Wandering Eyes

Three-year-old filly Bobby McGee provided her sire Ancient Spirit with his first winner when successful at Wingatui over 1200m. The Terry Kennedy trained filly raced three wide without cover throughout, yet still finished strongly in the hands of Leah Hemi to narrowly prevail from Princess Reign. Bred and raced by Craig and Jim Hunter, Bobby McGee’s dam, the six-time winner Lucille, recently foaled a full sister to the filly. By Invincible Spirit out of Galileo’s daughter Assisi, Ancient Spirit was a dual Group Two winner in Germany before he retired to White Robe Lodge in 2021 and he stands at a fee of $7,000+GST this season. View the full article

The G2 Richmond Stakes winner and G1 Dewhurst Stakes runner-up Royal Scotsman will stand at Haras du Taillis in France in 2026. The son of Gleneagles, who was trained by Paul and Oliver Cole for Jim and Fitri Hay, is now owned by a consortium of breeders from UK and France. Matt Huntington, speaking on behalf of the group, said, “We look forward to working with the Hays and the Coles on the next phase of his career and we are very pleased to be working with Bernard Wenger and Alexandre Lacour to introduce Royal Scotsman to the French market. “He ticks all the boxes required to be a successful stallion, from being an imposing horse with a great walk, and with a strong pedigree and race form to match. We will collectively be giving him support and see no reason why he won't become an established stallion in the market.” Huntington, of LM Stallions, added, “We're thrilled to be able to secure such a promising young horse who set the track record at Goodwood over six furlongs for two-year-olds when winning the fastest Richmond Stakes ever, even faster than the likes of Mehmas, Vandeek, Land Force, Golden Horde, Supremacy, and Asymmetric, to name a few. He was unfortunately just denied in the Dewhurst behind multiple Group 1 winner Chaldean.” Bred by Rabbah Bloodstock, Royal Scotsman is out of the 100-rated Cheveley Park Stud-bred mare Enrol (Pivotal) and was bought for 125,000gns at the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale by SackvilleDonald. He won the Richmond after running third behind Bradsell in the G2 Coventry Stakes. Having been beaten a head by Chaldean in the Dewhurst, the pair met again in the 2,000 Guineas, in which Royal Scotsman finished third. He also won last year's G3 Diomed Stakes at Epsom. Alexandre Lacour said, “I am pleased to announce the arrival of Royal Scotsman, a real racehorse hailing from a prestigious lineage who has already shown great promise on the track, capturing the attention of racing enthusiasts with his charisma and impressive performances, making him an invaluable asset for breeders looking to improve the performance of their stock.” There are a few shares available in the consortium, with breeding rights to be released in the coming days. Royal Scotsman's fee will be announced at a late date. The post Royal Scotsman to Stand at Haras du Taillis appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

By Jordyn Bublitz It was a milestone night at Cambridge Raceway on Thursday, as one of harness racing’s most respected participants Luk Chin notched up his 200th training victory, and in true Luk Chin fashion, he did it with a horse he bred, trains, and drove himself. The memorable win came in the Garrards Horse And Hound Handicap Trot with Voronov, who exploded off the front line like a bullet and quickly took control of the race. From there, Chin dictated the tempo perfectly, fending off the late challengers to score by three-quarters of a length. A stalwart and iconic figure in the northern racing ranks, Dr Chin has been a familiar and admired presence on the track for more than four decades. Following the race, Jo Ferguson from Track Chat NZ caught up with him to reflect on his long and successful career. “I never thought I’d get there at my age,” he laughed. “It had to be at Cambridge because I drove my first winner here in 1984.” Dr Chin began training in 1980, balancing his passion for harness racing with his professional career in medicine. Over the years, his dedication to both fields has become well-known within the harness racing community. When asked about the highlight of his career, Dr. Chin’s response was as humble as ever. “Meeting the people in harness racing and just being involved,” he said, “working in medicine is quite a different world, and racing is quite the change. Medicine is more mental, being inside all the time, and getting outside with the horses is what balances my life. It’s been great.” One of the most remarkable aspects of Dr Chin’s career is that he has never bought a horse, every winner he has ever trained was bred by him. “I’ve never bought a horse in my life, I’ve bred every winner.” As for his best horse? He doesn’t like to pick favourites, but one moment clearly stands out. “They all had their days,” he smiled. “My highlight was probably taking a maiden trotter down to Addington who won the New Zealand Three-Year-Old Trotting Stakes. She was a maiden and rank outsider, not only did she win, but she ran a New Zealand record too.” That was Lady Caballo who ran 3:22.6 in April 1992. Now at 82 years old, Dr Chin shows no signs of slowing down. “My body’s complaining all the time, but it keeps me going,” he joked. “I just work through the pain.” His love for the horse remains as strong as ever, and his enthusiasm for the sport is infectious. “I’m still breeding, so I’ll still be racing when I’m 90,” he laughed. “I’ve bred, trained, and driven a Group 2 and 3 winner, when I get the Group 1 I’ll hang up my reins, I promise.” For now, though, harness racing fans can count on seeing Dr Luk Chin and the horses he’s bred from scratch continuing to make their mark on the track for years to come. View the full article

By Jonny Turner It didn’t quite go to plan, but punters got it right when backing Matthew Williamson to win his first Group race as a trainer at Ascot Park yesterday. A brilliant beginner starting from the front line, Princess Sadie was meant to lead and win the Group 3 The Dark Horse, judging by the way her win dividend crunched in. And despite having to regather after making a flyer in what was a false start to the mares’ feature, everything went to plan initially. But at the 400m mark after Williamson elected to take a trail at the bell, Princess Sadie had a big task on her hands to chase down tearaway leader Walkinonsunshine. But it was one the mare was right up to. “A few things didn’t go to plan, but we got there in the end,” Williamson said. “She made a flyer that first standing start, which would have been a far better start for her.” “We were following the right one, but then it galloped on the last bend and she went to pull up with it — she thought the job was done and forgot to chase down Walkinonsunshine.” “But that last 50m, she really got into her work and charged to the line.” After beginning her career as an early two-year-old, winning seven races and notching multiple Group race placings, it has been an epic ride for Princess Sadie’s owners — the Stir Fry Syndicate, Fred Donovan, Summit Bloodstock, and Williamson’s wife, Charlotte. While winning his first Group race as a trainer was a thrill for Williamson, he was just as pleased to keep repaying those who backed him by going in on the first yearling he ever purchased from the national sales. “It is a great thrill, it is huge for the stable.” “She was the first horse we bought at the yearling sales, she’s got a great group of owners and they’re great friends.” “They support her every time — win, lose or draw — and they have so much fun.” “I know they would have got an absolutely huge thrill out of this.” It took a brilliant last-ditch effort from Princess Sadie to run down Walkinonsunshine, who looked to have The Dark Horse to herself until the last few strides of the race. The Canterbury mare put three lengths on the field as close to home as the 150m mark. But after switching back on under Williamson’s urgings, Princess Sadie stuck her neck out to score in a thrilling finish, also beating home third placegetter Hidden Talent, who went a big race from her 30m handicap. View the full article

