Wandering Eyes

Palmerston North trainer Paul Peake broke a two-decade winless drought at Woodville on Sunday when his gelding Lazy (NZ) (Complacent) scored his maiden win in the Mamona 2100 at his 29th attempt. The eight-year-old son of Complacent was sent forward from his wide gate by apprentice jockey Crystal Lindsay to take an early lead, with the pair dictating terms up front and running out convincing 4-1/4 length victors. “Fortunately, he drew wide,” Peake said. “He was very slow to find his feet, but drawing wide, he could get to the lead in his own good time without having to be pushed, as he is pretty much a one pacer. “I thought he would have been a run short, which shows there is improvement there.” While Lazy has taken longer than anticipated to score his first win, the 71-year-old horseman said his own health had hindered his progress. “I have had a bit of ill health in the last year or so and he just hasn’t had anywhere near enough work. Since June I have been doing a lot more with him and it has paid dividends,” he said. While Peake didn’t name the horse, he said Lazy lives up to his name at home. “I bought him off a friend of mine, Stephen Mercer, and Stephen named him,” he said. “He is a very lazy track worker.” Originally hailing from Waikato, Peake has a lifelong involvement in racing, and began training from a young age, with jumps racing being his first love. “My father was on the committee of the Cambridge Jockey Club and we lived right next door to the original track,” Peake said. “Dad and I had a horse when I was 18. I used to work it and he gave the orders. It had been through a couple of stables and we won a hurdle race on Cambridge Jockey Club’s big day at Te Rapa back in the seventies. “I got another horse when I was 20 that I leased off Margaret Bull. He won three hurdle races in a row and I took him to Australia where the wheels quietly fell off. “I came back here in the eighties and I had one called one called Bound To Reign, which was a horse by Great Wall, and had a lot of fun with him. “That horse was such a challenge just to get to the races. I remember the day I put him on a plane to get him to Melbourne. The Herald came out with a photographer because they thought he was going to wreck the plane.” While Peake enjoys training, he has loved his life in the saddle, and it’s something he still enjoys doing on a daily basis. “I only have been a very average rider, but I was brought up in a family of very good riders,” he said. “My best day’s racing was where I won two races at a point-to-point, an amateur steeplechase day, in Melbourne. That will forever remain my best day for as long as I live I will never ride another a couple of winners over sticks again. “I still take him (Lazy) to the track now at 5am and ride him in all of his slow work at 71 and I am so pleased I have got the health to do it.” Peake is now hoping Lazy can win his next race at short notice, with the pair set to head north later this month in search of a second win. “I am hoping to run him (next) Sunday at Te Aroha in the amateur riders and I have offered Stephen Mercer’s niece, Tylah, the ride. She has ridden him in a lot of gallops and a few jumpouts.” View the full article

Buoyed by an unexpected kick-start to his season at Sha Tin on Sunday, Harry Bentley heads to Happy Valley on Wednesday night looking to keep the ball rolling with a galloper chasing a hat-trick of victories. After receiving a last-minute call-up to ride Markwin in Sunday’s Class Two Tai Mo Shan Handicap (1,400m) when Derek Leung Ka-chun failed to make weight, Bentley speared the Cody Mo Wai-kit-trained five-year-old to an impressive victory. While the fact he was in the saddle was a surprise...View the full article

It’s part two of Michael’s chat with Opie Bosson, this time, it’s Opie the jockey. They look at his time in the industry, his best wins, and chat his favourite jockeys, trainers and horses. And Horse of the Year awards and Ka Ying Rising’s latest win are celebrated. Guerin Report – S2 Ep.2 Ft. Opie Bosson Pt.2 View the full article

New Zealand sprinter Alabama Lass (Alabama Express) will press on for a tilt at the Gr.1 Manikato Stakes (1200m) at The Valley later this month following her runner-up effort in the Gr.1 Moir Stakes (1000m) at the Melbourne track last Saturday. The four-year-old mare had won her only other Australian start at Flemington in March when victorious in the Listed HKJC World Pool Sprint Classic (1100m), and trainers Ken and Bev Kelso were pleased to see her measure up to the highest level in the competitive jurisdiction on the weekend. “I was very pleased,” Ken Kelso said. “She probably didn’t get all favours. She was quite fresh and over-raced a bit and then got that bump on the corner, which probably cost her a little bit, but it was a fantastic run. “It proved that she can measure up to Aussie sprinters, they are renowned for them, so to measure up to their sprinters at Group One level was a big achievement for the horse, and a Group One second place is huge for her pedigree. I am very rapt.” Alabama Lass has now won six and finished runner-up in four of her 10 career starts, including second placings in the Gr.1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m), Gr.1 Railway (1200m) and Moir Stakes. “She is such a trier, she has never finished back further than second in her 10 starts at the highest level, so you can only be pleased with that, and she can only keep improving,” Kelso said. An elusive elite-level victory is firmly in the crosshairs, with Kelso now eyeing the Manikato Stakes on September 26 with his mare. “On that run, we have got to stay for the Manikato,” he said. “Craig Williams is booked to ride her again, so all systems are go to head there.” Meanwhile, back in New Zealand, Kelso was pleased with Legarto’s (NZ) (Proisir) sixth place run in the Gr.1 Proisir Plate (1400m) at Ellerslie on Saturday. “I thought it was a good run, and she has pulled well,” he said. “She got out of her ground and didn’t get a lot of favours in the straight. Her sectionals were very good, she was still going to the line and her best work was probably in the last 50m. “All-in-all it was a good run at Ellerslie, a track she hasn’t particularly gone that great at and 1400 is probably a bit sharp for her now.” Legarto had the one trial prior to her first-up run, finishing behind Alabama Lass in their 1050m heat at Te Rapa last month, and Kelso is looking forward to returning to the Hamilton track with his mare for the Gr.1 Howden Insurance Mile (1600m) on September 27. “She is on track to go to Te Rapa for the mile,” he said. View the full article

