Wandering Eyes

Repole Stable's newly crowned Eclipse Award winner and 'TDN Rising Star' Fierceness (City of Light) is set to make a much-anticipated sophomore debut in Saturday's GIII Holy Bull S., and–realistically–the homebred may not require his very best to make a victorious return to action. Brilliant as he was in breaking his maiden by better than 11 lengths at first asking in Uncle Mo-esque fashion over the summer at Saratoga, he was equally disappointing when beaten a long ways from home in the GI Champagne S. Those who quickly jumped ship were made to feel the sting of that decision when Fierceness returned a whopping $35 when romping by 6 1/4 lengths in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile, good for a 105 Beyer. Of his seven rivals, only New Jersey-bred Sea Streak (Sea Siren) has earned a figure within 10 points of Fierceness's debut 95, so barring something unforeseen, he should take this first of two programmed preps on the road to the Kentucky Derby. “By bringing him back in the Holy Bull we get good spacing to the Florida Derby and like the five weeks from the Florida Derby to the Kentucky Derby,” said trainer Todd Pletcher, whose previous Holy Bull winners include Algorithms (2012) and Audible (2018). “Knock on wood, everything's gone according to plan so far and hopefully continues to go that way. He's had some super breezes leading up to this, and we're super excited about getting him started.” Candidates for the minors include D J Stable's undefeated rail-drawn Hades (Awesome Slew), an eight-length allowance winner in Florida-bred company Dec. 31 and trying two turns for the first time; and Otello (Curlin), also unbeaten in two starts and a latest half-length winner of the one-mile Mucho Macho Man S. Jan. 1. Nysos Figures A Handful In Lewis Speaking of undefeated colts, Baoma Corp.'s 'TDN Rising Star' Nysos (Nyquist) will take all the beating as he looks to give trainer Bob Baffert an eighth victory in the last 10 runnings of the GIII Robert B. Lewis S. and a record-extending 12th overall. The May foal traded at odds north of 6-1 for his six-furlong debut at this track Oct. 21 and he made light work of nine others, graduating by 10 1/2 lengths in 1:08.97. The bay was a comparatively generous 20 cents on the dollar in a four-horse renewal of the GIII Bob Hope S. at Del Mar Nov. 19 and those that swallowed the skinny odds walked away happy, as did those that took the 11-10 about the exacta over Stronghold (Ghostzapper). The latter returned to be second to GIII Southwest S. entrant Wynstock (Solomini) in the GII Los Alamitos Futurity Dec. 16 and adds blinkers here for Phil D'Amato. Baffert is taking the eyewear off 'TDN Rising Star' Coach Prime (Quality Road), who turned in a remarkable performance to break his maiden first time long at Del Mar Nov. 1 before finishing third in the Futurity last time. Coach Prime cost $1.7 million at Keeneland September in 2022. Maycocks Bay Heads West For Southwest As much as Fierceness stands out in the Holy Bull, Saturday's GIII Southwest S.–easily the richest of the day's four Triple Crown preps at $800,000–shapes as a much more wide-open contest. Eclipse Award-winning owner and breeder Godolphin sent out champion Essential Quality (Tapit) to win the 2021 Southwest S. en route to the Triple Crown, and Sheikh Mohammed's operation has the potential favorite here in the form of Maycocks Bay (Speightstown). A maiden winner at second asking in the Parx slop on Pennsylvania Derby day last September, the chestnut made no impact in his two-turn debut when a distant sixth at the Fair Grounds Nov. 23, but added Lasix last time and took a rained-off route by 10 3/4 lengths Jan. 7. Plenty will take a contrarian approach to the 3-1 morning-line favorite and many will land on Liberal Arts (Arrogate). The gray, arguably still under the radar and lightly regarded on the morning line at 8-1, has improved from start to start, with a good third in the GIII Iroquois S. Sept. 13 before racing away to a 2 3/4-length success in a sloppy renewal of the GIII Street Sense S. at Churchill Oct. 29. The Southwest maps at an above-par pace and it would be surprising if that did not eventuate, given the presence of the speedy 'TDN Rising Star' Carbone (Mitole), GII Los Alamitos Futurity winner Wynstock (Solomini), Springboard Mile hero Otto the Conqueror (Street Sense) and the aforementioned Maycocks Bay. Looking for a longshot alternative? There are worse choices than Common Defense (Karakontie {Jpn}), a debut second to subsequent GIII Lecomte S. third Lat Long (Liam's Map) here Dec. 13 ahead of a visually impressive graduation Jan. 13. His figs are light, but the race flow could really flatter his style. Schwartz Homebred Rates 'Grande' Chance In Withers Take Charge Indy rejoined the WinStar stallion barn in 2020 after a successful stint in South Korea, and the foals from that crop performed well in 2023 to the tune of 22 individual winners. Barry K. Schwartz's El Grande O was one of two to succeed at stakes level, rolling home to best his fellow Empire-breds in the Bertram F. Bongard S. and Sleepy Hollow S. during a busy eight-race campaign. The dark bay will look to carry his speed around two turns for the first time in Saturday's GIII Withers S. at Aqueduct, having finished second to the sidelined Drum Roll Please (Hard Spun) in the Jerome S. over the one-turn mile Jan. 6. Though far less experienced, Lightline (City of Light) is the 8-5 favorite on David Aragona's morning line. A $600,000 KEESEP acquisition by Albaugh Family Racing, the Brad Cox trainee overwhelmed a field of maidens at Horseshoe Indianapolis in September and has since run second to the well-regarded Stretch Ride (Street Sense) at Keeneland in October and to Carbone last time at Oaklawn. “I'm happy with what we've seen from him to start his career. He ran a good race at Oaklawn last time and maybe got a little far back. It's a short stretch in a mile race,” said Cox. “He kind of didn't get as involved as we thought, but at the end of the day, I thought he got a lot out of it and it sets him up well for the Withers.” Mission Beach (Curlin) was a debut winner in three starts for Bob Baffert and recently validated odds of 2-5 to take a first-level allowance sprinting at Laurel for Brittany Russell Dec. 22. Sophomore Stakes Dot Holy Bull Undercard Three other age-restricted graded stakes and one listed stakes are carded Saturday afternoon in support of the Holy Bull at Gulfstream Park. The races are distributed evenly on the dirt and the turf and arguably the most appealing of the quartet is the Swale S. With morning-line favorite Bentornato (Valiant Minister) expected to come out in favor of a start in the G3 Saudi Derby in three weeks' time, the money could come for Legalize (Constitution), who ships in from New Orleans for Cherie DeVaux off a victory in the Sugar Bowl S. The filly counterpart, the GIII Forward Gal S., drew a field of seven, and the most interesting of the entrants is Gary Barber's Witwatersrand (Connect), who broke her maiden at first asking at Woodbine Sept. 1 and promptly topped the Fasig-Tipton October Digital Sale on Gary Barber's bid of $230,000. Second in the Glorious Song S. five days later, she stretched out to win the GIII Mazarine S. Nov. 4. Witwatersrand needs to prove she can handle a dirt track, but her Palm Meadow breezes are positive enough. Grass runners owned or co-owned by Repole figure prominently in the afternoon's two graded events on that surface. In the GIII Sweetest Chant S., Life's an Audible (Audible) looks to improve on her running-on second in the Jan. 6 Ginger Brew S., with stiff competition in the form of Milliat (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}), a slow-starting neck second in the Wait A While S. on U.S. debut Dec. 9. Oisin Murphy carries the Qatar Racing colors. In the GIII Kitten's Joy S., 'TDN Rising Star' Agate Road, campaigned in partnership with St. Elias Stable, tries to make amends for a pace-compromised second to Tocayo (Always Dreaming) in the Jan. 6 Dania Beach S. First World War (War Front) was a first-out winner at Kentucky Downs and returns to the turf after finishing narrowly runner-up in the Mucho Macho Man. The post And So It Begins: Fierceness Makes Seasonal Debut In Holy Bull appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Godolphin horses won four of the five turf races on the Feb. 2 program at the Dubai World Cup Carnival, previewing some potential stars for the summer season in Europe and the United States.View the full article

The Washington community continues to mourn the loss of longtime owner and breeder Howard Hammer, who died Nov. 23 at age 103.View the full article

The Feb. 4 Hong Kong Classic Mile is the first of three races in the series that culminates with the Hong Kong Derby.View the full article

