Wandering Eyes

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-bred horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Saturday's Observations features a full-brother to multiple Group 1 winner and Classic heroine Lake Victoria (Frankel). 4.50 Leopardstown, Mdn, 2yo, c/g, 7f 30yT DRUIDS GLEN (IRE) (Frankel {GB}) is a significant newcomer for Ballydoyle on an intriguing card, being a full-brother to the yard's outstanding Irish 1,000 Guineas, Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf, Cheveley Park and Moyglare heroine Lake Victoria. Out of the top-class sprinter Quiet Reflection (Showcasing), he meets nine peers in the maiden won 12 months ago by the subsequent Criterium International winner Twain and in 2016 by Cliffs Of Moher. 1.30 Ascot, Cond, 2yo, 6fT WORDS OF TRUTH (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) greatly enhances this inaugural £250,000 Qipco British Champions Day Two-Year-Old Conditions Stakes, having captured Newbury's Mill Reef Stakes when last seen. Charlie Appleby will be hoping that Godolphin's son of the dual Group winner Beyond Reason (Australia) can make his class tell, but this won't be easy pickings with Wathnan Racing's Listed Rockingham Stakes winner Division (GB) (Kingman {GB}) engaged along with proven Group performers Mission Central (Ire) (No Nay Never) and Kansas (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}). 2.10 Leopardstown, Mdn, 2yo, f, 8fT MUSICAL CHIMES (IRE) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) is another fascinating newcomer for Ballydoyle, this time in the maiden won 12 months ago by Minnie Hauk. A half-sister to the St Leger hero Continuous (Heart's Cry) from the family of Saxon Warrior, she is probably in this for educational purposes above all with the stable's proven Amelia Earhart (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) hot favourite to shed her maiden tag after a latest Group 3 fourth. 2.40 Leopardstown, Mdn, 2yo, c/g, 8fT ANTIGUA (IRE) (Camelot {GB}) cost Peter Brant and the Coolmore partners 600,000gns at the Tattersalls October Book 1, by virtue of the fact that he is a full-brother to the G1 South Australian Derby and G1 Underwood Stakes hero Russian Camelot. Making his debut for Rosegreen in a maiden the stable has dominated and used for the likes of Bolshoi Ballet and Serious Contender, he is joined by Il Corsaro (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), a half-brother to the Group 1-placed Big Blue (Galileo) and full-brother to the yard's one-time Derby prospect Denmark. 3.50 Leopardstown, Mdn, 2yo, f, 7f 30yT GARDEN PARTY (IRE) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) is another outstanding prospect to emerge from Ballydoyle on this fixture, being the third foal out of the Falmouth, Prix Rothschild and Sun Chariot heroine Roly Poly (War Front) and granddaughter of Misty For Me (Galileo). Aidan O'Brien has two other runners, with the key player being the G3 Weld Park Stakes third Minerva (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), the 1.5 million gns daughter of Prize Exhibit (Showcasing) who is looking for a win at the seventh attempt. The post Lake Victoria’s Brother Druids Glen Debuts At Leopardstown appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

4th-Keeneland, $100,719, Msw, 10-17, 2yo, f, 5 1/2fT, 1:02.83, fm, 2 3/4 lengths. BEACH HEIST (f, 2, Omaha Beach–Pearl Heist, by Graydar) ran this group of maiden fillies off their feet in her debut race Friday for Will Walden. The 6-1 shot, drawn wide in this 10-horse field, was pushed from the gate for speed and was able to forge an advantage heading into the far turn. Opening up a sizeable gap back to Cardiff Reef (Omaha Beach) at the quarter pole, Beach Heist looked to put this race away down the lane even as 7-2 favorite Lion Lake (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) rocketed home from the back but still checked in a well-beaten second 2 3/4 lengths behind the winner. Beach Heist is the first foal out of a winning Graydar mare who has since produced a Hard Spun filly sold for $125,000 at Keeneland last month and a weanling Authentic colt. Pearl Heist is due to leading freshman sire Yaupon for 2026. Sales History: $80,000 Wlg '23 KEENOV; $80,000 Ylg '24 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $63,938. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. O-Redeemer Racing; B-J. Stephen McDonald (KY); T-William Walden. #8 BEACH HEIST ($14.56), a juvenile filly by @SpendthriftFarm's Omaha Beach, stole R4 at @KeenelandRacing. @NikJuarez was aboard for the @wwaldenracing trainee's maiden win. pic.twitter.com/yJU5VxCNJe — FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) October 17, 2025 The post Beach Heist Steals Away Up Front To Win Keeneland Maiden appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

BBN Racing LLC has supplemented GISW Kilwin (Twirling Candy) to Book 1 of Keeneland's November Breeding Stock sale on Tuesday, Nov. 4, and the owners are offering a 25% interest in GSW Bracket Buster (Vekoma) during the second edition of the Keeneland Championship sale at Del Mar on Wednesday, Oct. 29, according to a press release from the auction company on Friday afternoon. Consigned by Royal Oak Farm (Damian and Braxton Lynch), agent for BBN, 3-year-old Kilwin has four wins in eight starts led by a signature come-from-behind score in the GI Test Stakes at the Spa this past summer. At last year's inaugural Keeneland Championship sale, the filly RNA'd for $575,000. Kilwin is a half-sister to GSW One Timer (Trappe Shot) and SW Just Basking (Arrogate). Her unraced dam is the Blame mare Spanish Star–a half-sister to GI Belmont Stakes hero Sir Winston (Awesome Again). “Kilwin is an incredibly versatile performer who was precocious at 2 with a win in a million-dollar race on turf and the next year scored a Grade I victory on dirt at Saratoga with a heart-stopping performance to win one of America's most historic races,” BBN Racing Founding Partner Brian Klatsky said. “With her prowess on dirt and turf, she's a true collector's item.” Also consigned by Royal Oak, a quarter stake in GI DK Travers Stakes runner-up Bracket Buster will be offered during Keeneland's sale at Del Mar. Last out, the 3-year-old colt won the GIII Oklahoma Derby as the odds-on favorite at Remington Park Sept. 28. “BBN Racing purchased both Kilwin and Bracket Buster at Keeneland's September Yearling sale, and both horses are wonderful additions to our upcoming sales,” said Keeneland Vice President of Sales Tony Lacy. “We thank them for their tremendous support.” Click here for the November sale catalogue and here for the Championship sale catalogue. The post BBN Racing Supplements GISW Kilwin, Share In GSW Bracket Buster To Upcoming Keeneland Sales appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Lael Stables's MGISW She Feels Pretty (Karakontie {Jpn}), considered the top American runner to challenge the Europeans in GI Maker's Mark Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf Stakes, continued her steady pattern for trainer Cherie DeVaux by working a half-mile in :48 on Friday morning at Keeneland. Drilling with stablemate & GSW Taking Candy (Twirling Candy), the 4-year-old logged her