Wandering Eyes

Trainer Tony Gollan has earmarked the Gr.1 Cox Plate (2040m) as the long-range target for star galloper Antino (NZ) (Redwood) after a stunning victory in the Gr.1 Doomben Cup (2000m) on Saturday. Paired with Blake Shinn, the six-year-old son of Redwood has thrived with a pattern of circling the field and dashing for home early and the tactics again paid full dividends as the near-black gelding surged to a four length triumph over Fawkner Park (Zoffany) and Kovalica (NZ) (Ocean Park). Campaigned predominantly as a sprinter-miler throughout his career, Antino has successfully made the transition to a middle distance galloper this campaign and is the 12th horse to land the Hollindale Stakes-Doomben Cup double. Antino completed the 2000m in a slick 2:00.88, aided by the usual front-running tactics of Pride Of Jenni (Pride Of Dubai), with the star mare labouring into tenth. “He is the best horse I have trained,” Gollan said. “I said that a couple of seasons ago before he won a Group One and I was looking like a bit of a fool there and then he finally won the Toorak (Gr.1, 1600m) in dominant fashion. “To run a track record today, gee a lot of good horses have won Doomben Cups, he puts himself in rare air now and I think he can really go on with it in the spring in Melbourne. “He is a genuine weight-for-age horse, genuine at 2000m and there is a lot to look forward to. Everything is now set toward the Cox Plate with him. “What we have seen today is pretty special. He is a very good horse, we’ve got a world-class jockey and I have got a world-class team helping get him ready.” Winning rider Blake Shinn was delighted to be able to showcase the class of the locally-trained Antino on the big stage in Queensland. “He’s some horse. He told me when he wanted to get rolling about the half mile when I just pulled him off Osipenko’s back and it was time to go, and it was a great feeling,” Shinn said. “He went from about seven (lengths) off them to have the race at his mercy about the 400m and I knew he’d keep that gallop up. “It’s great for Queensland racing to witness Antino at his best here today. It’s great for Tony Gollan, and it’s great to showcase a horse of his ilk. It’s special to be on him.” Bred by George Kit Ma’s Blossom Trading & Breeding Company Ltd, Antino is by Westbury Stud stallion Redwood. Out of a full-sister to Group One gallopers Hurrah (NZ) (Bahhare) and Best Gift (NZ) (Bahhare), Antino’s dam Mahamaya was purchased for just $3,000 in foal to Redwood at the 2018 Karaka May Sale by Logan Salvador on behalf of Ma. Antino was purchased for $27,000 by his Hong Kong-based owner Jeetu Ramchandani under his New Balance Racing banner at the 2020 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale. Antino advanced his record to 13 wins from 26 starts with a further six placings and prizemoney of A$3,108,865 with plenty still to come from the exciting galloper. View the full article

In its second year at the Spa while Belmont Park is rebuilt, the Belmont Stakes (G1) will be contested at the 1 1/4-mile distance, making it more attractive to breeders and stud farms than the mile-and-a-half Belmont Stakes. View the full article

Ten-time Group One hero will not parade in front of fans on Sunday after scans reveal ‘potential changes’ in one of his legs.View the full article

Last year’s Gr.1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m) winner Pulchritudinous landed her first blow across the Tasman with a gritty victory in the Gr.3 Magic Millions Fillies & Mares Mile (1600m) at Doomben on Saturday for trainers Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott. The four-year-old daughter of Wrote was having her fourth run since being sold out of Chad Ormsby’s stable and despite sitting three-wide throughout fought doggedly under jockey Tim Clark to defeat Adiella and Exotique Miss. “She a lovely mare,” Bott said. “We’re very fortunate to have her in the yard. “Obviously she was very talented in New Zealand through her three-year-old career but it has taken a bit longer to get her into a bit of form and used to the conditions over here. “We’re thankful that Yulong are more than happy to be patient with her and she has come back in good shape. A nice first-up run there and it opens a few options for her going forward.” Pulchritudinous ran well when fifth to Vibrant Sun in the Gr.1 Australasian Oaks (2000m) when she first transferred to the Waterhouse-Bott stable but disappointed in her two subsequent runs. “We’d like to give her a couple of runs up here and she’ll thrive in the conditions. They suit her well and she’s very lightly raced,” Bott said. “I want to see her getting up in trip and she’ll keep improving. I think today’s performance was going to determine which way she’d go. “Whether this lifts our sights a bit more, we’ll try and think about the residual value for Yulong and see if we can add to that going forward. Importantly she is back in good shape today. “Her trial coming in was the best we’d seen since her arrival, so it’s very encouraging.” Bred by Milan Park’s Tony Rider, Pulchritudinous is by Highview Stud stallion Wrote, a Grade One winning son of High Chaparral. Out of the Pentire mare Showus, who has left three other winners, Pulchritudinous was purchased by Chad Ormsby from the Milan Park draft at New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sale for $32,500 and she was subsequently passed in when reoffered at the Ready to Run Sale. After her New Zealand Oaks victory, Pulchritudinous was sold privately in a deal brokered by bloodstock agent Phill Cataldo in conjunction with the Waterhouse-Bott team. View the full article

The $120,000 Listed Opunake Cup (1400m) at New Plymouth on July 19 is looming on the horizon for course specialist Chajaba (NZ) (Keano), who added another win to his remarkable record at the track on Saturday. Chajaba is now an eight-time winner from 28 career starts, and Saturday’s Seaton Park (1400m) was his sixth win from only 14 appearances at New Plymouth. The eight-year-old son of Keano was assigned a testing topweight of 60kg for Saturday’s feature sprint, but Egan eased that burden with apprentice jockey Elle Sole’s 3kg claim. Sole gave Chajaba a perfect run, settling in third place on the inside as Old Town Road (NZ) (El Roca) led the field up to the home turn. While most of the field fanned away from the rail in search of better footing, Sole saved crucial ground by sticking to the fence around the bend. Chajaba had made the lead by the time he straightened for home, and the chestnut gelding kicked hard at the 300m mark. Unfazed by the sticky Soft7 conditions, Chajaba scooted clear and put a space between himself and the chasers. Chajaba kept up a strong gallop all the way to the finish, holding on to beat the late-closing Make Time (NZ) (Makfi) by three-quarters of a length. Soldier Boy (NZ) (Proisir) crossed the line another three lengths away in third. “That was fantastic,” said Egan, who also co-bred and part-owns the $180,000 earner. “It was a good ride and a very good performance from the horse. “He loves this track at New Plymouth, he’s won six races here now. They’ve been saying the track is quite sticky today, and he likes those sorts of conditions too, so it looked like a really good race for him today and I was quite confident coming into it. The only worry was the weight, but he did a great job. “I haven’t looked much further ahead than this race, but I might have to back off him for a while and then just set him for the Opunake Cup in July. I don’t want him to have to carry too much weight in that race, so it’ll probably make sense not to give him too many runs between now and then.” View the full article

