Wandering Eyes

Officials at Keeneland have announced plans for major capital investments at the historic Lexington oval, including the constuction of a permanent Paddock Building and a reimagined saddling experience. The project, which is expected to cost $93 million, is the largest undertaking of its variety since Keeneland opened 90 years ago and marks the first major construction at the track since the construction of the Keeneland Library in 2002. Construction is scheduled to begin following the 2024 Keeneland January Horses of All Ages Sale and is expected to be completed by the fall of 2025. The new Paddock Building, to be located alongside the paddock and walking ring, will offer expanded viewing and dining experiences available to the public not only during the spring and fall race meetings, but also during Keeneland auctions and will also be available for year-round use to accommodate special events. The saddling stalls will also be repositioned to offer the safest possible environment for equine and human participants and will also give racing fans an unmatched view of the saddling paddock. “Keeneland's founding mission is to be a model race track, to invest in the future of our sport, to enrich our Central Kentucky community and to always do what is best for the horse,” Keeneland President and CEO Shannon Arvin said. “This project is central to our mission because it will allow us to welcome more fans and give them a variety of world-class experiences during our race meets and beyond. The improvements to our saddling processes are not only functional in providing more space for horses and horsemen, but the results will offer unobstructed views to showcase the beauty and pageantry of our equine and human athletes.” The three-level structure will extend the length of the paddock and walking ring and is planned for the area currently occupied by the Keeneland administrative building and jockeys' quarters. There will be a variety of ticketed experiences for the public, including dining, a bar area and a panoramic rooftop. The Paddock Building will include a reconfigured East Gate entrance that will align with Keeneland Boulevard while expanding the area inside the gates around the historic Sycamore tree. A new jockeys' quarters will be housed within the building, providing fans a unique experience in which jockeys will walk directly through the venue before each race. “We spent a great deal of time looking at racing venues and sports facilities around the world for inspiration.” Arvin said. “We also talked to our stakeholders and fans to understand what they love most about spending a day at Keeneland, whether it be during racing, sales or another occasion. Keeneland's fans are the best in the industry, and we know the demand for tickets is often greater than the supply. This new facility will allow us to provide a variety of unique experiences allowing more fans to enjoy the finest hospitality in sports.” The new structures will remain true architecturally with the existing clubhouse and grandstand and feature the two-over-two pattern of stonework unique to Keeneland. Keeneland is working with state and local government to secure incentive funds to support the project. Upon the recommendation of the Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet, Keeneland on Wednesday received preliminary approval from the Kentucky Tourism Development Finance Authority (KTDFA) for incentives to support the project totaling up to $23.2 million. “Keeneland is a historic destination for our local families and travelers, and this exciting investment will create more opportunities for everyone to enjoy, while boosting our signature horse racing industry and Kentucky's $12.9 billion tourism industry,” said Gov. Andy Beshear. “The horse racing industry is as indispensable to our economy as it is to our culture, and after a record-breaking year for tourism in 2022, leaders like Keeneland are going to help ensure Kentucky's success continues for years to come.” The global design firm Populous is serving as lead architect and is committed to focusing on integrating the beauty and traditions of Keeneland and the majesty and safety of the equine into its design. “Keeneland is a national treasure and Populous is honored to support the emerging needs of horsemen and guests through these thoughtful design solutions while creating a new vantage point for future generations to enjoy all that Keeneland has to offer,” said Mason Paoli, Principal, Interior Design Director, Populous. “This project offers a unique opportunity to combine our deep background in the sports, entertainment and hospitality sectors to create these one-of-a-kind spaces for fans and patrons in reverence to the horse, further extending Keeneland's timeless mission and legacy in the sport.” In addition to the new Paddock Building and improvements, Keeneland plans to make future announcements in furtherance of its mission to enhance racing and sales and the health and well-being of the horse. “This exciting project will be the first in a number of enhancements to our trackside experience, sales facilities and the backstretch community,” said Arvin. “This is an investment in the advancement of Keeneland's mission: to strengthen our industry and the future of our sport for generations to come.” Keeneland is excited to make a historic announcement! Construction for a new Paddock Building will begin in January 2024. Located alongside the Keeneland Paddock and Walking Ring, the new Paddock Building will expand viewing and dining experiences available to the public during… pic.twitter.com/fCVdj0jmOd — Keeneland (@keeneland) October 18, 2023 The post Keeneland To Construct New Paddock Building, Enhancements To Saddling Paddock appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Pioneering Spirit faces seven rivals in the Oct. 20 Knickerbocker Stakes (G3T) during Belmont at the Big A meet, but his greatest adversary could be Mother Nature.View the full article

The Racing Medication & Testing Consortium today announced the funding of a 3-year postdoctoral fellowship research project, "Micro RNAs as Sensitive Biomarkers for Detection of Drug Administration in Horses."View the full article

With a forecast calling for additional rain in the greater metropolitan New York area for Friday and Saturday, officials at the New York Racing Association elected not to card any turf races for Saturday's live racing program at Aqueduct. The featured Athenia S., a listed event for older fillies and mares at nine furlongs will instead take place next Friday, Oct. 27. There has been measurable rain in New York on each of the last seven Saturdays and according to information from NYRA spokesperson Patrick McKenna, a total of 16.68 inches of rain has been recorded at Aqueduct since Labor Day. The post With More Rain Forecast, No Saturday Turf Racing in NY; Athenia Rescheduled appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Autism in Racing has teamed up with the National Autistic Society in an effort to help encourage autistic people to work in the racing industry. Autism-friendly racedays have been staged at a number of tracks and with the support of the Bloomfield Trust. According to recent figures from the Office for National Statistics, only 29 per cent of autistic people are employed. “I'm really thrilled that Autism in Racing and the National Autistic Society will partner up through their Autism at Work programme,” said Bobby Beevers, founder of Autism in Racing. “One of our key aims is to create employment in the industry, and this a huge leap forward to support autistic individuals to find a role in racing.” Included among the initiatives are webinars and training for those looking to employ autistic people as well as dedicated job coaches and ongoing advice. Richmal Maybank, employer engagement manager and Autism at Work lead at the National Autistic Society added, “Employers often ask us what kind of jobs autistic people can do, whilst 68 per cent of employers worry about getting support for autistic people wrong. With the right support and adjustments autistic people can thrive across all types of roles and industries. “The National Autistic Society has had previous links with the Autism in Racing team through their autism-friendly racedays and continue to work towards racecourses achieving the National Autistic Society Autism Friendly Award. This is why we are thrilled to be partnering with the racing industry to seek meaningful employment opportunities.” The post Autism in Racing, National Autistic Society Team Up appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

