Wandering Eyes

Trainer Brad Cox celebrated a win in the GI Longines Kentucky Oaks a mere six months ago when Good Cheer (Medaglia d'Oro) ran to her odds that Friday afternoon. On Saturday at Churchill Downs another 2-year-old filly conditioned by him took home her first Oaks points when Life of Joy (Gun Runner) got her picture taken in the Rags To Riches Stakes. With only one race under her belt, Life of Joy certainly made it a memorable one when she romped over the competition by some 14 lengths at Horseshoe Indianapolis Oct. 2. Slammed at the windows to the tune of 84 cents on the dollar here, the filly looked comfortable as could be after the bell as she settled behind The Grumpy Rabbit (Not This Time). Just waiting for her cue from Irad Ortiz Jr., the filly got down to business entering the lane. Life of Joy fired her best shot, hit the mark with the lead secured and deposited 10 Oaks points into her account. “She showed a tremendous amount of talent there at Indiana and was an easy winner first out,” trainer Brad Cox said. “We shipped her back here immediately and just wanted to take our time with her. The work last week (four furlongs in :50.20) was a good move. She was moving well and I thought it showed us we can enter to see what the field was like. She backed up the way she was training the past couple weeks.” The first foal for her dam, the winner is a half-sister to current yearling colt Megacenter (Epicenter), who went to Cianello Bloodstock Services for $700,000 at the recent Keeneland September sale. Jordan's Leo foaled a colt by Elite Power this past spring before visiting Arabian Knight for next term. RAGS TO RICHES S., $200,000, Churchill Downs, 10-26, 2yo, f, 1 1/16m, 1:45.76, ft. 1–LIFE OF JOY, 122, f, 2, by Gun Runner 1st Dam: Jordan's Leo (SP, $137,050), by Malibu Moon 2nd Dam: Lady Is a Lioness, by Leroidesanimaux (Brz) 3rd Dam: Jeanne Jones, by Nijinsky II ($375,000 Ylg '24 KEESEP). 1ST BLACK TYPE WIN. O-Stroud, Will, Andrew Farm, Mountmellick Farm and For the People Racing Stable LLC; B-Springhouse Farm (KY); T-Brad H. Cox; J-Irad Ortiz, Jr. $122,070. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $141,270. 2–The Grumpy Rabbit, 122, f, 2, Not This Time–Midtown Traffic, by Midnight Lute. ($185,000 Ylg '24 KEESEP). O-Edwin Anthony; B-Maegan Ford Nicholson & James Nicholson (KY); T-Kenneth G. McPeek. $39,700. 3–Go to Girl, 122, f, 2, Knicks Go–Revealing Quality, by Quality Road. ($42,000 Ylg '24 FTKFEB; $130,000 Ylg '24 KEESEP). 1ST BLACK TYPE. O-WSD Stable; B-Titletown Racing Stables (Paul Farr) (KY); T-Kenneth G. McPeek. $19,850. Margins: 2 1/4, 3 1/4, 2 1/4. Odds: 0.84, 2.83, 9.98. Also Ran: Americathegreat, Tearin'up My Heart, Josie Joe. Scratched: Kingsolver. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. Life of Joy picks up 10 points towards the Kentucky Oaks in the Rags to Riches! @bradcoxracing trains the 2YO filly and @iradortiz was aboard. #TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/5R72lyOLRA — TwinSpires Racing (@TwinSpires) October 26, 2025 The post Gun Runner’s Life Of Joy Nets Oaks Points In Rags To Riches At Churchill appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