Group One winner Velocious (Written Tycoon) bounced back to her brilliant best in the Jarvis Trading (1100m) at Te Rapa on Saturday, raising the possibility of a trans-Tasman mission. The Stephen Marsh-trained filly was New Zealand’s champion two-year-old last season, when she won four of her six starts, including the Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m) and the Gr.1 Sistema Stakes (1200m). Her three-year-old season has been an up-and-down journey for her connections. There was a wind operation in the spring, then a smart first-up win at Te Aroha in March, then a luckless run in the Gr.3 Cambridge Breeders’ Stakes (1200m) and a disappointing fifth after a costly slow start at Ellerslie last Saturday. Trainer Stephen Marsh and owners Go Racing decided to roll the dice and run Velocious in Saturday’s $40,000 sprint feature on a seven-day turnaround, and the gamble paid off. Velocious jumped much better this time around, and her jockey, Michael McNab took up a handy position in third along the fence as Shoes (NZ) (Derryn) and Illicit Dreams (NZ) (Vancouver) showed the way through the early stages. Shoes rolled off the rail in the home straight and opened up a dream run for Velocious. McNab drove the Written Tycoon filly through that gap, and she showed her true colours, dashing to the front and winning by a length from Shoes and Pokuru Gold (NZ) (Darci Brahma). “That was great to see,” Marsh said. “We had been thinking about taking her to Australia, but we wanted a better result than that last-start run at Ellerslie to give us the confidence to have a crack at Brisbane. “We saw a nice week of weather leading into Te Rapa and a suitable race today, and we saw how well the filly came through her last-start run. We thought, ‘Bugger it, let’s back her up and see how she goes.’ It worked out perfectly. “She was her own worst enemy at Ellerslie. She was the first one loaded into the gates and did a lot wrong and ended up getting too far off them against a good field. I think she might also have resented the crossover nose band, which came off today. “This performance was exactly what we were hoping to see. I briefly thought she might be hesitant to take the gap in the straight, but then she quickened through it. I think that might be a real confidence boost for her.” Marsh is now keen to give Velocious a shot at the Queensland Winter Carnival. “Depending on how she comes through this, there’s a race at Eagle Farm in a couple of weeks that might be worth having a really good look at,” he said. That potential target is the A$200,000 Listed Queensland Day Stakes (1200m), for three-year-olds at set weights, which will be run on June 7. Velocious was bred by Inglewood Stud and offered in their draft in Book 1 of Karaka 2023, where Go Racing bought her for $190,000. She has now had 12 starts for six wins, a placing, and $980,550 in stakes. View the full article

Trainer John Sargent has a soft-spot for handy stayer Causal Connection, who once again relished the heavy track conditions at Randwick on Saturday as he notched win number eight of his career when successful in the PF Civil Handicap (2400m). Ridden positively by apprentice Molly Bourke, the six-year-old son of Complacent maintained a strong gallop to the line after being left in front 600m from home and defeated the fast-finishing Wuddzz, also a son of Complacent, by nearly three-lengths. “I own this horse with some friends from New Zealand and he’s been a great horse, especially in this type of ground,” a delighted Sargent said. “He’s got to get rolling and Molly knows him well and rode him a treat today. When he’s up there bowling he can keep staying.” Casual Connection contested last year’s Gr.2 Brisbane Cup (3200m) where he finished down the track on an unfavourable surface. “I wouldn’t take him (to Brisbane) again, he’s getting older now, unless it was wet,” Sargent said. “He went last year and it was rock hard and he didn’t like it. We’ll just tick along for a few weeks and see what the Winter does.” The victory was also important for Bourke as she chases an apprentice premiership, which is headed by Braith Nock. “He absolutely thrives in these conditions, and he was really tough today,” Bourke said. “He just needed everything to go his way. He’s a momentum horse so as long as nothing in front of him coming into the straight he’s usually really hard to run down.” By former Mapperley Stud stallion Complacent, Casual Connection is out of the three-win O’Reilly mare Casual Fling and is raced by the Davisons of Mapperley Stud in conjunction with the Sargent family. The stayer has now won A$481,175 in prizemoney with eight wins and 10 placings from 42 starts to date. View the full article

Progressive three-year-old gelding Taken showed his fighting qualities over the concluding stages of the Sportsbet More Places Handicap (1600m) at Sandown on Saturday when repelling the challenge of Detroit City. The Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr-trained galloper was sent out the $4.20 favourite in the hands of Jamie Melham and was given a perfect ride outside the leader. When asked for an effort mid-straight, the son of Ardrossan kept finding for Melham, who cajoled enough from the gelding as she defeated her husband Ben on the runner-up. Originally prepared in New Zealand by Sam Mynott, Taken was sold to the Price-Kent stable following a trial win at Tauranga. Since crossing the Tasman, Taken has not been out of the money in seven starts, with Saturday his second career victory to go with five placings. “He’s done well this preparation,” Price said. The last preparation, I didn’t think he got 1400m and now he’s getting a mile with four and a bit weeks between runs. “We were a bit perplexed by the barrier (11), but Jamie had it worked out in her head and the ride helped win the race. “It was his first try at the mile and he toughed it right out, so he has got a nice bright future if he is well-placed.” The A$150,000 Silver Bowl Series Final (1600m) for three-year-olds at Flemington on July 5 shapes as a target for Taken. “I think space between runs helps and the mile is OK and certainly that’s where they funnel the three-year-olds, so he will be a big chance to present there,” Price said. Jamie Melham brought up a race-to-race double on Taken and has bragging rights in the Melham household tonight. “I didn’t realise it was him (Ben) and if I did, I would have tried harder,” she quipped. “It was a very good effort by this horse. I galloped him on Tuesday and said he’s just a bit of a weirdo with his head. He always gets his head up when you let him off the bridle and the team listened and then put the nose roll on him. “I’m not saying it was the reason why he won, but it definitely helped him. He was very tractable the whole race. “He had to do more work than I wanted to early, so it was a nice win in the end. “They were a bit worried about the mile and having to do work on him, but I think he just shouts 2000m every day. Especially because he can land on pace and he can settle and drop the bit and doesn’t spend a penny, so onwards and upwards.” By Waikato Stud’s emerging young sire Ardrossan, Taken is out of the Henrythenavigator mare Katherine Wright and stems from the same family as Ardrossan’s Group Three winner and Queensland Derby hope Beau Dazzler. Taken was bred by the Dewar Partnership, which was put together to support Ardrossan when he launched at stud by some people who raced the Group One performed son of Redoute’s Choice. The Dewar Partnership is managed and part-owned by Bruce Perry with Lib Petagna the majority supporter along with Max Brown, Tony Joyce and Dave and Nicki Wilson. View the full article