How fitting it is that Ian Dobson’s life will be celebrated at the Christian Cullen Lounge at Addington Raceway today. The man, known by all as “Dobbie”, died on his 90th birthday on Monday. At 10.30am his extraordinary life will be celebrated, with the harness racing community expected to turn out in big numbers. Dobson’s death brings to a close one of the most spectacular ownership chapters in harness racing – he won 385 races in New Zealand alone, with 73 individual winners, including 31 at the very highest Group 1 level. He will forever be associated with the great Christian Cullen, a millionaire on the track who went on to become a sensational sire. In the 2015-16 season he was retired from stud as the sire of 1250 winners, including five millionaires. He also sired 2005 New Zealand Cup winner Mainland Banner. The winner of 22 races, among Christian Cullen’s greatest successes were as a four year old when he was unbeaten. His successes included the 1998 New Zealand Cup and the Miracle Mile in a track record. Dobson was born during the depression and was reared by foster parents in New Brighton. Early in his working life he was a plumber – reportedly living off 10 per cent of his income and saving the rest – before moving into buying property. His first horse was Jam Cover in the 1980s and he would go on to own or part own around 100 horses. Included in his portfolio were some absolute superstars, with his first Group 1 winner being Spirit of Zeus in 1985. At Grand Prix day last December he was the toast of Addington after three of his best – Akuta, Don’t Stop Dreaming and Muscle Mountain – achieved a remarkable Group 1-winning treble. In a February interview before cleaning up at the annual harness racing awards, Dobson said “the horses keep me going. I’m having a bit of fun and I don’t think I’ve ever had such a good run.” And just last Friday, with ailing health preventing Dobson from making it to Addington, all three went so close to another treble, with Akuta and Don’t Stop Dreaming winning, and Muscle Mountain finishing second to Oscar Bonavena in the Canterbury Park Trotting Cup. In November Akuta, the $2.20 favourite for the New Zealand Cup, Muscle Mountain, the second favourite for the Dominion, and Don’t Stop Dreaming in the Junior Free All could once again see Dobson’s name to the fore. Today he will be taken for a final lap of the track where he has had so much success before being laid to rest. He is survived by his partner Janice, son Stuart, daughter Lynne, four grandchildren and seven great grandchildren. View the full article

By Michael Guerin Fresh from claiming one of our elite juvenile prizes trainers Barry Purdon and Scott Phelan launch another wave at Alexandra Park tonight. The Clevedon barn won the Harness Million juvenile boys pace for the second year on end when Cold Chisel took out the $200,000 final at Addington last Friday, a year after Merlin won the race for the same owner Dean Shannon. “It was a good win because he only had the one lead-up run and while he got the right run I think there isn’t much between this crop so most of them are going to need that,” says Purdon. He and Phelan were also thrilled with Merlin’s third in the Flying Stakes and confirm he will head to the Junior Free-For-All on New Zealand Cup day as his pathway to the NZ Derby on December 10. The stable has plenty more juvenile talent to aim at either the best races this season or three-year-old glory next year and three of them are on show at Alexandra Park tonight. The stable has two juvenile boy pacers in against older horses in race 2 – the Sweet Lou Tender Closes Tonight Mobile pace – and both In Excess (R2, No.1) and Better Knuckle Up (No.4) have shown enough to suggest they can win. “They are both promising horses and the way he has been trialing Better Knuckle Up might just get the nod of our two this week,” says Purdon. “He has plenty of ability and will win races shortly but from barrier 4 might just need that little bit of luck early. “In Excess has the ace draw which is always a help and has to be hard to beat from there.” Fellow stable juvenile Escape Artist is already an Alex Park winner and finished second to Cold Chisel in the Breckon Young Guns in March but finds himself in a tough field in the Farewell Ray Palnt Mobile Pace from the outside of the front line tonight. “It won’t be easy but clearly he is a good horse so if he has some luck he will still be hard to beat.” He comes up against another impressive juvenile in Yourdoinamazinsweety, who was luckless last start, and a smart filly in Kourtney Kardash in what is one of the races of the night, with Benson Dude giving Purdon/Phelan a second string chance. The stable will have Montana D J in the IRT.Your Horse.Our Passion Handicap pace and he handled his only standing start well enough to suggest it shouldn’t be an issue tonight while Artisan has her second start back this campaign. The 2700m standing start handicap has good depth including Miki Shan, Dontstopmenow, Simply Sam and in-form mares Lady Of The Light and Whispering Artist as they prepare for the upcoming major mares races. View the full article

Vergara and Transient —separated by three-quarters of a length when 1-2 in the Ladies Marathon Stakes (G3T) at Kentucky Downs Sept. 9—battle in a longer stamina test on the grass in the 1 1/2-mile Dowager Stakes (G3T) at Keeneland Oct. 22.View the full article

DEAUVILLE, France–A member of the first crop of Newsells Park Stud's Without Parole (GB) led the way as trade resumed in the ring at Arqana, with Nicolas de Watrigant going to €160,000 for the filly from Haras de la Louviere (lot 248) out of Pigota (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}). Her dam may have been unraced but she is a daughter of the G1 Preis der Diana winner Penelopa (Ger) (Giant's Causeway) and a half-sister to Listed-placed dual winner Pennymoor (GB), who is by Without Parole's sire Frankel (GB). The agent confirmed that the filly will be exported to America to race for Madaket Stables. “She will head straight to the States,” he said. “I haven't seen many by the sire, but he is a son of Frankel and a St James's Palace Stakes winner so there is a lot to like there.” Without Parole, who was born at Newsells Park and bred by John and Tanya Gunther, owners of Glennwood Farm in Kentucky, had a Tattersalls Book 1 average of 71,333gns for three sold, with another clean sweep of Book 2 yearlings when six sold for an average of 54,333gns. The Gunthers are also the breeders of Triple Crown winner Justify, whose stock continues to rise and is responsible for two of the most exciting juveniles in Europe in City Of Troy and Opera Singer. On Tuesday, it was announced his fee had doubled to $200,000 at Ashford Stud. Signing under his Mandore International banner, de Watrigant also picked up a Zarak (Fr) filly for €120,000. Lot 246 is the third foal of the Motivator (GB) mare Phoebe Buffay (GB), herself a half-sister to the Listed winner High Heel Sneakers (GB) (Dansili {GB}), whose exploits at stud include producing the G1 Prix Vermeille winner Sweet Lady (Fr) (Lope De Vega {Ire}). Consigned by Haras de l'Hotellerie, the filly will race for prolific owner-breeder Jean-Claude Seroul. Zarak, who notched his first Group 1 winner this season with Zagrey (Fr), continues to be one of the most popular young stallions in France and has had 12 yearlings sold this week for an average of €104,250. Just 119 lots were catalogued for Wednesday's session to allow for a new wave of horses to arrive and settle in the boxes vacated by the horses in Part I. Of those, 113 were offered and 97 were sold for an aggregate of €3,562,000 (-4%) and average of €36,722 (+3%). The median was down slightly at €26,000. Cumulatively, trade from the first two sessions is running roughly on par with last year, with 60 six-figure lots so far. Marconi impressed by Chachnak colt Italian owner Alessandro Marconi has bought three yearlings so far for €340,000 and on Wednesday he plumped for one of only three yearlings from the first crop of the Kingman (GB) stallion Chachnak (Fr) in the sale (lot 264). A son of the G2 Prix Wildenstein winner and Prix de Diane runner-up Tamazirte (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}), Chachnak himself won twice at Group 3 level and now stands at Haras de la Gastine in the Orne region south of Normandy. Marconi bid €110,000 for the colt out of Red Love (Gone West) who was bred by Jean-Pierre Dubois and consigned on his behalf by Haras des Capucines, which offers the final yearling by the stallion on Thursday as