Wandering Eyes

The stakes-laden Oct. 7 card at Aqueduct Racetrack kicked off with a familiar sight—with Chad Brown and Klaravich Stables winning a graded stakes race for female grass horses when McKulick emerged triumphant in the $200,000 Waya Stakes (G3T).View the full article

The stakes-laden Oct. 7 card at Aqueduct Racetrack kicked off with a familiar sight—with Chad Brown and Klaravich Stables winning a graded stakes race for female grass horses when McKulick emerged triumphant in the $200,000 Waya Stakes (G3T).View the full article

Racing in a downpour, Just F Y I added to a huge day for her connections in the $400,000 Frizette Stakes (G1) Oct. 7 at the Belmont at the Big A meeting.View the full article

Track officials announced that the all-turf Monmouth-at-Meadowlands card scheduled for the evening of Oct. 7 has been canceled due to inclement weather.View the full article

Just F Y I (f, 2, Justify–Star Act, by Street Cry {Ire}), up by a head sprinting on debut at the Spa Aug. 26, provided a rolling Grade I double for owner George Krikorian and Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott with a powerful performance in Saturday's 'Win and You're In' GI Frizette S. at a rainy Aqueduct Racetrack. “[The track] was the big question and we didn't know,” Mott said. “You don't know until you run them. We thought she was a nice filly and, in this day and age, I guess if you break your maiden impressively you're looking at going to a stakes race because there aren't many allowance races.” As for the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies at Santa Anita, Mott added, “That would be the plan today. We'll wait and see how she comes back and go from there.” The 9-2 chance found a perfect spot in an outside third through an opening quarter in :23.63 while navigating the one-turn mile over very sloppy going. She loomed boldly while four wide on the far turn, gained a narrow advantage at the top of the stretch and leveled off beautifully down the lane to win going away by 3 3/4 lengths over longshot Central Avenue (Street Sense). Life Talk (Gun Runner) was third. Krikorian and Mott were also represented one race earlier on the card by GI Joe Hirsch Turf Classic S. winner War Like Goddess (English Channel). “It's very special,” Mott said. “[Mr. Krikorian] has been a very good client and he sends me some horses that he thinks are going to be OK. I have a small group of horses for him, but they are all quite nice.” Krikorian added, “It's very special. I couldn't be more pleased, I'm ecstatic.” Triple Crown winner Justify, sire of last Sunday's G1 Qatar Prix Marcel Boussac Criterium des Pouliches heroine Opera Singer; Wednesday's GII Miss Grillo S. winner Hard to Justify; and Friday's GII Jessamine S. winner Buchu, is now responsible for four Grade I/Group 1 winners worldwide. #5 Just F Y I splashes home and stays perfect while earning her first graded stakes win in the G1 Frizette S. at Belmont for trainer Bill Mott with @juniorandkellya aboard! #TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/b0iFlrJaiQ — TwinSpires Racing (@TwinSpires) October 7, 2023 Saturday, Belmont The Big A FRIZETTE S.-GI, $400,000, Belmont The Big A, 10-7, 2yo, f, 1m, 1:37.59, sy. 1–JUST F Y I, 120, f, 2, by Justify 1st Dam: Star Act (SP, $147,605), by Street Cry (Ire) 2nd Dam: Starrer, by Dynaformer 3rd Dam: To the Hunt, by Relaunch 1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN, 1ST GRADE I WIN. O/B-George Krikorian (KY); T-William I. Mott; J-Junior Alvarado. $220,000. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $277,750. Werk Nick Rating: C+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree or free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. 2–Central Avenue, 120, f, 2, by Street Sense 1st Dam: Centring (MGISP, $509,102), by A.P. Indy 2nd Dam: Composure, by Touch Gold 3rd Dam: Party Cited, by Alleged 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE, 1ST G1 BLACK TYPE. O/B-Godolphin (KY); T-Michael Stidham. $80,000. 3–Life Talk, 120, f, 2, by Gun Runner 1st Dam: Touchy Feely, by Bernardini 2nd Dam: Touched, by Touch Gold 3rd Dam: Bay Barrister, by Miswaki 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE, 1ST G1 BLACK TYPE. ($160,000 Wlg '21 KEENOV; $335,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP). O-Repole Stable; B-Gun Runner Syndicate, Mulholland Springs LLC & Tom Grether Farms Inc. (KY); T-Todd A. Pletcher. $48,000. Margins: 3 3/4, HF, 1. Odds: 4.80, 18.60, 1.90. Also Ran: Emery, Irish Maxima, Princess Indy. Click for the Equibase.com chart or the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG. The post ‘Just’ on Fire: Just F Y I Rolls in Sloppy Frizette for Red-Hot Justify appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Reigning Joe Hirsch Turf Classic (G1T) titleholder War Like Goddess stormed past the free-wheeling pacesetter in mid-stretch for a commanding score Oct. 7 at Aqueduct Racetrack.View the full article

