Wandering Eyes

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Najd Stud has become increasingly active on the European sales scene for the past five years and now the operation has made its maiden voyage to American soil for the Keeneland November Sale. The Saudi Arabian breeding and racing operation of HRH Prince Faisal Bin Khaled Bin Abdulaziz collected a sizeable group of weanlings, plus a handful of mares and horses of racing age, to take back to Saudi Arabia. Saud Al Qahtani, who represented Najd Stud at Keeneland throughout the auction, spoke on their decision to expand their buying presence to the U.S. and recounted his experience at Keeneland. “It's a big market with plenty of horses,” he said. “Many of the best stallions are here in America. All of the bloodlines here are very prominent so we are here to buy some foals and some mares. We will bring them back to Saudi to race them there. I found very nice quality here–different horses for all different buyers.” Najd Stud purchased 18 horses for a total of $1.23 million during the breeding stock portion of the sale. In addition to 16 weanlings, the operation bought Ceci Valentina (Prospective), a stakes winner in foal to Jackie's Warrior, for $115,000 and Join the Dots, a Medaglia d'Oro mare carrying her first foal by Charlatan, for $65,000. While Najd Stud was active during Books 1 and 2, they continued their buying spree through the final days of the auction and landed on their most expensive weanling purchase during the sixth session, going to $155,000 for a May-foaled Vino Rosso colt out of a daughter of GISP Warbling (Unbridled's Song). The colt was the top-selling weanling of Book 4. Al Qahtani said he found that the market provided plenty of quality offerings even in the later sessions for those willing to put in the research. “When you start in Book 1, you see very good pedigrees and good quality,” he explained. “Then you start to go back to Book 3 and Book 4, you will find one horse in every hundred horses. The one I bought in Book 4 for $155,000 was a late foal, but he looks like a very good foal–very correct and a good pedigree. You always have to try and keep going until you find the one you're looking for and I think this is a good market for that.” Phelpsy, a $170,000 purchase for Najd Stud | Keeneland Najd Stud was also active during Friday's Horses of Racing Age Sale. They purchased Phelpsy, a 3-year-old son of Into Mischief, for $170,000. The colt out of GSP Secret Someone (A.P. Indy) was a $1 million Keeneland September yearling and he broke his maiden in his most recent start for Chad Brown on Oct. 15. They also went to $100,000 for Digitize (Maclean's Music), a 4-year-old gelding out of a half-sister to GISW Complexity (Maclean's Music) coming off two straight wins for Chad Brown. Al Qahtani said that the purchases from both Keeneland auctions are bound for Saudi Arabia, but added that the operation has plans to start building a foundation in the U.S. as well. He said the goal is to return to Kentucky for next year's Keeneland September Sale and send some purchases to Saudi Arabia, but keep others to race in the U.S. Prince Faisal has already found success racing here in the U.S. In 2019 he purchased Mucho Gusto (Mucho Macho Man), a four-time graded stakes winner trained by Bob Baffert who ran second in the GI Haskell S. Mucho Gusto won his first start for Prince Faisal in the 2020 GI Pegasus World Cup Invitational S. and went on to finish fourth in the inaugural running of the Saudi Cup. Winning at Saudi Arabia's marquee race meet, Al Qahtani said, is an ever-present goal for Prince Faisal. Last year Najd Stud purchased dual Group 1 winner Saffron Beach (Ire) (New Bay {GB}) for 3.6 million guineas at the Tattersalls December Mares Sales with the hopes of sending the filly to the Saudi Cup, but an unsatisfactory scope ahead of her travels to the Middle East forced her to retire early. Prince Faisal also bought Grocer Jack (Ger) (Oasis Dream {GB}), a Group 2 winner in Germany, for 700,000gns at the 2021 Tattersalls Horses-in-Training Sale. The colt ran fifth during the Saudi Cup undercard's G3 Neom Turf Cup last year. On the same card, Prince Faisal's homebred Alnaader (KSA) (Teletext) was fourth in the G3 Al Rajhi Bank Saudi Derby. Najd Stud is home to eight stallions, including Alnaader's sire Teletext–a son of Empire Maker bred by Juddmonte Farms that placed in the G1 Grand Prix de Paris before moving to Saudi Arabia. 140 broodmares call Najd Stud home and the operation also has five mares boarded in England. While one key goal for Najd Stud and Prince Faisal is to one day claim the Saudi Cup, they also hope to make their mark on a global stage, perhaps following the same path as other recently successful Saudi Arabian breeders like Prince AA Faisal, whose talented homebred Mishriff (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}) claimed the 2021 Saudi Cup and went on to run fourth last year in the GI Breeders' Cup Turf. “We're trying to have very good horses racing in Europe and in Saudi and here in America,” said Al Qahtani. “We have the dream that one day we will win one of those big races and we do this because our racing [in Saudi Arabia] is starting to boom really well. The Saudi Cup is one of those big races, but we also want to have a very good foundation in America and Europe.” The post Najd Stud Active at First Keeneland Appearance appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The blaze-faced Strauss (Jpn) (Maurice {Jpn}) attained his first stakes victory under Joao Moreira in the G2 Tokyo Hai Nisai S. at Tokyo on Saturday. A winner on debut over 1600 metres locally in June and a solid third in the G3 Saudi Arabia Royal Cup on Oct. 7, he was sent off at 4-1 in this return to group company. Content to track Teleos Lulu (Jpn) (Al Ain {Jpn}) from a wide third down the backstretch, he was eager to improve his position through the first half-mile in :47.30. Finally settled down under Moreira rounding the bend, Strauss swung off the fence and set sale for the pacesetter with Schwarze Kugel (Jpn) (Kizuna Jpn}) continuing his stalking trip in second. On even terms with a quarter mile remaining, he edged away as Schwarze Kugel tried to match strides. Fervent (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}) closed strongly from midpack as well, but it was too little too late. Strauss was 1 1/2 lengths to the good of the persistent Schwarze Kugel in second, with Fervent just a nose back in third. Favoured Forlanini (Jpn) (Epiphaneia {Jpn}) raced near the rear of the field and was never a factor, finishing eighth of 10. Pedigree Notes Now the sire of 23 stakes winners with Strauss's victory, Shadai Stallion Station-based Maurice is responsible for 16 group winners. His best are Group 1 winners Jack d'Or (Jpn), Geraldina (Jpn) and Pixie Knight (Jpn) in Japan, and G1 Australian Derby hero Hitotsu (Aus) and Mazu (Aus), who won the G1 Doomben 10,000 in Australia. A son of Blumenblatt (Jpn) (Admire Vega {Jpn}), who did her best work at five when winning the G1 Mile Championship, Strauss is a half-brother to Listed Kobai S. winner Voller Blute (Jpn) (Epiphaneia {Jpn}), as well as fillies by Drefong and Mr Melody born in 2022 and 2023, respectively. GII Gotham S. and GIII Bay Shore S. winner Laramie Trail (Swap) is in this family, as is U.S. Champion Grass Horse and successful sire Cozzene (Caro {Ire}) and GI Ballerina S. winner Serape (Fappiano). Saturday, Tokyo, Japan TOKYO SPORTS HAI NISAI S.-G2, ¥72,510,000, Tokyo, 11-18, 2yo, 1800mT, 1:46.50, fm. 1–STRAUSS (JPN), 123, c, 2, by Maurice (Jpn) 1st Dam: Blumenblatt (Jpn), by Admire Vega (Jpn) 2nd Dam: My Wild Flower, by Topsider 3rd Dam: Wildwook, by Sir Gaylord 1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN. 1ST GROUP WIN. O-Carrot Farm; B-Northern Farm (Jpn); T-Ryo Takei; J-Joao Moreira; ¥38,357,000. Lifetime Record: 3-2-0-1, ¥53,902,000. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Werk Nick Rating: A+++. *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. 2–Schwarze Kugel (Jpn), 123, c, 2, Kizuna (Jpn)–Soberania (Ger), by Monsun (Ger). 1ST BLACK TYPE. 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. O-G1 Racing; B-Shiraoi Farm (Jpn); ¥15,102,000. 3–Fervent (Jpn), 123, c, 2, Heart's Cry (Jpn)–Total Heat, by Street Cry (Ire). 1ST BLACK-TYPE. 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. O-Carrot Farm; B-Shiraoi Farm (Jpn); ¥9,551,000. Margins: 1HF, NS, 1 1/4. Odds: 4.80, 37.80, 3.10. Also Ran: Shonan La Punta (Jpn), Michael Pascha (Jpn), Gaiamente (Jpn), Champagne Mark (Jpn), Forlanini (Jpn), Circle Of Joy (Jpn), Teleos Lulu (Jpn). Click for the JRA chart & video. The post Sweet Symphony At Tokyo For Maurice Colt appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Jockey Joe Ramos, trainer Genaro Garcia and the team of Roger Speiss's Speiss Racing and trainer and co-owner Randy Speiss were atop the standings in their individual categories when the 2023 racing season concluded at Horseshoe Indianapolis Friday, Nov. 17. In the closest of the contests, Ramos scored his second consecutive leading jockey title by one win (109-108) over Fernando de la Cruz in a battle that came down to the final race of the season. The Puerto Rico native bettered the 106 victories he posted in 2022. “There are a lot of people that work hard for me,” Ramos said. “I worked hard for this, and I dreamed of this, but it wouldn't be possible without all the people around me. My agent, Bones [Kerry Wirth], deserves the credit. He is the one that gets my business going and when we struggle, he takes me out of that and gets me back going.” Garcia earned his first title as leading trainer in 2017 and proved best for a fifth time, winning 73 races during the 123-day meet with earnings of better than $1.7 million. Garcia has now trained 495 winners in his career. “I'm always surprised with our 2-year-olds,” said Garcia. “That's what excites me every year. They give you hope each year and it's real exciting to see them. And you are always looking for the next 2-year-old. That's exciting. We start with our babies in September and work with them for 60 days, then we give them a break and start back with them.” The Speiss/Klopp parntership was leading owner for the third straight season, with 33 wins from 168 runners and earnings of more than $834,000. “Randy and his crew did a great job again,” said Spiess. “Our partnership goes well beyond 20 years and the entire barn works hard. A special thanks goes out to everyone in the barn and all the jockeys. It was another great year.” The 2024 meeting at Horseshoe Indianapolis kicks off Monday, Apr. 8 with a special program to coincide with the total solar eclipse in the area that afternoon. The season ends Nov. 14. The post Ramos, Garcia, Speiss/Klopp Secure Horseshoe Indianapolis Honors appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

