Wandering Eyes

British trainer Jamie Osborne reported from his Lambourn stable May 6 that UAE Derby (G2) runner-up Heart of Honor is scheduled to ship to the United States May 8 to begin preparations for the Preakness Stakes (G1) May 17 at Pimlico Race Course.View the full article

A field of 11 fillies and mares, led by grade 2 winners Gun Song and My Mane Squeeze, have been entered for the $200,000 Ruffian Stakes (G2) May 10 at Aqueduct Racetrack @TheNYRA. Read more:View the full article

Oceanport, NJ–Only a few years removed from what seemed like a death-knell for the New Jersey Thoroughbred industry, Monmout Park enthusiastically ushered in its 80th racing season with a full house during the Oceanport oval's press conference held in Turf Club dining room. Hosted by the TDN's Christina Bossinakis, the event was attended by a solid contingent of elected officials as well as local horsemen and women. Also included among the event's highlights, Monmouth General Manager John Heims, a long-time Monmouth executive, was honored with the 2025 Virgil 'Buddy' Raines Award. Currently the track's general manager and in-house counsel, Heims has been at Monmouth Park since 1997, serving in a variety of roles. He started at the Jersey Shore track as the Publicity Assistant, moving on to become the Director of Media Relations, In-House Counsel, Director of Racing/Racing Secretary. “Having grown up at the Jersey Shore, Monmouth Park has been the only place I ever wanted to spend my time,” said Heims. “To be so lucky and fortunate to work here for nearly 30 years, although when it's a labor of love it's not really work, has been a true blessing.” Also speaking during the event, Darby Development LLC Chairman and CEO Dennis Drazin underscored several of the changes emerging at the track, including the new Caesars Sportsbook, expected to officially open in July. Outfitted with a new Shake Shack menu, the venue will offer Vegas-style betting menu. Drazin also discussed a pair of new hotels expected for the property and high-end housing. Underpinning the project, it was announced last summer that Darby Development took over the track after forging a new 85-year lease with the New Jersey Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association and New Jersey Sports & Exposition Authority. Also featured at this year's conference was a rundown of the updated jockey colony set to return to Monmouth this season. Headed by Paco Lopez, who will aim for his seventh straight riding title and 12th overall, the remaining roster includes Tampa Bay Downs meet leader Samuel Marin, Samy Camacho, Isaac Castillo, Madison Olver, Melissa Iorio, Jomar Torres and Fernando Jara. Veteran rider Jose Ferrer, who missed the 2024 season, also returns this year. Jorge Vargas Jr., who was injured in a spill at Parx in February, is also poised to return at Monmouth this summer. Newcomers to the venue include Sonny Leon, Jeiron Barbosa, Dexter Haddock, Chantal Sutherland and apprentice Melvis Gonzalez. (L to R) Joe Bravo, Jorge Gonzalez, Jr., Chantal Sutherlands, Madison Olver and Sonny Leon | Bill Denver – Equi-Photo Headlining the trainer's colony, Todd Pletcher, Shug McGaughey and Chad Brown will be represented. Returning trainers include Jorge Delgado, Jose Delgado, Mike Dini, Chuck Spina, Pat McBurney, Kathleen O'Connell, Joe Orseno and Kathleen Demasi. New in 2025, Diane Morici and Daniel Siculietano. The GI NYRA Bets Haskell Stakes highlights this season's stakes schedule, which kicks off this Saturday with the Long Branch Stakes on opening day followed by the Serena's Song Stakes on Mother's Day Sunday. During the 50-day meet, post time will be 12:50 p.m. Saturday-Sunday and holiday Mondays. Friday racing is set to begin June 20 and post times for those days will be 2 p.m. For more information on Monmouth Park's 80th season, click here. The post Monmouth Park Kicks Off 8oth Season; John Heims Receives Virgil ‘Buddy’ Raines Award appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Sovereignty, winner of the Kentucky Derby (G1), will not run in the May 17 Preakness Stakes (G1) at Pimlico Race Course. Instead, he will be pointed toward the June 7 Belmont Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Race Course.View the full article

For a ninth straight year, a total of $100,000 in bonus money is on the table for trainers that run a minimum of five horses in the 15 Thoroughbred stakes races during Preakness Stakes (G1) weekend, May 16 and 17, at Pimlico Race Course.View the full article

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-bred horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Wednesday's Observations features a half-sister to G1 Gold Cup winner Courage Mon Ami. 7.00 Kempton, Mdn, £8,000, 3-5yo, f/m, 7f (AWT) SAFE AND SOUND (GB) (Golden Horn {GB}) is the 10th foal out of Anthony Oppenheimer's star broodmare Crimson Ribbon, responsible so far for six black-type performers headed by Frankel's G1 Gold Cup hero Courage Mon Ami. Introduced at this track as that high-class stayer had been and at which his other significant half-brother Lion's Pride has enjoyed his best days, the John and Thady Gosden-trained homebred is certain to need far more than this trip in time. The post Kempton Debut For Courage Mon Ami’s Half-Sister Safe And Sound appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

It was hardly a surprise when Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott announced Tuesday that GI Kentucky Derby winner Sovereignty (Into Mischief) would not be running in the GI Preaknes Stakes. and would instead point for the GI Belmont Stakes. No matter how prestigious the race is, no matter how special the Triple Crown has historically been, the modern-day trainer cringes at the thought of running their horses back in two weeks. They just don't want to do it. Bill Mott, as meticulous and patient as he is, certainly is in that camp. Sovereignty will become the fourth Kentucky Derby winner to pass the Preakness since 2019. The others are Mott's County House (Lookin At Lucky), Mandaloun (Into Mischief) and Rich Strike (Keen Ice). Losing those horses was bad for the sport, but none of them were considered major stars or candidates to sweep the Triple Crown. That's not the case with Sovereignty. He's an outstanding horse and is trained by one of the best in the business. He would have been a heavy favorite in the Preakness and a good bet to win that race and then come back three weeks later and win it all in the Belmont. This one really stings. Yes, the Triple Crown is broken. But not beyond repair. The solution, as it has been for years now, is obvious. There needs to be more spacing between the races and that doesn't mean just moving the Preakness back a week. The Kentucky Derby should be run on the first Saturday in May, the Preakness on the first Saturday in June and the Belmont on the first Saturday in July. That would mean at least four weeks between each race. In an era where trainers usually want about six weeks between races, even that is not ideal, but it's better than what we have now. Would Mott have elected to run in the Preakness if the race were held on Saturday, June 7? That's five weeks after the Derby. So, the answer is probably “yes.” The purist say don't do it. It's all about the tradition and that the Triple Crown is meant to be hard to win. But what good is tradition when the Preakness has become such a weak link that it is dragging the entire Triple Crown series down with it? Who's going to run in this year's Preakness? So far, not one Grade I winner or horse that performed well in the Derby has committed to the race. If Derby runner-up Journalism (Curlin) doesn't run the favorite may be GII Wood Memorial winner Rodriguez (Authentic). The three tracks need to gather in a room somewhere and not leave until they solve this problem. And it needs to be solved now, not 10 years from now. The Kentucky Derby, obviously, is fine. When The Stronach Group still owned Pimlico, it lobbied to have the Preakness moved. But that would take cooperation from NYRA, which, at the time, wouldn't budge. If they don't move the Belmont, the Preakness can't move. It will stay stuck right where it is. On the one hand, horses passing the Preakness for the Belmont is good for NYRA. It looks like the Belmont will once again come up strong and could feature the first three finishers in the Derby. But NYRA is going to pay the price, as well. If the Derby winner rarely runs in the Preakness that will mean NYRA will be missing out on the chance of a horse coming into New York that is going for the Triple Crown. Sovereignty vs. Journalism vs. Baeza (McKinzie) would be a terrific race, but it will pale in comparison to those Belmonts where a horse is going for the Triple Crown with 90,000 people packing the place, which is what happened when Justify (Scat Daddy) went for the Triple Crown in 2018. There's nothing else like it and as things stand now, we may not see it again for a long time. Moving the Belmont to the first Saturday in July would have an impact on the top summer races for 3-year-olds. It would mean trouble for the Haskell Stakes. at Monmouth, but when it comes to NYRA, the GI Travers would be fine. It will be run on Aug. 23 this year, plenty of time for the Belmont starters and the other Triple Crown horses to regroup and converge on Saratoga, that is if the Belmont were held on July 5, which is the first Saturday in July this year. None of this can happen without NYRA doing what is the best thing for horse racing, and maybe even the best thing for the Belmont, and agreeing to change the date of the Belmont. The new owners of Pimlico, the new Maryland Jockey Club, could then move the date of the Preakness. It's not healthy for the sport when its best horses run so infrequently and trainers will pass an historic race like the Preakness because it doesn't fit neatly into their schedule. But that's the way it is and nothing imminent is going to change that. You can't blame Mott or the owner, Godolphin. They are doing what they believe is the best thing for Sovereignty and that is to wait for the Belmont. It's not their responsibility to “save” the Triple Crown. This is a dysfunctional sport where everyone looks out for their own best interests first and what's best for the game second. There are a lot of problems where there are no obvious solutions. But this is not one of them. The post Enough Already. It’s Time to Fix the Triple Crown appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