Ocala Stud celebrated a significant achievement when Fierceness (City of Light) became the second GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner in a row to graduate from their breaking and training program, following hot on the heels of fellow Repole Stable standout Forte (Violence) in 2022. Newly crowned as champion 2-year-old male, Fierceness makes his much-anticipated sophomore debut on Saturday in the GIII Holy Bull S., but he won't be the only starter representing Ocala Stud. Hades (Awesome Slew), who is two for two for trainer Joe Orseno, was bred and raised at Ocala Stud before he sold to D.J. Stable as a 2-year-old. Like everyone tuning into the early Kentucky Derby preps this weekend, Ocala Stud's David O'Farrell is familiar with the anticipation that always comes around this time of year. “It's the most exciting time of the year in this business once you get to the Derby prep races and see the potential of these young 3-year-olds,” he said. To have two promising graduates in the same starting gate for the first leg of Florida's road to the Kentucky Derby makes this season all the more sweet. Ocala Stud and the O'Farrells have been affiliated with Hades's female family for several generations, going back to his third dam Grade I winner and producer Pretty Discreet (Private Account). His dam The Shady Lady (Quality Road) never made it to the racetrack, but all four of her foals of racing age are winners including Devious Dame (Girvin), who sold as a 2-year-old for $240,000 and went on to win the 2022 Astoria S. Hades is from the second crop of Ocala Stud's own Awesome Slew, a multiple graded stakes winner by Awesome Again who was the leading first-crop sire in Florida in 2022. O'Farrell said that Hades was as straightforward as they come from the time he was foaled, on through the breaking and training process and at the sales, where he brought $130,000 at the OBS April Sale. “He never had any issues and was good-minded,” he explained. “You never really know what the level of talent is until you get close to the sale, but he performed beautifully at OBS, sold for a nice price, went to a good home and the rest is history.” Breaking his maiden on debut for D.J. Stable and Robert Cotran, Hades went on to win a state-bred, seven-furlong contest at Gulfstream on Dec. 31 by eight lengths. The gelding earned a 84 Beyer Speed Figure for that effort. Hades has a full-brother pointing for the upcoming OBS April Sale as well as a yearling half-sister by Girvin. The Shady Lady is in foal to Ocala Stud sire Win Win Win this year. With Paco Lopez aboard, Hades drew the first position for Saturday's Holy Bull, but of course he'll have to contend with overwhelming favorite Fierceness, who has been training at Palm Beach Downs since his Breeders' Cup victory. A second-generation homebred for Repole Stable, Fierceness was among just the second crop of horses that Ocala Stud has trained for Repole. “He was another one that kind of quietly went through the program,” O'Farrell explained. “He was medium sized and never grabbed your attention, but also didn't do anything to get your attention in a bad way. Sometimes those are the best ones. By the last two or three weeks when we started breezing him a little bit, he was doing extremely well.” Ocala Stud's list of 2023 graduates for Repole Stable also includes 'TDN Rising Star' Agate Road (Quality Road). Owned in partnership with St. Elias Stable, the winner of the 2023 GII Pilgrim S. runs just before the Holy Bull on Saturday in the GIII Kitten's Joy S. Hades gets a second straight win for trainer Joe Orseno and owners D.J. Stable and Robert Cotran | Ryan Thompson “When you train horses for Repole, you're really spoiled because there are so many nice horses,” said O'Farrell. “Agate Road is no different. He went out in a Repole set and was as nice as anyone in the set.” O'Farrell said that this winter they have 12 Repole horses at their farm's training center. Also among the year's Kentucky Derby hopefuls, Ocala Stud is represented by Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Walmac Farm's Locked (Gun Runner), the winner of the 2022 GI Breeders' Futurity who finished third in the Juvenile, as well as Born Noble (Constitution), who had an eye-popping maiden win for St. Elias Stable and West Point Thoroughbreds on Dec. 30 and returns to the starting gate on Saturday at Gulfstream. It's a loaded group of promising Ocala Stud graduates and odds are good that plenty more accolades are in the farm's future as the year continues. “It really comes down to the owners sending us nice horses,” O'Farrell explained when asked about Ocala Stud's recent accomplishments. “We have a great group of clients and it starts with the horse. We're blessed to be able to train so many nice, well-bred horses. We have an unbelievable staff that has been with us for a long time. Our trainer George Burrows has been with us over 40 years. Many of his assistants and foremen and exercise riders have been with us for over 30 years.” It's the best-and busiest-time of the year at Ocala Stud as foals are hitting the ground, the breeding shed doors are about to open and the countdown is on for the first 2-year-old sale in just a few weeks. Plus, the farm's stallion roster features three young sires who will be represented by their first foals this year. “We have a couple of Roadsters on the ground and they're really nice, so we're off to a very good start there,” O'Farrell reported. “We're waiting on the first Colonel Liam in the next 10 days or so and Gretzky the Great has one coming in the next few days. We're excited The post Ocala Stud Well Represented in Holy Bull and Beyond appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Owner Staton Flurry now holds a minority interest in the unbeaten Carbone, who makes his stakes debut in the Southwest Stakes (G3) for 3-year-olds Feb. 3 at Oaklawn Park.View the full article

8th-Meydan, AED500,000, Cond., 2-2, NH & SH 3yo, 1600mT, 1:36.11, gd. Godolphin celebrated their fourth winner of the day bearing the royal blue, as LEGEND OF TIME (GB) (c, 3, Sea The Stars {Ire})–Kissable {Ire} {G1SP-Ire, SW & GSP-US, $225,919}, by Danehill Dancer {Ire}) drew off to win the Jumeirah Guineas Presented by Lincoln Nautilus by two lengths on Friday. The penultimate race of the day over 1600 metres on turf, the race marked the third win in four starts for the Charlie Appleby trainee. Content to track the first flight glued to the inside, the bay dropped a few lengths behind on the backstretch as a withering pace was set up front by Azna (Ire) (Shalaa {Ire}) and Musical Act (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) while shadowed by Shamrock Glitter (Fr) (Shalaa {Ire}). Shifting gears and with dead aim on the leading trio by halfway, Legend Of Time edged steadily closer with 500 metres to run. Swung out to produce his bid as Musical Act and Shamrock Glitter traded blows in the straight, the winner surged quickly past all comers to win easily. Athan (Arg) (Orpen) rallied strongly to take second with Shamrock Glitter hanging on for third, 4 1/4 lengths back. A winner at Haydock in September, he was fifth in the G3 Tattersalls S. later that month and made his 3-year-old bow a winning one when defeating Shamrock Glitter locally on Jan. 5. A half-brother to stakes winner and GI American Oaks third Amandine (GB) (Shamardal) and the G1 Prix de Royallieu heroine Loving Dream (GB) (Gleneagles {Ire}), Legend Of Time has a yearling half-sister by Night Of Thunder (Ire) still to come. G1 St Leger/G1 Racing Post Trophy winner and sire Brian Boru (GB) (Sadler's Wells) is under the third dam, the G3 Park Hill S. victress Eva Luna (Alleged). Sales history: 150,000gns Ylg '22 TATOCT. Lifetime Record: 4-3-0-0, AED512,002. Click for the ERA chart and video. O-Godolphin. B-Lordship Stud & Sunderland Holding, Inc. (GB). T-Charlie Appleby. The 3yo son of Dubawi doubles up at Meydan with a rousing success in the Jumeirah Guineas Presented by Lincoln Nautilus Four winners on the card for @godolphin and Charlie Appleby, and a treble for William Buick #DubaiCarnival pic.twitter.com/ZJrqUhEIdS — Dubai Racing Club (@RacingDubai) February 2, 2024 The post Sea The Stars’s Legend Of Time Much The Best In Jumeirah Guineas appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The initial races nominated as part of the Goffs €50,000 Bonus Series for horses purchased at last year's Goffs Orby Book 1 and 2 Sales have been released along with the publication of the Flat programme for 2024. The bonus series carries a maximum prize fund of €500,000 and will see up to 10 bonuses of €50,000 paid to the winning connections of a diverse programme of juvenile races throughout Ireland this year. The Goffs €50,000 Bonuses, part of the Goffs Two Million Series, is open to two-year-olds who were catalogued in the 2023 Goffs Orby Book 1 and Orby Book 2 Sales and were declared eligible by Goffs by payment of the qualification fee. The first races with opportunities to win will be held from March 18, at the Curragh, to early June, at Listowel. The remaining races will be published along with the release of the Flat programme by Horse Racing Ireland later in the year. Goffs chief Henry Beeby said, “The Goffs €50,000 Bonuses have been assigned by Goffs with the support of Horse Racing Ireland to give as many opportunities to win as possible, while ensuring that both early and later maturing types have a balanced chance to contend. “Goffs Two Million Series was a huge hit with buyers and helped drive the vibrant trade enjoyed at last year's Orby Sale which bucked market trends. We look forward to seeing those graduates compete for these valuable bonuses right from the start of the season, culminating in a spectacular Goffs Millions Day at the Curragh on the eve of this year's Orby.” Each race will appear in the Provisional Summary as a 'GOFFS €50,000 BONUS SERIES' race and a note will also appear in the relevant Racing Calendars. The series will conclude on Goffs Million Day at the Curragh on Saturday 28th September and, in the event that all ten bonuses have not been won, the outstanding amount will be added to the Goffs Million and Goffs 500 prize money. Goffs Two Million Series is headed by the Goffs Million, Europe's richest race for juveniles, which will be run over seven furlongs at the Curragh. Meanwhile, on the same card, the Goffs 500 of €500,000 will take place over six furlongs. Entries for the Goffs Million and Goffs 500, which offer prize money to 10th place, close on 1 May. Entry will be to both races and connections must only declare their preferred race at declaration time. The post First Batch Of Goffs Two Million Series Races Published In Provisional Summary appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

