Wandering Eyes

A top effort in the Breeders' Cup Turf (G1T) against leading international runners could pay the biggest of dividends for United States-based Up to the Mark.View the full article

Connections of Givemethebeatboys expressed shock and dismay Nov. 3 at Santa Anita Park after being told their colt had been withdrawn from the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G1T) after examination by a panel of vets Friday morning. View the full article

A top effort in the Breeders' Cup Turf (G1T) against top international runners could pay the biggest of dividends for United States-based Up to the Mark.View the full article

Trainer Mark Glatt experienced the "toughest beat of my career" when his trainee Dr. Schivel led in midstretch of the 2021 Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) at Del Mar before being caught by a nose on the wire by late-rallying Aloha West.View the full article

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Saturday's Observations features a son of Snow Fairy (Ire) making his first start at Chelmsford. 17.00 Chelmsford City, £8,050, Mdn, 2yo, 8f (AWT) Anamoine Limited's hitherto untried DON SIMON (IRE) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) is a son of six-time Group 1 winner and dual Classic heroine Snow Fairy (Ire) (Intikhab) and, like that globetrotting superstar, is trained by Ed Dunlop. The May-foaled homebred is kin to MGSP Listed Fairway S. victor John Leeper (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) and the dual Group 3-placed Virgin Snow (GB) (Gleneagles {Ire}). His seven rivals include Saeed Suhail's Grey Charger (Ire) (Caravaggio), a 58,000gns Tattersalls October Book 2 full-brother to recent GIII La Jolla H. victor Maltese Falcon (Ire), who debuts for the in-form William Haggas yard. 11.20 Newmarket, £8,000, Nov, 2yo, f, 7fT Kirsten Rausing's SINOLOGY (GB) (Study Of Man {Ire}) is kin to a pair of black-type performers out of G1 British Champions Fillies & Mares victrix Madame Chiang (GB) (Archipenko) and opens up for the David Simcock stable here. Her 11 opponents include the once-raced Jane Chapple-Hyam trainee Mallavelly (Ire) (Siyouni {Fr}), who is a 500,000gns Tattersalls October Book 1 daughter of G3 Prix Cleopatre second Villa D'Amore (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}). 11.50 Newmarket, £8,000, Nov, 2yo, f, 7fT George Strawbridge's homebred SEA JOURNEY (IRE) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) is a John and Thady Gosden-trained daughter of G1 British Champions Fillies & Mares heroine Journey (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}). She encounters 10 in this unveiling headed by The Eclipse Partnership's Fair Point (GB) (Farhh {GB}), who is a full-sister to multiple Group-winning G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains third Tribalist (GB), representing the Ralph Beckett stable. HOW THEY FARED 11.15 Newmarket, £8,000, Mdn, 2yo, c/g, 7fT Juddmonte's Kikkuli (GB) (Kingman {GB}), a half-brother to four black-type performers including Frankel (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) and Noble Mission (GB) (Galileo {Ire}), shaped with promise on debut and finished 2 1/2 lengths behind the winner in second. 11.45 Newmarket, £8,000, Mdn, 2yo, c/g, 7fT Lady Bamford's homebred Lord Of Love (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), a son of G1 Prix de Diane victrix Star Of Seville (GB) (Duke Of Marmalade {Ire}), was scratched from this intended debut. The post Son of Dual Classic Heroine Snow Fairy Poised for Chelmsford Debut appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Horse Racing on Saturday, November 4 will feature 16 meetings in Australia. Our racing analysts here at horsebetting.com.au have found you the top bets and the quaddie numbers for the meetings at Flemington, Rosehill, Eagle Farm, Morphettville, Ascot & Alice Springs. Saturday Racing Tips – November 4, 2023 Flemington Racing Tips Rosehill Racing Tips Eagle Farm Racing Tips Morphettville Racing Tips Ascot Racing Tips Alice Springs Racing Tips Saturday’s Best Racing Bets Of The Day – November 4, 2023 Place these horse racing bets in a multi for $54.63 odds return: Saturday, November 4, 2023 Flemington Race 5 – #1 Zardozi Rosehill Race 4 – #2 Shohei Eagle Farm Race 8 – #8 Ekaterina Morphettville Race 2 – #2 Deepfloat Diva Ascot Race 2 – #6 Malkar Pindari | Copy this bet straight to your betslip As always there a plenty of promotions available for Australian racing fans, check out all the top online bookmakers to see what daily promotions they have. If you are looking for a new bookmaker for the horse racing taking place on November 4, 2023 check out our guide to the best online racing betting sites. More horse racing tips View the full article

