Wandering Eyes

Four-time winner Liberty Coach (Le Havre) (lot 54) is one of the stars of the 155-lot strong Tattersalls Online October Sale catalogue. The sale takes place from October 22 beginning at 11 a.m., with the first lot scheduled to close at the same time one day later. Currently rated 96 by Timeform, Liberty Coach was an all-the-way winner of Redcar's Class 2 handicap in May. He is one of 110 horses-in- and out-of-training set to sell. There are also 29 broodmares, 13 yearlings, two foals, and one store. Other lots of note include the once-raced Tenarosa (Ten Sovereigns), a half-sister to Group 1 winner Technician as lot 90; Arctic Grey (Dark Angel) (lot 2), who won over a mile at Southwell and is rated 86; six-furlong winner Slaudeen (Starspangledbanner) (lot 81) is out of a full-sister to G1 Irish 2000 Guineas hero Roderic O'Connor and holds an IHRB mark of 89; while €120,000 Irish EBF Auction Series Race Final winner Fiona Maccoul (Coulsty) (lot 29) will also sell. Among the broodmares is Kyllachy Loose (Kyllachy) (lot 139), the dam of listed winner Ifrachy (Iffraaj) and the listed-placed Exceed Loose (Exceed And Excel). A half-sister to Group 3 winners Titus Shadow (Titus Livius) and Orpen Shadow (Orpen), Dutch Shadow (Dutch Art) (lot 130) is offered in foal to A'Ali. There are three mares in foal to Shaquille, including the winning Winter Mist (Pinatubo) (lot 154). There are also yearlings by Ardad, Australia, Coulsty, Dream Ahead, Golden Horn, Showcasing and Zoustar. The post Liberty Coach Highlights Tattersalls Online October Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Edited Press Release With a stud fee for multiple Grade I winner Mindframe (Constitution–Walk of Stars, by Street Sense) still to be determined pending his start in the GI Breeders' Cup Classic, Claiborne Farm has released its advertised stud fees for 2026, with Grade I winner Prince of Monaco (Speightstown–Rainier, by Medaglia d'Oro) leading the way at $30,000. The fastest-ever 2-year-old by prominent sire-of-sires Speightstown, Prince of Monaco covered a Claiborne-record 176 mares, including 44 black-type runners in his first season at stud in 2025. GI Breeders' Cup Classic winner Blame (Arch–Liable, by Seeking the Gold) will be offered at $25,000, pending Breeders' Cup results. His 2025 graded stakes winners include Group 1 winner Sibayan (Fr), $2.5-million GIII Mint Millions Invitational Stakes winner Epic Ride, and Explora, who won the GII Oak Leaf Stakes at Santa Anita Park to secure a “Win and You're In” berth in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies. Blame is also the broodmare sire of four individual Grade I winners in 2025: Hope Road, Kilwin, Simply in Front, and World Beater. Grade I winner and stakes record-setter Annapolis (War Front–My Miss Sophia, by Unbridled's Song), who will see his first weanlings go through the November sales this fall, will stand for an advertised fee of $12,500. The Bass Stables homebred was well sought after in his second season at stud, breeding 115 mares with an impressive 25% of his book consisting of black-type earners in 2025. Bright Future (Curlin–Sophia's Song, by Bellamy Road), a Grade I-winning son of sire-of-sires Curlin and a half-brother to two graded stakes winners, also completed his debut book at stud earlier this year. Hailing from the family of champion Housebuster and Grade I winner Nutella Fella, Bright Future will stand for $10,000 in 2026. Silver State (Hard Spun–Supreme, by Empire Maker)'s first juveniles performed well at this year's 2-year-old sales, selling for up to $335,000 and breezing as fast as :9 4/5. The GI Met Mile winner will stand for $7,500. War Front (Danzig–Starry Dreamer, by Rubiano)'s stud fee will be private in 2026. He is North America's leading sire by lifetime percentage of stakes winners, graded stakes winners, and Grade I winners. This year, he added to his impressive list of top runners with GI Arlington Million winner Fort Washington, Grade II winner and Grade I-placed Liguria, and Grade I-placed stakes winner Two Out Hero. War of Will will stand the 2026 season at Rockridge Stud in New York, while Runhappy was sold to stand in South Korea and Demarchelier (GB) was sold to stand in Brazil. First Samurai and Lea have been retired from stud duties. The complete list of Claiborne Farm stallions with advertised fees for the 2026 are: Annapolis, $12,500; Blame, $25,000*; Bright Future, $10,000; Mindframe (NEW), TBD*; Prince of Monaco, $30,000; Silver State, $7,500; War Front, Private. *Subject to change pending Breeders' Cup results. The post Claiborne Announces 2026 Stud Fees appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

As the sport's top runners have already completed their finals preps for the Oct. 31-Nov. 1 Breeders' Cup World Championships at Del Mar, Sovereignty maintains a clear lead in the National Thoroughbred Racing Association's Top Thoroughbred Poll.View the full article

2022 Canadian Horse of the Year and 2024 Eclipse champion turf female, Moira, has been retired from racing by her Australian connections.View the full article

Vincent Ho Chak-yiu got his season really rolling with a treble in consecutive races at Happy Valley on Wednesday evening, headlined by the remarkable win of Speed Dragon in the Class Two Lei Yue Mun Handicap (1,800m). The Francis Lui Kin-wai-trained six-year-old has been plagued by injury, with a right pelvis injury and more recently a ligament injury cutting short his last two Hong Kong seasons. Making his return, Speed Dragon was always travelling well in the last pair and when the gaps...View the full article