fifth Friday half-mile breeze since winning the GI E.P. Taylor Stakes at Woodbine on Aug. 16, which offered the filly an automatic ticket to the Breeders' Cup at Del Mar. “She has been working well, and I just need to keep her sound and happy,” trainer Cherie DeVaux said after the work. She Feels Pretty is scheduled to work again here next Friday and then fly to Del Mar as part of a three-horse World Championships contingent for DeVaux, who collected her first championship score last year with More Than Looks (More Than Ready) in the GI FanDuel Breeders' Cup Mile. DeVaux's other runners are expected to be GISP Rebel Red (GB) (Frankel {GB}) for the GI Longines Breeders' Cup Turf and GISW Vahva (Gun Runner) for the GI PNC Bank Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint. The former–who will be offered in Book 1 of Keeneland's November Breeding Stock sale Nov. 4–worked a half-mile Friday morning over the local course's main track in :48.80 in company with SW Northern Invader (Collected). Vahva is scheduled to work Saturday at 7:30 a.m. ET. “I was pleased with him this morning,” DeVaux said of Rebel Red, whose best finish in graded stakes this year was a second in the GI Resorts World Casino Sword Dancer Stakes at Saratoga on Aug. 9. “He has run some really good races and that puts him right there [with possible Breeders' Cup entrants].” The post MGISW She Feels Pretty Looks The Part Drilling For DeVaux At Keeneland appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

St Elias Stable's Captain Cook (Practical Joke), a heartbreaking second at 20-1 in the GI H. Allen Jerkens Memorial S. at Saratoga Aug. 23, will be favored to register a first career graded success in Saturday's GIII Perryville S. at Keeneland. Winner of the Withers S. in February, the 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' was making his first start for Todd Pletcher in the Allen Jerkens. The field of six for the Perryville also includes GII San Vicente S. winner and Allen Jerkens third Barnes (Into Mischief) and GIII Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby winner Owen Almighty (Speightstown). 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' Ragtime (Union Rags), the 3-1 morning-line favorite in Keeneland's GII Lexus Raven Run S., is a neck away from a perfect four-for-four record. The Godolphin homebred was a too-good-to-lose second in the GI Test S. at Saratoga Aug. 2, then annexed the GIII Dogwood S. at Churchill Sept. 20. The full field of 12 also includes 'Rising Star' Quietside (Malibu Moon) and Simply Joking (Practical Joke), who both return following disappointing efforts in the GI Kentucky Oaks May 2. Saturday's graded action also includes: the GII Sands Point S. at the Belmont at the Big A meeting and the GIII Ontario Derby at Woodbine, featuring a rematch between King's Plate S. winner Mansetti (Collected) and Prince of Wales S. winner Runaway Again (Hard Spun). The post ‘Rising Stars’ Captain Cook, Ragtime Headline Keeneland Graded Stakes appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Embroidery and Kamunyak, winners of the first two legs of the Japanese Filly Triple Crown, square off in the final leg, the Shuka Sho (G1) Oct. 19 at Tokyo Racecourse.View the full article

TATTERSALLS, ENGLAND – A world away from Book 1 and 2 of the October Yearling Sale, Adam Kirby stocked up on four yearlings on the final day of Book 3, where the Derby-winning jockey admitted that his 'heart went out' to the people who produced the lion's share of the horses that went through the ring on Friday. The top price generated on Friday was a 44,000gns Palace Pier filly that was consigned by Oakgrove Stud and sold to Spanish interests Outsider Bloodstock. Two more horses managed to make 40,000gns on a day when the total turnover climbed by 11% to 1,837,100gns. The median was up by 6% to just 8,500gns while the average climbed 14% to 11,776gns. The clearance rate was the exact same as last year at 72%. With four yearlings bought for a combined 33,000gns, Kirby was one of the busier buyers on the ground on Friday, but he wasn't celebrating. In fact, he drew empathy to many of the breeders and consignors who lost money despite the sale being strong compared to previous years. He commented, “I'm well aware that it's Book 3 but, as far as I am concerned, I feel I have bought some well-priced and nice horses. I wouldn't have liked to have bred them and produced them for the money that I have paid for them. But I am very pleased to have got my hands on a few yearlings. A couple of them look to be quite sharp. We're excited – roll on next season and away we'll go.” He added, “It hasn't been easy for them [the consignors who sold horses on Friday] and my heart does go out to them. Obviously, there were some amazing prices at Book 1 and 2, but I am not going to stand here and say that I can afford them because I can't. Like I said, I am very pleased with the prices I have paid but I feel sorry for the people who have produced them – it's barely the price of the stallion nomination in many cases.” A gifted rider, Kirby's greatest day in the saddle came when he partnered Adayar to win the Derby 2021. Since his retirement, he has earned a reputation as being one of the most talented pre-trainers in Britain, but the competitive bone in his body has driven him to take his trainers' licence out. “Listen, we'll only train a select few horses from a small yard. All of the pre-training will be staying exactly how it is. We will not be sacrificing that side of the business whatsoever. We're simply buying a few to race to keep our eye in and for a day out. When you sit at home all the time, it gets a bit boring! We'll scratch that itch now and we'll see how we go. I'm not an outwardly confident person but this is something that I am pleased that I have decided to pursue.” Kirby added, “When you're buying a yearling, you're buying a dream. They're not exposed and they're not ruined. So, the dream is alive until you find out it isn't. That's the beauty of buying yearlings.” As for Book 3 on the whole, the turnover was up by 17% to 9,517,600gns, the median by 27% to 19,000gns and the average by 19% to 23,676gns. The clearance rate dropped by 2% to 79%. Tattersalls Chairman Edmond Mahony commented, “The three Books of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sales represent arguably the most important fortnight in the European bloodstock calendar as the thoroughbred world descends on Newmarket, the hub of European horse racing. Over the last two weeks we have seen turnover surpass 200 million guineas for the third time in four years, the two highest priced yearlings sold anywhere in the world this year, 16 lots selling for 1 million guineas or more and sustained demand for quality yearlings from all corners of the globe. “The Tattersalls October Yearling Sale consistently attracts the largest share of the best European yearlings to come to market each year, and Books 1 and 2 have seen a remarkable 189 yearlings realise 300,000 guineas or more, 77% of the yearlings to realise that figure at public auction in Europe this year. Tribute must be paid to the breeders and consignors from Britain, Ireland and further afield who entrust their best yearlings