Wandering Eyes

A quick chat with Olivia Thornley reveals she is hardly crumbling under the pressure ahead of one of the biggest days of her harness racing career. Thornley heads to Magic Monday at Ashburton to combine with three of the brightest stars in New Zealand in Akuta, Millwood Nike, and Oscar Bonavena. Dexter Dunn was perhaps the last junior to handle so much horsepower in one day as a junior driver. The suspension of Mark Purdon and unavailability of Natalie Rasmussen has Thornley taking centre stage behind the elite trio as they progress to even bigger targets next month. After handling Millwood Nike calmly when she made it 15 from 15 at Addington recently, the reinswoman is taking everything in her stride leading into Ashburton. “I am managing to hold it together,” Thornley joked. As far as preparing for her important assignments, Thornley is sticking with a simple approach. “I am just doing the form I normally would, you don’t want to get ahead of yourself and make things too complicated.” Akuta is set to start a hot favourite in the Ashburton Flying Stakes following a regulation last start victory at Addington. The pacer has pleased the All Stars camp since his last outing, and Thornley can’t wait to drive him on Monday. “It is very exciting to be able to drive a New Zealand Cup horse like him.” “I have had a couple of drives behind him during the week, and he has worked really well.” “We will just see how he steps away and take it from there.” Millwood Nike looks set for a similar trip she had in her last start victory at Addington. The filly will be stuck out on the outside of the front line, meaning she is every chance of sitting parked again. She crushed a similar field when doing just that last time, and the same could play out again on Monday. “She has come through her first-up run really well, and she has worked very well this week, too,” Thornley said. Trotting star Oscar Bonavena has returned to racing in arguably the form of his career, this spring. Though he has drawn outside the hot favourite in Muscle Mountain, the squaregaiter still looks a genuine threat after defeating him in his last start. “He has worked well this week, too.” “We have been really happy with the whole team.” Thornley also combines with Major Hot at Ashburton on Monday. The pacer looks a top 4 contender behind his stablemate, Vessem. View the full article

What Grafton Races Where Clarence River Jockey Club – Powell St, Grafton NSW 2460 When Tuesday, October 24, 2023 First Race 1:50pm AEDT Visit Dabble Country racing heads to Grafton on Tuesday afternoon for a quickfire seven-race program commencing at 1:50pm local time. The later start time should allow conditions to dry out, with a Good 4 surface predicted. The rail is out +5.5m between the 800m and the winning post, then out +4.5m for the remainder. Best Bet: Sir Ravanelli Sir Ravanelli has been a consistent type around the country racing circuits, but the Terry Evans barn tried him in metropolitan company first-up at Warwick Farm on October 2. The six-year-old gelding was far from disgraced, travelling wide throughout the 1100m journey but sticking on to only be defeated by 3.5 lengths. He returns to a much more suitable grade second-up, and with barrier one to guide Sir Ravanelli, we’d be shocked if he wasn’t fighting out the finish. Best Bet Race 2 – #3 Sir Ravanelli (1) 6yo Gelding | T: Terry Evans | J: Darryl McLellan (58kg) +260 with Bet365 Next Best: Red Cobra It’s been 12 starts without a win for Red Cobra, but he doesn’t seem far away. His form rates well, with minor placings behind the likes of Let’s Try and Hasty Honey, and he appears to be relishing the gradual rise in trip as the campaign goes on. Anna Roper takes the reins again and should give Red Cobra every conceivable chance to break his maiden from a soft draw. Next Best Race 4 – #2 Red Cobra (1) 4yo Gelding | T: Damien Lane | J: Anna Roper (a1.5kg) (59kg) +150 with Neds Best Value: She’s A Bad Girl She’s A Bad Girl finally broke her maiden first-up at Muswellbrook on September 12, but she wasn’t quite able to go on with the job second-up at the same course and distance on October 2. We’re putting it down to the firm going, as horses struggled to make up significant ground from back in the field. She’ll appreciate getting to the 1120m at the wider Grafton circuit, and with Anna Roper back in the saddle after saluting first-up, we’ll be seeing a better version of She’s A Bad Girl here. Best Bet Race 7 – #4 She’s A Bad Girl (10) 4yo Mare | T: Damien Lane | J: Anna Roper (a1.5kg) (58kg) +700 with Betfair Tuesday quaddie tips for Grafton races Grafton quadrella selections Tuesday, October 24, 2023 1-2 2-5-6-7-11 1-3-4-6-8 1-2-4-8 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip More horse racing tips View the full article

Sight Success (No. 2) overhauls Lucky Sweynesse. Overshadowed by Hong Kong’s sprinting elite for the past two seasons, Sight Success was rewarded for admirable consistency with victory in the HK$5.35 million Group 2 Premier Bowl Handicap (1200m) at Sha Tin on Sunday afternoon as Brenton Avdulla and John Size combined in spectacular fashion. A Group 1 runner-up, Sight Success slotted his maiden Group 2 triumph in a time of 1m 08.27s under an inspired ride by Avdulla, who had snared only one win from 52 rides this season before taking the reins on Sight Success and delivering the Magnus seven-year-old’s ninth win of his career. Sight Success (121lb) prevailed under a heady display from Avdulla, who first forced 1.4 favourite Lucky Sweynesse (135lb) to cover ground early under Zac Purton before driving late to down the favourite by a short head. Duke Wai (117lb) was third, while Victor The Winner (118lb) faded to fifth after setting the pace. Adios filled fourth position. “I was able to hold my spot and just force Zac to go on a bit further than he probably wanted to. I just let Zac and Karis do what they wanted to do and I thought the only way I could beat them was late. Full credit to John and his team,” Avdulla said. “I had a number of frustrating seconds (this season) and lost a little bit of support through the way, but John has always been one who’s thrown me some good rides. You’ve got to make the most of these opportunities and I’m very thankful.” Second to Wellington in the 2022 Group 1 Hong Kong Sprint (1200m), Sight Success will be given another tilt at the HK$26 million feature on December 10 after contesting the Group 2 BOCHK Private Banking Jockey Club Sprint (1200m) at Sha Tin on November 19. “These small fields are always a bit tricky but I think he (Avdulla) chose the right option and just followed the two leaders and he got a lovely run into the race,” Size said after Sight Success took his prize money earnings beyond HK$25 million. “He’s a very consistent horse, very honest, always puts in a good run and he seems to be able to sustain a long preparation. Last season, he ran very well in the international race (Hong Kong Sprint) and I’m hoping he’ll do the same again. “He (Avdulla) is a good jockey and when you come to Hong Kong it’s a very tough venue to perform in but now he’s won a nice race like that, and ridden so well in other races, I think he’ll be underway now.” Size has now won the Premier Bowl four times after previous triumphs with Rich Unicorn (2011), Mr Stunning (2017), Hot King Prawn (2018) and now Sight Success. Invincible Sage earned a PP Bonus of HK$1.5 million with an eye-catching victory for David Hall under Hugh Bowman. “I think there’s more to come with him, he’s a very uncomplicated horse. He has a perfect temperament and racing style for Hong Kong – he’s got a bit to offer. It’s lovely to see him do that, but it comes as no surprise,” Bowman said. Hall sealed a double with Keagan De Melo when Atullibigeal. De Melo earlier posted his first Sha Tin win when Rising From Ashes gave Francis Lui a double. Lui and Harry Bentley earlier combined with Chancheng Glory. Danny Shum is confident Champion Method can continue to progress after the three-year-old’s brave win under Andrea Atzeni. “He’s only a three-year-old but he overcame a lot of challenges – he had 132 pounds, a bad draw (gate 10) and even as he went in front, he was three wide. He’s a nice horse with a big heart,” Shum said. “He can continue to improve. I don’t need to rush him too much now. I’ve gelded him, so hopefully he will put on more weight and gain strength.” Gluck Racer struck in fine fashion for Cody Mo and Karis Teetan, before Massive Action led all the way for Frankie Lor and Lyle Hewitson. Dennis Yip-trained Telecom Dragon stormed late to clinch the Class 4 Cycling Handicap (1200m) under Bowman before Jerry Chau piloted Fun Together to victory for Benno Yung. More racing news View the full article