Edited Press Release Not This Time (Giant's Causeway–Miss Macy Sue, by Trippi), in the midst of a landmark season, will stand for $250,000 S&N in 2026, Taylor Made Stallions announced Wednesday. He stood the 2025 season at $175,000. The sire of nine Grade I winners, Not This Time's progeny have been dominating on the racetrack and delivering impressive results in the auction ring. He is the number one-ranked sire by black-type winners with 22, and the number two-ranked General Sire in 2025 with nearly $19 million in progeny earnings. He is the number one-ranked sire of 2-year-olds this year in every key category and a leading sire of 3-year-olds as well–with crops bred off $40,000 and $45,000 stud fees, respectively. In the auction ring this year, Not This Time was the number one sire of seven-figure yearlings at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale. With yearlings up to $2 million, $1.7 million, $1.6 million, $1.4 million (x3), Not This Time had 17 million-dollar yearlings all told this year–from a crop bred off his first six-figure stud fee. Not This Time's Breeders' Cup roster includes a trio of “Win and You're In” qualifiers at the Keeneland Fall Meet. Rhetorical won the GI Coolmore Turf Mile, Imaginationthelady captured the GII Jessamine S., and Final Score triumphed in the GII Bourbon S. Additional top-level winners for Not This Time this year include his chief earner Troubleshooting ($1,364,382), winner of the $2-million GI Franklin-Simpson S. at Kentucky Downs in September; Magnitude, winner of the GII Risen Star S.; undefeated 3-year-old Disco Time, winner of the GIII Lecomte S., and multiple Grade I-placed Goal Oriented, who is pointing toward the GI Breeders' Cup Mile. Early Voting (Gun Runner–Amour d'Ete, by Tiznow), winner of the 2022 GI Preakness S., will stand for $12,500 S&N. From his first yearlngs to go through the sales ring, Early Voting was represented by a $700,000 colt and a $525,000 colt at Keeneland September, as well as a $525,000 co-sale topping filly at the Fasig-Tipton New York Bred Yearling Sale. Early Voting ranks as a top five first-crop yearling sire from one of the most talented crops of stallions to retire in recent years, averaging $155,625 and an ROI of 6.1x his first-year fee. Early Voting had an 89% fertility rate in 2025, and the Classic winner is out of a Tiznow half-sister to the influential sire Speightstown. Ewing | Sarah Andrew Knicks Go (Paynter–Kosmo's Buddy, by Outflanker), whose fee will be announced later, is the co-leading first-crop sire by graded stakes winners and already has 14 winners to his credit. Leading the charge is 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' Ewing, a $585,000 OBS Spring Sale graduate who proved his class at Saratoga with a dominating 12-length maiden special weight win on debut before securing a front-running victory in the GII Saratoga Special. Knicks Go is also the sire of La Culasse, third in the GI Natalma S. at Woodbine in September. Instilled Regard (Arch–Enhancing, by Forestry), who will stand for $8,000 S&N, is the sire of Minaret Station, the OXO Equine homebred who won the GII Bourbon S. at Keeneland at two last year and followed up with a victory in the American Derby at Churchill Downs this year at three. Instilled Regard is further represented by Gordon Pass, third in this year's GII Bourbon S. Also standing for $8,000 S&N is Instagrand (Into Mischief–Assets of War, by Lawyer Ron), who has established himself as a leading second-crop sire in 2025 and is the number two Cumulative Second-Crop Sire by wins with 80, second only to Vekoma. Instagrand is the sire of Grade I-placed Ourdaydreamingirl, third in the GI Cotillion S. at Parx, and his leading earner on the year is Gateskeeper, runner-up in the GII Gallant Bob S. at Parx. Tacitus (Tapit–Close Hatches, by First Defence) is represented this year by his first 2-year-olds, which include recent maiden special weight winners Silent Tactic, a $500,000 acquisition by John Oxley at the OBS Spring Sale and an impressive two-length winner at Woodbine in his career bow for Mark Casse, and Politics, a determined winner at 1 1/16 miles at Churchill Downs in his second start for Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and trainer Michael McCarthy. Tacitus will stand for $5,000 S&N. Dr. Schivel (Violence–Lil Nugget, by Mining for Money), a Grade I winner at two and three, had his first foals in 2025. Winner of the 2020 GI Del Mar Futurity at two and the GI Bing Crosby S. at three against older horses, Dr. Schivel just missed in the 2021 GI Breeders' Cup Sprint at Del Mar. He was a two-time winner of the GII Santa Anita Sprint Championship S., including in 2023 when he got six furlongs in a sizzling 1:08.49. Dr. Schivel, who will have first yearlings in 2026, will stand for $5,000 S&N. Idol (Curlin–Marion Ravenwood, by A.P. Indy), victorious in the 2021 GI Santa Anita H., was represented by well-received first yearlings this year, including a $175,000 colt purchased by Repole Stable at Fasig-Tipton's Saratoga Sale. Idol, who will stand for $5,000 S&N, is a full-brother to multiple Grade I winner Nest. Idol's first 2-year-olds hit the track in 2026. Angel of Empire (Classic Empire–Armony's Angel, by To Honor and Serve) stood his first season at stud in 2025 and will stand the upcoming season for $5,000 S&N. Winner of the 2023 GI Arkansas Derby, Angel of Empire also won the GII Risen Star S. and finished a charging third as the race favorite in the GI Kentucky Derby. He recorded a career-best 104 Beyer Speed Figure on two occasions–in the Kentucky Derby and finishing third in the GII Jim Dandy S. Angel of Empire hit the board in 7-of-9 lifetime starts and banked $1,489,375. Taylor Made Stallions will be offering incentives for multiple mares and to previous breeders. The 2026 roster of stallions and fees for Taylor Made Stallions are as follows: Angel of Empire, $5,000; Dr. Schivel, $5,000; Early Voting, $12,500; Idol, $5,000; Instagrand, $8,000; Instilled Regard, $8,000; Knicks Go, TBD; Not This Time, $250,000; and Tacitus, $5,000. The post Not This Time to Stand for $250k in 2026 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

When Jevian Toledo won the Maryland Million Turf Sprint aboard Had to Have Him, he earned his 19th Maryland Million victory, surpassing Hall of Famer Edgar Prado. Toledo was not done for the day, however, as he added two more stakes wins.View the full article