to Tattersalls, safe in the knowledge that the global racecourse success of those yearlings continues to attract the world's leading buyers year after year.” He added, “We have welcomed large numbers of international visitors to Newmarket throughout Books 1 to 3 with significant numbers of American purchasers joined by buyers from throughout the Gulf region including Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE. They have been joined by purchasers from Australia, China, France, Hong Kong, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan and Spain alongside a strong domestic buying bench. Those buyers include many principals, whose continued support is such a feature of sales at Tattersalls, attracted by the numerous racecourse successes of graduates including recent Group 1 winners Gewan, Ombudsman, Venetian Sun, Wise Approach and 35,000 gns purchase Zavateri. “The demand for quality yearlings, especially from overseas buyers, reflects the esteem in which British and Irish thoroughbreds are held globally. However, this success is under continual threat by headwinds including the spectre of increased betting taxes which could cost the industry millions, the fragility of the rural economy due to increased costs and taxes, and the failure of governments to recognise the value of an industry that can legitimately be regarded as a world leader. These challenges undermine a true British success story and threaten livelihoods.” The post Adam Kirby Lands Four Yearlings At Lowkey End To Tattersalls Book 3 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Oisin Murphy will donate £25,000 to the Motor Neurone Disease Association (MNDA) and an equal amount to Racing Welfare, if he keeps his place at the top of the World Pool Jockeys' Championship, which ends at Ascot on QIPCO British Champions Day on Saturday. The four-time champion jockey holds a considerable 54.55-point lead over Kieran Shoemark, meaning Shoemark would have to ride a winner at World Pool odds of 54.60 and Murphy draw a blank to be passed. Back in third is the now Hong Kong-based Richard Kingscote, while David Egan is 67.80 points adrift in fourth. Ryan Moore, currently sidelined through injury, sits fifth. Murphy said, “I can't thank World Pool enough. It's an amazing initiative and I've been so pleased to see myself climbing to the top of the leaderboard and then stay there over the last few months. “It's a huge amount of money, and I'd like to split it between two charities. Firstly, the Motor Neurone Disease Association (MNDA), which touches me because a very close family friend of ours is suffering with it at the moment, and Racing Welfare, who do so much for our industry. “This has been a particularly sad week for all at Racing Welfare and in our industry, as we were shocked to hear of the death of Nicki Strong, who headed Racing Welfare's communications and marketing, and all our thoughts are with her colleagues, friends and family at this very difficult time.” The post Murphy To Evenly Split £50K Donation Between MNDA And Racing Welfare appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Gun Runner (Candy Ride {Arg}), the sire of 11 graded winners in 2025 (17 black-type winners in total), including three at the elite level, will stand the 2026 breeding season at Goncalo Torrealba's Three Chimneys Farm for a fee of $250,000 LFSN, the nursery announced Friday. During another banner season for his offspring at the races, Gun Runner is the sire of 'TDN Rising Star' presented by Hagyard Sierra Leone, who made this year's Whitney Stakes the third Grade I success of his career and who remains on track to defend his title in the GI Breeders' Cup Classic at Del Mar in two weeks' time. Fellow 'Rising Star' Locked was imperious in romping to a daylight victory in the GI Santa Anita Handicap, while 'Rising Star' Brant, who topped this year's OBS March Sale on a bid of $3 million from Zedan Racing, became the most recent of his sire's 11 overall top-level scorers in September's Del Mar Futurity and figures one of the choices for the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile. Gun Runner's influence was not just confined to the racetrack, as his youngest progeny continued to make headlines in the sales ring. According to TDN Sales Statistics, Gun Runner is the leading general sires of yearlings in 2025, with 49 sold from 56 through the ring for an average of $974,591. No fewer than 17 of his yearlings sold for pricetags in excess of $1 million and he made history at this year's Keeneland September Sale, becoming the first sire to account for the toppers in the four sessions comprising Books 1 and 2. A colt out of Grade II Adirondack Stakes heroine Thoughtfully (Tapit) topped the sale on a bid of $3.3 million from M.V. Magnier, White Birch and Winchell Thoroughbreds. “Gun Runner is continuing to prove our dreams can become a reality,” Torrealba said. “Three Chimneys and our partners continue to breed our best mares to him which we believe will further his influence on the breed.” Newgate (Into Mischief) will command a service fee of $17,500 in 2026. “Into Mischief's son Newgate, who won the GI Santa Anita Handicap, competing among the best of his generation, defeating eight Grade I winners during his career, was extremely popular with breeders,” said Three Chimneys board member Chief Stipe Cauthen. “Newgate is one of the best-looking horses you will ever see,” added Cauthen. Gun Runner's Grade I winner Gun Pilot enters his second season at Three Chimneys and will cover mares at $12,500. “He is very much like his sire Gun Runner–scopy and strong,” said Three Chimneys Director of Stallion Nominations Rebecca Nicholson. “He bred a full book of mares in his first season, and we want to continue the momentum by offering great value on him.” Volatile (Violence) is the sire of 10 stakes performers in 2025, 50% of which were graded performers, and will stand for a fee of $10,000. Among his leading earners this year are GSW and track-record setting 'TDN Rising Star' Tip Top Thomas, GIII Southwest Stakes winner Speed King, and promising 2-year-old Igniter, who is targeting the GII Remsen Stakes. Rounding out the roster is Funtastic (More Than Ready) who hails from the family of Gun Runner. His top earner, Funtastic Again, captured the GIII Dominion Stakes at Woodbine. Funtastic will stand for a fee of $2,500 LFSN. Three Chimneys has also announced that Sky Mesa (Pulpit) will be pensioned. Now 25, the son of Caress (Storm Cat), accounted for 80 stakes winners, 26 at the graded/group level, and four at the highest level–General Quarters, Perfec Alibi, Sky Diva and Uruguyan Group 1 winner Giulia. The post Gun Runner Anchors Three Chimneys Stallions at $250K, Sky Mesa Pensioned appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