There are few hotter commodities in racing right now than offspring by Three Chimneys sire Gun Runner and Justify, who stands at Ashford Stud. Denali Stud intends to ride both of those waves this fall with a pair of graded-stakes winning mares by the two Horses of the Year. Leading the way on Monday, Nov. 3 at the Fasig-Tipton's November Sale is Gun Song (Gun Runner), who is being presented as a racing or broodmare prospect. Offered as Hip 101, the chestnut is a daughter of GSW and GISP Nicole H (Mr. Greeley). A half-sister to MSP Tap Attack (Tapit), the 4-year-old mare hails from the extended family of sprint champion Housebuster. “She has massive appeal in the marketplace for breeders the world over,” said Denali Stud's Conrad Bandoroff. Victorious in the GII Black-Eyed Susan and Catherine Sophia Stakes in 2024, Gun Song also finished runner-up in that season's GI Cotillion, GII Mother Goose and GIII Monmouth Oaks. During her 4-year-old season, the Lee Lewis runner won the GII Beldame Stakes at the Big A in September. A $400,000 OBS March Sale purchase, she was trained by Mark Hennig. “I think she'll be well received, physically,” said Bandoroff. “She was a $400,000 2-year-old purchase by Lee Lewis and Mark Hennig and she was picked out by Phil Hager. She's a really good physical. She has obviously backed that up on the track.” Also poised to turn some heads at Keeneland in Book 1, MGSW Buchu (Justify), offered as Hip 169, sells in foal to another piping hot sire, Not This Time. Campaigned by her breeder, Rigney Racing, and trained by Phil Bauer, Buchu won Keeneland's GII Jessamine Stakes at two and the following season, added a victory in the GII Appalachian Stakes in Lexington. She was also runner-up in Churchill's GIII Regret Stakes. Buchu is the first foal out of a full-sister to Group 3 scorer First Minister (Ire) (Galileo {Ire})–Flowering Peach (Ire)–who is a daughter of MGSW Naples Bay (Giant's Causeway), herself a half-sister MGISW and top sire Medaglia d'Oro. “Buchu is such an exciting offering,” said Bandoroff. “This is a unique opportunity for the marketplace to get access to this family. She is special. And given her performances at Keeneland, we felt there was no better place than to showcase her at than Keeneland November.” In 2026, Gun Runner and Not This time, who stands at Taylor Made Stallions, are slated to stand for $250,000, while Justify will command a fee of $200,000. “I think Buchu has such interesting international appeal,” he continued. “She is by Justify, out of a Galileo mare and from the family of Medaglia d'Oro. She is carrying her first foal by none other than, the stallion of the moment, Not This Time. What more can you ask for?” The sales ring will often prove humbling for anything perceived of inferior quality. However, the opposite also holds true for an accomplished race filly or broodmare mare with top sire power behind her. Bandoroff believed Denali has two such offerings primed for the November market. “I think it just confirms the class at [Gun Song and Buchu] are,” he explained. “These fillies are class and quality in their own right and that's top to bottom. It starts with their own physical attributes and their race tracks performances. That quality just permeates every aspect of their resume. Whether it be their pedigree or their racetrack performance, or whether it be their physique, they possess the total package that should appeal to anyone that is shopping for a high-end mare to add to their broodmare band. And in Gun Song's case, for anyone that wants to run a few more times before adding her to their broodmare band.” Denali will also offer three additional fillies and mares set to sell at Fasig-Tipton on Monday night and another 86 head on offer at Keeneland. “We're excited about our November offerings,” he admitted. “We have a nice blend of some young mares carrying commercial coverings as well as racing prospects coming off the racetrack that still have some racing upside or looking to embark on their next career in the breeding shed. We also have some nice foals to bring to the marketplace. Some are by Freshman stallions and others by top, proven stallions that we are excited to showcase in the November marketplace.” “Given the success that we have seen in this yearling sale cycle, we are very optimistic on how the November market is going to be. We are looking forward to showcasing these horses at Fasig-Tipton and Keeneland.” The post Denali Riding the Wave Into the November Sales appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Hoping that his start in Saturday's GI Longines Breeders' Cup Classic will be a memorable one, MGISW Journalism (Curlin) worked five furlongs in 1:01.40 at Del Mar Sunday morning. With Jose Ortiz in the irons and working with stablemate Legitimate (Authentic), the three-time Grade I winner was last seen finishing second in the GI Pacific Classic on Aug. 30. Both colts are trained by Michael McCarthy. “We were just looking for a maintenance work this morning,” said McCarthy. “I think we got that accomplished. I loved the way he galloped out. Went from the wire to the seven-eighths and shading :11 and two. All good.” Ortiz added, “He's a very classy horse. A beautiful mover. We went out there and did five eighths. I just let him stretch his legs and be happy. Michael (McCarthy) was very happy with the work. The horse is ready. He is very happy with what I did today.” Previously ridden by Umberto Rispoli, the colt will be ridden by Ortiz in the Classic. “We just thought it was good for [Ortiz] to go ahead and sit on him, get a feel of him, kind of test drive a little bit,” said McCarthy. “It's not like it's never been done before. So grateful that he was able to kind of take a race or two off today and come out here and help us out.” Following Sunday's workout, Ortiz hopped on a plane and flew back to Kentucky to ride at Churchill Downs Sunday. “He's very straightforward,” said Ortiz. “He did everything right. I didn't try to test him or anything. We know he's a nice horse. We're just trying to get to know him a little bit. But he was very classy out there, as he's always been.” Journalism, winner of this season's GI Preakness, GI Haskell and GI Santa Anita Derby, is expected to be retired to Ashford Stud at the conclusion of his racing career. Also working at Del Mar Sunday, GI Ogden Phipps winner Dorth Vader (Girvin) negotiated four furlongs in :49 flat. Under Raul Munoz, the 5-year-old is trained by George Weaver. “She broke off a little slow, but she finished up well, so I had the rider let her gallop on out,” said Blair Golen, assistant to Weaver. “She got off in :26 and 1 and finished up in :49 and 1, so a strong finish. I was happy with her and the way she cools out. She's fit, it's just letting her blow off some mental steam.” In an effort to ease her anxiety stemming from the travel and change of scenery, Dorth Vader arrived in California accompanied by her trusty companion, a large teddy bear. “We've always had horses that had a bear– Daddy Is a Legend had one–and I see a few trainers do it,” Golen explained. “Hers is big and sits in the corner, and she just kind of looks at it. It's comforting. Some people have goats, and some have teddy bears.. She takes the bear and her pink Jolley ball everywhere. Sometimes she paws at it, but for the most part they just hang out.” In preparation for Saturday's GI Filly & Mare Sprint, Zeitlos (Curlin) breezed three panels in :36.20 for trainer Steve Asmussen. The 5-year-old will try and improve upon a seventh in last season's Filly & Mare Sprint at Del Mar. The post Classic Contender Journalism Heads Breeders’ Cup Worktab at Del Mar Sunday appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Energico found enough energy at the end of 3,000 meters to post a dominating victory in the Kikuka Sho (Japanese St. Leger, G1) Oct. 26 at Kyoto Racecourse.View the full article

Breeders' Cup pre-entrants Explora (Blame), Kopion (Omaha Beach), Straight No Chaser (Speightster), Goal Oriented (Not This Time) and Motorious (GB) (Muhaarar {GB}) all had their final works Sunday at Santa Anita. Kopion, trained by Richard Mandella, covered three furlongs in :33.20 with Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith aboard. The 4-year-old was pre-entered in both the GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint going seven furlongs and six-furlong GI Breeders' Cup Sprint, however, Mandella confirmed Kopion would be entered in the Sprint where she will be joined by Mandella-trained stablemate Big City Lights. Kopion will attempt to become the fourth female to win the Sprint joining Desert Stormer (1995), Safely Kept (1990) and Very Subtle (1987). Straight No Chaser worked four furlongs in :49.0 ahead of a title defense in the Sprint. Trained by Dan Blacker, Straight No Chaser most recently finished third in the GII Santa Anita Sprint Championship on Sept. 28. Last year, Straight No Chaser won the Sprint by a half-length to clinch the Eclipse Award as North America's outstanding sprinter. He'll attempt to join Elite Power (2022-23), Roy H (2017-18) and Midnight Lute (2007-08) as back-to-back winners of the Sprint. “It was a good work,” Blacker confirmed. “His last two or three works have been really good. He has good enthusiasm, good energy. That's what I want to see. He did pick up some company today, which wasn't ideal, but my assistant, Juan [Landerso], did a great job.” Explora and Goal Oriented–both TDN Rising Stars, presented by Hagyard–worked for their trainer Bob Baffert. Explora, pre-entered in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies, drilled five furlongs in 1:00.20. The filly most recently won the GII Oak Leaf on Oct. 4 at Santa Anita. “She went nice,” said Bob Baffert. “She is a very classy filly, and she cruised around there by herself. I like the fact that she can go two turns. That is not going to be an issue for her, and she has speed if she wants to use it. She is not a one-dimensional horse.” Goal Oriented, heading to the GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile, worked four furlongs with company in :47.40. It was the fastest of 66 works at the distance. Goal Oriented most recently finished third in the GI Pennsylvania Derby on Sept. 20 at Parx. “He always works well; he is a good work horse,” said Baffert. “He was within himself and did it the right way, he was just cruising around there. It was nothing for him.” Motorious, who'll be making his third attempt at winning the GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint, worked five furlongs on the synthetic training track in 1:01.20. Trained by Phil D'Amato, Motorious most recently won the GIII Green Flash via disqualification at Del Mar on Aug. 30. The 7-year-old gelding was second in last year's Turf Sprint at Del Mar and fifth in the 2023 Turf Sprint at Santa Anita. “He worked really well,” said Antonio Fresu, aboard for the work. “It was nice and easy today, being six days out from the big race. It was an easy work on his own after what was his fast and heavy work last week. We were really happy with the way he went and today he looked beautiful on the training track. I just kept him going easy. He's ready to go.” Final entries for the 42nd Breeders' Cup will be taken Monday, Oct. 27. Post positions will be drawn in the Del Mar paddock starting at 4 p.m. PT. The post Breeders’ Cup Workers at Santa Anita Sunday led by Explora, Straight No Chaser and Kopion appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Trainer Brian Lynch said that Tumbarumba's training is giving him a "warm, fuzzy feeling" ahead of the $1 million Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1) at Del Mar Nov. 1.View the full article