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by Jessica Martini, Christina Bossinakis and Jill Williams LEXINGTON, KY – Led by a $3.3-million son of Gun Runner, the Keeneland September Yearling Sale powered through a record-setting opening session Monday in Lexington. When the dust had settled after the first of two elite Book 1 sessions, 106 yearlings had sold for $69,240,000. The average was $653,208–the highest ever at a single September session–and the median was $537,500. With just 28 horses reported not sold, the buy-back rate was 20.90%. Those figures are ahead of last year's opening session, when 98 head grossed $54,795,000 for an average of $559,133 and a median of $450,000. They are also ahead of the 2024 total Book 1 average of $586,103 and median of $475,000. “It was a fantastic day,” said Keeneland President Shannon Arvin. “It's fun to talk to the auctioneers after and ask how it felt, because it looks different to them up there than it does to us watching from behind. And they said it was just so exciting, so electric, and there were so many new faces. It was really fun to see the pavilion so packed, the back ring so packed. Everywhere people were watching and enjoying and having a really great time. It was an incredible horse sale.” A total of 15 yearlings sold for seven figures during Monday's session, the highest to reach that threshold during a single session since 2006. Over the last several years, Keeneland has worked hard to make its boutique Book 1 sessions an event and, beyond the raw figures, the packed pavilion proved the success of concept. “For the last three or four days, the place has been packed,” said Coolmore's M.V. Magnier, who signed for two of the session's million-dollar yearlings, including the $3.3-million topper. “It's been very busy here. Keeneland does a great job. They have all the right people here and there are good horses here. The sale has only started, but it seems to be going pretty good.” John Sikura, whose Hill 'n' Dale consigned the session topper, agreed. “There was a buzz in the ring and there were more people than I've seen here in a decade or more,” Sikura said. “You could just see that everybody was here, they were excited.” Headley VanMeter | Keeneland photo Headley VanMeter's VanMeter Sales consigned the auction's first seven-figure yearling in the very first horse the horseman sent through the ring at a Keeneland September sale. “It feels really strong in here right now,” VanMeter said. “Even just walking through here to talk to [buyer] John Stewart and the Resolute team, I had to bump people out of the way. Someone told me the parking lot is packed to the brim. The atmosphere is great, the energy is great. Hopefully it carries on for the rest of the sale.” Keeneland's Vice President of Sales Tony Lacy said that while the market was competitive, he still sees it as sustainable. “There are not strong peaks and valleys,” Lacy said of Monday's action. “You can see the logic in the prices horses are bringing. Even if they are bringing a lot of money, it's logical. I think that's where, as we get into strong markets, we always ask, 'is this overheated?' This doesn't feel overheated. It feels like we are getting a strong, diverse group of buyers that are all looking to buy quality stock. And the breeders are bringing high-quality product to the market. So we are seeing a very high level of horse coming to us and the buyers are excited about what they are seeing.” Sikura echoed several people around the sales grounds to credit some of the strength of the market on the new tax code. “Not to talk politics, because it's not about one side or the other, but the bonus depreciation, the tax advantage, it can't be overstated what kind of stimulus that is for the horse business,” Sikura said. “Wealthy people who are taxed at source looking to write off 100% of their expenses–all of your expenses, all of your insurance, and then in the breeding business, all our stud fees. It is permanent, so we can plan for the future. It's a great stimulus on a high-risk speculative venture like this. Essentially half of your losses can be covered legitimately in an active tax code. It's a great incentive.” The Keeneland September sale continues with a second Book 1 session beginning Tuesday at 1 p.m. Book 2 sessions Wednesday and Thursday begin at 11 a.m. Following a dark day Friday, the auction continues through Sept. 20 with sessions beginning daily at 10 a.m. 'He's by the Right Horse': Brant, Coolmore Team for $3.3 Million Gun Runner Colt Peter Brant, standing out back alongside M.V. Magnier and the team from Coolmore, signed the ticket at a session-topping $3.3 million to acquire a colt by Gun Runner (hip 177) late in Monday's first session of the Keeneland September sale, then sauntered off to leave Magnier to talk to the press. “He's by Gun Runner and the lads all really liked him,” Magnier said, while adding there will be additional partners on the colt. “We bought his brother last year, the Curlin, and [trainer] Chad [Brown] actually likes him quite a bit. Hopefully, he will run soon enough.” Magnier and Brant's White Birch Farm paid $1.3 million for the son of Curlin at last year's September sale. The partners have already enjoyed success with Three Chimneys' Gun Runner, who is the sire of their champion and 'TDN Rising Star' Sierra Leone. Coolmore also stands the stallion's young son Gunite “We have Gunite at home at Ashford and he covered a big book of mares and he's very popular,” Magnier said. “And Gun Runner is just flying at the moment. He's by the right horse and everybody liked him.” Closing out Day 1 with a bang! Hip 177, a Gun Runner colt from @HillnDaleFarm, hammers down at $3.3 million to M.V. Magnier/White Birch/Winchell