3rd-KEE, $110k, Msw, 2yo, f, 6f, 2:04 p.m. ET Naughty by Nature (Into Mischief), a daughter of GI Del Mar Debutante S. and GI Chandelier S. winner Moonshine Memories (Malibu Moon), debuts for LNJ Foxwoods and Church Street Stable and trainer Rusty Arnold. The $450,000 KEESEP yearling purchase was bred in Kentucky by Orpendale/Chelston/Wynatt, Westerberg Ireland ULC, et al. Tyler Gaffalione has the call. TJCIS PPs The post Saturday Insights: Into Mischief Filly Out of Moonshine Memories Debuts at Keeneland appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Over 40 lots have been catalogued for the ThoroughBid October Sale. Bidding gets underway at 9 a.m. on Friday, October 24. One of the most notable consignments is from Gordon Elliott, who will send the 132-rated chaser Mars Harper (Sulamani) (lot 34) through the ring. He will be sold with an entry into Aintree's Grand Sefton over National fences on November 8. Elliott also has Tullybeg (Sholokhov) (lot 18) set to sell. Also rated 132, he is joined by a mix of experienced winners and young prospects, including Eternal Echo (Fascinating Rock) (lot 23), who won on debut over hurdles earlier this year. Apart from the Elliott draft is Tony Joe (Westerner) (lot 29), a half-brother to Ahoy Senor (Dylan Thomas) who is trained by Tom Ellis. He won on his seasonal bow at Hexham last week. ThoroughBid CEO James Richardson said, “We're thrilled to have Gordon Elliott back with such a strong and varied consignment for the October Sale. His support and the quality of horses he brings always add a great deal of appeal to our catalogues. Mars Harper and Tullybeg in particular stand out as two excellent prospects. “The Tom Ellis-trained Tony Joe, who's a half-brother to five-time Graded winner Ahoy Senor, is also a strong feature of our October Sale catalogue as well as Henry de Bromhead's seven-year-old gelding Marv Michael, rated 126 over fences. With a total of 42 lots entered across the board, there's something for every type of buyer, which is very exciting.” The post Baker’s Dozen From Gordon Elliott’s Yard Anchor ThoroughBid October Catalogue appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

There likely aren't many, if anyone for that matter, involved in any meaningful way in the steeplechase industry in the U.S. that has not heard of Keri Brion. However, the 34-year-old is quickly making a name for herself with her flat stable as well, largely helped by a quintet of winners at Saratoga last summer, including Miztertonic (Mission Impazible), victorious at the Spa the past two seasons. On full display and getting to flex both muscles at Far Hills in New Jersey Saturday, Brion will saddle horses in five of the six events on the card, including the 2 5/8-mile G1 Grand National Hurdles Stakes as well as the day's finale, the John Forbes Memorial over two miles on the flat. Brion will be represented by Swore (Broken Vow) in the Grand National, while 5-year-old Ocean City (American Pharoah) will wave the KB Racing banner in the John Forbes. Notably, Brion has won both races previously, taking the Grand National with The Mean Queen in 2021 in addition to the inaugural John Forbes Memorial with Agitare the following season. “Swore was eligible for the Novice stake [the restricted Foxbrook Champion Hurdle, race 4] and the Grade 1 [Grand National] and we decided to take a shot at the Grade 1,” she explained. “We went back and forth about what the right thing to do was and I just think the track and distance and everything about him screams that he should love this track.” Previously trainer by Graham Motion on the flat, Swore has made only three starts over hurdles, finishing better than second in all of them. Stepping up from a [jump] maiden win at Colonial Downs in August, the 6-year-old won the G1 Lonesome Glory Handicap at the Big A on Sept. 18. “My horse is a bit of an unknown,” she admitted. “He is young and slightly inexperienced against some of these more seasoned horses, but I think very highly of him. It's a very hot race. But I have loved him from the day he came to my barn and the decision to run him in the Grade 1 is not a decision we took lightly. I am quietly confident.” Also somewhat of an unknown in the card's final race, Brion was equally high on this year's John Forbes contender, Ocean City. “I have won the race before and I know what it takes to win it and he definitely has what it takes,” Brion said. “He should definitely run well.” Previously trained by Brittany Russell, the 5-year-old was a well-beaten sixth in his debut going 2 1/4 miles over the hurdles at Colonial Downs in August before finishing a much-improved second in a two-mile test on the flat on Sept. 11. “He ended up in a maiden race at Colonial Downs that went incredibly fast early,” Brion said explaining the gelding's poor debut jumping effort. “If you look at the fractions they were almost going flat horse time. It's a very hard thing to do to make your hurdle debut with a pace in front of you going that fast. The leaders didn't stay on either, but it's really a hard thing for a horse to do. It wasn't really anything on him. He got the trip. His jumping was a bit green, but it was hard for him to make up ground when they went so fast early.” Despite his poor showing over hurdles, Brion explained that she still feels the gelding has options in the future. “I will jump him again but I think very highly of him on the flat,” she said. “We ran him at Colonial in the 2-mile race just as a prep. He got into a lot of traffic, but he came flying late. I am quietly confident about him going two miles up and down hills.” Apple Doesn't Fall Far From the Tree A native of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, Brion grew up in nearby Kirkwood, where her passion for horses and racing was ignited at a very young age. “I started with racehorses when I was 10 years old,” she said. “I was with Ronnie and Betsy Houghton [Sylmar Farm]. It was just up the road from me. I was there for nine years.” Riding junior pony races when she was 14, she took on competing in junior races at the steeplechase meets at 15. After joining Hall of Fame Jonathan Sheppard's operation in 2009, Brion rode her first flat race at a steeplechase meet in 2010 and it was another year before she rode her first hurdle race. The last assistant to Sheppard after an 11-year tenure, Brion launched her own training operation upon Sheppard's retirement in 2021. Sheppard died in 2023 at the age of 82. “I didn't really work for anybody else so I really came up under him,” she said. “I developed a very good relationship with a lot of the owners, and I knew there would come a time that I would go out on my own, but I decided to stick it out as long as I did.” What did Brion learn from her Hall of Fame mentor? “Everything.” She explained, “The biggest things that I learned from him was about letting them just be horses and training each horse individually. It was also his ability to get inside a horse's head. He treated very horse as an individual. We did some things with horses that I remember thinking, 'this will never work.' Maybe it was with a horse that refused to train. He would get them out in the fields and eventually get them training. He did different things that stayed with me.” In her first season after hanging up her own shingle, she campaigned The Mean Queen, winner of the [American] Grand National and ultimately was named the Eclipse Award winning steeplechase horse that season. Primarily based at Fair Hill Training Center in Maryland, Brion currently extends her team of runners to compete on other circuits, including Fair Grounds in the winter as well as maintaining strings at