G2 UAE Derby runner-up Heart of Honor (Honor A.P.) is scheduled to ship to the U. S. Thursday to begin preparations for a start in the GI Preakness Stakes May 17 at Pimlico Race Course, British trainer Jamie Osborne reported from his Lambourn stable Tuesday. “He has to quarantine at Churchill. It's a bit of a pain,” said Osborne, whose stable is located an hour from London. “He's going to van to Pimlico on Monday. He'll be on the track at Pimlico Tuesday morning.” Heart of Honor ran five races at Dubai's Meydan Race Course after debuting with a second-place finish at Southwell (England) on an all-weather surface. Jim and Claire Limited's colt came up a nose short of winning the 1 3/16-mile UAE Derby Apr. 5 at Meydan. “Initially, after the UAE Derby, I thought that the horse may well need a break. He'd had five runs in Dubai. But when he got off the plane, he told me he wasn't ready for a break. He's thrived since he's been back. He's a hardy kind of horse,” Osborne said. “With that in mind, we thought this was worth a shot. He's only three once. There's nothing in the U.K. for him. So, the alternative was to give him a break, a long-extended break, and wait for next year's Middle East season when we go back to Dubai. Osborne continued, “The Kentucky Derby was clearly going to be too soon for him. Logistically, it was going to be nearly impossible to ship from Dubai back here and then to America. The extra couple of weeks will probably be to our benefit, as well. We're going to have a go, and if he runs OK in the Preakness, the aim is to hang on for another three weeks and go to Saratoga.” Heart of Honor was equipped with blinkers for the first time in the UAE Derby. “He did travel more generously with them on, and he will wear them in the Preakness,” Osborne said. “Prior to that, he was being a little bit lazy. He was getting behind. He lost a couple of races in Dubai by getting a little bit too far behind and staying on a bit too late.” Saffie Osborne, the trainer's 23-year-old daughter, rode Heart of Honor in the UAE Derby and has the Preakness mount. “I think this horse, in what he's achieved so far, has to step up, but I think there's a chance that he can step up,” said the 57-year-old conditioner. “He's a horse that seems to be maturing and coming around this time of year.” Journalism On the Fence, Preakness-Bound Clever Again Works Plans have yet to be finalized for GI Kentucky Derby runner-up Journalism (Curlin), who walked Tuesday before returning to train Wednesday, according to Justin Curran, Churchill Downs assistant to trainer Michael McCarthy. “Then the owners will make a decision in the next couple of days,” he said. “He came out of the race great–has good energy and is eating. He looks like a happy horse.” Curran said Journalism is likely to jog [Wednesday], perhaps when the track first opens at 5:30 a.m. ET, then gallop Thursday. McCarthy flew back to California and is expected to return to Louisville over the weekend. After three days of delay because of sloppy track conditions at Churchill Downs, Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen was finally able to work the lightly-raced Clever Again (American Pharoah) for the Preakness. The Hot Springs Stakes winner worked five-eighths of a mile in 1:01.60 in company and with jockey Jose Ortiz aboard. “A work scheduled for Saturday has now happened on Tuesday,” Asmussen said. “The horse obviously has plenty of talent. He's very kind, manageable. Jose loved how he felt today, how he galloped out. Very happy to get this work in him.”' Ortiz rode Clever Again in a pair of Oaklawn races. Asmussen said Clever Again likely will work a half-mile on Monday [May 12] and van to Pimlico on Tuesday. GII Wood Memorial winner Rodriguez (Authentic), who was withdrawn from the Derby because of a minor foot issue, is scheduled to have a timed workout this weekend. Rodriguez continued to train every day, including galloping Tuesday morning at Churchill Downs. “We're going to breeze this weekend, and then ship to Pimlico,” Baffert said. The post UAE Derby Runner-up Heart of Honor Confirmed for Preakness; Clever Again Works appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Wednesday, Chester, post time: 15:05, BOODLES CHESTER VASE STAKES-G3, £140,000, 3yo, 12f 63yT Field: Convergent (Ire) (Fascinating Rock {Ire}), Faire La Nouba (Ire) (River Boyne {Ire}), Further (Ire) (Waldgeist {GB}), Lambourn (Ire) (Australia {GB}), Lazy Griff (Ger) (Protectionist {Ger}), Pinhole (GB) (Frankel {GB}), Square D'Alboni (Fr) (Zarak {Fr}), Thrice (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}). TDN Verdict: There's something about this week every year that seems to coincide with the beginning of Ballydoyle's season proper and Chester's resurgent May Festival has been a very happy hunting ground for the stable for some time now. As it hosts key Derby and Oaks trials, it is more than coincidence that Aidan O'Brien comes to the fore and with a record 10 wins in this old favourite it is to his representative that it is imperative to turn first. Lambourn is Ryan Moore's pick over Thrice, with his latest second in Leopardstown's G3 Ballysax Stakes an improvement on his lazy showings at two. If this place, with its demands and turns, can light his fire he could establish himself towards the front line of the yard's Derby arsenal. Ralph Beckett also has two, with Juddmonte's Pinhole of particular intrigue moving up from a mile having broken his maiden in style at Southwell in December. For what its worth, his half-brother Boardman liked it around here. [Tom Frary]. Wednesday, Chester, post time: 14:35, WEATHERBYS EPASSPORT CHESHIRE OAKS-Listed, £120,000, 3yo, f, 11f 75yT Field: Caspi Star (GB) (Camelot {GB}), Kate O'Riley (GB) (Sea The Moon {Ger}), Minnie Hauk (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), Modern Utopia (Ire) (Sottsass {Fr}), Queen Of Thieves (GB) (Frankel {GB}), Secret Of Love (GB) (Sea The Moon {Ger}), That's Amore (Ire) (New Bay {GB}). TDN Verdict: Aidan O'Brien already has eight of these and the 2023 Goffs Orby Book 1 topper Minnie Hauk ticks all the boxes stepping up from the mile over which she broke her maiden at Leopardstown in October. From the excellent Juddmonte family of Kingman and Oasis Dream, she has the six-length Newbury debut scorer That's Amore to deal with and also Cracksman's sister Queen Of Thieves who couldn't have done much more than win by 11 lengths at Yarmouth last month. [Tom Frary]. Click here for the complete fields. The post Black-Type Analysis: Lambourn The Pick Of Moore In Chester Vase appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk Russell Kennedy is hopeful a fast tempo will play into his hands at Addington tonight. The Yaldhurst-based trainer lines up Radioactive Jaffa in the ninth heat of the Canterbury Plains Challenge Series. The Auckland Reactor nine-year-old heads into the race in fine form, having had three seconds in his last five starts. “He’s been the bridesmaid more than the bride …. but he’s working super and never felt better,” says Kennedy who also bred the horse, and owns him along with Wayne Ivey. On the back of his good recent form, he’s a $3.90 favourite tonight (7.09pm), with Star Magic and Westar Molly the next best backed at $5.50. He has one win and six placings over tonight’s distance (1980m). While he’s the “nicest little horse to have around the stable” Radioactive Jaffa doesn’t react well to have horses around him on race day. “If you put him in the draw he gets a bit claustrophic and pulls. He’s better off on the unruly where he relaxes a wee bit.” But from the outside of the second line Radioactive Jaffa’s chances are dictated to by what happens in front of him. “He likes to do nothing and follow a hot pace….the first half of the last mile needs to be 60 or 61 (seconds).” “That takes the wind out of some of them and he’ll always come out and run home.” His big finishes have become something of a trademark. With regular driver Ricky May being suspended, Sam Ottley will be in the sulky today and as long as they don’t loiter up front Kennedy is hopeful that Radioactive Jaffa can mark his 50th start in style. “He’s due,” he says. View the full article

