Wandering Eyes

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

The Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Fall Mixed Sale, not to be outdone by its yearling sale counterpart which broke records in August, set its own highwater marks for gross, average, median and top-priced lot Tuesday in upstate New York. During the one-session auction, 133 horses grossed $6,177,500, for an average of $46,447 and a median of $22,000. The average jumped 74.2% from last year's figure of $26,663 and the median rose 46.7% from $15,000 in 2024. With 73 horses reported not sold, the buy-back rate was 35.4%. It was 40.8% a year ago. The broodmare Showmethemagic (Power Broker) (hip 98), in foal to Cogburn, brought the auction's top price of $260,000 when selling to Jonathan Thorne's Thorndale Farm. The mare was one of four to surpass $200,000 and one of 21 to bring six figures. Eight sold for $100,000 or more in 2024. The stakes-placed Showmethemagic is out of Magic Charm (Horse Greeley), a half-sister to the dam of champion Proud Spell. The mare's 2-year-old filly, Believe in Magic (Not This Time), her first foal, was third in the Untapable Stakes at Kentucky Downs in September. “Young mares like this that have such an active family–the female family is kind of riddled with champions, beginning with Proud Spell, but there are other ones in there–these mares don't come to market very often,” said Thorne. “She's a beautiful mare and I loved her foal. It's an investment in the future.” Of the sale-topping price, Thorne said, “I definitely had to extend for her. I wanted to be about $175,000, but it's only going to get tougher as the fall goes on here. Hopefully, we can get a couple of nice foals out of her and we will just take care of her.” Showmethemagic | Fasig-Tipton Showmethemagic was followed into the sales ring by her weanling colt by Golden Pal (hip 99), who sold to Peter Pugh on behalf of Cherry Knoll Farm for $210,000. The weanling was bred by Ahlschwede Family and Dr. Scott Pierce. Scott Ahlschwede's River Valley Farm purchased Showmethemagic, in foal to Epicenter, for $85,000 at the 2023 Keeneland November sale. The mare's Epicenter filly sold for $57,000 at last month's Keeneland September sale. Both mare and weanling were consigned by Emma and Dermot Quinn's Garrencasey Sales, which was making its first appearance at the Saratoga Fall Mixed and celebrating its first-ever sale topper. “The mare was pretty straightforward,” Emma Quinn said. “She is correct and obviously it's a great cover. And then you've got that great update. Her first foal is now black-type placed. And the foal she is carrying is bred on that same cross. Then we accompanied her with this Golden Pal weanling, who has been a very, very nice foal since the day he was born. He just came up here and did a great job every day showing himself. We are really pleased with the results.” Of the decision to present her first consignment at the upstate New York auction, Quinn explained, “I always wanted to come up to this sale. I had some clients who had some New York-bred foals and I just took the opportunity to come up and experience it. Lesley Campion is my best friend–she works for Paramount–and when I made the decision to come, Lesley said she would come and join me in the adventure and it was a successful time for both of us. She helped me so much.” Walking away with the sale topper capped a great first experience, according to Quinn. “It's been a wonderful experience,” she said. “We are really glad we came up. And we are so thankful for our clients and all of their support. Everything went smoothly and we were made very welcome. We will be back.” Libyan bloodstock agent Mahmud Mouni purchased the auction's top-priced weanling, going to $240,000 to acquire a colt by Yaupon (hip 62). Bred by Sequel Thoroughbreds and Milan Bloodstock and consigned by Sequel New York, the weanling is out of Owl Moon (Ghostzapper) and is a half-brother to stakes-placed Blue Strike (Smart Strike). Mouni purchased four weanlings Tuesday in Saratoga. In addition to hip 62, he purchased a colt by Arabian Lion (hip 58) for $150,000, a colt by Zandon (hip 94) for $75,000, and a filly by Arabian Lion (hip 273) for $40,000. “I think the market was really strong,” Thorne said. “We bought a couple of weanlings with some partners, but it was tough to buy. Everyone in New York is doing a great job, between NYRA and the New York Thoroughbred Breeders. And we have Belmont coming on. I think the market is just going to go up and up. We just need more quality. I am always looking for quality. [Showmethemagic] was a quality type of mare that deserved being bought.” The post New York Magic: Records Fall at Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Mixed Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Two 3-year-old sprinters close behind Patch Adams in Aug. 23 H. Allen Jerkens Stakes (G1)—runner-up Captain Cook and third-place Barnes—compete Oct. 18 against four other 3-year-olds in the Perryville Stakes (G3) at Keeneland. View the full article