Saratoga, Colonial and Delaware in the summer. While Brion is probably still most recognized for her success in steeplechase, the concentration of flat horses versus her jump team weighs heavily toward the former division. “We probably have about 70 [flat horses] to 30 [NH],” she said. “We pretty much race everywhere in the Midlantic.” As is the case with most new trainers, the start wasn't an easy one, however, it didn't take long for success to come knocking. “I had 20 stalls at Fair Hill when I started and eight of them weren't filled,” she laughed. “Now I have two barns of 70 horses there with others horses stabled elsewhere too.” Looking to manage her training operation as a business rather than just an expensive hobby, Brion admits that purses in the steeplechase industry makes it a little cost prohibitive in term of expanding that area of her operation further as well as maintaining her ever-expanding staff. “At this point, we focus at the top level with the jumpers,” she said. “I have been so blessed in that area and my business model is to focus at that level. Horses like Swore, who you know pretty early on that they are nice horses, that's what I look at. I've become very selective with the steeplechase horses I have in the barn.” In 2024, Brion's stable won 42 races for earnings of $2,079,202. So far this year, she appears on track to surpass that figure with already over $1.9 million in the coffers. Yet, despite her well-publicized connection to jump racing, Brion admits that playing, and winning, on a big stage like Saratoga was an important step in also boosting her growing recognition in flat racing circles. “[In 2024], I had my first flat winner at Saratoga [won four at the meet] and this year we had 5 from the small group that we ran,” she explained. “We've done well with the flat horses, and two Saratoga meets have gone a long way in terms of my clientele, like getting new clients and investing in young horses. The consistency in the stable has given me the opportunity to increase the quality and quantity of the horses.” “Overall, the quality in the barn has increased a lot in the last 2-3 three years. We have better horses. [Kirk and Debra Wycoff's] Three Diamonds Farm has also really helped amp up my flat horses, because they have given me better horses in general.” Whether it's on the flat or over hurdles, the goal remains crystal clear for the up-and-coming trainer. “It's been a goal of mine since I took over training–developing my stable,” she said. “It's not so much about the numbers but to have the winners and have the quality to do that.” The post Brion Poised to Shine Bright at Far Hills and Beyond appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The G1 Close Brothers Mares' Hurdle will move from Champion Day, March 10, to St Patrick's Thursday, March 13, during next year's Cheltenham Festival, the racecourse announced on Friday. Due to the date change, the distance of the race is now 2m 4f 56y on the New Course, instead of 2m 3f 200y on the Old Course. Moving into the Close Brothers Mares' Hurdle's old spot is the TrustATrader Plate Handicap Chase, which will be the sixth race on Champion Day. A further change to the running order on St Patrick's Thursday is that the feature race, the Ryanair Chase, will now take place at 4 p.m. with the Paddy Power Stayers' Hurdle being run at 3:20 p.m. Jon Pullin, head of racing at The Jockey Club and clerk of the course at Cheltenham Racecourse, said, “The race programme at The Festival is one of constant evolution and we are always looking at ways to enhance the experience for all stakeholders. “Having previously been run on Champion Day, the Close Brothers Mares' Hurdle was always somewhat in the shadow of the Unibet Champion Hurdle. The Close Brothers Mares' Hurdle is the pinnacle of a very successful mares' programme that has been developed by the industry over the last 20 years. In this time, we have seen the number of mares training in Great Britain increase from 18% to almost 25% and some of the most memorable moments at The Festival include performances by mares such as Honeysuckle and Epatante. By moving to St Patrick's Thursday, we feel the Close Brothers Mares' Hurdle will receive more attention and receive the coverage a race of its status merits. We also believe this change enhances the overall race programme across The Festival, with each of the four days now having at least three Grade 1 contests.” The post Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle Moved To St Patrick’s Thursday At Cheltenham appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The catalogue for the Goffs October HIT and Yearling Sale at Doncaster has grown by 14 lots with the late addition of Mr McLoughland (Forever Now) (lot 89) and 13 other lots. A winner of two of his three hurdle starts for Jack Jones, Mr McLoughland is joined by lot 90, Jaycee Reidy (Walk In The Park), who won his second and most recent point-to-point; lot 92, Western Zephyr (Westerner), a four-time winner over hurdles and fences and second in a Grade 2 chase at Cheltenham last season; and King Jon Oliver (Karaktar) (lot 95) among others. The main sale features a 13-lot unreserved dispersal of Brookhouse Racing. The Goffs October HIT & Yearling Sale will be held at Doncaster on Tuesday, October 21 at 11 a.m. The post Classy Hurdler Leads Supplements To Goffs October HIT And Yearling Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Group 1 winners Marhaba Ya Sanafi and Tribalist, both new to stud next year, will retire to Haras de Castillon's new stallion operation, Castillon Stallions for 2026. Fees for the duo will be announced at a later date. “Launching our own stallion station marks the realisation of a long-held ambition,” said Benoit Jeffroy, who founded Haras de Castillon with Annabelle Aime in 2015. “I hope we can meet breeders' expectations with the stallion roster we're putting together. I want to sincerely thank all our partners for their trust and commitment. Their support has made this project possible, and together we are opening an exciting new chapter with Castillon Stallions.” A French Classic-winning son of Muhaarar and the Galileo mare Danega, Marhaba Ya Sanafi won the 2023 edition of the G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains, as well as the G3 Prix Bertrand du Breuil. Also placed nine times at stakes level including a third in the G1 Prix du Jockey Club, the Rabbah Bloodstock-bred five-year-old is from the same family as Group 1-winning sire Intense Focus, G1 Moyglare Stud Stakes heroine Skitter Scatter (Scat Daddy) and G1 Prix de Royallieu heroine Consent (Lope De Vega). “Marhaba gave us great emotions at the highest level. We are proud to have bred and raced him and we are now looking for the future with his youngsters by strongly supporting him” said owner Jaber Abdullah. “Marhaba Ya Sanafi is one of the best horse I have trained. He is tough/sound and a good-looking horse that has always been a fighter during his long career,” added trainer Andreas Schutz. Tribalist, a six-year-old son of Farhh, won the 2024 G1 Prix du Moulin de Longchamp over a five-year career, as well as three editions of the G2 Prix du Muguet, a pair of G3 Prix Edmond Blancs, one