Wandering Eyes

Charles Dickens secured an automatic berth into the Breeders' Cup Mile (G1T) through the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series: Win and You're In, while Beach Bomb landed a guaranteed starting position in the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf (G1T).View the full article

10th-GP, $89K, Msw, 3yo, f, 1mT, 4:34 p.m. ET. Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher has a pair of newly-minted 3-year-old fillies heading to the post for their debuts over the turf in the Sunday finale in Hallandale. First, EL MEGEETH (Constitution) makes her first start for Shadwell Stable. Bred by Three Chimneys, the $750,000 Keeneland September purchase is out of Amour d'Ete (Tiznow), who Borges Torrealba Holdings acquired as the third topper at the same sale back in 2013 for $1.75 million. Her most notable produce is GI Preakness S. champ Early Voting (Gun Runner). Second dam and Canadian 2-year-old champion Silken Cat (Storm Cat) also produced Amour d'Ete's full-sister, MGSW Irap, plus recently deceased sire of sires Speightstown (Gone West) and the dam of G1 Al Maktoum Challenge Round 3 victor Capezzano (Bernardini). Drawn to the extreme outside is the other half of Pletcher's uncoupled entry–Lady Madonna (War Front). A $675,000 Fasig-Tipton Select Yearling Sale buy for Robert and Lawana Low, the SF Bloodstock bred filly is out of GI Central Bank Ashland S. heroine Rosalind (Broken Vow). She had a 2-year-old colt by Twirling Candy sell to Willie Browne for $200,000 at the Keeneland September Sale and sent to Ireland, and a yearling filly by Tapit go for $450,000 to Sycamore Hall Thoroughbreds at Keeneland's November Sale. TJCIS PPS The post Sunday Insights: Pair Of Pletcher Firsters Do Battle On The Gulfstream Grass appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The much-loved Robert Hall, who fronted Ireland's terrestrial television coverage of racing on RTE for 37 years before retiring in 2020, says he is optimistic of “a forward showing” but more importantly “something to build on” with his first horse, Frogman (Ire) (Ol' Man River {Ire}), who makes his eagerly-anticipated debut in the closing bumper at Naas on Sunday. Frogman may be Hall's first runner but eagle-eyed observers may recognise the black and red silks that the four-year-old will carry as they are the exact colours of the old Stablemate Racing Syndicate, a successful ownership venture that Hall was involved with alongside Denny Cordell in the late eighties. After a 30-year hiatus, the black and red is back and the hope is that Frogman can prove up to the task. “It's my first runner in my own name,” the legendary broadcaster explained. “They are the old Stablemate Racing colours. Stablemate was an old syndicate that we had and there were just short of 800 subscribers to it. It was a company set up by the late Denny Cordell, a famous music producer and racehorse trainer, and we had horses with about seven or eight different trainers. “A lot of our proceeds came from the telephone lines. Premium numbers had just come in at the time and we realised there was an opportunity there. So, we did very well and had a lot of fun. All bar one of our horses won races and we had one or two decent ones. We had horses with Willie Mullins when he started out–and I actually won on one of those! We also had horses with Michael Cunningham, Denny himself, Dermot Weld, Arthur Moore and a good few others. They've been lucky enough colours.” He added, “We closed Stablemate Racing down after six years. When we closed it down, the subscribers very kindly registered these colours for a lifetime to myself. I think it is the first time since 1993 since these colours have been used and it's the first time I've had one in my own name.” Hall has been retired from broadcasting for over three years now but remains part of the Tattersalls Ireland media team. It was at the May Sale last year when Frogman first caught his attention and, while he didn't set out to snap up a store on the day, came home from work the proud new owner with trainer Richard O'Brien, who he'd previously never met. He explained, “I got this fella at the May Sale at Tattersalls Ireland. I do a bit of work with Tattersalls and I can remember I absolutely loved this horse when he came into the ring. I couldn't buy him because I hadn't seen him outside. Anyway, he got knocked down to Gerry Hogan who was standing beside me and I said to him, 'what a lovely horse'. He then told me that the horse was for Richard O'Brien. “I was interested in the horse because he has a lovely pedigree. It goes all the way back to Mumtaz Mahal, who was an incredible filly, one of the best of all time. I mean, she has just been the most incredible mare and so many good horses, including Alpinista (GB), can be traced back to Mumtaz Mahal. You know, I love all of those old families and, sometimes in this game, you need to look back and see what's not on the page to get a bit of value.” Hall added, “The next thing I did was look up Richard O'Brien. I liked hugely what I saw of him and then I said to Gerry that, if Richard hadn't found anyone for the horse, I'd love to have him. By the end of the day, I owned him.” In O'Brien, Hall has identified a man with a proven track record for winning this race at Naas. The County Limerick trainer sent out Impulsive Dancer (Ire) (Dragon Pulse {Ire})–who would later be sold to Simon Munir and Isaac Souede to race with Willie Mullins–to win this in 2022 while his fingerprints were over last year's scorer Cut The Rope (Fr) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) given he sold the horse to Paul Nolan just a few weeks before the first four-year-old bumper of the year. But Sunday is not about winning for Hall. It's about much more than that. “Since giving up my television role,” he explained, “I just felt there was a danger of me not drifting away completely, but losing my connection with racing. It's funny, the last horse I bought on impulse like this turned out to be the dam of Indigenous (Ire) and she was incredible. I've always kept my eye in and it's good to have an interest.” Hall bid adieu to RTE Racing after almost 40 years at the helm of Ireland's terrestrial television coverage of the sport. He provided countless hours of entertainment, often alongside Ted Walsh, with the duo building up a loyal following, especially through the infamous Ask Ted segment, which generated lots of laughs–and some hairy moments–in more recent times. However, all good things comes to an end, according to Hall, with the 68-year-old revealing that he doesn't miss broadcasting. He also acknowledged how much things have changed, especially over jumps, since his departure. “I don't miss it and I'm glad I got out when I did because I would have hated to have broadcast during Covid when there was nobody on the track. Also, when we were doing it, there was a hell of a bigger spread of talent among the leading trainers which you're not getting these days. That's tough for them, but that's the way it is.” When it was put to Hall that it was therefore admirable that he kept Frogman with O'Brien, a trainer who doesn't have the same numbers to go to war with compared to a Willie Mullins or a Gordon Elliott, he explained how working with someone of O'Brien's ilk is what provides him with the biggest buzz. Hall said, “I love them all. I mean, Willie is a pal and I appreciate Gordon hugely, but do you know something, I don't think I'd have gotten any buzz about having a horse in a big yard. I really don't. I love the smaller operations and I think it's great sport. We'll see how good this fella is but I really enjoy working with the smaller trainers. Of course I do. And when we had Stablemate, a lot of our horses were with smaller trainers as well.” If you're waiting for a clever explanation into the backstory of where Hall came up with the name for his first ever runner, there isn't one. Ask Ted may well have been a better fit but, as long as Frogman can gallop, Hall won't be heard complaining. He concluded, “Ol' Man River is obviously the Mississippi and Paul Robeson wrote that wonderful song. The Mississippi is full of interesting frogs and the dam's name is sort of northern Ukraine and Southern Russia and they are all quite ugly names. I couldn't attach any names to the horse so I just went with Frogman. I'm not into my nature, terribly, but it will be a great name if he turns out to be any good. “Before they run, you've always got a smile on your face, haven't you? We think he's a nice horse but he is obviously going to come on a lot from the run. He's a horse for the future. I'm hoping there will be a tomorrow and that he can progress.” The post ‘Moment Of Impulse’ Has Legendary Hall Looking Forward To First Runner At Naas appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

