Wandering Eyes

Beginning Oct. 1, Delaware Park will introduce a starter bonus for the remainder of the 2025 meet, which is scheduled to conclude Oct. 18.View the full article

Maiden Watch: Week of Sept. 15-21View the full article

The U.S. Second Circuit Court of Appeals relieved Seth Fishman of a horse doping forfeiture order of about $10 million, remanded a $25 million restitution order to a lower court, but refused to overturn Fishman's underlying conviction and sentence.View the full article

FAIRYHOUSE, IRELAND – On a day when even the wildest expectations for the opening session of the Tattersalls Ireland September Yearling Sale were exceeded, Peter Nolan enjoyed a result he will never forget when his homebred colt by first-season sire Blackbeard was knocked down to Ted Durcan for €165,000. That result represented a shrewd piece of business for Nolan who went with his gut when deciding not to part with the Blackbeard colt as a foal, thus reaping the rewards for sitting on his hands until the yearling sales. It was also a shrewd piece of placing, too, with the Blackbeard colt standing out to a number of buyers, ultimately going the way of Durcan on behalf of an existing client that is understood to be sending the horse Richard Hughes's way. “He is a beautiful stamp of a horse,” Durcan said. “He vetted really well and I knew he'd make money. We hoped we'd get him for a lot less than that but in this healthy market you have to push the boat out.” A healthy market is one way of putting it. With 11 horses selling for six figures, you could say things were thriving at Fairyhouse on Tuesday. And the love was spread across the board, too, which was illustrated by the fact the median climbed by 55% and the clearance rate settled at 93%. Not only was Nolan responsible for the top lot, but he enjoyed an excellent day on the whole with three horses selling for a combined sum of €295,000 – completed by a €70,000 Sioux Nation filly to Joe Murphy and a €60,000 Churchill colt to Jeremy Brummitt on behalf of Quantum Leap Racing. Nolan commented on the Blackbeard colt, “He was bred at home and we offered him as a foal but he was a vendor buy-back for €60,000. We thought he was better than that and thankfully we have been proved right. We chose this sale as we thought there would be a lot by the sire to sell so we wanted to get out early.” Along with that massive jump in the median, the average climbed 49% to €44,096 while the turnover was up by roughly a third to €9,833,500. Of the 240 lots offered, 223 were sold at that 93% clearance rate. 'We've Been Lucky Here' – Rabbah Spends Over 1 Million With a total spend of €1,092,000, Rabbah Bloodstock contributed to one of the most memorable starts to this sale in a very long time. Rabbah signed for four individual six-figure horses, including a €120,000 Night Of Thunder filly from the family of Group 1 performer Spectre (Siyouni) that was consigned by Castlebridge. America Queen is an excellent example of what can be sourced at this sale. Bought by the Rabbah team 12 months ago for €180,000, the Richard Hughes-trained filly has already gained black-type for her connections when second in the G2 Lowther Stakes at York and is as short as 4-1 with most firms for Saturday's Group 1 Cheveley Park Stakes at Newmarket. Speaking about the appeal of this sale, Rabbah's David Ryan said, “We've been very lucky here in the past. We have America Queen (Havana Grey) running in the Cheveley Park on Saturday and she came out of this sale last year. We bought Cercene's half-sister by Starman here last year for €115,000 and we bought the Mehmas filly [for €180,000] who topped the sale here last year. She's a lovely filly and we haven't given up on her. So it has been a very good sale for us – very lucky.” He added, “I'll tell you what you get here is good, hard horses and you can run them. When you start moving on to Goffs and Book 1 and 2 in Newmarket, they are bigger horses and they take more time. Some work out, some don't. Most of these are runners. They're ready to go. Well, we'll see if they can run!” Condon Sources Sioux Nation Yearlings For American-Based Client Group 1 and Classic-winning trainer Ken Condon spent €265,000 on behalf of an existing American-based client on a filly and a colt by Sioux Nation, with the idea that both horses would be for export to that country. Condon, who signed under Osborne Lodge Racing, was only knocked off his perch as the leading buyer deep into the session having spent €150,000 on Weir View Stud's brother to the highly-rated Native American. The trainer commented on the colt, “We started looking on Sunday morning and he was on the list straight away. He's a very attractive and athletic colt. He was well-prepared and just had a bit of business about him. The full-sibling is obviously a good horse and achieved a good rating as a two-year-old. It's a good pedigree underneath and we just really liked him. We saw him several times and he also vetted very well.” Tuesday's leading filly, purchased for 120,000 euro | Tattersalls Weir View Stud's Ed Ryan was visibly delighted after the sale. “He has been run off his feet all week and had over 150 shows,” Ryan commented. “He showed himself like a gentleman. He has been sold for a client and we are trying to build up a consignment. We have been very fortunate to have been sent some lovely horses. He has stood out here and has been an absolute dude.” The spend was completed by a €115,000 Sioux Nation filly consigned by Tom Whelan of Church View Stables. Condon added, “She seemed to have a very good disposition and, like the colt, she showed well every time we saw her. We had to stretch a bit for them but the market has been very strong. They have been bought on behalf of an existing client whose horses race for Brendan Walsh in America. They have been bought with that idea in mind so they will stay with us over the winter and we can make our minds up with regards to a plan in the spring.” The Sioux Nation filly is a half-sister to the Coventry Stakes runner-up Qaader and was bred by Patricia Walsh. She beamed afterwards, “For me this is the best result I've had at the sales because I used to sell as foals all the time but I wasn't making any money so I decided to hold onto them until they are yearlings.” Subplots Leading breeze-up handler Mark Grant was one of the leading buyers and, after sourcing fillies by Havana Grey and Sea The Stars for €90,000 apiece, said that buying his horses in Euros was a major attraction to this sale. Grant said, “It's a good sale and we've been lucky here. We bought a Havana Grey filly who looks smart and the intention is to go to the Craven with her. With the Sea The Stars filly, there won't be many by him going breezing, so we'll probably go to France with her. It's a big help buying in Euros.” Harry Eustace, who has played a big role in putting this sale on the map with his Royal Ascot-winning graduates Time For Sandals and Docklands, was rewarded for that amazing training performance with a €120,000 Invincible Spirit colt. Consigned by the Irish National Stud, the colt was sourced by Alex Elliott and Billy Jackson-Stops on behalf of powerful owners Valmont and Michael Blencowe. Jackson-Stops said, “He's going to Harry Eustace and was bought by Valmont and Michael Blencowe, who are spreading some horses around between Andrew Balding, Ralph Beckett, George Scott and now Harry. This is the first one with Harry, who has had an