In this continuing series, Alan Carasso takes a look ahead at US-bred and/or conceived runners entered for the upcoming weekend at the tracks on the Japan Racing Association circuit, with a focus on pedigree and/or performance in the sales ring. Here are the horses of interest for this Monday running at Kyoto and Tokyo Racecourses: Monday, October 9, 2023 1st-KYO, ¥10,480,000 ($70k), Maiden, 2yo, 1400mT PIKARI (f, 2, Twirling Candy–Laudation, by Congrats) turned in a sound third-place effort on her Aug. 20 debut going nine furlongs from a terrible draw on the grass at Kokura (video, SC 16) and turns back a bit in distance for this second go. The stakes-winning dam is a daughter of dual Grade II winner Rite Moment (Vicar), also the dam of MSW Moment Is Right (Medaglia d'Oro) and of this year's G3 UAE Oaks winner and GI Kentucky Oaks participant Mimi Kakushi (City of Light). Leading rider Yuga Kawada has the riding assignment. A $265,000 Keeneland September yearling, the Mar. 18 foal fetched $900,000 from trainer Hideyuki Mori at this year's OBS March Sale on behalf of owner Susumu Fujita. B-Woods Edge Farm LLC (KY) 5th-TOK, ¥13,720,000 ($92k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1600mT METIERS D'ART (f, 2, American Pharoah–Fiducia, by Medaglia d'Oro) is the third foal to the races for her dam, a listed winner and Group 3-placed in turf sprints whose first foal Gran Aplauso became the first Japanese winner and first winner on turf for Gun Runner on debut back in 2021. Fiducia's MSW & GSP dam Believe (Jpn) (Sunday Silence) was Japan's champion older mare of 2003 and has gone on to distinguish herself in the breeding shed as the dam of 2022 G1 Sprinters S. winner Gendarme (Kitten's Joy) and MSW/G1SP Faridat (Kingmambo) in addition to Fiducia. B-North Hills Co Limited (KY) The post Twirling Candy’s Pikari Looks To Make Amends at Kyoto appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Her sire won the 2007 GI Breeders' Cup Turf in similarly soft underfoot conditions not far away at Monmouth Park, and George Krikorian's WAR LIKE GODDESS (m, 6, English Channel–Misty North, by North Light {Ire}) found her best stride in the waning stages of Saturday's GI Joe Hirsch Turf Classic and motored home to successfully defend her title. With Junior Alvarado at the controls for the first time, the $30,000 OBS June bargain lingered towards the back of the pack through the early exchanges, racing in the company of third favorite Stone Age (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) as So High (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) went pedal to the metal from the fence beneath Romero Maragh. The latter was in a race of his own down the backstretch, opening up by as many as 20 lengths before odds-on Rebel's Romance (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), prepping for a title defense of his own in the GI Breeders' Cup Turf, was first to attempt to make any inroads. So High continued on that long lead into the final three-eighths of a mile and while Rebel's Romance peaked on his run in upper stretch, War Like Goddess was pulled out into the center of the boggy course and steamed home for the victory. Soldier Rising (GB) (Frankel {GB}) ran on to complete the exacta ahead of So High in third. Rebel's Romance could do no better than fourth. War Like Goddess would go on to be a low-odds third, with Stone Age second, in last year's Turf at Keeneland. The Hirsch was her second victory in four runs this season, having annexed Keeneland's GIII Bewitch S. back in April before finishing sixth in a slow-paced renewal of the GI New York S. June 9 and a neck second in the GII Glens Falls S. at Saratoga Aug. 3. Sales history: $1,200 Wlg '17 KEENOV; $1,000 RNA Ylg '18 KEESEP; $30,000 2yo '19 OBSJUN. Lifetime Record: 17-11-2-2. O-George Krikorian; B-Calumet Farm (KY); T-Bill Mott. The post War Like Goddess Goes Back-To-Back in the Joe Hirsch appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Big Invasion is 3-1 on the morning line despite his last win coming five starts back in the $100,000 Silks Run Stakes at Gulfstream. The Nearctic will reveal if the next step should be the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (G1T) or time off to regroup. View the full article

Dettori, who is to retire at the end of the year, was riding his 22nd top-level win at Newmarket. They include four victories apiece in the Two Thousand and One Thousand Guineas.View the full article

The winners thought they were second and the runners-up thought they had won but the evidence on the judge's screen fooled them all as Atrium edged out Popmaster in a head-bobbing finish to the £180,000 Howden Challenge Cup at Ascot. View the full article