lot 454. That colt is a grandson of the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies winner Flanders (Seeking The Gold). Chachnak has 33 yearlings registered with France Galop and another 19 foals, including a full-sister to lot 264. Skiffington doubles up on New Bay Amanda Skiffington liked the look of lot 288 enough to recommend her to John O'Connor of Ballylinch Stud who duly gave the agent the go-ahead to try to secure the daughter of New Bay (GB) and Sarbacane (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}). Skiffington made the final successful bid at €120,000 for the filly bred by Framont Ltd and Grove Stud and consigned by Haras de Castillon. The mare has already produced a four-time winner by Sea The Stars (Ire) and is a half-sister to the G1 Gran Premio di Milano winner Sudan (Ire) (Peintre Celebre). “I liked everything about her,” said Skiffington, who at the Goffs orby Sale signed for another New Bay, the full-sister to Group 1 winner Saffron Beach (Ire), at a sale-topping €1.65 million. “I rang John O'Connor as he always supports his stallions.” Buy of the Day Lot 293, Almanzor (Fr) – Schlague (Pulpit) Vendor: Haras d'Etreham Breeder: Gestut Zur Küste Buyer: Romain Le Dren Doleuze, €15,000 Local trainer Romain Le Dren Doleuze wouldn't have had to travel far with this yearling to get him back to his stable alongside Deauville racecourse and he looks to have snared a bargain in this colt who will doubtless benefit from a tender approach during the early part of his training. His dam has been more than useful for breeder Gestut Zur Kuste, who also bred Group 1-winning brothers Bucanero Fuerte (Fr) and Wooded (Ire), as well as this colt's half-brother, the G3 Prix Djebel winner Dice Roll (Fr) (Showcasing {GB}), who was also third in the Poule d'Essai des Poulains. Schlague has produced six winners in total, including two to this colt's sire Almanzor. The latest of those is the two-year-old filly Hit It (Fr), who won at Saint-Cloud last month in the colours of George Strawbridge. The post USA-Bound Without Parole Filly On Top at Arqana appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

What 2023 Caulfield Cup Where Caulfield Racecourse – 22 Station St, Caulfield East VIC 3145 When Saturday, October 21, 2023 | Race 9 | 5:15pm AEDT Prizemoney $5,000,000 Distance 2400m Status Group 1 Conditions Handicap 2022 Winner Durston (6) | Trainer: Chris Waller | Jockey: Michael Dee (51.5kg) Visit Dabble The 2023 Caulfield Cup (2400m) is the feature event on Saturday’s stacked 10-race meeting at Caulfield. A capacity field of 18 is headlined by reigning Melbourne Cup champion Gold Trip (+450), who is looking to go one better than his narrow defeat in this event last year. A strong international flavour features amongst the favourites with online bookmakers, as West Wind Blows (+500) and Breakup (+800) join Without A Fight (+800) as the only other runners at a single figure quote. In terms of a speedmap, Goldman will use his early speed from the wide draw (18) to take up the running, while Valiant King (1) and West Wind Blows (2) will look to kick up from the low draws and hold a prominent spot. With Gold Trip (11), Francesco Guardi (15) and Montefilia (9) all expected to settle towards the rear of the field. Keep reading for HorseBetting’s full runner-by-runner preview and $100 betting strategy for the 2023 Caulfield Cup. 1. GOLD TRIP (11) 6yo Horse | T: Ciaron Maher & David Eustace | J: Ben Melham (58.5kg) A Caulfield Cup lead in does not come much more impressive than the way Gold Trip destroyed his rivals in the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m). Having finished second in this race 12 months ago on his way to winning the Melbourne Cup, Gold Trip is without a doubt the proven horse under handicap conditions. Gold Trip is a three-time winner from 22 starts and is obviously racing as well as he has ever had. He gains the services of the in-form Ben Melham for Saturday’s event, with regular jockey Mark Zahra committed to ride Without A Fight. Barrier 11 is no disadvantage for the champion, as he can settle midfield in the moving line. For a stayer, Gold Trip is armed with a blistering turn of foot and if he brings his best, not many of these can go with him late. 2. WITHOUT A FIGHT (7) 6yo Gelding | T: Anthony & Sam Freedman | J: Mark Zahra (55.5kg) Ever since making a mess of his rivals in the Q22 (2200m) during the Queensland Winter Racing Carnival, the Anthony & Sam Freedman-trained Without A Fight has always been considered a key player in this year’s Caulfield Cup. The six-year-old gelding put in an eye-catching run when finishing 6th in the Group 1 Underwood Stakes (1800m). The step up to 2400m four weeks between runs is hardly a disadvantage for runners from the Freedman barn. He has a win and five minor placings from eight goes at the trip and from barrier seven draws to gain a gorgeous run in transit throughout. Mark Zahra is a genuine Group 1 hoop and will give Without A Fight every chance on Saturday, and with even luck inside the final 600m, Without A Fight looks hard to beat and is our on top selection. 3. BREAKUP (5) 5yo Horse | T: Tatsuya Yoshioka | J: Damian Lane (55kg) Despite being a +800 chance in the Caulfield Cup, we’re happy to bet around the Tatsuya Yoshioka-trained Breakup. The Japanese-based galloper has not won in close to a year, and despite racing in some elite-tier events in Japan, the Melbourne Cup is potentially his prefered option. Damian Lane gets the best out of these imported Japanese stayers and from barrier five will need to be at his best for this gross type of horse. Much like Romantic Warrior, first-up off the plane into a race like the Caulfield Cup is no easy task and despite the quote, we do not have Breakup in our top four. 4. MONTEFILIA (9) 6yo Mare | T: Chris Waller | J: Blake Shinn (54.5kg) Montefilia returned to her best when claiming the Group 2 Hill Stakes (1900m) on October 7 and is back for a third crack at the Caulfield Cup. The six-year-old mare gave her rivals a massive start and ultimately a beating last time out to suggest she has a Group 1 win in her future. The big issue with Montefilia is that she has just one minor placing to her name from four attempts at racing the “Melbourne way”. A big plus is the booking of Blake Shinn, but it is hard to make too much of a case for her to be winning on Saturday. 5. FRANCESCO GUARDI (15) 5yo Gelding | T: Chris Waller | J: James McDonald (54kg) The Chris Waller-trained Francesco Guardi may not have been at his best this campaign results wise, but this bloke is a genuine stayer and gets his chance at Group 1 glory for the fourth time. It is hard to erase the memory of his win over the smart Lunar Flare in the Group 2 Moonee Valley Gold Cup (2500m) last year, in a run that suggested he would be hard to beat in a Melbourne Cup before injury struck. James McDonald will hop back on board and with three wins and a second to their name when partnering, we know Francesco Guardi will be given every chance to succeed. He’ll be at the rear of the field with 800m to go, but if Francesco Guardi can gain a tow into the race, he can salute at a big price. 6. WEST WIND BLOWS (2) 4yo Gelding | T: Simon & Ed Crisford | J: Jamie Spencer (54kg) It was an impressive first-up performance by West Wind Blows in the Turnbull, where he was forced to work early on to settle outside the lead. The Simon & Ed Crisford-trained stayer brings some strong formlines behind genuine UK stars like Pyledriver and Paddington. From barrier two, he will most likely settle in the first half a dozen under Jamie Spencer. The son of Teofilo will need to step away cleanly to avoid getting trapped back on the fence, with plenty of those drawn out wide wanting to roll forward. In our opinion, West Wind Blows would have prefered a slightly giving ground, but on class alone, he can run a hole in the Caulfield Cup. 7. NONCONFORMIST (19) 7yo Gelding | T: Grahame Begg | J: Harry Coffey (53.5kg) Having drawn the outside barrier (19), it is hard to make too much of a case for Nonconformist in the Caulfield Cup. This will be his third run in the race, with a second beaten 3.5 lengths behind Incentivise in the 2021 edition his best result. He is a shadow of his former self in recent times and will need to give better stayers too much of a start from the wide draw. 8. SOULCOMBE (6) 4yo Gelding | T: Chris Waller | J: Craig Williams (53.5kg) Since winning the 2022 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2600m) during the Melbourne Cup Carnival, Soulcombe from Chris Waller’s barn has always been seen as a Cup’s contender. He was a brilliant winner first-up in Listed company this time in before hitting the line strongly over 1800m in the Underwood. He then would go on to run strongly in the Turnbull when beaten a touch over two lengths behind Gold Trip. He meets Gold Trip better at the weights on Saturday and draws perfectly in barrier six under Craig Williams. He is a stayer on the rise being a four-year-old, and as long as he finds clear air on the home turn, Soulcombe will be fighting out the finish on Saturday. 