Energico found enough energy at the end of 3,000 meters to post a dominating victory in the Kikuka Sho (Japanese St. Leger-G1) Oct. 26 at Kyoto Racecourse.View the full article

2nd-Churchill Downs, $124,813, Alw (NW1X)/Opt. Clm ($100,000), 10-26, 2yo, 1m, 1:36.70, ft, 9 lengths. SOLDIER N DIPLOMAT (c, 2, Army Mule–Diplomatic Miss, by Violence) debuted at Saratoga July 26 and held off a late charge to break his maiden by a neck. His grit impressed his connections so much that they opted for a try at the GI Hopeful Stakes in his next jump Sept. 1, and he faded to fourth behind a trio of 'TDN Rising Stars, presented by Hagyard'–namely MGISW Ted Noffey (Into Mischief), Buetane (Tiz the Law), and Curtain Call (Ti z the Law). The betting public saw the writing on the walls, and sent him off the 6-5 favorite in this step down to allowance company. Stalking from third as the pacesetter posted :23.61 and a half in :47.39, he overtook the pair in front of him on the final bend and was rolling with a clear advantage in the stretch. From there it was a question of how much he wanted to win by, and Soldier N Diplomat made that tally nine lengths over Tripp's Promise (Promises Fulfilled). The victor's dam claims a perfect strike rate with her three offspring, and is herself a daughter of MGSW & MGISP Miraculous Miss (Mr. Greeley)–making her a half-sibling to MGISP Tiger Heart (Scatmandu). Diplomatic Miss has a yearling filly by Authentic to her credit as the last registered when she did not catch on a breeding to Arcangelo for 2025. Sales history: $950,000 2yo '25 OBSMAR. Lifetime Record: 3-2-0-0, $146,284. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. O-St. Elias Stable; B-Machmer Hall (KY); T-Steven M. Asmussen. It was all #6 SOLDIER N DIPLOMAT ($4.72) who took control in the stretch and pulled away to easily win race 2 at @ChurchillDowns. @Tyler_Gaff was in the irons for trainer Steve Asmussen and owner St. Elias Stable. Watch more on @FanDuelTV. pic.twitter.com/JeRmcZ9nRz — FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) October 26, 2025 The post Army Mule’s Soldier N Diplomat Never In Doubt Against Churchill Allowance Foes appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Churchill Downs' late Vice President of Communications John Asher, who died unexpectedly in 2018 at age 62, will be honored by the city of Louisville on Oct. 27 with a “Hometown Hero” banner that will be displayed in front of Presentation Academy, a school he championed for decades. Monday's ceremony will take place at Presentation Academy (861 S 4th St, Louisville, KY 40203) and begin at 1 p.m. ET. Asher joined Churchill Downs in 1997, becoming one of the most respected figures in the track's history. His passion for the Kentucky Derby and pride in the Louisville community made him synonymous with Churchill Downs itself. Prior to his tenure at the track, he was an award-winning radio journalist with NewsRadio 840 WHAS. Louisville's Hometown Heroes program began in 2002 with a mural installation of boxing legend Muhammad Ali. Since then, several prominent Louisvillians have been honored, including jockey Pat Day, musician Jack Harlow, journalist Diane Sawyer and actress Jennifer Lawrence. The post John Asher ‘Hometown Hero’ Banner Unveiled Monday appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

1st-Churchill Downs, $118,636, Msw, 10-26, 2yo, f, 1 1/16m, 1:45.70, ft, 3 1/4 lengths. JUST SINGING (f, 2, Justify–Talkin and Singing, by Songandaprayer) was unveiled at this venue Sept. 27 going a mile on the main track, and made up good ground to run fourth. Given 2-1 odds to improve for this second jump, the eye-catching filly bumped with the outer stall door as she left the gate and had to set up as the caboose in the race. Steadily making up ground on the leaders and coming five wide off the final bend, she overtook the top duo via the grandstand route and kicked on in the lane to win by 3 1/4 lengths over Dancin In Old Town (Tapit). The victress is a half-sister to Danzing Candy (Twirling Candy), MGSW, $700,930 and Cedartown (Candy Ride {Arg}), MSW, $249,200, who are thus far the only ones to claim black-type for the dam. A half-sister named Sweet Revenge (Candy Ride {Arg}) did go on to become a black-type producer as the mother of the late SP Very Bold (Union Rags). Just Singing is one of five to get her picture taken for Talkin and Singing, who since this filly has produced a pair of Flightline colts–a yearling and a 2025 foal. The mare is herself a half-sister to GI Breeders' Cup Turf hero MGISW Better Talk Now (Talkin Man) while another sister went on to become the granddam of SP Live High Live Low (Coal Front). Sales history: $300,000 Ylg '24 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 2-1-0-0, $75,300. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. O-Whisper Hill Farm LLC; B-Dr. Richard Holder & Justify Syndicate (KY); T-J. Kent Sweezey. Just Singing takes the first race of the fall meet at @churchilldowns! @SweezeyK trains the 2YO filly for @whisper_hill. @luanmachado85 was aboard. #TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/FmX6pJvBGD — TwinSpires Racing (@TwinSpires) October 26, 2025 The post Justify’s Just Singing Gets the Job Done Against Churchill Maidens appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

1st-Belmont The Big A, $85,000, Msw, 10-26, 2yo, f, 6f, 1:10.57, ft, 4 lengths. WITH A KISS (f, 2, Gun Runner–Cathryn Sophia {GISW, $1,229,720}, by Street Boss), who bet down to 67 cents on the dollar for her debut here, kept tabs on fellow 'Insight' runner & pacesetter Imperatrice (City of Light) up the backstretch. As the pair sped away entering the far turn, With a Kiss pulled alongside and entering the lane the race was on. The chalk passed her stablemate inside the final furlong and graduate by four lengths. The winner is her dam's last registered foal of record. Cathryn Sophia now has four winners out of as many to race. She was sent back to Gun Runner for 2026. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $46,750. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. O-Michael B. Tabor; B-Chelston (KY); T-Todd A. Pletcher. The post Gun Runner’s With a Kiss Says Adieu To Maiden Ranks At Big A appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