Agera’s coming-of-age campaign has carried him all the way up to black-type level, flying home to score a last-gasp victory in Friday’s Listed Team Wealleans Matamata Cup (1600m). Coming into the 2024-25 season, Agera was a two-race winner from 18 career starts. He had placed on another eight occasions, had earned $81,490 and had a rating of 70. Agera’s six-year-old season has now produced four wins from only six appearances, adding another $127,250 to his earnings. His rating had already risen to 86 before Friday’s Matamata Cup heroics. Matt Cartwright, who has now recorded four wins from eight rides on Agera, took up a midfield position in eighth place on Friday as Electric Time enjoyed an easy time out in front. Electric Time and Above The Clouds kicked away from the chasers after straightening for home and seemed to have the finish of the $80,000 feature all to themselves. Above The Clouds briefly gained the upper hand before Electric Time kicked back hard on the inside to regain the lead. But then Agera burst out of the pack. Cartwright drove him over the top of the leaders within the space of a few big bounds, snatching victory right on the finish line with a short-head margin over Electric Time. The third-placed Above The Clouds was another head away. “He didn’t look like he was any chance turning for home,” trainer Tony Pike said. “It was a very good effort to sprint the way he did and make up that amount of ground off a slow tempo. “He’s obviously racing in career-best form this time in. The ability has always been there, but he had a few soundness issues as a young horse. He’s matured through those now, and as a six-year-old, he’s become more of a battle-hardened racehorse.” Pike was initially intending for the Matamata Cup to be the final start of the breakthrough campaign for Agera, who has been racing twice a month since the end of May. But Friday’s performance might force a rethink. “He needs a little bit of give in the ground, so we were thinking we might turn him out after today if it seemed like the rain was stopping and the tracks were drying out,” Pike said. “But after he’s won so well today, and with the possibility of some rain around in the lower North Island towards the end of next week, we might consider giving him one more run in the Thompson Handicap (Gr.3, 1600m) at Trentham next weekend.” Agera was bred by Hamish and Karyn McQuade and is by Complacent out of the McQuades’ Pentire mare Shelly Bee. Herself a placegetter on the racetrack, Shelly Bee is now the dam of two stakes winners. Her daughter Ima Roca Bee (by El Roca) took out the Listed Ryder Stakes (1200m) in 2021. Mapperley Stud offered Agera in Book 2 of Karaka 2021, where he was bought by Waikato Bloodstock for $70,000. Agera’s 24-start career has now produced six wins, eight placings and $208,740 in prize-money for owners Gee Gee Investments Ltd. The Matamata Cup was the second leg of the inaugural Prezzy Card Northern Country Cups Bonus Series, which began with Pacheco’s victory in the Poverty Bay Turf Club Cup (2600m) at Taupo on October 10. The series carries a total of $485,000 in stakes and bonuses including a $50,000 winner-takes-all prize. The new initiative from New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing (NZTR) and the Taupo Racing Club will see seven Country Cups staged across the North Island from October to December, with horses earning points for top-four finishes and required to contest at least three races, including the $100,000 Harcourts Taupo Cup (2000m). Sponsored by leading prepaid gift provider Prezzy Card, the series is designed to encourage participation, create a competitive narrative between regional racedays, and culminate in a high-stakes finale on Harcourts Taupo Cup Day on December 28. The Harcourts Taupo Cup itself has received a $15,000 stakes uplift from last season. The remaining legs of the series are the $50,000 Wanganui Steelformers Waverley Cup (2200m) at Waverley on Sunday, the $80,000 Mode Technology Feilding Cup (2100m) at Tauherenikau on November 1, the $35,000 DMAK Electrical Waipukurau Cup (2100m) at Waipukurau on November 16, the $30,000 Duncan Dental Tauranga Twilight Cup (2100m) at Tauranga on December 12, and the $100,000 Harcourts Taupo Cup (2000m) at Taupo on December 28. Pacheco and Agera are now the joint leaders in the series with five points each. Vovak and Electric Time have three points, Golden and Above The Clouds have two points, and Tempest Moon and Florin have each earned one point. View the full article

In addition to operating their racing stable in Cambridge, the father-son partnership of Ben and Ryan Foote have added another string to their bow with the establishment of St Kilda Lodge as a Ready to Run Sale vendor. Leading the charge is Ryan Foote, who has been entrusted by his father to oversee a quality draft as St Kilda Lodge steps into the limelight for the first time, with the Footes previously selling under other consignors banner’s, while also regularly trading horses from trials and races. “Ben’s always sold plenty of good horses over the years. He’s quite into is selling horses abroad, so it’s just something I’ve naturally picked up on when working with him, training horses,” Ryan Foote said. “He has definitely left me to it. It’s something that I’m keen to get more into, and it’s going to be a big learning experience but he’s always there if I need him. “We buy 25 to 30 horses every year, and we just put the horses in the sales that we think will suit.” With 17 two-year-olds initially catalogued, Foote said he expected around 11 lots to step through the ring come sale day. “It has been going really smoothly. We’ve got a good bunch of two-year-olds this year,” Foote said. “They’ve all got lovely brains on them which has made things quite easy and it just seems to be getting better every year. “There’s been a couple little hiccups, as there is, but overall their preparation is going very well.” Foote has previously backed his judgment of yearlings to good effect and believes the Ready To Run Sale continues to go from strength to strength. “It’s just a sale that we’ve had a bit of luck at, so we like to keep going to the Ready To Runs,” he said. “When you are buying them as yearlings, there’s not a big turnaround until the two-year-old sales. “It’s just a good market. A lot of Aussie buyers are coming over, and Hong Kong buyers, especially, like to see them up and ready to go rather than buying a yearling.” Lots by Toronado, Alabama Express, Wrote and Bivouac head the draft, but the proof will be in the pudding when the breeze ups take place at Te Rapa racecourse on Monday and Tuesday next week. View the full article