Godolphin's GI Kentucky Derby winner Sovereignty (Into Mischief) will bypass the May 17 GI Preakness Stakes, according to a release from Pimlico Race Course Tuesday afternoon. “We received a call today from trainer Bill Mott that Sovereignty will not be competing in the Preakness,” Mike Rogers, executive vice president of 1/ST which operates Pimlico, said in the statement. “Bill informed us they would point toward the GI Belmont Stakes. We extend our congratulations to the connections of Sovereignty and respect their decision. We continue to see the excitement building toward the milestone celebration of the 150th Preakness Stakes, and we look forward to an incredible weekend of world-class racing and entertainment.” Sovereignty won the Mar. 1 GII Coolmore Fountain of Youth Stakes in his sophomore debut before finishing second in the Mar. 29 GI Curlin Florida Derby. He charged past favored Journalism (Curlin) over a sloppy Churchill track to secure a 1 1/2-length victory in the Derby last Saturday. The post Sovereignty to Skip Preakness appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Spendthrift Farm will sponsor the upcoming Sir Barton Stakes, presented by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance. The farm will also make a donation of $50,000 to the TAA during a check presentation following the running of the race on the May 17 Preakness Stakes undercard at Pimlico Race Course. “We are honored to partner with Spendthrift Farm for this year's Sir Barton Stakes,” said Stacie Clark Rogers, Operations Consultant, Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance. “Their commitment to the welfare of Thoroughbreds, both during and after their racing careers is inspiring, and we are deeply grateful for their support of Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance's mission.” Spendthrift General Manager Ned Toffey added, “At Spendthrift, the care and future of Thoroughbreds has always been a top priority. We are proud to support Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance and to be part of a weekend that celebrates the best of our sport, both on and off the racetrack.” The post Spendthrift Farm to Sponsor Sir Barton Stakes appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The Lion In Winter (Sea The Stars), a stylish winner of the G3 Acomb Stakes in 2024, leads the 42 remaining G1 Betfred Derby entries following the latest scratching stage. One of 16 Irish-trained runners, he is trading at 100-30 on Betfred for the June 7 showpiece at Epsom. Trained by Aidan O'Brien, the bay has a slew of stablemates entered, including Wootton Bassett Group -winning colts Twain–third choice at 7-1 and a winner of the G1 Criterium International, Swagman, GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf hero Henri Matisse, and G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere scorer Camille Pissarro. Another Wootton Bassett colt, Expanded, was second in the Dewhurst, while fellow Coolmore partner entries are Siyouni's Mount Kilimanjaro, second in the G1 Criterium International, and Dubawi's Delacroix was second at that level, as well. He is fourth choice at 8-1. Second in the betting is Godolphin's G1 2000 Guineas hero Ruling Court at 7-2 for Charlie Appleby, while Saeed bin Suroor has entered Toronado Alert (Too Darn Hot), fourth on Saturday. Group 1 winners Hotazhell (Too Darn Hot) and Tennessee Stud (Wootton Bassett) are 25-1 and 33-1, respectively. Coronation Cup Field Taking Shape The 12-furlong G1 Coronation Cup at Epsom on Oaks Friday is down to 21 entries remaining after the May 6 scratching deadline. Godolphin's globetrotting champion Rebel's Romance (Dubawi) is one of the leading lights, and he will face a solid field including horses experienced with the quirky Epsom course, among them last year's G1 Derby second Ambiente Friendly (Gleneagles). Group 1 winners Al Riffa (Wootton Bassett), Los Angeles (Camelot), Sunway (Galiway), White Birch (Ulysses), Kalpana (Study Of Man), Ancient Wisdom (Dubawi) and G1 Irish Oaks heroine You Got To Me (Nathaniel) have also stood their ground. Also among the entries are the winners of the past two G1 St Legers in Continuous (Heart's Cry) and Jan Brueghel (Galileo). Christophe Ferland has nominated recent G2 Prix Allez France hero Aventure (Sea The Stars), who was runner-up in the 2024 G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. Coral-Eclipse Attracts 58 Entries Sandown's £1-million Coral-Eclipse Stakes, which is the first major all-aged Group 1 of the season, has 58 entries at the current nomination stage. Set for July 5, the 10-furlong race sees Godolphin's Charlie Appleby nominate both of his weekend Guineas winners in Ruling Court and Desert Flower (Night Of Thunder). John and Thady Gosden have also left 2000 Guineas second Field Of Gold (Kingman) in the Sandown feature. Brian Meehan, whose Rashabar (Holy Roman Emperor) will miss an intended engagement in the G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains this coming Sunday, is also part of the 3-year old brigade. Jessica Harrington's Hotazhell beat fellow entry Delacroix–one of a multitude for the Coolmore partners and Aidan O'Brien–into second in the G1 Futurity Trophy Stakes at Doncaster. O'Brien has also nominated the one-time 2000 Guineas favourite and current Derby pick The Lion In Winter, G1 Criterium International one-two Twain and Mount Kilimanjaro, and the top-flight-winning pair of Camille Pissarro and Henri Matisse, 2000 Guineas runner Expanded (Wootton Bassett), and last year's G1 Irish Derby winner Los Angeles. O'Brien's son Joseph has entered G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud winner Tennessee Stud. Among the older horses is G1 Irish Champion Stakes hero Economics (Night Of Thunder) for trainer William Haggas. Francis-Henri Graffard has three in the race including G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes hero Goliath (Adlerflug). Group 1 winners Sosie (Sea The Stars), Al Riffa, second in the 2024 edition, and G1 Prix de l'Opera winner Friendly Soul (Kingman) add weight to the Eclipse. David Menuisier's top-flight winning pair of Sunway and Tamfana (Soldier Hollow) alongside Andrew Balding's G1 Fillies & Mares Stakes heroine Kalpana and John Joseph Murphy's G1 Tattersalls Gold Cup winner White Birch will also line up. Coral's David Stevens said, “The Coral-Eclipse is one of the most prestigious Flat races in the calendar, and we are incredibly proud of our fifty-year association with the race, which makes it the longest-running group race sponsorship in the world.” The post The Lion In Winter Still Holds Derby Favouritism At Latest Entry Stage appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The voting media gave the son of Into Mischief 299 points, a total that matches the season-best total achieved by Journalism, who was favored to win the Derby. Journalism posted consecutive 299-point weeks in leading the poll April 14 and 21.View the full article