GSW Rhyme Schemes (Ghostzapper–Katherine, by Distorted Humor, has been retired to stud to stand his first year in 2026 at Clear Creek Stud in Folsom, Louisiana. Rhyme Schemes will enter stud for a fee of $3,500 LFSN or $3,000, if paid by Sept. 1. If a second mare by the same owner Is bred to Rhyme Schemes, there will be a 50% reduction in the second stud fee. Shares and breeding rights will also be available. The chestnut was purchased by Deuce Greathouse on behalf of Pura Vida Investments for $210,000 at the Keeneland September Sale in 2022. A runaway winner in his second career start at Ellis Park at two, he completed the 5 1/2-furlong test in 1:02.82, just .51 seconds off the track record. Favored in that season's GII Saratoga Special Stakes at Saratoga, the colt again proved dominant, winning by 9 1/2 lengths. “He is the epitome of a perfectly balanced physical racehorse. “The fastest horse I've ever purchased and, from a mental aspect, the classiest horse I've had the pleasure of being around,” said Greathouse. Val Murrell of Clear Creek added, “We are certainly glad to have an individual coming to Clear Creek Stud with exceptional speed and the ability to carry it. Handsome, put together well with a strong family. I am confident Louisiana breeders will appreciate him and he will serve them well.” Brokered by Jay Goodwin with Vinery Sales, Rhyme Schemes and all the Clear Creek Stud stallions will be available for viewing after the first of November and at the farm's annual Stallion Show scheduled for Dec. 6, 2025. For more information, contact Clear Creek Stud at www.clearcreekstud.com or call (985} 796-S563. The post Rhyme Scheme to Stand at Clear Creek Stud in Louisiana appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

No British-based trainer was more active at last year's Tattersalls Autumn Horses-in-Training Sale than Julie Camacho, who came away from the five days at Park Paddocks with 10 new recruits for a total spend of 575,000gns. Chief among them was Naqeeb (Nathaniel), a half-brother to the multiple Group 1 winners Baaeed and Hukum, who fetched 170,000gns from the Shadwell draft. Seven starts later, the five-year-old will go through the ring again on Tuesday as lot 726B, having recently gained a deserved success in a Listed race at Goodwood following a couple of near-misses on the big stage earlier in the year. Nor is Naqeeb alone among the Malton trainer's high-profile graduates of this sale in recent years. On the eve of the 2025 edition, along with her husband and assistant trainer, Steve Brown, Camacho spoke to the TDN whilst travelling down to Newmarket, outlining their approach to the sale and what the next few days might have in store. TDN: The Tattersalls Autumn Horses-in-Training Sale has been a happy hunting ground for you in recent years, certainly in 2024, when you purchased 10 horses. Would it be safe to assume that you have a busy couple of days ahead, trying to get around and see as many horses as you can? Steve Brown: It's definitely a sale that we enjoy and we've had some good success from it in previous years. We've slightly less to do this year, but we're looking forward to it and we've got a good list of horses to look at. In previous years, we'd tend to buy more horses in training than yearlings. This year, one or two of the owners expressed the wish to buy a few more yearlings. We spent about 450,000gns at Books 2 and 3 at Tattersalls, so it's a slight change of approach. But, like anything in life, it's about balance. We'll still be active for a nice horse this week, hopefully. TDN: Is there anything in particular that you look for in a horse when buying at this sale. Are there any non-negotiables in terms of how they vet or anything like that? SB: Absolutely. They need to vet well and our vet, Peter Hynes, has a reputation for being pretty fussy. He's very good at highlighting possible issues going forward, so we're very much guided by him. It's a three-part thing, really. Julie's brother, Matt Camacho, does a lot of work on the data and analysis of pedigrees and the possibilities of improving horses. Then, we have to like the horse, Julie and myself. The vets are the final tick in the box, really. There's quite a lot of work that goes into it to try and stay ahead of the game, so to speak. TDN: Last year you bought Naqeeb out of this sale for 170,000gns. For a horse with his profile, were you surprised that you didn't have to stretch even more to get your hands on him? Julie Camacho: We were pleasantly surprised to get him, to be honest. We thought he had the right profile for Australia and that they would be in for him. He's a grand horse and I'm sure you know he's a wildcard, so he's back down here now. Niall [O'Keeffe, owner] just thought that, if he was going to make money, it would be now rather than when he's another year older next year. We'd be delighted if he was to come back and, if he was to make plenty of money, that would be great for Niall as well. TDN: This year he finished third in the Duke Of Edinburgh Stakes at Royal Ascot and second in a competitive handicap at the Qatar Goodwood Festival, before winning a Listed race back at Goodwood last time. He's been a terrific flagbearer for the stable, hasn't he? JC: He has. He's a lovely horse to deal with and never been a moment's bother. SB: He's a straightforward, sound and good-looking horse. The benefit we possibly had was that he'd been cared for well in his younger years. He certainly hadn't been overraced by William and Maureen [Haggas] and that gives you a chance. That's the sort of thing we look out for – how many times these horses have seen the track in their younger days. As a general rule of thumb, the more they've raced at two and three, the less likely there is to be improvement when they're getting older. TDN: Any owner wants to find a horse that can take them to the big days. Was that the brief from Niall when you bought Naqeeb last year? SB: It absolutely was. He wants to be represented at the big meetings and Ascot and Goodwood were special days out. For him to go and run so well, we were very proud of the horse and very pleased for Niall. TDN: And you'd done it before for Niall, hadn't you? Your Ayr Gold Cup winner, Significantly, was a relative bargain at this sale when you bought him for 50,000gns in 2022. SB: He was a horse who gave us a great season. He achieved everything we hoped he might and more. JC: He's a happy hacker now! TDN: Symbol Of Light, who is now rated 105, is another talented horse that you bought out of this sale for 60,000gns in 2022, while Lattam, who finished second last season in both the Lincoln and the Balmoral, was picked up for 50,000gns in 2023. Naqeeb and Lattam both came from William Haggas, while Symbol Of Light was picked up from Charlie Appleby. Do you think these horses often benefit from going to a so-called smaller yard, where they might get a bit more individual attention? JC: It is totally different for them. For example, we turn the horses out every day. Symbol Of Light came with a bad reputation because he was such a bad ride, but he turned into a great ride with us. SB: We do believe, as a general rule of thumb, that turnout is great for horses. And, when I say turnout, I mean a decent period out in the paddock every day. It's certainly a different situation to what they would have been used to in Newmarket. But, as I said earlier, a lot of the time we benefit from the fact that the horses have been with really top trainers who handle them well when they're young. That's something we're very mindful of when we're buying, especially when we're paying a lot of money for a horse. We like to have a fair idea of what they've been doing in their younger days. JC: We're all striving to get a very good horse, but their standards are so much higher than ours. A good horse for us is just a run-of-the-mill horse for them, isn't it? SB: It is, but our yard has really upgraded in the last four or five years. Our standards are getting higher as well, hence the amount of money we spent at Book 2 and Book 3 and at recent horses in training sales. Probably, the one we haven't talked about is [dual winner and Ayr Gold Cup runner-up] Desert Falcon, who has been a superstar. He's won nearly 100 grand this year and we paid 10,000gns for him [at this sale]. Again, he was a horse that had been with a patient handler [Sir Mark Prescott] when he was young and very much treated with respect. We've possibly reaped the benefit of that. Obviously, we've bought horses where it hasn't worked out as well as we would have liked, but I guess that's life. As long as the balance is in the positive, we can see what we're doing as fairly successful. TDN: And finally, what's the shortlist looking like for when you arrive in Newmarket this afternoon? SB: The shortlist is a longlist at this moment in time. We'll have an intense day and a half of looking at horses and go from there. There will be some that you immediately dismiss, for soundness or how they look. They might be a small- or medium-sized horse with no scope, or less scope, to improve. I think as you get older and look at more horses, you work off the buying a house method where, if it doesn't catch your attention in the first 30 seconds, it's probably unlikely to. Because you look at so many horses, that has to be relevant. JC: It's a bad premise when you're having to persuade yourself to like them. SB: And there will be some horses you've seen run throughout the year where you think, 'I'll keep an eye on that one if it appears in the sales.' You go with this expectation and often they don't quite meet it. That's always a bit deflating. JC: And then all of the ones you do like, Peter says no to – that is deflating! SB: Let's just say we don't get our hopes up until they've been vetted! The post Camacho Team Returns to Happy Hunting Ground at Tattersalls Autumn HIT Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Jean-Claude Rouget's health issues are well-documented, but at the end of a troubled year the stable favourite Arrow Eagle (Gleneagles) swooped to conquer to raise morale in the G1 Prix Royal-Oak at Saint-Cloud. A highly respectable sixth in the Arc earlier this month, the Grand Prix de Chantilly winner who carries the silks of the breeder of his illustrious half-brother Ace Impact, Waltraut Spanner, stormed by Queenstown (Galileo) at the furlong pole after Cristian Demuro had given the command. At the line, the 11-5 favourite had registered an authoritative two-length success from that Ballydoyle outsider, with Sevenna's Knight (Camelot) a short head away in third. Arrow Eagle comes home best of all to win the Group One Prix Royal-Oak at Saint-Cloud! pic.twitter.com/AapqhopcG9 — At The Races (@AtTheRaces) October 26, 2025 The post Royal-Oak Glory For Ace Impact’s Half-Brother Arrow Eagle appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

