked out abruptly; must complete right-handed trial. SNORKEL | Central Otago 1 December; late scratching after refusing to load; must complete trial. QUICK TRIP | Central Otago 1 December; late scratching after becoming fractious in barrier; must complete trial. The post 27 November – 3 December 2023 appeared first on RIB. View the full article

NEWMARKET, UK — There are no hotel rooms left in Newmarket. Visitors to Tattersalls are not only spread far and wide across Suffolk and Cambridgeshire but have come from far and wide too. The largest ever contingent from Japan is expected at Park Paddocks this week, and with most of the stallion farms in the region displaying signs saying 'open house' it's the perfect time for international breeders also to consider using a local stallion to cover a new purchase before export. The locals are pretty good after all. Frankel (GB) handed the champion sire trophy to his Newmarket neighbour Dubawi (Ire) at the end of last year and the Juddmonte star is just about to reclaim his title. There are six mares in foal to Frankel in this week's December Mares catalogue and while there are none carrying to Dubawi, there are 12 opportunities to buy a mare in foal to the young British sire currently tearing up the charts: Havana Grey (GB). They include Zuhoor Baynoona (Ire) (Elnadim), a half-sister to the dual Group 1 winner Hello Youmzain (Fr) (Kodiac {GB}), who has already produced three winners and is being sold by Cheveley Park Stud as Lot 1651. Driving rain throughout Sunday didn't stop plenty of hardy breeders getting around to the stallion farms on the quiet day between the end of the foal sale and the start of the mares. At Lanwades, there was an extra treat in store, and I don't mean the excellent fish pie. Along with inspecting Bobby's Kitten, Sea The Moon (Ger) and Study Of Man (Ire), there was the chance to see Bobby's Kitten's newly retired daughter, the treble Group 2 winner Sandrine (GB), and Listed winner Alpenblume (GB) (Kendargent {Fr}), the half-sister to last year's Arc heroine Alpinista (GB). Both will be visiting Alpinista's sire Frankel (GB) in the new year. Beech House Stud is now properly back in business as a stallion operation with the Shadwell trio of Baaeed (GB), Mohaather (GB) and Mostahdaf (Ire) all based there permanently. The new year heralds important times for all three. Mostahdaf is set to cover his first book of mares as Baaeed's first foals arrive on the ground. Come spring and summer we shall start to see how the good-walking Mohaather gets on with his first runners. A Baaeed bobble hat graced the top of the Shadwell Christmas tree, loyally decorated in blue and white, and a newly installed stallion roll of honour reminded us just what an important place Beech House Stud has been over the years. For a small taster, think Nearco, Crepello, St Paddy and Ardross. On to Dalham Hall Stud to see a trio of new recruits and the marquee proved very popular thanks to the mulled wine, giant doughnuts and a few moments to dry out in the warmth. Modern Games (Ire) already looked properly settled in the yard which has also been the long-term home of his sire Dubawi (Ire) and broodmare sire New Approach (Ire), while fellow newcomer Triple Time (Ire) looked equally at home posing outside the box of Cracksman (GB), who was the first son of Frankel (GB) to retire to stud in Britain and is this year joined by Triple Time, Mostahdaf and Chaldean (GB) in Newmarket alone, while Onesto (Ire) is now at stud in France, and Adayar (Ire) and Westover (GB) are settling in to a new life in Japan. There was also the opportunity to see the imposing former champion two-year-old and Classic winner Native Trail (GB) before he starts his stud career at Kildangan Stud in Ireland. Fading light, encroaching cold and the need to scribble a few notes meant that visits to other farms will have to be made in the coming days, but a heartfelt thank you to all the studs for being so accommodating, and special thanks to the hardy stallion handlers showing in the cold and wet weather. Your efforts are hugely appreciated. A New Avenue for McStay With Tattersalls being back in the spotlight from 9.30 on Monday morning, we return to this week's important business of selling fillies and mares. Mark McStay, the man behind Avenue Bloodstock, has added a new string to his bow in launching a consigning element to his business under the name of Avenue Sales. McStay brings two mares who have each been represented by high-class winners during 2023. Opening up the first of two Sceptre Sessions on Monday will be Sulaalaat (GB) (New Approach {Ire}) the 11-year-old dam of G2 Rockfel S. winner Carla's Way (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) and from the family of the champion racemare The