Wandering Eyes

Prize money for the Coral-Eclipse Stakes (G1) has been boosted to £1 million (US$1,278,030) this year, making it the richest race to be staged at Sandown.View the full article

Horse of the Year Thorpedo Anna returns to grade 1 company as she aims to add her name to an illustrious list of winners in the $1.25 million Apple Blossom Handicap (G1) at Oaklawn Park.View the full article

During a contentious meeting of the Maryland Racing Commission April 9 at Laurel Park, commissioners approved a Maryland-bred race fund, stakes, and out-of-state bonus request after hearing from some frustrated equine industry participants.View the full article

A colt from the first crop of Independence Hall (hip 619) tied the time for the fastest quarter-mile of the week so far in Ocala when he worked the distance in :20 2/5 at the fourth session of the under-tack show for the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training Wednesday. Consigned by Wavertree Stables, the juvenile is out of Waltzing (Candy Ride {Arg}), a half-sister to graded winner Dancing Solo (Giant's Causeway) and to Grade I-placed Dancing (Bernardini). He was purchased by Ron Fein's Superfine for $285,000 at last year's Keeneland September sale. “Physically, he is absolutely stunning,” Wavertree's Ciaran Dunne said of the colt. “He is as nice a horse as you're ever going to see. He is a big tall, rangy, stretchy horse. He trained as good as one could train all winter. He prepped really good over there. We went up there expecting him to work really big. We've never had a horse going :20 2/5 before, so were we expecting him to do that? No. But we were expecting him to work huge.” Wavertree consigned Independence Hall to the 2019 Fasig-Tipton March sale where he RNA'd for $200,000. “This horse looks a lot like his dad,” Dunne said of the bullet worker. “For me, Independence Hall was an atypical Constitution. He was a big, rangy horse, kind of long and lean. And that's how this horse is. He is out of a Candy Ride mare, so he probably gets a little bit of that from the Candy Ride, too.” Wavertree will offer four juveniles by Independence Hall at the Spring sale. In addition to Wednesday's bullet worker, the consignment sent out hip 452 to work a quarter in :20 4/5 and hip 385 to work in :21 1/5 Tuesday. “We bought quite a few of them as yearlings,” Dunne said. “We have four in here and we've worked three of them so far. They have all worked really well and we have a filly who works tomorrow and we expect she will work really well. We were impressed with them as yearlings. They were really good physicals. And so far, they have been very good on the racetrack.” Winner of the 2021 GII Fayette Stakes, Independence Hall was represented by a $1-million colt (hip 404) at the OBS March sale last month. The 8-year-old stallion stands at WinStar Farm for $7,500. Leinster Continues to Reward Dunnes Independence Hall isn't the only freshman sire Ciaran and his wife Amy have their eyes on. The couple campaigned multiple graded stakes winner Leinster (Majestic Warrior) in partnership during his racing career and now stand the stallion at Pleasant Acres Stallions. Leinster's daughter Lennilu captured the season's first juvenile race at Keeneland Sunday in Amy Dunne's colors. “Fast,” Ciaran Dunne said of Leinster's first 2-year-olds. “It's very hard for us to be unbiased. He was obviously a horse who was really good to us. I would have said up until Sunday the greatest day we had in racing was the day he won the [2019 GIII] Troy. But I have to be honest, Sunday kind of surpassed that a little bit because our goal was to win the first 2-year-old race at Keeneland, never really expecting that to happen. So for her to go and do what she did was unbelievable.” Lennilu | Coady Media In addition to his immediate success on the track, Leinster also has enjoyed sales success this spring with a 2-year-old filly (hip 505) from Tom McCrocklin's consignment bringing $400,000 at the March sale. The Dunnes have been breeding their own mares to Leinster with the plan to race, but Wavertree will offer a filly (hip 747) by the young stallion who is expected to work Thursday. “We are only selling one that belongs to a friend of ours and we couldn't say no,” Dunne said. “All of our own and the couple that we bought, we are going to race. That was the plan. To try to run them and give him as good an opportunity as we can.” Of Leinster's first 2-year-olds, Dunne added, “They are good-minded. He was a beautiful horse who loved to train and that's what we are seeing in them. And so far, touch wood, they have been very sound. I think everybody is going to think he's a grass horse. And maybe he is. But we've had no problem so far with them on the dirt. The ones we worked on the dirt have been really quick.” Seven Furlong Bullets Wednesday Seven juveniles shared the fastest furlong bullet time of :9 4/5 Wednesday, bringing the total to hit that mark during four sessions of the under-tack show to 20. Wednesday's bullet workers were: hip 531, a filly by Kantharos consigned by Grassroots Training & Sales; hip 564, a filly by Rock Your World consigned by Julie Davies; hip 578, a filly by Tiz the Law consigned by Kings Equine; hip 585, a colt by Yaupon consigned by de Meric Sales; hip 627, a colt by Complexity consigned by Top Line Sales; hip 677, a filly by Good Magic also consigned by Top Line Sales; and hip 680, a colt by Win Win Win consigned by Camelot Acres Racing and Sales. Of conditions through four days of the seven-day under-tack show, Dunne said, “Everybody wants to beat up on the synthetic racetrack. But we had a ton of rain the night before last and we came out yesterday morning and the racetrack was fine. Everybody wants to talk about how great dirt is, but when it rains and you have a sloppy racetrack, you really don't want to work young horses on it. The great thing about the synthetic is it does stay consistent. The biggest factor for us nowadays is the wind. And some days that works for you and some days it seems to work against you.” The under-tack show continues through Saturday with sessions beginning daily at 8 a.m. The Spring sale will be held next Tuesday through Friday and bidding begins each day at 10:30 a.m. The post ‘He is Absolutely Stunning:’ Independence Hall Colt Earns Bullet at OBS Wednesday appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