Horse Racing on Monday, October 23 will feature three meetings in Australia. Our racing analysts here at horsebetting.com.au have found you the top bets and the quaddie numbers for the meeting at Wagga. Monday Racing Tips – October 23, 2023 Wagga Racing Tips Monday’s Best Racing Bets Of The Day – October 23, 2023 Place these horse racing bets in a multi for $14.92 odds return: Monday, October 23, 2023 Wagga Race 2 – #3 Nolan Warrnambool Race 5 – #3 Handshake Muswellbrook Race 2 – #4 Dylan’s Lad | 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 October 23, 2023 check out our guide to the best online racing betting sites. More horse racing tips View the full article

Proxy, the 5-year-old son of Tapit, breezed 5 furlongs in 1:02 on a fast track at Keeneland with regular jockey Joel Rosario in the saddle. View the full article

Romagna Mia made the most of her North American opportunities with a late running score in the Oct. 22 $300,000 Dowager Stakes (G3T) at Keeneland.View the full article

Prince of Monaco will try and provide a sixth Juvenile win for trainer Bob Baffert, which would break a tie with D. Wayne Lukas for most all time.View the full article

Sunway delivered David Menuisier a first group 1 victory in three years when holding off odds-on favorite Alcantor to land the Criterium International (G1) Oct. 22 at Saint-Cloud under Oisin Murphy.View the full article

Coolmore's late super sire, Galileo, added his sixth Breeders' Cup winner with Tuesday just last year. He is a joint second by winners, but stands alone as the leading Breeders' Cup sire by money won with nearly $16 million in purses–more than $4.5 million more than his closest pursuer. Tuesday, who also captured the G1 Cazoo Oaks in 2022 and now holds the 1 3/16-mile course record at Keeneland after her Breeders' Cup win, was retired shortly after the race and bred to Into Mischief this spring. “She was such a tough, consistent race filly–like all of the Galileos are,” said Ashford's Dermot Ryan. “She was expertly campaigned by Aidan and his team to win the Oaks on her 3-year-old birthday and to defeat a top-class field containing six Grade I winners and a Canadian Classic winner at the Breeders' Cup gave her owners/breeders and the whole team at Coolmore such a thrill.” Tuesday (Ire) (2019 bay filly, Galileo {Ire}–Lillie Langtry {Ire}, by Danehill Dancer {Ire}) Lifetime record: GISW-U.S., G1SW-Eng, G1SP-Ire, 10-3-3-1, $1,828,827 Breeders' Cup connections: B-Coolmore (Ire); O-Westerberg Limited, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael B. Tabor, and Derrick Smith; T-Aidan O'Brien; J-Ryan Moore. Current location: Coolmore America/Ashford Stud, Versailles, Ky. The post Catching Up with 2022 Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf Winner Tuesday appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Veteran jockey Frank Alvarado, a mainstay in Northern California throughout the 21st century, picked up his 4,000th career victory in Race 2 on Sunday at Golden Gate Fields aboard five-year-old mare Shout It Out (Boisterous). 54-year-old Alvarado had to wait out a photo finish before giving an exuberant fist pump when the order of finish was posted. He was greeted in the winner's circle post-race by family, friends, racing officials, and fellow members of the Golden Gate riding colony. Alvarado's mounts have accrued $87.8 million throughout a long and successful career that began in his native Panama in 1984. Alvarado's first career win came at Panama's Hipodromo Presidente Ramon Racecourse on April 2, 1984. Among Alvarado's top mounts currently in training are champion Northern California sprinter Top Harbor (Harbor the Gold) and recent Santa Anita stakes-winning 2-year-old Grand Slam Smile (Smiling Tiger). Shout It Out! Jockey Frank Alvarado earns his 4,000th career victory, in Race 2 at @GGFracing! Congratulations Frank, from the @FanDuelTV team. pic.twitter.com/IRduQ1slho — TVG (@TVG) October 22, 2023 The post Jockey Frank Alvarado Picks Up 4,000th Career Victory appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