There was a buzz surrounding the debut of City Of Memphis on Tuesday evening at Cork and the filly who topped last year's Tattersalls Ireland Breeze Up did not disappoint. Introduced by Paddy Twomey in the six-furlong maiden, the 8-13 favourite travelled easily under Billy Lee throughout before asserting her superiority in the final furlong. At the line, the Zinlo Syndicate's daughter of Sioux Nation who cost €370,000 had 2 3/4 lengths to spare over Too Darn Hot's fellow newcomer Bonus Time. A filly with a BIG future City Of Memphis, a 370,000 euros daughter of Sioux Nation, powers clear to make a winning debut in the style of a filly that is surely destined for Pattern races. @ptwomeyracing | @wjlee24786 pic.twitter.com/zFP4TdSJCi — Racing TV (@RacingTV) May 6, 2025 “We bought her off Katie Walsh at the breeze-ups last year and just waited with her. We haven't looked much, but she has plenty of ability and, everything she does, she does with ease,” trainer Paddy Twomey said. “When you go to the breeze-up sale, you pay your money and take your chance. [Owner] Alan [O'Flynn] asked me to buy him fillies in the past few years and we got Purple Lily the first year and now this one, so he has two nice fillies.” The dam, who died last year and whose final foal is a 2-year-old colt by the established National Hunt sire Walk In The Park, hails from the excellent Wildenstein family of Arcangues whose numerous top-class performers include Luxembourg. 2nd-Cork, €12,000, Mdn, 5-6, 3yo/up, 6fT, 1:12.18, gd. CITY OF MEMPHIS (IRE) (f, 3, Sioux Nation–Decorative {Ire}, by Danehill Dancer {Ire}) Sales history: €60,000 Ylg '23 GOFOR; €370,000 2yo '24 TATBRU. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $8,147. O-Zinlo Syndicate; B-Decorative Syndicate (IRE); T-Paddy Twomey. The post Impressive Debut For Sioux Nation’s Tattersalls Ireland Breeze Up Topper City Of Memphis appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

It might seem a bit late in the year to be talking mating plans, but last week's call to Gary Hadden turned out to be a very timely one indeed, with the man at the helm of Craig Bennett's Merry Fox Stud having not one but two significant developments to report. Tragically, the first such update regarding Bennett's beloved Cursory Glance was of the worst possible kind. The daughter of Distorted Humour, who won the G3 Albany Stakes and G1 Moyglare Stud Stakes in a career spanning just four starts as a juvenile, sadly died late in April due to complications when foaling. She is survived by a Lope De Vega colt foal and leaves behind some wonderful memories for the whole team at Merry Fox Stud, having provided Bennett with one of the greatest days of his near-20 years in the sport when winning at Royal Ascot. “In terms of special moments, I know that would be right up there for Craig,” said Hadden. “Any person who makes a big investment into the horse industry, they want to experience the emotion of winning at the biggest meetings and competing at the highest level. Those memories are locked in for Craig and it was just a great family occasion. He was there with his wife and his mother, who has unfortunately passed away since then. He didn't have any expectation to win and it was just one of those once-in-a-lifetime moments to cross the winning line first at one of the biggest meetings in the world.” He added, “Craig is still enjoying the game. It's been nearly 20 years now and he's still in it. There are a lot of people who have come and gone in that time. It was very sad to lose Cursory Glance because she was right at the top of the tree, but he's very resilient and the mission now is to breed another one as good.” Bennett will be aided in that quest by the recent acquisition of another illustrious name in Zero Gravity, the dam of last year's G1 British Champion Fillies and Mares Stakes heroine Kalpana. The daughter of Dansili was led out unsold at 575,000gns when offered by Whatton Manor Stud at the Tattersalls December Mares Sale, but she has since joined the clutch of mares owned by Bennett in partnership with Newsells Park Stud. “She was a private purchase by Craig and Newsells a couple of weeks ago,” said Hadden. “To get the dam of a Group 1 winner to add to the portfolio, we thought it was a good bit of business. She's a proven mare, so a lot of the hard work has been done. Kalpana is already a Group 1 winner and she's a filly who could progress again this year. “It's a good Juddmonte family–I think her full-sister [Shared Account] has produced another Group 3 winner [Better Together] this year. It can be hard to get into these families and the idea will be to try and get a daughter at some stage.” Hadden went on to reveal that Zero Gravity will visit Night Of Thunder as he ran through the mating plans for a stud which is said to have “grown quite considerably” over the last few years. “When all the foals were born this year, we had maybe 84 horses between everything in training, mares, yearlings and foals–I think Craig was quite taken aback by that,” Hadden added, before identifying a handful of horses in training to look out for when they sport Bennett's familiar yellow and orange silks in 2025. He continued, “We hope there's a nice filly with Paddy Twomey called No Alibi. She was second first-time-out at the Curragh and we're hoping she can win her maiden and go on to better things. She's a half-sister to [G3 Round Tower Stakes winner] Treasure Trove. “We've got a good filly in America with Graham Motion called Five Towns, who is a Listed winner and has been Group-placed over there. She's actually going to run on the Kentucky Derby undercard [finished a close-up fourth in the GII Churchill Distaff Turf Mile Stakes]. “We also have a nice horse who won first-time-out for William Haggas called First Principle. We were all very impressed with how he won at Kempton and the acceleration he showed. He's a horse we're looking forward to.” That was lovely Taking turn of foot from Kingman colt First Principle @kemptonparkrace pic.twitter.com/b7bIeSqYcw — Racing TV (@RacingTV) December 4, 2024 Merry Fox Stud Mares Voodoo Queen (Frankel–Cursory Glance, by Distorted Humour). To be bred to Too Darn Hot This Listed winner is one of two black-type performers out of Cursory Glance, along with fellow Listed scorer Tinker Toy. She is unfortunately the only daughter of Cursory Glance that we have. We were hoping to send Cursory Glance back to Lope De Vega again to try and get a filly, but she's left behind a nice colt foal who survived. Voodoo Queen is quite a big mare, so physically we thought she'd go well with Too Darn Hot. He has the promising Cathedral out of a Frankel mare. Willow View (Lemon Drop Kid–Time Control, by Sadler's Wells). To be bred to City Of Troy A half-sister to Cursory Glance, she is the dam of the GI Turf Classic Stakes winner Digital Age and the G3 Prix la Rochette scorer Acer Alley. We usually like to use proven stallions because, first and foremost, Craig wants to try to breed a racehorse and you get the most accurate information following trends and stallions who have already had runners. But City Of Troy was such a fantastic racehorse that we kind of took exception to the rule to try and fit him in. Physically, we thought he would suit Willow View. Acer Alley (Siyouni–Willow View, by Lemon Drop Kid). To be bred to Night of Thunder Night Of Thunder has worked very well with Siyouni mares. Fairy Godmother was bred on that cross and there's been plenty of success with Dubawi and his sons when crossed with Siyouni mares. We thought it would be a good match and physically he would complement her. Pichola Dance (Distorted Humour–Liffey Dancer, by Sadler's Wells). To be bred to Lope De Vega The dam of the aforementioned Treasure Trove and No Alibi, she herself was Listed-placed at two. She has a nice colt foal on the ground by Lope De Vega. It's another Group 1-winning cross and Lope De Vega looks a very strong, emerging broodmare sire. We'd like to repeat the mating with a view to trying to get a filly. The evidence of the foal suggests the two complement each other, physically. Treasure Trove (Siyouni–Pichola Dance, by Distorted Humour). To be bred to Justify She's in the States and she's already had a lovely filly foal by Justify. As she's out there we thought we'd try it again and she's already been scanned in foal. Whenever we really believe in a mating, we'll try it two or three times because you don't always get the good one first. She'll probably come home next year. Timed to perfection! Ice-cool Billy Lee gets Treasure Trove motoring late on to land the Group 3 Heider Family Stables Round Tower Stakes @curraghrace by a whisker for Paddy Twomey! pic.twitter.com/Y65niFGK8S — Racing TV (@RacingTV) August 27, 2022 Yellow Band (Dalakhani–My Dark Rosaleen, by Sadler's Wells). To be bred to Lope De Vega A full-sister to Bennett's G1 Grosser Preis von Berlin winner Second Step, she is the dam of the French Listed winner Eternal Dance. She's a quality mare and the Lope De Vega cross has worked out a treat–there's been six stakes winners on that cross. Physically, she probably needs a stronger horse so it lined up well. She has a nice yearling by him and we like that one enough that we thought we'd try it again. Eternal Dance (Dubawi–Yellow Band, by Dalakhani). To be bred to Frankel She has a nice filly foal on the ground by Frankel and she's going back to him again. She's a young, stakes-winning mare and not too big. She's short-coupled and quite typical of Dubawi. Frankel can impart a little bit more size and scope, and I think that's the reason why Dubawi and Frankel have worked together so consistently. Guilty Twelve (Giant's Causeway–Arkadina, by Danehill). To be bred to Blame Successful in the GIII Robert G. Dick Memorial Stakes, she is the dam of the aforementioned Five Towns and First Principle, as well as the Grade III-placed Three Priests. She's definitely breeding racehorses and she has a nice colt foal by Blame on the ground. We're always thinking of the next generation and of the younger broodmare sires Blame is really up there. His statistics are phenomenal considering he's never been that expensive himself. We want to develop the family some more and hopefully she will oblige this time and give us a filly. Gumriyah (Shamardal–Yummy Mummy, by Montjeu). To be bred to Sea The Stars A winning half-sister to the 1,000 Guineas heroine Legatissimo, she produced the G3 Hampton Court Stakes runner-up Exoplanet from a previous visit to Sea The Stars. We were doing our homework on the mare when she came up at the December Sale and we knew Roger [Varian, trainer] thought a lot of Exoplanet. Unfortunately, he just had a couple of soundness issues and then he was traded for not very much money. We thought that's probably the last we've heard of him, so we were pleasantly surprised when he finished a good second at Kempton recently after being off for so long. We were very encouraged by that and hopefully he can go on and become a full stakes winner. That might be a bonus we weren't expecting and, if we could get a filly this time, that would be brilliant. Golden Sheen (Frankel–Yellow Band, by Dalakhani). To be bred to Kingman Flamenco Fan (Dark Angel–Annabelle's Charm, by Indian Ridge). To be bred to Night Of Thunder Whispering Palms (Oasis Dream–Annabelle's Charm, by Indian Ridge). To be bred to No Nay Never Pecking Order (Fastnet Rock–Shemaya, by Darshaan). To be bred to Gleneagles Dancing Breeze (New Approach–Posterity, by Indian Ridge). To be bred to Mehmas Kindred Spirit (Invincible Spirit–Pontenuovo, by Green Tune). To be bred to No Nay Never Passing Parade (Cape Cross–Model Queen, by Kingmambo). To be bred to Siyouni Mares Owned in Partnership with Newsells Park Stud Shambolic (Shamardal–Comic, by Be My Chief). To be rested The dam of the G1 Moyglare Stud Stakes winner Ylang Ylang, she was also responsible for a Siyouni filly who sold last year for 3,700,000gns at Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale. She'd just got a bit late on us and we decided to give her a break for a year. I think from a veterinary point of view you'd like to keep these mares going every year, because sometimes it's hard to get them started again when you pull stumps. But she's a lovely mare to have and she's still very young. She was quite a significant purchase [800,000gns] at the time, but she's produced a Group 1 winner and she's had some exceptional commercial results. It's looking money well spent at this stage. Aljazzi and Shambolic this morning after a packet of well earned polos! pic.twitter.com/0IEcjLi2BV — Newsells Park Stud (@newsellspark) October 11, 2024 Legerete (Rahy–Sea Hill, by Seattle Slew). To be bred to Nathaniel Successful in the G2 Prix de Malleret, she is the dam of four black-type performers, including Derby entry Damysus. Although we don't own him, Damysus is another horse that we're looking forward to following this year. I think the Gosdens have said that he's going to improve loads for that run at Sandown and he might be heading to the Dante to keep the Derby dream alive. If he's not at that level, he should go on and be a stakes performer of some nature. He's an exciting horse. We had contemplated retiring the mare, but I suppose when you get a fresh update like that, the temptation is to try once more. She has a nice colt foal by Nathaniel on the ground and hopefully we can get a filly this time. Nathaniel is one of these emerging broodmares sires who has done very well so far. With that pedigree, fillies are always going to be very desirable. Mea Domina (Pivotal–Regina Mundi, by Montjeu). To be bred to Frankel A Listed winner when trained in France, she also filled the runner-up spot in the G3 Gladness Stakes for Paddy Twomey. We're not trying to reinvent the wheel. She's a young, stakes-winning Pivotal mare and the obvious thing is to try Frankel. She has a nice first foal by him and she's going back to him again in keeping with the policy that if we like a mating and really believe in it, we'll try it multiple times to make sure we give it the best chance of working. Via Manzoni (Monsun–Via Milano, by Singspiel). To be bred to Sea The Stars The dam of Listed winner Integrant, she herself was third in the G3 Prix Vanteuax as a three-year-old. She has a Sea The Stars yearling colt and we're hoping if we go back again she might throw a filly. Sea The Stars fillies are like gold dust. They're incredibly hard to buy and we're hoping to gather as many Sea The Stars fillies as we can before it's too late. He offers a bit of size and substance and it works very well on paper–it's a fantastic cross. If we could get a filly, it would be job done. Luminate (Lawman–Kalandara, by Rainbow Quest). To be bred to Lope De Vega Trained in France by Freddy Head, she was a dual Group 3 scorer with wins in the Prix de Conde at two and Prix Penelope at three. We've got a nice Lope De Vega filly out of her and we were quite taken by that. Again, it's a proven cross, with Lope De Vega and Lawman mares. Physically, she has lots of quality and can take a stronger horse. It's another one that matches up on pedigree and physical. The post Merry Fox Stud on a Mission to Find the Next Cursory Glance appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