amazing year, so it makes a bit of sense.” Elliott added, “We originally owned [Group 2-winning sprinter] West Acre together and we have quite a nice filly now called Forty Years On. It's good to support Harry, who has killed it this year, so hopefully he can keep progressing.” Jackson-Stops and Elliott, two of the bigger agents in the business, admitted to being bowled over by the strength of the market at Fairyhouse. Jackson-Stops concluded, “It was extremely tough in the middle. If you came here with a €60,000 order, you were really struggling. Tattersalls Ireland has done a remarkable job at getting everyone here. The footfall is unbelievable.” The progeny of Naval Crown was very well-received on Tuesday with seven yearlings by the Group 1-winning sprinter selling for an average of €55,857. That was enough to place Darley's young stallion, who stands at Kildangan Stud for just €9,000, within the top 10 performing stallions on day one. Durkan Dives Back Into The Flat Market When you think of trainer Bill Durkan, you automatically think of Group 1 scorer Miss Beatrix, who carried his colours during a glittering career with Kevin Prendergast. And while Durkan, whose stable is based in Dublin, has been more focused on National Hunt runners in recent times, connections have clearly got the bug back for the Flat after a couple of cheaply-bought yearlings -Time Bender (Gustav Klimt) and Parkside Lad (Elzaam) – won two-year-old maidens in Ireland this summer. Gary Bannon, assistant trainer to Durkan, teamed up with bloodstock agent Barry Lynch, to secure a fast and precocious-looking Highly Motivated colt for €90,000. The Highly Motivated colt was consigned by Lakefield Farm and represented a shrewd piece of pinhooking from young Luke Bleahen, who sourced the colt out of the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale for just $3,000. “Lovely horse,” Bannon commented. “I didn't know much about the sire but Barry is giving me a hand this year and did his homework. Normally, we're more of a jumps yard but we won two two-year-old races this year with cheap horses so we've decided to dip our toes in the sand a little bit more on the Flat. Lovely colt and hopefully he'll be lucky for Bill.” Lynch added, “Highly Motivated was a very good two-year-old himself – he was very sharp – and is actually very like this horse. He is also a son of Into Mischief, who is one of the top stallions in America. This horse is very simple. He had a great temperament every time we saw him and, up around the ring, he didn't bat an eyelid. Hopefully he'll be a nice, sharp horse who can take us to the big days next year.” Thought for the day There was no shortage of trainers either side of the Irish Sea making their love for this sale known to the public in recent days. However, they may have been forced to reevaluate the situation on Tuesday evening as, just like the Goffs UK Premier Yearling Sale and Somerville Sale at Tattersalls, the demand for horses was through the roof at Fairyhouse on day one and finding that diamond in the rough became a whole pile more difficult. The sharp rise to the median and average illustrates how strong the market was on Tuesday and just how good of a job Tattersalls Ireland is doing with this sale. It will be very interesting to see if there is a drop-off on Wednesday or if trade can continue in this direction. Buy of the day Johnny Murtagh was one such trainer to get on the scoreboard and the €38,000 he spent on lot 176, a Bungle Inthejungle filly consigned by Donnellys Well, looks money well spent. We all know what Bungle Inthejungle gets you – fast, early and precocious types. This filly is no different and, while she looks well up to representing the Murtagh stable in the sprint maidens in the spring of next year, she also boasts a bit of class. The post ‘We’ve Been Proved Right’ – Joy For Peter Nolan With Sale Of 165k Blackbeard Colt appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Delaware Park will introduce a starter bonus beginning Oct. 1 and continuing through the remainder of the 2025 meet, which is scheduled to conclude Oct. 18. Horses stabled at Delaware Park who start in fields of eight or more on the dirt, and 10 or more on the turf will receive $1,200, of which the trainer will receive $1,000 and the owner will receive $200. For horses not stabled at Delaware Park who start in fields of eight or more on the dirt, and 10 or more on the turf, connections will receive $700, of which the trainer will receive $500 and the owner will receive $200. For horses that start in fields of less than eight on the dirt or 10 on the turf, the bonus will be $500, of which the trainer will receive $300, and the owner will receive $200, regardless of where they are stabled. The post Delaware Park to Offer Starter Bonus appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Rocco Bowen was suspended 30 days by the stewards at Belterra Park Tuesday for “intentionally” engaging in “rough riding” when finishing second aboard the 3-10 favorite during the stretch run of the $75,000 Miss Southern Ohio Stakes last Friday. But because the veteran jockey has agreed not to appeal the ruling, the penalty has been cut in half, to 15 days. Bowen's agent, Cory Hayes, confirmed to TDN that the reduced suspension will be in effect from Sept. 29 through Oct. 13. “It's pretty self-explanatory in the [ruling],” Hayes said. “I'm a little biased on how I think it should have played out. But the stewards, they made their decision, and that's the game we have to play, that you go with what they say.” On Sept. 19, Bowen was riding the 3-year-old filly Parlay (National Flag), with whom he has partnered for two state-bred stakes victories on the turf this summer at Belterra. He made the lead midway through the 1 1/16-miles grass race, but was confronted by the 12-1 Green Lady (Tough It Up) and jockey John McKee in the stretch. According to the Equibase chart, Parlay “drifted out near the eighth pole then drifted back in near the sixteenth pole and bumped Green Lady twice in the final sixteenth and was denied the win.” (Video). After a next-day hearing involving both Bowen and McKee, the stewards wrote in the ruling that Bowen had “intentionally guided his horse towards the inside rail to make contact with jockey John McKee.” Bowen is currently the leading rider based on earnings at the summer meet at Thistledown. He rides less frequently at Belterra (21 mounts so far this season), the other Ohio track that is active at this time of year. Albin Jimenez, the standings-topping rider this meet at Belterra, was also recently penalized by that track's stewards. Jimenez is appealing a one-year suspension for “failure to give his best effort to obtain a winning performance and conduct detrimental to the best interests of racing” while riding a 7-10 favorite to a second-place finish Aug. 21. Although a stay of his suspension has been granted, Jimenez has not had a mount since Aug. 22. And just last Thursday, the Belterra stewards suspended jockey Eddie Jurado 10 days (reduced to five if no appeal gets filed) for holding his whip in front of another jockey's mount in a Sept. 13 race, causing that rival to check to avoid being hit. Jurado's mount went on to win the race, but was disqualified because of the incident. The post Bowen Suspended 30 Days for ‘Intentional’ Bumping at Belterra; Penalty Halved for Not Appealing appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