TATTERSALLS, ENGLAND – Godolphin paid the ultimate compliment to unbeaten juvenile Avicenna by spending 900,000gns on his full-sister on day two of the Book 2 Tattersalls October Yearling Sale. The Starspangledbanner filly was bred by Sue Ann Foley and described by the Islanmore Stud manager Nigel Anderton as “a queen”. It was Anthony Stroud, bidding on behalf of Godolphin, who saw off the attention of bloodstock agent Ed Sackville as underbidder. That purchase took Godolphin's total spend between Book 1 and 2 to over £20 million. Stroud said, “She is an exceptionally good-looking filly and we have the full-brother. He's done absolutely everything correctly and we thought this was a very good individual. She was very well prepared by Islanmore – a lovely filly. She is a bit of a standout – top price and she's a beautiful-looking filly. She's also an incredible mover and the pedigree is hot.” He added, “She is quite similar to Avicenna. In many ways, she is more attractive. It's hard to compare one sex to the other but I think she's a pretty outstanding-looking filly.” The Tuesday sale-topper is over 20 years in the making given that JP McManus's son Kieran purchased the granddam, Potion (Pivotal), at Book 1 here in 2005 for 230,000gns. Potion carried Foley's recognizable black silks to victory on two occasions when in training with David Wachman, while her daughter, Love Potion (Galileo), won once in five starts for Aidan O'Brien. The pedigree, however, has gone to another level through the exploits of Avicenna, who landed the Flying Scotsman Stakes at Doncaster last month. Meanwhile, the Starspangledbanner-Galileo cross was put in lights when Precise landed the G1 Fillies' Mile at Newmarket last Friday. Islanmore Stud boss Anderton commented, “We weren't expecting that. She's a gorgeous filly and must have had around 200 shows. Each and every time that she came out, she was just a beautifully-balanced filly who walked like a queen all week. We arrived here on Thursday, started showing on Friday, and we had a big update with Precise, who won the Fillies' Mile. She's out of a Galileo mare as well. We bought the granddam here over 20 years ago in 2005. It's a really good-looking family and we have raced most of the stock.” He added, “With Love Potion herself, we got a big touch out of her last year with Avicenna [who sold for 450,000gns at Book 2]. He provided us with a big update since the catalogue was printed and a big thank you goes to Mr Stroud, who bought him, and Mr Varian, who trained him so well. Hopefully he will go on to be a Group horse next year. A big thank you must go to the team at home. She has been very well-minded and Johnny Mulcahy, who led her up, has been coming here for 40 years but the legs have been walked off him all week with this filly. He's due to go on holiday next week so it's fantastic.” The day two turnover was down by 13% to 21,521,000gns compared to last year, which was actually a record day of trade for Book 2 prior to Monday of this week. The median was down by 7% to 70,000gns while the average dropped by 12% to 101,038gns. The clearance rate was also down by 2% to 89%. La Motteraye Rewarded For Spreading The Love It's amazing how a good sale can change your perspective on life. One minute, La Motteraye's Gwen Monneraye was cursing his decision to book himself into the White Hart Hotel in Newmarket for the duration of Book 1 and 2, pointing to the loud music being played at the premises as a major bugbear. The next minute, the native of France was thanking his lucky stars that loud music was all he had to worry about. What caused this sudden shift in Monneraye's outlook? The sale of lot 936, a Siyouni filly that was bred by Haras Voltaire, for 525,000gns to Ross Doyle probably had something to do with it alright. That, and the fact that the leading consignor could now afford an upgrade to the Bedford Lodge Hotel perhaps. He joked, “You know, the White Hart is not such a bad hotel after all! Honestly, we knew she was nice and that we were about to have a good sale, but we were not expecting such a price. We are really happy and the filly has been so straightforward. She is very easy to deal with. She is a Siyouni with scope and a big walk – there are not many of them.” He added, “She reminded me a lot of Laurens and, also, on the dam's side, there was a big update with the half-sister winning a very good maiden at Deauville by three lengths. That all helps. We know the family very well and it went according to plan – better than we could have planned, actually!” This is not the first time that La Motteraye has been rewarded for spreading the love between Arqana and Tattersalls. In the case of the Siyouni filly, Haras Voltaire – which is managed by Laurent Benoit – was more than happy to sell in England. Monneraye explained, “Especially with Haras Voltaire, they sell a lot. They have a lot of horses at Arqana in August and in October, so I think it is always good not to have all of your horses in the same sale just in case it is a bad sale. So they like to spread their horses around and Laurent [Benoit] is keen to do that.” The Siyouni filly won't have to wait long to return to her homeland, however, given Doyle purchased her on behalf of Magne Jordanger, whose horses are trained by Pia Brandt. Doyle said, “She is a lovely filly and the cross is very good. She is gorgeous, physically, with a nice bit of size to her, and is probably a backend two-year-old type – a Classic filly for the future. It is a big shout, but I hope that is what she ends up becoming. “Her Pinatubo half-sister Zalina, who won at Deauville on debut in August, was extremely impressive and, hopefully, will give us a black-type update. That would be helpful long-term as a breeding prospect, if all goes to plan for this filly.” He added, “Our client, Magne Jordanger's Stall Perlen, already has horses with Pia Brandt, has been leading owner in Scandinavia many times, has had horses with Richard Hannon for a time, has been a great client for many years with my father and now myself, and has been very loyal.” 'Easy To Polish A Diamond,' says Swinburn after 550k Sale Genesis Green Stud supplied some of the early excitement on Tuesday when a Night Of Thunder colt, bred by an English-based client, sold to trainer Kevin Ryan for 550,000gns. Out of an unraced Mastercraftsman mare, who has already produced a highly-rated runner in multiple Group 2-placed performer Dhabab (No Nay Never), the Night Of Thunder colt was purchased on behalf of an existing owner of Ryan's. “Nice, very nice,” said Swinburn. “He is just a nice horse and always has been. Looking at him, it is very hard to think that he is a May foal as he is very strong. It's easy to shine a diamond!” Speaking about trade, he added, “We've been very lucky so far because we've been lucky enough to have had the right sires and we had the right horses as well. But it is just very, very selective.” For Ryan, the Night Of Thunder was one he wasn't going to leave behind. He said, “I'd seen him four times over the last few days. He's by a great sire and he has an amazing attitude; he's very laidback and has never put a foot wrong each time I went back to see him. Even when he came up here to the ring, he just had a great way of going about him. He's a great physical, even though he's a May foal there's a lot of strength there. I just hope he turns out to be a racehorse now.” Ryan added, “Following these Night Of Thunders in here, you just don't know what you'll have to pay. I'm delighted to get him, though. He's been bought for an owner in the yard. It's always hard trying to buy them but I'm very lucky to have owners with the money to come and buy these horses.” “Magical” Pinnhoking Profit For Vigors Brothers It was worth waiting around for one of the stories of the day given just one lot from the end, young pinhookers Harry and Oliver Vigors turned their 72,000gns foal by Perfect Power into a 260,000gns yearling. It was Shadwell who landed the colt that was consigned by Hillwood Stud, which is operated by Charlie Vigors, father of Harry and Oliver. The colt had been sourced with the help of Hannah Wall and, to illustrate the goodwill behind the pinhooking profit, the young boys received a standing ovation upon walking into the Green Room restaurant shortly after the hammer dropped. “It was magical,” said Harry (16). “We were hopeful going into the ring but we weren't expecting anything of that sort of level. I just can't thank the guys enough, Lewis who's led him up the whole time he's been up here and the teams at Tweenhills and Hillwood, who've done an amazing job with him.” He added, “We found him at the foal sales last year. We went around on the Saturday and he was the one horse we liked. We were delighted to get him then and even more delighted now. He was the perfect stamp of a horse; perfect walk, perfect physical. You couldn't ask for more. All the right people were there and we'd just like to wish Shadwell the best of luck.” Will you be back at the foal sales this year? “I think we're going to have to now!” Subplots Off the back of breaking his Group 1 duck with Cercene this year, trainer Joe Murphy has been notably strong at the yearling sales. Signing under Crampcastle Bloodstock, Murphy spent over €200,000 at Fairyhouse, close to €500,000 between Book 1 and 2 of the Orby at Goffs and, following on from the 80,000gns spent at Book 1 here last week, spent 220,000gns on a Baaeed filly from Ballyhimikin Stud on Tuesday. Nobody could accuse the Murphys of standing still, that's for sure. One of the major themes to emerge from this yearling season is how precarious the art of pinhooking has become. However, the Gleeson brothers of Michael and Lawrence have continued to produce the goods in what has become an ever-changing market. On Tuesday, the men behind Aughamore Stud sold a New Bay colt that they had sourced for €120,000 to MV Magnier for 300,000gns. “Relief,” Michael said of his overriding emotion shortly after the hammer dropped. “We knew that there was a lot of interest but to make that was beyond expectations.” Gleeson added, “He was a pricey foal, but the sire's stud fee was €75,000, so we had paid accordingly. He came from Pat O'Kelly's great farm and New Bay is a fantastic stallion. We brought him to Book 2 so that he would be a standout and he was.” Several of the most prolific American operators at Book 1 have been absent from the buyers' list this week, including Matt Dorman of Determined Stables and agent Mike Ryan, who acts on behalf of Klaravich Stables. Nevertheless, others have stepped into the fold to keep the stars and stripes flying high above Park Paddocks, at all levels of the market. Troy Levy of Tropical Racing has made four purchases over the first two days for a total of 335,000gns, while trainer Ben Colebrook has added two yearlings to his team at a cost of 175,000gns. Alex Solis, meanwhile, has stayed on after enjoying a productive time of things at Book 1. He has signed for two yearlings this week in tandem with Jason Litt, plus another three on behalf of Mike Repole. Thought for the day Word on the street is that the best has been saved until last at Book 2, with many leading buyers and vendors saying there is some nice stock to be unveiled on Wednesday. The post Godolphin Swoop For “Standout” Starspangledbanner Filly At Tattersalls appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority and Onrise have partnered to provide nutritional coaching to the suite of confidential wellness services available to licensed jockeys at HISA racetracks through the Onrise platform, HISA announced Tuesday. Beginning this week, riders can access personalized nutrition support in both English and Spanish through the same Onrise telehealth system currently used for mental health and peer support services. “Introducing access to nutrition support is an exciting enhancement in HISA's partnership with Onrise,” said HISA CEO Lisa Lazarus. “This addition empowers jockeys to better understand how nutrition affects performance, recovery and overall health–further advancing HISA's commitment to an ecosystem of care across our sport.” Onrise's nutrition coaching is designed to help riders optimize their performance and well-being through: Personalized Nutrition Guidance: One-on-one, jockey-specific sessions focused on fueling strategies tailored to exercise work and race-day demands. Meal Planning and Hydration Strategies: Practical, evidence-based approaches to support riders through training cycles and competition. Disordered Eating Support: Coaching from licensed nutritionists to help riders build sustainable habits and navigate the pressures of weight management in racing. Collaborative Care: Seamless coordination with peer support and mental health specialists to address the full spectrum of wellness needs. All Onrise services are delivered confidentially and virtually, ensuring that jockeys can access care anytime and from any location. Nutrition and mental health appointments are offered as distinct services; however, the program's integrated model facilitates collaboration among providers when it supports the athlete's goals. Personalized nutrition counseling and fueling strategies are designed to help jockeys meet weight requirements in sustainable ways, without compromising athletic performance or overall well-being. This launch marks year two of HISA's partnership with Onrise, which continues to expand its comprehensive wellness offerings at no additional cost to eligible jockeys. For more information or to access services, riders can contact Onrise confidentially through their website, emailing support@onrisecare.com or by calling their toll-free crisis call line at (833) 998-7985. The post HISA Adds Nutrition Coaching For Jockeys To Wellness Platform appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The middle legs of the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders and Owners Association Florida Sire Stakes series continue Oct. 18 at Gulfstream Park without the winners of the first legs—Lennilu and Fourth and Central—but with two dozen other juveniles.View the full article