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Cambridge Stud principals Brendan and Jo Lindsay celebrated Group One success on Saturday as royally bred filly Joliestar (Zoustar) claimed the Gr.1 Thousand Guineas (1600m) at Caulfield. The royally-bred daughter of Zoustar is out of the Gr.2 Roman Consul Stakes (1200m) winner Jolie Bay, who finished second in the 2012 edition of the Gr.1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m). Purchased by Cambridge Stud for A$950,000 at the 2022 Sydney Easter Yearling Sale, leading trainer Chris Waller was the beneficiary of the prized filly and has long had a good opinion of the filly. Successful in her only start as a two-year-old, Joliestar had been placed in all three of her starts this campaign, including runner-up finishes in both the Listed Reginald Allen Quality (1400m) and the Listed Desirable Stakes (1400m) on Melbourne Cup Day. Superbly ridden by James McDonald, Joliestar travelled easily in the trail behind another Lindsay-owned runner in Zourion (NZ) (Zoustar) before finding clear air to issue her challenge shortly after straightening. McDonald shot her to an unassailable advantage as she found a powerful kick to stave off the efforts of runner-up Kimochi (Brave Smash) while the well fancied Skybird (Exosphere) made up good ground to finish third ahead of race favourite Coeur Volante (NZ) (Proisir). Brendan Lindsay was on-course to lead in Joliestar, who will at some stage be another jewel in the Cambridge Stud broodmare band. “We’ve got Brendan here today to collect the trophy,” McDonald said. “He told me a funny story before I got legged on. He said I’ve booked two tickets (home) and I said what, to take me home and he said no, for the trophy. “He must have known. “I had such a really good feeling about her that she was building towards something. Her run was fantastic last start with a really good gate and being able to get a really good trip in transit, she was always going to produce.” “The (inside) barrier was pivotal today, especially on the circle track that has been playing a little bit up and in, so we were grinning ear to ear walking out. “She’s had a feeling about her during her whole preparation that she has kept improving and improving but she hasn’t been winning. “She hasn’t had a lot of luck, so I thought today from barrier one she was going to get every chance.” Waller said the race had been the plan this campaign for Joliestar. “We did identify that she had ability right from the start,” Waller said. “Cambridge Stud, Brendan and Jo Lindsay, Henry Plumptre, really liked her at the sales. We couldn’t afford her however I got her to train and they have been justified in their investment. “They’re (Cambridge Stud) a great nursery in New Zealand and they spread their wings in Australia each Carnival. “So, to train one for them with James McDonald (another Kiwi) aboard is pretty cool.” Waller explained he had given the filly a patient build-up and was quick to praise former top jockey Steven Arnold for his work with her. “The progression of good horses is a lot easier than average horses, it’s as simple as that,” he said. “She’s done it herself. I’ve found the races, she’s turned up. “Steven Arnold does a lot of work for us and came and rode her on Tuesday morning and said she got around here well and said she was on the way up. He said she gave him the right feel. “So, thanks to Steven and Jo and the team down here, they do a fantastic job. “She had a great barrier and James did the rest.” Already a valuable filly, the Group One success adds further lustre to the future breeding prospects for Joliestar who comes from an extended family that also includes another Coolmore Stud Stakes winner in Merchant Navy who is currently forging a career at stud in Australia. View the full article