When Frank Taylor, the director of new business development at Taylor Made, started the Stable Recovery and the Taylor Made School of Horsemanship programs, the idea was to help those addicted to drugs and alcohol, get them sober and give them the skills to work in the horse racing industry. But Stable Recovery is branching out, ready to help anyone in need. Elizabeth Blythe once arranged the mating for Allen Paulson's horses and her work produced several champions, including the great Cigar and four other Breeders' Cup winners. But, for Blythe, little has gone right since Paulson's death. She has had to deal with three forms of cancer, breast cancer, bladder cancer and melanoma. That left her unable to work and she soon found herself in dire straits financially. She didn't have the money or the energy to take care of her house and the bank was ready to repossess her property. When Taylor got wind of Blythe's problem, he did what he always seems to do when he hears of someone down on their luck. He set out to help. He made a big enough payment to the bank to halt the foreclosure and he will soon send some of the people who graduated from his Stable Recovery program to help fix up the house this Saturday. “Frank is fantastic,” Blythe said. Blythe and Taylor have entered into an agreement. To pay Taylor back for all the money he has spent helping Blythe, Blythe has agreed to donate her Nicholasville house upon her death to Stable Recovery. “I thought that's something that I can do to help other people when I'm not here anymore and to thank Frank and everybody for the help that they've provided to me,” Blythe said. It isn't just the money. “He would come and pick me up and drive me to appointments at the hospital, that sort of thing, or pick me up after a procedure was over with,” Blythe said. “Usually they have to give you sedation and so you can't drive in and drive home. In the early parts of it, they would have to keep me overnight because I didn't have anybody to drive me. And that got to be probably a little bit onerous for the hospital because they had to keep me there when there might've been somebody else who had something more serious than what had happened to me. And so that's kind of a part of it as well. But Frank is just wonderful and I can't tell you how much his support and help has meant to me.” Frank Taylor | Sue Finley Christian Countzler, who runs the Stable Recovery program, knows firsthand how willing Taylor is to help those in need. “Frank went out of his way to help someone that deserved to be helped,” he said. “We're really excited about that. She's had a tough time, especially as of late, Anything we can do to help her we're absolutely willing to do. In return, she wants to help us by donating the house to us.” Frank Taylor is just a good soul. There's no other way to put it. He sees a problem and he works to find a solution. He decided to branch out from his Stable Recovery work and look to assist others who are down on their luck. “Elizabeth Blythe has been in horse business forever,” Taylor said. “She's probably about my age, late fifties, early sixties. She's well respected. She did a lot of pedigree work for Allen Paluson. I heard about a year ago that she had cancer and that she was really struggling with it. They were getting ready to take her house away. My wife and I put up $150,000 as a loan, which got the mortgage company off her back. She won't be able to pay it back but when she passes she's going to give the house to Stable Recovery. It's a really nice house. It's on three acres, but it hasn't really been maintained. It would be like having a yard that hasn't been mowed in 10 years. We're going to take our crew down there and clean it all up. We got her out of foreclosure, so she has a place to live.” Taylor said that the people from the Stable Recovery program will also benefit from helping out Blythe. “Part of of being sober and working the 12 steps is you need to give back,” Taylor said. “And help your fellow man. Volunteering is part of the recovery part. This is a project for these guys to help someone. Any time you're giving back and putting other people first is good for you.” So what is it about Taylor that he's so willing to help people, be they individuals struggling with substance abuse issues or are dealing with cancer and financial pressures? “Part of the 12 steps and being sober is that you need to give back and help your fellow man,” Taylor said. “The recovery part includes volunteering. We're using this as a project for these guys to spend their time on and help. Any time you're giving back and putting the people first is good for you.” “Why does Frank do what he does?” Countzler said. “I think he got this from his dad. He grew up watching his mom and dad do things for other people. I guarantee he would answer that question the same way. Joe Taylor, the patriarch of the family, showed all the Taylor brothers, and especially Frank, what it means to give back and help other people, especially people who don't have the means they've been blessed with. I would almost guarantee that it was Joe Taylor that did that.” The School of Horseman has had 89 graduates and has 25 legacy graduates. There have 10 that have made it two years of sobriety. “That's something we are really proud of,” Countzler said. Blythe is one of the first people not in the program that Taylor has helped. There's no doubt there will be many more. The post Stable Recovery Lends A Helping Hand To Elizabeth Blythe appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Stable Recovery opened its Women's Horsemanship Program at Spy Coast Farm Monday, marking an important milestone in the organization's mission to empower women in recovery. In partnership with Lisa Lourie and the Spy Coast Farm team, the program provides participants with hands-on training through the School of Horsemanship at the Spy Coast Farm Reproduction Center, offering the chance to learn from some of the leading professionals in the sport horse industry. “I am delighted to welcome the Stable Recovery Women's program to Spy Coast Farm” said Lourie, owner and CEO of Spy Coast Farm. “Our farm is owned by a woman and is primarily managed by women. We work hard to educate and promote best practices in equine care while fostering a culture of acceptance and inclusion. As such, we believe that we are uniquely positioned to assist women in recovery. Our partnership with Stable Recovery has been impactful thus far and we look forward to having an even greater impact by hosting their women's program. We thank them for their trust in us to do so and look forward to the future success of the women we will work with” Christian Countzler, CEO and cofounder of Stable Recovery added: “This is a milestone for Stable Recovery and a win for Kentucky. With Spy Coast Farm, we're building a program where women can find stability, learn a skill, and leave stronger than they arrived mentally, physically, and most important, spiritually. This unique opportunity not only equips women with specialized skills for the equine industry, but also prepares them for long-term success in their careers and lives beyond recovery. They will spend three months in the School of Horsemanship before finding further employment in the industry upon completion of the school.” The post Stable Recovery And Spy Coast Farm Open Women’s School Of Horsemanship appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority has announced that jockey Paco Lopez has been suspended for six months, effective Sept. 23.View the full article