Canadian Horse of the Year and U.S. champion turf female Moira (Ghostzapper–Devine Aida, by Unbridled's Song) has been retired from racing, according to a statement from Chris Waller, who had trained the mare in Australia after she was purchased by Yulong Investments in 2024. “Moira is obviously a world-class mare and, while she hasn't yet quite reached those same heights here in Australia, her performance earlier in the prep gave us a glimpse of her class,” Waller's statement read. “We simply feel that she is not racing at her absolute best right now and, with her extraordinary resume, she will be an outstanding broodmare, a real asset to the Australian breeding industry.” Moira set a track record while winning the Queen's Plate in 2022 while racing for Donato Lanni's X-Men Racing partnership, Madaket Stables and SF Racing and trainer Kevin Attard. She as named Canada's Horse of the Year and champion 3-year-old filly that season. In 2023, she added the GII Canadian Stakes to her resume, as well as third-place efforts in the GI Breeders' Cup F/M Turf and GI E. P. Taylor Stakes. Bought back for $3 million at the 2023 Fasig-Tipton November sale, Moira returned for perhaps her best season in 2024. She won the GII Beverly D. Stakes and finished second in the GI Diana Stakes and GI E.P. Taylor S. before concluding her North American campaign with a win in the GI Breeders' Cup F/M Turf. That victory earned the bay mare an Eclipse statue as champion turf female in the U.S. Returned to the Fasig-Tipton sales ring just days after her Breeders' Cup win, Moira sold to Yulong Investments for $4.3 million at the 2024 November sale. She raced five times, with a runner-up effort, in Australia in the Yulong colors. On the board in 16 of 22 starts, Moira won seven times–all in black-type company–and earned $3,058,077. “It's fantastic to see international-class horses coming into Australia; it clearly lifts our breeding pool and bloodlines. We very much look forward to seeing her progeny develop and race in the years to come,” Waller's statement concluded. The post Champion Moira Retired from Racing appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The Sceptre Sessions at this year's Tattersalls December Mares Sale will include Way To My Heart (Galileo), the dam of dual Group 1-winning juvenile Precise. She will be consigned by The Castlebridge Consignment. Precise, a daughter of Starspangledbanner has won her last four starts, including the Fillies' Mile and the Moyglare Stud Stakes, and she is currently favourite for next year's 1,000 Guineas. The 12-year-old Way To My Heart, who will be sold in foal to the late Wootton Bassett, is out of the Listed winner and Group-placed Mystical Lady and is a sister to the multiple Listed winner and Irish Derby-placed Kingfisher. “The victories of Precise in the Fillies' Mile and Moyglare Stud Stakes make her the highest rated two-year-old filly in Europe and she looks an outstanding prospect for next year,” said Tattersalls chairman Edmond Mahony. “It is a privilege to be asked to offer her dam Way To My Heart in the Sceptre Sessions of the Tattersalls December Mares Sale and she joins a growing cast of exceptional fillies and mares set to be offered at Europe's premier breeding stock sale.” The December Mares Sale begins its four-day run on December 1, with the Sceptre Sessions taking place during Monday and Tuesday. The post Dam of Precise to be Sold In Foal to Wootton Bassett at Tattersalls appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Trainers Ben, Will and JD Hayes have unleashed another promising juvenile when two-year-old filly Torture (NZ) (Sword of State) proved too good for her rivals on debut in the Listed Debutant Stakes (1000m) at Caulfield. Sent out a $21 chance, Torture came from just behind the leaders to score by half a length from stablemate Free Flying in the hands of Ethan Brown in what was a professional performance. The well-related filly is the first winner and stakes winner by freshman sire Sword Of State, a Group One winning son of Snitzel who stands at Cambridge Stud. Sword Of State at Cambridge Stud. Photo: Supplied “It was nice to run one-two in the race, and to get some black-type with a filly is very important,” Ben Hayes said. “I thought she won very well. She loomed into it and hit the front and did everything right today, so it’s a big thrill for the whole team. Two-year-olds are something that we really enjoy doing, and coming out and winning the first two-year-old stakes race of the season is a big thrill. “She is well-bred and now a stakes winner, so there are a couple of big ticks there and she is a beautiful looking horse with much more improvement to come, which is exciting.” Bred by Sir Owen Glenn’s Go Bloodstock, Torture is a half-sister to Group One winner Ruthless Dame, with the pair out of the stakes placed Keeper mare Ruthless Lady. Torture was raised and sold by Gordon Cunningham’s Curraghmore, with Lindsay Park and Dean Hawthorne Bloodstock going to $250,000 to secure the filly at the Karaka Book 1 Yearling Sale earlier this year. “For her to come out and win The Debutant, probably wasn’t what we were thinking when we bought her,” Hayes said of the filly who was an October 20 born foal. “But she just kept improving and kept showing us that she could get there. Her trial leading up was good and we thought why not. “She’s a stakes winner now, so maybe the Blue Diamond (Gr.1, 1200m) or something like that would be right up her alley.” Winning rider Ethan Brown said the filly had come on in leaps and bounds from a jumpout at Caulfield a fortnight ago. “My feedback after that trial here at Caulfield was that she probably lacked a bit of substance, but she is very professional and that will take her a long way,” Brown said. “Funnily enough, she feels like she has strengthened again from that trial, they put the winkers on, which proved to be the winning move. The boys are such terrific trainers in general but are especially good with a young horse. “From that gate, I gave her a squeeze to get her into the bridle, she lobbed into a beautiful position, and she got up on the bit. “I just had to dodge heels there for a bit coming around the corner, but she really flowed into it well. “I thought we hit the front a bit soon, but luckily those winkers were on, she kept her focus and was strong through the line.” Torture is raced by a syndicate headed by passionate Richmond supporter John O’Neill and sports silks featuring the famed yellow and black. The Hayes team have saddled the first two winners of Victorian two-year-old races after Per Incanto colt Eurocanto won the Listed Maribyrnong Trial (1000m) earlier this month. Torture’s victory continues a great run of form for breeder Sir Owen Glenn who bred last Saturday’s Gr.1 Toorak Handicap winner Transatlantic. “Fittingly, he bred this filly’s Group One winning sire Sword Of State and was keen to support him,” Curraghmore’s Gordon Cunningham said. “He is a big supporter of our industry, and he will get great satisfaction from that win. He happily remained in the ownership after she was purchased by Lindsay Park and the mare has a lovely yearling filly by Proisir.” View the full article

Trainers Ben, Will and JD Hayes have unleashed another promising juvenile when two-year-old filly Torture (NZ) (Sword of State) proved too good for her rivals on debut in the Listed Debutant Stakes (1000m) at Caulfield. Sent out a $21 chance, Torture came from just behind the leaders to score by half a length from stablemate Free Flying in the hands of Ethan Brown in what was a professional performance. The well-related filly is the first winner and stakes winner by freshman sire Sword Of State, a Group One winning son of Snitzel who stands at Cambridge Stud. Sword Of State at Cambridge Stud. Photo: Supplied “It was nice to run one-two in the race, and to get some black-type with a filly is very important,” Ben Hayes said. “I thought she won very well. She loomed into it and hit the front and did everything right today, so it’s a big thrill for the whole team. Two-year-olds are something that we really enjoy doing, and coming out and winning the first two-year-old stakes race of the season is a big thrill. “She is well-bred and now a stakes winner, so there are a couple of big ticks there and she is a beautiful looking horse with much more improvement to come, which is exciting.” Bred by Sir Owen Glenn’s Go Bloodstock, Torture is a half-sister to Group One winner Ruthless Dame, with the pair out of the stakes placed Keeper mare Ruthless Lady. Torture was raised and sold by Gordon Cunningham’s Curraghmore, with Lindsay Park and Dean Hawthorne Bloodstock going to $250,000 to secure the filly at the Karaka Book 1 Yearling Sale earlier this year. “For her to come out and win The Debutant, probably wasn’t what we were thinking when we bought her,” Hayes said of the filly who was an October 20 born foal. “But she just kept improving and kept showing us that she could get there. Her trial leading up was good and we thought why not. “She’s a stakes winner now, so maybe the Blue Diamond (Gr.1, 1200m) or something like that would be right up her alley.” Winning rider Ethan Brown said the filly had come on in leaps and bounds from a jumpout at Caulfield a fortnight ago. “My feedback after that trial here at Caulfield was that she probably lacked a bit of substance, but she is very professional and that will take her a long way,” Brown said. “Funnily enough, she feels like she has strengthened again from that trial, they put the winkers on, which proved to be the winning move. The boys are such terrific trainers in general but are especially good with a young horse. “From that gate, I gave her a squeeze to get her into the bridle, she lobbed into a beautiful position, and she got up on the bit. “I just had to dodge heels there for a bit coming around the corner, but she really flowed into it well. “I thought we hit the front a bit soon, but luckily those winkers were on, she kept her focus and was strong through the line.” Torture is raced by a syndicate headed by passionate Richmond supporter John O’Neill and sports silks featuring the famed yellow and black. The Hayes team have saddled the first two winners of Victorian two-year-old races after Per Incanto colt Eurocanto won the Listed Maribyrnong Trial (1000m) earlier this month. Torture’s victory continues a great run of form for breeder Sir Owen Glenn who bred last Saturday’s Gr.1 Toorak Handicap winner Transatlantic. “Fittingly, he bred this filly’s Group One winning sire Sword Of State and was keen to support him,” Curraghmore’s Gordon Cunningham said. “He is a big supporter of our industry, and he will get great satisfaction from that win. He happily remained in the ownership after she was purchased by Lindsay Park and the mare has a lovely yearling filly by Proisir.” View the full article

