Wandering Eyes

The GI Spendthrift Farm Hopeful Stakes is carded as the anchor for Monday's Labor Day festivities, which marks the last set of races for the season upstate. A scan through the past winners of the top-level affair over the past 25 years include a strong list of future sires. How about for starters Sky Mesa (2002), First Samurai (2005), Shanghai Bobby (2012) and Competitive Edge (2014)? More recently Practical Joke (2016), Mind Control (2018), Basin (2019), Jackie's Warrior (2020), Gunite (2021) and Forte (2022) got their picture taken before heading to stallion duty later. They were hopefuls no more. This year's edition boasts a quality field of eight and includes a trio of 'TDN Rising Stars' in Ted Noffey (Into Mischief), Curtain Call (Tiz the Law) and Buetane (Tiz the Law). Ted Noffey cleared on debut for Spendthrift and trainer Todd Pletcher at the Spa Aug. 2, while Curtain Call earned his badge at second asking over a sloppy Saratoga main track July 12 for West Point and trainer Mark Casse. The California invader who clocks in is Buetane. His 3 1/2 length score at his unveiling at Del Mar was strong for Bob Baffert. A $1.5-million buy for Zedan Racing at this year's OBS April Sale, the colt was made the 2-1 morning-line favorite by David Aragona. Buetane debuts a winner at Del Mar | Benoit Trainer Steve Asmussen won three Hopeful Stakes starting with Basin, and is well-represented with Soldier N Diplomat (Army Mule) and Bashford Manor Stakes hero Romeo (Honor A.P.). The latter was purchased for $1.7-million by Mahmud Mouni at the Fasig-Tipton Horses of Racing Age Sale this summer and sent to Asmussen. Pletcher also has Emphasis (Yaupon) going out for co-owners Spendthrift and Mike Repole. The $625,000 Keeneland September grad debuted a winner over the local course July 19. Rounding out the field is Butch Reid trainee Flyin Hawaiian (Maximus Mischief), who was highlighted last week in Tim Wilkin's Spa Notebook, presented by NYRA Bets. Last but not least, trainer Joseph Orseno sends out Aye Eye (Essential Quality), after his colt won an auction-restricted maiden race at the Spa Aug. 8. “Seven furlongs was the natural progression for this horse,” said Orseno. “I was looking for this distance, and it happens to be a Grade I. I know his numbers don't say he belongs, but you can't take away the way he did it. That's what I'm looking at more than his numbers.” “When I look at Essential Quality, this horse has the same kind of body type, that's about the only comparison I can make,” he said. “Physically, he's not this big, strapping 16 and change hands horse that would 'wow' you, but he's athletic looking and put together.” Monday's Hopeful is the ninth race at 4:42 p.m. ET. Timing ISN'T everything Midlantic May 2YO Sale grad AYE EYE blew past the competition to break his maiden at first asking at Saratoga on 8/8! He sold off an untimed workout at this year's sale. Congrats to all the connections! #FasigGradpic.twitter.com/S06ScI3cca — Fasig-Tipton (@FasigTiptonCo) August 10, 2025 The post Hopeful Stakes Preview: Recent Grade I Pipeline To Stallion Duty appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

It was an erratic running of the GI Jockey Club Gold Cup Stakes, but Antiquarian (Preservationist) managed to avoid the worse of it to take home the hardware and stamp his ticket to the Breeders' Cup Classic in November. Mindframe (Constitution) lost Irad Ortiz Jr. not long after the break, and was safely corralled by outriders. All seemed well after the jump, but things soon went south when Phileas Fogg (Astern {Aus}) came over to secure a spot on the rail and caused a chain reaction which knocked jockey Ortiz Jr. off the 9-5 shot. Ortiz seemed to briefly be on the back of White Abarrio (Race Day) before he eventually fell to the track. With the scramble behind him, 70-1 longshot Contrary Thinking (Into Mischief) was left alone on the lead and set fractions of :23.00 and a half in :46.96 completely uncontested. The lone leader was overtaken through the final turn by Phileas Fogg but Antiquarian had that one squarely in his sights in the stretch, eventually overhauling him to win. Even-money Sierra Leone (Gun Runner) came on well to cross the line in second after having to swerve to avoid Ortiz. After the race, there was an immediate inquiry into the running with Phileas Fogg ultimately disqualified from his runner-up placing to being unplaced behind Mindframe. The running order was Antiquarian, Sierra Leone, and Highland Falls (Curlin) was promoted to third. There will be updates coming, as soon as they are available, on Ortiz Jr. and Mindframe. Antiquarian upsets at 13/1 in the G1 Jockey Club Gold Cup at Saratoga! @ljlmvel was aboard for trainer Todd Pletcher. pic.twitter.com/dApK90BI10 — TwinSpires Racing (@TwinSpires) August 31, 2025 The post Antiquarian Wins Jockey Club Gold Cup in Erratically-Run 2025 Rendition appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Some of the most highly anticipated races during the summer season are the 'baby' races during the boutique meetings at Saratoga and Del Mar and at Ellis Park, which attract its fair share of high-priced juveniles from a variety of top national outfits. Summer Breezes, sponsored by OBS Sales, highlights debuting and stakes-entered 2-year-olds at those meetings that have been sourced at the breeze-up sales earlier in the year, including links to their under-tack previews. Here are the horses entered for Monday at Saratoga. Monday, September 1, 2025 Saratoga 1, $100k, 2yo, 6f, 12:05 p.m. Horse (Sire), Sale, Price ($), Breeze Epic Quest (Nyquist), OBSMAR, 1,000,000, :10 C-Scanlon Training & Sales, agent; B-Shannon Potter for Epic Horses LLC Grunge (Beau Liam)-MTO, OBSAPR, 260,000, :10 C-Julie Davies LLC, agent; B-J Migliore, agt S Rocco & West Point Rockies Balboa (Girvin), OBSAPR, 150,000, :10 C-Randy Miles, agent; B-J Bloom for C Monfort & B Spagnola Saratoga 6, $90k, 2yo, f, (S), 5 1/2fT, 2:55 p.m. Harpy (Redesdale), OBSJUN, 12,000, :10 2/5 C-Omar Ramirez Bloodstock, agent; B-Heather Smullen, agent Saint Margaret (Honest Mischief), OBSMAR, 425,000, :9 4/5 C-Sequel Bloodstock, agent; B-Joseph DiRico Sassy Sats (Maximus Mischief), FTMMAY, 62,000, G C-Bryan Ford Training Stable, agent; B-Phillips Stb, Oracle BS, agt Too B Wed (Yaupon)-AE, FTMMAY, 85,000, :11 C-Tom McCrocklin, agent; B-Dennis O'Neill Sar 9, Hopeful S.-GI, $300k, 2yo, 7f, 4:42 p.m. Aye Eye (Essential Quality), FTMMAY, 45,000, G C-Julie Davies LLC, agent; B-Robert Cotran Buetane (Tiz the Law), OBSAPR, 1,150,000, :20 3/5 C-Tom McCrocklin, agent; B-Donato Lanni for Zedan Racing Curtain Call (Tiz the Law), OBSMAR, 325,000, :10 1/5 C-S G V Thoroughbreds (S Venosa), agt; B-West Point, LEB, agent Soldier N Diplomat (Army Mule), OBSMAR, 950,000, :10 C-de Meric Sales, agent; B-St Elias Stable LLC The post Summer Breezes Sponsored By OBS: Monday, September 1, 2025 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