Goffs has catalogued 75 lots for its upcoming British NH Breeders Showcase, which takes place Friday, Oct. 31. In its third year, the sale will offer 65 NH foals in addition to 10 breeding stock lots, several of which at offered in foal to NH sires. The sale will feature foals by Bathyrhon, Capri, Choeur du Nord, Cracksman, Frontiersman, Jack Hobbs, Jeu St Eloi, Logician, Moises Has, Order of St George, Poet's Word, Postponed, Stradivarius, Subjectivist and Yeats. The breeding stock segment of the sale will follow the foal session. Covering sires include Golden Horn, Logician, Ocovango, Stradivarius, Subjectivist and Walk In The Park. “This sale was created at the request of British NH breeders who wanted a pre-Christmas quality outlet for NH foals in the UK and, in two years, they have ensured it is now an unmissable event,” said Goffs UK Managing Director Tim Kent. “In keeping with that strong start, Britain's leading NH breeders have once again thrown their weight behind this sale, and the catalogue is set to offer another standout selection, for which we are grateful and appreciative as it allows us to market the sale with confidence. To view the complete catalogue, click here. The post Goffs Catalogues 75 For British NH Breeders Showcase appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The boy-made-good story of Wootton Bassett is as time-honoured as life itself. To a degree, it is a rags-to-riches tale, particularly when it comes to the phenomenal trajectory of his stallion career. And it is a story which is ending far too soon. The 17-year-old stallion died on Tuesday at Coolmore Australia in the Hunter Valley after developing acute pneumonia from a bout of choke, a condition in which food blocks the oesophagus, often leading to complications. His passing comes at a time when Wootton Bassett was in his pomp; his reputation, already on a high, is being augmented year on year by a burgeoning array of runners at the highest level. In 2025 alone, they include the French Classic winners Henri Matisse and Camille Pissarro, G1 Prix du Moulin winner Sahlan, G1 Irish St Leger hero and Melbourne Cup hopeful Al Riffa, and the brilliant filly Whirl. A growing number of his sons at stud means that Wootton Bassett has also featured as paternal grandsire this year of Gezora and Woodshauna, winners of the G1 Prix de Diane and G1 Prix Jean Prat. His 2025 fee in Europe was €300,000, behind only Dubawi and Frankel, who, as the world's most expensive stallions, each stood for £350,000. Quite something for a horse who started his career covering mares in France for €6,000, dropping to €4,000 for his third and fourth seasons at Haras d'Etreham. Not everything comes down to money of course, but in the stallion business, tracking the rise and fall of nomination fees is a telling marker of a horse's success and reception by a market which can quickly be blown hither and thither by the winds of fashion. That Wootton Bassett would rise to the level he has would have been hard to predict. His first four crops at those lowly fees numbered 23, 18, 45 and 47 foals respectively. Then came a champion three-year-old from his first crop – the 2016 Prix du Jockey Club, Irish Champion Stakes, and Champion Stakes winner Almanzor – and the penny began to drop that this was a stallion who could be a little out of the ordinary. Thereafter, his stock began to rise – both literally when it came to crop numbers, and reputationally. His current tally of individual Group 1 winners stands at 16, but that will only grow in the years – perhaps even weeks – to come, as the autumn's major contests are settled. In this Saturday's G1 Middle Park Stakes, for example, his sons Puerto Rico, Kansas and Brussels remain engaged, while Beautify is among the fancied runners for the G1 Cheveley Park Stakes. Wootton Bassett's stallion career has been conducted from France, Ireland and Australia, but his life began in England where he was bred by Colin and Melba Bryce at their Laundry Cottage Stud. For a relatively small farm, the Hertfordshire nursery has packed quite a punch in recent years, with the 10-time Group 1 winner Via Sistina (Fastnet Rock) also being among the Bryces' graduates. Of the Iffraaj colt born on February 4, 2008, to their Primo Dominie mare Balladonia, Colin Bryce recalled on Tuesday, “I suppose there are two things about Wootton Bassett that I would say. One, he was the most incredibly chilled horse that we have ever had on the stud. He would lie down in his stable all the time, snoozing, sleeping, whatever, and you would give him a little bit of a tap and help him get ready for action, and he'd do whatever you wanted to do. Then when you'd finished, down he went again and had a gentle snooze. He was so easy to handle, so kind, and a beautiful, very dark day horse to go with it.” He continued, “And the second thing I would say about Wootton Bassett is, although we bred him and are very proud to have done so, really without the skill of Nicolas de Chambure and the way he developed the stallion's career, I think he wouldn't have got to where he got to. “We've been privileged to breed him, and we were privileged to be involved, using him to cover our mares and buying his early stock. We've been involved all the way through until he became too expensive for us at Coolmore in the last few years. But we still watched with interest, and have loved to see him doing so well. “Obviously he was massively upgrading his mares all the way through, and so there was a natural talent there, but I think Nicolas mined that very intelligently. He was a rising star of the stallion ranks, and has risen almost to the top of the pile. He may yet do so in memoriam.” It was Bobby O'Ryan who signed for the young Wootton Bassett at the DBS Premier Yearling Sale (now Goffs UK), buying him for £46,000 to join Richard Fahey's stable. He raced in the ownership of Frank Brady & The Cosmic Cases, who already had Wootton Bassett's half-brother, the seven-time winner and Listed-placed Mister Hardy (Kyllachy), in training. “I know our yard is sad this morning,” Fahey said on Tuesday, speaking from the Tattersalls Ireland Yearling Sale. “It's the people who looked after him that you feel for, the Coolmore team and everyone involved with him directly and the people who cared for him along the way.” From Fahey's Yorkshire base, Wootton Bassett ran in Scotland, England and France in his first unbeaten season, raking in the prize-money from York's DBS Premier Yearling Stakes and the Weatherbys Insurance £300,000 2-Y-O Stakes at Doncaster before completing his season with victory in the G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere, a race which had been won the previous year by another luminary of the European stallion ranks, Siyouni. “We knew he was a very good horse from the start really,” Fahey said. “We cheated a bit as we went for the sales races and took the easier option, but the Lagardere was always going to be his race. “He's been an incredible sire and an incredible horse, and he was a good-minded, kind horse.” At three, Wootton Bassett managed a fifth-placed finish in the Poule d'Essai des Poulains back at Longchamp, and was seventh in Frankel's St James's Palace Stakes. Dropping back from a mile, he ran twice more in the Prix Maurice de Gheest and Haydock Sprint Cup but never recaptured the winning ways of his juvenile season. Retiring after those four unplaced starts in 2011, he was bought by Nicolas de Chambure to stand at his family's Haras d'Etreham in Normandy. Not only did the stud play an important role as the home of Wootton Bassett in his formative years as a stallion, but Etreham is also the breeder of his breakout star Almanzor. The latter was bought by his trainer Jean-Claude Rouget for €100,000 and was one of two first-crop sons of Wootton Bassett to fetch six figures at the Arqana August Sale of 2014. That in itself was telling for a stallion who was launched at such a lowly fee. For de Chambure, the fourth generation of his family to take the helm at Haras d'Etreham, Wootton Bassett was the first stallion he signed up to join the roster in the year following his return to run the stud after stints working in Ireland, America and Australia. Casting his mind back to his decision to buy him, de Chambure said, “I've always been a bit cautious about too much inbreeding, and so he was a bit of an outcross and he was also carrying blood that we didn't really have much of in France. I thought he was going to be well suited to the French population of mares. “As a racehorse he showed toughness, and I know a lot of people don't believe it, but I really fell in love with him physically when I saw him at Richard Fahey's. It probably took a while for the breeders to share that. I was lucky that he transmitted his looks and his walk.” He added, “Ed Sackville was very important in making the deal happen at the time. We did the deal together and he introduced me to the owner and to Richard. He was also very positive about the horse, and having his confidence and his support was also a big help for me to make the deal.” Despite his own faith in Wootton Bassett, and the support of Colin Bryce as the first shareholder in the stallion's syndicate, de Chambure admits that it remains difficult to get a sire off the ground. “When you retire a horse it's a four-year commitment, so it's not easy. When you're syndicating those horses, even if you have a good group of loyal clients, in the end it's really you that has to carry the whole thing, with your team, so it can be a bit lonely. And it was: it felt very lonely indeed with Wootton Bassett for a few years. “But he's been so good; he could improve his mares so much. He was the horse of a lifetime, he got us out of trouble. Even with the difficult start, he pulled his way up and he made himself, really.” De Chambure adds, “That day in Chantilly when Almanzor won the Jockey Club, it was by far my best day, my best memory at the races, because it meant a lot for us. And just seeing Wootton Bassett continuing to do so well for Coolmore, who didn't go halfway in supporting him. They went all the way and sent all their best mares, and the results have been incredible. “But, you know, that's what makes it even more sad, because I think he would have been a breed-shaper. To have another few years with those really good mares, it would have been great to see. We've got a few generations to come, daughters and sons, and hopefully they will leave a strong mark.” Wootton Bassett has had no shortage of support in more recent years, and it is quantity which is backed up by quality. His departure will only enhance the demand for the remaining three crops of youngsters to come, beginning with the 19 yearlings at the Goffs Orby Sale next week and a further 30 at Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Sale. The 206 mares registered as being covered by him earlier this year, in what has transpired to be his final season in Europe, include Lady Bowthorpe, Opera Singer, Ramatuelle, Tahiyra, and Treve, as well as the dams of Camille Pissarro, Churchill, Palace Pier, and Vandeek. The list goes on. Following his private purchase for an undisclosed but presumably vast sum, Wootton Bassett has been on the Coolmore roster since 2021, dividing his time between County Tipperary and shuttle stints to New South Wales. In Australia, his first-crop numbered 10 winners from 36 runners to put him in second place, behind Ole Kirk, in the racing season that ended in August. His return to Australia this year was at a record fee of A$385,000. “In his time at Coolmore, he developed into a world-class sire, with 25 stakes winners and six Group 1 winners from his current two- and three-year-old crops conceived in Ireland. Included amongst these are multiple Group 1-winning sons Camille Pissaro and Henri Matisse as well as this season's multiple Group 1-winning filly, Whirl,” read a statement released on Tuesday by Coolmore to announce the stallion's death. “His current two-year-old crop in Europe already includes six Group winners. Albert Einstein, who defeated subsequent Group 1 winner Power Blue in the G3 Marble Hill Stakes, is considered by both Aidan O'Brien and Ryan Moore to be one of the best two-year-olds ever seen in Ballydoyle.” At the time of writing, Wootton Bassett, who was the champion sire of two-year-olds in 2024, is poised to take that title again and to be the European champion sire of 2025. He has come a long way. The one consolation on a sad day for those involved in the horse's life is that, in a sense, the very best of the breed never die. Their bloodlines can live on for generations, and this indeed looks to be the case for Wootton Bassett. In that regard, his story has chapters still to be written, even though its leading actor has now left the stage. The post ‘Horse of a Lifetime’ Wootton Bassett Remembered On His Death At Age 17 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