Trainers Ben, Will and JD Hayes have unleashed another promising juvenile when two-year-old filly Torture (NZ) (Sword of State) proved too good for her rivals on debut in the Listed Debutant Stakes (1000m) at Caulfield. Sent out a $21 chance, Torture came from just behind the leaders to score by half a length from stablemate Free Flying in the hands of Ethan Brown in what was a professional performance. The well-related filly is the first winner and stakes winner by freshman sire Sword Of State, a Group One winning son of Snitzel who stands at Cambridge Stud. Sword Of State at Cambridge Stud. Photo: Supplied “It was nice to run one-two in the race, and to get some black-type with a filly is very important,” Ben Hayes said. “I thought she won very well. She loomed into it and hit the front and did everything right today, so it’s a big thrill for the whole team. Two-year-olds are something that we really enjoy doing, and coming out and winning the first two-year-old stakes race of the season is a big thrill. “She is well-bred and now a stakes winner, so there are a couple of big ticks there and she is a beautiful looking horse with much more improvement to come, which is exciting.” Bred by Sir Owen Glenn’s Go Bloodstock, Torture is a half-sister to Group One winner Ruthless Dame, with the pair out of the stakes placed Keeper mare Ruthless Lady. Torture was raised and sold by Gordon Cunningham’s Curraghmore, with Lindsay Park and Dean Hawthorne Bloodstock going to $250,000 to secure the filly at the Karaka Book 1 Yearling Sale earlier this year. “For her to come out and win The Debutant, probably wasn’t what we were thinking when we bought her,” Hayes said of the filly who was an October 20 born foal. “But she just kept improving and kept showing us that she could get there. Her trial leading up was good and we thought why not. “She’s a stakes winner now, so maybe the Blue Diamond (Gr.1, 1200m) or something like that would be right up her alley.” Winning rider Ethan Brown said the filly had come on in leaps and bounds from a jumpout at Caulfield a fortnight ago. “My feedback after that trial here at Caulfield was that she probably lacked a bit of substance, but she is very professional and that will take her a long way,” Brown said. “Funnily enough, she feels like she has strengthened again from that trial, they put the winkers on, which proved to be the winning move. The boys are such terrific trainers in general but are especially good with a young horse. “From that gate, I gave her a squeeze to get her into the bridle, she lobbed into a beautiful position, and she got up on the bit. “I just had to dodge heels there for a bit coming around the corner, but she really flowed into it well. “I thought we hit the front a bit soon, but luckily those winkers were on, she kept her focus and was strong through the line.” Torture is raced by a syndicate headed by passionate Richmond supporter John O’Neill and sports silks featuring the famed yellow and black. The Hayes team have saddled the first two winners of Victorian two-year-old races after Per Incanto colt Eurocanto won the Listed Maribyrnong Trial (1000m) earlier this month. Torture’s victory continues a great run of form for breeder Sir Owen Glenn who bred last Saturday’s Gr.1 Toorak Handicap winner Transatlantic. “Fittingly, he bred this filly’s Group One winning sire Sword Of State and was keen to support him,” Curraghmore’s Gordon Cunningham said. “He is a big supporter of our industry, and he will get great satisfaction from that win. He happily remained in the ownership after she was purchased by Lindsay Park and the mare has a lovely yearling filly by Proisir.” View the full article

Trainers Ben, Will and JD Hayes have unleashed another promising juvenile when two-year-old filly Torture (NZ) (Sword of State) proved too good for her rivals on debut in the Listed Debutant Stakes (1000m) at Caulfield. Sent out a $21 chance, Torture came from just behind the leaders to score by half a length from stablemate Free Flying in the hands of Ethan Brown in what was a professional performance. The well-related filly is the first winner and stakes winner by freshman sire Sword Of State, a Group One winning son of Snitzel who stands at Cambridge Stud. Sword Of State at Cambridge Stud. Photo: Supplied “It was nice to run one-two in the race, and to get some black-type with a filly is very important,” Ben Hayes said. “I thought she won very well. She loomed into it and hit the front and did everything right today, so it’s a big thrill for the whole team. Two-year-olds are something that we really enjoy doing, and coming out and winning the first two-year-old stakes race of the season is a big thrill. “She is well-bred and now a stakes winner, so there are a couple of big ticks there and she is a beautiful looking horse with much more improvement to come, which is exciting.” Bred by Sir Owen Glenn’s Go Bloodstock, Torture is a half-sister to Group One winner Ruthless Dame, with the pair out of the stakes placed Keeper mare Ruthless Lady. Torture was raised and sold by Gordon Cunningham’s Curraghmore, with Lindsay Park and Dean Hawthorne Bloodstock going to $250,000 to secure the filly at the Karaka Book 1 Yearling Sale earlier this year. “For her to come out and win The Debutant, probably wasn’t what we were thinking when we bought her,” Hayes said of the filly who was an October 20 born foal. “But she just kept improving and kept showing us that she could get there. Her trial leading up was good and we thought why not. “She’s a stakes winner now, so maybe the Blue Diamond (Gr.1, 1200m) or something like that would be right up her alley.” Winning rider Ethan Brown said the filly had come on in leaps and bounds from a jumpout at Caulfield a fortnight ago. “My feedback after that trial here at Caulfield was that she probably lacked a bit of substance, but she is very professional and that will take her a long way,” Brown said. “Funnily enough, she feels like she has strengthened again from that trial, they put the winkers on, which proved to be the winning move. The boys are such terrific trainers in general but are especially good with a young horse. “From that gate, I gave her a squeeze to get her into the bridle, she lobbed into a beautiful position, and she got up on the bit. “I just had to dodge heels there for a bit coming around the corner, but she really flowed into it well. “I thought we hit the front a bit soon, but luckily those winkers were on, she kept her focus and was strong through the line.” Torture is raced by a syndicate headed by passionate Richmond supporter John O’Neill and sports silks featuring the famed yellow and black. The Hayes team have saddled the first two winners of Victorian two-year-old races after Per Incanto colt Eurocanto won the Listed Maribyrnong Trial (1000m) earlier this month. Torture’s victory continues a great run of form for breeder Sir Owen Glenn who bred last Saturday’s Gr.1 Toorak Handicap winner Transatlantic. “Fittingly, he bred this filly’s Group One winning sire Sword Of State and was keen to support him,” Curraghmore’s Gordon Cunningham said. “He is a big supporter of our industry, and he will get great satisfaction from that win. He happily remained in the ownership after she was purchased by Lindsay Park and the mare has a lovely yearling filly by Proisir.” View the full article