9. DUKE DE SESSA (14) 4yo Horse | T: Ciaron Maher & David Eustace | J: John Allen (53kg) Prior to the barrier draw, it was hard to make too much of a case for Duke De Sessa based on what we have seen on these shores so far. In three starts in Australia, the son of Lope de Vega has not finished any better than sixth and has hardly caught the eye. He is a two-time winner at 2400m and is from the right stable, but it is hard to make too much of a case for Duke De Sessa. 10. HOO YA MAL (8) 4yo Gelding | T: Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | J: Tim Clark (53kg) It is easy to see why Hoo Ya Mal was a key player in last year’s Melbourne Cup and is another we can make a case for at a big price. The four-year-old gelding was only grabbed late by Montefilia in the Hill Stakes, and his two runs prior to that suggests a win in a big race isn’t too far away. Tim Clark will look to land a spot in the first six from barrier eight and from there, Hoo Ya Mal will have a tactical advantage on most of the market fancies. He is becoming a bit of a non-winner, having won just twice from 13 starts, including a winless drought which stretches back over a year. With 200m to go Hoo Ya Mal might be the one in the lead; it is just whether he can hold off the fancied runners. 11. RIGHT YOU ARE (13) 7yo Gelding | T: Ciaron Maher & David Eustace | J: Michael Dee (53kg) Right You Are booked his spot in the Caulfield Cup when saluting in the Listed Mornington Cup (2400m) during the autumn, but since then, he has struggled to hold his form. Outside of a minor placing in a BM100 first-up, his two subsequent runs suggests that there a better horses to back on Saturday. This looks a touch above his pay grade. 12. EMISSARY (4) 6yo Gelding | T: Mike Moroney | J: Jye McNeil (52kg) We have not seen the best of Emissary ever since he finished second in last year’s Melbourne Cup. His lead in run this preparation have been nothing short of horrible. A severe turn around in form is require to be competitive. 13. GOLDMAN (18) 5yo Gelding | T: Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | J: Linda Meech (52kg) Goldman rocketed into Caulfield Cup calculations when stringing together three straight wins during the autumn, including the Roy Higgins Quality (2600m) over Soulcombe. He will be the one making all the running, but considering he may be forced to work overtime to find the rail from barrier 18, the final 200m will see him gasping for air late. The +7000 looks a touch of overs, but there is a few too many doubts about Goldman at this level. 14. OKITA SOUSHI (12) 5yo Horse | T: Joseph O’Brien | J: Kerrin McEvoy (51.5kg) Okita Soushi is the first of two Joseph O’Brien-trained runners and looks to be the rougher hope. This will be the son of Galileo’s first crack at a race above Group 3 company, but has been aided by the booking of Kerrin McEvoy. He was a smart winner during Royal Ascot back in June at the trip, but this is much harder then that race. He looks to be a better horse over further, so the Melbourne Cup might be more to his liking. 15. FAME (16) 4yo Gelding | T: Peter Moody & Katherine Coleman | J: Craig Newitt (51kg) The Peter Moody & Katherine Coleman-trained Fame has simply been awful this campaign in much easier assignments. He ran on strongly to finish second in the Group 1 Queensland Derby (2400m) behind Kovalica during the winter, but this is too hard for him. 16. BOIS D’ARGENT (3) 6yo Gelding | T: Annabel Neasham | J: Winona Costin (50.5kg) Bois D’argent is an honest stayer who continues to race well in country cups in New South Wales. He found it too tough in the Group 1 Metropolitan (2400m) on firmer ground and despite the handy draw, he will find the Caulfield Cup even tougher considering he needs a wet deck. 17. SPIRIT RIDGE (10) 8yo Gelding | T: Annabel Neasham | J: Dean Yendall (50.5kg) It is impossible to knock the consistency of the Annabel Neasham-trained Spirit Ridge. The eight-year-old gelding went to a new level when finishing second in the Metrop, beaten a half-head behind Just Fine. He has not finished worse than third in his last five starts, albeit in weaker company. Spirit Ridge will be close to the speed throughout, but we expect he will be outclassed late in the piece. 18. VALIANT KING (1) 3yo Horse | T: Joseph O’Brien | J: Jamie Kah (50kg) The lone three-year-old in this year’s Caulfield Cup, Valiant King, will make his Australian debut from barrier one in Saturday’s Group 1. Aided by the 50kg and Jamie Kah from the gun draw, Valiant King will be given every opportunity to feature in the finish should he find clear air at the right time. I tis unlikely he will settle too close to the speed from the low draw, but if the gaps appear at the right time, he certainly brings X-factor into a race like the Caulfield Cup. Valiant King is a genuine top four hope, but will need a stack of luck. 19. UNITED NATIONS (1E) (17) 4yo Horse | T: Ciaron Maher & David Eustace | J: Carleen Hefel (50kg) The sole emergency United Nations has not been able to win in easier races this preparation, including when finishing second in last weekend’s Group 2 Herbert Power Stakes (2400m). If he does gain a start, barrier 17 is massively off-putting and will be struggling to go with the better horses when they turn for home. 2023 Caulfield Cup selections & best bets Selections: 2 WITHOUT A FIGHT 1 GOLD TRIP 5 FRANCESCO GUARDI 10 HOO YA MAL $100 betting strategy $100 Win Without A Fight (#2) @ +800 with Betfair More horse racing tips View the full article

What Pakenham Races Where Pakenham Racecourse When Friday, October 20, 2023 First Race 6:15pm AEDT Visit Dabble Friday night racing returns to Pakenham Racecourse, where a competitive eight-race card is set down for decision. The track has come up a Soft 7 at the time of acceptances. With a favourable weather forecast, we expect to be racing on a firmer deck come race one. The rail sticks to its true position, with action commencing at 6:15pm AEDT. Best Bet at Pakenham: Roll On High Roll On High has finished second at both career starts and gets her chance to go one better as she steps back to the 1400m. The three-year-old filly produced a stunning turn of foot when beaten a head at Bendigo on September 27 when seemingly peaking on her run late. The 1400m looks ideal for the Shamus Award filly and in a race that lacks a lot of depth, Roll On High will be thundering home later and prove too hard to hold out. Best Bet Race 2 – #9 Roll On High (6) 3yo Filly | T: Peter Moody & Katherine Coleman | J: Billy Egan (55kg) +110 with Betfair Next Best at Pakenham: Russian Meteor The Bill Papazaharoudakis-trained Russian Meteor was quite unlucky in a tougher event at Flemington on September 24 and gets his chance to right those wrongs on Friday. The four-year-old struck plenty of traffic when in need of clear air last time out when beaten three-lengths going to the line untested. From barrier seven, Jamie Mott should have this bloke settled towards the rear of the field. With a well-timed sprint, Russian Meteor can blouse his rivals late. Next Best Race 6 – #4 Russian Meteor (7) 4yo Gelding | T: Bill Papazaharoudakis | J: Jamie Mott (61.5kg) +180 with PendleburyBet Next Best Again at Pakenham: Prancing Spirit With a bit of luck, we can round out the day in style as the Phillip Stokes-trained Prancing Spirit looks to break a string of runner-up performances. The Sir Prancealot gelding couldn’t overhaul Pantelone over 1200m at Mornington on September 30 and looks to have struck the right race on Friday. From barrier nine, Daniel Stackhouse should be able to lob in the one-one or outside lead. With even luck upon settling, Prancing Spirit brings the right form to Pakenham, and he should prove too slick for this lot. Next Best Again Race 8 – #1 Prancing Spirit (9) 4yo Gelding | T: Phillip Stokes | J: Daniel Stackhouse (61.5kg) +240 with Dabble Friday quaddie tips for Pakenham Pakenham quadrella selections Friday, October 20, 2023 1-2-3-4 4-10-11 1-2-5-8 1-12 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip More horse racing tips View the full article