This weekend is so important when it comes to next year's Classics and Aidan O'Brien has simply dominated with Pierre Bonnard (Camelot) bringing up a Group 1 double at Saint-Cloud and a third overall following Saturday's action at Doncaster. Sent off the 7-10 favourite for the 10-furlong Criterium de Saint-Cloud, the impressive Zetland winner travelled easily for Christophe Soumillon tracking the early pace and when sent on inside the two opened up to score with authority by two lengths from the Joseph O'Brien-trained A Boy Named Susie (Starspangledbanner). The Wertheimers' Proof (Dubawi) was a neck away in third. “Wayne absolutely loved him at Dundalk and Christophe was raving about him last time and this was about giving him more education on that ground,” O'Brien said after greeting his 25th Group 1 winner in 2025, leaving him just three short of his previous record. “He's a very special horse, I'd say. He's a typical Camelot, he's classy and he stays.” “He's very exciting, as he's big and rangy and a beautiful horse,” he added of the son of the Nassau winner Sultanina (New Approach). “He's a Derby horse and he'll go to the trials next year.” A touch of star quality about this! Pierre Bonnard proves much to good in the Group One Criterium de Saint-Cloud! pic.twitter.com/fmX95bU1vh — At The Races (@AtTheRaces) October 26, 2025 The post ‘He’s A Very Special Horse’: O’Brien Has G1 Number 25 As Pierre Bonnard Dominates appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