With two races each offering prize-money of £100,000, the British EBF 2yo Series, now in its fourth year, headlines the activities on the Flat for the British European Breeders' Fund, which is supported by the British stallion owners. Juveniles who took part in more than 170 restricted maiden and novice races in the country are eligible for Wednesday's fillies' final at Goodwood or the colts' final, which is to be run on October 10 at York. With just over £50,000 to the winner, the former has attracted 14 declared runners from 12 different trainers, making it the largest field to date. Graduates of the 2024 British EBF £100,000 2yo Fillies' Series Final include G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches runner-up Shes Perfect and Love Talk, who was third in the G2 Lancashire Oaks. The series boasts a combined runner to black-type performers strike-rate of 21 per cent, with notable runners including the Listed winners Chic Colombine, Sirona, Adaay In Devon and Glamis Road. Nick Bradley, the syndicate manager behind four runners in Wednesday's final, said, “Myself and Lewis Poskitt look to add value to our owners' experience in our race planning. We picked out the EBF £30,000 race for Glamis Road about a month before the race, such was the lure of the prize-money on offer. She won nicely that day and went on to finish fourth in the £100,000 EBF Final at Goodwood, which we won with another cheaply bought filly, Love Talk.” The post Record Field for British EBF Fillies’ Series Final appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Baeza's 2 1/4-length victory in the Pennsylvania Derby (G1) caught the eyes of voters in the National Thoroughbred Racing Association Top Thoroughbred Poll as he moved from off the board to the No. 8 position. View the full article