The Group One Caulfield Cup has a rich history and a well-earned reputation as one of the world’s toughest handicaps. It requires a special blend of stamina and class to win it, and horses sourced from New Zealand’s National Yearling Sales have shown that they have what it takes. NZB will celebrate the 100th anniversary of the National Yearling Sales at Karaka in January. That century of sales has produced more than 20 winners of the Caulfield Cup. The first Caulfield Cup was run in 1879, and New Zealand’s affinity for the race was established well before the National Yearling Sales began in 1926. A total of 40 New Zealand-breds have won the great race, beginning with back-to-back successes by Maranui (NZ) (Malatua) and Aborigine (NZ) (Merriwee) in 1908 and 1909 – the latter a dead heat with Blue Book (True Blue). Later in the 20th century, those early Kiwi-bred winners were followed by a series of top-quality sale graduates, many of whom rank among the most famous names on the Caulfield Cup honour roll. 1950: GREY BOOTS Grey Boots (NZ) Grey Boots was bred by legendary racing personality Miss Joyce Edgar Jones, a vendor since 1933. This Nizami colt was purchased by W.H. Tyler at the 1947 National Yearling Sale and was acquired by owner/trainer Harold Cooper from Tyler following inspection on arrival in Sydney. His four-year-old season saw his second Sydney win before recording the first of his five career Group 1 victories, beginning with a surprise win in the 1950 AJC Doncaster Handicap (Gr.1) at odds of 25/1. At five he scored the Toorak Hcp then seven days later raced into history when he stylishly won the 1950 Caulfield Cup, becoming the first grey horse to win the Cup in its 70-year history. Grey Boots went on to become a prominent weight-for-age horse, winning the CM Lloyd Stakes, the Rawson Stakes, Caulfield Stakes and the CF Orr Stakes signing off a great career at seven with a total of 14 wins which included five Group 1s and six Group 1 placings. 1954 & 1955: RISING FAST Rising Fast (NZ) Bought for just 325 guineas from the 1950 National Yearling Sale at Trentham, Rising Fast (NZ) (Alonzo) went on to have a glittering racetrack career that earned him induction into both the New Zealand and Australian Racing Hall of Fame. Rising Fast had 68 starts for 24 wins, 16 seconds and two thirds, earning £66,765 in stakes for owner Leicester Spring. In 1954 he became the first horse to complete the Spring Grand Slam – the Caulfield Cup, Cox Plate (2040m) and Melbourne Cup (3200m). He is still the only horse to win all three races in the same season. Rising Fast went on to successfully defend his Caulfield Cup title in 1955, and his other feature-race victories included the Caulfield Stakes (1800m), Turnbull Stakes (2400m), Feehan Stakes (1600m), Herbert Power Handicap (2400m), CF Orr Stakes (1600m), Blamey Stakes (2000m), Memsie Stakes (1800m), and two editions of the Mackinnon Stakes (2000m) and Fisher Plate (2400m). He was beaten by a nose in his attempt at a second Melbourne Cup. Rising Fast is one of only seven horses to win two Caulfield Cups, and just two of those have done it in consecutive years – Rising Fast and the 1906-07 winner Poseidon (Positano). The only horse to record multiple Caulfield Cup wins since Rising Fast is Ming Dynasty (Planet Kingdom), who won it in 1977 and 1980. Rising Fast was a life-changing galloper for Spring, who looked after the horse throughout a long retirement until his death at the age of 29 in 1978. “The huge amount of money enabled me to purchase a sheep and cattle farm near Te Awamutu and build a home in Whakatane,” Spring wrote in his book Racing with Rising Fast. 1957: TULLOCH Tulloch (NZ) Tulloch (NZ) (Khorassan) was offered by Trelawney Stud at the 1956 Sale, where he was bought by Hall of Fame trainer T. J. (Tommy) Smith for 750 guineas. In a 53-start career, Tulloch recorded 36 wins, 12 seconds and four thirds. He won the AJC Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) as a two-year-old, then added a whopping 14 wins as a three-year-old including the 1957 Caulfield Cup and a remarkable classic treble in the Queensland Derby (2400m), VRC Derby (2500m) and Australian Derby (2400m). That incredible campaign also produced victories in the Warwick Stakes (1400m), Rosehill Guineas (2000m), Caulfield Guineas (1600m), VRC St Leger (2800m), Rawson (now Ranvet) Stakes (2000m), Chipping Norton Stakes (1600m), AJC St Leger (2800m), All Aged Stakes (1600m) and the Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2800m). Incredibly, 11 of those races now hold Group One status. Tulloch went on to win another two editions of the Queen Elizabeth Stakes as an older horse, along with other prestigious weight-for-age features such as the Cox Plate (2040m), George Main Stakes (1600m) and Mackinnon Stakes (2000m). Sir Blink (NZ) Tulloch was among the inaugural inductees into the Australian Racing Hall of Fame, and he was also inducted into the New Zealand Racing Hall of Fame. 1958: SIR BLINK Bought for 475 guineas by Mrs E Kellett, Sir Blink (NZ) (Blue Coral) went on to triumph in not only the 1958 Caulfield Cup but also the Victoria Derby (2400m) the same year. He backed up those major victories with placings in the Rosehill Guineas (2000m), Australian Derby (2400m), Blamey Stakes (2000m), Caulfield Stakes (1800m), the 1959 Caulfield Cup and the 1960 edition of the Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2800m). 1962: EVEN STEVENS Even Stevens (NZ) A mere 400 guineas was enough to secure Even Stevens (NZ) (Fairs Fair) as a yearling, having caught the eye of trainer Archie McGregor’s wife Valerie. He went on to win 11 of his 28 starts, placing in another seven and earning £43,895. He completed the Caulfield-Melbourne Cup double in 1962, winning both races by four lengths in dominant performances. He was originally on the ballot for the Caulfield Cup and only made the field after scratchings. Even Stevens also won the Avondale Cup (2200m) and Fisher Plate (2400m). He placed behind Stipulate (NZ) (Count Rendered) in the 1963 Auckland Cup (3200m). Even Stevens was later gifted to the Queen Mother, but suffered an injury in training prior to his scheduled departure to the UK. He was retired to stand at stud in New Zealand, where his progeny included the Great Northern Derby (2400m) and New Zealand Derby (2400m) winner Master John (NZ). 1966: GALILEE Galilee (NZ) Bred and sold by Trelawney Stud, Galilee (NZ) (Alcimedes) was bought by legendary trainer Bart Cummings for 3750 guineas – just over half that year’s sale-topping price of 7000 guineas. From a 36-race career, Galilee went on to record 18 wins and 10 placings and earned just under A$170,000 for Adelaide builder Max Bailey and his wife Venice. Among the 12 Melbourne Cup winners and countless other champions that he trained, Cummings always regarded Galilee as the very best of them all. In the spring of 1966, Galilee finished second in the Epsom Handicap (1600m) before winning the Toorak Handicap (1600m) and Caulfield Cup. With a Mackinnon Stakes (2000m) placing in between times, he then went on to a two-length triumph in the Melbourne Cup (3200m). He followed that up with an autumn campaign that featured victories in the Queen’s Plate (2000m), Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2400m), Autumn Stakes (2400m) and a six-length runaway under 60 kilograms in the Sydney Cup (3200m). He became the first horse to win the Caulfield, Melbourne and Sydney Cups in the same season. 1985: TRISTARC Bred by Sir Patrick Hogan and offered by Cambridge Stud at the 1983 Sale, Tristarc (NZ) (Sir Tristram) was bought for $135,000. Tristarc won no fewer than five Group One races – the Caulfield Cup, the Australian Derby (2400m), the Underwood Stakes (2000m), the Caulfield Stakes (2000m) and the Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m). 1986: (MR) LOMONDY Lomondy (NZ) Paul Kerr paid $30,000 to secure (Mr) Lomondy (NZ) (Noble Bijou), whose 54-race career produced 14 wins, 10 placings and over A$840,000 in prize-money. In addition to a series of wins in his homeland including Hawke’s Bay’s Ormond Memorial Stakes (2000m) and two editions of the Group Three Manawatu Cup (2300m), Mr Lomondy ventured across the Tasman and secured Group One triumphs in the Adelaide Cup (3200m) and Caulfield Cup. 2007: MASTER O’REILLY The South Island Sale produced the 2007 Caulfield Cup hero Master O’Reilly (NZ) (O’Reilly), who was offered by Paritai Stud in 2004 and was bought by Liam Sutcliffe Holdings for $75,000. Danny O’Brien trained Master O’Reilly for all but the first eight starts of his 48-race career. He recorded eight wins, three seconds and six thirds, banking A$2.98m in prize-money. His biggest triumph came with his two-length win over Douro Valley (Encosta De Lago) and multiple Group One winner Princess Coup (Encosta De Lago) in the Caulfield Cup, but Master O’Reilly also won the Group Two Herbert Power Stakes (2400m) and placed in the Group One Turnbull Stakes (2000m), Group Two (now Group One) Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) and Group Two Sandown Classic (2400m). 2015: MONGOLIAN KHAN Mongolian Khan (NZ) The mighty Mongolian Khan (Holy Roman Emperor) was a $140,000 purchase from the 2013 Select Sale, then returned to Karaka later that year and was sold for $220,000 in the Ready to Run Sale. Mongolian Khan was a two-time New Zealand Horse of the Year and earned himself a unique place in racing history with his wins in the Group One New Zealand Derby (2400m), Australian Derby (2400m) and Caulfield Cup. He was the first horse ever to win all three, and only the second to do the Derby double after Bonecrusher (NZ) (Pag Asa) in 1986. The Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman-trained Mongolian Khan was ridden by Opie Bosson in his 2015 Caulfield Cup triumph, in which he beat 13 other Group One winners – Trip To Paris (Champs Elysees), Our Ivanhowe (Soldier Hollow), Gust Of Wind (NZ) (Darci Brahma), Who Shot Thebarman (NZ) (Yamanin Vital), Hauraki (Rest), Lucia Valentina (NZ) (Savabeel), Grand Marshal (Dansili), Volkstok’n’barrell (NZ) (Tavistock), Rising Romance (NZ) (Ekraar), Protectionist (Monsun), Set Square (Reset), Magicool (Fastnet Rock), Royal Descent (Redoute’s Choice). In a career cut short by injury, Mongolian Khan had 17 starts for eight wins, a placing and $4.15m in stakes – almost 30 times his $140,000 purchase price as a yearling. View the full article

Breeze Ups for the world’s best sale of two-year-olds are set to take place next week on Monday 20 and Tuesday 21 October at Te Rapa Racecourse.7 All two-year-olds entered in NZB’s Ready to Run Sale have the opportunity to breeze on the same turf track at Te Rapa Racecourse over two consecutive days. Commencing at 10am each day, there will be a total of 202 heats filmed from the near the 500m mark to past the winning post. To assist buyers, NZB will be recording various details during the Breeze Ups including timing the last 200m of their gallop, penetrometer readings of the track, an outline of the weather conditions and a wind anemometer reading against each Lot. This data will be displayed on the NZB website against each horse for easy analysis and comparison and will be available alongside the video clips of the Breeze Up footage by Friday 25 October. All prospective buyers are welcome to attend the Breeze Ups, with the full schedule and order of heats available to view online now. For bloodstock enquiries or inspections, NZB’s Bloodstock team & NZ Bloodstock (BAFNZ) agents are happy to assist. Keep up to date with stories and content throughout both days here, or over on our social media channels, Facebook, Instagram or X. The on-farm parades are set to take place from 30 October through to 3 November . The schedule will be available shortly. View the full article