Effective Dec. 1, the Meadowlands will ban 33 harness horsemen after evidence and exhibits track officials acquired from the U.S. Attorney's Office revealed the names of trainers and owners who had purchased banned substances from individuals who were charged with manufacturing and selling performance-enhancing drugs. The delay in imposing the ban was put in place in order to avoid any appearance of conflict of interest because many of the trainers are pointing horses to races run at the Meadowlands during November in which they could meet horses owned by Meadowlands owner Jeff Gural. The delay will also give owners time to transfer their horses to new barns. The Meadowlands requested access to evidence presented during the trials of Dr. Seth Fishman and one of his assistants, Lisa Giannelli. Fishman was sentenced to 11 years in prison and Giannelli was given a sentence of 42 months. They were among more than 30 people charged with crimes related to the use of performance-enhancing drugs on horses after a widespread investigation by the FBI and others. Meadowlands owner Jeff Gural said that he has so far received information only from the Giannelli trial and predicted that when information from the Fishman trial is released far more names could be involved. According to a press release issued Friday by the Meadowlands, the evidence obtained by the track revealed the identity of persons who had purchased prohibited substances Epogen and Thymosyn. Those who will be excluded for the alleged use of EPO are Dylan Davis, Nick Devita, Gareth Dowse, Jeff Gillis, Brian Malone, John Mungillo, Eric Prevost, Richard Silverman, Leroy Slabaugh and Howard Taylor. Those who will be excluded for the alleged use of Thymosyn are Ryan Bellamy, Anthony Buttitta, Franck Chick, Jamen Davidovich, Eddie Dennis, Brady Galliers, Rick Howles, Anthony Lake, Betty Jean Davis Lare, Kevin Lare, John Leggio, Gregg McNair, Cynthia Milano, Anthony Napolitano, Howard Savage, Arthur Stafford and Trevor Stafford. Additionally and according to the Meadowlands press release, the Federal government conducted its own collection of blood and urine samples from racehorses, both post-race and from out of competition testing, during its investigation. Six individuals allegedly had horses test poistive for banned substances and also will be excluded from the Meadowlands. The following is a list of those individuals and the drugs their horses allegeldy tested positive for: Al Annunziata (Propantheline); Jenn Bongiorno (Ethamsylate); Bob Bongiorno (Ethamsylate); Scott DiDomenico (Ethamsylate); Jeff Gillis (Ethamsylate); Nick Sodano Sr. (Cobalt). The 33 could face even more penalties as the information uncovered by the Meadowlands will be turned over to the various state racing commissions covering the tracks where the individuals compete. Asked why there were no thoroughbred horsemen among the names uncovered by the Meadowlands, Gural speculated that Giannelli's clients were primarily Standardbred horsemen and that once names linked to Fishman are released they could involve thoroughbred trainers and owners. Fishman, a Florida veterinarian, was sentenced for what United States Attorney Damian Williams said was due to “his role at the helm of an approximately twenty-year scheme to manufacture, market, and sell to racehorse trainers and others in the racehorse industry 'untestable' performance enhancing drugs for use in professional horseracing.” While the evidence against Fishman was enough for him to be sentenced to 11 years in prison, the government's case didn't shed much light on who was buying what from Fishman and his company. The one exception was Jorge Navarro, who was directly linked to Fishman. In a Department of Justice press release it was revealed that “Fishman aided Navarro in doping XY Jet, a thoroughbred horse that won the 2019 Golden Shaheen race in Dubai before dying of sudden heart attack in January 2020. As established at trial, Fishman sold tens of thousands of dollars' worth of PEDs to Navarro over the course of several years, and Navarro specifically credited Fishman for XY Jet's performance at the Golden Shaheen.” “The whole thing is terrible,” Gural said. “It's unfortunate. They lucked out that I kept the Meadowlands open, but their luck ran out because I am honest. We spent $2.5 million of our own money on this investigation. It's sad because there are people who had no choice but to cheat. They felt they had to feed their family and they couldn't win a race. What's really sad is Howard Taylor. He's not a trainer, he's an owner. He had to be giving EPO to his trainers to use and not a single trainer picked up the phone and said I have an owner who wants me to use EPO on his horses. He has 150 horses and he uses a lot of trainers. You would have thought at least one trainer would have picked up the phone and told us what's going on.” The post After Document Review, Meadowlands Bans 33 Owners/Trainers appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Godolphin's Pretty Mischievous, the Kentucky Oaks (G1) winner and current leader of the 3-year-old filly division, has been scratched from the Nov. 4 Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1) at Santa Anita Park.View the full article