Special Me, the dam of MGSW/GISP Stonetastic (Mizzen Mast), GISW Gift Box (Twirling Candy), MGSW Special Forces (Candy Ride {Arg}) and 'TDN Rising Star'/MGISW Gina Romantica, has been pensioned from broodmare duty by Machmer Hall. Carrie Brogden announced the news on social media Tuesday morning, saying “I broke the news to Special Me that she has been retired as a broodmare and is free to live out the rest of her days in happiness, at Machmer Hall. She loves being a mother and we have let her raise her babies. She is literally the toughest, strongest horse I have ever met. She has had knee arthritis from her racing days but has managed to produce four graded stakes winners and a $900,000 yearling from this year. We are delighted to have an Into Mischief filly, full sister to GI winner Gina Romantica, as her last foal to continue on her legacy. To say she has been special to this farm and so many people would be an understatement. Happy retirement, girl! We love you so much.” A half-sister to G1 Gulf News Dubai Golden Shaeen winner Our New Recruit (Alphabet Soup), Special Me produced her first foal in 2010 and then hit the very next year with Stonetastic who won both the GII Prioress Stakes and the GII Inside Information Stakes. Two years later in 2013 she foaled her first Grade I winner as Gift Box would go on to take the GI Santa Anita Handicap before retiring to stud at Lane's End. He was recently announced to have been sold to Saudi Arabia for the 2026 covering season. MGSW Special Forces, born in 2015, conquered several stakes at Woodbine and, in 2019, Special Me foaled Gina Romantica who became a seven-figure yearling grad and three-time Grade I winner. Yet to run in the family is the mare's 2-year-old named Keepsake Box (Twirling Candy) while she saw her yearling Flightline filly hammered down at $900,000 to WHS Stables during this month's Keeneland September Sale. Brogden still has the mare's aforementioned 2025 Into Mischief filly. The post Special Me, Dam Of Gift Box And Gina Romantica, Pensioned At Machmer Hall appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA) announced Tuesday that jockey Paco Lopez has been suspended for six months, effective September 23, 2025. The suspension stems from Mr. Lopez's violation of the terms of his conditional reinstatement, related to a December 4, 2024 incident involving Mr. Lopez's use of the riding crop on the National Law (Constitution). “HISA remains committed to upholding the highest standards of safety and integrity in horse racing. We take any behavior that undermines the trust of participants and fans with the utmost seriousness, HISA said in its press release. “By enforcing rules consistently, we aim to promote fairness in the adjudication process, protect both horses and riders and preserve confidence in the integrity of the sport.” In its release HISA did not say what exactly Lopez had done to violate his conditional reinstatement. In a press release issued Tuesday shortly before the HISA release came out, PETA called for action against Lopez for violating whip rules aboard Book 'em Danno (Bucchero) in the GI Forego Stakes. This story will be updated. The post HISA Suspends Jockey Paco Lopez For Six Months Following Dec. 2024 Crop Incident appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The Jockeys' Guild has voted to impose disciplinary actions, including expulsions and suspensions, on jockeys who accepted mounts and competed Sept. 4-5 at Remington Park after the organization had called on riders to not accept mounts.View the full article

The post Beyer Numbers appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

A gelding by Spendthrift Farm stallion Vekoma topped the 2025 CTHS Alberta Thoroughbred Sale which closed Friday, Sept. 19. Bought for $70,000 by Norm Tremblay as agent, the colt, named Vekoma's Pride, was consigned by Chief Stipe Obert and was the highest priced yearling sold in Alberta since 2015, the sale noted. 73 yearlings sold for a gross of $1,024,600, a 47% increase over the 2024 gross of $699,000. Additionally, the average rose 12% to $14,036 and the median also increased to $10,000. The RNA rate was 10%. Other tops hips sold included a Reload filly for $53,000, a colt by Stanford for $47,000, a Classic Empire colt for $41,000 and a colt by Bakken for $40,000. Highfield Investment Group topped the consigners list, selling five yearlings for $104,000 while Al Pitchko was the leading buyer with seven yearlings purchased for $152,000. “This sale had some quality offerings,” said Dawson Guhle, General Manager of CTHS Alberta. “We saw strong competition from start to finish, a near-record average, and a record-matching median. It shows the confidence buyers have in the future of racing here in Alberta.” The post Vekoma Gelding Tops Strong CTHS Alberta Thoroughbred Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Following the news earlier in the day of his sire's untimely passing, Aidan O'Brien trainee Straight Up (Wootton Bassett) delivered a poignant win for Flaxman Stables and the Coolmore partners in Tuesday's WTW Willis Irish EBF Maiden at Listowel. Stalking the pace in second for most of the seven-furlong contest, the 9-4 favourite inched ahead approaching the final furlong and drew off late to assert by three lengths from King Of Sparta (Dubawi). “To do that without a prior run was a very good performance and Wayne [Lordan] was delighted with him,” said Ballydoyle's Chris Armstrong. “He is a lovely horse and has plenty of size and scope. He jumped a bit slow, but was able to recover and his last furlong was his best. Whatever he does at two will be a bonus and he could be a lovely middle-distance horse for next year. We'll try to get one more run into him this year and then put him away.” Reflecting on the loss of the winner's sire, Armstrong continued, “The news was out early on social media this morning and, obviously, he is a massive loss. When you look at the few years he has been at Coolmore, what he achieved was astronomical and we were fortunate to have so many nice ones by him. His progeny have engines, minds and have everything. There are obviously more crops to come, but his death is a massive blow to the whole team. To lose your star is a big one and he was the ultimate. We have to look forward now, so hopefully there are a few more stars to replace him at stud.” Straight Up is the third of five foals and first winner produced by an unraced full-sister to G1 Yorkshire Oaks victrix Tapestry (Galileo) and G3 Golden Fleece Stakes-winning sire John F Kennedy (Galileo). Tapestry, in turn, is the dam of Group 3-winning G1 Fillies' Mile fourth Dreamy (American Pharoah) and G3 Amethyst Stakes third New World Tapestry (War Front). The April-foaled bay's second dam is G1 Moyglare Stud Stakes and G1 Prix Marcel Boussac heroine Rumplestiltskin (Danehill). Straight Up is full to a yearling filly and half to a weanling colt by Paddington. Straight Up (Wootton Bassett) pays a timely reminder to his late sire's talents, bolting up on debut to lead home a Ballydoyle 1-2 at @ListowelRaces pic.twitter.com/cYBccZ5idY — Racing TV (@RacingTV) September 23, 2025 The post Ballydoyle’s Straight Up a Poignant Winner for Wootton Bassett at Listowel appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