A close fifth behind Nest Egg (NZ) (Reliable Man) on the first day of the carnival, imported stayer Mahrajaan (Kitten’s Joy) went to a new level a week later and turned the tables on the hot favourite in Saturday’s Gr.3 Martin Collins 160th New Zealand Cup (3200m) at Riccarton. An American-bred son of Kitten’s Joy, Mahrajaan was a three-time winner in England over 2000m and 2400m before Cambridge trainer Shaune Ritchie bought him for £75,000 at the Tattersalls Autumn Horses-In-Training Sale in Newmarket late last year with the specific purpose of targeting the Cup. The gelding was unplaced in his first New Zealand appearances over 1400m and 1600m earlier this year, but as the distances increased, he steadily improved and kept showing Ritchie and his training partner Colm Murray enough to continue along their path towards Riccarton. Mahrajaan had his final lead-up run in last Saturday’s Listed Metropolitan Handicap (2600m), producing an eye-catching late run into fifth and crossing the finish line only 1.3 lengths behind Nest Egg. Ritchie and Murray timed the six-year-old’s preparation to perfection, peaking for Saturday’s time-honoured two-miler and producing a career-best performance in the hands of jockey Sam Weatherley. Mahrajaan was prominently positioned throughout the race, settling in third as Eulogy Show set a sedate pace through the first half. The pressure started to increase coming down the side of the track, and when a gap appeared along the inside, Mahrajaan lengthened stride and burst through. He hit the lead turning for home and then had to call on all his fighting qualities through the final 400m, turning back the challenges of Nest Egg and Waisake (NZ) (Zed) to score a hard-fought win. From 17 starts, Mahrajaan has now recorded four wins and six placings, earning more than $300,000 in stakes. “It’s absolutely fantastic,” said Ritchie, who had previously won the Cup with My Scotsgrey in 2009. “Last year we didn’t have a single runner in the Melbourne Cup Carnival or down here in Christchurch, and I wanted to do something about it and see if I could find a nice staying horse to aim at these good races. “We went to the Horses-in-Training Sale for the specific purpose of finding that type of staying horse, and he’s the one that we came away with. “We were hoping to get him to either the Melbourne Cup or the New Zealand Cup. We soon decided that he probably wouldn’t have the speed for a Melbourne Cup, so we concentrated on Riccarton instead. It’s great to pull it off. “I thought he ran really well in the Metropolitan on the first day, which made us think we had him on target for the Cup. As a trainer, you’re always doing your very best to have them peaking for these target races. Sometimes it comes off and sometimes it doesn’t. “Coming into today, we were fully aware that quality horsemen like Allan Sharrock and Stephen Marsh were trying to do the exact same thing with their horses, so it was never going to be an easy task. To come away with this result, there’s a real sense of satisfaction.” Ritchie said Mahrajaan is now likely to bypass the Gr.3 Wellington Cup (3200m) at Trentham in January. “We’ll have to be careful with his rating now, so I think he’s almost certainly not going to run in the Wellington Cup under its handicap conditions,” Ritchie said. “We could have a look at the Auckland Cup (Gr.2, 3200m) in March. He’s clearly a horse that needs good ground, so that’s something that we’ll need to be mindful of. “He can have a break now, but probably not a particularly long one, since he’s not going to be a winter or a wet-autumn horse.” View the full article

The John Sargent-trained Toesonthenose (NZ) (Ocean Park) scored the fifth victory of his career when running out a strong winner of the Karaka 2024 Midway Benchmark 72 Handicap (1600m) at the Newcastle feature meeting on Saturday. Carrying topweight of 59kgs, the son of Ocean Park was three back on the fence rounding the home bend but cruised past his rivals to score by just over two lengths under a perfect Nash Rawiller ride. Sargent has a lot of time for the galloper, who is raced by Tricolours Racing & Syndications and has now won A$246,460 in prizemoney from 18 starts. “He’s a very promising stayer. He just hasn’t had things go his own way,” Sargent said. “He should go on with it now and get over further.” “Tricolours have been great supporters. This guy was with Mark Newnham and came to me last season (when Newnham relocated to Hong Kong). Toesonthenose is a graduate of the New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run Sale, where he was sold by Kilgravin Lodge for $50,000 to James Moss of Tricolours Racing. While Sargent won’t be in attendance at this year’s New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run Sale in person, which commences on Wednesday, he has made arrangements to be represented. “It has been a terrific sale over the years and hopefully I will be purchasing,” he said. Sargent was still ruing a wide draw of barrier 18 in the A$500,000 Four Pillars (1500m) at Toesonthenose’ previous start when sixth. “If he had of drawn a decent gate in the Four Pillars last start, he would have won,” Sargent said. “He will go over 2000m now in a couple of weeks at Randwick and he should just keep improving. “In the autumn you will see an even better horse. He will get better with time. There is nothing wrong with the Ocean Parks.” Out of the winning More Than Ready mare Peak Performer, who stems from the family of So You Think, Toesonthenose was bred by Ocean Park’s trainer Gary Hennessy along with wife Jenny under their Weowna Park banner in conjunction with Andrew Wong. View the full article

Rose Quartz ridden by Michael Dee wins the How Now Stakes at Caulfield. (Photo by Reg Ryan/Racing Photos) Jockey Michael Dee has chalked up a four-timer on Saturday afternoon at Caulfield, with Rose Quartz (+500) leading all the way in the Group 3 How Now Stakes (1200m). It was a winning double for the Grahame Begg barn teaming up with Dee as well, with Magic Time taking out the Group 1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) earlier in the program. It’s been a day where on speed gallopers have had a significant advantage, however, take nothing away from the daughter of Witten Tycoon, running them along at a strong tempo throughout the 1200m contest. After three starts in the campaign allowing the six-year-old mare to take a sit, the pattern of the day forced the hand of Dee, letting Rose Quartz stride forward from barrier four. She Dances (+140) landed outside the leader for Linda Meech as she searched for a third-straight win of the preparation. The pair looked set to battle it out turning for home, before Ghaanati (+1200) produced a late burst to threaten the leader. It was to no avail in the end though, as Rose Quartz picked up a much-deserved victory. 2023 How Now Stakes Replay – Rose Quartz | T: Grahame Begg | J: Michael Dee Grahame Begg spoke once again on an outstanding day for the stable and testified to the consistency of his mare throughout a testing campaign. “She’s been tinkering around the outskirts and been placed a couple of times, but it was good to seal the deal and get that Group win on the board,” Begg said. “She’s a well related mare and she tries very, very hard. “A great day for the stable and a loyal group of clients. “She’s been frustrating over time, but she got the job done and Mick rode her fantastically.” Michael Dee had a terrific day and spoke about his mount post-race. “I feel kind of sad that I knocked him (Damien Oliver) off in the last, it would have been nice for him to win this race, but I’m glad to be the eventual winner anyway,” Dee said. “She’s always had great ability. “Today we conceded, let her go to the front, let her roll and keep her happy that way and she proved too good. “I thought at the top of the straight that (Peter) Moody’s horse She Dances was going to come with us and to her credit she kept fighting and got the job done.” View the full article

The Joseph Pride-trained Coal Crusher (+380) smashed his rivals in The Hunter (1300m) on Saturday afternoon at Newcastle, careering away with the $1 million prize. Tyler Schiller scorched the turf aboard the son of Turffontein heading straight to the front from barrier one. He clicked along at a genuine tempo, putting a massive gap back to second throughout the 1300m contest, where the likes of Mazu (+250) and Military Expert (+900) simply couldn’t match motors with the battle hardened six-year-old. The margin only got bigger and bigger as the turned into the home straight, as King Of Sparta (+450) and Rocketing By (+3300) flew home into minor money. The chasing was all in vain, however, as Coal Crusher was off and gone with the prize, stomping his authority in a terrific preparation for Joseph Pride, who spoke after taking out the Newcastle feature. 2023 The Hunter Replay – Coal Crusher | T: Joseph Pride | J: Tyler Schiller “We knew we’d be back here,” said Pride. “He’s come back good this preparation, he’s been knocking on the door in harder races, and I know the handicapper will be watching, during the week and I’m still taken aback. I thought he was harshly weighed today. “That was fantastic. I love this horse.” He was then asked about the tactics by Tyler Schiller. “Go fast and win,” joked Pride. “That’s the way you win on him. “I don’t think he needed to go quite that fast, but I’m not going to criticize a winning ride, but he really busted them up and maybe that’s what beat his opposition, cause he got them all out of their comfort zone.” Tyler Schiller spoke post-race about his steer and the front-running masterclass he was able to produce. “It’s a lovely feeling,” said Schiller. “Especially when you know you’ve done all the preparation coming into it with the horse and Joe (Pride) was very confident with the blinkers going on. “He said ‘he’ll travel a lot better for you’ and that he did. “He got up and highballed and he just sustained. “He’s on of those horses that just thrives on quick speed and he does it all himself, makes his own luck and he found very strong today.” More horse racing news View the full article