7th-AQU, $85K, Msw, 2yo, 1m, post time: 3:20 p.m. While the focus of the Thoroughbred world Saturday afternoon will rightly be on Santa Anita, SIERRA LEONE (Gun Runner), the $2.3-million topper out of the 2022 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Sale, provides ample reason to click over to the Aqueduct feed between the running of the Filly and Mare Turf and Filly and Mare Sprint. The Mar. 31 foal was bred by Debby Oxley and is a son of her homebred 2017 GI Darley Alcibiades S. romper Heavenly Love (Malibu Moon). There was activity in the colt's second dam just Friday, when Forever Young (Jpn) (Real Steel {Jpn}), a 2-year-old son of Heavenly Love's GII Santa Ynez S.-winning half-sister Forever Darling (Congrats), took out the Listed JBC Nisai Yushun at Mombetsu Racecourse in Japan. The Grade I-winning third dam Roamin Rachel (Mining) produced Japanese Horse of the Year Zenno Rob Roy (Jpn) (Sunday Silence). Among the opposition is fellow firster and $600,000 Keeneland September grad Tuscan Gold (Medaglia d'Oro), whose dam Valdorna (Curlin) was second in the 2016 GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies and won the 2018 GIII Doubledogdare S. TJCIS PPs Watch Hip 202 c. GUN RUNNER o/o Heavenly Love sells for $2,300,000 at The Saratoga Sale! Congratulations to all the connections!#FasigSaratoga @Gainesway @Three_Chimneys @coolmorestud @WhiteBirchFarm_ pic.twitter.com/7R8MJ4IKQG — Fasig-Tipton (@FasigTiptonCo) August 10, 2022 5th-AQU, $85K, Msw, 2yo, f, 1 1/16mT, 2:00 p.m. ET JUST JULES (Justify), a $1.05-million KEESEP yearling, is the latest to the races from the Grade II-placed juvenile Fully Living (Unbridled's Song), already the dam of MGSP Untreated (Nyquist) and Ballet Dancing (Medaglia d'Oro), last-out winner of the grassy GIII Santa Ana S. at Santa Anita. Fully Living is a half-sister to this year's GIII Canadian Derby victor Abeliefinthislivin (Arrogate, while champion and GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies heroine Halfbridled (Unbridled) appears in the third dam. A $600,000 FTSAUG purchase, Hollywood Dream (Uncle Mo) is out of Miss Hollywood (Malibu Moon), a stakes-winning daughter of George Krikorian's MGISW Hollywood Story (Wild Rush), whose son Honor A. P. (Honor Code) won the 2020 GI Santa Anita Derby. Public Assembly (More Than Ready), a $100,000 in-utero purchase at KEENOV in 2020 before fetching $300,000 at KEESEP, is out of a full-sister to MGSW Csaba (Kitten's Joy) and SW & GISP Kitten's Queen. TJCIS PPs 7th-CD, $120K, Msw, 2yo, 7f, 4:55 p.m. ET GIVE ME A REASON (Justify) draws the rail for this first trip to the races and is out of the Grade I-winner and outstanding producer Dream of Summer (Siberian Summer), whose offspring include Grade I-winning juvenile Creative Cause (Giant's Causeway), MGSW and GI Belmont S. runner-up Destin (Giant's Causeway), GISW Vexatious (Giant's Causeway) and GSP Summer Promise (Uncle Mo). Give Me a Reason cost $500,000 at Keeneland last fall. Godolphin's Knightsbridge (Nyquist), a homebred half-brother to GISW Speaker's Corner (Street Sense), is out of an unraced daughter of 2006 GI Breeders' Cup Distaff upsetter Round Pond (Awesome Again). TJCIS PPs The post Saturday’s Insights: Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Topper ‘Gunning’ For Debut Score appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