1st-SAR, $100K, Msw, 2yo, 6f, 12:05 p.m. ET. On closing day at the Spa, EPIC QUEST (Nyquist) makes his first start after clocking a 10 flat during the OBS under tack show–according to Alan Carasso's 'Summer Breezes'–then going to Epic Horses for a cool million at the March auction. The Todd Pletcher trainee is out of unraced Alottalute (Midnight Lute), who claims multiple stakes winners Street Lute (Street Magician) and Alottahope (Editorial). The first-time starter's extended female family includes $1.2-million earner Texcess (Excess {Ire}). Also set to debut is Fasig-Tipton October grad Stream It (Tapit), whose dam is Canadian champion female sprinter River Maid (Where's the Ring), and OBS April buy Grunge (Beau Liam)–the half-brother of GSW Divine Miss Grey (Divine Park). TJCIS PPS 2nd-SAR, $100K, Msw, 3yo/up, 1m, 12:39 p.m. ET. Time to Win (Not This Time) makes the races under the care of trainer Chad Brown. A $650,000 acquisition out of the 2023 Keeneland September Sale, the chestnut's half-sister is GI Darley Alcibiades Stakes heroine Juju's Map (Liam's Map), while his dam is herself a half-sister to GI Santa Margarita Stakes victress Fault (Blame). Finally, Voulezvous (Uncle Mo) gets his shot at an unveiling. The Jumping Jack Racing homebred will be along the same shedrow as his older full-sister MGSW Envoutante, who was also trained by Ken McPeek. TJCIS PPS The post Monday’s Racing Insights: Pricey Nyquist Colt Epic Quest Heads Spa Maiden On Closing Day appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

There are moments in every great industry where legacy is forged not in silence, but through bold, decisive action. As we approach the 2025 Keeneland September Sale, this is one of those moments. In last week's Thoroughbred Daily News, two pieces struck a deep and unsettling chord: the Thoroughbred Rescue Alliance's open letter titled “When Does a Thoroughbred Earn a Safe Retirement?” (Aug. 25), and Pat Cummings's “Aftercare Not Meeting The Need” (Aug. 28). As an industry of excellence, prestige, and tradition, these letters were hard to read–not because they're wrong, but because they reveal a truth we can no longer ignore. The dichotomy of which is not just heartbreaking-it's destructive. To the public eye, it makes racing appear out of step, out of touch, and out of time. We have been here before. We've recognized the need, and we've responded with integrity-creating organizations like the TAA, TRF, and TCA, all of which have done extraordinary work thanks to the vision of early leaders. But as Mr. Cummings rightly points out, the scale and speed of today's challenges are eclipsing yesterday's solutions. It is time to lead, and it is time to raise the standard. Aftercare is not a charitable cause–it is a moral and professional responsibility. The horses we breed, train, and race are not disposable assets. They are the foundation of everything we stand for. If we neglect them, we diminish not only our credibility, but the legacy of an entire sport. This industry has always stood for excellence. From historic bloodlines to iconic tracks, we've been custodians of something greater than ourselves. That's what draws people to racing-not just the sport, but the significance of being part of something lasting. But here's the truth: No matter how strong the bloodline or how prestigious the sale, if we can't ensure a safe, and dignified path for the horses after the finish line, everything we build will crumble under the weight of public distrust and internal disillusionment. We are no longer just managing optics. We are facing a reckoning. Aftercare is not a charitable side note. It is a responsibility. This Is a Call Not Just to Act, but to Lead Would representatives of The Jockey Club, TOBA, Keeneland, Fasig-Tipton and OBS, Breeders' Cup, Churchill Downs, NYRA, 1/ST Racing and other racetrack owners consider coming together on any given day between September 7-10 at Keeneland, to use your influence to be the nucleus of a bold, coordinated, national framework for aftercare–a system that doesn't just react to crises but prevents them? Let's be crystal clear: without a responsible, structured approach to aftercare, this industry will not survive. But more than that-it will not deserve to. It's time to build something worthy of the animals who give us everything-and the sport we claim to cherish. We are at an inflection point. History will remember, this era as the generation who rose to protect the soul of racing? Or the one that let it fall–FROM KINGS, TO KILL PENS? What we choose will be our legacy, that choice lies with us, and the institutions who define our sport listed above. The time to lead is now. Suzi Prichard-Jones is an owner/breeder and the founder of the Byerley & Godolphin Conservation Project. The post Letter to the Editor: There Comes a Time appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