Fugue (GB) (Dansili {GB}). “Historically I've sold my own horses or unofficially helped my parents when they've been selling yearlings over the years,” McStay explained. “I've been standing outside stable doors for 30 years, so this was always something that I thought I'd do at some stage. For the last few years I've helped Taylor Made when they've brought horses over. Obviously I have a number of clients with some nice stock that they wanted to sell, particularly the two that we have here this week.” He continues, “We had a couple of late withdrawals which means that the consignment is a little smaller than I had envisaged but it's a good starting point. “We have the dam of Carla's Way, who is by New Approach, a really good broodmare sire. She's a good-looking mare and Carla's Way was awesome at the breeze-up sales and she's turned out to be one of the superstars on the track this year who is now a live Guineas prospect.” Anisette (GB) (Awtaad {Ire}), who started her winning in England this time last year, has flourished since moving to the United States, where she has won the GI Del Mar Oaks and GII San Clemente H for Leonard Powell. Her dam, Tutti Frutti (GB) (Teofilo {Ire}), a close relation to the G1 Nassau S. winner Sultanina (GB) (New Approach {Ire}), is also 11 and is consigned by Avenue Sales on behalf of the Morera Partnership in Tuesday's Sceptre Session as Lot 1774. “Anisette was bred by some friends of mine and then I sold her to Aron Wellman of Eclipse Thoroughbreds,” McStay says. “I've followed her career with huge interest and she's the highest-rated three-year-old turf filly in America at the moment. She goes for the American Oaks on 26 December. She's already a Grade I and a Grade II winner out there and she's a really exciting prospect. “The mare is in foal to Magna Grecia and she's a magnificent-looking mare, so hopefully she will sell very well.” Of his decision to branch out into consigning, he adds, “Being a bloodstock agent, you're a natural salesperson, whether you're buying or standing outside a stable door selling a horse. When you're buying you have to sell the idea to the client and pitch the horse to the end-user. These two mares should really sell themselves but I'll have my shoulder to the wheel to make sure we can get the last bid for my clients. It's important that people feel like you're working for them if they've put their faith in you, and over the last few years in my agency business I've been fortunate that I've had people who have put their faith in me. “This is now a progression in my life, and my wife Eva is going to be involved. And we've got great staff: Mick O'Dwyer and Tony Murphy are going to be helping us, and fingers crossed that it will build and keep going. “I'm really excited, and Tattersalls have put together a great catalogue, so let's hope that it all falls into place.” It's not all about the Sceptre Sessions, however. At all levels of the market there are entries with plenty going for them. Lot 1386 Rekindle (GB), was bought from the Juddmonte draft at this sale five years ago for 170,000gns. Though unraced, it is easy why she commanded such a price as the daughter of Frankel is out of Hot Snap (GB) (Pivotal {GB}), herself a Group 3-winning half-sister to the brilliant Midday (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}). Returning at the age of eight, Rekindle is now offered for sale by Houghton Bloodstock in foal to Too Darn Hot (GB), whose eight foals sold last week averaged 126,500gns on the back of a solid season for his first runners. The Juddmonte draft this time is split between the Monday and Tuesday and on each day is scheduled to sell just ahead of the Sceptre Sessions. On Tuesday there is the rare chance to buy a daughter of blue hen Hasili (GB) when Very Good News (Empire Maker) is offered as Lot 1754 with a March 31 cover to New Bay (GB). Among her four winners, the 15-year-old mare has two stakes-placed multiple winners by Frankel and also has a two-year-old filly and yearling colt by the same stallion still to run for her. As already mentioned, the next few months will see the appearance of the first foals of last year's top-rated turf horse in the world, Baaeed (GB). If you can't wait to send Baaeed a mare in 2024, there are 11 mares to be sold in foal to him this week, including Patronising (GB). The daughter of Galileo (Ire) is Lot 1824 from Minster Enterprises and is a half-sister to the Group 1 winner Lillie Langtry (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}) whose own Galileo-sired dynasty includes the Classic winners Minding (Ire), Tuesday (Ire) and Empress Josephine (Ire). The post Full House in Newmarket as Mares Grab the Spotlight at Tattersalls appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article