MGISW Pretty Mischievous (Into Mischief), who was slated to start in the GI Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff on Saturday at Santa Anita, will scratch from the race and return to Kentucky, said trainer Brendan Walsh, in a release from the Breeders' Cup Notes Team midday Friday. “After traveling, she got a little bit colicky and we had to treat her the next day,” said Walsh. “She's looked great on the track, but that's just her. She's been a little dull and not showing us what she usually does. I'm not running in a championship race if she's not 100 percent and, after the great season she's given us, she owes us nothing.” The 3-year-old filly, who won the GI Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs, plus the GI Acorn S. at Belmont Park and GI Test S. at Saratoga, was last seen as the runner-up in the GI Cotillion S. at Park Racing Sept. 23. The post MGISW Pretty Mischievous Out Of The Breeders’ Cup Distaff, Not 100% Says Walsh appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Nominations are now open for the Unsung Heroes of our industry to be recognised at our Annual Awards evening in February next year. This award is to recognize the contribution to racing by either a horse or person who continually contributes to our sport. They are not the big winners of major races but the people or horses who keep our industry going. They are not necessarily paid for what they do or get the acknowledgement they deserve. From a horse perspective it is those horses that are not legends but consistently perform and help generate income for our sport. The winners at the 2022 Awards evening were Tony Thomas, Andrew McKerrow and Dr Luk Chin If you would like to nominate a horse or person for this award please email courtney@hrnz.co.nz with your nomination. This needs to include a paragraph or two about the nominee and the reasons why they are being nominated. Nominations close on Friday, November 25th. View the full article

River Tiber, the 3-1 morning-line favorite for the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (G1T), was among the newly announced scratches the morning of Nov. 3 ahead of Friday's five Breeders' Cup races for 2-year-olds at Santa Anita Park.View the full article

Hall of Fame and two-time Triple Crown-winning trainer Bob Baffert has captured 18 Breeders' Cup races in his career but the common denominator in those races has been one thing: they have all been on the dirt.View the full article

A colt by Blue Bresil (Fr) brought a sale-topping £90,000 from Richard Frisby during the first edition of the Goffs British NH Breeders' Showcase on Friday. It is a new record for a National Hunt foal sold at public auction. Consigned by Mill House Stud as lot 42, the bay is out of Scorpio Queen (Ire) (Scorpion {Ire}), a half-sister to two-time G1 Leinster National H. Chase winner Pairofbrowneyes (Ire) (Luso {GB}). “I never thought he'd make that much,” said Mill House's Juliet Minton. “He had a £40,000 reserve, and I thought he might make £60,000, but I never dreamt of £90,000. “He'd be right up there with the best we've ever consigned. It was clear as soon as he was born that he was a lovely individual, and he's continued to improve ever since. He's very laid back and has a lovely temperament generally. Colts by Saint Des Saints (Fr) (lot 24) and Golden Horn (GB) (lot 65) brought £65,000 and £60,000. The former, from Yeo Barton Bloodstock and out of a half-sister to Grade 3 chase winner Eva's Oskar (Ire) (Shirocco {Ger}), went to Coolmara Stables, Ltd. “He's a beautiful animal, a lovely size and with good breeding,” reported Coolmara's Kieran Mariga. “He's been bought to pinhook and he'll be re-offered as a 3-year-old.” Tally-Ho Stud bought the latter from Peel Bloodstock. The colt is related to Grade 2 hurdler Akilak (Ire) (Charnwood Forest {Ire}), who was third in two Grade 1s. “He's a lovely foal and the one we really wanted,” said Tally-Ho's Henry O'Callaghan. “Golden Horn has a lot in his favour for jumps breeding, so should work, and this colt was well bred and very well prepared by the breeders. Fair play to them.” The day's highest priced filly was by Nathaniel (Ire) (lot 44) and she made £50,000 on the bid of BLF Farm. Her dam was placed three times at the graded level and is a half-sister to top chaser Allaho (Fr) (No Risk At All {Fr}). Of the 83 offered, 65 sold for a gross of £1,277,500. The average reached £19,654 and the median was £15,000. Goffs UK managing director Tim Kent said, “Firstly, we would like to thank all of today's vendors for supporting this new venture. We asked the British NH Breeders to get behind this new initiative and we were overwhelmed by the response, but we still had to prove that this concept would work, so to achieve these results and break a new record is an incredible result for Goffs and for British NH Breeders. “Yesterday's show and social evening provided the perfect platform to introduce the sale and celebrate the Best of British and we would like to thank the judges whilst congratulating Jackie Chugg and Sally Aston on winning the Richard Aston Colts' Class and Robert Chugg Fillies' Class respectively. “We have welcomed a huge number of people to Doncaster over the last two days, with many vendors commenting that no one is missing, and that has created a solid market which has produced some wonderful results, in particular Mill House Stud's Blue Bresil colt which set a new British record for a NH foal when selling to Richard Frisby for £90,000. “New ventures always come with a degree of risk and, once again, we would like to extend a huge thanks to all our clients who made this such a success whilst we look forward to reviewing the sale before building again in 2024. Meanwhile, we will be back on the road to discuss our January Sale with vendors over the coming weeks whilst we look forward to seeing everyone at the Goffs December Sale on 11-14 December.” The post Blue Bresil Colt Tops First Edition Of The Goffs British NH Breeders’ Showcase Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Group 2 winner River Tiber (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) has been scratched from the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf, after scratches and changes were posted by Santa Anita on Friday morning California time. The Coolmore partners runner won his first three starts including Royal Ascot's G2 Coventry S. Named the 3-1 morning line favourite for Friday's contest, he also finished third to Vandeek (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}) in both the G1 Prix Morny and G1 Middle Park S. and looked primed for a big effort. River Tiber was due to be ridden by Ryan Moore. Moore will instead pilot fellow Coolmore runner Unquestionable (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), who was second in the G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere. River Tiber is not the only high-profile European raider to be scratched on race day. Givemethebeatboys (Ire) (Bungle Inthejungle {GB}) is out of the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint earlier on the card, the result of a vet scratch. Raced by Theresa Marnane and Bronsan Racing, the G3 Marble Hill S. winner was third in the G1 Phoenix S. later in the summer and was most recently fourth to Vandeek in the Middle Park. He is trained by Jessica Harrington. The post River Tiber And Givemethebeatboys Scratched From Breeders’ Cup appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