After two annual events at Santa Anita Park beginning in 2022, the Horse Racing Women's Summit is accepting applications to join their Marketing & Communications Committee as a volunteer, the organization said in a release Friday. The ideal candidate should be passionate about advancing the position and role of women in racing. A background in a marketing and/or communications role is desirable. This individual will be a key contributor to planning and promoting HRWS events. For more information or to apply, send a resume and cover letter to Shona Rotondo, HRWS Executive Committee Member, Marketing & Communications Lead, shona@myracehorse.com. The post Women’s Summit Seeks Marketing & Communications Committee Applicants appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Already a winner of one of the valuable handicaps that make up the Bahrain Turf Series back on Dec. 8, Victorious Racing's Isle of Jura (GB) (New Approach {Ire}) negotiated the hike into black-type company with aplomb, winning Friday's $150,000 Listed Crown Prince's Cup with a fair bit of authority. Immediately dropped out to the tail, Isle of Jura was given a quiet ride by Callum Shepherd, as the commonly owned Rollajam (Ire) (Belardo {Ire}) galloped them along in advance of American Flag (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}). The pacemaker had run his race fully 600 metres from home, as American Flag inherited the lead under a full head of steam entering the straight. But Isle of Jura worked his way into the clear and found plenty inside the final furlong before stretching away to win for the first time at stakes level. Lucander (Ire) (Footstepsinthesand {GB}), who defeated Isle of Jura by a nose in another Bahrain Turf Series race over course and distance Dec. 29, finished third. The Godolphin team of Local Dynasty (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}, Charlie Appleby) and local King's Cup hero Passion And Glory (Ire) (Cape Cross {Ire}, Saeed bin Suroor) were never dangerous, finishing fifth and sixth, respectively. “I just love the way he has grown up since he's been here, he now relaxes very well and he'll give himself every chance of getting further,” the winning jockey commented. “Being over here, it's really made a man of him. “This horse means a great deal to George and I. We have always taken this horse very seriously and for him to do that in front of his owners on home soil is really special, we're delighted.” Added Scott: “He's a lovely horse and he's clearly improving. He's bred to be a good horse and the sky is the limit with him, although we will just enjoy today first. It's well documented that [Victorious principle] His Highness Shaikh Nasser has been a huge supporter of mine and to repay him in this way is so exciting.” Isle of Jura began his career for his breeder and Appleby, finishing unplaced in a Wolverhampton novice in November 2022 before changing hands for 150,000gns at last year's Tattersalls Ascot March Sale. For this trainer, the bay was victorious in handicap company at Newbury July 21 and eight days later at Newmarket. The well-related Isle of Jura, a 62nd worldwide black-type winner for his sire, is out of a daughter of French listed-winning 2002 G1 Pouliches runner-up Firth of Lorne (Ire) (Danehill), whose son Master of the Seas (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) led home a Godolphin 1-2 in last year's GI Breeders' Cup Mile. She is also the dam of the stakes-winning and G1 St James's Palace S. second Latharnach (Iffraaj {GB}) and Etive (Elusive Quality), a listed winner in Germany. This is also the family of Just Fine (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), popular winner of the G1 Metropolitan H. at Randwick last September. Falls of Lora is also represented by a 2-year-old Night of Thunder (Ire) colt and a yearling colt by Dubawi. International raiders stole the show in the 1200-metre The Hawar Cup, as the Michael Owen co-owned and Hugo Palmer-trained Roman Dragon (GB) (Heeraat {Ire}) beat out Brazen Bolt (GB) (Brazen Beau {Aus}) from the barn of John and Sean Quinn by a half-length. “We're absolutely delighted,” said the former England striker, who campaigns the 5-year-old with Nick Hughes. “He has got speed to burn, but we often think he's better round a turning track than a straight track, so today is a lovely surprise. We thought beforehand Box To Box (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) would be in the first three and this horse would be in the last three, but it happened the other way round!” Box To Box was down the field in the Anchorman Cup, the afternoon's other BTS event over 1800m, a race won by former local champion Ecosystem (Ire) (Al Rifai {Ire}). Owen continued: “Me and Nick own the horse; I bred him and we've owned him all his life. It's my first time here and I am really enjoying it. My old boss, Sir Alex Ferguson, stood here not so long ago having won the big race, the Bahrain International Trophy [with Spirit Dancer {GB}], so it's clearly a lucky spot.” CROWN PRINCE'S CUP SPONSORED BY CEBARCO-Listed, $150,000, Sakhir (Bahrain), 2-2, 3yo/up, 2000mT, 2:03.01 1–ISLE OF JURA (GB), 126, g, 4, New Approach (Ire)–Falls of Lora (Ire) (GSW-UAE, SW-Eng, $246,417), by Street Cry (Ire). 1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN. (£150,000 HRA '23 TATMAR). O-Victorious; B-Godolphin; T-George Scott; J-Callum Shepherd; $90,000. Lifetime Record: 9-4-1-0, $167,164. *Full to Cascadian (GB), MG1SW-Aus, G1SP-Fr, $5,925,891; half to Albahr (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), GISW-Can, SW-Eng, $236,981. 2–American Flag (Ire), 126, g, 5, Sea The Stars (Ire)–Sequester (GB), by Selkirk. 1ST BLACK-TYPE. (125,000gns HRA '22 TATAUT). O-Al Adiyat Racing; B-Bjorn Nielsen; T-Allan Smith; J-Gerald Mosse. $30,000. 3–Lucander (Ire), 126, g, 7, Footstepsinthesand (GB)–Lady Sefton (Ire), by Oratorio (Ire). 1ST BLACK-TYPE. (€26,000 Wlg '17 GOFNOV; 28,000gns Ylg '18 TATOCT). O-Nigel Jones & Paul Bowden; B-Mr John Connolly; T-George Baker; J-Pat Cosgrave. $18,000. Margins: 3 3/4, HF, 1. Also Ran: Zagato (GB), Local Dynasty (Ire), Passion And Glory (Ire), Sovereign Spirit (GB), Duc de Kent (Fr), Rollajam (Ire). Click for the Bahrain Turf Club result. The post Isle of Jura Miles Best In Crown Prince’s Cup appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Owner Staton Flurry now holds a minority interest in the unbeaten Carbone, who make his stakes debut in the Southwest Stakes (G3) for 3-year-olds Feb. 3 at Oaklawn.View the full article