A season with a 2025 breed back to Cody's Wish (Curlin) has been added to the Thoroughbred Charities of America's (TCA) Live Auction and Celebration scheduled to run Sunday, Jan. 7, with the majority of the proceeds going to support the local chapter of the Make-A-Wish Foundation, announced the TCA Saturday. The offering was donated by Godolphin in memory of Cody Dorman, the 17-year-old Kentuckian whose story and special connection with his namesake was widely beloved in and outside the industry. Any remaining proceeds will go to honoring his memory in other ways in conjunction with the wishes of his family. The Dorman family as well as representatives from the Make-A-Wish organization will be in attendance Sunday. Also included in the live auction roster are seasons to Elite Power (with 2025 breed back), Taiba, Life is Good, and Forte. Tickets may still be purchased and bidders or their authorized agents may bid on select seasons by attending the event in-person or may email the TCA to register to bid online or by phone. The post Cody’s Wish Added to TCA Stallion Season Auction, Proceeds to Benefit Make-A-Wish appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

With a pair of lucrative victories in his final two starts of the season, White Abarrio soared to the top of the North American racing earnings list for 2023.View the full article

Drum Roll Please (c, 3, Hard Spun–Imply, by E Dubai), a very solid third in the GII Remsen S. Dec. 2, took care of business as the 3-5 favorite in Saturday's Jerome S. at Aqueduct. He trailed the field of five in the early going after exiting from the fence. Given his cue by Javier Castellano on the far turn, he made a three-wide bid approaching the quarter pole and came rolling down the center in the stretch to win going away by three lengths. El Grande O (Take Charge Indy) was second; Khanate (Hightail) was third. The final time for the one-turn mile was 1:41.91. The Jerome, the first GI Kentucky Derby prep race of the year on the New York circuit, offers 10-5-3-2-1 qualifying points to the top-five finishers. Lifetime Record: 5-2-1-1. Sales history: $250,000 yrl '22 FTKOCT; $295,000 RNA yrl '22 FTKJUL. O-Gold Square LLC; B-Barlar, LLC (PA); T-Brad H. Cox. The post Hard Spun Colt ‘Rolls’ in Jerome appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