There are five horse racing meetings set for Australia on Thursday, April 10. Our racing analysts here at horsebetting.com.au have found you the best bets and the quaddie numbers for Gosford. Thursday’s Free Horse Racing Tips – April 10, 2025 Gosford Racing Tips As always, there are plenty of promotions available for Australian racing fans. Check out all the top online bookmakers to see what daily promotions they have. If you are looking for a new bookmaker for the horse racing taking place on April 10, 2025 check out our guide to the best online racing betting sites. Neds Code GETON 1 Take It To The Neds Level Neds Only orange bookie! Check Out Neds Review 18+ Gamble Responsibly. What are you really gambling with? Set a deposit limit today. “GETON is not a bonus code. Neds does not offer bonus codes in Australia and this referral code does not grant access to offers. Full terms. BlondeBet Signup Code GETON 2 Punters Prefer Blondes BlondeBet Blonde Boosts – Elevate your prices! Join BlondeBet Review 18+ Gamble Responsibly. WHAT ARE YOU REALLY GAMBLING WITH? full terms. Dabble Signup Code AUSRACING 3 Say Hey to the social bet! Dabble You Better Believe It Join Dabble Review 18+ Gamble Responsibly. THINK. IS THIS A BET YOU REALLY WANT TO PLACE? Full terms. Recommended! 4 Next Gen Racing Betting Picklebet Top 4 Betting. Extra Place. Every Race. Join Picklebet Review 18+ Gamble Responsibly. What are you really gambling with? Full terms. 5 It Pays To Play PlayUp Aussie-owned horse racing specialists! Check Out PlayUp Review 18+ Gamble Responsibly. Imagine what you could be buying instead. Full terms. Bet365 Signup Code GETON 6 Never Ordinary Bet365 World Favourite! Visit Bet365 Review 18+ Gamble Responsibly. GETON is not a bonus code. bet365 does not offer bonus codes in Australia and this referral code does not grant access to offers. What’s gambling really costing you? Full terms. Horse racing tips View the full article

Prize money for the Coral-Eclipse Stakes (G1) has been boosted to £1 million (US$1,278,030) this year, making it the richest race to be staged at Sandown.View the full article

Brad Cox trainees Final Gambit and Good Cheer took to the Churchill Downs track April 9 to record five-furlong breezes.View the full article

Trainer Brad Cox discusses Kentucky Derby (G1) contender Final Gambit and likely Kentucky Oaks (G1) favorite Good Cheer following their April 9 breezes at Churchill Downs. He also gives an update on Florida Derby (G1) winner Tappan Street.View the full article

The Lexington Stakes (G3) generally offers a last chance for a 3-year-old to move into the Kentucky Derby (G1). Not this year. With a maximum of 20 qualifying points, the winner of the April 12 stakes will fall far short of the cutoff to qualify.View the full article

Back off the bench for another season of racing, Carl Spackler returns to the sight of his most recent victory as the headliner in the $650,000 Maker's Mark Mile Stakes (G1T) April 11 at Keeneland.View the full article

Trainer Ian Wilkes shipped Burnham Square back to Churchill Downs to train for the Kentucky Derby (G1) after his April 8 victory in Keeneland's Blue Grass Stakes (G1). View the full article

Capsule look at three horses heating up on the Triple Crown trailView the full article