Trainers Ben, Will and JD Hayes have unleashed another promising juvenile when two-year-old filly Torture (NZ) (Sword of State) proved too good for her rivals on debut in the Listed Debutant Stakes (1000m) at Caulfield. Sent out a $21 chance, Torture came from just behind the leaders to score by half a length from stablemate Free Flying in the hands of Ethan Brown in what was a professional performance. The well-related filly is the first winner and stakes winner by freshman sire Sword Of State, a Group One winning son of Snitzel who stands at Cambridge Stud. Sword Of State at Cambridge Stud. Photo: Supplied “It was nice to run one-two in the race, and to get some black-type with a filly is very important,” Ben Hayes said. “I thought she won very well. She loomed into it and hit the front and did everything right today, so it’s a big thrill for the whole team. Two-year-olds are something that we really enjoy doing, and coming out and winning the first two-year-old stakes race of the season is a big thrill. “She is well-bred and now a stakes winner, so there are a couple of big ticks there and she is a beautiful looking horse with much more improvement to come, which is exciting.” Bred by Sir Owen Glenn’s Go Bloodstock, Torture is a half-sister to Group One winner Ruthless Dame, with the pair out of the stakes placed Keeper mare Ruthless Lady. Torture was raised and sold by Gordon Cunningham’s Curraghmore, with Lindsay Park and Dean Hawthorne Bloodstock going to $250,000 to secure the filly at the Karaka Book 1 Yearling Sale earlier this year. “For her to come out and win The Debutant, probably wasn’t what we were thinking when we bought her,” Hayes said of the filly who was an October 20 born foal. “But she just kept improving and kept showing us that she could get there. Her trial leading up was good and we thought why not. “She’s a stakes winner now, so maybe the Blue Diamond (Gr.1, 1200m) or something like that would be right up her alley.” Winning rider Ethan Brown said the filly had come on in leaps and bounds from a jumpout at Caulfield a fortnight ago. “My feedback after that trial here at Caulfield was that she probably lacked a bit of substance, but she is very professional and that will take her a long way,” Brown said. “Funnily enough, she feels like she has strengthened again from that trial, they put the winkers on, which proved to be the winning move. The boys are such terrific trainers in general but are especially good with a young horse. “From that gate, I gave her a squeeze to get her into the bridle, she lobbed into a beautiful position, and she got up on the bit. “I just had to dodge heels there for a bit coming around the corner, but she really flowed into it well. “I thought we hit the front a bit soon, but luckily those winkers were on, she kept her focus and was strong through the line.” Torture is raced by a syndicate headed by passionate Richmond supporter John O’Neill and sports silks featuring the famed yellow and black. The Hayes team have saddled the first two winners of Victorian two-year-old races after Per Incanto colt Eurocanto won the Listed Maribyrnong Trial (1000m) earlier this month. Torture’s victory continues a great run of form for breeder Sir Owen Glenn who bred last Saturday’s Gr.1 Toorak Handicap winner Transatlantic. “Fittingly, he bred this filly’s Group One winning sire Sword Of State and was keen to support him,” Curraghmore’s Gordon Cunningham said. “He is a big supporter of our industry, and he will get great satisfaction from that win. He happily remained in the ownership after she was purchased by Lindsay Park and the mare has a lovely yearling filly by Proisir.” View the full article

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – In his opening remarks during this year's Kentucky Derby post-race news conference, Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott paid tribute to the entire team behind the brilliant Sovereignty (Into Mischief). “I'm so proud of everybody that had anything to do with getting this horse to this point and it takes a lot of people,” Mott said. “It takes a family, and it takes a community to get him ready, really.” Neil Poznansky, the regular morning work partner for the nation's top 3-year-old, has been with Mott as an assistant for more than 15 years. A native of Edmonton, Alberta, the 52-year-old was the champion apprentice jockey in both the U.S. and Canada in 1996. “I started out in Western Canada, which was Northlands and Stampede at the time, and from there I went over to Vancouver,” Poznansky said. “Starting on the bullring, it's a different style of riding–you have to ride a little tighter going into the turns. As a young rider, I knew where to be and where not be and how to ride things a little differently. I started with a bunch of good people out west in those small tracks. There's a lot of good memories out there.” There were plenty of good memories for Poznansky at Woodbine, too. He won the 1999 GII King Edward Breeders' Cup H. aboard Desert Waves and the 2000 GIII Nassau S. with Heliotrope. Poznansky rode 761 winners from 5,861 starters, good for career earnings of $15,669,892, according to Equibase. He retired as a jockey in 2008. Neil Poznansky keeping a close eye on Sovereignty earlier this summer at the Spa | Sarah Andrew “The last race I rode I won for David Carroll at Ellis Park,” Poznansky said. “I was struggling with my weight a little bit and not riding a lot. I remember it had to be about 110 degrees with humidity, you know how hot it can get down there. I won by a nose and rode my butt off. And I come back and didn't have a drop of sweat on me! I said, 'You know what? This is it.' I called my dad on the drive home and said, 'I'm done.'” Poznansky, paused, then added, “And Bill also happened to be in town.” Bill, of course, is Bill Mott. Poznansky met Mott working as an exercise rider at Payson Park during racing's off season in Canada. “I was getting on some of his horses at the time that were gonna be going into the Kentucky Derby, so he set me up with an agent at Churchill and he sent his horses there,” Poznansky said. “I would get on his horses, breeze them, that kind of stuff, but I couldn't really get rolling as a rider there.” Having spent some time around Leana Willaford and Kenny McCarthy–both are still two of Mott's top assistants–Poznansky admired the way Mott's operation was run. “I just started hanging around and eventually the position opened up and he gave me a shot,” Poznansky said. “It's been a tremendous experience and it's been a great lifestyle for me. “Being able to work for Bill, I'm in the spots where he is all the time. He's at Saratoga, I'm at Saratoga. I'm at Payson, he's at Payson. I get to work with him every day. Some of the things that he sees and does, it's almost every day he'll be watching a horse train and I can't see what he sees. Just his eye and all his knowledge.” Poznansky continued, “When I was riding and if you screwed up the race or something went wrong, I'd say, 'We'll get 'em next time.' Now, being on the other end of it, there's just so much that goes into it with every horse. I didn't know when I was riding just how much.” Sovereignty, with Jimmy Quispe up, accompanied to the Oklahoma training track by Bill Mott assistant Neil Poznansky earlier this morning pic.twitter.com/cCNo4B3JK5 — Steve Sherack (@SteveSherackTDN) October 11, 2025 Sovereignty fired a five-furlong warning shot beneath Poznansky in a bullet :59.80 after the break over Saratoga's Oklahoma training track Sunday. It was his second straight move in company with his 3-year-old stablemate Playa Del Mar (Into Mischief), a last-out maiden winner at Ellis Park Aug. 22. The imposing GI Kentucky Derby, GI Belmont Stakes and GI Travers Stakes winner will take on older horses for the first time in the upcoming GI Breeders' Cup Classic at Del Mar Nov. 1. “His record speaks for itself,” Poznansky said. “When I put him on the van at Payson for the Derby, I was certain he was gonna win. He's just big and athletic and oozes class. He's got nerves of steel. He'll get pumped up in the paddock. But not in a bad way. He knows what it means when you get Junior (Alvarado) on. He's very smart and all racehorse. He's pretty special.” As dominating as Sovereignty has been this season, could we possibly see another forward move from him in the Classic? “I tell 'ya what,” Poznansky said. “Watching him train, going by every day. He's impressive. He possibly could. I don't see anything in him right now that says that he's not gonna move forward.” Godolphin's Michael Banahan and Neil Poznansky (center) celebrate Sovereignty's win in the Travers | Tod Marks Some of Poznansky's former star pupils and personal favorites from the Mott barn include: Close Hatches, Cody's Wish, Elate, Elite Power, Flat Out, Lea and Royal Delta. Sovereignty and the popular 2023 Horse of the Year and young Darley sire Cody's Wish are both homebreds for Godolphin. “I think Bill is lucky to have him there,” Godolphin USA Director of Bloodstock Michael Banahan said of Poznansky. “He was a very good rider in his own right, an Eclipse Award-winning apprentice, and being to able to have someone to draw on with his experience is a great comfort. If Neil comes back and is happy with the way a horse has breezed, everyone's happy.” Banahan added, “Bill has surrounded himself with a lot of talented people–Neil, Kenny (McCarthy), Leana (Willaford)–and they all do a tremendous job. He has a very talented team.” Like Mott said on the first Saturday in May, it takes a family. The post From the Bullring to the Breeders’ Cup: A ‘Tremendous Experience’ for Sovereignty’s Work Rider, Mott Assistant Poznansky appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Check out this week’s The Box Seat with hosts Matt Cross, Brittany Graham and Greg O’Connor. View the full article