A 1/50th share in Zarak (Fr) (lot 1) is one of nine stallion shares or breeding rights catalogued for the Arqana November Online Sale from 4-6 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 28. The Aga Khan Studs' stallion is the leading stallion in France by number of winners in 2023 and has a percentage of 70% winners to runners. He sired his first Group 1 winner, Zagrey (Fr), in Germany this year and five other horses have placed at the highest level. Other stallion shares on offer include first-season sire City Light (Fr) (lot 2) who is off to a bright start with his first runners; a 1/70th share in Group 1 sire Galiway (GB) (lot 3); lot 4 is a 1/60th share in Goken (Fr); a 1/50th share in crack sprinter Hello Youmzain (Fr) (lot 5), a 1/60th share in G1 Champion S. winner Sealiway (Fr), and a 1/60th share in group sire The Grey Gatsby (Ire) (lot 8) will also go under the hammer. There are also breeding rights available in Group 1 sire Cracksman (GB) (lot 6) and G2 Prix Chaudenay hero Doha Dream (Fr) (lot 9). The post Share In Zarak Anchors Arqana November Online Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

By Michael Guerin Magic Four is almost on a hiding to nothing. For most horses winning six races and and nearly $200,000 would be considered a pretty good career as a late four-year-old with the promise of more to come. But for Magic Four whatever lies ahead will almost certainly be the the encore to his finest performance after the night last year he upstaged what is now our biggest harness name. Magic Four of course caused one of the great upsets in NZ harness history when he won the NZB Harness Million in February last year, downing among others Akuta. Considering what Akuta has gone on to do since and what may still lie ahead for him, it is hard to believe Magic Four beat him fair and square but he did and that can never be taken off him or his owners. Since then he has mixed good with mediocre but he was back to good at Alexandra Park on Thursday night when he led throughout to win the feature pace. The second leg of a late double for driver Matty White, Magic Four was there to be beaten at the top of the straight but fought off both Simply Sam and Frankie Major in a quick 2:41.5 for the standing start 2200m. “I thought once I found the front I might as well keep on going and make them catch him,” says White. And of course Magic Four may not be finished winning or even mentally improving yet, so while it is hard to imagine he rises to the level of Akuta-slayer again if he can show manners and roll 1:58 mile rates for 2200m standing start events regularly he will find himself back up against the big boys one day. White won the race before on his one of his own 15-strong stable which has really been firing since he moved north from Cambridge to train at Rosslands, the South Auckland complex also shared by John Dickie. White won with Mhai Surfer Girl when she was able to run down Jethro Bodine for her third career win in nine starts. “She has got good speed so she isn’t finished winnng yet,” says White. The win took White to 27 driving successes for the season, putting him within reach of his record for a NZ season of 32. He also drove with great success in West Australia. But with his drives having banked $536,236 he has already has his most lucrative driving season with some big races looming, especially with Coastal Babe looking our best juvenile filly. “It has been a really good season so I appreciate all the support,” says White. One of his more impressive stats is his numbers with trotters, with 53 drives this season for 11 wins, so striking at above 20 per cent in trotting races. Other highlights on Thursday night were a training and driving success for Craig Sharpe with Proviseur in the amateur race while popular horseman Roydon Downey trained and drove Sans Au Revoir to win the lower grade trot. From the breed raced so successfully by Downey’s late father Errol, Sans Au Revoir trotted the 2700m in 3:28.8, suggesting she can win again soon as that Love You staying blood comes to the fore. And in race three there was a Logan Hollis – Shane Robertson trained trifecta with Mr Bondi, The Artful Gambler and Hoofananny. View the full article