Prep season is over, and now it's time to get down to business. A deep field will line up for the GI Kentucky Oaks, led by the undefeated Good Cheer (Medaglia d'Oro). In most years, she'd be 4-5 or lower, but there are enough quality fillies lining up for the race that you might see 2-1 on her. Since the last installment, La Cara (Street Sense) moved up the charts with a win in the GI Ashland S., Ballerina d'Oro (Medaglia d'Oro) nosed out Early On (Union Rags) to win a slowly run GIII Gazelle S. and Tenma (Nyquist) kept rolling, winning the GII Santa Anita Oaks for her third straight victory. Here's a look at the eighth installment of our Kentucky Oaks Top 10 for 2025: 1) GOOD CHEER (Medaglia d'Oro–Wedding Toast, by Street Sense) O/B-Godolphin (Ky); T-Brad Cox. Lifetime Record: MGSW, 6-6-0-0, $877,630. Last Start: Won Mar. 22 GII Fair Grounds Oaks. Kentucky Oaks Points 145. Next Start: GI Kentucky Oaks, CD, May 2. If someone beats her in the Oaks, they're going to have to run the race of their life. She is a perfect 6-for-6 in her career and the closest anyone has come to beating her is 2 1/2 lengths. That was her winning margin when she beat the formidable Quietside (Malibu Moon) in last year's GII Golden Rod S. Beyer devotees may be looking to beat her as her figures aren't that much faster than some of her Oaks opponents, but this is definitely a case where you have to look past the numbers. This is a very good horse and unless she picks Oaks day to throw in her first clunker, she should win. 2) TENMA (Nyquist–Amagansett, by Tapit) O-Baoma Corp.; B-B Flay Thoroughbreds (Ky); T-Bob Baffert. Sales history: $200,000 yrl '23 KEESEP; $850,000 2yo '24 OBSAPR. Lifetime Record: GISW, 6-5-0-1, $549,000. Last Start: WON Apr. 5 GII Santa Anita Oaks. Kentucky Oaks Points: 108. Next Start: GI Kentucky Oaks, CD, May 2. Despite getting only a 75 Beyer in her win in the GII Fasig-Tipton Santa Anita Oaks, Tenma remains in second in this poll. She's a better horse than that number suggests. It was a five-horse field and, in all likelihood, trainer Bob Baffert didn't have her cranked up for her best. There was no need to considering the main goal is, of course, the Kentucky Oaks. She ran a 92 when winning the GIII Las Virgenes S. in her prior start. The one worry may be that Tenma has never run in a race with more than seven horses. The Las Virgenes had a field of only three. If you like this one in the Oaks, you are putting your faith in Baffert to have her run the best race of her life. It can happen 3) QUIETSIDE (Malibu Moon–Benner Island, by Speightstown) 'TDN Rising Star' O/B-Shortleaf Stable (Ky); T-John Ortiz. Lifetime Record: GSW & MGISP, 6-2-3-1, $552,200. Last Start: WON Mar. 29 GII Fantasy Stakes. Kentucky Oaks Points: 168. Next Start: GI Kentucky Oaks, CD, May 2. This daughter of Malibu Moon is a bit of an enigma. She looked fantastic when breaking her maiden last year at Saratoga, then proceeded to go on a four-race losing streak. Yes, she was facing some of the best fillies in her division, but she just wasn't getting it done. Just when it looked like she'd be an also-ran in the Oaks, she's emerged as the hottest 3-year-old filly in training with wins in the GIII Honeybee S. and the GII Fantasy S. Trainer John Ortiz doesn't have the reputation of a Baffert, Chad Brown or Todd Pletcher, but he's good. Year after year he wins in the 15 to 18% range. 4) LA CARA (Street Sense–Cara Caterina, by Bernardini) O/B-Tracy Farmer (Ky); T-Mark Casse. Lifetime Record: GSW, 9-4-2-0, $866,083. Last Start: WON GI Ashland Stakes. Kentucky Oaks Points: 151.75. Next Start: GI Kentucky Oaks, CD, May 2. After a disappointing second-place finish in the GII Fasig-Tipton Davona Dale S., this Mark Casse-trainee put it all together with a solid win in the GI Ashland S., run Monday at Keeneland. Once again, she looked like the horse who won last year's GIII Pocahontas S. and this year's Suncoast S. at Tampa Bay Downs. The key for her seems to be her early speed, which she flashed again in the Ashland. She's 3-for-4 when leading at the first call and 1-for-5 in all other races. Casse is a cagey trainer and it may just be that he has been cognizant of leaving something in the tank for the Kentucky Oaks. She has a big shot, especially if she gets the right trip. La Cara | Coady Media 5) FIVE G (Vekoma–Triumphant, by Quality Road) O/B-Gatsas Stables (NY); T-George Weaver. Lifetime Record: SW & GSP, 5-2-2-0, $240,290. Last Start: WON GII Fasig-Tipton Gulfstream Park Oaks. Kentucky Oaks Points: 125. Next Start: GI Kentucky Oaks, CD, May 2. Just one more horse by sire Vekoma (Candy Ride {Arg}) who can really run. Vekoma appeared to be at his best in one-turn races, but Five G is one of many by the sire that appears to have no problem going a distance. She's also a frontrunner, so the hope will be that there is not too much speed in the Oaks. She got away with easy fractions when winning the GII Fasig-Tipton Gulfstream Park Oaks, but has also won coming from off the pace. A versatile filly, she was running on the grass for trainer George Weaver, who switched her over to the dirt for the Fasig-Tipton Cash Run S., which she won by nine lengths. 6) SIMPLY JOKING (Practical Joke–Imply, by E Dubai) O-Grantley Acres, Ryan Conner, & Berkels0813; B-Barlar LLC (Pa); T-D Whitworth Beckman. Sales history: $65,000 yrl '23 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: MSW & GSP, 3-2-1-0, $288,000. Last Start: 2nd Mar. 29 GII Fantasy Stakes. Kentucky Oaks Points: 70. Next Start: GI Kentucky Oaks, CD, May 2. Still another horse who does her best running on the lead. Will there be a pace meltdown in the Oaks? But she's also very live. Lightly raced with just three career starts, all of them in stakes races, she ran a big race to be second behind Quietside in the Fantasy, which was her first race in 70 days. She's bound to improve in the Oaks, but her running style may work against her. Cost just $65,000 as a yearling at Keeneland September. 