Thoroughbreds. pic.twitter.com/IDsdYLax31 — Keeneland Sales (@keenelandsales) September 8, 2025 Of the colt's session-topping price, Magnier admitted, “It went higher than we expected, but Peter and our partners were all pretty keen on the horse. Let's hope we didn't make a mistake.” The $3.3-million yearling is out of Thoughfully (Tapit), who won the 2020 GII Adirdonack Stakes for Heider Family Stables. He was bred by Hill n' Dale Equine Holdings and Matt Dorman's Determined Stud and was consigned by Hill 'n' Dale at Xalapa. “He was a very smooth, very good horse, by a great sire who had a timely Grade I winner [GI Del Mar Futurity winner Brant] yesterday,” said Hill 'n' Dale's John Sikura. “It's a prolific female family. And you hope for the best. All the major players assess and value these kind of horses and he made the list of important people.” Thoughtfully is a full-sister to stakes winner Signator and a half to graded winner Annual Report (Harlan's Holiday). Her granddam is Grade I winner Furlough (Easy Goer), a half-sister to Dancing Spree. Of the session-topping price tag, Sikura added, “After a million dollars, you're just watching and hoping. We never know where they are going to wind up. The good thing is I knew we were strong going in. I knew that there was multiple interest from strong people. After that, you're just a spectator in the process. You hope they all get brave and stay brave. It was a great result.” @JessMartiniTDN $2-Million Not This Time Filly to Heider A filly by Not This Time (hip 144), a third generation from Hinkle Farm, provided the operation a second seven-figure yearling out of multiple-stakes placed Stave (Ghostzapper) when selling for $2 million to Scott Heider Monday at Keeneland. “I really like the Hinkle family,” Heider said after doing his bidding alongside trainer Brendan Walsh and bloodstock agent David Lanigan. “They are good people and they raise very good horses. We looked at a lot of nice fillies in Book 1 and I told Brendan and Ted Durcan and David Lanigan, this is the one we want. I had no idea we would have to wrestle that hard to get it done. But it's a testament to the Hinkle family and what they raise on that farm. We had two stakes fillies we already raced off that page. So I thought that was as good a karma as we could get.” Hip 144, | Keeneland photo Hinkle Farm bred and campaigned the yearling's second dam, GII Allaire DuPont Distaff Stakes winner Buy the Barrel (E Dubai). That mare produced Stave, who hit the board in three stakes races in the farm's colors. Stave's second foal, Matenro Hour (Constitution), sold for $1.1 million to Yuichi Fukunaga at last year's September sale. The Heider family campaigned Hinkle Farm-bred multiple stakes winner Surf N Sand (Boston Harbor), a daughter of the yearling's third dam Affordable Price (Drouilly {Fr}), and bred Surf N Sand to get stakes winner Coco as in Chanel (Awesome Again) “She's been a favorite on the farm for a while,” Anne Archer Hinkle said of the yearling. “We knew coming up here that she would be our top filly in the sale. She checked all of the boxes. She's a beautiful mover, really great physical. She comes from a great family and Not This Time couldn't be any hotter. We felt good coming into the sale, especially when we got the final set of clean X-rays. She came up here and was incredibly professional the whole time.” Hinkle said the filly was shown over 300 times at the consignment's barn 18. “We use a software, TB Sales and we can go back to data from 2019, so for yearlings going back to 2019, we've never had a yearling viewed that many times,” she said. “And we've been fortunate to have some really great sales the past couple of years. Knowing that we had her out over 300 times, I thought there was a chance she could break out and she definitely exceeded our wildest dreams. We are thrilled she has a good home and hopefully she will continue to be a star for her new owners.” In a memorable few minutes at last year's Keeneland September sale, Hinkle Farm sold two million dollar yearlings. In addition to Stave's Constitution colt, the operation sold a filly by Curlin for $1.2 million. @JessMartiniTDN 'Icing on the Cake': Warrendale's Only Flightline Yearling Headed to Japan A quarter of the way through Monday's first session of Book 1, the top two colts on the leaderboard were both by Lane's End's first-crop yearling sire Flightline. Hip 45, a colt out of the multiple graded stakes producer Mira Alta (Curlin), sold for $1.7 million to Naohiro Sakaguchi and will be shipped to Japan, according to officials at Keeneland. The flaxen-maned chestnut was bred by Rock Ridge Thoroughbreds, LLC in Kentucky. “That was fantastic. We were very happy,” said Warrendale's Hunter Simms, who initially wasn't sure who had signed the ticket and shook the hands of several bidders to thank them for their efforts. “There were something like seven different interests on him, all from Japan.” Simms said the chestnut half-brother to GSW Promise Keeper (Constitution) and SW & GSP Wicked Awesome (Awesome Again) represented the only Flightline offering in Warrendale's consignment. Simms was impressed by the February foal's demeanor. Warrendale Sales's Kitty Taylor | Keeneland “This is the only one that we're selling at this sale. He was just so relaxed back there the whole time we were showing him. We showed him over 220 times over the last three days and he handled everything with class. He was just such a great individual to be around.” Rock Ridge purchased the $1.7-million colt's unraced dam at the 2015 Keeneland November sale for $200,000. Their property is located on the former ClassicStar property near Versailles, said Simms, who added: “The horse was raised by Codee Guffey at Rock Ridge and his uncle Kerry [Smith]. They do a great job. They raise a really good horse. “We've had good sales for them in the past. This is just icing on the cake for everything they put into it over the last few years. They've invested into a lot of mares and stud fees and everything else. I'm glad it paid off for them.” Much later in the sale, Sakaguchi added a second Flightline–this time a filly (hip 168) out of Taylor S (Medaglia d'Oro) for $1.5 million–to his purchases. As an owner, Sakaguchi's most accomplished runner to date is Poulsen (Into Mischief), a $925,000 OBS April grad and winner of three of his seven starts in Japan. He was most recently unplaced in the G3 Leopard Stakes Aug. 10. ––JillWilliamsTDN #KeeSept Book 1, Session 1 Results: Hip 168, a filly from the first crop of Flightline out of Taylor S, sells for $1.5 million to Naohiro Sakaguchi from the @TaylorMadeSales consignment. pic.twitter.com/dcek202qS5 — TDN (@theTDN) September 8, 2025 Not This Time Colt Scores $1.6m in Book 1 Opener With Monday's session already in full swing, Hip 66 lit up the board, bringing a cool $1.6 million from Windancer Farms, who was bidding online. Consigned by Taylor Made Sales, the Apr. 20 foal by Not This Time was bred by Richard Santulli's Colts Neck Stables. “Based upon the action [on him] we knew that he would sell for a lot of money,” said Santulli. “At that level, that's crazy. But he was a very nice colt.” Of the final price, the fourth-highest yearling of the session, Santulli added, “We knew he'd make a million, our reserve was set at $500,000. We felt [$500,000] at that price, we'd take home a racehorse [if he didn't sell]. ” The bay is produced by MSP Out Post (Silver Deputy), herself a $250,000 Keeneland September purchase in 2007. She is already responsible for SW and MGSP Jace's Road (Quality Road). The colt hails from the family of dual champion and MGISW Silverbulletday (Silver Deputy). “[The pedigree] goes back to Silverbulletday and Deputy Minister is in there,” Santulli added. “It is a nice page and a nice [physical].” A dozen yearlings by the Taylor Made Stallion brought $9.175 million, for an average of $764,583 and a median of 650,000. He was also represented by the session's second-highest price, who sold for $2 million to the Heider family. Asked about his overall impression of the sale early in the day, Santulli didn't mince words. “This sale is nuts,” he said. “Nice horses are going to bring money.”–CBossTDN Flightline Colt Gets VanMeter Sales Off To a Flyer Headley VanMeter, the youngest son of longtime consignor Tom VanMeter, started his inaugural Keeneland September sale consignment off with a bang when his VanMeter Sales sold a colt by Flightline (hip 10) for $1.5 million to John Stewart's Resolute Bloodstock Monday at Keeneland. The result also marked a remarkable first for breeder Randall Lowe, who was selling his first yearling after RNA'ing the colt's half-brothers future Grade I winner Golden Pal (Uncle Mo), for $325,000 in 2019, and Lieutenant General (Omaha Beach) for $385,000 in 2022. “This is the first yearling I've ever sold,” Lowe confirmed. “I was 0-for-four in the batter's box, including Golden Pal. To do this is a dream come true.” The yearling is out of Lowe's lone broodmare, the speedy Lady Shipman (Midshipman). “I wanted to see what was going on in the marketplace because the Flightlines have been so strong,” Lowe said of the decision to offer the colt at Keeneland. “I still have three other racehorses, one getting ready to start at Santa Anita, a half-sister to this horse. I thought for an individual person who doesn't take on partners, two or three horses is more than enough.” Bidding on the colt had inched over the million-dollar mark and was standing at $1.15 million when Stewart, in the reserved seating area at the back of the pavilion, jumped his bid up to $1.5 million. “When John Stewart went to $1.5 million, I started to cry,” Lowe admitted. Lowe did sell Lady Shipman's unraced 3-year-old daughter Luvwhatyoudo (Uncle Mo) for $250,000 during the Fasig-Tipton Digital March sale earlier this year and the mare herself RNA'd for $1.6 million with her Flightline colt in utero at the 2023 Fasig-Tipton November sale. Lowe has retained the mare's 2-year-old daughter Essential Lady (Essential Quality), who has been working at Del Mar. “I still own the mother and she is in foal to Not This time,” Lowe said. “I still own the sister. But it's nice to be recognized, especially by someone like John Stewart. He told me this was his number one colt in the auction.” Of his first Keeneland September offering, VanMeter said, “It's incredible, storybook. We had high expectations coming in here, but we didn't think he was going to do that. The colt was an absolute pro up here for the last four or five days. We are elated to get the sale started off this way.” The yearling was born and raised on the VanMeter family's Stockplace Farm. “Lady Shipman is on the farm and he was born and raised there and prepped there, so that makes this all the more special,” VanMeter said. Stewart, celebrating his latest acquisition, said he has been impressed by the offspring of Flightline he has seen. “We bought Queen Caroline [in foal to Flightline in November 2024],” Stewart said. “She has a nice Flightline filly and I bought a nice Flightline [colt for $875,000] up in Saratoga. So I really like the way those horses are looking, and I think he was the number one colt today.” @JessMartiniTDN Sharing is Caring for Whisper Hill as Both Buyers and Sellers Monday With a Breeders' Cup win under both her first and second dam, the chestnut filly cataloged as hip 115 was guaranteed to turn heads. Add supersire Tapit to the mix and it's no surprise she caught the eye of Mandy Pope, whose multiple graded winner Charge It (Tapit) stood his first season at Gainesway this year. “There's not going to be many more [Tapits],” said Todd Quast, advisor to Pope's Whisper Hill Farm, who bought the filly–both bred and consigned by Gainesway–for $1.5 million. “Mandy loves Tapit, so when you get that and you get this mare's side and you get the physical, we're very happy.” Tapit will be 25 next year. His four yearlings to sell Monday averaged $887,500 and included a $1-million filly (hip 118) out of Silver Colors (Mr. Greeley), who was also bred and consigned by Gainesway and went to Kate Sheehan, agent for Tranquility Lake Farm. Whisper Hill's newest acquisition is a daughter of 'TDN Rising Star' Sharing (Speightstown), who won the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf in 2019. Her dam, Shared Account (Pleasantly Perfect), captured the 2010 GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf. #KeeSept Book 1, Session 1 Results: Hip 115, a Tapit filly out of Grade I winner SHARING, sells for $1.5 million to @whisper_hill from the @Gainesway consignment. pic.twitter.com/BUbup4G3qH — TDN (@theTDN) September 8, 2025 A number of the Whisper Hill horses are kept at Gainesway, so Quast was already familiar with the filly. “We had seen her a couple of times and Antony [Beck] wasn't going to sell her. Then, at the last minute he decided to put her in and we got very excited. We're very, very happy to have her. What a family and what a physical.” Quast added that the March filly stood out on every aspect. “From my standpoint, it was the physical, and I really liked her as an athlete. Mandy loved her pedigree. When you get those both together, you're going to pay a lot of money. We're very excited about the family. Super-nice filly.” Quast was busy Monday, with Whisper Hill both on the buying and selling end. Another Gainesway-consigned filly from the same family will also join their racing stable. Hip 108, a daughter of Good Magic out of Secret Jewel (Bernardini), went to Whisper Hill for $775,000. That filly's second dam produced Shared Account. While buying is the fun part, Quast said selling could be bittersweet. “It's very difficult,” he added. “It's sad to see them go. It's hard, so it's a very emotional, up-and-down time.” Whisper Hill is no stranger to the selling side, but it's not every day the operation parts with offspring of some of their most beloved mares. Monday they sold a Gun Runner colt (hip 128) out of multiple champion Songbird (Medaglia d'Oro) for $900,000 to Donato Lanni, agent for SF Bloodstock, Starlight, and Madaket, as well as a Flightline colt (hip 129) out of her unraced daughter, Song Gate (Arrogate), for $850,000 to Case Clay Thoroughbred Management. “To see the Songbird sell, the Song Gate…” trailed off Quast. “They sold very, very well, but it's hard to sell them. In this business, you have to do business. You have to sell some when you get the right price for them and you have to buy them–hopefully at the right price.” ––JillWilliamsTDN Sallusto Extends to $1.3m for Gun Runner Filly Roughly midway through the initial session, agent Thorostock's Nick Sallusto and Michelle Hemingway, bidding from the front of the main pavilion, withstood a stern barrage to land Hip 105, a filly by Gun Runner. When the dust had settled, the WinStar-bred yearling realized $1.3 million, the fourth highest-priced filly of Day 1. Hemingway handled the signing duties. “[The client who] bought [the filly] wants to enjoy racing but is also building a broodmare band,” explained Sallusto, who secured the filly on behalf of an undisclosed client. “She is really partial to Gun Runner. To try to find one that hit all the specifications, she really had to hit all the marks. We are just really excited that we were able to buy her.” Out of 5-year-old Scribbling Sarah (Freud), the May 5 foal is a half-sister to GI Ashland Stakes winner and GI Kentucky Oaks third Speech (Mr Speaker) in addition to Sam F. Davis Stakes winner John Hancock (Constitution). “It was hard to find something that we didn't like [about the filly],” underscored Sallusto. “I was the underbidder on Speech as a 2-year-old, so I watched her career and then [the dam] came back with John Hancock last year and it looks like he still has a bright future ahead of him.” Hip 105, a Gun Runner half-sister to Speech consigned by @DenaliStud, agent for @WinStarFarm, brings $1.3 million at #KeeSept! Purchased by Nick Sallusto, Thorostock. pic.twitter.com/aVcYAFsEFJ — Keeneland Sales (@keenelandsales) September 8, 2025 One would be hard-pressed to find someone more familiar with the seven-figure Gun Runner filly purchase than WinStar's Yearling Manager Donnie Preston. “It's a young pedigree,” Preston said moments after her exit from the ring. “We have always liked her and [buyers] liked her too. I'm pretty excited she brought $1.3 million. “She is really a standout. She has great movement–a big walk.” Explaining her conformational appeal, Preston explained, “I think everything was put together right on her. She had great balance and I loved her shoulder. Her hind end was that 'dinner plate' look at the top. I knew she'd go over well, but this well, I wasn't sure.” Pointing out another interesting connection between the filly's breeder and her illustrious sire, Preston explained,”Gun Runner was born on WinStar, not a lot of people know that. He went down to Florida and when he came back [to WinStar] I had him for about 2-3 months. I wouldn't say that she looked like him, but I think the quality of him is there.” On Monday, a total of 10 yearlings sired by Gun Runner sold for a gross of $10,260,000. Also responsible for the session's $3.3-million topper, yearlings by Gun Runner averaged $1,026,000. “It's a really strong market and we fought hard to get her,” said Sallusto of his sole purchase Monday. “We hope to see a lot out of her [on the track] and then raise her babies to race them too.”–CBossTDN Into Mischief Colt Brings $1.25m Midway Monday Never far from the leaderboard at the sales, Spendthrift sire Into Mischief again figured prominently when Hip 89 realized $1.25 million from the collective of Eclipse, Bridlewood, LaPenta and Warren. The Mar. 5 foal was consigned by his breeder, Mulholland Springs. Out of Reina Maria (Songandaprayer), herself a half-sister to GISW Secret Compass (Discreet Cat), the bay is a full sibling to Grade II winner and sire Maximus Mischief. “He is by Into Mischief and is a full brother to a proven stallion and a big strong physical,” said Bridlewood's George Isaacs. During Book 1's initial session, 11 yearlings by Into Mischief brought $8.125 million, averaging $738,636. The median was $700,000. “Into Mischief is king of the sires in North America as we know. We know horses like this are going to bring this kind of money. We've had good success with this partnership. Let's just hope we get lucky.” Bridlewood Farm, Eclipse Thoroughbreds and Bob LaPenta are among the partners in this season's GI Preakness Stakes and GI Haskell Stakes winner Journalism (Curlin). Asked about the