Classic winner Capri (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) will move from Coolmore's Grange Stud to Willow Wood Farm in the UK for next season, the latter confirmed on X (formerly Twitter) on Friday. The deal was brokered by Richard Venn. A fee for the grey, whose eldest foals are 2-year-olds of 2023, will be announced later. The 2017 G1 Irish Derby winner and G1 St Leger hero also took the G2 Beresford S. as a juvenile for Aidan O'Brien and the Coolmore partners. The post Capri On The Move To Willow Wood Farm For Next Season appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

In this series, the TDN takes a look at notable successes of European-based sires in North America. This week's column is highlighted by the victories of Buffoon and Kick A Rhyme for trainer Mike Maker and Pura Vida Investments during the past week. Lope De Vega Colt Strikes At Keeneland Buffoon (Fr) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) put it all together at second asking at Keeneland for Pura Vida Investments and trainer Mike Maker on Saturday (video). Bred by Ecurie des Monceaux and Rifa Mustang Europe, Ltd., the €175,000 Arqana August yearling selection of Deuce Greathouse is out of After Dawn (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), herself a half-sister to sires and Group 1 winners Ectot (GB) and Most Improved (Ire). He is followed by a yearling filly by Sottsass (Fr) who brought €130,000 at the Arqana October yearling Sale from Oceanic Bloodstock. Under the stakes-winning Danehill third dam Mahalia (Ire) is GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf heroine Meditate (Ire) (No Nay Never) among others. Ballylinch's Lope De Vega has one of the best records of any European sire with his progeny in North America, and Buffoon is his 40th winner from 74 runners there (54%). Besides a pair of Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf heroines in Newspaperofrecord (Ire) and Aunt Pearl (Ire), the stallion has five additional stakes winners in America. #15 Buffoon draws in off the AE list and breaks his maiden at second asking in R2 at Keeneland for trainer Mike Maker with @jrosariojockey in the saddle! #TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/kkoIn86GRX — TwinSpires Racing (@TwinSpires) October 28, 2023 Night Of Thunder Filly Stars Beneath Twin Spires Kick A Rhyme (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) was the second winner in less than a week for Pura Vida Investments and trainer Mike Maker when taking a Churchill Downs maiden on Nov. 1 (video). The filly was making her third start. Bred by Irish National Stud Mare Syndicate II, the dark bay was picked up by BBA Ireland for €150,000 as a Goffs Orby yearling on the bid of Deuce Greathouse and Pura Vida. Out of the listed-placed Adhwaa (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}), the filly is a half-sister to multiple group winner Alflaila (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire}) and is her dam's final foal. The seventh winner from 13 runners (54%) for her Darley sire, Kick A Rhyme has a quartet of paternal half-siblings that have found black-type in the U.S. Night Of Thunder's best get there are Grade III winners Sopran Basilea (Ire) and Pocket Square (GB). #8 Kick a Rhyme breaks his maiden in R6 at Churchill Downs under @tyler_gaff for trainer Mike Maker! #TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/oRzp7qtCV9 — TwinSpires Racing (@TwinSpires) November 1, 2023 Markaz Filly Wins In Arcadia Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners' Yerwanthere (Ire) (Markaz {Ire}) rallied to win at Santa Anita for trainer Patrick Gallagher on Saturday (video). Part of the Kilnamoragh Stud breeding programme, the 4-year-old filly won her first start in Ireland for owner/breeder Jim Browne and trainer Pat Foley. Eclipse purchased the filly after that start and moved her to Joseph O'Brien, and she took a Dundalk handicap in December of 2022. Sent to America after three more appearances, she debuted with a fourth at Del Mar in August prior to her win last weekend. A half-sister to the winning Listed Brigids Pastures S. third Special Wan (Ire) (Belardo {Ire}), Yerwanthere is also a half-sister to the unraced juvenile filly Over The Blues (Ire) (Bungle Inthejungle {GB}) and a yearling colt by Profitable (Ire). Second dam Slow Jazz (Chief's Crown) won two stakes, and she is also a half-sister to G1 Cheveley Park S. winner Blue Duster (Danzig). Yerwanthere is one of two winners from three runners (66%) in the U.S. for Dark Angel's Markaz. On an international level, all three of his stakes winners have won at Group 3 level in Ireland (2) and France (1). Repeat Winners Klaravich Stables' Redistricting (GB) (Kingman {GB}) improved his record to two wins from three starts with a victory in New York on Saturday (video). The Chad Brown trainee was previously featured in Making Waves in June. The post Making Waves: Pura Vida On The Double appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Six months in advance of the 150th GI Kentucky Derby, the pari-mutuel field of “All Other Colts and Geldings” closed as the odds-on 4-5 favorite in Pool 1 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager and GI Claiborne Breeders' Futurity winner Locked (Gun Runner) was the 14-1 second choice, Churchill Downs said in a release late Thursday after betting closed. Other horses who attracted mild interest included Dornoch (Good Magic) (19-1), a full brother to this year's Kentucky Derby winner Mage, and GI Champagne S. winner Timberlake (Into Mischief) (20-1). Total handle for the Oct. 31-Nov. 2 KDFW pool–the first of six–was $164,278 ($132,033 in the Win pool and $32,245 in Exactas), a 43% jump from last year's $114,910 ($90,007 in the Win pool and $24,903 in Exactas). Click here for full results and the schedule. The post Derby Future Wager Pool 1 Concludes With ‘All Others’ At 4-5, Locked Runner-up At 14-1 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The Joseph O'Brien-trained Valiant King (GB) (Roaring Lion) will not take part in the G1 Melbourne Cup on Nov. 7, and has instead been sent for a spell after suffering a setback, co-owner Ozzie Kheir confirmed on Friday. The grey was most recently sixth in the G1 Caulfield Cup and was found to be lame in his left front leg earlier this week after a Racing Victoria vet inspection. ”After this morning's RV inspections where Valiant King was found to be mildly lame post his work, we had our own vets this evening come back and inspect him and agree with RV's assessment as he remained slightly lame in the front left fore,” Kheir told Racing.com. ”He was due to be inspected tomorrow morning by RV, but regardless of the outcome, we have decided that we will withdraw him from the Melbourne Cup now to allow other connections on the cusp of getting into the race to make plans. ”Unfortunately for the ownership group, Joseph O'Brien and his travelling team its obviously very disappointing to get so close and stumble at this last hurdle.” A maiden winner at Navan in May, the 3-year-old was also second in the G3 Ballyroan S. this August. Kheir added, 'We have always said we believe he will be a talented horse in the future and by looking after him now, we will get the rewards in the autumn and sprint next year. ”We hope to target the [G1] Australian Cup back at Flemington provided he acclimatizes well in the capable hands of Chris Waller. ”RV communication and handling of the matter has been very professional and supportive.” The post Valiant King Withdrawn From Melbourne Cup After Setback appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Stewards prohibit British star from riding in Hong Kong races, trials and trackwork until he attends an inquiry into a potential disciplinary matterView the full article