ParisLongchamp's Prix de Fontenoy looked a fascinating affair on paper beforehand and didn't disappoint as Zaraki (Zarak) surged to TDN Rising Stardom on Sunday. Sent off the 19-10 favourite for the mile event for unraced colts, the Wertheimer homebred was always happy shadowing the leader Houblon (Wootton Bassett). Committed two out by Maxime Guyon, the Andre Fabre-trained grandson of Plumania was impressive from there and hit the line with ears pricked by two lengths. “We expected a good debut from this horse,” the owner-breeders' racing manager Pierre Yves Bureau said of the sire's first TDN Rising Star. “The reports of his homework were very good and he confirmed that very nicely. It looks that he has everything to make a real nice three-year-old.” Prix De Fontenoy @paris_longchamp Longchamp – Inédits – Males – 2 ans – 1600m – 9 Pts – 45 700 € Zaraki (m) Maxime Guyon @maximeguyon_off (Zarak (Fr) @AgaKhanStuds – Urbania (Gb) par Sea The Stars (Ire)) Andre Fabre Wertheimer & Frere Wertheimer &… pic.twitter.com/r6YvCZzSNL — French and International Horse Racing (@Vincenzo0612) August 31, 2025 Pedigree Notes Zaraki is the first foal out of the 11-furlong winner Urbania (Sea The Stars), one of a quartet of mares produced by the operation's high-class Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud heroine Plumania (Anabaa). They include Galileo's Solilea, who is in turn the dam of four black-type performers including Le Havre's Listed Prix Zarkava winner and G1 Prix Saint Alary-placed Solsticia and the highly-regarded three-year-old colt Sinileo (Siyouni) who was third in the G2 Prix Eugene Adam in June. Plumania, who is also responsible for four black-type performers headed by the G2 Prix du Muguet and G3 Sovereign Stakes winner Plumatic by Zarak's sire Dubawi, is a half to the G2 Prix de Royallieu winner Balladeuse (Singspiel) whose progeny feature the multiple Group winner and Arc runner-up Aventure by Urbania's sire and another leading Dubawi in the Vermeille heroine Left Hand. Also connected to this year's Listed Prix Rose de Mai winner and G2 Prix Saint Alary runner-up Audubon Park, also by Dubawi, and the dual Prix Royal Oak hero Double Major (Daiwa Major), Urbania's yearling filly Tofu is by Lope De Vega while she also has a colt foal by Camelot named Urbain. The post Zaraki Impresses At ParisLongchamp, First TDN Rising Star For Zarak appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Lightning couldn't strike twice, could it? In a sense it already has. Gerard Augustin-Normand, who made his entrance to the world of Thoroughbred racing with Prix du Jockey Club winner Le Havre, recently celebrated victory in the Grand Prix de Paris with Le Havre's son Leffard. The colt had been born a month before the untimely demise of his sire at the age of just 16. That victory brought not just Leffard's posthumous tribute to Le Havre as his first Group 1-winning colt, but also the resurgence of the man responsible for the racing careers of both father and son, Jean-Claude Rouget, whose life has been upended in recent years by a cancer diagnosis. Rouget, the first of whose five trainers' championships came in 2009, the year in which Le Havre gave him his first victory in the Prix du Jockey Club, was absent from French racecourses during the 2024 season. His triumphant return to the Group 1 stage with Leffard was wrought with emotion. Now, this special horse is being campaigned for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, a race which his trainer has won twice with Sottsass and Ace Impact. “It's a dream. But we have to dream,” says Augustin-Normand over coffee in the Place Morny during Deauville's August extravaganza of racing and sales. Leffard is stabled just up the road and will remain in training in Normandy despite the fact that Rouget, during a restructuring of his operation, has recently given up the significant satellite stable which part of his string occupied full-time in Deauville. Now, the trainer is primarily back in his heartland of Pau in south-west France, where he had gradually built up one of the most powerful stables in the land. Normandy, however, is very much Augustin-Normand's territory, as his own name and those of his horses imply. “Well, it's incredible really. He was my first horse and I called him Le Havre, and I am from Le Havre,” says the owner-breeder. Le Havre and Christophe Lemaire after the Prix du Jockey Club | Scoop Dyga Following in his wake have been others named on that theme, such as Group winners Incarville, Leaupartie, Monteille, Freville, and Neufbosc, but few will have been so meaningful as Leffard, who, as a member of Le Havre's final crop, has not only added an important extra top-level winner to his ledger but also presents the opportunity of a future for the sire-line. Prophetically perhaps, the filly named Avenir Certain was the horse who first dropped a massive hint as to the future prowess of Le Havre when winning both the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches and Prix de Diane for Rouget, Augustin-Normand and the latter's great ally Antonio Caro, in whose colours she ran. Two years later, La Cressonniere pulled off the same Classic double for the same trainer/owner combination. The one difference was that the latter was bred by Augustin-Normand's Franklin Finance, while Avenir Certain was bred by Elisabeth Vidal, the former wife of Sylvain Vidal, who, with Mathieu Alex, managed Le Havre's stallion career, initially at Haras de la Cauviniere, Elisabeth's family farm. This, then, was looking like a serious young sire at a time when France was crying out for new blood in its stallion ranks. Augustin-Normand recalls, “We sold half of Le Havre to very good breeders who had the resources to sustain him, and that was I think a good decision. And Le Havre produced two winners of the Prix de Diane and Poule d'Essai des Pouliches. It was an extraordinary time. “We had the pleasure of having his produce. We had bought a lot of mares at the beginning with Sylvain and then with Mathieu because Le Havre was a wonderful horse and I loved him, so we had to give him every opportunity to produce good foals. “And Leffard, from the last year of Le Havre, is really special, because people always say that Le Havre produces good fillies.” Leffard wins the Grand Prix de Paris | Scoop Dyga Indeed, at the highest level, Le Havre's fillies outweigh the males five to two. Only last weekend, the five-year-old mare Quisisana became Le Havre's seventh Group 1 winner in the Prix Jean Romanet. He is starting to make a name for himself as a broodmare sire, and features in that spot in the pedigree of Group 2 winner Survie, who was runner-up to Quisisana on Sunday and is an Augustin-Normand homebred raced in partnership with the China Horse Club. The King George and Coronation Cup winner Pyledriver is also out of a mare by Le Havre. The gelded Suedois is the sire's only other male Group 1 winner, but Group 2 winners Auvray, Ramadan, Glycon, Roman Candle and Port Guillaume have added some balance. Three years after his death, Le Havre lies in third place in the French sires' table, behind Wootton Bassett and Lope De Vega. “Today, I think Le Havre is still in a good place,” says his owner. “It's very strange to think about that because now there are a lot of good, young stallions in France. But 15 years ago there weren't many. “But with Siyouni, Le Havre, there was a renaissance. I don't know how many breeders come to France for French stallions but 15 years ago more went to England or Ireland. Now more breeders come to France to go to stallions like Siyouni or Zarak.” Le Havre did indeed play a significant role in a resurgent stallion scene in the country from 2010, the year in which Kendargent also retired to Haras de Colleville, initially at his extraordinarily low fee of €1,000. A year later, Siyouni took up his place at Haras de Bonneval, and a year after that along came Wootton Bassett to Haras d'Etreham. Le Havre also “changed the game” for Augustin-Normand, who had migrated from trotters to Thoroughbreds, and then from being an owner to an owner-breeder. “I was not a breeder at the beginning, so for me it was absolutely new. Patience is not my first quality, but with Mathieu and Sylvain, we made such a good business. Now I try to be more selective, because we don't sell [young stock] but we still have a lot of mares – 28, I think, and some in partnership. But at one time we had up to 50.” Augustin-Normand puts all of his homebreds into training and has traditionally patronised a wide range of trainers across France. Either on his own or in partnership, especially with Antonio Caro, his co-owner of Leffard, he has raced 15 Group 1 winners, but he also takes pleasure in the small winners, particularly if that happens to be for one of his smaller trainers. If he buys into a horse in training, it is not his policy to push for that horse to be moved to a different stable. “Each of those trainers give me something, and together we live through the frustrations and the joys of horses,” he says. “I've been incredibly lucky, and if you have luck it is important to say thank you to the people who have helped you.” It is a refreshing strategy from such a major owner, especially one who is plainly so attached to his horses and makes a point of ensuring that they find a good home beyond their racing careers. That has included covering expensive veterinary costs simply to retire a horse from racing to become a riding horse. Despite his own success, he does however have concerns for the future of racing in France. “I am not so optimistic,” he says. “We don't have the right people driving racing. Maybe the big [owners and trainers] will survive. I think that will be true for a while. We need to get young people engaged in racing, to go racing and enjoy it. But in France, you can't even see the races if you are not signed up to Equidia. It's not on national [television] channels. “We have an industry that is a mixture of nature, finance, social interaction, and that's quite unique. I think that's a very important selling point.” He has been sold on it himself for a good while now, and to that unique mixture above we can add the passion that comes not just with the horses but also the people around them. “With Leffard, it has been very emotional with Jean-Claude Rouget. I am very happy to be with Jean-Claude today. He's a very courageous man,” Augustin-Normand says. “Yesterday evening, I had the pleasure to see [Japan-based] Christophe Lemaire, who rode Le Havre. He's a wonderful guy. We have also have a good partnership with Cristian [Demuro]. That's really important for me.” It was Demuro who guided Leffard to his driving victory in the Grand Prix de Paris over the Aidan O'Brien-trained Trinity College. We are likely next to see them in action in the Prix Niel on Arc trials day at Longchamp on September 7. “He will stay here in Deauville until then,” says Augustin-Normand. “The climate is good here. If I was a horse, I would be happy to stay here. “Jean-Claude said he's one of the easiest horses he's had to train. He's got a beautiful temperament.” The colt also has a desirable pedigree, as highlighted by Augustin-Normand's racing manager John Hammond, who knows a thing or two about the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe himself. Hammond trained Leffard's damsire Montjeu, the Arc winer of 1999, eight years after he had made his name with his first winner of France's banner race, Suave Dancer. Leffard, who was bred by Pierre Talvard's Haras du Cadran in partnership with Ecurie Melanie, is out of the unraced Let's Misbehave, a three-parts-sister to High Chaparral and Dante Stakes winner Black Bear Island. The immediate family also includes the 2020 Prix de Diane winner Fancy Blue (Deep Impact), who is a daughter of another of the dam's siblings, Chenchikova. Will the lure of a stallion career preclude Leffard racing on as a four-year-old? “It depends on how he runs in the autumn,” Hammond says. “He has a proper pedigree on the dam's side, and she has also produced a Listed winner [Sippinsoda]. And he's a lovely-looking horse with a great action. He didn't run at two, so he's relatively lightly raced. We'll see what what Jean-Claude wants to do at the end of the year. “The Prix Niel has been brought forward a week this year, so there are four weeks between that and the Arc. Jean-Claude said that if it had been three weeks he wouldn't have wanted to run in the Prix Niel. He's very good like that, strategically.” Augustin-Normand, who rarely goes racing but watches the sport closely, adds simply, “The Arc is the dream.” Perhaps he will be tempted to venture to Longchamp on October 5. Leffard, after all, has given him the right to dream of that special race. And if chapter two means the continuation of Le Havre's bloodline in the stallion ranks, then it would be further reward for a man who has already invested so much of his time, money and emotion in the sport. The post ‘The Arc is the Dream’: Gerard Augustin-Normand’s Emotional Attachment to Leffard appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Patience has been a virtue for Vincent Ho Chak-yiu as he prepares for his return to race action at Sha Tin this week, after seven months on the sidelines following a horror fall. The 35-year-old has been away from competitive action since suffering a traumatic brain injury when taking a tumble from Oldtown at Sha Tin on February 9. He spent time in intensive care after the incident and then underwent a period recovering in Geneva, with doctors there giving him the all-clear to ride track work at...View the full article