principal attraction to the yearling, Isaacs explained, “Everybody wants to try to win the Kentucky Derby and play at the top level in the American Classics. That's why we're all here and that's why we're all banging heads [in bidding]. Looks like there is plenty of energy here. The cost of doing business with horses like this is high.” The colt represented the sole yearling on offer by Mulholland Springs on Monday and the consignor was very well represented. “The most beautiful thing about him you didn't even see, and that is his wonderful mind,” said Martha Jane Mulholland. “This horse is all class top to bottom and always has been. I believe he's the best horse I've raised in the last 10 years.” Reflecting on comparison's between the colt and his accomplished brother, Mulholland added, “I would say he's just about 100 pounds heavier. Just that much more man than his brother was at this time as a yearling. I'm just so excited about his prospects.”–CBossTDN The post ‘An Incredible Horse Sale’: $3.3-Million Gun Runner Colt Leads Keeneland September Opener appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The Del Mar Thoroughbred Club celebrated the conclusion of its 86th summer racing season Sept. 7, reporting substantial increases in wagering—both total and average daily—as well as field size over the 2024 summer meeting. View the full article

The official Road to the Kentucky Derby will begin Sept. 13 at the home of America's greatest race as Churchill Downs stages the 44th running of the $300,000 Iroquois Stakes (G3) for 2-year-olds at one mile.View the full article

WinStar Farm's David Hanley has been named 2025 Ted Bates Farm Manager of the Year by the Kentucky Thoroughbred Farm Managers' Club (KTFMC). The award honors individuals 'who exemplify excellence in farm management and service to the community.” Appointed to the role of farm manager at WinStar in 2013, Hanley has played a key role in the farm's acquisition of new fewer than 11 Grade I winners who have amassed a total of 23 elite-level victories, including Justify, Life Is Good, Improbable, Mullikin and Patch Adams. “I am honored and grateful to the Kentucky Farm Managers' Club to be selected for this prestigious award,” Hanley said. “It's truly humbling to join the list of past honorees, many of whom are horsemen I have long admired and respected. This recognition reflects the collective hard work of the team at WinStar, and I'm privileged to work alongside Elliott Walden. Our collaborative efforts in selecting yearlings for WinStar's racing stable have been a major factor in the farm's success.” Walden, president, CEO, and racing manager for WinStar Farm, praised Hanley's contributions and talents, saying: “It is a great honor to see David receive such a well-deserved award, and we are delighted for him and his wife, Ann. We are very blessed to have David as part of our team. He is a great friend, and his eye for a young horse is outstanding. He has been an instrumental part of our success for the last 12 years, and we are honored to share in his success. The KTFMC could not have made a better choice.” A native of Co. Mayo, Ireland, Hanley got involved in the Thoroughbred business managing Murray McDonnell's Whitechurch Farm and later began a training career while with the operation. He trained the likes of champion sprinter Lidana and trained a co-bred Grade I winner Golden Apples (Ire). The KTFMC will honor David Hanley at its annual Dinner Dance on Friday, Dec. 5, at The Carrick House in Lexington, Kentucky. Details for the 2025 KTFMC Dinner Dance will be announced at a later time. The post WinStar’s Hanley Named Ted Bates Farm Manager of the Year appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

A Gun Runner son (hip 177) of 'TDN Rising Star' Thoughtfully (Tapit) set off late fireworks just four hips from the end of Monday's opening session at Keeneland September when Peter Brant outlasted all comers to sign the ticket at $3,300,000. Bred by Hill n Dale Equine Holdings, Inc & Determined Stud, the colt's dam brought $950,000 herself as a broodmare at FTKNOV in 2019. M.V. Magnier and White Birch bought her first foal, a now 2-year-old son of Curlin, for $1,300,000 just one year ago as a yearling at Keeneland. The dam is a half to fellow 'Rising Stars' Signator (Tapit) and Bugle Notes (Ghostzapper). The post Gun Runner Colt A Late Session Topper At $3.3m For Brant appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Demand for progeny by Horse of the Year Flightline stayed strong throughout Monday's session of Keeneland September as a filly (hip 168) sold for $1,500,000 to Japan's Naohiro Sakaguchi. The filly is a daughter of 'TDN Rising Star' Taylor S (Medaglia d'Oro) who is herself a half-sister to both fellow 'Rising Star' Liam's Map (Unbridled's Song) and current hot sire Not This Time (Giant's Causeway). Bred by Albaugh Family Stables, she was consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency. Sakaguchi also struck earlier in the session for another Flightline, purchasing a colt out of Mira Alta for $1.7m. The post Flightline Craze Continues With Another Seven-Figure Filly appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Edited Press Release Metrics Equine LLC is pleased to announce the addition of Scott Williamson to its international team. As part of his role with Metrics, Scott will evaluate cardio potential, mechanical efficiency, and compatibility with other bloodlines and physical types for yearlings, 2-year-olds in training, and breeding stock in America, Australia, and New Zealand. Originally from Epsom, England, Scott has developed and honed his skills and experience working in the Thoroughbred industry around the world for more than 25 years. A graduate of Writtle College with an HND in Equine Studies, Scott has held positions at many of the world's leading breeding, sales, and racing operations, including Coolmore in Ireland, Darley in England, and Lane's End in the U.S. Scott has spent the last 17 years in Australia. During this time, he has been farm manager at Musk Creek Farm, at Yulong, and at Twin Palms; assistant manager at Edinglassie Stud in the Hunter Valley; and wet mare manager at the iconic Widden Stud. In Lexington for the Keeneland September sales, Scott will be available to meet clients and friends, old and new. To contact him, please ring him at (+61) 0435 851 661 (Aus phone) or email at sewilliamson80@gmail.com. The post Scott Williamson Joins Metrics Equine appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