David Hayes has labelled Ka Ying Rising’s barrier draw of gate seven “perfect” as the world’s top-rated sprinter attempts to win the AU$20 million (approx. HK$101 million) G1 The Everest (1200m) at Royal Randwick in Sydney, Australia, on Saturday (18 October). In a spectacular drone show on Sydney Harbour, Ka Ying Rising was the first horse to have its barrier revealed, prompting a positive and unequivocal reaction from Hayes, who said jockey Zac Purton will have options from the gate. “Perfect. Anywhere from (barrier) four to eight, I was going to be happy with and we got there,” Hayes said. “(He can) jump fast and get a good position – that’s a good barrier. “I think Zac can choose whether he goes right forward or follows what could be the frantic pace. “Zac will jump fast, for sure, and if the pace is hectic, he’ll back out of it. Some of his most impressive wins have been sitting off the pace. But if they miss the start and don’t go fast, he’ll lead – he’s that sort of horse and Zac’s that sort of jockey.” Chasing the winner’s purse of AU$7 million (approx. HK$35.5 million), Ka Ying Rising will attempt to become the first horse to win the world’s richest turf race from gate seven. In the eight runnings of The Everest so far, barrier five has been the most successful with two victories, while gates one, four, six, nine, 10 and 12 have provided one winner each. Hayes is confident Ka Ying Rising is continuing to improve since his third behind Overpass in last week’s 1000m barrier trial and was delighted by the five-year-old’s fast work on Monday (13 October) as he bids to become Hong Kong, China’s first winner of The Everest. “He’s in really good form, I’m very happy with him,” Hayes said. Ka Ying Rising’s main rivals in The Everest enjoyed contrasting fates, with Joliestar drawing gate five alongside Lady Shenandoah (six), but Briasa (gate 10) and Jimmysstar (barrier 11) drew wider than preferred. The other allocated gates for the remainder of The Everest are: Tempted (barrier one), Mazu (two), Angel Capital (three), War Machine (four), Jedibeel (eight), Overpass (nine) and Magic Time (12). Hayes said Ka Ying Rising would follow a familiar low-intensity preparation pattern for the rest of the week as his five-year-old star bids for a 14th successive win and fifth Group 1 victory. View the full article

Katey Caddel always knew she'd build a life around horses, but it was the sense of community within the Thoroughbred industry that made her fall in love with racing. The camaraderie, early mornings and shared passion for the sport drew her to the racetrack and kept her there for good. When trainer Robbie Medina opened his public stable in 2023, Caddel came on board as his assistant trainer and helped build the operation from the ground up. Three years later, the barn is making headlines with Praying (Vekoma), who handed the stable their first ticket to the Breeders' Cup with her win in the GII Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes at Keeneland. For Caddel, it was a full-circle moment at the track where her love of the sport first took hold. Caddel moved to Lexington with her family when she was two. She started in Pony Club and competed in the sport horse world before earning a degree in Equine Science and Management from the University of Kentucky. During her sophomore year, she took a job in the broodmare division at Juddmonte Farm, where her fascination with racing began to take shape. “I grew up as a horse crazy girl, but for me it was also the people in racing,” she said. “I segued to being absolutely obsessed with the horse racing industry. I made it through college by the skin of my teeth. Once I got a job in the horse industry, I just wanted to be working in a barn somewhere.” During one summer in college, Caddel took a job hot walking for Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey at Saratoga. She shared a two-bedroom house with four other girls, including two who remain close friends today—bloodstock agent Liz Crow and trainer Lindsay Schultz. “Lindsay and I shared what was probably supposed to be a closet,” Caddel recalled with a laugh. “We made no money, but had a great time experiencing Saratoga for the first time.” It was that summer that Caddel first crossed paths with McGaughey's longtime assistant Robbie Medina. In 2010, she jumped at the chance to hot walk for McGaughey ahead of the Breeders' Cup at Churchill Downs. “Shug had Air Support running in the Juvenile Turf and Persistently in the Ladies' Classic,” she recalled. “This is how green I was at the time. I called Robbie and asked if Shug needed help. Looking back now and understanding how hard working everybody is, I'm sure there was somebody on Shug's team who probably would have preferred to have been there besides me, but Shug being the class act that he is, he let me tag along as a hot walker and it was great. That was the year that Blame beat out Zenyatta. Zenyatta was stabled in the barn across from us and Goldikova (Ire) was there too. I was totally starstruck.” Over the next decade, Caddel's career took her through nearly every corner of the Thoroughbred industry. She broke 2-year-olds for Juddmonte and for Niall Brennan in Ocala, worked under Hall of Famer Bill Mott, and gained bloodstock experience with Solis-Litt Bloodstock. Eventually, she found her way back to the racetrack as client liaison for Blackwood Stables. “I spent almost eight years at Blackwood,” she said. “That's where it kind of came full circle with Robbie. He ended up getting hired as the head trainer there. I worked my way up to his assistant at Blackwood. When he decided to go out on his own, I pivoted and went with him.” Caddel admits that she's never aspired to train on her own. She prefers the behind-the-scenes work and being part of the day-to-day rhythm of the barn. “I take a lot of pride this is now our third year and we're trying to build a good staff and a good infrastructure within the business,” she said. “Hopefully we can continue to grow and keep winning good races.” Medina's stable earned its first graded stakes win in its inaugural year when Liberal Arts (Arrogate) splashed home in the 2023 GIII Street Sense Stakes. Since then, the team has been patiently developing its next star—and this season, they've found one in Praying. Originally campaigned by Jeff Prunzik, the Vekoma filly broke her maiden last year at Horseshoe Indianapolis before being privately purchased by Newtown Anner Stud Farm and running second in the Myrtlewood Stakes. This year, Praying kicked off her 3-year-old season with another stakes placing at Oaklawn, but things went awry in her next start at Churchill Downs when she broke through the gate pre-race and was never a factor in the six-furlong contest. “She's a naturally nervous, on-the-muscle filly who tends to want to do maybe a little more that we would like her to do,” explained Caddel. All the pieces fell into place in the GIII Prioress Stakes, where Praying was able to keep her pre-race jitters in check and powered to a 3 ½-length win at Saratoga. Praying wins the GII Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes | Coady Media In the Thoroughbred Club of America, which was a 'Win and You're In' for the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint, Caddel kept a close watch over Praying in the paddock. Though she was on her toes, the filly stayed composed and ran another strong race, stalking the pace before overtaking MGSW Vahva (Gun Runner). “We had a lot of confidence going in and it was really great to win,” said Caddel. “This is my home track, so that felt special. Her longtime groom Jose Estrada was here with her, along with her longtime exercise rider Jaime Lopez, so it was nice. It felt like a family. We got to celebrate together.” Praying now accounts for two of the stable's three graded stakes wins and her score at Keeneland was their first Grade II. Caddel said the filly is enjoying a brief vacation on the farm at Newtown Anner and will soon return to Keeneland to train up to the Breeders' Cup. For a young stable, the opportunity to compete at the World Championship meet is a tangible reward for years of hard work. “Our whole team is so excited,” Caddel said. “It's every barn's dream to compete for a title in a Breeders' Cup race. It's what we work for. I have a wonderful team of people behind me and it just makes all the hard work, the early mornings and the traveling all worth it.” For Caddel, the most rewarding part isn't just the wins. It's watching her team grow and succeed together and celebrating alongside the people in the industry who have supported her along the way. “I obviously love horses, but I think I would work with horses no matter what,” she said. “It's definitely this community of people within the Thoroughbred industry that makes it extra special for me. I've been fortunate to work for a lot of really good people. They've given up time to mentor me through the years and I mean, that's what it's all about.” The post Breeders’ Cup Connections: “It’s What We Work For,” Praying Sends Medina Stable To First Breeders’ Cup appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The Breeders' Cup will once again offer two distinct live broadcasts, each tailored to deliver the right content on the platforms fans prefer. View the full article