Promising three-year-old Ribkraka (NZ) (Ribchester) thrived on a change of venue to deliver a front-running victory for Wexford Stables trainers Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott at New Plymouth on Saturday. Entered for both the AB Electrical 3YO (1400m) at New Plymouth as well as a similar three-year-old contest a Te Rapa, O’Sullivan and Scott rolled the dice and sent the son of Ribchester down country and it paid off handsomely as Khavish Chowdhoory had him rolling from barrier rise and looking the winner a long way out. Chowdhoory applied the pressure rounding the home bend and Ribkraka shot five lengths clear in the twinkling of an eye before easing down slightly to score by three lengths over gallant local Meloni (NZ) (Ghibellines), who chased diligently throughout. O’Sullivan was at Te Rapa with Scott but took time out to watch the race on television and got the perfect result. “We had him in at Te Rapa which always looked like it was going to come up as a pretty decent surface (Soft6),” O’Sullivan said. “We know this guy can handle it wet so we rolled the dice and sent him down the Island where the track looked like it would be a little more testing. “Khavish did a good job as he got him away nicely from a low barrier and dictated the speed to a nicety. The track looked like it was playing in favour of those up front on the speed and that was how it panned out. “He is a promising horse and with that ability on wetter tracks should be well served whatever we do next with him.” The victory was the second on the day for O’Sullivan and Scott who also took out the open mile event at Te Rapa with Uderzo. Bred by John Alexander, who shares in his ownership with a large group of Wexford clients, Ribkraka is out of the lightly raced mare Tickle Me (NZ), a daughter of supreme South Island sprinter Ticklish (NZ) who won eight races including the Listed Timaru Stakes (1200m) and Listed Pegasus Stakes (1000m) View the full article

Underrated galloper Uderzo (NZ) (Vadamos) took up pacemaking duties at Te Rapa on Saturday for the first time in his career, and it proved a masterstroke for trainers Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott as he never looked like being headed in the KPMG 1600 (1600m). The six-year-old gelding is far better known as a get back and charge home type so many were surprised when apprentice Rihaan Goyaram bounced him straight to the front and set up a leisurely tempo from race favourite Witz End (NZ) (Savabeel). It was evident from 800m out that the son of Vadamos was going to be hard to peg back as he controlled affairs in front and turned for home with a handy two-length lead. Witz End chased hard as did his late closing stablemate Roederer (NZ) (Turn Me Loose), but it was all in vain as Uderzo kept up a powerful gallop to hit the line nearly four lengths to the good of the Tony Pike-trained pair in a moderate 1.37.46 for the 1600m journey. O’Sullivan and Scott felt it was time to change tactics with Uderzo, who had not had much luck of late in some handy fields. “We thought with the apprentice claim (3kgs) he could go forward and make it hard for the rest of them,” O’Sullivan said. “He relaxed really well and didn’t reef or pull, which has been his downfall in the past. “He hasn’t had much racing luck at times so we thought if we could even up the playing field a little by getting him forward and out of trouble he might recapture his best form and he showed today what he is capable of. “We will wait until we get him home before deciding on whether we give him another run or put him away for a break. “He will be back next season and with a new trick in his bag we will have a lot of fun with him.” Purchased by Wexford Stables for $125,000 out of Rich Hill Stud’s 2020 Book1 draft at the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale, Uderzo has now won five of his 30 starts and over $235,000 in prizemoney. Out of the Pentire mare Etosha Lass (NZ), his extended family includes brilliant Australian sprinter and successful stallion Canny Lad who took out the 1990 Gr.1 Golden Slipper (1200m) along with a host of notable Australian Group One winners including Camarena, Canny Lass, Guelph and Sepoy. View the full article

The powerful jumping stable of Hastings trainers Paul Nelson and Corrina McDougal sprung to life for the 2025 season on Saturday with a feature double at Te Rapa. Nelson and McDougal secured their first jumps success of the winter with the up-and-comer Taika (NZ) (Mettre en Jeu) in the $40,000 Jones Trucking Hurdle (2800m). Just over an hour later, seven-time hurdle winner Nedwin (NZ) (Niagara) made a seamless switch to the bigger fences in the $40,000 Dunstan Horsefeeds Steeplechase (3900m). Both winners carried the colours of the meeting’s major sponsor. “It’s a thrill to win with those Dunstan colours on,” Nelson said. “Dave Smith has been a good mate of mine for a long time and is a huge supporter of racing.” There was plenty of interest in Saturday’s steeplechase debut for Nedwin, whose outstanding hurdling CV featured wins in the Great Northern Hurdle (4200m), Waikato Hurdle (3200m), Pakuranga Hunt Hurdle (3200m) and two editions of the Wellington Hurdle (3400m). The Niagara gelding was sent out as a $2.40 favourite for Saturday’s steeplechase debut, in which he was ridden by comeback jockey Mathew Gillies. Nedwin jumped his first couple of fences in bold style and took up an early lead before being passed by Kentucky Boy (NZ) (Jakkalberry) as the field came down the side of the track in the first lap. Nedwin pressed forward again and regained the lead going past the start point in the back straight, but he was soon joined by a new challenger in Leitrim Lad (NZ) (Tavistock). That runner appeared to be travelling better and clearly headed the favourite coming into the home turn. But just when Nedwin looked beaten, he flipped that script with an outstanding leap over the final fence. Nedwin suddenly shook free of Leitrim Lad and pulled away, going on to win by three and a half lengths from the strong-finishing Renegade Fighter (NZ) (Zed). “That was very good,” Nelson said. “He’s a classy jumper and he showed that today. He obviously loved those steeplechase fences. “He’s been a quality hurdler for a number of years. We considered switching to steeplechases with him last year, but he was going that well in his hurdle races that we put the idea on hold. It was always our intention to give him a chase quite quickly this time around, and this one looked like the right one. “We’ve got plenty of the winter left in front of us, so we’ll see how he does after this race before considering where we go with him next.” Gillies has recently resumed riding after spending a number of years on the sidelines. Before Saturday’s success with Nedwin, his last win came aboard Guy Fox (NZ) (Zed) in a hurdle race at Riccarton in August of 2019. “It’s a really good feeling,” Gillies said. “This horse jumped so well today, and the winning of the race was the way he jumped the last. I thought the other horse was going better than us coming into the straight and we might have to settle for second, but his last jump was amazing.” Nelson and McDougal’s other success on Saturday came with Taika, who collected his fourth win from 13 starts over hurdles with an impressive performance in the Jones Trucking Hurdle. After enjoying a comfortable run just behind the customary pacemaker English Gambler (Casino Prince), Taika and his stablemate Dictation (NZ) (Tavistock) warmed into their work and loomed on the outside of that rival coming into the straight. English Gambler still had plenty left in the tank and fought back strongly, but Taika gradually got the better of him through the final 300m and edged ahead to win by a length and three-quarters. “That was a good run and a very good ride by Dean Parker,” Nelson said. “This horse ran a nice race on the flat the other day (fourth at Rotorua on May 10), which he hadn’t done for a while. He loves the jumping, so hopefully it’s onwards and upwards from here.” Last winter was a breakthrough campaign for Taika, who won the Pakuranga Hunt Hurdle (3200m) and finished third in the Great Northern Hurdle (4200m), second in the Hawke’s Bay Hurdle (3100m) and third in the Wellington Hurdle (3200m) and Awapuni Hurdle (3000m). View the full article