Mahrajaan winning the Group 3 New Zealand Cup (3200m) at Riccarton on Saturday. Photo: Race Images South A close fifth behind Nest Egg on the first day of the carnival, imported stayer Mahrajaan went to a new level a week later and turned the tables on the hot favourite in Saturday’s Group 3 New Zealand Cup (3200m) at Riccarton. An American-bred son of Kitten’s Joy, Mahrajaan was a three-time winner in England over 2000m and 2400m before Cambridge trainer Shaune Ritchie bought him for £75,000 at the Autumn Horses-In-Training Sale in Newmarket late last year with the specific purpose of targeting the Cup. The gelding was unplaced in his first New Zealand appearances over 1400m and 1600m earlier this year, but as the distances increased, he steadily improved and kept showing Ritchie and his training partner Colm Murray enough to continue along their path towards Riccarton. Mahrajaan had his final lead-up run in last Saturday’s Listed Metropolitan Handicap (2600m), producing an eye-catching late run into fifth and crossing the finish line only 1.3 lengths behind Nest Egg. Ritchie and Murray timed the six-year-old’s preparation to perfection, peaking for Saturday’s time-honoured two-miler and producing a career-best performance in the hands of jockey Sam Weatherley. Mahrajaan was prominently positioned throughout the race, settling in third as Eulogy Show set a sedate pace through the first half. The pressure started to increase coming down the side of the track, and when a gap appeared along the inside, Mahrajaan lengthened stride and burst through. He hit the lead turning for home and then had to call on all his fighting qualities through the final 400m, turning back the challenges of Nest Egg and Waisake to score a hard-fought win. From 17 starts, Mahrajaan has now recorded four wins and six placings, earning more than $300,000 in stakes. “It’s absolutely fantastic,” said Ritchie, who had previously won the Cup with My Scotsgrey in 2009. “Last year we didn’t have a single runner in the Melbourne Cup Carnival or down here in Christchurch, and I wanted to do something about it and see if I could find a nice staying horse to aim at these good races. “We went to the Horses-in-Training Sale for the specific purpose of finding that type of staying horse, and he’s the one that we came away with. “We were hoping to get him to either the Melbourne Cup or the New Zealand Cup. We soon decided that he probably wouldn’t have the speed for a Melbourne Cup, so we concentrated on Riccarton instead. It’s great to pull it off. “I thought he ran really well in the Metropolitan on the first day, which made us think we had him on target for the Cup. As a trainer, you’re always doing your very best to have them peaking for these target races. Sometimes it comes off and sometimes it doesn’t. “Coming into today, we were fully aware that quality horsemen like Allan Sharrock and Stephen Marsh were trying to do the exact same thing with their horses, so it was never going to be an easy task. To come away with this result, there’s a real sense of satisfaction.” Ritchie said Mahrajaan is now likely to bypass the Group 3 Wellington Cup (3200m) at Trentham in January. “We’ll have to be careful with his rating now, so I think he’s almost certainly not going to run in the Wellington Cup under its handicap conditions,” Ritchie said. “We could have a look at the Auckland Cup (Group 2, 3200m) in March. He’s clearly a horse that needs good ground, so that’s something that we’ll need to be mindful of. “He can have a break now, but probably not a particularly long one, since he’s not going to be a winter or a wet-autumn horse.” 2023 New Zealand Cup Replay – Mahrajaan | T: Shaun Ritchie & Colm Murray | J: Sam Weatherley More horse racing news View the full article

Magic Time ridden by Michael Dee wins the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes at Caulfield. (Photo by Pat Scala/Racing Photos) The final Group 1 on the Victorian racing calendar for 2023 will head the way of the Grahame Begg barn as Magic Time (+380) produced a brave effort to score victory in the Group 1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on Saturday. The four-year-old mare was cast wide without cover for the duration of the 1400m journey, but it didn’t seem to phase the daughter of Hellbent. The likes of Buffalo River (+1800) and General Beau (+2000) speared forward from barrier 16 and 14 respectively, causing a hectic pace up on-speed. It allowed some of the key chances to settle in the back-half of the field, with Straight Acer (+1100) and I Am Me (+550) gaining soft runs in behind. When the race went on, there was only one horse you wanted to be on however, as Magic Time bolted down the centre of the course to score an impressive maiden Group 1 victory. Straight Acer was luckless storming into third, while I Am Me was brave whacking away into the quinella spot. 2023 Sir Rupert Clark Stakes Replay – Magic Time | T: Grahame Begg | J: Michael Dee It was a much-deserved Group 1 win for Magic Time, as Grahame Begg spoke to in his post-race assessment, suggesting this may not have always been the target. “It wasn’t early doors,” said Begg. “We had the plan to take her to Sydney. “The Invitation was the race we set her for up there and we could have left her up there to run in the Hot Danish last week, but I thought I’d bring her back, run her in the handicap with 53 (kilos) on her back. “I thought it was a great race for her. 1400 metres, good speed on, the right recipe for her and she’s got the job done.” It was the first time Michael Dee hopped aboard this progressive mare and credited her toughness. “She’s usually a mare that naturally puts herself on speed and I always knew there was going to be a massive amount of speed in this,” said Dee. “We didn’t get any favours, she’s done it tough, punched the breeze and got pushed wider on the corner. “To her credit that was a super effort. “Credit to Grahame and Rohan and his team for getting her here. “I’m sure Grahame mentioned it’s been a bit of an unlucky spring for him, so to get get a Group 1 and to top it off, it’s amazing.” More horse racing news View the full article

Joliestar ridden by James McDonald wins the Thousand Guineas at Caulfield. (Photo by Pat Scala/Racing Photos) Chris Waller & James McDonald have combined for back-to-back Group 1 Thousand Guineas (1600m) successes, with Joliestar (+360) replicating the feat of Madame Pommery in last year’s edition. The daughter of Zoustar put the writing on the wall last start at Flemington in the Listed Desirable Stakes, producing a blistering finish from near last to secure a second-place finish. The market gravitated to the Chris Waller-trained filly prior to the jump, with Joliestar opening as much as +550 firming into +360 as it became clear you needed to be prominent in the run at Caulfield. That’s exactly what James McDonald elected to do from barrier one, keeping the three-year-old within striking distance before the turn, then storming away from her rivals when asked for the ultimate effort. Coeur Volante (+290) got a lovely economical run under Blake Shinn, managing to find the one-one from barrier five, however, she was unable to produce her customary turn-of-foot, while Kimochi (+800) was as honest as ever, powering into second. It all came to hand rather quickly for Sky Bird (+320), and she was far from disgraced finishing into a third-place finish, making up strong inroads late on a day where it was tough to make ground. 2023 Thousand Guineas Replay – Joliestar | T: Chris Waller | J: James McDonald Joliestar proved too good on the day, and Chris Waller spoke about his filly post-race. “For a three-year-old filly it’s a pretty long range plan,” said Waller. “She’s still only starting her career, but we did identify that she had ability right from the start. “Cambridge Stud, Brendan and Jo Lindsay, Henry Plumptre, really liked her at the sales. We could afford her and I got her to train, but it’s been justified in their investments. They’re a great nursery in New Zealand and they spread their wings in Australia each Carnival. “So to train one for them with James McDonald aboard is pretty cool.” “The progression of good horses is a lot easiest than average horses, it’s a simple as that. She’s done it herself. I’ve found the races, she’s turned up.” James McDonald was expecting a bold performance today as he spoke about his mount in the aftermath of his Group 1 success. “I had such a really good feeling about her that she was building towards something,” said McDonald. “Her run was fantastic last start with a really good gate and being to get a really good trip in transit, she was always going to produce. “It was pivotal today (drawing barrier one), especially on the circle track has been playing a little bit up and in that a few of the leaders have had, so we were grinning ear to ear walking out. “She’s had a feeling about her that her whole preparation that she has kept improving and improving but she hasn’t been winning. “She hasn’t had a lot of luck so I thought today from barrier one she was going to get every chance.” More horse racing news View the full article