Sunday’s Clotworthy Racing Open (1600m) lost some of its top-flight talent with Mark Twain’s scratching due to the Heavy10 track at Te Aroha, but another returning stayer took the spotlight with a bold first-up performance. Last season’s Gr.3 Queen Elizabeth II Cup (2400m) winner Son Of Sun (NZ) (Tavistock) kicked off his six-year-old preparation in the $50,000 open handicap. His last raceday appearance had been 176 days earlier, when he finished eighth in the Gr.2 Auckland Cup (3200m) on Champions Day at Ellerslie on March 8. The Tavistock gelding was ridden by Warren Kennedy on Sunday and settled near the back of the field. When Rosetown Princess saved significant ground by sticking to the inside around the home turn, Son Of Sun was left all on his own in a clear last. Kennedy angled Son Of Sun across the back of the field and got him to the extreme outside halfway down the straight, but he was still last and had plenty of work to do and limited time remaining. Son Of Sun quickly balanced himself up and accelerated, powering past all of his seven rivals within the last 150m of the race. He collared fellow stayer Canheroc in the final few strides and snatched victory by a head. The race was run in 1:46.55 on extremely heavy ground. Co-trainer Grant Cooksley had been happy with Son Of Sun’s progress through the early part of his new campaign, but was still pleasantly surprised by his first-up performance. “He won that race really well,” he said. “It was nice to see him produce a performance like that first-up. It was probably a bit better than we were expecting, and especially on a track like that. “We’d been pretty happy with him leading into it. He’s coming up well and is a stronger and more mature horse this time in.” Son Of Sun was a $65,000 purchase from Book 1 of Karaka 2021. He has now had 22 starts for seven wins, three placings and $375,595 in stakes for owners New Zealand Gingkosun Investment Ltd. The TAB reacted to Sunday’s win by moving Son Of Sun from $41 into $18 for the Gr.1 Livamol Classic (2040m) at Ellerslie on October 18. He is also nominated for the Gr.1 Howden Insurance Mile (1600m) at Te Rapa on September 27, for which he remains a $41 chance. “I’m not sure where we’ll go with him now, there’s not that many suitable handicap races around for him during the spring,” Cooksley said. “We’ll get him home and see how he’s come through this, then try to work out a plan.” View the full article