After packing in so many rehearsals the previous week, as close to the Breeders' Cup as modern trainers might dare run a horse, the stakes schedule slackened off steeply last weekend. But that didn't mean the stallion of the moment had to do the same. Not This Time duly came up with a 1-2 in the GII Franklin Stakes at Keeneland, maintaining his momentum after five stakes winners the previous weekend were crowned by a 1-2-3 in the GIII Jessamine Stakes. It was not just because of this hot streak, however, that Time to Dazzle felt so aptly named when pouncing from the rear to run down In Our Time, who had conversely used their paternal genes to pour it on up front. Because it tells you everything that this 4-year-old was conceived at only $12,500. That was in 2020, when Not This Time's first crop was just approaching the starting gate. Their flying start would elevate him to $40,000 the following year, but it is only his latest yearlings whose pages reflect the caliber of mares welcomed to Taylor Made in 2023, when he was hiked from $45,000 to $135,000. In other words, given his further increases since, his true “time to dazzle” is still around the corner. Not This Time has been in corresponding demand at the yearling sales, his current median of $612,500 behind only Gun Runner, his big rival as the stallion best placed eventually to end Into Mischief's monopoly of the sires' championship. Some sires, admittedly, turn out to be as effective with their cheap early mares as with the bluebloods. The one guarantee is that Not This Time, now that he can charge elite fees, can hardly hope to produce stock 12 times better than Epicenter, Up to the Mark and Cogburn! All resulted from $15,000 covers. It would be hard to put a price on what Epicenter did for the cause. As a dirt champion from his second crop, he highlighted Not This Time's eligibility to emulate his own sire Giant's Causeway as a crossover influence. This recent spree has very much been oriented to turf, on which surface Not This Time is the leading stallion of 2025. In fact, he has had 14 stakes winners on grass (from 160 starters) against six on dirt (from 177); and seven of those (against three) at graded level, including both his Grade I scorers. You suspect that plenty more dirt action will doubtless result from the mares he has been sent at higher fees; while fourth in the GI Kentucky Derby was no mean outcome for experimenting on dirt with Final Gambit. The really bewildering thing is that Not This Time has so far had just five foals trained in Britain, even though one of them won at Royal Ascot! Regardless, in the case of Time to Dazzle, he should perhaps be sharing some credit with a dam whose chlorophyll-flavored family can itself, despite an obviously smaller footprint, boast of high achievement for a second consecutive weekend. Staria (Unbridled's Song) brought just $11,000 as a 14-year-old at the 2017 Keeneland November Sale, despite having produced a hard-knocking multiple stakes winner in Louisiana. Though herself only placed a couple of times in a light turf career, she had made $350,000 as a yearling. That was because her unraced dam Starboard Tack (Seattle Slew) belonged to a quite excellent Sam-Son family. In fact, she was a granddaughter of Canadian Broodmare of the Year Hangin Round (Stage Door Johnny), whose talented stock included Rainbow Connection (Halo), a dual Canadian champion who would emulate her dam as Canadian Broodmare of the Year. The latter's output included triple Canadian champion Rainbows for Life (Lyphard); G2 Prix de l'Opera winner Colour Chart (Mr. Prospector) and, among other smart producers, the dam of U.S. champion juvenile filly Tempera (A.P. Indy). Starboard Tack is out of Hangin Round's daughter by Vice Regent, Hangin On a Star, herself winner of the 1987 Breeders' Stakes, turf leg of the Canadian Triple Crown. Hangin On a Star's other foals include Comet Shine (Fappiano), leading domestic juvenile of his crop; and Misty Mission (Miswaki), who won the equivalent leg of the Triple Tiara off her maiden success. Though sadly unraced thereafter, Misty Mission compensated by delivering a series of smart performers and producers. These included triple graded stakes winner/Canadian grass champion Irish Mission (Giant's Causeway) and Smart Mission (Smart Strike), who won her only two starts. And it was Smart Mission whose $32,000 daughter Mission of Joy (Kitten's Joy) won her third graded stakes in the GII Rodeo Drive, just a week before Time to Dazzle added fresh distinction to their mutual third dam. Not even a sire as versatile as Not This Time, however, is going to give this family the variety it once enjoyed. Hangin Round's granddam had a couple of half-sisters who suggested its trademark to be speed, winning two of Europe's most frantic sprints in the Queen Mary Stakes and the Nunthorpe. But then along came another sibling to win the Cesarewitch Handicap, over two miles and quarter. Inaugurated in 1839, the latest Cesarewitch was won at Newmarket last Saturday by Beylerbeyi (GB) (Invincible Spirirt {Ire}). He's by a sprinting grandson of Danzig; and his granddam was by Woodman, whose dam was full-sister to Beylerbeyi's fifth dam Numbered Account (Buckpasser). Whatever that cocktail was supposed to produce, it was hardly this. It was the Cesarewitch that Josephine Abercrombie of Pin Oak flew over to see when Hasten To Add (Cozzene) lined up as favorite in 1993. Her trainer, Sir Mark Prescott, warned that there were 31 runners and, Newmarket not being a round course, her horse would be spotted precisely once despite the immense distance. When the giant gray emerged from the mist in a gallant fourth, his owner declared: “You British are incredible: all those dukes and duchesses standing in the rain looking at nothing!” Rookie Error? The publication of the latest stallion stats proved dispiriting as ever-whether because of the incorrigible stampede towards unproven sires, or the neglect of others that have shown auspicious functionality from limited chances. Yet we have just explored one example of the rewards available from independent thinking: Dr. Rodney Orr's astute choice of Not This Time, on the bubble at $12,500, to cover his $11,000 mare was rewarded at $310,000 when Time to Dazzle sold at the 2022 September Sale. More often, people back off precisely when their judgement can prove most valuable. If you truly believe in a stallion, surely the time to double down is when his first runners are imminent. It's hard to blame commercial breeders: they have to put bread on the table, and all they're doing is anticipating a reliable cowardice among those spending other people's money. These claim to focus on overpriced rookies because doing so gives them their “only” chance of landing on the next Not This Time, before his fee goes soaring beyond reach. We know that they never follow that logic through, to when the same stallion is about to be exposed by his first runners and dips to what will-if the original “judgement” in their favor happens to be vindicated-prove to be the lowest sales average of his career. But breeders are doubly rewarded for embracing that risk: they not only pay a cut-price fee (these “bubble” covers nowadays virtually given away) for the same semen, but also end up taking to market one of the few foals available until the sire's renewed vogue has cycled through. Naturally people want to avoid exposure in an unpredictable world. But we saw last spring, in the panicked mid-season slashing of so many fees, that the current set-up is not sustainable. It's interesting to see the kind of farms that have responded to the defeat of the proposed mare cap with a shrug: “Can't beat them, join them.” Perhaps they haven't noticed, passing the other way on the stairs, one of the farms that did most to drive up book sizes. With one or two exceptions, it does increasingly look as though 200 has pretty much become “book closed” at Spendthrift since the loss of B. Wayne Hughes. That's still a monster number, compared to times past, but it's one that they could surely exceed with more of their stallions than the flourishing Vekoma (211)-as we see from the number of other farms that have apparently removed the word “no” from their vocabulary. If the Spendthrift team was ahead of the curve on all this, and people are now hastening to imitate them, could it be that they are yet again one jump ahead? …But Some People Doing it Right When the equivalent list was published in 2023, it showed Yoshida (Jpn) had covered just 34 mares in his fourth season. His first juveniles having done little to retrieve the situation, that winter he was returned to his native land. But at least that initial crop has turned out to contain Desvio, shock winner of the GII Sycamore Stakes last weekend-making a rare bargain of his dam Fitzrovia, an unraced daughter of Uncle Mo and GI Frizette Stakes winner Marylebone (Unbridled's Song). Sold for $300,000 (with a maiden cover, by Competitive Edge) at the 2016 Keeneland November Sale, she was discarded to Brookstone Farm in the same ring four years later for just $20,000-an incredible price for a 7-year-old Uncle Mo mare out of a Grade I winner. She was, moreover, carrying Desvio, who promptly cleared that investment as a $60,000 short yearling. Fitzrovia has since been paying her way very nicely, while given every chance with covers by Practical Joke, Blame, Epicenter and now Girvin. Only one of those was a shot in the dark, and the Brookstone/St George team absolutely deserve this unexpected bonus on their mare's page. The post Breeding Digest: Not Yet His Most Dazzling Time appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The 2025 Breeders' Cup World Championships, held at Del Mar Oct. 31 and Nov. 1, will offer fans a “multi-screen, multi-platform viewing experience' with race coverage both days, Breeders' Cup Limited announced Tuesday. Anchored by the GI Breeders' Cup Classic running as the ninth race on a 12-race card at 6:25 pm EST, Saturday's coverage begins at 2pm EST on USA, then jumps to NBC from 3:30-7pm before returning to USA from 7-8pm. Live continuous coverage will also be available on Peacock and on FanDuel TV along with all of the Breeders' Cup social media channels including Facebook, X and Youtube. “Sports consumption has shifted dramatically–fans now expect premium live content on the device and platform of their choice,” said Justin McDonald, Executive Vice President & Chief Marketing Officer, Breeders' Cup. “By deepening our partnerships with NBC Sports and FanDuel TV and expanding our direct-to-consumer streaming, we're making the Breeders' Cup more accessible, more engaging, and more in tune with how fans experience live sports today. This multi-platform strategy, which mirrors successful approaches adopted across other major sports properties, has been a key driver of the Breeders' Cup's record international growth and wagering.” Future Stars Friday will run on USA from 4-8pm EST and also includes the aforementioned streaming and social media options with the GI FanDuel Breeders' Cup Juvenile running as the ninth race of 10 on the day at 7:45pm EST. “Once again this year, our team is thrilled to continue our partnership with the Breeders' Cup, which will include on-site coverage from Del Mar throughout the week. Fans can look forward to up-to-the-minute news and developments in our daily Breakfast at the Breeders' Cup show, as well as expert analysis and insights in the Breeders' Cup Players' Show, helping viewers around the world handicap and wager on the best two days of racing anywhere,” said Michael Shiffman, SVP and Executive Producer, FanDuel TV. “With the Breeders' Cup's expanded digital distribution and growing international reach, this year presents a tremendous opportunity to connect our content with a global audience.” The post Breeders’ Cup Classic Anchors Over 10 Hours Of Racing Coverage Across NBC Networks 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 November Breeding Stock Sale, featuring 401 mares and fillies, is now online. The dams of Group 1 standouts Precise (Starspangledbanner), Porta Fortuna (Caravaggio), Romantic Warrior (Acclamation), Excellent Truth (Cotail Glory) and Lush Lips (Ten Sovereigns) were all sold at the Goffs November Breeding Stock Sale in the past. In 2025, the sale will be held on November 21-22 immediately following the four-day Goffs November Foal Sale. Some of the 2025 catalogue highlights include: Ceistiu (Vocalised) (lot 1183), the dam of the highly regarded G3 Gordon Stakes winner Merchant (Teofilo) and a full-sister to multiple group winner and Group 1-placed Steip Amach in foal to Mehmas; Miss You Too (Montjeu) (lot 1161), the dam of G2 Lillie Lantry Stakes winner Term Of Endearment (Sea The Moon) in foal to Baaeed; in foal to Sea The Stars is Valais Girl (Holy Roman Emperor) (lot 1136), who is responsible for Group 3 winner Alpen Rose (Sea The Stars); Liber Nauticus (Azamour) (lot 1164), in foal to Night Of Thunder, has foaled Group 2 winner and the Group 1-placed Trevaunance (Muhaarar); Zarshana (lot 1157) is a Group 3-winning daughter of Sea The Stars, in foal to Erevann and already the dam of G1 Prix Ganay runner-up Zarir (Frankel); the stakes-placed North Africa (Galileo) (lot 1174) is in foal to Wootton Bassett; Group 3 heroine Clever And Cool (Vocalised) (lot 1202) is in foal to Havana Grey; Dark Angel's G3 Athasi Stakes winner Rehana (lot 1155) is pregnant to Vadeni; and Night Of The Stars (Sea The Stars) (lot 1159), a full-sister to Group 2 winner Night To Behold and in foal to Mehmas. Some of the covering sires represented are Blue Point, Camelot, Dark Angel, New Bay, Starman, Starspangledbanner, and Zarak, while first-season coverings feature mares in foal to Aesop's Fable, Auguste Rodin, Big Evs, Big Rock, Charyn, Henry Longfellow, King Of Steel, Look De Vega, Mill Stream, Shouldvebeenaring and Vandeek. Goffs Group Chief Executive Henry Beeby said, “The progeny of November mares continue to flourish at the highest level worldwide to illustrate the strength, depth and unrivalled value on offer to breeding stock buyers at Goffs. This year's larger catalogue is a result of the strong, consistent trade invariably enjoyed at the sale and the confidence breeders exhibit in the Goffs service with each entry. “Ireland is renowned for its illustrious bloodlines, and we are grateful to the many leading owners and breeders who have supported the sale with such quality. The team at Goffs, together with our partners at Irish Thoroughbred Marketing, looks forward to welcoming buyers from around the globe to Kildare Paddocks next month and assure them of the warmest welcome.” The post ‘Unrivalled Value’ On Offer As Goffs November Breeding Stock Catalogue Revealed appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The lone graded winner over a one-turn distance, Ragtime headlines a full field in the $400,000 Raven Run Stakes (G2) at Keeneland Oct. 18 that also draws two fillies returning from the May 2 Kentucky Oaks (G1).View the full article