A total of $100,000 in bonus money is on the table for trainers who run a minimum of five horses in the 15 Thoroughbred stakes races held during Preakness weekend, May 16 and 17, at Pimlico Race Course. Points for the trainer's bonus, which is returning to the Maryland track for the ninth year, are accumulated for finishing first (10 points), second (seven), third (five), fourth (three) and having a starter (one) in the 15 Thoroughbred stakes. The trainer with the most points will receive $50,000, second is worth $25,000, third $12,000, fourth $7,000, fifth $4,000 and sixth $2,000. There will also be bonus money totaling $50,000 for trainers with the most points in non-stakes races during Preakness weekend. The points are accumulated in similar fashion, with $25,000 going to the leader, $10,000 to second, $7,500 to third, $4,000 to fourth, $2,500 to fifth and $1,000 to sixth. Trainers must have a minimum of three starts to qualify for the bonus. The post Preakness Weekend Trainer Bonus Returns appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Grade 1-winning trainer Evan Williams has denied assaulting a man. Williams pleaded not guilty to two charges of causing grievous bodily harm with intent and inflicting grievous bodily harm to Martin Dandridge on December 4 last year in Llancarfan, Vale of Glamorgan. Williams, 54, of Llancarfan, spoke only to confirm his name, date of birth and enter his pleas during a brief hearing at Cardiff Crown Court. Judge Tracey Lloyd-Clarke, the Recorder of Cardiff, fixed a trial date for March 3 next year. Williams was released on conditional bail until his trial. Byron Broadstock appeared on behalf of the prosecution, while Leah Pollard represented the defendant. Williams is a multiple Grade One-winning trainer, with his most recent success at the highest level coming in the 2020 Christmas Hurdle via Silver Streak. He also trained State Of Play to be placed in three Grand Nationals and came second in the Aintree highlight with Cappa Bleu in 2013. The post Grade 1-Winning Trainer Evan Williams Denies Assaulting Man appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