7) TAKE CHARGE MILADY (Take Charge Indy–Price Too High, by Scat Daddy) O-James Ball, Magdalena Racing (Sherri McPeek), and Kenneth Rhodes; B-Merriebelle Stable (Ky); T-Kenneth McPeek. Sales history: $60,000 yrl '23 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: SW & GISP, 6-2-2-0, $416,469. Last Start: 2nd GI Ashland Stakes. Kentucky Oaks Points: 70. Next Start: GI Kentucky Oaks, CD, May 2. Can Kenny McPeek win the Oaks in back-to-back years? This filly is no Thorpedo Anna (Fast Anna), but she's a proven stakes horse that, if she runs her very best, might just get the job done. Like so many others from the McPeek barn, she was a bargain-basement buy, costing just $60,000 at Keeneland September. After a disastrous 10th-place finish in the Honeybee, the real Take Charge Milady showed up when second in the Ashland behind La Cara. McPeek's go-to jockey Brian Hernandez Jr. has the mount. Ballerina d'Oro outbattles Early On in the Gazelle | Sarah Andrew 8) BALLERINA D'ORO (Medaglia d'Oro–In the Moonlight, by Tapit) O-Rodeo Creek Racing, LLC; B-Rock Ridge Thoroughbreds, LLC (KY); T-Chad Brown. Sales history: $320,000 yrl '23 FTSAUG. Lifetime Record: GSW, 6-2-1-1, $286,975. Last Start: WON GIII Gazelle Stakes. Kentucky Oaks Points: 116.25. Next Start: GI Kentucky Oaks, CD, May 2. Chad Brown made the right move when deciding to run this filly in the GIII Gazelle S. instead of in the Ashland S. With his filly short on points, he needed to find a spot where she could handle the competition. She got the job done and the 100 points she earned guaranteed her a spot in the Oaks field. That's the good news. The bad news is that she won by a mere nose and the final time for the mile-and-an-eighth was 1:50.67. That was good enough for only a 79 Beyer. She was a $320,000 purchase at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga sale. 9) MUHIMMA (Munnings–Princesa Carolina, by Tapit) 'TDN Rising Star' O-Shadwell Stable; B-Three Chimneys Farm, LLC (Ky); T-Brad Cox. Sales history: $700,000 yrl '23 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: GSW, 5-3-0-2, $391,648. Last Start: Third GI Ashland Stakes. Kentucky Oaks Points: 50. Next Start: GI Kentucky Oaks, CD, May 2. She's been a disappointment this year. She looked like a star in the making after going 3-for-3 last year and ending her season with a win in the GII Demoiselle S. But little has gone right for her this year. She's 0-for-2 and was a non-threatening third in both the Ashland and the Honeybee. Brad Cox is a magician when it comes to young fillies, but he's really got his work cut out for him with this one. 10) EARLY ON (Union Rags–Sally O'Brien, by Distorted Humor) O-C2 Racing Stable, Ken Reimer, Paul Braverman, Timothy Pinch, & Bradley Kent; B-John Lauriello (NY); T-Saffie Joseph, Jr. Sales history: $20,000 yrl '23 FTNAUG. Lifetime Record: GSP, 6-1-3-1, $162,200. Last Start: Second Apr. 5 GIII Gazelle Stakes. Kentucky Oaks Points: 75. Next Start: GI Kentucky Oaks, CD, May 2. Trained by Saffie Joseph, Jr., this is the filly that nearly upset Ballerina d'Oro in the Gazelle. She dueled with the odds-on favorite through the stretch run to fall short by only a nose. With Javier Castellano aboard, she was more forwardly placed than she had been in other races. Prior to the Gazelle, she was second in the Virginia Oaks. She also gets a 79 Beyer for her Gazelle performance and looks to be too slow to win a race as tough as the Oaks. The post The Kentucky Oaks Top 10: Good Cheer Leads Contentious Field appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Darling My Darling (Deputy Minister) was humanely euthanized at Fawn Leap Farm outside Midway, Kentucky Monday, according to Debby Oxley, who phoned the TDN with the news. In a remarkable achievement in last year's Kentucky Derby, Darling My Darling was the granddam of both the second- and third-place finishers, Sierra Leone (Gun Runner) and Forever Young (Jpn) (Real Steel {Jpn}). The pair ran first and third in the GI Breeders' Cup Classic last fall. “She's 28 years old and she is brought in every night and on Monday morning, they couldn't get her up,” said Oxley. “They tried for several hours and finally just had to send her on. She has lived here at Fawn Leap ever since she came off the racetrack.” Darling My Darling was purchased as a yearling at the 1998 Keeneland September sale for $300,000. She broke her maiden in her first start and went on to be two-time GI stakes placed at two. She produced GI Darley Alcibiades Stakes winner Heavenly Love (Malibu Moon) as wel as GII Santa Ynez winner Forever Darling (Congrats), the dams of Sierra Leone and Forever Young, respectively. Sierra Leone topped the 2022 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Sale at $2.3 million. “She just brought us so much joy and that continued on as a broodmare,” said Oxley. “We still have a lot of her offspring here at the farm. Heavenly Love has been a gift and Darling has just continued to give us things all these years. We're sorry to see her go, but this was a hard winter and that may have had something to do with it.” Her ashes will be spread at the farm. “I know it was expected, but at the same time, you never expect it,” Oxley said. “She was a very very special mare and it closes a chapter for her and for us. It's been a tough little go here. She was the queen of the farm.” The post Darling My Darling, Granddam of Sierra Leone and Forever Young, Passes Away 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. Thursday's Observations features a son of a Group 1 winner. 14.12 Chantilly, €27,000, Mdn, 3yo, 6fT Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Thani's hitherto unraced HAWKEYE (FR) (Siyouni {Ire}), is a Francis Graffard-trained son of G1 Cheveley Park Stakes heroine and G1 Prix Morny runner-up Vorda (Fr) (Orpen), herself a half-sister to the multiple Group 2 winner and multiple Group 1-placed Prognosis (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}). The March-foaled homebred chestnut, who is a half-brother to Listed Prix Caravelle victrix Saiga (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}), encounters 14 rivals in this straight dash. The post Son Of Cheveley Park Heroine Vorda In Line For Chantilly Debut appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