Hollie Doyle, named to ride G1 King's Stand S. scorer Bradsell (GB) (Tasleet {GB}) in the GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint at Santa Anita Nov. 4, has appealed a seven-day suspension and will have to face the British Horseracing Authority disciplinary panel next week to determine if a trip to America is in the offing. Doyle incurred the ban aboard the Jonathan Portman-trained Rose Light in the 11-furlong Unibet More Boosts In More Races Fillies' H. at Kempton Monday. According to the stewards report, “Doyle was suspended for seven days for careless riding as she allowed her mount to shift right-handed when insufficiently clear of Flying Circus on her inside, causing [Neil] Callan to take a significant check to avoid clipping heels which resulted in Sindri, Page Three and Typical Woman to all be tightened for room and lose their respective racing positions on the inside.” Doyle's ban is currently due to run from Oct. 30 to Nov. 4, plus Nov. 6 as there is no Flat racing in Britain Nov. 5. If she is successful in having the punishment reduced to five days or less, she would then be free to ride. The post Breeders’ Cup Ride Hangs in the Balance of Doyle’s Suspension Appeal appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

RaceTech and Ascot Racecourse (ARL) renewed a long-term partnership covering an extensive range of services at the Berkshire course. Beginning immediately, the new agreement will see RaceTech continue to provide full outside broadcast facilities, integrity coverage, in-house programming and other essential racecourse services such as photo finish, race timing and the starting stalls operation. John Bozza, RaceTech CEO, said: “We look forward to supporting this next contract cycle and building on our reputation as the technical service provider of choice for UK racing with innovation very much at the forefront.” The newly signed extension, which continues through to 2027, also encompasses RaceTech's provision of additional OB resource to produce separate upgraded Ascot broadcast productions for fixtures including the five-day Royal Ascot meeting in June. Felicity Barnard, Commercial Director and Deputy CEO, Ascot Racecourse, said: “RaceTech have been, are and will continue to be a key partner in bringing Ascot programming to millions around the world. We are delighted to renew and extend our long-term partnership and look forward to collectively bringing industry leading broadcasts to our global audience.” The post Ascot, RaceTech Forge Extended Partnership appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The partnership framework between the Australian Turf Club (ATC) and QIPCO British Champions Day has been extended, and as part of this initiative, the respective trophies commemorating the late Queen Elizabeth II will be displayed internationally. Every April, the ATC stages the A$5-million G1 Queen Elizabeth S. at Royal Randwick, while in October, Ascot Racecourse runs the G1 Queen Elizabeth II S. on QIPCO British Champions Day. The latter is set for Saturday, Oct. 21. The Randwick trophy will be part of the Hall of Fame exhibition in the main grandstand that day. In 2021, Queen Elizabeth II was the first to be inducted into the Special Contributor category of the QIPCO British Champions Series Hall of Fame. The trophies for the respective races will be on display at each racecourse. The ATC and QIPCO British Champions Series, Ltd., operators of British Champions Day, will each make special presentations to the connections of the winners at the forthcoming renewals. Newmarket trainer William Haggas and jockey Tom Marquand have won three of the last four renewals of the Queen Elizabeth S. at Randwick with Dubai Honour (Ire) (Pride Of Dubai {Aus}) (2023), and with Addeybb (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}) (2020 & 2021). The latter also won the G1 QIPCO Champion S., the feature race on QIPCO British Champions Day at Ascot. Chief Executive of the QIPCO British Champions Series, Rod Street said, “QIPCO British Champions Day will be proud to exhibit the Queen Elizabeth S. Trophy, kindly lent by the Australian Turf Club. “Queen Elizabeth II's lifelong passion for racing created widespread interest and global investment in the sport. That there are so many prestigious races named after her internationally is testament to her patronage of the sport throughout her life.” Australian Turf Club Chairman, Peter McGauran, said “Royal Randwick remains the only racecourse in the world outside of Royal Windsor Racecourse to carry the great honour of bearing the Royal name. “We are delighted to further strengthen that link with British Champions Series, Ascot Racecourse and our own Queen Elizabeth S. as one of Australia's most significant and highest rating races year after year.” The post Queen Elizabeth Stakes Trophy To Be Displayed At Ascot On Champions Day appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Veterinarian Ryan Carpenter told Zoe Cadman on this week's TDN Writers' Room that Echo Zulu (Gun Runner) continues to do well five days after surgery to repair broken sesamoids in her left front leg. “The surgery went very well,” Carpenter told Cadman on her weekly segment, 1/ST Things 1/ST at Santa Anita. “We did a fetlock arthrodesis and we used a new plate called a distal femoral plate, which is an application from the human world to incorporate the pastern joint in our repair, because we were really worried about the integrity of the pastern joint and our biggest fear in these kinds of cases is that they subluxate their pastern in the weeks following surgery and that usually results in support-limb laminitis. So we're very proactive to address that problem in order to hedge our bets down the line.” That said, Carpenter underscored that Echo Zulu still has a long way to go. “We still have a long road ahead of us as. I've said before, these horses really aren't out of the woods for the next four to six weeks,” Dr. Carpenter said. “There's a lot that can go wrong. but we take each day by day and so far she's done really well, bearing equal weight, using her casted leg well so we're very encouraged initially in how things look and we'll keep our fingers crossed that we continue to have positive days. Every positive day is one day closer to a successful outcome.” Cadman asked Carpenter what kind of patient Echo Zulu was. “She has been awesome,” he said. “One of the things that I look for, honestly, is do they lie down and she has spent a lot of time lying down. Initially, she spent a lot of time lying down after surgery. She's up using her leg a lot more, so she's more comfortable, but she still lies down at night and sleeps and takes care of herself, and really when you're talking about these horses that develop laminitis, the best thing for a surgeon is a horse that lies down, because they unload their weight. They let the blood flow get to the feet and that's a real positive thing for us so hopefully she continues to do that in the coming weeks and that will bode well for us in the end.” Cadman asked if there was any concern with her injuring herself trying to stand after lying down and Carpenter said that there was not. “The accidents they have getting up are usually related to general anesthesia. So usually, these horses are asleep, and they're often uncoordinated when they get up. But if you look at a horse who stands up in the stall, it's actually a very slow, methodical process. They do it all the time. Horses lie down most of the time every day and they get up really well, and you watch them, and a lot of times, they'll protect a casted leg they'll do stuff to help themselves, and so the lying down in the stall, in the barn, is a good thing.” The post Dr. Ryan Carpenter Gives Update on Echo Zulu Surgery appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Multiple Group 1 winner Postponed (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) will move to Yorton Stud for the 2024 breeding season after Yorton and James & Jean Potter, Ltd. purchased the stallion from Darley. A fee will be announced later for the four-time Group 1 winner. Previously under the Darley banner at Dalham Hall Stud, the bay will stand to the Futter family's stud near Welshpool in Powys. Richard Venn brokered the deal. David Futter said of the son of Ever Rigg (GB) (Dubai Destination), “Postponed is a proper horse that any stallion master would welcome to their line-up of National Hunt sires. He is a wonderful addition to the Yorton roster. “Postponed's oldest stock are only four, yet his young hurdlers are producing some wonderful results. From 12 