A year on from Pier’s (NZ) (Proisir) heroics in the Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m), his older half-sister Maria Farina (NZ) (Contributer) has picked up a feature win of her own during the New Zealand Cup Carnival at Riccarton. A last-gasp victory in Saturday’s Listed Lindauer Stewards’ Stakes (1200m) was the sixth win of a 23-start career for the valuable Contributer mare, who also won the Listed Lightning Handicap (1200m) at Trentham in March. That Lightning win came on a one-week back-up from a fast-finishing fourth at Pukekohe the previous Saturday, and the same formula delivered a second piece of black-type gold this week. Maria Farina lined up in the Listed Pegasus Stakes (1000m) on the opening day of the carnival last weekend and finished fifth, recording the fastest times in the race for her last 600m, 400m and 200m. The six-year-old was even better in Saturday’s Stewards’ Stakes. Ridden by Matt Cameron, Maria Farina was fourth-last at the top of the straight but launched a withering run out of the pack. She got there in the nick of time, thrusting her head in front of Imwonderfultonight (I Am Invincible) right on the finish line to win by a nose. Like her half-brother Pier, Maria Farina is trained by Darryn and Briar Weatherley. The Matamata family also co-bred and part-owns both of the siblings, who are out of the Darci Brahma mare La Vitesse (NZ). “This is a big thrill, and especially after what Pier did down here last year,” Darryn Weatherley said. “It’s quite a special double. We’re very lucky to have the breed. “It was a great performance by Maria Farina today. She always seems to do it the hard way, but a lot of that has been down to drawing wide and having to drop back because of that. “The way it worked out, her wide draw today didn’t turn out to be quite such a disadvantage, with the ground being a bit worse towards the inside. But she finished it off really strongly again and it was a fantastic win. “We’ll get her home now and make a plan for the rest of the season. We’ll probably look at the big sprints like the Telegraph (Gr.1, 1200m), but the step up to 1400m for the Westbury Classic (Gr.2) against the fillies and mares on Karaka Million night could also be a bit of a carrot.” Maria Farina’s win capped an excellent day for the Weatherleys, who also saddled Tulsi (The Autumn Sun) for a gallant third in the Gr.1 Barneswood Farm New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m). “Tulsi ran a top race,” Weatherley said. “She had to do a lot of work from her gate, but she tried so hard. We’re really proud of her.” View the full article

Veteran galloper Gino Severini (Fastnet Rock) capped off some consistent form with a determined performance to take out the Gr.2 Gartshore Tauranga Stakes (1600m) on Saturday. In the hands of Central Districts rider Chris Dell the 10-year-old son of Fastnet Rock travelled comfortably on the Heavy9 track surface which had started the day as a Slow5 but deteriorated with persistent rain throughout the day. Dell settled the Bruce Wallace and Grant Cooksley-trained runner midfield on the rail before improving through on the inner to take control of proceedings approaching the home turn. Gino Severini and Devastate (NZ) (Vadamos) matched motors early in the run home before Dell pushed his mount clear and he bolted away to win by more than four lengths from Devastate, with Brando (NZ) (Savabeel) back in third. The Tauranga track has proved a happy hunting ground for the horse as he has never finished out of the money in four starts and registered his last victory in the Gr.2 Japan Trophy (1600m) on a similar track surface back in March 2022. Cooksley was delighted to welcome the stable favourite back to the winners’ enclosure although he admitted he wasn’t that sure before the race how he would perform in the ground. “He doesn’t really like it when it is heavy and the only two wins he has had on that type of track have now both been here at Tauranga,” Cooksley said. “Chris said he just travelled so well all the way and he was pretty confident of a win a long way out. “He is a pretty remarkable horse and despite his age he is still as keen as ever and enjoying his racing. “A mile is his pet distance so we will look around for races like that as I think he has a couple more wins in him. “He goes well at this time of the year and there are some nice options coming up over the next month or so for him.” Raced by Wallace and members of the Wallace family, Gino Severini has now won eight of his 60 starts and over $527,000 in prizemoney. Three of those wins have come at stakes level while he also finished third in the 2021 Gr.1 Windsor Park Plate (1600m). View the full article

There has always been a hint of something special about Molly Bloom (NZ) (Ace High), and that obvious potential turned into breathtaking Group One brilliance in Saturday’s Barneswood Farm 51st New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton. Matamata trainers Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott had been working backwards from the $500,000 fillies’ classic with Molly Bloom ever since her eye-catching third placing in her only two-year-old appearance in April. The spring campaign has been far from smooth sailing, with the highs of an outstanding maiden win at Taupo in September quickly replaced by the lows of luckless runs for fifth at Hastings and fourth in the Gr.2 Soliloquy Stakes (1400m) at Pukekohe. But it was all about having Molly Bloom at the peak of her powers in the 1000 Guineas, and on Saturday she delivered in spectacular style. Rider Joe Doyle’s hopes of taking up a midfield position were extinguished within the first 200m of the race. Molly Bloom jumped only fairly from gate 11, then had a torrid time with multiple bumps and checks along Riccarton’s back straight. She dropped right out the back, eventually settling in third-last among a capacity field of 18. Molly Bloom still had only two behind her rounding the home turn, but Doyle brought her to the outside and turned on the turbochargers. With an exceptional turn of foot, Molly Bloom roared home out wide on the track. Only Impendabelle (Impending), Tulsi (The Autumn Sun) and Luberon (NZ) (Embellish) were still in front of her passing the 100m, and Molly Bloom continued her booming finish and swept straight past them to score by a length. “I had it in my head to be about halfway or three-quarters of the way back through the field, but it just wasn’t happening,” Doyle said. “I just kept getting chopped back. We had to go to Plan B, then Plan C, then Plan D. Luckily enough this filly was good enough to overcome all that. “It’s a credit to Lance and Andrew. They’ve had so much faith in this filly all the way through, and today has shown that they were dead right. They’ve been massive supporters of mine ever since I came to New Zealand, and I’m so grateful for that. They’re easy to ride for, and it’s great to get this result for them today.” Molly Bloom gave O’Sullivan a first training success in the 1000 Guineas to go with his three wins as a jockey aboard Olga’s Pal (NZ) (Straight Strike) (1988), Nimue (NZ) (Starway) (1992) and Snap (NZ) (Kingdom Bay) (1993). “It’s a huge thrill,” O’Sullivan said. “We’ve talked quite a big game with this filly all the way through, so for her to produce a performance like that is really exciting. We were a bit concerned with about 600m to run, but it was some performance that she put up. “There’s a lot of people that have a small share in this filly, including my daughter’s partner, and it’s great to get this result for them. Big thanks to all of our staff at home, and Scotty as well – we’ve been training together for a long time now and we get a thrill out of winning any race, let alone a big race like this.” Molly Bloom was bred by Seaton Park, who offered her in Book 1 at Karaka 2022 as a yearling, and Wexford Stables secured her for $150,000. From five starts, Molly Bloom has now recorded two wins, a third, a fourth and a fifth, earning $309,675 in stakes for her big group of owners. Notably, Saturday’s outstanding 1000 Guineas win made Molly Bloom the first Group One winner for Ace High. Himself a winner of the Victoria Derby (2500m) and Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) at the elite level as a three-year-old, Ace High stands at Rich Hill Stud for a $10,000 service fee. His oldest progeny are three-year-olds, and Molly Bloom has already been joined by fellow three-year-old winners Bezique (NZ), My Lips Are Sealed (NZ), O’Ziggy (NZ), Tanganyika (NZ) and Leroy Brown (NZ). View the full article