3rd-Keeneland, $108,925, Msw, 4-9, 3yo/up, 6f, 1:11.45, ft, 1/2 length. DR. PARK (c, 4, Uncle Mo–Queen Caroline {MSW, $401,608}, by Blame) debuted in California for then-trainer John Shirreffs, weakening to fourth in a 6 1/2-furlong sprint Jan. 25. Shipping to Keeneland under new direction from Peter Eurton, the half-brother to 2-year-old champion Forte (Violence) drew outside as one of the more inexperienced runners in the scratched-down field of six. Lacking much early foot, the 3-5 favorite was outrun in the opening furlong by a trio of runners to his inside and that three quickly went on with it in a three-wide calvary charge up the backstretch. Racing alone and outside behind that wall of runners, Dr. Park was patiently handled by a confident Flavien Prat and began to pick up th bridle midway around the far turn, eating into the advantage of the leaders. Kept outside with a head of steam off the far turn, the favorite looked to run away with things but had to put away a pesky filly along the rail in Chaching Chaching (Munnings) who made him work for a half-length graduation. Resolute Racing's John Stewart purchased Queen Caroline, who was reported in foal to Flightline, for $3,000,000 out of FTKNOV in 2023 after Forte's 3-year-old season. She has that Flightline yearling filly on the ground and reported a Tapit filly this season. Sales History: $850,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 2-1-0-0, $70,948. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. O-C R K Stable LLC; B-South Gate Farm (KY); T-Peter Eurton. Dr. Park breaks his maiden in R3 at Keeneland as the 3/5 favorite for trainer Peter Eurton with Flavien Prat in the irons! TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/sG9t5MAO1Z — TwinSpires Racing (@TwinSpires) April 9, 2025 The post Dr. Park, Half To Forte, Graduates Second Time Out At Keeneland appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Vendors found the going tough at the lower end of the market at the Osarus Breeze-Up Sale on Wednesday where, from just 32 horses offered, 22 were sold at a clearance rate of 68%. The top lot, a €37,000 City Light (Fr) filly that sold to trainer Nicolas Perret, was consigned by 25-year-old handler Quentin Moulin, who described himself as happy with the result in what was a “demanding market”. “The filly is a beautiful horse-a model designed for speed,” Moulin said. “She came to work very quickly and was diligent in her preparation for today's exercise.” The City Light filly was one of three horses the young consignor brought to the Osarus Breeze-Up Sale. He failed to sell a colt [lot 32] by the stallion but managed to sell a filly by Donjuan Triumphant (Ire) for €17,000 to Maxime Cesandri. Overall, the sale aggregate stood at €274,500, which represented a massive drop from the €726,850 achieved last year when there were over twice as many horses [73] catalogued. The average for Wednesday's sale stood at €12,778 while the median was €10,000. Moulin said, “I consider myself happy with my sales because the market has not been so generous for everyone. I am extremely grateful to my team who did an exceptional job on the horses in order to bring them to this sale in magnificent condition. I have no doubt that this has greatly helped us to face an extremely demanding market.” He added, “The City Light filly sold at a price that I think is in line with her value but the colt is still on the market. We are a young stable-only three years active and based in Commeaux, Normandy. We have just one more horse to sell this year, a Hello Youmzain (Fr) filly who will go to Arqana in July and we mostly do a lot of pre-training and breaking. We are pleased with today.” The post Young Consignor Moulin Tops Osarus Breeze-Up Sale With City Light Filly appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Carmouche joined the 4,000 career-win club when he guided Crimson Light to a half-length win on April 5 at Aqueduct. The milestone led the panel of racing experts to unanimously vote Carmouche Jockey of the Week for March 31-April 6.View the full article