individual runners five have won, four have been placed and two gained places in black-type races. “He represents everything we look for in a sire. He raced enthusiastically from the age of two to six, he won four Group 1 races including the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth S. and the Coronation Cup, he retired sound, he has size and scope and the most wonderful mind.” Postponed, who has G3 Nell Gwyn S. second Almohandesah (GB) to his credit, will stand alongside Arrigo (Ger) (Shirocco {Ger}), Gentlewave (Ire) (Monsun {Ger}), Ito (Ger) (Adlerflug {Ger}), and Pether's Moon (Ire) (Dylan Thomas {Ire}). The post Postponed On The Move To Yorton Stud appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Group 1-placed mare Diva Donna (Fr) (Cima De Triomphe {Ire}), who holds an entry in the G1 Prix Royal-Oak on Oct. 29, will be offered during an Auctav Flash Sale on Wednesday, Oct. 25. The sale will last from 7 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on the Auctav website. Offered by trainer and co-owner Julien Carayon, the mare was second in the G3 Prix Belle de Nuit last October, and was placed in a Chantilly listed in April. She reached a new career high with a runner-up performance in the G1 Prix de Royallieu on Sept. 30. Carayon said, “Her second place in the Prix de Royallieu was the confirmation of everything she has shown since joining the stable. She is an easy mare who is only now reaching her full maturity, which is often the case for stayers. She is very tall, measuring 16.2hh. Diva Donna is incredible, and she has even done a bit of jumping. She has a beautiful way of moving.” Out of the Dunkerque (Fr) mare Grande Synthe (Fr), the mare was bred by GFA Du Pont Rouge. The post Auctav Flash Sale To Feature Group 1-Placed Mare appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Trainer lands a welcome success on a wet night at Happy Valley, while Matthew Poon also breaks through and Harry Bentley, Pierre Ng and David Hall snare doublesView the full article

When Penn National shut down for a one-month planned break Sept. 23, Tyler Conner, the track's third-leading rider this year in both wins and earnings, wasn't sure what he'd do to keep his income flowing. Yet the 30-year-old jockey, who is soft-spoken but highly driven, managed to build enough out-of-town business to the point where he has just completed a demanding six-day run of riding at six different tracks in the Northeast and Canada. His whirlwind tour included more than 1,800 miles of driving, nearly all of which he accomplished solo Oct. 11-16 while amassing a 2-4-2 mark from 14 mounts at Parx, Laurel, Delaware, Aqueduct, Woodbine and Presque Isle. “Anyone have a helicopter I can borrow?” Conner had humorously asked on Twitter during the midway point of his journey. And no, on the seventh day Conner did not rest. TDN spoke to him via phone Oct. 17 while he was driving 110 miles from his home on a small farm near Penn National to ride at Parx, where the six-day streak had first begun Oct. 11. Conner said the extensive travel was worth it, although maybe more in terms of getting his name out there and getting noticed rather than money. “I was a little worried the last couple of weeks before we shut down, because I didn't have a plan. I didn't really know what business would be like with the break. Winning when you have to ship in from out of town is always tough,” Conner said. And what fueled him on his rigorous commutes beyond aspirations of bettering himself? “Good music and podcasts,” Conner said. “And I definitely drank too much Mountain Dew to keep me awake and focused. For most of the week it was rainy, kind of gloomy. So it wasn't the best driving, but nothing crazy happened. That's always helpful.” “But it's been pretty good,” Conner continued. “I've been really, really busy. Busier than I've been all year, honestly. And the horses are running well, so that helps. [The week on the road] paid for the trip, and a little more.” The day after Penn went on hiatus, Conner had four mounts on the GI Pennsylvania Derby card at Parx, where his best finish was third aboard Mish (Field Commission) in the $300,000 Parx Dirt Mile S. Honor D Lady | Coady Photography That mount was for trainer Saffie Joseph, Jr., who also sent Conner to ride in Oklahoma the next night, Sept. 24, aboard Honor D Lady (Honor Code), who won the GIII Remington Park Oaks at 7-1 odds. “Winning the Oaks was huge,” Conner said. “That really helped, being off for the month.” Conner returned home and rode at various mid-Atlantic tracks over the next two weeks. His calendar then came together better than he expected it would in the second week of October. He began the six-tracks-in-six-days tour with 220 miles of round-trip driving Oct. 11 and a third-place finish in a Parx starter-allowance with a $26,000 purse. The next day, Oct. 12, the 240-mile round trip to Laurel netted Conner a second and a win, with the victory coming in a $60,940 allowance/optional claimer. On Friday the 13th, Conner trekked 170 miles round-trip to Delaware, riding fifth with one mount, then second with another in a starter-allowance with a $30,000 purse. “Parx, Laurel, Delaware, I just go back and forth for those as day trips,” Conner said as if racking up 630 collective miles on three consecutive days constituted normal workday commuting. On Saturday, Oct. 14, Conner drove 180 miles to Aqueduct to ride Salvaje (Kantharos) in the $125,000 Floral Park S. The field scratched down to four as an off-the-turfer, and he managed third with his 6-1 shot behind a 3-10 winner. “I drove to Woodbine from there. It was about nine hours, and I got to Woodbine around midnight,” Conner said of the 500-mile trek that included an international border crossing. “Then I just slept in until 10 in the morning and got some rest.” Those two Woodbine mounts (one in a stakes) again came courtesy of trainer Joseph. Conner explained that after he won the GII Penn Mile for a different trainer in 2022, Joseph had contacted him with praise for his riding, and had offered to give him business if he switched his tack to Gulfstream, where Joseph is based. Conner tried it for a weekend in June 2022 and won a race, but respectfully declined the offer to move to Florida full-time because he thought it would be too tough to get additional mounts on that highly competitive circuit beyond those that Joseph offered. “Saffie has helped me a lot,” Conner said. “He's been so good to me, and given me an opportunity to ride a lot of nice horses. I tell people all the time I'll go anywhere he wants me to go, just to have those opportunities. Now he sends me where it fits for him and when I'm available. It's been good riding for new people at new tracks and to get recognized a little bit outside of the usual.” At Woodbine Oct. 15, Conner was second aboard the 15-1 Mystic Lake (Mo Town) in the $125,000 Glorious Song S., and he ran fourth with his 18-1 shot in a maiden allowance. Woodbine to Presque Isle meant another border crossing and 180 more miles. Out of six mounts for six different trainers on the Oct. 16 card there, Conner won a $30,000 maiden allowance and finished second in a maiden-claimer. Tyler Conner | Lauren King On the 310-mile drive back home in the dark, Conner said he got help splitting time behind the wheel from a Penn-based buddy who had also been up at Presque Isle to race. “I'm actually enjoying the traveling right now,” Conner said. “I would hopefully like to keep riding at other bigger tracks and ride in more big races. I'm working on getting to Kentucky. But I'm just kind of waiting on an answer from an agent right now, and depending on what he wants to do, I'll go from there.” Conner was born into a racing family. His father, John Conner, is a former trainer who now owns horses and is an in-demand farrier. His mom, Sandra Conner, rode regularly from 1989 up until Tyler was born in 1993. His stepmom, Erin McClellan, currently trains at Penn. Yet Conner said he didn't gravitate to becoming a jockey until after he had quit high school and earned his GED while working as a groom. Prior to that, ever since he was about age five, his passion had been motocross. “That's all I did growing up, was ride motorcycles. I still do, on occasion,” Conner said. “I guess I figured I'd try riding horses out of necessity. I kept getting hurt on the motorcycles, and I had to find a job that would pay better than grooming, so I started riding. I had never been on a horse before that.” Conner laughed politely at the suggestion that not too many jockeys find their calling in race-riding because they think