It seems like almost too good of a plot line to believe it now, but Just F Y I (Justify) was never meant to race in George Krikorian's silks. The filly made it all the way to the Keeneland sales grounds before a puncture wound in her shoulder kept her from going through the ring. While it was nothing serious, the minor abrasion became inflamed enough to make walking back and forth for buyers impossible. So she was scratched from the September Sale, sent to Margaux Farm and eventually joined Bill Mott's stable. Not long after, she became Krikorian's first Breeders' Cup champion. “It's funny how things happen because we would have sold her,” reflected Donato Lanni, Krikorian's longtime advisor who was the one that had made the call to Krikorian about withdrawing the filly from the sale. “Somehow when you do good things in life and you're a good person, the Man Upstairs decides that he's going to take care of you. I really believe things like that happen for a reason.” Lanni couldn't be more genuine in his praise for Krikorian, the California-based movie theater mogul who famously gave Lanni the opportunity to buy his first horse. As the story goes, Krikorian told a 20-something-aged Lanni that if he ever saw a yearling that he liked, to go ahead and buy it. In the summer of 1999 while Krikorian was busy scouting out properties for a new theater project in Arizona, Lanni somewhat nervously spent $35,000 on a Dynaformer yearling. Named Starrer, the filly eventually became the first of many Grade I winners for both Krikorian as an owner and Lanni as an agent. Krikorian celebrates his first Breeders' Cup victory with Just F Y I | Benoit While Lanni has since developed a stellar career working with a number of the top horsemen and owners in the game, he has maintained a steady relationship advising his good friend–the soft-spoken Vietnam veteran with a knack for business who had launched his start in the sport. “George is the kind of guy that is very low-key,” Lanni explained. “He has that Shawn Connery way about him. He's charming and everyone that meets him says he's a gentleman and a great guy. His whole operation is pretty cool.” Krikorian, who developed a passion for racing while growing up near Rockingham Park where his father George Krikorian Sr. was a trainer, has spent the past three decades building up a prosperous racing and breeding operation with an emphasis on establishing and advancing each family in his commercial program. As a perfect example of his success in achieving just that, Starrer was among the top performers of Krikorian's racing stable for many years as a dual Grade I-winning millionaire, but she would eventually be surpassed in earnings by her own granddaughter Just F Y I. A Breeders' Cup win had alluded Krikorian for many years, but to make it to the winner's circle with a homebred in the Juvenile Fillies –and at his home track at Santa Anita with his children and grandchildren celebrating alongside him–made the wait all worthwhile. “It was exciting just being there the whole week before the Breeders' Cup and going through the whole process,” Krikorian recalled. “The whole experience of going back and forth with the horse to the track every morning, watching her get ready and watching the other horses, she was just showing herself more and more. I knew the day that she ran that she was going to run a hell of a race. I didn't know if she would win or not, but I knew she was going to run her best race.” Wrapping up her juvenile season undefeated, Just F Y I secured her spot as the best 2-year-old filly in the country after overcoming the widest post to come out victorious in the Juvenile Fillies. Since then, the talented bay has enjoyed a bit of time off in Florida alongside fellow Krikorian stable star War Like Goddess (English Channel), the three-time Grade I winner who is set to return to the racetrack for her 7-year-old season this spring. To go into 2024 with the most accomplished 3-year-old filly is exciting, but Krikorian acknowledges that there are plenty of others vying for the top spot. “It feels great, but there is going to be more competition coming,” he said. “The competition gets a little bit tougher this year, but she is also growing. She was going through a growth spurt before the Breeders' Cup and she went through a growth spurt again when she got turned out. She's going to be a much bigger, stronger horse this year. Both she and War Like Goddess are back galloping and we're getting ready for the spring. In a few weeks we will probably start putting together schedules.” When he's not in sunny California or traveling the country for the next horse race, Krikorian has found himself spending more time in Kentucky. He recently opened a one-of-a-kind entertainment complex across from Rupp Arena in downtown Lexington called LexLive. “I can't help myself,” the entrepreneur admitted. “If I'm driving and I see a location that I think may be a good location for a theater, I go for it. So downtown Lexington had no theaters and I thought it would make sense to put something there.” Opened for business in 2021, LexLive is home to 10 movie theaters, a bowling alley, multiple restaurants and bars and an arcade. But the main draw for Krikorian's trips to Lexington is to visit his farm outside of Versailles. Named Starwood Farm in honor of Starrer and fellow foundation mare Hollywood Story (Wild Rush), the 350-acre property Krikorian purchased 15 years ago is home to around 40 broodmares and their offspring. Krikorian is known for the effort he puts into the clever, oftentimes cinema-related names of his racehorses, but he has just as much pride for the work he puts into planning his matings every spring. Lanni gives Krikorian all the credit for successful matings like the one that produced Just F Y I, but he does wryly point out that Krikorian has a tendency to match his mare to the perfect stallion even if it might be to the detriment of the farm's bottom line in the short term when it comes time to send the yearlings to the sales in the fall. “It's a commercial operation, but sometimes he likes to breed to stallions that are not the most commercial at the time because it's the right thing to do for the mare,” Lanni explained. “So when we go to sell them, they don't bring the money because they're not by a first-year stallion. He wants to breed to the best. I'll tell George, 'This mare is 15 years old and she hasn't had a runner. I think spending this amount of money is too much.' But he doesn't look at the price of the stallion. He just wants to breed what is best for the mare.” Krikorian checks in with the full-sister to champion Just F Y I | Sara Gordon He might stray away from the commercial norm, but at the end of the day Krikorian knows when to make the right business decision in order to keep the farm's overhead in check and oftentimes that means parting with a horse that he is confident has all the potential to become a star. The one that still makes him wince just a bit is Honor A. P. (Honor Code). The son of his Grade I-winning star mare Hollywood Story, Honor A.P. went through the sales ring as a yearling and fetched $850,000 from CRK Stable before he developed into a Grade I winner and eventual Lane's End sire. “Honor A.P. stood out from day one from when he was born and it was painful to sell the horse, but I had to,” Krikorian reflected. “The poor horse ran in the Derby, but he never got a chance to really run his race. Coming out of the gate, he gets hit and knocked out but still ends up finishing fourth. Had he been able to run his race, who knows what would've happened?” Another recent success in the sales ring for Krikorian's program was the $1.1 million sale of Mucho Unusual (Mucho Macho Man). The homebred claimed four graded stakes including the 2020 GI Rodeo Drive S. before selling to Shadai Farm when she retired from the track in 2022. Now Krikorian is looking to make another shrewd move for his program as he sends a high-caliber mare to the Keeneland January Sale. Starrer's stakes-placed daughter Star Act (Street Cry {Ire}), the dam of Just F Y I, already has two other winners that sold for six figures as yearlings on her produce record and she is carrying a foal by Life Is Good. “She's gorgeous,” Krikorian gushed of the winning 13-year-old mare. “She was a beautiful racehorse to look at. Unfortunately she had an injury that shortened her career as a racehorse, but she has made up for it as a broodmare. Her foals are large and very strong-boned with big shoulders and big hips. They're just what you want in a racehorse.” Star Act's newly-turned yearling, a full sister to Just F Y I, was originally slated for the January sale as well, but Krikorian opted to focus on selling the mare in January and perhaps send the yearling to Keeneland come September. He admitted that she reminded him too much of her older sister to part with just yet. “Just F Y I ruled the roost here,” he said with a smile. “She really stood out physically and she pushed everybody around. She was running the show and now this foal here is doing the same thing.” The Starwood Farm office features portraits of farm matriarchs Starrer (pictured) and Hollywood Story | Sara Gordon Krikorian's Starwood Farm has suffered several sad losses in recent years as Starrer passed away in 2021 and Hollywood Story died the following summer. With the passing of the farm's two matriarch mares, there is space in the program for other talented race mares to take on the role of leading producer someday–be it Just F Y I, or perhaps Big Pond–a daughter of Krikorian's stallion Mr. Big who recently ran second in the GI La Brea S., or maybe one of his rare sales purchases like War Like Goddess. Bought as a 2-year-old by Lanni for a mere $30,000, the future multi-millionaire marked a full-circle find for Krikorian and Lanni, taking them back to their early days of shopping for bargain buys together back before Krikorian raced almost exclusively from his own breeding program. “When I had first met Donato, he had just moved to Kentucky and was starting out,” Krikorian recalled. “He was sleeping in his car, looking to get a job. I liked him because he was really energetic and you could tell how much he loved the horses. Starrer was the first horse he picked. He was starting his career and I was starting a new venture, so it worked out well. He had an eye for a horse and he didn't know he had an eye for a horse.” Krikorian, too, has more of an eye for a horse than he will readily give himself credit for. Only a few years after the purchase of Starrer, Krikorian and Lanni were shopping for yearlings when Lanni pointed out Hollywood Story. Krikorian took one look and knew he had to have her. He was worried she might sell for too much, but the bidding stalled at $130,000 and he took home a future Grade I winner. It was a similar story with Mr. Big (Dynafomer). Krikorian rarely buys weanling, but when Lanni mentioned the colt at the Keeneland November Sale in 2003 and Krikorian went to see him, he couldn't resist going to $220,000 for the youngster. While injuries kept Mr. Big from reaching his full potential on the racetrack, Krikorian bred a few mares to him on a whim when the new retiree was letting down at Starwood and was thrilled when the stallion's first starter won on debut by almost 10 lengths. Now standing at Legacy Ranch, Mr. Big is ranked among the top five leading sires in California and Krikorian supports him with a dozen mares every spring. So when it comes to judging horseflesh, Krikorian's opinion is one to take seriously. And while the septuagenarian doesn't have any specific goals as he continues to develop his program, his drive for finding the winner's circle is evident. “I just keep looking for those nuggets,” he said. “But everything has worked out well. It seems like every couple of years, we've been fortunate to have something good happen and that keeps you rolling along.” Krikorian is understated in reflecting on his many achievements in the sport, but Lanni is clear that Krikorian is deserving of everything he has attained and more. “He's self-made and he did it the hard way,” Lanni said. “I'm lucky that I've known him since 1997 and so to me he's like a father figure. I work for him, but he's more like a father figure than anything else. He takes care of a lot of people and he's very generous, so he's an easy guy to cheer for.” The post Breeders’ Spotlight: ‘Just’ Like the Movies, Krikorian Gets a Breeders’ Cup Champ appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races canceled its live racing program the evening of Jan. 6, with between three to six inches of heavy mixed precipitation forecast to hit the area throughout the day.View the full article

Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1) winner Cody's Wish, Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1) winner Idiomatic, and Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) winner White Abarrio lead a list of Eclipse Award finalists announced Jan. 6. View the full article

Tonight’s meeting is Cambridge Raceway’s first of the New Year and Pukekohe trainer Steven Reid has three runners engaged who have exhibited potential. “All three are nice horses and whatever they do tomorrow, all will improve on” says Reid. First starter Predator, driven by Zachary Butcher, and Gimmesomelovin, driven by Matthew White, line up in Race 2, The Summer of Racing 7-29th Jan @CR Mobile Pace. “Gimmesomelovin was great first up and his work has really improved since his workout prior to Christmas” says Reid “Predator has shown a lot of promise but has taken some time, with the right run I’d expect both could feature in a top three finish.” Gimmesomelovin ran 4th at his first start back in October at Cambridge when only 1.2 lengths from the winner Medina Magic and has since been freshened. Meanwhile Predator has won several educational workouts. Reid’s final runner for the evening is another first starter, Shakealeg, a three year old gelding by Downbytheseaside. Also driven by Matthew White, he starts in Race 5, the Gavelhouse.com Mobile Pace. He too has won at the workouts but starts this race fresh having last been seen at workouts in October. “He shows promise, but needed time and had a couple of hiccups along the way” says Reid “of the three horses he’s the least forward but his work has been great and from the draw, if he gets an economical trip, he will go a good race.” “They are all horses I’m looking forward to racing in the coming months” says Reid. Alongside Reid’s horses, White also has three other drives who look to be each way chances. His first drive is in Race 2, where he partners Hughie Wallace in the Off The Track Food and Bev Handicap Trot. “He’s always an each way chance in this sort of field, he’s as honest as they come and I expect he’ll go a good race again tonight” says White. Winemeup, trained and driven by White, starts in Race 6, the NZB Airfreight Mobile Pace. The mare galloped at her first start in the North but looked to be travelling well prior to going off stride. “I’ve made some minor gear changes to her” says White “She has shown a bit of speed when saved for one run in her races down South and the small field will be of benefit to her.” White’s final drive is on the Brian and Gareth Hughes trained Magnum Star who was successful on debut at Cambridge on the 21st December. “He’s a nice wee horse and let down really well when he won at his first start” says White “It’s a step up tonight for him with some seasoned and in form horses in the race but I think he’ll go well again.” The twilight racing gets underway with Race 1 at 3:03pm. View the full article