Group 1 winner Diego Velazquez will not contest the Breeders' Cup and has been retired, according to syndicate manager Sam Sangster. The son of Frankel–who was bought by Sangster's syndicate directly before his Jacques le Marois victory– is set to stand at the National Stud in Newmarket. Last seen finishing fifth under Frankie Dettori in the GI Coolmore Turf Mile at Keeneland, he has won six of his 12 starts for trainer Aidan O'Brien. Raced by the Coolmore partners through his win in the G2 Minstrel Stakes in July, the four-year-old also won the G2 Champions Stakes at two and the G3 Meld Stakes and G2 Solonaway Stakes at three. Bred by Epona Bloodstock, the son of the stakes-winning Sweepstake (Acclamation) was purchased by MV Magnier and White Birch Farm for 2.4 million gns out of Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale in 2022. Sangster said, “A Group 2 winner at two and three, with a very emotional Group 1 to his name at four, we're incredibly proud to offer Diego Velazquez to breeders in 2026. “Diego Velazquez has it all, a superb-looking son of Frankel from a great family, with an attitude to die for, he has all the attributes you need to be a success at stud.” Diego Velazquez is a half-brother to G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud hero Broome (Australia) and that luminary's full-brother Point Lonsdale who won the G2 Futurity Stakes and was multiple Group 1-placed. O'Brien added, “We always thought the world of Diego Velazquez. He has always been a very good horse and I'm so delighted for Sam, he's a very legitimate and desirable horse, he deserved to win his Group 1. He's a great model and is determined and very brave.” Sangster will still be represented at the Breeders' Cup meeting at Del Mar with Brian Meehan's Rashabar (Holy Roman Emperor), who is aiming for the GI Breeders' Cup Turf. Sangster added, “Rashabar is going for the Turf, the ground wasn't ideal for him at Longchamp in the Prix Dollar, but he still ran his race. He's in deep waters, but he has always held his own whenever we've thrown him in at the deep end.” The post Diego Velazquez Retired To The National Stud, Rashabar Headed To BC Turf appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Churchill Downs Incorporated announces the addition of three new points-bearing races on the European / Middle East Road to the Kentucky Derby series.View the full article