Upset last time out by one of the three rivals she raced Saturday, McKulick (GB) (Frankel {GB}) bounced back and turned the tables on Parnac (Zarak {Fr}) to give trainer Chad Brown his fifth straight win in the GII Waya S. The beaten favorite at odds on in Saratoga's GII Flower Bowl S. Sept. 2 as Parnac went gate-to-wire, McKulick looked to gain an edge on that rival with the addition of a speedy uncoupled stablemate breaking from the inside gate in Idea Generation (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}). Running over a bogged-down Aqueduct turf course listed as yeilding with rain still falling in the area, the field of four set on their way with the two expected pace horses handling the early running with Idea Generation happy to lead the way ahead of Parnac. McKulick stayed in third and that running order stayed largely unchanged as the quartet came by the wire with one lap remaining. Idea Generation continued to go on with it, opening up a clear advantage into the clubhouse turn and up the backstretch run before McKulick, who seemed to be getting over the turf better than her rival Parnac, began to move. The Klaravich stablemates were first and second passing the quarter pole and for several moments it looked as though Idea Generation might spring the upset as McKulick struggled to get by on the outside. But with a sixteenth left to run, class ultimately prevailed with the daughter of Frankel putting a bit of separation into the field to win going away as the 1-2 chalk. “She [McKulick] did great,” said winning trainer Chad Brown. “She was very unlucky in the Flower Bowl, she was clearly the best in that race. She got race ridden a little bit there by the horse that finished last in the race [No. 3, Parnac]. I wanted to make sure we had a pace horse in there to keep it an honest race, but could also do some good in the race. Everything was accomplished today.” Regarding a potential next start in the GI Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf at Santa Anita Nov. 4, Brown added: “I think going a mile and a quarter back to two turns would be good for her, if there's pace like there should be going back to two turns. This filly has proven she can run on firm or bottomless ground like today. She's a very versatile horse and we're lucky to have her in the barn.” MCKULICK wins the Grade 3 @FasigTiptonCo Waya Stakes with @iradortiz aboard for trainer Chad Brown! pic.twitter.com/7CcTuCf52E — NYRA () (@TheNYRA) October 7, 2023 Pedigree Note: A daughter of European sensation Frankel, McKulick continues to carry the banner in North America for the Banstead Manor Stud legend. Sourced out of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale for Klaravich Stables, she is the fourth winner from as many to race out of a group-placed dam who is also responsible for GSW/G1SP Just Beautiful (GB) (Pride of Dubai {Aus}) and GSW Fearless King (GB) (Kingman {GB}). Astrelle herself is a half to GSW Porsenna (Ire) (Dylan Thomas {Ire}) and MSW/MGSP Basileus (Ire) (Dream Ahead). She has an unraced 2-year-old filly by Calyx (GB) and a yearling filly by Pinatubo (Ire). Saturday, Belmont at the Big A WAYA S.-GIII, $186,000, Belmont The Big A, 10-7, 3yo/up, f/m, 1 3/8mT, 2:20.10, yl. 1–MCKULICK (GB), 126, f, 4, by Frankel (GB) 1st Dam: Astrelle (Ire) (GSP-Eng), by Makfi (GB) 2nd Dam: Miss Mariduff, by Hussonet 3rd Dam: Sopran Mariduff (GB), by Persian Bold (Ire) (180,000gns Ylg '20 TATOCT). O-Klaravich Stables, Inc.; B-Essafinaat UK Ltd (GB); T-Chad C. Brown; J-Irad Ortiz, Jr. $110,000. Lifetime Record: GISW, 13-5-5-2, $1,615,720. *1/2 to Fearless King (GB) (Kingman {GB}), GSW-Ger; 1/2 to Just Beautiful (GB) (Pride Of Dubai {Aus}), GSW & G1SP-Ire, GSW-Eng, GSP-Fr, $247,982. Werk Nick Rating: A+++. *Triple Plus* Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. 2–Idea Generation (Ire), 118, f, 3, Dubawi (Ire)–Knocknagree (Ire), by Galileo (Ire). 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. (340,000gns Ylg '21 TATOCT). O-Klaravich Stables, Inc.; B-Epona Bloodstock Ltd (IRE); T-Chad C. Brown. $40,000. 3–Sister Otoole, 124, m, 6, Amira's Prince (Ire)–O' Toole, by Distorted Humor. O-Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners; B-Helen Barbazon & Joseph Barbazon (FL); T-H. Graham Motion. $24,000. Margins: 2, 2 1/4, 8 1/4. Odds: 0.40, 10.50, 8.30. Also Ran: Parnac (Fr). Scratched: Movie Moxy, Peak Popularity, Personal Best, Romagna Mia (GB). Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. The post Brown Eyes Breeders’ Cup For Waya Winner McKulick appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

1st-BAQ, $90k, Msw, 2yo, 7f, 12:35p.m. ET Whisper Hill Farm has been enjoying a fruitful year on the track and in the sales ring, and SPEED RUNNER (Gun Runner) looks to add his tally to the operation's banner year. A half-brother to the brilliant GISW Brilliant Speed (Dynaformer); SW & GSP Souper Speedy (Indian Charlie); and SP Bank (Bernardini), the Pletcher-trained chestnut comes into the race with a bullet move Sept. 27 over Belmont's training track–a five furlong work in a co-fastest minute flat. His dam Speed Succeeds is a half-sister to Canadian champion older mare GSW Serenading (A.P. Indy); that one's full-sister MSW & GISP Handpainted–herself dam of GSW Painting (Distorted Humor) and GSP Patena (Seeking the Gold); and the dams of Japanese runner GSW Touch Me Not (Jpn) and GISP Conquest Mo Money (Uncle Mo). To the outside and carrying the colors of Juddmonte, Lambeth (Arrogate) goes to post from the barn of Bill Mott. Out of a half-sister to SW & G1SP Task Force (GB) (Frankel {GB}) and SW Elegant Verse (GB) (Galileo {Ire})–making her a daughter of European champion 2-year-old filly MG1SW Special Duty (GB)–Lambeth can also claim GI Breeders' Cup Mile victor Expert Eye (GB) (Acclamation {GB}) as a relation. TJCIS PPs. 1st-SA, $61k, Msw, 2yo, 6fT, 4:00p.m. ET Jumping from in between a West homebred and a Don Alberto one is C R K Stable's Shear Magic (Good Magic). The $350,000 OBSAPR pick up from this past spring has been sighted religiously on the work tab for conditioner John Shirreffs. His dam, a half-sister to GSP Bo Cruz (Creative Cause) and out of a half-sister to GI Preakness hero Cloud Computing (Maclean's Music), was a winner and has produced three others from as many to the races. This is the family of MG1SP Marino Marini. The West runner American Hope (American Pharoah) is out of MGISW Room Service (More Than Ready), a half-sister to SW & MGSP Oscar Party (Dixie Union) and full-sibling to GSW Major Gain. Don Alberto's Citadino (Runhappy) hails from the family of champion 3-year-old filly MGISW Surfside and her half-brother, track record-setting GSW Irish Surf via second dam, champion 2-year-old filly MGISW Flanders. TJCIS PPs. The post Oct. 8 Insights: From New York to California, Big Name Debuts appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