After being edged out by a nose by Tajana in a thrilling battle in the Gr.3 Sunline Vase (1400m) at Ellerslie four weeks ago, Lollapalooza will try to reverse that result in Saturday’s Gr.2 Windsor Park Stud Soliloquy Stakes over the same course and distance. Lollapalooza and Tajana have emerged as early standouts in this season’s crop of three-year-old fillies, collecting three Group Three victories between them through August and September. Tajana was the first to get on the board with a powerful come-from-behind win in the Gr.3 Northland Breeders’ Stakes (1200m) at Ruakaka on August 16. Lollapalooza burst on to the scene not long afterwards with a brilliant last-to-first performance in the Gr.3 Gold Trail Stakes (1200m) at Ellerslie on September 6. Those victories set up a tantalising clash in the Sunline Vase, and the race lived right up to expectations. After sitting in third-to-last and second-to-last up until the home turn, Lollapalooza and Tajana both showed their brilliant turn of foot again in the home straight. They charged home out wide on the track and hit the front together with 100m to run, fighting out a head-bobbing battle to the finish with Tajana scoring by the barest of margins. After those highly impressive spring performances, little separates Lollapalooza and Tajana in fixed-odds betting for both Saturday’s Soliloquy and the Gr.1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton on November 8. Lollapalooza just shaded Tajana for Soliloquy favouritism on Friday afternoon, with the TAB offering respective quotes of $3.10 and $3.40. For next month’s 1000 Guineas, the pair share favouritism at $3.50 and are the only two fillies in single figures. Graham Richardson, who trains Lollapalooza in partnership with Rogan Norvall, is excited to see the rivalry between the two fillies continue on Saturday. But the Matamata trainer warns that the Soliloquy Stakes may not be as simple as another two-horse war. “It was a really good race last time between a couple of classy fillies, and I’m looking forward to seeing them clash again on Saturday,” Richardson said. “But Stephen Marsh also has a filly in there that looks pretty smart, so it’s going to be an interesting race.” Richardson was referring to the $6 third favourite Well Written, who made her debut on the Sunline Vase undercard on September 20 and cruised to a super-impressive maiden victory by three lengths. But Richardson gave a positive report about Lollapalooza, who completed her Soliloquy build-up with a strong 1000m gallop on Matamata’s course proper on Wednesday morning. “We couldn’t be happier with Lollapalooza,” Richardson said. “She’s come through the Sunline very well. We gave her a couple of quiet days after that race and then started building her up again. She’s been working nicely. “This is a good race to target in its own right, and all going well, it should also set her up nicely for the 1000 Guineas down in Christchurch. She’s booked to fly down on the 5th of November, and then the plan is to run in the Guineas on the 8th and fly back again on the 10th.” Lollapalooza was bought by Richardson Racing Stables and Social Racing for just $30,000 from Book 2 of Karaka 2024. Raced by a pair of syndicates that includes the filly’s breeders Don and Dame Wendy Pye, the daughter of El Roca has so far banked $133,250 from a five-race career. View the full article

Romantic Warrior was Hong Kong’s first winner in Australia for over 18 years when he did the almost unthinkable and snared the 2023 Group One Cox Plate (2,040m) at Moonee Valley in Melbourne. Less than two years later, Ka Ying Rising stands on the verge of a piece of his own history as he looks to become the first international winner of the Group One The Everest (1,200m) at Randwick in Sydney on Saturday. Plenty of questions have been asked about the $1.75 favourite’s readiness for The Everest...View the full article

Bottas (Vekoma), a 'TDN Rising Star' presented by Hagyard at first asking at Saratoga and recent winner of the 'Win and You're In' GII Pilgrim Stakes at Aqueduct, breezed five furlongs Wednesday over the Oklahoma training track in 1:03.82 as he prepares for his next start in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf at Del Mar on Oct. 31. “Bottas worked very well. Controlled. Easy by design. Came back sound,” trainer Miguel Clement said of the work, completed in the company of a maiden. “He was moving very well. We are going to work him once more, then he is going to ship out. The plan is to work him next Wednesday, subject to weather. I'm very, very excited for him.” Heeere's Johnny (Oscar Performance), who came running late to finish a close second in the Pilgrim, is also being pointed towards the Juvenile Turf despite the fact that he remains a maiden after four starts. “We will get two works into him here [at Belmont Park], and then ship him out on the 26th,” trainer Ray Handal said. “He's getting better. He ran his race last time, Bottas ran huge and so did he. I think our colt will keep getting better with each start.” G2 Pilgrim winner and G1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf hopeful BOTTAS worked just now (outside of a maiden) under the watchful eye of trainer Miguel Clement @clementstable. NYRA clockers caught him covering five furlongs in 1:03 and 4/5. pic.twitter.com/tIf1K3KMWg — Mary Eddy (@singmysongbird) October 15, 2025 The post Bottas Breezes Towards Juvenile Turf appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

New York-bred 2-year-old filly Iron Orchard (Authentic), who ran her record to a perfect three-for-three with a victory in the GI Frizette Stakes at Aqueduct on Oct. 4, was sold to Larry and Karen Doyle's KatieRich Farms for $2.5 million as part of the Fasig-Tipton Digital Fall Flash Sale, according to release from the company late Thursday evening. Bidding opened on Oct. 10. A romping debut winner in a restricted Saratoga maiden on July 3, the dark bay–whose most recent trip through a sales ring saw her bring $500,000 at this year's OBS April Sale–made it two straight with a 6 3/4-length success in the Seeking the Ante Stakes for state-bred juvenile fillies at the Spa Aug. 22. Just short of 5-2 for the Frizette, she covered ground on the turn and held on to take the one-mile event by a nose. Her earnings to date stand at $352,000. “She's a young, Grade I winner and there is plenty of upside there,” said Larry Doyle, who confirmed that Iron Orchard is being pointed for the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies at Del Mar on Oct. 31. “She's a half-million dollar New York-bred, we vetted her from head to toe, she's very good-looking and she'll make a nice broodmare down the road.” Doyle said that Danny Gargan, who consigned the filly as agent to the sale, will continue to train Iron Orchard in the near-term. In the immediate aftermath of the Frizette, Gargan was non-committal about going on to the Breeders' Cup. “What a sale!,” enthused Leif Aaron, director of digital sales for Fasig-Tipton. “It has been a thrill to offer an undefeated Grade I-winning and Breeders' Cup-bound filly in Iron Orchard for her connections. We wish KatieRich the best of luck with her and will be rooting her on in the Breeders' Cup and beyond.” The second of the two horses offered in the Fall Flash Sale was Haulin Ice (Coal Front), who punched her ticket to the GI Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint with a victory in the GIII Princess Rooney Stakes at Gulfstream Park. Consigned by Taylor Made, the 4-year-old was unsold on a final bid of $875,000, but remains available for purchase post-sale. “While we were disappointed to have not sold Haulin Ice, she is a quality filly and still available for purchase post-sale through our platform,” Aaron said. Fasig-Tipton's next digital sale is the December Digital Sale scheduled for Dec. 4-9. Entries close Nov. 19. The post Iron Orchard Sells For $2.5M In Fasig-Tipton Digital Fall Flash Sale; Breeders’ Cup Next appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Having ridden in six previous editions of The Everest (1200m) as well as multiple clashes with Ka Ying Rising in Hong Kong, jockey James McDonald has a good idea of what to expect when the world’s highest-rated sprinter makes his Australian debut in the A$20 million feature at Randwick on Saturday. McDonald is the only jockey to have ever beaten Ka Ying Rising, twice edging out the New Zealand-bred champion aboard Wunderbar at Sha Tin in January 2024. Since then, McDonald has been among the beaten brigade on several occasions during the Shamexpress gelding’s spectacular 13-race winning streak, including the Gr.1 Hong Kong Sprint (1200m), Centenary Sprint Cup (1200m) and Chairman’s Sprint Prize (1200m). But McDonald is well aware that Ka Ying Rising faces a very different challenge in Saturday’s Everest. McDonald won the world’s richest sprint aboard Nature Strip in 2021, while his five other rides in the race have produced a fourth (Nature Strip, 2022), a sixth (Hawaii Five Oh, 2023) two sevenths (Nature Strip, 2020 and Joliestar, 2024) and an 11th (Arcadia Queen, 2019). McDonald will ride the Chris Waller-trained Joliestar on Saturday for Cambridge Stud owners Sir Brendan and Lady Jo Lindsay. “Ka Ying Rising is a superstar, he’s an absolute superstar,” McDonald said. “If he brings his Sha Tin form, he’s sometimes almost impossible to beat, the way his figures read. I’ve ridden some good horses against him and he’s made them look pretty second-rate, to be fair. “But this is a different kettle of fish. This is probably the toughest test to date for him and he’s going to know he’s in a horse race, especially with the likes of Jimmysstar, Briasa, Joliestar and Lady Shenandoah coming at him. He’s going to have to be at the top of his game.” Joliestar will be one of three runners in the race for Waller, who has celebrated previous Everest wins with Yes Yes Yes in 2019 and Nature Strip two years later. The champion trainer will also saddle Lady Shenandoah and Angel Capital. “The best thing about Ka Ying Rising being in the race is that it brings an international flavour to this year’s event,” Waller said. “That’s what we want to see here in Australia. “We’ve got the best sprinters in the world and we take them overseas and normally get it right. So to see the horse coming here with the world’s highest rating, Australia has got something to prove. “Having that international flavour gives more credit to the race, it’s taking the world’s imagination and everybody will be watching The Everest on Saturday afternoon. Let’s hope that Australia – our horses – can beat Ka Ying Rising, because he’s a superstar. “All three of ours are, in my eyes, good enough to win the race and every horse will have to be at their best to win the race. It’s just a great contest. It’s no different to an Olympic sprint final – everyone has to be at on their game, get a good clean start and have everything go their way and you need to be strong over the last metres of the race. “It’s the best of the best coming together on Saturday at Randwick. It’s an exciting race, the build-up has been huge, it’s a sell-out crowd. They’re all eager to find out the result. “All I can say is Joliestar, she’s a mature mare now, she’s in the zone now, great first-up win. Lady Shenandoah is coming off that defeat, but there were legitimate reasons for it and we think she’s a rising star and will be there next year in The Everest as well. “And Angel Capital is the unknown. He’s a rising star, like Lady Shenandoah, he hasn’t won at the elite level yet but the things we see at home on the training track are quite phenomenal and if he brings that to the races from his good draw (three), he could beat them all.” Ka Ying Rising will start from barrier seven under Zac Purton on Saturday. The TAB rates him a $1.80 favourite, with Joliestar the second elect at $6.50. View the full article