edition of the G3 Prix Bertrand du Breuil, as well as two listed races over a 25-start career. Bred by Car Colston Hall Stud, the G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains third raced in the Godolphin blue for trainer Andre Fabre after selling for 130,000gns during Book 3 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale in 2020. “Tribalist is a tough and genuine performer, a black-type horse from the age of two,” said Fabre of the son of Fair Daughter (Nathaniel). “Brilliant and tenacious on the track, he recorded 10 wins including the G1 Prix du Moulin de Longchamp – a true model of consistency.” Located at Castillon-en-Auge in the heart of Normandy, the new stallion division will also be the new home of G1 National Stakes hero Thunder Moon and Poule d'Essai des Poulains second Texas who each have their first runners in 2026. Classic winner and dual Group 1 scorer Romanised has already been represented by group winner Zia Agnese. Rounding out the roster is National Hunt stallion Magic Dream, France's top-rated three-year-old chaser of his generation. His first three-year-olds make their racecourse debut in 2026. The post Marhaba Ya Sanafi And Tribalist To Enter Stud At Haras De Castillon’s New Castillon Stallions appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Old Friends Thoroughbred Retirement Farm will partner with MyRacehorse to support Thoroughbred aftercare, and the collaboration will officially launch with the 'Night Out With Champions' on Friday, Oct. 24 at Old Friends's Georgetown, Kentucky, location. The event will include tours of the farm, a buffet dinner, drinks, raffles and door prizes as well as a charity auction, with all proceeds to benefit Old Friends's mission of providing lifelong homes for equine retirees. Already confirmed for the 'Night Out With Champions' are Wesley Ward, Victor Espinoza and Edgar Prado, with additional guests to be announced in due course. “What MyRacehorse has done is nothing short of a revolution,” said Old Friends founder Michael Blowen. “They've proven that Thoroughbred racing isn't just for the wealthy but for everyone who loves these great athletes. Old Friends and My Racehorse depend on the fans, those that adore the sport, to assure that the athletes' working lives and retirement are filled with fun and safety.” The initiative will extend beyond the event, according to MyRacehorse founder Michael Behrens. “Every Old Friends tour will now include an opportunity for visitors to join the MyRacehorse community,” Behrens said. “When someone creates an account with MyRacehorse, we'll make a donation back to Old Friends, creating a lasting funding stream for aftercare.” The event coincides with closing weekend at Keeneland and is the first of several planned collaborations between the two organizations. Tickets for the event are available by clicking here and 100% of net proceeds will benefit Old Friends. The post Old Friends, MyRacehorse Partner To Support Aftercare appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Embroidery and Kamunyak, winners of the first two legs of the Japanese Filly Triple Crown, square off in the final leg, the Shuka Sho (G1) Oct. 19 at Tokyo Racecourse.View the full article

A 15-strong draft from the Aga Khan Studs is the highlight of the Goffs Autumn Horses-in-Training Sale catalogue that is now online. The sale, which starts at 10 a.m., will begin on Monday, November 3 and will be followed by the Autumn Yearling Sale, which runs until November 5. Among the lots from the Aga Khan Studs are two-time winner Esherann (Wootton Bassett) (lot 90); the winner and G3 Royal Whip Stakes second Tangapour (Wootton Bassett) (lot 93); Reyenzi (Saxon Warrior) (lot 91), who won his maiden by five lengths at Navan and was first past the post in the G3 Gallinule Stakes before being disqualified and placed third. Recent Flat winners catalogued include Chester Nimitz (Profitable) (lot 22); Millraceflow (Earthlight) (lot 77); Bay Of Supremecy (Supremacy) (lot 85); and Amplitude (Invincible Army) (lot 94). Amongst the winners over jumps set to sell are Watchful Protector (Mount Nelson) (lot 96) and Sea Music (Sea Moon) (lot 99). Goffs Group Chief Executive Henry Beeby said, “Goffs Autumn Horses In Training Sale consistently delivers winners under both codes and we are pleased to present another quality catalogue featuring drafts from many of Ireland's leading training and breeding operations. The prelude to the Autumn Yearling Sale, the Autumn Horses In Training Sale is a key part of what has become a vibrant and hugely popular week at Kildare Paddocks that attracts strong interest from the domestic and international markets.” The post Aga Khan Studs’ Draft Highlight Of Goffs Autumn HIT Catalogue appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk Driver Carter Dalgety declared the “dream is alive” following Republican Party’s impressive win in the Lamb and Hayward Canterbury Classic at Addington. Trained by his parents Cran and Chrissie Dalgety, the pacer known as “Stu” was just too good for his rivals in the Group 2 feature. He was the first to move and took the lead at the 1500 metre mark and never looked in danger as they cleared out by three lengths. It was Republican Party’s second win in the Classic after taking it out two years ago. The Classic is the last automatic qualifier for the IRT New Zealand Trotting Cup, at Addington on Tuesday November 11, though Republican Party had already sealed his place in the great race by winning the 2024 Auckland Cup. He has now won two in a row this campaign and on the back of his latest victory his odds for the Cup have gone from $9 to $7. It will be his third New Zealand Cup after finishing third last year and fifth in 2023. “He’s amazing, I’m a bit speechless after that,” Carter Dalgety said post race. “He really has gone to another level … the dream is alive.” Don’t Stop Dreaming and Alta Meteor both continued their good form of late to fill the minors with Merlin getting back and running on to finish fifth. In the night’s feature trot, the R D Butt Canterbury Park Trotting Cup, Muscle Mountain again showed his class by coming from last at the 800 metres to win quite comfortably in the end from a very game Eurostyle. The millionaire trotter was at generous odds at $6.90 with Oscar Bonavena heavily backed into $1.60 and Mighty Logan at $5.50. Oscar Bonavena appeared to get a good trip but driver and co-trainer Mark was “disappointed” with the way his star trotter finished off the race. Muscle Mountain was driven conservatively by co-trainer Ben Hope but unleashed to overtake Eurostyle who looked an upset winner 200 metres out. It was Muscle Mountain’s second win in the race and his 38th overall. “He is a superstar and I’m so proud to drive him,” Hope said post race. With the race being the last of the automatic qualifiers for the Renwick Farms Dominion Trot Muscle Mountain also seals his place in the $400,000 Group 1 on the second Tuesday of November. It is one of the few races the multiple Group 1 winner has not won. On an action packed night Habibti Pat defeated star northerner Meant To Be in the 3YO Trot, favourite Greased Lightnin pounced late to take out the Garrards Sires’ Stakes Sophomore Classic and Hayden Douglas secured his first win at Addington after Franco Sinatra staged a huge finish to win at big odds. His return was nothing compared to the Michael House-trained The Next Best Thing. Driven by Sam Thornley, he won the last, paying $161.40. It’s believed to be a modern day record. View the full article