American Horse of the Year Bricks And Mortar (Giant's Causeway) sired his first stakes winner when his first-crop son Gonbade Qabus (Jpn) ran out a two-length winner of the G3 Saudi Arabia Royal Cup at Tokyo on Saturday. A winner over this course and distance on his debut in June, the 8-1 chance jumped well and floated back through the field to race at the tail down the backstretch as Reve Genial (Jpn) (Maurice {Jpn}) cut out fractions of :23.30 for the first 400 metres and :46.90 for the half-mile. Produced for his run around the 500-metre mark, the blaze-faced dark bay fanned out into the middle of the course by the quarter-pole, drove past his rivals 200 metres later and won going away in this 1600-metre affair. It was tight for second, with the short-priced favourite Bond Girl (Jpn) (Daiwa Major {Jpn}) a neck in front of Strauss (Jpn) (Maurice {Jpn}). Reve Genial hung on four fourth, another three-quarters-of-a-length behind. Pedigree Notes The winning Deep Impact mare Affilato (Jpn) took until her 6-year-old year to earn black type, and she accomplished that with a third in the G3 Nakayama Himba S. At stud, Gonbade Qabus is the second winner of two foals out of Affilato, who also has a yearling colt by Epiphaneia (Jpn). His second dam Lady Of Venice (Fr) (Loup Solitaire) won a trio of graded races in the U.S., and, in addition to Affilato, produced the G3 Keisei Hai second Action Star (Jpn) (Agnes Tachyon {Jpn}). Father back in the pedigree is Classic winner and sire Soviet Star (Nureyev)and GI Santa Barbara H. heroine The Very One (One For All). Saturday, Tokyo, Japan SAUDI ARABIA ROYAL CUP, ¥63,050,000, Tokyo, 10-7, 2yo, 1600mT, 1:33.40, fm. 1–GONBADE QABUS (JPN), 123, c, 2, by Bricks and Mortar 1st Dam: Affilato (Jpn), by Deep Impact (Jpn) 2nd Dam: Lady of Venice (Fr), by Loup Solitaire 3rd Dam: Lacewings, by Forty Niner 1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN. 1ST GROUP WIN. O-G1 Racing; B-Shiraoi Farm (Jpn); T-Noriyuki Hori; J-Kohei Matsuyama; ¥33,315,000. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, ¥40,515,000. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Werk Nick Rating: D. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. 2–Bond Girl (Jpn), 121, f, 2, Daiwa Major (Jpn)–Coasted, by Tizway. 1ST BLACK TYPE. 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (¥210,000,000 Ylg '22 JRHAJUL). O-Susumu Fujita; B-Northern Farm (Jpn); ¥13,090,000. 3–Strauss (Jpn), 123, c, 2, Maurice (Jpn)–Blumenblatt (Jpn) by Admire Vega (Jpn). 1ST BLACK TYPE. 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. O-Carrot Farm; B-Northern Farm (Jpn); ¥8,345,000. Margins: 2, NK, 3/4. Odds: 8.60, 0.40, 1.80. Also Ran: Reve Genial (Jpn), Ecoro Mars (Jpn), Win Acteur (Jpn), Meiner Bricks (Jpn), Happy Surprise (Jpn), Marine Bunker (Jpn). Click for the JRA chart & video. The post Bricks And Mortar Sires First Stakes Winner In Japan appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Edited Press Release The all-turf Monmouth-at-Meadowlands card scheduled for tonight, Saturday, Oct. 7, has been canceled due to inclement weather, track officials announced. The final two live racing days of the abbreviated meet will take place next Friday and Saturday Oct. 13 and 14. First race post time both nights is 7 p.m. for the six-race cards. When racing does resume on Friday, there will be a single jackpot Pick 6 carryover of $21,920. If there is not a single ticket winner that night there will be a mandatory payout for Saturday's closing day program. The post Monmouth At Meadowlands Canceled for Saturday appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Frankie's farewell tour took another notable turn on Saturday as Cheveley Park Stud's brilliant Inspiral (GB) (Frankel {GB}– Starscope {GB}, by Selkirk) dominated the G1 Sun Chariot S. to provide the rider with his 500th Newmarket winner. Always travelling like the clear-best filly in the line-up with Dettori keen to wait behind the leader, the 10-11 favourite was unleashed towards the far rail three out and surged to the line with relish to score by 3 3/4 lengths from Mqse De Sevigne (Ire) (Siyouni {Fr}), with Heredia (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire}) 3/4 of a length away in third. FIVE Group 1 triumphs! The top-class Inspiral is in a different league in the @VirginBet Sun Chariot Stakes for John and Thady Gosden and @CPStudOfficial. 5⃣0⃣0⃣ @NewmarketRace winners for that man @FrankieDettori! pic.twitter.com/nGJD3xFj4G — Champions Series (@ChampionsSeries) October 7, 2023 The post Inspiral Gives Frankie His 500th Newmarket Win In The Sun Chariot appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Sunday's top tips from the SCMP analystsView the full article