Kelly Van Dyk’s Prima Park Bloodstock will be represented on both sides of the Tasman this week, from the sales ring in Sydney to the big stage at Ellerslie on Saturday. From her base at Matamata, Van Dyk specialises in horse agistment and sales preparation, while more recently, she has featured prominently in the training ranks with exciting filly Places To Be (NZ) (Hello Youmzain). A homebred by Hello Youmzain, Places To Be was a two-time trial winner before dominating her rivals by four lengths on debut at Taupo, and after missing a run due to heavy track conditions, won her 1150m heat under a tight hold at Waipa last Thursday. Places To Be will have her first opportunity for black-type in Saturday’s Gr.2 Windsor Park Stud Soliloquy Stakes (1400m), and while Van Dyk is not underestimating the task ahead against the likes of Tajana and Lollapalooza, she has faith in her filly’s ability. “We’re under no illusion that it is a big step-up in class but she’s given us no reason to doubt her at all,” she said. “We really believe in her ability and she was not only impressive in her first start, but also her trial last week. “The trial was Plan B, we planned to race her at Matamata but with the rain that came, we weren’t prepared to start her on that heavy track. We took her to the trials and tried to go as quietly as we possibly could, I think the jockey did as best as he could to keep her under a strong hold through the line and she’s come through it really well. “She’s bang on, I don’t think we could have her any better, so it’s up to her now and we’re soon going to find out where her ability sits among some of the top three-year-old fillies.” Places To Be was the first foal out of the Pierro mare Socialights, and being a filly, Van Dyk and co-breeder Ben Kwok decided to race her themselves instead of offering her at auction. “We bred her, we raced the mother and she was the first foal out of the mare,” she said. “Being a filly, we thought we would keep her and see how we went, she was a bit small so she wasn’t the most ideal sales prospect. “A good friend, Bevan Smith, came in as well as a racing partner, he was keen to have a bit of fun and race her with us. Right from day one she’s shown quite a lot of ability, it’s exciting for us.” Van Dyk will be on course to put the final touches on Places To Be on Saturday, after her four juveniles go through the ring at Inglis’ Ready2Race Sale on Thursday in Sydney. Among the quartet is an Exceed And Excel colt out of the Sebring mare Sharapova (Lot 128), while the build-up to Saturday’s A$20 million Gr.1 The Everest (1200m) has generated plenty of interest in Lot 194, a gelding by Shamexpress out of the Turn Me Loose mare Blinkie. “We were keen to get involved in one of the early ready to run sales, Inglis do a fantastic job of assembling a good buying bench here, particularly from Hong Kong, so we’ve done our best to target that market,” Van Dyk said. “We’ve bought some really nice horses, in particular an Exceed And Excel colt that has been very popular, and we have a Shamexpress, so with Ka Ying Rising running in the Everest on Saturday, he’s also been very popular.” View the full article

Te Akau has been forced to take an unconventional path to Ellerslie with Quintessa (NZ) (Shamus Award) and are confident the high-class mare will strip in the best possible order, given the circumstances. The Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson-trained representative will step out in Saturday’s Gr.1 Livamol Classic (2040m) off the back of her outstanding resuming victory in the Gr.1 Proisir Plate (1400m). Plans to run in the middle leg of the Triple Crown, the Gr,1 Howden Insurance Mile (1600m), were scrapped due to the heavily rain-affected ground at Te Rapa. “As an older mare, she looks after herself on the wet tracks and we don’t think she would have performed to her best and I certainly don’t think she would have won the race,” Bergerson said. Quintessa will now face a sharp rise in trip to continue her winning form. “She is really good off a different build-up due to the rain, obviously it’s not the ideal prep but we think we have got her as good as we can have her,” Bergerson said. “It’s a bit of a query going from 1400 to 2000m, but she was really good first-up and has come on since. She’s picked up in the coat over the last couple of weeks and is tracking the right way. “Time will tell and we had to play the cards we were dealt.” Quintessa was given a trip away to the Central Districts and finished runner-up in a trial at Awapuni with race day rider Opie Bosson in the saddle. “She went down there and stayed with Dad (Roydon) and travelled back really well so fingers crossed,” Bergerson said. Stablemate Queen’s Evidence will represent the stable in the Gr.2 Windsor Park Stud Soliloquy Stakes (1400m) and should get a softer run from barrier five after a tough passage when sixth last time out. “She was really good first-up when third in the Gold Trail (Gr.3, 1200m) and had no luck in the Sunline Vase (Gr.3, 1400m),” Bergerson said. “She got trapped wide the whole race and stuck on well, we were pretty happy with the run. “With four weeks between runs, we were able to give her an easy time post that tough race and she’s bounced back really well. “She went to Taupo last Friday to gallop between races and worked super again on Tuesday.” A top showing from Queen’s Evidence would confirm plans for a tilt at next month’s Gr.1 Barneswood Farm New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton. “She probably has to step up to beat those benchmark fillies and hopefully she can run well and crack on to the Guineas,” Bergerson said. The stable is also looking forward to Balance Of Power and War Of Succession in the Horizon By Skycity Handicap (1600m). “It will be short of their best, but we think they will both run really well,” Bergerson said. “We think they will be a couple of really nice Cups’ horses later in the season.” Meanwhile, My Lips Are Sealed will take aim at the Listed Team Wealleans Matamata Cup (1600m) on Friday and her chances will depend on how she copes with the ground. “It’s really wet here and she has won on a heavy surface before, albeit in a much lower grade,” Bergerson said. “She has come on since her first-up run and the step to a mile is ideal, she’s got a light weight (53kg) and a good rider (George Rooke) so she ticks a lot of boxes, it’s just whether she gets through the ground.” View the full article

While he admitted he would have preferred to reveal his own gate, Ka Ying Rising’s owner Leung Shek-kong was in his element all the same during Tuesday night’s Group One The Everest (1,200m) barrier draw aboard super yacht “The Jackson” on Sydney Harbour. Big-race barrier draws in Hong Kong see owners select their own card before peeling away a sticker to show the horse’s gate, however the draw for The Everest was done by computer earlier on Tuesday before being projected into the Sydney sky in...View the full article