Saxon Warrior's Victoria Road won a six-furlong Warwick Farm trial on Friday morning Down Under. A winner of the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf in 2022 for the Coolmore partners and Aidan O'Brien, the six-year-old gelding was having his second trial since 2023. Privately purchased by Ozzie Kheir and Halo Racing Services prior to the 2023 G1 Cox Plate, he motored home on Friday a quarter-length winner over Miss Hades (Hellbent). MV Magnier purchased the gelding for 115,000gns from Ballyhimikin Stud out of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale. The post Victoria Road Wins Warwick Trial appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Dan Blacker was a long way from Santa Anita when he watched the 2003 Breeders' Cup, but the day would have a profound effect on the trajectory of his career. That year Richard Mandella captured four of the eight championship races, capped off by Pleasantly Perfect's Classic victory at 14-1 odds. “Still to this day, I think it's probably the greatest Breeders' Cup achievement of all time,” Blacker said. It was a feat that would go down in racing's history books, but for Blacker, it sparked a question: what would it be like to taste a victory that sweet? Flash forward to 2007 and Blacker was in California, learning from the very man who had inspired him to leave his native England and pursue a career as a trainer in America. Two years with Mandella left a lasting mark. “I came to California thinking I'd been around horses my whole life,” recalled Blacker, who had competed in showjumping as a child and rode out for local trainers in college. “I started working for a guy like him and I realized I had so much more to learn. He pays so much attention to detail and I think that's the thing that was imprinted on me most. It's something that I believe is a big part of my routine now as a trainer–focusing on attention to detail with each individual.” Mandella taught Blacker not just how to watch a horse, but how to listen to him. He learned to recognize when a horse needed time and when he was ready for the next step. Last year, when a horse in Blacker's barn showed the talent to compete at the top level, those lessons made all the difference. Straight No Chaser (Speightster) had the ability, but it was Blacker's careful attention that guided him to the Breeders' Cup finish line. “A lot of times you do the right thing for the horse and it doesn't work out, but I will always stick by that M.O.,” Blacker said. “When a good horse does come about, you allow him to reach his peak performance. With Straight No Chaser, I always gave him the time when he asked for it and thankfully we were rewarded in the end.” For Blacker, the breakthrough victory in last year's Breeders' Cup Sprint carried a sense of vindication. Thirteen years of hard-earned lessons and quiet perseverance converged into one defining triumph. “It has been a grind and I won't sugarcoat it, it's been hard,” he admitted. “To start out with four very modest claiming horses and to work at it, put all the time in and end up winning a Breeders' Cup, it was a long road. Anyone that has trained horses will tell you that it's 90% tough times. Year after year I just built up the numbers, built up the quality of the barn and just kept pushing to get better horses.” Straight No Chaser surges to win the 2024 Breeders' Cup Sprint | Breeders' Cup Eclipse Sportswire Facing challenges head-on has defined Blacker's career from the beginning. After graduating from the Godolphin Flying Start program and spending five years learning under Mandella and Tom Albertrani, he seemed to have the golden ticket to launch his own stable when his good friend Jamie Lloyd was ready to step away from training and return to England to focus on bloodstock. Lloyd told Blacker he could convince his owners to send horses his way. What was supposed to be a dozen or more quickly dwindled to just four trainees, but Blacker was undeterred. He asked the racing secretary at Hollywood Park for four stalls, recruited a couple of grooms to come work for him, and borrowed some old equipment from Gary Stevens. “Gary had just finished training and he told me he had some saddles and bridles in this container,” said Blacker. “So I go to a public storage container, pull out all I could carry and throw it into the back of my car. Literally the next day I tacked up my horse and got on and away we went. That was my first day training.” Over the next decade, Blacker built his stable from the ground up, making the most of every opportunity as he developed his reputation in California. In 2021, Hit The Road (More Than Ready) earned Blacker his first Grade I victory in the Frank E. Kilroe Mile Stakes. Blacker never would have guessed that his next Grade I win would come at the Breeders' Cup with a horse who had raced only twice all season. But with Straight No Chaser, there was never any question about his ability—only a test of Blacker's patience. “Right from the word go he showed an immense amount of talent in his works,” Blacker recalled. “What separates him from other horses is his desire. He's so professional and he wants to be competitive. He tries just that little bit harder than everyone else.” A graded stakes winner at four, Straight No Chaser came into his 5-year-old season last year in top form. After a decisive victory in the GII Santa Anita Sprint Championship Stakes, the MyRacehorse-owned horse gave Blacker a quiet sense of confidence heading into the Breeders' Cup. “I thought I was going to be a lot more nervous than I was,” he admitted. “It was surreal almost. I never talk about our chances of what I truly feel about a race. If people ask me I say something very bland because I never really know what's going to happen, but that week he just gave me so much confidence.” As Straight No Chaser hit the wire, Blacker was enveloped by a wave of MyRacehorse owners, their cheers erupting around him as he made his way to the winner's circle. “It was an emotional time,” he said. “I was just so happy to have my family there–my wife and children and some friends–just to share that moment with them because it's why I do this. It's not only because I love horses, but I love sharing those experiences. That's what makes this game so special.” After earning champion sprinter honors in 2024, Straight No Chaser carried his form overseas to kick off his 6-year-old season, posting a dominant victory in the 2025 G2 Riyadh Dirt Sprint. Soon after, it was announced that the champion would stand at WinStar Farm upon retirement. It's been a year of highs and lows for Straight No Chaser and Blacker. After that impressive victory in Saudi Arabia, their Dubai venture didn't unfold as hoped. A five-month layoff followed, and in his return in the GII Santa Anita Sprint Championship, Straight No Chaser set early fractions of 22.02 and 44.71, but was caught by Imagination (Into