Patrice Cottier trainee Classic Flower (GB) (Calyx {GB}–Crown Of Flowers {GB}, by Garswood {GB}) had collected prizemoney for the Gousserie Racing and Jean-Etienne Dubois partnership in all three prior black-type outings and held firm against a strong British raiding party to double her freshman sire's pattern-race tally in Saturday's G2 Criterium de Maisons-Laffitte at Chantilly. The 28-5 chance, who had hit the board in the G2 Prix Robert Papin and G3 Prix Six Perfections earlier in the campaign, was well away to stalk the leading duo in a handy third from flagfall. Inching into second at halfway, she was shaken up passing the quarter-mile marker and was ridden out once gaining an edge with 150 metres remaining to prevail by 3/4-of-a-length from G3 Prix Eclipse victrix Dawn Charger (Ire) (Soldier's Call {GB}). Seven Questions (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) was up with the pace throughout and kept on well to finish 1 3/4 lengths back in third. “Classic Flower had not been blessed with luck in her last couple of races [over seven furlongs] and six is probably her optimum trip,” said Pauline Chebhoub. “She was freshened up, the break did her a lot of good and she looked outstanding in the preliminaries today. Travelling handy is probably better for her and she deserved to win at this level. She will come back next year with Classic ambition.” Pedigree Notes Classic Flower is the first of two reported foals out of a half-sister to MGSP Listed Pipalong S. and Listed Bosra Sham Fillies' S. victrix Bahia Breeze (GB) (Mister Baileys {GB}), herself the dam of G2 Ridgewood Pearl S. winner Beshaayir (GB) (Iffraaj {GB}) and the dual stakes-placed Brioniya (GB) (Pivotal {GB}). The March-foaled chestnut's dam is also kin to the dam of the dual stakes-placed Rock On Baileys (GB) (Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire}) while Brioniya threw Listed Grand Prix de Marseille third Bakhchisaray (Fr) (Motivator {GB}). Half-sister to a yearling filly by Oasis Dream (GB), she is from the family of Preakness-winning US champion Tom Rolfe (Ribot {GB}), MGISW sire Bates Motel (Sir Ivor) and GI San Antonio H. hero Hatim (Exclusive Native). Smart performance! Classic Flower continues the good form of Patrice Cottier with victory in the Group 2 Criterium De Maisons-Laffitte at @fgchantilly… pic.twitter.com/u7sfdgLO06 — At The Races (@AtTheRaces) October 7, 2023 Saturday, Chantilly, France CRITERIUM DE MAISONS-LAFFITTE-G2, €190,000, Chantilly, 10-7, 2yo, 6fT, 1:10.03, g/s. 1–CLASSIC FLOWER (GB), 125, f, 2, by Calyx (GB) 1st Dam: Crown Of Flowers (GB), by Garswood (GB) 2nd Dam: Ring Of Love (GB), by Magic Ring (Ire) 3rd Dam: Fine Honey, by Drone 1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. (45,000gns Wlg '21 TATFOA). O-Gousserie Racing & Jean-Etienne Dubois; B-Petches Farm Ltd (GB); T-Patrice Cottier; J-Mickael Barzalona. €108,300. Lifetime Record: 6-3-1-1, €167,500. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. 2–Dawn Charger (Ire), 125, f, 2, Soldier's Call (GB)–Dushlan (Ire), by New Approach (Ire). (€40,000 Ylg '22 TATIRY). O-Saif Mohammad Alketbi & Elaine Burke; B-Jim Bolger (IRE); T-Karl Burke. €41,800. 3–Seven Questions (Ire), 128, g, 2, Kodiac (GB)–Get Up And Dance (GB), by Makfi (GB). (£58,000 Ylg '22 GOFFUK). O-Victorious Racing & Fawzi Nass; B-Tally-Ho Stud (IRE); T-George Scott. €19,950. Margins: 3/4, 1 3/4, 2. Odds: 5.60, 1.30, 3.00. Also Ran: Inishfallen (Ire), Spanish Phoenix (Ire), Shady Lady (Fr), Gaenari (Ire). Video, sponsored by FanDuel TV. The post Classic Flower Doubles Pattern-Race Tally For Calyx With Chantilly Triumph appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The attorney for veterinarians Scott Shell and Barbara Hippie, who have been provisionally suspended by the Horse Racing Integrity and Welfare Unit (HIWU) for possession of bisphosphonates and two other medications told the TDN Saturday morning that the veterinarians were operating under the rule as published. “Drs. Shell and Hippie vehemently deny any violation of the veterinary rules as posted pursuant to HISA,” said Drew Mollica by phone Saturday. “We look forward an immediate hearing so that all of the facts may be explored and their good names and reputations restored. Dr. Shell's practice is known for its integrity, and any substances in his possession were used properly, and were in his possession pursuant to the rules.” Covered horses are defined by the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority “any Thoroughbred horse, or any other horse made subject to the Act by election of the applicable State Racing Commission or the breed governing organization for such horse under section 3054(l), during the period: (A) beginning on the date of the horse's first Timed and Reported Workout at a Racetrack that participates in Covered Horseraces or at a training facility; and (B) ending on the date on which the horse is deemed retired.” Dr. Shell's three-person practice, for which Dr. Hippie works, covers a HISA-covered area in Ohio—Thistledown–as well as West Virginia, where HISA is not in effect. Drs. Shell and Hippie are charged with violating Rule 3214 (a), which reads: Rule 3214. Other Anti-Doping Rule Violations Involving Banned Substances or Banned Methods The following acts and omissions constitute Anti-Doping Rule Violations by the Covered Person(s) in question: (a) Possession of a Banned Substance or a Banned Method, unless there is compelling justification for such Possession. Mollica said that there is no violation of the rules for veterinarians possessing the substances to treat non-covered horses on farms or in other situations. “Both Dr. Shell and Hippie will show unequivocally that they were using the medication for the health and safety of non-covered horses. There's not one allegation of any banned substance being used on a covered horse.” Earlier in September, Shell testified in person before a HIWU-related arbitration panel on behalf of trainer Dennis VanMeter, whose horse, Templement, had tested positive for isoxsuprine and phenylbutazone. VanMeter was facing a possible two-year ban as a result of the isoxsuprine positive alone. At the hearing, it was established that Templement had been placed into one of trainer John Brown's stalls at Thistledown previously occupied by a pony routinely administered Isoxsuprine. In the ruling, it notes that Shell “credibly testified that he and veterinarians in his practice had prescribed isoxsuprine to Mr. John Brown's pony Bucky for the last five years for a condition with its feet that would make it lame without medication.” The arbitrator found the positive a likely instance of environmental contamination, and that VanMeter bore “no fault or negligence” for the isoxsuprine positive. That hearing was on Sept. 12, a little over two weeks before Shell and his associate, Hippie, were allegedly found in possession of isoxsuprine and other banned substances, including bisphosphonates. Additional reporting by Dan Ross. The post Vets’ Attorney in Bisphosphonate Suspension Says Drs. Followed the Rules appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Ballydoyle second string Content (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}–Mecca's Angel {Ire}, by Dark Angel {Ire}), sent to post as an unconsidered 20-1 chance returning off a sub-par sixth in last month's G3 Weld Park S., stepped forward in style to claim a first stakes triumph in Saturday's G3 Staffordstown Stud S. at the Curragh. The May-foaled bay, who ran second behind the reopposing Kitty Rose (GB) (Invincible Army {Ire}) in Leopardstown's Listed Ingabelle S. on Irish Champions weekend, was the last of 10 into stride and raced under wraps in rear through the initial fractions of this one-mile test. Easing into mid division at halfway, she made eyecatching headway into contention in the straight and was driven out inside the final furlong to defeat long-time leader Kitty Rose by 2 1/2 lengths in decisive fashion. French challenger Dare To Dream (Fr) (Camelot {GB}) was best of the remainder (GB) and ran on well to finish a half-length adrift in third. “It was a nice spare [ride] to get,” expressed Chris Hayes. “She's obviously well bred and if you ignored her last run, and came straight here from Champions Weekend, she had to have a chance. She rolled around a little bit late on, but it's holding ground and we were after going an even tempo. Aidan [O'Brien] wanted to teach her, so it was important to get cover and a smooth run. I think she will improve and she won snug in the end.” Pedigree Notes Content becomes the 248th pattern-race winner for her sire and the first for dual G1 Nunthorpe S. heroine Mecca's Angel (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), who is a full-sister to G3 Chipchase S. and G3 Criterion S.-winning sire Markaz (Ire). Her second dam Folga (Ire) (Atraaf {Ire}), who ran second in the Listed Lansdown Fillies' S., is a half-sister to Listed Prix de Lieurey victrix Desert Kaya (Fr) (Bikala {Ire}). Both are daughters of G3 Prix d'Arenberg winner Desert Dawn (GB) (Belfort {Fr}). Mecca's Angel has a yearling filly by Frankel (GB) to come. Staffordstown Stud Stakes (G3) 1.610 m – 55.000 EUR – for 2yo fillies Curragh Content (IRE) (2F Galileo- Mecca's Angel , by Dark Angel) J : Chris Hayes T : A.P. O'Brien O :Mrs John Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Westerbergpic.twitter.com/K78pp5zKX8 — (@WorldRacing1) October 7, 2023 Saturday, Curragh, Ireland STAFFORDSTOWN STUD S.-G3, €55,000, Curragh, 10-7, 2yo, 8fT, 1:45.13, sf. 1–CONTENT (IRE), 128, f, 2, by Galileo (Ire) 1st Dam: Mecca's Angel (Ire) (MG1SW-Eng, GSW & G1SP-Fr, GSW-Ire, $999,035), by Dark Angel (Ire) 2nd Dam: Folga (GB), by Atraf (GB) 3rd Dam: Desert Dawn (GB), by Belfort (Fr) 1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. O-Westerberg, Mrs J Magnier, M Tabor & D Smith; B-Coolmore (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien; J-Chris Hayes. €33,000. Lifetime Record: 6-2-1-1, $67,649. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. 2–Kitty Rose (GB), 128, f, 2, Invincible Army (Ire)–Varnish (GB), by Choisir (Aus). 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (20,000gns Ylg '22 TATOCT). O-Nigel O'Hare, Gary Devlin & Kabin Racing Syndicate; B-Carmel Stud (GB); T-Natalia Lupini. €11,000. 3–Dare To Dream (Fr), 128, f, 2, Camelot (GB)–Debutante (Fr), by Gold Away (Ire). 1ST BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (€67,000 Ylg '22 ARQDOY). O-Dun Shing Lee; B-Ecurie des Monceaux, Meridian International & Scuderia Waldeck (FR); T-Gavin Hernon. €5,500. Margins: 2HF, HF, 1 3/4. Odds: 20.00, 1.10, 14.00. Also Ran: Gray's Inn (Ire), Brilliant (Ire), Snellen (Ire), Unreasonable (Ire), Sea The Boss (GB), Foxtrot Zulu (Ire), Lady Craftsman (Ire). The post Galileo’s Content On Top At The Curragh appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Sarah O’Reilly has put herself in prime position to win her fourth New Zealand Junior Drivers championship title at Methven on Sunday. The country’s top junior driver is leading with 60 points going into the final heat of the championships. She will drive Kennedy in race 6 (2.29pm). On day two at Invercargill O’Reilly took out two of the three heats, with Ellz Angel and With A Bang, to have a six point lead over Zev Meredith. Meredith however drives the well supported Kalasa ($5.50) while Kennedy is an outsider at $31 on fixed odds. O’Reilly has won three of the past four junior championships. Such has been her form in 2023 that she has 58 wins this year to be third in the overall drivers’ premiership behind Blair Orange and John Dunn. View the full article