8th-Keeneland, $100,000, Msw, 10-22, 2yo, 6 1/2f, 1:18.24, ft, 1 1/4 lengths. AGOO (c, 2, Munnings–Grandacious {SW & GSP, $206,304}, by Grand Slam) was a strong second after leading late on his six-furlong Churchill debut Sept. 17 behind Stretch Ride (Street Sense), who validated that peformance with a 5 3/4-length allowance victory going two turns here Oct. 14, good for an 86 Beyer. One of the first to break the line from a double-digit gate, the $72,000 KEENOV weanling and $190,000 KEESEP yearling was forwardly placed, but was no better than five off the fence as there was plenty of speed underneath him. Ridden along and with no other option than to sacrifice ground with a four- and five-wide rally on the turn, Agoo went on the attack from that position on the swing for home as he set his sights on pacesetting debuter Mystik Dan (Goldencents). Maintaining a relentless gallop into the final furlong, Agoo finally edged to the front a sixteenth from home and prevailed by a hard-fought 1 1/4 lengths. Linebacker (Bolt d'Oro) also turned in a very promising first-out performance, settling well back in the field following a slow start before sustaining a long, wide rally to be third, beaten just two lengths. The winner's dam was purchased by Equus Farm for $15,000 at KEENOV in 2021 and foaled a Violence colt the following season. The mare was most recently covered by Mystic Guide. Sales history: $72,000 Wlg '21 KEENOV; $190,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 2-1-1-0, $81,350. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. O-Graham Grace Stable; B-Forging Oaks LLC (KY); T-D Whitworth Beckman. (11) Agoo finishes strong in race 8 over (5) Mystik Dan. (9) Linebacker finishes third. pic.twitter.com/XzRamuJD9b — Keeneland Racing (@keenelandracing) October 22, 2023 The post Munnings Colt Overcomes Torrid Trip To Graduate at Keeneland appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Undefeated Tamara (Bolt d'Oro) worked six furlongs in 1:12.60 at Santa Anita Saturday morning in preparation for her next start in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies under Mike Smith, who has been aboard the two-year-old daughter of Beholder for each of her two wins. In the work Tamara hooked up with some company, reportedly an unraced two-year-old colt, whom she outworked. “I was actually kind of hoping to gain some company,” Smith told Zoe Cadman, “and it worked out great. If I hadn't, she's a pretty good work horse if you want her to be. But we were fortunate to catch a little company and she went really nice this morning. I gave them a five-length head start and she came up to them. I gave her a little breather around the turn and headed for home. I let her turn over to her right lead and I wanted to see if she was there, and boy she set me back in the seat, so all systems are go. She's not a tall horse, but she's long and she's very athletic and she really gets up under herself good. You could put a glass of water up on her back and turn her loose out there and she probably wouldn't spill half of it. She's just so smooth.” Work of the Day from @santaanitapark—Tamara (Outside) worked 6 Furlongs in 1:12.60 on October 22nd, 2023, for trainer Richard Mandella. pic.twitter.com/KsRqWK4c5o — XBTV (@WatchXBTV) October 22, 2023 Trainer Richard Mandella also pronounced himself pleased with the work. “She can run,” said Mandella. “She's not a big horse, but when the time is needed, she rises to the occasion. She swells up. She's not tall, she's kind of stocky and stout and growing as we go along. She'll end up bigger than this, but she's big enough,” he concluded with a smile. Mandella, of course, trained Beholder and Smith was the regular rider on Songbird, whom Beholder beat in her last-ever race in the 2016 Breeders' Cup Distaff. Smith was asked about the irony of that as Tamara's regular rider. “I even rode her mother once,” said Smith, “but It's pretty cool. I guess it means I've been around for a little bit. It's kind of cool to see these young ones come up and look, she's got a long ways to go before she comes close to her mother, but she's certainly on the right track.” As for the upcoming Breeders' Cup, Smith said, “I can't wait. I'm really looking forward to it, especially getting to ride a filly with the kind of talent she does. If all goes well, the sky's the limit for her.” The post Tamara Works At Santa Anita for BC Juvenile Fillies appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

2-year-old champion and 'TDN Rising Star' Forte (Violence), whose retirement was announced earlier this week, has arrived at Spendthrift Farm where he will take up stud duty in 2024. His introductory fee will be $50,000 S&N and he is available for inspection by appointment. “The first thing I think about Forte is just how much of an honor it is for us to bring a horse like him to Spendthrift. He's the fifth champion we've been fortunate enough to add to our stallion ranks since 2020, and that's a testament to what Mr. Hughes built and the commitment that Eric and Tammy Gustavson are now carrying forward,” said Ned Toffey, Spendthrift general manager. “While we are disappointed for Mike (Repole) and Vinnie (Viola) that Forte wasn't able to end his great career like a champion deserves to, we are very grateful for our partnership with them. Forte is the first 2-year-old champion to retire to Spendthrift in more than four decades, since the likes of Seattle Slew, Affirmed and Lord Avie. That's some pretty special company, and we couldn't be more excited about his future.” Racing for Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable, Forte was named champion 2-year-old colt after a season which saw him break his maiden by 7 3/4 lengths on debut going five furlongs at Belmont and pick up three consecutive Grade I victories in the Hopeful S., the Breeders' Futurity and the Breeders' Cup Juvenile. As a 3-year-old, he took the GII Fountain of Youth S. and the GI Curlin Florida Derby. “Forte has given us the ride of a lifetime on the track and done everything asked of him and more under tremendous training by Todd Pletcher,” said Vinnie Viola of St. Elias Stable. “We are blessed to have raced such a talented horse in partnership with Mike Repole, and excited about his prospects as a sire at Spendthrift Farm.” Mike Repole added: “Vinnie and I are so fortunate to be blessed with this ultra-talented colt. Forte's 2-year-old season, from breaking his maiden at five furlongs in May and winning three Grade I's including capping it off with a spectacular effort in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile, left us in awe. To come back at 3 and win the Fountain of Youth, Florida Derby and Jim Dandy, and run second in the Belmont at 1 1/2 miles, was amazing. Forte is just a special horse.” Forte retired with career earnings of $3,029,830. “Forte just excluded class in everything he did, which is something you only see from those few special ones that come through,” Pletcher said. “Some probably won't quite appreciate how special he was because of the bad luck we faced this year. Obviously, the timing could not have been worse to have the foot bruise that kept him out of the Derby, and we have been battling a quarter crack on a different foot that was going to force us to miss the Breeders' Cup and all our goals for the fall and winter. I've been fortunate to train three colts that were champion 2-year-olds but Forte is the first to win three Grade I's at two. Horses like that don't come around often and we'll miss him in the barn.” The post Champion Forte Arrives At Spendthrift, Will Stand For 50k appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Dreams came true when Hazer prevailed in a thrilling finish to the Tuapeka Cup at Ascot Park yesterday. With horses spread across the track, the chestnut sped along the passing lane to score a highlight victory in the careers of trainer Chris Gerken and driver Kerryn Tomlinson. Hazer is raced by the Nickels For Pickles syndicate, a name inspired by his trainer’s surname. The syndicate is made up of Gerken, wife Sonia, their four daughters Mallory, Tarryn, Kelly, and Haylea, as well as their respective partners. Though they weren’t convinced they were always going to make the Tuapeka Cup, Gerken and his family were thrilled to pull off something of a long-term goal with their win. “This is something we have dreamt about,” the trainer said. “I said to the syndicate about two months ago that I’d love to start him in the Tuapeka Cup.” “And then his ratings started going down and down and down, and they said they were pretty sceptical about the whole situation.” “But he won good at Wyndham Thursday week ago, and he got up in the ratings, so we had to have to go.” Grateful for the support of his family, a thrilled Gerken rated Hazer’s win right up with the biggest joys of his training career. “The family have followed me all the way through, right from the start, and to have a horse as nice as this fella is really special.” Hazer joined the Gerken stable after his previous owners had finished campaigning him from Brett Gray’s barn. Hazer’s continued success has continued a lengthy association between Gerken and Gray. “We go way back; Brett actually drove for me when I first started training.” “I think it might have even been my first or second winner – Hurricane Hugh at the Christmas Eve meeting over at Winton.” “We worked together for nearly 20 years down at Blue Sky Meats.” “He flicked me this one, and he won three races with King Cassidy for me.” “It has been great.” King Cassidy produced another of the highlights of Gerken’s training career – victory in the 2021 Gore Trotters Cup at the trainer’s home track. Hazer’s win in the Tuapeka Cup provided Tomlinson with one of the biggest driving wins of her career. The victory was the junior driver’s first in a cup event and it came just a matter of weeks after she broke through for 100 career driving wins. View the full article