We all found ourselves in the court of one ruler last weekend, but it would be wrong to treat the kind of transatlantic sovereignty charted by four Classic winners inside 48 hours, either side of the water, as an automatic outcome of greater aggregate expenditure than any program in Turf history. Nobody knows that better than Sheikh Mohammed and his Godolphin team. He has been trying to dovetail his wealth and his passion, both obviously off the charts, for nearly half a century. (He had his first winner at Brighton, 48 years ago.) And we can all remember times when it felt as though one or other element of the machinery was underperforming. But most of us can also acknowledge that nobody is ever immune to the Thoroughbred's reliable role in our lives as a vehicle for humility. That said, it does feel as though the Sheikh's ups and downs have in recent years leveled out into a more consistent yield. If that is indeed so, there will be no single or simple reason. There certainly appear to be specific factors, such as the stunning success of what had appeared a fairly obstinate solution to Godolphin's gravest crisis by the promotion of an unproven, internal candidate in Charlie Appleby. But there are also generic ones, such as the maturing of investments that demanded a patience seldom permitted to interfere with the relish some people discover in envy or resentment. It is true that the winners of both the GI Kentucky Derby and G1 2,000 Guineas were vindicating a seven-figure play that few others can repeat so comfortably. Crowned (Bernardini), whose $225,000 date with Into Mischief in 2021 produced Sovereignty, never made the racetrack after her $1.2-million purchase through John Ferguson at the 2014 September Sale. Ruling Court (Justify), meanwhile, cost $2.3 million at Arqana this time last year. But all the eligibility suggested by physique or pedigree will only solidify into achievement in the right hands. Build Your Horse on Rock While that obviously remains true once a horse reaches the racetrack, by that stage it could already be too late. The importance of a good grounding was underlined by both the colts that won on Saturday. At Churchill, in fact, the point was made in nearly surreal fashion, in terms of probabilities, both the first two having graduated from the same pre-training program. Sovereignty and runner-up Journalism (Curlin) may have ended up on opposite coasts, but they started out together at Bridlewood Farm in Florida, where their education was supervised by Joan “Meda” Murphy. Journalism was among the yearlings annually selected by Bridlewood in partnership with Eclipse Thoroughbreds, both camps having had him high enough on their Saratoga shortlists to stretch to $825,000. And Sovereignty was that year among the usual batch of Godolphin homebreds sent to Bridlewood to benefit from the same instruction as Cody's Wish. Ruling Court, meanwhile, he is another feather in the cap of pinhooker Norman Williamson, whose previous Keeneland finds include War of Will (War Front). Williamson is one of many breeze-up consignors to have adapted skills initially learned with mature steeplechasing types to the discovery and schooling of young Flat talent–a paradox that must have some significance. He was well paid for his work with Ruling Court, having picked him out for $150,000 at the September Sale. But one of the reasons people know to come to his Oak Tree consignment is because he has so shrewdly undertaken a similar process himself already. And he bought Ruling Court from a farm that gives its horses as sound a foundation as any in the Bluegrass. Norman Williamson | Tattersalls The man presiding over Nursery Place is so stubbornly self-effacing that I will spare him having to see his name in print again. But anyone who knows him will know that here they get horsemanship in its purest form: no bells and whistles, no social media, no catalogue photos, not even a hip sticker. (Would you think Marilyn Monroe/Cary Grant, according to your requirements, more alluring in the nude with or without a number slapped onto a thigh?) Zero short cuts. These horses are hand-walked from here to the moon. And as much benefit is eked from those few rolling fields, between the river and the trees, as from any of the glitzy farms stretching horizon to horizon. Oh, and by the way, the latest chapter in the astonishing story of Puca (Big Brown)–Baeza (McKinzie) flying into third in the Derby–didn't just confirm that one of the most precocious blue hens of all time was well bought by John Stewart at $2.9 million. It also reminds us that her dam Boat's Ghost (Silver Ghost), having just turned 19, was bought for $17,000 at the 2023 Keeneland January Sale, only a few days before Mage made his debut, by ….Nursery Place! Justify Closing Transatlantic Divide So much for nurture. How about nature? For another factor in Godolphin's spree is the integration of gene pools–or rather, their re-integration, a schism between perceived dirt and turf lines having caused an unwholesome blockage for a generation or so. Obviously the big international operations have been best placed to improve the situation, but we've just noted how Ruling Court is the work of a relatively small family concern. In other words, we all have a role to play. His dam Inchargeofme (GB) (High Chaparral {Ire}) was found at the 2015 Keeneland January Sale as what you might call a short 2-year-old, duly slipping through the cracks at $80,000. (Her brother Johannes Vermeer (Ire) had run fourth for Ballydoyle in the G1 2,000 Guineas only the previous May, also Group 1-placed at two.) Justify | Sarah Andrew Inchargeofme proceeded to win three races, throwing in a black-type bonus on her final start by flying into third in a Grade III on turf at Churchill. Two half-sisters–one Group 1-placed in France, the other producing a graded stakes winner–would further revive this branch of their family, their unraced dam Inchmina (GB) (Cape Cross {Ire}) having proved by no means the only anti-climax in the record of her own mother. More would have been expected of a group-placed half-sister to the admirable stallion Inchinor, as well as to the dams of GI E.P. Taylor winner Miss Keller (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}) and a GI Irish Oaks runner-up. (They were out of the diminutive matriarch Inchmurrin (Ire) (Lomond), who incidentally resurfaces as third dam of The Lion In Winter (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), the Ballydoyle colt who turned over Ruling Court at York last August, but had to miss the Guineas). A ton of chlorophyll here, then, and the mating with Justify has tapped into a historic opportunity, a G1 Derby winner at Epsom from only his second crop having focused attention even among notoriously myopic horsemen over the pond. If Ruling Court proceeds to win at Epsom, it will really start to feel as though transatlantic cross-pollination is returning to where it was in the Northern Dancer era. That revolutionary patriarch not only roots Justify's sire-line, via the Storm Cat branch, but combines his two premier European conduits in Inchargeofme: her sire High Chaparral, as a son of Sadler's Wells; and damsire Cape Cross as a grandson of Danzig. Five of Justify's eight elite winners have been trained in Europe–and he's built like a Quarter Horse! Once he goes to stud himself, of course, Ruling Court will introduce Justify to a very different bunch of mares from those now favoring City Of Troy. Thankfully, their respective camps nowadays appear to be rivals sooner than enemies. Remember that it was precisely as transatlantic genetic exchange was stagnating that the Maktoums cut off another source of vitality by declining to support the sires of their regular antagonists… Not Just a Bernardini Mare Genetic diversity brings vigor, after all. And the G1 1,000 Guineas winner Desert Flower (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) doesn't just combine European and American pools. (Out of a Hard Spun mare). She also introduces some thoroughly exotic blood through Brazilian granddam Aviacion (Brz), whose sire Know Heights (Ire) hopefully means more to you than he does to me. Though a Grade I winner in her native land, Aviacion's eligibility for the Godolphin broodmare band also seems fairly obscure until you reach her fourth dam, who turns out to be none other than Somethingroyal. The perennially underrated Hard Spun is becoming as solid a broodmare sire as he has long been in every other way. But the arrival of Sovereignty, alongside Speaker's Corner and Maxfield, will confirm the daughters of his late neighbor Bernardini as a truly exceptional legacy. Actually Sovereignty's tale entwines with Hard Spun in that the latter was bred by Betty Moran's Brushwood Stable–just like Sovereignty's dam Crowned (Bernardini). As we've explored in the past, the $1.2 million paid to Brushwood for Crowned as a yearling was less than had twice been required for her own dam. Mushka (Empire Maker) was a $1.6-million yearling, being out of a stakes-placed daughter of Seeking the Gold and four-time Grade I winner Lakeway (herself by Bernardini's grandsire Seattle Slew). Success in the GII Demoiselle elevated Mushka's value to $2.4 million when sold to Brushwood at the end of her sophomore campaign. Kept with Bill Mott, who duly knows his way around her grandson, Mushka matured to win the GI Spinster and run second in the GI Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic. Between those earnings and the $3.375 million banked for her first three yearlings, Mushka more than paid her way. But she then experienced fertility issues, eventually culled for $650,000 carrying what proved to be a penultimate foal. On the face of it, she'd become a disappointment. Her first foal, in two visits to the ring, made $1.65 million and $10,000; while her two Bernardinis never made the track. But like we said earlier, that's where the patience comes in. Old Gold Into Mischief himself, meanwhile, continues inexorably to match the narrative to the theory. The idea was always that his upgraded mares would stretch out his speed–and here he is, courtesy of a mare saturated with Classic brands, with a third Derby winner in six years. (Not forgetting that his first-crop son Goldencents joined the party with Mystik Dan last year.) Though now 20, Into Mischief only reached his peak fee with those mares who delivered his incoming juveniles, so he may yet find the fourth winner that would give him the Derby record outright. Into Mischief | Sarah Andrew Regardless, he will soon overtake Tapit (currently $216.3 million) as the richest American stallion in history, having now closed to $212.7 million. Bizarrely, after everything they have been through, at time of writing both have fielded precisely the same number (1,448) of starters! There are also some striking parities between Into Mischief and Medaglia d'Oro, who continues to flout the self-fulfilling prejudice against ageing sires with his third Oaks winner, Good Cheer. While East Avenue couldn't add the Derby, their sire now stands third in the all-time rankings on $181.6 million, and remains uncannily in step with Into Mischief in many key indices. Obviously, things are likely to change, given Into Mischief's career graph-lines, but for now they are maintaining a virtually identical clip: graded stakes winners, for instance, at 6% of named foals; and graded stakes performers at 11%. Their latest Classics, respectively, put Medaglia d'Oro on 25 Grade I winners–1,414 starters, again a strikingly similar output–and Into Mischief on 24. Good Cheer | Horsephotos With Spirit of St Louis winning his latest Grade I, and Nitrogen also scoring on turf in the GII Edgewood Stakes, Medaglia d'Oro is replicating his trademarks of class, looks and versatility deep into the evening of his career. It took a bit of nerve to put a 26-year-old stallion on top of a “value podium” during the winter. But whatever embarrassments other sires may be reserving for that exercise, $75,000 for this venerable creature is proving pure ageism. The post Breeding Digest: 48 Hours 48 Years in the Making appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Who were the five fastest maiden winners based on the Beyer Speed Figures this week? We count them down. PAHOEHOE D'ORO, OP 5/2 – 6 furlongs Beyer Speed Figure: 86 Video Replay (f, 4, Medaglia d'Oro-Miss Exclusive, by Unbridled's Song) B-Mt Brilliant Broodmares LLC, O-Old Bones Racing Stable LLC, Volcanic Racing LLC and Joey Platts, T-Phil D'Amato, J-Ramon Vazquez. Back-class pedigree pages don't look much better than this. Her third dam, Juddmonte blue hen Hasili, produced in sequence: Dansili (3rd in Breeders' Cup Mile), Banks Hill (won Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf), Heat Haze (won Beverly D., Matriarch), Intercontinental (won Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf), Cacique (won Manhattan, Man o'War) and Champs Elysees (won Hollywood Turf Cup, Canadian International). Intercontinental didn't produce much herself, and daughter Miss Exclusive was sold for $750,000 to Mt. Brilliant at Keeneland November in 2018. But Pahoehoe D'Oro, the third of Miss Exclusive's foals to race, is off to a fine start–winning smartly in her second lifetime start after 7 1/2 months. Volcanic Racing owner Larry Goldman must have named her: pahoehoe is a form of volcanic lava. FOUNTAIN LAKE, CD 5/3- 1 1/16 miles Beyer Speed Figure: 87 Video Replay (c, 3, Improbable-Doritza, by Mineshaft) B-Stoneriggs Farm, O-Shortleaf Stable Inc., T-John Ortiz, J-Julian Leparoux. Fountain Lake's $100k yearling price may turn out to be a bargain. He kicked off Kentucky Derby day wire-to-wire in his sixth lifetime start, with significantly more speed than his previous races. Owner John Ed Anthony has a history of naming colts after Arkansas locations, and this one's namesake is a small community (population 503) a dozen miles from Anthony's Hot Springs home. CONCORD BRIDGE, SA 5/4- 6 1/2 furlongs Beyer Speed Figure: 89 Video Replay (c, 3, Medaglia d'Oro-Pauline Revere, by Distorted Humor) B-Gage Hill Stables LLC and W.S. Farish, O-Antonio P. Sardo, T-Ron Ellis, J-Welfin Orantes. Claimed for $50,000 in December, he showed flashes of talent in his next start, but nothing like Sunday. Running for the eighth time, he sat behind the leaders and cut the corner through a big rail opening into the stretch–a perfect trip to be sure, but he then showed explosiveness to quickly open daylight. His dam is a half-sister to Grade I sprinter American Theorem, and at one point he was regarded highly enough to bring $850,000 as a yearling. MAINSTREAM, CD 5/3- 7 furlongs (2nd) Beyer Speed Figure: 92 Video Replay (c, 3, Speightstown-Lesley May, by Tapit) B- Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings, O-Jeffrey Drown, Don Rachel LLC and Stonestreet Stables LLC, T-Brad Cox, J-Luis Saez. The entertaining 14th and final race on the sloppy Kentucky Derby program produced our two fastest maidens last week. In his second start, Mainstream rolled past Pursuitneversleeps into the turn but never completely shook him. The two ultimately left the others far behind and battled to the wire before Pursuitneversleeps edged past. A $485,000 yearling, Mainstream lost his March debut at Gulfstream in much the same fashion. PURSUITNEVERSLEEPS, CD 5/3- 7 furlongs (1st) Beyer Speed Figure: 93 Video Replay (c, 3, Ghostzapper-Fashion Factor, by The Factor) B-Ghostzapper Syndicate, Scarteen Stud and Barry Donworth, O-Bakster Farm LLC, T-Dale Romans, J-Corey Lanerie. After Pursuitneversleep's mid-March debut second behind Here Comes Francis, a fast 3-year-old sprinter so far under the national radar, owner Jim Bakke targeted this Derby day return. Pursuitneversleeps outbroke Mainstream to be third in a line of four on the pace, then was outfooted and perhaps shuffled back a touch at the half-mile pole, but he kept at it and lived up to his name as the even-money favorite. The post The Five Fastest Maidens for the Week of Apr. 30 through May 4 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Sam Agars SERANGOON - R3 (3) Likes the course and distance and can strike from an improved draw Jay Rooney MAJESTIC DELIGHT - R4 (4) Ran an eye-catching third second up and has scope for improvement Trackwork Spy ICONICAL - R7 (6) Dominant winner last start and just needs an ounce of luck from a wide gate Phillip Woo GOKO WIN - R4 (2) Left a nice impression last start and looks a live chance from a better draw Shannon (Vincent Wong) CAN'T GO WONG - R3 (1) Has had two pleasing runs and can break through stepping up to 2,200m Racing Post Online SETANTA - R5 (1) Ran a nice third to A Americ Te Specso last week and looks well placed tonight Tom Wood KING MILES - R9 (10) Not beaten far last start and should go close with a light weight and Purton onView the full article