Sam Agars MR DESIRA - R6 (5) Switch to the Valley and rise in trip look suitable from a good draw Jay Rooney NORTHERN BEAST - R2 (2) Looks poised to take advantage of gate one with Purton back on Owen Goulding DANCING CLASSICS - R3 (1) Will step forward from return and can stalk from the inside draw Phillip Woo NORTHERN BEAST - R2 (2) Has drawn ideally and returns to his favourite course Shannon (Vincent Wong) REWARDING BUDDY - R3 (10) Performed well in recent trial and can...View the full article

A trio of new points-bearing races on the European / Middle East Road to the Kentucky Derby series have been added to the lineup for 2026, according to a Churchill Downs Incorporated release Tuesday. The G3 UAE 2000 Guineas, G3 Saudi Derby and Dubai Road to the Kentucky Derby Stakes (formerly the Al Bastakiya) will now award qualifying points toward up to two invitations for 3-year-olds to compete in the Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve at Churchill Downs on May 2, 2026. New European / Middle East Road to the Kentucky Derby Races and Points Structure UAE 2000 Guineas – 1 mile at Meydan Racecourse, Dubai on Jan. 23, 2026 – Points: 20-10-6-4-2 Saudi Derby – 1 mile at King Abdulaziz Racecourse, Riyadh on Feb. 14, 2026 – Points: 30-15-9-6-3 Dubai Road to the Kentucky Derby Stakes – 1 3/16 miles at Meydan on Feb. 20, 2026 – Points: 20-10-6-4-2 With these additions, the European / Middle East Road to the Kentucky Derby now comprises 10 races, culminating with the $1-million G2 UAE Derby at Meydan on Mar. 28, 2026. The UAE Derby will now award 100 points to the winner, 60 points for second, 30 points for third, 15 points for fourth and 10 points for fifth. “These additions deepen our international pathway to the Kentucky Derby and extend the Derby brand into two of the sport's most dynamic markets,” said Bill Carstanjen, CEO of CDI. “By anchoring a multi-race circuit in Dubai and including the Saudi Derby in Riyadh, we are building consistent engagement with global owners, trainers and fans, strengthening the Derby's worldwide relevance. This expansion is a meaningful step in advancing CDI's international footprint while ensuring the Kentucky Derby remains the most compelling stage for the world's best 3-year-old Thoroughbreds.” The European / Middle East and Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby operate as separate pathways from the primary 36-race series in the United States. Collectively, these international routes can yield up to three starting gate positions for overseas contenders, including up to two invitations to the top point-earners from the European / Middle East series. Launched in 2020, the $1.5 million Saudi Derby was won in 2024 by Forever Young (Jpn), who went on to finish third in the 150th running of the Kentucky Derby. “The addition of The Saudi Derby on the European / Middle East Road to the Kentucky Derby is an important step forward for Saudi racing and offers local owners the chance of winning points for their horses to earn a run at Churchill Downs in May 2026,” said His Royal Highness Prince Bandar bin Khalid Al Faisal, Chairman of the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia. “This announcement also marks the beginning of an exciting new partnership between The Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia and Churchill Downs Inc. which holds the promise of more collaboration in the future. Thanks to the vision of Saudi Arabia's leadership, we have been in a position to take advantage of key opportunities on the international stage since the inauguration of The Saudi Cup in 2020. This latest development further strengthens the depth of appeal of The Saudi Cup weekend and sees The Saudi Derby form part of a series of prestigious races with those in the United Arab Emirates, that further compliment the important Middle East swing of winter racing.” Since 1967, 57 horses that raced outside North America have competed in the Kentucky Derby. Winners include Canonero II (Venezuela, 1971) and Bold Forbes (Puerto Rico, 1976), with notable placings by European and Japanese runners over the decades. The post Trio of International Races Added to Kentucky Derby Series Lineup appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

David Hayes has labelled barrier seven “perfect” for Ka Ying Rising in Saturday’s Group One The Everest (1,200m) at Randwick after Tuesday night’s barrier draw on Sydney Harbour. While Hayes said on Monday he wanted to be as close to the rail as possible, he certainly wasn’t disappointed when gate seven appeared for the world’s best sprinter during a spectacular drone show. “Perfect. I was going to be happy with anywhere from four to eight and we got there,” Hayes said. “Jump fast and get a good...View the full article