An international search for the next high-class performer begins again Oct. 22, when the five-day Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training Sale kicks off.View the full article

Los Angeles staked his Classic claims for next year when maintaining his unbeaten record with a narrow success in the Oct. 21 Criterium de Saint-Cloud (G1) in an Irish-dominated finish.View the full article

Godolphin homebred Proxy (Tapit) had his final serious drill Sunday for an expected start in the GI Breeders' Cup Classic. The 5-year-old breezed 5 furlongs in 1:02 on the fast track with regular jockey Joel Rosario in the saddle. The plan was to go in company with Godolphin's unraced 2-year-old colt Surveyor (Medaglia d'Oro), but the duo was unexpectedly joined by workers from other trainers. Despite the surprise, trainer Mike Stidham, Godolphin Chief Operating Officer Dan Pride and Director of Bloodstock Michael Banahan were all smiles watching from the Grandstand. “The main thing we were looking for today was that we would let him break off a little bit behind,” Stidham said. “The other horses getting in there was not planned. That just happened. It turned out to be four horses working together. And when Joel took him out – and got him out in the clear – that's what we wanted to see. He needed that type of work; that was the most important work.” Stidham said Proxy will have a lesser workout Saturday, Oct. 28 or Sunday, Oct. 29 before shipping to Santa Anita Oct. 30. “Next week will be less of a blowout for the Breeders' Cup,” Stidham said about Proxy's next assignment. “Today's work was exactly what we were looking for. He handled it well and galloped out great and did everything right. We couldn't be happier.” Also at Keeneland, Peter Brant's Gina Romantica (Into Mischief) worked a half-mile in :50 in company with Lady De Berry (Practical Joke) over the fast main track for trainer Chad Brown. “She worked good,” said Baldo Hernandez, assistant to Brown who noted that Gina Romantica has had most of her workouts on dirt during her career. “She'll work again next weekend and may work on the grass with In Italian (GB). That's to be determined.” Both Gina Romantica and In Italian (Dubawi {Ire}) are scheduled to ship to Santa Anita Oct. 30 for the Breeders' Cup. Also working toward a possible Breeders' Cup start was Nakatomi (Firing Line) for trainer Wesley Ward who breezed 5 furlongs in 1:00.60, the fastest of 32 at the distance for the morning. Out west, Prince of Monaco (Speightstown) and Speed Boat Beach (Bayern) were among a quartet of Breeders' Cup prospects trained by Bob Baffert to record timed workouts at Santa Anita Sunday with both working six furlongs from the gate. Prince of Monaco, pointed to the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile went in 1:12.00 while Speed Boat Beach, headed to the GI Breeders' Cup Sprint, blitzed through his work in 1:11.00 to be the fastest of seven moves at the distance. Also working for Baffert were Adare Manor (Uncle Mo) (5f, 59.60) for the Distaff and Eda (Munnings) (4f, 46.80), who is possible for the Filly & Mare Sprint. Work of the Day from @santaanitapark—Tamara (Outside) worked 6 Furlongs in 1:12.60 on October 22nd, 2023, for trainer Richard Mandella. pic.twitter.com/KsRqWK4c5o — XBTV (@WatchXBTV) October 22, 2023 Hall of Fame trainer Richard Mandella worked Tamara (Bolt d'Oro), the likely favorite for the Juvenile Fillies. The daughter of Hall of Fame mare Beholder went six furlongs in 1:12.60. Working for Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen were Clairiere (Curlin) (5f, 59.80) and Private Creed (Jimmy Creed) (4f, 48.40). Dr. Schivel (Violence) worked five furlongs in 1:00.80 for trainer Mark Glatt. Buttercream Babe (Twirling Candy), a candidate for the Juvenile Fillies Turf for trainer Michael Maker, worked four furlongs in 51.20. Rounding out Sunday's Breeders' Cup workers were Gold Phoenix (Declan's Warrior) (5f, 1:01.80) and Balladeer (Distorted Humor) 5f, (1:00.00), both candidates for the GI Breeders' Cup Turf. The post Proxy, Prince Of Monaco Top Breeders’ Cup Work Tab appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Durezza, a newcomer to the Japanese Triple Crown trail, whipped the victors from the first two legs in the Kikuka Sho (Japanese St. Leger-G1) Oct. 22 at Kyoto Racecourse.View the full article

2nd-Gulfstream, $42,000, Msw, 10-22, 2yo, f, 5f (AWT), :57.61, ft, 2 lengths. MADNESS (f, 2, Maximus Mischief–Mine Own, by Mineshaft) became the crop-leading 22nd winner for her first-crop sire (by Into Mischief) with an 57-10 upset at first asking. Last away and outsprinted through the early exchanges, the $15,000 KEENOV weanling turned $75,000 OBSOCT yearling–equipped with cheek pieces and a shadow roll for the debut–was angled down to the inside by Samy Camacho and commenced a steady advance three furlongs out. Swung out wide for the drive, the bay quickly rounded up odds-on On the Dot (Summer Front) at the furlong grounds and finished up strongly to score by two lengths. From the family of Capote and Exceller, Madness is the last listed produce for her dam. Sales history: $15,000 Wlg '21 KEENOV; $75,000 Ylg '22 OBSOCT. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $24,000. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. O-D J Stable LLC; B-Richard E Wilson (KY); T-Joseph F Orseno. The post Madness Yet Another First-Out Winner for Maximus Mischief appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