Brad Cox trainees Final Gambit and Good Cheer took to the Churchill Downs track April 9 to record five-furlong breezes.View the full article

The April 12 Jenny Wiley Stakes (G1T) at Keeneland does not have the word international in its title, but it might as well. Three of the favorites in the nine-horse, 1 1/16-mile turf race have raced exclusively overseas.View the full article

Juddmonte's 'TDN Rising Star' Cosmic Year (GB) (Kingman {GB}) was rerouted from potential turf engagements in favour of Wednesday's Unibet Novice Stakes at Kempton and could not have been more impressive in retaining his perfect record with a five-length triumph, racing under a seven-pound penalty, in the seven-furlong contest. The Harry Charlton trainee went off as the 2-9 favourite and was swiftly into stride, despite receiving bumps from both neighbours at the break, to track a modest pace in third through halfway. Inching closer once into the home straight, he powered to the fore approaching the final furlong and quickened clear under minimal urging in the closing stages to easily outlass Hit Squad (Ire) (Kameko) by daylight. The winner remains a general 8-1 chance for next month's G1 2000 Guineas. “We knew, looking at the race, there was no pace and the performance is as much as we could have hoped for,” said Charlton. “He's exceptionally laid back at home and I said to Oisin [Murphy] to teach him something in the final furlong. He wouldn't want to run on fast ground [going] up and down in those dips [at Newmarket], so we'll have to discuss plans with the Juddmonte team and Prince's family as they have a few horses in the mix. The weather will change at some point, we're in England, but if it went like this through this month it feels like a tough ask. The French Guineas and the Irish Guineas are options and there are different routes into [Royal] Ascot, so we'll see.” Cosmic Year is the 12th of 13 live foals and eighth scorer out of G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud heroine Passage Of Time (GB) (Dansili {GB}), herself a full-sister to G2 King Edward VII Stakes-winning sire Father Time (GB) and a half to G1 Falmouth Stakes victrix Timepiece (GB) (Zamindar). The February-foaled homebred is kin to dual Group 2-winning sire Time Test (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), who placed three times at the highest level, dual Group 3 winner Tempus (GB) (Kingman {GB}) and to the dam of G3 Princess Royal Stakes victrix Time Lock (GB) (Frankel {GB}). Passage Of Time has the 2-year-old filly Start Of Time (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) to come. Leading 2000 Guineas contender Cosmic Year makes it 2-2@oismurphy | @HarryJCharlton | @JuddmonteFarms | @kemptonparkrace pic.twitter.com/zFnPhMRVYa — Racing TV (@RacingTV) April 9, 2025 The post Juddmonte’s TDN Rising Star Cosmic Year Back With a Bang at Kempton appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Trainer Ian Wilkes enjoyed a banner day Tuesday, winning both of Keeneland's Grade I features–the Toyota Blue Grass with Burnham Square (Liam's Map) in addition to Positano Sunset's (Goldencents) score in the Resolute Racing Madison. “Both horses got back last night to Churchill,” Wilkes said Wednesday morning from his main base in Louisville. “Everything is all good. It was a really exciting day for everyone involved.” Whitham Thoroughbreds' Burnham Square got up in the last stride to edge East Avenue by a nose in the 1 1/8-mile Blue Grass. “I joked with Carl [Nafzger] and said I'm one up on him in the Blue Grass,” said Wilkes, who worked for Nafzger when he won the Kentucky Derby with Unbridled and Street Sense. Both horses were defeated in the Blue Grass in their final preps before the Derby. In the seven-furlong Resolute Racing Madison, 14-1 longshot Positano Sunset posted a 1-length victory over favored Emery. Owned by the partnership of Six Column Stables, Randall Bloch, John Seiler and David Hall, Positano Sunset possibly could make her next start in the May 3 GI Derby City Distaff going 7 furlongs at Churchill Downs. Although he did not bring home the top prize, trainer Brendan Walsh was thrilled with the runner-up effort turned in by Godolphin's East Avenue in the nine furlong Classic prep. “He's doing well this morning,” Walsh said of East Avenue. “He ran a great race. Those horses came to him and he fought back, and that's what we wanted to see.” The post Blue Grass Winner Burnham Square Makes Quick Return to Churchill, East Avenue ‘Doing Well’ appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