Handy galloper So Risque (NZ) (So You Think) showed plenty of fight in registering a winning performance in Saturday’s MRC Foundation Handicap (1400m) at Caulfield. The Ben, Will and JD Hayes-prepared six-year-old son of So You Think was three wide early on before settling on the tail of pacemaker Imperial Lad (All Too Hard) as rider Daniel Stackhouse bided his time to make his challenge rounding the home bend. Stackhouse shot So Risque clear and he maintained a strong gallop to the line to fend off the late challenge of Robusto (Churchill) who chased resolutely to get within a length at the line. Co-trainer Ben Hayes was delighted to see his charge return to winning form in just his second start in a new campaign. “It was a good effort,” Hayes said. “They all jumped with each other and I’m glad Stacky made the decision and rolled forward. It was a great ride. “It looked like he was going to be caught three-wide and got in a spot without too much work. “He didn’t have bad luck today and it was really good to get a win with him because he’s been running really well and hasn’t been winning.” Hayes admitted he did have some anxious moments as Robusto chased hard which brought back memories of the finish to the Gr.1 Cox Plate (2040m) last month where the Hayes-trained Mr Brightside (NZ) (Bullbars) went down by a nose to the James McDonald-ridden Romantic Warrior (Acclamation). “I was watching the race and I was having flashbacks when I saw James McDonald coming late,” he said. “It was a bit of target race that we came up with today after the month between runs with a trial. “We’ve always liked him and today went to plan, while it was nice to get a win for Rob (Slade). So Risque was a $100,000 yearling purchase by syndicator Rob Slade from Windsor Park’s 2019 Book 1 draft at Karaka and has now won six of his 21 starts. Stackhouse was also taken by the effort by So Risque. “This horse has got a lot of ability. I wanted to be positive and got a lovely run race with the tempo,” he said. “We stayed out of trouble, moved forward and travelled really nicely with the tempo. “I got him to improve on the corner and got the other horses off the bridle. “He quickened like he did and wouldn’t get beaten.” So Risque is a son of Volksraad mare Risque Business (NZ) and is the older half-brother to promising mare It’s Business Time (NZ) (Turn Me Loose), who was runner-up to Puntura (NZ) (Vespa) in Wednesday’s Gr.3 Coupland’s Bakeries Mile (1600m) at Riccarton after registering five consecutive victories. View the full article

High-flying mare Express Yourself (NZ) (Shamexpress) took a big step towards the sprinting big time with another dominant performance in the $50,000 Woodridge Homes (1100m) at Trentham on Friday. It was the fourth win in succession for the five-year-old Shamexpress mare, who had previously won in Rating 65 grade at Awapuni in April, in Rating 75 company at the same venue in late September, and against a talented Rating 75 line-up on Livamol Classic Day at Hastings on October 14. Friday’s race at Trentham was the first appearance in open company for Express Yourself, who was ridden by apprentice jockey Jim Chung and bounded away from her five opponents to win by four and a half lengths. From 12 starts, Express Yourself has now recorded five wins and three placings. She has earned more than $122,000 in stakes for a big group of owners along with Awapuni trainer Nikki Hurdle, who bought her for only $6,550 on Gavelhouse.com in August of last year. “She’s the only one that I’ve got in work at the moment, and she’s a horse that I’m really quite excited about,” Hurdle said. “She never lets us down. She just keeps coming out and performing, and she seems to really enjoy what she does as well, which is such a big part of it. “She really showed her class today, I thought. I was a bit worried about the (Soft5) track, but then when I saw them run 1:09 in the early part of the day I thought it couldn’t be too bad. “It’s been an amazing ride with a horse that we managed to buy for only $6500 on Gavelhouse. I’d seen her win a trial beforehand and thought she looked like quite a nice horse, so I couldn’t believe it when I saw that she was for sale. I was willing to spend quite a bit more to buy her, but we managed to get her for only $6500. Michael Moran bred her, and he called me the next day and said, ‘You’ve bought yourself a really nice horse.’ It’s looking like he was right.” Hurdle will now continue to raise the bar with Express Yourself – potentially culminating in a Group One assignment at the same venue as Friday’s big win. “Next up, we’ll probably head towards the race that used to be known as the Levin Stakes,” she said. “It’s a 1200m race at Otaki worth $80,000 and it seems like a nice next step. “I thought about the Stewards’ Stakes (Listed, 1200m) at Riccarton, but it’s a big trip down there and it’s only for one or two races, and then you often can’t do anything with them for quite a while after they get back from a trip like that. “It’s similar with the Railway (Gr.1, 1200m) up north. There’s a lot of travel involved, and you have to make two trips – firstly to give the horse a run that way around, and then going back up there again for the race itself. “So the race I really want to have a crack at with her is the Telegraph (Gr.1, 1200m) at Trentham in January, and that win today was a very pleasing step in that direction. “I’m under no illusions about how hard that race is going to be to win – especially at weight-for-age. Back when it was a handicap, she could have snuck into the race way down at the bottom of the weights. Now she’ll have 56.5kg, like all the others. She’s a big, strapping horse who can carry the weight, but I’m mindful that there’ll be some very good horses on the same weight as her. It’s not going to be easy, but she’s done everything we could have asked of her so far, and she’s given us no reason not to have a go at it.” View the full article

Jockey hopes for poignant success in BOCHK Private Wealth Jockey Club Mile: ‘It would be nice to win for Howard’View the full article