What Sandown Hillside Races Where Sandown Racecourse – 591-659 Princes Hwy, Springvale VIC 3171 When Wednesday, September 24, 2025 First Race 1:25pm AEST Visit Dabble Racing returns to the Hillside circuit at Sandown on Wednesday with a competitive eight-race meeting set down for decision. With showers forecast on raceday morning, the track is unlikely to improve from the Soft 5 rating, with the rail sticking to its true position the entire circuit. The first at Sandown is set to jump at 1:25pm AEST. Best Bet: Crusader Voyage Crusader Voyage finds a winnable maiden stepping to the mile and draws for the perfect run with Mark Zahra. He was brave first-up and now gets a more genuine tempo on a Soft 5, which should help him settle, balance, and use his late strength. From barrier six he can land midfield with cover, peel at the 400m and build through the long Sandown rise. With race fitness on the up and a handy map against largely exposed rivals, Crusader Voyage looks ready to put a maiden beside his name. Best Bet Race 1 – #8 Crusader Voyage (6) 3yo Colt | T: Chris Waller | J: Mark Zahra (57kg) Next Best at Sandown: Regal Might Regal Might maps for every possible chance from barrier one and looks a touch overlooked returning to 1300m. He’s consistent at this level, handles Soft going, and the 2kg claim from Logan Bates gets him in nicely against his rivals. Expect Bates to hold a forward spot behind genuine speed and be off the fence at the right time. With match fitness and an economical run in transit, Regal gets a great chance to surge late and pinch this. Next Best Race 7 – #2 Regal Might (1) 5yo Gelding | T: Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) | J: Logan Bates (a2) (61kg) Best Value at Sandown: Move On In Move On In profiles superbly third-up to 1800m in BM66 grade. The Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) stable has him ready to peak, and with a 3kg claim he carries weight well relative to his talent. From barrier eight, Luke Cartwright can be positive to hold a stalking role, and the Soft 5 shouldn’t worry a UK-bred staying type. His ratings out of recent runs suggest there’s a new figure imminent at this trip, and a fair tempo should let him grind into the race from the 600m and salute at a double-figure price with horse racing bookmakers. Best Value Race 5 – #1 Move On In (GB) (8) 5yo Gelding | T: Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) | J: Luke Cartwright (a3) (61kg) Wednesday quaddie tips for Sandown Sandown quadrella selections Wednesday, September 24, 2025 1-4-5-7 4-8-11-14-15-16 2-5-8-10 2-5-10-15 Horse racing tips View the full article

The bloodstock world has been rocked by the news that Wootton Bassett has died at the age of 17. In a statement on X, Coolmore Australia said, “Wootton Bassett, one of the world's great sires, has sadly passed away today at Coolmore Australia having suffered from choke and subsequently developing an acute pneumonia which deteriorated rapidly. “Despite round-the-clock care from a dedicated team of vets, overseen by Dr Nathan Slovis from Hagyard Equine Medical Institute in Kentucky, he was unable to be saved. “Wootton Bassett's story as a sire is a unique one. Nicolas de Chambure got him off to an incredible start at Haras d'Etreham in France before he was acquired by Coolmore in 2020. “In his time at Coolmore he developed into a world-class sire, with 25 stakes winners and six Group One winners from his current two and three-year-old crops conceived in Ireland. Included amongst these are multiple Group One-winning sons Camille Pissaro and Henri Matisse as well as this season's multiple Group One-winning filly, Whirl. “His current two-year-old crop in Europe already includes six Group winners. Albert Einstein, who defeated subsequent Group One winner Power Blue in the Group Three Marble Hill Stakes, is considered by both Aidan O'Brien and Ryan Moore to be one of the best two-year-olds ever seen in Ballydoyle. “Two more colts, Constitution River and Puerto Rico, have won Group Two races in recent weeks while a pair of fillies, Composing and Beautify, both scored at the same level.” The post Shock As Coolmore Announce Death Of Superstar Stallion Wootton Bassett appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Cambridge Stud stallion Sword Of State was represented by an impressive trial winner when State Of Valour (NZ) (Sword Of State) coasted to victory in his two-year-old heat over 730m at Te Rapa on Tuesday. Prepared by Chad Ormsby, the gelding was quickly into stride to sit on the pace and lengthened stride in the run home under a minimum of urging by Tayla Mitchell to score by three and a-half lengths. “I was very impressed by what he did with the little practice that he’s had,” his trainer said. “He came to us to be broken in and we identified him as quite an early type, we got him going and everything from that time on has been really natural. “I’ve been impressed by the stallion and have got a couple by him in the stable and this one is the more forward of the two.” State Of Valour failed to meet his $60,000 reserve when offered at New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sale and is a son of the French-bred Lope De Vega mare Illadore, whose family boasts an abundance of international stakes winners. “I’ll talk to the team but I think we can go to the races with him now. He’s a half-brother to Sister Ping who we had later in her career, and she was very fast over a shorter distance and I think he’s in a similar mould,” Ormsby said. Sword Of State won four times as a juvenile, with his career highlight a victory in the Gr.1 Sistema Stakes (1200m) to claim champion two-year-old honours. He trained on the following season to claim two Group Three prizes, including a defeat of ten-time top-flight winner Imperatriz in the Almanzor Trophy. Ormsby also had Group Three winners Master Fay (Deep Field) and Outovstock (NZ) (Tavistock) stretch their legs at Te Rapa on Tuesday for a fifth and second respectively. “We had Opie aboard Master Fay and he came back with a grin on his face and said how good he felt. It was just a nice quiet trial, he will take a lot of improvement from it,” Ormsby said. “We were thinking of going to the Matamata Cup with Outovstock, but we will wait for the tracks to improve a bit and we won’t rush him as we have all summer. “It was a good trial from him, we are really pleased and he found the line nicely. It looks as though he has come back in good order.” Meanwhile, recent Ellerslie winner Have a Crack (Zoustar) has returned to the stable after a short let-up after winning over 1200m earlier this month. “He kept himself a little bit busy, we were hoping to give him a couple more weeks of a break, but because he was so active in the paddock, he indicated that he wants to be back in work. We will probably see him back at the races in three or four weeks,” Ormsby said. “When he gets on the good ground that Ellerslie produces, he has an action that suits, he can really quicken with a blistering turn of foot.” View the full article