If you're among the many currently absorbed by his autobiography, you'll be indebted to Arthur Hancock for sharing a series of Charlie Whittingham maxims. And one is of particular value to anyone routinely assessing pedigrees: “Never say anything bad about a horse until he's been dead at least 10 years.” Plenty will have been sorely tempted to disregard that stricture in the case of Authentic, after the 2020 Horse of the Year fell so far short of his billing with his first juveniles last year. Retired at $75,000, much the highest of his intake, the son of Into Mischief started with 229 mares and the resulting yearlings were received with the habitual docility of those managing other people's money, who almost invariably replicate fee rank in the first-crop sale averages. Authentic duly dominated that table at $286,076, and his “bubble” book last spring held solid at 196. Well, people weren't quite so keen by the time his second crop reached the ring. Despite a class-high 92 starters, Authentic's juveniles mustered a single black-type success (at Albuquerque) among 24 winners overall. As a result, the median cost of his second crop ($65,000) didn't even cover their conception fee ($70,000). It was all pretty excruciating. But he's managed by the same team that made his own sire, who know far too much about the game to be burying their heads in the sand. Having given Authentic a couple of routine trims, to $60,000 and then $50,000, this spring they made no bones about his predicament. Initially halved to $25,000, Authentic found himself among the many Kentucky stallions given an additional cut as cold headwinds hit the market. He's now advertised at $15,000. But let's not forget that Authentic was himself a later developer. (Indeed, the Tiz the Law camp might wonder whether a controversial rescheduling of the 2020 Kentucky Derby allowed this May 5 foal to retrieve a deficit in precocity.) Perhaps his stock is matching that template. No freshman, after all, beat his 15 scorers round a second turn. And now, for those who have kept the faith, a sunbeam has suddenly broken through the clouds. A Derby winner at the first attempt would certainly cover a multitude of sins, and the GII Wood Memorial success of Rodriguez showed a May 20 foal now progressing rapidly towards the cream of the crop. In fairness, Rodriguez can also draw on potent genes in his own family. His fourth dam is the classy runner and producer Race the Wild Wind (Sunny's Halo), who rounded off her career winning the GI Santa Maria Handicap and was sold for $700,000 at the 1997 Keeneland November Sale. The Nureyev colt she was carrying that day turned out to be G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest winner King Charlemagne, whose debut second proved his sole defeat in six starts. In the meantime his brother had been sold to Shadwell as a yearling, and he too would prove very able on turf: Meshaheer was a particularly fast juvenile, beaten half a length at Royal Ascot before winning a Group sprint (added a Group 2 at five). But their dam's legacy had already been secured through two fillies bred by Brandon and Marianne Chase before her sale. From Chasetheragingwind (Dayjur) they bred GI Forego Stakes winner Here Comes Ben (Street Cry {Ire}), as well as Gottahaveadream (Indian Charlie), subsequently dam of GI Frizette winner Dayoutoftheoffice (Into Mischief); while from Chasethewildwind (Forty Niner) they bred Grade I winners Albertus Maximus (Albert the Great) and Daredevil (More Than Ready). That pair's half-sister by Touch Gold, Chasethegold, meanwhile accentuated the family's turf streak as runner-up in the GIII Senator Ken Maddy Handicap; and later her daughter by Political Force managed second in the GII Golden Rod Stakes, a rare distinction for that sire. While her other foals proved modest, a daughter by Cherokee Run named Cayala (sole win in a five-way photo for a turf sprint maiden) became one of the earliest to confirm Into Mischief's ability to upgrade mares. Her first foal, One Liner, won the GIII Southwest Stakes, prompting breeders Kingswood Stud and David Egan (who had bought the mare for just 17,000gns at Tattersalls) to persevere with Into Mischief as his fee climbed. They were rewarded with yearlings that made $550,000 and $600,000, the latter becoming dual sprint stakes winner Provocateur. Her 2022 foal, by Into Mischief's rookie son Authentic, brought $485,000 at the September Sale. His name, of course, is Rodriguez. Whether he can stretch his speed another furlong can't be guaranteed: close relative Provocateur was a sprinter, and the family's best have tended to be dirt milers or turf sprinters. Nor do I know whether he was named for the Rodriguez featured in Searching For Sugar Man. No spoilers, if so, because there's a real twist in that classic documentary. Suffice to say that it