Run Harry Run ridden by Daniel Stackhouse wins the Blue Sapphire Stakes at Caulfield. (Photo by Pat Scala/Racing Photos) Run Harry Run (+1200) proved too strong in the Group 3 Blue Sapphire Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on Saturday, producing his third-straight win of the preparation in the process. The Michael Moroney-trained gelding pinged the lids from barrier three and held his position just behind the speed. Brave Mead (+270) elected to take up the running under Mark Zahra as he looked to take luck out of the equation from barrier eight and was able to clock a cheap sectional or two. It allowed Daniel Stackhouse to smoke the pipe aboard Run Harry Run and when peeling off his back with 300m to travel, put pay to his rivals to score a relatively dominant victory on the wire. Arkansaw Kid (+250) was a drifting favourite leading into the race, but from near-last was impressive storming into a third-place finish, while Brave Mead battled gamely to hold the runner-up spot. 2023 Blue Sapphire Stakes Replay – Run Harry Run | T: Mike Moroney | J: Daniel Stackhouse It was all honours to the winner in the end, as Run Harry Run continues to build a strong profile for the Michael Moroney barn, and the man himself was on course to see the success. “We saw this race a while again and thought that he was up to it,” said Moroney. “It has worked out perfectly. “He probably should have been unbeaten now. “He got that heavy that he was having front leg troubles so we decided to geld him. He’s got a great brain and a lovely attitude then he goes out there, smells the daisies and doesn’t concentrate.” Daniel Stackhouse was glowing about the performance post-race and suggested the Sandown Guineas could be an option for the stable. “Scripted pretty well for us,” said Stackhouse. “We wanted to be positive from that inside barrier. “We got a lovely run in transit. My bloke is so green and raw still but the more you ask the more he keeps improving. “I felt like I was going to get there but he just took a while. “He just seems to keep improving and every target you throw at him he seems to pass. Mike (Moroney) and his team have done a fantastic job. “Sandown Guineas is only two weeks away so we’ll see how the horse pulls up and Mike knows what he’s doing.” More horse racing news View the full article

Molly Bloom winning the Group 1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton on Saturday. Photo: Race Images South There has always been a hint of something special about Molly Bloom, and that obvious potential turned into breathtaking Group 1 brilliance in Saturday’s New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton. Matamata trainers Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott had been working backwards from the $500,000 fillies’ classic with Molly Bloom ever since her eye-catching third placing in her only two-year-old appearance in April. The spring campaign has been far from smooth sailing, with the highs of an outstanding maiden win at Taupo in September quickly replaced by the lows of luckless runs for fifth at Hastings and fourth in the Group 2 Soliloquy Stakes (1400m) at Pukekohe. But it was all about having Molly Bloom at the peak of her powers in the 1000 Guineas, and on Saturday she delivered in spectacular style. Rider Joe Doyle’s hopes of taking up a midfield position were extinguished within the first 200m of the race. Molly Bloom jumped only fairly from gate 11, then had a torrid time with multiple bumps and checks along Riccarton’s back straight. She dropped right out the back, eventually settling in third-last among a capacity field of 18. Molly Bloom still had only two behind her rounding the home turn, but Doyle brought her to the outside and turned on the turbochargers. With an exceptional turn of foot, Molly Bloom roared home out wide on the track. Only Impendabelle, Tulsi and Luberon were still in front of her passing the 100m, and Molly Bloom continued her booming finish and swept straight past them to score by a length. “I had it in my head to be about halfway or three-quarters of the way back through the field, but it just wasn’t happening,” Doyle said. “I just kept getting chopped back. We had to go to Plan B, then Plan C, then Plan D. Luckily enough this filly was good enough to overcome all that. “It’s a credit to Lance and Andrew. They’ve had so much faith in this filly all the way through, and today has shown that they were dead right. They’ve been massive supporters of mine ever since I came to New Zealand, and I’m so grateful for that. They’re easy to ride for, and it’s great to get this result for them today.” Molly Bloom gave O’Sullivan a first training success in the 1000 Guineas to go with his three wins as a jockey aboard Olga’s Pal (1988), Nimue (1992) and Snap (1993). “It’s a huge thrill,” O’Sullivan said. “We’ve talked quite a big game with this filly all the way through, so for her to produce a performance like that is really exciting. “We were a bit concerned with about 600m to run, but it was some performance that she put up. “There’s a lot of people that have a small share in this filly, including my daughter’s partner, and it’s great to get this result for them. Big thanks to all of our staff at home, and Scotty as well – we’ve been training together for a long time now and we get a thrill out of winning any race, let alone a big race like this.” Molly Bloom was bred by Seaton Park, who offered her in Book 1 at Karaka 2022 as a yearling, and Wexford Stables secured her for $150,000. From five starts, Molly Bloom has now recorded two wins, a third, a fourth and a fifth, earning $309,675 in stakes for her big group of owners. Notably, Saturday’s outstanding 1000 Guineas win made Molly Bloom the first Group One winner for Ace High. Himself a winner of the Victoria Derby (2500m) and Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) at the elite level as a three-year-old, Ace High stands at Rich Hill Stud for a $10,000 service fee. His oldest progeny are three-year-olds, and Molly Bloom has already been joined by fellow three-year-old winners Bezique, My Lips Are Sealed, O’Ziggy, Tanganyika and Leroy Brown. 2023 New Zealand 1000 Guineas Replay – Molly Boom | T: Lance O’Sullivan & Andrew Scott | J: Joe Doyle More horse racing news View the full article

Brazen Style (inside) ridden by Craig Newitt wins the Thoroughbred Club Stakes at Caulfield. (Photo by Pat Scala/Racing Photos) Shane Nichols and Craig Newitt combined with Brazen Style (+6000) to secure victory in the Group 3 Thoroughbred Club Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on Saturday afternoon. It came after she put on a dominant display on resumption at Yarra Valley, breaking her maiden status on October 28. This was clearly much tougher on paper and a stretch to Group 3 company coming very early into her preparation; however, the move has paid off with the Shane Nichols-trained filly able to cling to victory. Newitt elected to make every post a winner when bounding across from barrier 11, managing to gain a handy position in running, allowing the daughter of Brazen Beau to get into a rhythm along the inside running rail. It proved to be a winning move in the end, as the three-year-old filly was able to stride out under a moderate tempo throughout the 1200m. Miraval Rose (+250) was the big firmer with online bookmakers and seemingly got the upper hand of the eventual winner in the shadows of the post, however, it was the inside nostril of Brazen Style narrowly putting her first in the frame. Saltaire (+240) was able to run into yet another minor placing in her third start of the campaign, while Commemorative (+260) boxed on for fourth. 2023 Thoroughbred Club Stakes Replay – Brazen Style | T: Shane Nichols | J: Craig Newitt Shane Nichols was on course to praise his filly and was quick to joke about the photo finish before crediting the steer of Newitt. “I went over and spoke to Grahame Begg and said ‘I thought it favoured you’,” joked Nichols. “Watching it on the line and then we watched it together. “Big thrill to win a stakes race with a filly at her third start. “She was $250,000 out of (Inglis) Easter. She’s out of a Group 1 winner and probably makes her very expensive. “We had the discussion with the owners yesterday. I said we’re going to send her (forward). Froggy (Newitt) is the man for the job and we’d rather die by the sword trying to win than ride conservatively and run fifth or sixth.” Craig Newitt was elated with the victory and is now two rides for two wins aboard Brazen Style as he admitted this was a tough step up in grade. “My filly, I was at Yarra Valley on Cox Plate Day, it doesn’t happen very often but I managed to win on her and she gave me a nice feel again,” said Newitt. “Threw her in the deep end in a stakes race and I thought if she came up with a soft gate she’d be really competitive but she’s been very well educated. She’s got really good gate speed. “When I asked her from the 500 (metre mark) she just kept finding another gear. “I thought Jordie had her measure 50 (metres) off the line but to her credit she stuck her little head out where it counted.” More horse racing news View the full article

Jockey Zac Purton says the star speedster has improved ahead of Sunday’s Group TwoView the full article