Fast becoming the theme of the global bloodstock market, more records were broken at the 2025 Inglis Weanling Sale where a Too Darn Hot colt fetched $775,000, eclipsing the $650,000 record that had been set just 24 hours previously for a filly by Stay Inside. The Too Darn Hot colt was knocked down to Equine Growth Fund Pty Ltd for $775,000. “I didn't want to leave without this colt,” the winning bidder Stefan Pardi said on behalf of Equine Growth Fund Pty Ltd. He added, “I pulled him out five or six times. The last time I had him paraded he was half asleep, he is such a relaxed colt. All I can say is that he is exceptional–his movement, everything about him.” The full-brother to Too Darn Lizzie was consigned by Widden Stud. Pardi says he is a massive fan of Too Darn Hot, noting that, “he is one of the best in the land, maybe one of the best in the world. He gets fillies, he gets colts. “It is hard to find these quality colts. I spoke to a few of my clients who I have bought for and who are in our fund and we did have more to spend. We have a model of sophisticated investors, 10 to 20 of them who have an appetite to pinhook. “They have been successful over the last couple of years doing it, we put all our money together and just try to find the right horses. We mostly buy at the top end and with this colt, we will try to turn him into something for the future, if not we will race him. “I won't say it was a no-brainer to buy him but I am pretty happy. The family is outstanding and another key element to buying him is that I think his sister [Too Darn Lizzie] will make pretty good money here on Thursday night.” The post More Records Broken At Inglis Weanling Sale With Too Darn Hot Colt Fetching 775k appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Godolphin's homebred 3-year-old Cualificar (Lope De Vega) made a stakes breakthrough in last month's G3 Prix La Force and doubled his pattern-race tally with a dominant 1 1/4-length success in Tuesday's G3 Prix de Guiche at Chantilly. The even-money favourite broke well and shadowed the pace in second through halfway in this nine-furlong G1 Prix du Jockey Club trial. Cruising to the front approaching the quarter-mile marker, he was stoked up with 350 metres remaining and kept on powerfully in the closing stages to comfortably hold the late threat of Al Aali (City Light) with plenty in hand. “We had already seen him win at this level and he confirmed again that he is quite a nice horse,” commented Godolphin's on-track representative Louise Benard. “Alexis [Pouchin] positioned him perfectly during the race, the horse quickened well and did it almost under a hand ride. He has a lovely attitude and improves with every run so, hopefully, he can improve more. He will now be back here for the big one [June 1] and tell us if he can go up in class two steps higher.” The golden spell for Godolphin continues… Cualificar follows in the footsteps of the likes of Big Rock, Vadeni and Almanzor in landing the Prix de Guiche at Chantilly! pic.twitter.com/mmEkG2pAqz — At The Races (@AtTheRaces) May 6, 2025 Pedigree Notes Cualificar is the fifth of seven foals and one of three scorers out of G1 Oaks heroine Qualify (Fastnet Rock), a 1.6-million guineas graduate of the 2015 Tattersalls December sale, who was knocked down to Ballylinch Stud for €650,000 at last year's Goffs November sale. Qualify is a full-sister to multiple Group-placed multiple Bahrain champion Shogun and has also produced last term's G3 Jebel Ali Mile victor Swing Vote (Shamardal), the unraced 2-year-old filly Harriet Quimby (Pinatubo) and a weanling colt by Dark Angel. The April-foaled chestnut's fourth dam is G1 Oaks-placed matriarch Media Luna (Star Appeal). Tuesday, Chantilly, France PRIX DE GUICHE-G3, €80,000, Chantilly, 5-6, 3yo, c/g, 9fT, 1:53.57, g/s. 1–CUALIFICAR (GB), 128, c, 3, by Lope De Vega (Ire) 1st Dam: Qualify (Ire) (G1SW-Eng & GSW-Ire, $485,356), by Fastnet Rock (Aus) 2nd Dam: Perihelion (Ire), by Galileo (Ire) 3rd Dam: Medicosma, by The Minstrel 1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. O/B-Godolphin (GB); T-Andre Fabre; J-Alexis Pouchin. €40,000. Lifetime Record: 5-3-0-1, €103,500. *1/2 to Swing Vote (GB) (Shamardal), GSW-UAE, $198,861. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. 2–Al Aali (Fr), 128, c, 3, City Light (Fr)–La Zubia (GB), by Montjeu (Ire). 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (€38,000 Ylg '23 ARQOCT). O-Fal Stud SAS, GL Racing, Remy Dupuy-Naulot & Lucie Pontoir; B-SNIG Elevage (FR); T-Lucie Pontoir. €16,000. 3–Curragh Camp (Fr), 128, c, 3, Romanised (Ire)–Delinda (Fr), by Sea The Stars (Ire). 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (€52,000 Ylg '23 ARQOCT). O-Robert Ng; B-SCEA Haras de Gratte Panche, Michel Dardenne, Samy Torgeman & Mohsen Ben Hamouda (FR); T-Francis-Henri Graffard. €12,000. Margins: 1 1/4, 1 1/4, HD. Odds: 1.00, 23.00, 4.90. Also Ran: Madero (Fr), Les Petits Princes (Fr), Bulnes (Ire), Pure Legend (Fr). The post Godolphin’s Cualificar Doubles Stakes Tally in the Prix de Guiche appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