By Michael Guerin The four biggest names heading to Addington tonight have two things in common: bad starting positions and richer targets ahead. While that sounds like a dangerous recipe for punters to digest the reality is all four of them can win and the key to whether they are good bets or not will be price. Bolt For Brilliance (30m) and Republican Party (10m) start off handicaps in their respective trotting and pacing fixtures, lead-ups to the Dominion and New Zealand Trotting Cup. Also having to overcome poor draws tonight will be unbeaten three-year-olds Ohoka Connor (R4, No.9) and Mantra Blue (R8, No.9) meaning they will have to come from back in the field as they take their next steps towards group 1 targets. Starting at the top, because he is one of if not the best trotter in the country, Bolt For Brilliance’s 30m backmark is somewhat negated by only having five opponents in tonight’s main trot. If he can latch on to the back of the bunch after 400m he should easily outsprint most of them, with his only real danger Smokin Bandar, who was a brave second to Muscle Mountain in the Trotters Sprint at Ashburton. Trainer-driver Tony Herlihy is confident his stable star is ready to go so as talented as Smokin Bandar is unless he gets an uncontested lead Bolt For Brilliance should beat him so $1.75 is a fair price. Republican Party faces a smaller handicap but more opponents in the main pace so he has a greater chance of traffic problems, although Blair Orange is in outstanding touch so should be able to find him the right path. He got closer to Akuta at Ashburton last start than any horse did at Kaikoura a week later and while he should win punters would be wanting at least a $2.50 win dividend to make it worth their while. Northern filly Mantra Blue makes his Addington debut against handy mares as she prepares for the Nevele R Final on Cup Day and trainer-driver Zachary Butcher is resigned to having to settle early and hope for tempo in the 1980m mobile. “She trialed two weeks ago and was good, although she was hitting the sulky around the last bend so I didn;’t ask her for her best,” says Butcher. “But I don’t mind the draw. She has a really good sprint and I think a few might go forward. “So we will sit off them and as long as he is three back on the outer or no worse starting the last 400m she might pick them up.” She is a little bit special but because of the make-up of the race $1.80 would be as low as punters would want to go. Of the four top horses Ohoka Connor maybe faces the most difficult task tonight as he has been away from racing the longest and meets in-form, fit rivals over 2600m mobile. “He is ready to go and we are very happy with him but the draw means he can’t be sent (forward) early,” says co-trainer Steve Telfer. “There are a lot of horses inside him who like to go forward and run on the speed so Tim will look after him early but he won’t be scared to move mid-race if he has to. “He can win but we are not going here worrying about protecting his unbeaten record because this is tough racing and his aim is the NZ Derby (December 10).” Those are big words of warning so as imposing as Ohoka Connor is he might be a watch and not bet proposition tonight, with any price south of $2.50 to be avoided. Meanwhile, Telfer allowed stable star B D Joe to miss tonight’s open class pace after a recent setback but is still on target for the IRT New Zealand Cup. “He had a burst blood vessel in his leg a few weeks ago but he is well over that,” says Telfer. “He is very fit so we have decided to go to the Cup trial next Wednesday and then on to the Cup.” View the full article