5. (tie) BLAST FURNACE, KEE, 10/8, 1 mile 1/8th (turf) (VIDEO) Beyer Speed Figure-83 (g, 4, by The Factor–Aliquippa, by Yes It's True) O-Three Diamonds Farm. B-EH Beau Lane (Ky). T-Mike Maker. J-Luis Saez. This should sound familiar: Maker gets new horse in barn, runs him longer distances on grass, and improvement ensues. Blast Furnace was transferred this summer by Three Diamonds to Maker, who ran him 1 5/16 miles and then got this MSW victory at 1 1/8 miles. 5. (tie) CUT TO THE CHASE, KEE, 10/12, 6 furlongs (VIDEO) Beyer Speed Figure-83 (f, 3, by Complexity–Listen to Libby, by Indian Charlie) O-Thomas Bachman. B-Brereton Jones (Ky). T-Wesley Ward. J-Victor Espinoza. In her second start, Cut to the Chase led all the way for a sharp 4 3/4 length Keeneland score. Owner Thomas Bachman–who previously raced Grade II winner Kehoe Beach with Ward–bought the filly for $375,000 at Keeneland September 2023 from Airdrie Stud's Brereton Jones, exactly one week before Jones' death. 4. SIMPLE SONG, SA, 10/10, 6 furlongs (VIDEO) Beyer Speed Figure-88 (2nd) (g, 3, by Munnings–Serene Melody, by Street Cry) O-Muir Hut Stables. B-Lewis Thoroughbred Breeding. T-Mark Glatt. J-Kazushi Kimura. He proved no match for the latest Zedan/Baffert freight train Jude (see below), but all things considered his debut second was highly encouraging–as is his pedigree. His dam Serene Melody was a minor stakes winner, but her dam was 11-time Grade I winner and Hall of Famer Serena's Song. 3. JUDE, SA, 10/10, 6 furlongs (VIDEO) Beyer Speed Figure-93 (c, 3, by Uncle Mo–Helena Bay (GB), by Johannesburg) O-Zedan Racing Stables. B-Runnymede Farm, Peter Callahan and Three Chimneys Farm (Ky). T-Bob Baffert. J-Juan Hernandez. Baffert's soon-to-be 2026 3-year-olds will sort themselves out eventually, but his Derby hopeful list continues to grow. Amr Zedan's $2-million yearling purchase Jude, named a 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard', debuted with a sharp 2 1/2-length victory in fast time–and he broke slowly, then rallied from last. He's a half-brother to former Baffert star Collected, whose remarkable 2017 run began with four straight stakes wins including the GI Pacific Classic, followed by a second to Gun Runner in the GI Breeders' Cup Classic. 2. COFFEE TALK, KEE, 10/9, 6 1/2 furlongs (VIDEO) Beyer Speed Figure-94 (g, 3, by Medaglia d'Oro–Desert Legacy, by Tapit) O/T- David Jacobson. B-Godolphin (Ky). J-Jose Ortiz. Fifteen months ago, Jacobson purchased Godolphin owned-and-bred 4-year-old Banishing at auction for $80k. At the time, Banishing had made $100,000 on the track; since the purchase he has earned $1.8 million and is being pointed for the Breeders' Cup Sprint. This summer, Jacobson went back to the Godolphin well, spending $30,000 at Ellis Park to claim Coffee Talk, who had made $14,443 in five starts with a top Beyer of 76. Jacobson ran him back for $50,000 and got a 10 3/4-length win with a 94 Beyer. The bad news for Jacobson: Coffee Talk was claimed again out of the race, this time by Linda Rice. 1. FURTHER ADO, KEE, 10/10, 1 mile 1-16th (VIDEO) Beyer Speed Figure-98 (c, 2, by Gun Runner–Sky Dreamer, by Sky Mesa) O-Spendthrift Farm. B-John Oxley (Ky). T-Brad Cox. J-Irad Ortiz, Jr. Further Ado, named a 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard', is now being pointed for the Nov. 29 GII Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes after this 20-length romp continued Spendthrift's remarkable October run. His 98 Beyer tied Ted Noffey for the second-fastest 2-year-old figure of the year behind only Brant's 101. His female side traces back to Oxley's champion mare Beautiful Pleasure. The post Five Fastest Maidens, Presented By Taylor Made: Oct. 6-13 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

There will be a vacant seat in the owners’ section of the Ellerslie grandstand on Saturday when Ladies Man attempts a repeat victory in the Gr. 1 Livamol Classic. Ron Stanley, part-owner of the dual Group One winner along with a host of other class racehorses, passed away on Saturday just weeks short of his 70th birthday, ending more than 50 years fully immersed in racing. Life for Stanley had its challenges due to contracting polio as an infant, but supported by his wife Kathy, brother Noel and a closely bonded group of family and friends, nothing stood in his way. He became a farmer and racehorse owner while still in his teens, making a huge success of both endeavours as well as contributing immensely to racing administration in the Taranaki region. “Ronnie loved racing, every aspect of it, and it became a big part of his life in so many ways,” Noel said when reflecting on his older brother’s legacy. “He bought his first filly when he was 17 and put her with Wally McEwan at Hawera. “Our father was a rugby man and when Ronnie started to get in involved in racehorse ownership Dad warned ‘They’ll rip the shirt off your back!’ But it didn’t make any difference – he was in for keeps.” The horses had to be affordable, and in that respect the enthusiasm was just as infectious as he and his brother established a solid farming foundation. “Ronnie was 19 and I was 17 when we took over the farm from our father Noel and our uncle Ron, who the two of us were named after. That’s coming up 50 years ago when the farm comprised a dairy unit and a piggery with 40 sows. “Ronnie was the business manager taking care of finances and planning for the future, and he was just brilliant at it. His motto was ‘do it once and do it properly’. From those 40 sows the piggery grew to now have 500, we developed the rest of the farming operation alongside it and as far as he was concerned it was all about rebuilding, keeping ahead of the times.” That busy farming life was well complemented by the Stanley brothers’ racing interests, which since the late 1980s have centered around New Plymouth trainer Allan Sharrock. “To begin with when Ronnie got involved, he had horses with a variety of trainers – Wally McEwan, Charlie Gestro, Bob McSeveny, John Wheeler were some – before between us we settled on Allan,” Noel said. “Later in the 1990s we had a horse called Carter who won his maiden and ran in the Derby, then we sold him for $100,000. That bankrolled us to go to the sales to buy a horse we really liked, but Ron said we’ll only spend half of it. “We bought a lovely Gold Brose colt for $22,000, which meant we still had a fair bit left over, so we decided to look for another one, but Ronnie said we shouldn’t get carried way, and 20 minutes later we bought a Groom Dancer colt. “That left us with $5,000 of the $50,000, and typical of Ronnie he said ‘That’s good, it will pay to break them in’.” Those two Karaka purchases elevated the Stanley brothers to racing’s major league. The Gold Brose colt was Grout, who became champion two-year-old with four wins, including the two Group One Sires’ Produce races in the autumn, and was subsequently sold for big money to Hong Kong. The Groom Dancer colt, named Woburn, won his first two starts at two but eventually excelled as a stayer. At three years old, he won his two lead-up races to the New Zealand Derby before finishing third in the Ellerslie classic. He then won the Manawatu Classic and finished third in the South Australian Derby, eventually compiling a record of eight wins and numerous major placings. “We had had a good taste of that level of racing and I remember we were discussing our plans with Allan (Sharrock) and Ronnie said I only want to win one race – the Derby. In one of racing’s great stories, that lofty ambition was realised when the Stanleys’ chestnut gelding Wahid was victorious in the 2006 Mercedes Derby. He had already been a big winner at two and leading into the Derby he won the Levin Classic, Waikato Guineas and Championship Stakes, so his ultimate achievement was as much a relief as a thrill. “I remember Ronnie sitting there in the grandstand, very happy, and he turned to me and said ‘You lead him in and I’ll make the speech’. It was just perfect winning the Derby with the best horse we’ve ever had by a country mile.” Stanley’s involvement in racing was by no means restricted to ownership. His volunteer administrative roles began with the Opunake Racing Club, which he served as secretary/treasurer for nearly two decades and continued when the Taranaki coastal club relocated its raceday activities from Hawera to New Plymouth. “Ron worked tirelessly for the Opunake club, he was such a big part of its success and achieved his target of getting the Opunake Cup to a stake of $100,000,” longtime Taranaki Racing general manager Carey Hobbs said. “He was on the steering committee to bring New Plymouth and Opunake together, which he and others felt was the right thing to do. He was a very sharp administrator and every decision he made was for the betterment of racing. “He also served many years as raceday judge – apart from when one of his horses was racing – and we’ll all miss him as one of those guys you would turn to when a big decision needed to be made.” Allan Sharrock’s training career benefitted hugely from horses racing in the Stanley name. “The Stanley boys have been with me virtually since day one, owners that any trainer could wish for,” he said. “Ron certainly knew his stuff, he had a very good eye for a horse, he understood pedigrees and we never bought a horse if it didn’t meet his approval. I think the success we’ve had together says a lot for our relationship and the big wins speak for themselves.” The current headline act for Ron and Noel Stanley, along with their respective wives Kathy and Suzie, members of the O’Leary family and Sharrock, is Ladies Man. Already a dual Group One winner, the big Zed gelding will attempt a repeat of his 2023 Livamol Classic when he lines up in the weight-for-age feature at Ellerslie on Saturday. “We’ve already talked about it and we’ve decided that we’re all going to be up at Ellerslie. It’s going to be emotional but something we have to do,” Noel Stanley said. “If Ladies Man can win another Livamol – that would be fantastic, the ultimate tribute to Ronnie.” *Ron Stanley’s funeral service is scheduled for 11am Thursday (tomorrow) at St Paul’s Church, Opunake. View the full article