it's a less dangerous option than what they had been doing. “I know anything can happen, but riding horses is definitely safer at this point. The chances of injury are a lot lower, it seems like,” Conner said. Wednesday, Oct. 18, was technically Conner's first day off in a week. But that just meant he wouldn't have mounts booked in afternoon or evening races. “Oh, yeah, I'll still go to work at Penn for morning training, for sure,” Conner said. The post Riding Six Tracks In Six Days, Conner’s Mileage Surpassed Only By His Work Ethic appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Richard Nicolai, who sold the record-setting sale topper at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Fall Mixed Sale Tuesday, hopes the month ends on another high note in the winner's circle at Keeneland where Secret Money (Good Samaritan) goes postward in the Oct. 27 GIII Valley View S.. Nicolai knew he was sending a good horse through the ring when the weanling son of Good Magic was offered at Fasig-Tipton Tuesday, but the breeder admitted he was surprised when the colt brought a sale-record $230,000 from C F Farm. “I thought he would sell well,” Nicolai said of the weanling, who was consigned by Vinery Sales. “I had a $175,000 reserve on him–not believing that I could hit the $175,000 reserve. But I figured, if I got the $175,000, I would let him go. If I didn't, I would sell him as a yearling. He was perfect in every way. But I was very, very surprised to see him bring $230,000. I thought he was a really good colt–good looker, good mover. His family was OK, it wasn't jumping off the page. It kind of surprised me when he went that high.” The result provided a quick return on investment for Nicolai, who purchased the sale-topper's dam Popstar (Medaglia d'Oro), with the colt in utero, for $29,000 at the Keeneland January sale earlier this year. “She is a beautiful mare,” Nicolai said of the 10-year-old Popstar. “She had a Catholic Boy 2-year-old this year and I thought I could get lucky if she hit. And I got lucky because the Catholic Boy 2-year-old finished second in a stakes race.” Lady d'Oro (Catholic Boy) followed a maiden-breaking victory at Monmouth with a runner-up effort in the July 29 Colleen S. That result, plus the hot streak of Good Magic, prompted Nicolai to offer the weanling Tuesday. “He was so good looking and all of the people that I consult with said, 'Good Magic is hot right now. You are going to get a premium for him. Take the money,'” Nicolai said. “I am investing a lot of money on other broodmares, so it was good to get a little bit of revenue stream.” Popstar is currently in foal to Central Banker. “I brought her back and I had to breed her to a New York stallion to make this colt New York eligible, so I bred her to Central Banker,” Nicolai said. “Next year we are going to send her to Kentucky.” Nicolai's Fortune Farm bred and campaigned Sue's Fortune (Jump Start), winner of the 2018 GII Adirondack S. He sold that mare for $300,000 at the 2019 Keeneland November sale, but at the same auction purchased Pantsonfire (Ire) (Sir Percy {GB}) for $70,000. That mare's Gun Runner filly sold for $290,000 at the Fasig-Tipton New York-Bred Yearlings Sale in August. “I have about 15 broodmares,” Nicolai said. “And I have another 10 or 15 that I am partners on with Taylor Made. The plan is to keep improving, not more, just better quality. I have done a little of that in the last couple of years. Yesterday, I bought three mares out of that sale. It's a step forward for me–they were young mares and there is a chance to build a family.” Nicolai is also working on building up his broodmare band from scratch. “I went out and bought a bunch of fillies as yearlings,” he said. “I have half a dozen yearlings right now this year that I am breaking–all well-bred fillies.” Heading Nicolai's racing stable at the moment is the 3-year-old filly Secret Money, who he co-owns with Robert Hahn and Matthew Hand. Trained by Brendan Walsh, the bay was third in the July 21 GIII Lake George S. at Saratoga before a one-length victory in the $1-million GIII Music City S. at Kentucky Downs last time out. “She is doing really well,” Nicolai said of the filly. “She's training well and we are really looking forward to her.” The post Nicolai Hoping Saratoga Sale Topper Just the Start of October Success appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Group winner Jack Darcy (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}) (lot 1131A) is one of six wildcards added to the Tattersalls Autumn Horses-in-Training Sale on Wednesday. The sale runs from Monday, Oct. 23 through Friday, Oct. 27 at Park Paddocks. The G2 Grand Prix de Deauville victor is out of a half-sister to Group 1 winners Reams Of Verse (Nureyev) and Elmaamul (Diesis {GB}) and will be offered by Barton Stud. Joining the G2 Prix Dollar runner-up is True Testament (Ire) (Siyouni {Fr}) (lot 772A). Part of the Jamie Railton draft, the 4-year-old has placed four times at group level. A quartet of juveniles have also signed on to the sale, including lot 772B, Keatley Racing's winner Thanks Forever (Ire) (Kessaar {Ire}); G3 Round Tower S.-placed Chandigah (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}) (lot 772C) from the Blackmiller Stable draft; Meadowview Stables' Ritournelle (Ire) (Awtaad {Ire}) (lot 1131B), who won at Thurles recently; and Black Hole (Mitole) (lot 1131C), a winner at Wolverhampton, will go through the ring for trainer Jamie Osborne's The Old Malthouse Stables. To view the catalogue and for more information, please visit the Tattersalls website. The post Group Winner Anchors Sextet Of Tattersalls Autumn Wildcards appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Paddy Duffy, assistant trainer to his son Shane, was announced as the Irish Racing Excellence Award winner at the 2023 Irish Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards, supported by Godolphin in the Keadeen Hotel in Newbridge on Monday evening. The awards are run in conjunction with the Irish Stablestaff Association, The Irish Thoroughbred Breeders' Association, the Racing Post and equuip. Paddy has been working in the racing industry for 74 years, working for trainers Hubert Hartigan, Jimmy Lenehan, Mick Connolly, PJ Prendergast and Michael Halford. He also spent over a decade in RACE as a riding instructor before joining his son Shane as his Assistant Trainer in 2015. Henry de Bromhead's team received a Special Recognition Award to acknowledge their resilience and professionalism in the wake of Jack de Bromhead's tragic passing. Chosen by the Irish Stablestaff Association, and based on a quality programme evaluation, Ballinrobe won the Racecourse Award for the facilities they offer stable staff. Bernard Caldwell, CEO of the Irish Stablestaff Association, said, “Once again, the Irish Thoroughbred Industry Awards, supported by Godolphin, at the Keadeen on Monday evening shone a light on the brilliant people we have working in racing and breeding and the contribution they make to the overall success of the industry at home and abroad. Congratulations also goes to Ballinrobe Racecourse, very worthy winners of the Racecourse Award, they always treat travelling staff like VIPs.” The Irish Racing Excellence Award winner received €5,000 and €2,500 for his employer to be used for the benefit of his work colleagues. Suzanne Eade, CEO at Horse Racing Ireland, commented, “It was such an honour to be at the Keadeen on Monday night to celebrate all the fantastic award winners. Their work ethic, organisational skills and most importantly, the expertise, dedication, and devotion they all give to the horses in their care is why Ireland has such an enviable status around the world. They should all be really proud of the important role they play in the reputation and success of Irish racing and breeding.” The Irish Thoroughbred Industry Employee Award winners were: Niall Amond, Travelling Head Lad, Jessica Harrington, County Kildare Caitriona Bolger, Barn Manager, Gordon Elliott, County Meath Natalie Bradley, Yard Supervisor, Eoin Griffin, County Kilkenny (Newcomer Award) Alex Hutter, PA / Racing Secretary, Gordon Elliott, County Meath Niko Jenjic, Travelling Head Lad, Michael Halford & Tracey Collins, County Kildare Nicole Kent, Racing Secretary, Henry de Bromhead, County Waterford Ciara Robinson, Travelling Head Person, Ado McGuinness, County Dublin Each Irish Thoroughbred Industry Employee Award winner received a specially commissioned trophy by sculptor Ani Mollereau and €4,000. An additional €2,500 was awarded to their employers to be used for the benefit of each