NEWMARKET, UK — The 91-rated Clearpoint (GB) (Ardad {GB}) bucked the trend of a number of the more expensive lots sold on Friday at Tattersalls and is to remain in the UK to continue his racing career. The four-year-old will switch stables from Charlie Fellowes to Simon Hodgson, who bid 75,000gns on behalf of PCF Racing for the four-time winner. The sprinter (lot 338) is entered for Sunday's Listed Kachy S. at Lingfield. Hodgson said, “He has been bought for John Whelan of PCF Racing. I don't know if we will run on Sunday, we will need to chat about it. John is a big supporter of his trainers and he has lost some good sprint handicappers so has been looking to replace them. This was the only horse we had on the list today that we felt was worth having a look at. John is in his 80s and he loves going racing.” If Hodgson does decide to send his new charge to Lingfield on Sunday, Clearpoint would be a fitting winner of the race named in memory of Kachy (GB), who, like Clearpoint himself, was bred by Fiona Denniff, who was seen chatting with the Hampshire-based Hodgson after he had signed for the horse. It was a relatively quiet final day of the February Sale. The promising wildcard Billy Webster (Ire) didn't meet his reserve, and a handful of horses behind Clearpoint exceeded the 50,000gns mark, with several of them off to race in the Middle East. Of those, First Encore (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}), offered as lot 280 from Ed Walker's stable, was bought by agent JD Moore for 62,000gns. “He is for trainer Hamad Al Jehani in Qatar,” said Moore of the 81-rated three-year-old. “He has the recent Qatar Derby winner Jeff Koons in his stable and he has been very lucky at Tattersalls. [The horse's] form is rock solid, he looks progressive with a lovely profile and he has been very well produced by Ed Walker and his team.” The biggest change in this sale from last year's edition was the fall in clearance rate. In recent years the trade for horses in training even at the lower end of the market had picked up notably but this trend did not continue over the last two days. The second-day clearance rate of 77% was an improvement on the opening session, and overall it settled at 73%, down from 84% in 2023. The average and median were both up slightly on last year, at 14,315gns (+3%) and 7,250gns (+4%) respectively. From a smaller catalogue, there were 98 fewer lots sold than in 2023 which naturally led to a downturn in the aggregate, which was 2,863,000gns (-31%). “The sale-topping 200,000 guineas Shadwell broodmare Taqaareed and the 125,000 guineas Juddmonte colt Retort were the obvious highlights of the 2024 Tattersalls February Sale. Taqaareed is the second-highest price at this fixture since 2018 and Retort is the third-highest-priced colt in training ever sold at the Tattersalls February Sale, with both of them demonstrating the sustained domestic and international demand for quality breeding stock and horses in training,” said Tattersalls chairman Edmond Mahony at the close of trade. “As ever the overseas contribution has been notable. Buyers from throughout Europe and the Gulf region have been out in force, the 125,000 guineas colt Retort is heading to Australia and North African buyers have again been conspicuous. Domestic British and Irish buyers, both Flat and National Hunt, have been the mainstay of the sale, but the smallest February catalogue since 2014 has unsurprisingly produced turnover some way short of last year's impressive figure and the clearance rate, while eminently respectable, has not matched the customary market-leading levels that we would aspire to at sales of this nature. Nevertheless, the average and median have both held up well with small increases in both categories, and the National Hunt fraternity has a rare and immediate opportunity to look forward to, with the outstanding Andy and Gemma Brown Dispersal taking place this coming Monday, 5th February at Tattersalls Ireland.” The post Clearpoint to Stay in UK After Heading Final Day at Tattersalls appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Papineau (GB) (Singspiel {GB}), the winner of the 2004 Gold Cup at Royal Ascot for Godolphin and Saeed Bin Suroor, has died at the age of 24. The half-brother to Derby runner-up Silver Patriarch (GB) was bred by the late Peter Winfield and bought at the Tattersalls December Sale as a foal in 2000. An accomplished stayer and winner of five of his nine races, Papineau's work in his long retirement was arguably even more important. A Godolphin Lifetime Care Ambassador, he was initially rehomed and retrained as a dressage horse, competing in both affiliated dressage and Racehorse to Riding Horse show classes. In 2016, Papineau joined Godolphin's pre-training facility at Hamilton Hill as a hack and was exemplary in his behaviour when leading out the yearlings each morning. How won the Newmarket Hacks' Class during the Sir Henry Cecil Open Weekend and twice travelled to Deauville for the Au-Dela des Pistes G1 Champions' Parade. He also supported the launch of the Godolphin Beacon Project, a joint venture between Godolphin, Newmarket Academy and the education charity Racing to School, meeting many of the school's pupils. In his full retirement from hack duties he retired to Woodditton Stud, just outside Newmarket, where he was looked after by stud rroom Geraldine Jones and her daughter Megan. In his later role in equine-assisted therapy he visited Newmarket Hospital and East Anglia's Children's Hospices (EACH) several times. Saeed bin Suroor said, “Papineau was a pleasure to train, and his Gold Cup win at Ascot was a very special day indeed. His achievements after his racing career are something that the whole team should be incredibly proud of.” Liam O'Rourke, Director of Stud, Stallions and Breeding added, “Papineau was a horse who did even more for others, both within and outside of our industry, in his retirement as he did throughout his career. He was much loved and will be much missed.” The post Gold Cup Winner and Godolphin Ambassador Papineau Dies at 24 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The ITBA, in conjunction with the ITBA Next Generation committee, will host a Flat Breeding Seminar on Tuesday, February 6 ahead of the start of the Goffs February Sale the following day. Entitled 'Flat Breeding for the Modern Marketplace'will get underway at 6pm in the Goffs sale ring. Industry experts Cathal Beale, CEO of the Irish National Stud, Helena Burns of Anglesey Lodge Equine Hospital and Loughtown Stud, Dermot Cantillon of Tinnakill House Stud, bloodstock agent Matt Coleman and Juddmonte Ireland's general manager Barry Mahon will join a panel hosted by Kevin Blake. The seminar is free to attend and refreshments will be served on the balcony from 5.30pm. ITBA Chairman Cathy Grassick said: “I am excited at the prospect of hearing from our expert panel on all issues relevant to our industry. This is a busy time of year for breeders and mare owners and a great time to hear from industry experts.” The post ITBA Flat Breeding Seminar at Goffs on Tuesday appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Red Rafa Stud's Planetario returns to the track Feb. 4 for his seasonal debut in the $100,000 San Marcos Stakes (G3T) at Santa Anita Park. He leads a field of seven traveling 1 1/4 miles in a race that will start on the downhill turf course.View the full article