Ellerslie has been the scene of some of El Vencedor’s most memorable performances, and Saturday’s Gr.1 Livamol Classic (2040m) could see the reigning New Zealand Horse of the Year become only the second horse to win four Group One races at the Auckland track. El Vencedor recorded his first Group One win with a giant-killing victory over $1.20 favourite Legarto in the Bonecrusher New Zealand Stakes (2000m) in March of 2024. He returned last season to add the Otaki-Maori WFA Classic (1600m) and a repeat result in the Bonecrusher New Zealand Stakes as part of a campaign that also featured a Gr.1 Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m) win at Te Rapa. In the almost five decades since the Group and Listed structure was introduced in New Zealand, the only four-time Group One winner at Ellerslie was Hall of Fame inductee Horlicks, who captured two editions of the Air New Zealand Stakes (2000m) and two editions of the DB Draught Classic (2000m). Saturday’s Livamol Classic will be the third start of the season for El Vencedor, who resumed with an eye-catching fifth in the Gr.1 Proisir Plate (1400m) at Ellerslie on September 6. He crossed the line only two lengths behind the winner Quintessa. In the Gr.1 Howden Insurance Mile (1600m) on a Heavy9 track at Te Rapa three weeks later, the seven-year-old son of Shocking finished seventh and four lengths behind Waitak. “I’ve been happy with his performances in both of those first two legs of the Triple Crown,” trainer Stephen Marsh said. “His first-up run in the Proisir at Ellerslie was great, and then he wasn’t bad in the Mile at Te Rapa either. I think that race just showed that he really prefers better footing these days. He’ll get that at Ellerslie. “As far as everything he’s doing at home goes, he’s just kept getting better and better with each race under his belt. “Wiremu Pinn rides him again on Saturday, he gets on well with the horse. I think El Vencedor could be the real improver heading into the third leg of the series.” Two other factors in El Vencedor’s favour are the increasing distance and the return to Ellerslie. The Livamol is run over a similar trip to his 2000m Herbie Dyke Stakes and back-to-back Bonecrusher New Zealand Stakes successes. His seven starts at Ellerslie, meanwhile, have produced five black-type wins. “Going up to 2000m and being back at Ellerslie are really key,” Marsh said. El Vencedor headlines a big day at Ellerslie on Saturday for Marsh, who also has last-start Gr.3 Sunline Vase (1400m) placegetter Little Black Dress and super-impressive debut winner Well Written contesting the Gr.2 Windsor Park Stud Soliloquy Stakes (1400m). In the Elsdon Park (1400m), the Cambridge trainer will be represented by Group Two winner Bourbon Empress and dominant first-up winner Tardelli. “Little Black Dress was much better last start and wasn’t beaten far by those two top fillies (Tajana and Lollapalooza),” Marsh said. “She was still a bit wayward, so we’ve added blinkers. She’s galloped in blinkers and seems to have her mind a bit more on the job. I think she’s really improved. “Well Written is a lovely filly and won brilliantly on debut. She’s taking on the big girls now, but she’s pretty exciting. “Tardelli was hugely impressive first-up. He couldn’t have won that race any better. “Going from 57.5kg to 60.5kg is never easy second-up, and especially against a talented field this weekend. But he’s a big, strong horse that we rate very highly and we really think he can do it. He hasn’t missed a beat since his first-up win. “Bourbon Empress is coming up well too. Her two trials were both very nice, and especially the last one which was terrific. She gets in nicely with 54kg and I think she’ll run well. They’re both horses that could be running in some big races this season.” View the full article

Promising stayer Danjuro has been a work in progress with time expected to further improve his racing manners. The son of Saxon Warrior has showed his talent with four wins on the board and the promise of adding to that record when he steps out in the Steelform Roofing Waverley Cup (2200m) on Sunday. “He’s always showed ability, but he is quirky and he ran off at Wellington one day,” said Peter Didham, who prepares the five-year-old with son Trent. “He’s done a couple of odd things and can be on and off the bridle, he’s like a big baby. “A horse like this probably wouldn’t have been broken in until he was three or four in the old days, he’s a beautiful horse but big and gangly.” Danjuro posted his third middle-distance success last time out and the winning margin didn’t do the son of Saxon Warrior justice. “At Otaki, he was going to win by three lengths and then he just switched off and won by a head,” Didham said. “Racing and time will sort that out I feel, we’ll just take him along quietly this year and I think next year he could end up a better Cups horse.” Danjuro was a debut winner and at his third appearance finished sixth behind Crocetti in the Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m), but Didham knew the best would be seen of the gelding over ground. “I always thought he’d be a stayer with his body frame, and we work him like that. I’m happy with where he’s at and when he behaves himself in his races, he’s got it left at the finish,” he said. Danjuro will be partnered by Kavish Chowdhoory, who has been aboard in the gelding’s last six appearances. “It’s good to have a regular rider on him, he’s not a hugely difficult horse to ride though and the more you get to know him, the more you like him,” Didham said. “He’s run second at Waverley before and drawn one he should be able to race in behind the pace.” The stable will have multiple runners at the meeting and at Trentham on Saturday. “We’ve got seven in and they’re all nice each-way chances and Shameless Star has been working well since she won,” Didham said. “She has to step up to the Rating 65 grade and for a three-year-old filly that can be a bit tough, but she’s going well.” Among their Trentham runners is Felucca, who will run in the Graham’s Painters Handicap (1400m). The Time Test mare won both of her trials before she finished a close second when resuming in her first raceday appearance for seven months. View the full article