winner's colleagues. Ballinrobe Racecourse won €2,500 to be spent on upgrading facilities that will benefit stable employees along with an Ani Mollereau trophy. The post Paddy Duffy Takes Top Prize at Irish Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Twelve hundred forty eight stallions covered 28,548 mares in North America during 2022 with breedings resulting in 18,143 live foals for 2023, according to statistics compiled through Oct. 8 in the Jockey Club's Live Foal Report, the organization said in a release Wednesday morning. In terms of individual stallions, Gun Runner, standing at Three Chimneys, was tops among all stallions when it came to mares bred. He was bred to 256 mares in 2022. He was followed by Yaupon (Spendthrift), 242; Mendelssohn (Coolmore), 232; Practical Joke (Coolmore), 230; and Not This Time (Taylor Made), 225. The top 56 stallions by mares covered were all in Kentucky. Five different farms had a stallion in the top 10, up from four in 2021. Uncle Chuck topped the list of sires who do not stand in Kentucky. A Florida-based stallion, he was bred to 133 mares. The top five in this category was rounded out by Stay Thirsty (California-121); Honest Mischief (New York-119); Central Banker (New York-113); and Leinster (Florida-100). The Jockey Club estimates that the number of live foals reported so far is 85-90 percent complete. The reporting of live foals of 2023 is down 2.5 percent from last year at this time when The Jockey Club had received reports for 18,609 live foals of 2022. In addition to the 18,143 live foals of 2023 reported through October 8, The Jockey Club also received 2,018 No Foal Reports for the 2023 foaling season. Ultimately, the 2023 registered foal crop is projected to reach 18,500. The number of stallions declined 4.2 percent from the 1,303 reported for 2021 at this time last year, while the number of mares bred declined 1.8 percent from the 29,065 reported for 2021. Seventeen stallions bred 200 mares or more. Those stallions stood at six different farms: Three Chimneys, Spendthrift, Coolmore, Taylor Made, Hill 'n' Dale, and WinStar. There were 52 stallions who bred 140 or more mares. Gun Runner's 256 mares bred resulted in 192 live foal reports. The most expensive stallion in 2022, Into Mischief, covered 202 mares, resulting in 153 live foal reports. TOP 10 STALLIONS BY MARES BRED IN 2022 Stallion Mares Bred Reports Received Live foals %LF Farm Gun Runner 256 220 192 75 Three Chimneys Yaupon 242 201 176 73 Spendthrift Mendelssohn 232 185 164 71 Coolmore Practical Joke 230 184 160 70 Coolmore Not This Time 225 203 185 82 Taylor Made Charlatan 222 186 165 74 Hill 'n' Dale Rock Your World 219 165 150 68 Spendthrift Mo Town 218 148 133 61 Coolmore Tiz the Law 218 168 150 69 Coolmore Omaha Beach 205 175 154 75 Spendthrift Kentucky annually leads all states and provinces in terms of Thoroughbred breeding activity. Kentucky-based stallions accounted for 58.9 percent of the mares reported bred in North America in 2022 and 63.7 percent of the live foals reported for 2023. The 16,827 mares reported bred to 208 Kentucky stallions in 2022 have produced 11,564 live foals, a 0.9 percent increase on the 11,460 Kentucky-sired live foals of 2022 reported at this time last year. The number of mares reported bred to Kentucky stallions in 2022 increased 0.2 percent compared to the 16,796 reported for 2021 at this time last year. Among the 10 states and provinces with the most mares covered in 2022, four produced more live foals in 2023 than in 2022 as reported at this time last year: Kentucky, New York, Maryland, and Indiana. The following table shows those 10 states and provinces with the most mares covered in 2022 sorted by number of state/province-sired live foals of 2023 reported through October 8, 2023. 2022 Mares Bred 2022 Live Foals 2023 Live Foals % Change Live Foals Kentucky 16,827 11,460 11,564 0.9% California 1,867 1,303 1,138 -12.7% Florida 1,529 927 829 -10.6% New York 987 576 590 2.4% Louisiana 924 570 564 -1.1% Maryland 744 481 498 3.5% Ontario 587 402 301 -25.1% Pennsylvania 448 340 250 -26.5% Indiana 558 231 243 5.2% Oklahoma 481 293 220 -24.9% The statistics include 227 progeny, 46 more than in 2022, of stallions standing in North America but foaled abroad, as reported by foreign stud book authorities at the time of publication. Country Live Foals Country Live Foals Australia 2 Rep. Korea 49 Dominican Republic 2 Kingdom of Saudi Arabia 71 France 3 Mexico 7 Great Britain 8 Panama 14 Ireland 26 Philippines 12 Japan 32 Sweden 1 The report also includes 67 mares bred to 23 stallions in North America on Southern Hemisphere time; the majority of these mares have not foaled. In 2021, there were 50 mares bred to 19 stallions in North America on Southern Hemisphere time. As customary, a report listing the number of mares bred in 2023 will be released later this month. The 2023 breeding statistics are available alphabetically by stallion name through the Resources – Fact Book. Click here for the link. The post The Jockey Club Releases 2022 Breeding Statistics; Gun Runner on Top appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

G1 Prix Vermeille heroine Teona (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) will be offered during the Tattersalls December Mare Sale from Dec. 4-7. In foal to Frankel (GB), the 5-year-old daughter of G1 Pretty Polly S. victress Ambivalent (Ire) (Authorized {Ire}) is a half-sister to G2 Prix Hocquart hero Al Hilalee (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}). Teona, from the family of G1 Prix de l'Abbaye winner Total Gallery (Ire) (Namid {GB}) was a 280,000gns purchase out of the 2019 Tattersalls October Yearling Sale Book 1. Also third in the GI Breeders' Cup Turf, she will be consigned by Barton Stud on behalf of her breeder Rabbah Bloodstock as lot 1786 and will sell during the Dec. 5 Sceptre Session. The post Group 1 Winner Teona Joins Tattersalls December Mare Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Girvin, the sire of three graded stakes winners including GI winner Faiza, and Upstart, the sire of GI Bluegrass winner Zandon, will both stand for a stud fee of $30,000 at Airdrie Farm in Midway Kentucky for the 2024 season, Airdrie announced Wednesday. “We couldn't be looking more forward to the 2024 season as we continue to build momentum in our stallion barn,” said Airdrie's Bret Jones. “We believe we have two very special stallions in Girvin and Upstart headlining our roster this year. Both have built their success from the ground up, and their ability to so dramatically improve their mares has earned the faith of the best breeders in the industry. They are both poised to continue to climb the ladder as leading young stallions.” Girvin has been given a $5,000 bump for 2024, while Upstart's fee remains the same as his 2023 fee. Cairo Prince will stand for $15,000, the same as his 2023 fee. “Cairo Prince has once again been the leading sire of his stallion crop and a Top 25 General and Juvenile Sire throughout the year,” said Jones. “He has long cemented his position as a hugely popular value stallion for both the sales ring and the racetrack.” Collected, who currently has two crops on the track, will remain at $10,000. “With his first crop just three-year-olds, Collected has already sired three individual Grade II stakes winners and six stakes winners in all,” Jones continued. “That is an incredibly strong resume for a young stallion in his price range and we believe his arrow will continue to point up in the year ahead. And we also believe Complexity ($12,500) has every chance to be next season's leading freshman sire. He was an immensely talented runner and his first-crop yearlings generated the type of buzz at the sales that foreshadows major success on the racetrack.” “When combined with our new introductions of the last two years in Beau Liam, Happy Saver and Highly Motivated and the future retirement of Kentucky Derby winner Mage at the end of his racing career, these are very exciting times for our Airdrie Stud team. As always, we will be supporting our stallions with the full force of our broodmare band and look forward to working with our incredibly loyal breeders to whom we owe our success.” The complete roster, with fees, is: Girvin – $30,000 Upstart – $30,000 Cairo Prince – $15,000 Complexity – $12,500 Collected – $10,000 Happy Saver – $10,000 Highly Motivated – $7,500 Beau Liam – $6,000 Divisidero – $5,000 Preservationist – $5,000 Summer Front – $5,000 The post Girvin and Upstart Lead the Way at Airdrie on 2024 Roster appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article