By Jonny Turner Franco Indie is ready to step back up to the big leagues, starting with Sunday’s Group 3 Methven Cup. The Mark and Nathan Purdon trained pacer comes into the 3000m staying feature third up following a decent spell. Franco Indie produced a handy second first up before smashing the clock in his next second placing, speeding home in a sensation 25.8sec last 400 and being unlucky in the process. With those two runs under his belt, Nathan Purdon feels the timing is right for Franco Indie to show his best in a good race like the Methven Cup. “He had a long time off the scene, but he is lucky because usually a horse of his calibre would have to come straight back into racing at the top level,” Purdon said. “But he has been able to dip his toes back in in two very suitable races.” “That has allowed him to build his fitness up and now he is ready to take on a race like this.” Franco Indie was speeding home in his last start second behind the defending Methven Cup champion in Smiffys Terror. Most importantly, the four-year-old made a good beginning in what was his first standing start. Purdon admitted he wasn’t expecting Franco Indie to begin so well. “He is a very laid back type of horse, to the extent that when he did step away so well, it was a little bit of a surprise,” Purdon said. “If he can keep stepping away like that it would be ideal.” Smiffys Terror and his stablemate Bach look of the two biggest threats to Franco Indie. Smiffys Terror got a timely confidence boost when winning at Addington last week, his first victory since his 2022 Methven Cup win. Bach stepped up in grade in the recent Canterbury Classic, running a very creditable and unlucky sixth in the event Blair Orange takes the reins behind Franco Indie who was rated the $4.50 Methven Cup favourite before being backed into $3.30. Bach also took early support, moving from $6.50 into $5 second favouritism. Orange also combines with the Mark and Nathan Purdon trained first starter Eyeliner. Unusually for a Purdon trained first starter, Eyeliner opened at a juicy $5 price. View the full article