Hong Kong trainer David Hayes discusses the arrival of short priced TAB Everest favourite Ka Ying Rising into Sydney yesterday with Mitch Manners. David Hayes 23.09.2025 – Racing HQ with Steve Hewlett – Apple Podcasts View the full article

Alabama Lass (Alabama Express) is in fine fettle ahead of her tilt at the Gr.1 Manikato Stakes (1200m) at The Valley on Friday, pleasing jockey Craig Williams with her work on the Melbourne track on Monday. “I was really happy with her,” Williams told Racing.com. “She enjoyed it. It is a privilege to come out here in preparation for Friday’s Group One tilt. “Megan (Winter), who has been entrusted with her care over here while Ken and Bev (Kelso, trainers) are back in New Zealand, is doing a really good job.” Williams is starting to form a good bond with the mare, having ridden her in her last two starts, including winning the Listed Moomba Plate (1100m) at Flemington in March, and second in the Gr.1 Moir Stakes (1000m) first-up at The Valley earlier this month. “I have been on her a few times now after her first-up run since being here, so I am starting to understand her a lot more,” Williams said. “When I first got on her in the mounting yard she was quite full on and when I first rode her in work she was quite full on, and Megan gave me a few pointers with her and now I am really starting to understand her. “I have got a really good relationship with her. She is getting on the track and doing things a lot nicer and straightforward for me, and I loved her work this morning.” Looking ahead to Saturday, Williams said Alabama Lass will be ideally suited to the 1200m. “The distance of 1200m on Friday is definitely in her wheelhouse,” he said. “When she resumed in the Moir it was her first time she had raced over 1000m and she acquit herself really well. Probably a bit too well, she was a bit fresh and tried to overdo it. “The 1200m she can really get into her rhythm and she will take a lot of running down the way she felt this morning.” View the full article

Regally bred colt Lydiard Park (Wootton Bassett) will have conditions more in his favour on Wednesday to add performance to his pedigree. The son of Wootton Bassett will make his second appearance when he steps out in the TCL Earthworks Maiden (1500m) on the synthetic track at Cambridge. Trained by Roger James and Robert Wellwood, the three-year-old finished fifth on debut earlier this month at Ruakaka where he raced greenly and was unsuited by the rain-affected going. “We chanced our arm going there off the one soft trial and it didn’t all go his way, we thought it was a pass mark and certainly hoping to see a bit more on Wednesday,” Wellwood said. Lydiard Park was a $200,000 purchase at New Zealand Bloodstock’s Ready to Run Sale where he was offered through Woburn Farm’s draft. He is out of the Northern Meteor mare Ciarlet, a sister to multiple Group One winner and influential sire Zoustar. “He’s a very nice colt and a horse that needs a good track. We had options for him next week but the way the weather is we’ll go to the synthetic where we know we’ll get a good surface,” Wellwood said. “Hopefully, that gets him back on track to look at some nice three-year-old races, but he has to step up and we’re looking forward to it.” Stablemate Russian Blues (Russian Revolution) will run in the Cambridge Equine Hospital Maiden (970m) off the back of consecutive fourths at her first two outings. “She had a long time off after she got injured at two, she had trialled up very well,” Wellwood said. “She’s a big, robust filly and the fitness is there now, and she should go a bold race.” Meanwhile, the stable is happy with the progress of Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) hope Mark Twain (NZ) (Shocking) after two outings in Australia at distances well below his best. “We were happy with his run against Via Sistina and company (Gr.1 Makybe Diva Stakes, 1600m) and at Caulfield (Gr.3 Naturalism Stakes, 2000m),” Wellwood said. “He raced a bit more dourly and like a horse that needs a mile and a-half, which he’ll get next start in The Bart Cummings (Gr.3, 2500m) on October 4.” Closer to home this week, the stable has accepted with two runners at Otaki on Friday with Spellbound (NZ) (Per Incanto) in the Vets On Riverbank 2YO (800m) and Popsicles (NZ) (Eminent) in the Aquashield Roofing Maiden (1600m), but their involvement will depend on track conditions. “We’ll try and leave it to the last minute to make a call, but the weather doesn’t look good,” Wellwood said. “He (Spellbound) is a horse that has showed a lot at the trials at Ellerslie and Popsicles handles a wet track to some degree, she raced on a very heavy track at Matamata last start and certainly wanted it better than that.” View the full article