After going through her first New Zealand campaign unbeaten, Australian superstar Keayang Zahara is the biggest mover in this week’s rankings for the Renwick Farms Dominion Trot and the IRT New Zealand Trotting Cup, to be held at Addington Raceway on Tuesday, November 11. The Volstead four-year-old, who famously won her first 15 starts, was super impressive winning the Dullard Cup in Melbourne over the weekend, beating the likes of Inter Dominion and TAB Trot champion Arcee Phoenix in the process. That victory, her 16th in 17 career starts, has propelled her up eight places to now be seventh in the Dominion rankings. Her wins last year in New Zealand were in the Trotting Oaks, the Trotting Derby and the Show Day slot race, THE ASCENT. She will line up again in the Bill Collins Mile at Melton this Saturday night in another star studded affair. Mighty Logan booked his place in the Dominion with his win in the Worthy Queen at Addington on Friday night while Robert and Jenna Dunn-trained stablemate I Dream Of Jeannie has gone up four places to 14th following her brave second in the same race. During the week both Nellie Doyle and Eurostyle were withdrawn from the field. The winner of Friday night’s Canterbury Park Trotting Cup (9.04pm) at Addington will seal a place in the Dominion field. It’s the last of the automatic qualifiers as is the Canterbury Classic for the New Zealand Cup (9.35pm). Pinseeker will be part of a stellar line-up in that race. Following his second fresh up at Addington last Friday he goes from 18 to 16th – his promotion also helped by the withdrawal of Chase A Dream who had been 12th in the rankings. Across the Tasman there’ll be plenty of interest in Saturday night’s Victoria Cup after Leap To Fame’s upset defeat last weekend. It’s the one feature across the Tasman he hasn’t won and the draws were not kind to him. He has drawn one the second row over 2240 metres. View the Rankings here View the full article

By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk After 15 months away one of the country’s brightest talents Sarah O’Reilly will return to competitive driving at Addington on Friday night. “I definitely missed it,” says O’Reilly, “and I am ready and good to go.” The Ashburton-based trainer-driver has been off the scene since July 2024 when a horse literally jumped into her cart during trackwork, breaking her arm and causing other injuries. Since then the road to recovery has been a long and trying one. Some weeks ago O’Reilly got the all clear to return to light duties at her employer Brent and Tim White’s stables and then today she passed another big milestone by driving at the trials. She even reined home a winner! “All went well, my arm felt good – it was very pleasing,” says O’Reilly. Now the way is clear for a return to race night driving and on Friday she will drive Moses, trained by her father Gerard, in the Remembering Murray Butt Mobile Trot. She will have another three drives at Oamaru on Sunday. A former champion junior driver O’Reilly is now in the open ranks and has had more than 300 winners since her first in April 2018. View the full article

Popular harness racing platform Harnesslink will continue, under new ownership. It has been saved by major Australian owner Mick Harvey after earlier concerns that it would close, with the loss of half a dozen jobs, if a new owner wasn’t found by last Friday. The Sydney-based businessman has stepped in to buy the website as Kiwi founder and long-time owner John Curtin looks to step away from the day to day business. “Harnesslink has been a trusted source of global harness racing coverage for more than two decades,” says Harvey. “What John Curtin has built over the past 23 years is truly remarkable — a platform that gives the harness racing industry an independent voice, connects participants across continents, and celebrates the sport at every level. “I want to sincerely thank John for his dedication and the foundation he has created. “My goal is simple: to continue and strengthen Harnesslink’s role as a voice for the harness racing community worldwide. “Harness racing has always been about community, hard work, and a deep love of horses. I’m proud to be part of that story and look forward to supporting the industry’s future through Harnesslink.” View the full article

Stakes-winning sprinter Buoyant (NZ) (Dalghar) recorded his biggest victory during New Zealand Cup Week at Riccarton three years ago and owner-trainer Sabin Kirkland has designs on returning to the carnival with his gelding next month. The son of Dalghar was in a purple patch of form during that period, placing in the Listed Pegasus Stakes (1000m) before winning the Gr.3 Stewards’ Stakes (1200m). He went on to win the Listed Hazlett Stakes (1200m) at Wingatui a month later, but his form dropped off when he campaigned in Australia. He returned to Kirkland’s care last year, and while Buoyant has recorded two victories on his return, he has battled soundness issues, and Kirkland is hoping he has now got on top of them. “We had a few issues with him and hopefully we might have him sorted,” Kirkland said. “He has a few muscle problems, so we have had a chiropractor going over him quite often, so hopefully we are on top of it all.” He showed positive signs he is heading in the right direction when runner-up last-start behind the Robert Dennis-trained Sir Sterling at Ascot Park earlier this month. “I was very happy with him. It wasn’t my plan to go to the front, but it is just the way it ended up,” Kirkland said. “He has come through it really well, he is bouncing.” Kirkland is hoping to see a continuation of that form when he heads to Wingatui on Friday where Buoyant will jump from barrier eight in the Otago Engineering Open (1400m). “He seems to go well at Wingatui, he has won some nice races there,” Kirkland said. “Being a Heavy10, the wider you are the better you are and hopefully we can ride him back this time. Corey (Campbell, jockey) has won a few races on him, so he knows the horse.” Kirkland is looking forward to returning to Riccarton next month for New Zealand Cup Week, and Buoyant’s performance on Friday will dictate which race he targets, with a return to try and reclaim the Stewards’ Stakes a possibility. “We will evaluate things after Friday,” Kirkland said. “We might go back to Wingatui and then onto the Cup meeting, or straight onto the Cup meeting. “We could have a look at the Stewards, but there is a nice Open 1400m on the last day worth $75,000, so we will have a look at those races. They might just be a bit smart for him over 1200m now.” Kirkland will also head to Wingatui with in-form mare Tomasina (NZ) (Darci Brahma), who will drop back to rating 75 grade in the Property Brokers – Ray Kean (1200m), after placing in her last two starts in open company. “She has gone super,” he said. “We have had her in the Open grade in her last two starts, so she is dropping back to 75. She seems to like the give in the track and I think she will put in a good effort.” View the full article

Andrew Forsman’s mare Positivity (NZ) (Almanzor) will look to make her presence felt on the middle day of the Caulfield Cup Carnival on Wednesday, taking on the feature Gr.3 Coongy Cup Handicap (2000m). A placegetter in the Gr.1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m) at three, Positivity joined Forsman’s Flemington stable on a permanent basis last term and took on serious Victorian company, winning the Gr.3 Naturalism Stakes (2000m) before contesting the Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m), where she finished back in the 23-horse field. The daughter of Almanzor resumed in a competitive Gr.3 Sandown Stakes (1500m) last month and found the likes of Transatlantic and Evaporate too sharp, with that pair going on to finish one-two in the Gr.1 Toorak Handicap (1600m) over the weekend. Up to her favoured middle-distance trip, Forsman is confident that she can be more prominent in the running, and hopefully, the finish. “She’s going great, I know the form doesn’t read that way, but her sectionals were very good last start, it was just too short for her,” he said. “She was always going to get back and they would be too sharp, but it was a warm-up run to have her ready for this. “She’s operated really well second-up before at the 2000 at Caulfield and I think it’s the right sort of race, she’s well-weighted and finally drawn a reasonable barrier. “I think she’s got the ability to put herself in the first three or four in the run and I think she can run a good race.” Positivity will be ridden by in-form hoop Ben Allen, carrying 56.5kg. While she is likely to strike a Good4 surface at Caulfield, her stablemates in New Zealand are facing a very different fate, with track conditions dictating where Forsman takes his team of runners on Saturday. Talented sprinter Force Of Nature (NZ) (Savabeel) was initially set for the Gr.3 Spring Sprint (1400m) at Otaki but poor weather curtailed those plans, making the Elsdon Park 1400 at Ellerslie the only suitable option in the near future. A winner in half of his 10 starts, the gelding produced the only sub-par performance of his career last start at Te Rapa in August, Forsman putting that down to a true Heavy 10. “I think the track was almost too heavy for him that day, he made hard work of it so that’s why we gave him a little freshen up,” he said. “We’ve been waiting for a track that wasn’t as heavy, but that’s not been easy to find, so I guess that’s the logic behind going to Ellerslie. “He has been 1400m, but the worry is that he’s going into it in a bit of a fresh state. We did give him a trial at Te Rapa but that was a little while ago now. “The Spring Sprint at Otaki had been his target race, so with that time between, we just hope he won’t be too fresh at the 1400.” Privy Garden (So You Think) and Moonlight Magic (NZ) (Almanzor) have both been nominated for Sunday’s Wanganui Steelformers Waverley Cup (2200m) at Waverley, but the former is likely to appear at Trentham on the previous day in an Open mile. “Privy Garden ran well last start (Gr.3 Metric Mile, 1600m), we were looking to gain some black-type with her and at a mile, there were just a couple that were a bit too fast for her,” Forsman said. “We’re going to look to go over a little bit further and hope she can be effective at the middle-distance in black-type company. Running at Trentham this weekend is probably the first step in that direction. “Moonlight Magic is a tricky one, she had a trial in between times but it feels like she ran first-up at a mile about two months ago now and we’ve been waiting for a middle-distance race that wasn’t on a heavy track. “She handles a bit of cut in the ground, she likes it, but I’d be a bit nervous going to a middle-distance race on a testing track at this stage. She’s a doubtful starter for this weekend and we may just have to go back to a mile and start again with her a bit.” View the full article