With a dominant home-track performance in Saturday’s Listed Team Wealleans Matamata Cup (1600m), Legarto has put last week’s weather woes behind her and set her sights on Sydney. The exceptional daughter of Proisir was a Group One winner on both sides of the Tasman as a three-year-old last season, blowing her rivals away in the New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) before launching an incredible late burst to become the first New Zealand-trained winner of the Australian Guineas (1600m). After producing another eye-catching finish from an awkward position to resume with a third in last month’s Gr.1 Tarzino Trophy (1400m) at Hastings, she was a hot favourite to return to her Group One-winning ways in last Saturday’s Arrowfield Stud Plate (1600m) at the same venue. However, relentless rain pushed the track down into the heavy range and forced Legarto to be scratched on race morning. Trainers Ken and Bev Kelso looked closer to home for their back-up plan, lining up in the Matamata Cup seven days later. Legarto got in with some weight relief courtesy of fellow Group One winner La Crique, whose higher rating of 107 pushed her impost down to 58.5kg. Legarto was sent out as a $1.60 favourite, and there was barely a nervous moment. Rider Ryan Elliot settled in seventh, three wide but with cover – deliberately keeping her well away from the rail to minimise the risk of traffic trouble at the business end of the race. Legarto began to stride forward coming down the side of the track, and by the time the field rounded the home turn, she had swooped up alongside the front-running La Crique and thrown down the gauntlet. La Crique lifted bravely in response to Legarto’s challenge, with quality staying mare Aquacade diving through in between the pair in an eye-catching resuming run. But Legarto’s superstar qualities shone through in the final 150m and she pulled ahead, winning by three-quarters of a length from Aquacade. It was a second Matamata Cup win in the last six years for the Kelsos, who saddled Cote D’Or to win the local feature in 2017. “I just told Ryan to ride her like the best horse in the race – give her clear air and she’ll do the rest,” Ken Kelso said. “And he did. He gave her plenty of room, got her into the clear and it was very pleasing. “Ryan has got to know her pretty well. He’s had a couple of bad-luck runs on her – there was the Karaka Million (1600m) last season, which wasn’t his fault, and then she got in an awkward spot at Hastings as well. She probably should have won both of those races, so she should probably be unbeaten. But that’s racing. They don’t race in lanes. “She’s an excitement machine and it’s a privilege to train her for nice people. Bev and I are getting to the stage where we’re close to retirement, but when you get a horse like this, you can’t really do that. It’s a big thrill for both of us. We’re slowing down numbers-wise, but we’ll keep going for a while yet when we have a horse like her. “I think it was great for the Matamata club that they had a field like this for the Cup today. It’s a great little club to train at, the facilities are good and they really look after us trainers. It’s good to have horses like this here today.” Bred by Warwick Jeffries, Legarto was offered by Highline Thoroughbreds in Book 2 of Karaka 2021. Her nine-start career has now produced seven wins, a third and a fourth, earning more than $1.17 million in stakes for her dozen owners. The Kelsos are now working their way towards the A$10 million Golden Eagle (1500m) on November 4. “We’ve got a month now between this race and the Golden Eagle, so we’ll probably give her an exhibition gallop or a trial or something in between,” Kelso said. “We’re pretty well on track again now, I think.” The TAB now rates Legarto a $6 chance for the Golden Eagle, with Amelia’s Jewel the favourite at $4.50. Elliot has no doubt that the Kiwi star will make her presence felt. “She got a nice drag into the race today and has done it easily enough,” he said. “She’s had a really good blow, so this should clean her up nicely. “I’ve never ridden another horse like her, and I think she’s a lot stronger now than she was as a three-year-old. She can carry herself properly now, and she’s so switched on. The penny has finally dropped. Onwards and upwards for her. “Just wait until she hits a good track. Watch out, Aussie.” View the full article