Earlier this month, the Association for Racing Commissioners International (ARCI) issued a 28-page report assessing the effectiveness of the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA) after three years of operations. The report covers a lot of ground, including the federal authority's approach to collecting and calculating its equine fatality statistics. In this regard, the ARCI identified several points of concern, namely: That “there has been no uniform reporting policy governing how this data is collected and maintained.” That in 2024, HISA reported thirteen fewer equine deaths than those officially recorded by HISA regulated state commissions. That the number of starters used by HISA to calculate fatality rates differs with those used by individual states and by Equibase. This is no small matter. Pretty much since Eight Belles's fatal breakdown in the 2008 Kentucky Derby, the sport's equine safety record has been under an unflinching public microscope. An overall declining equine fatality rate since then, however, has been one of racing's counterpoints. With this in mind, the TDN dug into the ARCI's findings. The result is a mix of explanations driven by what appears to be the vagaries of different bureaucratic approaches and a suggested pathway to avoid such problems in the future. Data Parameters Before launching into the mechanics of the program, it's important to outline what constitutes a racing or training fatality: Racing fatality: Horses that die or are euthanized within 72 hours of a race as a direct result of injuries sustained participating in a race. Training fatality: Horses that die or are euthanized within 72 hours of an injury directly sustained during training. In both cases, it includes injured horses who are transported to a barn or referral hospital and subsequently euthanized. Since the advent of HISA, every track is supposed to have a designated safety director. That person is required to report to HISA any relevant death of a “covered horse” within 24 hours. They input this info into an online portal, including information like the horse's name, date of death, and whether it's a racing or a training fatality. (The designation of “covered horse” is a key wrinkle that will be elaborated upon in a bit). That reporting timeframe isn't always met, however. Sometimes HISA will be alerted of a fatality through other avenues, like the Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit (HIWU) during their sample collection processes. “If we go back and see that that fatality hasn't been reported to us, we usually give a grace period of a couple of days beyond the 24-hour required timeframe,” says Anjali Salooja, HISA's director of operations, strategy and research, explaining how, in that event, she will typically reach out to the safety director directly. Either way, at the end of each quarter, HISA puts together a letter that goes to each safety director, detailing each fatality recorded during that period along the following parameters (among others): whether it was a racing or training event, the name of the horse, the date of death, and whether the injury was musculoskeletal, sudden death or neither of the two. “We require each safety director to certify to us that they agree with all of the information provided to them,” says Salooja. “Sometimes there is a back and forth if folks have different details. [For example], the musculoskeletal versus sudden death classifications. There might be some questions around that.” HISA apparently takes other steps to double-check the numbers. Every “covered horse” that dies during racing or training is now required to undergo a necropsy. “The HISA vet team uses those necropsies as a reference point to go back and compare,” says Salooja. When it comes to the annual data, HISA also cross-references its numbers with the Jockey Club. Despite the two organizations using different processes to collect their data, “our ratios have been across the board the same, both on an annual basis as well as by racetrack,” says Salooja. Why the discrepancies identified by the ARCI, therefore? Discrepancies In its report, the ARCI found differences between individual commissions and HISA's 2024 equine fatality numbers in the following states: California (19 state, 16 HISA), Indiana (3 state, 2 HISA), Iowa (6 state, 5 HISA), Maryland (10 state, 9 HISA), New Mexico (6 state, 3 HISA), and New York (15 state, 11 HISA). According to Salooja, a key reason for these discrepancies comes down to the definition of HISA's “covered horse”: one that has completed a timed workout at a regulated facility. The horse remains “covered” until its retirement is officially recorded. An easy way to remember what constitutes a HISA-related racing or training fatality, says Salooja, “is a covered horse in a covered race at a covered racetrack.” This opens the door, says Salooja, to a horse's death being recorded by an individual state but not by HISA, like horses who have not recorded their first workout, a pony's death, or those that occur in mixed-breed or non-Thoroughbred races. “We've seen this come up at Los Alamitos which does mixed-Thoroughbred races,” says Salooja. The ARCI also found differences in the number of starters used by HISA to calculate the fatality rate with those used by state commissions and by Equibase. “In 2024, the total number of Thoroughbred starters officially recorded in the states regulated by HISA was 175,918. HISA claims 178,564. Equibase claims 180,761,” the ARCI reports. One explanation for those differences, says Salooja, is that HISA doesn't count mixed-breed races among these totals. (Note: the TDN followed up to see if there were other factors that might explain the different numbers. HISA responded with the following emailed answer: “We cannot opine on the ARCI's process and how they calculated the numbers in their report, but we can confirm that The Jockey Club conducted a separate process from ours and reported 0.90 racing-related fatalities per 1,000 starts for racetracks subject to HISA's rules in 2024. HISA's starts reflect only those races that are subject to our rules.”) Do these explanations account for the discrepancies identified in the ARCI report? “Could their explanation be valid in some places? I don't know without going back. But our numbers were based on what we asked the racing commissions for or what they had published,” said the ARCI's president, Ed Martin, when caught Thursday morning at the American Quarter Horse Association conference. Martin added: “My point in drawing attention to the discrepancy is that everybody ought to get on the same page.” What would help achieve that end, therefore? Presentation of the Stats Because HISA is not bound by Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requirements, the public relies upon what the organization makes available. And the fatality data HISA outlines has grown progressively more detailed over the years. Indeed, the latest quarterly report provides a good overview of (among other things) states, tracks, racing vs. training, causes and injury type. Beginning in 2026, the organization will weave in other fatality-related information including the condition of the racetrack and some race-types (like a claiming race). Even so, HISA still doesn't publicly relay this information at its most granular level, which is to list the specific horse that suffers a catastrophic injury, as well as other key details related to the event. In other words, a database like that maintained in California and New York. A fully transparent national system like that would go a long way to clearing up any confusion. But it doesn't appear as though that's on the cards–at least not any time soon. “That's not to say that [couldn't happen] at some point in the future,” says Salooja. “But we haven't made an organization-wide decision yet as to whether we're ready to launch that for the public yet.” Are there any legal obstacles precluding HISA from doing that? “I'm not an expert in this, but as far as I understand it, there are some confidentiality considerations around the possession and transmission of horse-related medical information,” says Salooja. “I think before we got to the point where we were sharing that kind of information, we would want to have further discussions with our vet and legal team about that,” she adds. “But as you said, California and New York are doing it, so at least in some jurisdictions it's permissible.” The post HISA’s Fatality Stats: A Look Under the Hood appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The two-minute win pool cutoff for computer-assisted wagering (CAW) bets that was implemented at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club over the summer in an effort to stabilize late odds fluctuations won't be in effect when the Southern California track hosts the Breeders' Cup Oct. 31 and Nov. 1, a spokesperson for the championships confirmed to TDN on Thursday. Back on July 29, in response to growing clamor among non-CAW bettors about the outsized role that CAW players had in driving a spate of marked late odds changes at Del Mar during the first two weeks of the meet, Del Mar president Josh Rubinstein said in a press release that the implementation of the cutoff was “part of an overall effort to ensure an optimal wagering experience for fans on-track, at simulcast locations and those playing via our advanced deposit wagering partners.” As TDN's Dan Ross reported at the time, the controversy involving CAW players typically surrounds the major edge they wield over regular gamblers because of their use of sophisticated technologies and specialized pool access that allows them to place massive wagers across nearly all pools in the final seconds of betting, as well as the attractive rebates offered to them that are unavailable to the average horseplayer. Other tracks, like those run by the New York Racing Association (NYRA), have had similar CAW policies in place since 2021. While Del Mar's cutoff only applies to win pools, (the most visible of all wagering pools), non-CAW horseplayers have hailed the decision as at least a step in the right direction toward mitigating the influence of CAW money. When Santa Anita Park opened for its fall meet last month, it continued the two-minute cutoff that Del Mar had initiated on the same circuit. On Oct. 16, when Rubinstein appeared before the California Horse Racing Board (CHRB) to discuss the track's licensure for the upcoming meet, CHRB vice chair Oscar Gonzales asked him if the CAW win-pool cutoff policy would extend into the track's upcoming late-fall meet that includes the Breeders' Cup championships. “So that will continue for our fall meet,” Rubinstein said. “Related to the Breeders' Cup, that is a decision that they will need to make.” Considering that the two-day championships are just two weeks away and that such a significant logistical decision had likely already been made, TDN reached out to the Breeders' Cup to get better clarity. A Breeders' Cup spokesperson replied with the following statement, which was not attributed to any specific Breeders' Cup executive: “Fortunately, due to the substantial liquidity in our multi-million-dollar wagering pools, the late odds fluctuations that frustrate horseplayers have not been an issue at the World Championships, including last year at Del Mar. “In addition, the competitive nature of our races–with full fields of the best runners from around the globe–has historically provided recreational players with great betting value and opportunities for generous returns.” On social media, non-CAW horseplayers have been opining and debating for weeks whether or not the two-minute ban at Del Mar would apply to the Breeders' Cup championships, with some bettors suggesting they might not wager on the races if no cutoff will be in effect. The post No 2-Minute CAW Cutoff In Win Pools For Breeders’ Cup at Del Mar appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Two-time Horse of the Year Curlin (Smart Strike) and his champion son Good Magic will stand the 2026 breeding season for $225,000 and $125,000, respectively, at John Sikura's Hill 'n' Dale at Xalapa, the Lexington area nursery announced Thursday. Curlin, who turns 22 in 2026, remains the only stallion to have supplied three Breeders' Cup winners on a single program and the only sire to account for four Eclipse Award winners in the same year. Good Magic, who was represented by a quartet of $1-million yearlings in 2025, is the sire of Classic winners Mage and his full-brother Dornoch from his first two crops. Army Mule (Friesan Fire) is set to be represented in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf by the undefeated Ground Support and will return to $25,000 for the 2026 breeding season, up from $20,000 this past year. From his 133 winners to date, no fewer than 20 have struck at the stakes level, with Ground Support the most recent of his four graded scorers. Former 'TDN Rising Star' Arabian Knight (Uncle Mo) was 'the most popular horse ever' to retire to Hill 'n' Dale and his fee remains at $30,000 for 2026. A stud fee for Charlatan (Speightstown) will be determined at a later date. “Our goal has always been to offer the best stallion value in the breeding business,” said Sikura. “We feel our 2026 fees will allow breeders to be competitive with the progeny of our stallions. Despite a very robust auction market, we have held our fees to provide value.” The remainder of the Hill 'n' Dale stud fees for 2026 are as follows: Kantharos (Lion Heart, $10,000); Loggins (Ghostzapper, $5,000); Maclean's Music (Distorted Humor, $30,000); Violence (Medaglia d'Oro, $30,000). The post Army Mule Gets Slight Bump, Curlin, Good Magic Remain at Six Figures at Hill ‘n’ Dale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Aidan O'Brien is ready to ignite the rivalry between the Delacroix and Ombudsman camps for one final time in a blockbuster Champion Stakes (G1) at Ascot Racecourse Oct. 18.View the full article