3rd-Meydan, AED500,000, Cond., 2-2, NH & SH 3yo, f, 1400mT, 1:23.27, gd. Godolphin's CINDERELLA'S DREAM (GB) (f, 3, Shamardal–Espadrille {GB}, by Dubawi {Ire}) made it three on the bounce with a fine closing effort in the Jumeirah Fillies' Classic Presented By Lincoln Aviator. She defeated stablemate Beautiful Love (Ire) (Siyouni {Fr}) by 2 3/4 lengths and won without being extended. The final time for the 1400m over the good turf was 1:23.27. Rated near the rear of the field for much of the race, the filly was wound up by William Buick and steered farther out into the course for the stretch drive. Once a gap appearance, she glided right by her rivals, including the stretch leader Frost At Dawn (Frosted). Beautiful Love also found more to take second, but was never catching the winner. Frost At Dawn was another 1 3/4 lengths back in third. A winner of her maiden on debut at Lingfield last May, the bay triumphed at Thirsk over 1500 metres in September. The second foal for her two-time winning dam, Cinderella's Dream's latest half-sibling is a 2-year-old filly by Farhh (GB). Picked up by Godolphin for 800,000gns as a weanling during the 2015 Tattersalls December Foal Sale, Espadrille Is a daughter of High Heeled (Ire) (High Chaparral {Ire}), who won the G3 St. Simon S. and placed third in both the G1 Oaks and G1 Coronation Cup. Lifetime Record: 3-3-0-0, AED339,166. Click for the ERA chart and video. O/B-Godolphin (GB). T-Charlie Appleby. That looked a bit special Cinderella's Dream (Shamardal) preserves her unbeaten record with a bloodless success in the Jumeirah Fillies Classic Presented by Lincoln Aviator @godolphin also won this last year with a certain Mawj … #DubaiCarnival pic.twitter.com/RWYIjzmZ4C — Dubai Racing Club (@RacingDubai) February 2, 2024 The post Fairytale Continues For Shamardal’s Undefeated Cinderella’s Dream In Jumeirah Fillies’ Classic appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Gerry McGrath, breeder of Champion Hurdler Jezki (Ire) (Milan {GB}) and high-class performers Jett (Ire) (Flemensfirth), Jered (Ire) (Presenting {GB}), Jetson (Ire) (Oscar {Ire}) and Jenari (Ire) (Milan {GB}) all out of the outstanding broodmare La Noire (Ire) (Phardante {Fr}), has outlined hopes that the legacy can continue with leading Dublin Racing Festival contender Jetara (Ire) (Walk In The Park {Ire}). A granddaughter of La Noire, the mare who was famously gifted to McGrath by his late father in the nineties, Jetara will take on the boys in the G1 Nathaniel Lacy & Partners Solicitors Novice Hurdle on Saturday and will arrive at Leopardstown in the form of her life after posting three wins on the trot. It was in 2020 when McGrath, 72, decided to offer the majority of his breeding and racing stock as part of a dispersal at Tattersalls Ireland. All bar the first foals out of each broodmare he owned were offered under the hammer and, once again, lady luck was on the breeder's side with the now Grade 1 aspirant Jetara one of the fillies he decided to retain. McGrath joked, “It's hard to get out of this game! It was a couple of years ago when Michael O'Leary said he was getting out but he still has plenty of horses. Basically, Jetara is the start of a new legacy, isn't she? If she stays safe, she is going to continue on the line.” There is a common theme with McGrath's horses. They all begin with the letter J and, for the most part, they have been trained by Jessica Harrington. McGrath may well have felt that the final chapters of his famous association with the La Noire family had been written after the dispersal of less than four years ago which makes Jetara's emergence as a top-notch prospect all the sweeter. “I hope that the best may still be to come with Jetara,” he explained. “She was superb in a Grade 3 at Leopardstown the last day and Jessica says that she will be even better on a nicer surface. We will see how Saturday goes but we will probably skip Cheltenham and target Fairyhouse and Punchestown, although that will be Jessica's decision.” He added on his association with Harrington, “She is fantastic. Jessica is straight-talking and you know exactly where you stand with her. She always does the best she can by you and, what she has gone through last year, she is as strong as an ox. Nothing keeps her down.” What makes McGrath's achievements even more mind-boggling is the fact that, prior to being gifted the amazing foundation mare La Noire, he had no knowledge about breeding or racing horses. Nobody could accuse him for being asleep at the wheel with Jezki's memorable Champion Hurdle performance in the colours of JP McManus last decade put forward as an obvious highlight. He said, “Jezki winning the Champion Hurdle was an amazing day. And it's funny, you know, everybody knows the horse but they don't know his name. They call him jet ski. He was named after my daughters Kim and Zoe. So, as usual, we start off with the J, and added in the Z for Zoe and the K for Kim.” It may be common practice in some juristictions for a horse's name to begin with a certain letter depending on when they were born. However, in this case, the naming of the steeds is once again down to nothing but pure superstition. McGrath explained, “Well, the mother was La Noire, which translates to black, and I just thought when you think of black, you think jet black. The first one beginning with the letter J was successful and, given we are a very superstitious crowd, we kept it going.” He added, “I wasn't born into horses. My Dad was big into the breeding but he used to give away the fillies and race the boys. I was out helping him in the yard one day and he told me he was about to give La Noire away but asked me if I wanted her first. It was purely timing, otherwise somebody else would have owned La Noire. I hadn't a clue about breeding but learned as I went along. I knew what I had and I knew what I hoped to produce. One and one doesn't always make two and, even when you think you have the perfect formula, it doesn't work that way with breeding. But luck has been on our side. La Noire was so prolific. I must also say that Coolmore have been a great help to me.” Having carried McGrath's colours for the early stages of his career, Jezki was sold to JP McManus, for whom he sported the famous green and gold hoops of the legendary owner when out-battling My Tent Or Yours (Ire) (Desert Prince {Ire}) in the 2014 Champion Hurdle. Similarly to Jezki, two more siblings, Jenari and Jered, were sold mid-career to McManus, and McGrath revealed that Jetara will probably change hands at some point in the near future such is the need to keep the wheels turning. He said, “Jetara reminds me so much of Jezki. The way she jumps and travels is similar to him and, you know, she's probably a roomier mare to La Noire so she should make a very good broodmare down the line. I don't have an interest in breeding anymore so, if somebody does come in for this filly, there is a likelihood that she will be sold. It has to make some business sense.” He added, “When we had the dispersal, I decided to keep the first foal out of each of the mares. I kept Jetara in the hope that she'd be good and thank God that luck has been on my side again. We also have Jekiki (Ire) (Soldier Of Fortune {Ire}) in training. She is out of Jeree (Ire) (Flemensfirth), who hasn't produced anything of note yet, but she has a lovely four-year-old by Order Of St George (Ire) who is in Jessica's and is apparently showing the right signs. Do you want to know what he is going to be called? Jerrari. Like Ferrari, only with a J in front of it. Now, he's not red, but hopefully he's as fast as one!” It's not just the naming of McGrath's horses that have captured the imagination down through the years. His bright orange colours, which can be seen from outer space, are just as synonymous as the names. “I am a bit of an artist so I drew up some blank colours and started colouring them in to see what worked. Orange and black works nicely so, when it came to getting the colours made up, I had two types of orange to choose from. I went with the bright fluorescent orange. You can see the colours through the fog. “But it's funny, they say racing is the sport of kings. Well what town in Ireland do you associate kings with? Tara. Say no more!” The post ‘Start Of A New Legacy’ – Jetara Bids To Do Outstanding Family Proud At DRF appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The curtain came down on the final day of selling at NZB’s Karaka 2024 Book 2 Sale with the third and final day proving to be the strongest day of selling for the third consecutive year. NZB’s Managing Director Andrew Seabrook praised the vendor’s efforts. “Just like last year’s Sale, the final day of Book 2 has been the strongest of the three days by far,” he commented. “On Friday we cleared 78%, pulling the Book 2 clearance up to 70% from the previous days’ 63%. “The number of horses sold for $100,000 or more in Book 2 has climbed from nineteen last year to twenty-seven this year. “There were some very happy vendors on Friday, and it is wonderful to see them get those rewards.” The top lot of the day came when leading buyers Ballymore Stables, Paul Moroney and Catheryne Bruggeman stretched to $160,000 for Lot 1081, a filly by the first season sire Ancient Spirit. “It’s a great result, she’s going to a great home,” commented an elated Gus Wigley who offered the filly under his Inglewood Stud banner and landed as leading vendors by average of the Book 2 Sale. “Mike trains the half-brother Force of Law, so it’s a great result, she’ll get every chance. “We are rapt for fellow South Islander’s White Robe Lodge and their first season sire Ancient Spirit. “We had a very good Book 1 sale, and to back it up with a Book 2 sale like this, getting three amazing results for our only three horses in Book 2 was amazing.” Leading Book 2 vendor Westbury Stud’s Principal Russell Warwick commented on Karaka 2024‘s Book 2 results. “I think good horses sold well in Book 2 with some decent prices being achieved, you’d be happy with those results.” At the conclusion of selling in Book 2, the leading sire by average was the emerging Waikato Stud sire Ardrossan with four lots being secured for an average of $103,907. All yearlings purchased at Karaka 2024 are eligible to be nominated for NZB’s lucrative Karaka Millions Series, featuring the $1m TAB Karaka Millions 2YO, $1.5m TAB Karaka Millions 3YO and two new $200,000 bonuses. To nominate your yearling, contact finance@nzb.co.nz or call +64 9 298 0055. Entries close Monday 4 March 2024. Yearlings purchased at the Book 2 Sale who nominate for the Karaka Millions Series are also eligible for the $200,000 Book 2 Bonus, to be won by the first horse across the finish line in the 2026 $1.5m TAB Karaka Millions 3YO race. To enquire about Passed Lots contact Patrick Cunningham on +64 21 181 5898 or email Patrick.Cunningham@nzb.co.nz, or Andrew Buick on +64 27 555 0640 or email Andrew.Buick@nzb.co.nz. Attention now turns to NZB’s National Online Yearling Sale to be held in April on Gavelhouse Plus, with further details to follow. View the full Book 2 results and online catalogue here. Catch the highlights and Lot-by-Lot footage from Book 2 online. Karaka 2024: Book 2 Statistics (at end of selling) 2024 BOOK 2 TOTAL 2023 BOOK 2 TOTAL 2022 BOOK 2 TOTAL 2021 BOOK 2 TOTAL AGGREGATE $11,444,000 $11,516,000 $10,036,000 $8,853,000 AVERAGE $43,185 $43,131 $40,632 $41,759 MEDIAN $32,500 $32,000 $30,000 $30,000 CLEARANCE 70% 71% 64% 76% CATALOGUED 443 435 466 339 OFFERED 377 375 384 277 SOLD 265 267 247 212 TOP LOT Lot 790 Time Test – Kerre (Br.C) $220,000 Lot 789 Proisir – Harriet Wilson (G.C) $180,000 Lot 1063 Tivaci – Short Tale (B.F) $250,000 Lot 725 Churchill – Astrid (Ch.F) $200,000 Karaka 2024: Combined Statistics (at end of selling) 2024 COMBINED TOTAL 2023 COMBINED TOTAL 2022 COMBINED TOTAL 2021 COMBINED TOTAL Aggregate $91,842,000 $82,091,500 $74,382,500 $60,996,500 Average $122,783 $111,235 $106,109 $94,276 Median $90,000 $80,000 $70,000 $62,500 Clearance 76% 77% 75% 82% Catalogued 1125 1079 1103 918 Withdrawn 141 121 156 127 Offered 984 958 947 791 Passed 236 220 246 144 Lots Sold 748 738 701 647 Top Price $1,600,000 $1,000,000 $1,000,000 $800,000 Karaka 2024: Book 2 Day Three Top Lots LOT SIRE DAM SEX VENDOR BUYER PRICE 1081 Ancient Spirit Back Date Filly Inglewood Stud Ballymore Stables / Paul Moroney Bloodstock / Catheryne Bruggeman (Waikato) $160,000 1029 Ardrossan Venetian Raider Colt Seaton Park Ltd Bell Racing (Waikato) $120,000 1122 Wrote Cracker Colt Highview HY Investments (Malaysia) $120,000 1049 Circus Maximus Word Savvy Filly Ralph Thoroughbreds Bloodstock Solutions (Queensland) $110,000 1088 Embellish Blue Shadow Colt Hiwiroa Lodge Richardson Racing Stables (Waikato) $110,000 1108 Satono Aladdin Chilli Filly Brighthill Farm Phill Cataldo Bloodstock (BAFNZ) (Waikato) $105,000 1034 Almanzor Vin Rouge Filly Highline Thoroughbreds Kasa Bloodstock Ltd (Waikato) $100,000 1055 Maurice Zakalicious Filly Brighthill Farm Phill Cataldo Bloodstock (BAFNZ) (Waikato) $100,000 1077 Satono Aladdin Ardere Filly Rich Hill Stud Ciaron Maher Bloodstock (Victoria) $100,000 1099 Almanzor Capblamo Colt Grangewilliam Stud Wallace Thoroughbreds Ltd (Auckland) $100,000 Karaka 2024: Book 2 Top Lots LOT SIRE DAM SEX VENDOR BUYER PRICE 0790 Time Test Kerre Colt Leanach Lodge Ltd Paul Moroney Bloodstock / Catheryne Bruggeman / Sears Racing (Queensland) $220,000 0896 Proisir Polson Filly Rich Hill Stud Ballymore Stables / Paul Moroney Bloodstock / Catheryne Bruggeman (Waikato) $170,000 0907 Ardrossan Pwerfect Colt Landsdowne Park Ltd Benner Racing Ltd (Manawatu-Whanganui) $165,000 1081 Ancient Spirit Back Date Filly Inglewood Stud Ballymore Stables / Paul Moroney Bloodstock / Catheryne Bruggeman (Waikato) $160,000 0795 Ardrossan La Donna Colt Landsdowne Park Ltd Lilywhites Lodge Ltd (Auckland) $155,000 0944 Proisir Sentito Filly Beckam Equine Mr RA James / Mr R Wellwood (Waikato) $150,000 0935 Ace High Savasong Colt Seaton Park Ltd Kasa Bloodstock Ltd (Waikato) $140,000 0731 Sun City Flippity Lass Filly Westbury Stud Benner Racing Ltd (Manawatu-Whanganui) $130,000 0892 El Roca Phoenix Colt Westbury Stud Ms R Carter (Auckland) $130,000 0723 Time Test Fascino Lass Colt HGT Bloodstock Ltd John Foote Bloodstock (Hong Kong) $120,000 0815 Grunt Little Rock Filly Brighthill Farm Mr DC Ellis CNZM (BAFNZ) (Te Akau) $120,000 1029 Ardrossan Venetian Raider Colt Seaton Park Ltd Bell Racing (Waikato) $120,000 1122 Wrote Cracker Colt Highview HY Investments (Malaysia) $120,000 Karaka 2024: Book 2 Leading Purchasers by Aggregate PURCHASER BOUGHT AGGREGATE TOP PRICE TOP LOT Ballymore Stables / Paul Moroney Bloodstock / Catheryne Bruggeman 10 $788,500 $170,000 896 Wallace Thoroughbreds Ltd 7 $388,500 $100,000 1099 Lisa Latta Racing Stables 7 $340,500 $90,000 980 Paul Moroney Bloodstock / Catheryne Bruggeman / Sears Racing 3 $327,000 $220,000 790 Patrick Payne 5 $302,500 $75,000 976 Richardson Racing Stables 3 $300,000 $110,000 1088 Benner Racing Ltd 2 $295,000 $165,000 907 John Foote Bloodstock 4 $277,500 $120,000 723 Rogerson Bloodstock 4 $263,000 $75,000 1082 Phill Cataldo Bloodstock (BAFNZ) 4 $260,000 $105,000 1108 Karaka 2024: Book 2 Leading Vendors by Aggregate VENDOR OFFERED SOLD AGGREGATE AVERAGE TOP PRICE TOP LOT Westbury Stud 17 16 $992,500 $62,031 $130,000 892 Rich Hill Stud 14 12 $779,500 $64,958 $170,000 896 Haunui Farm 26 23 $720,000 $31,304 $77,500 925 Landsdowne Park Ltd 11 11 $702,000 $63,818 $165,000 907 Seaton Park Ltd 19 19 $638,000 $33,579 $140,000 935 Ralph Thoroughbreds 9 9 $510,000 $56,667 $110,000 1049 Highview 9 7 $487,500 $69,643 $120,000 1122 Brighthill Farm 10 9 $427,500 $47,500 $120,000 815 Highline Thoroughbreds 9 9 $427,500 $47,500 $100,000 1034 Mapperley Stud Ltd 11 9 $416,000 $46,222 $100,000 773 Karaka 2024: Book 2 Leading Vendors by Average (three or more sold) VENDOR OFFERED SOLD AVERAGE TOP LOT TOP PRICE Inglewood Stud 3 3 $98,333 1081 $160,000 Highview 12 7 $69,643 1122 $120,000 Beckam Equine 4 3 $68,333 944 $150,000 Rich Hill Stud 19 12 $64,958 896 $170,000 Landsdowne Park Ltd 13 11 $63,818 907 $165,000 Westbury Stud 27 16 $62,031 892 $130,000 Beaufort Downs Ltd 6 4 $58,750 980 $90,000 Ralph Thoroughbreds 12 9 $56,667 1049 $110,000 HGT Bloodstock Ltd 10 6 $54,167 723 $120,000 Platinum Bloodstock 5 3 $53,833 690 $100,000 Karaka 2024: Book 2 Leading Sires by Average (three or more sold) SIRE OFFERED SOLD AVERAGE TOP PRICE TOP LOT Ardrossan 8 6 $103,917 $165,000 907 Satono Aladdin 6 5 $72,000 $105,000 1108 Wrote 10 7 $71,357 $120,000 1122 Cosmic Force 4 4 $61,250 $90,000 1123 U S Navy Flag 8 7 $57,714 $90,000 1046 Redwood 11 7 $54,929 $80,000 711 Hello Youmzain* 6 5 $53,200 $90,000 980 War Decree 7 5 $53,000 $100,000 846 Ace High 14 8 $52,875 $140,000 935 Almanzor 13 9 $49,556 $100,000 1099 *First season sire View the full article