Former Horse Of The Year Pride Of Jenni (Pride Of Dubai) is set to take a step towards a return to the racetrack having been entered for upcoming trials. The Ciaron Maher-trained mare is entered for a jump-out on Monday at Cranbourne and for a trial on the Caulfield Heath track on Tuesday, both over 800m. Maher said track conditions would be pivotal in determining where the champion mare steps out. It was thought Pride Of Jenni was headed for the breeding barn when tenth in the Gr.1 Doomben Cup in May, but Maher said the mare had returned to his Cranbourne stable in excellent order. Pride Of Jenni did her pre-training at owner Tony Ottobre’s property on the Mornington Peninsula. “They did a good job with her,” Maher said. “She had a nice covering on her. She is nice and happy, nice and free in her action. “The signs are positive. She’s a marvel actually, she surprises me every time she comes back. “She’ll trial on one of those days. We’ll have a look at track conditions and work out which suits better, but it doesn’t really matter. “She seems in a really good spot, physically and mentally and we’ll be guided by how she jumps out, but all signs seem pretty good.” Maher said no race had been picked out for Pride Of Jenni’s first-up outing, and her program would be worked on further following Monday or Tuesday’s hit out. The trainer indicated Pride Of Jenni was likely to remain in Melbourne for her campaign. “I think she will stay here,” Maher said. “I think we’ll keep her around the mile, 1800 (metres) and probably on the backend of spring.” The Gr.1 Empire Rose Stakes and the Gr.1 Champions Mile, both over 1600m at Flemington during Melbourne Cup week, could be potential targets for Pride Of Jenni this spring. Those two races in 2023 were the first Group One victories for the mare, kickstarting her towards Horse Of The Year honours in season 2023-24. View the full article