On the Sept. 8 episode of BloodHorse Monday: Affirmed's jockey Steve Cauthen is the breeder of grade 2 winner Bear River, the Keeneland September Yearling Sale begins, Horseshoe Indianapolis prepares for stakes races on Sept. 10 card.View the full article

Some Arizona-breds will be allowed to race in restricted races in New Mexico.View the full article

Scott Heider went to an even $2,000,000 to secure a Hinkle Farms-bred daughter of Not This Time (hip 144) to set a new high-water mark Monday at Keeneland September. The filly is out of Stave whose current 2-year-old Matenro Hour (Constitution) brought $1,100,000 at this same sale just last year from Yuichi Fukunaga. This is the immediate family of First Samurai siblings MGISP Tarabi and GISP Shivaji along with recent GI Santa Anita Derby third Westwood (Authentic). HIP 144, f. by NOT THIS TIME, hammers for $2 MILLION to set the session mark on Day 1! The filly, out of stakes placed mare Stave, was bred and consigned by @Hinkle_Farms! Sold to Heider Family Stables alongside agent David Lanigan! Congrats to all and best of luck! pic.twitter.com/r7tITkFIUV — Taylor Made Stallions (@TMStallions) September 8, 2025 The post Not This Time Filly Another Million-Dollar Foal Out Of Hinkle Farms Mare Stave appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The 2025-2026 Road to the Kentucky Derby kicks off this weekend with the running of the GIII Iroquois Stakes going the one-turn mile at Churchill Downs on Sept. 13. The Road to the Kentucky Derby, launched in 2013, awards a scale of points to the top five finishers in selected qualifying races between September and April. The leaderboard determines the preference list for entry into the GI Kentucky Derby, limited to 20 runners. Up to three horses from overseas may qualify for the Derby. In addition to the 36-race Road to the Kentucky Derby, the Euro/Mideast Road to the Kentucky Derby series concludes with the G3 UAE Derby and can produce up to two invitations to the top point-getters. The four-race Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby awards one berth in the Run for the Roses. The Road to the Kentucky Oaks, featuring 33 qualifying races, also begins Sept. 13 with the running of the one-mile GIII Pocahontas Stakes. The post Iroquois Kicks Off 2025-2026 Road To the Kentucky Derby appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-bred horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Tuesday's Observations features 'TDN Rising Star' Zanthos. 2.50 Leicester, Novice, 2yo, f, 7fT ZANTHOS (Sioux Nation) has so far done everything perfectly, from making €1 million at Arqana's May Breeze-Up to earning 'TDN Rising Star' status on debut at Newmarket, and now has to take the second step under a penalty for that impressive intro. Simon and Ed Crisford are keen to get more education into Victorious Forever's Rockfel and Fillies' Mile entry, but this is not a case of turn up and collect with Shadwell's exciting Owen Burrows-trained Newbury debut winner Touleen (Lope De Vega) and Newsells Park Stud's newcomer Lady Roisia (St Mark's Basilica) in attendance. The latter, a Ralph Beckett-trained daughter of the Oaks heroine Talent (New Approach), topped the 2023 Tattersalls December Sale at 575,000gns and was the highest-priced foal sold that year. 4.05 Galway, Mdn, 2yo, 8f 98yT ARCHERS BAY (Wootton Bassett) debuts for Ballydoyle in a maiden the stable have won with Trinity College, Grosvenor Square, Kyprios and Sovereign in recent times. A son of the Irish 1,000 Guineas third Foxtrot Liv (Foxwedge), he encounters the Niarchos Family's fellow newcomer Big Cypress (Dubawi), a Joseph O'Brien-trained half-brother to the G3 Ballysax Stakes winner and Irish Derby runner-up Piz Badile (Ulysses). The post Arqana May Millionaire Zanthos Reappears at Leicester appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

A Tapit filly out of GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf winner and 'TDN Rising Star' Sharing (Speightstown) sold to Mandy Pope's Whisper Hill Farm for $1,500,000. Bred and consigned by Gainesway, the filly has plenty of Breeders' Cup in her pedigree with second dam Shared Account (Pleasantly Perfect) taking the GI Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf in her racing career. Sharing has already produced one winner, the 3-year-old Into Mischief filly Sharedashenanigans. The post Tapit Daughter Of Sharing To Whisper Hill Farm For $1.5m appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Twelve months after his full-brother–now named Boom Bap Beat–fetched $1.25 million in this sales pavilion, hip 76, a colt by Into Mischief out of 2019 GII Black-Eyed Susan Stakes winner Point of Honor (Curlin), one-upped his sibling when the hammer dropped at $1.5 million during Monday's opening session of the Keeneland September Yearling Sale in Lexington. Coolmore was the successful bidder. A Feb. 15 foal, the bay colt was bred by Jon Clay's Alpha Delta Stable, and is the second of three foals from Point of Honor, a half-sister to Grade I winner Wicked Whisper (Liam's Map), who was also placed four times at Grade I level. Point of Honor produced a colt by Not This Time this term. Boom Bap Beat was purchased last year by Japanese trainer Mitsu Nakauchida, who has sent out a pair of high-profile maiden winners over the last two weekends, including 'TDN Rising Star' Magna Victor (Maxfield) this past Saturday. The post Into Mischief Colt Another Seven-Figure Seller For Alpha Delta appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