Good looking colt Geneva (NZ) (Time Test) looked to have a bright future for owners Jomara Bloodstock as he powered home to make a winning debut in the Direct Fats & Oils 2YO (1100m) at Te Rapa. The Kylie Hoskin-prepared son of Time Test came into the contest off the back of three trials, two of which he won including the last at Ruakaka over 1050m last month. Despite plenty of confidence in the Hoskin camp and from rider Kelly Myers, Geneva was somewhat overlooked by punters as he started at an $8 Fixed Odds quote behind race winner Lubeck (Hanseatic) ($2.10) and another debutant in Kusuda Rush (Xtravagent) ($5). Myers had her mount away nicely from an inside barrier (3) and settled comfortably in fifth as Al Azhar (NZ) (US Navy Flag) and Lubeck set up a steady pace. Lubeck quickly took control inside the 300m but Geneva moved quickly alongside out wider and gradually drew clear from Lubeck to win comfortably by a length with Kusuda Rush making nice ground along the rail for third. Hoskin was delighted her charge could deliver on the promise he had shown the stable. “He has done everything right at the trials, we really like him and have always rated him,” Hoskin said. “To see him come out and do it like that, especially against a filly who I think is very good, is just great to see. “This is my first horse for Jomara Bloodstock and it is a great way to get things started.” Hoskin is looking forward to watching her charge develop as she looks towards his three-year-old season. “It’s so nice it is a good track here today as it makes it much easier to plot a path for him going into the Spring,” she said. “We will be springing out of bed pretty easily now.” Myers was also suitably impressed but admitted she had been full of confidence beforehand. “He is a lovely horse with a really good attitude,” she said. “He took everything in his stride and you would have thought he had been out there one hundred times. “He didn’t get away super clean but was very professional in running and when I asked him, he really stretched out. “I thought he was paying good money based on his trials and when I saw him today, I was delighted. “He has plenty of scope about him and you could see him in some of those better three-year-old races.” Bred by the Carter family under their Jomara Bloodstock banner, Geneva is out of Pierro mare Charli Rose (NZ) who is a daughter of stakes placed mare La Scala (NZ) (Bahhare), a half sister of dual Group One winner Final Destination (NZ) (O’Reilly). He is also closely related to Listed Anzac Mile (1600m) winner Mr Mojo Risin (NZ) (Deep Field) who also races in the Jomara Bloodstock colours. View the full article

The master of Ballydoyle has a four-strong squad prepared for Sunday’s feature simulcast race.View the full article

The 71-year-old thinks a change in jockey could be key for his charge at the Curragh on Saturday.View the full article

The 27-year-old is hoping to break his Group One duck in Hong Kong on the four-time top-level scorer.View the full article