After announcing its presence with authority as a first-time seller on day one of the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale, the fledgling Case Clay Thoroughbred Management signed for Friday's top two lots–a pair of last-out maiden winners for $350,000 apiece–at Keeneland's single-session Horses of Racing Age Sale Friday. The co-topping Double Dream (Curlin), a winning 3-year-old half-sister to MGISW Verrazano (More Than Ready), GSW El Padrino (Pulpit), et al, will be heading to Australia for a client of Arrowfield Stud's, Clay said. Consigned by ELiTE, the Peter Brant homebred earned her diploma with a narrow, come-from-behind maiden win for trainer Chad Brown at third asking on dirt at Parx last out Oct. 3. Purchased by Case Clay/Jon Freyer, agent, Hip 4226 hails from the family of champion Queena and Grade I winners Chic Shirine, Serra Lake, Olympiad, Preservationist, Somali Lemonade and Harmonize. “Double Dream is gonna go down to Australia, ultimately to be bred,” Clay said by phone nearing the conclusion of trade. “She's really well bred by Curlin out of a Giant's Causeway mare. Just an outstanding female family and she's really pretty as well. Looking forward to seeing her babies in Australia.” Regarding if a potential mate has been decided for Double Dream, Clay said, “Not yet. She would suit a lot of them down there. Maybe she'll race a little bit down there, but ultimately, she will be for breeding purposes.” The 2-year-old colt Edgartown (Quality Road), a last-out maiden winner for West Bloodstock and trainer Joe Sharp at third asking over the Churchill Downs lawn Nov. 4, brought the same leading figure from Clay on behalf of Wathnan Racing. Bred in Kentucky by SF Bloodstock LLC and W. S. Farish, Edgartown is from the female family of the brilliant Hall of Famer Serena's Song. Consigned by Highgate Sales, Agent I, as Hip 4230, he is the first foal out of the Fed Biz mare Love Child. Case Clay | Keeneland “He's gonna race here in the U.S.,” Clay said. “Liked him for his form, really. Recent winner at Churchill Downs in his third start. Before that, he was second by a neck to a next-out Churchill Downs maiden special weight winner. In his debut, he was second to next-out GII Bourbon S. winner Can Group (Good Samaritan), who finished fourth, beaten two lengths for the win in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf. Haven't picked out a trainer yet for him.” Regarding the final price paid for the duo, Clay added, “Very happy to get them, but we were at the end on both of them.” Case Clay Thoroughbred Management sold Puca (Big Brown), dam of this year's GI Kentucky Derby winner Mage (Good Magic), for $2.9 million at Keeneland November in a private, post-RNA transaction to John Stewart. Clay's operation also consigned $1.65-million seller Dalika (Ger) (Pastorius {Ger}) at the previously concluded nine-day auction. “Very grateful to my clients,” Clay said. “Feel lucky to have participated in the sale and selling those two mares and also buying these two and another mare ($160,000 Avow for Tordrillo Ventures) earlier in the sale.” Last year, Keeneland created the stand-alone auction for horses of racing age, who formerly were included in the November Breeding Stock Sale. The 2022 sale was topped by the then unraced 2-year-old colt Extortion (Into Mischief), who brought $1 million from Mick Wallace, agent, on behalf of Gandharvi Racing, to dissolve a partnership. Friday, 155 horses sold through the ring for $7,864,000, for an average of $50,735 and a median of $30,000. The gross declined 28.47% from $10,994,500 paid for 160 horses, while the average was 26.17% lower than $68,716 last year and the median was 16.67% below $36,000. With sales of $2,635,000 for 38 horses sold through the ring, ELiTE was the auction's leading consignor. “Overall, it was a healthy day of trade,” Keeneland Vice President of Sales Tony Lacy said. “A diverse group of buyers from around the world representing breeders, bloodstock agents, racing interests and trainers participated. The clearance rate was right at 84% and trade was consistent throughout the day. Fillies and colts with good pedigrees and race records sold extremely well.” He continued, “This is a sale that allows buyers to come in and do their homework. They can see these horses, vet them and put them through the scrutiny they need in this more stringent environment. That creates a very healthy transparency that is critical at this point. Overall, we are very satisfied.” Tony Lacy | Keeneland What They're Saying… “When you bring a horse to this sale, you can take X-rays, scope them and (veterinarians) and buyers can lay their hands on them. You get top dollar because there is confidence buying them here. Hats off to Keeneland for having these sales.” —Jacob West of Highgate Sales, who raced and sold co-topper Edgartown in the name of West Bloodstock. “I really like grass fillies, and we like to breed grass horses. I think she's a really nice mare. She's very physically fit, she's a nice one. I looked back at her races to see what she did. I liked that she started young and right away, and she's still going, which is pretty good. (For) as long as she's been running, (her record is) pretty solid.” —Dixiana owner William J. Shively on MSW & GSP Train to Artemus (Tapizar), who brought $250,000. Dixiana was the sale's leading buyer, spending $415,000 for two horses. “He's been on our radar for quite a while. We've been looking for sons of Curlin. He's obviously starting off as a fantastic sire of sires. I think he's just super impressive. To have a graded stakes-winning son of Curlin is just a tremendous asset. The colt was absolutely beautiful; he could not have been better looking. I don't think I've bought a horse as good-looking as that. We're just delighted to have him.” —agent Chad Schumer on Grade III winner King Fury, who is heading off to stud in Saudi Arabia. The post Recent Maiden Winners Share Spotlight at Keeneland’s Horses of Racing Age Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

8th-AQU, $85k, Msw, 2yo, f, 1 1/16mT, 3:15p.m. ET Jumping from the middle of the field and carrying an expensive $650,000 KEESEP tag in addition to Irad Ortiz Jr. is CHP Racing's SPENDALOT (More Than Ready). The full-sister to MGSW & GISP Consumer Spending comes into this race with a consistent work tab for conditioner Chad Brown. Beneath her second dam Shaconage (El Prado {Ire}) is the dam of several Chilean Group and stakes runners including GSW & G1SP Jacare (Chi) (Lookin At Lucky) as well as GSP La Jardinera (Chi) (Verrazano). To her far outside is the pair of homebreds Scandalous (Mastery) and Spinning Class (Twirling Candy). The former is a Pletcher trainee who will carry the colors of co-breeder and co-owners Bass Stables. Cheyenne Stables bought into the filly out of a half-sister to MSW Pickapocket (Mecke); GSW & GISP Wild At Heart (Indian Charlie) and that one's full-sister GSP Visavis. Spinning Class hails from the venerable Janney operation, owned by Stuart S. Janney III, and is the first to the races for GSW My Impression (Sky Mesa), herself a half-sister to the dam of GSW Scarlett Sky (Sky Mesa). This is the female line of Claiborne stalwart First Samurai. TJCIS PPs 7th-CD, $120k, Msw, 2yo, f, 6f, 4:01p.m. ET Making her career-first start for owner Godolphin is HOPE MISSION (Medaglia d'Oro), the flagbearer to the races for GSW & GISP Arabian Hope (Distorted Humor), who is herself a half-sister to $3.65m FTFMAR grad MGSW Cezanne (Curlin) and MSP Counterforce (Smart Strike). This is the female family of GISW Streaming (Smart Strike); champion 3-year-old filly MGISW Rags to Riches (A.P. Indy); MGSW & GISP Tyson (Tapit); and MGISW Arcangelo (Arrogate). TJCIS PPs The post Nov. 18 Insights: Well-bred Fillies Take the Stage in Kentucky, New York appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article