Next to face the questions is Denise Callanan, who manages her family's commercial breeding operation at Nanallac Stud. What are your goals for 2024? To produce good racehorses on the track and in the sales ring, make profits on our pinhooks and breed a black-type horse from our 2023 yearling draft. Give us a horse to follow… Phoenix of Spain (Ire). I think for a stallion whose progeny didn't look like two-year-old types, he still produced nearly 40% winners to runners in his first season, which is impressive, and I am interested to see what is in store for his progeny in 2024. And a young person in the industry to keep an eye on… Jack Jones in Newmarket looks to be a very talented young trainer. Who do you think will be champion first-season sire in 2024? I'd say Earthlight (Ire) but I wouldn't rule out Far Above (Ire) as they also look like runners. And the best value stallion in Ireland, England, and France? Havana Grey (GB). He produces class racehorses and very saleable types in the sales ring. Your best buy/sale of 2023? We sold a Blue Point (Ire) filly for €300,000 at the Goffs Orby Book 1 Sale. We also bought a lovely Blue Point filly for €82,000 at the Goffs November Foal Sale. Blue Point looks to be the real deal. The best yearling/weanling you saw at the 2023 sales (that someone else bought)? A filly by Palace Pier (GB) out of Quixotic (GB) at the Goffs November Foal Sale. She was bought for €145,000 by Elton Lodge Stud. She was way out of our budget though. Who is or was the perfect Thoroughbred? Dubawi (Ire). He is perfect physically, as a racehorse and as a stallion Biggest thing you've learned in your career? With horses you learn something new every day. No one is an expert. If you could be someone else in the industry for a day who would it be, and why? Paul McCartan. I think he is very shrewd and is also the most down-to-earth person in the industry, and always stops for a chat. The post In The Hot Seat: Denise Callanan appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA), The Daily Racing Form, and the National Turf Writers and Broadcasters (NTWAB) today announced the finalists for the 2023 Eclipse Awards, recognizing excellence in Thoroughbred racing. Winners in 17 horse and human categories will be handed out on FanDuel TV and other outlets, during the 53rd annual Eclipse Awards, presented by FanDuel Racing, John Deere, Keeneland, The Jockey Club and the NTRA, on Thursday, Jan. 25 at 7:30 p.m. ET. The evening will culminate with the announcement of the 2023 Horse of the Year. Of the 250 eligible voters represented by the NTRA, consisting of member racetrack racing officials and Equibase field personnel, the NTWAB, and Daily Racing Form, 219 (88%) took part in the voting. Finalists were determined in each category by voters' top three selections, using a 10-5-1 point basis. Eclipse Award winners are determined solely by first-place votes. The 2023 Eclipse Awards Finalists, with the exception of Horse of the Year, (in alphabetical order) are: Two-Year-Old Male: Fierceness (City of Light), Locked (Gun Runner), Muth (Good Magic) Two-Year-Old Filly: Candied (Candy Ride {Arg}), Hard to Justify (Justify), Just F Y I (Justify) Three-Year-Old Male: Arcangelo (Arrogate), Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), Mage (Good Magic) Three-Year-Old Filly: Mawj (Ire) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}), Pretty Mischievous (Into Mischief), Randomized (Nyquist) Older Dirt Male: Cody's Wish (Curlin), Elite Power (Curlin), White Abarrio (Race Day) Older Dirt Female: Clairiere (Curlin), Goodnight Olive (Ghostzapper), Idiomatic (Curlin) Male Sprinter: Cody's Wish (Curlin), Elite Power (Curlin), Gunite (Gun Runner) Female Sprinter: Echo Zulu (Gun Runner), Goodnight Olive (Ghostzapper), Maple Leaf Mel (Cross Traffic) Male Turf Horse: Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), Master of The Seas (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), Up to the Mark (Not This Time) Female Turf Horse: In Italian (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), Inspiral (Frankel {GB}), Mawj (Ire) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}) Steeplechase Horse: Awakened (Curlin), Merry Maker (Ire) (Malinas {Ger}), Snap Decision (Hard Spun) Owner: Godolphin LLC, Juddmonte, Klaravich Stables Inc. Breeder: Calumet Farm, Godolphin LLC, Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings LLC, Trainer: Chad Brown, Brad Cox, William I. Mott Jockey: Tyler Gaffalione, Irad Ortiz, Jr., Flavien Prat Apprentice Jockey: Axel Concepcion, Jamie Torres, Sofia Vives In addition to honoring the 17 winners in the horse and human categories, Paul Calia will receive the Eclipse Award as the 2023 Horseplayer of the Year. Members of the media will be honored for outstanding coverage in six categories. Eclipse Awards voting is conducted by the National Turf Writers and Broadcasters (NTWAB), the National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA), and The Daily Racing Form. The Eclipse Awards ceremony is produced by the National Thoroughbred Racing Association. The Eclipse Awards are named after the great 18th-century racehorse and foundation sire, Eclipse, who began racing at age five and was undefeated in 18 starts, including eight walkovers. Eclipse sired the winners of 344 races, including three Epsom Derbies. The post Eclipse Finalists Tallied For Awards Show Jan. 25 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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In Friday's TDN, Bill Finley wrote about trainer Jimmy Corrigan's suspension after one of his horses tested positive for methamphetamine Oct. 7 at Belterra. In the story, HISA CEO Lisa Lazarus said that Corrigan hadn't reached out to HISA for help or to let them know he felt the positive test was caused by contamination. Corrigan sent a statement to the TDN Saturday morning contradicting that assertion. “I would like to make a response to Lisa Lazarus's claim I never reached out to anybody in regards to my case. I reached out to Alan Foreman early on and spoke to him about my case as well as to Mark Casse and Dale Romans, who are on (HISA's) advisory committee. I realized I needed their advice and I reached out early on.” The post Corrigan: `I Did Reach Out’ to HISA appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