Saturday, Curragh, post time: 15:40, TATTERSALLS IRISH 2,000 GUINEAS STAKES-G1, €290,000, 3yo, c/f, 8fT Field: Comanche Brave (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), Cosmic Year (GB) (Kingman {GB}), Expanded (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), Field Of Gold (Ire) (Kingman {GB}), Hotazhell (GB) (Too Darn Hot {GB}), Officer (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), Rashabar (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}), Scorthy Champ (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}), Windlord (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}). TDN Verdict: Newmarket's 2,000 Guineas runner-up Field Of Gold is the obvious pick on that form, which is generally key to this contest. He had glided in and out of the track's infamous dip in the Craven, but that was on easier ground than he encountered in the main event and it probably caught him and Kieran Shoemark out heading downhill. His finishing Hawk Wing-like surge marked him out as one of the Classic's more talented protagonists of recent times and if this comes down to talent alone he is home and hosed. His achilles heel is the widest draw and so Colin Keane may have to drop out and play on his killer kick, hoping for a strong pace which may not unfold. Aidan O'Brien's runners lack the usual oomph of the stable's Irish Guineas runners and perhaps the continued absence of Twain is coming at a cost, so the lead Irish hope could turn out to be Hotazhell. His sire is having one of those streaks at the moment and with a kind draw the G1 Futurity Trophy hero could get near the lead and play catch-me-if-you-can. Saturday, Haydock, post time: 15:30, BETFRED TEMPLE STAKES-G2, £125,000, 3yo/up, 5fT Field: Starlust (GB) (Zoustar {Aus}), American Affair (GB) (Washington DC {Ire}), Law Of Average (GB) (Pearl Secret {GB}), Rumstar (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}), Twilight Calls (GB) (Twilight Son {GB}), Washington Heights (GB) (Washington DC {Ire}), Electric Storm (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}), Mgheera (GB) (Zoustar {Aus}), She's Quality (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}), Vadream (GB) (Brazen Beau {Aus}), Grande Marques (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}). TDN Verdict: Last year's GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint winner Starlust has a stopping five-pound penalty to defy as well as being ring-rusty on this comeback, so a win would represent a significant achievement. Most of these are clustered tight together on form, with the G3 Prix de Saint-Georges scorer Mgheera possibly the one with the most upside. [Tom Frary]. Saturday, Haydock, post time: 15:00, BETFRED SANDY LANE STAKES-G2, £125,000, 3yo, 6fT Field: Ain't Nobody {Ire}) (Sands Of Mali {Fr}), Arizona Blaze (GB) (Sergei Prokofiev), Big Mojo (Ire) (Mohaather {GB}), Candy (GB) (Ardad {Ire}), Dash Dizzy (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), Kullazain (GB) (Hello Youmzain {Fr}), Powerful Glory (Ire) (Cotai Glory {GB}), Symbol Of Honour (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}), Arabian Dusk (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}), First Instinct (GB) (Bated Breath {GB}). TDN Verdict: Some G1 Commonwealth Cup hopes are put to the test and while Godolphin's Listed Carnarvon Stakes winner Symbol Of Honour won't be one of them given he is a gelding, he serves a dual purpose for connections. Here on merit after Saturday's impressive Newbury win, he will also provide a measure of what's in waiting for Shadow Of Light if he takes in the Royal sprint. This sees the return of the unbeaten G2 Mill Reef Stakes winner Powerful Glory, while the likes of the G3 Molecomb Stakes and G3 Pavilion Stakes winner Big Mojo lend the required gravity. [Tom Frary]. Saturday, Curragh, post time: 15:05, WEATHERBYS IRELAND GREENLANDS STAKES-G2, €72,000, 4yo/up, 6fT Field: Big Gossey (Ire) (Gutaifan {Ire}), Grand Grey (Ire) (Havana Grey {GB}), Iberian (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), James's Delight (Ire) (Invincible Army {Ire}), Lethal Levi (GB) (Lethal Force {Ire}), My Mate Alfie (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), Storm Boy (Aus) (Justify), Easy (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}), Vespertilio (Fr) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}). TDN Verdict: This sees the keenly-awaited European debut of Storm Boy, who bids to emulate the last Australian Ballydoyle recruit in this sphere, Merchant Navy, in winning this en route to Royal Ascot glory. Marginally the best of these on his Southern Hemisphere form, he might need the intro which could leave him vulnerable to the likes of Iberian, an unexposed sprinter who has shown class when winning the G2 Champagne Stakes as a 2-year-old. [Tom Frary]. Saturday, Klampenborg, Denmark, post time: 16:00, DE 5 STJERNER SCANDINAVIAN OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP-G3, DKr450,000, 3yo/up, 12fT Field: Irish Fire (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}), Ami De Vega (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), Ready Teddy (Ire) (Maxios {GB}), Hard One To Please (Ire) (Fast Company {Ire}), Mozart (Den) (Le Havre {Ire}), Ray's Moon (Swe) (Sea The Moon {Ger}), Go On Carlras (Swe) (Harzand {Ire}), Greenland (Ire) (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}). Saturday, Goodwood, post time: 14:05, BRITISH STALLION STUDS EBF COCKED HAT STAKES-Listed, £60,000, 3yo, c/g, 11f 44yT Field: Amiloc (GB) (Postponed {Ire}), Basalt (Ire) (Pinatubo {Ire}), Opportunity (GB) (Frankel {GB}), Palazzo Blu (Ire) (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}), Seaplane (GB) (Golden Horn {GB}), Sir Dinadan (Ire) (Camelot {GB}). TDN Verdict: Amiloc sets the standard on his clear-cut win in the track's John Dunlop Conditions Stakes earlier this month and that was over a mile, so who knows what he could achieve over a trip that is sure to suit on pedigree? William Haggas believes that the Haydock winner Opportunity could yet make the Derby and that will be good enough for most, while the Gosdens have an affinity with this prize and rely on Tycoon who carries the Stradivarius silks. [Tom Frary]. Saturday, Goodwood, post time: 15:15, BETGOODWIN HEIGHT OF FASHION STAKES-Listed, £60,000, 3yo, f, 9f 197yT Field: Janey Mackers (Ire) (New Bay {GB}), Manila Thriller (GB) (Rumble Inthejungle {GB}), Music Piece (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), Never Let Go (GB) (No Nay Never), Perfect Your Craft (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}), Queen Of Thieves (GB) (Frankel {GB}), Rhapsody (Ire) (Ghaiyyath {Ire}), Star Of Light (GB) (Frankel {GB}), Trad Jazz (GB) (Sea The Moon Ger}), Victoria Harbour (Ire) (Frankel {GB}). TDN Verdict: Ralph Beckett's 3-year-olds have just started to get going based on the excellent efforts of Pride Of Arras and Revoir last week, so the yard's unbeaten filly Perfect Your Craft must be respected in this late Oaks prep. This will be a much more suitable trip for Rhapsody than the mile over which she reappeared at Kempton in March and she could take a significant step forward. [Tom Frary]. Saturday, Bordeaux-Le Bouscat, France, post time: 14:50, 169TH DERBY DU MIDI-Listed, €55,000, 3yo, 9 1/2fT Field: Ghawar (Ire) (Le Havre {Ire}), Nizam (Fr) (Pinatubo {Ire}), Poschiavo (Fr) (Mehmas (Ire), Brise Noir (Fr) (Almanzor {Fr}), Spanish Prince (Fr) (Zelzal {Fr}), Euskadi (Fr) (City Light {Fr}), Dumonet (Ire) (Soldier Hollow {GB}), Wand And Power (Ire) (Without Parole {GB}), Without (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), Biak