White Robe Lodge stallion Ancient Spirit was in the spotlight on the third and final day of the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sales, providing the top lot of the day when a filly out of the Zacinto mare Back Date fetched $160,000. The Book 2 filly was catalogued as Lot 1081 and was sold by Inglewood Stud to the combination of Ballymore Stables, Paul Moroney Bloodstock and Catheryne Bruggeman who have been prolific buyers throughout the week, with three Book 1 purchases and 10 Book 2 acquisitions. A multiple Group Two winning son of Invincible Spirit, Ancient Spirit was the champion three-year-old miler in both Italy and Germany in 2018. From the two-time winning Galileo mare Assisi, Ancient Spirit was bred by famed German breeders Gestut Schlenderhan. While Mike Moroney admitted he wasn’t overly familiar with the deeds of Ancient Spirit, he does train the filly’s half-brother Force Of Law, who was forward enough to compete in last weekend’s 1m TAB Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m) . “Paul said to me if she was by I Am Invincible she’d make $700,000 because she’s a cracking sort and there’s a real I Am Invincible look about her,” Mike Moroney said. “Being by a son of Invincible Spirit, she’s just one of those great walking fillies with big ears. She did everything we love. “I went and had a look at her with an open mind when Paul said to me, he thought she was the pick of the fillies in K2. I hadn’t heard of the stallion at all, but once I saw the filly I thought, ‘yeah, he’s dead right’. “She certainly looks like an I Am Invincible and a good type at that, so I suppose you’d say she’s a poor man’s I Am Invincible. “We’ve always bought on type and when people ask about breeding – and this is a prime example – Paul saw just the good I Am Invincible fillies in this filly. “She’s pretty laid back and has a really good temperament, but physically she’s a very strong filly and she just walked well at both ends, front and back, I thought. “Paul said, ‘I don’t think you’ll be alone on her. He said, ‘I think she’s well liked and she’s been out a lot of times’.” The filly is likely to stay in New Zealand under the watch of Moroney’s Matamata training partner Pam Gerard. “Pam really loved her as well, so that puts a bit of pressure on me, so she’ll probably stay here for the bonus races,” Moroney said. Lot 1081, a filly by Ancient Spirit out of Back Date Photo: Trish Dunell “We’ll give her the chance to start with. I’ll probably do that with one or two of the fillies that we’ve bought and earmarked for Australia. We’ll leave them here to give them their chance – the Proisir filly that we bought also looks early to me. “We’ll put them through the motions and if they look like they’ll take more time, we’ll probably pull up stumps, give them a break and then get them to Australia. The New Zealand stake-money provides that opportunity.” All horses purchased from Book 2 that are entered for the Karaka Millions Series are eligible for the $200,000 Book 2 Bonus, during the running of the 2026 $1.5m TAB Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m), rewarding connections of the first horse across the line bought from the second session. Additionally there is a $200,000 New Owners Bonus which will be won by the first horse across the finish line in the $1m TAB Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m) that has 50 percent or more of the ownership being held by first-time owners. Inglewood Stud’s Gus Wigley said it was a great result and a continuation of a positive week for the North Canterbury nursery, which bred last Saturday’s Karaka Millions 2YO heroine Velocious before strong results across Books 1 and 2 at Karaka. “Mike obviously trains the half-brother Force Of Law, who ran in the Karaka Millions and we’re rapt and we’re also rapt for the guys down at White Robe who stand Ancient Spirit,” Wigley said. “They are good friends and they have a nice horse down there, so it is a good result all around.” Wigley said the filly hails from a family with special significance. “When my grandmother passed away, a long time ago now, she left all of the grand kids $10,000 each. She wanted me to put it into a mare, so I bought my first mare, and that was the grandmother of this filly,” he said. “It took a while to get a return on my investment but the granddaughter has been very good for us and the mother of this filly is by our (late) stallion Zacinto. She has been a good producer so far and that was a great result.” Inglewood also sold a colt and filly by their resident sire War Decree for $100,000 and $35,000 respectively in their Book 2 draft, after a strong Book 1 sale where they sold yearlings up to $300,000 headed by the Dundeel half-sister to Velocious. “It has been a fantastic sale overall for us. We had a very good Book 1 Sale and to back it up with a great Book 2 Sale and get three really good results that we were happy with from the three horses we put through, it has been terrific and New Zealand Bloodstock has done a very good job,” Wigley said. “The first Tuesday of parading was our busiest day of parading we have ever had, so it has been a fantastic couple of weeks but I am exhausted now and looking forward to getting home.” View the full article