Unlike other races this fall at Del Mar, current plans do not call for computer-assisted wagering groups to be excluded from win wagering inside two minutes to post during the two-day Breeders' Cup.View the full article

Whisper Hill Farm homebred JUST ALOOF (f, 2, Justify–Aloof {Ire}, by Galileo {Ire}) came running late down the center of the Aqueduct turf course to take her debut Thursday. The 8-1 shot, who spent much of the race in a mid-pack fifth, had to fan out wide with a quarter-mile left but rallied to get by race favorite and stablemate Market Hours (Practical Joke) in the final yards for the win. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0. O/B-Whisper Hill Farm; T-Chad Brown. The post Whisper Hill Homebred Just Aloof All Business In Her Aqueduct Debut appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

TATTERSALLS, NEWMARKET – Almost 200 million gns changed hands between Book 1 and 2 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale but there was no sign of the money drying up at Park Paddocks as Book 3 got off to a rip-roaring start with turnover climbing by a massive 19% to 7,680,500gns. Whitsbury Manor Stud was rewarded for targeting the Book 3 with four horses selling for 371,000gns – which included a 160,000gns Havana Grey colt that was only knocked off his perch by the last lot into the ring, a Ballyhimikin Stud-consigned Blue Point colt that sold for just 5,000gns more. Just as he has been at every major yearling sale in Europe this year, Alex Elliott was extremely active on the opening day of Book 3. Along with signing for the 160,000gns Havana Grey colt on behalf of Valmont and Amo Racing, he also purchased a Nathaniel filly from Jamie Railton's consignment for 150,000gns to go with a 110,000gns Blue Point colt from Norelands Stud – which was purchased alongside fellow agent Billy Jackson-Stops. All told, Elliott has signed for almost 50 yearlings across Book 1, 2 and 3, and spent 381,000gns at Park Paddocks on Thursday. Put simply, few people are better qualified to comment about what has played out in recent months and weeks. Speaking about the Havana Grey colt, he began, “He's been bought for Amo Racing and Valmont and will go to David Simcock. David begged us for a faster horse. We always like sending him the slower ones but he says he slows them down enough! He trained Dream Ahead, who was obviously a top sprinter, so he can do the job if the horse is good enough. I actually bought a sibling to this horse by Due Diligence called Study Up. He was quite talented and won on debut, and obviously Havana Grey is Havana Grey.” Reflecting on trade over the past two weeks, Elliott added, “I've found it easier than last year, there wasn't the mania there was then. Kia [Joorabchian] has been very strong and bought a lot of horses, but because there isn't that mania, Anthony [Stroud] sees more value in the market and is prepared to step in at that stage. It's been good for me, between Amo and other clients I'm getting up towards 50 purchases over the two weeks. I'm in a very lucky position to have people backing me to buy that many.” The majority of the money spent at Book 1 and 2 was on behalf of international buyers but Thursday's action was dominated by domestic traders. Whitsbury Manor Stud were one of the busiest vendors and boss Ed Harper was rewarded for targeting Book 3 with some of his better yearlings by star stallion Havana Grey. He explained, “We make sure to put Book 2 horses in Book 3. We're not trying to do anything clever but we have to spread out the stock by our stallions and Havana Grey is hot. We can't sell them all in Book 2 and, if we get a reputation for selling good yearlings in Book 3, well then people are going to stay for Book 3. Not only are we helping ourselves and our own stallions by doing that but hopefully we are helping the British breeders. There is a higher percentage of British breeders in this sale and we need to give the best buyers a reason to stay for Book 3, and they are. If we don't give them that reason, we all have that little bit less of an option.” The Havana Grey colt of Sakhee's Secret mare, Cross My Heart, who is the dam of a black-type performer in Adaay To Remember. Meanwhile Whistbury's Havana Grey filly out of Hot Secret, the dam of Royal Ascot heroine Pilgrim (Havana Grey), was bought for 135,000gns by Yeomanstown Stud to go breezing. Speaking about his headline acts, Harper continued, “I don't know whether it's fluke or happenstance or whatever but there's an amazing cross between Havana Grey on a Sakhee's Secret mare. I think there's five rated over 100 on that cross and there's only been about eight runners. Five of those were stakes winners. For his age, he was a very impressive colt.” He added, “The filly is a sister to Pilgrim, who won the Palace Of Holyrood House at Royal Ascot for David Barron. Again, she is a late foal so there will be bags of improvement in her, which I think people spotted. When you are bringing a full-sister to a Royal Ascot winner to Book 3, people are going to have a look.” While Elliott has some of the biggest clients – Amo, Valmont and at times Coolmore – on his books, he still pops up now and again to buy a horse he likes on spec. This was the case with the Nathaniel filly that was consigned by Railton, who, like Whitsbury, targeted Book 3 in an effort to stand out. Elliott explained of that 150,000gns purchase, “There could be a few plans because I've half bought her on spec. I've put a partnership together for her and a few people have spoken to me about the filly. I thought she was gorgeous, she's very strong, and I've had a bit of luck with Nathaniel fillies like [Irish Oaks winner] You Got To Me.” He added, “She's out of a Pivotal mare, and he's a great broodmare sire. There's Arch, another great broodmare sire, in the pedigree too. She's also a sister to a Group 3 winner so if she's any good, even if she nicks a little bit of black-type, then she's worth a lot of money. Her march around the back ring was very special. Training plans are up for discussion. Somebody just stopped me in the shoot to see if I'd sold her or not. It's kind of fluid at the moment but she's a good one to get.” Along with the major rise in the turnover, the median climbed by a massive 33% to 26,500gns while the average was up by 19%. The clearance rate fell, however, by 3% to 85%. Railton, one of the biggest British-based consignors, heaped praise on the Nathaniel filly's breeder John McNally for forgoing a slot in Book 2 in an effort to stand out before putting on record how pleased he was to see the appetite for horses sustained into the middle and lower tiers at Book 3. Railton said, “She had a place in Book 2 but the owner was keen for her to stand out and he was probably right. She is a lovely filly and had all of the right people on her. It's nice to be involved in those types of horses.” He added, “I think it has been fantastic to see the appetite for a horse. It has carried on into Book 3 and it's important that we have buyers at every level, not just at the top. It's crucial. The pyramid only works if there is a solid base to it. It feels really good and the appetite for horses is what I like to see. It's not just a transaction, it's a passion.” Late Late Show As Blue Point Top Lot Bought To Go Breezing Ballyhimikin Stud has knocked it out of the park all week and continued to do so at Book 3, with two Blue Points – a filly and a colt – selling for six figures or more, including the latter, which headlined trade on Thursday at 165,000gns. The Blue Point colt was bought by Rodrigo Goncalves, who signed under the banner of MADR Bloodstock, and held off trainer John Butler as underbidder. MADR Bloodstock ended the day as the second leading buyer behind Elliott with four yearlings sourced for 300,000gns. Goncalves said, “He's been bought to go breezing and the idea would be that he could come back for some of the bigger sales – either the Craven or Arqana. He's a strong horse by a sire that I like a lot. A number of friends and myself have teamed up together to breeze a couple of horses and he was my pick of the day. I left it late to strike but I am happy to get him.” Ballyhimikin also sold a Blue Point colt out of an Oasis Dream mare to Julie Camacho for 110,000gns earlier in the evening. The Irish farm ended the day as the leading vendor with five selling for 396,000gns. Subplots No man played a more important role at Book 1 and 2 than Anthony Stroud, who was buying on behalf of the leading purchaser Godolphin among others. However, Stroud has remained active into Book 3, and went to 100,000gns to secure a Starspangledbanner colt from Torard House Stud. “I have bought him