Lescribaa (Fr) (Robin Of Navan {Fr}), Thordis (Fr) (Earthlight {Ire}). TDN Verdict: Dumonet returns to the course and distance of his defeat of Poschiavo and stablemate Ghawar in the Prix Daniel Guestier conditions event last month. Brise Noir is sent across the Channel after his Windsor novice success, while the impressive Prix Torrestrella conditions event winner Want And Power adds intrigue. [Tom Frary]. Sunday, Curragh, post time: 15:40, TATTERSALLS IRISH 1,000 GUINEAS-G1, €290,000, 3yo, f, 8fT Field: Atsila (Ire) (Phoenix Of Spain {Ire}), California Dreamer (GB) (Mehmas {Ire}), Cercene (Ire) (Australia {GB}), City Of Memphis (Ire) (Sioux Nation), Duty First (GB) (Showcasing {GB}), Flight (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}), Jaliyah (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}), January (Ire) (Kingman {GB}), Lake Victoria (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), Simmering (GB) (Too Darn Hot {GB}), Swelter (GB) (Kingman {GB}), Tamam Desert (Ire) (Sea The Moon {Ger}). TDN Verdict: If it rains a lot, last year's champion Lake Victoria could be vulnerable with stamina for a stiff mile on easy ground not assured. That could open things up for the 1,000 Guineas runner-up Flight, but she had a tough race there and has to bounce back in a relatively short space of time against fresh rivals. One of those is the meticulously-prepared Swelter, winner of Leopardstown's 1,000 Guineas Trial in March who has been given time to get over those exploits by Dermot Weld. That could be a smart move given that the dam Hot Snap beat Sky Lantern handsomely in the Nell Gwyn all those years ago before bombing out behind her in the 1,000 Guineas. [Tom Frary]. Sunday, Curragh, post time: 15:05, TATTERSALLS GOLD CUP-G1, €300,000, 4yo/up, 10 1/2fT Field: Anmaat (Ire) (Awtaad {Ire}), Continuous (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}), Crypto Force (GB) (Time Test {GB}), Deepone (GB) (Study Of Man {Ire}), Ghostwriter (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), Los Angeles (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), Royal Rhyme (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), White Birch (GB) (Ulysses {Ire}), Kalpana (GB) (Study Of Man {Ire}). TDN Verdict: There are at least two strands to this renewal, with one being the G2 Mooresbridge Stakes rematch between Los Angeles and White Birch and the other being how Juddmonte's G1 British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes winner Kalpana and Shadwell's G1 Champion Stakes hero Anmaat impact the race. If the expected rain comes, the latter becomes very interesting but at the same time that makes it more of a stamina test which will suit the humourless galloper Los Angeles. There is no obvious classy Prince of Wales's type in this at first sight and this is a division that is crying out for something to make a mark. [Tom Frary]. Sunday, ParisLongchamp, France, post time: 15:45, PRIX D'ISPAHAN-G1, €250,000, 4yo/up, 9 1/4fT Field: Horizone Dore (Fr) (Dabirsim {Fr}), Sardinian Warrior (Ire) (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}), Alcantor (Fr) (New Bay {GB}), Carabelito (Fr) (Zarak {Fr}), Sosie (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), Elmalka (GB) (Kingman {GB}), Dare To Dream (Fr) (Camelot {GB}). TDN Verdict: Sosie looks to book his ticket to the Eclipse, having taken the G1 Prix Ganay on his seasonal bow, and add a third top-level success to his resume. The Gosdens have spotted an opportunity with the Listed Paradise Stakes winner Sardinian Warrior and he could well be up to this kind of test while last year's 1,000 Guineas heroine Elmalka really needs to start delivering having underwhelmed each time she has appeared since that Newmarket Classic. [Tom Frary]. Sunday, ParisLongchamp, France, post time: 16:28, PRIX VICOMTESSE VIGIER-G1, €400,000, 4yo/up, 15 1/2fT Field: Candelari (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), Dubai Future (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), Passion And Glory (Ire) (Cape Cross {Ire}), Sevenna's Knight (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), Presage Nocturne (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), Trueshan (Fr) (Planteur {Ire}), Double Major (Ire) (Daiwa Major {Jpn}), Internaute (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), Rouge Sellier (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}). TDN Verdict: With its proximity to the Gold Cup, the upgrading of this old favourite is one of the season's mysteries but there are some stalwarts here including the dual G1 Prix Royal Oak winner Double Major. Sevenna's Knight won this in its former guise as a Group 2 last year and may not have had to improve to do so again, but Godolphin's Dubai Future is unexposed as a stayer after his G2 Dubai Gold Cup success. [Tom Frary]. Sunday, Dusseldorf, Germany, post time: 16:38, HORN & COMPANY – 105TH GERMAN 1000 GUINEAS-G2, €125,000, 3yo, f, 8fT Field: Anshoda (Ire) (Inns Of Court {Ire}), D'Ores Et Deja (Fr) (Zarak {Fr}), Ellaria Sand (GB) (Sands Of Mali {Fr}), Flaming Stone (GB) (Kingman {GB}), Lady Ilze (GB) (Territories {Ire}), Pershing (Ger) (Areion {Ger}), Place Fontenoy (Fr) (War Command), Quebec (Ger) (Sea The Moon {Ger}), Santagada (GB) (Soldier Hollow {GB}). TDN Verdict: After mixing it with the likes of Mandanaba, Gezora and Audubon Park in her native France, Flaming Stone could find this a picnic but last week's German 2,000 Guineas told us that it is never wise to underestimate the domestic runners. They include Santagada, winner of Cologne's G3 Schwarzgold-Rennen, while another French raider D'Ores Et Deja has proven course-and-distance form having won the Listed Henkel-Stutenpreis. They are drawn one, two and three respectively in a Classic where that matters, with the standard-setting G3 Prestige Stakes winner Anshoda compromised in eight. [Tom Frary]. Sunday, Sha Tin, Hong Kong, post time: 16:10, STANDARD CHARTERED CHAMPIONS & CHATER CUP-G1, HK$13,000,000, 3yo/up, 2400mT Field: Voyage Bubble (Aus) (Deep Field {Aus}), Dubai Honour (Ire) (Pride Of Dubai {Aus}), Cap Ferrat (Aus) (Snitzel {Aus}), Ensued (Lemon Drop Kid), Moments In Time (Chi) (Lookin At Lucky), Rubylot (Aus) (Rubick {Aus}), Five G Patch (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), La City Blanche (Arg) (Cityscape {GB}), Winning Dragon (Chi) (Ivan Denisovich {Ire}), Bundle Award (Aus) (Shamus Award {Aus}). Click here for the preview. Sunday, Tokyo, Japan, post time: 15:40, YUSHUN HIMBA (JAPANESE OAKS)-G1, ¥286,000,000, 3yo, f, 2400mT Field: Arma Veloce (Jpn) (Harbinger {GB}), Reve de l'Opera (Jpn) (Maurice {Jpn}), Paradis Reine (Jpn) (Kizuna {Jpn}), Ai Sansan (Jpn) (Kizuna {Jpn}), Lynx Tip (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn}), Vip Daisy (Jpn) (Satono Diamond {Jpn}), Lesedrama (Jpn) (Kizuna {Jpn}), Saturday Sunrise (Jpn) (Declaration of War), Embroidery (Jpn) (Admire Mars {Jpn}), Taisei Princesse (Jpn) (Real Steel {Jpn}), Will Survive (Jpn) (Al Ain {Jpn}), Brown Ratchet (Jpn) (Kizuna {Jpn}), Tagano Abby (Jpn) (Animal Kingdom), Savonlinna (Jpn) (Satono Diamond {Jpn}), Kamunyaki (Jpn) (Black Tide {Jpn}), Go So Far (Jpn) (Kizuna {Jpn}), Kelly Fled Ask (Jpn) (Duramente {Jpn}), Erika Express (Jpn) (Epiphaneia {Jpn}). Click here for the preview. Click here for the complete fields. The post Black-Type Analysis: Irish Redemption For Field Of Gold? appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Hong Kong's group 1 season wraps up May 25 with the Champions & Chater Cup (G1), featuring two Hong Kong Derby winners and one international raider.View the full article