White Robe Lodge stallion Ancient Spirit was in the spotlight on the third and final day of the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sales, providing the top lot of the day when a filly out of the Zacinto mare Back Date fetched $160,000. The Book 2 filly was catalogued as Lot 1081 and was sold by Inglewood Stud to the combination of Ballymore Stables, Paul Moroney Bloodstock and Catheryne Bruggeman who have been prolific buyers throughout the week, with three Book 1 purchases and 10 Book 2 acquisitions. A multiple Group Two winning son of Invincible Spirit, Ancient Spirit was the champion three-year-old miler in both Italy and Germany in 2018. From the two-time winning Galileo mare Assisi, Ancient Spirit was bred by famed German breeders Gestut Schlenderhan. While Mike Moroney admitted he wasn’t overly familiar with the deeds of Ancient Spirit, he does train the filly’s half-brother Force Of Law, who was forward enough to compete in last weekend’s 1m TAB Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m) . “Paul said to me if she was by I Am Invincible she’d make $700,000 because she’s a cracking sort and there’s a real I Am Invincible look about her,” Mike Moroney said. “Being by a son of Invincible Spirit, she’s just one of those great walking fillies with big ears. She did everything we love. “I went and had a look at her with an open mind when Paul said to me, he thought she was the pick of the fillies in K2. I hadn’t heard of the stallion at all, but once I saw the filly I thought, ‘yeah, he’s dead right’. “She certainly looks like an I Am Invincible and a good type at that, so I suppose you’d say she’s a poor man’s I Am Invincible. “We’ve always bought on type and when people ask about breeding – and this is a prime example – Paul saw just the good I Am Invincible fillies in this filly. “She’s pretty laid back and has a really good temperament, but physically she’s a very strong filly and she just walked well at both ends, front and back, I thought. “Paul said, ‘I don’t think you’ll be alone on her. He said, ‘I think she’s well liked and she’s been out a lot of times’.” The filly is likely to stay in New Zealand under the watch of Moroney’s Matamata training partner Pam Gerard. “Pam really loved her as well, so that puts a bit of pressure on me, so she’ll probably stay here for the bonus races,” Moroney said. “We’ll give her the chance to start with. I’ll probably do that with one or two of the fillies that we’ve bought and earmarked for Australia. We’ll leave them here to give them their chance – the Proisir filly that we bought also looks early to me. “We’ll put them through the motions and if they look like they’ll take more time, we’ll probably pull up stumps, give them a break and then get them to Australia. The New Zealand stake-money provides that opportunity.” All horses purchased from Book 2 that are entered for the Karaka Millions Series are eligible for the $200,000 Book 2 Bonus, during the running of the 2026 $1.5m TAB Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m), rewarding connections of the first horse across the line bought from the second session. Additionally there is a $200,000 New Owners Bonus which will be won by the first horse across the finish line in the $1m TAB Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m) that has 50 percent or more of the ownership being held by first-time owners. Inglewood Stud’s Gus Wigley with Lot 1081 Photo: Trish Dunell Inglewood Stud’s Gus Wigley said it was a great result and a continuation of a positive week for the North Canterbury nursery, which bred last Saturday’s Karaka Millions 2YO heroine Velocious before strong results across Books 1 and 2 at Karaka. “Mike obviously trains the half-brother Force Of Law, who ran in the Karaka Millions and we’re rapt and we’re also rapt for the guys down at White Robe who stand Ancient Spirit,” Wigley said. “They are good friends and they have a nice horse down there, so it is a good result all around.” Wigley said the filly hails from a family with special significance. “When my grandmother passed away, a long time ago now, she left all of the grand kids $10,000 each. She wanted me to put it into a mare, so I bought my first mare, and that was the grandmother of this filly,” he said. “It took a while to get a return on my investment but the granddaughter has been very good for us and the mother of this filly is by our (late) stallion Zacinto. She has been a good producer so far and that was a great result.” Inglewood also sold a colt and filly by their resident sire War Decree for $100,000 and $35,000 respectively in their Book 2 draft, after a strong Book 1 sale where they sold yearlings up to $300,000 headed by the Dundeel half-sister to Velocious. “It has been a fantastic sale overall for us. We had a very good Book 1 Sale and to back it up with a great Book 2 Sale and get three really good results that we were happy with from the three horses we put through, it has been terrific and New Zealand Bloodstock has done a very good job,” Wigley said. “The first Tuesday of parading was our busiest day of parading we have ever had, so it has been a fantastic couple of weeks but I am exhausted now and looking forward to getting home.” View the full article

New Plymouth trainer Allan Sharrock has given a glowing report on the condition of Group One winner Ladies Man as he prepares to resume on his home track this weekend. The six-year-old son of Zed will make his first appearance since November when he lines up under a 62.5kg topweight in Saturday’s McCurdy Trucks Open (1400m). Ladies Man was a breakout performer in the spring, winning the Gr.1 Livamol Classic (2040m) at Hastings before crossing the Tasman and finishing second in the Gr.3 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2600m) at Flemington. Sharrock has one eye on a return to Australia later in the year for Ladies Man, but first he will take on a pair of Group One weight-for-age assignments on home soil. “He’s obviously going to need the run first-up on Saturday, but he’s coming up absolutely enormous,” Sharrock said. “I’m thrilled with him. “Once we get this run out of the way, we’ll probably go to the WFA Classic (Gr.1, 1600m) at Otaki and then on to the Bonecrusher (GR.1, 2000m) at Ellerslie. I’m not sure yet what we’ll do after that, but we could potentially have a look at Brisbane a bit later on.” Ladies Man will be ridden by Michael McNab in Saturday’s open handicap, with Ryan Elliot taking the mount on stablemate Shamus. “Shamus is going well,” Sharrock said. “He had no luck at all in the Telegraph (Gr.1, 1200m) last time out. He’s drawn out wide on Saturday, but there’s supposed to be a bit of rain around, so that might not be the worst place to be.” Sharrock has a talented team of seven entered for Saturday’s nine-race New Plymouth card, and he singled out a couple of strong undercard chances as runners to follow. “I think Terra Preta will be hard to beat, and the other one I quite like is Malachy,” he said. “He was a pretty impressive winner of his only start and looks like a nice horse in the making. I’ll be interested to see how he goes on Saturday.” View the full article