LEXINGTON, KY – The Fasig-Tipton October Yearlings Sale, which has produced back-to-back record-setting renewals, returns Monday morning with the first of 1,605 catalogued yearlings scheduled to go through the ring at Newtown Paddocks at 10 a.m. As shoppers made the rounds at the sales grounds on a brisk fall morning the Bluegrass Sunday, consignors were expecting to see some familiar trends during the upcoming four-session auction. “It's going to be interesting to see where the level of quality is here,” said Legacy Bloodstock's Tommy Eastham. “I think [the market] is going to be really good for the horses that are perceived to be above that level and I think it's going to be more of the same for the horses that they perceive to be below that. I think it's going to be tougher on those horses.” Despite the expected polarization of the market, consignors were pleased with the activity they were seeing around the sales barns. “It's very refreshing to come into the parking lot early in the day and have it full up from all the way back here in the tents to the front fields,” said Stuart Morris. “I think the traffic, to me, seems to be on par. I'm not going to say it's extra, but it's definitely not weak. All of the faces that you usually see are here.” For the second year in a row, the October sale set highwater marks for gross, average and median in 2022 with total of 1,100 yearling selling for $55,426,500, an average of $50,388 and a median of $25,000. “Over the last couple of years, this has become a really strong sale,” said Hanzly Albina of Blake-Albina Thoroughbred Services. “It used to definitely be a lower-end horse and now there are 1600 horses here. I think there are people who are pointing horses here who need a little more time and they are more comfortable waiting to sell their horses here because they know there will be money here for them, versus having to put horses in sales they feel they aren't ready for.” Albina said his 23-horse consignment at the October sale included yearlings who had RNA'd at previous sales, as well as horses pointed specifically to the last yearling sale of the year. “We have horses in here that have big pedigrees that we wanted to give more time to and we were comfortable waiting until October,” he explained. The consignment includes a colt by Curlin (hip 691) out of Kateri (Indian Charlie) and a filly by Tapit out of My Bellamy (Bellamy Road) (hip 948) who were both catalogued for the Keeneland September Yearling sale, while a colt by Into Mischief out of Indy Punch (Pulling Punches) (hip 651) will be making his first sales appearance. “She was offered at Keeneland in Book, but I think she got overlooked,” Albina said of the Tapit filly. “The Curlin was offered in September and I think he needed more time, too, but the Into Mischief we waited on him to mature a little more.” Eastham said the October sale is a natural place to sell yearlings. “It's a nice sale to prep a horse for,” he said. “They naturally mature into it. You don't have to push them as much. They keep them outside longer and put a little less pressure on them. I think you see some of these upper-end buyers that were really active in earlier sales start holding some cash for this sale. Because a lot of good horses come out of this sale.” Morris agreed the October's impressive list of graduates has attracted buyers' attention, but he also thinks the auction is helped by its position as the final yearlings sale of the season. “I think a lot of buyers come here because it's the last stop,” Morris said. “So as sellers, we are a little more cautious–what might be considered realistic–and buyers are a little aggressive because they have to fill orders. I think that helps this sale just because of the calendar time that it's the last stop of the year. There are 1,600 head here and a bunch of stakes horses come out of this sale every year, so if you have a big budget of $500,000 or $600,000, you can find horses here for that money. If you've got $50,000 or $10,000 or $5,000, you can find horses. So I think that creates a big buyer base.” Eastham observed that buyers have been particularly hard on vet issues at the earlier yearling auctions this fall, but he is hopeful the last auction of the season might have them reevaluating that position. “At Keeneland [the buyers] were strict on vetting,” he said. “A chip that would normally cost you 20% was costing you 70%. Hopefully they will be a little more forgiving on some small, minor vetting issues because we are getting to the end of the year and we can get those horses sold.” The October sale will be held Monday through Thursday with sessions beginning daily at 10 a.m. The post Last Stop for Yearlings: Fasig-Tipton October Sale Starts Monday appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Cherie DeVaux had just left a job as an assistant with Chad Brown, where the assembly line churned out one graded winner after another. After nearly eight years with Brown, she was ready to go out on her own and cobbled together a small stable that made its debut in the spring of 2018. Her first starter was Take Charge Tina (Take Charge Indy), who finished a distant fifth in a Belmont allowance race on May 18, 2018. The year would get no better as she went winless in 18 starts. DeVaux went on to lose her next 10 starts before breaking her maiden on March 29, 2019 with Traveling (Tale of the Cat) in a maiden claimer at Gulfstream, 10 1/2 months after her first start. “When I started out, some days it felt like I was rolling a really heavy rock up a hill.” DeVaux said. But somehow that rock kept getting lighter and lighter until it disappeared. On Saturday, DeVaux won the GII Lexus Raven Run S. at Keeneland with Vahva (Gun Runner). It has been a year of firsts for the 41-year-old trainer, who is a rising star in the sport. The Raven Run was her first graded stakes win at Keeneland and the year 2023 has also seen her win her first Grade I race with She Feels Pretty (Karakontie {Jpn}), the winner of the GI Natalma S. at Woodbine. With more than two months to go in the year, her stable has earned $4,603,320, $2 million more than she earned in 2022, which had been her best year to date. “This started off in July when More Than Looks (More Than Ready) won the Manila Stakes,” DeVaux said. “Since then it has been full steam ahead. I'm so excited, so happy and so grateful for all of it. When you work for Chad and you're winning Grade I's so often, you almost lose sight of how hard it is to win a stakes race.” If she made a mistake leaving Brown when she did, it was that she took off before being able to attract many new clients. “When I left working for Chad, I didn't have a whole book of business waiting for me,” she said. “I had to start from the ground up.” But that she has become a successful trainer is not a surprise. She was ready to work hard and had the patience to get though her slow start, and learning under a future Hall of Famer like Chad Brown is no small thing. Plus, she now works closely with her husband, respected bloodstock advisor David Ingordo. “There were a lot of growing pains,” she said. “Then we got some momentum going and COVID hit. I would have been happy if we didn't have any stakes winners so long as our stable was moving along. So this year has definitely exceeded my expectations.” In time, owners started to take notice. One of her main clients has been Belladonna Racing Partnership, which heads the partnership that owns Vahva, and was instrumental in getting DeVaux's career rolling. At this year's Keeneland September sale, Belladonna, Ingordo and DeVaux teamed up to buy 18 yearlings for a total cost of $4,917,000. “Yes, David and I work together,” DeVaux said. “He earns his keep by keeping me off the