Neither jockey Flavien Prat or Umberto Rispoli will be sanctioned for their rides in a roughly run renewal of last Saturday's GI Preakness Stakes at Pimlico. Prat was aboard Goal Oriented (Not This Time) while Rispoli guided home the dramatic winner Journalism (Curlin). The two banged into each other in upper stretch and impeded the Steve Asmussen-trained Clever Again (American Pharaoh). Journalism went on to defeat longshot Gosger (Nyquist) by a half-length. Goal Oriented finished fourth, while the pacesetting Clever Again tired to finish last of nine. Stewards Adam Campola, Ross R. Pearce and Russel G. Derderian issued the following statement Friday on the Maryland Racing Commission website: “After reviewing the films and speaking with the riders involved, we, the presiding Stewards of the 150th running of the Preakness Stakes, came to the unanimous decision not to take action against Flavien Prat, rider of 4th-place finished Goal Oriented or Umberto Rispoli, rider of 1st-place finisher Journalism.” The post No Action Taken Against Preakness Jockeys Prat, Rispoli appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Mid-Atlantic-based trainer Rodolfo Sanchez-Salomon will face a pair of suspensions that total 60 days after admitting a recent TCO2 rule violation.View the full article

After speaking with jockeys Umberto Rispoli and Flavien Prat via telephone May 23 and reviewing the May 17 Preakness Stakes (G1), Maryland stewards elected not to sanction either jockey for their rides that resulted in bumping in early stretch.View the full article

The likes of last year's winner White Birch, Los Angeles, and Kalpana are likely to take on Ghostwriter in the May 25 Tattersalls Gold Cup (G1) at the Curragh, but trainer Clive Cox believes his 4-year-old will be lining up in tip-top condition.View the full article

Tattersalls Ireland, RATOATH – In a year where records tumbled at the major breeze-up sales in Europe, Tattersalls Ireland was not to be outdone with all of the key metrics soaring through the roof, including the highest-price ever paid for a horse at this breeze-up sale when Anthony Stroud went to €580,000 on behalf of KHK Racing to secure Yeomanstown Stud's Night Of Thunder colt. That result eclipsed the €520,000 that Katie Walsh netted with a Saxon Warrior filly in 2022 and Stroud was forced to see off the attention of Richard Brown, Alex Elliott and Hubie de Burgh en route to landing the record-breaker. And it topped off another memorable sale where the aggregate of €11,658,300 was a record [up 21% on last year] while the €32,000 median represented a 14% rise and the €54,992 average was up by 26%. Even last year's 90% clearance rate, which seemed insurmountable coming into the sale this week, was oh-so-close to being matched at 88%. The sale-topper represented an astute piece of business for Yeomanstown given the O'Callaghan family paid 100,000gns for the Night Of Thunder colt less than six months previously at the Tattersalls December Yearling Sale. Yeomanstown's David O'Callaghan commented, “We are very fortunate that we had a very nice horse, the main buyers received him well and we are very thankful to Anthony Stroud for buying him and the underbidders for their involvement. He is a beautiful horse by a very good stallion and he breezed well. We are very privileged to be here – it is a nice touch.” He added, “We went in and gave 100,000gns for him as a yearling but, to be honest, we thought that we were going to have to give more for him. We were delighted to get him at that price. It was a big throw but he is a special horse and he has not let us down.” Not for the first time this breeze-up season, Stroud felt that the bidding process was too long and protracted, with the finger of blame this time being pointed towards auctioneer Alastair Pim. Speaking after signing for the top lot, Stroud said, “That was difficult I have to say. And [it] was far more money than I anticipated. He is a very good individual, of course he is by Night Of Thunder, and in time he will be a nice horse. He comes from a farm that produces lots of good horses and he has a very good way about him. He is for KHK Racing but there is no trainer in mind yet.” He added, “That was a very long and protracted sale. I don't know how many minutes it was but it seemed to be a very long time.” Not only was Stroud and KHK Racing responsible for the most expensive lot ever sold at this sale, but the leading bloodstock agent signed for the second-most expensive horse sold on the day earlier in the session, a Starspangledbanner colt that fetched €475,000. Lot 94 was consigned by Cristiano Martins of CAJ Stables and it represented the best ever result in the ring for the consignor. He said, “It is a fabulous result. He was bought at Tattersalls in December for 37,000gns, and he has always shown himself to be very smart. He has never put a foot wrong. Every day here he has pulled out well and showed himself off. We were expecting him to sell well but not to that level.” Martins added, “He is a lovely and strong horse. I don't think he is fully developed yet and the buyers could see that as well. He is a horse for next year. He was just a lovely horse to have in the yard. I sold the good sprinter, Clarendon House, for 130,000gns, but this is a big difference!” Brown Bags 'Standout' Street Sense Filly For 340k It is fair to say that the majority of Richard Brown's shopping at the breeze-up sales this year has been done with the view towards unearthing Royal Ascot winners on behalf of his principal client Wathnan Racing. However, the recruitment drive has not been carried out to the complete exclusion of later-maturing types, as evidenced by the €340,000 spent on a Street Sense filly from Michael Fitzpatrick's Kilminfoyle House Stud. Brown said, “Physically, I thought she was a standout today. Gorgeous, big scopey filly. She did a lovely breeze – not lightning quick in any way but the style of the breeze and the way that she galloped out would make you think that she's a backend filly. She will be turned out to a field for three weeks and we will bring her back in late summer. She's a big filly and the stallion is doing very well. It's a very good hotel – 'Fitz' sold Believing and we bought a very nice horse off him last year called Electrolyte and we bought a nice filly off him in Donny who is hopefully pretty smart. It all added up.” Brown was speaking less than 24 hours after 270,000gns yearling purchase Postmodern earned a TDN Rising Star when brushing aside a field of highly-touted runners in a Yarmouth maiden. Bookmakers reacted to that performance by slashing the Too Darn Hot colt's Coventry Stakes odds to just 8-1 while Goffs Breeze-Up graduate Underwriter looked similarly impressive in the Wathnan silks when landing an Ayr maiden in good style on Wednesday. Brown continued, “I'm not saying that this [the Street Sense filly] is for Wathnan but yesterday was exciting. We're keeping our feet on the ground but Jamie [Spencer] is a very experienced jockey who has ridden thousands of winners and lots of Group 1s but he said that it was very rare in his career where he needed to take a pull at the furlong marker. It's exciting. He looks a smart colt and, having spoken with Hamad [Al Jehani], he says Postmodern has bounced out of the race so he will go straight to the Coventry now.” Talking Points Former champion apprentice jockey Conor King made his debut as a consignor at this sale 12 months ago by selling a Make Believe colt for €50,000 and returned to what is becoming a happy hunting ground for the young handler by selling a Havana Grey filly [11] to Paddy Twomey for €105,000. The first six-figure lot into the ring on Friday had been sourced by King at the December Yearling Sale at Tattersalls for 35,000gns. Twomey, who is understood to have been the man who caused havoc when bidding in increments of €10,000 on a Sioux Nation filly that eventually went the way of Anthony Stroud on behalf of KHK Racing for €1 million at Arqana, went on to bag Katie Walsh's Sioux Nation filly for €185,000. Both purchases were done online and, in the case of the Sioux Nation filly, it represented return business given the trainer sourced last year's sale-topping Irish 1,000 Guineas contender City Of Memphis for €370,000. Few trainers have latched onto a stallion quite like Michael O'Callaghan has done with Sands Of Mali this year. And it's easy to see why. His recent Owenstown Stud Stakes winner Copacabana Sands is by the Ballyhane-based stallion and, after improving 24lbs since arriving at his stable earlier this year, there could still be further progression to come from that three-year-old following her Naas victory. Not only did O'Callaghan part with 72,000gns for a belter of a colt by Sands Of Mali at the Guineas Breeze-Up Sale, but he continued his support of the young sire on Wednesday by securing a nice colt consigned by Brian O'Connell of Chasefield Stables for €48,000. Katie McGivern's Wootton Bassett colt became the fourth horse to fetch €300,000 or more when Ger Morin, bidding on behalf of Sean and Bernadine Mulryan, signed the docket under the banner of Grandeville Racing at €320,000. Lot 226 is reported to be joining Richard Hughes, who trained high-class breeze-up graduate Bracken's Laugh on behalf of the owners. Golden Touch Many times Johnny Collins has been the man with the Midas Touch but transforming his €1,200 yearling purchase by Cotai Glory into a €165,000 breezer must beat all. Collins sourced the filly for that paltry sum at last year's Autumn Yearling Sale at Goffs and, after posting one of the most impressive breezes on Thursday, she was snapped up by Stroud on behalf of Arabian Dusk's owner Sheikh Daij Al Khalifa. “I guess I was just in the right place at the right time when I bought her,” Collins joked afterwards. “But she was a good-looking sort that came from a very good farm in Oghill House Stud. She has always been so straightforward and, although we were hopeful of her breezing well coming here, this is still a nice surprise.” 'Security In Numbers' Pays Rich Dividends For Horan If it wasn't for Collins' stroke of genius with the Cotai Glory filly, Jerry Horan would have been nailed on for the Golden Touch, given his inspired 1,800gns purchase of an Code Of Honour filly in an online sale blossomed into a €75,000 breezer. It was top agent Stephen Hillen who signed for the filly who was bred by Yulong. For Horan, the result represented another major pinhooking profit in his debut season as a breeze-up consignor following on from the 100,000gns he fetched for a Havana Grey filly at the Guineas Breeze-Up Sale. He said, “To be fair to Alan Hannigan, he flagged her up to me. He had spotted her in an online sale and liked her. I said I'd take a chance. I just like having security in numbers and it has worked well for me down through the years. Having smaller numbers just does not excite me. Yes, it's probably madness what I am doing, dealing with such a large volume of horses, but the more bullets you have to fire, the more chance you have of getting a result like this. The wheel is always turning. At the same time, you are always struggling. The key is to keep on tricking away and hopefully you can get the big break.” Horan also sold a Sea The Stars filly he sourced for 25,000gns to Gary Moore for €48,000 while his €16,000 foal purchase by his own first-season sire Alkumait sold to William Muir for €40,000. Speaking on his debut season, Horan added, “I am delighted with how it has gone. But there's no big secret, you need good riders and good facilities, and without the team at Capital Stud it wouldn't have been possible. Honestly, I haven't been there every single day. I do two or three days a week and obviously bring them away to work and things like that. But it's the team at Capital Stud that deserve all of the credit and they have helped me out a lot. Jack Foley, Stephen Cahill and Sinead Madden have done a wonderful job while Jody Townend came in to ride out and was also a massive help in the whole thing. I didn't actually set out to breeze horses under my own name this year. It almost happened by accident because we had a couple of homebred Alkumaits that we wanted to break in and get going. I had bought a few yearlings to go breezing myself so we said we would combine them all together and thankfully it has all worked out.” Thought for the Day There is a lot to be said for shopping the yearling sales right through to the bitter end. A number of eye-watering pinhooks, including the top lot, came from the later yearling sales. Maybe there's truth to that old saying, the harder you work, the luckier you get. The post More Records Broken At Tattersalls Ireland With Night Of Thunder Colt Leading The Way appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Wood Memorial Stakes (G2) winner Rodriguez, who missed the Kentucky Derby (G1) and Preakness Stakes (G1) due to a lingering foot bruise, is "ready for a trip to Saratoga" to contest the June 7 Belmont Stakes (G1), according to co-owner Tom Ryan.View the full article