Former elite hurdler Nedwin (NZ) (Niagara) confirmed his arrival among steeplechasing’s top echelon with a supreme performance in the $75,000 Howden Insurance Pakuranga Hunt Cup (4300m) at Te Aroha on Sunday. The Niagara gelding has now had 48 starts for 15 wins, six placings and $487,843 in stakes. Seven of those wins have come over hurdles, including the 2022 Pakuranga Hunt Hurdle (3200m), the 2023 Great Northern Hurdle (4200m), the 2023 Waikato Hurdle (3200m) and two editions of the Wellington Hurdles (3400m). Hawke’s Bay trainers Paul Nelson and Corrina McDougal have switched Nedwin to the bigger fences this winter, and he was a three-length winner on debut at Te Rapa in May before finishing third in the Waikato Steeplechase (3900m), fourth in the Koral Steeplechase (4250m) and a last-start third in the Grand National Steeplechase (5600m). Sunday’s extremely testing Heavy10 track held no fears for the tough 11-year-old, who has recorded 12 of his wins in those gruelling winter conditions. While others began to fade in the final 1000m of Sunday’s race, Nedwin’s wet-track excellence and formidable stamina shone through. The lightly raced up-and-comer Fourty Eight was sent out as a $3.20 favourite and led for most of the race, but Nedwin and his rider Hamish McNeill pressed forward out of the pack and were breathing down his neck just before the home turn. Nedwin took command in the straight and forged clear, pulling away to win by three and a half lengths. Last-start Grand National Steeplechase winner Captains Run finished strongly into second, with a tiring Fourty Eight a gallant third. “It’s exciting to see him doing this in steeplechases now,” McDougal said. “I think the trip down south for the Grand National Steeplechase helped him. He’s really mastered his craft now, so it’s very exciting.” Nedwin is now rated a $4.20 third favourite for the $200,000 Ben and Ryan Foote Great New Zealand Steeplechase (6200m) at Te Aroha on September 21. Jesko remains the favourite at $2.60, with Captains Run on the second line at $3.80 after Sunday’s eye-catching finish. McDougal, who represented the stable on course at Te Aroha while Nelson recuperates from recent knee surgery, suggested a tilt at the Great New Zealand Steeplechase is likely for Nedwin. “I’ll have to talk to the big boss at home, but I imagine we’ll be back here for that race in three weeks’ time,” McDougal said. “I think you’ll see him (Nelson) here for that meeting too.” McNeill has no doubt that Nedwin can be among the key chances again for the New Zealand jumps season’s grand finale. “He’s a top animal and I’m looking forward to riding him again in three weeks,” the expat Scottish jockey said. “He’ll improve off this run. He was having a good blow after the race today. I think I can ride him the same way again, and the 6200m distance will be right up his alley. “He revelled in the mud today. He’s won on very deep Wellington tracks more than once, so I was very confident coming into today. “Credit to Corinna, who instilled a lot of confidence in me. She’s a real unsung hero. She and Paul are stalwarts of the game and it’s always good to knock off big races for them. “My parents are here today. My dad will probably start crying if I talk about him too much – he’s an emotional man like me and wears his heart on his sleeve.” View the full article