ledge most days.” She also has horses for Lael Stable, West Point Thoroughbreds, Martin Schwartz and John Gunther. “I think everyone can see how adept Cherie is at running a first-class stable,” said West Point's Terry Finley. “She can identify talent, and what has consistently impressed our team and our partners is what a great communicator she is. Cherie is the total package.” As much momentum as she has and with all the recognition she is getting for recent victories, she's probably at the point where she could build the type of stable that could knock heads on a regular basis with a Chad Brown or a Todd Pletcher. But that's not in her plans. “We have 85 right now” she said. “I don't want a whole lot more than that because that would dilute the quality of what we are doing. I wouldn't feel comfortable with that many horses with the values I have for my stable and the way I train. I try to be hands-on and work individually with each horse. All summer long I was traveling just to keep my own eyes on the horses so that I saw each one at least once a week. We want to have higher quality horses and not just horses in stalls.” In less than two weeks, DeVaux will be shooting for what would be the biggest accomplishment thus far in her career, a win in the Breeders' Cup. She Feels Pretty will go in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Filly Turf and Stage Raider (Pioneerof the Nile) will be entered in the GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile. She will pre-enter More Than Looks in the GI Breeders' Cup Mile, but doesn't think he will get in. She's had just one Breeders' Cup starter previously, Tarabi (First Samurai), who was third in the 2021 GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies. Win or lose at this Breeders' Cup, she will take nothing for granted. Go back just four years ago to Breeders' Cup week 2019 and she had yet to win a stakes race and had had all of six career winners. Now, she's a major player. “The beginning really humbled me to the point where I appreciate every win, every stakes,” she said. “That's because it did take me so long to get any momentum going. I'm really looking forward to the Breeders' Cup.” Watch Out For Baffert-Frey Combo When Bob Baffert ran three first-time starters in Saturday's ninth race at Santa Anita, gamblers likely had a hard time separating them. All three were typical Baffert… on paper, they looked loaded. There was Urban Legend (Into Mischief), a $1.3 million purchase at OBS April. Nysos (Nyquist) cost $550,000 at the same sale. Then there was British Isles (Justify), a half-brother to Grade I winner Eight Rings (Empire Maker) who was a Coolmore hombred. Who did Baffert like the best? If you looked at his choice of jockeys, the answer was probably not Nysos. He had Ramon Vazquez on Urban Legend and Mike Smith on British Isles. His choice for Nysos was Kyle Frey, who was riding at a 6 percent clip at the meet and had won only 36 races on the year. So what happened? Nysos ran like a runaway train to win by 10 1/2 lengths and pay $14.80 en route to being named a 'TDN Rising Star'. But those who were playing close attention might have been able to cash a bet. Baffert had used Frey exactly one other time and that pairing also resulted in a winner when Wynstock (Solomini) broke his maiden on Oct. 15 at santa Anita and paid $28.60. The post The Week In Review: With Another Graded Win, It’s Clear That DeVaux Has Arrived appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Imperium Sales may be the newest name on the consignment block but this is no rookie outfit. Imperium is the brainchild of leading bloodstock advisor Alex Elliott and it makes its debut with 14 horses hitting the market at this week's Tattersalls Autumn Horses-In-Training Sale. From what Elliott describes as a potential Melbourne Cup horse in Balance Play (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) to the rapidly-progressive He's A Monster (Ire) (No Nay Never), Imperium Sales has the potential to make its debut draft a memorable one. In many ways, Elliott offering horses on behalf of existing clients will represent a new phenomenon at Tattersalls this week, but he explained how the same idea has been replicated with great success in America and beyond. He said, “It's something that I have seen Bradley Weisbord and Liz Crow do successfully in America. They've got Elite Sales over there where they buy the horses, manage them and then sell them on behalf of their clients.” Elliott added, “We have bought 85 yearlings on behalf of various different clients this year so why wouldn't we offer them the facility to see the process the whole way through for them? “It's something of a new thing over here but you've got Jacob West, probably the biggest yearling buyer in America, and he has Highgate Sales [along with Jill Gordon], while Michel Zerolo of Oceanic Bloodstock is involved in Capucines. It's just another service that we can provide to our clients and a lot of them were keen for us to do it.” Balance Play: one of the star attractions in the Imperium draft | Racingfotos.com In an ideal world, horses with the ability of Balance Play and He's A Monster would not be going under the hammer this week. A lack of meaningful pots for horses rated 90 and above to aim for means that horses of this ilk are a far more valuable commodity to the international market than to keep in training in these shores. That's the simple fact of the matter at present and nobody is more aware of the situation than Elliott, who has been trading under his own name since 2014. He explained, “We're offering 14 horses this week. Some of the horses we offer on Tuesday evening you wouldn't normally want to be selling those. But that's the way it is with my clients buying so many yearlings, they have to move some on. “Because we are racing around for little or no prize-money, the value is in the commodity, and you've got to look after that commodity. That's what I try to educate my clients about all the time. “There is a time in a horse's life where he is worth more to the foreign market than he is to keep running here in Britain. That is the case with our entire draft, really. We will be sad to see them gone. I know our trainers will certainly be sad to see them gone. They've been with great caretakers-Ralph Beckett, Clive Cox and Archie Watson-and the horses will arrive at the sales in great shape and will do someone serious service.” Elliott continued, “But they don't all have to be sold and, Balance Play, for example, will have an entry for the St Simon Stakes at Newbury the week after the sale. It's blue skies ahead for a horse like Balance Play. On one hand, we'd love to keep him but on the other, how do you hold on to a horse like that who could be running around for hundreds of thousands of pounds abroad whereas they are competing for a fraction of that in Britain? “As John Gosden said, we have become a nursery for the rest of world racing and if you own a three-year-old gelding who boasts a rating of 101 like Balance Play does, now is the time where he is at his maximum value to sell to the other jurisdictions around the world where he can potentially earn a lot of money. Balance Play could be a Melbourne Cup horse. But, as I said, buying so many yearlings for our clients, we've got to keep the conveyor belt going.” Balance Play will form part of what promises to be a helter-skelter Tuesday for Elliott's Imperium Sales with 11 horses going through the ring. The classy He's A Monster and similarly progressive three-year-olds Bear On The Loose (Ire) (Footstepsinthesand {GB}) and Just Bring It (Ire) (Harry Angel {Ire}) also take to the stage on Tuesday with Elliott quietly optimistic that the market will react kindly to his