The Andrew Forsman-trained Mr Mojo Risin’ scored a well-deserved second career victory when successful at The Valley on Friday night. The New Zealand bred son of Deep Field carried 62kg under Jamie Kah to score in the Christmas At The Valley Handicap (1519m). Given a perfect ride by Kah, Mr Mojo Risin’ sat outside the leader New Level and kicked away rounding the home turn to score by an easy two lengths. “It was really exciting. He really deserved that and so does the team,” Assistant Trainer Aleisha Legg said. “His two starts this time in have been really good and we expected a big run tonight. “The instructions were to just get him out of the gates and ride him forward today and hopefully he was too good for them, which he was.” Kah said it was more difficult carrying the heavy saddle upon weighing-in than winning the race. “He gave me a great feel,” Kah said. “With the big weight we wanted to be handy and that was the only instructions from Andrew to just make sure you get him out of the gates as he has got a tendency to sometimes miss the start and get back. “He has been unlucky not to win more than he has so as soon as he jumped, I knew it was race over. “He is a gem to ride, he came straight back to me, settled and did everything right.” Carleen Hefel guides Kiwi bred mare Miss Moonshine to victory Photo: George Sal-Racing Photos Kiwi bred mare Miss Moonshine was also successful in the last race on the card, scoring over 1600m for trainer Cindy Alderson and New Zealand connections Bryan and Dee Black. The daughter of El Roca was purchased for $18,000 at the New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run Sale from the draft of Westbury Stud by astute judge Robt Dawe. View the full article

Less than a week after Mr Brightside’s gallant effort when beaten a nose into second in the Gr.1 Cox Plate (2040m) at The Valley, connections were back at the inner-city venue to watch another New Zealand bred son of Bullbars. On debut, Mr Charismatic sat just off the speed under jockey Damien Oliver and made his challenge when rounding the home bend to go on to score narrowly from the fast-finishing Elba in the BoozeBud Plate (1200m). Prepared by Ben, Will and JD Hayes, Mr Charismatic was purchased by Lindsay Park Racing at last year’s New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run Sale from the draft of Highview Stud. The now three-year-old gelding caught the eye of Lindsay Park Bloodstock Manager Josh Rix, who went to $150,000 to secure the youngster, with the good-moving son of Bullbars making him a paternal half-brother to stable star Mr Brightside. “Most of the Brightside owners are in this horse and they are very happy with the result and so is the team,” a stable representative said. Connections of Mr Charismatic celebrate at The Valley Photo: (George Sal/Racing Photos) “Ollie gave him a perfect ride, kept him in a rhythm and he finished off.” Damian Oliver was pleased with the progress of the youngster who he has trialed and helped develop. “I trialed him last time in. He showed a bit early but they elected to put him away and give him a bit of time. I rode his last trial too and he shows nice potential,” the veteran rider said. “I was in a beautiful position early and then they steadied up and I was just going to have to be restraining him which I didn’t want to do at his first start in a race so I let him flow. “I got there a bit sooner than I wanted to but I didn’t want to be dragging him back and he did a great job taking it up so far from home. “He is still a bit immature, but he has great potential there and I think he is in for a nice future.” Out of the Guillotine mare Louisette, a half-sister to Group Two winner Sacred Master, Mr Charismatic was prepared by Highview Stud, who will offer three colts at the New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run Sale which commences on November 22 at Karaka. View the full article