Less than a month after winning a maiden hurdle at Te Aroha, Hill Of Kings (NZ) (Time Test) returned to the same venue on Sunday and landed a much bigger prize – the $60,000 Pakuranga Hunt “Vale Lamu” Hurdle. The son of Time Test was bought for just $600 off Gavelhouse.com in February of 2023. He has won twice from 20 starts on the flat, but has quickly surpassed those achievements in an increasingly impressive hurdling career. Hill Of Kings was runner-up in two maiden hurdles at Woodville, then romped home by five and three-quarter lengths at Te Aroha on July 27. He returned to Woodville for an open hurdle on August 17, where he finished fourth after mixing his jumping. Trainer Shaun Phelan and jockey Jay Kozaczek hatched a plan for Sunday’s feature that would help the six-year-old to size up each fence, while also keeping him away from the worst part of the energy-sapping Heavy10 ground. Kozaczek positioned Hill Of Kings a long way out from the running rail throughout the 3100m journey, settling in sixth spot and much wider on the track than any of his 11 rivals. He got into a smooth rhythm and measured his jumps well throughout the race. In contrast, the front-running favourite Billy Boy had a torrid time with sustained pressure from Odysseus and then Mont Ventoux. That pressure sapped Billy Boy’s energy and he began to fade out of contention coming down the side of the track. Hill Of Kings, meanwhile, was building into his work with ominous ease. Mont Ventoux rounded the home turn with a clear lead, but Hill Of Kings swept up alongside him and outfinished him down the straight. He went on to win by two and three-quarter lengths from Squire, with another five lengths back to Suliman and Mont Ventoux. “Shaun knows better than me,” Kozaczek said. “He wanted me to keep him very wide and away from the worst part of the track. It couldn’t have gone any better.” Hill Of Kings has now had 25 starts for four wins, four placings and $95,245 in stakes. Sunday’s win marked a welcome change of fortunes in the Pakuranga Hunt Hurdle for Phelan, who won the race as a jockey with Monarch Chimes (2017) but has had some frustrating experiences as a trainer. “I was aiming Pacheco at this race last year but he went amiss,” he said. “A few years before that, my father (Craig) and I thought Bay Rocker would be hard to beat and he didn’t get to the race either. But it’s a big thrill with this horse today – he’s a real stable favourite. “He’s a pretty handy horse, and full credit to Jay. He looked at me like I was an idiot when I gave him those instructions, but it paid off. “We walked the track and it’s just so wet out there. The outside part is definitely the place to be. “He also had a bit of an issue in his last start where he was in behind horses and made some mistakes in his jumping. We wanted him to concentrate on his jumping and get him going well. “He’s a mudlark, so the conditions didn’t bother him today. I was surprised how short he was in the market ($6.80), I thought he’d be closer to $20. But obviously the punters got it right. ”Hill Of Kings is now the $4 favourite for the $150,000 J Swap Great New Zealand Hurdle (4200m) at Te Aroha on September 19. Berry The Cash ($5), Suliman ($5), Lord Spencer ($8), Quid ($8) and Verry Flash ($8) are the others in single figures. View the full article

It was business as usual for Ka Ying Rising (NZ) (Shamexpress) at Sha Tin on Saturday as Hong Kong’s Horse of the Year strode confidently through another eye-catching barrier trial ahead of his highly anticipated return to racing next weekend next Sunday at the 2025/26 Season Opener. A winner of his past 12 consecutive races, headlined by four at Group One level, David Hayes’ record-breaking sprinter clocked an unforced 56.3s (13.3, 21.0, 22.0) over 1000m on turf by two lengths in first place as he prepares to defend his HK$3.72 million Class 1 HKSAR Chief Executive’s Cup Handicap (1200m) crown at Sha Tin on Sunday week. Two-time Hong Kong Champion Trainer (1997/98 & 1998/99) Hayes said: “Pleasure to watch. He’s so fluent, his action is perfect and, the most important thing, he’s mentally more mature this year. “Last year if you watch his trials, he was jumpy and out of his skin a bit – too fresh. This year he’s walking around how you want them to walk around.” Bred by Fraser Auret under his Grandmoral Lodge banner, Ka Ying Rising is out of the Per Incanto mare Missy Moo. Now a five-year-old, Ka Ying Rising will enter quarantine in Hong Kong for a fortnight straight after his first-up run in the HKSAR Chief Executive’s Cup as he prepares to fly to Sydney, Australia for his shot at the AU$20 million Gr.1 The Everest (1200m) at Royal Randwick. “To run 56.3s with his eyes shut is pretty impressive. He’s a more mature horse now, so he’s always going to be heavier (body weight) than last year,” Hayes said. “He’ll come down with this trial, but I want a bit of wriggle room for travelling and, I think by Everest time we should have him at around 1,150 (pounds) – which is about 15 pounds heavier than last year.” Zac Purton was aboard Ka Ying Rising as he crossed the line to the sound of a light cheer from the crowd in attendance at today’s Owners Carnival. Along with the mantle as Hong Kong Horse of the Year last season, freakish talent Ka Ying Rising was also acclaimed Hong Kong Champion Sprinter (2024/25) and Hong Kong Champion Four-Year-Old (2024/25). “He (Zac) was very happy. He was thrilled with his manners behind the gates. He changed legs, which is the only criticism Zac has of him, he never changes legs. But when you don’t get under pressure, you don’t have to change legs. You change legs when you’re under pressure. Today, he thinks he changed legs – from Zac’s point of view,” Hayes said. Prior to this evening’s trial session, James Orman and Derek Leung were celebrated as Hong Kong’s fastest on foot. The two riders landed the 2025/26 Jockeys’ Sprint in a bunched finish ahead of Brenton Avdulla and Ellis Wong (second), while Hugh Bowman and Jerry Chau were close-up in third position. Here’s today’s barrier trial in full… @zpurton | #SeasonOpener | #HKracing pic.twitter.com/ucwGFhvL9R — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) August 30, 2025 View the full article

Del Mar track management may need to rethink the name of the Del Mar Handicap (G2T) after Gold Phoenix captured the 1 3/8-mile turf event for the fourth year in a row Aug. 30. View the full article

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Motorious three-peats in the $153,500 Green Flash Handicap (G3T) at Del Mar, winning via disqualification.View the full article

Traveling from across the pond and the widest gate in the field of 12, Wimbledon Hawkeye was given a perfectly timed ride by Frankie Dettori to outlast grade 1 winner Burnham Square in the Nashville Derby Invitational (G3T) at Kentucky Downs Aug. 30.View the full article