La Petite Sissi (Ire) (Ivawood {Ire}) (lot 385), a half-sister to G1 Pretty Polly S. heroine La Petite Coco (Ire) (Ruler Of The World {Ire}), is one of the leading lots catalogued for the Goffs February Sale on Feb. 7-8. A total of 431 lots are spread across the two days featuring both Flat and National Hunt horses of all ages, with each session beginning at 10 a.m. Wednesday's session begins with 2-year-olds, horses-in-training and stores followed by a weanling section with a wide variety of sires represented. Foals kick off Thursday's session, that will end with breeding stock from both codes. Some lots of note include White Caviar (Fr) (Australia {GB}) (lot 360), a sister to G1 St Leger winner Galileo Chrome (Ire) (Australia {GB}); the stakes-placed Pretty Rebel (Ire) (Gutaifan {Ire}) (lot 384); and Grade 3 chase winner Waitnsee (Ire) (Arctic Cosmos) (lot 392). Goffs Group Chief Executive Henry Beeby said, “Following a phenomenal 2023 at Goffs–a year full of highlights which began with the February Sale reaffirming its market-leading status–we are delighted to present a catalogue of real quality and diversity under both codes for our first sale of the New Year. Goffs February is always very popular with breeders, pinhookers and end-users alike, and the Goffs team together with our friends at Irish Thoroughbred Marketing look forward to welcoming buyers from home and abroad to Kildare Paddocks to what we hope will be a strong start to our 2024 sales year.” The print edition of the catalogue will be available next week. The post Half-Sister To La Petite Coco One Of The Highlights Of The Goffs February Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Sunday's top tips from the Post's racing teamView the full article

A gear change and a favourable race tempo helped to unlock the potential of Lyrical Gangster (NZ) (Proisir) with an impressive win in Saturday’s A$160,000 Climate Roofing Handicap (2000m) at Randwick. The Proisir gelding headed a New Zealand-bred quinella in the Benchmark 78 event, beating last-start winner Monfelicity (NZ) (Vadamos) by three-quarters of a length. Lyrical Gangster has now had 10 starts for three wins and two placings, earning A$165,150 for his co-breeders Cam and Chas Stewart, who race the four-year-old in partnership with Michael Hughes. Since winning on the Kensington track in early November, Lyrical Gangster has been strongly supported for two subsequent starts and has been slightly disappointing in finishing third at Kembla Grange and a last-start fourth at Randwick. Trainer Chris Waller elected to replace blinkers with winkers on Saturday, and with a perfect ride from in-form jockey Kerrin McEvoy, Lyrical Gangster turned his form around. McEvoy had Lyrical Gangster tucked up in behind the speed for most of the race, then presented him in the straight to make his run. Six horses lined up across the track at the 200m in a desperate scramble to the finish, but Lyrical Gangster lifted and kicked strongest of all. “That was a deserved win,” Waller said. “He’s been a work in progress. He’s always shown ability, but he’s been a bit of a heartbreak horse to watch at times. “I said to the owners Cam and Chas Stewart that if we could get his gear right, we can win a decent race with him, and then he’ll train on and get some confidence, and I think that’s the way he’s heading. I’ve just been on the phone to them – they think I’m a genius and I think they’re pretty good too. They’re great supporters of ours, and that’s what racing is all about. “He’s a really big horse and is still growing into himself. Horses like him probably don’t mature until they’re four or five-year-old years, so I think he can win more races once he fills out and gets that confidence.” McEvoy was impressed with Lyrical Gangster’s improvement from his last-start performance. “I think they might have just gone a bit too fast for him the other day,” he said. “He’s a bit of a quirky lad. Today, with the steadier tempo, he was able to settle a bit closer. “Chris changed the blinkers back to the winkers, and I just wanted him to be a bit more enthusiastic out of the gates. He was able to travel after a couple of furlongs, and when I gave him a bit of a smooch around the corner, he came up underneath me and I knew we were in play. “Full credit to the horse – he was able to do his best work and get across the line. He’s heading in the right direction. ” The Stewarts bred Lyrical Gangster in partnership with Goodwood Stud, who bought his dam Dream Run (NZ) (Pins) for just $5,500 from the 2015 New Zealand Bloodstock Winter Mixed Bloodstock Sale at Karaka. View the full article

The highly talented Holymanz (NZ) (Almanzor) is in line for a return to the country of his birth after scoring an effortless win in the A$300,000 Coastal Classic (1700m) at Geelong on Saturday. The four-year-old races in the colours of Cambridge Stud owners Brendan and Jo Lindsay, who are keen to contest the inaugural $1 million Elsdon Park Aotearoa Classic (1600m) at Ellerslie on January 27. The TAB reacted to Saturday’s performance by cutting his odds for the four-year-old feature from $14 to $8. He is now an equal third favourite alongside Desert Lightning (NZ) (Pride of Dubai) in a market headed by Legarto (NZ) (Proisir) ($2.60) and Wild Night (NZ) (Vanbrugh) ($6). Regardless of what the future holds for Holymanz, Saturday’s feature win was itself an enormously satisfying result for the gelding’s connections. After showing bright potential as a three-year-old including a second placing in the Gr.3 CS Hayes Stakes (1400m) at Flemington, his progress was interrupted by a fall in the Gr.1 Australian Guineas (1600m) that dented his confidence. But trainers Ciaron Maher and David Eustace have brought him back to the peak of his powers as a four-year-old, winning two of his last three races. His 12-start career has now produced four wins, three placings and A$371,050 in stakes. “He’s progressive,” assistant trainer Jack Turnbull said. “Henry Plumptre and Cambridge Stud have always thought he was a Group horse. He had a tumble in the Guineas last year, and he was travelling at that point of the race. It knocked him around. Even for him to come back and get back into winning form is fantastic. “We set the horse for this race, and now that we’ve got this result, it leads on to a nice potential option at the Karaka Millions meeting in New Zealand in three weeks’ time.” Holymanz was sent out as a $3.20 favourite, and jockey Michael Dee was delighted with how the horse was travelling throughout the race. He sat in a handy position before cruising into contention at the top of the straight while still under a tight hold. Holymanz quickened in the straight and soon put the result beyond doubt, coasting to victory by three-quarters of a length over the fellow New Zealand-bred Bermadez (NZ) (Tavistock). “I knew that I didn’t want to lead today,” Dee said. “I was confident that Keats and Independent Road would make the move and go to the front, but it did take a fair while for that to eventuate. I was happy with where we were. We were able to hold a spot one off the fence. “I wanted to stay off the fence, because we feel that he’s a better horse when he’s ridden outside horses and given plenty of room. He towed me into it coming down the hill, and he made easy work of it in the end.” Cambridge Stud purchased the chestnut son of their shuttle stallion Almanzor for A$400,000 as a yearling in Sydney in conjunction with Nicolas de Chambure of Haras d’Etreham, home to the high-class stallion in the Northern Hemisphere. Holymanz was offered by Lime Country Thoroughbreds on behalf of breeder Jamieson Park. He is out of the winning Dubawi mare Perfect Offering, who is a half-sister to the stakes winner and Group performer My Country (Poet’s Voice). View the full article