offerings. “As I said with Balance Play, do we keep him here to run in a 20-runner November Handicap for thirty grand or do we sell him to a place where he will be running for a lot more money? He's a May foal and his best days are ahead of him. His numbers have improved run after run and he was very impressive last time at Newbury. He's very good over ten furlongs but he is bred to stay twelve-plus. He could be a Cup horse here next year or he could be a Cup horse abroad. Who knows?” Elliott added, “Bear On The Loose is Timeform 103 and officially rated 93. He was a one-hundred-grand yearling and is three from five and very progressive. He's a half-brother to a black-type hurdler in Warnaq (Ire) and he hit the line strong over a-mile-and-a-quarter on his last start. He's very unexposed and has been very well cared for by Kevin Philippart De Foy. He's a horse I'd highly recommend. “He's A Monster is Timeform 113 and officially rated 104. He's five from nine and his last run was his best run where he demolished a competitive handicap field at Chelmsford off 99. He loves fast ground and the synthetic surface and is a beautiful horse who's never let us down. In fact, the only time he let us down was when we ran him on soft ground. He could go on to be anything. “Then we have Just Bring It, who has won his last two for Clive Cox. He's Timeform 99 and is officially rated 94. He's a rapidly-improving horse and, again, who do we keep an improving three-year-old running around for twenty grand? “He will love a mile on fast ground and, being out of a Pour Moi (Ire) mare, he'll probably get a-mile-and-a-quarter somewhere. He's an attractive horse. Overall, it's a very exciting bunch.” It says something about Elliott's hunger that, in a year in which he bought his greatest number of yearlings and was once again thrust into the spotlight on Saturday through King Of Steel, a horse of whom he sourced for Amo Racing, that he has added another string to his bow. None of this would have been possible, according to Elliott, however, without the aid of right-hand woman Lucy Ryan. He said, “Lucy Ryan, who works with me, has put this whole thing together. She has done all of the heavy lifting. Between us buying 85 yearlings and her getting this off the ground, she really is one in a million. “Lucy has put a great team of people together who I know personally. We have some great show people and some great horsemen and women. That's what we wanted and that's what she's done. We've both been very busy at the yearlings sales so, for her to have been doing this in the background, it has been a great effort.” On future plans for Imperium, he added, “We're going to be selling four fillies at the December Mares Sale-two black-type fillies [Lose Yourself (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) and Trust The Stars (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire})] and one [La Isla Mujeres (Fr) (Lope De Vega {Ire})] who is borderline black-type who might stay in training. I won't be getting involved in the yearling or foal market, it will simply be horses in training and fillies and mares.” The post Alex Elliott’s Imperium Sales Out To Light Up Tatts With First Ever Draft appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Winless since capturing the G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere 12 months ago, Nurlan Bizakov's Belbek (Fr) (Showcasing {GB}) thrived back on a deep surface to sign off with a win in Sunday's G3 Prix Perth at Saint-Cloud. Showing he retained his ability when third in the G2 Prix Daniel Wildenstein at ParisLongchamp on Arc Saturday, the Andre Fabre trainee was kept fresh in the interim and raced a touch freely early anchored in fourth against the rail by Bauyrzhan Murzabayev. One of five who stayed far side swinging for home, the 4-1 shot subdued stablemate Tribalist (GB) (Farhh {GB}) passing two out and kept on to secure the success by half a length from the stand's-side group's “winner” The Revenant (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) as the 9-10 favourite Tribalist wound up two lengths further away in third. Bizakov and Sumbe's racing manager Mathieu Le Forestier revealed that Belbek is off to the Stud now. “He's been unlucky at times and it's lovely that he bows out with a thrilling win,” he said. “He was our first group 1-winning homebred and is the first Showcasing and first stallion from the Hasili line to stand in France. Hats off to Andre, as he instructed his jockeys to stay on the inside rail even though all the races so far had been won on the stand's side–it was the right decision.” Pedigree Notes Belbek, whose record also includes a win in the six-furlong G3 Prix du Bois at two, is the second foal out of Bee Queen (GB) (Makfi {GB}) who was an inspired purchase at just 50,000gns from Juddmonte's draft in the 2017 Tattersalls December Mares Sale. A daughter of Trojan Queen (Empire Maker), she is therefore a half-sister to the talented G3 Hampton Court S. winner Sangarius (GB) (Kingman {GB}) and to the G3 Derrinstown Stud 1000 Guineas Trial-placed stakes producer Emergent (GB) by Showcasing's sire Oasis Dream (GB). Trojan Queen is a daughter of Fabre's triple top-level-winning champion and Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf heroine Banks Hill (GB) (Danehill), who produced the G1 Prix Prix Jean Romanet winner Romantica (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) and the dual listed scorer and G2 Prix Niel runner-up Ideal World (Kingmambo). As Le Forestier pointed out, the fourth dam is the legendary producer Hasili (Ire) (Kahyasi {Ire}), responsible for so many of Juddmonte's stars including the GI Beverly D. S. winner Heat Haze (GB) by Oasis Dream's sire Green Desert. Bee Queen's unraced 2-year-old colt Baysangur (Fr) is by Gleneagles (Ire). Sunday, Saint-Cloud, France PRIX PERTH-G3, €80,000, Saint-Cloud, 10-22, 3yo/up, 8fT, 1:43.93, vs. 1–BELBEK (FR), 123, c, 3, by Showcasing (GB) 1st Dam: Bee Queen (GB), by Makfi (GB) 2nd Dam: Trojan Queen, by Empire Maker 3rd Dam: Banks Hill (GB), by Danehill O-Nurlan Bizakov; B-Sumbe (FR); T-Andre Fabre; J-Bauyrzhan Murzabayev. €40,000. Lifetime Record: G1SW-Fr, 12-4-0-2, €385,863. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. 2–The Revenant (GB), 127, g, 8, Dubawi (Ire)–Hazel Lavery (Ire), by Excellent Art (GB). O-Al Asayl France; B-Al Asayl Bloodstock Ltd (GB); T-Francis-Henri Graffard. €16,000. 3–Tribalist (GB), 129, c, 4, Farhh (GB)–Fair Daughter (GB), by Nathaniel (Ire). (130,000gns Ylg '20 TATOCT). O-Godolphin SNC; B-Car Colston Hall Stud (GB); T-Andre Fabre. €12,000. Margins: HF, 2, 1 1/4. Odds: 4.30, 5.60, 0.90. Also Ran: Anthorus (Fr), Gregarina (Fr), American Flag (Fr), Arnis Master (Ger), Miramis (Ire), Nano Nagle (Ire), Foniska (Ire). Video, sponsored by FanDuel TV. The post Sumbe’s Belbek In Successful Farewell At Saint-Cloud appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Sent off the fourth betting favourite at a little more than 6-1, the progressive Durezza (Jpn) (Duramente {Jpn}) was given a cerebral ride by Christophe Lemaire in Sunday's G1 Kikuka Sho (Japanese St. Leger) at Kyoto and raced away in the final 200 metres to defeat the winners of the first two legs of the Triple Crown–G1 Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) hero Tastiera (Jpn) (Satono Crown {Jpn}) and market leader Sol Oriens (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn}), victorious in the G1 Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas) in the spring. Only once beaten and winner of four starts on the trot in the lower grades, Durezza was away fairly from barrier 17 and was clicked up by Lemaire to take up the running after 400 metres, sliding over to the inside running rail as