In the latest edition of the TDN's Conversations podcast, Emma Berry takes a tour around New England Stud with Peter Stanley. As well as lending their name to the NHL's Stanley Cup, the Stanley family has a centuries-long association with the turf, with various members of the dynasty having made immensely significant contributions to British Thoroughbred breeding and racing. In 1780, Stanley's forebear, the 12th Earl of Derby, gave his name to the race that many believe to be the greatest test of a Thoroughbred. The fillies' equivalent of the Derby, the Oaks, was named after Lord Derby's house close to Epsom. The 17th Earl of Derby, Britain's Secretary of State for War during the First World War, is rightly regarded as one of the greatest owner-breeders of all time, responsible for such influential stallions as Phalaris and Hyperion. Along with owning New England Stud on the outskirts of Newmarket, Stanley also manages Stanley House Stud for his brother, the current Lord Derby. Together, the brothers continued their family's intrinsic links with the Classics at Epsom by breeding Ouija Board, the winner of the Oaks among her seven Group/Grade 1 victories. She in turn has produced the Derby winner Australia, who is now a successful stallion at Coolmore. https://www.thoroughbreddailynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/202505-Peter-Stanley_mixdown_v2.mp3 Listen to the show here. TDN Conversations are sponsored by Saracen Horse Feeds, the British-based feed company which has this week been acknowledged with a King's Award for Enterprise. The post TDN Conversations with Emma Berry: Peter Stanley appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

After a luckless end to his Sydney campaign, the focus for talented stayer Warmonger (NZ) (War Decree) is firmly on the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups. Co-trainer Michael Kent Jnr said the rising five-year-old gelding has been sent for a quick break before he returns to work to be set for the spring majors. The runaway winner of the 2024 Gr.1 Queensland Derby finished second in the Listed Randwick City Stakes (2000m) behind Alalcance, before running 10th in the Gr.1 Tancred Stakes and 13th in the Gr.1 Sydney Cup. Kent Jnr said on each occasion, Warmonger had excuses. “We’ve been very proud of the horse. Things didn’t go right in his two Group One races in Sydney,” Kent Jnr said. “In the Tancred, he was trapped three wide working very hard and then in the Sydney Cup, he also had to work hard from an outside gate and he copped a big bump from Tom Berry, who copped a suspension for it. “He’s gone for a quick break and he’ll be back better, stronger and bigger for the spring with the Cups as his focus.” Kent Jnr said he and training partner Mick Price’s sparingly raced, smart galloper Globe (NZ) (Charm Spirit) has also gone for a brief let-up after he suffered a slight setback with a bit of cellulitis in a hind leg. “There was nothing serious, but it just meant he had a couple of easy weeks. He’s a 100-rated horse and it doesn’t make sense having him in work for May and June. He’ll be back in work on Monday week as the spring horses start to come back into work,” he said. Globe had one start during autumn, finishing 13th in the Gr.3 Victoria Handicap after having had a torrid run, after winning the Listed Cranbourne Cup and then finishing third in the Listed Ballarat Cup late last year. View the full article