A day after his connections took a leap of faith with a late nomination for the Gr.3 Wellington Cup (3200m), emerging stayer Canheroc (NZ) (El Roca) rewarded their confidence with a powerful lead-up performance in the Listed Marton Jockey Club Marton Cup (2200m) at Hastings on Saturday. Canheroc had risen steadily through the North Island’s staying ranks in recent months, culminating in a close third behind subsequent Group Three winner Trust In You (NZ) (Sweynesse) in the Dunstan Feeds Stayers’ Championship Final (2400m) at Pukekohe on Boxing Day. The El Roca gelding took another step up for Saturday’s $80,000 feature, and he rose to the occasion in style with a dominant five-length win. The TAB now rates him a $6 chance for the Wellington Cup on January 20, sharing second favouritism with Waisake (NZ) (Zed). Mary Louise (NZ) (The Bold One) is the market leader at $5. “Friday was the deadline to put in a late nomination for the Wellington Cup, so we took a punt and paid up, hoping that he’d justify it with a good run today,” trainer Chris Wood said. “It’s all worked out really well and his performance has given us a bit of confidence to have a crack at Trentham in a couple of weeks’ time. “I’m pretty sure he’ll run two miles. You never know for sure until you try it, but he races like a horse who’ll see the distance out strongly. We’ll just have to hope that they run the Wellington Cup at a reasonable tempo and he gets every chance.” Wood admitted to some concerns about the deteriorating Heavy8 track on Saturday, but Canheroc was nevertheless sent out as a $4.40 favourite and blew his nine rivals off the racetrack. Kelly Myers, who was riding the six-year-old for the first time, got him to settle into a smooth rhythm in midfield as Madame Le Fay (Smart Missile) set a strong pace out in front. The leader began to tire approaching the home turn and the field bunched up tightly. Myers brought Canheroc out into clear air down the extreme outside and let him rip in the straight. He swept to the lead at the 200m mark and romped clear to win with ease from Prince Alby (NZ) (Sacred Falls) and Never Look Back (NZ) (Shocking). “That was a really good performance,” Wood said. “I was a little bit worried when the second lot of rain came today, but he seemed to get through the ground comfortably enough. “Kelly did a very good job on him today. She got him to settle really well and got him to the right part of the track when it mattered. “There was a good tempo, which is always such a big help for staying horses like him, and once Kelly got him into the clear, he was away.” Canheroc has now had 27 starts for four wins, seven placings and $187,305 in stakes for her owner-breeders, Taranaki’s Schumacher family. Canheroc became the ninth individual stakes winner for Westbury Stud stallion El Roca, and he is the best of three foals to race out of the twice-winning Colombia mare Goldie Cantride (NZ). View the full article

Leading Riccarton trainers Michael and Matthew Pitman played a starring role on one of the South Island’s most famous racedays at Kumara on Saturday. The father-son team came away from the eight-race card with two wins and eight placings, including back-to-back trifectas in the $25,000 Phoenix Minerals (1150m) and the $18,500 McMullan ITM/Greymouth Star (1150m). They also saddled Charbano (NZ) (Vespa) for a third placing in the $40,000 Vernon & Vazey Truck Parts Kumara Gold Nuggets (1810m). The stable’s standout performance came from highly talented sprinter Third Decree (NZ) (War Decree), who added the Phoenix Materials to her unbeaten record at Kumara. The daughter of Inglewood Stud stallion War Decree was a maiden winner on the same day last year, and she later went on to add victories at Riccarton on January 28, the Riccarton synthetic track on June 29 and Oamaru on July 26. Third Decree has stepped up into stakes company as a four-year-old this season, starting with a close sixth in the Listed Pegasus Stakes (1000m) at Riccarton on November 11 – finishing only a length and a half behind the winner Not Guilty (NZ) (Not A Single Doubt). She filled the same position in the Listed Hazlett Stakes (1200m) at Wingatui on Boxing Day, crossing the line three lengths adrift of the winner Kai (NZ) (Ocean Park). Third Decree stamped her superiority over her Rating 80 opposition on Saturday. With apprentice jockey Abdul Najib’s three-kilogram claim reducing her weight to just 52.5 kilograms, Third Decree settled in third spot before looming ominously behind O’Jessica (Deep Field) and Tengiz (NZ) (Sacred Falls) at the home turn. A smart turn of foot carried Third Decree straight past that pair, and she kept up a strong gallop to score by a length from her fast-finishing stablemates Makabar (NZ) (Swiss Ace) and Express Coup (NZ) (Shamexpress). “It’s good to see her win here again, after she won against a small field on this day last year,” Michael Pitman said. “I’m surprised she didn’t pay $1.50 today, considering her performances in the Pegasus and the Hazlett in Dunedin. She dropped to 52.5 kilograms today. “She was given a great ride by a jockey who’s come over from Malaysia. He’s a really good fella who’s going to be with me for the next two years.” Third Decree’s 12-start career has now produced five wins, a placing and $76,905 in stakes. She was bred by Anne Bruford, who races her in partnership with husband Jim and 10 other co-owners. The Pitman stable’s second trifecta came just over half an hour later, when King Cougar (NZ) (Alamosa) scored a narrow victory over Tail Lights (NZ) (Burgundy) and Russian Rosette (NZ) (Russian Revolution). It was a poignant result for King Cougar, who collected his 10th win at his 100th career start and who recently joined the Pitman stable after having previously been trained by the late Paul Harris. “New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing approached us about taking over Paul’s team,” Pitman said. “I’m so proud to be associated with a winner for Paul Harris today. People may not know this, but Paul and I knew each other for close to 50 years. It’s a bloody shame what happened.” View the full article