'TDN Rising Star' Rodriguez (Authentic), scratched from the GI Kentucky Derby with a foot bruise, worked seven furlongs in 1:24.80 (1/1) at Santa Anita Friday morning in preparation for the GI Belmont Stakes at Saratoga June 7. He previously worked four furlongs in :49 at Churchill Downs May 11. The front-running winner of the GII Wood Memorial S. at Aqueduct Apr. 5 is trained by Bob Baffert and campaigned in partnership by SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Stonestreet Stables, Dianne Bashor, Determined Stables, Robert Masterson, Tom Ryan, Waves Edge Capital and Catherine Donovan. “Lovely work from Rodriguez this morning at Santa Anita in 1:24.4 – Happy horse, extended nicely – he's ready for a trip to Saratoga,” SF Racing's Tom Ryan posted on X. Kentucky Derby third-place finisher and Belmont Stakes-bound Baeza (McKinzie) was also on the worktab for John Shirreffs at Santa Anita Friday, breezing six furlongs in 1:12.40 (1/2). Lovely work from Rodriguez this morning at Santa Anita in 1:24.4 – Happy horse, extended nicely – he's ready for a trip to Saratoga.@BobBaffert @BelmontStakes pic.twitter.com/ehJGNup0OP — Tom Ryan (@TomRyanKY) May 23, 2025 The post Rodriguez Breezes for Belmont Stakes appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

There was drama at the end of Friday's G3 Heider Family Stables Gallinule Stakes at The Curragh, with The Aga Khan Studs' Reyenzi demoted from first to third and Ballydoyle's Thrice handed the prize by the stewards. Judged to have caused sufficient interference to the eventual runner-up a furlong from home to have affected the outcome, the Johnny Murtagh-trained Navan maiden winner who had finished first past the post by a head was stripped of the 10-furlong contest. That means that Aidan O'Brien has another recognised Derby trial in the bag in 2025, with the son of Wootton Bassett proclaimed the 12-1 winner and the third-placed Emit handed second having been the chief sufferer of the hefty bump. Following a lengthy stewards' inquiry, was announced the winner of the Group Three Gallinule Stakes at the Curragh. Reyenzi was first past the post but demoted into third place. pic.twitter.com/W8SkG4Mdhn — Racing TV (@RacingTV) May 23, 2025 The post Reyenzi Loses The Gallinule After Inquiry, Wootton Bassett’s Thrice Awarded Race appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article