Fierceness easily defeated 2-5 favorite Journalism in a highly anticipated clash between the 4-year-old star and this year's Preakness Stakes (G1) winner in the $1 million Pacific Classic Stakes (G1) Aug. 30 at Del Mar.View the full article

Without the ability to export its television signal to other venues, Remington Park cancels the final nine races Aug. 30.View the full article

It was a wild turn of events that led 'TDN Rising Star' FIERCNESS (c, 4, City of Light–Nonna Bella, by Stay Thirsty) to the Del Mar winner's circle in Saturday's 'Win and You're In' GI Pacific Classic. Rail-drawn, the 8-5 second choice veered in sharply towards the temporary rail shortly after the break, nearly unseating jockey John Velazquez. Straightened up but now caught solidly in the pack, the East Coast-shipper had to eat dirt behind solid fractions before breaking clear with authority around the far turn. 2-5 favorite Journalism (Curlin) was in hot pursuit from the back of the pack by the quarter pole but was always chasing in vain as Fierceness was home free for a stylish win that stamps his return ticket to the GI Breeders' Cup Classic in November. Lifetime Record: 13-7-2-1. O-Smith, Derrick, Repole Stable, Tabor, Michael B. and Magnier, Mrs. John; B-Repole Stable, Inc.; T-Todd Pletcher. The post From Near Disaster To Pacific Glory, Fierceness Takes The Classic appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

East Coast shipper Reef Runner (The Big Beast) crossed the wire narrowly first in Saturday's GIII Green Flash Handicap at Del Mar, but was disqualified and placed second, as MOTORIOUS (GB) (g, 7, Muhaarar {GB}–Squash {GB}, by Pastoral Pursuits {GB}) was elevated to the victory, completing a three-peat in the 'Win and You're In' qualifier for the GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint over the same course and distance on Nov. 1. Reef Runner was one of the first away from his double-digit box, but came over on Queen Maxima (Bucchero) and in the process caused Motorious to be pinched back and steadied, losing significant momentum before taking up a position at the back of the pack. Traveling just ahead of midfield while a bit off the rail, Reef Runner was guided back down towards the inside into the stretch, skimmed the fence in the final furlong and won a photo from Motorious. Last year's GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint runner-up was pulled to the outside and exploded in the final eighth of a mile to just miss before ultimately being promoted. Saturday, Del Mar GREEN FLASH H.-GIII, $153,500, Del Mar, 8-30, 3yo/up, 5fT, :55.90, fm. 1–MOTORIOUS (GB), 125, g, 7, by Muhaarar (GB) 1st Dam: Squash (GB) (MGSP-Eng), by Pastoral Pursuits (GB) 2nd Dam: Super Midge (GB), by Royal Applause (GB) 3rd Dam: Sabina (GB), by Prince Sabo (GB) (55,000gns Ylg '19 TATOCT; 220,000gns 3yo '21 TATAHI). O-Anthony Fanticola; B-Kirtlington Stud & Mrs Mary Taylor (GB); T-Philip D'Amato; J-Antonio Fresu. $90,000. Lifetime Record: GISP, 23-10-5-2, $957,604. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. 2–Reef Runner, 120, g, 4, The Big Beast–Paradise Bay, by Blame. 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. O/B-Alex Lieblong & JoAnn Lieblong (FL); T-David Fawkes. $30,000. 3–Beyond Brilliant, 119, h, 7, Twirling Candy–Summer On the Lawn, by First Defence. ($50,000 RNA Ylg '19 KEESEP; $200,000 2yo '20 EASMAY). O-C R K Stable LLC; B-Fred W. Hertrich III, John D. Fielding & Robert L. Tribbett (KY); T-John A. Shirreffs. $18,000. Margins: 1, NO, NK. Odds: 1.80, 18.50, 47.20. Also Ran: No Nay Hudson (Ire), Book Smart, Queen Maxima, Sorrento Sky (Ire), Sumter, Boss Sully, Virat, First Peace, Wound Up. Scratched: Coppola, Mucho Del Oro, Re Armed Jon. Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. Hit the wiiiiiiiire together! Reef Runner crossed the finish in front but the CHRB Stewards named Motorious the victor in the Grade III Green Flash Handicap. pic.twitter.com/Y86OIls2Nw — Del Mar Racetrack (@DelMarRacing) August 31, 2025 The post Motorious Wins Third Straight Green Flash In the Stewards’ Room appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Remington Park canceled the final nine races on the Saturday program due to a TV equipment malfunction, the track said. The first race was run for purse money only. The track was unable to televise a proper racing presentation and had no ability to export the signal to other venues as technical issues with TV control room equipment forced the problem. Because the field for the first race had already arrived in the saddling paddock and waited for more than 30 minutes, the decision was made to allow that race to run for purse money only. All pari-mutuel wagering on the entire Remington Park card was refunded. Racing is scheduled to resume Thursday. The post TV Equipment Malfunction Forces Remington To Cancel Most Of Saturday Card appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

After going winless in her first seven starts, Om N Joy has gone nuts.View the full article

Start times for three days next weekend have changed at Prairie Meadows due to an anticipated number of Quarter Horse trials to be held all three days. View the full article

Formidable Man, trained by Michael McCarthy, is now 6-for-6 at Del Mar, adding the Del Mar Mile (G2T) to his earlier victory in the Eddie Read Stakes (G2T) during the summer meeting.View the full article