A name has recently appeared among the ranks of trainers in France which is both familiar and new at the same time. Lavinia Fabre, the daughter of Andre and Elisabeth Fabre, wasted little time in securing her first winner with just her second runner at Saint-Cloud on October 16, but her stint as a sole trainer will be short-lived as the 36-year-old has plans to embark on a partnership with her renowned father later this year. To a degree, Fabre's official arrival on the racing scene was entirely predictable. Both her parents have been fully immersed in the sport for all of her life, with her mother's contribution to the stable being every bit as significant as the man whose list of achievements in the world of thoroughbred racing runs to eight Arcs and umpteen Classics for a wide range of the sport's most powerful owners and breeders. But sometimes apples fall farther from the tree. Fabre says that her two brothers have no interest in racing, and she herself worked in public relations after completing a masters degree in marketing. “I really hated every minute of it,” she says plainly from more familiar surroundings while attending the Arqana October Sale in Deauville last week. “I worked for a big French company and my main clients were Philip Morris and McDonald's. I'm not going to lie, it was awful for me to be stuck in an office. I just did not enjoy any of it. “I like the outdoor life. On those mornings when it's raining and it's cold and it's miserable on the tracks in Chantilly, I always think it could be worse, I could be in front of a computer right now.” There is of course a degree of paperwork to be done in modern-day training establishments, including, as Fabre outlines, the finalisation of the training partnership which should be completed by the end of the year. While presently training her three horses from part of her father's yard, she is also on the lookout for her own stable. “I'm looking for a yard in Chantilly, but that's very difficult,” she says. “The plan is to stay in my dad's yard for a bit and then when the opportunity comes up, find something for myself. I want to find something that suits me, and to be training on Les Aigles [gallops]. “The partnership should happen by the end of the year. We're working on the paperwork right now, making sure that it's all done properly. So in the meantime, I put my own horses under my name, because I wanted to.” Her first winner, the juvenile Wadi (Earthlight), triumphed in her own colours after she bought the David Redvers-bred colt at Arqana in August 2024. “It's nice to have a winner by myself. It's a horse that I bought myself, so it has definitely given me a bit of confidence,” she admits. Fabre is at Arqana to oversee the sale of one of two horses she bought as foals last year. The Victor Ludorum filly was in the end bought back at €35,000 and may well next be seen in her own colours. Not finding a buyer should not be too much of a deterrent as her first attempt at pinhooking ended in that particular filly becoming the G1 Prix Marcel Boussac winner Zellie (Wootton Bassett). “I love pinhooking and this is kind of how I started my racing career, buying foals, and it's still what I really enjoy,” she explains. “I bought a foal with a group of friends that we wanted to pinhook, and we weren't able to sell her because everyone said she was too fat. So we ended up having to keep her and put her in training with my dad, and she ended up winning a Group 1. I mean, it was really lucky because it was definitely unlucky when it happened. I had borrowed money to buy her and it took me a year to pay the money back – a year extra. So it was a bit of an emotional journey, but it worked out amazingly in the end. “I got money from her to keep pinhooking and buy more foals, and I've been doing that ever since. I buy a couple a year, and now that I'm a trainer, the idea is to buy two, sell one, and keep one to have in training. “I would love to buy yearlings but at this point they're quite expensive. I don't really have those kind of budgets, but buying foals is a lot of fun.” Though her brothers “don't want anything to do with horses”, Fabre has clearly been inspired by the careers of her parents, all the while witnessing the total dedication required to be a racehorse trainer. She says, “One thing that I've seen from them, from being born in that house, is how they've always been very consistent with their hard work. And that's something that has always almost scared me to become a trainer, to think there are no breaks, no holidays, no days off. It's every single day you've got to be out there and there are no excuses. “That is really challenging – and they've done it for over 40 years. But that's what I've learned: if you want to be good, that's the secret. It's about being consistent and not wavering. They've obviously had amazing years, but also hard years – we've had viruses, there have been hard times.” Fabre continues, “They never waver in their hard work, where a lot of people would give in or think they should change everything about the way they train. And they've always said, 'No, we've got a method that works, we're going to stick to it and ride out the storm.' So you have to be resilient and steadfast.” While she was encouraged by the fact that she was part of a large class of young people when studying for her trainer's licence, Fabre acknowledges the difficulties faced by many when it comes to setting up their own business. “If you're starting out and you don't have family connections or money, it's really difficult. There are really competent trainers who haven't been able to get their chance, and I'm aware and grateful that I'm in a unique situation for that.” Having grown up in France and been educated in England, Fabre also spent a three-month stint working in racing in Australia, where she was inspired by the local system of spelling horses for short times during the racing season. “I loved Australia, but at that time I had just bought my share of the family farm, so I was kind of, not stuck, but settled in France. Otherwise I would have tried to stay in Australia. The racing there is really on the up, so it was an exciting place to be.” Andre Fabre has of course had notable success in travelling his horses to compete in various parts of the world, and this is something his daughter is keen to continue. The fact that she speaks flawless English will only be an asset in that regard. “I love England. It's a big part of my life, so I always love going racing in England. You just have to get very competitive horses now, but I'd love to go racing in Asia as well – Hong Kong and Japan would be incredible, but right now, my focus is on winning handicaps in Clairefontaine,” she says with a grin. Will that change a little once her name appears alongside her father's in a training partnership? “We've been working together for a few years now, so it's very comfortable. It's been going great, and with my mum as well,” she says. “Maybe I'll go to the races more to give him some breaks but, basically, me becoming the co-trainer, I don't think it will change much of the day-to-day.” The post ‘You Have to be Resilient and Steadfast’: New Trainer Lavinia Fabre on Learning From the Best appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Coolmore's Puerto Rico (Wootton Bassett) was last seen claiming a career high in ParisLongchamp's G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere on Arc day and doubled his Group 1 tally with a pillar-to-post victory in Sunday's G1 Criterium International at Saint-Cloud. He becomes the 24th elite-level winner of the year for Aidan O'Brien, who extended his record haul in the one-mile contest to seven. The 3-5 favourite was slick from the gates and gained an early lead. Nudged along with 500 metres remaining, last month's G2 Champagne Stakes victor was safely clear approaching the final furlong and kept on strongly under minimal urging in the closing stages to easily hold Campacite (Zarak) and Champagne third Cape Orator (Mohaather) by 1 3/4 lengths and a head. Puerto Rico wins his second Group One with a dominant display in the Criterium International at Saint-Cloud! pic.twitter.com/419Vuaf3JL — At The Races (@AtTheRaces) October 26, 2025 Pedigree Notes Puerto Rico is the first foal bred from G2 Kilboy Estate Stakes runner-up April Showers (Galileo), herself a full-sister to black-type winners headed by multiple Group 1-winning Irish 1000 Guineas heroine Misty For Me (Galileo) and her G1 Prix Marcel Boussac-winning full-sister Ballydoyle (Galileo). Misty For Me is the dam of four black-type including G1 Dewhurst Stakes and G1 July Cup hero US Navy Flag (War Front) and his multiple Group 1-winning full-sister Roly Poly. Puerto Rico's third dam, Mr. P's Princes (Mr. Prospector), is kin to the Grade I-winning sires Desert Wine (Damascus) and Menifee (Harlan) and she produced G1 Phoenix Stakes and G1 Prix Morny-winning sire Fasliyev (Nureyev). She is also the third dam of GI New York Stakes hero Marketsegmentation (American Pharoah). The winner is full to a weanling colt and half to a yearling filly by No Nay Never. The post Puerto Rico Makes All For Criterium International Triumph appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Kim Reid bypassed a Group One in favour of Sunday’s Gr.3 Gee and Hickton Funeral Directors Thompson Handicap (1600m) at Trentham with Hi Yo Sass Bomb (NZ) (Complacent), a decision that paid dividends when the mare led from the outset to claim her third stakes success. After resuming in early September, Hi Yo Sass Bomb showed she was back in a big way when taking out the Gr.3 Grangewilliam Stud Breeders Stakes (1400m) at Hawera earlier this month, coming over the top of her rivals in the hands of Chris Dell. Dell had been set to ride the mare in the Gr.1 Livamol Classic (2040m) last Saturday at Ellerslie, a race she finished runner-up in last year behind Snazzytavi, but Reid opted to wait another week, setting her for the Thompson where she carried 57kg under handicap conditions. A contrast to her run in the Breeders’, Dell opted to punch forward from the gate and take the early lead, where he was able to steal some cheap sectionals through the mid-stages. Hi Yo Sass Bomb was travelling strongly into the straight and kicked hard, too hard for race favourite The Scunner and Trosettee to chase down, with the remainder of the field finding it tough to make up ground off the slow tempo. Reid hadn’t expected to see her mare in front in the running but praised Dell’s ride, maintaining a perfect strike rate from two rides on Hi Yo Sass Bomb. “I thought she was definitely in the zone, she was cool and calm and that’s her when she’s at her best,” Reid said. “It’s when she’s a bit fidgety that I get worried, but she was good. “There were a few little things and she just wasn’t quite right last week so it suited her perfectly (to run in the Thompson). “I was thinking ‘crikey Chris’ going to the front, but she was super, she’s really tough. I was thinking don’t go too soon, but it was a super ride, really well done.” A homebred out of the Spartacus mare Hi Yo Soo, Hi Yo Sass Bomb has now earned over $450,000 with seven wins and six placings from 26 starts for Reid and her parents, Josephine and Graeme Reid. With a placing already at the highest level, Reid is eyeing another elite-level target for Hi Yo Sass Bomb back at Trentham, the Gr.1 TAB Mufhasa Classic (1600m) on December 6. “She’s going out in the paddock for a week, then we’ll possibly come back for the mile in December,” she said. View the full article