By Jess de Lautour, LOVERACING.NZ News Desk Alby MacGregor is hopeful his well-travelled gelding Times Ticking can wind back the clock in Saturday’s Gr.3 White Robe Lodge WFA (1600m) at Wingatui. The evergreen eight-year-old has made several journeys to the South over the past couple of seasons, adding the Listed Easter Cup (1600m) and the Gr.3 Canterbury Gold Cup (2000m) to his 11-win record. A son of Tavistock, Times Ticking will venture to Wingatui for the first time on Saturday in an attempt to emulate his Southern heroics, fresh from a winning performance to claim the Gr.3 Trentham Stakes (2100m) on January 13 under Joe Doyle, who retains the ride. “He’s very well, and pulled up nicely from Trentham,” MacGregor said. “He went back down to my son’s (Dean) at Rangiora following that race, and they’ve travelled to Wingatui today. He’s in very good hands and thrives down there. “We had looked at this race (White Robe Lodge) seeing the horse was based there, and we thought it would suit him well being at weight-for-age. “It’s great having Joe, he seemed to suit the horse well. He’ll just jump from that draw (4) and hopefully get into a good spot a bit better than midfield, depending on how he’s travelling. We’ll just have to see how it pans out.” Times Ticking has recorded four victories on Good tracks, and a further seven on Heavy, however MacGregor indicated a softer surface would assist the gelding’s chances. Having had early support in the TAB Fixed market, he currently sits the equal-favourite alongside Te Akau runner Perfect Scenario at $3. “A bit of rain would be very nice, so we’re hopeful for that,” MacGregor said. MacGregor will cheer on his pride and joy from his Opaki base on Saturday, with the gelding’s immediate future likely remaining in the South Island in pursuit of back-to-back Canterbury Gold Cup crowns in April. View the full article

A week after teaming up for a million-dollar triumph at Ellerslie, trainers Peter and Dawn Williams and owners Barneswood Farm are searching for more feature spoils this weekend. The Williams stable celebrated one of their career highlights when Desert Lightning carried the familiar tangerine and white colours of Barneswood Farm’s Sarah Green and Ger Beemsterboer to a scintillating victory in the inaugural Elsdon Park Aotearoa Classic (1600m). Seven days on, the same owner-trainer combination will contest two black-type races at New Plymouth on Saturday with a pair of half-siblings – Saint Alice in the Gr.3 Denis Wheeler Earthmoving Taranaki Cup (1800m) and Arabian Songbird in the Listed Grangewilliam Stud Oaks Prelude (1800m). Both will be ridden by Warren Kennedy. “I think we’re heading into that meeting with a couple of very nice chances,” Peter Williams said. “I just don’t really want too much rain. It’s pretty warm today, but it looks a little bit overcast and threatening. A bit of rain won’t be a problem, but hopefully it won’t end up being too much.” Six-year-old So You Think mare Saint Alice has won six of her 23 starts. She made her presence felt at Group level last season with a third placing behind Aromatic and Sakura Girl in the Gr.2 Travis Stakes (2000m). Saint Alice resumed with an eye-catching late run into fifth over 1400m on Boxing Day, then stepped up to 1600m at Tauranga on January 12 and launched a powerful finish to win impressively. “She got home really nicely to win at Tauranga and seems to have gone the right way since then,” Williams said. “We’ve been very happy with her and this is a suitable race to have a go at.” Saint Alice’s half-sister Arabian Songbird is a three-year-old filly by Pierro. Barneswood Farm paid $260,000 to buy her from Karaka 2022, and she finished third in both of her first two starts before stepping up to 1600m and clearing maiden ranks strongly at Ruakaka on January 5. “She’s done nothing wrong in her career so far and we’re looking forward to seeing her stretch out over a bit further,” Williams said. “She’s building towards the Oaks (Gr.1, 2400m). We think she’s a very nice filly and she’s had a good build-up to this race.” The TAB rates Arabian Songbird a $31 chance for the Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand Oaks, which will be run at Trentham on March 16. Meanwhile, Williams has been pleased with Desert Lightning since last weekend’s Ellerslie heroics, and the next assignment for the Pride Of Dubai gelding will be on February 24. “It was a terrific win on Saturday and a special day for us,” Williams said. “He’s bright and well and he’ll go to Otaki next for the Group One weight-for-age race over 1600m. We’re looking forward to seeing what he does down there.” Desert Lightning’s Aotearoa Classic victory earned him a ballot-free spot in the field for the A$4 million All-Star Mile (1600m) at Caulfield on March 16, for which the TAB currently rates him a $15 chance. View the full article

A pair of last-start winners loom as leading chances for Shane Kennedy and Anna Furlong in Saturday’s Listed Dunedin City Motors Dunedin Guineas (1500m) at Wingatui – a race the Riccarton trainers have won twice in the last six years. Kennedy and Furlong won the Dunedin Guineas with Excelleration in 2018, then struck again with Showemhowitsdone in 2021. This year the pair will venture south with a two-pronged attack made up of Quintabelle and Warning Signal. The talented fillies both contested the Gr.1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) on their home track in November, where Quintabelle finished midfield and Warning Signal at the tail after a wide run. In their only appearances since then, Quintabelle and Warning Signal scored stylish Rating 65 victories over 1400m and 1200m respectively on January 18. “They were both really good in those last-start wins,” Furlong said. “We were originally planning to trial Warning Signal and then run her in the Gore Guineas (Listed, 1335m), but she just had a little bit of a foot niggle that held her up and forced us to change tack. She put that behind her and came out and won very nicely at Riccarton. “Quintabelle went into her resuming run without a trial as well and was quite fresh that day. It was a good performance and she’s taken good improvement from it. We’re very happy with how both fillies are tracking.” Warning Signal will be ridden by Jasmine Fawcett and will jump from gate nine, while Quintabelle’s jockey Joe Doyle faces a challenging task from the extreme outside gate of 14. “It’s a bit of a tricky draw, but we’re hoping it might not be too much of an issue for her – especially with the prospect of a bit of rain around,” Furlong said. “It may end up being where the better ground is.” Both Quintabelle and Warning Signal came out of Book 2 of Karaka 2022, where Embellish filly Quintabelle was bought for just $25,000 and U S Navy Flag’s daughter Warning Signal was passed in. Kennedy and Furlong returned to Karaka this week and added two Book 1 yearlings to their ranks for $100,000 each. “We’re really happy with the yearlings we managed to come away with,” Furlong said. “We loved the Tivaci filly, so we were thrilled that we got her, and the Dundeel colt is a lovely athletic type as well. We’re looking forward to having both of them in the stable.” View the full article

Trainer Chad Ormsby has long earmarked Lord Weyburn as his Gr.1 Trackside New Zealand Derby (2400m) prospect this season, but whether he will continue down that path all hinges on his performance at New Plymouth on Saturday. The son of Charm Spirit will step up to 1800m for the first time this weekend in the Dobson Marquee and Events, and Ormsby is expecting a bold run from his charge. “We are expecting a good run because we have been waiting to step him up over further ground and this is his best chance at it. I am expecting him to run well,” Ormsby said. TAB bookmakers agree with Ormsby’s assessment, installing him as a $6.50 favourite for the race. If he performs up to expectations on Saturday, Lord Weyburn will likely head to his first stakes assignment, the Gr.2 Eagle Technology Avondale Guineas (2100m) at Ellerslie on February 17. “Things have got to go right for him tomorrow and he has got to look like he is taking the right steps and then we can continue down that road to maybe the Avondale Guineas and then onto the Derby,” Orsmby said. “The (Derby) distance is going to suit him. He is probably still a year away, but against his own age group and a horse we believe will stay, it is worth having a crack.” Orsmby will also head to New Plymouth with last start placegetters Rising Tide and Beast of Burden, who will contest the Energy Vets Taranaki SC Maiden (1400m). “They are both handy horses and they are both putting their hands up,” he said, “Both of them have been working well and we are expecting them to go close. It will just come down to who gets the best run in the race, and it’s against other horses who have won races as well. But we are keeping a close eye on the weather too.” Meanwhile, Orsmby is happy with the way Master Fay has come through his Gr.3 Brighthill Farm Concorde Handicap (1200m) triumph at Ellerslie last Saturday and is now eyeing his next target. “Any win, especially on a night like that, is great. It is a pleasure to have a horse of his calibre going around,” he said. “He has come through it really well. We are looking at our options now and nothing is set in stone. We considered the BCD Sprint (Gr.1, 1400m) but Vinnie (Colgan, jockey) has been booked on Dragon Leap and we don’t know if that is the right option for him yet either. “He went out and worked this morning and showed that he is not far away from being ready to go again.” Ormsby purchased Master Fay out of Highden Park’s 2019 Book 1 Yearling Sale draft for $100,000, and he went to the same sum this week when purchasing three colts at Karaka. “They are horses to trade on,” he said. “We have got a couple of colts there that fit that mould for us and hopefully take to the market in November.” View the full article