Sharp ‘N’ Smart’s (NZ) (Redwood) Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) campaign hangs in the balance, with his performance in Saturday’s Gr.1 Livamol Classic (2040m) at Ellerslie dictating whether he continues on that path. The former New Zealand Horse of the Year has had three starts to date this preparation, and while he was unplaced in all three, co-trainer Graeme Rogerson has been pleased with his efforts. “He has had a couple of runs and they have been very good,” said Rogerson, who trains in partnership with his wife Debbie. “He is getting up to a distance that suits him.” Sharp ‘N’ Smart will be ridden in Saturday’s feature by George Rooke, and Rogerson said he received good feedback from the expat Englishman after he rode his charge in a track gallop on Tuesday morning. “George Rooke is riding him on Saturday, he came and worked him on Tuesday and I am happy with him,” he said. “I think he will run well.” The six-year-old son of Redwood was among the 53 acceptors in the second declarations for the Melbourne Cup on Tuesday, but Rogerson said a trip across the Tasman requires a bold showing this weekend. “We will see what happens on Saturday and see where his future lies,” he said. If Sharp ‘N’ Smart fails to flatter on Saturday, Rogerson is looking at Cups targets closer to home. “He will run in the Cups, he just wants a drier track,” he said. “He has had his issues, but I think he has still got it there, but we will soon see.” Sharp ‘N’ Smart will be met in the Livamol by stablemate Solidify, and Rogerson is looking forward to testing his Group Two performer at elite-level once again. “He is as good as I have had him, so we thought we would run him in the Livamol, and Masa Hashizume rides,” Rogerson said. “It was a good run at Hawera (last start for third), but it was a touch wet for him. He ran a nice race, so we will run him and see where he stands. There is some nice racing coming up.” On the undercard at Ellerslie, Rogerson is upbeat about the chances of Group Three performer Skymax in the Kingmakers Syndication 1400. “I think she is a pretty good horse,” he said. The stable will also head to Trentham on Saturday where they will be represented by Mission Complete in the maiden three-year-old 1200m and juvenile debutant Swiss Miss in the two-year-old 800m event. “I like the two-year-old,” Rogerson said. “I trialed her with blinkers on, things didn’t go right, so I took them off. She is working well, and I think she will run a race. “I like Mission Complete. He had no luck at Avondale.” A day prior at Matamata, the stable will have a five-strong team, including four runners in the RBC Racing 2000 – Ferdie’s Secret, Great Adventure, The Negotiator and Sarracina. View the full article

The Florida Thoroughbred Breeders' and Owners' Association announces the latest class of 15 industry leaders to be inducted into the FTBOA Hall of Fame on Oct. 24 in a private reception with the board of directors celebrating their achievements.View the full article

Maiden Watch: Week of Oct. 6-Oct. 12View the full article

Undefeated Flightline, the 2022 Horse of the Year whose first yearlings averaged $749,083 for 55 sold this year to date, will anchor the Lane's End stallion roster in 2026 and stand for $125,000. Flightline, whose first runners will be eagerly anticipated in 2026, had 10 yearlings sell for $1 million or more between the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga and Keeneland September sales. The 17 members of Lane's End's roster includes one new addition in multiple Grade I winner Raging Torrent (Maximus Mischief–Violent Wave, by Violence), who was retired at the end of July and had already been announced as a future Lane's End stallion. Raging Torrent will be introduced at $15,000. “2025 was an exceptional year for the Lane's End roster,” said the farm's Bill Farish, “with Liam's Map and Twirling Candy both siring three Grade I winners, as well as Flightline's knockout first-crop yearling sales results, including a sale-topping filly and an average of $749,083. With the addition of multiple Grade I winner Raging Torrent, 2026 looks to be another exciting year.” Lane's End's entire roster–with all fees live foal, stands and nurses–follows in alphabetical order: Arcangelo–$30,000 Candy Ride (Arg)–$60,000 City of Light–$35,000 Connect–$10,000 Flightline–$125,000 Game Winner–$20,000 Honor A.P.–$7,500 Liam's Map–$50,000 More than Looks–$15,000 Quality Road–$100,000 Raging Torrent–$15,000 Senor Buscador–$7,500 The Factor–$5,000 Tonalist–$10,000 Twirling Candy–$75,000 Union Rags–$10,000 Up to the Mark–$25,000 The post Flightline Leads Lane’s End 2026 Stallion Roster at $125,000 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article