Christophe Lemaire became the first jockey to win three consecutive runnings of the G1 Kikuka Sho (Japanese St. Leger) at Kyoto when guiding race favourite Energico to an emphatic victory in Sunday's final leg of the Japanese Triple Crown. Trained by Mizuki Takayanagi for owners Silk Racing, Energico raced well off the pace in the early stages of this 3,000-metre contest, before making up considerable ground on the approach to the final turn. In fifth position when the dash for home began, the son of Duramente then showed much the best acceleration to lead entering the final furlong and was ultimately well on top at the line, beating chief market rival Eri King (Kizuna) by two lengths. Longshot Excite Bio (Rey de Oro) edged out Goltzschtal (Bricks And Mortar) in a photo finish for third, another three quarters of a length behind Eri King. As well as completing an unprecedented hat-trick, Lemaire joined Yutaka Take as the most successful jockeys in the history of the Kikuka Sho with five wins apiece, having previously tasted Classic glory with Satono Diamond in 2016, Fierement in 2018, Durezza in 2023 and Urban Chic last year. “It's hard to believe that I won three in a row in this race!” said a delighted Lemaire. “It's a long-distance Group 1 and very difficult to win at Group 1 level, but I've been fortunate to have been given rides on such great horses with stamina every year. “Energico also has lots of stamina and, although he is not so sharp out of the gate, we had plenty of time to keep patient and make our way to a good spot. I took the opportunity to grab a good route on the outside and the colt responded well with lasting finishing speed. “Winning at Kyoto is special because I reside at Kyoto and winning two weeks in a row [after the victory of Embroidery in the G1 Shuka Sho] feels so great!” Energico arrived at Kyoto as the winner of three of his four previous starts, notably winning April's G2 TV Tokyo Hai Aoba Sho in the style of one likely to be suited by this longer trip. He suffered his sole defeat when taking on older horses in August's G3 Niigata Kinen, running an encouraging race after four months on the sidelines to take second behind the battle-hardened five-year-old Shirankedo (Declaration Of War). 【Kikuka Sho (Japanese St. Leger) (G1), 3000m, Kyoto, JRA】 Energico won the Kikuka Sho !#JRA #horseracing #KikukaSho #Energico pic.twitter.com/JoTYa8iJvP — HorseRacingInJapan (@HorseRacing_JPN) October 26, 2025 Pedigree Notes Energico is one of three winners of the Kikuka Sho for his late sire, Duramente, along with Titleholder in 2021 and the aforementioned Durezza. This colt belongs to Duramente's final crop, which has also yielded fellow Classic placegetter Masquerade Ball, who finished second in the G1 Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) and third in the G1 Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2,000 Guineas). One of seven winners from 10 runners out of Noverre's G1 Preis der Diana heroine Enora, Energico is a half-brother to the G3 Preis des Winterfavoriten-winning sire Erasmus (Reliable Man) and the winning Oasis Dream mare Kizingo. The latter is the dam of another Preis der Diana victrix in Erle (Reliable Man), as well as the G3 Prix de Royaumont third Eleganz (Adlerflug). In addition to Enora, Energico's second dam, the G2 Premio Lydia Tesio runner-up Enrica (Niniski), has produced nine other winners. They include the multiple Group scorer and multiple Group 1-placed Egerton (Groom Dancer), plus the Listed winner and G3 Deutsches St. Leger runner-up Ernesto (Reliable Man). Sunday, Kyoto, Japan KIKUKA SHO (JAPANESE ST.LEGER)-G1, ¥419,370,000, Kyoto, 10-26, 3yo, c/f, 3000mT, 3:04.00, gd. 1–ENERGICO (JPN), 126, c, 3, by Duramente (Jpn) 1st Dam: Enora (Ger) (G1SW-Ger, $303,781), by Noverre 2nd Dam: Enrica (GB), by Niniski 3rd Dam: Eicidora (Ger), by Surumu (Ger) 1ST GROUP 1 WIN. O-Silk Racing; B-Northern Farm; T-Mizuki Takayanagi; J-Christophe Lemaire; ¥227,559,000. Lifetime: 5-4-1-0, ¥318,219,000. *1/2 to Erasmus (Ger) (Reliable Man {GB}), GSW-Ger. Werk Nick Rating: C. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. 2–Eri King (Jpn), 126, c, 3, Kizuna (Jpn)–Youngstar (Aus), by High Chaparral (Ire). 1ST GROUP 1 BLACK TYPE. (¥210,000,000 Ylg '23 JRAJUL). O-Susumu Fujita; B-Northern Farm; ¥87,874,000. 3–Excite Bio (Jpn), 126, c, 3, Rey de Oro (Jpn)–Animate Bio (Jpn), by Zenno Rob Roy (Jpn). 1ST GROUP 1 BLACK TYPE. O-Bio Inc.; B-Northern Farm; ¥53,937,000. Margins: 2, 3/4, NS. Odds: 3.80, 4.30, 82.60. Also Ran: Goltzschtal (Jpn), Red Bande (Jpn), Mirage Knight (Jpn), Coachella Valley (Jpn), Giovanni (Jpn), Rex Novus (Jpn), Arrondi (Jpn), Amakihi (Jpn), Right Track (Jpn), My Universe (Jpn), Shohei (Jpn), Layered Red (Jpn), Yamanin Bouclier (Jpn), Ra Shalom (Jpn), G T Adamant (Jpn). Click for the JRA chart & video. The post Christophe Lemaire Completes Unprecedented Kikuka Sho Hat-Trick with Energico appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Eight days after Bulb General’s “heartbreaking” blow which ruled him out of the Classic Series, Jamie Richards gained some compensation when Goldentronicmighty returned from throat surgery to score first up at Sha Tin on Sunday. A leading contender for the upcoming four-year-old series after three dominant wins in a row, Bulb General sustained a right fore ligament injury which will put him out of action until late this season. “He was the horse that I was hoping was going to fill the stable...View the full article

Evergreen speedball Tomodachi Kokoroe continued his remarkable season with a dominant win in the Group Two Premier Bowl (1,200m) at Sha Tin on Sunday. The always consistent seven-year-old was winless in 11 starts last season, but his fortunes have taken a drastic U-turn this campaign and he marched into the Premier Bowl on the back of two rapid wins in Class Two company. Brown-lamped into $3.95, Harry Bentley always oozed confidence travelling alone in fifth behind a contested lead. Given the...View the full article

Brazilian Group One winner Sagacious Life sensationally surged into Classic Series calculations with an upset win on his Hong Kong debut in Sunday’s Class Two Panasonic Cup (1,600m) at Sha Tin. Starting a $33.65 chance against strong opposition, the Pierre Ng Pang-chi-trained import capitalised on a light weight of 108lb after Britney Wong Po-ni’s claim to hand the apprentice her biggest victory in the city. Wong settled Sagacious Life midfield on the fence and he appeared to be keeping on only...View the full article

Ever Luck produced a debut to remember at Sha Tin on Sunday, overcoming barrier 14, a surprise detour entering the home straight and a protest to land a massive betting plunge. Whacked late in betting to shorten from $9.4 to $2.8, the Mark Newnham-trained Ever Luck jumped well in the Class Four Panasonic TV Handicap (1,200m) and was urged to the lead by James Orman. Everything seemed to be going to plan through the first half of the race until Ever Luck veered out towards the middle of the track...View the full article