for Alison Swinburn and we have been looking for a horse for her since last week” he said. “It was a clever pinhook [bought for 27,000 as a foal]. I think he is a bit of a standout for me today – he has got size and scope and is a very good mover.” Kirsten Rausing's Staffordstown Stud brought a few interesting horses to the market early doors on Thursday, including the 90,000gns Study Of Man colt that was bought by Jeremy Brummitt on behalf of Quantum Leap Racing. He said, “He is an exceptionally well-balanced horse, which I don't think is typical of many horses, but is typical of very good horses. He is by a stallion who is probably still emerging and I don't think I could find a horse as well-balanced as this horse is. The dam [six-time winner Altra Vita (Animal Kingdom)] was obviously tough and most importantly, this colt has been bred by someone who tries to breed racehorses for the racecourse and not sales horse for the sale ring – you can see that by looking at the pedigree and how many winners are in it. He is for Quantum Leap and we have not yet decided on a trainer; if they have got any sense they will be queuing up to see if they can train him – put that in!” The Marnane family played a major role on Thursday. Between trainer David Marnane, who signed for six yearlings for 190,000gns, and breeze-up handler Con Marnane, who signed for four yearlings for 175,000gns, the brothers put 365,000gns into the market. Young James O'Mahony has enjoyed a good week at Tattersalls, notably when selling a colt by first-season sire Persian Force for 100,000 during Book 2. The Irish-based breeder struck again with a colt by the Tally-Ho Stud-based stallion, with Kevin Ross going to 48,000gns to secure a particularly fast-looking offering by the Group 2 winner. He looks very sharp and should provide his connections with some early action next year. Buy of the day The National Stud's Stradivarius colt was one of the nicest horses in Book 3 and looks very well-bought at just 62,000gns by Billy Jackson-Stops. He oozed quality and confirmed the decent impression the multiple Group 1-winning stayer has made with his first batch of yearlings. Thought for the day What took place here at Tattersalls during Book 1 and 2 was hardly representative of the industry. Yes, we enjoyed booming trade here over the past couple of weeks, but with foreign money propping up the market. Book 3 was always going to be more informative with a view towards taking the temperature of the industry in Britain and one would have to take encouragement from the figures posted on Thursday. Beyond the figures, there was a strong cohort of trainers on the ground and getting in on the action on Thursday, which was good to see. The post ‘The Appetite Is Fantastic’ – Momentum Rolls Into Rip-Roaring Book 3 Sale At Tattersalls appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The California Horse Racing Board (CHRB) on Thursday approved a slate of 2026 Thoroughbred race dates that will closely resemble the state's 2025 schedule. Over the last decade or so, hammering out the state's annual race-dates calendar has usually been a long, controversial and often argumentative process that gets drawn out over many monthly commission and sub-committee meetings, with stakeholders often testifying and advocating for hours on end and some entities not pleased with their eventual allotments. But with the demise of the entire Northern California racing circuit, and Southern California's two remaining main tracks–Santa Anita Park and Del Mar Thoroughbred Club–seemingly satisfied with the current template, the CHRB on Oct. 16 compressed that entire decision-making process into just two minutes, with zero public commentary and a unanimous 4-0 decision that approved the schedule that had been presented to the board. “Southern California, for the first time, actually, since I started this job in 2020, has agreed on a calendar,” said the CHRB's executive director, Scott Chaney, prior to the vote. “It will largely mirror what this year looked like, with the exception of the Breeders' Cup week [at Del Mar in 2025], which will revert back to Santa Anita, as is normally the case.” Bill Nader, the president and chief executive officer of the Thoroughbred Owners of California, submitted a letter included in the meeting packet that stated his organization supported the proposed schedule. After the vote, at the general public commentary session near the end of the meeting, longtime California horse owner George Schmitt gave an update on initiatives of the company called Bernal Park Racing that he had formed with the owner/breeder John Harris, who died this past summer. Earlier in 2025, Bernal mounted an unsuccessful bid to secure race dates in Northern California with the aim of putting together an organization to make personnel and a day-to-day racing infrastructure services available to any fair in the state that wanted to use those resources to run a meet. “Since I was last with you, you know that my partner, John Harris, died,” Schmitt said. “The last time I was with John, I promised John that I would continue to do what he and I were working on to bring horse racing back into the county fairs in Northern California.” With no Northern California racing in 2025, Schmitt cited a siphoning-off of California-bred horses to nearby states like Washington and Arizona, and what he said was the “lowest number of mares bred in the history of California since we started keeping track of how many mares are bred.” Schmitt said that the number of mares bred is “barely over 1,000. In large part, in my opinion, it's because breeders in Northern California have decided [not to] breed their mares this year. We need to figure out a way to bring horse racing back into the county fairs in the North, in my opinion, so that people with lesser horses don't feel obligated to ship them [out of state].” Schmitt said, “I think that we need to take a look at what happened this year in California. I know that the handle was up somewhat in Southern California. But if you look at the total state, there was no handle in Northern California. [Statewide] handle is way down by almost all the money that has been typically bet in Northern California at the fair races. “I'll be back. I am working with significant sponsors for horse racing in Northern California. I am working with five county fairs. You all know Sacramento has destroyed their track and has decided they'll never run again. But there still are five racecourses and county fairs that are willing to run. I'm trying to get them all together. I hope to have everything done by the end of this month, and be with you next month requesting dates for the county fairs in the North again… “I know everybody's going to say, 'Where's the money coming from?'” Schmitt said. “Well, I don't think I need to do more than tell you I have the money, and I will do that before I come before you. I still have significant amounts of money in Bernal Park Racing, because John and I put it in, and it's just sitting there… “Let's figure out how to get this industry working all over the state of California again,” Schmitt said. The approved 2026 calendar is below, listed in blocks of dates and not actual racing days. Santa Anita: Dec. 17, 2025-June 16, 2026. LA County Fair at Los Alamitos: June 17-July 7 Del Mar: July 8-Sept. 8 Los Alamitos: Sept. 9-22 Santa Anita: Sept. 23-Nov. 3 Del Mar: Nov. 4-Dec. 1 Los Alamitos: Dec. 2-15 CHRB vice chair Oscar Gonzales and commissioners Dennis Alfieri, Brenda Washington Davis and Peter Stern all voted in favor of the 2026 dates package. CHRB chairman Gregory Ferraro, DVM, and commissioners Thomas Hudnut and Damascus Castellanos were not present at the meeting. The post With California Down To a Single Circuit, ’26 Dates Allotment Sails Through CHRB appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Chris Waller will launch a three-pronged attack in the AU$20 million The Everest Oct. 18 at Randwick Racecourse, with the champion trainer's focus not only on his own runners but also on how they measure up against the Hong Kong superstar.View the full article

A memorial service honoring veteran horseman Al Pike will be held at 4:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 19 at the Fasig-Tipton sales pavilion in Lexington, Kentucky. A reception will follow. Pike, a perennial leading 2-year-old consignor and pinhooker, passed away on July 26, 2025 at the age of 70 after a battle with cancer. Those wishing to speak in memory of Pike at the service are asked to contact Mark Toothaker at 859-421-0151. The post Al Pike Memorial Sunday at Fasig-Tipton appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article