Despite the last-minute defection of Skew Wiff, New Zealand maintained a strong influence on Saturday’s A$300,000 Gr.2 Furphy Rose of Kingston Stakes (1400m) at Flemington thanks to a determined victory by Kiwi-bred mare Life Lessons. There had been plenty of pre-race attention centred around the Waikato Stud homebred Skew Wiff, who was a last-start winner of the Gr.1 Tarzino Trophy (1400m) at Hastings and was being pointed towards next month’s A$10 million Golden Eagle (1500m). However, her race was over before it began on Saturday. She became fractious in the starting gates and was backed out before being late-scratched on vets’ advice. But there was another quality New Zealand-bred mare waiting in the wings. Life Lessons had announced her arrival on the Group-racing stage with a last-start second behind boom mare Amelia’s Jewel in the Gr.2 Let’s Elope Stakes (1400m) on September 16, and this time she went one better. Ridden by Daniel Stackhouse, the five-year-old daughter of Tavistock settled in second place behind the pace-setting Starlight Scope. Life Lessons pounced at the top of the Flemington straight and went to the lead. Multiple Group One winner Princess Grace loomed up alongside her and threatened to rush past, but Life Lessons kept digging in and held her out by a long neck. Another New Zealand-bred mare, Wrote To Arataki, was close up in third. “My plan was to be in front of Princess Grace,” Stackhouse said. “I knew the turn of foot that my mare had, and I knew Princess Grace would fight hard if I had her in front of me. “I always wanted to be positive on that tempo and I thought I was controlling the race for a while. She’s done a good job. She’s tough. “I think she is mentally and physically more filled out now. She gave me a good feel the other day. I felt there was more improvement to come, and I think she showed that today.” Trained by Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman for owner-breeders Ramsey Pastoral Pty Ltd, Life Lessons has now had 11 starts for four wins, three seconds and A$414,525 in prize-money. “We’re thrilled with her,” Coleman said. “She’s come up well after that run behind Amelia’s Jewel, and she couldn’t have done much more that day. She’s maintained her condition. We brought her here thinking she’d run very well. “She was good over summer last year. We tried to give her a short freshen-up and then have her up for the autumn and it just didn’t work out. She just needed a good break, which she’s had. She’s come back stronger and she’s a mare in form. If we can keep her happy, we’ll be in for a very good prep.” Moody and Coleman could even consider a shot at the Gr.1 Empire Rose Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on November 4. “The way she was finishing that race off there, I wouldn’t be saying no,” Coleman said.The 46th individual stakes winner for former Cambridge Stud stallion Tavistock, Life Lessons is one of three winners from six foals to race out of the Group Three-winning mare Brockman’s Lass. The Encosta De Lago mare slipped a foal by Preferment the following year and has subsequently returned to Australia, where she produced an Invader filly in 2020. View the full article

What Sha Tin Races Where Sha Tin Racecourse – Tai Po Rd, Sha Tin District, Hong Kong When Sunday, October 8, 2023 First Race 1pm HKT (4pm AEDT) Visit Dabble Hong Kong racing continues Sunday afternoon, with Sha Tin Racecourse set to host a 10-race program between the all-weather and turf circuits. The weather looks less than ideal, with a typhoon a possibility of putting racing to a close. If we do get racing underway, expect the track to be in a yielding condition for the opening race at 1pm HKT (4pm AEDT). Best Bet at Sha Tin: Adefill Adefill is set to make his seasonal debut and the son of Deep Field appears to have found his home on the all-weather circuit. The five-year-old put together three wins on the trot behind running into some more testing company, but still managed three more minor placings behind another all-weather specialist, Erimo. He draws to get a soft run in behind the speed, so look for Adefill to power through the line late to score. Best Bet Race 1 – #3 Adefill (1) 5yo Gelding | T: Ricky Yiu | J: Karis Teetan (57.5kg) Bet with Dabble Next Best at Sha Tin: Youthful Deal Youthful Deal scored a treble of wins last preparation on the all-weather circuit before a minor mishap on the turf put a blemish on his campaign. He then resumed behind Victor The Winner and Lucky Sweynesse in Class 1 company on the turf circuit, finishing a lacklustre 8.3 lengths away last. He’s been to the trials since to gain victory on the all-weather, and that’s when you want to be backing this son of Deep Field. Next Best Race 7 – #3 Youthful Deal (1) 5yo Gelding | T: Frankie Lor | J: Vincent Ho (58kg) Bet with Betfair Next Best Again at Sha Tin: Supreme Lucky Supreme Lucky will be seeking back-to-back wins to start the new campaign as he makes his way into Class 2 company for the first time. He won over 1200m first-up at Sha Tin on September 10, clinging to victory with a wall of horse trying to chase him down. He held them gamely in the end, and we aren’t so sure he loved being ridden to lead. Look for Purton to ride Supreme Lucky with cover this time, showing his explosive turn-of-foot over 1400m on Sunday. Next Best Again Race 8 – #9 Supreme Lucky (5) 5yo Gelding | T: Danny Shum | J: Zac Purton (55kg) Bet with Picklebet Sunday HK quaddie tips for Sha Tin races Sha Tin quadrella selections Sunday, October 8, 2023 1-3-7 2-6-8-9 1-2-8-9 2-4-8-11-14 Investment: $240 for 100% More horse racing tips View the full article