By Michael Guerin There could be a race inside a race in the $60,000 NZB Airfreight Flying Stakes at Ashburton. The Group 2 is traditionally the most important lead-up to the IRT New Zealand Cup at Addington on November 11, although this season comes with the major side plot of which Australians will turn up to challenge the locals come Cup Day. Leap To Fame’s tilt at the Cup looks back on track after his win at Melton on Saturday night with his trainer Grant Dixon says he is likely to make the trip and he was back into $2 favouritism with the TAB. That aside so far this spring the New Zealand open class ranks have seen a power shift, starting with five or six pacers rated about the same level to Republican Party becoming the clear top dog. A small dog, but top dog nevertheless. He probably already was after a surprisingly dominant six months between November last year and May this year, winning the Invercargill and Auckland Cups then the Messenger and the Roy Purdon, all Group 1s. Republican Party had always been a good horse but never THE horse but he has strengthened as he has matured and that durability and toughness which are the best qualities of the stock of his champion sire Bettors Delight have kicked in. That has also emboldened his young driver Carter Dalgety. “I find when I drive him like a really good horse, that is when he goes best,” says Dalgety, whose parents Cran and Chrissie train Republican Party. “He has earned respect now because when I move on him and he gets the front I keep going at a good tempo and that means every other horse get their chance too.” That could sum up today’s 2400m standing start because if all the main players step safely, it is hard to imagine most of their drivers wouldn’t be keen to take a trail on Republican Party. The last thing they want is an early 800m burn that sees them struggling late and getting a headache and a confidence dent heading into Cup week so with his recent form and respect earned, Republican Party’s $2.80 odds seem fair. There are absolutely rivals good enough to beat him though, headed by the Hayden and Amanda Cullen-trained pair of We Walk By Faith and Don’t Stop Dreaming. Both have raced well this spring and Don’t Stop Dreaming in particular looks to be on the improve, having chased Republican Party home when he thrashed many of these in the Canterbury Classic last start. “Both of ours are in a really good place and Don’t Stop Dreaming is getting close to his peak,” says Cullen. “But I’d narrowly go for We Walk By Faith as our best chance of the two on Monday.” As strong as the Flying Stakes is many of the other races will also provide pointers to the Group 1s of Cup week. The three-year-old pace gives Marketplace (R7, No.5) a chance to get back to winning form but that won’t be a gimme as Got The Chocolates has at least partially closed the gap between the pair. The two-year-old pacing fillies are still working themselves out so Race 4 looks even and a case of whoever gets the best run should win. The same could be said for the Nevele R Fillies heat as some seriously good three-year-old fillies clash and maybe the best of them Captains Mistress (R8, No.1) returns from a Queensland campaign but is fresh up with only one trial. The Cullens have three in that race and Hayden suggests Arafura is their best chance but it is a stacked race with plenty of moving parts. The juvenile male pacers in Race 10 get a welcome break from the unbeaten (and maybe unbeatable) Jumal and Cullen says their favourite Zeus Lightning is ready to win but his draw will make things interesting. The two major trotting races today appear a little clearer with Muscle Mountain the standout in the Flying Sprint (R9, No.2) which he is trying to win for the fourth time versus last season’s victor Bet N Win, who may be disadvantaged by both the draw and a lack of recent racing. There is little doubt Meant To Be (R6, No.12) is the best horse in the three-year-old trot but he is on the unruly over 1700m with some speed inside him from Ya Rite Darl, Habibti Pat (awkwardly drawn) and Tarragindi if the big northerner can roll over the top of them it will be a huge pointer to what lies ahead. View the full article

Trentham’s 1200m chute had posed a query for talented sprinter Ima Brazen One (NZ) (Brazen Beau) in previous starts, but that all changed when the mare made every post a winner in Sunday’s Rothley Sprint (1000m). The daughter of Brazen Beau had missed a top three finish in all three of her prior attempts down the unique dog-leg track, but resuming in a new preparation she was still tipped as the horse to beat, closing a $3.30 favourite ahead of Debit ($4). In the hands of Masa Hashizume, the mare showed her customary early speed to cross and lead, settling into a good rhythm with Lhasa and Fancy Like Lass in the trail. She was slightly wayward coming onto the course proper, but once straightened, she gave a good kick and put a margin on her rivals. The challengers were coming hard late, but Ima Brazen One had the winning buffer and held on bravely to score from placegetters Lhasa and Chajaba. While she handled the chute on this occasion, her trainer Mike Breslin indicated he will be looking elsewhere for future options. “I knew she was ready to run a big race, she was probably as forward as I’ve had her to resume,” he said. “She still didn’t do things that well across the junction, but when Masa angled her back to the rail, that helped. “I still don’t think, at a good level, that the chute or a straight-six like Riccarton would be her go, so I’m keen to get her up to Ellerslie and give her a go right-handed around there to see how she copes. “I’m hoping to do that before Christmas, then we can see if she’s good enough to go back up for a race like the Concorde (Gr.3, 1200m).” Bred by Sir Brendan and Lady Jo Lindsay, Ima Brazen One was a $100,000 purchase by her trainer at New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sales in 2022 and has subsequently earned $118,460 for In To Win Brazenly Syndicate, managed by Tineke Balcombe. In the previous race, the Grahams Painters Sprint (1000m), the In To Win silks were to the fore once again aboard a Breslin runner, this time with promising four-year-old Kosta (NZ) (War Decree). Aided by a no-panic ride from Samantha Collett, Kosta settled back in the field and weaved his way through up the straight, showing a stunning late burst to catch the favourite Toronto just short of the line. The son of War Decree had been a frequent figure in the steward’s report last preparation, but looked every bit the professional in his first-up outing. “He’s always been an athlete, the head just hasn’t fallen into place,” Breslin said. “We rode him quietly in his trial the other day amongst horses and he showed that he was starting to learn. Sam rode him in that trial and was very keen to ride him raceday, which gave me a bit of confidence. “I knew that he would sprint well in a fresh state, and the good thing about that is he gets off the bridle a little bit. If I gave him another trial and went straight into a 1400m race, he may just get up on the steel. “He’s shown in his two wins that he’s got a great turn of foot, and today, he probably wasn’t entitled to win as easily as he did.” While he sprinted stylishly fresh, Breslin is hoping to see Kosta over a middle-distance trip in time. “I honestly think he’s a 2000m horse with some more time and education,” he said. “He’s by War Decree out of a High Chaparral mare, so it’s a staying family. He’s a real athlete, it’s just a matter of getting his head to follow.” In To Win and Chris Rutten Bloodstock outlaid $80,000 to secure Kosta at New Zealand Bloodstock’s 2023 Ready To Run Sale from the draft of BMD Bloodstock. View the full article