the Kikuka Sho field raced past the stands first time round. Positions were largely unchanged rounding the second of the three bends, but the complexion of the race changed somewhat when 300-1 chance Pax Ottomanica (Jpn) (Victoire Pisa {Jpn}) overtook Durezza with 1400 metres to travel, but Lemaire remained unfazed and unhurried, allowing his mount to lob along, and when Libyan Knight (Jpn) (Kizuna {Jpn}) went for a similarly early run, Durezza was relegated to third spot. Traveling strongly on the back of Libyan Knight nearing the straight, Durezza was produced by Lemaire off heels, took over 300 metres out and kicked on smartly for the victory. Tastiera, having his first run since the Derby, emerged from the pack to finish a non-threatening second for a Carrot Farm 1-2, while Sol Oriens was wide throughout and made belated progress to be third. “He made a flying start and was keen to go, so I decided to let him take the lead,” said Lemaire, winning his 46th Group 1 on the JRA a week ahead of the G1 Tenno Sho (Autumn), where he rides defending champion Equinox (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn}). “He responded well between the third and last corner which made me confident that he was going to close strongly. When he accelerated in the stretch, I knew we were going to win. To see him beat such a strong field today over the 3000-metre distance means we can look forward to him doing well among Group 1 company over 2000 and 2400 meters also.” Pedigree Notes: For the gone-too-soon Duramente–also the sire of Filly Triple Crown heroine Liberty Island (Jpn)–Durezza is a 17th stakes winner, 12th group winner and a sixth Group 1 winner from four crops of racing age. His sons and daughters have accounted for no fewer than seven Triple Crown races, including 2021 Kikuka Sho victor Titleholder (Jpn). Like Liberty Island, Durezza was produced by an Australian-bred mare. Bred by Raffles Dancers (NZ) Pty Ltd, More Than Sacred was campaigned in New Zealand, where she won the G1 New Zealand Oaks over 2400 metres and was a fast-finishing third to Who Shot Thebarman (NZ) (Yamanin Vital {NZ}) in the G1 Auckland Cup going 3200 metres. More Than Sacred, acquired privately and relocated to Japan in 2015, produced six foals in the country, including the as-yet unraced 2-year-old filly Divinest (Jpn) (Real Steel {Jpn}) and a yearling filly by King Kamehameha (Jpn)'s Tokyo Yushun-winning son Rey de Oro (Jpn). More Than Sacred, a full-sister to Raffles Dancers's multiple Malaysian stakes winner Sacred Empire (NZ) and from the family of GI Breeders' Cup Turf hero Northern Spur (Ire) (Sadler's Wells), cost ¥9.35 million (about $63,141) and was one of 13 mares purchased by Yuesheng Zhang's Yulong Investments out of the Northern Farm Mixed Sale in October 2022. Exported to Ireland, the mare produced a colt by Bricks and Mortar (Giant's Causeway) this past May 8 and was most recently bred to Frankel (GB) on Southern Hemisphere time. Yulong mare More Than Sacred scores an exceptional pedigree update as her 3YO colt, Durezza (Duramente {JPN}) claims the G1 Kikuka Sho (Japanese St. Leger). More Than Sacred is in foal to @JuddmonteFarms super sire Frankel on Southern Hemisphere time.#aworldofopportunity pic.twitter.com/mAUSb0AYwY — Yulong Investments (@YulongInvest) October 22, 2023 Sunday, Kyoto, Japan KIKUKA SHO (JAPANESE ST LEGER)-G1, ¥418,620,000, Kyoto, 10-22, 3yo, c/f, 3000mT, 3:03.10, gd/fm. 1–DUREZZA (JPN), 126, c, 3, by Duramente (Jpn) 1st Dam: More Than Sacred (Aus) (G1SW-NZ, $351,755), by More Than Ready 2nd Dam: Danalaga (Aus), by Danehill 3rd Dam: Tamarino (Ire), by Caerleon 1ST GROUP 1 WIN. 1ST GROUP WIN. 1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN. O-Carrot Farm Co Ltd; B-Northern Farm; T-Tomohito Ozeki; J-Christophe Lemaire; ¥227,034,000. Lifetime Record: 6-5-0-1, ¥282,271,000. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the free Equineline.com catalog-style pedigree. 2–Tastiera (Jpn), 126, c, 3, Satono Crown (Jpn)–Partitura (Jpn), by Manhattan Cafe (Jpn). O-Carrot Farm Co Ltd; B-Northern Farm; T-Noriyuki Hori; J-Joao Moreira; ¥87,724,000. 3–Sol Oriens (Jpn), 126, c, 3, Kitasan Black (Jpn)–Skia (Fr), by Motivator (GB). O-Shadai Race Horse; B-Shadai Farm;T-Takahisa Tezuka; J-Takeshi Yokoyama; ¥53,862,000. Margins: 3HF, 1HF, 3/4. Odds: 6.30, 3.70, 1.70. Also Ran: Libyan Glass (Jpn), Savona (Jpn), Hearts Concerto (Jpn), Meiner Laulea (Jpn), Night in London (Jpn), Phantom Thief (Jpn), Satono Glanz (Jpn), Shonan Bashitto (Jpn), Season Rich (Jpn), Win Odin (Jpn, Top Knife (Jpn), Nocking Point (Jpn), Danon Tornado (Jpn), Pax Ottomanica (Jpn). Click for the JRA chart. Now nine G1 winners outside Australia this year out of Australian mares! From 1000m to 3000m too (four at 2400m or beyond!) Imperatriz Al Muthana Liberty Island In Italian Russian Emperor Warm Heart / Skew Wiff Mustang Valley Durezza @Aushorse_TBA https://t.co/WZKcPdGGG9 — Andrew Hawkins (@AndrewNJHawkins) October 22, 2023 The post Superb Lemaire Steer Lands Durezza In Kikuka Sho Winner’s Enclosure appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The GI Breeders' Cup Turf on Nov. 4 remains under consideration for Amo Racing's G1 QIPCO Champion S. winner King Of Steel (Wootton Bassett {GB}). “He appears to have come out of the race physically in good shape, but he would have had a hard race yesterday and we can't ignore that. We just have to see how he is over the next week,” said the colt's trainer Roger Varian. “I know Kia is very keen on the Breeders' Cup anyway, in general, and if he could get a good horse there, then of course he'd want to be there. “But in fairness to Kia, he's been very good all year and he's always said to me only run the horse when you're 100 per cent happy, and if you're not, we don't go.” He added, “I'm sure that will be the same regarding California in a couple of weeks' time. We need to give it a few days to see what messages the horse is giving us, so I'm not going to take it off the table and we'll just see how he is.” King Of Steel, who was runner-up to Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) in the Derby, has raced just seven times in his career, and also triumphed at Royal Ascot in June in the G2 King Edward VII S. Mostahdaf (GB) (Frankel {GB}), a late defector from the Champion S. as the ground deteriorated on Saturday, has been confirmed as on course for the Breeders' Cup Turf, which is likely to be the final race of his career. The winner this season of the Prince of Wales's S. at Royal Ascot and the Juddmonte International at York, the John and Thady Gosden-trained five-year-old was ruled out of action after the stable won the first race of the day at Ascot with Trawlerman (GB) (Golden Horn {GB}). “John and I had another look at it and spoke to Sheikha Hissa and said, 'look, it's your decision, but the ground isn't going to be in his favour', and John just felt it wasn't fair on the horse ending his career in ground we know he doesn't like – he couldn't hobble on it in the Arc last year,” said Angus Gold, racing manager for Mostahdaf's owner Shadwell. “With the option of the Breeders' Cup still to come, there didn't seem any point in bowing out on a low note when we can go to California with a chance of running him on fast ground in a couple of weeks' time if he's still well.” He added: “His best form here recently has been over a mile and a quarter, but over an American mile and a half, going down that hill for the first four furlongs or whatever it is, I think he'll stay it. He's a five-year-old now who has done brilliantly this year and I think if he does go to America that will be his last run.” The post Breeders’ Cup Still an Option for King Of Steel appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article