Mischief) in the final sixteenth. Though the result was disappointing, Blacker hasn't lost sight of the bigger picture. The Breeders' Cup remains the target. Blacker noted that Straight No Chaser missed some training ahead of the race due to a skin infection, leaving him perhaps not quite as sharp as he'd been before the same race a year ago. “I think the fact that we were drawn inside and he had to take pressure the whole way, that missed training caught up to us and I think if we had drawn outside it could have been a little different,” he explained. “With the race under our belt now, he's going to be super tight going into the Breeders' Cup and I think, going off what I've seen in the last couple weeks, he should be ready to fire his best race again.” Dan Blacker and Straight No Chaser preparing for this year's Breeders' Cup Sprint | Katie Petrunyak In his first work since that race, Straight No Chaser fired a bullet :47.20 at Santa Anita on Oct. 12. Among Straight No Chaser's expected challengers in the Breeders' Cup Dirt Sprint are Imagination, Bentornato (Valiant Minister), who finished second to him in last year's race, and the recent GII Stoll Keenon Ogden Phoenix Stakes winner Nakatomi (Firing Line). Adding further intrigue, Richard Mandella is considering sending Kopion (Omaha Beach) to take on the boys. The 4-year-old filly has captured three graded stakes against her own sex over the past year. It would hardly be the first time Blacker has gone toe to toe with Mandella, but the opportunity to do so on the world's stage would certainly add a compelling storyline. “I wouldn't overlook any horse Mandella has in a race,” said Blacker. “He has them ready, but I think my horse on his day is the best sprinter in America and hopefully he gets to prove that again.” This year's Breeders' Cup finds Blacker guided by both gratitude and ambition, honoring the horse that gave him an important career breakthrough while chasing one last defining moment together. “This horse doesn't owe us anything,” Blacker said. “He has achieved so much and cemented his legacy. I just want to do it for the horse, really. I want him to prove it again and give all the partners that have been so patient another fun experience.” The post Breeders’ Cup Breakthrough: Blacker Hoping to Repeat History appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Favoured for the G1 Melbourne Cup next month, two-time Group 1 winner Sir Delius (Frankel) has been ruled out of both the G1 Cox Plate and Melbourne Cup by Racing Victoria stewards due to a heightened injury profile. Owned by a partnership that includes Go Bloodstock Australia, the four-year-old colt has run first or second in all four runs Down Under. A winner of Doomben's G3 JRA Chairman's Handicap in May, he was second in the G2 Chelmsford Stakes at Randwick last month. Successful in the G1 Underwood Stakes next, he prevailed in the G1 Turnbull Stakes at Flemington most recently on October 4. “Having reviewed the PET scan results alongside the CT scan results, the panel members have advised RV Veterinary Services that they remain of the view that Sir Delius is currently at heightened risk of injury,” a Racing Victoria press release read. “Following advice from RV Veterinary Services in relation to the specialist opinions from the imaging panel, RV Stewards have stood down Sir Delius from competing in the remainder of the 2025 Spring Racing Carnival. The Stewards have appraised the connections of the key information that they relied upon in making their decision.” A 675,000gns Tattersalls December weanling purchase by MV Magnier from Furnace Mill Stud, Sir Delius sold to Go Bloodstock, De Burgh Equine, Waterhouse and Bott Racing and McKeever Bloodstock for 1.3 million gns out of the 2024 Tattersalls Autumn Horses-in-Training Sale. During his time under the tutelage of Jean-Claude Rouget in the Sue Magnier colours prior to his seven-figure sale, Sir Delius won the G3 Prix du Lys and was also placed in the G1 Grand Prix de Paris and G2 Prix Niel. The post Sir Delius Ruled Out Of Cox Plate And Melbourne Cup appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The Challenge, presented by GaineswayView the full article

Three-year-old filly Bobby McGee provided her sire Ancient Spirit with his first winner when successful at Wingatui over 1200m. The Terry Kennedy trained filly raced three wide without cover throughout, yet still finished strongly in the hands of Leah Hemi to narrowly prevail from Princess Reign. Bred and raced by Craig and Jim Hunter, Bobby McGee’s dam, the six-time winner Lucille, recently foaled a full sister to the filly. By Invincible Spirit out of Galileo’s daughter Assisi, Ancient Spirit was a dual Group Two winner in Germany before he retired to White Robe Lodge in 2021 and he stands at a fee of $7,000+GST this season. View the full article

The G2 Richmond Stakes winner and G1 Dewhurst Stakes runner-up Royal Scotsman will stand at Haras du Taillis in France in 2026. The son of Gleneagles, who was trained by Paul and Oliver Cole for Jim and Fitri Hay, is now owned by a consortium of breeders from UK and France. Matt Huntington, speaking on behalf of the group, said, “We look forward to working with the Hays and the Coles on the next phase of his career and we are very pleased to be working with Bernard Wenger and Alexandre Lacour to introduce Royal Scotsman to the French market. “He ticks all the boxes required to be a successful stallion, from being an imposing horse with a great walk, and with a strong pedigree and race form to match. We will collectively be giving him support and see no reason why he won't become an established stallion in the market.” Huntington, of LM Stallions, added, “We're thrilled to be able to secure such a promising young horse who set the track record at Goodwood over six furlongs for two-year-olds when winning the fastest Richmond Stakes ever, even faster than the likes of Mehmas, Vandeek, Land Force, Golden Horde, Supremacy, and Asymmetric, to name a few. He was unfortunately just denied in the Dewhurst behind multiple Group 1 winner Chaldean.” Bred by Rabbah Bloodstock, Royal Scotsman is out of the 100-rated Cheveley Park Stud-bred mare Enrol (Pivotal) and was bought for 125,000gns at the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale by SackvilleDonald. He won the Richmond after running third behind Bradsell in the G2 Coventry Stakes. Having been beaten a head by Chaldean in the Dewhurst, the pair met again in the 2,000 Guineas, in which Royal Scotsman finished third. He also won last year's G3 Diomed Stakes at Epsom. Alexandre Lacour said, “I am pleased to announce the arrival of Royal Scotsman, a real racehorse hailing from a prestigious lineage who has already shown great promise on the track, capturing the attention of racing enthusiasts with his charisma and impressive performances, making him an invaluable asset for breeders looking to improve the performance of their stock.” There are a few shares available in the consortium, with breeding rights to be released in the coming days. Royal Scotsman's fee will be announced at a late date. The post Royal Scotsman to Stand at Haras du Taillis appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article