Trainers Ken and Bev Kelso believe their Group One-winning mare Legarto (NZ) (Proisir) is ready to fire in Saturday’s Gr.1 Livamol Classic (2040m) at Ellerslie following a pleasing piece of work at Matamata on Tuesday. “She worked nice this morning on the course proper with Quintessa. Vinnie (Colgan, jockey) was quite happy with her work,” Ken Kelso said. Waikato’s wet spring hasn’t been ideal for Legarto’s preparation, with the daughter of Proisir finishing sixth in the Gr.1 Proisir Plate (1400m) at Ellerslie first-up before going one better in last month’s Gr.1 Howden Insurance Mile (1600m) at Te Rapa. “We have been playing catch-up with the wet tracks,” Kelso said. “It has been pretty hard going getting the work into them with the conditions that we have had in the Waikato, it has been pretty wet. “I thought her first two runs were pass marks. We struck that wet track at Te Rapa when she ran fifth in the Howden and I thought that was an okay run. “She will appreciate getting back onto a better track at Ellerslie, so hopefully we are tracking in the right way. Her work this morning indicated that we are on track for a nice run on Saturday.” Meanwhile, the stable’s star sprinter Alabama Lass (Alabama Express) has returned home from her Melbourne preparation where she finished runner-up in the Gr.1 Moir Stakes (1000m) at The Valley before dropping out to finish last in the Gr.1 Manikato Stakes (1200m). “We think she might have flipped her palate, that’s all we could put it down to,” Kelso said. “Craig (Williams, jockey) said she was travelling really well at the half mile and then at the 600m she started to hang and lose her action and he thought something was amiss. “We initially thought she may have fibrillated, but her heart seemed okay. All we can put it down to is she might have flipped her soft palate because he said she made a little bit of a noise. “But she has trotted up sound and she has been checked out since she has been home and everything seems in order.” Alabama Lass will now spend some time in the paddock before targeting the Gr.1 Sistema Railway (1200m) at Ellerslie on Karaka Millions night in January. “We just decided there wasn’t anything around for her until the Railway, so she has gone out for a brief spell and then she will come back and be set for that,” Kelso said. All going to plan, Kelso is keen to return to Australia next year, where he feels like there is still some unfinished business following the anticlimactic end to her spring preparation. “I think she is good enough to go back there and have another crack at a Group One after running second in the Moir,” he said. “It gives you the confidence to go back. We will just put a line through the run in the Manikato.” View the full article

At Windsor Park Stud in Cambridge, pride runs deep in the paddocks where so many champions have been nurtured. Among the stallions to have carried the stud’s hopes, few have left such a complex legacy as Shamexpress. A Group One-winning sprinter turned stallion, he is the sire of the world’s best racehorse, Ka Ying Rising, a fact that cements his place in New Zealand breeding history. Yet his story is also tinged with a sense of what might have been, for despite his talent as a sire, Shamexpress has battled sub-fertility throughout his stud career. A striking son of one of New Zealand’s great sires, O’Reilly, Shamexpress won one of Australia’s best sprint races in the Gr.1 Newmarket Handicap (1200m) as a three-year-old, defeating older horses. Prepared by Danny O’Brien, Shamexpress retired to Windsor Park Stud in New Zealand to much fanfare, covering a book of nearly 160 well-credentialled mares in his debut season at stud. But it soon became clear that fewer mares were conceiving than expected, with only 59 foals arriving the following spring Numbers aren’t everything, but in a high-risk game like breeding and racing, they certainly help. Since that initial flurry, the volume of mares waned to the extent that Ka Ying Rising was one of just 27 foals by Shamexpress in 2019, with an all-time low of 7 foals born a year later. But with a very good stud record of 6.4 percent stakes winners to runners, 25 stakes performers and two Group One winners including the world’s best racehorse, breeders are again gravitating to Shamexpress despite his sub-optimal fertility. “Statistically he’s a very good sire,” Windsor Park Stud’s General Manager Steve Till said. “When they get to that level of stakes winners to runners, you are in the company of very good stallions. “He has had that known fertility issue, which has limited his numbers. When you look at his strike rate of the horses that he produces, it’s very good. “He is a very well balanced stallion in terms of producing good fillies and colts, which makes him very easy to mate. “Physically, he is very straightforward. He is definitely the most physical stallion we have stood at Windsor Park, which pairs well with his on-track performance being a class sprinter.” By outstanding sire O’Reilly out of a Volksraad mare, Till said there were a number of reasons why the progeny of Shamexpress are so well suited to Hong Kong, where he has had eight winners from 14 starters. “He passes on a lot of his own traits and he has such a good brain,” Till said. “The environment in Hong Kong is very different from New Zealand, but they seem to take that in their stride. “Then you also have the substance of them, the constitution that often pairs well with a good attitude and a good temperament. They don’t wilt away, and they are strong mentally and physically. “The New Zealand environment lays a great foundation for soundness. The quality of the bone is very good, and they can comfortably stand the rigours and stress of the training. “That is just a hallmark of the breed in New Zealand, they are raised very naturally here in a great temperate environment, and it doesn’t matter what part of New Zealand they come from, there is hardly a region in New Zealand that hasn’t produced a great horse.” Ka Ying Rising as a foal at Windsor Park Stud Photo: Supplied With Asian markets so keen on his colts, Shamexpress has proved equally versatile with his fillies, represented by Group One winner Coventina Bay in New Zealand, while quality mares Grinzinger Belle, Maracana and Embrace Me have been flag-bearers in Australia. Till said Shamexpress has upgraded his stock and given his fertility issues he has largely covered modest mares but thanks to the Ka Ying Rising effect he will cover more than 100 mares this season. “To stand the sire of the best horse in the world, we are immensely proud of that,” Till said. “You’ve climbed Everest when you have achieved that as a stud, and hopefully Ka Ying Rising can climb Everest in a few days’ time.” November’s New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run Sale will feature four lots by Shamexpress and Till admits demand outstrips supply and they are sure to be popular. “When you can sire a superstar like Ka Ying Rising, the impact is huge, particularly when it is in such a significant market for our breeding industry,” Till said. “We are taking four or five really nice Shamexpress yearlings to the Karaka Yearling Sales next year and they are very typical of their sire. He is very reliable and every year a few of our best foals on the farm are by Shamexpress. “He will probably serve between 120 and 130 mares this year and is very popular, so the future looks bright and hopefully there will be more foals on the way to meet the eager demand.” View the full article