David Hall launches two-pronged attack on Sunday’s feature at Sha Tin as he bids for first Group-level success in over four yearsView the full article

Prebbleton trainer John McDermott completed his best personal season as a trainer in 2023 and will look to continue that form at Banks Peninsula Sunday. McDermott trained 13 winners in 2023 and has so far amassed over $770,000 in stakes throughout his training career. “It was very satisfying! I’d be happy to do as well again this coming season.” McDermott will line up five runners at today’s meeting. In race 3 I Spy Diamonds will be looking for her maiden win after some solid placings on the coast circuit, and will be driven by Sarah O’Reilly. “She raced very well on the coast circuit. A good beginner, but will need a bit of luck from the second row draw. She’s actually in foal to Lazarus. It would be nice to pick up a win before she reties from racing.” Race 5 Flyaway for Sarah O’Reilly cops a nasty draw outside of the front line. She was only 3.9 lengths from the winner in her last start after doing some work in the run. “Awkward draw in an even field. I’m happy with her work this week, she’s an upset chance.” The junior drivers compete in race 7, with Jordy represting McDermott and Devon Van Til in the sulky. “Very even field but he will need some luck from the draw. Hopefully there’s not too many lead changes and get too far back. But with a bit of luck he shouldn’t be far away.” Ricky May combines with McDermott and Ruby’s A Delight in race 9. She has only been beaten 7.1 lengths in total out of her last 3 starts and is always a gold coin option for punters. “She’s a genuine mare and is always a chance. Raced well on the coast circuit. Definitely a top three chance.” According to McDermott the best of his chances comes with the last of his runners in race 10 – Topaz and Sarah O’Reilly. “I was very pleased with her last start run. She’s trained on really well. I think she’s my best chance for the day!” McDermott works a team of seven from his Prebblton base. “I also have Refine that I transferred to Ben Hope on the beach. She’s in foal to Sweet Lou so it would nice to pick up another win with her before she retires. She will be going to Nelson.” The first of 12 races gets underway at 12:02pm. View the full article

Rider Penalties O Bosson | Auckland 1 January; use of whip; fined $550. J Doyle | Auckland 1 January; use of whip; suspended 5-11 January inclusive and fined $100. W Kennedy | Tauranga 2 January; use of whip; fined $250. B Jacobson | Thames 3 January; use of whip; fined $600. D Wilson | Greymouth 3 January; weighed in in excess of weigh-out weight; fined $200. T Abel | Whangarei 5 January; careless riding; suspended 11-17 January inclusive. K Myers | Whangarei 5 January; use of whip; fined $250. J Fawcett | Whangarei 5 January; engaged for two runners; fined $200. Trainer Penalty S & E Clotworthy | Thames 3 January; late gear declaration; fined $50. Horse Penalties DEEBEE ZAPOWER | Auckland 1 January; bled for 2nd time; ineligible to race in New Zealand. OMINOUS | Auckland 1 January; cardiac arrhythmia; veterinary clearance required. THE PRINCIE ONE | Riverton 1 January; late scratching after rearing in barriers and becoming cast; must complete trial. MEGALOMANIAC | Riverton 1 January; late scratching after becoming cast in barriers; veterinary clearance required and must complete trial. LOMAH | Tauranga 2 January; breathing issues; veterinary clearance required. BALZANO | Tauranga 2 January; lame; veterinary clearance required. SHE TURNS HEADS | Tauranga 2 January; lame; veterinary clearance required. BIT NOSY | Thames 3 January; late scratching after becoming fractious in barrier; must complete trial. FLUTTERBELLE | Whangarei 5 January; late scratching after becoming fractious in barrier; must complete trial. SAVACAT | Hawke’s Bay 6 January; cardiac arrhythmia; veterinary clearance required. DU’BLUES | Kumara 6 January; tendon injury; veterinary clearance required. The post 1-7 January 2024 appeared first on RIB. View the full article

Hugh Bowman heads to Sha Tin armed with a full book of 10 rides, including the exciting four-year-old in the Class Two Butterfly Handicap (1,600m)View the full article

by Mike Love The Seddon Summer Trotting series, an initiative led by the Seddon Harness Racing Group with support from Harness Racing New Zealand, is beginning to heat up. After the coast circuit Boy’s Invasion and Anna’s Boy hold the throne each on 12 points, with Masterly breathing down their necks on 11 points. At the end of the series the connections of the horse with the most points will get a bonus of $10,000, with $3,000 for second and $2,000 for third. Points for each race is allocated as follows; 1st – 7 points 2nd – 5 points 3rd – 4 points 4th – 3 points 5th – 2 points Other starters – 1 point The remaining meetings included in the series are Nelson this weekend January 12 & 14, Blenheim January 19 & 21 and it rounds out back where it began on the coast with Westport March 8 and Reefton March 10th. Below is the current table; Horse Points Anna’s Boy 12 Boy’s Invasion 12 Masterly 11 Helloveamoment 8 El Conqueror 7 Tu Tangata 7 Son of Patrick 5 Muscle Bank 4 The Bloss 4 Prince Teka 3 Unico Vacanza 3 T K Megastar 1 View the full article