confirms Whittingham's warning against consigning anyone to history-horse or human-while they still have the means of coming back and proving you wrong. Sunny Side of the Square Brandon and Marianne Chase were still enjoying the rise of Race the Wild Wind when deciding to buy a yearling by the same sire. Irgun cost just $28,000, but you'll find him down there below Rodriguez in the Wood Memorial roll of honor (1994). He ran Go for Gin off his feet that day, but had to miss the Derby and actually made his only subsequent start as a 5-year-old. Nor could Irgun redeem that disappointment at stud, but his brilliance in the Wood had evidently made an impression on the Whitham family. For he was out of a Secretariat mare, and the following spring they sent one of their own to Sunny's Halo. Listen Well had only won a maiden in a light career but as daughter of a graded stakes winner, and half-sister to two more, she had been bought by Frank Penn Jr. for $150,000 at the 1992 Keeneland November Sale. The cross duly paid off: Listen Well's daughter by Sunny's Halo, Beautiful Noise, matured into a rock-solid graded stakes operator on grass, never out of the first four in eight consecutive starts at that level, including a day in the sun in the GII Santa Ana Handicap. But Listen Well had more than one string to her bow. For a start, the Night Shift foal she had carried into the Keeneland ring turned out to be dual Grade I winner Listening. (Albeit her owners doubtless prized still higher a success in the GII Bayakoa Handicap in 1996, a race recently renamed for the champion they imported from Argentina). Moreover one of Listen Well's later daughters, Solar Echo (Spinning Well), was twice denied a Grade I (on grass) by no more than half-a-length. You can imagine how much it means to this exemplary program for a taproot investment in Listen Well to be producing dividends over three decades later. It must have been gratifying enough when Magical Lute (Maclean's Music), whose third dam is Listening, won a stakes at Prairie Meadows last summer. How much more thrilling, then, must be the dramatic GI Blue Grass Stakes of Burnham Square (Liam's Map)? For he is out of Beautiful Noise's daughter Linda (Scat Daddy), herself winner of the GII Mrs. Revere Handicap. Burnham Square duly represents a third consecutive generation of graded stakes success in the Whitham colors. True, the Derby ride will have to be its own reward: Burnham Square was castrated, and both his dam and two half-sisters have slipped into other hands. But then he might himself have been claimed on debut, when similarly flying down the Keeneland stretch last fall-albeit only if somebody had found adequate nerve at $150,000! However Burnham Square fares in the Derby, it's nice to celebrate anew the underdog winner of 1983. At stud Sunny's Halo hardly matched the influence of the previous Canadian-bred winner, albeit for a long time he held the earnings record in Texas. But two of his daughters united our two latest trial winners, as fourth dam of Rodriguez and granddam of Burnham Square. Words Words Words Whatever they have endured with Authentic, the Spendthrift team have found ample comfort in others who entered their barn at the same time. After winning the freshman title by a matter of cents, for instance, Vekoma has opened up on his rivals this spring: the exciting Colloquial's first black-type success, in the Lafayette Stakes at Keeneland, was already Vekoma's sixth of the year, among no fewer than 36 sophomore winners from 82 starters. But there was another Lafayette Stakes over the weekend, at Evangeline Downs, where Cool Cowboy followed up his debut success in emphatic fashion. That was a timely tonic for Thousand Words, whose flagbearer The Queens M G ended her career in the GII Gulfstream Park Oaks (won, incidentally, by Vekoma's daughter Five G) the previous weekend. The Queens M G, famously a $3,500 yearling, had lately added the GII Davona Dale to her black-type scores at Saratoga last summer. Remembering the Grade I placings of the still cheaper Vodka With a Twist, Thousand Words has fully earned his hike from $5,000 to $12,500 this spring. Cool Cowboy is his fourth sophomore to win a stakes, while his cumulative tally of five is behind only Vekoma on 10, and Complexity and Tiz the Law on six. The post Breeding Digest: An Authentic Ray of Hope appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Carmouche joined the 4,000 career-win club when he guided Crimson Light to a half-length win on April 5 at Aqueduct. The milestone led the panel of racing experts to unanimously vote Carmouche Jockey of the Week for March 31-April 6.View the full article

Prize money for the Coral-Eclipse Stakes (G1) has been boosted to £1 million (US$1,278,030) this year, making it the richest-ever race to be staged at Sandown.View the full article