A colt by Not This Time (hip 66) sold for $1,600,000 Monday to Windancer Farms. Out of MSP Out Post, the colt is a half-brother to 'TDN Rising Star' and MGSP Jace's Road (Quality Road). He was bred in Kentucky by Colts Neck Stables and consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency. The post Windancer Farms Picks Up Not This Time Colt For $1.6m appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The fourth of a five-week series recognizing Woodbine's most iconic stakes races, the latest "Woodbine Week" shines the spotlight on the Woodbine Mile (G1T), Natalma (G1T), and Summer (G1T) stakes which are among five graded stakes Sept. 13.View the full article

Classic winner Marhaba Ya Sanafi (Muhaarar) and multiple Group 2 scorer Sibayan (Blame) headline the initial entries for the Arqana Arc Sale, which will be held at Saint-Cloud Racecourse on Saturday, October 4. Last year four lots sold for a seven-figure sum, including Deutsches Derby hero Palladium (Gleneagles), who went the way of Highflyer Bloodstock, on behalf of Lady Bamford, for €1.4 million. This year's sale will again offer the unique opportunity to buy a Classic-winning stallion prospect at public auction, with Marhaba Ya Sanafi, who won the 2023 edition of the Poule d'Essai des Poulains, set to go through the ring as lot 50. The Andreas Schutz trainee also won last year's Prix Bertrand du Breuil, while his best efforts this season include a runner-up finish in the latest running of that Group 3 contest. As well as the four-year-old Sibayan (lot 21), the winner of this year's G2 Prix Maurice de Nieuil and G2 Grand Prix de Deauville, the Aga Khan Studs will offer Marhaba Ya Sanafi's Prix Bertrand du Breuil conqueror Zabiari (Wootton Bassett) (lot 43) and this year's G3 Prix de Fontainebleau victor Ridari (Churchill) (lot 56). Last year the Aga Khan Studs sold the high-class Zarir (Frankel) to Vin Cox, on behalf of Paulins Racing, for €1.3 million. In total, 36 horses have been catalogued for the Arc Sale, with a series of wildcards expected to be added in the coming days and weeks. Other notable entries among the three-year-old contingent include the Listed Prix Moonlight Cloud winner Cacofonix (Lope De Vega) (lot 17); G2 Premio Grand Criterium scorer and G1 Deutsches Derby third Lazio (Make Believe) (lot 18); G3 Prix de Noailles winner Uther (Camelot) (lot 34); Listed Prix Caravelle heroine and G2 Prix de Malleret third Rabbit's Foot (Golden Horde) (lot 51); and Listed Prix de la Californie winner Silius (Dubawi) (lot 57), who has also filled the runner-up spot this season in the G3 Prix Djebel and G3 Prix Paul de Moussac. Elsewhere, the recent Listed Criterium du Fonds Europeen de l'Elevage winner Campacite (Zarak) (lot 41) headlines the promising two-year-olds set to go under the hammer, with the full catalogue available to view here. The post Elite Performers Marhaba Ya Sanafi and Sibayan to be Offered at Arqana Arc Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Another son (hip 45) from the first crop of Horse of the Year Flightline broke the seven-figure mark when Japan's Naohiro Sakaguchi went to $1,700,000 to secure the half-brother to GSW Promise Keeper (Constitution), SW/GSP Wicked Awesome (Awesome Again) and GSP War Stopper (Declaration of War). Bred by Rock Ridge Thoroughbreds, the colt was consigned by Warrendale Sales. His first dam is a half-sister to GI Lane's End Breeders' Futurity Stakes winner Great Hunter (Aptitude) while another half-sister produced MGSW/MGISP Owendale (Into Mischief). Rock Ridge purchased the mare for $200,000 as a broodmare at KEENOV in 2015. The post Another Flightline Colt Breaks Seven Figures, Bringing $1.7m appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The Flightline half-brother (hip 10) to dual Breeders' Cup winner and young sire Golden Pal (Uncle Mo) brought $1,500,000 from John Stewart's Resolute Racing. Consigned by VanMeter Sales as agent and bred by Randall E. Lowe, the colt named Stock Rising was the first Flightline yearling through the ring at Keeneland September's opening session Monday. Stewart made a strong winning bid, jumping the price from $1.25m straight to $1.5m to secure the son of MSW/GISP Lady Shipman (Midshipman). Resolute making fireworks early to score Hip 10 @keenelandsales A Flightline colt out of Lady Shipman consigned by @VanMeterSales pic.twitter.com/v5rog5BkHj — Resolute Racing (@resracingky) September 8, 2025 #KeeSept Book 1, Session 1 Results: A Flightline half-brother to GOLDEN PAL, out of Lady Shipman, sells for $1.5 million to @jstewartrr's @resracingky. Hip 10 was consigned by @VanMeterSales. pic.twitter.com/yhqnxvlUlx — TDN (@theTDN) September 8, 2025 The post Resolute Racing Goes To $1.5m For Flightline Half To Golden Pal appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Tattersalls Online is set to stage its inaugural Yearling Session as part of the Tattersalls Online November Sale on November 18-19. Open to all yearlings, the session has been designed to provide an affordable and accessible route for vendors looking to sell their yearlings. It will also be available to any lot which goes unsold or is withdrawn from any Tattersalls yearling sale held this autumn. All yearlings offered in the session will be sold with a pre-sale five-stage veterinary certificate and the online repository will be available to vendors wishing to upload additional information. Tattersalls Online sales manager Katherine Sheridan said, “The introduction of a dedicated yearling session to the Tattersalls Online November Sale is a natural progression of the continued development of our online sales. We are committed to providing accessible and affordable opportunities to vendors to showcase their yearlings to a truly global audience. “Our proven and trusted platform has already demonstrated its capacity to deliver significant results and we are confident the inaugural yearling session will build on these successes whilst further enhancing the breadth and depth of the Tattersalls sales portfolio.” Entries for the Tattersalls Online Yearling Sale Session are now open and will close on Friday, October 31, ahead of the initial entries being published online on Wednesday, November 5. An enhanced entry fee package of £300 + VAT will be available for this session, including professional photos and videos, whilst the standard entry fee of £160 + VAT is also available. The post Tattersalls Online Launch Inaugural Yearling Session appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article